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BOUNDARY AND HISTORY.

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Inasmuch as Xenia City was the county seat, and the nucleus around which most of the subsequent settlements clustered, and, by natural sequence, the reservoir from which the greater portion of the earlier county history has been drawn, it was, therefore, unavoidably blended with and absorbed in the same, leaving facts for an individual history almost as anaemic as King Psamis's mummy in Caesar's reply to Clodius over the Greek girl Zoe. Xenia should not, therefore, be jealous, or feel slighted, if she loses the luster of individual history in the more exalted flame of the initial point of county history.

We may say, with Milton, " That other shape, if shape it might be called, that shape had none distinguishable" in corner, line, or angle. Beginning at the northwest corner, it runs east one-half mile, thence north one-half mile, thence east about one and one-half mile, thence south one mile, thence east to the river, thence in a southeast line one-half mile, turning abruptly southwest; again, southeast about three miles, then following a line a little west of south about a mile, then on an irregular line nearly east, a straight line, south one-fourth mile, thence east bearing south, thence in a general south line bearing west to about a mile south of the Cleveland and Columbus Railroad, thence southwest one mile, southeast one-fourth mile, southwest one-fourth mile, southeast one-half mile, southwest three-fourths of a mile, southeast one-half mile, thence, with Caesar's Creek, about three miles, to L. Peterson's farm, thence north three-fourths of a mile, thence west, a little north, three miles, thence northwest one mile, thence north, about four miles, to the river, thence with the river about two miles, thence north one mile, west one-half mile, north one mile, west one-half mile, north one and one-half mile to place of beginning. These distances may

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not be exactly correct, but the directions and proportion of distance are as nearly so as could well be obtained.

The history of this township is so intimately blended with that of the county that it will be difficult to discriminate facts common to both. Many years anterior to its permanent settlement by the whites, some parts of this township seemed to possess peculiar attractions for the Shawanoes nation of Indians, prominent among which was Chillicothe, an appellation extremely common among them, the name, also, of one of their principal tribes, as well as a town on the present. site of Frankfort, Ross County; Westfall, Pickaway; Piqua, Miami County; and on the Maumee. The etymology of this word, according to the Wyandot, is, Tat-a-ta-ra-do-tia, or town at the leaning bank, and according to the Shawanoes, Chillicothe-otany, the latter syllable, otany, meaning town, and the former by some defined to mean chilled coffee. In contradistinction to other places of the same name, this town was called Old Chillicothe, and now it is known as Oldtown. Pleasantly situated near the Little Miami, about three miles north of the site of Xenia, it was a favorite rendezvous for the Indians, near which they planted their fields of maize, and in which they held their annual feast of green corn, dancing in thanks to the Great Spirit for his care over his red children.

In the year 1773, white men visited this place for the purpose of conciliating the Indians, and establishing amicable relations between the aboriginal owners of the soil and themselves. To this end, Captain Bullet, we are informed, came down the Ohio from Virginia, to form a settlement in Kentucky. Leaving his companions on the river, he traveled through the wilderness to Old Chillicothe, to gain the consent of the Indians. Alone, bearing a white flag, he entered their town before he was discovered. Struck with admiration at his temerity, the Indians gathered around him, when, according to Burnett, the following dialogue ensued:

Indian Chief. What news do you bring? Are you from the p Long-knife? If you are an ambassador, why did you not send a runner?

Bullet.-I have no had news. The Long-knife and the red men are at peace, and I have come among my brothers to have a friendly talk with them about settling on the other side of the Ohio. Indian Chief.-Why did you not send a runner?

Bullet.-I had no runner swifter than myself; and as I was in

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haste, I could not wait the return of a runner. If you were hungry, and had killed a deer, would you send your squaw to town to tell the news, and wait her return before yon would eat?

This illustration delighted the Indians, and unbending from their native stoicism, they responded with a hearty laugh, and conducting their visitor to the principal wigwam, feasted him with venison; and after smoking with him the pipe of peace, he addressed them as follows

BROTHERS :-I am sent with my people, whom I left. on the Ohio, to settle the country on the other side of that 'river, as low down as the falls. We came from Virginia. I only want the country to settle, and to cultivate the soil. There will be no objection to your hunting and trapping in it as heretofore. I hope you will. live with us in friendship.

In reply, the principal chief arose and said:

BROTHER:-You have come a hard journey through the woods and the grass. We are pleased to find that. your people, in settling our country, are not to disturb us in our hunting; for we must hunt to kill meat for our women and children, and to have something to buy powder and lead, and procure blankets and other necessaries. We desire you will be strong in discharging your promises toward us, as we are determined to be strong in advising our young men to be kind, friendly, and peaceable toward you.

Having concluded his friendly mission, Captain Bullet returned to his companions, descended the river to the falls, and began his settlement.

Under very different circumstances was the advent of the next white man.

About the year 1777, Colonel Bowman sent Simon Kenton and two other men, Montgomery and Clark, on a scouting expedition to the old Shawanoes town, (now Oldtown,) on the Miami. Stealthily approaching the town at night, they observed a number of horses in an inclosure. These at the time were inestimable prizes, and forgetting their mission, they each mounted a horse, and, to cripple all pursuit, tied the others together, and started toward the Ohio. The Indians soon discovered their loss, and started in hot pursuit, and though at a distance, still followed the trail. When Kenton and his party arrived at the banks of the Ohio, they found it so rough that the horses would not venture in. A council was held, and in view, of the great distance between them and their

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pursuers, it was resolved to remain until sunset, and await the probable abatement of the wind. On the contrary, however, the gale increased, and by night the river was absolutely impassable.

In the morning, while Kenton was standing some distance from his comrades, he observed three Indians and a white man approaching him on horseback. His rifle was at once to his eye, and aiming at the breast of the foremost Indian, he pulled the trigger; but the gun missed fire. Kenton made good use of his legs,, but was soon caught, bound, and brought back. The Indians were very angry at the loss of their horses, and manifested their displeasure in no gentle way, by seizing Kenton by the hair, and shaking him "till his teeth rattled; " scourging him over the head with thir ramrods, at every blow hissing through their teeth, " Steal Indian boss, hey ! " At this juncture Montgomery came bravely to his assistance, when two savages emptied their rifles into his breast, and he fell on the spot, and in a moment his bloody scalp was shaken in the captive's face, with threats of a. similar fate. In the meantime Clark,' unobserved by the Indians, who were giving Kenton their sole attention, slipped away and escaped.

Kenton was thrown upon his back, his face to the sun, his neck fastened to a sapling by a halter, his arms stretched to their full extent, and pinned to the ground by stakes, his legs forced apart and secured in the same way. A stick was placed across his breast, and each end fastened to the ground, so that he could not move his body. This was done, too, in the most accomplished style of 'savage cruelty-kicks, cuffs, and blows, accompanied with imprecations of " a tief," " a boss steal," " a rascal," " a squaw," etc., prefixed always with " damn." In this uncomfortable condition, Kenton remained all day and the next night. In the morning, the Indians having collected their scattering horses, selected one of the wildest and most vicious colts, placed Kenton upon it, tied his hands behind him, and his feet under its belly, and started him ahead of them, through the thick woods and brambles, on their return. At night they halted, and untying their prisoner, who was now bloody and' scarred from the scratches of the brush and brambles, placed him in the same uncomfortable position as the night before.

"Again the horse was brought;

Twas but a day he had been caught;

And snorting, with erected mane,

And struggling fiercely, but in vain.

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In the full foam of wrath and dread,

To me the desert-born was led ;

They bound me on, that menial throng,

Then loosed him, with a sudden lash

Away I away 1 and on we dash."

The following day, they reached the Indian village of Chillicothe now Oldtown in this county-on the Little Miami. In the meantime, a courier had preceded them, and informed the village of their arrival,every member of which came running to look at the illustrious captive. One of the chiefs, Blackfish, with a stout hickory in his hand approached Kenton, and accosted him thus : "You have been stealing our horses, have you?"

" Yes," was Kenton's hold reply.

Did Col. Boone tell you to steal our horses?" "No," answered Kenton, " I did it of my own accord."

Blackfish then applied the hickory so vigorously over the bare head and shoulders of the captive, as to cause the rapid flow of blood, accompanied with the acutest pain. The whole motley crew, consisting of nearly two hundred men, women, and children, now surrounded him, yelling, hooting, and screaming like the stygian offspring of the hadean guard, stopping often to -beat and kick him, and calling loudly for his immediate execution at the stake, that their savage eyes might behold the pleasing spectacle. A stake was driven in the ground, and Kenton was firmly lashed to it with rawhide thongs. Piece by piece, the demoniac hags stripped his clothing off, and danced, yelling fiendlishly around, till midnight, when he was released to run the gauntlet next morning.

Nearly three hundred savages of all ages, and both sexes were assembled for the occasion. Stretching away in two parallel lines about six feet apart, the Indians stood armed with axes, clubs, hickorys, and all sorts of weapons. Between these lines the unfortunate victim, naked, and already bleeding, was compelled to run, with the glimmering prospect of safety in the council house. With his arms above his head, he swiftly flies down the line, receiving at each step, kicks,_ blows, stripes, and wounds, until, at the lower extremity, he observes two warriors with knives ready to take his life. Breaking through the lines, he rushes for the council house, pursued by the howling redskins. Just as he had reached the town, and the council house was within his reach, he was confronted by an Indian with his blanket around him, walking leisurely out to the same. Fling-

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ing of his covering, he sprang upon Kenton, who, exhausted, and wounded could but feebly resist, and was soon surrounded by the enraged crowd, who kicked, and scourged him until he was nearly dead. When he had partially recovered, they brought him food and water, and as soon as he was able, they took him to the council house to decide upon his fate. The warriors disposed themselves in a circle, with an old chief in the center. Many speeches were made, some for burning, and some for mercy; but Kenton soon learned from the ferocious glances cast upon him that his fate was sealed. After the deliberations and speeches, the old chief passed the war club to the nearest warrior, and with a knife and stick prepared to register the votes. Those who were in favor of death, struck the ground violently with the club, those to -the contrary passed it on ; a. notch was cut on one side for death, and on the opposite for mercy. It was soon decided in favor of death, at which one prolonged shout arose.

The next question was, when. and where should the execution take place. Some were in favor of immediate action, and some desired to make it a "solemn national sacrifice," It. was finally decided, however, that, the place should be Waughcotomoco (now Zanesfield, Logan County).

On the way to this place, Kenton determined to make an effort to escape, knowing his fate could be no worse. At. a favorable moment he rushed into the woods with such desperate swiftness that had he not stumbled upon a party of red skins on horseback he would have escaped. All hope now left him, and he felt deserted by God and man. At Piqua he was mockingly tied to the stake. At Waughcotomoco he ran the gauntlet again, and was severely hurt.

While sitting in gloom among his enemies in the council house, the door was opened and Girty, with his prisoners and scalps, appeared. The anxious gaze of Kenton was met by scowls of savage hatred. Previous to this, it is related that Kenton, after his attempted escape, had been given up to the boys and women, who rolled him in the mud and water until he was nearly suffocated, then he was taken out and his face painted black, signifying his fate. In this condition, Girty, who had formerly been his bosom companion, did not recognize him, until in conversation he revealed his name ; when the hardened wretch, who had murdered men, women, and children, threw himself in his arms, and with tears in

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his eyes, promised to use every effort to save his life. He immediately called a council, and earnestly pleaded for the life of his friend. Speeches for and against were made, and the scale hung doubtful, until the fiery eloquence of Girty prevailed, and Kenton was saved.

He remained with his liberator for some time, until the return of a, disappointed war party, which took possession of him again, and despite the appeals. of Girty, condemned him to the stake, and compelled him again to run the gauntlet. Girty came to him, and told him he must die. A halter was then placed around his neck, and he was led toward the place of execution. On the road they passed an Indian sitting smoking on a log, directing his wife in her efforts at chopping, who on sight of Kenton, seized the ax, and struck him a severe blow. He was sharply rebuked by the Indian guards, for trying to destroy their material for torture.

On their journey, they stopped at the village of the humane Logan, who immediately sent runners to Sandusky (his intended place of execution), to intercede for his life, but on their return, Logan in. formed him that be must go instantly to Sandusky. Thus was his poor soul harrowed with hope and fear. On his arrival, an Indian agent named Druyer, at the instigation of Logan, purchased him of the Indians, and in a speech, persuaded them to let him go to Detroit, where he remained till the following June, when he, with others escaped from the British. In this perilous adventure, he was forced to run the gauntlet eight times, tied to the stake three times, beaten and kicked, and struck with an ax, rolled and wallowed in the mud, and yet his powerful constitution resumed its wonted vigor when released, and he lived to the age of eighty-one.

About the year 1778, during the investment of Boonesborough, the want of salt created great suffering. Boone selected about thirty companions, and started for the salt springs on-the Licking River about a hundred miles north. His narrative is so characteristic, that we subjoin it here.

