These deposits represent more than two thousand depositors, this large number being a striking proof of the confidence which the people of the county have in the management of the bank. During the panic of 1907-08 the bank did not refuse to honor a single check presented for collection, neither of its own bank nor a check from any other bank. And the bank was less than two years old at the time and had over $200,000 on deposit. Three per cent. interest is paid on savings accounts, and this department is increasing in importance each year. Since 1907 the bank has kept open until eight o'clock on Saturday evening for the accommodation of its patrons and friends.

THE PEOPLES BANKING COMPANY OF WILMINGTON.

The Peoples Banking Company of Wilmington was organized in July, 1889, by F. M. Moore, D. J. Poland, J. C. Martin, 0. F. Peddicord, S. J. Jones, L. J. Walker, W. F. Harlan, Frank Lieurance and W. M. Moore. The bank was capitalized for fifty thousand dollars under the banking laws of Ohio as a state bank. The first officers were as follow : F. M. Moore, president; D. J. Poland, vice-president; J. C. Martin, secretary; W. M. Moore, cashier.

The bank continued operations until May, 1893, when it went into voluntary liquidation. Before suspending business it paid all depositors in full, and if any money was lost, it was on the part of the stockholders. The bank was located on the east side of South street in the room now occupied by C. S. Thomas as an insurance agency.

FARMERS BANK, WILMINGTON.

In 1859 a bank was organized in Wilmington by Blaser & Masters under the name of the Farmers Bank. They opened for business in a room on South street, one door north of the court house. This bank led a more or less precarious existence until a short time after the Civil War and then quietly disappeared from view. None of the older bankers of the city were able, in 1915, to tell what became of it.

MERCHANTS AND FARMERS BANK, BLANCHESTER.

The Merchants and Farmers Bank of Blanchester was organized in 1890 as a private bank by the following stockholders: Alexander Crosson, John Ferris, Lafayette Baldwin, Miner Swan, James Bindley, M. A. Hahn, J. N. Stevens, W. C. Gregory, H. C. Watkins, H. Rice, R. J. Rice and Chrales F. Rice. The bank is an unincorporated institution and the liabilities of the bank are secured by the combined wealth of all the stockholders. The first officers were as follow : H. C. Watkins, president; Charles F. Rice, vice-president; W. C. Gregory, cashier. The present officers include Alexander Crosson, president ; Josiah Bindley, vice-president; H. G. Hudson, cashier ; G. R. Crosson, assistant cashier. The last report of the bank shows deposits of $125,000, and resources and liabilities of $150,000.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK, BLANCHESTER.

The First National Bank at Blanchester was organized on February 19, 1907, with the following stockholders: R. J. Rice, J. D. Dewey, H. C. Watkins, I. M. Statler and

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J. h. Norman. The stockholders now number sixty-four. The first officers are still serving the bank : I. M. Statler, president; J. H. Norman, vice-president; A. M. McVey, cashier. S. A. Spencer has since been added to the executive force as assistant cashier. The bank has its own building, which, with the fixtures, is valued at $20,000. The resources and liabilities of the bank are $263,663.64, with deposits of $154,557.

SABINA BANK.

The Sabina Bank was organized on February 12, 1875, and opened for business five days later. It started with a capital of $50,000 and the following officers: E. A. Lewis, president; D. Edwards, cashier; E. A. Lewis and William T. Haydock, directors and stockholders. In September, 1877, Isaac Lewis, father of E. A. Lewis, became a partner and was elected president, and E. A. Lewis, cashier, D. Edwards retiring at that time. In 1893 William Pavey became a stockholder and was elected vice-president. In 1896 Isaac Lewis resigned as president and E. A. Lewis was elected to the position, W. B. Gallagher becoming cashier. These officials are still in charge of the bank. G. A. Pavey bought his father's interest in January, 1910, and was elected vice-president at the same time.

W. B. Gallagher came into the bank as bookkeeper on December 9, 1880, was later promoted to the position of assistant cashier and became cashier in January, 1896. G. T. Cline began as bookkeeper and was elected assistant cashier on January 9, 1900. Herman S. Gallagher came in as a bookkeeper and was later elected assistant cashier. Hadley Lewis became a bookkeeper in 1908 and resigned in 1910. Ralph A. Lewis came in as bookkeeper in November, 1910, and was elected assistant cashier in January, 1913. Raymond Cline has been bookkeeper since November 1, 1914.

The bank built its own building in 1880, a handsome structure of brick trimmed with stone. The bank has been a prosperous institution from the beginning and has so .conducted its business as to merit the confidence of the community which it seeks to serve. According to its last report, the resources and liabilities amount to $300,000, with deposits of $225,000.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SABINA.

The First National Bank of Sabina was organized on November 1, 1906, with the following officers: C. R. Ellis, president; O. J. Waddell, vice-president; L. E. Whinery, cashier. The original capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars was increased to fifty thousand in May, 1911. During the nine years which have elapsed since the bank started business it has enjoyed a steady growth and its liabilities of three hundred thousand dollars and deposits of one hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars bear testimony to its stability as a financial institution. The bank now occupies its own quarters at the corner of Howard and Elm streets. The quarters are in the Odd Fellows building, which was erected at a cost of twelve thousand dollars, the rooms of the bank occupying the corner of the building. The first officers are still at the head of the bank.

THE PORT WILLIAM BANKING COMPANY.

The Port William Banking Company was organized in February, 1907, by six men from Cleveland, Ohio, namely : E. W. Christy, F. J. Southard, H. G. Johnson, A. M. Irwin, R. J. Andrews and Edward Hunnewell. The first officers were as follow : F. J. Southard, president; IL J. Andrews, vice-president; Orville H. Stephens, cashier; directors, H. J. Andrews, F. J. Southard, H. G. Johnson, A. M. Irwin and Edward Hunnewell. The bank still carries its original amount of capital stock. Its resources and liabilities will average $90,000 and its deposits $70,000. The present officers are as follow : O. W. Linkhart, president; H. A. Rowand, vice-president; D. E. Beal, cashier; R. S. Powers, assistant cashier. The directors are: 0. W. Linkhart, H. A. Rowand, S. L. Beal, 0. A. Bingaman, Simon Devoe and G. M. Oglesbee.

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FARMERS BANK OF MARTINSVILLE

The Farmers Bank of Martinsville was organized in 1863 by F. M. Moore and Nathaniel Hunter. On August 1, 1873, they were succeeded by Cleland & Hunt. M. L. Hunt succeeded Cleland & Hunt in 1883 and D. B. Hunt became sole owner in 1896 and continues until the present time. A brick bank building was erected in 1875.

FARMERS NATIONAL BANK OF CLARKSVILLE.

The Farmers National Bank of Clarksville was organized on September 6, 1904, with the following stockholders: L. A. Bowman, Thomas Sherod, N. A. Gilbert, John C. Baugh, E. H. Urton, I. N. Lair, I. N. Stetler, W. T. Mounts, A. S. Rice, Clarence Le Bus, J. G. Montgomery, 0. M. Bake and W. G. Thompson. The first officers were as follow : G. A. Bowman, president; W. T. Mounts, vice-president; I. N. Lair, cashier. Mr. Lair was cashier of the bank until 1906, when he resigned to become the cashier of the Citizens National Bank of Wilmington. When Mr. Lair severed his connection with the bank, Clinton Madden became the cashier and has since filled that position. Eleanor Miller became assistant cashier at the same time and is still with the bank in the same capacity. The present officers of the bank include: L. A. Bowman, president; Thomas Sherod, vice-president; Clinton Madden, cashier. The directors are: N. A. Gilbert, N. R. Pucker, George L. Sever, D. A. Humphreys and Frank Bevin.

The bank still does business on its original capital of twenty-five thousand dollars. Its deposits at the present time average about seventy thousand dollars, with resources A one hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars. The last report to the comptroller of the currency listed four hundred and twenty-five depositors. In 1905 the bank bought the two-story building in which its rooms are located and is now renting the upper story to the Knights of Pythias for lodge purposes.

KELLEY BANK OF CLARKSVILLE.

One of the few banks of Clinton county which has been forced to suspend operations with a loss to the depositors was the Kelley private bank of Clarksville. Kelley was a merchant of the town and operated the bank inhisg store as a sort of a side issue. He lid a large business for many years, but in the spring of 1904 he was forced to close it Ind the depositors had to be content with about thirty cents on the dollar. The Farmers National Bank was started in the fall of the same year and, as might be xpected, the new bank had considerable trouble in getting a start. However, the wganizer of the bank, I. N. Lair, the present cashier of the Citizens National Bank of Wilmington, soon had the new bank in good condition and when he left there, at the end A twenty-two months, it was a flourishing institution and had completely won theconfidencee of the community.

NEW VIENNA BANK.

The New Vienna Bank was organized in 1871 by parties from Hillsboro, Ohio, but In 1875 it was bought by local men and reorganized with E. M. Woodbury, as president, Ind Edwin Arthur, cashier. The present officers are as follow : William A. Polk, )resident; Frank W. Hoadley, vice-president ; B. T. Penn, cashier; J. W. Penn, assistant cashier. The bank has had only two cashiers in all of its forty-four years of history : Edwin Arthur, 1871-90; B. T. Penn, 1890 to the present time.

The bank owns its own building, a brick structure, with modern fixtures, burglar-woof vault, screw-door safe, deposit boxes and every convenience demanded by modern yanking. The average deposits of the bank amount to $200,000. The bank is now known is a "Roll of Honor Bank," for the reason that its capital of $25,000 is equalled by its suplus, a condition which speaks well for the management of the bank.

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CLINTON MUTUAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION.

The Clinton Mutual Insurance Association was organized on March 12, 1906, with the following incorporators: R. J. Lacy, E. L. Carey, Joshua Linton, Jacob B. Burst, L. W. Lacy, W. T. McMillan, Valentine Hirt, H. H. Pidgeon, J. M. Jeffries, W. B. Steele, D. M. Fife, Fred Stoltz, Jefferson Hildebrant, John L. Rannells, Hugh McCoy, F. D. Mitchell, W. A. Starbuck, Frank M. Moore, J. T. Hempstead, A. C. Hildebrant, Darius J. Miller, John H. Hirt, J. T. Henry, W. B. Wood and T. H. McMillan.

The company, as the name indicates, is purely an assessment company and all losses are met by an assessment of the policyholders. That it has been well managed and is filling an important place in the life of the county is shown by the fact that it now has sixteen hundred and ninety-two policyholders, with total policies aggregating over two million dollars. The present officers are as follow : R. J. Lacy, president; J. C. Linton, secretary; F. D. Mitchell, treasurer.

