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which a rule shall be entered, having the force and effect of a judgment. The
right to redeem lands sold for tax holds two years from date of sale, by payment
to the holder, the amount, expense of deed, with 6 per cent interest and 25
per cent on account of said judgment. When any warrant on the treasury is
presented and cannot be paid for want of funds, it shall be indorsed and bear 6
per cent interest from date of indorsement by Treasurer. If the Treasurer,
either directly or indirectly, purchases warrants of his county at any discount, he
shall, upon settlement, forfeit the whole amount due thereon.
Advance payments
may be made to local authorities, not exceeding two-thirds of the current collec-
tion of taxes of the corporation. In case of embezzlement, the incumbent shall
be removed and a new Treasurer appointed. The following have been the Treas-
urers of Darke County: John Devor, appointed June, 1817, 1818 and 1819;
Daniel Briggs, 1821; Linus Bascom, 1822 and 1824; John Beers, 1825; A.
Scribner, 1826 and 1827; Loring R. Brownell, elected October, 1831; Henry D.
Williams, 1835; James M. Dorsey, 1839; Daniel Irwin, 1839; James Devor,
appointed to fill vacancy caused by death of Irwin, May, 1844; Charles Hutchins,
1847; James Irwin, elected 1851 and 1853; William Schmidt, appointed 1854;
James McKhann, 1855 and 1857; George H. Martz, 1859 and 1861; Thomas P.
Turpen, 1862; Eli Helm, 1866; Peter V. Banta, 1870, two terms; W. R. Kerlin,
1874, and Amos Hahn, 1878.

The County Recorder keeps four sets of records, viz., deeds, mortgages, plats and leases. He shall furnish a fair and accurate copy of any record in his office, and certify the same to any person demanding and tendering the fees therefor. He shall make and keep up suitable indexes. Abraham Scribner was the first Recorder, appointed in 1817; Eastin Morris, 1822; Josiah D. Farrar, Thomas Rush, John Wharry; Elias Brumminager, elected 1844; John S. Shepherd, 1850; S. C. Eddington, 1856; Daniel Stevenson, 1859; A. F. Medford, 1865; Benjamin Beers, 1868; P. H. Maher, 1874, re-elected in 1878, and still in office. Besides these officers, there are the Infirmary Directors, three in number, who hold for three years; a Superintendent of the asylum and a County Surveyor.

For a few years from first settlement, comparatively little interest was taken in politics; people were too much absorbed in the struggle for bread. Later, the district was carried by the Whigs, uniformly, but by moderate majorities only, until after the new constitution came into force, in 1851. An increasing interest was felt in politics as years went by, and both national and local issues were discussed with much warmth, privately and publicly. During the Presidential campaign which resulted in making James Buchanan chief magistrate of the nation, the political pulse of the people rose to a pitch previously unknown in the history of Darke, while, during the whole period of the war, Greenville was one of the most deeply engaged and thoroughly aroused places in this part of Ohio. The local prints did not mince matters, but criminations and recriminations were frequent. The editorial pencils were held firmly, and moved by fervid energy. Italics, small caps and capitals wearied the printer; political writers and speakers dealt in denunciations, threats and charges; the Democrat office was pied, and pitched into the street. Later years aroused a more conservative spirit, and a courtesy prevails which speaks well for the intelligence and patriotism of the citizens. The county is fully recognized as Democratic, the strength of which party, compared with the Republican, is illustrated by the vote of 1876 for President: Samuel J. Tilden received 4,667 votes; Rutherford B. Hayes, 3,577; a total of 8,239. In 1877, the vote stood for Governor: William H. West, 2,612; Richard M. Bishop, 3,947. In 1878, for Secretary of State, Milton Barnes, 2,980; David R. Paige, 4,202. The following, respecting population, shows the progress of the county in this regard: In 1820, 3,717; in 1830, 6,204; in 1840, 13,282; in 1850, 20,276; in 1860, 26,009; in 1870, 32,278.

