Ohio Counties
Adams
Historical Collections of Ohio
By Henry Howe
Vol. I
©1888
HIGHLAND COUNTY
Page 912
HIGHLAND COUNTY
was formed in May, 1805 from Ross, Adams and Clermont, and so named because of
the highlands between the Scioto and the Little Miami. The surface is part rolling and part
level, and the soil varies. As a
whole it is a wealthy and productive county. Area about 470 square
miles. In 1887 the acres
cultivated were 119,588; in pasture, 128,380 woodland; woodland, 54,430; lying
waste, 4,728; produced in wheat, 323,884 bushels; rye, 3,434 buckwheat, 47; oats,
134,249; barley, 796; corn, 1,192,567; broom corn, 10,095 lbs. brush; meadow
hay, 19,965 tons; clover hay, 1,952; potatoes, 24,083 bushels; tobacco 25,940
lbs.; butter, 560,802 lbs., cheese, 150; sorghum, 4,044 gallons, maple syrup,
6,486; honey, 2,748 lbs., eggs, 598,205 dozen; grapes, 5,100 lbs.; wine, 16
gallons; sweet potatoes, 2, 464 bushels; apples, 2, 132; peaches, 760; pears,
327; wool, 88,442 lbs., milch cows owned, 6,536. School census, 1888,
9,189; teachers, 256. Miles
of railroad track, 50.
|
Townships And Census |
1840 |
1880 |
|
Townships And Census |
1840 |
1880 |
|
Brush Creek, |
1,502 |
1,651 |
|
Marshall, |
|
811 |
|
Clay, |
783 |
1,449 |
|
New Market, |
1,302 |
1,080 |
|
Concord, |
1,014 |
1,235 |
|
Paint, |
2,560 |
2,476 |
|
Dodson, |
795 |
1,871 |
|
Penn, |
|
1,507 |
|
Fairfield, |
3,544 |
2,470 |
|
Salem, |
1,004 |
1,144 |
|
Hamer, |
|
1,051 |
|
Union, |
1,089 |
1,453 |
|
Jackson, |
2,352 |
942 |
|
Washington, |
|
944 |
|
Liberty, |
3,521 |
5,381 |
|
White Oak, |
887 |
1,248 |
|
Madison, |
1,916 |
3,568 |
|
|
|
|
Population in
Highland in 1820 was 12,308; in 1830, 16,347; 1840, 22,269; 12,208 in 1830,
16,347; 1840, 22,269; 1860, 27,773; 1880, 30,281; of whom 26,373 were born in Ohio;
1,120 in Virginia; 527 in Pennsylvania; 367 in Kentucky; 124 in Indiana in New
York; 382 in Ireland; 214 in German Empire; 156 in France; 64 in England and
Wales, 51 Scotland, and 21 British America. Census, 1890, 29,048.
This country was
first settled about the year 1801; the principal part of the
early settlers were from Virginia and North Carolina, many of whom were
Friends. The first settlement was
made in the vicinity of New Market, by Oliver ROSS, Robert HUTSON, Geo. W.
BARRERE, and others. Among the
settlers of the county was Bernard WEYER, the discoverer of the noted cave in
Virginia, known as “Weyer’s cave,” who is yet living on the rocky fork of Paint creek. The celebrated pioneer and hunter, Simon
Kenton, made a trace through this county, which passed through or near the site
of Hillsboro’: it is designed in various land titles as
“Kenton’s Trace.”
The fight between Simon Kenton with a party of whites and another of Indians
under Tecumseh took place in what is now Dodson township,
south of Lynchburg, as described in full in Vol. I., page 328 of this
work. (Excerpt follows at the end
of this chapter.)
Hillsborough
in 1846.—Hillsborough, the county-seat is on the dividing ridge between
the Miami and Scioto, in a remarkable healthy situation, sixty-two miles south
from Columbus, and thirty-six westerly from Chillicothe. It was laid out as the seat of justice
in 1807, on land of Benjamin ELLICOTT, of Baltimore, the site being selected by
David HAYS, the commissioner appointed for that purpose. Prior to this, the seat of justice was
at New Market, although the greater part of the population of Highland was
north and east of Hillsborough. The
original town plat comprised 200 acres, 100 of which Mr. ELLICOTT gave to this
county, and sold the remainder at $2 per acre. It contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist,
and 1 Baptist church, 2 newspapers printing offices, 14 stores, and had in
1840,
Page 913
868 inhabitants.
It is a neat village, the tone of society elevated, and its inhabitants
disposed to foster the literary institutions situated here.
The Hillsborough
academy was founded in 1827; its first teacher was the Rev. J. McD. MATHEWS. A
charter was obtained shortly after, and comprising 2,000 acres, given by Maj.
Adam HOOPS and the late Hon. John BROWN, of Kentucky. A handsome brick building has been
purchased by its trustees, on a beautiful eminence near the town, which is
devoted to the purposed of the institution. It has the nucleus for a fine Library,
and ere long will possess an excellent philosophical and chemical
apparatus. It is now very
flourishing, and has a large number of pupils: “the classical and
mathematical courses are as thorough and extensive, as any college in the
West;” instruction is also given in other branches usually taught in
colleges. Especial attention is
given to training young men as teachers.
It is under the charge of Isaac SAMS, Esq. The Oakland female seminary, a chartered
institution, was commenced in 1839, by the Rev. J. McD. MATHEWS, who has still charge of
it. It now has over 100 pupils, and
is in excellent repute. Diplomas
are conferred upon its graduates.
