Even in the thriving village of Middletown in the early 1800’s the pioneers had to entertain themselves with simple frontier social and recreational activities. Middletown was still a hamlet as shown by the first census taken here in 1820. When all the inhabitants were counted there were exactly 314 persons. Over 200 of these were under 26, and in the age bracket of 16 to 26, the men outnumbered the women two to one.

So the social life of the community centered around those activities which would interest young people: weddings, spelling bees, singing schools, and house raisings.

Singing and spelling schools afforded the young people of the community an opportunity to get together. The singing school was popular. The main point of the singing school was the social function. Here the young people had an opportunity to meet other young people of the opposite sex. While a brother or a friend of the family brought a girl to the singing school, it was assumed that a girl would accept the company of a young man to see her home. At the early singing schools many romances developed.

The spelling school was popular for the same reason. The spelling bee attracted wide attention and it was well attended. In the evening the whole neighborhood would gather at the one-room district school. So that light would be provided, each family brought some candles. Before the ‘spell down" began, the boys teased the girls, the farmers discussed their crops and the weather, local affairs, religion, and politics. After it appeared that everyone was ready, the schoolmaster gave a rap on his desk with his ruler, and the meeting was underway. Through some method two captains were chosen, and these two captains, in alternate fashion, chose sides. When the two lines were formed, the master began pronouncing the words.

In those early days of Middletown people married young. A territorial law passed in 1800 permitted the marriage of "male persons of the age of eighteen and female persons of the age of fourteen, and not nearer of kin than first cousins." ⁽¹⁾ Notice had to be given of the approaching marriage; this notice was posted or declared on two days of public worship. As one wend down the road, he would ee these early marriage notices posted on trunks of trees which were close to the road. No one thought anything of early marriages; a girl of fifteen was considered a young lady. Little time was wasted in "keeping company" and long engagements were out. Family background was not important, for the spirit of social equality prevailed on the frontier. ⁽²⁾

When a wedding was announced, a frolic was anticipated. Some of the wedding lasted for three days: the first day was devoted to a number of sports, including hunting, races, quilting, shooting, etc.; on the second day the nuptials were performed; on the third day the bride was escorted to her new home, where a house warming was given. ⁽³⁾

At the weddings the gentlemen were attired in linsey woolsey hunting shirts, fur caps, leather breeches, leggings and moccasins, while the ladies were clothed in linsey petticoats, dark stockings, heavy shoes, and buckskin gloves. ⁽⁴⁾

As soon as it was time to harvest the corn, the farmer went through the field, pulling off the golden ears, leaving the husks on. ⁽⁵⁾ When all the corn in the field had been gathered into piles, a wagon was taken to the field and loaded with the ears of corn. It was then hauled to the farmyard, where it was dumped into a long pile, some five feet high. The pile was made as even in width and height as possible. After the men had arrived for the corn husking, two captains were chosen, who alternately chose up their sides. Two men, one from each side, were chosen to divide the corn in tow equal piles—this was done with careful deliberation. When each had agreed that the corn was equally divided, a rail was laid down to mark the dividing line. Then two of the best men were placed at the dividing line, one from each side, and these men tried to cut the pile in to as soon as possible. The rest of the men on each side got to work on the heap, and the race was on. When one of the groups was finished, the captain of the winning side was hoisted to the shoulders of his men, and he was carried over to the other side amid cries and shouting of victory. After the cheering was over, and the losing party had offered excuses for its failure, all the men joined the finish the husking. The husks were carried to the fodder house. ⁽⁶⁾

As soon as the women heard the shouts of the winning side, they began the supper for the men. Since forty or fifty men often attended a husking, the cabins were too small to house them all. Either tables had to be set up outside the cabin, or the men had to eat in groups. The table was loaded with turkey, chicken, pig, turnips, bread, potatoes, coffee, apple and pumpkin pies. As the men had husked the corn, their wives prepared the meal. ⁽⁷⁾

Likewise the corn husking gave the young people a chance for romance. The young fellows, who husked a red ear and saved it, received a kiss from his favorite girl.

After a new settler came to this region, or after a couple had been married, a house raising was held, so that the people might have a home. A group of neighbors came in, and together they built a log cabin. Since the logs were too heavy for one man to handle, all had to work together. Those who had the most experience and who was most adept at handling the logs was chosen captain to direct the work. Mr. H. B. Curtis wrote:

Since the logs for the length and width of the cabins were of different lengths, they were placed in separate piles. When the side longs had been put in place, the end logs were laid and notched; then two other side longs were rolled up on skids, notched so that the nest log would fit right into the wall. Except when timber was wet and icy, few accidents occurred among these pioneers, who knew how to handle lumber. ⁽⁹⁾

Log rollings were another method by which the pioneer combined work and pleasure. After the settler had felled the trees, he trimmed off the branches. The large trunks were left in the fields. Since the logs were too heavy for one man to handle, the neighbors came in to help roll the logs into piles. After the logs had been piled up, they were set on fire, and the clearing was made as light as day by the burning of the giant trees. Neighbors came for miles to help. One horse often carried three of four children to a log-rolling. After a big supper had been served, dancing was done on the smooth earth. ⁽¹⁰⁾ Sometimes the dancing was done in the larger cabins. The young people made merry on the puncheon floors and the dancers often had to stop to pull splinters out of the heels and toes of their shoes. Jigs, four handed reels, double-shuffle, breakdowns, and western swing were among the popular dances. ⁽¹¹⁾

Near the village were several maple camps. When the land was cleared, the sugar maples were saved. Sometimes in February and March the sap would begin to flow. Axes were used for tapping the trees. The maples were tapped, older or buckeye spiles were driven into an auger hole to catch the sap and carry it to the wooden troughs, which were set at the bottom of the trees. The troughs were made of short logs, which had been split and hollowed out; they were around six inches deep and three feet long. ⁽¹²⁾ A barrel was set on a sled to collect the sap, and the horse was driven in and out among the trees. A rude shelter, built with clapboards, was built over a stone furnace. The sap was boiled in large iron kettles. ⁽¹³⁾ Wood was used for fuel. The neighbors came in when the sugar was to be made. William Howells remarked, "Among the glorious things I remember of Ohio, the making of maple sugar was prominent." ⁽¹⁴⁾

Sugar making was a farm industry. A cluster of sugar trees made up a sugar camp. The old sugar house was located in the thick, dark woods, and here the neighbors gathered when the "stewing off" time took place. When the rich yellow sap began to send up its golden bubbles, it was time for the wax pulling. When this came off, hearty expressions of pain from burnt fingers and scorched tongue brought laughter. ⁽¹⁵⁾

Apple pairings were almost as common in the pioneer village as in the country. At the apple parings the women gathered at a home and they pared the apples for butter, they gossiped. This was a time when the young and old assembled to pare apples for drying, or to be made into apple butter. The apples, which dropped, were used for cider. A great press with a wooden screw squeezed out barrels of juice. ⁽¹⁶⁾

The monotony of country life was broken by these social occasions. The frolics had a definite economic as well as social value. When the men came together, the women also came. There was usually a female side to the party; quilting, spinning, and sewing were favorite diversions. At the quilting bee, women exchanged scraps of cloth or helped put quilts together. Sometimes the women spun up thread for a poor neighbor. The weeding, pulling and dressing of flax called for the gathering of boys and girls.

