INTRODUCTION.

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LINE OF ORGANIZATION - CONCURRENT EVENTS.

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PIONEERS - THEIR RECORD, INCIDENTS OF THE TIMES, 1808 TO 1816.

FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

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PERSONAL REMINISCENCES.

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THE COUNTY SEAT.

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COUNTY BUILDINGS.

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PORTRAIT JOHN M. ______
Monroe Twp.

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DARKE COUNTY FROM 1816 TO 1824 - PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT.

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REMINISCENCES - LAND PRICES AND PAYMENTS -
FARMING IMPLEMENTS - CONDITION OF COUNTY IN 1824

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 CLIMATE.

PORTRAIT OF JOHN BUSH
HARRISON TP.

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DARKE IN 1824.

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EARLY PREACHERS - EDUCATION -
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS AND MARRIAGES, ETC.

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DARKE COUNTY IN 1840
CELEBRATION - COMMEMORATION - MASS MEETING AT GREENVILLE.

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GEOGRAPHICAL - SITUATION -
AREA - TOWNSHIPS - VILLAGES.

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PORTRAIT OF A. A. IRELAN
HARRISON TP.

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AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND MARKETS.

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 THE STATISTICS OF 1853.

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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

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GEOLOGY.

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"THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN DARKE COUNTY.0

     "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 Louisiana, 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

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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 cautions 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 the Mississippi planter, who had legalized this marriage with her in a Northern State.  The children ahd been educated in Ohio.  Returning South, they were seized by relatives of hte 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 the 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 i 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

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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 information from him.  After their departure, my friend,* who is 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 fugitives were fearful that they had gone north to Winchester, for assistance.  Before
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     *Dr. John E. Matchett, now of Greenville.

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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.
*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *    
     "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.

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PORTRAIT OF DAVID PUTMAN
GERMAN TP.

SARAH PUTMAN
GERMAN TP.

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THE PRESS OF DARKE COUNTY.

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EDUCATIONAL - PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

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SOCIETIES.

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ROLL OF PIONEERS.

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DARKE COUNTY DURING THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

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