Pg. 99 -

     THE FIRST ELECTION
     Jackson county held its first election Monday, April 1, 1816, for the purpose of electing a Sheriff, Coroner and three Commissioners.  The names of all the men that voted at this election have been deemed worthy of preservation for the benefit of posterity.  The old poll books, which had been supposed lost for eighty years, were found by the writer in going through old papers in the Court House attic.  The names are given by townships.

     BLOOMFIELD - The election in this township was held at the house of Judge Hugh Poor, which stood in a central location.  The officers were Samuel McClure, Moses Gillespie and Theophilus Blake,  Judges, and Robert G. Hanna and Allen Rice, Clerks.  Thirty-seven electors cast their ballots, the name of Reuben Long being the first registered.  The others were:  Theophilus Blake, Henry Humphreys, John Hale, James Hale, William Keeton, Morris Humphreys, Ellis Long, Benjamin Long, Azariah Jenkins, Joshua Stephenson, Thomas Barton, John R. Corn, John Scurlock, John Dickerson, Sharp Barton, George Campbell, Hugh Poor, Hugh

Pg. 100 -
Scurlock, Moses Hale, Arthur Callison, Christopher Long, Benjamin Hale, Robert Irwin, Moses Gillespie, David Stoker, Nimrod Arthur, Allen Rice, Michael Stoker, James Lackey, Marton Poor, John Stephenson, Sr., Samuel McClure, Andrew Donnally, John Stephenson, Jr., Robert G. Hanna and Alexander Poor.  There was considerable excitement at this voting place, occasioned by a number of free fights, growing out of a feud between members of the Long and Hale families.  The origin of the trouble is unknown, but at some time in the day Joel Long and John Hale started the ball rolling by agreeing to "box and fight each other at fisticuffs."  The well known code of the backwoods was no doubt followed to the letter in this fistic duel, but the result did not give satisfaction.  Blood was up, and some words led Christopher Long to assault Moses Hale, and, according to the indictment, did "strike, beat, wound and illtreat, to the great damage of the said Moses Hale."  John R. Corn interferred in behalf of the latter, and Long promptly gave him a dose of the same medicine.  At this point James Lackey got mixed up in the affair, and Benjamin Long then took a hand and assaulted him.  These contests furnished some of the grist for the first term of court in the following August, John Hale and Joel Long being fined $12 each, and Christopher Long $6 under each indictment.  Benjamin Long's affair with Lackey was not adjusted until the November term, when Long plead guilty and was fined $10 and the costs.

     FRANKLIN - The officers in this township were Judges John Rook, John Farney and Abraham Baker, and Clerks Isaac Baker and William Stephenson.  Teter Null was the first of the sixty-one electors to cast his vote.  The others were:  Jacob Wishon, Peter McCain, Basil Johnson, John Wallace, Lewis Howard, John Clemmons, Isaiah Sherwood, Jesse Martin, Peter Seel, Samuel Stephenson, Isaac Kilcoderic, Hugh Malin, Nathan Kirby, John Graham, John Peters, William Lyons, Eli Dixon, Thomas Crabtree, James Graham, James Higginbotham, Jonathan R. Nelson, John Dixon, Abraham Dixon, Thomas Craig, Ralph Nelson, James Johnson, John Martin, John Duncan, Ross Nelson, Emanuel Traxler, Richard

Pg. 101 -
Johnson, William Martin, Hugh Gilliland, John Burnsides, Alexander Wilson, Alexander Anderson, Nathan Dixon, John George, William Holland, Francis Holland, Nottingham Mercer, Samuel Craig, Levi Mercer, John Traxler, Benjamin Ellison, Samuel Trasler, JOnathan Traxler, Nathan Sherward, Thomas Scott, John Farney, John Rook, Abraham Baker, John Webb, James Martin, William Stephenson, Isaac Baker, Joseph Graham, Isaac Hartley, James Pennelton, Henry Dixon.  An election to choose Justices was held the same day, but by a different set of officers.  They were Teter Null, Samuel Traxler and Hugh Gilliland, Judges and John Martin and Francis Holland, Clerks.  Sixty votes were cast, of which John George had 32, Thomas Scott 29, Isaac Baker 28, Nottingham Mercer 26; George and Scott  were winners.