" On the 7th of February, as I was hunting to procure meat for the company, I met a party of one hundred and two Indians, and two Frenchmen on their march against Boonesborough; this place being particularly the object of the enemy. They pursued, and took me, and brought me the eighth day to the Licks, where twenty-seven of my party were, three of them having previously returned home with the salt. I, knowing it was impossible for them to

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escape, capitulated With the enemy, and at a distance in their view, ''gave notice to my men of their situation, with orders not to resist, but surrender themselves captives.

"The generous usage the Indians had promised before in my capitulation, was afterwards fully. complied with,, and we proceeded with them as prisoners to Old Chillicothe, the principal Indian town on the Little Miami (now Oldtown, in this county), where we arrived after an uncomfortable journey in very severe weather, on the 18th of February, and received as good treatment as prisoners could expect from savages."

It is related that Boone told a friend of his, that on this journey their supply of food became exhausted, and that they killed, and devoured all their dogs, and after this lived ten days on a decoction made from the inner white oak bark, which, after drinking, he could travel with any of them. Finally they killed a deer, and with that precaution taught by nature, boiled its entrails to a jelly, and drank it freely to prepare their stomachs for more substantial food. They offered it to Boone, but his stomach revolted, until they forced him to drink about half a pint which acted freely as a cathartic. The grimaces he made in swallowing it afforded much amusement to the savages, who we may imagine exclaimed. "No like much, heap no good." After his medicine had operated well, they allowed him to eat, informing him, that had he done so before, it would have killed him.

"On the 10th of March following," says he "I and ten of my men were conducted by forty Indians to Detroit, where we arrived the thirteenth day, and were treated by Governor Hamilton, the British commander at that post, with great humanity. During our travels, the Indians entertained me well, and their affection for me was so great, that they utterly refused to leave me there with the others, although the governor offered them one hundred pounds sterling for me, on purpose to give me a, parole to go home. Several English gentlemen there being sensible of my adverse fortune, and touched with humane sympathy, generously offered a friendly supply for my wants, which I. refused with many thanks for their kindness, adding, that I never expected it would be in my power to recompense such unmerited generosity."

By reason of the material aid rendered by the Indians, in their war against the colonies, the British dared not go to a length that would in any way displease them. They had taken a particular

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fancy to Boone, whose peculiarly quiet disposition pleased them, whose prowess as a hunter they admired, whose superior skill in all the artifices of border warfare was fully appreciated by them, and they indulged the hope, that by kind treatment they could induce him to live with them.

After remaining ten days in Detroit, having disposed of all their prisoners for a ransom, except Boone, they began the long and weary return, bringing him with them, to Old Chillicothe, on the Little Miami, in this county. In the language of one narrator, " The country they traversed, now so full of wealth, activity, and all the resources of individual and social happiness, was then a vast wilderness, silent and lonely. Still, in its solitude it was very beautiful, embellished with fertile plains, magnificent groves, and crystal streams." At Chillicothe he was formally adopted into the family of Blackfish, one of the most noted chiefs of the Shawanoes tribe.

We resume his own narrative. "At Chillicothe," he says, "I spent my time as comfortably as I could expect. I was adopted, according to their custom, into a family where I became a son, and had a great share in the affections of my new parents, brothers, sisters, and friends. I was exceedingly familiar and friendly with them, always appearing as, cheerful and satisfied as possible, and they put great confidence in me. I often went hunting with them, and frequently gained their applause for my activity at our shooting matches. I was careful not to excel them when shooting, for no people are more envious than they in their sport. I could observe in their countenances and gestures the greatest expressions of joy when they exceeded me, and when the reverse happened, of envy. The Shawanoes king took great notice of me, and treated me with profound respect and entire friendship, often trusting me to hunt at my liberty. I frequently returned with the spoils of the woods, and as often presented some of what I had taken to him, expressive of my duty to my sovereign. My food and lodging were in. common with them; not so good, indeed, as I could desire, but necessity makes everything acceptable."

The spirit of contentment. and friendship manifested by Boone, was not solely the result of artifice; for their kind and generous treatment of him, and his knowledge of the many wrongs they had suffered at the hands of the white man, had implanted a feeling of real sympathy for them in his bosom. Yet all this could not make him one of them. His thoughts were of his home, and

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the loved ones there, and his mind was ever active- in thinking of escape.

The process of adoption as performed by the Indians was both ludicrous and severe. First, the patient was taken to the water and scrubbed from head to foot, to wash all the white blood out ; then all his hair, with the exception of a tuft on the crown, was plucked out by the roots. This was allowed to grow long, and was ornamented with feathers and ribbons. This was the warriors' banner, and when he lost his colors he was emphatically "snatched baldheaded." His face was painted in the highest style of Indian art, after which he was taken to the council house, and addressed by the chief, who, with great ceremony and earnestness, went through 'the formalities of adoption.

Boone, now, with his painted face, feathers and ribbons, dress, and Indian toggery, was the " noblest Roman of them all," and '`with his bronze complexion could hardly be distinguished from a 'veritable redskin. Notwithstanding all this, his captors kept a constant though unobtrusive watch over him. They knew that while he was ostensibly contented, it was not human nature to be so; and while they allowed him to hunt alone, they measured his powder and counted his bullets. A five days' journey to Boonesborough could not be made without food, and by preventing him from accumulating ammunition, he could not procure food. He, however, circumvented this by cutting his balls in two, and loading with but! little powder, thus, little by little, laying away quite a store.

Early in June, they took him with then, about sixty miles east, to a salt "lick" on the Scioto River, for the purpose- of making salt. The savages being naturally averse to labor, and Boone having a thorough knowledge of the process, for the double purpose of getting the salt and preventing an opportunity of escape, kept him busy over the kettles all the time. After about two weeks' absence, they returned to the Little Miami with a good supply of salt.

On his return, Boone was struck with consternation on learning that during his absence a band of four hundred and fifty of their bravest warriors had been preparing to attack Boonesborough. What must have been that brave mail's agony over the impending slaughter of his wife and children ! He knew the post was unprepared for an attack, and too weak to resist it. He was compelled to attend their councils with a smiling face, while he was tortured

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with apprehension. He understood every word they said, although be cunningly led them to believe he was ignorant of their language. To allay their suspicions, he seemed to enter into their plans and co-operate with them. The time had come when he must attempt escape at all hazards, and alarm the fort. The least unwary or false move would arouse suspicion and redouble their vigilance; but so adroitly did he conceal his agitation that the Indians, entirely absorbed in their new enterprise, became less watchful.

We copy his biographer: "On the morning of the 16th of June, Boone arose very early to take his usual bunt. With his secreted ammunition, and the amount allowed him by the Indians for the day, he hoped to be able to save himself from starvation during his flight of five days through the pathless wilderness. There was a distance of one hundred and sixty miles between Old Chillicothe and Boonesborough. The moment his flight should be suspected, four hundred and fifty Indian warriors, breathing vengeance, and in perfect- preparation for the pursuit, would be on his track. His capture would almost certainly result in his death by the most cruel tortures, for the infuriated Indians would wreak upon him all their vengeance.

It is, however, not probable that this silent, pensive man, allowed these thoughts to disturb his equanimity. An instinctive trust in God seemed to inspire him. He was forty-three years of age, and in the knowledge of wood-craft and in powers of endurance no Indian surpassed him. Though he would be pursued by sagacious and veteran warriors, and by young Indian .braves, a pack of four hundred and fifty savages following with keener scent than that of the blood-hound, one poor victim, yet undismayed be entered upon the appalling enterprise. The history of the world perhaps presents but few feats so difficult, and yet so successfully performed; and yet the only record which this modest man makes in his autobiography, of this wonderful adventure is as follows

"On the 16th, before sunrise, I departed in the most secret manner, and arrived at Boonesborough on the 20th, after a journey of one hundred and sixty miles, during which I had but one meal."

It was necessary, as soon as Boone got out of sight of the village, to fly with the utmost speed, to put as great a distance as possible between himself and his pursuers, before they should suspect his attempt at escape. He subsequently learned that as soon as the Indians apprehended that he had actually fled, there was the most

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intense commotion in their camp, and immediately a large number of their fleetest runners and keenest hunters were put upon his trail. He dared not fire a gun. Had he killed any game, he could not have ventured to kindle a fire to cook it. He had secretly provided himself with a few cuts of dried venison, with which he could appease his hunger as he pressed forward by day and by night, scarcely allowing himself one moment for rest or sleep. His route lay through forests and swamps, and across many streams swollen by recent rains.

At length he reached the Ohio River. Its current was swift and turbid, rolling in a majestic flood half a mile in width, filling the bed of the stream with almost fathomless waters from shore to shore. Experienced as Colonel Boone was in wood-craft, he was not a skillful swimmer. The thought of how he should cross the Ohio had given him much anxiety. Upon reaching its banks he fortunately-may we not say providentially found an old canoe which had drifted among the bushes upon the shore. There was a large hole at one end, and it was nearly filled with water. He succeeded in bailing out the water and plugging up the hole, and crossed the river in safety. Then for the first time he so far indulged in a feeling of security as to venture to shoot a turkey, and kindling a fire, he feasted abundantly upon the rich repast. It was the only meal in which• he indulged during his flight of five days.

On his arrival at Boonesborough he was welcomed as one risen from the grave. Much to his disappointment, he found that his wife,' with his children, despairing of ever seeing him again, had left the fort and returned to the house of her father, in North Carolina.. She supposed the Indians had killed him, and, in the language of Boone, "oppressed with the distresses of the country, and bereaved of me, her only happiness, she had undertaken her long and perilous journey through the wilderness." Continues his biographer, " it is gratifying to record that she reached her friends in safety."

Boone found the fort, as he had apprehended, in a bad state of defense. His presence, his military skill, and the intelligence he brought, immediately inspired every man to his utmost exertion. The gates were strengthened, new bastions were formed, and provisions were laid in to stand a siege. Every thing was done that could be done, to repel an assault from, they knew not how many

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savages, aided by British leaders ; for the band from Old Chillicothe, was to be joined by warriors from several other tribes. In ten days Boonesborough was ready for the onset. These arduous labors being completed, Boone heroically resolved to strike consternation into the Indians by showing them that he was prepared for aggressive, as well as defensive warfare, and that they must leave behind them, warriors for the protection of their own villages.

Selecting a small party of but nineteen men, about the first of August, he emerged from Boonesborough, marched boldly to the Ohio, crossed the river, entered the valley of the Scioto, and was within four miles of au Indian town, Paint Creek, which he intended to destroy, when he chanced to encounter a party of thirty savages, painted, thoroughly armed, and on the war path to join the band advancing from Old Chillicothe. The Indians were attacked with. such vehemence by Boone, that they fled in consternation, leaving behind them three horses, and all their baggage. The savages also lost one killed, and two wounded, while they inflicted no loss whatever upon the white men. Boone sent forward some swift runners as, spies, and they speedily returned, with the report that. the Indians in a panic had entirely abandoned Paint Creek. Aware that the warriors would rush to join the four hundred and fifty from Old Chillicothe, and that they might cut off his retreat, or reach Boonesborough before his return, he' immediately commenced a rapid movement towards the fort. Every mail would be needed there for an obstinate defense. This foray had extended one hundred and fifty miles from the fort, and greatly alarmed the Indiana It emboldened the hearts of the garrison, and gave then intelligence of the approach of their foes. After an absence of but seven days, Boone with his heroic little band triumphantly re-entered the fort. We conclude in the language of Boone:

"On the 8th of August the Indian army arrived, being four hundred and fourty-four in number, commanded by Captain Duquesne (Dukane), eleven other Frenchmen, and some of their chiefs, and marched up in view of our fort, with British and French colors flying. And, having sent a summons to me in His Britannic Majesty's name to surrender the fort, I requested two days consideration, which was granted. It was now a critical period with us. We were a small number in the garrison; a powerful army before our walls, whose appearance proclaimed inevitable death ; fearfully painted, and marking their footsteps with desolation. Death was'

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preferable to captivity ; and if taken by storm, we must inevitably be devoted to destruction. In this situation, we concluded to maintain our garrison, if possible. We immediately proceeded to collect what we could of our horses, and other cattle, and bring them through the posterns into the fort; and in the evening of the ninth I returned the answer 'that we were determined to defend our fort while a man was living." ' Now,' said .I to their commander, who stood attentively hearing by statements, ' we laugh at your formidable preparations, but thank you for giving us notice, and time for our defense. Your efforts will not prevail, for our gates will forever deny you admittance.'

"Whether this answer affected their courage or not, I can not tell; but., contrary to our expectations, they formed a scheme to deceive us, declaring it was their orders from Governor Hamilton to take us captives, and not to destroy us; but if nine of us would come out and treat with them, they would immediately withdraw their forces from our walls, and return home peaceably. This sounded grateful in our ears, and we agreed to the proposal."

Boone's intimate knowledge of Indian character aroused his suspicions of treachery ; therefore, selecting nine of the bravest and strongest men, he appointed the place of meeting within one hundred and twenty feet of the walls of the fort, and arranged the riflemen of the garrison in such a position as to cover the spot, and at the least sign of treachery to fire.