CHAPTER XV.

WOMEN'S CLUBS AND FRATERNITIES.

THE SIX-AND-TWENTY CLUB.

A number of Wilmington ladies met at the home of Mrs. George W. Wire on October 11, 1898, called together at the suggestion of the hostess and Mrs. R. C. Stumm, that a club should be organized for general literary study and the circulation of books among the members. At this meeting Mrs. Stumm was elected president; Minnie Farren, secretary; Mrs. J. M. Moore, first vice-president; Grace D. Browning, second vice-president; Mrs. G. W. Wire, treasurer. The plan of work adopted at that time has been changed but little during the seventeen pleasant years the club has worked together, and it is a remarkable fact that more than half the present members were present at its birth.

The first regular meeting was held on October 28, 1898, at the Browning home two weeks after the organization. Ellen H. Smith was a guest of the hostess, and, after a somewhat heated discussion as to a suitable name for the club, Miss Smith suggested "The Six-and-Twenty," that number having been decided as the limit of membership. The name was instantly adopted and Miss Smith made an honorary member. The following is the roll for the first year: Marshie Austin, Grace D. Browning (Mrs. R. T. Ballard), Mrs. F. D. Blair, Mrs. T. M. Burnett, Mrs. Bishop Dickinson, Minnie Farren, Henrietta Gardner, Mrs. H. H. Hague, Mrs. W. F. Hains, Mrs. C. Q. Hildebrant, Mrs. F. S. LaMar, Mrs. R. J. Lacy, Mrs. L. W. Lacy, Mrs. Susie R. Mory, Mrs. J. M. Moore, Mrs. F. S. Mills, Jessie Owens (Mrs. J. E. Orebaugh), Mrs. R. C. Stumm, Mrs. W. W. Savage, Mrs. C. W. Swaim, Emma M. Browning, Tacy Walker (Mrs. Austin Robinson), Wilmina Walker (Mrs. J. S. Kimbrough), Mrs. Charles Welch, Mrs. George W. Wire, Mrs. J. W. Sparks and Ellen H. Smith.

The Six-and-Twenty, while organized as a means of literary culture, has emphasized the social side of life. After the program is completed an hour is spent in conversation during the informal teas that it is the custom of the members to serve as they become hostesses in succession. The program consists of the usual business—calling of the roll, reading of minutes, report of committees, etc., which usually is followed by a paper on the author and book assigned by lot to members at the annual business meeting. This Is followed by a general discussion of the book by the club, and, while the utmost freedom of individual opinion is maintained, the esprit de corps of the club is one of its most delightful features. A leader of current events calls the attention of the members to the important questions of the day, and the members are again permitted a free discussion of subjects. At roll call it is expected that quotations will be given. The program is simetimes slightly changed, leaders preparing papers on other subjects when the author has previously been before the club. Each member pays yearly dues, which cover the cost of books and running expenses. At the Clinton county centennial home-coming in August, 1910, the Six-and-Twenty Club was awarded the first prize of seventy-five dollars for the most beautiful float in the civic parade, and this sum is a nest egg for the future good of the community.

The members of the club for 1915 are as follow, sixteen of the names appearing in

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the original list : Mrs. Susie R. Mory, Marshie Austin, Mrs. W. W. Savage, Mrs. A. E. Browning, Mrs. R. J. Lacy, Mrs. R. B. Peelle, Mrs. R. C. Stumm, Mrs. Katherine D. Williams, Mrs. W. R. Hale, Mrs. C. Q. Hildebrant, Mrs. C. W. Swaim, Minnie Farren, Mrs. T. M. Burnett, Mrs. J. M. Kimbrough, Ellen H. Smith, Mrs. R. T. Ballard, Mrs. C. C. Nichols, Dr. Elizabeth Schrieves, Mrs. W. F. Hains, Mrs. F. L. Miller, Mrs. J. M. Moore, Mrs. C. R. Burns, Mrs. L. W. Lacy, Mrs. J. E. Orebaugh, Mrs. Walter G. Fisher, Mrs. M. J. Farquhar.

The officers for 1915 are: Mrs. M. J. Farquhar, president; Mrs. J. E. Orebaugh and Mrs. W. G. Fisher, vice-presidents ; Mrs. C. C. Nichols, secretary; Mrs. C. R. Burns, corresponding secretary; Mrs. C. W. Swaim, treasurer.

In all the years of its existence the club has lost but two members by death—Olive Linton Welch (1912) and Mary Lacy Wire (1914), and they are held' in loving memory. To the Six-and-Twenty' the members bring their best intellectual gifts and their warmest fealty, feeling that it is good to be there at every meeting. Incidentally, they feel that the club has meant a good deal to the community in the five hundred (approximately) carefully selected books that they have presented through the years to the Wilmington library.

THE WILMINGTON WOMAN'S CIVIC LEAGUE.

The Civic League, a group of women imbued with the thought of the betterment of municipal conditions in. Wilmington, has been the outgrowth of an idea first suggested by Mrs. Katherine Denver Williams, who has been president since the organization of the league. On March 17, 1911, a joint meeting of representatives of the three literary clubs—the Six-and-Twenty, the Conversation and the Progress—was held at the home of Mrs. E. J. Hiatt and the following committees were appointed: Executive—Mesdames R. J. Lacy, C. W. Swaim, F. D. Blair, of the Six-and-Twenty Club; Mesdames C. R. Van Tress, N. E. Bennett and H. B. Farquhar, of the Progress Club, and Mesdames F. L. McDonald, J. L. McWilliams and Carrie Ent, of the Conversation Club. Ways and Means—From the Progress Club, Mesdames I. N. Lair, C. W. Austin and Virginia Martin; from the Conversation Club, J. T. Doan, F. G. Williams and Effie Allen, and Mesdames K. D. Williams, G. W. Wire and Ellen H. Smith, from the Six-and-Twenty. Constitution—Mesdames Marshie Austin, C. L. Hildebrant and R. T. Ballard, from the Six-and-Twenty Club; Mesdames J. W. Frazer, D. K. Hempstead and Lida Moon of the Progress Club, and Mesdames E. J. Hiatt, Auber Peebles and G. M. Austin, of the Conversation Club. The following ladies signed the roll at the initial meeting : Katherine Denver Williams, Marshie Austin, Mabel C. Browning, Fanny D. McDonald, Ellen 11. Smith, Virginia R. Peelle, Isabel Y. Peebles, Emma L. Blair, Harriet M. Hiatt, Grace D. B. Ballard, Estella W. Hempstead, Mari L. Wire, Bertha H. Doan and Effie Allen.

The form of the constitution was suggested by Marshie Austin and provided for an executive council, to consist of nine members, from which the usual officers would be chosen and which would act for the league between the quarterly meetings of the entire body. The members of the first council were Virginia Martin and Mesdames R. T. Ballard, H. L. Campbell, E. J. Hiatt, W. F. McCoy, Auber Peebles, K. D. Williams and G. W. Wire. Mrs. Williams was elected president; Mrs. E. J. Hiatt, secretary, and Mrs. H. L. Campbell, treasurer. Mesdames Hiatt and Ballard have remained with Mrs. Williams on each succeeding council.

At the first meeting, garden contests, clean streets, the work of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a stricter observance of the ordinance against spitting on the side-walls, etc., were discussed and the work of the league has been along these lines, with many amplifications, ever since.

No membership dues have ever been charged, and the treasury has been kept up in various ways, rubber; rummage and provision sales providing the first money to be spent "for Wilmington," the watchword of the league.

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On February 6, 1912, the league had the pleasure and honor of presenting to a Wilmington audience Madame Jane Osborn-Hanna, the distinguished opera and oratorio singer, who had gained an international reputation since leaving the town of her birth, where she is still lovingly remembered as Jenny Osborn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Parker B. Osborn. The opera house was crowded and a royal reception was given this beautiful and talented woman. She was accompanied by Madame Katherine Lively, a Chicago pianist. Following the concert, a reception was held in Madame Hanna's honor in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodge room, graciously offered for the occasion, and hundreds of old friends greeted the prima donna. The jewels she wore were not brighter than the happy tears that made only more lovely her great brown eyes as she recalled names and faces familiar to her in her childhood. The receipts from this concert were five hundred fifteen dollars and eighty cents, Madame Hanna returning into the treasury her share of the proceeds. She is a life member of the league. The following sear Madame Hanna's engagement permitted her to give another concert in Wilmington, and the triumphs of the first one were repeated. At this time a beautiful reception was given in her honor at the new Masonic temple, permitting the people of Wilmington an opportunity to see the handsome lodge rooms before they were dedicated to- the uses of the fraternity.

An important part of the work of the league has been the bringing to Wilmington of the highest class of musical and literary talent. Madame Lively gave a. concert in 1912, a brilliant Russian violinist appearing with her. Marion Craig Wentworth, author of "War Brides," and a highly accomplished reader, presented Maeterlinck's "Blue Bird." Through the Edward's bureau, of Cincinnati, Wilmington audiences have enjoyed concerts by Bernard, violinist, and Julius Sturm, cellist, who rarely play out of their own city, and never before in so small a town. Walter Vaughan, the tenor singer, has appeared here twice under the auspices of the league, in 1915 in concert with Gretchen Morris, the young dramatic soprano, who was made doubly welcome from the fact that she is a grand-daughter of the late Isaac Morris, of Chester township, and a niece of the late R. C. Stumm.

At the first fall festival in 1914, the league was invited by the Commercial Club to have charge of the home arts department. Two booths were provided, the entire frontage of the then postoffice building and the other across the street in front of the Egan building. These were crowded to their utmost capacity by the displays in cake, bread, butter, fancy work, canned fruits and jellies. An unprecedented fall of rain during the entire festival did not dampen the enthusiasm of either the Commercial Club or the Civic League in their highly successful show.

The league has been instrumental in bringing from the state board at Columbus men and women to talk on subjects of importance along lines of civic beauty and betterment, public health, etc. For two summers the league employed a man to keep the streets in the business part of town clean, and had its abundant reward in the neat appearance of the town and the prestige Wilmington gained, pleasant mention of the town being made in far distant places.

The limit of this article permits touching on only a part of the league's activities, all of which have been fostered by the interest and indefatigable work of the president, Mrs. Katherine Denver Williams. Associated with her as the council for 1915 are the Mesdames E. J. Hiatt, secretary; Eva M. Holland, treasurer; R. T. Ballard, J. R. Clevenger, E. S. Collett, G. P. Thorpe, F. C. Whinery and Kelley Hale. The league roll embraces the names of one hundred of the progressive women of Wilmington, about seventy-five of whom are actively interested in the work of the league.

