Historical Collections of Ohio in Two Volumes

Henry Howe, LL.D. C.J.Krehbiel & Co., Printers and Binders

Cincinnati OH (© 1888, Henry Howe)

ROSS COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES

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EDWARD TIFFIN, the first governor of Ohio, was born in Carlisle, England 19 Jun 1766. He received a good English education and began the study of medicine, which he continued on his emigration, at 18 years of age, to Berkeley County VA. In 1789, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. In the same year he married Mary, sister of Thomas Worthington, of Charleston, [West] Virginia (afterward governor of Ohio). In 1790 Dr. Tiffin united with the Methodist Church, was ordained deacon by Bishop Asbury, and all throughout his subsequent career continued to preach with much fervor and power.

In 1796 he manumitted his slaves, and, accompanied by his brother-in-law and Robert Lucas (all three subsequently became governors of Ohio), removed to Chillicothe. Dr. Tiffin was of genial temperament, of high processional and general culture, and above all, of high moral purpose and character. It is small wonder that such a man became immensely popular. General Washington, in a letter to Governor Saint Clair, speaks of "Dr. Tiffin's fairness of character in private and public life, together with knowledge of law, resulting from close application for a considerable time." In 1799 he was chosen to the Territorial Legislature and unanimously elected Speaker, which position he held until Ohio became a state.

In 1802 he was chosen president of the first Constitutional Convention, and his superior ability and acquirements so impressed his fellow delegates that at its conclusion the convention made him its candidate for governor, to which office he was elected in January 1803 without opposition. Two years later he was re-elected, again without opposition, and the office was tendered him a third time, but he declined.

The new State of Ohio was fortunate in having as its first chief executive a man of such extraordinary and versatile talents and acquirements. The formative condition of affairs gave opportunity for the display of Governor Tiffin's genius, and his able administration was of inestimable value in developing and advancing the interest of the young Commonwealth. The most notable incident of his administration was the suppression of the Burr-Blennerhassett expedition. In his message of 22 Jan 1807, President Jefferson highly compliments Governor Tiffin for his prompt and efficient action in this affair.

At the close of his second term, Governor Tiffin was elected to the United States Senate, and performed valuable services for Ohio by securing appropriations for the improvement of the Ohio River, the mail service, and the survey of public lands.

In 1809 the death of his much-beloved wife was a serious blow to Senator Tiffin; he resigned his seat in the Senate, and determined to retire from public life; but in the following year he was elected to the State legislature, and was made Speaker of the House, serving for several terms.

He married a second wife, Miss Mary Porter, of Delaware. Like his first wife, she was a woman of much beauty of person and character.

Upon Madison's election to the Presidency, he appointed Senator Tiffin to organize the land office. When Washington was burned by the British in 1814, Dr. Tiffin was so prompt and expeditious in removing the records of his office to a place of safety, that his was the only department whose book sand papers were unharmed. Wishing to return to Ohio, he, with the consent of the President and Senate, exchanged offices with Josiah Meigs, Surveyor-General of the West. He held this latter office until within a few months of his death, when he was removed by President Jackson. Dr. Tiffin died 09 Aug 1829; his widow survived him until 1837; three of their daughters were living in 1889. Their only son, who had studied his father's profession, was killed in a railroad accident while returning home from Paris, where he had been attending medical lectures.

 

Two or three miles northwest of Chillicothe [at that time], on a beautiful elevation commanding a magnificent view of the fertile valley of the Scioto and its bounding hills is Adena, the seat of Governor THOMAS WORTHINGTON.

The mansion itself is of stone, is embosomed in shrubbery, and has attached a fine garden. It was erected in 1806, at which time it was the most elegant mansion in this part of the West, and crowds came to view it, in whose estimation the name of the place, "Adena", which signifies "Paradise", did not perhaps appear hyperbolical. The large panes of glass and the novelty of papered walls appeared especially to attract attention. Its architect was the elder Latrobe, of Washington city, from which place the workmen also were. Nearly all the manufactured articles used in its construction, as the nails, door knobs, hinges, glass, etc., were from east of the mountains. The glass was made at the works of Albert Gallatin and Mr. Nicholson, at Geneva PA. The fireplace fronts were of Philadelphia marble, which cost $7 per hundred for transportation. The whole edifice probably cost double what is would have done if erected at the present day. It is now the residence of the widow of the late governor, of whom we annex a brief notice.
 

THOMAS WORTHINGTON, one of the earliest and most distinguished pioneers of Ohio, was born in Jefferson County VA, about the year 1769, and settled in Ross County in 1798. He brought from Virginia a large number of slaves, whom he emancipated, and some of their descendants yet remain in Chillicothe. A man of ardent temperament, of energy of mind and correct habits or life, he soon became distinguished both in business and in political stations. He was a member of the convention of 1803 to form a State constitution, in which he was both able and active. Soon after that he became a senator in Congress from the new State, and was a participant in the most important measures of the administrations of Jefferson and Madison. At the close of his career in Congress, he was elected governor of the State, in which capacity he was the friend and aid of all the liberal and wise measures of policy which were the foundation of the great prosperity of Ohio. After his retirement from e gubernatorial chair, he was appointed a member of the first board of canal commissioners, in which capacity he served till his death. A large landholder, engaged in various and extensive business, and for thirty years in public station, no man in Ohio did more to form its character and promote its prosperity. He died in 1827.