After the day’s work at a bee, a party was held in the evening. A dance was planned by most of the people, but a few of them thought dancing was wrong, and those people planned an evening of games. If games were played, the forfeits were paid in kisses—"a very acceptable currency with youngsters, the free use of which was certainly not good. Like over issue of any currency it materially depreciated the value, without enriching those who received it." ⁽¹⁷⁾

The hunting of deer was one of the favorite sports of the early pioneer; this sport has been described by Curwin, who wrote:

Deer, quail, partridge, turkey and the squirrel were hunted. Fishing was the favorite sport of many. ⁽¹⁹⁾ At certain times during the year thousands of migrating pigeons went through. If a flock lighted on a large tree branch, they usually broke it off. One shot brought down many. The red fox, ground hogs, polecats, minks, and weasels were hunted. At night the raccoon became the center of attraction for hunters. Panthers’ and wolves’ scalps brought a bounty from the county government. A gun was the most precious possession of a pioneer. In every neighborhood lived a gunsmith.

One of the sports enjoyed by the young boys was the making of a bonfire into which they threw buckeyes. As the buckeyes became hot, the gas in them made them explode like a pistol.

The children of early Middletown played along Bull’s Run, which would its lazy course on the edge of the town. In the spring, it roared like a huge river and washed away the dams built by the pioneer boys and girls. In the summer there was little water in it, and the children waded in it, and slipped on its oozy edge.

Mr. Vail dug a ditch or canal to connect his grain warehouse with his pork-packing establishment. When the canal was dug, the dirt was thrown into the center and a small artificial island was formed. The island became known as "Goose Island," for here the boys of the village gathered the eggs laid by the wild geese. More than one took a shot at the geese, which gathered here. ⁽²⁰⁾

During the forties roads were greatly improved. The Middletown and Hamilton Pike, the Germantown Road, the Gratis Pike and the Blue Ball road were all toll roads. Since there was as yet no state or county funds to build roads, these turnpike companies were necessary, and tolls had to be charged to support the roads. Bridges were built by private companies which charge tolls for use of the span. In 1830 the Middletown Bridge Company opened a wooden bridge across the Miami at Middletown. Before that time a ferry had been in use. The Manchester Bridge Company constructed a wooden covered bridge. The most traveled road in those early days was the Coles Road, which lead to the Great Miami Turnpike, the main highway of the whole region. In earlier times, the Manchester Road, built so that provisions of this area could reach our soldiers during the War of 1812, had furnished the only outlet of this region to the turnpike, now Route 25.

The early roads were narrow and muddy, filled with ruts and mudholes. The low places were often filled with short poles, which floated in a mud puddle. The smaller streams had to be forded. In the spring the dirt roads would be little more than paths of mud, and wagon wheels sank axle deep. The early stagecoaches went bumping over these ungraveled roads with their deep ruts. Creek gravel was used to fill some of the worst holes. In summer the roads were very dusty.

The corduroy road appeared to be a great improvement’ these roads were made by cutting logs, and laying smaller logs across the long end ones. There were often gaps between these logs, which frequently slipped out of place, and in these gaps the legs of the horses were sometimes caught and broken. The Macadamized roads were a blessing the early traveler. The Cincinnati and Dayton turnpike was this kind of a road, it was described as a "smooth, board, and well kept avenue." ⁽²¹⁾ With the better roads of this kind, most of which were built during the forties, came the more comfortable spring coach.

The first stage coach line with a regular schedule was established between Dayton, Franklin, Middletown, Hamilton, and Cincinnati; it began operations in the summer of 1818. The coach made a weekly trip and carried mail as well as passengers. Some felt that such a line would not pay, but these critics were wrong, and before many years the coach made two trips a week. To reach Cincinnati the passenger left Middletown in the late afternoon, stopped at Hamilton for the night, and by the afternoon of the next day Cincinnati was reached. The fare was eight cents a mile and each passenger was allowed fourteen pounds of baggage. On this coach twelve persons could be accommodated; three of the passengers sat on the back seats, three of the passengers on the front seats, and three others sat on the smaller seats, while two rode beside the driver. The coach was drawn by four horses, which were changed every fifteen miles. The roads were muddy, the coach small, giving the passengers no room for stretching. The early coaches had no springs. ⁽²²⁾ By 1840 two daily lines of coaches, owned by J. and P. Vorrhees, left Dayton in the morning and in the evening. ⁽²³⁾ The stages were painted bright colors, and some were striped. The seats were upholstered and numbered. Each coach was named; a favorite being, "The Pioneer." About every ten miles the stage stopped at a tollgate.

As early as 1819 the wooden bridge was appearing in this region, in that year the first wooden bridge was built across the Great Miami at Dayton. A pole was swung across the entrance to the bridge, and when the keeper was paid the pole was lifted. For the loaded wagon and team twelve cents was charged, while a man on horseback paid three cents. ⁽²⁴⁾

In 1836, Edward Jones came to Middletown from Weston, Massachusetts came to pack pork here. His letters home are of great value to one interested in the history of Middletown. In one letter he describes his trip to his town; this letter gives on an idea of how people traveled at that time. The letter written from Cincinnati, November 17, 1836, reads:

One of the dangers of travel in those times was that of a steamboat’s blowing up. Edward Jones wrote this assuring note:

Mr. S. T. Jones’ description of his trip to Middletown if more detailed as to time notation than his brother, Edward’s letter. This letter written in 1837 reads:

Traveling in the thirties was hard, and riding in a stage coach was not so romantic as many have led us to believe. Mr. S. A. Jones told of his trip from Middletown to Cincinnati in stage as follows:

Edward Jones did some traveling to other states. In May 1837 he went to New Orleans. He told of this trip in the following words:

However he felt that there was no place like home for he declared:

In another letter to his brother, Edward Jones wrote:

Describing a trip north to Michigan, Edward Jones wrote:

At another time Mr. S. A. Jones went to St. Louis; this was in july 1837. He wrote of this trip:

Much of the social life of early Middletown revolved around the tavern, which was to develop into the modern hotel. At the tavern visitors to the town were housed, and since there were no means of disseminating the news in early days, these visitors were some constant source of valuable information as to what was going on in other places. In a world without all the modern recreational facilities enjoyed today, the tavern was indeed a center of interest.

