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Belgians in the Civil War

Emigrants arrival

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BELGIANS IN AMERICA:    Biographies of Belgian settlers  

... Adams County [Ohio] has the best and most extensive system of macamized roads of any county in Ohio. The beginning of this system was the old road known as the Maysville and Zanesville Turnpike constructed in the period of internal improvements by the States. President Jackson vetoed a bill providing for the construction of this road by the general government in 1830. Afterwards, the State of Ohio committed itself to a system of internal improvements of its highways, under the provisions of which the construction of the Maysville Zanesville Turnpike was undertaken. The company was incorporated by act of the Legislature and the county subscribed one-half capital stock. It was a toll road and for many years paid large dividends to the stockholders. The length on the part completed in Adams County was about thirteen miles, beginning at the Brown County Line and ending at the residence of the late Doddridge Darlinton in West Union.  John Leonard, of West Union, who came from Belgium to Adams County in 1837 and Michael W. Orloumount, who then kept a small store in Bradyville, completed the first mile of this road in 1838, beginning at the lower end of Bradyville and extending through the village toward Bentonville. The next three miles were built by John Brotherton; .... The contractors were paid in part in county scrip, consisting of small bills about the size of "Lincoln shinplasters," in denominations of one, two, three, five and ten dollars. These bore six percent interest.

Source : http://www.geocities.com/adamscountyhistory/Outline.html (broken link)