The Pioneer author of the Scioto Valley, Colonel John McDonald, should be gratefully remembered. He was of Scotch (Highland) stock; was born in Northumberland County PA 28 Jan 1775. In the spring of 1792 he joined General Massie's settlement at Manchester. He was a boatman, hunter, surveyor, Indian fighter, and, under Massie, took a prominent part in all the expeditions leading to me settlement of the Scioto Valley. He was a colonel in the war of 1812, and held various civil offices. He died on his farm at Poplar Ridge, Ross County, 11 Sep 1853. He was a modest, valuable man. His little book, now out of print, McDonald's Sketches, details the woeful experiences of the early explorers of the valley with lifelike truthfulness and simplicity. The sketches of Worthington, Massie and McArthur, herein given, are abridged mainly from his Sketches.

 

NATHANIEL MASSIE was born in Goochland County VA 28 Dec 1763. His father, a farmer in easy circumstances, and of plain good sense, educated his sons for the practical business of life. In 1780, Nathaniel, then being 17 years of age, was for a short time in the Revolutionary Army. After his return he studied surveying, and in 1783 left to seek his fortunes in Kentucky. He first acted as a surveyor, but soon joined with it in locating of lands.

Young Massie soon became an expert surveyor, and it was a matter of astonishment (as he was raised in the dense population east of the mountains) how soon he acquired the science and habits of the backwoodsmen. Although he never practiced the art of hunting, he was admitted by all who knew his qualifications as a woodsman, to be of the first order. He could steer his course truly in clear or cloudy weather, and compute distances more correctly than most of the old hunters. He could endure fatigue and hunger with more composure than the most of those persons who were inured to want on the frontier. He could live upon meat without bread, and bread without meat, and was perfectly cheerful and contented with his fare. In all the perilous situations in which he was placed, he was always conspicuous for his good feeling and the happy temperament of his mind. His courage was of a cool and dispassionate character, which, added to great circumspection in times of danger, gave him a complete ascendancy over his companions, who were always willing to follow when Massie led the way.

He also soon became interested with General James Wilkinson in speculations in salt, then an article of great scarcity in the west, with what pecuniary success, however, is unknown. He was employed as surveyor by Colonel R.C. Anderson, principal surveyor of the Virginia Military Lands, and for a time was engaged in writing in the office of Colonel Anderson, who had the control of the land warrants, placed in his hands by his brother officers and soldiers.

A very large amount of these, so soon as the act of Congress of August 1790 removed all further obstruction, he placed in the hands of Massie to enter and survey on such terms as he could obtain from the holders of them. As the risk of making entries was great, and as it was desirable to possess the best land, the owners of warrants, in most cases, made liberal contracts with the surveyors. One-fourth, one-third, and sometimes as much as one-half acquired by the entry of good lands, were given by the proprietors to the surveyors. If the owners preferred paying money, the usual terms were ten pounds, Virginia currency, for each thousand acres entered and surveyed, exclusive of chainsmen's expenses. These terms cannot appear extravagant, when we consider that at that time the danger encountered was great, the exposure during the winter severe, and that the price of first-rate land in the West was low, and an immense quantity in market.

The locations of land warrants in the Virginia Military District between the Scioto and the Little Miami rivers, prior to 1790, were made by stealth. Every creek which was explored, every line that was run, was at the risk of life from the savage Indians, whose courage and perseverance was only equaled by the perseverance of the whites to push forward their settlements.

In 1791, Massie made the first settlement within the Virginia Military District at Manchester. During the winter of 1792-1793, he continued to locate and survey the best land within a reasonable distance of the station of Manchester. In the fall of the year 1793, Massie determined to attempt a surveying tour on the Scioto River. This, at this time, was a very dangerous undertaking; yet no danger, unless very imminent, could deter him from making the attempt. For that purpose, he employed about thirty men, of whom he chose three as assistant surveyors. These were John Beasley, Nathaniel Beasley, and Peter Lee. It was in this expedition Massie employed, for the first time, Duncan McArthur as chainman or marker.

In the month of October some canoes were procured, and Massie and his party set off by water. They proceeded up the Ohio to the mouth of the Scioto River, thence up the Scioto to the mouth of Paint Creek. While meandering the Scioto, they made some surveys on the bottoms. After reaching the mouth of Paint Creek, the surveyors went to work. Many surveys were made on the Scioto, as far up as Westfall. Some were made on Main, and others on the north fork of Paint Creek, and the greatest parts of Ross and Pickaway Counties in the district were well explored and partly surveyed. Massie finished his intended work without meeting with any disturbance from the Indians. But one Indian was seen during the excursion, and to him they have a hard chase. He, however, escaped. The party returned home delighted with the rich country of the Scioto Valley which they had explored.