     LICK - The officers were James Weeks, John Ogg and Asa Lake, Judges, and Joseph W. Ross and George L. Crookham, clerks.  The first of the fifty-nine voters was Major John James, grandfather of ex-Warden C. C. James.  The others were:  Abraham Dehaven, William White, Horam Denny, John W. Sargeant, Joseph Clemmens, Philip Stother, Samuel Bunn, John Gillaspie, Asa Lake, James Weeks, George Bowen, Jacob Culp, Matthew Rider, Absalom Wells, Hugh Sharp, Valentine Pancake, William Givens, John Stockham, Joseph Armstrong, James Adams, John Brander, George L. Crookham, David Mitchell, Jacob Schellenger, William Brown, Salmon Goodenough, John Crago, John Armstrong, John Ogg, John O. Kelly, John Higginbotham, Charles Higginbotham, David Watson, Samuel A. Hall, John Henry Grant, Peter Marshall, Daniel Comber, John Fraether, John Stewart, Henry Routt, Joseph W. Ross, Francis O'Ray, John Lake, John McGhee, Jared Strong, Daniel Harris, Daniel Clark, Samuel Aldridge, A. J. Higgins, Isaac Newell, Jesse Watson, Alexander Hill, Abraham Welch, William Hewitt.
     It will be noticed that Franklin had two more electors than Lick.  Lick at that time included a tract of six miles square, belonging to the State Government, and all its inhabitants were

Pg. 102 -
lessees.  Many of them had purchased lands in Franklin in order to be freeholders, and claimed their residence there.  This is the only explanation that can be offered for the action of so many Lick men voting in Franklin.

     MADISON - The election of this township was held at the house of Jacob Moler, which stood near the site of Madison Furnace.  The officers were:  Judges, Jacob Moler, William H. C. Jenkins and John Atkinson, and clerks, John Horton and Jeremiah Callahan.
     Twenty-one electors participated, Samuel Radabaugh being the first to vote.  The others were:  George Radabaugh, John Callahan, Sr., Henry Radabaugh, William Comer, Robert Taylor, Benjamin Arthur, Lewis Adkins, Sr., Joel Arthur, Amos Arthur, John Horton, Jacob Moler, John Atkinson, William H. C. Jenkins, Elijah Delano, John Shoemaker, Joseph Pauley, Jeremiah Callahan, Jeremiah Roach, Lewis Adkins, Jr., Jesse Radabaugh.
     The returns were taken to Jackson by Jacob Moler.  This gentleman was for years the leading citizen of Madison, and the family of Aaron McLaughlin are connected with him.  William H. C. Jenkins was another of the leading men.  Cyrus Jenkins of Bloomfield is one of his sons.  The Radabaughs are all gone from Madison, but William, of that name, is living in the old Arthur schoolhouse, which stands on ground formerly a part of Madison.  Some of the descendants of Jeremiah Roach still live in the township, and a namesake lives in Wellston.  John Horton's descendants are numerous in Jefferson.

     MILTON - The officers were George Martin, John Baccus and George Burris, Judges, and Joshua Scurlock and John Crouch, Clerks.  There were forty-two votes cast, the first by Austin Palmer.  The others were cast by Andrew Frasure, Peleg Potter, Charles Ratcliff, Joseph Crouch, John Phillips, Thomas Phillips, William Crow, John Baccus, George Martin, George Burris, Patrick Shearer, Joshua Scurlock, John Crouch, James Stephenson, William Burris, Reuben Rickabaugh, Drury Bondurant, William Delay, William

Pg. 103 -
Bass, Jonathan Delay, William Craig, Cuthbert Vinson, John Snuke, Robert Howard, Jaems Dempsey, Joshua Rhodes, John Kite, Robert Ward, Jeremiah Brown, Zephaniah Brown, David Paine, Charles Robbins, Adam Althar, Daniel Hollinshead, John Hollinsheard, John Delay, Joseph Howard, Jacob Delay, Joseph Crouch, Jr., John Brown and Nathan Brown.  The majority, if not all of these men had been citizens of Athens county.  Several of them have descendants living in the township and in other parts of this county.  Rev. Jacob Delay was perhaps the most widely known.  The peculiar spelling throughout is that of the poll book.

