The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-09-19

as We did. we must have made ABOUT
two miles an hour over that weary
stretch. of corduroy road, composed
of long unhewn logs, reaching across
the road, and laid as near together as
possible.
Tired, cold and hungry, we reached
here at last about bed d-time drove
through the dark, unlighted streets,
and stopped at the Denny House on
High street, opposite the old Trimble
corner. We we're cordially welcomed
bv the genial host, ELI J. Blount, at
terward for many years landlord of
the Ellicott House, In connection
with his father-in-law, George w.
Tucker. He soon had good, smok-
ing hot supper ready for us, to which
we did full justice, and retired to COM
Portable beds, sleeping soundly until
breakfast time.
Mr.. Hanna and came from Hamil.
ton to Hillsboro, having purchased
The Highland News from the late
James Brown. The News was then
the whig, and the Gazette the Demo
cratic organ, and they were the only
papers published in the county. Jonas
r. Emrie was editor of the Gazette,
and also Probate Judge. The leading
wings of both town and county gave
us warm welcome, as indeed did all
the citizens. In 1856, when the Re-
publican party was organized, the
News supported its candidates, and
has ever since been the party organ.
The town was already having a
.boom" and waking up from quiet,
pleasant, little village of 800, to the
stir and ambition of railroad town,
for 1t was known to a certainty that
the Iron Horse would soon b. waking
the echoes of the beautiful hills and
valleys, and It was hoped that Ellis
boro would be. on through line from
Cincinnati to Baltimore. The road
was opened from here to Cincinnati
In the summer of 1852, and the first
train was welcomed on it's arrival
here, by nearly the whole population
of the town and adjacent country
The train brought from Cincinnati
the Mavor, Council, Railroad Direc'
tors, and many other leading citizens
A stand was erected in Scott's grove
west of town, where speeches were
made welcoming the distinguished
visitors, which we're responded to by
the Mayor and the City Solicitor, r
B. Hayes, afterward President, and
one of the best of the five who were
sons of our great Buckeye state.
The trainlwas gaily decorated will
flags, and had brass band and can
non, which began booming when
mile away, and was no doubt thu
sweetest music your citizens had eve
heard. Regular daily trains soon be
. gan running, one each way, will
James Clark as the first conductor
Charles Brownell, engineer, Care.
Doggett, baggage master, and Jane
Bridwell, freight and passenge
agent.
The town soon began to put on cit
airs, and before many weeks the frs
dray appeared on the streets, driver
by "Maz" Mullenix, and was given a
ovation. Then followed daily pa
per, little four-page sheet, Issues
by the Gazette Office, which was pub
lished for several months, but at las
succumbed, the enterprising publish
er realizing that there was more glor
than profit In the experiment.
New buildings began ,ing up, an
the town entered upon career Q
growth and prosperity, which has cor
tinued ever since, and made her wha
she is to-day, one of the most beauti
full and thriving towns In the State.
You had no gas and coal at tha
time, and tallow candles and lard oi
lamps we're the only dependence fo
lighting. Iwell remember when Co
David Miller, who kept grocery o.
the site of the old Denny House, abou
1856, gave me sample of coal oil I
try. It was black as ink, and YER
strong and disagreeable odor. w
used 1t In my family for several days
until one night something got wron
with the lamp, the glass chimney wa
filed with gas, which took 6re an
: frightened my wife 30 that she ra
] out of doors with 1t and set It down
: the yard, where she left 1t burnin
, till came home. succeeded in e1
' tinguishing 1t without an explosion
and we had no more trouble bu
E many were afraid to use the oil, an
E 1t was long time before 1t came int
E general use, as the lamps we're In
0 proved and the oil refined and deco