THE PROGRESS CLUB.

With the slogan, "We must sail, not drift, nor lie at anchor," the Progress Club was formed in Wilmington in January, 1909, for the purpose of literary, social and moral

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advancement. It has always endeavored to live up to its name and has done some really serious work, as is shown by its programs. The first year of its existence its program was of a miscellaneous character and made up of book reviews and discussions of current topics. In 1910 a study of the western hemisphere was undertaken. This study was wide in its range, covering the flowers, birds and animals as well as the literature and history. In 1911, the club took an imaginary trip from New York and, by way of Liverpool, visited England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, Sweden and Norway. In 1912 the Progress Club visited Africa, making a general study of the countries, peoples, cities, lakes, fauna and flora of that continent. The next year, 1913, the club remained at home, studying the national parks, waterways, holidays, coal fields, schools and colleges and the Panama canal. In a similar manner it studied Switzerland in 1914. The program for the present year is one of a miscellaneous character, but most of the topics assigned have a pertinent connection with the present European situation.

The club was formed by the following twenty ladies : Mesdames N. E. Bennett, D. C. Austin, L. G. Bangham, T. J. Moon, H. B. Miars, Henry Farquhar, Fred Stoltz, Frank Marble, C. E. Zahn, W. T. McCoy, J. W. Frazer, F. M. Clevenger, A. C. Stone, A. E. Caudle, C. W. Austin, Charles Farquhar, G. W. Huls, I. N. Lair, D. K. Hempstead and D. F. McCoy. The first officers were: Mrs. W. T. McCoy, president; Mrs. L. G. Bangham, vice-president; Mrs. F. M. Clevenger, secretary; Mrs. H. B. Miars, treasurer. The present roll includes the names of Mesdames C. W. Austin, D. C. Austin, L. G. Bangham, N. E. Bennett, F. M. Clevenger, Charles Farquhar, H. B. Farquhar, J. W. Frazer, D. K. Hempstead, I. N. Lair, E. L. Lacy, Frank Marble, W. F. McCoy, H. B. Miars, Lida Moon, J. J. Richards, Fred Stoltz, A. C. Stone, C. R. Van Tress and Miss Virginia Martin. The present officers are: Virginia Martin, president; Mrs. D. C. Austin, vice-president; Mrs. H. B. Miars, secretary; Mrs. I. N. Lair, treasurer; Mrs. Lida Moon, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. E. L. Lacy, critic. Mrs. E. A. Caudle and Mrs. H. L. Campbell are honorary members.

THE YANI CLUB.

This club was organized with the original idea of making a special study of literature, although their constitution did not limit them to this line. During the past two years they have studied standard plays and famous men and women. For the last meeting, in the spring of 1915, a paper was prepared by Georgia Ireland and Anna Hummel, which was read and discussed by the other members. The Yani Club was organized May 3, 1913, with twelve charter members. The original officers were: Anna Hummel, president; Esther Doan, secretary-treasurer. The present officers are: Louise Probasco, president; Nell DeVanney, secretary-treasurer. The membership is limited to twenty-five active and honorary members.

WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union is the outgrowth of the temperance crusade of 1873-74. The Wilmington Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized in 187E, with Rachel McGreggor, president. and Alzina Barlow, secretary. Among the charter members were Mary B. Farquhar, Hannah Farquhar, Louisa McGregor, Martha Doan, Maria Doan, Amanda Marble, Martha Morgan, Lucinda Gustin, Mary N. Hadley, Rhoda Worthington, Caroline E. Harlin, Tamson Kibby and Betty Kelley.

The purpose of the organization is to educate public sentiment up to the standard of total abstinence, to train the young to save the inebriate and to secure the legal prohibition and complete banishment of the liquor traffic. It has for its members persons of all ages, beginning with the babies in the cradle roll, with the mother pledged to teach her child the principles of total abstinence and purity; the Loyal Temperance Legion, with the children from six to fourteen years, who are taught the effects of alcohol and

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narcotics on the human system; the Young People's Branch, whose object is to unite the young people of a community for the promotion of total abstinence, purity and the prohibition of the liquor traffic, with their triple pledge against drinking, tobacco and profanity; and, finally the Woman's Christian Temperance Union proper, with its forty different departments of work.

With efficient superintendents at the head of each department the Wilmington Woman's Christian Temperance Union has carried the following departments, viz.: Anti-narcotics, purity, scientific temperance instruction, Sabbath school work, flower mission, jail work, juvenile court, mercy, parliamentary usage, mother's meetings, parlor meetings, contest work, evangelistic work, franchise, literature and infirmary.

The present membership of the local Woman's Christian Temperance Union is one hundred and thirty-one active and eight honorary members. The present officers are as follow : Mrs. Orpah Morgan, president; Mrs. Laurenna Farquhar, vice-president; Mrs. Carrie Wright, secretary; Mrs. Mercie Brann, treasurer ; Mrs. T. J. Moon, corresponding secretary.

June 24, 1915, was observed as flower mission day. The appended program was prepared by the superintendent of parlor meetings, Mrs. Bertha C. Peelle, and her assistant, Mrs. Harry McKay. Mrs. C. G. Fairley, superintendent of flower mission, both local and county, added much interest to the occasion by giving excellent reports of work clone through her department in the way of sending bouquets and potted plants to the sick and shut-ins, visits to the sick, delicacies taken to them, outings given, clothing and food given to the needy ones, and many other charities.

After an interesting musical and literary program, refreshments were served and a social time enjoyed. The names of Mrs. Ada Jenkins and Mrs. Sarah Thornburg were presented for membership. Flowers, which had been brought in quantities, were made up into thirty-two bouquets, which were tied with white ribbon with scripture text cards attached, and sent to sick and shut-ins, list of such persons having been presented to the meeting.

At the present time a committee of four members, Mrs. Emma Hale, Mrs. Orpah Morgan, Mrs. T. J. Moon and Mrs. Blanche McCoy, stand ready to work in conjunction with the men's committee to push forward the work of the campaign for "Dry Ohio in 1915."

WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS.

The Woman's Relief Corps of Wilmington, auxiliary to Morris McMillan Post, Grand Army of the Republic, was instituted on October 6, 1886, three years after the organization of the national body at Denver, Colorado. The local corps. named Morris McMillan Relief Corps No. 154, began work with thirty-one members. Department Senior Vice-President Mary E. Bancroft, of Columbus, Ohio, afterward department president, served as instituting and installing officer.

Of the original thirty-one members, thirteen, including the first president, Mrs. Sylvia A. Matthews, have been called to their home beyond. At the present time the local corps has one hundred and twenty-seven members, with the following officers: Fannie Shelton, president; Jennie Baker, senior vice-president; Ellen Hazard, junior vice-president; Anna Irene McCoy, secretary; Emma Barrere, treasurer ; Sarah Riley, chaplain; Martha South, conductor ; Flora Shidaker, assistant conductor; Mary Rock-hill, guard; Ella Baker, assistant guard; Lulu F. Huffman, patriotic instructor ; Mattie E. Doan, press correspondent; Bettie Moon, color bearer No. 1; Emma Henry, color bearer No. 2; Susie Holaday, color bearer No. 3; Rose Crumley, color bearer No. 4; Nellie Bonecutter, musician.

Primarily, the sole object of the Woman's Relief Corps was the caring for the Union soldier and his dependent ones, but as the years have come and gone, the work

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of patriotic teaching has claimed much of their attention. The Wilmington corps has placed large silk flags in each room of the city schools, in Wilmington College, the children's home, the infirmary, public library, the Sunday school room of each city church, besides a number which have been given to schools and churches in adjoining towns and districts. The last flag presented now floats over the new high school building of Wilmington.

The policy of this body of patriotic women, representing the largest organized body of women in the world, has always been to keep unpublished their charitable deeds, but many, not members of a soldier's family, have been made happier and more comfortable through their efforts.. The local corps is considered among the best of the two hundred and twenty corps of Ohio, with a total membership of twelve thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven. It has always responded to calls for the Madison Home fund, where the soldier's widow is cared for, and the Sandusky Home, where many dependent soldiers are comfortably housed, as well as the Christmas fund of the Xenia Soldiers' Orphans' Home. The orphans' home is taking care of about seven hundred children at the present time—more than half being descendants of Civil War veterans, the others belonging to Spanish War veterans—but its labor of love at Christmas time knows no difference. At graduation time, in June of each year, the Woman's Relief Corps of Ohio distributes prizes amounting to one hundred dollars to the children having the best grades. The Wilmington Relief Corps has recently given twenty-five dollars towards the higher education of one of the young girls graduating from the home at Xenia last June. Anna I. McCoy, secretary and past president of the local corps, served as chairman of the Xenia Christmas committee in 1914 and personally superintended the buying for the seven hundred children, the amount expended, as furnished by the various corps of Ohio, being six hundred and sixteen dollars and ninety-eight cents.

At the present time the state organization is especially interested in the erection of a peace monument at Columbus, Ohio. Lulu F. Huffman, of. Wilmington, is a member of the peace monument committee. Five thousand dollars has already been raised and it is hoped to have the full amount required in a short time.

Morris McMillan Woman's Relief Corps No. 154 has been signally honored in having the department secretary and treasurer twice chosen from its ranks. In June, 1910, the department convention assembled at Xenia and the following members of the Wilmington corps were chosen as officers: Lulu F. Huffman, department president ; Anna I. McCoy, department secretary; Lydia E. Barrett, department treasurer. Wilmington was the home of the department of the Ohio Woman's Relief Corps until June, 1911. Again, after a lapse of only four years, this honor was conferred on the local corps at the convention held at Mansfield, Ohio, June 21-24, 1915, when the following three ladies of the local corps were chosen as officers: Anna I. McCoy, department president; Lulu F. Huffman, department secretary; Emma Barrere, department treasurer. These three, officers will attend, officially, the national convention in Washington, D. C., the week beginning September 27, 1915. In June, 1916, Mrs. McCoy will preside over the convention of the department of Ohio at Marion, Ohio, this marking the close of the present administration. The only other corps in Clinton county is the Jonathan Casto Corps No. 37, at Blanchester.

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

George Clinton Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was named in honor of Gen. George Clinton, for whom Clinton county was named. Clinton was a brigadier-general in the Revolutionary army in 1777, the first governor of the state of New York, and at the time of his death was vice-president of the United States. The chapter was organized on January 30, 1896. Mrs. C. C. Nichols had been appointed chapter regent for Wilmington in May, 1895, by Mrs. Elroy M. Avery, of Cleveland, state regent. This appointment had been confirmed by the officers of the national organization and Mrs.