     COUNTING THE VOTES - The returns were all taken to Poplar Row and placed in charge of Judge William Givens.  Hugh Poor, David Paine, and William Givens had been commissioned by Governor Thomas Worthington, who, it will be remembered, was one of the men that had surveyed Jackson county, as Associate Judges for the new county.  Their first meeting, of which there is record, was held at Givens' house on April 6, 1816, to open the election returns and declare the result.  The house of Givens stood a little west of the site of Fulton Furnace.  This has been disputed, but I make the statement on the authority of James H. Darling and A. F. McCarley. The house was built of logs, but was better than the ordinary log house of the early days, in that it had two stories.  This accounts for its selection as the temporary seat of justice.  The lower floor consisted of two rooms, while the upper story consisted of one large room, unceiled.  All the Judges being present, the votes were counted.  Following is the official abstract: 
     Sheriff - Abraham Welch 119, John Lake 93, Samuel Traxler 1; Welch declared elected.
     Commissioner - John Stephenson 114, Emanual Traxler 108, John Brown 100, Samuel McClure 94, Francis Holland 36, Reuben Long, 84, Jesse Watson 21, John Delay 46; Stephenson, Traxler and Brown were the winners.
     Coroner - John Gillaspie 84, William Howe 54, Samuel A. Hall 39, David Mitchell 4, Jacob Delay 2; Gillaspie won.
     The vote by townships was as follows:  Bloomfield 37, Frank-

Pg. 104 -
lin 61, Lick 59, Madison 21, Milton 42; total 220.  It is probable that almost the entire vote in the county was cast at this election.  The total vote cast at the presidential election in 1896, eighty years afterward, amounted ti 8,362.  This shows a healthy growth.
     The record of this meeting of the Associate Judges has been lost, but it is evident that the new officials appeared before the court, gave bond and took the oath of office.  The Commissioners appointed by the Legislature were elected by the people for the short term until the Fall election.  Welch, the Sheriff-elect, had been at the salt works for some eight yeas.  He was a tavern keeper, and his acquaintances were so numerous that he won his election easily over a popular opponent.  Welch's record was not what it might have been, however, and certain passages in it will be referred to later.
     And now a word about Judge Givens, the wealthiest and most influential man in the county at that time.  The following sketch was written after the death of his son, of the same name, and may contain a few repetitions:

     A NOTED SALT BOILER - The following special, which appeared in the Cincinnati paper Sunday morning, was sent from Buena Vista, in Scioto County, July 30, 1898: "William Givens, a pioneer farmer of Southern Ohio, died on his farm near here this morning.  He would have been 87 years old tomorrow, and had lived all his life on the farm on which he died."  The death of Mr. Givens deserves more than a passing notice, for he was the oldest son of Judge William Givens, the most noted salt boiler in the early history of Jackson county.  He was really 87 years old on the day of his death, for he was born July 31, 1811, at Poplar Row, the village of the salt boilers.  Williams Givens, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania in 1782.  After his father's death his mother removed with her family to Kentucky.  Williams was then ten years old.  In early manhood he came to Ohio and settled in Scioto county.  Later he came to the Scioto salt works, then located in Ross county, but now included within the limits of Jackson.  He was married October 23, 1810, to Rachel, daughter of William and Susan (Paine)

Pg. 105 -
Stockham, and went to housekeeping on Poplar Row.  There William, the oldest of eleven children, was born as stated.  Mr. Givens prospered at the salt works, and to maintain his standing in the community he erected a two-story log mansion, which was for years the finest residence in all Jackson county.  This house stood near the site of Fulton Furnace.  When Jackson county was erected in 1816, this house was designated as the first seat of justice in Jackson county, Section 5 of the law reading as follows:  That the courts of said county of Jackson shall be holden at the house of William Givens, within the reserved township, at the Scioto salt works, until the permanent seat of justice for said county shall be established - A large oak tree stood in front of the house, and an interesting and authenticated tradition is connected therewith.  The first term of court for Jackson county convened August 12, 1816.  The entire male population of the county, salt boilers, planters, hunters, trappers, hermits and squatters, were in attendance.  The house was too small to hold the crowd.  The weather being warm, Judge John Thompson ordered Sheriff Abraham Welch to open court under the spreading branches of this primeval white oak, and the sessions of the first day were held there.  When the grand jury was organized, the Court Constables led it away some distance to another tree, where it carried on its deliberations, the crowd being kept out of hearing by the Constables.  It was a memorable day in the history of the new county.  Under the old Constitution, three Associate Judges sat on the bench with the Presiding Judge, and William Givens, whose activity, energy and influence had been largely instrumental in securing the organization of Jackson county, was elected by the Ohio Legislature on February 24, 1816, as one of the first three Associate Judges of this county.  The others were Hon. David Paine, father-in-law in later years of Hon. H. S. Bundy and Hon. Hugh Poore, founder of the Poore famly in this county.  Givens was thus head and judge in his own house, much like the Patriarchs of old.  In 1818 he was honored by his fellow-citizens with an election to the Legislature, but he served only one term.  In 1823 he was again elected Associate Judge, and served until 1826, when he left the county, and

