Chapter V - Pioneer Incidents

Part I - First Settler In The County

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FIRST SETTLER IN THE COUNTY

MUCH less than a century has passed since the first white settler built his cabin within the present limits of Clinton County. Less than a century has elapsed since, through the magnificent forests of Southern Ohio, the red dwellers in the wilderness strove against the approach of civilization, and hurled themselves against the invaders of their country, as they deemed the white race. Eighty-seven years only have sped since Gen. Anthony Wayne concluded the treaty at Greenville with the chiefs of the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawnees (or Shawneee), Miamis, Ottawas, Chippewas, Pottawatomies, and the various tribes dwelling in Indiana and Illinois. This treaty annulled all former ones, and the general boundary, as defined by it, between the United States and the Indian nations, commenced at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, running thence up that stream to the portage to the Tuscarawas Branch of the Muskingum River: thence down that stream to the crossing-place above Fort Laurens; thence westerly to Loramie's store, on the Great Miami; thence westwardly to Fort Recovery, on the head streams of the Wabash River; and thence southwestwardly in a direct line to the mouth of the Kentucky River. The United States Government at the time of the treaty, in consideration of the cessions made by the Indians, delivered to the latter goods valued at $20,000, and agreed to deliver annually thereafter, "at some convenient place northward of the Ohio River," goods to the value of $9,500, to be apportioned as agreed among the several tribes represented. The treaty also "provided that, if either of the said tribes shall hereafter, at an annual delivery of their share of the goods aforesaid, desire that a part of their annuity should be furnished in domestic animals, implements of husbandry, and other utensils convenient for them, and in compensation to useful artificers who may reside with or near them, and be employed for their benefit, the same shall, at the subsequent annual deliveries, be furnished accordingly."

This treaty was concluded as elsewhere stated, on the 3d of August, 1795, and immediately after the fact became known in the States, there was inaugurated a movement toward the fertile lands north of the Ohio. Fear of the Indians had retarded emigration to that date, and, although the lands had been surveyed to a great extent, and warrants were held for nearly all the land in the Virginia Military District, no steps had yet been taken toward their settlement. In September, 1705, a month after the treaty of Greenville, a block-house was erected and a settlement begun at Bedle's Station (this name is variously spelled, being given Bedell perhaps as often as any other way, but Warren County authority settles upon the spelling as first above), in Warren County, Ohio. The blockhouse was built from distrust that the Indians would not abide by the terms of the treaty. The place was named from its founder, William Bedle, from New Jersey. William Mounts and family, with four other families, are said to have settled in the same month, at a point oil the south side of the Little Miami, two and a half miles below the month of Todd's Fork, at Mounts' Station, n Warren County. where the several cabins were built in a circle around :t spring, as a protection against the Indians. November 4, 1793, Dayton was laid out, in what is note Montgomery County, Ohio. although permanent settlements were not begun there until April 1, 1 1796. In the spring of the latter year, Waynesville, Franklin and Deerfield, all in Warren County, were settled, and. April 7, 1796, the first cabin in Greene County was raised.