The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-04-18
Historical Sketches of
Highland County.
Compiled C1i.fy from scous "Historv Of Highland"
teih Additions aud Correcfirns from
OHer Authentic Sources.
BY THE EDITOR.
BY THE EDITOR.



Tp.-EUan Exams, the first assessor Of the
Ip.-He Attends the First Court Held at
Netg Market in IsO8-First TdnRery,
Carding Aachtno and Wooden Fdctory IN
Fairfield Tp.- Courting Ahecdote-4C-
fairs in TIE Netg 6idrket Settlement-F First
Tanneyy ia the County Established There
More NeV CsNeyS-THe W-utscns, Camp-
tons, Eal;ins, .dc.--Muriagc Of Michaet
iStrouP, the Halter and Polly Walker,
Also Of George Parkinson and ReJecca
Ross, &C., &c.
Our friend Ladd has favored us with an
other interesting communication, from
which we condonse the following addl-
tional incidents of the early settlements in
Fairfield TIP.
In the year 1s0O Evan Evans emigrated
to Ohio, fron Culpeper county, Virginia.
He left Virginia late in the winter, or early
in the Spring, and first struck the Ohio
river at Portsmouth, where he remained
for a few days. he then continued his
journey, and on the FIRST day of May, 1900,
arrived at the High Bank Prairie While
crossing the Allegheny Mountains, he lost
one of his two sons by sickness. They
buried him at the foot of the mountains, to
repose in peace, while they continued their
lonely and mournful journey in solitude,
through the mountain wilderness. His
other son, John Evans, now quite an old
man, is still living about two miles north
west Of Leesburg.
Mr.. Evans moved to this county in 1903.
He brought with him five-horse team.
and followed the occupation of teamstor
for a number of years. He settled on Lees
Creek, some two miles northwest Of Lees
burg, where, if we are correctly informed,
he spent the Remainder Of his life. He was
quito useful member in society, and Mt
a very early period, erected saw-mill
on 1EE's Creek, fot the Accommodation of
the neighbors. He was elected the first
Assessor for the township, which position
he filed to the satisfaction of the people
generally, except on one occasion, when
the Trustees stopped part Of his pay TOR neg
Jecting TO return a proper list Of squirrel
sealPS. "Greonbacks" not being as plenty
at that day as at the present time, bear
skins were legal tender for taxes. One
of these skins which Mr.. Evans took in
payment of a debt, was retained in his
family as a relic of early times, until a few
years ago, when it was destroyed. The
bear from which this skin was taken, had
been killed by woman with an axe, in
struggle for life or death, but the particu
lars of the combat have not been handed
down.
In the year 1903, Mr.. Evans, in COM
pany with his son John, attended the first
Court held at New Market, in this county.
Some of the irons ofthe old wagon, which
Mr.. Evans brought over the mountains.
are still retained by his son, John Evans.
About the year 1909 or 10, grist mill
was erected near Leosburg, by Joseph
Grice, but it has long ago Disappeared
The first tannery was started in this part
Of the county BY Joseph Horsemani This
tannery was situated about one mile south
Of Leesburg, and was kept in successful
operation until about the year 1880, or un-
til the time of his death.
About the year 1902 Isaac Mcpherson,
having made sale of a portion OF his land
to Jacob Ladd, went to work and put up
the first carding machine, on the farm now
known as the Borum farm. A few years
latter, his carding works not proving as
advantageous as he desired, he moved
them to within the present limits Of Lees
burg, and started small store in connec-
tion with his carding machine.
In the year 1911, Daniel HUFF, jr., an EN-
igrant frorh North Carolina, settled on or
near the vicinity Of Tod's Fork. Amer re-
naming there some two years, he pur-
chased ofPhineas Hunt his farm and mill,
located on Hardin's Creek. Mr. HUI
theh, in the yeaf 1913, commenced the
erection of his wooden factory. This fnc-
tory he built about one hundred yards be-
low Hunts old mill, and in 1915 he had it
completed and in successful running order.
Here the settlers flocked from all sections
Of the country, to have their flannel, which
had been spun and wove at home, fulled.
colored and dressed into cloth. HuTs
mill became celebrated throughout the
whole country, as one Of the most ex-
tensive factories Of the day. It embraced
carding, fdllihg, dressing and finishing of
cloth, and grinding of both wheat and
corn Prior to this, the settlers had to 20
to a mill on the Little Miami, for tho pur-
pose Of having, their Aanneis properly
dressed HufTs mill was of incaloulable
benefit to the citizens Of Highland and the
surrounding counties, and was kept in
successful operation until few years ago.
but like its predecessors it has fallen into
decay.
The manner in which the young men
did their courting at this period, (lsO6) will
be illustrated by the following converse
ton which is said to have occurred be-
tween young merchant, who shall be
called Joseph, and young lady by The
namo of Betsy. The story is, that Joseph
one Sunday evening, having become tired
and weary ofthe day's idleness, and alsc
Of his bachelor life, filled his breeohe.
pocket with large lump Of home-nad,