Pg. 106 -
moved to Nile township, in Scioto county.  He lived there 37 years, and died June 26, 1863, aged 80 years, 9 months and 8 days.  His wife survived until February 18, 1865, dying at the age of 70 years 9 months and 15 days.  Mr. Givens was a Whig in politics, and a member of the M. E. Church.  It was as a manufacturer of salt that he first acquired prominence in this county, and he was closely identified with most of the later salt works legislation.  It appears that the expense of salt boiling at the Scioto licks was always heavy, and about 1812 it became so excessive that the Legislature appropriated $300 to pay for boring 200 feet, in hopes of finding stronger brine.  No one undertook this work, and the Legislature found it necessary to increase the appropriation.  Accordingly, $1,500 was appropriated February 5, 1813, and Abraham Claypool was authorized to sink two wells to a depth of 200 feet.  This money does not seem to have been spent, and Williams Givens, Joseph Armstrong, John Johnson, Ross Nelson, John W. Sergent, John Prather and Asa Lake petitioned for assistance to dig a salt well each, they to bear incidental expenses, and to have exclusive use of wells for five years.  In 1815 the Legislature appropriated $700 to pay William Givens for sinking a well 350 feet, to be two and one-quarter inches in diameter at the bottom.  It appears that Givens proceeded to sink the well, and by December 23, 1815, he had reached a depth of 275 feet, and was paid $375.  On February 24, 1816, he was given until April 1, 1816, to finish and tube the well.  There is no record that Givens was paid any more money by the State, but he continued the work on the well until he reached the depth of 450 feet.  The last 175 feet were sunk at his own expense.  Hildreth says that Givens procured a stronger water, but it was in small quantity, and did not rise to the top of the well, probably from the deficiency of carburetted hydrogen gas, which at several other works, rises in great volume, and forces the water for many feet above the surface.  Givens' experiment demonstrated that a brine strong enough to compete with that of other salines could not be secured at Jackson, and the legislature passed a resolution January 3, 1818, favoring the sale of the Scioto Salt reserve.  Givens' salt well is still open.  It is a few hundred feet

Pg. 107 -
above the Baler building, and the water stands the year round in the well pipe.  Givens' furnace stood on the knoll near by to the south, and its remains may be seen whenever the ground is ploughed.  The small creek emptying into Salt creek, a few hundred feet below, bears the names Givens' run.  Thus the name survives here, although the family has been forgotten.  William Givens, jr. was 15 years old when the family left the county.  The other children were Allen, David, James H., Thomas J., John, Samuel, George, Cynthia, Jane and Mary.  The descendants of the family are scattered in many states.

     COMMISSIONERS' PROCEEDINGS - The record of the first meeting of the Commissioners of Jackson county has been lost.  At the second meeting held, Dr. Nathaniel W. Andrews was appointed clerk of the board, and he kept a very faithful record, although many acts of the board were not recorded, for reasons not now known.  Some of the entries were quaintly worded, and others refer to conditions which have long ago ceased to exist.  The following extracts can not fail to interest:

     April 25, 1816—Be it remembered that at a special meeting of the honorable commissioners of Jackson county, held in the house of Jared Strong in Lick township, present Emanuel Traxler, John Stephenson and John Brown; ordered that Nathaniel W. Andrews be appointed clerk to this body, he having been qualified according to law.

     A petition was handed in by the hands of Daniel Harris praying for a new township; deferred until the next meeting.

     Orders were issued to the listers of Lick township, Milton township and Franklin to attach the fractional parts adjoining the different townships to each of them.

     The meeting adjourned until the first Monday of June next.