In 1805 the County Commissioners ordered: "On each and every tavern licensed in the towns of Hamilton, Rossville, and Middletown, the sum of twelve dollars annually." In 1806 the license was lowered to $10 a year.

One of the early taverns of Middletown was the Black Horse Tavern, which was operated by John Freeman. This tavern was the most popular in the village from 1810 to 1830. Among its noted landlords were: Jesse Crane, John Reynolds, and D. E. Hughes. ⁽³⁴⁾

The taverns were popular in the early days. As a man could not travel far in a day, he had to make frequent stops at the taverns along the way. A man who did not have much money often carried his food with him, stopping at the tavern for the night’s lodging, and paying for it with the little cash he had. Most people traveled on horseback or on foot and seldom made journeys, which took over a few days. A man could travel on foot for about seventy-five cents a day, if he rode a horse it was likely to cost him a dollar a day. ⁽³⁵⁾ In this village the York shilling, worth twelve and a half cents was used, and this would buy a good meal in a tavern. Sleeping quarters cost from six to nineteen cents, and the same price was paid for feeding the traveler’s horse. ⁽³⁶⁾

Taverns were located along the main highways. Some small villages received their names from the tavern. Many taverns grew up along the road from Cincinnati to Dayton; this was a good road a heavily traveled. Blue Ball was in the beginning the sign of a tavern, and the name of the village came from this sign; in stage coach days this tavern was an important stopping place between Dayton and Cincinnati. The first house built in Le Sourdsville was the Red Buck Tavern, which was kept by John Freeman. At Monroe several taverns did an excellent business. The old turnpike went right through Monroe and it was at one time the main stopping point for three lines of stages. The competition became so strong that the fare from Cincinnati to Dayton was reduced from the regular fare of $2.50 to $.50.

It was on the most important turnpikes that stage coaches were operated. Only the wealthy could afford to travel in a carriage. Many well-to-do travelers would saddle a horse, put his money in his purse, roll up his overcoat, and with a change of clothing in his saddlebags venture forth. If the man had a servant, he would ride behind his master, but in those days most travelers were willing to wait on themselves. ⁽³⁷⁾

Before the taverns hung a large lantern, which burned on whale oil or tallow. ⁽³⁸⁾ As one entered a tavern, he smelled the baked ham, and heard the men in the corner discussing politics, the main topic of conversation of that day. The taverns were scenes of balls at which the young men and women of the neighborhood danced.

There was little difference between a tavern and an early hotel; the hotel was merely larger.

A Mr. Forrer operated one of the first hotels in the village of Middletown. This was called the Canal Hotel. In 1833 John Deeds bought this hotel, and provided it with good furniture. He promised that he had "expert and trusty" servants, and a first rate stable. With these accommodations the proprietor hoped "to merit a shore of public patronage, and respectfully invites travelers, visitors, and parties of recreation to call and notice his establishment and refresh themselves." ⁽³⁹⁾

John Deeds sold the hotel to L. J. Sasser, who in turn advertised that he was quitting business in 1837. He offered at public auction the articles, which he had used in the hotel; bar fixtures, kitchen furniture, beds, bedding, cooking stove, chairs, settees, tables, stands. He offered to rent the hotel. ⁽⁴⁰⁾ The Canal Hotel was purchased by G. M. Pickering, and opened as "G. M. Pickering’s Hotel." He declared that "strict attention will be paid to render comfort and convenience to all that may be pleased to call. The tables will be furnished with the best the market affords, at all times." ⁽⁴¹⁾

In 1834, Forrer opened another hotel; known as Forrer’s Hotel; it was a large and commodious brick building. In 1840 he offered the hotel for rent. As the daily line of stages stopped at this place, it was a good place for business. When it was open the house was continually full of boarders and travelers. ⁽⁴²⁾

The United States Hotel, which was located on Main Street, was built in 1831 to be used as a private dwelling and coffee house. When it was first built, it was but two stories high, and the second floor was planned to be occupied by a family. A parlor and a barroom were on the first floor. In the parlor, Wilson Gilchrist sold goods for many years. It was not until about 1845 that Cyrus Mitchell converted the whole building into a hotel; he engaged his brother, James Mitchell, to build the third story when business grew. ⁽⁴³⁾

In the fifties the United States Hotel was the leading one in town. Many visitor stopped there. J. J. Walter and R. W. Walter ran a bus, called an omnibus, to and from the railroad west of town for the conveyance of passengers and baggage. One train arrived each morning and afternoon from Cincinnati and another one from Dayton. The drivers requested that those wishing their service leave their names at the hotel. ⁽⁴⁴⁾

At West Middletown the Madison House was enjoying wide patronage; many passengers on the trains stopped there for the night. In 1851 this notice was printed: "The Madison House…is now opened for the accommodation of the Public." ⁽⁴⁵⁾ George foster, who was proprietor of the United States Hotel, sold out his business in 1852. When the United States Hotel was turned into a private residence, the Madison House was the only public house in the community. Visitors, however, were much annoyed to have to go across the river to sleep. ⁽⁴⁶⁾

In 1853 the old United States Hotel was again opened. A visitor from Dayton commented that it was one of the best and most pleasant hotels found anywhere. After the remodeling done at the hotel, it compared favorably with many in the larger cities. The host spread a good table, and the hotel boasted a good cook. ⁽⁴⁷⁾

Middletonians who visited Hamilton usually stopped at the Waverly House. It was a first class hotel, situated near the court house, and offered reasonable terms. ⁽⁴⁸⁾

The home of the early Middletonian was large self-sufficient. Even the village home carried on many common household manufactures. Lots were large and contained not only the home but many out buildings.

