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pg 209.
"The first settlement was a nucleus around which others were rapidly formed. In March, 1818, John, Richard, Samuel, Zachariah, William and Jesse Cleavenger, Isaac Allen, John Hutchings, Lewis, Samuel, and Jacob Tarwater, James Wells, and William R Blythe (a trapper), settled in Fishing river bottom, in the southwestern part of the county. They, too, were all from middle and east Tennessee. ...
"John Cleavenger was the first settler between his house and the Iowa line. He afterwards became a justic o fthe [sic] peace; served two years as sheriff, and from 1856-1858, represented the county in the state general assembly. He was a worthy and useful citizen, and many of his descendants are yet living in this county.
"Jesse Cleavenger lost his life by falling from a second story window of a farm house, in which religious services were being held when the accident occurred."
pg 210.
"James Wells was appointed, by the first state legislature, one of the commisioners to locate the permanent seat of justice of Ray county."
pg 217.
"Isaac Martin, James Wells, John Harris, John Turner, and Jonathan Liggett were appointed by the legislature commissioners, "with full power and authority to point out and fix upon the most suitable place in the county of Ray, whereon to erect a court house and jail;" and the place they, or a majority of them, selected was to be the permanent seat of justice for said county of Ray. The act provided that the first courts of the county should be holden at the town of Bluffton, unless the commissioners should previously point out another place for holding said courts."
pg 231.
"Pursuant to this proclamation, the circuit court convened in Richmond, for the first time, Thursday, March 19, A. D., 1829. David Todd was still judge; George Woodward, clerk; Larkin Stanley, sheriff.
"The following persons were on the grand jury: |
