The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-01-24

a leading merchant in Greenfield.
"John Coney continued to reside for
many years in the vicinity of Greenfield,
and filed several Offices both In church and
State. After rearing a large family he
died full of years and i'm Christian peace.
The remainder of this little colony of bold
hearted Adventures, who pitched their
tents on the town plat of Greenfield sixty
seven years ago, are all scattered and dead,
except Charles Bell, who alone, of all his
pioneer comrades, remains in the place.
"James Curry only remained a few years.
having removed to Union county and set
tied on farm on the banks of Darby
Creek, in 1911, where he died in 1884. In
early youth he was with the Virginia
forces at the bloody battle Of Point Pleas
Virginia Continental line, during the great
er part of the Revolutionary war, and was
taken prisoner by the British when the
American army surrendered at Charleston.
$. c. During his residence in Ohio he was
extensively known, and had many warm
friends among the leading men throughout
the States. He was frequently elected to
the State Legislature, and was one of the
electors by whom the vote Of the State was
given to James Monroe in 1920. The last
Of many public trusts which he held was
that Of Associate Judge for his county,
His son James still resides on the home
stead, a prominent farmer and highly re-
spected citizen"
Otway Curry, well known as an accom-
plished poet, and editor of several Western
literary periodicals, was son of James
Curry, and was born in Greenfield on the
2Gth Of March, 1901. He probably inherited
his poetic genius from his ancestry, the Cur.
ries being of Scotch descent, and remotely
related to the sweet Bard of AYR Robert
Burns. BE that as it may, young Otway
showed the possession Of the poetic faculty
early in youth, and wrote rhymes while
yet in his teens. His father took great
pains with his education intending him
for the bar, but the young poet grew dis
gusted with the law, and in his 10Th veal
ran away from home, in order to escape
from a profession which was uncongenia
to his mind and tastes. Finding himsel
in Cincinnati, without money or friends
he apprenticed himself to a carpenter anC
followed that trade for several years. If,
found leisure, however, to indulge in hii
favorite pursuit OF the MUSES., and soon es
tablished n name among the most promis
ing poets of the West. For some reason
the brilliant promise of his early career
was never realized, and during the last
twenty years of his life he wrote but little
In the year 1858 he became editor of the
Scioto Gazette, but retired from that posi.
ton in the fall of "a, and removed tc
Marysville, Union county, to engage in the
practice Of law. In the latter part of Feb,
ruary, 1855, he died after an illness of two
weeks, in the 5lstyear ofhis age. As far a,
we know, he was the only poet or literary
man Of any celebrity, that Highland coun
ty has produced.
During the spring and summer Of $500
Gen. Massie erected "A large and elegan
mansion at the Falls of Paint, and marry
ing a daughter of Col. Meade, of Kv., took
up his residence on his farm. Gen. NIassi,
and his wife were very hospitable, and de
lighted in entertaining the Generals ole
associates in his early surveying and fight
ing campaigns. His improvement attract
ed many new settlers to the neighborhooC
of the Falls, among whom were a number
of mechanics from the East. Among thos,
who assisted in building the General'
mansion, was Major Anthony Franklin
who emigrated from Amherst county. Va.
in 1894. He was carpenter, and was at
tracted to the settlement at the Falls a few
years after, by the demand for merchanic
at that place.
In the fall of 1900, Major FRANKLIN
built a cabin on the trace from New Mar
kot to New Amsterdam, about miles cas-
of where the village of Marshall nov
stands. This was the first improvement
in that immediate vicinity, and stood OF
the land where the Major resided unit
his death, which occurred a few years ago
His house being the only one between tn,
two towns, was for many years a stoppin.
place for travellers, who always met a kline
and hospitable reception. Among tn,
many men of distinction who were ther,
entertained, were Gov. st. Clair and tn,
celebrated Aaron Burr.