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Nichols was authorized by that body to organize a chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Wilmington. Mrs. Elroy M. Avery was present when the local organization was effected, with the following charter members: Mrs. C. C. Nichols, Mary C. Nichols, Jessie T. Owens, Mrs. Margaret A. I. Owens, Mrs. Katherine J. S. Foos, Rebekah H. Strickle, Maria E. S. Bickham, Lavina V. Telfair, Maria T. Telfair, Martha A. Telfair, Mrs. S. G. Smith, Mrs. R. C. Stumm, Mrs. W. R. Hale, Mrs. C. J. Lamb, Mrs. R. J. Lacy, Mrs. Nancy P. Bosworth Fife, Mrs. A. T. Quinn, Mrs. F. M. Wegman, Mrs. C. W. Swaim, Mrs. J. W. Wire, Cleopatra Rudduck, Ida W. Hale and Emma Hill. The first officers were, Mrs. C. C. Nichols, regent; Mrs. S. G. Smith, vice-regent; Mrs. A. T. Quinn, secretary; Mrs. R. J. Lacy, treasurer; :Jessie T. Owens, registrar; Lavinia V. Telfair, historian; Mrs. N. E. Bennett, Mrs. F. M. Wegman and Mrs. C. W. Swaim, committee of safety.

The qualifications for membership are two, eligibility and respectability. The first means that all members must be lineal descendants of ancestors who aided in establishing American independence, descent to be confirmed by documentary proof from official records. The object of the organization is to foster patriotism and love of country, to encourage historical research and the protection of historic sites, and the preservation of Revolutionary documents and relics, to maintain and defend the institutions of American freedom, and to promote institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge.

The work of the local chapter has been along patriotic and educational lines. The greatest effort and the greatest achievement of the George Clinton Chapter has been the establishing, maintaining and the management of the Wilmington library and museum, a public institution for the benefit of the people, with funds necessary for the erection of the building furnished by Andrew Carnegie. The city council of Wilmington now makes an annual appropriation towards the library. The laying of the corner stone of the library was attended by appropriate ceremonies and the building was completed and occupied in June, 1904.

The chapter has planted buckeye trees on the public school grounds of the city. The picture of George Washington and a copy of the Declaration of Independence have been placed in all the city schools. The graves of Revolutionary soldiers in Clinton county have had markers placed over them and are decorated with flags and flowers each year. All patriotic days are observed with suitable ceremonies. During the Spanish-American War in 1898 several boxes of supplies were sent to hospitals. Books and magazines have been contributed to the Ohio alcove of the public library at Manila, Philippine Islands. Contributions have also been made to the Wilmington library, to Continental hall, which was erected for use of the national society in Washington, D. C., and to the Martha Berry school and other schools in the South.

Delegates are annually sent to the national Daughters of American congress at Washington, D. C., as well as to the Ohio conference. Monthly meetings are held, with programs on patriotic and historic subjects. January 30, 1916, will mark the twentieth anniversary of the organization of George Clinton Chapter and plans are being made to celebrate the occasion with a birthday party on the following day. The members in 1915 are as follow : Effie Allen, Mrs. Bessie M. Hattersby Austin, Mrs. Cora Adams Burnett, Mrs. Clara Russell Burns, Mrs. Anna Gallup Carwright, Mrs. Grace Peterson Colvin, Mrs. Alice M. Starbuck Davis, Mrs. Elizabeth A. S. Deuel, Minnie Fonen, Zenetta R. Gaddis, Mrs. Amy Fuller Hale, Mrs. Anna M. C. Hardesty, Mrs. Martha Benard Hildebrant, Emma Hill. Mrs. Louisa Fuller Huffman, Mrs. Lucille Curry Jeannot, Mrs. Mary W. Jordon, Mrs. Alice M. Peterson McMillan, Mrs. Sarah H. Walker Miller, Mrs. Elouisa Fitch King Nichols, Mrs. Clara A. Starbuck Padgett, Mrs. Mary Fisher Quinn, Mrs. Sarah Luella Rannells. Mrs. Clara Coleman Richards, Dr. Elizabeth Shrieves, Mrs. Martha McKay Skimming, Mrs. Althea Moore Smith, Nella Marguerite Smith, Mrs.

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Henrietta Moore Stumm, Mrs. Sarah McKay Smith, Mrs. Susanna McKay Terrell, Mrs. Mary Patterson Walker, Louise Denver Walker and Mrs. Mary Bell Hudson Wood. The non-resident members follow: Mrs. Lutie Harris Barnes, Mrs. Maria E. Strickle Bickham, Mrs. Susan P. Telfair Daugherty, Mrs. Katherine Strickle Foos, Mrs. Charlotte Washburn French, Mrs. Edith K. Rannells Lewis, Mrs. Anna Sollers Moore, Mrs. Tacy P. Walker Robinson, Mrs. Agnes Rowe Scott, Mrs. Ida Hale Strickle, Mrs. Jessie Hunter Sterling, Mrs. Mary C. Nichols Walker and Mrs. Dora Fonen West.

The present officers of the George Clinton Chapter are: Regent, Mrs. Mary Bell Hudson Wood; vice-regent, Mrs. Susanna McKay Terrell; secretary, Mrs. Sarah H. Walker Miller; treasurer, Mrs. Martha Bernard Hildebrant; historian, Mrs. Amy Fuller Hale; registrar, Mrs. Alice Starbuck Davis. The committees are as follow : Year Book, Mrs. Louisa Fuller Huffman, Mrs. Elouisa F. King Nichols and Mrs. Lucile Amy Jeannot; patriotic education, Mrs. Louisa Fuller Huffman; historic sites and Revolutionary soldiers' graves, Mrs. Amy( Fuller Hale; Daughters of American, Revolution Magazine, Minnie Fonen.

THE CONVERSATION CLUB.

There is a tradition that, perhaps, the oldest of the living literary clubs of Wilmington owes its origin to the "Mystic Three." Whatever of truth or error this tradition may contain, the fact remains that on one Saturday afternoon late in the autumn of 1897 ten young women, drawn together by mutual tastes, met at the home of Mrs. Frank L. McDonald and declared themselves to be a literary club without organization. It was decided that the meetings of the club should be held every Saturday afternoon at three o'clock, and that each member, in turn, should conduct the meeting and present a subject of her own selection, every third meeting to be a book review.

The purpose of the club was to gain a larger and more intimate knowledge of the various subjects which such an arrangement would insure and to develop the art of conversation by adhering strictly to the conversational method. The use of notes was distinctly discouraged and the meetings were characterized by the most informal simplicity.

For several years the club continued as it had been founded, calling itself the Saturday Afternoon Club. Later, upon the removal of some of the charter members, it was deemed expedient to open its doors to new members and to effect an organization, at which time the name was changed to the Conversation Club, and the meetings held biweekly. From time to time the ranks have been refilled and social features added. Despite the changes in form, the club has never deviated from its fundamental ideas, and for this reason its regular meetings still retain that charm of directness and simplicity with which they were marked in the beginning.

The fact that, with one exception, all of the resident charter members are among the most active of the present membership, proves the value of its educational and social advantages.

In its social life, the club has been as novel as in its literary life. The entertainments which its friends have enjoyed from time to time have been most unique and delightful. The mid-summer picnics and the autumn camp-fires have been occasions which have strengthened the ties of friendship among the members and testified to their culinary as well as their literary accomplishments.

In the winter of 1907 the club celebrated its tenth anniversary with a banquet, an event which is remembered as especially enjoyable.

The present membership consists of twenty-seven resident and six non-resident members. Four times in its eighteen years of existence, dark shadows have fallen and Mrs. Mary Carroll, Mrs. Gertrude Stiles Cheney, Miss Oma Hadley and Mrs. Adilla Hadley Lowes have departed this life. The charter members of the club were: Miss

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Marshie Austin, Mrs. Fannie McDonald, Mrs. Alice Green, Mrs. Lucy Whinery, Mrs. Harriet Hiatt, Mrs. Eva Holland, Mrs. Jessie Orebaugh, Mrs. Myrtle McWilliams, of Wilmington; Mrs. Jessie Carroll Smith, of Whittier, California, and Mrs. Harriet Holaday, of Manchester, England.

The present resident members are: Miss Effie Allen, Mrs. Elma Austin, Miss Florence Austin, Miss Marshie Austin, Mrs. Ada Brown, Miss Estelle Cleveland, Mrs. Bertha Doan, Miss Margaret Ent, Miss Carrie Ent, Mrs. Callie Fairley, Miss Carolyn Farquhar, Mrs. Harriet Hiatt, Mrs. Eva Holland, Mrs. Alice Green, Miss Mary Mills, Mrs. Ella Mitchell, Mrs. Fannie McDonald, Mrs. Myrtle McWilliams, Mrs. Anna McCoy, Mrs. Jessie Orebaugh, Mrs. Isabel Peebles, Mrs. Virginia Peelle, Mrs. Harriet Purdy, Mrs. Eleanor Smith, Miss Lola Street, Miss Laura Sutherland, Mrs. Genia Williams, Mrs. Eugenia Walker, and non-resident, Miss Olive Austin, Mrs. Ella Barrett, Miss Ina Cockerill, Mrs. Harriet Holaday, Miss Almeda Smith, Mrs. Jessie Smith and Mrs. Grace Colvin.

The Conversation Club looks forward to many years of interest and activity, believing that it has contributed something to the intellectual and social development of Wilmington and that its members have been broadened and uplifted by its agency.

CHAPTER XVI.

FARMERS' ORGANIZATIONS.

CLINTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Ohio state Legislature, through the efforts of Eli Gaskill, representative from Clinton county, passed an act on February 25, 1833, authorizing and encouraging the establishment of agricultural societies in the various counties of the state. Those interested in such matters speedily took advantage and on June 14, 1833, a notice was published in the Democrat and Herald, a Wilmington newspaper, that a meeting of interested citizens would be held the last Friday in that month for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society. The plans were successfully carried out and Azel Walker was chosen president, and A. E. Strickle, recording secretary, of the organization. A meeting of the board of directors was held on July 28, 1833, at which it was voted that each member should pay the treasurer on or before the first Saturday of the ensuing October the sum of fifty cents. It was voted to hold the first fair on the last Saturday in October, 1833. It was resolved to award premiums on horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, owned by members of the society, also on articles of all descriptions manufactured by said members. The fair was held on the premises owned by Richard Pierce in Wilmington.

