Newton County

One of the most noted and far-reaching laws enacted by the legislature of 1853 was the adoption of what was known as the free banking law. Under its provisions, any person or persons depositing with the secretary of state bonds of any state in the union, were authorized to issue currency for an equal amount. The object of many of the founders of banks under this law was to establish them as far away from the lines of travel as possible and put the money into circulation at points far distant from the banks of issue. As Morocco was then […]

The early settler in Newton county, though deprived of any near source of supplies, found no difficulty in finding support for himself and family. A newcomer brought with him a limited supply of flour, coffee, tea and sugar. With this stock as a basis, he found it possible to furnish his table with all he needed. Deer were found in great abundance, as well as almost all other kinds of game, such as geese, brant, ducks, prairie chickens — in fact, in that early day this part of the country was a perfect Indian and hunter’s paradise. And for many

As this history was prepared for the members of my family and my more intimate friends, I hope I will be permitted to touch upon matters that might seem out of place in a book addressed to the general public. I was married to Adaline W. Bush at Cheviot, Ohio, then a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 20, 1851, by Thomas Wells, Esq., a personal friend of both my wife and myself. Until the early part of 1853, I lived at and kept the old toll-gate between Cheviot and Cincinnati. At that time I received a request from Ayres