KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 75 thirty dollars. The contract for its construction was awarded in June, 1811, to Solomon Geller and George Downs. The ground upon which it stood was more than ten feet higher than at present time, and while grading thereabouts in 1828 Mr. Morton plowed so near the foundation that it was weakened and later caused its downfall. This was a square structure, two stories high, with a roof sloping up from the four sides to the center, upon which stood the cupola, or small square box for holding the bell. It had double doors to the south and west sides, thus facing Main and High streets. It was not long before about seven hundred dollars had to be expended for improvements on this "new" court house, but it seems, according to record, to have been by subscription: as it was practically the only public building in the county and needed for church and other private uses. The records show that this building was accepted by the county commissioners April 10, 1812, and no sooner was it completed than trouble arose over its occupancy by different religious sects, as will be seen by the following transcript of the commissioners' journal : "Whereas, a number of the inhabitants of this county have made application for the use of the court house in Mt. Vernon for the purpose of occupying the same for preaching and holding public worship in; it is therefore ordered that the different denominations of Christians are allowed to occupy the same for the aforesaid purpose, provided that each denomination shall have the use of the same for one meeting once in four weeks; provided also, that the different denominations aforesaid shall meet and mutually agree upon the time or times they shall hold the same, and shall be in force for one year unless they do not agree on the times they shall hold their meetings aforesaid, and each denomination failing to clean up the house and leave the same in as good repair as they found it shall forfeit their privilege aforesaid, and shall at all times be liable to make good all damages done by such denomination aforesaid; and James Smith shall keep the key of the house aforesaid, which shall be left there for the use of all public business, which shall be necessary previous to such denomination occupying the said house for the purpose aforesaid." Notwithstanding this resolution had eight "aforesaids" in its wording, it was not strong enough to last long, for it is found that the brethren could not (did not) live in unity and harmony, for on the 8th day of June, 1813. the following commissioners' resolution was passed : "Resolved, that the court house, from this date, be closed and kept locked from all denominations except courts." This brought the various churches to time and petitions flooded the commissioners' office, all agreeing as to the time of using it, etc. Thereupon commissioners Herrod, Cooper and McMillen, June 22d, met for the purpose of 76 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. ordering "that the court house be opened as formerly, by and under the same rules as formerly." One trouble seemed to be that the Methodists were unwilling to let the "New Lights,” later known as the Christians, who had formerly belonged to the Methodist church here, occupy the court house for the purpose of holding meetings. The walls of this court house began to crumble about 1828, owing to close plowing, as before mentioned. October 18, 1828, James McGibney made a contract with the commissioners to build a stone retaining wall to support the building, but all to no purpose, for it had gone too far. It collapsed in November, that same year, and the county had to pay P. S. Brown for a loss sustained in his offices, which were below the superstructure. THE THIRD COURT HOUSE. Preparations were at once commenced to erect a new building. the second court house having fallen down and was rendered useless and unsafe. Meanwhile the court was held in the "Golden Swan" inn, kept by Thomas Irvine, which stood on the southwest corner of Main and Gambier streets. The tavern was a famous place in the pioneer years of Mt. Vernon. This, the third court house, was also built of brick, stood on the public square, on the southwest corner of Main and High streets. It was basement and two stories in height, fronting on Main street. The roof projected out over the front of the building and was supported by white, fluted columns. The entrance to the basement was from High street, while the entrance from Main street by a few steps was