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F CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ALBERT & CHARLES HULL MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT Cornell University Library The original of this bool< is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028849250 ^, <s^^ PIONEER LIFE DAYTON AND VICINITY 1796-1840 JOHN F. EDGAR IIlLUSTRATED DAYTON, OHIO U. S. pubHstjtng ^ousc W. J. Shuey, Publisher 1896, iiU^(^ 1896 ^ CoprEIOHT, By John F. Edgab All rights reserved ^'6- IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF I THE TRIALS THROUGH WHICH THEY PASSED THIS LITTLE BOOK IS APPECtlONATELY DEDICATED TO Tte tllakera nf gagtnti; PREFACE. At the suggestion of a friend, I have undertaken to collect reminjs- eences of the early history of Dayton, including the names and personal History of the pioneers of the township and county previous to 1840, when Dayton assumed the proportions of a city, receiving her charter in 1841. So far as I can learn hy careful inquiry, I am the only person living in Dayton whose fathei" was here the first year of its settlement ( 1796 ), and having known personally some of the original settlers,— Granny Thompson, M:r. and Mrs. George Newcom, William Van Cleve, Jerome Holt, and others,— it seemed good for me, in the centennial year of the first surveying party ( 1895 ), to undertake this work, reviving merm- ories of the heroic pioneers, the hardy men and women who braved the dangers of a new and unbroken wilderness. When possible, I have -endeavored to trace the history of each family down to the present day, not making mention of any whose connection With Dayton commenced after 1840. There are many whose history I was anxious to give, but could not do so, being unable to secure thp necessary data. Others whom I would have been glad to mention, had their names been suggested to me, and without whom a history of Dayton is hardly complete, have uuf >rtunately and unintentionally been overlooked in thd work of writ- ing a history of this kind. I can only say to them thatit is a matter of great regret to me that such is the case. My idea has been tbat the people have made the town, and their individual history is the history of the town. I have been at great pains to look up all the older citizens in Dayton that I could liear of, as well as my own acquaintances ; I have Written many letters to people who once lived here, but are now resid- ing elsewhere, and have made every endeavor to reach all who were in any way connected with the developmefit and growth of our "Gem City." Dayton is'a city of homes. The people who came here have many of them married here, made their money here, spent it here, and 'died here. There has never been a bubble boom — inflated only to burst, leaving the town in a state of helpless depression. For assistance I am under obligations, first, to James C. Eeber for yj PBEFACE Patterson, Edward Brenneman, his kindly suggestion; also to John H. Mrs. Annie Lowe Wickliff Belville, Frank Bruen, Charles A. Stone, Henrietta Bieman, Mrs. W. D. Bickham, Mrs. Anner Bacon Carroll, Mrs. Dover Simpson, Prof. A. W. Drury, D.D., W. A. Shuey, and to many freely others, for valuable information and almost priceless documents entrusted to my care. of For historical facts and data I am indebted to Curwen's "Sketch " County " John the History of Dayton " ; The History of Montgomery ; Littell's Family Records, etc., of the Passaic Valley of New Jersey; " of Pioneers " Western Address Directory," by W. G. Layford ; Sketches of Southern Ohio," by Judge Barclay Harlan; "Historical Collections " of Ohio," by Henry Howe ; History of Dayton, Ohio," published by the United Brethren Publishing House; Dr. Drake's "Cincinnati"; Kirchwell's "Valley of Virginia"; Chase's Statutes; "Biographical Cyclopedia and Portrait Gallery of Ohio," edited by J. Fletcher fire- man; "Pennsylvania Genealogies," Egle; Stewart's "Memoirs of Vir- ginia"; early Dayton papers, court records, records of deeds, etc. I wish also to acknowledge my obligation to my daughter, Elizabeth B. Edgar, without whose assistance this volume could not have been published, and to Miss Minta I. Dryden, librarian of the Dayton Public Library, and the assistant librarians, for their uniform courtesy and valuable aid. I have endeavored to be accurate as to dates, family names, etc., but, to quote from Henry Howe, " whoever expects to find this volume free from defects has but little acquaintance with the difficulties ever attend- ant upon procuring such materials I must here close with the observation that I have passed the allotted age of human life, and, although in sound health, cannot expect for many more years to witness its mysterious, ever-varying changes." John F. Edgar. Datjton, Ohio, June 1, 1896. — CONTENTS. CHAPTEE I. INTBODUOTOBY. IjA ^alle ^Treaties with the Indians — General George Eogere Oiark — Indian Hunting-ground— Gist — John Cleves Symmes's Purchase — Boundary lanes— No. 1 Miami Land ^^arrant— Surveyors — Major Stites— Venice — Ceath of John Van Cleve— Fort Becovery— Battle of "Fallen Tim- bers"— General Wayne's Victory— Daniel