It is still a question as to why the town was called Middletown. One local historian stated that the town received its name because Stephen Vail, its founder, had come from Middletown, New Jersey. Another writer believed that the town was named Middletown because it was the midway point of navigation on the Miami River, which was then considered a navigable stream.

Middletown, when laid out by Vail, represented another speculation in the Miami country, but it soon grew into one of the principal settlements of frontier Ohio. Stephen Vail died in 1808 without receiving a deed for his land. Although he had laid out the town plat, and had sold lots, he could not make out the deeds for the buyers. Later a case was brought before the Ohio Supreme Court by Aaron and Moses Vail, and the fact was established that some of the lots--at least 13 or 14--had been sold for $20 each. The court was asked to execute the deed.

Stephen Vail built the first log cabin in the new town. Upon the death of their father, Shobal and Hugh Veil, his sons, inherited the land in Middletown.

Speaking of the Vail family: When I was a little boy in the 60's our next door neighbor was a very old and kind lady. She was a descendant of Stephen Vail and she had an old clock that was passed down to her from the Vail family. That clock apparently caught my eye and she noticed my fascination with it. She give it to my parents for safe keeping until I grew up. I believe her name was Molly Vail. The clock is still safe and sound.

I always thought that MIddletown was given its name because it was between two major cities, Dayton and Cincinnati!