The treaty was made on reasonable terms, and signed, after which Blackfish, Boone's adopted father, rose, and casting a not very angelic expression upon his recreant son, began a speech after the most approved style of Indian eloquence. After eulogizing the garrison and the beseigers, he dwelt upon the beauties of brotherly love between them, and closed by saying that on. all such occasions it was customary for them to ratify the treaty by two Indians shaking hands with each white man. This pitiful device was resorted to by the Indians with the hope that two of them might overpower the whites, take them prisoners, and by torturing them, compel the surrender of the fort, but the sagacious Boone had foreseen this.

Says Boone: "They immediately grappled us; but although surrounded by hundreds of savages, we extricated ourselves from them and escaped, all safe, into the fort, except one (Boone's brother), who was wounded through a heavy fire from the garrison."

After trying to undermine the fort, in which they were thwarted

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by the vigilance of Boone, and despairing of ever taking it, they, on the 20th of August, raised the siege and departed.

Thus ended a series of adventures, mostly enacted on Greene County soil, the most remarkable, the most perilous, perhaps, ever experienced by any single. individual. No active military operations, except Bowman's expedition, in 1779, an account of which will appear in the county history, took place in this vicinity until the summer of 1780, when G. B. Clarke organized about one thousand men in Kentucky, crossed the Ohio at the mouth of the Licking, and burnt and destroyed the crops at Old Chillicothe, then passed on to Piqua, on Mad River. The Shawanoes, after receiving this severe castigation, left this part of the country, and emigrated to the Great Miami, on which they built their new Piqua, in phenixian commemoration of the ashes of the old, as the meaning of the word is risen out of the ashes.

EARLY SETTLERS.

John and James Stephenson are, by some authorities, said to have settled in this township, a few miles from Xenia, in 1797. They came from Virginia, and bringing with them the aristocratic principles of the " Old Dominion," became influential men. The land on which they settled was formerly owned by John Paul, and sold to Jos. C. Vance at less than one dollar per acre.

According to Mr. Hugh Andrew, who came from Kentucky to this township in 1804, Matthew. Quinn came from Kentucky in 1803, and settled about six miles north of Xenia, and was his nearest neighbor, when he and his brother-in-law, Robert Armstrong, a Methodist preacher, first settled here, near the present site of the powder mills, in 1804, as above stated.

Ezekiel and David Hopkins came from Virginia, and located here in 1803. A man by 'the name of Spencer came this year, and squatted in Xenia Township, remained a short time, and removed to another township. James Clinsey settled in this county, and 'owned land partly in this township and partly in Sugar Creek; but this is doubtful. John Gregg made him a home in the woods, on the present site of the road from Oldtown to Clifton. Thomas Simson one-half mile from him on the right of the present road to Clifton. David Laughead on Clark's Run, eight miles east of Xenia. Also, a man by the name of John Ellis, came this year, cotemporary with

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him. Also, we find John Galloway, James, and George, on the Little Miami, near the present site of the powder mills. A short distance this side, Solomon McCullough cleared out a little patch and .put up a cabin. David Mitchell .bought land on Clark's Run, about eight miles east of Xenia, and lived on it till he died. The congregation of Rev. Robert Armstrong entered into a league to come in a body and form a colony in the country, and in pursuance of which they sent commissioners to select a location. Reporting favorably, they all came, except Thomas Scott and a man named Milligan, whose wives would not sign the deed for the conveyance of their land in Kentucky.

Mr. Hugh Andrew, now living in Xenia, emigrated to this town-. ship. from Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1804. The country then was in a perfect state of nature. The route over which he traveled, with a four-horse team, in company with William Gowdy, who moved his brother-in-law, Robert Armstrong, was wild and rough; no road nor trails. Camping out every night, they made their beds in the forest, with no house but the canopy of heaven ; and while tbe moon glinted through the waving branches of the forest, they enjoyed that sweet repose, that perfect health, a clear conscience alone can give. Mr. Armstrong selected and cleared out a location near the present site of the powder mills, on the Little Miami. At this time game of all kinds was abundant, such as deer, turkeys, with wolves, wild cats, and an occasional conger. The Indians made their headquarters at Roundhead's town, on Stony Creek, and about the first of May they camped along the Little Miami, and fished and hunted along the stream. One of their favorite methods of capturing deer was to place a large bush in the front part of their bark canoe; immediately back of this fix a torch light, then pushing their light craft noiselessly over the water, from behind this screen they could at night approach within easy shooting distance of the deer that came down to drink. The strange appearance of the light floating on the water would attract, and being very inquisitive animals, they would raise their heads to gaze upon it, and thus afford the hunter a fair mark, which he seldom missed. It may be a matter of wonder to some how a canoe could float on the Little Miami, but in 1804 the channel was much narrower, deeper, and contained more water, than now. The church used by Reverend Armstrong and his congregation was built of round, peeled hickory logs, without floor or windows.

424 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

The first winter buckskin was worn a great deal, which did very well in dry weather; but when it became wet it was entirely too affectionate, and when the breeches were hung up to dry they became so stiff that they required a goodly amount of beating before you could persuade them to go on, and then much coaxing to allow you to navigate without responding in many a pinch between the folds. Mr. Andrew says be was very anxious to have a buckskin suit, and persuaded his brother-in-law to get him two skins, and he hired a tailor to make them up. He was very proud of them until they got wet, and then he wished he had never seen them. One of the first houses in Xenia was next door east of the present site of the First National Bank. The first court in Xenia was held in it. Mr. -Andrew remembers it the more distinctly because an enterprising merchant had a bag of peaches at the root of an oak tree, and it was here, he says, he got his "first good fill of peaches in Greene County."

In 1805 Major Morrow settled about eight miles east of Xenia, in the neighborhood of the Kyles. William and Robert Kendall settled about two miles east of Xenia. A shoemaker named Alexander Ruff was the first man buried in Cemetery. Another man, by the name of Stephen Winters, built a cabin on Oldtownn Run, and in company with his brother James, lived there for some time. In the following year James Andrew came from Nashville, and settled about one-half mile from the powder mills, on this side of Yellow Springs.

Here there occurs a hiatus in Father Andrew's memory, and we pass over to 1812, when John Jacobi came from Pennsylvania, and bought the Oldtown mill. About this time, also, came the Kendalls. The little settlement now received accessions from South Carolina, in the Fergusons, who settled on the Clifton road. The settlements after this, as the Indian troubles abated, increased too rapidly, both by accession and internal growth, to be followed specifically.

LOCATION OF XENIA-A PREDICTION.

"Between the years 1825 and 1828," says Captain Ben Nesbitt, "I was walking along the road leading to the present village of Alpha, on the Dayton pike, when I saw a man approaching, mounted upon a flea-bitten, gray horse, whom C soon recognized as one

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Lewis Davis. Mr. Davis was on one of his annual visits from Cincinnati, to see his son Clabourn, who bore the amphibious surname of Shingledecker and Davis. Being well acquainted with the captain, then quite a boy, the old gentleman entered into a familiar conversation upon topics of general interest, among which was the improvement, growth, and future prospects of the surrounding country, and its great development since he first visited it. Growing enthusiastic, the old gentleman climbed down off his old horse, and sitting down by the roadside, and in. the course of his conversation upon the early settlers and their individual peculiarities, Jonathan Paul was mentioned, who, he said, in an early period entered land and built a cabin.

Upon one of his previous trips to see his boy, ' Claib,' he chanced to meet Paul, who told him that on his tract of land he purposed laying out the county seat, backing up his assertion by illustrating the feasibility, advantages of location, etc. Davis, who was a large land owner and veteran pioneer; and seemingly. possessed of an intuitive knowledge as to the direction of greatest development in a country, disagreed with Paul's opinions, and informed him that there never would be a county seat there. Taking his map from his pocket, and spreading it upon the ground, he proceeded to demonstrate the grounds of his dissenting. Premising by the remark that county seats naturally located themselves upon thoroughfares between points oil the Ohio on the south, and Lake Erie on the north, the southern point manifestly Cincinnati, and Sandusky the northern. Then placing the butt end of his riding-whip on Cincinnati, he dropped the small end on Sandusky, which, upon examination, cut the county at the forks of Shawanoes Creek. Placing his finger upon the spot now occupied by Xenia, he said, 'There will be the county seat..' He then pushed on to see his boy 'Claib.' After remaining a week or so, he returned to Cincinnati ; but upon approaching the cabin of his friend Paul, he found it vacant and locked. A few days subsequent he learned that Paul had, immediately after the conversation above mentioned, gone to Cincinnati and entered all the land in the vicinity, and upon which is located now the city of Xenia. Thus it would seem, from the conjunction of facts and prediction, that Xenia was located in the above manner."

In the selection of a county seat, the preference seemed at first in the direction of Caesarsville; but upon due deliberation the

426 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

present site of Xenia was determined upon, and on the 4th day of August, 1803, Joseph. C. Vance was, by the court., then sitting at the house of Peter Borders, appointed to survey the seat of justice. Giving bond in the sum of fifteen hundred dollars for the the faithful performance of his duties, with Joseph Wilson and David Huston as sureties, he proceeded to lay out and survey, in the autumn of the same year, the present. city of Xenia. The surrounding country then was a wilderness, in which the native denizens of the forest held high carnival. John Paul had previously bought this tract, and donated for public buildings, it is said, that portion bounded by Main, Market, Detroit, and Greene streets.

ORIGINAL SURVEY.

As we have seen, Joseph .C. Vance was appointed to lay. off and survey the town of Xenia. In the late case of Wright vs. Hicks, it has been shown, from evidence based upon the testimony of Levi Riddell (county surveyor), Hugh Andrew, a citizen ever since 1804, David Kline, C. L. Merrick, T. Drees, and Alfred Trader, that there was a stone set in the central point of junction, at the crossing of Main and Detroit streets, which said stone was about five inches square, with a cross cut on its crown at right angles, and a hole drilled in the center of the cross; that this said stone was the center of the corporation of the town of Xenia, and the starting point and governing monument for all subsequent surveys and lines run, or to be run, in and through said town.

In 1804, John Marshall purchased one of the lots, and erected a small log cabin. This little cabin, standing alone in the forest, was the nucleus of the present city of Xenia. The second log house was put up soon after, but we are unable to learn by whom. It is said that John and James Stephenson assisted in raising it. The town seems to have increased rapidly, for in 1805 there was a log school house erected for the education of the town children. The first hewed log house was built for Rev. James Towler, a Methodist preacher from Virginia. As the population increased, the refinement of taste discarded the old log cabin, with its rude, puncheon floor, and soon we see the frame standing proudly among its more humble log companions; its owner David A. Sanders. . The fact that Xenia was to be the county seat drew many citizens

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of the county to it as a future commercial center, and as a natural sequence its growth in the beginning was very rapid.

Among the earliest settlers here, we are able to record the following : John Paul, the first county clerk, and original proprietor of the town; Josiah Grover, the second county clerk, recorder, and auditor (these offices, in early times, residing in the same person). William A. Beatty was the first tavern keeper. Henry Barnes moved here and followed the carpenter trade. To be sure, there was not much elaborate walnut and a-sh finish, but the corners had to be carried up true,' and the roof well put on, and all things substantial, if not fancy; and we find that the characteristics of the people in those days were in harmony with their surroundingsplain, honest, artless, substantial, unassuming. Now, in mansions of tinseled blazonry, they are artful, cunning, deceitful. James Collier next opens up another tavern. With the increase of population dissensions arose, and we find a ponderous representative of the law in John Alexander. As legal suasion failed to bring about complete social reformation, moral and spiritual influences were introduced, in the person of Rev. John Towler. By this time, too, the settlers had worn out all. the clothes brought with them, and the keen eye of John Stull, seeing an opportunity to make money, moved in and set up a tailor shop, where he mended buckskin breeches and manufactured jeans and linsey. In those days "spring bottoms," Prince Alberts, and ulsters were not known, but the pants were made with one seam, and the coat of the wamus style, or hunting shirt.

As the children grew up, the necessity of an education was felt, and the services of Benjamin Grover were rendered in this direction as the first school teacher in Xenia. Logs were hauled, and wagons used and broken; plows among the roots and stumps did not last long; and soon we observe the village "smithy " in John Williams, son of Remembrance Williams, and father of Mrs. David Medsker. In those primitive days, when people raised flax, and made the material of their own clothes, spinning-wheels were an indispensable piece of furniture. This drew a wheelwright, in the shape of John Mitten, who also was a maker of chairs, when the time came for these articles to supersede the three-legged stool, that alone would stand upon the uneven puncheon floor. While Mr. Stull prepared material for the body, Mr. Wallace and Captain Stull converted the skins of animals into leather for the feet; and that

428 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

both extremities should be protected, we observe Jonathan Wallace making hats. The wants of the sick were relieved by Dr. Davidson. James and Samuel Gowdy were the first to gladden the eyes of the ladies with pioneer calico, which was worn on Sunday, and at weddings, and other serious occasions. About this time another lawyer appears, named William Ellsbury. More carpenters are required, and Abraham LaRue is seen with his kit. James Bunton was an early resident, and excellent carpenter and cabinet maker.