Mr. I. W. Deeds has given us a description of his house, which was located in the town on Third and Mill Streets, west of Forrer’s tavern. It was a substantial two-story well-finished frame dwelling house, which had enough rooms that it could easily have been converted into a rooming house. A cellar was under the whole house. There was on the lot a stone room, a mechanics shop, a smokehouse, stable and carriage house, an out over, and a "good well of water in the yard." ⁽⁴⁹⁾

The center of these early homes was a large stone or brick fireplace in the parlor. At the side of the chimney was the stockhole, which served as a general utility cabinet. In it were kept such needed articles as thread and thimble, ink, yarn, candle snuffers. Below this often hung a turkey wing, which was used to brush away the ashes from the hearth. By the side of the hearth were the tongs, fire shovel, and broom. In the event the fire went out, the tender box, with its flint and steel, came in handy. The rooms were lighted by lamps and candles. Some homes did not even have a lamp; The Cary sisters, who lived near Cincinnati, wrote poems by the light of a "saucer of melted lard with a bit of rag of a wick." (50)

In the kitchen was another fireplace for cooking. In some cases the out-oven was used for baking. Boiling, frying and baking were done over the fireplace in the kitchen. Pothooks held the iron kettles over the fire. The Dutch oven, a large iron kettle with a lid, was used for baking, when the out-oven was not in use. Over the fire hung the pots filled with bubbling mush, hominy, succotash or any number of other foods. In the forties the kitchen fireplace yielded to the stove. In the early homes wood was used for fuel. One farmer advertised that he had for sale "200 cords first rate sugar tree and hickory fire wood delivered $2 per cord and $1.25 on ground." (51)

The smokehouse was evidence of the fact that the village dweller bought and stored his own pork. Some bought the hogs and did their own butchering. On the large town lots, often consisting of an acre or two, there was sufficient room to carry on the activities of butchering. The gos were killed and in a big iron pot or tank they were scalded, and then scraped and dressed. In the smokehouse hams, bacon, shoulders and other port products were kept. Corncobs and hickory sticks were burned in a slow moldering fire to cure the meat. Before the hams were smoked, they were treated to a bath in the large pickling vat in one corner of the smokehouse. In this vat the bacon was put to be preserved for the winter’s use. The well, surrounded by a wooden frame, was considered an important part of the early home. The water was usually drawn up in an iron-bound bucket by a rope or chain. The well and the smokehouse were among the most important talking points in the selling of a place. William Judd advertised that his small farm was a bargain, for it had "a good brick Smoke House, and a well of excellent water." (52)

The stable and carriage house of Jacob Kemps, a local resident, contained a two-horse wagon, a sleigh, two plows, and a harrow. (53) Another man, Jacob Gingrich kept in his carriage house a "new buggy with cloth lining with poles and shafts, one set of two-horse harness silver mounted with full-plated buckles and made accordingly." (54) In the stable the well-to-do townsman kept on or two good horses.

Most of the property sold had some kind of a shop connected with it. Abraham Simpson offered for sale his "property in Middletown…consisting of an in-lot, onwhich is a good two story brick house, a good well of water, cellar, shed, stable, and other conveniences; also, an excellent smith’s shop. Likewise an out-lot containing one acre." (55) Among other things, Silas Deeds offered for sale "my shop…a good building, now occupied by a carriage shop, also a good blacksmith shop…" (56)

Often several acres of land were connected with a place. George Grimes, wishing to go East, advertised for sale "a brick house, 2 stories, very convenient, with nine acres of land including three town lots on the front, with stable and Fruit Trees, out buildings and all in good repair." (57)

A brick house with all the improvements sold for $1400 in 1850. This house was located on one of the main corners in Middletown. Farms near Middletown sold well, and brought good prices for those times. One farm sold in the thirties contained "166 acres, 100 acres cleared and the rest in choice lumber. One premises are dwelling house, barn and out-houses. Spring of water…There is also a thrifty orchard of well selected fruit." The terms were $2000 in cash and the rest payable one year from date of sale. (58)

In his letters Edward Jones gives us some idea of the cost of lots in Middletown, and the time required to build a house. In August 1844, he wrote:

"…I have bought me two lots for $175.00 which four years ago sold at auction for $300…I do not like to pay rent. I intend to do nearly all the work myself, I cannot afford to hire much…I intend to put up a good one, and if I can sell to a good advantage I shall sell (59) and go west but not until I think I can better myself."

When he began to build in October, he wrote home:

"I shall commence my house tomorrow. I have my lumber all on the ground. Cellar finished and foundation up and intend t get in inclosed before cold weather sets in and shall finish it so as to move into it in the Spring. My plan of building is pretty much the same as the house of Charles Merriam. It is 28 by 32 feet…I shall have some help and get it up as soon as I can…" (60)

Many of the things used in the pioneer home were made in the home. Most of the clothing was made here. Food was grown in the truck patch and stored for winter.

Little fruit canning was done prior to 1860, when the large earthen jars with tin covers sealed with sealing wax, came into general use. Before that time the berries and fruits were made into preserves and kept. Some fruits were dried; apples were most often preserved this way. The apples were pared, cut into small pieces, and then strung on a piece of string to dry. Sometimes the drying process was begun in the oven; then the apples were hung in the attic or in the kitchen until they were used. (61)

A large wooden hopper, which was large at the top and tapered down to a small bottom, was kept in the backyard near the kitchen door. The hopper was made of clapboards, which were arranged as a pyramid turned up side down. Dried grass or cornhusks were put into the bottom of the container to act as a strainer. In this the wood ashes from the hearth were stored. When the hopper was filled, many buckets of water had to be drawn from the well and poured over the ashes. Through a trough from the bottom of the hopper came the drops of strong brown lye, which was put in a large kettle over the fire to boil. As soon as the lye would float an egg, scraps of fat and grease were put in. everyone was careful not to touch the strong lye, for it would have eaten the skin off one’s fingers. (62) The grease was saved by the housewife from cooking during several months. Then it was put in the large round-bottomed iron kettle with the homemade lye. After boiling the mixture became a mass of jelly-like soap. Then it was allowed to cool, and from it were cut bars of brown soap, which were stored for household use. (63)

In the early days politics and religion were the two main topics of conversation. "My party, right or wrong" was the strong partisan belief of most citizens. Many family and neighborhood quarrels started with politics. The most famous campaign in Ohio was that of 1840, when Ohio presented William Henry Harrison, an Ohioan, for the presidency. General Harrison headed the Wig ticket; he had won his popularity as the commander of the battle Tippecanoe. President Van Buren had aristocratic tastes, and had offended the people of the west by putting mirrors, silk curtains, and other fineries in the White House.

General Harrison was a man of simple tastes. The editor of the Baltimore Republican wrote: "Give him a barrel of hard cider and settle a pension of two thousand dollar on him, and our word for it, he would sit the remainder of his days contentedly in a log cabin." (64) Since the West had been reared on hard cider and had grown up in log cabins, this statement caused great excitement and opposition. The West looked upon the log cabin as the best in American life. They accepted the challenge, and revived the "cabin raisings." Whenever a large political meeting was held, the delegates came in a few days in advance, built a log cabin, nailed coonskins on the wall, and filled it with barrels of hard cider. Small cabins were made of buckeye logs, and these were taken from town to town. Badges and canes made from the buckeye tree were used in the Whig parades. Songs were sung by the loyal party members. One of these began:

"The times are bad and want curing

They are getting past all enduring

Let us turn out old Martin Van Buren

And put in old Tippecanoe." (65)

Another song ran:

"Oh Where, tell me where

Was your buckeye cabin made?

