DARKE COUNTY OHIO - HISTORY: PART 3 (Howe, Henry LL. D. 1898) 
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HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF OHIO, By Henry Howe, LL.D., 1898

        In the graveyard at Greenville lies the remains of ENOCH BERRY
SEITZ, one of the greatest mathematicians of his time on the globe, and
withal a man of singular modesty and amiability of character. He died in
Missouri in 1883, aged thirty-seven, and was brought here for burial,
because he had been a teacher here for a number of years, was endeared to
the people, and this was the home of his wife. He was born near Lancaster,
Fairfield county, the son of a farmer, and early displayed great aptness
for mathematics. He graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan University in 1870. His
friend, Prof. John S. Royer, wrote of him:
        "Having a special fondness for mathematics, he devoted his leisure
hours to the broad fields and hidden beauties of its higher branches,
delving deep into the mine of original investigation, and astonishing the
world by the aptness with which he unfolded the beautiful and mysterious
relations of numbers.
        Years ago he was a subscriber to the School-day Magazine, which had
a mathematical department, edited by the great mathematician, Artemus
Martin. He displayed great ingenuity and ability in solving difficult
probability problems, and when asked what works he had on that difficult
branch of mathematical science, Mr. Seitz, to the great astonishment of his
friend, replied: 'I have no books on that subject, but what I know of it I
learned by studying the problems and solutions in your magazine.' Here was
the secret of his success. He first studied the principle -laid a sure
foundation, upon which he afterward reared the magnificent edifice. He
furnished over 500 model solutions to the School Visitor, which evinced
those striking characteristics of his mathematical work -originality,
accuracy, and beauty. Many readers have gathered inspiration and taste for
the science by his labor of love in this behalf. He was also a regular
contributor to the Analyst, the mathematical Visitor,
 and the Educational Times, of London, England.
        The latter has a department sustained by the greatest
mathematicians in Europe and America. In this everything is found
starlight, but our lamented friend represented a most brilliant star,
standing upon the eminent plane side by side with Woolhouse, England's
acknowledged mathematical champion, and in his especial branches -'Average'
and 'Probabilities' -Prof. Seitz had no superior in the world." In 1880 he
was elected a member of the London Mathematical Society, being the fifth
American so honored. At the time of his decease he was Professor of
Mathematics at the State Normal School, Kirkersville, Mo. He died young,
but the work he accomplished remains, and endearing monument of fame and honor.
        During the years 1827 and 1828 John H. Martin and Thomas F.
Chenowith, by the aid of two four-horse teams, transported all of the
products marketed in the county to Cincinnati, and brought back about all
of the merchandise sold in the county. In 1886 they were both living, and
at the age of about eighty years. The following items are from the "County
History:"

