Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-01-12


the Office until 1903, when he was sue
ceeded by Thomas Kirker.
Previous to the adoption of the Con-
stitution oflS5l the office of Lieutenant
Governor was unknown-the President
of the Senate becoming acting Gov
ernor in case of the death, resignation
or disability of the Governor. VIM.
Medill was the first elected Lieutenant
Governor. He was elected in October,
1851, took office in January, 1852, and
was succeeded by James Myers in
January, 1854.
William Creighton, jr., the first Sec
retary of State, and elected and COM
missioned in 1903 and was succeeded in
1903 by Gen. jeremiah McLene, who
held the office continuously for %
years.
The first Auditor of State was Thomas
Gibson, who was elected and conf
missioned in 1903, and was succeeded
in 1908 by Benjamin Hough.
William Mcfarland was the first
Treasurer of State, having been elected
and commissioned in 1903. He held
the office for IA years and was succeeded
in 1917 by Hiram NJ. Curry.
The State Library was established in
1917 with 500 volumes on the shelves.
John L. Harper was the first Librarian,
from 1917 to 1918.
The first Legislature proceeded to
enact such laws as were needed. They
proceeded to organize seven new coun-
ties: GaIlia, Scioto, Geauga, Warren,
Greene and Montgomery. These parts
of the State had suffered much for want
Reorganization into counties. ST Clair
had uniformly refused to erect these
counties, and he had the power to pre-
vent it. The next year, 1904, Musk
ingum and Highland counties were
organized. "These new countess" says
Atwater, "show where the country had
been filling up with people. Every
thing moved forward as well as could
be expected, considering our remote
situation from the older States. Mills,
though poor ones, were erected, bridges
built, roads were cut, though not
worked on much as yet" This wor-
thy chronicler continues patriotically
in his quaint manner,
"The people of that day were greatly
attached to President Jefferson and De
Witt Clinton, because they had favored
the admission of Ohio into the Union.
The then administration of the general
government were almost worshiped by
our people, and were greatly caressed
in return, by the objects of their rever-
ence. We were then weak and not
feared; but now we have become great
and powerful. So we are oppressed in
all the ways in which littleness seated
on high, can reach us. But we will
stand our ground on our own legs, on
soil, relying on our own vast resources.
It is, however, honor enough for any
common man to be good and worthy
citizen of Ohio, travel where he may in
the Union.n This was written prior to
1888, and sounds bombastic.
THE FIRST COUNTIES UNDER THE STATE.
Gallia county we have already
noticed in our account of the settlement
of Gallipolis by the French. The word
Gallia was an ancient name for France.
Gallia county furnished her quota in
the war of 1912. Gen. Edward w.
Upper, in July, 1872, raised for six
months duty, force of 1000 men,
principally from Gallia, Lawrence and
Jackson counties. Daniel Womeldorf,
of Gallia, commanded a company of
cavalry. They marched to the North
west, and had a skirmish with the
enemy at the foot of the Maumee rap
ids, but with uniInpOrtant results. Gen.
Tupper resided at Gallipolis, where he
died, as also Capt. Womeldorf.
sCIoTo COUNTY.
Was formed May 1st, 1903. The name
Scioto was a Wyandot term, originally
applied to the river, but its significa-
tion is unknown. They called it Sci
onto. The mouth of the Scioto was a
favorite rendezvous for the Indians,
from which to attack boats ascending
or descending the river. In the spring
of 1892, four spies were employed to
range from Marysville, Kentucky, to
the mouth of the Big Sandy river.
They were Samuel Davis, Durcan Nc
Arthur, Nathaniel Beasley and Samuel
Mcdowell. OF these Macarthur be-
came Governor of Ohio, as we have
noted; Beasley became Major General
of Militia in the State and Canal Com
missioner. They went out in pairs,
and made their tours once a week to
the mouth of the Big Sandy, so that
they would meet and pass each other
opposite the mouth of the Scioto, in 60
ing and coming four times each week.
Their incessant vigilance would con-
tinued until late in November, or the
first of December. when hostiiities gen
orally ceased in the latter years of the
Indian wars. To them was largely due
the safety and welfare of the early
colonists. The full account of their eX-
ploits is given in McDonald's sketches
1t is said that, about q mile and hall
below the mouth of the Scioto there
stood, about the year, 1740, French
fort or trading post. Prior to the set.
tlement of Marietta an attempt was
made at settlement at Portsmouth by
four families from the Redstone Set.
Element in Pennsylvania, in April
1855. The four men, heads of families
assembled the SciOto to view the rich
bottoms on the Scioto, but near Pike
ton they were surprised by Indians and
two of them were killed. The Other
two escaped and hastily removed theil
families to Limestone, Kentucky, OF
Maysville.
The French grant of 1895 was a tract
of 900 acres in the Southeastern part
of the country; it was granted by Con
gres to number of French families
who had lost their lands at Gallipolis
by invalid titles. Early in the settle
ment of the county the village of Alex
andria was founded at the mouth of thu
SciOto, on the west bank, opposite
Portsmouth, and was made the tenn
porary county seat; but it does not nov
exist as town, being liable to inunda
ton.