The following illustrates the growth between 1840 and 1850, by townships: Greenville, 1,851 to 3,417; Twin, 1,057 to 1,400; Richland, 589 to 793; Harrison,

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1,866 to 1,705; Washington, 898 to 1,250; Van Buren, 421 to 770; German, 1,173 to 1,601; Wayne, 727 to 1,162; Brown, 293 to 684; Butler, 1,116 to 1,446; Monroe, 171 to 913; Jackson, 304 to 566; Adams, 698 to 1,416; Neave, 635 to 883; York, 371 to 497; Franklin, 291 to 451; Mississinewa, 124 to 318; Patterson, attached to Wayne, 319; Allen, 194 to 290; Wabash, attached to York in 1840, in 1850 gave 309. Gibson, with 276, was attached to Mercer County when Auglaize was erected. About one-half of Allen and parts of Patterson and Wabash were given to Mercer at the same time. Add the population of Patterson to Wayne, of which it was formed, and 1,481 shows the population to have doubled. The same is true of York when Wabash is added. All townships but Harrison showed heavy increase compare with 1840. We conclude this chapter by the following from the pen of Hon. James Hanaway, of Kansas, formerly a resident of Butler Township, this county:

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN DARKE COUNTY.

"When African slavery existed as an institution in the Southern States, there was an organization in most of the free States known as 'the underground railroad.' Although the term was very generally used to designate a society which gave aid and assistance to such fugitives as had escaped from their servitude, and were in search of liberty, yet there were but few persons in any community who had any practical knowledge of the workings of this mysterious and humane society. The cabalistic letters 'U. G. R. R.' were generally used when referring to the association. It was first bestowed by slave-owners. Fugitive slaves on their way to the free States were not unfrequently close upon capture when they suddenly disappeared. Once, pursuit was so close that success seemed sure, when trace was lost, and one of the slave-hunters, on his return, gave it as his opinion that the Abolitionists had an 'underground railroad' on which the fugitives were spirited away. From this originated the term, which the Abolitionists adopted as the name of their organization.

"Although there was not a regularly established line of the underground railroad in Darke County, there were persons in different localities who were always ready to render assistance when called on. Fugitives were often taken across the county to another line of road which was in active operation; for example, from Miami or Montgomery County to Newport, Ind. This was necessary, sometimes, to throw the hunters off the track, and was always effective.

"The question was often, and is even now, asked, 'How did the slave know whom to apply to in a strange country for assistance?' In all towns and cities there are always found a large number of free blacks; some of them have bought their freedom; some are fugitives from far-off, distant States, and feel safe in their new homes. This class of persons are shrewd observers of things, and they readily detect a stranger. In this way, thousands became aware of the existence of the underground railroad, and entrusted themselves to its care. Many slaves, before they started on their hazardous undertaking, possessed knowledge sufficient to work their way to a free State. While up in the Red River country, in Louisi ana, many years ago, an old house-servant came to me just as I was starting homeward, and in a low voice said: Massa, I heard you tell ole Massa that you lived near Cincinnati, Ohio. I have often prayed to my Maker to take me to that blessed place before I die.' This language was strange and unexpected, but I soon found out how he, as well as others like him in the land of bondage, had learned some little about the free States. Slaveholders, in their social meetings, would become quite indignant against the people of the free States, branding them as 'nigger-thieves,' etc., because they sometimes aided a fugitive to find a refuge in Canada. Cincinnati was always spoken of as the headquarters of Abolitionists. These conversations were no uncommon occurrence among slave-owners, and the ignorant bondmen, while listening, would naturally reason: Cincinnati

must be filled with good people who are friends to the colored folks, because Massa and the white folks are always cussing it and calling it a den of thieves, who help niggers run away to the British country, where they are forever free.'

"The underground railroad was bold and open in its operations until the passage of the 'fugitive-slave law' of 1850, when it became necessary to adopt a more cautious and less hazardous plan of operations. Instead of men of means placing themselves in front as depot-agents and conductors, as heretofore, they transferred these duties to trusty poor men, off whom the law could not collect the heavy penalties of transgression, and the funds were provided by men of wealth.

"The fugitive-slave law of 1850 was a firebrand cast at freedom by that Senatorial traitor, Mason, of Virginia; but it proved to be a valuable auxiliary to the cause of freedom. My old friend, Dr. Otwell, now living in Greenville, said to me upon the receipt of the news of the passage of the law: It will arouse the North, agitation will follow, and it will result in good.'

"Some time since I cut the following paragraph from a newspaper. It is introduced here, because the fugitives mentioned were taken through Darke County, and because it will give the uninitiated a peep behind the curtain :

"Judge Sharkey, at present a petitioner before the Supreme Court, is charged with being the author of an infamous decision, consigning a widow and her children into slavery. The former had been the wife of a Mississippi planter, who had legalized his marriage with her in a Northern State. The children had been educated in Ohio. Returning South, they were seized by relatives of the deceased planter, and on application to Sharkey were doomed to slavery.'

