Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-03-08

OF "broadhorns" as they were called. passed
Marietta, laden with emigrants on their way
to the attractive regions Of southwestern
Ohio. The Ohio Company had already locat-
ed two townships of land in Athens county
for the benefit Of university, and encoura0-
ed by Gen. Putnam, who wished TO Introduce
permanent settlers as soon as possible,
number OF the emigrants who stopped at
MARIETTA decided to locate on the college
lands. OF this number were Alvan and Silss
bingham, Isaac Barker, William Harper.
John wilkins, Robert Linzee, Edmund.
William and Barak Dorr, John Chandler and
Jonathan Watkins; they made their way
down the Ohio and up the Hockhockino earlv
in 1877; few of them settled on the site Of
the present town Of Athens, but the majority
were scattered up and down the neighborine
bottoms.
Alvan Bingham had been commissioned
magistrate and his brother 6ilas, a deputy
sheriff. Ephraim Cutler who came little
later and settled in Ames township was also
magistrate. "The two Binghams Judge Al
van and his brother Silas, were natives of
Litchtield county, Conn.,, and had both
served in the Revolutionary army. The
former was man of strong common sense,
and his judicial mind and well-trained con-
science admirably qualified him for the posi-
ton of Judge, which he filled for many years.
He is said TO have been a person of quiet and
dignihed manners, stern and uncompromis-
ing in his sense of right. Silas was full of
anecdote and humor, social and kind in his
feelings, man of excellent sense, and ter
ror to evil-doers." Alvan Bingham was the
first Treasurer of Athens county and Silas
was for a number of years constable.
PRIMITIVE MAIL ROUTES AND MINISTER'S.
Prior to 1874 there was no mail route in the
90
north of the Ohio river In this year a water
route was established between Pittsburg and
Cincinnati. From Pittsburg to Wheeling it
was carried by land, and from thence in
boats about "a feet long, manned by five
men, and well armed and provided against
attacks from the Indians In 1900 the only
cost route in sou hern Ohio was from
GAINESVILLE to Marietta. In 1902 route was
established from Marietta to Cincinnati, via
Athens and Chillicothe. The first postofice
in Athens county was established in JAN,
Quinn, pioneer Methodist minister settled
in Ohio IN 1904; he and Rev. J. Meek were
appointed to the "Hockhocking district;" in
1905 he was returned with Rev. ]. Williams
as his assistant. A camp meeting was held
at Athens in 1910 by Mr.. Quinn and Bishop
Asbury. Mr.. Quinn was ordained by Bishop
Whatcoat who was ordained by Wesley him
sen. IN loU6 the Kew. Jacob Young preach
ed on this circuit: In 1906 Peter Cartwright
visited the circuit preaching and forming
societies. About 1915 the Rev. Thos. Morris
now Bishop Morris was on the circuit and
preached statedly at Athens. The first news.
paper IN the county was "The Athens Mirror
and Literary Register" by A. G.. Brown,
commenced in 1925. In this office John
Brough, afterwards Governor of Ohio, was at
one time employed. The Mirror was sue
ceeded in 1880 by "The Western Spectator"
edited and published by Isaac Maxon, who
came from Marietta in 1926, bringing young
John Brough as a type setter.
OF the noted men of the county mention
should be made of DIR. Eliphaz Perkins, a
physician of skill and culture, one of the first
trustee and for many years treasurer of the
Athens university, also postmaster seventeen
years and county Treasurer for many years.
The Rev. Jacob Lindley, the first President
of the Ohio university was also the founder of
the Presbyterian church at Athens.