Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-07-30
FROM PIKETON.
Correspondence of the Ohio stAtesman.l
P1KEToN, O., July 25, 1867

1
P1KEToN, o., July 25, 1867.
Leaving Waverly, after q short scjourn,
after ride of five miles in Hawkes. old
fashioned coach, drawn by two antiquated
equine specimens, find myself in the an
cient and venerable town of Piketon, form
| erly the seat of justice of the county.
put up at the Nessler House-kept by a
clever old gentleman of Teutonic descent
which is the only house of entertainment
for man and beast" in the place. The next
morning took an excursion through the
principal streets, and was surprised to find
so little, or rather so much change for the
worse. But very few buildings have been
erected within the past twenty years, while
the loss by fire has more than counterbal-
anced the improvements. The town does
not contain as many inhabitants as ten
years ago. The old court house is still
standing, though for want of attention is
fast going to decay. 1t stands as monu-
ment to the inertness of its citizens. The
place possesses no commercial advantages
as does her rival sister town of Waverly,
which accounts for the rapid decrease of
population. A few years ago an effort was
made to render the Scioto navigabIe to that
point; but the project proved failure.
The town contains three stores, several
groceries, but no manufactures of any
kind. .5
/ was surprised to find so many negroes
in the place. None of them seemed to be
engaged at any kind of labor-unless
lounging around the streets, drinking and
swearing may be called work; and it is
mystery to me how they manage to pro-
cure livelihood, unless it is by theft,
which I think is more than probable.
heard one of them boasting that he intend
ed to have his vote at all events. This
was said in loud, staggering manner,
which indicated to me that the "Sable
Sons of Africa" had complete control of
the town, so far as muscle was concerned.
One old gentleman remarked to me that in
less than ten years the negroes would out
number the whites. We asked him his
reasons for the assertion. He replied, that
they would always seek for those places
where rents were cheap, and would work
for less wages than the whites, and steal
half, of their living. He remarked that
there was not a single negro living in
Waverly, from the fact that rents were
higher, and they were not allowed to get a
foothold in that town. So much for the
negro.
L found several staunch Democrats down
here who are working energetically for
the cause. Several Republicans intend
supporting Thurman, and large majority
of them will vote against the Amend
ment. -+-n.
This vicinity abounds in ancient relics.
About mile below the town are two en-
bankments about 80 yards apart, and run
ming parallel with each other for about $50
yards. The turnpike passes directly be-
tween them. Some half mile further
south are two mounds perfectly round,
about Is feet high and 20 yards in circum-
ference at the base. History gives no ira
dition of their origin. They were proba-
bly, built by race that inhabited this
country long anterior to the Indian, and for
what purpose or by whom will always re-
main mystery. From these mounds
delightful view of the Scioto Valley can be
obtained. For miles, nothing but vast
fields of corn meet the eye, while beyond
that to the west, rises in solemn grandeur,
the lofty hills of Sunfish.
North of Piketon is the P. P. prairie, on
which is as good farming land as can be
found anywhere, though at times it is
overflowed by the Scioto, but this is being
remedied by levees. An old gentleman
informed me of the origin of the name of
the prairie, which is as follows:
About the beginning of the present CEN
trr fr0 Eon hao ~ ofI
the rich lands that lie along the Scioto, de-
termined to explore those regions. They
made their way up the river, opposite to
where Piketon now stands, when one of
them named Peter Patrick cut the initials
of his name in large, though rude letters,
on beach tree that grew near the river
Years after the initials were seen, and the
prairie named in honor of this explorer in
that then almost unknown region.
TRAVELLER.