The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-06-06

ldNeIIl-I1lIIldn bIy ait oloiS,
opened in 1907 in the west part OF
town, and Benjamin Buffers tavern,
which was older. 1t was a log cabin
town, no frame house being built
until 1S09-a year after the county
had been formed. 1t was at 13S Main
street. The town had two wells-the
Indians had dug them and the first
settlers found them there when they
came.
Other than Samuel Smith, who laid
it out, little is recorded of the early
population of Clinton. The town isn't
there any more.
In deciding which was to become
the seat of Knox County the COM
missioners went to both Clinton and
Mt. Vernon and took good look at
everything around that might in
fluence their decision. They went to
Mt. Vernon first.
In Mt. Vernon the county commits
sioners found everybody busy. 1t was
the most diligent, industrious little
place within miles, they thought.
Although the weather was snappy and
the wind cold, all had their coats off
and were SO busy digging, cutting
down trees and dragging logs around
that they were sweating in their
shirt sleeves.
In Bryant's sycamore log store
they found hard bread and cheese and
due to their high station in life Bryant
charged them nothing for their lunch.
1t was the same at Buffers tavern
free drinks to the politicians.
After that visit Mt. Vernon stood
high in the estimation of the county
commissioners but in fixing the
county seat they had to be fair to
Clinton SO they went in body down
the winding dirt road to have look
at Clinton.
Before the departing commission
ers dust had settled the diligence in
Mt. Vernon came to a sudden stop.
Men threw down their axes and
shovels, grabbed up their coats and
beat it for Ben Buffers tavern. There
ale, whisky, brandy and rum ran
down thirsty throats with nobody STOP
ping to pay. Butler made some entries
with a stubby pencil but when he
found he could not keep up with the
consumption spat on the slate and
rubbed the whole thing out with his
elbow. He never would be able to
collect anyhow and besides, the cause
was worthy one.
When all had what they could hole
and some much more, the whole
group of Mt. Vernonites started
through the woods for Clinton. 1t was
shorter that way and they would be
there when the commissioners ar
rived.
The Knox county commissioners
who had been delegated to select the
county seat were countrymen and in
fairness to the two towns vieing for
the honor none were residents oi
either. When they arrived at Clinton
they found it the wickedist, --latest
and most depraved little place any
of them ever had seen. Clinton ap
parently was a hamlet of sets-the
home of depravity and dissipation.
Drunken men were reeling here anc
there on the streets and others toe
drunk to stagger were down, seeming
ly in intoxicated stupor. Fistfights
were going on-these genuine anc
between residents of Clinton and the
invading men from Mt. Vernon. No
body was working Only drunken
revelry was seen by the inspecting
county commissioners who were un
able to differenciate between citizens
of one town or the other and did no
know that it was Mt Vernon mer
who were doing all the walloWing
While some resented it, most OF the
Clintonians felt honored by such al
influx of Mt. Vernon men in their
town on such great occasion ano
took no thought of the impression