to the court room. A high bank arose from the building, coming up to the second floor on one side, thus allowing daylight to enter the basement only on the east and south sides. The basement was rented out for shops and stores, the first floor was used for court room purposes, and one or two offices, and the second floor devoted exclusively to offices. Historian Norton said concerning this court house that : "The old court house was no sooner down than the commissioners ordered proposals to be published in the Standard and Advertiser, for the purpose of making donations for the building of a new court house, and for a plan of building. January 20, 1829, they agreed with Thomas Irvine for his brick house. at twenty-five dollars per term, in orders on the county treasury. In April James Smith is notified that the commissioners have obtained Thomas Irvine's bar-room for an office. The levy in Knox county for taxes, June 29, 1829, was one and one-half mills on the dollar, on the whole valuation of KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 77 the taxable property of the county for state purposes, and the same amount for canal purposes, three mills in all. To this was added three mills for county purposes, one mill for road purposes, three-fourths of a mill for school purposes. One of the three mills shall be assessed and collected and appropriated for the building of a court house, "for this and no other purpose whatever. The time for meeting to open bids and receive subscriptions for the new court house was fixed for July 15, 1829, giving the public square one thousand dollars the preference as to locations in the sites offered; otherwise one thousand dollars was offered for a subscription good at any other point in the town of Mt. Vernon. September 11, 1829, the commissioners met and gave notice through the newspapers then printed here that the contract to build the new court house, at the lowest bid, would be fixed as October 5, 1829. E. G. Carlin. "or some other competent man," was chosen to prepare suitable plans and specifications. Such specifications and plans agreed upon was that it should be built on the west side of Main street and the north side of High street, and that one thousand dollars was to be paid to the contractor January 10, 1830, and one thousand annually thereafter, and all orders to be expressly understood to be paid when due and presented. Edwin C. Carlin was paid ten dollars for drawing up the plans and specifications. Richard House was also allowed one dollar and fifty cents for assisting Mr. Carlin in his work of plan-making. John Shaw was awarded the contract for erecting this third building, on October 5, 1830, at five thousand four hundred eighty-five dollars. Such is the history as shown by the county's records today. It stood as a court house until 1853: It was a two-story brick building, with a cupola on its roof, making it an imposing structure for those days and in the style of court house architecture of that period. It appears. however, that this building was not very well built. It was partly destroyed by a severe wind storm Sunday night, April 9, 1854. It was damaged to the amount of almost, if not fully, two thousand dollars. The storm came from the southwest and struck the west gable, raised the roof and heavy timbers from their positions. throwing the rafters and shingles across Main street several hundred feet. The large brick chimneys at the west end were demolished and the brick walls of the west gable blown into the main building with such force that they were carried through both floors of the structure, landing in a mass of wreckage in the clerk's office below, which was in the basement of the building. The two court rooms were completely destroyed. The judge's bench, chairs and other fixtures were hurled down and piled together, with those of the court of common pleas. The clerk of the supreme court, Alexander C. Elliott. was sleeping in his room below at the time and narrowly escaped with his life. He was awakened by the falling of 78 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. a heavy stove pipe across the head of his bed. He managed to get under the bed and remain there until the worst was over, when he made his escape to his mother on High street. Sheriff Wade and Daniel Clark were the first to reach the scene of disaster, remained during the night, engaged in rescuing the papers and books from destruction. After this, for some time, the court was held in rented quarters in "George's Hall," on Gambier street, near