snows of winter and the rains of spring, leaving little moisture to affect the climate by evaporation. The effect of this denuding and draining of the soil is seen in the great depth to which the summer's sun-rays penetrate, and as these rays are given off, the arrival of winter is proportionally delayed. But when the reserve of heat is exhausted the unprotected earth is deeply frozen, and from these conditions come later springs, warmer summers and delayed but more severe winters. An analysis of the climate of Darke county, according to the previous description, requires a consideration, also, of the situation of its land, and the direction and character of its winds. Located about midway between the Allegheny mountains and the Mississippi river there is observable a prevalence of westerly winds. This is explained by the enormous area of level lowlands whereon the atmosphere is influenced by the earth's rotary motion, causing it to move in westerly currents toward or from the equator. The west and northwest winds are mainly dry-air currents, so that although the annual rainfall is considerable, yet under their action the moisture is rapidly absorbed. Such conditions would inure to the productiveness of most soils, but in a good, rich soil, such as Darke county occupies, there is almost a certainty of ample and abundant crops. The averages in the various seasons are, approximately, 31° for winter, 57° for spring, 74° for summer, 52° for autumn. The winter is long, and there are sudden changes from the mildness of spring to the most intense cold. These cold spells are rarely of more than seven or eight days' duration, and are generally preceded by storms of rain or snow. Rain falls almost nightly and for a day or so at a time during spring, and the temperature fluctuates from the chill of winter to the warmth of summer. Following one of these changes summer comes and throughout is one of a tropical character. As fall draws near, the atmospheric conditions approach uniformity, and at this period Darke county is seen to the greatest advantage. Breathing an agreeable atmosphere, surrounded by healthful conditions, the beholder looks with pleasure upon the fields, the orchards and the gardens. Turning to the woodlands, he sees the maples, elms and oaks in holiday attire, preparing for their period of rest. There is every hue and all shades of color. The winds toy with the branches; the sunlight is all about them; some are darkened as in shadow, others are brilliant in the glow of light, and all about there are seen bluish, smoke-like mists, completing nature's finest portraiture of the forest in the fall-time arrayed in splendor. The health of the settler and of the later residents has been subjected to the mutations affecting the climate. In the low swamps miasma prevailed; the action of the sun upon the decaying vegetation opened by the clearing and stirred by the plow, induced fevers and chills, and there were few that did not, at times, succumb to these disorders. The healthy and hardy entered into the struggle with nature courageously and joyously. Labor had its zest, and food and sleep were most refreshing, but there were many who struggled on under the depression and hindrances of sickness. As settlers came in and clearing took greater sweep, sickness became more general, or at least more apparent, and when Drs. Perrine and Briggs came to Greenville, they found constant employment in attending to the calls of the sick. Fever and ague prevailed, and few, if any, families but had some sick members. Not then, as now, was quinine available-not even known-and the popular remedies were dog-wood and wildcherry bark steeped in native whiskey. Slow progress was made for a time, as men became disheartened, left the county and circulated reports that were not only true, but sadly true, of an irreclaimable wilderness of morass and swamp, the haunt of pestiferous agues and consuming fevers. It is a fact that very few of the pioneers of Darke held on through all vicissitudes. From 1820 to 1840 the doctors were all kept busy attending to the sick, so prevalent were ague, flux and bilious fever at certain seasons of the year. The years 1836 and 1837 were comparatively healthy; the year following was more sickly, and 1839 still more so, and from that time till 1850 there were more or less of bilious complaints every season. Since that date both towns and country have been generally healthy. As an illustration of the desperation to which the medical treatment subjected patients, we relate an incident in the practice of Dr. Gard, one of the veteran physicians of the early days. He was called in, as family physician, to minister to the wants of a sick child. Cold water was forbidden, and calomel, as was usual, was administered. The doctor then retired, with promise of a return the next day. Cold water was barred; the boy begged for a drink, but entreated in vain, as the doctor's orders were immutable law. He then resorted to strategy. Feigning a desire for rest and repose, the family retired to permit their indulgence. Soon heavy breathing announced that all were asleep, and the patient arose from bed, staggered to the water-bucket, and, to his dismay, found it empty. This discovery would have been hailed with imprecations that would have roused all in the house had not the necessity of the case demanded control. Water must be had, although the spring was at quite a distance. The coffee-pot was found, and the patient set out to assuage his consuming thirst. He rested several times in the wet grass, but finally arrived at the