The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-07-06

Va Ah |
.rs grew and matured in the wilder
ness, unseen and untouched by civil
lied man. Such was somewhat the
appearance of the county in its ma
tive state, as described by white men
who first entered within its limits.
But none of these are now living and
Of course this description is derived
from tradition.
THE MOUND BUILDERS.
Within the limits of Preble county
are yet plainly to be seen many rel
les Of this ancient and extinct race
Of people. For a while, itwas sup
posed by the settlers, they were of
Indian origin, but upon further in
yestigation it was ascertained that
this race of people were as profound
" ignorant of the Mound Builders
as the white men themselves. No
antiquarian has hitherto satisfactori-
ily explained, who these ~mysterious
people were, when they were here,
from whence they came, and what
became of them, Notwithstanding
much has been written, and many
hypothesis offered upon the sub
|ject.
Among the many Of these ancient
works perhaps the one at the confiu-
ence Of Banta's Fork with Twin
Creek, in Lanier Township, is the
most singular structure within the
county. In this connection it may
Ibe, proper to introduce a short de-
I~scription of it, as illustrative Of 9TH
er, similar works, for there is a close
analogy among them all. They were
tgenerally constructed along the
lprincipal streams and their tributar-
lies, which has led to the conclusion,
that they were for offensive and de-
fensive purposes; the conical ones as
outlooks over the valley, andthe en-
closed ones as Notifications. Here
upon a high projection of land at the
confluence Of the two streams, are
enclosed, several acres Of land by an
earthen wall, with a gateway to the
North evidently for the purposes o.
lingress. The line Of the wall and the
outer excavations of the earth can
yet be traced; hut it is now nearly
level with the surface of the earth
Ito the Southeast are the remains o.
what is supposed to have beena sub
terranean passage, which was, pro
badly, used by the inmates to pro-
cure water from Twin Creek. Tht
stream then flowed by the basemeni
df the work, but it has Since recedee
margin to the east, severa
hundred feet. The line of Banta'i
Fork on the west appears to hav'
undergone no pereeptible chang
since the Mound Builders wer'
there. In the locality of this struc
ture there are several other small
conical mounds which we're mos
probably used by the Mound Build
ers as outlooks over the valley.
A much longer period of time ha
elapsed since the Mound Builder
were here, than is generally suppos
ed by antiquarians. They most pro
badly belonged to the Stone Ag
and manufactured these ~singularl.
wrought stone implements SO pro
fusely scattered over the country
but when they we're here, whethe
before or after the dispositions of tn
boulders, whence they came o
WHITTIER they went are matters Who'll
lyconjectural and have given rise t
much speculation among antiquar
lians and scientific men. If upon ex
animation it should be ascertaine'
that no boulders were used by then
lin their works, this fact would ten
|. prove, that they were here before tn
deposit of these granite rocks, an
so on the contrary if it should be as
certained that these rocks are ming
, led IN the erection of these works,
would clearly indicate that th
!. Mound Builders were here since tina
event occurred. This fact has nc
been sufficiently investigated to de
! termine the truth of the point sue
gested, and is therefore we'll worth
! the consideration of scientific men.
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY
; It is evident the first settlement
? of the county yer made by the pic
neers along the streams in the south
7 ern part, in Gratis, Israel and Son
ers townships. The author of tn
| sketch has attempted to ~ascertai
3 1.-THE very first permanent settler {
althe county, and his location, b.
! tfrom the want of proper data, he hs
Hound this to be a difficult task
| John Leslie settled on section 36, o
! Elk Greek, in Gratis township, j
1913, and Henry Phillips, John Phi
: lips, Hezekiah Phillips and John Lon
!, in the same locality, either that yea
OF the year following. Jacob Pa
l ker, about the same time, or short
( afterward, settled on Twin Creek,
!, short distance southeast of West A
exandria. William Huston, the R
denours, the Kingerys and other
b settled in the southwest corner Of Il
rael township, in 1899, and jam,
i Ocheltree built the first mill in Il
county, on Fourmile Creek. Th
{ Hendricks, Pottengers, Bennett
Mores, Smiths, Beasleys and othei
' settled in Somers township on SCI
en- Mile Creek, near the present tow
site of Camden, in the early part
the present century, say in 1902 ar
4 1901. These were the first settl
5 ments in the county. and are al. r,
ferred to in their order.
b After duly considering all the il
formation now possible to obtain u
on the subject, it is confidently b
lieyed that John Leslie was the fir
permanent settler of the county, an
that Henry Phillips, John Lon
d John Phillips, and Hezskiah Phillip
we're the next. Rebecca Philip
e daughter of Hezekiah Philips, ar
now the wife of Jonas Brdbaker, W,