Main. The county commissioners again had the task of building a new home for the courts and county officials. This time they chose a high, beautiful site, on the north side of High street, where a forty thousand dollar building was erected, and with less difficulty than had the former smaller ones been provided; for the county had grown in wealth and population by the time this was needed. With certain changes and rebuilding, this temple of justice still serves Knox county. COUNTY JAILS. While Knox county is as a rule a law abiding community, yet it has always had use for a jail in which to confine its lawless ones, and the history of its various jails rightfully belongs at this place in the history of the county, associated as it is with the court house. In June, 1808, the county commissioners ordered that a jail be built twenty-four feet long, sixteen feet wide, nine feet high, with square timbers of one foot square, including the upper and lower floors. A partition was also to be made of like timber. It was to have a good shingle roof and be provided with a brick chimney, three windows, with iron grates, of six lights each, and two sufficient doors, one on the outside and one within through the partition wall. The partition and lower floors were to be lined with three-inch plank, spiked on with spikes seven inches long. The front door to be marked "A" and partition door marked "B," to be made of inch and a half stuff. Such was about the wording of the specifications and the jail was erected on one corner of the public square. After some months' delay, finally on May 2, 1809, the commissioners accepted the jail from the hands of John Mills. Alexander Walker and James Walker, Sr., provided, however, "that said Mills and others do saw down the corners of said jail, and then our clerk shall have authority to issue orders on the treasury for the sum of four hundred thirty-three dollars and fifty cents, as shall appear by reference to the agreement." The jail then being completed, the sum of fifty cents was ordered to be expended for "two steeples and a hasp" to be purchased by J0seph Walker. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 79 This was supposed to make the prisoners safe and secure till the courts should release them from bondage, but alas, not so ! An old German named Michael Click, too fond of grog, was taken up, in an intoxicated condition, and locked in the new-made jail. The constable had just turned the key in the padlock and secured his prisoner (as he thought) and walked down street bragging about "We have got 'em now sure," when the old fellow was heard coming behind the constable, shouting to the top of his voice : "By tam they can't keeps me in that tammed shail—I am thrumps !" He had simply crawled up the chimney till he got near the top and then stuck fast, when, as he said, he "swelled up and bursted" it open and then "shust jumped to the ground." Well, he was free at any rate. The chimney was repaired and Click, several weeks later confined again for drunken and disorderly conduct, broke out and, meeting Judge Wilson on the street, narrated his several jail experieneces in great glee. He also gave his honor to understand that when he wanted to get out he knew all the weak points. for he had helped to build it. However, the log jail served a sort of purpose to scare the offenders of the law for a number of years, but finally so many escapes were recorded that its fate was sealed and it was sold to William Y. Farquhar, who moved it to the outskirts of town, where he made a tobacco warehouse of it. Hence it came about that Knox county was jail less and so on December 4, 1823, the authorities decided to erect a jail and jailor's residence of brick, on the public square, and this they did and it stood an eyesore to Mt. Vernon until, in 185o, when, one fine day, John Armstrong, street commissioner, and A. Banning Norton, councilman from the third ward of the city, while grading and excavating the northeast part of the square with "malice and aforethought" did then and there undermine it and caused the same to be removed to a pile of rubbish. So much trouble had been experienced in keeping prisoners secure that a guard had to be engaged to watch the jail closely. The records show us that Calvin Hill was paid one dollar and fifty cents for three nights ; William DeHart, for ten nights and one day, five dollars and fifty cents; Henry Burge, for nine nights and one day, five dollars; James Irvine, nineteen nights and one full day, ten 'dollars ; John