HOUSES.

The original houses built by the first settlers were rude log structures, with puncheon floors, clapboard roof, held down by weight poles, and doors made of split puncheons hung with wooden hinges, greased paper for window glass, and furniture to correspond. Of these, two are still standing upon their original foundation; one, a two story log, on the north side of west Main Street, on the first lot west of James M. Cooper's hardware store. This house was built in 1805 by Mr. Bonner, father of Frederick Bonner, for Rev. James Towler, as a parsonage. The other, the first house east of Samuel Holmes residence, was built by James Buntin, in 1806. He shortly afterwards sold it, and left the town. These houses are now both weather-boarded, and would not be recognized as the original cabins.

At this period, 1803 to 1805, the whole country around Xenia was one unbroken forest, beneath whose sylvan shades the timid deer lay down to rest; among whose branches the playful squirrel sported in freedom, the songs of birds made the forests redolent with music, and altogether a scene of natural beauty and harmony presented itself to the senses-delightful and enchanting. But as if nature could not blend in such harmony, the charm is broken by the dismal midnight howl of the wolf, or the blood-curdling whoop of the red man. Amid such surroundings our forefathers hewed a resting place for themselves, and planned for us the beautiful homes we now enjoy.

When the family of Mr. Bonner moved into their cabin, in 1803, there was a family about two miles south of them by the name of Price. Two miles north, on or near, the present villa of the Roberts heirs, lived Remembrance Williams and his family, in a small log hut. On the west, from the Little Miami to the crossing at

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Caesar's Creek of the Wilmington and Xenia pike, there was but one cabin. Near Oldtown run, about a mile and a half from Mr. R. Williams' hut, stood a, cabin, the only house this side of Massie's Creek, occupied by a. family of Stumps.

GAME.

It is said that at this time deer were as plentiful as hogs are now, while turkeys and pheasants made the forest resound with their gobbling and drumming. In the depths of the woods might be seen, at almost any time, the bear, wolf, panther, catamount, and wild-cat, who remained within their sequestered fastness during the day, and at the approach of darkness, sallied out in search of prey.

The valley through which the Little Miami Railroad now passes from Xenia to Cincinnati, literally swarmed with wolves. All the live stock of the early settler had to be driven in at night, and placed within strong enclosures. Even then, the ravenous prowlers had to be driven away by fire-brands, bells, and fire-arms.

Bands of Indian hunters frequently visited this locality when game was abundant. One of their principal hunting camps was situated on the ridge a short distance west of the present. residence of Mr. Wash. Stark. Their sole object was hunting, and they were never any cause of annoyance to the settlers.

Shortly after the arrival of Frederick Bonner, Sr., his son David was seized with a desire to see Xenia, of which he had often heard. Taking, therefore, his little brother Freddie with him, one morning, be started through the woods in the direction. of the town ; cutting his way through the underbush as he proceeded. After much labor and very slow progress they arrived at the bank of Shawanoes Creek, where it is crossed by the Cincinnati pike, and Dayton Railroad. After resting awhile, "Freddie's" curiosity being aroused, he insisted on going on to town, as he wanted to see it. But upon being informed that there were no houses there, his ardor subsided, and they retraced their steps along the road they had made, the first road into Xenia.

The first public road into Xenia from the south, extended from a village on the Ohio called Bullskin, north, to Urbana, from the former of which it received the euphonious name of the Bullskin road.

430 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

In 1805, William Gordon moved from Warren County to Xenia, and built and ran the first brewery in the town. It was a small log establishment, and stood near the present northeast corner of Water and Whiteman streets.

Mr. George Gordon, brother of William, helped move him here, but did not remain. He was here again in 1806, and assisted his brother in erecting a large log house, 40x40, which then included the site now occupied by the brick business rooms of Aschiem, on Main Street.

COLD FRIDAY.

On Friday, February 14, 1807, in a huge log cabin near the southeast corner of Main and Detroit streets, kept as a tavern by Major Beatty, there was, as usual, quite a crowd; and thinking the green wood was not giving out sufficient heat in the house, they emptied the contents of the fire-place into the middle of the street, declaring they would make it burn out there to suit themselves. While they were carrying the wood out, others stole the fuel prepared by James Kendall to burn. the brick for the new court house ; each party actuated, it would seem, by the spirit, called devilishness, in a mild form.

In connection with the above, we append a contribution, with a few changes, from Mr. "I. S. O.," who says that Frederick Bonner, Sr., and John Sale, emigrated from Dinwiddie County, Va., (see county 'history). The neighborhood of Union derived its name from four surveys of land, upon which the following persons located In 1803 and 1804, Frederick Bonner, John Sale, and James Butler; in 1805, T. Perkins, and a Mr. Gary ; in 1806, Tinsley Heath, James and John Loyd, John Fires, Lewis and Isaac Maitland, Horatio and Bennet Maxey, and Peter Pelham; in 1811, Phillip Davis; and about the same time, also, Samuel Wright, father of Thomas Coke Wright, George Wright, and William Owens.

This was a. strong Methodist community, and meetings were at once organized, and discourses were held at the house of Mr. Bonner, while the stately patriarchs of the forest waved their branches over the heads of these devout pioneers, who thought it not wrong to worship God amidst the profound stillness of his own creation.

In this connection, we reproduce a sketch of David Medsker, who was born in Highland County, in 1807, and came to Xenia

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November 6, 1829, entering into the business of an undertaker.

Mr. Medsker's memory was very retentive, and in his seventysecond year the incidents of the earthquake of 1812 remained vividly portrayed upon his mind. Coeval with this, he remembered his father's return from Hull's surrender.

Previous to the organization of Woodland Cemetery, in 1847, of which Mr. Medsker was a director, there existed four cemeteries, namely : The German Reformed, oil Church Street, abandoned upon the organization of Woodland; the Methodist, on Water Street, sold by order of court; the Gowdy, or Associate Reformed, also on Water Street; and the Associate, corner of Market and West streets, abandoned, and reverting to the heirs of Major Galloway, was by them sold to the Board of Education, who twelve years ago built upon it the first ward school house. The first person buried in the new cemetery was a daughter of William Hollingshead, His first experience in lining coffins was in Xenia, in 1835. The material used was white paper, which not pleasing him was abandoned, muslin henceforth superseding it. This coffin was made for Philip Davis, of Union settlement., who was buried iii the then fashionable short breeches and knee-buckles. He loved to relate anecdotes about the professional cryers, or hired mourners, in early days, and of a professional contest with them. They endeavored to beat him to the house, in order to put in a sufficient amount of mourning to sustain their reputation. He was as equally determined, and by redoubling his efforts got the corpse inside the coffin just as the professionals arrived, and before they got under good headway. On another occasion these crying muezzens went without an invitation, entered the room, and began their work most vociforously, when the head of the house laid violent hands on them, and put them out, with the information that the relatives could do the mourning.

He once had a comical experience with a clergyman, Dr. Asbury Lowry. We relate it in the original. It. appears the old gentleman was for many years a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Xenia, and Lowry was the pastor. Mr. Medsker, on account of his business, was not able to attend meeting or class regularly, and had several times been lectured for his absence by Lowry. Finally Lowry went to him, and had in his hand a large club, or cane, and raising it threatened him that. if he did not come to church he would cut him off. Medsker told him to cut and be

432 -HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

darned. Soon afterwards he again attacked him in a grave-yard, just after a funeral, and within hearing of the persons assembled. Medsker grew to dislike Lowry very much. One day Lowry met Medsker in a store, and dunned him for a subscription to assist in purchasing the seminary. Medsker had intended giving something to what he deemed a good cause, but disliking the parson, in reply to his solicitation he made this proposition : "Look here, Lowry, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll give you fifty dollars, if you will agree never to speak to me again." Lowry accepted the offer, and Medsker drew his check for the amount and gave it to him. Not long after, Medsker chanced to go to the front door of his dwelling, and saw Lowry stepping (measuring) off the large stone in front of his house. At once Lowry commenced begging him for the stone, saying it was wider than the law allowed on a pavement, but was just the thing they wanted for the seminary. Medsker replied : "Didn't I give you fifty dollars never to speak to me again ?" Lowry bowed his head, walked off, and never made another effort at conversation with him.

In his half a century of business life as an undertaker, Mr. Medsker affirms that he has interred nearly as many people as are now composed in the present population of Xenia, or over seven thousand. It is believed that few persons living have buried so many people. Certainly Mr. Medsker's experience has been most remarkable in this direction.

It may be observed in this connection, that inasmuch as we are upon a grave subject, we may as well continue the strain, and as a cotemporary of Mr. Medsker introduce Mr. David B. Cline, who came originally from Bucklestown, Berkerly County, Virginia, and first settled in Milford, (now Cedarville, Greene County,) in 1827, on the 28th day of April. He subsequently moved to Xenia, in April, 1834, and worked during the first year of his residence for the corporation, grading and improving the streets, and occasionally in the capacity of brick-nason, in the employ of Bazil Kiler. We can present this reminiscence in no better shape than it appeared in the "Gazette "

For six years following this, he drove a hack to and from Cincinnati, Dayton, and Springfield, and many were the jolts and thumps he received while driving over the old corduroy roads of those days. There was then a very bad piece of road just north of Yellow Springs. Many of the poles had rotted through, and for

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a long distance there was a continuance of chuck-holes, very rough and difficult of passage. It was the custom of the hack drivers, when coming to this place, to start their horses on a lively run, making the passage so rapidly that the wheels of the vehicle would jump from pole to pole, clearing nearly every chuck-hole at a bound.

In the autumn of 1847, Mr. Cline was engaged to assist in surveying Woodland Cemetery. In November, the surveyor being absent for some time, he laid out the first lot and dug the first grave in the cemetery. He took charge of it in 1848, as sexton, and continued in the position for many years, and amid all the rage of excitement during the cholera year, he remained faithfully at his post of duty. In the mouths of July and August, 1848, he buried the remains of eighty-five who had died of that disease. The first victim of the plague here was a stranger, who died at the depot, in June. Mr. Cline had received orders to dig the grave, and with the assistance of an Irishman, whom he had employed, had prepared the grave and was awaiting the arrival of the corpse, when he was called to another part of the grounds to assist the surveyor a few moments, and directing Pat to aid in lowering the coffin, place the boards above it in the order of their number, and fill up the grave, he left him. Pat, who had expressed himself as "devil a bit afraid o' the disaze," stood his ground until he saw the hearse approaching, when he started immediately in an opposite direction, and Mr. Cline who was just returning, saw him go over the back fence. He never made his appearance again till the next winter, when he returned for some money due him for work, and urged as an excuse for his sudden departure " that indade he had jist resaved a letter from his brother, and had to be off immajetly to avide losin' some money." When reminded that there was no post-office in the cemetery, he was completely dumfounded, and slunk away in silence.

When the body of Hillory Neil, who was the first citizen of Xenia to die with . the cholera, was taken to the cemetery, Mr. Cline, not having received notice in sufficient time, did. not have the grave ' ready to receive it. One of the men who accompanied the corpse grew impatient at the delay, and stepping up to Mr. Cline said : " Can't you keep a few graves dug ahead, and not wait till a man dies, acid you get an order before you begin the work, and thus keep us waiting?" "Certainly," replied Mr. Cline,

434 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

"if you will take the measure of the people before they die; and if you think that a good idea, I will just take your measure right here, and when they haul you out, will put you in without delay." This put a quietus upon his enthusiasm, and he did not leave his measure.

The next morning a negro in the employ of Medsker came to the cemetery with the body of Mrs. Neil. The fellow became uneasy when he found the grave not quite prepared, and. proposed leaving the coffin on the ground, and returning to town forthwith. When asked why no one came with him, he replied that three had started; but when, on arriving at the cemetery, he looked around for them, " dey was no wha to be found." " Well," said Mr. Cline, " if they all run o f I will, too, and you can stay here with that corpse and bury it." At this, the darkey came to terms at once, and agreed to stay and help lower the remains. Shortly after this bad been done, the missing trio arrived, so drunk that they had lost sight of the hearse, and gone in some other direction. One reckless fellow, named "Last" George, who stuttered terribly, now rendered worse confounded by whisky, informed Mr. Cline that "they ha-ha-had be-been hi-hi-hired by-by the cow-. -ow-council to lay out the corpses of them tha-that died wi-with the chol-cholera, take 'em to the cem-cemetery, and bur-bury 'em, for fo-four dollars a he-head; think there's a speculation in it." He then asked Mr. Cline how many graves he could dig that day, who in reply asked him how many he wanted, and who was dead. He answered that he thought they would need four or five; that no one else was dead yet that he knew of, but that they had stopped at Mr. McCune's as they came along, and he thought there would be two or three dead by the time they got back to town.

Going immediately to town himself, Mr. Cline met two of the councilmen on the street, and told them that he had come to get their measures for their graves. They answered in great surprise,

'Why ! what's the matter, Cline?" Mr. Cline retorted that any councilmen who would employ a set of drunken men to bury the lead in such A trying time, ought to be buried themselves. Then explaining the matter to them, the worthless fellows were discharged.

