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

. AOot w A0AA VIZ
sarly preachers were David Purvi-
,nce, Alexander Porter, Peter Poy-
ner, John Smith, Thomas Childers,
Wehrley, James b. Finley,
John G. Brooke, and Moses Crume.
They were all pious and good men,
& by their ministry exercised a NOR
al and religious influence over the
minds of the settlers. Some of these
were able men and preached with
great power and effect, the influence
Of whose ministry is felt in several
portions of the county to the present
day. They were missionary and pros
elyting in their ministry, and held
their congregations close in hand by
the power of the word as announced
by these pioneer christian men.
THE FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN
THE COUNTY.
The publication ofthe fl stnewspa-
per in the county was commenced in
in 1876. 1t was a small sheet called
the Telegraph, and published by a
Mr.. Blackburn. John A. Daily was
afterwards associated with him in its
publication for a year or two, when
the establishment fell into the hands
of Cornelius Van Aausdai, one Of the
most enterprising merchants of the
county, who continued the publica-
ton Of the paper until he formed the
acquaintance of Samuel Tlzzard in
the State Legislature, and sold the
establishment to him; and Mr.. Tiz-
card, shortly after the adjournment
of the General Assembly, moved to
Eaton and took charge Of the paper.
He was a practical printer, enlarged
and changed the name of the paper,
and in 1920 commenced the publica-
ton Of "The Eaton Weekly Regis
ter" which paper, under the guild
ance Of various proprietors, has been
regularly published at the county
seat under this name ever since.
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.
In many respects Preble is one Of
the historic counties of the State
In Western adventure her territory
has been the theater of many dar-
ling and warlike incidents between
the white and Indian races. Long
before the county was organized,
General Arthur st. Clair, in the
fall Of 1871, with a well-appoin.
ted army marched up Sevenmile
Greek, west of Eaton, on his way to
destroy the Indian villages on the
Maumee River. After his defeat al
Fort Recovery, Fort St. Clair wal
erected on his line Of march, durin,
the winter of 1912, as an inferno
date place of security between Fort
Hamilton and Jefferson, and for thu
purpose ofguarding communications
between these military forts, Gen,
Wilkinson ordered Major John S,
Gano to build this fort, and Genera
Harrison, then an ensign. assisted
in the work. The site chosen j
about a mile west Of where Ca tot
now stands, and was originally
stockade, containing blockhouses ant
officers quarters with some fort,
acres cleared around it. The struc
tnre contained within its limits
fine spring which the soldiers thel
used, and is still running just as j
did S. years. ago. The site is no,
called the "OId Garrison" and th
remains of its work can yet be trac
ed. The graveyard sjust west o
the Fort where many soldiers wer
buried, now overgrown by bushes
but still many Of their graves cal
yet be traced by slight depression
in the earth.
On the 9th of November, 1892,
severe engagement took place
nearly under the guns of the Fort
between about 100 riflemen Of Ken
lucky militia commanded by Capt
John Adair, and a band Of abou
1850 Indians under the command o
the celebrated Little Turtle, tn
war chief of the Miamis. The In
dams made a night attack on tire
sides of the encampment leaving tn
one open next to the Fort. Captain
t Adair retired his men behind tn
camp fires, and in three divisions at
tackled the Indians. The n on tn
right commanded by himself, tn
ono on the left commanded by Lieut.
, George Madison, and the one in tn
center, by Lieut.. Job Hale. Tn
battle being thus strategically an
ranged, but the Indians SO far out
numbered the militia that they wer
{ enabled to detail a sufficient nun
Der to hold the white men in check
! until daylight appeared, while other
pillaged the camp and drove off til
horses. As soon as daylight appear
. ed a severe running fight ensued,
: which several on both sides wer
. killed and wounded. The militi
; drove the Indians eastward acros
. Sevenmile Greek, and the battle Ell
! ded on the present town site of Es
ton, but the Indians pillaged til
camp and made away With the plur
der and horses.
/ In this engagement Job Hal,
t Matthew English, Robert Bowlins
= Joseph Clinton, Isaac Jet and Jnt
|, Williams were killed and six Other
: wounded. Among the latter nun
Der were John James, who lost h
Q scalp, and Luke Voorhis, who ws
shot through the body. The wour
i ded were taken into the Fort whel
their wounds were dressed BY SUI
B geon Boyd who was afterwards xii
: ed in the ambuscade near the hea
of Lowery's Branch, where Lieu
Lowery fell in 1898. The kille
! were buried in one grave, west of th
: Fort, and Luke Voorhis lived to
good. old age, and recently died j
/ the county.
The trace, or military road Of S
i Clair through the county, is so oil
scured by the lapse oftime, that IL
true line is now lost. It can on