"It is true, the relatives attempted to seize the mother and five children under the decision of Judge Sharkey, but before the officers could secure their human chattels, they made their escape to Cincinnati, and were landed safely in Canada through the agency of the underground railroad.

"Prior to their last visit to Mississippi, they had consulted an eminent lawyer of antislavery proclivities, Salmon P. Chase, of Cincinnati, and he advised them not to risk anything in a Mississippi court. They therefore left what in common law was their property by the decease of the husband and father, and escaped to Cincinnati by steamboat. Although the children had been educated in Ohio, and papers confirming the marriage were on record, it was deemed unsafe to risk the decisions of the courts, so they were assisted on their way north, by those who sympathized with them. In a few days, they arrived in the city of Dayton, and were taken in charge by a well-known agent of the road.

"The same evening, the slave hunters arrived, for they learned the colored family had taken passage on a canal-boat. Fortunately, by the blustering manner of the slave-hunters, the antislavery people of Cincinnati became apprised of their errand, and a courier was at once despatched to Dayton, arriving but a short time in advance of the pursuers, and measures were at once adopted for the protection of the fugitives. They were stowed away in a dark cellar, and at 12 o'clock at night, they were conveyed out of the city in a close carriage, and taken across the country toward Newport, Ind. The person having this valuable freight in charge was ordered to go by way of Ithaca, Castine and New Madison. At Ithaca he took the road leading to Fort Jefferson, which took him several miles out of the way. They reached New Madison about breakfast-time. Dr. Rufus Kilpatrick took charge of them and conveyed them westward to Anderson Spencer. On the following morning, they were forwarded to Newport, Ind., and thus escaped the clutches of those who would make merchandise of their own flesh and blood.

"A few days after these occurrences, the Circuit Court met in Greenville. Judge Holt, Judge Crane, and several lawyers from Dayton, had witnessed the furor which had taken place at the hotel in Dayton, when the slave-hunters found their victims had escaped. They raved and swore, and denounced the people of the North as a pack of negro-thieves. This outburst produced quite a sensation, even

in the proslavery element of the community. The Judges and lawyers were especially severe in their condemnation of such sentiments.

"A fugitive by the name of Wash McQuerry, who resided for a time in the western part of Darke County, took up his residence near Troy, Miami County, believing he would be safe from the pursuit of his old master, one Henry Miller, near Louisville, Ky. It appears that a man named John Russell, living near Piqua, learned that Wash was a fugitive, and ascertaining the name and address of his owner, basely, or, perhaps actuated by a desire for gain, wrote a letter to Henry Miller, informing him where his chattel could be found.

"A posse of slave-hunters visited Miami County, and Wash was arrested while working on a canal-boat. There were other fugitives supposed to be in Miami and Darke Counties. The hunters visited Greenville, and after consultation with a certain law firm, they went in the night to the colored settlement and searched several cabins. I received information from Greenville that the slave-hunters were hunting lost property in the neighborhood. I immediately started with a friend, in a buggy, for the colored settlement, arriving about dark. I found the whole settlement in arms. Every cross-road was guarded by armed men. Being somewhat acquainted, I was allowed to pass without molestation. That night I tarried in the academy, but the news I was so anxious to convey was there ahead of me.

"Wash, the fugitive, was taken to Cincinnati, and, after an able defense by Messrs. Birney & Joliffe, was ordered to be delivered to the claimant. This was the first case under the law of 1850. It was tried before Judge McLean.

"One of the most interesting events during my connection with the underground railroad, was the following:

"Twenty-eight slaves escaped one night from Boone County, Ky. They were delayed in crossing the river, and it was nearly daylight before they arrived in the suburbs of Cincinnati. Carriages were obtained from a certain German in the city to convey them into the country, as it was deemed unsafe for the fugitives to remain in the quarters where they were secreted. After food and suitable clothing had been furnished them, at the suggestion of the late Levi Coffin, they formed procession as if going to a funeral, and moved solemnly along the road to Cumminsville. The route decided on by the agents of the road, was via College Hill, Hamilton, West Elkton, Eaton, Paris, to Newport, Ind. The same night on which these twenty-eight fugitives arrived at Newport, three slave-hunters from Boone County, Ky., stopped over night in the village of Castine. Newport is sixteen miles west of Castine. But from the fact that the fugitives took the longest route from Paris, by mistake, they must have been overtaken. My suspicions had been aroused that these strangers might be in search of lost property. As they were about leaving the village, one of the party recognized an old friend and classmate, in one of the bystanders. They had been classmates in the Ohio Medical College some years before. To this friend he confided his business, but gained no infor mation from him. After their departure, my friend,* who was a leading Democrat, informed me all about the business of the three strangers-where they were going, etc. They had tracked the fugitives to Eaton, where they lost the trail. From Eaton the hunters came to Castine.

