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Early Adams County History

The Ordinance of 1787 gave a governor and some laws for the land now known as the State of Ohio. The first settlement in the Northwest Territory was made at Marietta in 1788. The second settlement was at Cincinnati in 1789 and the third at Manchester in 1791. This last settlement was made by General Nathaniel Massie and twenty or thirty white families. At this time the Indians were causing much trouble for the settlers, and it was necessary to enclose the settlement with a stockade. In 1794 General Anthony Wayne defeated the Indians at Greenville.

he first county formed in Ohio was Washington in 1788. Then Hamilton County, including the town of Cincinnati, was formed in 1790. The third was Wayne in 1795. The fourth was Adams County formed July 10, 1797, with Manchester as the county seat. It was named for John Adams who was then President of the United States. It included at that time all of Pike, Ross, Fayette, Pickaway, Madison, Franklin, Union, and Delaware Counties and parts of twelve other counties. The population of the Northwest Territory by the end of 1798 was five thousand men. It contained eight counties.

The first road in Ohio was authorized by congress in May, 1796. In 1797 Ebenezer Zane, his brother, and son-in-law marked the new road, passing through Zanesville, Lancaster and Chillicothe on the general route of the Maysville-Chillicothe Pike. It went west and north of West Union. In general, it followed Route 41 as far as Bainbridge.

In 1798 mail was carried over this route. It was probably the first mail route in Ohio. In 1797 Treber’s Inn was built along this route north of West Union and near Dunkinsville. It was a log house, weather-boarded in 1831. Many famous men, including General Jackson and Henry Clay, have stayed there. Treber’s Inn was also a station of the “Underground Railroad” during the Civil War.

In 1803 Ohio became a state—the seventeenth to be admitted. Edward Tiffin was its first governor. In 1807-1808, Thomas Kirker from Adams County was governor.

Franklin Township

In 1798 James Horn settled in Franklin Township, one mile south of Locust Grove. Peter Platter and Peter Wickerham also located in the vicinity. Mr. Wickerham operated the first hotel in the township. Curtis Cannon settled in the vicinity of the village of Locust Grove about 1811 and kept a hotel there.

He also built a tannery, the first in this part of the country. His son, Urban W. Cannon, built a hotel about 1830 and planted a locust grove opposite the Eylar home. This was in the days of stage coaching and General Jackson more than once stayed at this hotel on his way to and from Washington, D.C. The first store house was built and kept by Mr. Cannon about 1833 or 1834.

Palestine, about one and one-half miles south of Locust Grove, was laid out by Peter Wickerham in 1837. It contained a few dwelling houses, a small store, wagon shop and a blacksmith shop. One of the oldest houses in this part of the country is the one which was the home of Peter Wickerham and is now occupied by Mrs. Floy Giffin and Mr. and Mrs. Russell Webb. It was in the process of being built in 1800 and was completed by 1804. The brick was burned at Marble Furnace and hauled by ox-cart to its present site. Its present owners are descendants of the builder. In the early days when Indians still lived in the territory, they came hunting for food. Mrs. Peter Wickerham and her children were all alone when the Indians gave the war whoop. Mrs. Wickerham, fearful for the lives of her children, pulled fresh loaves of bread from the hearth. The Indians, snatching them with delight, left all unharmed.

The house later was used for an inn. The stagecoach stopped here on its way from Maysville, Kentucky, to Chillicothe, Ohio’s first capital. At one time the mail carrier of a large pay roll disappeared. Years later when the house was being remodeled and the basement enlarged, the body of a man was uncovered. A full length slab of cut limestone had been placed over his body.

Meigs Township

In 1806 Meigs Township was organized. It was named in honor of Governor Return J. Meigs. Elections were ordered held at the home of Peter Wickerham. Wheat, corn, cattle, and hogs were raised. Iron ore was found in considerable quantities in the township. Its name had once been Iron Ridge. The ore was smelted at Steam Furnace. The furnace was in active operation from 1814 until 1839. It was operated by steam and produced holloware. In 1815 Jacksonville was named by William Thomas in honor of the “Hero of New Orleans.” It later had a post office, and the name changed to Dunbarton in honor of James Dunbar. In 1880 it had two dry goods stores, two blacksmith shops, one wagon and buggy shop, one tannery, one shoe shop, one hotel, two doctors, a Methodist church and a population of one hundred forty inhabitants.

In 1819 James Kirkpatrick laid out the town of Newport. At that time the post office was at Marble Furnace which was a flourishing town several miles away. Wm. H. McAdow conducted a store in Newport in 1843. The post office was established in 1868 or 1869. It was called Wilson Post Office in honor of John T. Wilson, a member of Congress from this district. At the present time it is called Lawshe. It was probably named for an assistant Postmaster General of the United States.

Mineral Springs can boast of once having had a church, a school, two general stores, a township house, two outstanding hotels, two bowling alleys, a dance hall, a post office, and several dwellings. People came to these hotels from many sections of the United States. Visitors were registered even from far away California.