spring, drank heartily, and, undiscovered, returned to his bed, having placed the well-filled coffee-pot at his bedside. This was two-thirds emptied before this suicidal act was known, when the doctor was hurriedly summoned and stood with astonished and ominous look, awaiting Dr. serious results that did not happen. In a Rich as the land was, it could not produce money, and this must be had to meet payments and taxes. Clearing, aside from small patches, had no stimulus. Of what avail were bins of corn and wheat, and droves of swine, without a purchaser or market, and of markets there were none. Having sufficient bread and meat, all were satisfied, and they shared freely with each other and with strangers. Wheat was worth about two shillings per bushel, and corn changed hands at about one-half that price. The current prices fluctuated with the supply; and it was a gratification when a newspaper for the first time made its appearance and obtained general circulation in the county. It was published at Eaton, Preble county, and subscription was paid in corn at fifteen cents per bushel. Pork was sold, when it could be sold, at two and three cents a pound; beef brought about the same price; maple sugar was held at six and eight cents per pound, and maple syrup at about two shillings a gallon. Wages ranged from two to three shillings a day, and this was regarded as an average of compensation. Had some wealthy man bought large tracts and taken steps to develop the capacity of the land, there were many who would have gladly offered their services; but improvement in wages, prices and health were yet far in the future, and this border life between the civilized and the savage had few attractions such as society affords. During the war of the Rebellion Darke county contributed her full share to the ranks of the Union army. The Fortieth Ohio infantry, largely composed of Darke county men, was organized in the fall of 1861. After varied service, in March, 1863, it joined the army of Kentucky at Franklin, Tenn., where, a few weeks later, an attack was made by a strong force of the enemy upon the place, but they were repulsed by the excellent fighting of some companies of the Fortieth out on picket line. The story of this fight, with the spicy conversation between Van Dorn and Serg. Orin of the Fortieth, who had been taken prisoner, we copy from the "County History:" On the 10th of April, 1863, the regiment was placed on picket duty in front of the town, with Capt. Charles G. Matchett in command. At that time the rebel forces, under Gen. Van Dorn, were stationed at Spring Hill, Tenn., nine miles south of Franklin. Soon after 12 o'clock M. the rebels commenced an attack upon seven companies of the Fortieth, which had been stationed on and between the Columbia pike and the Big Harpeth river (a distance of about five hundred yards), but were handsomely repulsed. The attack was renewed with reinforcements, and again repulsed. By this time the enemy were preparing to charge in force, and the situation of the Fortieth was precarious. Behind them, for the distance of more than half a mile, lay an open field without an obstacle or a shelter on it; but, momentarily expecting reinforcements, they held their ground, and repulsed charge after charge, for two hours. Van Dorn then formed his entire force for a charge, and the Fortieth fell back in good order to the town, where, taking advantage of hedges, fences, houses, etc., they repulsed the enemy and drove them out of town, and, at 4 o'clock P. M., resumed their former position on picket duty. The Fortieth's loss was three killed, four wounded, and ten missing, and all afterward were exchanged and rejoined the command. The enemy's entire loss is not known. Two captains and fifteen men killed, one major and twelve men wounded, and thirteen prisoners fell into the hands of the Fortieth. The enemy's entire force was cavalry and two batteries of artillery. Over one hundred horses, equipped, escaped within the Union lines and were captured by other commands. The prisoners, when exchanged, reported Van Dorn's entire loss in killed and wounded to be one hundred and fifty men and one hundred and twenty horses. An incident connected with this fight is worth relating: Among the prisoners captured from the Fortieth that day was Jesse N. Orin, a sergeant of Company B, afterward a distinguished representative for many years in the Ohio Legislature from Clinton county. The prisoners were taken before Van Dorn, and questioned by him. Sergt. Orin answered in behalf of the captives. "What commands do you belong to, boys?" said the rebel chieftain. Fortieth Ohio, sir," answered Orin. You don't all belong to the same regiment, do you?" Yes, sir. "What officer was that in command of the forces you had in to-day's fight?" "Capt. Matchett, of the Fortieth, sir." "Have you got down so low that captains must command your brigades?" "Brigades? There was no other regiment fought against you to-day but the Fortieth, and only seven companies of that; for one company was in the town as provost-guard, and two companies were on the west of the town, and neither of them were engaged." "Then why in the name of thunder did not your captain quietly surrender when my brigade of cavalry attacked them?" "I presume, sir, the captain's orders were to defend the picket line as long as he could, and not to surrender.' 