Clark County, Ohio

History and Genealogy



Selection of County Seat


From 20th Century History of Springfield and Clark County, Ohio by Hon. William A. Rockel
Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co., 1908


The establishment of Clark County from the counties of Greene, Champaign and Clark. was not the only question that the Legislature had to contend with at the time the county was organized. Quite a settlement had grown up on and near the location of the Indian village of Piqua. This town was called New Boston, and it was a formidable rival to Springfield in the settlement of the county seat of Clark County.

General Keifer informs me that it lacked but two votes of being chosen as the seat of justice for our county, so we can well understand what a slight circumstance, such as two votes, might have changed the destiny of our now thriving city of Springfield. Chosen as it was, the county seat, the people of Springfield had a double reason to be grateful and thankful for what the Legislature had then done.

In Mr. Martin's history of Springfield, it is said, "It will be sufficient to state here that the accomplishment of this advanced movement was due largely to the efforts of Madox Fisher, who as a successful lobbyist visited Chillicothe, where the legislature was in session, and by persuasive effort finally succeeded in having the bill passed which only provided that Springfield should be the county seat. "When he returned from Chillicothe with news of the successful measure he was received with shouts of gratification.

As a reward for his efforts, Madox Fisher was appointed post-master, which at that time was an office more of honor than of profit.

That some must die that others may live is well illustrated in the fate of New Boston. It now exists not even in the memory of the present generation. By looking upon the map of Clark County gotten out by Colonel Kizer in 1850, it will be seen that this village is platted along Mad River, about ½ or ¾ of a mile on this side of what is now known as Snyders Station, and where the Valley Pike leaves the banks of Mad River toward the west.







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