As the cases increased, people became frightened, and it was very difficult to procure grave diggers. Sometimes four or five men would be required before one grave was finished.

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On one occasion, a man came from Spring Valley, in great haste, and left the measure of a person who had died there in the morning of cholera, and urged him to hurry up, as the procession was then on the way. Although this was about 11 o'clock, the grave was ready by 1 o'clock, and Mr. Cline waited, expecting every moment to see the procession, till sunset. He then went to supper, and when going up town he met a man in advance of the hearse, at the corner of Main and West streets, whom he questioned as to the cause of delay. " Why," said this individual in astonishment, "the. fellow didn't die till this evening. I was talking with him until 4 o'clock this afternoon, myself."

One young man-a blacksmith-went to the cemetery in the afternoon, selected a half lot, and ordered a grave for his wife's sister, who had died at his house, and who was accordingly buried
that evening. The next morning Mr. Cline received an order to dig a grave for the young man himself, who was then dead, and whose remains were interred before 10 o'clock the same day.

Such were the terrible ravages of this fell destroyer. After the disease had somewhat abated, and the excitement subsided, while going one day towards the cemetery he was accosted by an old acquaintance with, "Halloo, Cline! is it possible this is you ? I 'thought you were dead." "No; guess I am not dead yet," was the answer. " Well,, I heard that while digging a grave for another fellow, you took suddenly sick, died within a few hours, and was buried in the same grave you had been digging."

Mr. Cline took charge of the cemetery when it existed only in name; not laid off; only inclosed by a rail fence; no house for a sexton; no place for tools; and when the individual notes of the board were outstanding to pay for the grounds. he assisted in laying out the lots and avenues, set out the pine tree in the center of the mound, and planted the others along the avenues; set out the hedge fence around the grounds, and improved them generally. Besides attending to his duties as sexton, he rendered great assistance in selling lots, and in overcoming an existing prejudice against purchasing them, and disinterring the bodies at the old grave-yard and re-interring them in the new. He exhumed many bodies from the Methodist, German Reformed, and Beall burying-grounds, and placed them in Woodland. To such an extent, indeed, did he pursue this occupation, that Medsker used to call him the "old resurrectionist." After resigning the charge of the .cemetery, Mr. Cline

436 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

was elected street commissioner for two years. With one brief exception, Mr. Cline has been a permanent citizen of this county for over fifty years, and a citizen of Xenia over forty-five years.

OLDTOWN.

The village of Oldtown is located about three miles north of Xenia, on Oldtown Run, not far from its confluence with Massie's Creek. As has been previously observed, its original name was Chillicothe. To prevent confusion with other towns of the same ' name, it was first called Old Chillicothe, and finally Oldtown, by which it is now known.

The original proprietors, we are informed, were Daniel Lewis and David Monroe. In a previous chapter we have treated somewhat of its early history, and shall, therefore, confine ourselves to a cursory view of it here. The original plat, by Moses Collier, the first surveyor, was received for record February 6, 1839, although it had existed some time prior to this. Its population in 1870 was over two hundred, and in 1880 about the same. In 1870 it had one shoemaker, one blacksmith, one distillery, one grocery, two wagon makers, one firm, dealers in flour, etc.

It seems that the first house was built by William Thorn, between the years 1812 and 1815. The next one was built by Amasa Reed, in 1815. In 1817, Orrin North and Joseph Bullard came from Connecticut here, and started a blacksmith and wagon-making shop. Caleb West built in about 1817, and in connection with Reed, carried on a cabinet shop on the premises now occupied by a barn, formerly owned by William North. Up to the year 1830, or 1835, there were but six houses, owned respectively by Joseph Bullard, Orrin North, David Strathen, Malen Strathen, and John Jacobi.

The first tavern was a log house, still standing, situated nearly in the center of town, about 20x20, low ceiling, only one room, with bar and dining-room at the north end. Many au Indian buck has wet his guzzle here with the fire-water of the pale-face, which exciting his frenzied imagination, gory scalps and screaming women danced before his vision.

This was a favorite rendezvous on muster day, and tangle-foot flowed without stint, stimulating the sham soldier into the realities of a sanquinary conflict, that often ended, not in gun-shot wounds, but in harmlessly bloody noses and obstructed vision.

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This village is noted as being located near the spot marking the adventures of the celebrated Simon Kenton. About a mile northeast of town, at the end of the prairie, behind the bluff, on Massie's Creek, is supposed to be the spot where the horses were stolen. The spot upon which the council house is said to have been located is now marked by a house about seventy-five yards southwest of the Methodist Church, and occupied by William Hulbert. The point frona which he started on his perilous race is supposed to be near the site of the mill now owned by Francis M. Linkhart, about a half mile from the Methodist Episcopal Church, that being about the distance run.

As we stood upon the spot, and beheld the peaceful security in which the domestic animals were resting, some feeding, some standing in the shade of the trees, our mind ran back to over one hundred years ago, when a solitary man was bound to the ground by thongs and stakes, lacerated and bleeding.., The scene changing, he is led forth, amid the taunts and imprecations of his revengeful foes. He looks in vain for one friendly eye among the lowering, dusky fiends. Not one glance responds in pity. The aisle is formed, bristling with instruments of torture. With hope and fear alternately chasing each other like tidal waves, he lifts his naked arms above his head, and flies down the angry course.

IMPROVEMENTS.

Having given, in so far as possible, the early settlers of this township, and their place of location up to a date when their great numbers rendered it impossible to enumerate, we now shall endeavor to note the various improvements developed in the township, as it approached its present state of perfection. In the first place, for the conservation of moral and social equilibrium, it was necessary to organize courts of justice. We shall deal only with the courts that were held within this township, and leave for the county history the first court.

The first court held in Xenia, convened November 15, 1804, at the house of William A. Beatty, a structure previously described as the second house erected in Xenia. It was a double-hewed log house, peculiar to those times. In the west room, up stairs, was held the court. Its owner paid a license of eight dollars, and kept tavern, with a bar room, the first institution of the kind in Xenia.

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It seemed that justice and whisky did not flow harmoniously from the same faucet, and during court many cases were manufactured on the spot through the agency of rot-gut and tangle-foot. For ten or more years it was the grand hotel, until it-was superseded by a brick structure, erected by a Mr. James Collier, on Detroit Street. It is said that in the corner of one room a counter or bar was put up, enclosed by upright slats, between which the whisky was passed out in small drinks. In the center, was a little wicket for the general delivery. During the war of 1812, this was the headquarters for the recruiting officers, who first inspired their audience to a frenzied pitch of enthusiastic patriotism by liberal infusions of grog, then with the more tangible inducement of silver dollars, closing up with a fiery speech delivered from the head of a whisky barrel. Court was held in this house until the erection of the new house.

The first punishment for crime was in 1806. The person was convicted for stealing leather to half-sole a pair of shoes. There was a sugar tree in the public square, which was utalized as a whipping-post. To this he was tied while he underwent the sentence of the court, which was one stripe on his bare back, administered by James Collier. This tree served as a public whipping-post until 1808. On the 8th of October, this year, a man was convicted for stealing a shovel-plow and clevis. Sentence was passed that he should receive. eight stripes on his bare back, "and stand committed until performance." Swallowing a pint of corn juice, he embraced the tree, and despite, the anaesthetic vociferated loudly in response to the descending lash. With this, the barbarous custom was abolished, and more humane, if less potent modes of punishment devised.

POWDER MILLS.

About the year 1846, a powder mill was erected on the Little Miami, near the site of the old scythe factory, by three men named Austin, who immediately began the manufacture of gun powder, under the firm name of Austin Brothers, and continued until 1852, when the firm changed to Austin, King & Co., by the purchase of an interest by J. W. King. About 1855, the Austin interest was purchased, and the enterprise was incorporated under the name of Miami Powder Company. At that time, the country being comparatively new, the business Was carried on in a relatively small

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scale. The company by industry and economy, however, built up a good and prosperous business, adding in the mean time new machinery, and increasing its capacity as well as capital. Until about 1871, when it attained its present condition, consisting of five mills, for incorporating the material called wheel, or incorporating mills, with sufficiency of other mills, successfully to handle the material. The water power proving inadequate, a heavy steam engine was substituted, which has continued in operation ever since.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Carrying on the prominent features of improvement, we learn from statistics gathered in 1874, that in the city, and vicinity within this township, beginning with public buildings, one court house, one city hall, now elevated to a beautiful opera house, two fine engine houses, United Presbyterian Theological Hall, Soldiers' and 'Sailors' Orphans' Home, Methodist Episcopal Female College, Presbyterian Union Female Seminary, Greene County Infirmary, Wilberforce University, five public school buildings, four of which are graded in four departments, the other containing the high school, grammar school, and three other schools. One of these building is devoted to the use of the colored population, and embraces four departments.

It is said that about the year 1824, Roberts & Chaing threw a dam across the river, near the site of the lower powder mill, and erected a scythe factory, which continued for a number of years, but was finally abandoned.

A rope manufactory, agricultural works, and numerous minor establishments.

BANKS.

First National Bank.- In the year 1835 the Bank of Xenia was organized, and began business June 1st of that year. First president, John H. Hivling; second president, John Ewing; first cashier, Henry Clark; second cashier, E. F. Drake. In 1846 this bank was organized, under the state law of Ohio, as the Xenia Branch of the State Bank of Ohio. President, Abraham Hivling; cashier, E. F. Drake. After continuing until 1848, . Mr. Drake resigned, and his place was filled by J. W. Merrick, then acting as teller.

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At his death, which occurred in, John B. Allen was appointed as his successor.

Second National Bank.- Organized March 7, 1864. Capital, $100,000. Surplus, $30,000. First president, James Allison (died August, 1864) ; second president, and present incumbent, Thomas P. Townsley; first vice-president, and present incumbent, David Millen; first cashier, and present incumbent, John S. Ankeny.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

Masons.-On December 31, 1818, a petition was presented to the grand lodge, signed by Joshua Martin, William F. Elkins, J. Smith, Caleb West, Abner Read, Amasa Read, Orestus Roberts, all Free and Accepted Masons, praying for the organization of a lodge in Xenia. From the charter, it seems that the seal of the grand lodge was affixed at Columbus, December 17, 1819, and of Masonry the 5819, signed by A. McDowell, senior grand warden; Joseph Vance, junior grand warden; Benjamin Gardiner, grand secretary; and on the left signed by John Snow, grand master.

Warner Lodge, No. 410. Organized April 7, 1868. Charter members: W. M. North, J. H. Matthews, R. H. King, S. J. Ridenour, W. Newton, J. M. Thirkield, J. H. Sharp, and F. M. Shipley. Samuel C. Elwell, worshipful master; Leigh McClung, senior warden; E. P. Hoover, junior warden.

Odd-Fellows.-Xenia Lodge, No. 52, was instituted November 4, 1845, by Past Grand H. N. Clark, of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, with the following charter members: William M. Stark, John W. Merrick, A. M. Stark, E. S. Nichols, Peter Kepler, C. Wittrim, and L. P. Defrees. It is the parent of Odd-fellowship in this county. It has at present one hundred and forty-seven active members, and about $3,300 of investments.

Tabor Lodge, No. 315, was instituted June 11, 1857, by Right Worthy Grand Master William Chidsey, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Charter members : D. R. Foreman, F. A. Loyed, Levi Rader, J. M. Newkirk, F. E. Hubbard, and W. C. M. Baker. First officers: D. R. Foreman, noble grand; Levi Rader, vice grand; W. C. M. Baker, secretary; John F. Dodds, permanent secretary; F. A. Loyed, treasurer. On the 10th of October, 1862, Tabor Lodge voted to surrender her charter, which was accordingly done. By request,

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the grand lodge, May 10, 1871, restored the charter. The present number of members is eighty.

CHURCHES.

United Presbyterian.-At a meeting of the presbytery, held at Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky, September 28, 1808, a petition was presented from certain persons in Xenia, Ohio, desiring supplies of preaching from the presbytery. In accordance with this petition, Rev. Abraham Craig was appointed to preach at Xenia on the fifth Sabbath of October, and first Sabbath of November, 1808. Mr. Craig also preached four Sabbaths in Xenia in 1809. In 1810 Mr. Steel was appointed to preach four Sabbaths in Xenia, previous to the next meeting of the presbytery. April 24, 1810, Mr. Steel was appointed to preach at Xenia, and preside at the election and ordination of elders in this congregation. The regular organization of the congregation, therefore, must have taken place in 1810. In 1811, Rev. Adam Rankin and Rev. William Baldridge were appointed to preach in Xenia. In 1813, a petition was presented for the moderation of a call, which was the first call for a pastor. It was made out for the Rev. James McCord, but never presented. Rev. McCord connected himself with the Presbyterian Church, and the call was returned to the congregation.