        INDIAN TRADING. -The first permanent white settler in Darke county
was Azor Scribner, who in 1806 or 1807 established an Indian trading house
in Greenville township. His goods were hauled from Cincinnati along Wayne's
road by a yoke of oxen attached to a rough sled denominated a mud boot, and
a trip usually occupied from three to six weeks. He exchanged his good for
furs and did a thriving business. The manner of trading has thus been
described. The Indians bringing with them their roll of furs, walked into
the cabin and found seats, while each was presented with a small piece of
tobacco. Pipes were lighted, and the residue was placed in pouches. After
some time passed in smoking and talking among themselves, one arose, went
to the counter, and taking up a yard-stick, pointed out the article wanted
and asked the price.
        Payment being made in skins, there was to each kind a recognized
value. The muskrat was held at a quarter, the raccoon at a third, a doe at
the half, and a buckskin at a dollar. Payment was made following each
purchase, until all exchanges were effected. As each retired another came
forward in his turn until all had traded. No one desired to anticipate his
turn, decorum was observed, and no attempt was made to "beat down," for, if
not satisfied, another article was pointed out and named. It is reported
that Scribner not only sold the Indians tobacco, but rum, and they
generally reserved some of their furs with which to procure liquor for a
final frolic.
        In the winter of 1807-8 Samuel Boyd moved in with his family, and
in 1810 the three Rush brothers and some others. A year later the Indians
became hostile and committed some murders. Prior to the war of 1812 several
dwellings and four blockhouses were erected in Greenville. Among those who
were killed by the Indians was Andrew Rush. One day in April, 1812, while
going to mill through the wilderness, he stopped at the cabin of Mr. Daniel
Potter, when Mrs. Potter asked him if he was not afraid of the Indians
waylaying and killing him. Upon this he laughed, and running his hand
through his hair jokingly replied: "No, I had my wife this morning cut my
hair so short that they could not get my scalp off." That afternoon he was
shot from his horse, tomahawked and scalped.
        THE FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE. -So slow was the settlement of the county,
that in 1824 there were entire townships that did not contain a single
inhabitant. There were but two meeting-houses, one a Methodist, the other a
Hardshell Baptist. The roads of the county consisted of the old war traces
of St. Clair and Wayne, some Indian paths and some few other tracts cut by
the early settlers. Educational advantages in town and county were for many
years quite limited. There were a few rude school-houses widely scattered,
and these were occupied three months of each winter by teachers whose
qualifications better adapted them for burning brick than solving problems
in mathematics, and consequently there was little learned. Schools were
taught by subscription.
        Settlers built houses as they were needed. Many settlers had large
families -as many as ten children were found in a single cabin -and to
provide for the future of these young people, the parents came to this
county. There was always work to be done, and the services of all hands
were needed; it was only during the winter months that schools could be
attended. At these only the elementary branches were taught, and the
predominant idea of the school-master was discipline first, learning
afterward. No grammar nor geography was taught. Few studied arithmetic, and
these did not proceed much beyond the rudiments; and when at length grammar
was introduced, such pupils were thought well advanced.
        In any locality, whenever sufficient families had moved in to form
a school, the settlers stood ready to build a house and engage a teacher.
Tall, strapping youths attended school, and the master had need of decision
and courage as well as method and erudition. It was the custom for the
person applying for the school to call upon the parties within sending
distance and canvass, for scholars. If enough were secured school opened.
An illustration of the old-time method is given as follows: About the year
1815 a man came into the Rush neighborhood and offered his services as a
teacher. The settlers located along Mud creek, West Branch and Bridge creek
talked the matter over and concluded to employ him. It was a light labor
for all to turn out with axes, handspikes and oxen, upon a day appointed,
to chop and draw logs to a chosen site for the purpose of putting up a
school-house. The location was near Rush Fort, on Mud creek. While some put
up round logs, notched down one layer u
pon another, until they were of sufficient elevation to form a story, split
clasp-boards for the roof, chamber floor and door, and puncheons for the
floor, others drew stone for the fireplace and prepared sticks and mud for
the chimney. The floor being laid, next came the desks and the seats. Large
holes were bored in a log on each side of the room, wooden pins were driven
in and a slab or unplaned plank laid on these pins. For seats holes were
bored in puncheons and legs driven in, two at each end. Windows were made
by cutting out a log nearly the whole length of the house, leaving a hole a
foot wide. Into this was foiled a sort of lattice-work of sticks, and upon
this greased paper was pasted to transmit the light. Such was the
school-house of sixty-five years ago. It was not much of a structure, but
there was no great contrast between it and the homes of the builders. There
was no lack of ventilation, and the wood was not too long for the fireplace.
        LOVE-MAKING AND MARRIAGE. - The arrival of a family occasioned
eager inquiry by the young men as to whether there were any marriageable
daughters of the number. The demand was in excess of the supply. The same
maiden had sometimes several suitors; this involved the delicate matter of
rejection as well as choice.
        Sometimes the girls were betrothed before leaving home, and a
knowledge of this fact caused disappointment. For a long time after the
first settlement of the county the people generally married young. The
parties differed little in fortune, and none in rank. First impressions of
love resulted in marriage, and a family establishment cost only a little labor.
        The marriage ceremony was arranged to take place before dinner,
which was a substantial feast of beef, pork, fowls, and sometimes venison
and bear meat, roasted and boiled, with abundance of potatoes and other
vegetables. Dinner was free from formality, and a time for mirth and
enjoyment. There was dancing after dinner. "The figures of the dance were
three and four handed reels or square sets and jigs. The commencement was
always a square four, which was followed by what was called jigging it off;
that is, two of the four would single out for a jig, and were followed out
by the remaining couple. The jigs were often accompanied with what was
called cutting out, that is, when either of the parties tired of the dance,
on intimation the place was supplied by some one of the company without any
interruption to the dance. In this way the amusement was often continued
till the musician was heartily tired of the situation."
        Among marriages in pioneer days was that of Ullry to his brother's
widow; they had lived together some time during the inoperative period
before the election of justices and when a justice was chosen they were
legally married. In a spirit of jovialty a party of young people, being
resolved to have a marriage, seized upon a man named Israel Wertz and
fitted him out with a suit. One of the party furnished leggins, another
some other article of dress until he was properly clothed, and then calling
upon a woman named Jane Dugan, asked her if she was willing to marry Wertz.
She replied affirmatively, and they all started for the house of Alexander
Smith, a justice of peace who lived east of Greenville. Wertz repented and
broke away, upon which a dog was set after him, and he was caught and held.
The ceremony was then performed, and the twain thus singularly made one
lived many years together happily, and both finally died of old age.
        At this date the only article of export from the county was
hoop-poles. During the winter the principal employment of farmers was
wagoning these hoop-poles to Germantown, Middletown, Lewisburg, etc. and by
this means they were enabled measurably to supply themselves with salt,
groceries, leather and other necessaries. This supplied the people with
ready money. The county-seat had only about 300 people, many very poor
finding it hard work to get a living.


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