OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 288 Today's Topics: #1 DARKE COUNTY PART 4 [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] #2 WILLIAM C. ELSTON - DARKE COUNTY [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Sun, 9 May 1999 18:53:20, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) Subject: DARKE COUNTY PART 4 HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF OHIO By Henry Howe, LL.D., 1898 We here make a valuable extract from the pen of Prof. W.H. McIntosh, in the "County History," relating to the climate when the country was in a wilderness condition, and the changes which the clearing away the forests have produced in the health of the people: Since the early settlement of Darke county occurring changes have greatly modified the climate, and to a less extent this is still in progress. The original forest, together with the undergrowth, shut out the sun from the soil and impeded atmospheric circulation. The almost monotonous level, receiving the winter snows and spring rains, retained the water through the summer, and thereby caused a moist, cool air. The forests broke the sweep of the cold northwest winds of winter, and the freezing of large, partly submerged tracts gave off a sufficient amount of heat to sensibly mitigate the cold incident to the season. The soil, bedded in leaves and vegetation, was greatly protected from the frost, and the warm air of spring speedily awakened the dormant germs of vegetation. It also, being protected by the overhanging foliage from the heat of summer, more readily experienced the influences of wind and frost, and hastened winter. The forests being gradually cut down to make room for cultivation, the land being thoroughly drained, these conditions have correspondingly changed. The earth now receives the sun-rays unobstructed; the air has free circulation. The tilied lands have been underdrained with tile and open ditches, thereby carrying away at once the melting snows of winter and the rains of spring, leaving little moisture to affect the climate by evaporation. The effect of this denuding and draining of the soil is seen in the great depth to which the summer's sun-rays penetrate, and as these rays are given off, the arrival of winter is proportionally delayed. But when the reserve of heat is exhausted the unprotected earth is deeply frozen, and from these conditions come later springs, warmer summers and delayed but more severe winters. An analysis of the climate of Darke county, according to the previous description, requires a consideration, also, of the situation of its land, and the direction and character of its winds. Located about midway between the Allegheny mountains and the Mississippi river there is observable a prevalence of westerly winds. This is explained by the enormous area of level lowlands whereon the atmosphere is influenced by the earth's rotary motion, causing it to move in westerly currents toward or from the equator. The west and northwest winds are mainly dry-air currents, so that although the annual rainfall is considerable, yet under their action the moisture is rapidly absorbed. Such conditions would inure to the productiveness of most soils, but in a good, rich soil, such as Darke county occupies, there is almost a certainty of ample and abundant crops. The average in the various seasons are, approximately, 31 degrees for winter, 57 degrees for spring, 74 degrees for summer, 52 degrees for autumn. The winter is long, and there are sudden changes from the mildness of spring to the most intense cold. These cold spells are rarely of more than seven or eight days' duration, and are generally preceded by storms of rain or snow. Rain falls almost nightly and for a day or so at a time during the spring, and the temperature fluctuates from the chill of winter to the warmth of summer. Following one of these changes summer comes and throughout is one of a tropical character. As fall draws near, the atmospheric conditions approach uniformity, and at this period Darke county is seen to the greatest advantage. Breathing an agreeable atmosphere, surrounded by healthful conditions, the beholder looks with pleasure upon the fields, the orchards and the gardens. Turning to the woodlands, he sees the maples, elms and oaks in holiday attire, preparing for their period of rest. There is every hue and all shades of color. The winds toy with the branches; the sunlight is all about them; some are darkened as in shadow, others are brilliant in the glow of light, and all about there are seen bluish, smoke-like mists, completing nature's finest portraiture of the forest in the fall-time arrayed in splendor. The health of the settler and of the later residents has been subjected to the mutations affecting the climate. In the low swamps miasma prevailed; the action of the sun upon the decaying vegetation opened by the clearing and stirred by the plow, induced fevers and chills, and there were few that did not at times, succumb to these disorders. The healthy and hardy entered into the struggle with nature courageously and joyously. Labor had its zest, and food and sleep were most refreshing, but there were many who struggled on under the depression and hindrances of sickness. As settlers came in and clearing took greater sweep, sickness became more general, or at least more apparent, and when Drs. Perrine and Briggs came to Greenville, they found constant employment in attending to the calls of the sick. Fever and ague prevailed, and few, if any, families but had some sick members. Not then, as now was quinine available -not even known -and the popular remedies were dog-wood and wildcherry bark steeped in native whiskey. Slow progress was made for a time as men became disheartened, left the county and circulated reports that were not only true, but sadly true, of an irreclaimable wilderness of morass and swamp, the haunt of pestiferous agues and consuming fevers. It is a fact that very few of the pioneers of Darke held on through all vicissitudes. From 1820 to 1840 the doctors were all kept busy