During the winter of 1793-1794, Massie, in the midst of the most appalling dangers, explored the different branches to their sources, which run into the Little Miami River, and thence passed in a northeastern direction to the heads of Paint and Clear Creeks, and the branches that form those streams. By these expeditions he had formed, from personal observation, a correct knowledge of the geographical situation of the country composing the Virginia Military District.

During the winter of 1794-1795, Massie prepared a party to enter largely into the surveying business. Nathaniel Beasley, John Beasley, and Peter Lee were again employed as the assistant surveyors. The party set off from Manchester well-equipped to prosecute their business, or should occasion offer, give battle to the Indians. They took the route of Logan's Trace, and proceeded to place called the Deserted Camp on Tod's Fork of the Little Miami. At this point they commenced surveying, and surveyed large portions of land on Tod's Fork, and up the Miami to the Chillicothe town (now in Clark County), thence up Massie's Creek and Caesar's Creek nearly to their heads. By the time the party had progressed thus far winter had set in. The ground was covered with a sheet of snow from six to ten inches deep. During the tour, which continued upwards of thirty days, the party had no bread. For the first two weeks a pint of flour was distributed to each mess once a day, to mix with the soup in which meat had been boiled. When night came, four fires were made for cooking, that is, one for each mess. Around these fires, till sleeping time arrived, the company spent their time in the most social glee, singing songs and telling stories. When danger was not apparent or immediate, they were as merry a set of men as ever assembled. Resting time arriving, Massie always gave the signal, and the whole party would then leave their comfortable fires, carrying with them their blankets, their firearms, and their little baggage, walking in perfect silence two or three hundred yards from their fires. they would then scrape away the snow and huddle down together for the night. Each mess formed one bed; they would spread down on the ground one-half of the blankets, reserving the other half for covering. The covering blankets were fastened together by skewers to prevent them from slipping apart. Thus prepared, the whole party crouched down together with their rifles in their arms, and their pouches under their heads for pillows, lying spoon-fashion, with three heads one way and four the other, their feet extending to about the middle of their bodies. When one turned, the whole mass turned, or else the close range would be broken and the cold let in. In this way they lay till broad daylight, no noise and scarce a whisper being uttered during the night. When it was perfectly light, Massie would call up two of the men in who he had most confidence and send them to reconnoiter and make a circuit around the fires, lest an ambuscade might be formed by the Indians to destroy the party as they returned to the fires. This was an invariable custom in every variety of weather. Self-preservation required this circumspection. Some time after this, while surveying on Caesar's Creek, his men attacked a party of Indians, and they broke and fled.

After the defeat of the Indians by Wayne, the surveyors were not interrupted by the Indians; but on one of their excursions, still remembered as "the starving tour", the whole party, consisting of twenty-eight men, suffered extremely in a driving snowstorm for about four days. They were in a wilderness, exposed to this severe storm, without hut, tent or covering, and what was still more appalling, without provision and without any road or even track to retreat on, and were nearly 100 miles from any place of shelter. On the third day of the storm, they luckily killed two wild turkeys, which were boiled and divided into twenty-eight parts, and devoured with great avidity, heads, feet, entrails and all.

In 1796, Massie laid the foundation of the settlement of the Scioto Valley, by laying out on his own land the now large and beautiful town of Chillicothe. The progress of the settlements brought large quantities of his land into market.

Massie was high in the confidence of Saint Clair; and having received the appointment of Colonel, it was through him that the militia of this region were first organized. Colonel Massie was an efficient member of the convention which formed the State constitution. He was afterwards elected Senator from Ross, and at the first session of the State legislature, was chosen speaker. He was elected the first major-general of the second division of the Ohio militia under the new constitution.

General Massie was at this time one of the largest landholders in Ohio, and selected a residence at the falls of Paint Creek, in this county, where he had a large body of excellent land. In the year 1807, Massie and Colonel Return J. Meigs, were competitors for the office of Governor of Ohio. They were the most popular men in the State. Colonel Meigs received a small majority of Votes. The election was contested by Massie on the grounds that Colonel Meigs was ineligible by the constitution, in consequence of his absence from the state, and had not since his return lived in the State a sufficient length of time to regain his citizenship. The contest was carried to the General Assembly, who, after hearing the testimony, decided that Colonel Meigs was ineligible to the office, and that General Massie was duly elected governor of the State of Ohio. Massie, however desirous he might have been to hold the office, was too magnanimous to accept it when his competitor had a majority of votes. After the decision in his favor he immediately resigned.

After this he, as often as his leisure would permit, represented Ross County in the legislature. He died 03 Nov 1813, and was buried on his farm. His character was well-suited for the settlement of a new country, distinguished as it was by an uncommon degree of energy and activity in the business in which he was engaged. His disposition was ever marked with liberality and kindness.
 

DUNCAN McARTHUR, who was of Scotch parentage, was born in Dutchess County NY in 1772, and when eight years of age, his father removed to the frontiers of Pennsylvania. His father was in indigent circumstances, and Duncan, when of sufficient age, hired out as a laborer.