"A few minutes after I received this information from the Doctor, I was on the road to Newport. The hunters arrived ahead of me, had already put up their horses when I arrived, and were walking the streets, asking the price of furniture, garden-seeds, etc., and taking a general inspection of things.

"When I made my mission known to the agents of the road, it created a sensation. One of them said that only ten minutes before, he had seen some of the children of the fugitives at play in a yard near the main street of the village, and might be seen by any one passing along.

"About 1 o'clock P. M., the hunters left Newport, but the friends of the fugi tives were fearful that they had gone north to Winchester, for assistance. Before

Dr. John E. Matchett, now of Greenville.

evening, however, we found that they had made no discovery. That night the fugitives were taken to Cabin Creek, Randolph Co., Ind., and, after a few weeks, were forwarded to Canada.

"Nine thousand dollars reward was offered for these fugitives; $1,000 to any one who would put the owners on the trail. One of these male fugitives had been purchased eight months before for $1,200. Another was a Baptist preacher, a smart fellow, though he did not believe the New Testament a slave code.

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"The rising generation can have but a faint conception of the state of public opinion thirty to forty years ago. The influence which the slave power exercised throughout the United States, was almost irresistible; it controlled every department of government. The leading churches pandered to its power-the Bible became a slave code. Free speech was crushed out, under the plea of protecting public liberty."

ROADS TURNPIKES AND RAILROADS.

The construction of roads and water ways are characteristic of ancient and powerful nations advanced in civilization, and knit together in all their interests by bonds of profitable commerce Rome made her roads for the expeditious marches of her legions, but America has made hers for the facility of peaceful intercourse, in the interests of commerce, trade and agriculture. It was a discouraging aspect shown by Darke in the earlier day, when trails, traces and tracks were numerous and roads none, and it was true as at the time said, "There is not one beyond the mountains and but few this side, that is acquainted with the hardships of the pioneers. Twenty or thirty years must elapse before they can have a comfortable road to get to mill or to the court house. How many thousands would rejoice if they had the privilege of working out upon the highways a per cent of the proceeds of the common domain, rather than to pay cash for which they receive no benefit whatever." The privilege was in time accorded of working out tax, but it is questionable whether taxes paid and expended under a competent roadmaster would not be a better procedure. At the first settlement of Darke, and for many years after, all State roads were laid out and established by the Legislature by special act. The first State road laid out in the county was the highway from Troy to Greenville. This was the road traveled by the settlers coming into the county in 1811, although the locating may not have been regularly done farther than the boundary line west of Miami County. It crossed Greenville Creek, where the road now crosses near Gettysburg, and this intersected Wayne's old trace from Fort Recovery to Greenville. It came up on the north side of the creek and crossed again north of the Turner Mill, at what was called the Boomershire fording. It had, however, been altered during the period of the war of 1812; at that time it crossed the creek at the lower end of Main street, Greenville, about where the Beamsville road now crosses. A short time before 1817, a survey had been made, and a road located from Piqua to Greenville, but the road had not at that time been opened. This intersected the Troy road near the present site of Gettysburg. When there was no established road opened between Piqua and Greenville, settlers made their own road till they struck the Troy road at the Studabaker block-house. At that time there were but two or three families living between Piqua and the point just named. The following named roads had been laid out just after the organization of the county, and their original and present routes do not materially differ: the Milton, Shanesville, Fort Recovery and Fort Jefferson. The roads that were first laid out under the order of the County Commissioners were generally located to suit the people of the different neighborhoods through which they passed; they circled about ponds and marshes, angled and curved their way the nearest and best track from one house to another. As a result, most roads located by first settlers have been changed or entirely vacated. The location of roads was not always according to the unanimous wishes of the settlers, and as an

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