The academy is beautifully located in the outskirts of the village, and
is well furnished with maps, apparatus, etc., and has a small library.—Old Edition.
Hillsborough,
county-seat of Highland, about 60 miles southeast of Columbus, 61 miles east of
Cincinnati, is at the terminus of the Hillsborough branch of the C. W. & B.
Railroad, and on the O. & N. W. Railroad.
County Officers,
1888 Auditor, George W. LEFEVRE; Clerk, John H., KEECH; Commissioners, John M.
FOUST, Isaac LARKIN, George W. MILLER; Coroner, R. A. BROWN; Infirmary
Directors, E. V. GRIM, Richard CROSEN, George W. SMITH; Probate Judge, Le Roy
KELLY; Prosecuting attorney, J. B. WORLEY; Recorder, Samuel N. PATTON; Sheriff,
M. S. MACKERLY; Surveyor, Nathaniel MASSIE; Treasurer, E. O. HETHERINGTON. City Officers, 1888: A. HARMAN, Mayor;
W. H. AYRES, Clerk; G. W. RHOADES, Marshall: James REECE, Treasurer; D. Q.
MORROW, Solicitor; Patrick McCabe, Superintendent of Public Works.
Newspapers:
Gazette, Democratic, A. E. HOUGH, editor, Hough & Dittey,
publishers; News-Heard, Republican, News-Herald Publishing Company, editors and
publishers. Churches: 1 Protestant
Episcopal, 2 Methodist (1 colored), 1 Baptist (colored). Banks: Citizens’ National, C. M.
OVERMAN, president; O. S. PRICE, cashier.
First National, John A. SMITH, president; L. S. SMITH,
cashier. Merchants’
National, Henry STRAIN, president; E. L. FERRIS, cashier.
Manufactures and
Employees: Carroll & Downham, carriages, etc.,
20; J. S. Ellifritz & Co., blankets, etc., 13; J.
W. Pence, building material, 5; Enterprise Planning Mill, doors, sash, etc., 8;
Evans & McGuire, flour, etc., 5; C. S. Bell & Co., bells, etc., 60;
Richards & Ayer, flour etc., 3; J. M. Boyd & co., flour, etc., 21; C.
A. Roush & Co., lumber,
7.—State Report, 1888.
Population, 1880, 3,234. School census, 1888,
1080; Samuel MAJOR, school superintendent. Capital invested in manufacturing
establishments, $85,500. Value of annual product, $90,350.—Ohio Labor Statistics,
1888. Census,
1890 3,645.
The site
of Hillsborough is commanding. It
stands like Rome “on seven hills,” 753 feet above the Ohio, and
with beautiful surroundings. It has
an excellent public library of 6,000 volumes, supported by town taxation. Its people possess a high reputation for
culture; a natural consequence for its long-enjoyed advantages as an
educational centre. Here are
located the “Highland Institute,” the Hillsborough Conservatory of
Music,” Rev. G. R. BEECHER, president, with nineteen teachers in music,
art, and elocution, and one hundred and eighty-one pupils; also the
Hillsborough College, which admits pupils of both sexes. It has a facility of sixteen members, J.
H. McKENZIE, president; its entire course occupying
four years. It has a gymnasium and
a military department, under
Page 914
Major Wm. B.
ARNOLD, by which, “stooping forms become erect, narrow chests expanded,
and the whole bearing more manly.”
As is natural on
such a spot some of its citizens have ventured into the realms of authorship, viz: Henry S. DOGGETT, a biography of Prof. Isaac SAMS;
Samuel P. SCOTT, by “Travels in Spain,” elegant in illustrations,
accurate and full in its facts; “Chas. H. COLLINS, of the Hillsborough
bar, by a book of poetry, “Echoes from the Highland Hills:” also by
“Highland Hills to an Emperor’s Tomb,” combining travels with
Poetry; Henry A. SHEPHERD, a lawyer also, in “History of Ohio”
which was only partially printed when he suddenly died broken-hearted. His history in connection with that work
is sad; his material, after years of industry, having been twice destroyed by
fire. Another author of great
promise was Hugh I. McMICHELS, who died young of
consumption. Otway
CURRY, journalist and poet, was born in Greenfield, this county, in 1804; and
Rev. Jas. B. FINLEY, who wrote books, was one of the first settlers, married
here, and began life as a hunter.
THE WOMEN’S TEMPERANCE CRUSADE.
In 1873 there
was inaugurated at Hillsborough, Ohio, the most remarkable movement against
intemperance in the history of the world.
Unique in its methods, widespread in its results; and although a
failure, as regards its direct purpose, nevertheless it accomplished much good,
and advanced public sentiment toward the reformation of the great evils and the
vice of intemperance.
It had its
origin in an address delivered in Hillsborough, on December 23, 1873, at music
Hall, by Dr. Dio Lewis, before a large audience. The lecture was an eloquent and
effective appeal. Dr. Lewis graphically portrayed the misery
of his childhood home, caused by an intemperate father. In the New York village in which his
parents resided, many of the fathers were intemperate and neglected their
families, which were supported by the wives and children, who worked in mills
and factories. He told how his
mother, driven to desperation, started and led a movement in which most of the
women of the village participated.
These women met in the village church, appealed to God
to aid them and crown their efforts with success and, kneeling before the
altar, solemnly pledged themselves to persevere until victory was won. Their plan of operations was to go in a
body to the liquor-sellers, appeal to their better nature to cease a traffic
that was carrying sorrow, degradation, and poverty to so many of their
homes. The movement was successful,
and the sale of liquor stopped in that village.