At the age of eighteen years, he was a volunteer in Harmar's campaign. In 1792, he was a private in the company of Captain William Enoch, and acted with so much intrepidity in the battle of Captina as to render him very popular with the frontier men. After this, he was for a while a laborer at some salt works near Maysville KY, and in the spring of 1793, engaged as a chain-bearer to General Nathaniel Massie, and penetrated with him and others into the Scioto Valley to make surveys at a time when such an enterprise was full of danger from the Indians. He was afterwards employed as a spy against the Indians on the Ohio, and had some adventures with them. He was again in the employment of General Massie; and after the treaty of Greenville, studied surveying, became an assistant surveyor to General Massie, and aided him to lay out Chillicothe. He, in the course of this business, became engaged in the purchase and sale of lands, by which he acquired great landed wealth.

In 1805 he was a member of the Legislature from Ross; in 1806 elected colonel, and in 1808, major-general of the State militia. In May 1812, he was commissioned colonel in the Ohio Volunteers, afterwards marched to Detroit, and himself and regiment were included in Hull's surrender. He was second in command on this unfortunate expedition; but such was the energy he displayed that, notwithstanding, after his return as a prisoner of war on parole, the Democratic party in the fall of 1812 elected him to Congress by an overwhelming majority. In March 1813, he was commissioned a brigadier-general in the army, and having been regularly exchanged as prisoner of war, soon after resigned his seat in Congress to engage in active service.

About the time the enemy were preparing to attack Fort Stephenson, the frontiers were in great danger, and Harrison sent an express to McArthur to hurry on to the scene of action with all the force he could muster. Upon this, he ordered the second division to march in mass. This march of the militia was named the "general call". As soon as Governor Meigs was advised of the call made by General McArthur, he went forward and assumed in person the command of the militia now under arms. General McArthur went forward to the scene of action, and the militia followed in thousands. So promptly were his orders obeyed that in a few days the Sandusky plains were covered with nearly eight thousand men, mostly from Scioto Valley. This rush of militia to defend the exposed frontier of our country bore honorable testimony that the patriotism of the Scioto Valley did not consist of noisy professions, but of practical service in defense of their country. This general turnout of the militia proves that General Massie, and the few pioneers who followed him into the wilderness, and assisted him in making the first settlements in the fertile valley of the Scioto River had infused their own daring and enterprising spirit into the mass of the community. Among these eight thousand militia were found in the ranks as private soldiers, judges, merchants, lawyers, preachers, doctors, mechanics, farmers and laborers of every description; all anxious to repulse the ruthless invaders of our soil. Indeed, the Scioto country was so stripped of its male population on this occasion that the women in their absence were compelled to carry their grain to mill, or let their children suffer for want. These troops, having arrived at Upper Sandusky, formed what was called the "grand camp of Ohio militia". General McArthur was detailed to the command of Fort Meigs. The victory of Perry, on the 10th of September, gave a fresh impetus to the army, and Harrison concentrated his troops at Portage River, where, on the 20th, the brigade of McArthur, from Fort Meigs, joined him. On the 27th, the army embarked in boats and crossed over to Malden, and a few days after, General McArthur, with the greater part of the troops, was charged with the defense of Detroit.

After the resignation of Harrison, in the spring of 1814, McArthur, being the senior brigadier-general, the command of the N.W. army devolved on him. As the enemy had retired discomfited from the upper end of Lake Erie, and most of the Indians were suing for peace, the greater part of the regular troops under his command were ordered to the Niagra frontier. McArthur had a number of small forts to garrison along the frontier, while he kept his main force at Detroit and Malden to overawe the Canadians and the scattering Indians still in the British interest. The dull monotony of going from post to post was not the most agreeable service to his energetic mind. He projected an expedition into Canada, on which he was absent about a fortnight from Detroit, with 650 troops and 70 Indians. At or near Malcolm's Mill, the detachment had an action with the force of about 500 Canadian militia, in which they defeated them with a loss of 27 killed and wounded, and made 111 prisoners; while the American loss was only 1 killed and 7 wounded. in this excursion, the valuable mills of the enemy in the vicinity of Grand River were destroyed, and their resources in that quarter essentially impaired. After returning from this successful expedition, the war languished in the northwest. General McArthur continued in service and was at Detroit when peace was declared.

In the fall of 1815, he was again elected to the legislature. In 1816 he was appointed commissioner to negotiate a treaty with the Indians at Springwell, near Detroit. He acted in the same capacity at the treaty of Fort Meigs in September, 1817, and also at the treaty of Saint Mary's in the succeeding year. In 1817, upon being elected to the Legislature, he was a competitor with Charles Hammond, Esquire, for the Speaker's chair, and triumphed with a small majority. The next summer, the party strife on the United States bank question, which had commenced the previous session, was violent. McArthur defended the right of that institution to place branches wherever it chose in the State, and on this issue was again a candidate for the Legislature and was defeated. A considerable majority of members elected this year were opposed to the United States bank. Mr. Hammond was again elected a member of the assembly, and by his talents and readiness in wielding his pen, together with his strong and confident manner of speaking, was able to dictate law to this assembly. A saw was passed at this session of the Legislature, taxing each branch of the United States bank, located in the State of Ohio, fifty thousand dollars. When the time arrived for the collecting of this tax, the branch banks refused to comply. Mr. Hammond had provided in the law for a case of this kind: the collector was authorized, in case the bank refused to pay the tax, to employ armed force and enter the banking house and seize the money, and this was actually done; the collector, with an armed force, entered the branch bank in the town of Chillicothe and took what money he thought proper.