attending to the sick, so prevalent were ague, flux and bilious fever at certain seasons of the year. The years 1836 and 1837 were comparatively healthy; the year following was more sickly, and 1839 still more so, and from that time till 1850 there were more or less of bilious complaints every season. Since that date both towns and country have been generally healthy. As an illustration of the desperation to which the medical treatment subjected patients, we relate an incident in the practice of Dr. Gard, one of the veteran physicians of the early days. He was called in, as family physician, to minister to the wants of a sick child. Cold water was forbidden, and calomel, as was usual, was administered. The doctor then retired, with promise of a return the next day. Cold water was barred; the boy begged for a drink, but entreated in vain, as the doctor's orders were immutable law. He then restored to strategy. Feigning a desire for rest and repose, the family retired to permit their indulgence. Soon heavy breathing announced that all were asleep, and the patient arose from bed, staggered to the water-bucket, and, to his dismay, found it empty. This discovery would have been hailed with imprecations that would have roused all in the house had not the necessity of the case demanded control. Water must be had, although the spring was at quite a distance. The coffee-pot was found and the patient set out to assuage his consuming thirst. He rested several times in the wet grass, but finally arrived at the spring, drank heartily, and, undiscovered, returned to his bed, having placed the well-fitted coffee-pot at his bedside. This was two-thirds emptied before this suicidal act was known, when the doctor was hurriedly summoned and stood with astonished and ominous look, awaiting serious results that did not happen. In a few days the patient had recovered. Dr. Gard was as skillful as the best, and did his duty, but the practice of that day had its rigors. Rich as the land was, it could not produce money, and this must be had to meet payments and taxes. Clearing, aside from small patches, had no stimulus. Of what avail were bins of corn and wheat, and droves of swine, without a purchaser or market, and of markets there were none. Having sufficient bread and meat all were satisfied, and they shared freely with each other and with strangers. Wheat was worth about two shillings per bushel, and corn changed hands at about one-half that price. The current prices fluctuated with the supply; and it was a gratification when a newspaper for the first time made it appearance and obtained general circulation in the county. It was published at Eaton, Preble county, and subscription was paid in corn at fifteen cents per bushel. Pork was sold, when it could be sold, at two and three cents a pound; beef brought about the same price; maple sugar was held at six and eight cents per pound, and maple syrup at about two shillings a gallon. Wages ranged from two or three shillings a day, and this was regarded as an average of compensation. Had some wealthy man bought large tracts and taken steps to develop the capacity of the land, there were many who would have gladly offered their services; but improvement in wages, prices and health were yet far in the future, and this border life between the civilized and the savage had few attractions such as society affords. ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 9 May 1999 18:53:11, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) Subject: WILLIAM C. ELSTON - DARKE COUNTY A PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF DELAWARE AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES, IND. A.W. Bowen & Co., 1894 - Page 1359-1360 WILLIAM C. ELSTON, a prominent citizen and business man of Union City, Ind., was born in Darke county, Ohio, May 19, 1839, and was reared on a farm in his native county. He attended the common schools until fifteen years of age, and later on was a student for two years at Liber college. After leaving college he taught school and worked on the home farm until twenty-one years old, and then turned his attention to agriculture on his own account, having a tract of 280 acres, 210 acres of which were improved. In the latter part of 1860, he began to ship live stock to the eastern markets -cattle and hogs, but chiefly the latter -and so continued in Darke county Ohio, until 1890, when he came to Indiana and took up his residence in Union City, bought an interest in the Union City Carriage works, and has since been president and treasurer of the company. Mr. Elston had also become interested in the Second National bank of Greenville, Ohio, before he left Darke county, was one of its original stockholders, and for five years has been one of its leading directors. Mr. Elston was most happily married, in 1860, to Miss Elizabeth, the amiable daughter of Hon. James and Margaret (Wilson) Griffis, Mr. Griffis having formerly been a representative from Randolph county. This union has been blessed by the birth of three daughters, viz; Ida, wife of D. H. Shively, a farmer of Darke county, Ohio; Ketta, married to Boyce Eidson, also a farmer of Darke county, and Maggie, still unmarried. Levi Elston, the grandfather of our subject, came from New Jersey, was a farmer, and settled in Darke county, Ohio, about 1820, when there were but few settlements in the neighborhood of Greenville, and there died a few years later, leaving a family of five sons, and five daughters. George Elston, the father of William C., was the third son of Levi, and married Elizabeth Cole, daughter of Samuel Cole, of Darke county, Ohio. Mr. Cole was also a native of New Jersey, from the same neighborhood with Levi Elston. George Elston was the father of two sons and two daugh ters, viz: William C., the subject proper of this sketch; Samuel, a farmer of southern Ills.; Catherine, wife of I.W. Swell, of Union City, and Harriet, wife of John W. Griffis of Strong City, Kans. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #288 *******************************************