Ghost Stories: The battle of Fort Dunn

Ladies and gentlemen, more than 140 years ago, a battle was being fought in uptown Hillsboro.

It was dubbed as a “War on Whiskey” and a “Fight of Faith.”

Earlier this month, we talked about how an army of women, led by Eliza Jane Trimble Thompson, “solemnly and unshrinkingly pledged themselves to each other, with God’s help, to overcome and vanquish the liquor-sellers with love and kindness alone.”

While the ladies led the charge, there were others who were backing the cause financially.

In the Jan. 29, 1874 edition of The Highland News, it was reported that a Hillsboro Temperance Guarantee Fund was established.

The article read, “We, the undersigned, do hereby pledge ourselves, in the sums set opposite our several names, as contributions to a Guarantee Fund, for the support of the women engaged in the cause of Temperance in the Town of Hillsboro, Ohio; and do promise to pay the same in such installments as may be called for by a Committee chosen by the members of the Women’s Temperance Association of this place, as now organized. Provided, that no assessment or call shall be made for the purchasing of any real estate. And provided also, that this article shall be and remain in force not longer than one year from this date: Jan. 20, 1874.

The undersigned included: H.S. Fullerton, who pledged $300; E.L Ferris, J. Sayler, A.G. Mathews, Samuel Amen, Asa Haynes, B.J. Harris, J.J. Brown, J.S. Black, W.H. Trimble, W.C. Barry, M.T. Nelson, E. Carson, Jason S. Ervin, Joseph Glascock, Mrs. A.F. Evans, William Scott, Thomas Barry, Hardin Roads, S.E. Hibben & son, W.H. Glenn, R.S. Evans, J.C. Gregg and Mrs. John A. Smith all pledged $200 to the cause; 69 folks, including John Mills
Barrere, committed $100; and six people pledged $50.

If my math is correct, that all adds up to $12,500.

According to the website “Measuring Worth,” the relative value of $12,500 is $268,000 in 2015. And the relative value of $200 in 1874 is $4,200 today.

These folks were apparently serious.

And William Henry Harrison Dunn, whose business was the target of the women, was also serious and was certainly not amused by the ladies who “bombarded ‘Fort Dunn’ with prayers and hymns.”

The day after another barrage, the Highland News wrote that, “Brigadier General Dunn issued the following ‘pronunciamento,’ which was circulated through the town before 9 o’clock, the hour for the regular daily Temperance prayer meeting.”

The pronunciamento (which means a political manifesto or proclamation) named many of the women who had besieged Fort Dunn and the signers of the Temperance Guarantee Fund, along with folks who, “although not directly participating in” the ladies’ daily proceedings, “are, nevertheless, counseling and advising (them) in (their) unlawful proceedings by subscriptions of money, and encouragement in the commission of daily
trespasses upon my property since the 24th day of December last, by reason of which my legitimate business has been obstructed, my feelings outraged, and my profession sought to be rendered odious, by reason of which I have suffered great pecuniary damage and injury.

Therefore, you and each of you, together with your husbands, (or such as may have them) and the persons who are thus aiding you with their money, encouragement and advice in your unlawful proceedings, are hereby notified that I cannot, or will not, longer submit to your daily trespasses on my property and injury to my business.

While I am willing to excuse your action in the past, I cannot submit to such outrages in the future. Cherishing no unkind hostility toward any one, but entertaining the highest regard for the ladies of Hillsborough, distinguished heretofore, as they have been, for their courtesy, refinement and Christian virtues, I feel extremely reluctant to have to appeal to the law for protection against their riotous and unlawful acts.

You are therefore hereby further notified if that such actions and trespasses are repeated, I shall apply to the laws of the State for redress and damages for the injuries occasioned by reason of the practices of which I complain.

All others aiding or encouraging you by means of money or otherwise are also notified that I shall hold them responsible for such advice and encouragement.

The pronunciamento was signed, “Yours respectfully, W.H.H. Dunn.”

As the battle between the ladies of Hillsboro and William Henry Harrison Dunn becomes the talk of the town, let’s pause for now and we’ll continue next week.

Steve Roush is a vice president of an international media company and a columnist and contributing writer for The Highland County Press. He can be reached by email at roush_steve@msn.com.