The bank brought suit in the United States circuit court against all the State officers concerned in this forcible collection. Mr. Hammond, a distinguished lawyer, with other eminent counsel, was employed by the State of Ohio to defend this important cause. The district court decided the law of Ohio, levying the tax, unconstitutional, and, of course null and void; and made a degree, directing the State to refund the bank the money thus forcibly taken. The cause was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Hammond defended the suit in all its stages. The Supreme Court decided this cause against the State of Ohio. Thus was settled this knotty and vexatious question, which, for a time, threatened the peace of the Union.

In 1819, McArthur was again elected to the Legislature. In 1822 he was again chosen to Congress, and became an undeviating supporter of what is called the American system. While General McArthur remained a member of Congress, he had considerable influence in that body. His persevering industry, his energetic mind, his sound judgment, and practical business habits, rendered him a very efficient member. He would sometimes make short, pithy remarks on the business before the house, but made no attempts at those flourishes of eloquence which tickle the fancy and please the ear. After having served two session in Congress, he declined a re-election, being determined to devote all his efforts to arrange his domestic concerns. He left the field of politics to others, and engaged with an unremitted attention to settle his land business. In 1830, McArthur was elected governor of Ohio by the anti-Jackson party, and on the expiration of his term of office was a candidate for Congress, and lost his election, which terminated his political career. By an unfortunate accident in June 1830, McArthur was horribly bruised and maimed. From this severe misfortune his bodily and mental powers constantly declined, until death, several years after, closed his career.

Duncan McArthur was a strong-minded, energetic man and possessed an iron will. He was hospitable, close in business and had many bitter and severe enemies.
 

ALLEN G. THURMAN's early days were spent in Chillicothe, his parents settling there six years after his birth in Lynchburg VA.
His father was an itinerant Methodist minister, who had to give up preaching on account of poor health. In 1825 he built the house on the north side of Main Street, still standing, in which Allen spent his younger days. judge Thurman's mother was a remarkable woman, with many fine qualities of both intellect and heart. Upon her devolved the training two of Ohio's statesmen, her brother, Governor William Allen, and her son, Allen G. She had received a liberal education, was of studious habits and well fitted to perform the task which fell to her lot. It is said that her son resembles her in personal appearance and qualities; he has borne testimony to the value of her instructions in saying that "I owe more to my mother than to any other instructor in the world."
 

Judge Alfred Yaple has given the following instructive account of Judge Thurman's youth.

He was then a small boy with what poets in pantaloons would denominate flaxen hair, and versifiers in crinoline golden locks, but what Governor Allen and common people call a towhead. His mother was drilling him in his French lessons. She continued to superintend his education, directing his reading of authors even after he left the old Chillicothe Academy, a private institution, at the highest and only one he ever attended until his admission to the bar. While attending this academy, Thurman's classmates and intimates were sent away to college. He could not go, for not only did his parents find themselves without the means to send him, but even required his exertions for their own support and the support of his sisters, a duty which he cheerfully and efficiently rendered, remaining single and at home for more than nine years after his admission to the bar, giving a large part of his earnings toward the support of his parents and sisters.

The day his school companions mounted the stage and went away to college he was seized with temporary despair. Sick at heart, he sought the old Presbyterian burying-ground, and lay down upon a flat tomb and wept. The thought that his tears were vain and idle came to him with force. He told his sorrows to a friend who chanced to be wandering among the graves, and closed his recital with the significant remark, "If my school fellows come home and have learned more than I have, they must work for it."


Old citizens still remember that a light, during this time, was often seen in young Thurman's room until four o'clock in the morning. He would never quit anything until he had mastered it and made it his own. This particular trait he has possessed ever since.

In the acquisition of solid learning, his academy fellows never got in advance of him, and he kept studying long after they had graduated. He taught school, studied and practiced surveying, prepared himself for and was admitted to the bar in 1835, and practiced his profession until he was elected a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1851.

 

WILLIAM ALLEN was born in Edenton NC in 1807. His parents dying during his infancy, his sister, the mother of Allen G. Thurman, took charge of his rearing and education. In 1821, Mrs. Thurman removed to Chillicothe, leaving her brother in an academy at Lynchburg VA. Two years later he followed her and completed his education in Chillicothe. He commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Scott, and completed it with Colonel Edward King, with whom he was associated in a partnership after his admission to practice, when not yet 21 years of age. He was tall and impressive in appearance, with a powerful voice so penetrating that he was given the sobriquet of "Ohio gong". In 1832, he was elected to Congress by the Democrats by a majority of one. He was the youngest man in the Twenty-third Congress, but was recognized as a leading orator and made a strong impression in a speech on the Ohio boundary-line question.

In August 1837, he made a strong speech at a banquet in Columbus, which unexpectedly led to his nomination to the Senate, to succeed the Honorable Thomas Ewing. Before the close of his first term, he was re-elected to the Senate.