C. Cooper and John Dunlap— —Spring of 1796 — Israel Ludlow and Party— Naming the Town— Copy of an Old Certifioate, - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13 CHAPTER II. THE SETTLEMENT AND THE PIBST SETTLEES. WiixiAM Hameb— Birth of Dayton Hamer— Jonathan and Edward Mercer ^George Newcom and Party— Samuel Thompson— Mary Van Oleve— The Pirogue— Arrival of the Party — The First House in Dayton —Agree- ment) Between Colonel Newcom and Eobert Edgar— The Tavern— Offi- cial Positions— Thomas Davis—John Davis— First Death— William Chenoweth— John Dorough — Daniel Ferrell — James Morris — Solomon Qoss—Abraham Grassmire— John Van Cleve and Family — Benjamin Van Cleve— First Recorded Wedding— Obituary of Mrs. Thompson Mrs. MoClure— William Gahagau-:- Daniel C. Cooper— Headgates— Dig- ging a Race — First Mill Started — Article of Agreement— Mrs. Sophia Greene Burnett— First Colored Person— New Plat of Dayton— Transfers of Property— Governor Meigs's Order — Robert Edgar — The Quarry- Mrs. George's Death — Biographical Sketches, --- - -- -22 CHAPTER HI. DAY-iON TOWNSHIP POEMED. Daytost Towkship—Boundary Line- James Brady— Tax on Single Men— —Andrew Look— Blockhouse— Officers of the Town — Location of the First Settlers — General Brown— Original Topography— Household Fur- niture— Nugglns— David Lowry's Trip's to New Orleans— Ebenezer Wead —John Stewart Wead—John Miller— George Adams— Blockhouse— Dr. vU — CONTENTS Vlll Holt-Census^State of Ohio-WU- John Hole-Hole's Station- Jerome Ruffln-Five Families in .1802 ?i„^?r„^ Rates of Ferriage-William Wagner?oM"dford-Da„iel Miller- John H^Wniiams- -ISiS Oliver WiUiams-Harbert S. Williams-James Bracy JameslockLrt Spining- Neff-Henry Leatherman- Gilbert Kennedy-Isaa. Sn Tiffln-CllareBSpming-John Whit- Commission of Governor Edward Cemetery-Bachelor's Alley, . - - - » ten Van Cleve-Woodland CHAPTER IV. MONTGOMERY SEPARATED FROM HAMILTON COTJNTY. Montgomery County Formed- LOCAL Officers -Order Issued by the Court- -Sheriff- Contract lor County-seat- First Election - Second Election Court-house— New Jail-Prisoners Escape-First Term of Court-New , Description- First Ap- Furniture of Court and Jury Rooms - Curwen's of Court- pearance Docket -Letters of Administration-Third Term Bruen Grand Jury — Court Docket — Colonel Robert Patterson— Luther -David H. Bruen -Luther Barnett Bruen -Henry Brown — Female Charitable and Bible Society — Robert Patterson Brown- Henry L. Brown — Judge A. Barr Irwin — Captain Hugh Andrews —Nathan Worley — Joseph H. Crane- Joseph G. Crane— Mathias Dennison — Jefferson Patterson— David McConnaughey— John C. MeConnaughey — Aaron Baker- David C. Baker— Philip Gunckel — Lewis B. Gunckel —John MartinShuey— Martin Shuey -;- Adam Shuey — Rev. William J. Shuey, - TT CHAPTER V. THE TOWN OP DAYTON INCORPORATED. Act of Legislature— Town of Dayton — Meetings of Council — Charter Flood of 1803— Licenses — Ferries— Colonel John Grimes's Tavern-Tay- lor Street Bridge— Alexander Grimes— Colonel David Reid— Daniel Kiser's Tavern — General Fielding Loury- John Howard— Fielding Loury, Jr. — David Squier — Timothy Squier— Matilda Owens^ William Roth — Matthew Patton — Joseph Peirce — Jeremiah Hunt Peirce —Joseph Crane Peirce— Horatio Gates Phillips— Dayton Hydraulic Company Jonathan Dickinson Phillips— John G, Lowe — George S. Houston — Charles Russell Greene — John Rench — Jonathan Harshman — Jacob S. Brenner— William George — Sarah George — First Sunday-School Super- intendent-William Bomberger— William G. George— Augustus George — Abraham Darst — William Eaker — Geoi-ge W. Smith — George Um- baugh — Henry Butt — Peter Lehman — David Lehman — Samuel Boogher —Daniel G. Boogher — Jesse Boogher— Lewis Kemp — George W. Kemp —John Folkerth— Justice of the Peace— Riissel Folkerth— John Bon- ner—George Fryberger— Valentine Fryberger- James Steele—First Opera-house— Robert W. Steele— A Few Important Changes— Roads Opened—-Kepe»-io?-j/ — Paul Butler — Henry Disbrow— First Cardiug-ma- chine—Weaving Establishment— James Hanna— Peter Bellaw— A Man- ufacturing Town— Secret Society — First County Convention— Mall Route — Postage— List of Postmasters— 1809— Three PhyBloians— Rev. James Welsh, M.D. — List of Medicines- Dr. P. Wood— First Drug-store —Service at the Court-house — -Repertoj'j/ Discontinued-Ohio CetOinel — CONTENT^ IX Ohio JJepMft^icaJi— Fourth of July Celebration — Census lor 1810— Town Election— Sidewalks Made— Two Tickets— N&mes of Suburbs— Standard Hall-buBbel— State Corduroy Boad— Dr. ' Este— Earthquake Shocks- David Lindsley— John Perrine— James Perrine— Stephen Johnston, - 106 CHAPTBE Vi. THE WAB OF 1812. - Enrollmbnt— James Madison — President's Call— General Munger— Day- ton the Headquarters — First Companies to Arrive — Governor Meigs's Arrival— General Hull —Camp Meigs — Hull's Surrender— Seventy Brave Men— Governor Meigs's Order— Wagon Boy of Ohio— Shirts Made by the Ladies— First Eecruiting OlHce — Peace Declared —Population In- creased—Current Prices— Charles TuU— Eddy Fairohild— Henderson & Elliott— Rolllng-plnB, - - - 156 CHAPTER yil. DAYTON TO 1840.

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