‘Twas made among the merry boys

Who Wield the plough and spade." (66)

At Dayton a Whig paper, called the "Log Cabin" was published. In this paper of July 25, 1840 this invitation was published:

"You are invited by your fellow citizens of Montgomery County, Ohio to convene with them in a Grand council at Dayton on the anniversary of our gallant Perry’s Victory on September 10, 1840, to deliberate on the best means of reviving our National Prosperity and saving from destruction the decay of our Civil liberties." (67)

The response to this invitation was tremendous; many Middletonians went. By canal, stage, horseback, and carriage the people went to Dayton. The turnpike through Middletown were filled with people going to the meeting; at night camp fires could be seen all along the highways.

In Middletown the people had great meetings also. Thomas Ewing, Thomas Corwin, John Weller, and Lewis Campbell, as well as William Henry Harrison spoke here.

In August 1840, Edward Jones wrote his uncle the following letter, describing Harrison’s visit to Middletown:

"…He made a speech of nearly two hours long that would have done honor to H. Clay or any other man. I have seen the old man several times before but had not heard him make a speech. The General is not so infirm as some of the papers would like to make out, he has traveled 30 miles and made one speech of an hour and a half long before he reached this place. He has an eye like a hawk and a very strong voice. He spoke in the open street to more than three thousand people and was plainly heard by all. This I wrote to show what means have been used to mislead the people. There is more excitement at present on politics than was ever known in these parts, men think nothing of going 25 or 30 miles to hear a debate."  (68)

In April 1840 Edward Jones predicted: "This State will elect a Whig Governor, and will also give Harrison and Tyler a majority…" (69)

The editor of the Middletown Farmer, an ardent Whig complained bitterly:

"Since Mr. Van Buren became president, there has been no act or resolution passed by Congress, but in obedience to his dictation." (70)

The editor also declared that the president had dictated to the state legislatures, and that the action of Congress was a farce. He warned that his reelection would bring about the overturn of all our cherished institutions.

In 1844 Edward Jones summed up the political situation here as follows:

"Politicks seem very high here more so than in ’40. That Henry Clay will be elected I have not the least doubt… This is a free country and I want everyone to vote as they please. We can elect our candidate without anyone leaving the democrat party but there are thousands that will not vote for Polk and a large number of these will go the Wig ticket. I wish you to mark one thing… That is the bulk of their party are dissatisfied no one can deny, and when the day of election rolls around you will see by the way people cast their votes. I am no prophet but will say there is no chance for Polk in these diggins." (71)

A few months later, Edward Jones declared:

"It is pretty certain that the Whigs have elected nine or ten Congressmen out of twenty one. If the Democrats had not had the Districking of the State to their own liking, we should have elected two thirds of them. There had been more illegal voting at this election than ever before." (72)

Middletonians took their politics seriously in the old days. Hamilton, being the capital of the county was visited by many great political leaders of the past, and Middletonians went there. Clay, the "Great Commoner" came to Hamilton in 1830. His headquarters was the Blair’s Hotel. Here he spoke of the "American System" One man made this toast at a banquet in Clay’s honor, "The Valley of the Miami her fertile soil, and abundant water power, under the protection of the American System point it out as the great manufacturing work shop of the west."

On June 13, 1833 Daniel Webster stopped at Hamilton at the Blair where he spoke; many went to see the great Whig.

On September 17, 1859 Lincoln probably passed through Middletown on the C. H. and D. He stopped at Hamilton. Congressman John Curley was with Mr. Lincoln; Mr. Curely was a very short man, and as the two got off the train, Lincoln pointing to himself said, "My friends, this is the long of it," and putting his hand on Mr. Curley’s head, continued, "and this is the short of it."

At Hamilton Lincoln said, "This beautiful and far-famed Miami Valley is the garden spot of the world. My friends, your sons may desire to locate in the West; you don’t want them to settle in a territory like Kansas, with the curse of slavery hanging over it… I see that my friend Douglas is still in favor of popular sovereignty. This is a dangerous doctrice; the inhabitants should apply for admission to the union either as free or slave state, honesty expressed at a fair election." (73)

A Hamilton newspaperman who opposed Lincoln described him thus:

"People were generally disappointed in the man, and in his appearance. The outlines of his had can lay no claims to intellectuality. He cannot be a great man, everyone feels it. He displays no oratory, but judging from the peculiar twinkling in his eye, he is no slouch at wit. Ugliness predominates; rough and rugged in manners and looks he still is conceded to possess fine talent as a debater. The idea of a comparison with Douglas is ridiculous, and no one but a fool or an idiot ever thought of it." (74)

On September 26, 1860 Douglas spoke at Hamilton before an audience of 40,000. A special train of six cars pulled in. There was a great parade at Hamilton, and the debater spoke for a half hour asking for "non-interference by Congress with slavery." (75)

In 1852 an interesting campaign was conducted. The Whigs of Lemon Township had one of the largest political meetings ever held in this community on September 1852. The Honorable L. D. Campbell addressed the people. On his arrival at the depot near Madison House he met an enthusiastic reception. He was escorted into the town with a band. (76)

Hunting has long been a favorite sport of Middletonians. The hunting party was one of the favorite pastimes of bygone days. The men were glad to see autumn come, for this season "above all others is calculated for the healthy exercise of Hunting and Gunning." (77)

After a notice had been posted of the meeting, a group of men met at the United States hotel in Middletown and organized themselves into a hunting club, which was to be called the "Middletown Nimrods."

The club was divided into two equal parts with their captains. The next day, very early, every hunter was "cracking brush" through the woods. Some of the men stayed up about all night in order to get out early. "The squirrels, quails, ducks, and pigeons who had the good fortune to escape the murderous fire of the expert marksmen will long have reason to remember last Tuesday." For "such a popping and waking of the inhabitants has not been known in this region as far back as runs the memory of the oldest inhabitant." (78) The day marked the end of many squirrels and quail.

In the evening the party went to the United States Hotel, where the game was counted and all the game, including squirrels, pigeons, etc. came to nearly two hundred. The next evening the defeated party according to agreement provided a supper at the hotel. Excellent music was provided. After the dinner was over speeches were made upon the subject of "Hunting the Deer and Bear" by members of the club. (79) The toastmaster was Cyrus Mitchell, proprietor of the United States Hotel. (80)

The Fourth of July in early days was a great time for celebration, and long speeches were the rule. On July 4, 1829, a large celebration took place in Middletown. The morning began with a firing of the national salute. At ten o’clock a procession was formed by Captain Judd, marshall of the day, and the parade marched to the Baptist church, where the service was opened with a prayer by Rev. Fairman.