In 1845, he married Mrs. Effie McArthur Coons, a daughter of former Governor McArthur, notwithstanding a strong personal dislike to the senator on the part of McArthur. Mrs. Allen inherited from her father the old homestead Fruit Hill. Governor and Mrs. Allen had but one child, Mrs. Scott.

In August 1873, Senator Allen was elected Governor of Ohio, being the only candidate on his ticket not defeated. In 1875 he was renominated by the Democrats, but was defeated on the "greenback" issue by Rutherford B. Hayes.

Governor Allen died at Fruit Hill in 1879. He was said to have originated the political catch-word of 8144: Fifty-four forty or fight, referring to the Oregon boundary question.

An interesting anecdote is told of Governor Allen by Mr. F.B. Loomis in the Cincinnati Commercial-Gazette:

An old friend of Governor Allen has just told me an anecdote which is worth repeating. The Governor was very fond of his residence, Fruit Hill, and had caused a very spacious covered veranda to be built around it in order that he might have a sheltered place for walking when he chose to take it in that way. This veranda was uncommonly wide and often attracted attention by reason of its great dimensions. One morning a Yankee book agent trudged out to Fruit Hill to sell a copy of some subscription book of little value to the old Governor. The agent was not greeted very cordially, as Mr. Allen was not in the best of spirits, and as he turned to depart without having made a sale, he remarked: "Governor, it appears to me you've got a mighty sight of shedroom around this house." The allusion to the porches touched the old man's fancy, and he called the dejected agent back, purchased a book and invited him to dine with him.


 

Among the interesting relics in Chillicothe is a large, fine, one-story, stucco house, covering much ground, on the southeast corner of Water and High Streets. The builder and owner was WILLIAM CREIGHTON, Jr., the first Secretary of State Ohio ever had, and who was twice a member of Congress. He came to Chillicothe from Virginia in 1799, and practiced law here fifty years. He was large in person, clear-headed, social, a great admirer of Henry Clay, and with a boyish humor that sometimes found vent in practical jokes.

 

THOMAS SCOTT was born 31 Oct 1772 at Old Town, or Skipton, VA, at the junction of the North and South branches of the Potomac River. When 17 years of age he was licensed by Bishop Asbury to preach in the Methodist Church. He learned the tailor's trade; was married to Catharine Wood in 1796, and while working at his bench she read "Blackstone" to him, and thus he studied law. Early in 1801 he came to Chillicothe and commenced the practice of law. In 1802 he was secretary of the Constitutional Convention. He was the first justice of the peace in Ross County; was clerk of the Ohio Senate from 1804 to 1809, when he was elected judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio. During his long career he occupied many public offices, performing his duties with conscientious, painstaking care, and always finding time to act as "supply" in the pulpit of the Methodist Church. He had a wide reputation for learning and legal ability, and was retained in many important cases, receiving large fees for his services. He died in February 1856; his worthy wife died some two years later.


 

MICHAEL BALDWIN was contemporary with William Creighton, and was admitted to the bar in 1799. He was from that strong New Haven CT family of Baldwins, so prolific and talented in lawyers and judges. One brother was the eminent Judge Henry Baldwin, of the United States Supreme Court. "Mike", as he was commonly called, was a brilliant man of varied attainments, and soon was known throughout the Territory. For a time he did a large legal business, but it was an era when whiskey flowed like water, habits of drinking and gambling were almost universal, and he became a confirmed sot. Gilmore, in his sketches of the bar, gives this: "He was a member of the first Constitutional Convention, and it is a common tradition that he wrote almost the whole of our first constitution in the barroom of William Keys' tavern, using a wine keg for his seat and the head of a whiskey barrel for a writing table. If this tale is true, and it is by no means improbable, the instrument that was the fundamental law of this State for about half a century had a queer origin."


When the Burr Expedition failed, Aaron Burr advised Blennerhassett to retain for their counsel in their trial for high treason, which they both expected, Judge Jacob Burnet of Cincinnati, and Michael Baldwin of Chillicothe. They trial did not take place, but Blennerhassett wrote his wife in December 1807: "I have retained Burnet and Baldwin. The former will be a host with the decent part of the citizens of Ohio, and the latter a giant of influence with the rabble, whom he very properly styles his 'bloodhounds'."

At almost every term of his practice at court would be entered upon the journal, "Ordered that Michael Baldwin, one of the attorneys of this court, be fined ten dollars for contempt of court, and be committed to jail until the fine be paid." He was Speaker of the House of Representatives for its first three years (1803, 1804, 1805). Fond of gambling, it is told that he opened a game of "vingt et un" (twenty and one) for the benefit of his brother members. Upon one occasion, being banker and broker, he won all their money and most of their watches. When the party broke up it was near morning, and they retired to their several rooms, most of them drunk. Used to such a life, Mike was next morning promptly in the Speaker's chair; but there was no quorum. He dispatched the sergeant-at-arms for the absentees, and, after an hour of delay, they filed into the hall and in front of the speaker's chair - some dozen or more of them half asleep and only partially sobered gamesters of the night before. Thereupon, Baldwin rose and with dignified severity reprimanded them for their neglect of duty to their constituents, until one of the culprits, unable any longer to stand his tongue-lashing, broke forth with "Hold on, now Mr. Speaker! how the ---- can we know what the time is when you have got all our watches?"