The chief drawing factor of this once-noted place was the supposedly medicinal water of the past-famous springs. The two men who had much to do with making the name of Mineral Springs great were Smith Grimes and A. C. Bader. The two merchants were J.H. Reed and Homer Butz.

Bratton Township

In 1811 on the banks of Brush Creek Governor McArthur and Thomas James built a furnace for smelting iron ore. Because of a kind of rock resembling marble which was quarried in the process of building the furnace, the settlement was known as Marble Furnace. At one time six hundred men were employed in all the various labors necessary to the operation of the furnace. It was in use until about 1833. At one time there was a post office at the settlement. There were also a foundry, a mill, a shoe shop and the Church of the Brethern.

In 1838 Dr. Gustin laid out the village of Louisville. James McAdow was its first postmaster. The post office was called Gustin. It also had a store, a Methodist Church and a school. The church was first built in 1848. A frame building was constructed in 1866.

History of Peebles

On the tenth day of January, 1883, the iron horse steamed up the grade, and the shrill whistle warned the farmers that the Cincinnati, Portsmouth and Virginia Railroad was at last completed. The conductor, Billy Kane, called to the passengers, “Pee-bles, Peebles.” At this time the only building were the Grimes homestead owned by Isaiah Custer, the old Frost homestead south of the railroad, and a planked-up boarding house located south of the railroad. This building was built by the railroad company for its workers. George Sexton was the carpenter. Mr. Custer sold lots from the Grimes farm. On one of these lots a saloon was built. The proprietors were Moses Barney and G. W, Hedges. Mr. Askren later bought the building for a dwelling.

J. W. Davis, a merchant of Locust Grove, rented a room in the Grimes house and opened a dry goods and grocery store with M. F. Clark as clerk. This Grimes home stood where the home of John Green now stands. Mr. Clark soon tired of the business and F. T. Davis took charge of Mr. J. W. Davis’s store.

In the beginning the railroad was a narrow gauge road. In 1885 it was changed as far as Peebles to a standard gauge. A turntable and transfer station were made here. Trains often remained several hours, overnight or even days. Many laborers were needed to handle the freight in transferring it. The hotels did a thriving business. Besides the Nixon House operated by David Nixon, there were the Matthews House owned by John Matthews and the Bank Hotel run by Caroline Thompson and later known as the Crawford House. The Matthews House stood where Neil and Breslau’s building is now located. It housed a saloon in the basement. The Bank Hotel stood where the Mound Theater is located now.

After the boom period came a dull and slow time. Not many buildings were being built, the streets were muddy and there were no sidewalks. The citizens incorporated the village and set to work to make plank and sawed-stone walks and other improvements. In December, 1886, a meeting was held for the purpose of electing officers for the village. John Cline was elected first mayor. The first councilmen were David Nixon, J. D. Platter, G. W. Minnich, J. F. Suffron and J. M. Wittenmyer.

In 1884 and 1885 a revival meeting was conducted by Rev. Jonathan Verity, a Methodist minister of the Cincinnati Conference. At the close of the meeting plans were made for organizing a church and building a house for the meetings. When the church was dedicated in the spring of 1887, a group known as the Purtee School House Society, under the leadership of Mrs. S. J. McMillen, came in as members. This made a total membership at the time of more than fifty members. In 1894 a parsonage was begun. The church property has been remodeled twice.

About 1888 a United Presbyterian Church was organized and a building constructed at North Main Street, The church was disbanded a few years ago.

In 1898 the Church of Christ was organized and a church building began on Vine Street near the school building. In later years a Church of Christ in Christian Union built a church in the east end of town on the Portsmouth Pike. More recently a Pilgrim Holiness Church was built in the southeastern section of the town.

In 1892 the Bank of Peebles was organized. The members were Hon. W. A. Blair, John J. Blair and Dr. J. S. Berry of Peebles, and Auditor J. M. Wittenmyer of West Union. They constructed the building now occupied by the Columbus and Southern Ohio Electric Company. Later, in 1917, the partners built a new building on the corner of Main and Walnut Streets. In April, 1933, it was closed by President Roosevelt when he declared the bank holiday. It was not reopened. Its assets were liquidated and depositors paid. A second banking institution was organized in 1907. The Farmers Bank and Saving Company is still in operation.

There were many partnerships formed and businesses begun in the early days of Peebles. Robert Colter had a dry goods store and grocery where Schwartz’s store is now located. J. W. Yankee operated a drug store first in the Matthews House by the railroad and later in 1890 in the Berry building where the Moore’s store is at the present time. C. O. Ralston operated a pharmacy in 1897 in a building located where Dr. Patterson has his dentist’s office. Gallagher’s livery stable was built by Marion Dunlap and later owned by Greenbury Gallagher. It was opened in 1884. It burned in 1887 and was rebuilt the same year. It was located on Main Street where the Kroger store is now. In 1888 J. M. Tracy opened another livery stable where Sypher’s agency is located. In 1888 D. I. Gardner started his picture gallery. At first only tintypes were made. In 1891 Cutler and Baker built where Arnold Chevrolet Sales is located. The first floor was used for a store. The second story was a hall for entertainments. The first show was home talent. Some of the early commencements were held in this hall.