     June 3, 1816—Proceedings of the honorable Board of Commissioners at their 'annual meeting on the first Monday of June, 1816, held at the house of Nathaniel W. Andrews in Lick township,

Pg. 108 -
present John Stephenson, Emanuel Traxler and John Brown.  For want of the statute law, adjourned until tomorrow at 9 o'clock.

     June 4, 1816—According to yesterday's adjournment the Commissioners met, present John Stephenson, Emanuel Traxler and John Brown.

     Abraham Welch was appointed collector to this county, he having given bond and security according to law.

     John James was also appointed treasurer to this county, he having given bond and security according to law.

     Ordered that the price of license for retailing merchandise shall be Fifteen Dollars per annum, also that the price of tavern license throughout this county shall be Six Dollars per annum.

     Nathaniel W. Andrews was appointed keeper of the county seal and sworn into office according to law.

     This meeting is adjourned until the first of July next by order of Commissioners, this 4th day of June, 1816.

     July 1, 1816—Pursuant to the adjournment June 4, the honorable Board of Commissioners this day met, July 1, 1816, present John Stephenson, John Brown and Emanuel Traxler.

     Jackson— It is ordered that in compliance with the prayer of the inhabitants of the following boundaries, that they shall be incorporated in a new township and be called Jackson; beginning at the northwest corner of this county and running east to the seventeenth range line; thence south along the same line to the corner between the Seventh and Eighth townships; thence west to the southwest corner of the Eighth township in the Eighteenth range; thence south one mile to the corner between section Nos. 1 and 12 in the Seventh township in the Nineteenth range; thence west along the section lines to the line between Nineteen and Twenty; thence north along the same line to the place of beginning.

     Clinton— It is also ordered that in compliance with the prayer of the inhabitants of Township No. 10 in range Seventeen, that the said township be incorporated according to its original surveyed boundaries by name of Clinton.

Pg. 109 -

     Milton—It is also ordered that in compliance with the prayer of the inhabitants of township No. 9, in range Seventeen, that the said township remain incorporated according to its original surveyed boundaries by the name of Milton.

     July 21, 1816—Pursuant to the adjournment, the honorable Board of Commissioners met according to appointment the second day of the term July 2, 1816.

     Bloomfield—It is ordered that in compliance with the prayer of the inhabitants of township No. 8 in range Seventeen, that the said township remain incorporated according to its original surveyed boundaries, by the name of Bloomfield.

     Madison—It is also ordered that in compliance with the prayer of the inhabitants of the following boundaries, that they be incorporated in a new township by the name of Madison; beginning at the northeast corner of section No. 3 in range 17 and township 7; thence running south to the county line to the southeast corner of section 34, range 17 and township 7; thence west to the southwest corner of section 31, range and township aforesaid; thence south to the county line to the southeast corner of section 36 in the 18th range and 5th township; thence west to the southwest corner of section 35, township and range aforesaid; thence north along the section line to the northwest corner of section No. 2, range and township aforesaid; thence east to the range line between 18 and 17; thence along the same line north to the northwest corner of section No. 6, township 5 and range 17; thence east to the place of beginning.

     Franklin—It is also ordered that in compliance with the prayer of the inhabitants of the following boundaries, that the same remain incorporated according to its original name of Franklin; beginning at the northeast corner of section No. 1, township 6 in range 18 and running south along the said range line to the southeast corner of section No. 36 in township 6 and range 18; then west to the northeast corner of section No. 3; thence south with section line to the county line; thence west along said line to the southwest corner of section 36 in township 5 and range

Pg. 110 -
19; thence north along the section line to the northwest corner of section No. 1, township 6 and range 19; thence east to the place of beginning.

     Scioto—It is also ordered that in compliance with the prayer of the inhabitants of the following boundaries that they be incorporated in a new township by the name of Scioto; beginning as follows: At the northeast corner of section No. 2, township 6 and range 19, and running south along the section line to the county line, to the southeast corner of section 35, in township 5, range 19; thence west to the southwest corner of the county; thence north along the county line to the old Ross county line; thence east to the place of beginning.

     Lick—It is ordered that Lick township have the following boundaries: Beginning at section No. 1, the northeast corner of, running south to the southeast corner of section No. 36, township 7, range 18; thence west to the county line, southwest corner of section 31, range 19, township 7; thence along the county line north to the northwest corner of section No. 7, township 7, range 19; thence east to the northeast corner of section No. 12, range 19, township 7; north to the northwest corner of section No. 6, range 18, township 7; thence east to the place of beginning.