In the June term of court, 1804, the tavern-keeper, William Keys, sued Baldwin upon an account of 25 pounds, 13 shillings and 10 pence. These were mostly put down as "drinks for the club", Mike's treats to the bloodhounds - an organization of the roughs and fighting men, which he had gotten up and controlled, who did the electioneering and fighting for him, and when he was put in jail for debt more than once broke in the door or tore out an end of that structure and set him at liberty. Twice his brothers sent on from Connecticut bags of coin to relieve him from debt. On these occasions, it is said, he hired a negro for porter of the money, and went around in turn to each of his creditors, allowing each one, irrespective of the amount of his account, to have one grab in the open-mouthed bag until all was gone. "Poor, brilliant, boisterous, drunken, rollicking Mike" died young. It was about the year 1811 and at about the age of 35 years.

 

RICHARD DOUGLASS was born in New London CT in 1785; came to Ohio in 1809 and in the same year commenced the practice of law in Chillicothe. Mr. Douglass was a man of great talents, and impressed his associates as one who seemed to know everything. Short in stature, with a large body and thin legs; small, keen twinkling eyes; he was an oddity in appearance, and said to resemble the traditional "Santa Claus". Many anecdotes are told of his ready wit and retentive memory. We quote the following from the Ross County History:


In a suit for damages for malicious arrest and prosecution, Gustavus Scott, for defendant, had quoted in Latin the maxim that 'No man shall beheld responsible in damages for the use of the king's writ.' Douglass replied, 'Very true, Brother Scott, that such was the very ancient maxim. But you ought to know, sir, that the great Lord Mansfield, seeing the injustice of such a rule of law, reversed it 200 years ago, and from his day to the present the maxim stands Canis Kinkaidius cum ambos oerus assoribut; or, freely translated, 'No man shall take shelter from the responsibilities of his wrong acts, under the king's name." Days after the case had been won, Scott took Douglass to task for misquotation and mistranslation. Douglass denied that he had so translated it, an insisted that he had only informed the court of the very peculiar metallic formation of the tails of Kincaid's dogs.

Withal, Mr. Douglass was a man of fine attainments, and a life-long member of the Episcopal Church. He died in 1852.

 

JOHN PORTER BROWN was born in Chillicothe 17 Aug 1814. He served several years as a midshipman in the navy. In 1832, he accompanied his uncle, David Porter, to Constantinople, the latter having been appointed first American minister to the Porte. Brown gave much study to oriental languages and literature. Nine times he represented the United States as charge d'affaires. While acting in this capacity, Martin Koszta, the Hungarian patriot, who had declared to the American Consul his intention to become an American citizen, was seized by the Austrian authorities and held on one of their frigates. Koszta appealed to the American legation, upon which Mr. Brown sent to Captain Ingraham of the U.S. corvette "Dale" the laconic message, "Take him." Captain Ingraham gave the Austrians three hours in which to deliver Koszta, and in the meanwhile prepared his vessel for action. Within half an hour of the expiration of the stipulated time, the prisoner was delivered to the French consul and by him to the American admirers. Mr. Brown died at Constantinople 28 Apr 1872. He had a wide reputation as an oriental scholar, wrote Dervishes, or Oriental Spiritualism, and translated other valuable works.
 

JOHN HANCOCK, who was for four years superintendent of the public schools of Chillicothe, is regarded as one of the foremost educators in Ohio. He was born in Clermont County, began his career by teaching in the country schools. Through Dr. Ray, the distinguished mathematician, he was called to Cincinnati, where he served twelve years as principal, and in 1867 was elected superintendent of the public schools, a position he held for seven years. He held a similar position in Dayton's schools for ten years, and in Chillicothe's for four years. On the death of State School Commissioner Dr. E.T. Tappan in October, 1888, Mr. Hancock was appointed by Governor Foraker to fill the unexpired term, and in 1889, was elected by the people for the full term of three years.


Mr. Hancock has been an important factor in the advancement of education, not only in the State, but throughout the nation. He has been president of the Ohio Teachers Association and of the National Education Association; and has received honorary degrees from Kenyon College and from Wooster University. He has also been an active worker in teacher's institutes for more than twenty-five years and has contributed to various educational journals.

 

WILLIAM H. SAFFORD was born at Parkersburg VA, 19 Feb 1821. He received a common school education and became a school teacher, later studied law and was admitted to me bar in 1842. In 1848, he removed to Chillicothe, In 1857, he was elected to the State Senate and in 1868 Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Judge Safford spent his boyhood days in the vicinity of Blennerhassett Island, was attracted by the sad and romantic history of its owner and devoted much study and research tot he career of Blennerhassett, which he embodied in a biography published in 1861, and later enlarged into the Blennerhassett Papers, an important work of much historic value. Judge Safford is now engaged on a series of papers on the domestic life of Aaron Burr.