Cramer, thirteen nights and one day, seven dollars ; Thomas Sprague, one night, one dollar; Samuel Kratzer, for guarding, seven dollars and fifty cents; Jacob Woodruff, fourteen dollars and seventy-five cents Samuel Breese, constable, ninety-five cents; Michael Click (the old German who crawled out of the new chimney), for trailing prisoner Beldon, one dollar, and William DeHart, for trailing after the same prisoner, one dollar ; Eli Gregg, one dollar for aiding in committing A. Beldon to jail, and several more items of like nature. In all the sum of about fifty- 80 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. eight dollars was paid for the hunting up and trying to make stay in jail this one man, A. Beldon. Among the early jailors was still residing in the county, in Brown township, in 1881, a Mr. Goodale. This jail was located on the square, east of Main and north of High streets. The second jail of the county was erected at about the same point and was completed after a period of two or more years in course of construction, as in 1825 it shows on the records that Solomon Geller, the contractor, had as yet failed to put in the stove which his contract called for. He had also failed to put in a suitable door "to go above the debitor's apartment." That was when a man could be thrown into jail in Ohio and kept there until his debts were paid. Certainly we have made advancement since then, for now we prefer a man to earn money with which he can pay his debts. After many years; this, the second county jail. was sold to William Bevins, being allowed five dollars to cry the sale at which he bid it off himself. The present dilapidated old brick jail on the court house square was built about the same date the court house was and is still a jail, but its walls are bulged and badly cracked. and ere long will fall if not replaced by being torn down and a more suitable, modern jail erected. Hundreds of jail-birds have been time servers in this old red brick jail which is still a terror to the evil doers, for it is comparatively safe to keep prisoners in, yet not up to twentieth-century standard. THE COUNTY INFIRMARY. While Knox county never has had much use for lawbreakers, it has from an early date had charity and compassion on its unfortunate. poor. What was known as the county "poor house" dates back to 1842, when Thomas Axtell, Christopher Wolfe and Thomas Wade, county commissioners, bought of William E. Davidson one hundred and thirty-two acres of land, situated in the southwest corner of Liberty township, known as the Bricker form, for which they paid three thousand three hundred dollars. William E. Davidson and J. R. Clark repaired the original buildings and made some additions thereto, which cost the county the sum of seven hundred dollars. Thus was procured the county's first poor farm, which name was later and wisely changed in Ohio to "infirmary." These lands and buildings, after being improved, served well the purpose for which they were purchased until 1874, when it became necessary to provide other and better quarters for the poor of the county, which by that date had greatly increased in numbers. On May 12, 1874, the infirmary directors petitioned the county commissioners, then D. F. Helsey, John C. Levering and John Lyal, to proceed immediately to erect new buildings. May 15th the commissioners employed a KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 81 Columbus firm of architects to furnish plans and specifications for a new building to cost not exceeding fifty thousand dollars. Later, the firm of J. Hennegan & Company, contractors, were awarded the contract to erect the buildings from such plans, for the sum of $38,936.74. Under the charge of Superintendent Clifford Buxton things went slowly. It was soon found that the building could not be made for the sum named in the contract. After enclosing the building the contracting company failed and obliged the commissioners to take the work off their hands, paying them twenty-eight thousand dollars for work and material already performed. Under the charge of Samuel Isaacs, Esq., the county went ahead and completed the structure, with William Bound as master mechanic. In September, 1877, the building was completed, after many a hard struggle. It had cost the county eighty-three thousand dollars. Yet the county is proud of the institution even to this day. This institution is located on section 2, Liberty township, on a beautiful elevation of ground on the south side of Dry creek, near Bangs Station along the line