is the favorite home of the maple and its maple sugar industry the greatest in the Union, and the sugar excelling in quality.

Trout Streams.-Geauga has, with Erie, the distinction of being the only one of two counties that I know of in Ohio that has a stream of water so pure and cold as to be the native home of the speckled brook trout. In Erie the source is a cold spring at Castalia gushing forth from a prairie. In Geauga it is in the vicinity of where we are passing to-day, below the conglomerate rock, at the base of which the filtered pure water gushes forth in streams, forming the head-waters of Chagrin river.

Past and Present on the Reserve.-Travelers by rail see comparatively little. My ride by hack was a refreshing change, an eye feast. In my original journey on horseback through the Reserve I was continually reminded of the Connecticut of that time by the large number of red houses, red barns and little district school-houses by the roadside, also red. Gone are these red things, and gone mostly are the people, and gone the country taverns with their barroom shelves filled with liquor bottles. The boys and girls of that time now living are largely grand-parents. Now the farmhouses are white or a neutral tint, many of them ornate, the creations of skilled architects; all of those hereabouts have porches either upon the main building or upon the addition. Labor-saving machines and implements and conveniences, both on the farm and in the dwelling, have saved much untold back-aching drudgery and given leisure for the more delicate things. Farmers' wives can any time pick up Harper's Weekly or Monthly and read an article on entomology, maybe an instructive one on the habits of the bumble-bee, and not feel as though they were committing a sin-encroaching on valuable time that ought to be given to melting snow in a huge kettle hanging over backlogs, whereby to get water and worry through the week's washing.

The dreadful isolation and loneliness of farm-life is a thing of the past. Good roads have overcome this and brought town and country together shaking hands. Most families have representatives in some neighboring city or on farms farther west, and they often visit the old homestead, bringing their children, and renew the old ties. The cricket still sings somewhere around the premises, the doves still coo from the eaves; the clover, fragrant as ever, finds them out and steals into their noses. Books, magazines are in every dwelling and education general; and social intercourse has changed and broadened their lives. Noah Webster lies alongside the Family Bible with the photographic album, wherein are absent friends and the latest arrival by the limited express' s"-limited by the capacities of maternity. "Was there ever such a pretty baby?' The genus gawkey is no more and no longer one hears uncouth speech and expressions, such as: "I want ter kneow!" "Dew tell," "I

Stage-Coach Talk.-Nearing Painesville, our way over the height of land was through winding ravines with their running streams, and one spot was pointed out to me by a gentleman by my side, where was nestled in a nook a homestead that seemed as a sort of paradise. "I had rather live there," he said, "as those people live in these surroundings than on Euclid avenue." He was

of the law, a large man from Chardon; reminded me of Tom Corwin, whom I knew, and like him had a dark complexion and run to adipose and, as Corwin would have done, beguiled the way with amusing stories, and his budget was running over.

As we started out of the village, he said: "Some of us have been making a sort of social census of Chardon; the result is: three bachelors, four old maids (that is, counting girls over 35 as such), five widowers and seventy widows. Thought I, if that is a quiz, I admire your ingenuity. If a fact, it is astounding as an earthquake. My cour tesy led me to apparently take the shock, and 20 I put in Why does Chardon so run to widows? Was the town gotten up for them?"

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No," said he, "not exactly that; they all have children and come from the country around to educate them, the schools and morals of the people are so excellent, and it is such a healthy pretty spot, with such abundance of everything and living so cheap.

Dropping the widows, we launched on to other subjects; one was the false idea that young and inexperienced people have of men of high station and reputation. "I was, he said, "bred on a farm and knew nothing of the world. When a young man I journeyed to Columbus and called upon the Governor in his audience chamber in the State House. Ushered into his presence, I trembled as an aspen. He invited me to a seat.

and I was in the act of sitting down in a chair, when a leg slipped out of its socket. "Hold on," said he, "let me fix that. Then he stooped to his knees and slipped the chair leg in its place. In a twinkling my awe vanished. I saw the Governor of Ohio, kneeling before me, was as other men; so when he arose I was as calm as a May morning. The governor was R. B. Hayes.

The timid, sensitive boy is of all others to be admired, for he has the first requisition of genius and heroism-impressibility. The old Athenians, that lovable people, had it to a superlative degree; and how heroic and intellectual were they and how exquisite their art, their architecture and statuary. Those creations of their genius seen under the tender blue skies of that soft, delicious climate, amid the moving figures of the beautiful Athenians arrayed in their simple loose garments of white that swayed in graceful folds around their persons, must have completed a landscape that touched the rude Scythian brought into their presence with a sense akin to the celestial. The greatest, no matter how high their station, at times may be timid.

their long fast. At Detroit, he astonished the governor by making gunpowder, he hav

ing been shut up in a room with all the materials.

of the people of Kentucky, at that time: sheep were not yet introduced into the country. I slept four nights in the house of one West, with Roone: there were a number of strangers, and he was constantly occupied in answering questions. He had nothing remarkable in his personal appearance. His

son, Capt. N. Boone, now an old man, is serving in the 1st regiment United States Dragoons.

