graded schools. Delphi has a population of over two thousand, and is the largest town in the county. Its school facilities are excelled nowhere in the State.

CHAPTER LXIV.

SWITZERLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

THE

HE first settlement within the limits of Switzerland, of which any definite account can be obtained, was made by Heathcoat Picket, who settled above Plum creek, about three miles above Vevay, in 1795, where he built a cabin and remained for several years. There being an abundance of game, his family were always supplied with meat. The bread was made from corn ground in a hand mill. The family consisted of the father, mother, two sons, and one daughter. They all endured severe privations, and often narrowly escaped the dreaded tomahawk of the treacherous savages. In 1798 the Cotton and Deckason families settled on Indian creek, about three miles from the Ohio river, some distance from Vevay. In 1799 Robert Gullion settled in the Ohio river bottom, above the mouth of Loglick creek.

In 1796 John James Dufour, a native of Switzerland, Europe, explored the country along the Ohio river between Cincinnati and Louisville, seeking a suitable location for the future homes of himself, his son, four brothers, three sisters, and a few of their associates who were desirous of coming to America to introduce the cultivation of the vine. He finally located between Indian and Plum creeks, and entered, under a special act of congress, about three thousand acres of land, at two dollars per acre, with interest, on a credit of twelve years -the extended credit being given for the purpose of encouraging the cultivation of the vine and making domestic wine.

"The colonists, numbering seventeen souls, embarked for the United States in January, 1801, and landed at Norfolk, Virginia, in May of the same year. They began arriving at their destination, New Switzerland — the name given to their new settlement-in 1803, and by 1809 they had built comfortable log houses, cleared considerable land, planted orchards and vineyards, and commenced making considerable quantities of wine, which in the market was always known as 'Vevay wine"."

In November, 1813, John Francis Dufour and Daniel Dufour laid out the town of Vevay-the lots being sold at public sale. This sale was quite successful, many persons from neighboring settlements being present and purchasing liberally. In the spring of 1814 persons from Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York commenced settling in the new town. The site of the town, for the most part, was lying in a very heavy timbered tract of land, and it required much hard work to clear off the timber and build houses. The county was organized in 1814, and the county seat was located at Vevay.

The hardships of the early settlers of Switzerland county may be imagined, from the fact that from 1803 to 1813 the settlers within the limits of the county were in continual dread of being attacked and massacred by bands of hostile Indians. As a means for better protection against surprise by the Indians, several families would meet at night at the house of one of the number, and while the women and children and part of the men retired to rest, part of the men kept watch with loaded guns. Through these precautions, but few, if any, persons ever met their death at the hands of hostile Indians in that county.

Immediately after the organization of the county it began to increase in population, and from 1816 to 1822 towns were laid out in different parts of the county, and the general scene was that of activity, industry and thrift. In 1815 James McIntire laid out the town of Erin, opposite Carrollton, Ky., but was unsuccessful in his attempts to attract population at that point. In 1816 Peter Demaree laid out the town of Allensville, which for some time promised to become an important point. It is now a pleasant village. Thus we might

name several towns that were laid out in that county in 181617-18, etc. In short, its progress was fully up to the best counties in the State.

The farmers of the county are a very industrious, moral, hard-working people; most of them have gained an independence, and are now enjoying the fruits of their labors, having excellent residences, while their children enjoy the best of schools. Hay is the great staple of the county, and has been exported with great profit. The county is well timbered with the very best quality of wood, and the farmer has all the opportunities and advantages for success. Switzerland county has not increased in population as rapidly as in wealth. Its villages are all established on a firm footing, and its commerce and agriculture are exceedingly prosperous.

CHAPTER LXV.

OHIO COUNTY HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

HIO county contains eighty-seven square miles, or 55,680 acres of territory. Of this, 54,750 acres are tillable. The general character of the land is rolling, and in some parts broken by ranges of hills; these, however, are not so high or so steep as to prevent cultivation. Many of these hill farms rival the bottom lands in fertility; "while the bottom farms, lying along the courses of the Ohio river, Laughery or Arnold's creeks, are fully equal to the far-famed Miami bottoms in richness." Some time previous to its settlement by Americans, the soil of Ohio county was the scene of a terrible massacre — that of. Colonol Laughery and his party, which occurred in 1781. Colonel Laughery, with a party of about one hundred men, was descending the Ohio, endeavoring to overtake and and re-enforce the celebrated General G. R. Clark, who was

then on an expedition against the western Indians. He was waylaid and surprised near Laughery creek, where he, with most of his men, were overpowered and massacred.

In the spring of 1798, Benjamin Chambers, a government officer, first planted his compass and carried his chain over the land on which now stands Rising Sun-the county seat of Ohio county. "This, together with several tracts which he surveyed, was granted to him and Lewis Davis by government, the patent bearing date of October twenty-first, 1807, and the signatures of Thomas Jefferson, president, and James Madison, secretary of state of the United States. In 1803 he had built a double log house, and moved his family out here the same year. In the same year, John Fulton and his son, with their families, emigrated here from Lancaster county, Pa. They bought land the following year from Benj. Chambers, and Samuel Fulton built a cabin on the river bank, near where the woolen factory now stands, in Rising Sun. The beautiful scenery of green and lofty hills, opening fields, giant forests, and winding river, presented an enchanted picture to his family. He was a pioneer of many excellent qualities, and noted for his daring skill as a hunter, simplicity of manners and integrity of character. He opened his house for the use of the Rev. James Kemper and Rev. David Riske to preach the gospel, from 1804 to 1808."* In 1799, Benj. Avery located on a tract of land bordering on the river, a half a mile above Rising Sun. In 1802, Thomas Fulton settled on the bank of Arnold's creek, on what is now known as the Nelson farm. The Indians encamped there often and held their councils, but they were seldom troublesome. In 1803, the Brown family began to settle in the county. First came Ethan Allen Brown. He and David Brown established the "old Brown homestead." Roger Brown, Jr., came in 1810, and the rest of the family in 1814. Ethan Allen Brown rose to honorable distinction in the civil service of his country. He became judge of the supreme court, governor of the State of Ohio, commissioner of the land office, senator of the United States, and minister to Brazil.

*From a sketch in State Atlas.

He died at Indianapolis, February twenty-fourth, 1852, aged seventy-six years.

The early settlement of Ohio county is-as also that of all other counties in the State -full of romance. In the winter of 1805, Samuel Fulton made a large party for his neighbors; Benj. Chambers, an invited guest, put his oxen to a large pirogue (a water craft, or dug-out), and, with all of his family and a few of his neighbors in it, gave them a merry sleigh-ride to the party. This was a common conveyance during the season of sleighing, in those early days of our history.

In 1817, an attempt was made to organize Ohio county, but the measure was not carried into effect until 1843. In December, 1844, the first court was held in Rising Sun - the latter place having been selected as the seat of justice for the county.

Rising Sun is situated upon the Ohio river, thirty-five miles from Cincinnati, Ohio, upon a high rolling table land; so high there is no possibility of an overflow from any rise in the river. A complete natural drainage is afforded. The city was first laid out in the spring of 1814, in a dense forest, which then covered its present site, by John James. Rising Sun was incorporated as a city by a special charter, in January, 1848, and has long been celebrated for its beautiful location, health, wide and pleasant streets, numerous shade trees, cozy and elegant residences, and congenial and intelligent inhabitants.

The land in Ohio county is very fertile, and well watered by numerous small streams. There are throughout the county numerous mounds, near which interesting relics of the "stone age" have been found.