     Hamilton—This township was not erected until Dec. 6, 1825.  The commissioners' entry in the journal is as follows: "Ordered that in compliance with the prayer of the inhabitants in the following boundaries, that they be incorporated in a new township by the name of Hamilton, bounded as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of section 1, township 5, range 19; thence south along the township line to section 36, township 5, range 19; thence west along the Scioto county line to section 33, township 5, range 19; thence north to the northwest corner of section 4; thence east to the place of beginning.  And ordered that Scioto township be hereafter designated by the following boundaries, to-wit:  Beginning at the northeast corner of section 2, in township 6, range 19; thence west to the northwest corner of section 6, range 19 and township 6; thence south to the northeast corner of section 12, township 5, range 20; thence west to the northwest corner of

Pg. 111 -
section 11, township 5, range 20; thence south to the southwest corner of section 35; thence east to the southeast corner of section 35, township 6, range 19; thence north to the place of beginning.

     THE FIRST ROAD PETITION - A petition was this day (July 3, 1816) handed by the hands of Isaac Baker, praying for a road to be opened; beginning at the fork of the creek two miles and a half above Lewis Mercer's, on the new county road leading from Portsmouth to the Scioto Salt works; thence running the nearest and best way to Hugh Gilliland's on the waters of Simm's creek ; thence to Abraham Baker's; thence the nearest and best way to intersect the new road that leads from the Salt works to Gallipolis at or near Mr. Radebouth's on the most suitable place.  Ordered that the above road be reviewed and the following persons are appointed as reviewers, they having agreed to do it without charge; reviewers, Levi Mercer, John Horton, Lewis Adkins; surveyor, Gabriel McNeal. —These reviewers made a favorable report Jan. 8, 1817.  The report was considered June 2, 1817, and the road was established as proposed, as "one of the public highways of the county."  This road was nine and three-quarters miles long.  It began at a white oak in the forks of Little Scioto, ran by a beaver pond and intersected the Gallipois road near Henry Radabaugh's.

     FIRST YEAR'S TAXES - The Commissioners met on the 29th of July, 1816, present Emanuel Traxler, John Stephenson and John Brown, and proceeded to make out the alphabetical duplicates of the property tax, and finished them ready for delivery, the total amount being $301.20.  The following persons served as township listers in 1816: Lick, Joseph Armstrong; Madison, John Atkinson; Franklin, Richard Johnson; Milton, Joshua Scurlock; Bloomfield, John Stephenson. June 6, 1817— It appears from all statements, the total amount of expenditures for this year up to the fifth of this month, and up to order 176, amounts to $547.18.  "The receipts Mere $363,874.  Thus the county was in debt $183,306 at the end of its first fiscal year.  The total amount of taxes to collect for the

Pg. 112 -
year 1817 was $354.85, distributed as follows:  Clinton, $29.60; Milton, $39.50; Bloomfield, $48.55; Madison, $48.90; Franklin, $53; Lick, $67.60; Jackson, $35.70; Scioto, $32.

     FIRST TERM OF COURT - COURT—The new county was in the second judicial circuit, of which Judge John Thompson was president.  He set the opening day of its first term of court for Aug. 12, 1816.  He arrived at the Springs on horseback, riding up from Chillicothe, accompanied by a number of attorneys, and sightseers who came to see the noted Salt works.  Judge Thompson became the guest of his associate, Hon. William Givens, whose residence was the temporary seat of justice.  The attorneys were quartered with Nathaniel W. Andrews and Sheriff Abraham Welch.  When the hour came for opening court, it was found that no room in the Givens' residence would hold the crowd.  This, together with the great heat, led Judge Thompson to order that chairs and tables be taken out and set under the wide spreading branches of a white oak tree, standing near the home.  It was a motley crowd that gathered there.  Three classes were largely represented and deserve mention.  The salt boilers with their rough exterior, much resembling the denizens of the more modern mining camps, were the most numerous.  Second in number, but first in influence, were the sturdy yeomen planters, clad in homespun.  Trappers, hunters and half hermits, silent men, with coonskin caps and clothes of deerskin, formed a third class.  There was beside a small sprinkling of the better dressed, which included the Methodist circuit rider, two or three tavern keepers, a few salt well lessees and furnace owners, some small merchants, and a bakers' dozen of visitors from Chillicothe and Portsmouth.  The hour having arrived, Judge Thompson and the associate judges, William Givens, Hugh Poor and David Paine, took their seats, and Sheriff Welch was ordered to open court.  Following is the record of the first proceedings, as they stand approved:
     August Term, 1816, Jackson County, State of Ohio— Pleas held before the Honorable John Thompson, president of the court of common pleas for the second circuit, Hugh Poor, David Paine and