During the year 1814, Revs. Rankin and Craig frequently preached at Xenia, and on the second Sabbath of that year dispensed the Lord's Supper, which is the first account on record of the observance of that holy ordinance in this congregation. In 1815-'16, Revs. Risque, McFarland, and Steel were frequently appointed to fill the vacancy at Xenia. In 1817, a call was made out for Rev. John Steel, which he accepted, removed to Xenia in 1817, and took charge of the congregation, with which he continued to labor until 1836, a period of nineteen years: He was the means of converting many souls to God. On account of his infirmities, and a desire to educate his sons for the ministry, he resigned in 1836, and on January 11, 1837, was, called to the great congregation in heaven.

As illustrative of pioneer life, we give an extract from Mr. Steel's journal:

"On the 17th day of April, 1808, we set out from a point near Maysville, Kentucky. After crossing the Ohio, we lay out in the

442 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

woods all night, and reached Chillicothe on the evening of the 20th. Preached at Chillicothe from Romans 10: 4 : also, Romans 14: 17; probably the first preaching to the Associate Reformed congregation in Chillicothe."

On the 13th of May he crossed the Little Miami in a canoe, making his horse swim by its side, and preached at the house of Mr. (afterward governor) Morrow.

"17th, preached at the house of Mr. Beckett; 20th, preached at the house of Mr. Shaw, on Clear Creek. On the 21st of May, preached at the house of Mr. McKnight, near Bellbrook. On the evening. of the 22d of May, staid at the house of Mr. Galloway, near Old Chillicothe, who was the father of our worthy and deceased brother, Major James Galloway."

After his resignation, in 1836, the organization remained without a pastor for two or three years, when a call was made out for James R. Bonner, and by him accepted. Mr. Bonner continued to preach for about eight years. When he resigned, another vacancy occurred for two or three years. In October, 1845, Rev. Robert D. Harper visited the congregation, accepted their call the next year, and was ordained and installed. In 1870 he was succeeded by Dr. Morehead, who served until 1875, when Dr. Thomas H. Hanna was called, who in turn gave place, in 1880, toWright, present pastor.

The Second United Presbyterian congregation, of Xenia, is the old associate congregation, continued under this as its name since the union of the Associate and Associate Reformed churches in the year 1858.

It has been claimed, and we suppose correctly, that, though the Associate church had organized congregations in Greene County before the Associate Reformed, still the latter had its organized congregation in Xenia before the former. Hence, since the union of these churches, the Associate Reformed has been known as the First United Presbyterian congregation of Xenia, and the Associate as the second.

Organization.-The immigration into Greene County of Associate Presbyterians, especially from Kentucky, which began near the close of the last century, increased rapidly, and two congregations were soon organized, called, in the minutes of the Presbytery of Kentucky, sometimes the Greene County congregations, sometimes the congregations of Massie's Creek and Sugar Creek. Soon thereafter,

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a log building, as a house of worship, was erected by the Massie's Creek congregation, on the lot immediately adjoining what is now called the Massie's Creek old burying ground. About the same time, a log building for the same purpose, was erected by the Sugar Creek congregation, about two miles north of Bellbrook. The members of the Associate church, in and around Xenia, belonging to the Massie's Creek, and Sugar Creek congregations-chiefly the former. In 1804, Rev. Robert Armstrong, who had been the pastor of the great majority of these immigrants while in Kentucky, was installed over then again as their pastor in these congregations in Ohio. These congregations were under the joint supervision of one session. As far back as 1811, this joint session included the following ruling elders. namely: Messrs. Joseph Kyle, (grandfather of Messrs. Joseph and D. M. Kyle, of this congregation), Thomas Simpson, John Gregg, Hugh Hamill, George Galloway and James Morrow, residing in Massie's Creek congregation, and Messrs. James Bain, John Torrence, and William Turnbull, residing in Sugar Creek. On the 2d day of April, 1813, a new minute-book made its appearance, called the minute-book of the session of Xenia and Sugar Creek congregations. This session, like that. of Massie's Creek, and Sugar Creek, formerly had joint supervision of these two congregations. The first meeting of this joint session noticed in this book was held on August 2, 1813. Ruling elders present, William Turnbull, John Torrence, Hugh Hamill, and James Bain. Mr. Turnbull shortly afterwards removed into Massie's Creek congregation. Whether any meetings of this session were held, previous to this one, we do not know. If there were, the minutes can not be found. This much, however, is certain-this session, as a session, had an existence before that time. In the minutes of the presbytery of Kentucky for October, 1813, we find the following extract from the minutes of the associate synod of May, 1813, namely "The petition of the associate congregations of Xenia, and Sugar Creek to be disjoined from the Presbytery of Kentucky, and annexed to the Presbytery of Chartiers" was granted. Here we find the congregation of Xenia mentioned in May, 1813, as then an organized congregation. Tracing the history still farther back, we find it was in an organized condition on October 13, 1812; also on April 21, 1812, and yet father back still, on the 21st of October, 1811. In the minutes of the Presbyter of Kentucky for October 21, 1811, we find this record, namely: "Two petitions were presented, one

444 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

from Massie's Creek, and Sugar Creek congregations, praying for the moderation of a call, which was unanimously granted." Again in the minutes of that presbytery for April 21, 1812, we find this record, namely: "A call from Greene County congregation for Rev. Wm. Hume, accompanied with two petitions, was presented and read."

Church Buildings.-During the first two or three years of its existence, this congregation ordinarily met for divine worship in the court house of that clay. In the year 1814 its first house of worship was built. It was a stone structure, perhaps 50x35 feet, and stood on the lot immediately west of the lot on which the present church building stands. In that house the congregation worshiped twenty-six years. In 1840 the present house of worship, 75x57 feet, was erected. In 1857 an improvement was made upon it by the addition of six feet to its hight, two pilasters, standing one at each front corner, and two towers, standing at proper distances between the pilasters. In 1877 the present lecture room, 40x26 feet, was built.

Boundary Lines.-When this congregation was organized, the principle of elective affinity as regulating congregational connection was. not regarded with favor. It was a time of congregational boundary lines. Accordingly, the first thing in order to organization was, as we have already seen, the establishing of a dividing line between Massie's Creek congregation on the one hand, and Xenia and Sugar Creek on the other. This line ran nearly north and south, and about one and a half or two miles east of Xenia at its nearest point. There was no clearly defined line between Xenia and Sugar Creek congregations until January 14, 1822. Though the session was a joint session, having the supervision of both congregations, and all the members of the two congregations took part in the election of members of the session, still it was the understanding that they should have each about the same number of elders and deacons. Moreover, it had always been the understanding that each congregation was responsible for its proportion of the pastor's salary. Both these things supposed a tacit understanding of a dividing line. Yet, to guard more certainly against difficulty, it was decided to have this line definitely fixed. This was done at the date above named. This line ran nearly north and south, and directly past Mr. Thomas Ginn's (now Mr. John Ginn's). Again the congregation of Massie's Creek, in 1827, removed the place of

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worship from its old site to the present location, on the farm of the late Mr. William Collins. In consequence of this removal, a number of families of that congregation were nearer to Xenia than to Massie's Creek new church, and therefore petitioned presbytery to be disjoined. from Massie's Creek and annexed to Xenia. This petition was granted. The result was the removal of the dividing line from one and a half to two miles further east, and the annexation of some fourteen families of Massie's Creek to Xenia congregation. Further, the congregation of Sugar Creek, in 1833, removed their place of worship from the old log church north of Bellbrook, and located it on the farm of Mr. Samuel Holmes. This movement removed the place of worship so far from those families of the congregation residing between the Little Miami River and the western boundary of Xenia congregation, that the result ultimately was the transference, by presbytery, of these families to the latter congregation, thus virtually establishing the above named river as a new boundary line between the two congregations, and it so continues to this day.

Ruling Elders.-The ruling elders residing within the limits of the two congregations, and constituted by act of presbytery, October 21, 1811, at the first session, were William Turnbull, John Torrence, James Bain, and Hugh Hamill.

Trustees.- William McClellan, James Galloway, Jr., and James Winter, appointed March 26, 1814.

Pastor.-As many will feel an interest in knowing, not only those who became actual pastors, but also those who were called but declined accepting, we will give both classes.

Rev. William Hume, brother-in-law of Rev. R.. Armstrong, and at that time pastor of the associate congregation of Nashville, Tennessee. The call on him was moderated in 1811, or early in 1812. On October 13, 1812, Mr. Hume, having referred the disposal of this call to the presbytery, that court, after much deliberation and with great hesitancy, decided against transfering.

The call on Mr. Francis Pringle was moderated by appointment of Chartiers Presbytery, most probably in 1813. Sustained by that presbytery, April 13, 1814, accepted July 19, 1814. Mr. Pringle was ordained by that. presbytery, at Mt. Pleasant, Washington County, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1814, and, in pursuance of the appointment of that presbytery, installed by Rev. Robert Armstrong, on the second Wednesday of January, 1815. From this

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pastoral relation he was released by death, on March 15, 1818. The minutes of session give neither the names nor number of those received into membership during Mr. Pringle's pastorate. The uniform oral testimony, however, was that the congregations greatly prospered under his ministry. He was greatly beloved by his people. They regarded him as an able minister, and yet not so eminent for his talents as for his piety and faithfulness. In 1817, in consequence of failing health, he went to North Carolina, to visit his brother, Rev. James Pringle, pastor of the associate congregation of Steel Creek, of that state, and died of consumption at the time above indicated. His brother James died of fever the following October. It is sufficiently remarkable to be noted, as one has said, that these two brothers died in the same house, in the same room, and in the same bed; they were laid in the same grave, and the same monument records their excellence and end. It. appears that a sermon was shortly after preached in Xenia congregation, by Rev. R.. Armstrong, having special reference to Mr. Pringle's death.

From the defect in the minutes of session already referred to, in neglecting to give either the names or number of persons admitted to membership, we are unable to give the number of accessions from the close of Mr. Pringle's pastorate to the commencement of the next-a period of two years and six months.

Mr. Robert Douglass. balled May 5,1819. The called declined.

Dr. Thomas Beveridge, having been requested by the session of this congregation to give a sketch of his pastorate in Xenia and Sugar Creek congregations, gave the following

"Having been licensed by the Associate Presbytery of Chartiers in August, 1819, my appointments led me, among other places, to Xenia and Sugar Creek, which congregations I reached the 1st of November, 1819. I preached alternately in the two congregations during that month; and the last two Sabbaths of the succeeding January. The two congregations united in a call to me, February 28, 1820. The salary promised was $500, considered at that time very liberal. The Presbytery of Kentucky, as it was then called (afterward Miami), consisted of only three ministerial membersMessrs. Armstrong, Hume, and Kennedy and these at great distances from each other. In consequence of this, the call was sent to the Presbytery of Cambridge, New York, to be presented. It was accepted August 2, 1820. That presbytery also received and

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stained my trials for ordination. I arrived at Xenia October 4th, out was not ordained till the 9th of the next January. Mr. Hume me all the way from Nashville, to assist Mr. Armstrong inn that service. At this time there was great trouble in Massie's Creek congregation, in consequence of which Mr. Armstrong resigned his barge."

Mr. David Goodwillie. Called October 22, 1824. Call declined.

Mr. Joseph Clokey was called February 20, 1827, but declined. The foregoing call on Mr. Clokey, and all the preceding ones, were made by the congregation of Xenia, in connection with Sugar Creek, as one pastoral charge. This connection was dissolved by the Presbytery of Miami on the 10th of November, 1828. The ='calls following were made by the congregation of Xenia alone.

Rev. Abraham Anderson. Called January 26, 1829. Call declined.

Mr. Samuel Wilson. Called May 3,1830. This call was accepted' on September 20, 1830. Mr. Wilson was ordained and installed April 27, 1831. Rev. N. Ingles preached and presided in the ordination, and Rev. Dr. Carson, of Tennessee, gave the charges to the pastor and congregation. This congregation had been vacant from April 5, 1824, until September 20, 1830, a period of six years and five months, but received from presbytery all the supply of ordinances and pastoral care in its power to give. To Rev. James Adams, especially, who had been installed as pastor of Massie's Creek congregation a short time before Mr. Beveridge's resignation, was due from Xenia congregation a. lasting debt of gratitude for his prompt and very acceptable ministerial services whenever needed, and in his power to render. During this period of vacancy thirtysix members were added-thirty on profession, and six on certificate.

On the 20th of September, 1830, commenced the pastorate of Mr. Wilson, and it continued for a period of twenty-five years and six months. In May, 1855, he was elected to the professorship of Theology and Hebrew in the Xenia Associate Theological Seminary. Finding his labors in the seminary and congregation rather too burdensome, but especially because the synod had indicated it as rather their wish that he would give his undivided attention to the seminary, he tendered to the Presbytery of Miami his resignation of the pastoral care of the congregation, which was accepted March 18, 1856.

Mr. S. B. Reed. Called, December 1, 1856. Call declined.

448 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Mr. R. B. Ewing. Call sustained September 21, 1858. Ordination and installation, January 20, 1859. Dr. Clokey preached on the occasion, Rev. J. P. Wright presided in the ordination and installation, Rev. R. E. Stewart delivered the charge to the pastor, and Dr. Beveridge to the people.