The following officers were elected by the society on June 27, 1834: Eli Gaskill, president; Isaiah Morris, vice-president; Lawrence Fitzhugh, treasurer; C. B. Harlan, recording secretary; R. B. Harlan, corresponding secretary; Samuel Wilson, Thomas How, Jr., Abraham Nordyke, Isaac Strickle, John B. Posey, Aaron Jenkins, Isaac Collett, William Hadley, Jacob Haines, Azel Walker, directors. In that year the fair was held in Wilmington on the Pierce lot on October 31. In 1835, Eli Gaskill was president, and L. Wright, secretary. The fair was held on the usual last Friday in October. About 1834, George D. Haworth introduced into Clinton county a new breed of cattle known as "short horns," and it is probable that he exhibited them at the fair of 1835. The fourth fair was held in 1836, with the following officers: Eli Gaskill, president ; Isaiah Morris, vice-president; A. T. Sewell, treasurer; A. E. Strickle, secretary; Thomas How, Jr., Jesse Hughes, Jr.. Gayer Starbuck, Isaac Strickle, George McManis, Jacob Haines, John B. Posey, James McFadden, Benjamin Nordyke and Cyrus Reed, directors. The fair of 1837 was held on October 28, at the house of Richard Pierce; admission fifty cents, dinner extra. The year had witnessed the production of excellent crops of fruit and grain and the amount and quality of stock was exceedingly creditable for that day. Eli Gaskill was president, and A. E. Strickle, recording secretary. The judges of horses were Jacob Haines, Curtis Jackson, Benajah Nordyke, James McFadden, Simon Hadley; judges of cattle, John Hadley, George D. Haworth, Cyrus Reed, Eli Gaskill, Abraham Nordyke; judges of sheep, swine, etc., Nathan Linton, Charles Russell, William Hadley, Gayer Starbuck, Thomas How, Jr.; judges of domestic manufactured articles, John B. Posey. Isaac Strickle. William Hibben, C. D. Hughes, Thomas B. Carroll.

After 1837 there is nothing to show that a fair was held until 1849. The report of the state board of agriculture for the latter year shows that a new society had been organized the year previous and that its first fair was held at Wilmington on October 17 and 18, 1849. The officers of the new society were: Eli Gaskill, president; Josiah (so printed in the report—should be Isaiah) Morris, vice-president; Isaac B. Thomas, treasurer; Grafton B. White, secretary; Paul H. Vandervort, William Hibben, Isaac Haslett, Curtis Jackson, Milton McMillan, managers. The fair was held this year on the

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north side of the Washington pike, east of town. The receipts were one hundred fifty-seven dollars and fifty-nine cents, of which amount the county furnished seventy-eight dollars and fifty-nine cents. Fairs followed annually after this year. In 1851, the court house was used as a building in which to exhibit farm products.

The officers in 1851 were: Eli Gaskill, president; Isaiah Morris, vice-president, and G. B. White, secretary.

1852—Isaac Haslett was president; E. L. Lacy, vice-president; Joseph Wood, secretary.

1853—Isaac Haslett was president; D. Persenger, vice-president; and Joseph Wood, secretary. This year the fair was held on new grounds now occupied by the nursery in the western suburb of Wilmington.

1854—Eli Gaskill, president; Thomas L. Carothers, treasurer; A. W. Doan, secretary. 1855—Paul H. Vandervort, president; William Crumly, treasurer; A. W. Doan, secretary.

1856—Thomas D. Austin, president ; J. G. Starbuck, vice-president; William Crumly, treasurer; A. W. Doan, secretary.

1857—A. E. Strickle, president; J. G. Starbuck, vice-president; A. W. Doan, secretary. This year the fair was held east of Wilmington on the land now occupied by the Wilmington College campus. This land was leased by Isaiah Morris and fairs were held here for nine years.

1858—A. E. Strickle, president; Jesse G. Starbuck, vice-president; William Crumley, treasurer; A. W. Doan, secretary.

1859—A. E. Strickle, president; Samuel Knowlton, vice-president; William Crumley, treasurer; A. W. Doan, secretary.

1860—P. H. Vandervort. president ; A. W. Doan, secretary.

1861—J. D. Hines, president; J. M. Haworth, vice-president, and subsequently president, Hines not serving; A. W. Doan, elected secretary, but in his absence L. C. Walker was appointed secretary pro tem., and discharged the duties of the office.

1862—B. W. Fuller, president; L. C. Walker, secretary.

1863—Cyrus Linton, president; L. C. Walker, secretary.

1864—Cyrus Linton, president; L. C. Walker, secretary.

1865—J. D. Hines, president; L. C. Walker, secretary; William Crumley, treasurer. Mr. Crumley died in office and Charles N. Osborn was appointed on September 21, 1865, to fill vacancy.

1866--Paul Vandervort, president ; L. D. Reed, treasurer; S. M. Babb, secretary. In this year the present fair grounds west of Wilmington were purchased and the property of the society removed from the old grounds.

1867—A. W. Doan, president; L. C. Walker, secretary.

1868—James S. Hoblet, president; Levi Mills, secretary.

1869—J. S. Hoblet, president; Levi Mills, secretary.

1870—C. M. Walker, president; Levi Mills, secretary.

1871-O. M. Walker, president; Levi Mills, secretary.

1872—C. M. Walker, president; D. T. White, secretary.

1873-75—C. Rhonemus, president ; D. T. White, secretary.

1876—C. Rhonemus, president; W. H. Rannells, secretary.

1877—C. Rhonemus, president; N. M. Linton, secretary.

1878—Cyrus Linton, president; S. G. Smith, secretary.

1879-80---E. H. Matthews. president; N. M. Linton, secretary.

1881—Leo Weitz. president; N. M. Linton, secretary. The fair this year was held in August.

1882—David Peebles, president; N. M. Linton, secretary.

1883—David Peebles, president; N. M. Linton, secretary. Fair held on August 14-18; two hundred show horses on the grounds.

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1884—Leo Weltz, president; Joshua Lacy, vice-president; N. M. Linton, secretary, and C. W. Swaim, treasurer. The heads of the departments were: Executive, Leo Weitz, Joshua Lacy and M. J. Grady; horses, mules and jacks, L. D. Reed and J. H. Terrell. Fair held August 12-15.

1885—Leo Weitz, president; N. M. Linton, secretary. Fair held August 11-14.

1886—Joshua Lacy, president; N. M. Linton, secretary; dates, September 7-10.

1887-0. F. Peddicord, president; Leo Weitz, vice-president; N. M. Linton, secretary,

and J. W. Denver. Jr., treasurer.

1888—O. F. Peddicord, president; N. M. Linton, secretary ; directors, H. H. Hadley, H. P. Malone, John Clevenger, Edgar Hadley, J. W. Richardson, Charles Vanniman, Leo Weitz, H. C. Denver, W. H. Probasco, J. W. Denver, Jr., J. M. Miller and Joshua Linton. Fair held from July 31 to August 3. A new grand stand was built this year.

1889—Fair held on September 10-13.

1890 H. P. Malone, president; John Clevenger, vice-president; G. P. Thorpe, secretary; J. W. Denver, Jr., treasurer. Fair dates were September 9-12.

1891—G. H. Thorpe, secretary. The payment of premiums were guaranteed a subscribed fund raised in the county. The dates were September 1-4.

1892—J. M. Miller, president; John Clevenger, vice-president; J. W. Denver, treasurer, and G. P. Thorpe, secretary. The receipts of the fair this year—September 6-9—were thirty-five hundred dollars, and the expenditures were three thousand dollars.

1893—J. M. Miller, president; Edgar Hadley, vice-president; J. W. Denver, Jr., treasurer, and G. P. Thorpe, secretary.

1894—The Agricultural Society decided that it would not give a fair this year, and the grounds were leased to the Wilmington Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, who held a fair, September 25-28. The committee appointed by the lodge to manage the fair were Col. J. W. Denver, G. P. Thorpe, secretary, and J. M. Miller, president. The name was changed from the Clinton County Fair to that of the Wilmington Fair.

1895—The Knights.of Pythias again gave the fair. It was managed by Fred Weitz, president; Kent P. Browning, secretary; J. W. Denver, treasurer ; Stanley Outcalt and Tim Payne. The fair was held on September 4-6.

1896—There was no fair held this year and the grounds were rented by the county commissioners to J. R. Sloan for one year for the sum of sixty dollars.

1897—This year a new company was formed to give a Wilmington fair on September 23-24, with Miletus Garner as secretary.

From 1897 to 1904 there was apparently no fair given. The grounds were sold to U. N. Morgan.

1904—In this year the fair grounds were leased from U. N. Morgan by G. R. Kennedy, of Sardinia, Brown county, Ohio. He organized the Wilmington Fair and Amusement Company, with the following officers: G. R. Kennedy, president; B. E. Purdy, treasurer ; A. W. Doan, secretary; and G. L. Kinkaid, assistant secretary. They spent some money remodeling the old grounds and held a fair on September 13-16. This was the first of the "Farmer Kennedy Fairs." This same company gave fairs on the following dates: August 22-25, 1905; August 28-31, 1906; September 10-13, 1907; September 8-11, 1908, and September 14-17, 1909.

In 1910 a new company, with Samuel Johns as president; Claude Miller, vice-president; 0. J. Thatcher, secretary, and J. M. Lewis, treasurer, gave a fair on September 27-30. In 1911 there was no fair given.

In 1912, the Ohio Horse Sales Company, of which Al W. Doan was secretary and W. J. Galvin the general manager, held a fair on September 18-20. They held their second fair, September 17-19, 1912, but the heavy rains caused their failure.

In 1914, the Wilmington Fair Association was organized with W. J. Galvin as the general manager, and A. W. Doan, secretary. They held their first fair on September 2-4

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of that year. Their second fair and first annual horse show was held August 11-12, 1915. The officers of the association are: W. J. Galvin, general manager; Al W. Doan, secretary; 0. F. Peddicord, superintendent horse department; H. C. Fenker, superintendent art hall exhibits; Al W. Conrey, superintendent of grounds.

THE SABINA FAIR.