Following this the Declaration of Independence was read in a distinct and audible manner by Doctor Baird. Then the long flowery speech by Mr. Eli Pennell, the orator of the day, was begun. The address was strong and pointed was the comment. Even though his language was involved the thoughts contained in the following brief extracts give us some idea of how the people of the West felt about internal improvements:

"The internal improvements of our country exclusively of the national turnpike…are mutually important and extensive, and particularly the canals, merit particular applause. They bring commerce immediately to our doors, and dispose the ambitious projects of trade through our inland navigation…But something still is wanting till we behold the extension of the Miami canal, the benefits of which can never be conceived, till we consider the advantage of connecting the waters of Lake Erie with those of the Atlantic or western ocean, by means of the Ohio and Mississippi when our navigation may extend from sea to sea, and fertilize an extent of country boundless as it is fruitful." (81)

After the speech the company sat down to a dinner prepared by Mr. V. D. Enyart. After the cloth was removed, the leading citizens drank toasts. (82)

When P. T. Barnum brought Jenny Lind to America, he created such a publicity campaign that the whole nation was talking about her. Since Cincinnati was a noted music center, Jenny Lind was booked to sing there. When she gave her first concert in Cincinnati in April 1851, needless to say many Middletonians were there. The editor of the Emblem wrote:

"A number of persons from our own village heard the renowned songstress, and nearly all of them express themselves as being pleased even beyond their highest expectations. Such an excitement has been caused by the arrival of Jenny Lind to the continent, we venture to assert has never had its equal." (83)

The editor of the paper felt that all the furor would result in no good except to the pockets of Barnum. He said that Jenny Lind was a fine, noble woman, but that Barnum was only a humbug.

Soon everything was being named after Jenny Lind, everything from saloons to sausages. The Jenny Lind Confectionary was opened by Mr. Freeman, who featured lemonade, spruce beer, and mineral water. (84) In the Liebee block, Lieutenant Clough opened the Jenny Lind saloon. (85) When the Jenny Lind Confectionary was opened, this advertisement appeared: "The ninth wonder of the world is Jenny, but the tenth is the opening of a new confectionary store in this place." The items to be sold by this confectionary were: candles, oranges, nuts, crackers, apples, lemons, toys, buggy mats, canes, etc. (86)

One man writing in the local paper commented:

"We had yesterday the pleasure of being shaved with a Jenny Lind razor by a Jenny Lind barber, scented with Jenny Lind cologne, combed with a Jenny Lind comb, brushed with a Jenny Lind brush, washed in a Jenny Lind bowl, and wiped with a Jenny Lind towel. After which we put on a Jenny Lind hat, walked into a Jenny Lind restaurant and partook of Jenny Lind sausage. Then we took up a Jenny Lind paper, read a Jenny Lind editorial, smoked a Jenny Lind cigar, and throwing ourself in a jenny Lind chair fell into a Jenny Lind reverie." (87)

Circus Day

One of the earliest circuses that pitched tents in Middletown was Brown and Company’s Circus; it arrived June 17, 1837. The doors opened at one o’clock and the performance began at one thirty. Admission to boxes was fifty cents, and children under twelve were admitted to the grounds at half price. General admission to the pit was twenty-five cents. (88)

The next year, 1838, a new circus came to town; it was operated by Fogg and Stickney. In this troop was a talented equestrian corps. Headliners were the Polish brothers, and the great clown, Mr. Mulligan. (89)

The first circuses were small affairs. It was not until the fifties that Middletown was treated to large exhibitions. Raymond, Van Amburgh and Company menageries were united into one large circus. They presented a great show using one hundred and fifty large animals. They boasted that they possessed a rhinoceros, which was the first and only in American since 1836. They advertised:

"The great difficulty in capturing this huge and savage creature, together with the almost impossibility of keeping him alive in a climate so uncongenial to his habits and constitution, renders the exhibition of a living rhinoceros, the greatest curiosity on the animal kingdom." (90)

The Polar Bear was said to be the only one in America. Two of the lions in the show were presented to the owners of the circus by Queen Victoria.

Young boys must have marveled when they read:

"Mr. Van Amburgh, the most renowned of all Lion Conquerors will at a certain period of the exhibition enter the dens of his terrific group of lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, panthers, the same as performed by him in all the principal cities of Europe and America." (91)

At the same time Mr. Crawford entered another cage; thus, the beginning of the two ring circus.

A list of the animals was printed: these included, lions, leopards, tigers, cougars, camels, rhinoceros, zebra, elk, lamas, elephants, panthers, hyenas, wolves, badgers, raccoons, bears, pelican, stork, pheasants, cranes, parrots and monkeys. There were seventy men in the troop, and 120 horses were needed for transporting the manageries; exhibitions. The show opened April 30, 1851 at one o’clock. Admission was twenty-five cents for adults and ten cents for children. (92)

Another of the high points in the life of the children of the fifties was May Day. The pupils went on a gala school picnic. Under the supervision of the reverend schoolmaster, Mr. J. B. Morton, they enjoyed many sports. They went to a grove along the Miami River, north of town. Near the end of the day, May Day songs were sung before the return trip home. (93)

The Lottery

Pyfer and Company, lottery brokers of Baltimore, Maryland operated a thriving business. Many of the residents of Butler County responded to the advertisements of this company. The company promised to elevate one from poverty to riches and "to the affluence of highest order." (94) They boasted that they had distributed prize money to every section of the country to an amount of more than the value of the "combined estates of those millionaires of America, Girard and Astor." It was promised that "a liberal investment with the world-renowned house of Pyfer and Company is certain to yield a harvest of gold." (95)

Church Music

As the community grew, the interest in cultural achievements increased. Many Middletonians attended the musical convention, which was held at Hamilton, November 1851, which had met to devise means to promote the art. Rev. Tanney was called to the chair, and he told of the advantage of good church music.