66 "But, why were you not reinforced?" "I do not know, sir; just before we began to fall back the captain rode along our lines and told each company that it was evident that we were not to be reinforced, and we could not successfully retreat over that cottonfield, unless each company implicitly obeyed his commands. We all understood this; and he concentrated and retired us in the manner you saw. How did you boys come to be captured?" "When our regiment had retreated about half the distance between the picket-line and the town, a column of your cavalry threatened to pass by our left, and get between us and the town, and ‘gobble us all up," and Capt. Matchett ordered me and another sergeant, with about twenty men, to a position about three hundred yards to the left and rear of our regiment, in order to oppose that threatened movement, with orders to hold that position at all hazards, until the regiment had retired beyond the cotton-gin, and then make our way back to town as best we could. We stayed there as ordered, but when your forces in front of the regiment were repulsed, they swept around to our position and took us all in, except a few who started to run the gauntlet back to town." At this a fine-looking officer, who was present, broke out into a loud laugh, and said: "Gen. Van Dorn, the joke is on you; you promised to show us how neatly you could take in the Yankees at Franklin, and it seems that you have been very cleverly repulsed by seven companies of infantry, commanded by a captain, with his left protected by a sergeant's squad." At this Sergt. Orin said: "General, I would like to be permitted to say one word in your defence; that is there is not a private in the Fortieth Ohio who would not make a good colonel, and not a non-commissioned officer who would not make a good brigadier, and as to the captain who commanded us to-day, he could handle an army equal to Bonaparte.' "Thank you," said Van Dorn; and then, turning to the officer referred to above, he said: How could you expect me, with my division of cavalry, to overcome a Bonaparte, his field-marshals, his sixty generals and five hundred colonels?" Gen. Van Dorn then asked Sergt. Orin: "How many men have you at Franklin?" "I do not know, sir, and if I did I should decline to answer your question." "What is the nature and extent of your fortifications there?" "General, possibly you had better obtain that information by another reconnoissance." "Well, Sergeant," said the General, "you'll do. When you rejoin the regiment, give my compliments to your brave comrades and the captain, and say to him that I hope he may never be promoted.` Captain," said he, addressing an officer, see that these men are treated with that courtesy and respect due brave men. The men were then taken back, and remained prisoners only about three weeks, when they were exchanged. Their prison life was made far more agreeable to them than they expected. In 1878 a major of the Confederate army stopped for a few days at Greenville, Ohio, and called on Capt. Matchett, and said that he had belonged to the staff of the InspectorGeneral of the Confederate army; that they had come west to look after Bragg's army, and went to Spring Hill Run about the 8th of April, 1863, and found Gen. Van Dorn a very genial and social fellow, who induced the Inspector-General to go with him that day (April 10th), and see how nicely he would take in the Yankees at Franklin. The major said that all the officers agreed that they had never seen "such a fighting regiment" as the Fortieth was; and that he was free to say that he never met with such coolness and determined bravery since. He detailed the conversation between Gen. Van Dorn and the captured sergeant, substantially as given above, which, in the mind of the writer, confirmed the statements made by Sergt. Orin and his captured comrades, on their return from captivity. GETTYSBURG is on the C. St. L. & P. R. R., 87 miles west of Columbus. It is the shipping point for a very productive surrounding wheat country. Newspapers: School Visitor, educational, John S. Royer, editor and publisher. Churches: 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist Episcopal, and 1 German Lutheran. It is somewhat of an educational centre. Population in 1880, 202. ARCANUM, about 80 miles west of Columbus, at the intersection of the D. & U. and I. B. & W. Railroads, is surrounded by a fine farming district, and is a point of shipment for a large part of the tobacco crop of the county, of which the crop is generally immense. Newspaper: Tribune, Democrat, S. M. Kemble, editor. Churches: 1 Methodist, 1 United Baptist, 1 German Reformed. It has two good natural gas wells and more are being put down. Milling, wood work and tile making are the main industries. Population in 1880, 778. School census in 1886, 335. VERSAILLES is on the C. C. C. & T. R. R. It has one newspaper, Policy, Independent. Central Bank, J. R. Jackson, president; J. W. Starbuck, cashier. Census in 1880, 1,163. School census in 1886, 433; W. W. Long, superintendent. This village was laid out in 1819 by Silas Atchison under the name of Jacksonville. The Hardshell Baptists, says the county historian, built here in 1823 the second church erected in the county. As their rules required every applicant for membership to give in a brief experience as a test of his fitness for admission, he relates this as an illustration. A person living up the creek by the name of Stoner it appears, notwithstanding his hard name, was a little soft. Nevertheless, he wanted to join the church. He rose in the congregation and thus began: "I got up this mornin', greased my shoes, combed my head and started to meetin'. As I was a comin' along I saw a tree; I says to myself, Kin one man pull that ar tree up? No! Kin two men pull that