During the period of nearly three years elapsing between the resignation of the former pastor and the installation of Mr. Ewing, there were received into membership on profession, twenty-four; on certificate, twenty-four-in all, forty-eight; and dismissed, fifteen. The pastorate of Mr. Ewing continued about nine years, during which time there were received into membership on profession, one hundred and two; on certificate, one hundred and fifteen-in all, two hundred and seventeen; and dismissed, twenty-two. Throughout his pastorate he continued, as his predecessors had done, to preach twice on the Sabbath, except in the three winter months of a few years, when, at the request of the congregation, he preached but once, that the Sabbath-school might meet in the afternoon. At the beginning of his pastorate he, like his predecessors, had his alternate years of district catechetical instruction and ministerial family visitation, but after some time ceased from them altogether. At his own request, he was released from his charge January 14, 1868. The pastorate remained vacant two years, during which time there were received into membership on profession, twelve; on certificate, fifteen-in all, twenty-seven; dismissed, forty-one.

J. G. Carson-1870-1880. In May, A. D. 1869, a call was made out for Rev. J. G. Carson, pastor of the congregation of Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, in the Presbytery of Chartiers. This call was accepted by him in October, and his installation took place toward the last of December of that year. Rev. J. W. McNary preached the sermon, Dr. Herron delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. W. A. Robb to the people. At the beginning of this pastorate a considerable number of the congregation-between forty and fifty members-including two of the elders-Messrs. Morrow and Monroe separated from the congregation, and uniting with the Reformed Presbyterian congregation, which agreed to come into the United Presbyterian Church, formed the Third United Presbyterian congregation of Xenia. This reduced the membership of the congregation to about one hundred and eighty-five members, which, however, in the first fifteen months was again increased to its previous number of two hundred and thirty. During the first year,

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also, notwithstanding its diminished strength, the congregation undertook and accomplished the entire refitting and furnishing of the interior of the church, at an expense of over $3,000, the whole of which amount was subscribed and paid by the time the work was completed.

The Third United Presbyterian Church of Xenia, was organized December 9, 1869, by a union of thirty-five members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and forty members from the Second United Presbyterian Church of Xenia.

The first communion was held by Rev. W. H. McMillan, January 23, 1870. On March 28, 1870, a call was made for Rev. W. H. McMillen to become their pastor, which he accepted, and was installed in June of that year; remained pastor till January 28,1873, when he received a call to Alleghany, Pennsylvania, which be accepted.

November 3, 1873, a unanimous call was given to Rev. R, Turnbull, which he accepted, and remained pastor till September 17,1878, when he received a call to Detroit, October 8, 1878. A unanimous call was made for Rev. W. G. Morehead, D. D., which he accepted, was installed December 17, 1878, and now is their pastor.

First Baptist Church.-This church was first formed in Xenia by nine persons, who had taken letters from the Cedarville, and Caesar's Creek Baptist Churches for that purpose. They were Rev. T. P. Childs, Sister A. E. Childs, Rev. Wm. McDonald, Sister Lucinda McDonald, Thomas McDonald, John and Elizabeth Birth, Ebenezer and Melinda Hatch; five brethern, and four sisters, representing only four families.

The church was organized November 2,1844. Rev. T. P. Childs acting as moderator, and John Birth as clerk. After due deliberation, articles of faith, and a church covenant were adopted. On the 30th of the same month, Rev. Childs, who had labored so earnestly, and efficiently in organizing the church, was called to the pastorate. At the same meeting, Sister Susanna Parcell and her two daughters, Catharine and Martha, presented letters of dismission from another church, and were received; being the first accessions after the organization.

On the Thursday before the last Sunday in December, 1844, the church dedicated its new house of worship. On Sunday, June 8, 1845, Joshua Jones was baptized, the first recorded.

The first celebration of the Lord's Supper recorded, took place

450 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

August 10, 1845. During this year, the church united with the Mad River association. This year, also, for the first time the church held thanksgiving services.

January 10, 1846, delegates were appointed to meet with others at Caesar's Creek, for the purpose of forming the Caesar's Creek association.

July 11, 1846, Rev. T. P. Childs resigned his pastorate, after a service of nineteen and a half months, during which time five persons had been received by baptism, and fifteen by letter.

September 12, 1846, letters of dismission were granted to Rev. T. P. Childs, and Sister A. E. Childs, the first dismissions on record.

December, 1846, Rev. S. Marshall was called to the pastorate, served regularly for one year, and half the time, three subsequent months. June, 1848, Rev. J. R. Downer was invited, and accepting, was subsequently ordained, and served the church until 1850.

At the church meeting, March 30, 1850, a call was extended to Rev. G. D. Simmons, at a salary of four hundred dollars. In November and December, 1850, the first revival of note was enjoyed, the pastor being assisted by Rev. S. Gorman, in which thirty-six were received-twenty-four by baptism, and twelve by letter. In May, 1851, Rev. G. D. Simmons, closed his labors as pastor, on account of inadequate support, with the regrets of the church. Brother Simmons' pastorate, was marked by the admission of many members, who in after years became shining lights in the church. The church was without a pastor until October of the same year, when 0. B. Stone accepted an invitation, and was ordained March, 1852. The first expulsions are found in the records of August 9, 1852.

October 8, 1853, Rev. Stone resigned, and December 10, 1853, a call for three months was extended to Rev. Parmalee; March 11, 1854, a regular call was given him, and he was ordained March 23, 1854, a special invitation being given to Rev. M. Stone, of Cincinnati, Ohio, to preach the ordination sermon. The spring of 1854 was a fruitful year for the church. November, 1855, Mr. Parmalee resigned.

January 12, 1856, Rev. J. W. Weatherby was called to take his place. The first summary of membership is given in the minutes of September 5, 1857, showing eighty-seven members in good standing, the church having in thirteen years increased from nine to eighty-seven. Early in 1858 a protracted meeting was held, Rev. Webster assisting. Many were converted and added to the church.

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The old house of worship having been previously disposed of, the new building was dedicated July 22, 1858, Rev. T. L. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, officiating. Total cost of new building, with lot, $10,000.

The report to the association for 1858, shows eight baptisms, five additions by letter, one excluded, and eight dismissed by letter.

March 13, 1859, Rev. Weatherby resigned his charge, having served three years and two months.

Until December 1, 1859, the church was without a pastor, when Rev. A. Guy took charge, and in June, 1865, closed his labors, leaving the church again without a pastor.

During the summer the church was supplied by Bros. Charles Morris and G. M. Peters, then pursuing their studies in college.

In December, 1865, Rev. I. Childs entered upon the pastorate, and continued until March 1, 1867; during his pastorate the church was repaired at a cost of $744.00. In November, 1867, Rev. A. B. White began his labors as a supply, closing them March 25, 1868. On June 13, 1868, a call was extended to Rev. B. Bedell, who accepted, and supplied the church one-half the time from July 1st to October 1st, when he entered upon the full discharge of his duties. In 1870 there was a membership of eightythree, four less than in 1857.

During the year 1878 the church building was repaired at a cost of $978.00.

The year 1853 witnessed the greatest revival it had ever known, thirty-six having been baptized, three admitted by experience, and five by letter; and in June, J. W. King and Thornton Lucas made the church a present of a good parsonage. In 1877, eleven were received, and the report showed a membership of one hundred and nine. October 8, 1878, Rev. Bedell closed his labors. after a pastorate of ten years, the longest in the church, having baptized sixtysix. November 6, 1878, a call was extended to Rev. C. W. Currier, accepted, and e was ordained January 16, 1879, and is the present incumbent.

Methodist Church.-The exact date at which a Methodist church was organized in Xenia, can not now be ascertained. According to an old record, Xenia. appears on the list of appointments for Mad River Circuit, June 19, 1808. It is probable the organization took place about this time ; John Sale, presiding elder, and Thomas Milligan and James Davidson, circuit preachers.

452 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

A quarterly meeting was held January 30, 1819, at Rehoboth meeting-house, Rev. Moses Crume presiding, at which the building of a place of worship was discussed, resulting in favor of erecting a house at Xenia, and Frederick Bonner, Chappel Bonner, Richard Conwell, Peter Pelham, and Thomas Perkins, were appointed trustees.. It is recorded that a quarterly meeting was also held at the house of Philip Good, July 24, 1819. In 1828 this church was transferred to the Union Circuit, and at a quarterly meeting at Rehoboth, it was resolved to build a parsonage at Xenia. In 1835 the church at Xenia was considered strong enough to assume the responsibilities of a station. Rev. Anza Brown was appointed to the charge. The first quarterly meeting at this station was held November 21st and 22d, 1835, Rev. W. H. Raper presiding.

September 19, 1863, it was resolved to build a second church, and Alfred Trader, Charles R. Merrick, and William Seveney, were appointed a committee to circulate a subscription to procure a building lot. The enterprise was favorably considered by the public, and subscriptions were freely made. Two of the oldest members of the church, Michael Nun emaker and Silas Roberts, though not identified with the new charge, each gave one thousand dollars. November 14, 1863, William I. Fee, pastor of the church in Xenia, and a warm friend of the movement, appointed a board of trustees for the new church, consisting of Alfred Trader, William Sweeney, Alfred Thirkield, Moses D. Gatch, Charles R. Merrick, William F. Pelham, Samuel Newton, John L. Conable, and Henry Barnes. J. M. Blackburn, architect, submitted plans and specifications, March, 1864. The contract was let to Drees and Patterson for $18,000.00; the subscriptions then amounting to $15,000.00. May 14, 1864, the first stone was laid, and the work progressed steadily until its completion.

May 21st a resolution was passed, asking the bishop to form a separate charge in Xenia, under the name of Trinity Church, which was accordingly done, and Rev. Geo. C. Crum was appointed pastor.

The first services were held September 25, 1864, in the chapel of the Xenia Female College, to a congregation of about one hundred. A Sunday-school was organized, with William Sweeney and Alfred Thirkield superintendents. November 30th, of this same year, services were held by J. L. Grover, of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, in the lecture room of the new church. October 1,

XENIA TOWNSHIP. - 453

1865, the church was dedicated by Dr. Wiley. In the fall of 1867, Rev. John W. Fowler officiated as pastor, remaining until August 80, 1869. He was succeeded by M. Dustin ; who in 1871 was followed by J. W. Cassatt; who in turn was succeeded by D. J. Starr, in 1873. In 1875, George C. Crum became pastor, remaining two years, when W. M. Brodbeck assumed the pastorate, giving place, in 1880, to Sylvester Wells, the present pastor.

Lutheran Church.-In 1843, Rev. J. Lehman preached to a little flock of Lutherans in the German Reformed Church, the present African Methodist Episcopal Church, on the corner of Monroe and Church streets. The same year, he organized this little band into a congregation, and served them until 1847. He then resigned, and Rev. Solomon Ritz took charge. The following year a house of worship was built on West Main Street, which is still occupied by them. Rev. Ritz resigned in 1852, and was immediately succeeded by Rev. A. Bartholomew, who served until 1854, after which it was supplied by Rev. G. Peters for some months, and then by Rev. J. Borns for a short time. Rev. J. Geiger took charge in 1856, and served until 1859. From this time until August 25, 1861, the congregation was without a pastor, when Rev. J. F. Shaffer took charge, and is still with then, now in the twentieth year of his pastorate.

The church has about one hundred members. It has suffered much from removals, twenty-two letters having been granted in one year. But it is a well organized and vigorous congregation, always meeting the requirements of the synod in benevolent contributions. Though not strong in numbers, it is earnest in purpose, and will not be delinquent in the obligations laid upon it. There were but nineteen members when the present pastor took charge in 1861. Since then the growth has been gradual and healthy.

UNION SCHOOLS.

Upon examination it has been found that the earliest record of union schools is dated September 28, 1838.

At this time Xenia was organized into what might be termed a corporation district, and William Ellsberry, chairman, David Monroe, treasurer, and Alfred Trader, were constituted a Board of Education, David Monroe giving bonds, in the sum of two hundred dollars, for the faithful performance of his duty.

454 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

On the 6th of October following, at a conference of the school directors and the trustees of Xenia Township, "All that territory adjacent to the town of Xenia, which formerly belonged to school districts Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14, was attached to the school district formed by the corporation of Xenia."

The following school board was organized October 12, 1839: John Alexander, chairman; David Monroe, treasurer; James Gowdy.

This board made the following order, November 16, 1839:

The northeast district shall hereafter be known as sub-district No. 1.

The southeast district shall hereafter be known as sub-district No. 2.

The southwest district shall hereafter be known as sub-district No; 3.

The northwest district shall hereafter be known as sub-district No. 4.

No record informs us how the boards were constituted from the year 1838 to 1842, except in one instance. The board organized October 6, 1840, was appointed by the township clerk. On the 16th day of September, 1842, William Y. Banks, H. G. Beatty, Samuel Crumbaugh, and James C. McMillan were elected school directors, according to the act of March 7, 1842. Previous to this time the board consisted of three members only.