 

WILLIAM SOOY SMITH was born in Tarlton, Pickaway County, 22 Jul 1830, a few miles north of the Ross County line. His grandfather was a revolutionary soldier, his father a captain in the war of 1812. Both belonged to the Society of Friends, but severed their relations whit their sect to fight for their country. William Sooy Smith worked and paid his own way through Ohio University at Athens, graduating in 1849; attended West Point, and served in the army but one year, resigning in 1853. He then engaged in civil engineering, made the first surveys for the international bridge across the Niagra River. In 1857, he was elected chief engineer and secretary of the Trenton NJ locomoworks, then the chief iron-bridge manufacturing company in this country. He introduced important improvements in bridge building.


At the outbreak of the [Civil] war, he entered the volunteer service as assistant adjutant-general at Camp Dennison, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was soon made colonel of the Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the West Virginia campaigns. 07 Apr 1862, he was commissioned brigadier-general for gallant and meritorious service. He participated in the battles of Shiloh and Perryville. Subsequently was made chief of cavalry of the Department of the Tennessee and as such attached to the staffs of General Grant and General Sherman, but owing to an attack of inflammatory rheumatism, brought on through exposure in a Mississippi raid, for six weeks he was unable to move even a finger; he was obliged to resign in July 1864. His military career was able, efficient and valuable.

Returning to his profession, in 1867 he sank the first pneumatic caisson in building the Waughoshanee light house at the Straights of Mackinaw. He build the first all-steel bridge in the world across the Missouri River at Glasgow MO.

General Smith has been concerned in many other important engineering enterprises, has served on numerous commissions; in 1880 was president of the Civil Engineers Club of the Northwest, and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

 

SENECA W. ELY, one of the oldest editors and printers now in the harness of ohio, has been editor and principal proprietor of the Scioto Gazette -- a leading Whig journal, founded in 1800, and still in existence [as of this article's writing] -- since 1835, and was known and respected throughout the Stae as an influential writer and politician. Mr. Ely was born in eastern Pennsylvania, learned the trade of printer at Rochester among the New York "Yankees", perfecting his knowledge of "the art perservative of all arts" in Philadelphia. He was an active participator with the older politicians, Ewing, Bond, Stanbery, Creighton, Thrall and a host of others, in forwarding the principles and fortunes of the "grandest old party ever formed," as he used to express it -- the party of Clay, Webster and compatriots.

In the 1840s, Mr. Ely was one of the first subscribers to the construction fund of a railroad -- the third in the State -- from Marietta to the Little Miami at Loveland. He was made one of the officers of the road, but the enterprise exhausted the comfortable little fortune he had acquired, and he accepted the treasurer ship of the first street railroad in Cincinnati. During the Civil War he was employed in sanitary services, especially at Saint Louis. From 1870 to 1874 he edited the leading Republican paper of Miami County, and for eighteen months a paper in Circleville, and then returned to Cincinnati as one of the editorial staff of the Gazette. When the Gazette and Commercial coalesced his services were accepted on the join enterprise, and he continues yet an active member of the editorial corps of that leading journal. Like Greeley, he has passed a busy life, and though, like the same renowned editor, he may not have "Gathered gear from every while/That's justified by honor," we believe it may be truly said for him that "Although you way of life/Is fallen into the sere, the yellow leaf/You've that which should accompany old age,/As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends."
 

EPHRAIM GEORGE SQUIRE and Dr. EDWIN HAMILTON DAVIS, the archaeologist, in 1846 were engaged in making their explorations and surveys. Mr. Davis was a native of Chillicothe, and was then about 35 years of age. He was a reserved and somewhat diffident gentleman, and of the highest character. The latter part of his life was passed in New York, pursuing archaeological studies. Mr. Squire was an entirely different man. He had come from the East to assist in editing the Scioto Gazette. He was then about 26 years of age, blonde, small and boyish in figure, but one of the most audacious, incisive spirits. In coming to Columbus with Mr. Seneca Ely, just prior to the opening of the legislature, Squire said to Ely that he was going to get the clerkship of the house. Surprised, the other replied, "Why, Squire, you can't do that; you've just come to the State; you are not even a citizen." "I don't care, I shall do it." And he did. He had a talent for management, and notwithstanding his insignificant presence, could make his way everywhere, with no fear of power, station, nor weight of intellect and character.

Dr. Edwin Hamilton Davis

 Ephraim George Squire 

One day he was riding out with Ely, when they came in sight of some ancient earthworks. He thereupon inquired about them. The latter told him, upon which he became greatly interested, and said that would be his field of work -- he did not care about politics. In the course of conversation Squire asked if there was anybody in Chillicothe interested in archaeology. "Yes, there is Mr. Davis, who ten years ago assisted Charles Whittlesey in his exploration s and surveys of the Newark antiquities, and is still gathering relics." The result was, he united with Davis, who furnished the funds, and they worked together.

The publication of their work by the Smithsonian Institution set Squire upon a pedestal. John L. Stephens' work upon the "Antiquities of Central America," issued in 1841, created a great sensation, showing that that country was a rich field for archaeological research. Squier, on the publication of their work, applied for and obtained the position of special charge de'affaires to Central America, his object being to investigate archaeology and kindred topics. Both he and Mr. Davis died in 1887.