The Rev. Mr. Norton of Middletown addressed the meeting at its evening session. A Hamilton reporter who attended the evening session described the speech of our fellow Middletonians in these words:

"Mr. Norton’s address was really too good for his comparatively meager audience. The interest and importance with which he clothed his theme, and the ingenuity and talent he evinced in his analysis of music—his illustrations of its nature, its qualities, its beauties, its history, and its effects, did eminent honor to the worthy orator." (96)

The convention heard the best music that had been heard in Hamilton for thirty years. The Oxford choristers were much better singers than the Hamiltonians. The reporter of the convention lamented:

"If the tenor in the Hamilton quartette had been a fair specimen of our musical genius, Hamilton would be regarded as a city of nightingales, instead of a wilderness jarring discords and anti-harmonic fanaticism that it is." (97)

The people attending this convention met at the Presbyterian Church in Hamilton where they organized the Butler County Musical Association in October 30 and 31, 1851. When the meeting began, Stephen Vail of Middletown was appointed chairman and Mr. Warwick of Rossville, now part of Hamilton, secretary. (98) An election was held, and a constitution was made. Copies of the constitution were sent to Middletown, where a branch society was to be formed. The second meeting of the association was held at Oxford, and the "sweet singers of Middletown" had their "rich voices turned for that joyful occasion." (99) At Oxford the convention met in Dr. Claybaugh’s church. The meeting opened at two P.M. and Professor Moffat delivered the principal address. The concert was given by the branch societies. The Middletown branch sang "Holy Lord, god of Sabbath," and a chant. It was voted that the next meeting be held in Middletown. (100)

In 1853 the annual meeting of the society was held at Middletown. An address was delivered by Rev. Mr. Tanney of Oxford, president of the association. The Oxford branch and the Middletown branch entertained the audience with musical selections. A concert, largely attended, was presented in the evening. The association’s purpose was to elevate the standards of church music, and it succeeded well. There were no representatives here from Hamilton. (101)

The choristers here gave many public concerts. The choral club gave its first annual concert December 24, 1852. The club charged a quarter admission. The program consisted of songs, anthems, and chants. Mrs. Emily Jenks was the accompanist. A gentleman with two ladies could gain admission for fifty cents. Tickets were sold for these concerts at the hotel and drug stores. P. Mitchell was president of the club, and L. E. Ingham was secretary. (102)

In 1837 Edward Jones observed:

"This town is situated on the Miami River and this valley is noted for the fever…but it is the most fruitful country I ever saw…" (103)

At another time he wrote,

"It has been very healthy here this summer but it is getting some what sickly, there is a great many fevers in this vicinity. It is generally the case after so fruitful a season." (104)

However, the editor of the local paper complimented Middletown upon the good general health of the community. He declared:

"Drugs are a drug in the market; physicians have a long holiday, and the undertakers make cradles instead of coffins…Let invalids from the miasmatic regions of the South visit Middletown, and recuperate their exhausted energies in the salubrious and bracing atmosphere inhaled by the good people hereabouts." (105)

The editor started a campaign for cleanliness of the streets and walks. He asked,

"What is there so pleasant to the eye of a stranger…as cleanly swept and unobstructed side-walks, gutters, free from puddle water, and streets freshly scraped of the accumulated filth which business deposits?"

He believed that in a town where these were unknown that fevers were "undreampt of." He asked that Middletown be such a place, and started a clean-up campaign. (106)

One of the most dreaded diseases of the time was the cholera. In 1833 a Cincinnati canal packet brought a load of thirty-three passengers from that city to Dayton. Twenty-five of the passengers were taken to t house and a doctor and nurse put in charge; in a few days the nurse had died, and the doctor was ill. A person taking the cholera would be well at breakfast, ill at noon, and dead before sunset. (107)

Undoubtedly Middletown was subject to these early plagues. We know that a serious epidemic hit the town in 1849 and 1850. The following item appeared in the Hamilton paper:

"Wed. noon—We learn from a gentleman just from Middletown that the cholera is raging there very badly, there being ten deaths within a few days." (108)

The following week this was the report, "At Middletown we are pleased to learn, the disease has almost vanished." (109)

Hamilton had several cases of cholera at this time. The first case was that of Mr. Sands, a visitor at the Buckeye House, which was followed by seven other cases that week, one half of which were fatal. The editor of the paper pointed out, "nearly every case was traceable, we believe, to some imprudence in diet, to exposure, or to neglect of the first symptoms." (110) It was noticed that all the cases came from one part of Hamilton. The Board of health at Cincinnati reported that from July 1 to July 16, 463 had died from the cholera.

There were always exaggerations as to the number of people who died from the disease. At one time it was reported that there were fifty or sixty cases, and six or seven deaths daily, but in reality there were only seven cases in all. (111)

What was the cause of the disease? Everyone of that day had his ideas on this subject. Dr. Drake, a prominent physician, felt that it was due to eating too much fruit, and of being in the sun too much, and of too much worrying. (112) Another physician declared that he had never treated a patient with this disease who had black hair and black eyes, and he concluded that such people were immune from the cholera. (113) How to prevent or cure the disease became a question. The liquor dealers advertised that alcohol would prevent this dreaded disease, but the editor of the Hamilton paper warned his subscribers: "There is a notion quite prevalent that Brandy acts as a preventative of cholera…It is a delusion…a fatal delusion." (114)

Some people began to see that keeping clean was a large part of keeping well. Mr. Oblinger, editor of the Middletown Emblem, printed the following editorials:

"Bathing we deem one of the necessities of life. Its blessed advantages have been commented upon again and again. The healthful influence it imparts to the system—the glowing color it gives to the skin, and the vigor and vitality with which both mind and body are refreshed—are the reasons sufficient why this delightful process should be indulged in more frequently than it now is." (115)

It was pointed out that if more people took baths there would not be "half the complaints in regard to ill-healthy that we hear now-a-days" and that doctors would consequently rarely be needed. In Middletown J. F. Howard ran a bathhouse, which was located across the canal. There the people of Middletown would enjoy a real shower bath. (116)

There was a patent medicine to cure every disease.

(1) Robert W. Steele and Mary Steel, Early Dayton (Dayton: Shuey Pub. Co., 1896), p. 62.

(2) The History of Montgomery County, Ohio (Chicago: W. H. Beers, 1882), p. 299.

(3) Rufus King, Ohio (New York: Houghton Nifflin, 1903), p. 300.

(4) History of Montgomery County, Ohio, op. Cit., p. 299-300.

(5) Ibid.

(6) William Cooper Howells, Recollections of Life in Ohio (Cincinnati: Robert Clarke Co., 1895), pp. 147-151.

(7) Howell, op. cit., p. 125.

(8) H. B. Curtis, "Pioneer Days in Central Ohio," Ohio Historical and Archaeological Society, I (1900), pp. 243-254.

(9) Howel, op.cit., pp. 145-147.

(10) Clement Martzolff, Fifty Stories from Ohio History (Columbus: Ohio Teacher Publishing Co., 1917), pp. 146-148.

(11) History of Montgomery County, Ohio, op.cit., p. 298.

(12) Joaquin Miller, Overland in a Covered Wagon (New York: D. Appleton, 1930), pp. 17-18.

(13) Ellen Hayes, Wild Turkeys and Tallow Candles (Boston: Four Sers Co., 1920), pp. 81-82.