This firm was followed by Watts and Company who later moved to the corner of Main and Walnut Streets. Watts and Company engaged in the mercantile business in 1892. Davis and Nixon’s clothing business was established in 1893. The building, which now houses the Schwartz’s store and Wallingford’s furniture store, was built by Davis and Nixon.

Wickerham and Belleson operated a general merchandising store where the Western Auto Supply Company is now located. They then built a larger brick building where Dumenil Drug store now stands. J. D. Platter at one time operated a hardware store on the Rotroff corner. In 1890 C. N. Gray and his brother manufactured stirrups by steam. This shop was located where the gymnasium now stands. The brothers employed eight men. Their product was shipped to all parts of the United States and into Europe. J. K. Ely came to Peebles in 1889 and manufactured fine chairs and furniture of all patterns. His well-equipped shop was located on Walnut Street.

J. H. Young operated a harness shop which was later purchased in 1896 by O. E. Custer for the manufacture of harnesses, whips, saddles, and robes. Ben Suffron established a sawmill and foundry at Marble Furnace, which he operated until 1885. He moved the plant to Peebles and took his son, C. E. Suffron, into the partnership with him. This property was destroyed by fire in 1897 but was rebuilt immediately. This property is the one lately occupied by Pixley Tractor Sales. The Peebles Mills were operated by Custer Brothers. Mr. D. B. Thompson was employed by them in 1893.

J. R. B. Kessler located in Peebles in 1891. he was an early mayor of Peebles, a noted lawyer and later held important county offices.

In 1885 a Knights of Phythias Lodge was organized and the second floor of Platter’s hardware Store was used for a hall. The Masonic Lodge or F. and A. M. was formed November 22, 1898. In December, 1916, the Eastern Star Lodge was organized. They are still very active organizations. They own the Temple located on Main and Walnut Streets. The first floor formerly housed the Bank of Peebles.

In 1896 the Magazine Club was organized. In 1931 the library was organized by the club. It was supported by donations, food markets and other similar means of raising funds. First aid from county intangible tax came in August, 1936. This is still the means of support. Two checks from the county auditor are received each year. It is a unit in the state library organization, and it records are audited by a state inspector at regular intervals.

In 1908 the Shakespeare Club was organized. Many interesting literary works and worthwhile courses of study have been on its programs. The Magazine Club and Shakespeare Club are very active organizations.

In 1900 the first fair was held under the directorship of John R. Thomas. It was held one mile west of Peebles on the Henry Custer farm. It was held yearly for several years on the farm now owned by Dr. F. P. Pieper. In 1905 the first Chautauqua program was held in the woods in the southwest section of town. These programs continued until the early 1920’s.

In 1906 the first big fire in Peebles destroyed much of West Main Street near the depot. It destroyed the Rucker Newspaper Office, Gaffin and Sparks Livery Barn, the Vernon Hotel, Custer’s Harness Shop, a tobacco barn and the depot. When the depot was rebuilt, it was located at its present site. The second fire came in 1908. It burned everything from the corner of Main and Church Streets to the bank building now occupied by the offices of Columbus and Southern Ohio Electric Company. It burned the Gallagher Livery Barn, Wickerham and Belleson’s building, Swisshelm’s store, Cutler and Baker’s Hall, Dr. Berry’s office and other smaller shops. In a short time, the east side of North Main Street burned. This fire did not burn as many buildings as the other two had done. In 1910 the King Lumber Company was destroyed by fire.

In 1936 work was begun on a waterworks system. This was followed in 1939 by the Sewage Disposal Plant.

Peebles, in 1953, is a busy little town, the center of a prosperous farming community. It is connected by good, hard-surfaced roads with the other parts of the county and state. Route 41 passes through Peebles north and south on Main Street. This is crossed by Route 74, passing through the town east and west. Heavy trucks furnish transportation for the sale of farm products and the large quantities of fertilizer, feed, farm machinery, food supplies and manufactured articles of all kinds needed by the town community. The railroad, now the Norfolk and Western, is still an important asset to the town.

The population of Peebles in 1950 was one thousand four hundred ninety-two, The town has many merchandising establishments dealing in farm supplies, feeds, and machinery, clothing, groceries, drugs, automobiles, lumber, furniture, electrical supplies which are needed to furnish fuel for the many cars, trucks and the tractors which are the chief means of power on the farms today.

East of town is the Basic Products Company which sells agricultural limestone and road building material.

The chief product of the farms in the area are whole milk, beef cattle, hogs, corn, wheat, hay, poultry products including eggs, broilers, turkeys, and hatching eggs. Tobacco is an important cash crop. Some sheep are raised. Quantities of lumber are cut from the wooded hill sections a few miles from Peebles.