Pg. 113 -
William Givens, esquires, associate judges for the county of Jackson, at the house of William Givens, temporary seat of justice, on the 12th day of August, Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, of the independence of the United States, the 41st, and of our State, the 14th.  Present, Nathaniel W. Andrews, clerk pro tempore, and Abraham Welch, sheriff.  The sheriff, to whom the venire facias was directed, this day here returned the same, and the names being called, appeared, to-wit: James McDaniel, George Camble, Samuel Traxler, John McBride, Gabriel McNeal, Robert Erwin, James Higginbothain, William Martin, William Stephenson.  And the other named presons not appearing, ordered that the sheriff summon sufficient number of the bystanders to complete the panel of 15.  Whereupon the following persons were summoned as talesmen: Joseph W. Ross, Joseph Crouch, Joshua Winks, Andrew Donnally, Moses Hale and Jared Strong.  Whereupon Jared Strong was appointed foreman, who with his fellows having taken the oath prescribed by statute, and having received their charge, retired to consult.  The court appointed Joseph Sill, Esq., prosecutor.  This day, on motion, ordered that the electors of Scioto township have leave to elect a wise, sensible, prudent and discrete person a justice of the peace, in addition to the one at present acting in that capacity, and that certificate issue to trustees.  Judge Thompson, in issuing this order, must have had in mind Jethro's advice to Moses: "Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers."  The first case called at this term was styled, "Brown & McCort vs. Peleg Potter; debt."  Hon. Richard Douglass appeared as attorney for the plaintiffs.  The case was called, for Potter to get an opportunity to give bond, and John George was accepted as his surety.  The next business to engage the attention of the court was the appointment of the first administrator to serve in the county, viz: Joseph Crouch appointed to administer the "goods and chattels, rights and credits" of his father, Joseph Crouch, Sr. Jacob Delay, James Stephenson and John Brown, all of Milton township, were appointed as appraisers of the personal estate of decedent.  The first business transacted

Pg. 114 -
Aug. 13, 1816, the second day of the term, was the considering of the petition of Andrew Donnally for a license to keep a tavern, which was as follows:

     A PETITION FOR A LICENSE TO KEEP A TAVERN - July 10, 1816—To the honorable judges of the court of common pleas of Jackson county: The petition of the undersigners, freeholders of Bloomfield township, humbly represent to your honours that we conceive a publick house of entertainment in Bloomfield would conduse to the publick convenience, therefore we recommend Andrew Donally, one of the sitizens, as a man of a good carricter and every way calculated to acomodate the publick, we therefore pray your honours would grant him a licens for the purpose and your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.—Andrew Donnally.
     The other signers were Hugh Poor, Elijah Long, Moses Hale, Andrew Boggs, Samuel McClure, William Stephenson, James Stephenson, Samuel Allison, Reuben Long, Alexander Poor, Joel Long, Christopher Long, Gabriel McNeal, Robert Irwin, John Stephenson, Robert G. Hanna, Benjamin Long, Azariah Jenkins, George Burris, George Campbell, Anthony Boggs.  The text of the petiton was written by Donnally himself, and, like Shakespeare, he exercised the right of spelling his name in more than one way.  This fact may explain why the spelling in the petition is out of the ordinary.   He may have felt that inability to spell was no bar, but rather a recommendation, with the backwoodsmen.  He could spell, but did not want to.  Be that as it may, his license was promptly granted.

     FIRST CRIMINAL CASE - The criminal docket for the term was then taken up. John Hale and Joel Long had been indicted because, "on the first day of April, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, with force and arms, in Bloomfield, etc., they did agree to box and fight each other at fisticuffs, etc."  This fight occurred on election day and has been men

Pg. 115 -
tioned before.  The boys were arrested, both plead guilty, and each was fined $12 and the costs.