(14) Howells, op.cit., p. 9

(15) Middletown Herald, March 3, 1854.

(16) W. H. Venable, Footprints of the Pioneers in the Ohio Valley (Cincinnati: Ohio Valley Press, 1888), p. 121.

(17) Howell, op.cit., p. 144.

(18) Steele, op.cit., p. 59.

(19) Eugene Roseboom and Francis Weisenburger, A History of Ohio (New York: Prentice-Hall, 1934), p. 184.

(20) Middletown Emblem, January 14, 1853.

(21) W. H. Venable, A Buckeye Boyhood (Cincinnati: Robert Clarke Co., 1911) p. 69.

(22) Charlotte Conover, The Story of Dayton (Dayton: Otterbein Press 1917) p. 79.

(23) Steele,op.cit., p. 139.

(24) Conover, op.cit., p. 82.

(25) Letter from Edward Jones to Mrs. William P. Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Cincinnati, O., Nov. 17, 1836.

(26) Letter from Edward Jones to Mrs. William P. Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Cincinnati, O., Nov. 17, 1836.

(27) Letter from Mr. S. T. Jones to William E. Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., June 27, 1837.

(28) Letter from Mr. S. T. Jones to Edward Jones of Middletown, Ohio, Peoria, Ill., July 14, 1837.

(29) Letter from Edward Jones to Mr. Wm. P. Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., May 21, 1837.

(30) Ibid.

(31) Letter from Edward Jones to Mr. Stephen Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., August 20, 1837.

(32) Letter from Edward Jones to William Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., July 23, 1838.

(33) Letter from S. A. Jones to Edward Jones of Middletown, O., Peoria, Ill., July 14, 1837.

(34) Harry Simms, Middletown in Black and White (Middletown: Journal Printing Co., 1906) p. 28.

(35) Howells, op.cit., pp. 139-140.

(36) A History and Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio (Cincinnati: Western Biographical Publishing Co., 1992) p. 42.

(37) Howells, op.cit., pp. 140-141.

(38) Charles Hopkins, Ohio The Beautiful and Historic (Houston: L. C. Page Co., 1931), pp. 236-238.

(39) Hamilton Intelligencer, April 27, 1833.

(40) Ohio Argus and Franklin Gazette, June 24, 1837.

(41) Ohio Argus and Franklin Gazette, September 16, 1837.

(42) Middletown Mail, April 11, 1840.

(43) A History and Biographical Cyclo. Of Butler Co., op.cit., p. 631.

(44) Middletown Emblem, October 11, 1851.

(45) Middletown Emblem, April 26, 1851.

(46) Hamilton Intelligencer, April 5, 1852.

(47) Middletown Emblem, May 6, 1853.

(48) Hamilton Intelligencer, June 20, 1850.

(49) Middletown Mail, June 1, 1839.

(50) Venable, buckeye Boyhood, op.cit., pp. 20-21.

(51) Ohio Argus and Franklin Gazette, September 23, 1837.

(52) Hamilton Intelligencer, October 6, 1832.

(53) Middletown Emblem, August 30, 1851.

(54) Middletown Emblem, August 30, 1851.

(55) Hamilton Intelligencer, August 18, 1832.

(56) Middletown Mail, June 15, 1839.

(57) Hamilton Intelligencer, September 12, 1850.

(58) Ohio Argus and Franklin Gazette, March 18, 1837.

(59) Letter from Edward Jones to Andrew Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., August 4, 1844.

(60) Letter from Edward Jones to William F. Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., October 13, 1844.

(61) Hayes, op.cit., pp. 90-91.

(62) G. Stone and G. Fichett, Everyday Life in the Colonies (New York: D. C. Heath, 1905), pp. 61-68.

(63) Hayes, op.cit., pp. 83.

(64) Conover, op.cit., pp. 117.

(65) Conover, op.cit., pp. 118.

(66) Martzolff, op.cit., pp. 122.

(67) Conover, op.cit., pp. 119.

(68) Letter from Edward Jones to Mr. Stephen Abrams of Boston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., August 23, 1840.

(69) Letter from Edward Jones to Andrew Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., April 7, 1840.

(70) Middletown Farmer, August 15, 1840.

(71) Letter from Edward Jones to Mr. Andrew Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., August 4, 1844.

(72) Letter from Edward Jones to William P. Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., October 13, 1844.

(73)Bert S. Bartlow, et. al., Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, (B. F. bowen and Co., 1905) pp. 123-124.

(74) Centennial History, op.cit., p. 124.

(75) Ibid., p. 125.

(76) Hamilton Intelligencer, September 23, 1852.

(77) Hamilton Intelligencer, November 7, 1850.

(78) Ibid.

(79) Hamilton Intelligencer, November 7, 1850.

(80) Ibid.

(81) Hamilton Intelligencer, July 28, 1829.

(82) Hamilton Intelligencer, July 14, 1829.

(83) Middletown Emblem, April 26, 1851.

(84) Middletown Emblem, November 15, 1851.

(85) Middletown Emblem, May 3, 1851.

(86) Ibid.

(87) Middletown Emblem, July 26, 1851.

(88) Ohio Argus and Franklin Gazette, June 17, 1837.

(89) Ohio Argus and Franklin Gazette, April 14, 1838.

(90) Middletown Emblem, April 26, 1851.

(91) Middletown Emblem, April 26, 1851.

(92) Ibid.

(93) Middletown Emblem, June 7, 1851.

(94) Hamilton Intelligencer, May 30, 1850.

(95) Ibid.

(96) Hamilton Intelligencer, November 6, 1851.

(97) Ibid.

(98) Hamilton Intelligencer, November 13, 1851.

(99) Middletown Emblem, November 15, 1851.

(100) Middletown Emblem, June 11, 1852.

(101) Middletown Emblem, May 6, 1853.

(102) Middletown Emblem, December 17, 1852.

(103) Letter from Edward Jones to Stephen Jones of Weston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., August 20, 1837.

(104) Letter from Edward Jones to Stephen Abrams of Weston, Massachusetts, Middletown, O., August 23, 1840.

(105) Middletown Mail, September 20, 1839.

(106) Middletown Mail, June 1, 1839.

(107) Conover, op.cit., pp. 990100.

(108) Hamilton Intelligencer, August 22, 1850.

(109) Hamilton Intelligencer, August 29, 1850.

(110) Hamilton Intelligencer, July 25, 1850.

(111) Middletown Emblem, August 16, 1851.

(112) Conover, op.cit., p. 100.

(113) Middletown Emblem, August 30, 1851.

(114) Hamilton Intelligencer, July 25, 1850.

(115) Middletown Emblem, August 16, 1851.

(116) Ibid.