of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus railway. The original main building is seventy-five by one hundred and twenty-seven feet, with an open court in the rear thirty-four by fifty-five feet. It is four stories high with a tower rising sixty-five feet above the roof. Over one million brick were consumed in its construction. It had three water tanks on the upper floor holding forty barrels of water each. The building was heated by steam throughout. There were one hundred good rooms, accommodating easily one hundred and twenty-five inmates. Indeed this stands as a lasting monument to the good sense and benovelent spirit of its builders, the tax-payers of Knox county, who have ever cared for her soldiers and other unfortunate citizens. In 1880 there were twenty-eight males and thirty-three females reported as inmates at this place. The following is concerning the infirmary at later dates, with some changes made about the premises : The farm now comprises three hundred and twenty-seven acres in Liberty, Clinton, Miller and Milford townships, mostly in Liberty, however. For the past few years, under the able management of Superintendent C. E. McMannis. the farm has produced all of the grain, flour, potatoes, meats used by the inmates. Nine hundred rods of fencing has been added recently. The official report made September, 1911, shows that there were for the year just ending an average of sixty-nine inmates. The daily average was fifty-seven present inmates, thirty-six men and twenty women and only five foreigners in the lot. (6) 82 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. The fine apple orchard produced two thousand bushels of excellent apples during 1911. Other items brought out in the reports show there were fourteen milk cows, one hundred and thirty-five sheep and many head of cattle, of which fifteen head were slaughtered for beef. Among the recent improvements on the place is the erection of a hospital for consumptive patients. This cost the county three thousand, six hundred dollars. The inmates there number seven at this date. The number of paupers in the county, as shown by reports on file with the secretary of state, was ninety-eight. FINANCES OF KNOX COUNTY. Before going into the details of the present financial standing, property valuations, etc., of this county, the reader will doubtless peruse with some degree of interest the following concerning the condition of things along this line in 1880, a third of a century ago : The 324,323 acres of land within the county was valued in 1880 at $10,183,286. The value of real estate in villages and cities was fixed at $6,330,300. This made an aggregate of valuation in the county of over sixteen and one half million dollars. Under the new Ohio law of appraisements in taxation, which just comes into effect now, the auditor's report shows that the real estate in Knox county is worth (outside of villages and cities) more than twenty million dollars, and in the cities and villages amounts to nine and a fourth million dollars, making a grand total in Knox county, in real estate alone; of $29,301,876. FINANCIAL STATEMENT IN 1911. From the county auditor's report for October 1, 1911, the following is concerning the finances of the county : Funds—Undivided general tax, $31,653 ; cigarette tax, $1,500; liquor tax, none, as Knox county was a "dry" district; county fund, $21,619 ; infirmary fund, $6,231 ; soldiers' relief, $3,885 ; bridge fund, $14,381 ; township fund, $287; road fund, $7,592 ; dog tax, $1,694; bond fund, $4,570; auditor's fees, $181; treasurer's fees, $2,174 ; recorder's fees, $90; clerk's fees, $349; probate judge's fees, $138 ; total amount, $72,242.30. The only indebtedness on the part of Knox county in the fall of 1911 was that of $64,000 in bridge bonds still out. CHAPTER VIII. COUNTY, STATE AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATION. The following is supposed to be a correct list of all county, state and national officers who have been elected or appointed from Knox county from the date of the county's organization to the present date (1911) so far as can be discovered from public records. Should there be omissions it will be the fault of the records : GOVERNORS. Arthur St. Clair, Fed - 1787-1803 Edwin Tiffin, Dem - 1804-07 Thomas Kirker, Dem - 1807-08 Samuel Huntington, Dem - 1809-10 Return J. Meigs, Jr., Dem - 1811-14 Othniel Looker, Dem - 1814 Thomas Worthington, Dem - 1815-18 Ethan Allen Brown, Dem - 1819-22 Allen Trimble, Fed - 1822 Jeremiah Morrow, Dem - 1823-26 