A general meeting of the citizens of Clinton and surrounding counties was called, to be held at Sabina in 1874, to consider the advisability and, if thought advisable, the means best adapted to the formation of an agricultural or fair association. At this meeting it was undertaken to start the formation of such a society, and committees were accordingly appointed to solicit subscriptions in furtherance of the project. After these committees had obtained five thousand dollars in subscription to the stock, another meeting was held, at which the following board of officers were elected: E. B. Martin, president; J. R. Amos, vice-president; D. C. Harrison, secretary; H. H. Thorp, treasurer, and S. B. Lightner, B. J. Darbyshire, John Kirk, John Borum, E. M. Morgan, H. B. Reed, C. M. Luttrell and J. W. Carter, directors. The organization was given the name of the Sabina Union Agricultural Society. Thirty-five acres of ground on the Washington pike, and adjoining Sabina on the east, were then rented from A. C. Mills, a lease of ten years being taken by the society. Work was at once commenced on the grounds and, during the first year, seven thousand dollars were expended on improvements to the grounds. The first fair, held August 18-21, 1874, was a great success, financially and otherwise, and after that the society continued to reap their annual reward for their labor until their disbandment. In 1881 the grounds were enlarged to forty acres. A half-mile track, sixty feet wide, was made and shed room for fully two hundred horses erected. In addition to this were built commodious cattle pens, a floral hall, agricultural hall, dining hall, music stand, band stands, judges' stands, etc. Seating room for fully five thousand people was found in the amphitheater formed around one side of the speed ring. The officers of the society in 1882 were: A. Sellars, president; H. A. Haynes, vice-president; R. Curtis, treasurer ; I. Roberds, secretary, and S. B. Lightner, C. B. Vaniman, A. J. Gaskins, H. B. Reed, A. J. Wilson, C. E. Custis, E. J. Darbyshire and C. Rhonemus, directors.

On May 27, 1885, the old society was reorganized under the same name, with C. Rhonemus, president ; Martin Kennedy, treasurer ; I. Roberds, secretary, and C. E. Custis, H. B. Reed, S. B. Lightner, C. B. Vaniman and A. J. Wilson, directors. A fair was held on August 24-28, at which three thousand dollars were put up as race premiums.

In 1888, the old society had again. died, and on June 4 the Sabina Fair Company was incorporated, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars and twenty-five members. The officers were: Alex Sellars, president; M. M. Dakin, vice-president; H. H. Thorpe, treasurer; Isaac Roberds, secretary. This company gave the remainder of the fairs that were given at Sabina. Meanwhile, on the expiration of the old ten-year lease from A. C. Mills, the association had bought the fair grounds.

In 1889 the officers of the company were: Alex Sellars, president; M. M. Dakin, vice-president; Isaac Roberds, secretary; H. H. Thorpe, treasurer, and Dr. A. J. Slaight, W. J. Sewell, S. M. Thorne, C. Rhoneinus, G. W. Yeazel, William Custis, Foster Geffs and J. T. Sylvester, as directors. Probably the greatest and most successful fair ever given at Sabina was the one given on August 19-23, of that year. The crowds in attendance were large and the racing good. Governor Foraker paid it the honor of a visit.

In 1891, the fair was held on July 27-31. The secretary that year was C. Burnett.

The last fair held was from August 30 to September 2, 1892, with the following officers: C. Rhonemus, president; M. M. Dakin, vice-president; Martin Kennedy, secretary; William Custis, treasurer; and S. M. Thorne, J. J. Cumer, G. A. Pavey, Charles Burnett, Alex Sellars, C. F. Allen and Albert Mills, directors.

As nearly as can be learned. there was no fair held in 1893. In December, 1893,

(16)

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negotiations were begun by the Methodist Protestant conference camp meeting for the purchase of the fair grounds. The deal was closed and the transfer dated February 1, 1894, the fair company releasing all but two acres of the grounds for the consideration of fifteen thousand dollars.

PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

During the administration of President Johnson, in 1866, the agricultural affairs in the South were in such a deplorable state that it was decided to study the conditions among the farmers and ascertain if something could not be done for their betterment. The President decided to place this work, under the jurisdiction of the department of agriculture, and Isaac Newton, who was then commissioner of agriculture, was placed in charge of the work. 0. H. Kelley, of Minnesota, who was then a clerk in the agricultural department, was sent south to study the conditions among the farmers. On his return he made a report which disclosed such a frightful state of affairs that the idea of organizing the farmers into a society was determined. This society was known as the Patrons of Husbandry, or Grangers, and the national Grange was organized at Washington, D. C., December 4, 1867. The first national officers were: William Sanders, District of Columbia, master; J. R. Thompson, Vermont, lecturer; Anson Bartlett, Ohio, overseer; A. S. Moss, New York, assistant overseer; William Muri, Pennsylvania, steward; A. B. Grosh, Pennsylvania, chaplain; William Ireland, Pennsylvania, treasurer; 0. H. Kelley, secretary; and E. P. Farris, Illinois gatekeeper.

Dispensations were granted by the national Grange to the following cities: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, first; Fredonia, New York, second; Columbus, Ohio, third. The agricultural bulletin of October 4, 1873, showed granges to the number of six thousand nine hundred and fourteen in the United States. Ohio had at that time one hundred and forty-seven. The master of the state of Ohio was S. H. Ellis, Springboro; the secretary of the state Grange was D. M. Stewart, Xenia. Simeon Moon, of Farmer's Station, was the first deputy in Clinton county.

In March, 1873, S. H. Ellis, of Springboro, Warren county, came to this county and organized the first grange in the county. It was known as Clinton Grange No. 122. On September 9, 1873, Wilmington Grange No. 123 was organized. Judge J. H. West was the first master, and Judge E. J. West was the first deputy. Other granges were organized in the county soon afterward.

On August 8, 1874, a county grange meeting was held at the fair grounds of Clinton county and all of the granges of the county were .present. It was estimated that there were ten thousand people at this meeting. There were thirty-one granges in the county at this time and they were all well represented. This was a great gala day for the people of this section. There were speeches by the leading officers of the day and a parade through Wilmington and different amusements for the diversion of old and young. It seems that the granges were at the height of their existence at this time.

The prosperity of the granges received its first setback with the coming into existence of the organization known as the Farmers Alliance. The Grange was a nonpolitical and non-sectarian organization. But the Farmers Alliance, which originated in the West, was a partisan society and intended to make their reforms through gaining political power. From this time on the granges began to decrease. One by one, they would surrender their charters and the members were dimited to other places. The last grange in this county to pass out under the old regime was Oak Grove Grange No. 23. In the Blanchester fire of October 18, 1895, the paraphernalia, records, etc.,. of this lodge was destroyed and on June 15, 1896, the last meeting was held and the members given their cards of dimit.

Union Grange No. 77 was the first grange organized in this county since the awakening of interest in this movement.

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BEECH GROVE GRANGE.

Beech Grove Grange No. 1902 was organized on December 5, 1913, with the following charter members: C. J. Luse, Mina Luse, W. S. Wallace, Alice Wallace, C. J. Hempstead, Bertha Hempstead, Walter Garman, Leah Garman, John Ridgeway, Emma Ridgeway, H. R. Clark, John Whitlow, Frank Hook, J. E. Hook, Oscar Whitlow, James Whitlow, William Fender, Hazel Garman, Jacob Garman, Ida Garrison, Orville Bevan, Nina Bevan, Mollie Crites, Ray Rodgers, John Finney, Harrold Hook, Floyd Hook, Mrs. E. J. St. John, Mary Fender, Amos Carey, Anna Carey, Elba Andrew, Frank Carey and Earl Carey. On July 1, 1915, the grange reported eighty-seven members in good standing.

The grange meets at the Beech Grove church on the first and third Wednesday nights of each month in the year. The first officers were as follow : Master, C. J. Luse; overseer, Harry R. Clark ; lecturer, Ray Rogers; steward, Walter Garman; assistant steward, Oscar Whitlow; lady assistant, Hazel Garman; chaplain, Bertha Hempstead; Garman; pomona, Nina Bevan; flora, Emma Ridgeway; trustees, Clyde J. Hempstead, John Finney and Orville Bevan.

The officers for 1915 are as follow : Master, C. J. Luse; overseer, Harry R. Clark; lecturer, George B. Jenks; steward, Harold Hook; assistant steward, Oscar Whitlow; lady assistant, Hazel Garman; chaplain, Sadie M. Davis; treasurer, Frank Hook; secretary, Frank Carey; gatekeeper, J. E. Hook; ceres, Mary Davis; pomona, Mary Fender; flora, Georgia Crites; trustees. Clyde J. Hempstead, John Finney and Orville Bevans.

This is one of the most active granges in the county and, although it is less than two years old, it has already done some excellent work for its members. It has done co-operative buying of fertilizer and binder twine, to the amount of thirty-five hundred dollars. at a great saving to the members. In other ways its usefulness has been demonstrated and it is safe to say that it will become a factor of increasing importance. Under the energetic leadership of its master, C. J. Luse, Beech Grove Grange is taking its place as a factor, not only in the economic life of the community which it serves, but in the educational, religious and social life as well.

BLANCHESTER GRANGE.

Blanchester Grange No. 1767 was organized on January 28, 1911, with seventy-one members, and the present membership remains the same. The first officers were as follow : Salathiel Jackson, master; William Kulp, overseer; Thomas Sharp, chaplain; Roy J. Ross, treasurer ; Sanford Brown, steward; William Reed, assistant steward; William Reynolds, secretary ; Wilford Ross, gatekeeper; Mrs. Albert Foote, pomona; Marley Clevenger, flora ; Mrs. Chloe Starkey, ceres; Mrs. Harry Adams, lady assistant.

The officers for 1915 are as follow : L. 0. West, master; William Kulp, overseer; Mrs. Nell Whitenack, lecturer; Ottis Watkins, steward; William Starkey, assistant steward; Harley Carnahan, chaplain; Roy J. Ross, treasurer ; Mrs. Lucy D. Peters, secretary; Frank Tullis, gatekeeper ; Eda Watkins, pomona; Mrs. Chloe Starkey, flora; Mrs. Elizabeth Kulp, ceres; Mrs. Rena Sears, lady assistant. The grange meets on the first and third Saturday nights of each month in the Knights of Pythias hall in Blanchester. The programs are of a general nature and deal with all phases of agricultural life. Although the grange has been organized but a comparatively short time, it has already accomplished much good for its members.

NEW VIENNA, WESTBORO AND CLARKSVILLE GRANGES.

Union Grange No. 77, at New Vienna, has one hundred and ninety-six members, with the following officers: C. G. Blackbun, master; E. H. Edwards, lecturer ; Grace Bernard, secretary; A. H. Terrell, legislative agent. Westboro Grange No. 1779 has fifty-six members, with the following officers: Milton Holaday, master; Charles Thompson, lecturer; F. R. Christ, secretary. Clarksville Grange No. 1695 has seventy-four members, with the following officers: George W. Orr, master; Mrs. Anna Wellar, lecturer; Oscar Wellar, secretary; H. R. Harris, legislative agent.

CHAPTER XVII.

ADAMS TOWNSHIP.