ar tree up? No! Kin three men pull that ar tree up? No! Kin ten men pull that ar tree up? No! Kin twenty men pull that ar tree up? No! Kin God Almighty pull that tree up? Yes! I feel like suthin' is going to happen." He sat down. The preacher rose and said: 'Brethren, extend the right hand of fellowship to Brother Stoner, for this is the true blatin' of the lamb." ANSONIA, about 90 miles west of Columbus, on Stillwater creek, and at intersection of the C. C. C. & I. and C. V. W. & M. Railroads, is in the centre of a grain-raising district. Newspaper: Mirror, Independent, Frank H. Jobes, editor and publisher. Churches: 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Christian, 1 German Lutheran. The Ansonia Stave Co., employing 18 hands, is the largest industry. Population in 1880, 542. UNION CITY is on three railways and in two States, Indiana and Ohio; two counties, Randolph, Ind., and Darke, Ohio, and has two village corporations with corresponding sets of officials. In 1880 the population of the Indiana side was 2,478, Ohio side, 1,127; total, 3,605. Union City was platted in 1852, and the place has grown up in consequence of railroads. The industries here are woodenware, staves, tubs, pails, clamps, broom handles, trunk slats, shingles, heading, hubs, spokes, chairs, also drain tile, etc. It is also a prominent point for the manufacture of flour and the purchase and shipment of grain. DEFIANCE. DEFIANCE COUNTY was erected March 4, 1845, from Williams, Henry and Paulding, and named from Fort Defiance. It is watered by the Auglaize, the Tiffin and the Maumee; this last-named stream was anciently called "Miami of the Lake," and sometimes "Omee." The Maumee is navigable by steamers, in high water, to Fort Wayne, and in ordinary stages to that place for keel boats carrying sixty tons. The Auglaize is navigable for keel boats to Wapakoneta, and the Tiffin, which is a narrow, deep stream, is navigable, for pirogues of a few tons, about fifty miles. Prior to the building of the Wabash canal, Northern Indiana received a large part of its supplies by the Maumee. Much of this county is within the Black Swamp region, and where cleared and drained as fertile perhaps as the famed valley of the Nile. It was covered by abundant forests of oak, hickory, ash, and elm and other trees, mostly of gigantic size, rendering the clearing away a heavy labor. Area 420 squares miles. In 1885 the acres cultivated were 113,070; pasture, 12,019; woodland, 65,823; lying waste, 906; produced in wheat, 342,352 bushels; oats, 242,330; corn, 650,887; wool, 66,570 pounds. School census 1886, 8,028; teachers, 148. It has 49 miles of railroad. Population of the county in 1840 was 2,818; in 1850, 6,966; in 1860, 11,983; in 1870, 15,719; and in 1880, 22,515, of whom 16,711 were Ohio-born; 1,780 born in Germany; 867 Pennsylvania; and 553 New York. The annexed plan and description of Fort Defiance is found in the memoranda of Benj. Van Cleve, communicated by his son, John W. Van Cleve, of Dayton, to the American Pioneer. At each angle of the fort was a block-house. The one next the Maumee is marked A, having port-holes, B, on the three exterior sides, and door D and chimney C on the side facing to the interior. There was a line of pickets on each side of the fort, connecting the block-houses by their nearest angles. Outside of the pickets and around the block-houses was a glacis, a wall of earth eight feet thick, sloping upwards and outwards from the feet of the pickets, supported by a log wall on the side of the ditch and by fascines, a wall of fagots, on the side next the Auglaize. The ditch, fifteen feet wide and eight feet deep, surrounded the whole work except on the side toward the Auglaize; the diagonal pickets, eleven feet long and one foot apart, were secured to the log wall and projected over the ditch. E and E were gateways. F was a bank of earth, four feet wide, left for a passage across the ditch. G was a falling gate or drawbridge, which was raised and lowered by pullies, across the ditch, covering it or leaving it uncovered at pleasure. The officers' quarters were at H, and the storehouses at I. At K, two lines of pickets converged toward L, which was a ditch eight feet deep, by which water was procured from the river without exposing the carrier to the enemy. M was a small sand-bar at the point. FORT DEFIANCE. The lands now embraced within Defiance county were ceded by the Indians to the United States by the treaty of Sept. 29, 1817, at the rapids of the Miami of Lake Erie. Surveys were made from the Indiana line east to the line of the Western Reserve and south to the Greenville treaty line. The base line of this survey is the 41st degree of north latitude and it is also the south line of the Connecticut Western Reserve. On the 12th of February, 1820, the legislature of Ohio passed an act erecting these ceded lands "into fourteen separate and distinct counties." Among these was Williams county. When Williams was organized in 1824 Henry, Paulding and Putnam counties were attached to it for judicial purposes, with the town of Defiance as the county-seat of Williams county, and it so remained for many years, when Bryan, then covered with a dense forest, was selected as the site of the new county-seat of Williams. Dissatisfaction with this change led to the creation of Defiance county, with Defiance as the seat of justice. The nucleus of the early settlement of these counties was at Defiance, and it was chiefly settled in what now constitutes Defiance county by those who were active in the early official life of Williams county. |