Allen Trimble, Fed - 1827-30 Duncan McArthur, Fed - 1831-32 Robert Lucas, Dem - 1833-36 Joseph Vance, Whig - 1837-38 Wilson Shannon, Dem - 1839-40 Thomas Corwin, Whig - 1841-42 Wilson Shannon, Dem - 1843-44 Thomas W. Bartley, Dem - 1844 Mordecai Bartley, Whig - 1845-46 William Bebb, Whig - 1847-48 Seabury Ford, Whig - 1849-50 Reuben Wood, Dem - 1851-53 William Medill, Dem - 1854-56 Salmon P. Chase, Rep - 1856-60 William Dennison, Jr., Rep - 1860-62 David Tod, Rep - 1862-64 John Brough, Rep - 1864-65 Charles Anderson, Rep - 1866 Jacob D. Cox, Rep - 1866-68 Rutherford B. Hayes, Rep. - 1868-72 Edward F. Noyes, Rep - 1872-74 William Allen, Dem - 1874-76 Rutherford B. Hayes, Rep - 1876-77 Thomas L. Young, Rep - 1877-78 Richard M. Bishop, Dem - 1878-80 Charles Foster, Rep - 1880-84 George Hoadley, Dem - 1884-86 J. B. Foraker, Rep - 1886-90 James E. Campbell, Dem - 1890-92 William McKinley, Rep - 1892-96 Asa S. Bushnell, Rep - 1896-1900 George K. Nash, Rep - 1900-04 Myron T. Herrick, Rep - 1904-05 John M. Pattison, Dem - 1906 Judson Harmon, Dem - 1908 Judson Harmon, Dem - 1910-12 84 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. CONGRESSMEN. John K. Miller - 1847-50 William R. Sapp - 1853-56 Columbus Delano - 1865-66 George W. Morgan - 1867-72 William S. Cooper - 1885-90 STATE SENATORS. Asa C. Dimmock - 1848-49 Lawrence Van Buskirk - 1850-52 John T. Creigh - 1854-56 Robert Kirk - 1856-57 David Miles - 1858-59 Thomas C. Jones - 1860-63 John P. Devin - 1864-65 F. H. Hurd - 1866-67 George Rex - 1868-69 Hinchman S. Prophet - 1870-71 John B. Jones - 1872-73 William P. Reid - 1874 James W. Owens - 1878-79 F. M. Marriott - 1880-81 Benj. Eason - 1882-83 Allen Levering - 1884-85 J. J. Sullivan - 1886-87 John S. Braddock - 1888-89 John Zimmerman and H. A. Hart - 1890-91 William G. Bebee - 1892-93 Newton Stilwell - 1894 William M. Harper - 1896 Lake F. Jones - 1898 William M. Williams - 1900 Newton Stilwell - 1902 Lewis B. Houck - 1904 F. M. Vanover - 1906 John Thompson - 1908 STATE REPRESENTATIVES. Alex. Holden - 1808 William Gass - 1809 J. R. Muncen - 1810 William Gass - 1811 Samuel Kratzer - 1812-14 William Gass - 1813 Alexander Enos - 1815 Jonathan Miller - 1816 Waitsel Hastings - 1817 William Farquhar - 1818 Royal D. Simons - 180-21 Hosmer Curtis - 1822 Royal D. Simons - 1823 Thomas Rigdon - 1824 John Shaw - 1825 William Robeson - 1826 Thomas Rigdon - 1827 Charles Colerick - 1828-31 Byram Leonard - 1828-29 Jahn Greene - 1830 John Schooler - 1832-33 Pares Sprague - 1835 S. W. Hildreth - 1836 Marvin Tracy - 1837 John Elliott - 1838 Byram Leonard - 1839 Nich Spindler - 1840 C. J. McNulty - 1841-42 William H. Smith - 1843 James McFarland - 1844 KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 85 William H. Smith - 1845 James McFarland - 1846 Emmett W. Cotton - 1847 Jacob Vorhes - 1848 Ezekiel Boggs - 1849 Eli Glasgow - 1850 James Withrow - 1852 Lawrence Van Buskirk - 1848 William Given - 1849 S. F. Gilcrest - 1850 Jacob Merrin - 1854 George W. True - 1856-57 William McCreary - 1858-59 Benj. F. Smith (extra session) - 1856-57 W. B. Cox - 1858-59 Walt Whitney - 1862-63 Columbus Delano - 1864-65 H. B. Banning - 1866-67 R0bert Hoffett - 1868-69 John D. Thompson - 1870-.71 William C. Cooper - 1872-73 Allen J. Beach - 1874 Abel Hart - 1876-79 William M. Coons - 1880-83 John D. Thompson - 1884-85 John S. Braddock - 1886-87 Frank V. Owen - 1888-89 Charles E. Critchfield - 1890-91 William Welsh - 1892-94 Andrew J. Workman - 1896 John K. Haiden - 1898 Patrick A. Berry - 1900-02 S G. Dowds - 1904 Calvin V. Trott - 1906-08 Samuel R. Gotshall - 1910 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS. The following gentlemen have served as presidential electors from the county of Knox with the passing of the century : Alexander Elliott; Democrat, 1832, for Andrew Jackson. Samuel Elliott, Whig, 1836, for William Henry Harrison. Daniel S. Norton, Whig, 1844, for Henry Clay (third race). Rollin C. Hurd, Whig, 1848, for Zachariah Taylor, defeated. A. Banning Norton, Whig, 1852, on Scott ticket, defeated. Samuel Israel, Democrat, 1856, Buchanan and Breckenridge. A Banning Norton, 1856, "Know Nothing" ticket. Eli Miller, 1860, Breckenridge and Lane Dem. ticket, defeated. Park D. Worley, Republican, 1904, for Theodore Roosevelt. COUNTY RECORDERS. The office of county recorder from April 16, 1803, until May, 1829, was one of appointment by the associate judges of the court of common pleas and the term was at first fixed at seven years, under "good behavior." This act remained in force until 1857, when