The narrative of

The party rendezvoused at the mouth of the Licking, and at the end of the second night got in sight of the town undiscovered. It was determined to await until daylight in the morning before they would make the attack; but by the imprudence of some of the men, whose curiosity exceeded their judgment, the party was discovered by the Indiaus before the officers and men had arrived at the several positions assigned to them. As soon as the alarm was given, a fire commenced on both sides, and was kept up, while the women and children were seen running from cabin to cabin, in the greatest confusion, and collecting in the most central and strongest. At clear day-light it was discovered that Bowman's men were from seventy to one hundred yards from the cabins, in which the Indians had collected, and which they appeared determined to defend. Having no other arms than tomahawks and rifles, it was thought imprudent to attempt to storm strong cabins, well defended by expert warriors. In consequence of the warriors collecting in a few cabins contiguous to each other, the remainder of the town was left unprotected, therefore, while a fire was kept up at the port-holes, which engaged the attention of those within, fire was set to thirty or forty cabins, which were consumed, and a considerable quantity of property, consisting of kettles and blankets, were taken from those cabins. In searching the woods near the town, 133 horses were collected.

About 10 o'clock Bowman and his party commenced their march homeward, after

having nine men killed. What loss the Indians sustained was never known, except Blackfish, their principal chief, who was wounded through the knee. After receiving the wound, Blackfish proposed to surrender, being confident that his wound was dangerous, and believing that there were among the white people surgeons that could cure him, but that none among his own people could do it.

The party had not marched more than eight or ten miles on their return home, before the Indians appeared in considerable force on their rear, and began to press hard upon that quarter. Bowman selected his ground, and formed his men in a square; but the Indians declined a close engagement, only keeping up a scattering fire. It was soon discovered that their object was to retard their march until they could procure reinforcements from the neighboring villages.

As soon as a strong position was taken by Col. Bowman, the Indians retired, and he resumed the line of march, when he was again attacked in the rear. He again formed for battle, and again the Indians retired, and the scene was acted over several times. At length, John Bulger, James Harrod and George Michael Bedinger, with about 100 more mounted on horseback, rushed on the Indian ranks and dispersed them in every direction; after which the Indians abandoned their pursuit. Bowman crossed the Ohio at the mouth of the Little Miami, and after crossing, the men dispersed to their several homes.

After Abdolonymus had been taken from his humble station in life, and made king of

Sidonea, it is said he kept a pair of wooden shoes near his throne, to remind him of his

former obscurity, and check the pride which power is so apt to engender in the heart of man. The annexed drawing is deemed worthy of preservation, not only as a memento of early times, and serving as a contrast to the present advanced state of improvement, but on account of the historical associations it raises in the memory of the first judicial proceedings and organization of Greene county.

The house. of which the engraving is a correct representation, is yet (1846) standing, five and a half miles west of Xenia, near the Dayton road. It was built by Gen. Benj. Whiteman, a short distance south of the log cabin mill of Owen Davis, on Beaver creek. This mill, the first erected in Greene, was finished in 1798. A short distance east were erected two block-houses, and it was intended, should danger render it necessary, to connect them by a line of pickets, and include the mill within the stockade. This mill was used by the settlers of "the Dutch Station," some thirty miles distant, in the centre of Miami county.

On the 10th of May, 1803, the first court for organizing Greene county was held in this house, then the residence of Peter Borders. Wm. Maxwell, Benj. Whiteman and James Barret were the associate judges, and John Paul, clerk. The first business of the court was to lay off the county into townships, and after transacting some other business, they adjourned until court in course,' having been in session one day.

The First Court for the trial of causes was held in the same house, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 1803, with the same associate judges, and Francis Dunlavy, presiding judge, and Daniel Simms, prosecuting attorney. And there came a grand jury, to wit: Wm. J. Stewart, foreman, John Wilson, Wm. Buckles, Abrm. Van Eaton, James Snodgrass, John Judy, Evan Morgan, Robt. Marshall, Alex. C. Armstrong, Joseph C. Vance, Joseph Wilson, John Buckhannon, Martin Mendenhall and Harry Martin, who were sworn a grand jury of inquest, for the body of Greene county.' After receiving the charge they

retired out of court; "a circumstance not to be wondered at, as there was but one room in the house. Their place of retirement, or jury room, was a little squat-shaped pole hut, shown on the right of the view.

And now, while their honors, with becoming gravity, are sitting behind a table ready for business, and the grand jury making solemn inquest of crimes committed, the contrast between the state of the county then and at present, naturally presents itself to the mind. Since then, forty-four years ago -a period within the recollection of many of our citizens-and what a change! Then it was almost an entire wilderness-a primeval forest, planted by the hand of nature. The first house in Greene county was built by Daniel Wilson, who is now living near Centerville, Montgomery county. It was raised on the 7th day of April, 1796, about four miles from where Bellbrook has long since been laid out, in Sugarcreek town

ship. In 1798 Thomas Tounsley settled near the falls of Massie's creek, some eight miles from Xenia. The same year James Galloway, Sr., settled on the Little Miami, two miles north of Oldtown. Isaiah and Wm. Garner Sutton erected the first house in Cæsar's Creek township, in 1799, about five miles south of Xenia, near where the Bullskin road crosses Cæsar's creek. Cæsarsville was laid out by T. Carneal, in 1800, and the first house in it was built the year following. It was expected to become the county-seat, but was finally rejected in favor of Xenia. Cæsarsville, at the time of this court, contained a few log-cabins, and so scattered about, miles apart, the traveller might find one of these primitive dwellings sending up its smoke from a mud and stick chimney among the giants of the forest, each cabin with a little patch of a corn-field, thickly dotted over with girdled trees. A bridlepath, or blazed trees, led the traveller from