Adams township is bounded on the west by Warren county, on the north by Chester township, on the east by Union township and on the south by Vernon township. Adams township is the smallest township in the county, having an area of fourteen thousand and two hundred acres, or a fraction over twenty-two square miles. It was the twelfth township formed in the county and was named after John Quincy Adams.

The water courses of the township are bordered by great stretches of rich and fertile bottom lands, which are, in turn, flanked by a line of low hills that lead to the higher table lands above. From Todd's fork, which divides the township in almost half, to the north and west there is a rolling tableland of prolific soil, that is black and loamy. To the east and south of this stream the uplands are best adapted to the growth of wheat and grasses.

STREAMS.

Adams township contains only two streams of any size, Todd's fork, which, as has been said, practically divides the township in half, a tributary of the Little Miami, and Lytle's creek, which empties into the first about one mile southwest of the town of Sligo. It is thought that Todd's fork was named after Col. John Todd, a noted pioneer and Indian fighter, who was killed in the bloody battle of Blue Licks, August 19, 1782. This creek enters the township a short distance to the west of the northeast corner and flows to the southwest.

Lytle's creek enters the township at about the center of the eastern boundary and flows to the west until it empties into Todd's fork. This stream was named after Gen. William Lytle, of Cincinnati, a pioneer surveyor of Hamilton county. To the east of Ogden, about a half mile, there is a small tributary of Lytle's creek, flowing from the south, known as Indian branch. It received its name from a band of Indians who made their home on its banks before the white man came. About a third of a mile from the mouth of Indian branch there is another stream, known as Jess's run, that puts into it from an easterly direction.

From the northeast, the township line crossing it not far from its mouth, Dutch creek empties into Todd's fork. From a southerly direction, through the northeastern portion of the township, comes Little creek, which empties into Todd's fork about a mile above the mouth of Lytle's creek. There is still another small stream which finds its source near the southern line of the township and flows to the northwest, emptying into Lytle's creek. perhaps a mile below Ogden.

TIMBER.

At the time of the first settlements, the whole of Adams township was covered with unbroken, virgin forest. Sprinkled among the stately white poplars on the hillsides and the black walnuts of the rich alluvial bottoms, were found the white oaks and the wide spreading elms. These monarchs of the forest were often five or six feet in diameter and devoid of limb or branch to the height of sixty feet. But they were forced to bow before the axe of the ever-advancing pioneer, and their places were taken by homes and farms. In making the clearings the trees were usually girdled with the axe and left to "deaden," as it was called. When their trunks had decayed to a slight degree, they were felled, rolled into great heaps and burned, the best being preserved to be split into rails, with which to fence in the rudely cultivated plats.

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The following is a list of the indigenous trees of the locality, both the common and the scientific name being given: Red, or slippery, elm (Ulmus fulva), white elm (Ulmus Americana), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), dogwood (Corpus florida), black gum (Nyssa multiflora), mulberry (Morns Rubra), sassafras (S. officinale), linden or basswood (Tilia Americanus), burr oak (Quercus macrocarpa), white oak (Quercus alba), horn-beam or iron wood (Carpinus), red oak (Quercus rubra), sugar maple (Acer saccharinum), swamp maple (Acer rubrum), sycamore or buttom wood (Plantarus occidentalis), locust (Robina pseudacacia), honey locust (S. officinale), white walnut or butternut (Juglans cinerea), black walnut (Juglans nigra), shellbark hickory (Carya sulcata), brown or pignut hickory (Carya parcina), buckeye or horse-chestnut (Aesculus), common willow (Salix cordata), black willow (Salix nigra), yellow poplar (Populus grandidenta), American aspen (P. tremuloides), beech (Fagus ferruginea), white ash (Fraxinus Americana), blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata), wild cherry (Prunus serotina).

FORMATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

Chester and Vernon townships originally included the territory now embraced by Adams township. The first official act of the first board of county commissioners was the division of the county of Clinton into the three townships of Chester, Vernon and .Richland. The line between Chester and. Vernon townships was Lytle's creek, beginning where the creek crossed the former line between Highland and Warren counties, and continuing to the point where it joined Todd's fork and from thence due west to the new Warren county line. This order was made on April 6, 1810, by George McManis, Hames Birdsell and Henry Babb. This line remained until August 21, 1813, when, at a special session of the commissioners' court, it was moved farther north, to the state road running from Wilmington to Lebanon. Union township was formed at this time, including within its limits parts of both townships. This order was reiterated in the following entry:

"June Session, A. D. 1830.

"Chester and Vernon townships, Alteration.

"At the present session of the commissioners of Clinton county, towit; the stated session of June, 1830, held by Joseph Roberds, John Lewis and James Sherman, commissioners, a petition signed by divers citizens of the county, praying for a restoration to Vernon township of that part of Chester which formerly belonged to Vernon, that is, that the Lebanon state road be the line between said townships; whereupon the commissioners aforesaid, being of opinion that said alteration is necessary, adjudge and order that the said alteration be made, and that the road aforesaid be hereafter taken and esteemed to be the line between said townships."

This line ran through the village of Sligo, which, by 1849, although still unincorporated, had grown to be quite a good-sized town. A movement was started by its citizens and those of the immediate vicinity to form a new township, of which its would be the business center. On March 5, 1849, a petition was presented to the commissioners praying that a new township be formed out of the territory therein described, which included parts of Chester, Vernon and Union townships. The commissioners appointed Hiram Madden to make a survey of the territory named, to ascertain the number of square miles it contained. It was found that this territory did not contain a sufficient area, as required by law, for the formation of a township and the petition was withdrawn. The following petition was drawn up at once, circulated and presented to the commissioners on May 1, 1849. asking for the formation of a new township, the survey this time containing more territory than before:

"To the Commissioners of Clinton County, Ohio:

"Your petitioners. citizens of Clinton county, Ohio, respectfully represent that we labor under great inconvenience on account of our very remote situation from the place

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of holding elections, and from the place where other township business is transacted, in consequence of which we respectfully, but most earnestly, ask you to establish a township to be taken out of Union, Chester and Vernon townships. (Here follows a description of the territory the same as in the survey.)

"We, your petitioners, now claim it is an act of justice, as there is left in each of the townships from which the proposed new township is to be taken, ample amount of territory to still constitute a constitutional township, that our petition be granted as now asked for, and which is signed by citizens and voters in the districts included in the boundary of the new township.

"Henry Harvey, William W. Sheppard, John P. Black, Elihu Hambleton, Joel McKinney, John R. Jobe, George Carter, William Vandervort, David Pyle, Micajah Moore, Harlan Maden, William Bennett, Henry Hazard, David S. Pyle, Jeremiah Kimbrough, Daniel Shank, Abel Thornberry, Jabez H. Hadley, Jehu Pyle, William Cooper, Samuel J. Cleland, James M. Davis, Eden Andrew, William Ballard, David Harlan, Benjamin Brackney, Egbert K. Howland, James H. Elkins, John H. Moore, Adam Osborne, Uriah W. Hunt, John Crosson, Chalkley Albertson, Ezekiel Hornaday, Eli Kimbrough, John Hadley, Jr., William B. Andrew, John B. Davis, George Maden, Lewis F. Davis, George Slack, Esq., William Osborn, John H. Elkins, Ezekiel Conklin, Samuel Moore, Aaron Howell, William S. Riley, Alfred Black, Joshua Clark, Joseph Thatcher, Stacy Haines, Daniel Smith, S. Lindley, John Kimbrough, B. F. Laplane, Lorenzo Jenks, James Black, Joshua Moore, William A. Glover, Asa Green, William P. Harvey, Isaac Hornaday, Jesse Thatcher, J. H. Longshore, Alfred Hollcraft, Alexander Bowen, David Curl, Jacob Hadley, Gideon Truss, Alexander Cleland, Joseph Moore, Alden Jenks, John Townsend, Wil-- iam Henson, John Pyle, Clinton Parks, Eli Hadley, Levi Stratton, Simon Hadley, Levi N. Miller, David Jenks, Lorenzo Clark, Samuel Omerman, Cyrus E. Carter, Calvin Andrew, Joseph W. Slack, John J. Anson, William Simons, Moses Izard, John Hornaday, Simon Harvey, Joseph Wingfield, John Fallis, Amos Haines, Jonathan D. Hadley, Ezra Moon, William Daniels, William Moore, Augustus Buck, John B. Carter, Thomas J. Cast, David F. Harlan, Samuel Andrew, Reed Feris, E. F. Curl, Micajah Stratton, Hiram Maden, Eli Harvey, John Daugherty, Thomas Kimbrough, John Cleland, Ira Ferris, John B. Smith, DeLos Feris, Samuel Mart, Nathan M. Evritt, Artemas Nickerson, Jeremiah Kimbrough, Seneca Wildman, John Maden, Isaac Schooley, Eli Maden, Mahlon Stratton, Armoni Hale, Edward S. Davis, Alexander Harlan, Isaac Harvey, David Thatcher, Enoch Carter, Thomas J. Daugherty."

SURVEY OF ADAMS TOWNSHIP.

The following is the survey of the township as accompanying the petition and adopted as the boundaries of the township. It has remained unchanged to date:

"Beginning at a point opposite Jonathan Hadley's, at a stake in Warren county line, in A. Branstrator's field; thence east 118 poles to Jonathan Hadley's, excluding him; thence to Isaac Hawkins' farm south 68̊ 20' east, crossing Todd's Fork at one mile and 194 poles, to the turnpike road at one mile and 290 poles, whole distance, two miles and 40 poles, to a stake including the said Hawkins; thence to the land line of John Osborne, south 58̊ east two miles and 102 poles, to a beech and two small mulberries; thence east 116 poles to the west line of Union Township, to a stake and three beeches; thence south 1̊ west 44 poles, to the southwest corner of Union Township, to a dead beech and white oak ; thence south 1̊ east 320 poles to a stake in said line in Peter Osborn's field; thence north 7̊ west, crossing Cincinnati State Road at one mile and 60 poles, the county road at Joshua Moore's at one mile, 312 poles, the county road at Haines Moore's at two miles and 140 poles, Lytle's Creek at two miles and 170 poles, the turnpike road at three miles and 102 poles, Todd's Fork at four miles and 280 poles, Waynesville road at five miles and 60 poles (whole distance five miles and 71 poles), to a stake; thence west 81 poles,

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crossing the Waynesville road at 11 poles to a stake, where Union Township line crosses the county road leading from Clarksville to Centre Meeting House; thence to Daniel Collett's, Esq., south 86̊ 48' west, three miles and 165 poles, crossing Miller's Creek at 205 poles, excluding said Collett ; thence west to the Warren County line, south 1̊ west two miles and 571 poles to the beginning, crossing the Lebanon road and line of Vernon and Chester Townships at two miles and 46 poles, containing twenty-two and one-quarter square miles." This survey was made by Hiram Maden, a pioneer surveyor of the new township.

