EARLY PATRIOTISM.

     The people of Athens County, in common with the rest of the civilized world, believe that military organization, defense and action are sometimes necessary to patriotism.  Some of the early settlers of the county and the ancestors of many more were patriot soldiers during the Revolution, and from them a zeal for the supremacy of the stars and stripes has been inherited, which is so far from cooling with the lapse of time that it seems to grow more fervent in each generation.  The first time an appeal was made to the loyalty of Athens County was during the

WAR OF 1812.

     A company of volunteers was promptly raised in September, 1812, which was enrolled in the regiment of Colonel Robert Stafford and the brigade of General Ed. Tupper, and which served till March following.  It marched northward to Sandusky and Perrysburg, after Hull's surrender, but was not engaged in any actual combat.  Jehiel Gregory of Athens, was at first Captain of the company; Nehemiah Gregory of Athens, was Lieutenant; James Crippen, of Rome Township, was Ensign; and Leonard Jewett, of Athens, was Surgeon of the company.  After reaching camp,

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Captain Gregory was promoted to Major, Lieutenant Gregory became Captain, and William McKinstry, of Alexander Township, became Lieutenant.  Among the privates were Thaddeus Crippin of Rome; William Stewart of Rome; Andrew Stewart, of Rome; James Starr of Rome, and Roswell Poole of Ames.  These volunteers received $8 per month and subsistence for their services.  About 1869 the two or three survivors of this band were gladdened by the act of Congress which pensioned all living soldiers of the War of 1812.  The last of that company has now gone to "that bourne whence no traveler returns" and their deeds live only in history.

THE MEXICAN WAR.

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WAR OF THE REBELLION.

     It was the terrible four years' war of 1861-'65, that the people of Athens County most fully demonstrated their thorough loyalty to the best Government on earth.  According to the United States census of 1860, the number of male inhabitants of the county in that year, between the ages of fifteen and fifty, both inclusive, was 5,089.  The county furnished to the Government during the war, in all, 2,610 soldiers, or more than fifty per cent. of her men able to bear arms.  In other words, of the able-bodied men in the county every other one left his business and his family to aid in suppressing the Rebellion.  This is a record of which the county may well be proud - a record which no county in the State of Ohio, and few in all the Northern States, can surpass.  The number above given does not include 1,967 men who volunteered and served in repelling the Morgan raid, in 1863, nor 160 "squirrel-hunters," who hurried to the defense of Cincinnati in 1862.
     The train of national events which led to the war are too well known to need even a summary of them here.  The county was a strong Whig, and, after the death of that party, its Republican, or "abolition," tendencies were equally strong.  Athens was a prominent station on the "underground railway," and many good stories might be told of adventures on that mysterious service.
     At the presidential election of 1860, Lincoln, Douglas, Breckenridge and Bell were candidates for the presidency, and the triumphant election of Lincoln was the result.  Athens County gave him a majority of 1,200.  The South had threatened succession in the event of Lincoln's election, and it now proceeded to execute this treat by the various States, passing ordinances of secession, and organizing themselves into the Southern Confederacy.  After a number of weeks of  negotiation, or attempted negotiation, General Beauregard attacked Fort Sumter, at Charleston, S. C., in obedience to instructions from L. B. Walker, Secretary of War of the Confederate Government at Montgomery, Ala.  The startling news of the firing on Fort Sumter produced but one general feeling - that of indignation at the action of the South, and a patriotic determination to support the United States Government in the prompt suppression of the Rebellion.  Words can not describe the enthusiasm with which men of all parties in Athens County declared themselves for the Union, the Constitution, and the enforcement of the laws.  The spirit of the people was eloquently

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reflected by the press, which called upon all loyal citizens to stand by their Government, and remember their duties as members of the Republic.  We ive one or two extract from the ringing editorial which appeared in the Messenger of April 18, 1861:  "The American flag has been violated, American soldiers have been shot down, and a brave commander of a Government fort has been forced to strike his flag and capitulate.  Man of Athens County, this news comes home to you.  A call will soon be made on Ohio to contribute her portion of men and money to aid the Federal Government in asserting its authority and preserving the honor and dignity of the nation.  Will you falter in the hour of your country's peril?  Will you stand by and all into question the causes which have produced this state of things?  In so the name and memory of Benedict Arnold will be enviable compared with that which future generations will justly apply to you.  This is no time for party jealousy or partisan bickering.  America expects every man to do his duty.  Democrats!  and no-party men!  We call on you to merge the partisan in the patriot, the demagogue into the hero, and rally as the exigencies of the times may indicate, to the support of your country's flag.  Let every man be a true American citizen, feeling the responsibilities and patriotism of an American citizen, and those base destroyers of the peace and prosperity of the Union will soon be made to hide their accursed heads in shame before all nations."
     Meetings were held by citizens throughout the country, at which patriotic speeches were made, and at which the most zealous determinations to fight for the Union was manifested.  A meeting was held at Athens on the 17th, but five days after the firing on Fort Sumter.  The stars and strips were raised over the courthouse, amid the wildest enthusiasm.  Republicans and Democrats, with one accord, cheered every Union expression.  The townships were urged to hasten the enlistment of volunteers in response to the all of President Lincoln for 75,000 volunteers.  April 20 a large and enthusiastic meeting of citizens was held at Chauncey, Dover Township.  A pole was raised, and the stars and stripes ran up, amid deafening shouts.  The greatest enthusiasm prevailed.  A large number volunteered, and steps were also taken to organize a home guard.
     At Athens, on the same date, a patriotic meeting was held on the college green.  In the center of the concourse were the Ohio State

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GOING INTO ACTIVE SERVICE.

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FIRST RETURNS.

     The first regiment to return to this part of the State, after the expiration of its term of service, wa the Twenty-second Infantry,

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[PORTRAIT OF __ P. SHEPARD]

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voices were muffled, and the bells tolled the live-long heavy day, in unison with the general sorrow.  At night there was a spontaneous meeting of citizens at the M. E. church to testify their sorrow for the nation's loss and to debate over the mournful event.  Judge Welch was called to the chair, and A. B. Walker appointed Secretary.  An impressive prayer was delivered by Rev. Mr. Prettyman, after which Judge Welch made an appropriate and able address to the audience.  A committee of three was then appointed by the Chair, consisting of Hon. C. Morris, Samuel Pickering and E. H. Moore, to prepare resolutions for the action of the meeting.  While then committee were out, further remarks were made by Dr. Prettyman, Colonel W. H. Young, Judge Welch and Hon. W. P. Johnson.  The committee reported that in view of a more general demonstration soon to be held by the county, they did not deem it necessary to report matters for action at that time.  On the 17th  a very large and general meeting of the citizens was held at the Atheneum.  Dr. W. P. Johnson was appointed to the chair, and A. B. Walker was chosen Secretary.  The meeting was addressed briefly by Hon. John Welch, who, at the close of his remarks, offered a series of resolutions appropriate to the heart-rending intelligence of the President's tragic death.
     This property closes the narrative of Athens County's part in the war.  The following table shows the number of soldiers furnished by each township.

     The principal regiments in which Athens County was represented with the Third, Eighteenth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-ninth, Sixty-ninth, Seventy-fifth, Ninety-second and One Hundred and Sixteenth Infantry and the Seventh Cavalry.