In accordance with an amendatory act, passed March 11, 1843, an election was held on the 15th of September, 1843, and the board was constituted as follows

John. Alexander, chairman, elected for three years; Samuel Hutchison, elected for two years; David Monroe, treasurer, elected for one year; Joshua Wright, elected for one year.

No further changes were made in the law organizing the board for the next ten years. Sometimes the people were interested enough in matters appertaining to the schools to meet and elect their own servants. At other times the appointment was left to the township clerk.

During the year 1847 the question of uniting the schools began to be agitated. Sometime during this year, at a meeting held for the purpose of considering this question, on a motion to unite the schools, David Monroe voted in the affirmative ; no other person voting for or against. A division of the question was called for, and carried in the affirmative.

XENIA TOWNSHIP. - 455

Pursuant to a notice published in the Xenia Torchlight, the householders of district No. 11 met on the 20th day of September, 1847, at the school house in sub-district No. 2, and by a vote of one hundred and fifty to twenty-seven, resolved to levy a tax of $4,000, or the purpose of building a new school house. Other buildings and lots were ordered to be sold-the school house in sub-district No. 2, for a sum not less than twenty dollars. The contract for the new building was made March 11, 1848, and the edifice was completed in the following fall or winter.

On the 1st day of January, 1849, Mr. Josiah Hurty was employed as the first superintendent of the public schools of Xenia, at a salary of six hundred dollars per annum. He continued his superintendency two years and a half, till the close of the school year, July 11, 1851. During this time the school was graded, the term high school applied to the highest department, and a code of regulations published.

Mr. D. W. Gilfillan was appointed superintendent August 16, 1851, and continued one year. He was succeeded by Rev. James P. Smart, who was appointed July 7, 1852, and continued until his resignation, July 21, 1855, a period of three years. On the same day Mr. P. H. Jaquith was appointed, and continued until the close of the school year in 1857.

Mr. J. E. Twitchell commenced the superintendency of the schools in September, 1857, and continued, with signal success, until his resignation, June 25, 1861. Mr. George S. Ormsby was apapointed August 10, 1861; was succeeded by George W. Welch, in 1879, who is the present incumbent.

Present board : Coates Kinney, J. W. Shields, A. G. Wilson, Tobias Drees, James B. Monroe, J. F. Shafer.

On the 14th of March, 1853, the general school law of Ohio was passed, entitled "An Act to Provide for the Reorganization, Supervision, and Maintenance of Common Schools." Under this act the following board of education was organized:

April 11, 1853. Moses Barlow, three years; Roswell F. Howard, two years ; William B. Fairchild, one year.

WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY.

Primarily, Wilberforce University was projected in the summer of 1856, by the Cincinnati Conference of the Methodist Episcopal

456 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Church. Its board of trustees was organized at Xenia, Ohio, in the office of Lawyer M. D. Gatch, then a senator of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio. They were twenty-four in number, of whom four were colored men, namely, Rev. Lewis Woodson ; Mr. Ishmael Keith, of the Baptist Church; Mr. Alfred Anderson, a member of the congregation of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at Hamilton, Ohio, and the writer. Among the twenty whites was Governor Chase, of the State of Ohio, subsequently secretary of the United States Treasury, and late chief justice of the United States.

"The institution was formally dedicated to the holy work of Christian education by Rev. Edward Thompson, D. D., LL. D., then president of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and late bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This dedication occurred in October, 1856. Its first principal was Rev. M. P. Gaddis, jr., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who managed it until June, 1857. He was succeeded by Mr. I. R. Parker, an able and experienced educator of youth, assisted by his wife, as matron, and other competent teachers. His services continued till June, 1859, when he was succeeded by Rev. Richard T. Rust, D. D; Under the skillful management of the doctor, the institution flourished until 1862, when the civil war drew its chief patrons into the ranks of the rebel army. These were southern planters, who had sent their natural children to be educated at Wilberforce. There were at that time about one hundred students in attendance, among whom were about one dozen from several of the best families of the North. Among these were Rev. W. H. Hunter, our present book manager, who, by the way, . has thus far proven himself one of the ablest who ever had charge. of our book concern ; also, Rev. R. H. Cain, congressman at large of the State of South Carolina, who, we hope, will prove himself not only an honorable, but a very efficient representative of his adopted state in the deliberations of the national congress.

"President Rust was rapidly developing the institution from a primary school into a college, but inasmuch as its chief patrons at that time were slaveholders, and they had entered the rebel service, its incomes were not sufficient to cover its expenditures, and hav-ing no endowment, the trustees were constrained, in June, 1862, to suspend operations. Thus, under the first regime, Wilberforce came suddenly to an end. On the 10th of March, 1863, the property was sold to the agent of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

XENIA TOWNSHIP - 457

for its indebtedness, namely, the sum of ten thousand dollars.

"The land upon which the buildings were constructed embraced fifty-two acres, heavily timbered ; five excellent springs, impregnated with oxide of iron, flowed in the ravine which traverses it-two of which have since dried up, caused, no doubt, by the great number of trees being cut down for fuel and other purposes.

The original college buildings were of wood, constructed nearly in the form of the letter T. The arms of the T faced the west, and were three stories high, without basement. It contained the recitation rooms, with dormitories for teachers and young ladies. The stem of the T pointed eastward, and was also of three stories, with basement. It contained the culinary apartments, a chapel one hundred by thirty feet, and dormitories for young men. The appendages to these school buildings were twelve cottages and a barn, with stables sufficient to accommodate twenty head of horses. Nine of these cottages belong to the trustees; the other three are. private property.

" After contracting for this valuable and beautiful property, our first effort was to liquidate the debt. Before we could secure the title deeds, we had to pay, on the 11th of June, 1863, our first installment of $2,500. This was promptly raised by collections within the boundaries of the Baltimore and Ohio conferences. That sum was paid, and the title-deeds handed over to the agents of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, namely, Revs. J. A. Shorter, John G. Mitchell, and the writer; but it was particularly specified as the property of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The next step was to take out an act of incorporation: This was secured according to the laws of the State of Ohio. The third step was to secure a charter, which declared that two-thirds of the board shall always be members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and that there shall never be any distinction among the trustees, faculty, or students, on account of race or color.

"Prof. John G. Mitchell was elected principal. He was, at the time of his election, the principal of a grammar school in Cincinnati. Opening the school the first week in July, 1863, with about one dozen children, gathered from the immediate neighborhood, whose studies were elementary English, by the beginning of the following spring it grew so large that two additional teachers were needed, and Mrs. J. G. Mitchell. with Miss Esther T. Maltby, were chosen, the latter as female principal. Both she and Prof. Mitchell

458 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

were graduates of Oberlin. She was a member of the Congregational Church, a fine scholar, and an earnest Christian laborer. We have seen but few young pastors more zealous for the salvation of their flocks than this modest young woman for the culture of the students. Her efforts in that direction exceeded the requirements of the institution. She conducted all the college prayer-meetings, which were held on Monday evening, and held extra ones every morning from 8:30 to 9 o'clock, in which she always read a portion of the Word of God, and exhorted the students to consecrate themselves to His service. Among the converts to Christ through her ministry, was that remarkably zealous young pastor, Rev. Thomas H. Jackson, D. D., who for two years was a professor in the theological department of Wilberforce University ; now elder in charge of the station at Columbia, South Carolina.

"Prof. Mitchell having been constrained, by the wants of the school, to go out as a financial agent, the management of the school was left solely to Miss Maltby, and under God it was increasing in numbers and popularity. The progress of the students was commendable, and classes were formed in Greek, Latin, and the lower mathematics. Everything indicated a prosperous future, when suddenly the buildings were set on fire by incendiaries. Within half an hour the beautiful edifice was nothing but smoldering embers. This catastrophe fell upon us like a clap of thunder in a clear sky. It was a time of lamentation for our friends, and of rejoicing for our enemies. Said one of the latter, "Now their buildings are burnt, there is no hope for them." Another had said, " I wish lightning from Heaven would burn down Wilberforce." This one supposed his impious prayer was more than answered. But we believe, and said," Out of the ashes of the beautiful frame building a nobler one shall arise."

"Prof. Mitchell was absent on his agency ; Mrs. Mitchell had gone to Xenia with almost all the students to witness the celebration of the fall of Richmond; I was attending conference at Baltimore, and Miss Maltby was left alone. No, she was not alone. As God was with Daniel in the lions' den, and with his three brethren in the fiery furnace, so was He .with her in the trouble at Wilberforce. Without faltering, one of the cottages was converted into a school-room, and the scholars taught therein till the last of June, when terminated the academic year; after which all the students from abroad went home. The majority of the advanced ones never

XENIA TOWNSHIP. - 459

returned, but went to other institutions. Those who preferred Wilberforce came back the next autumn.

"Meanwhile, we began to mature our plans for rebuilding. The result is before the country.

Though not completed, it is a larger edifice than the former.

Meanwhile, the school passed through severe trials. Miss Maltby's nervous system was so affected by the catastrophe, that for twelve months she was unfit for labor, and never returned. Prof. Mitchell was compelled to remain in the field soliciting funds to aid us in rebuilding, therefore, for a season, the management of the school fell upon our most advanced student, Mr. J. P. Shorter, who acted his part nobly. Prof. Mitchell, of our church; Prof. Kent, an English Methodist, who had united with our church ; Prof. Scoliot, a French Quaker ; Miss Mary J. Woodsom, of our church ; and Miss Josephena Jackson, of the Baptist Church, taught from 1866 to 1868. Profs. Fry and Adams, with Mrs. Messenger, all of the Congregational Church, taught from 1866 to 1869.

"From this last date, to the present, the resident teachers have been Mrs. Adams the elder, Mrs. Adams the younger, Prof. Adams, occasionally Mrs. John A. Clark, wife of the secretary ; Prof. Thomas H. Jackson, Prof. Benjamin F. Lee, Miss Mary E. McBride, and Miss Emma L. Parker. Prof. Jackson left us for the work of the Christian pastorate in Columbia, South Carolina, about two months ago, and has been succeeded by Prof. B. F. Lee. Mrs. Alice Adams was called away through the infirmities of her aged father about three months ago, and has been succeeded by Miss Emma L. Parker, a young lady well qualified for the position of female principal.

"Its roll for 1874 numbered one hundred and fifty-three, of whom sixty-two were females, and ninety-one males. The advance on the previous year was twenty-seven. Among these were two Roman Catholics, two Presbyterians, two Christians, and six Baptists. The others were either professed Methodists, or of Methodist proclivities.

"Our corps of resident instructors were six, of whom two were ladies. These, with two law professors in Xenia, and four scientific lecturers from Antioch College, increased our number to twelve. We had five departments in the institution, namely, the normal and practical school, the classical, the scientific, the law and the theological. In the collegiate department, which embraces the

460 - HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

classical and scientific, there were three seniors and three sophomores. In the academic, or preparatory, there were three seniors and four juniors. In the various stages of their studies were twenty-two students of theology. In the normal department were eighteen candidates for the teacher's office. In the law department there was only one, and five others preparing for it.

"At the close of our first decade we have graduated four classes. In 1870, three; in 1871, one; in 1872, five; in 1873, six; total fifteen. In addition to these we have partially educated scores of young men and women, who are now usefully employed, north and south, east and west, as preachers, teachers, and housekeepers that is, heads of families."

Since 1874 a museum, costing $2,000, has been added. President Payne resigned in 1876, and was succeeded by Rev. B. F. Lee. The present enrollment is one hundred and seventy.

POPULATION OF XENIA.

WHITE WHITE TOTAL COLORED COLORED TOTAL TOTAL

WARDS MALES FEMALES WHITES MALES FEMALES COLORED

First Ward 492 534 1026 30 36 66 1092

Second Ward 496 515 1011 65 85 150 1161

Third Ward 580 576 1156 235 256 491 1647

Fourth Ward 308 360 668 554 590 1144 1812

Fifth Ward 617 588 1205 81 43 91 1296

Grand Total 2493 2573 5066 932 1010 1942 7008

OVER EIGHTY YEARS OLD.

The census enumerators found the following persons in Xenia City over eighty years old

Robert Karsell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Eliza Conwell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Mariah Bennett. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Millie Brock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

John Ewing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Catharine Legan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Julia Nelson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

XENIA TOWNSHIP. - 461

Margaret Stewart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Eliza Winslow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Jesse Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Rosie Dunn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Eleanor Marshall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Mukie Bates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 82

Margaret Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Alex. McWhirk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Casandra Heaton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Samuel Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Mary Goodwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 83

Millie Pettiford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 83

Elizabeth Scott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

Charlotte Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Michael Powers. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 85

Edith Graves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 85

Richard Jamfer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Catharine Thomas ............................ 85

Nancy Strain .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Jonathan Ketterman. . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

C. Crumbaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

James A. Scott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Nellie Brunson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Hugh Andrews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 86

Mary Allison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Abigal Thayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Chris. Duncan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91

David Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Nancy Easter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Robert Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

CENSUS.

The following is the official report of the census of Greene County for 1880, together with that of 1870, for comparison:

(Chart not shown).