The commissioners considered the matter on May 1, 1849, and ordered that the township be established and that an election should be held in the new township on May 12, to elect the following officers: Three trustees, one clerk, one treasurer, one assessor and one constable. The county commissioners at this time were Azel Walker, Joseph Hoskins and Jesse Doan. The election was held on the date set, in the shop of John H. Moore, in Sligo, with Henry Harvey, David Jenks and W. B. Andrews as the judges. The following men were elected to fill the offices : Jeremiah Harvey, David Jenks and Peter Osborn, trustees; Jonathan D. Hadley, clerk ; Dr. W. W. Shappard, assessor ; Simon Harvey, treasurer, and James H. Elkins, constable. Henry Hazard was elected justice of the peace on October 10, of the same year.

MILLS.

The streams of the township furnished the power' for the early mills. In 1805 Mordecai Mendenhall built a grist-mill on Todd's fork, about a mile above the mouth of Dutch creek. He sold it, with one hundred and forty acres of land, on March 15, 1806, to Jonathan Wright, who owned it until 1814, when he sold it to Richard Fallis. Fallis refitted and enlarged it and ran it until 1826, when he sold it, with a tract of two hundred and fifty-six acres of land, to his nephew, Jonathan Fallis. In 1830 the mill, with forty-seven acres of land, was sold by Jonathan Fallis to Josiah Townsend, but Townsend died soon after and the administrator of his estate deeded it back to Fallis by the order of court, in payment of an unpaid balance due on the original purchase price. Fallis at once sold it to John Hadley, who owned it until 1841, when he sold it to Stacey Haines, who ran it until 1854. It was afterwards owned by Thomas Kimbrough, Jeremiah Klmbrough, his son, William L. Hadley, Thomas Hazard, A. U. Hadley, and again by William L. Hadley. Its use having been discontinued and the building fallen into decay, he removed it about 1867.

Eli Harvey and John Hadley, brothers-in-law, built, in 1808, a grist-mill on Todd's fork, about a mile below Springfield meeting house. It afterwards came into the sole possession of John Hadley and gained a wide reputation and patronage as Hadley's mill. His sons, Isaac and John, afterwards ran it for a long period and sold it in the early fifties to Jesse Thatcher. Soon after its purchase by Thatcher, it caught fire and burned down. He rebuilt it in a magnificent manner and ran it for about twenty years, when he took it down and moved it to Wilmington.

A saw-mill was built on Lytle's creek, near where Ogden now stands, by John Holladay in 1818, and about three years later a grist-mill was added. The saw-mill was rebuilt about 1846 and a short time afterward the grist-mill was refitted and steam power installed.

In the year 1811, Caleb Harvey built a carding and fulling-mill on his farm on Little creek and kept it running for several years. It stood a few rods up the stream from where the Lebanon road crosses the creek. This mill did a flourishing business in its time and was one of the most widely known mills in the county. The early settlers often came from miles distant to this mill to get their wool carded and formed into rolls, and their blankets and jeans fulled. It was often forced to run at nights. A man by the name of Alexander Montgomery was for many years its proprietor. It has long since disappeared.

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Another mill in the township that has long since followed its predecessors was built about the year 1842 by William B. Andrew on Lytle's creek, about a mile and a half above its mouth. It was a saw-mill and was kept running for many years.

All of the above mentioned mills had decayed and disappeared by 1882 except the mill at Ogden, which was still standing, but in disuse. At that time even, it was considered a relic of the past and pointed out to all the visitors of that village. But the younger generations of today do not have even the decaying and fallen ruins of these old mills to remind them of the times when their grandfathers, as lads, carried a bag of grain on the back of "old Dobbin" to the mill, for the family's flour.

SCHOOL HOUSES.

The first school house in the township was erected in 1808, on the land of Isaac Harvey, about one-fourth of a mile north of Todd's fork. In 1812 or 1813 there was a school building built on the Nicholas Carter farm and in 1814 another was erected on the farm of Isaac Stout, about a quarter of a mile east of Lytle's Creek meeting house. In 1813 or 1814 George Carter, with the help of Jeremiah Kimbrough, Thomas Kersey and Nathan Mendenhall, built a log school on his farm. Several other school buildings were erected from time to time and several were controlled by the society of Friends.

In 1834 there was a school house built on what was then the Holaday farm (afterwards known as the Quinby farm), and, about 1845, there was a neat frame building erected by the society of Friends at Lytle's Creek meeting house. After several years. these all became district schools and passed under the control of the board of education of the township. All these old buildings have long since disappeared and not a vestige of them remains today to even identify the spots where they stood. In 1853 a new school law, with a new system of maintaining schools, went into force, and the township was subdivided and redistricted throughout. The old school houses were abandoned, new sites procured and new buildings erected. The old log school house, with the large fireplace, the greased-paper windows, the stools and seats without a support for the back, with no blackboards or maps, have become a thing of the. past forever. Among the early teachers were William Holaday, George Carter, Warren Sabin, Joseph Doan, John Harvey, James Dakin, Henry Harvey, Eli Harvey, Thomas Kersey, Hiram Maden and James Osborn; of the second generation, were William Cooper, James Crawford. Thomas Green and Henry Zimmerman.

THE PIONEERS.

The first resident of the township was Samuel Lee, who, by 1804, had built a cabin in the neighborhood of the Springfield meeting house, on what was afterward known as the Isaac Harvey land. Archibald Edwards, Peter Dicks, his brother-in-law, Isaac Harvey, Jacob Hale and John Hadley came from Ohio in the following year and settled in the same vicinity. Soon afterward Isaac Harvey journeyed to North Carolina, where he purchased, with his brother, Eli, the great Pollard tract of two thousand acres of land, of a Pollard who resided at Richmond, Virginia. He returned to Ohio, bringing his brothers, Eli, Joshua and Caleb, and their families, with him in the fall of 1806. They all settled on the Pollard tract and were the foundation of the great Harvey settlement of Adams township. Another brother, William, followed them from North Carolina a few years later. These brothers had two sisters, Martha and Lydia; Martha married Jacob Hale, Sr., and Lydia married John Hadley.

Isaac Harvey, who lived near Springfield in a brick house built in 1814, married a sister of Peter Dicks by the name of Lydia. To them were born three sons, William, Harlan and Simon D., and six daughters, Nancy, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Martha, Lydia and Ruth. William, the eldest son, married a young lady by the name of Crew ; Nancy, the eldest daughter, married Archibald Edwards; Elizabeth married Enock Harlan ; Rebecca became the wife of Jonathan Hadley; Martha, the wife of Aaron Antram; Ruth,

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the wife of a man by the name of Towel. Mary Stanfielf was the maiden name of -the wife of Eli Harvey, who settled between Lytle's creek and Todd's fork, near their junction. He died on April 12, 1822, at the age of sixty years, leaving one son, William, and three daughters, Ann, Mary and Cynthia. Joshua Harvey, a brother of Isaac and Eli, who settled on the south of Todd's fork, was married three times. He first married a woman by the name of Morrison, by whom he had five children, Caleb, Hannah, Simon, Levi and Robert. Mary Moon, his second wife and the sister of James Moon, was the mother of twins, Jehu and Nancy. Samuel and Abigail were the children of the third wife, a sister of Reuben, Isaac and John Chew. Caleb Harvey, a fourth brother, settled about one-half a mile southwest of Springfield. His wife was Sarah, daughter of Jesse and Hannah Towel, of North Carolina. The fruits of this marriage were six children, Jesse, Joshua, Hannah, Eli, Rebecca and Elizabeth, the eldest being born In North Carolina. His wife died on June 27, 1825, at the age of forty-eight; he died at the age of fifty-four on December 12, 1830. They we're both buried at Springfield. Their son Joshua died in 1831, leaving a small daughter, Nancy, who was raised in her paternal grandfather's household. William Harvey, the fifth brother, married Mary, the daughter of David and Sarah Vestal. To them were born in North Carolina three sons, John, Eli and David, and on Ohio soil, two daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth. He died on December 5, 1858, at the age of eighty-eight, and his wife followed him five years later, in 1863, in her ninety-sixth year. Both found their final resting place at Springfield.

Eli Harvey, son of William, was born in North Carolina, in 1803, died in April, 1872, at the age of sixty-nine, and was buried at Springfield. His first wife was Sarah, daughter of John and Mary Fallis, and the mother of six children. Lydia, Mary, William Penn, Esther, Ann and Sarah. She died in July, 1835. at the age of thirty. His second wife was Ruth, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Fisher, and the mother of Joseph, Isaac, Hannah, John, James and Sinai. The first two died in infancy.

Isaac Harvey, son of Caleb, married a daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Edwards, of Warren county, Ohio, and was the father of nine children, Caleb, Elizabeth, Mary Jane, Rebecca, William, Nathaniel, Abigail, Jesse H. and Enos F.

Preserved Dakin came from New York state in 1806, and settled on what was afterwards the Lebanon road, near Lytle's Creek meeting house. He soon afterwards removed to Chester township.

Mordecai Mendenhall settled on Todd's fork in 1806, building a mill there which he afterwards sold to Jonathan Wright and which later became known as the Fall's mill. A brother of his, Nathan Mendenhall, who was a brother-in-law of Jeremiah Kimbrough, settled on a farm in the same vicinity.

Joshua Nickerson settled in 1804, on Todd's fork about a mile above the Harvey settlement. He came from the state of New York. He had three sons and one daughter by the name of Clark, David, Artemus and Susannah. Susannah married William Morrow and afterward lived in Warren county, Ohio. Clark, the eldest son, married Martha Ashby and was the father of five children, three sons. James, Joshua and David, and two daughters. One of the daughters married a McKay, and the other became the wife' of Evan Hadley. Artemus Nickerson married Elizabeth Reed and had six children, Susannah, Amanda, Mary, Elizabeth, Abigail and Samuel R. David married a young woman by the name of Spencer and moved to Indiana.

David Ferris settled in Adams township as early as 1805 or 1806. Jeremiah Poe settled on Todd's fork, in the Gates survey, prior to 1809. but soon afterward sold his farm and sought a home elsewhere. A man by the name of Wright, one of the first settlers of the. township, and the donor of the land for the graveyard at Lytle's creek, sold his farm in 1816, to Mahlon Stratton, and moved away.

John Hadley and his wife, Lydia, daughter of William and Elizabeth Harvey, sister of Eli, Isaac, William, Caleb and Joshua Harvey, came to Ohio from North Carolina in