the Ohio legislature changed 86 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. the commencing and ending of a term, making it to commence January 1st, which was changed in 1895 to September 1st. Below is given the list of recorders who have served in Knox county : Gilman Bryant - 1808-15 Alexander Elliott - 1815-22 Henry B. Curtis - 1822-29 John A. Colerick - 1829 Hill Runyan - 1829-38 David Montgomery - 1838-47 Elijah Herrod - 1847-56 Calton C. Baugh - 1856-59 Thomas K. Hess - 1866-71 John Myers - 1872-78 Samuel Kunkel - 1878-84 George W. Sanford - 1884-88 Dwight E. Sap - 1888-95 Charles C. Jackson - 1895-98 William H. Smith - 1898-1904 Charles S Snow - 1904-09 Benjamin R. Parker - 1909- CLERKS OF THE COURT. This was an appointive office through the judges of the court of common pleas, until the constitution of 1851 made it an elective office. The following have filled the office in Knox county to date: Charles Lofland - 1808 James Smith - 1809-30 Alexander Elliott - 1830 Elliott C. Vore - 1837 Isaac Hadley - 1839 Samuel W. Farquhar - 1846-52 Samuel Farquhar (Whig) - 1851 Alexander C. Elliott (Rep.) - 1854-56 Samuel J. Brent (Dem.) - 1869-72 William S. Hyde (Rep.) - 1875 Samuel J. Brent (Dem.) - 1878 William A. Silcott (Dem.) - 1881-84 Hugh Neal (Dem.) - 1887-90 Lewis A. Culbertson (Rep.) - 1893-96 George H. Mockwart (Rep.) - 1899-1902 Charles S. Bermont (Dem) - 1905-08 Charles S. Bermont (Dem.) - 1910 Charles W. Hayes - 1911-13 COUNTY AUDITORS. The office of county auditor in the state of Ohio was created by an act of the Legislature in 180. It was first for a two-year term, but by the law of 1877 was changed to three years. The subjoined is a complete list of all persons holding the office of county auditor in Knox county : 1808 - Charles Lofland, clerk to board of commissioners. 1809-16—James Smith, clerk to board of commissioners. 1817-27—W. Y. Farquhar. 1827-29—Alexander Elliott, one term. 1829-35—Marvin Tracy, three terms. 1835-41—Simon B. Kenton, six years. 1841-47—Killian Winne, six years. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 87 Thomas Winne (by appointment). 1847-51—Merrett M. Beam, four years. 1851-55—Benjamin F. Smith, four years. 1855-59—John Lamb, four years. 1859-63—Samuel W. Farquhar, four years. 1863-65—John D. Thompson, two years. 1865-69—Alexander Cassil, four years. 1869-71—Samuel W. Farquhar, two and two-thirds years. 1871-75—John M. Ewalt, four years. 1875-80—Alexander Cassil, five years. 1880-83—John H. Stevens, three years. 1883-90—Curtis W. McKee, six years, ten months. 1890-96—John M. Blocher, six years one month. 1896-1902—William A. Wander, six years. 1902-04—Archie C. Collins. 1904-07—A. C. Collins. 1906-09—Charles A. Mitchell. 1909-1 I—Irvin Young. COUNTY TREASURERS. 1808—Henry Hains (by appointment 1809-15—Henry Hains (by appoint.) 1815—George Downs (by appt.). 1816—James McGibney (by appt.). 1817-18—Gilman Bryant (by appt.). 1819-27—James McGibney (by appt.) 1827—William Y. Farquhar (elected) 1828-38—William Y. Farquhar. 1838-42—Samuel W. Farquhar. 1842-48—James Blake. 1848-52—Jacob W. Lybrand. 1852-54—James H. McFarland 1856-60—John Beatty. 1860-62—Alexander Greer. 1862-64—Harrison Greer. 1864-68—Samuel S. Tuttle. 1868-72—Robert Miller; 1872-76—W. E. Dunham, 1876-78—Lewis Britton 1878-80—Thomas Odbert, 1880-84—John N. Myers, 1884-88—William Dunbar, 1888-92—William H. Ralston, 1892-96—Sheridan G. Dowds, 1896-1900—Judson Vincent, 1900-04—French W. Stevens, 1904-09—John A. Schnebly, 1909—John E. Stonebrook. SHERIFF. 1808—Silas Brown.  1809-13—Ichabod Nye 1813-17—John Hawn. 1817-19—John Shaw. 88 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. 1819-20—Alexander Elliott. 1820-24—William Bevans. 1824-28—Charles Colerick. 1828-29--John Shaw. 1829—Johnston Elliott. 1830-34—Hugh Neal. 1834-36—Isaac Hadley. 1836-40—William Beam. 1843-46—Absalom Thrift. 1847-50—David C. Montgomery. 1851-54—Thomas Wade. 1855-56—Lewis Strong. 1857-60—Israel Underwood. 1861-62—James Shaw. 1863-64—Allen Beach. 1865-68 - George W. Steele. 1869-72—Allen J. Beach. 1873-76 - John Armstrong. 1877-80—John Ferguson Gay. 1881-82—John A. Schnebly. 1883-86 - Allen J. Beach. 1887-90—John G. Stevenson. 1891-92—John Fowler. 1893-94—Noah W. Allen. 1895-96 - Charles S. Sapp. 1897-1900—Justus D. Smoots. 1901-03—Isaac C. Lynde. 1903-04—James Shellenbarger (vacancy). 1904-06 - James Shellenbarger (election). 1905-08 - Rollin S. Clements. 1908-11—Peter J. Parker. PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS. 1808 - Samuel Kratzer. 1809-11—Edward Herrick. 1812-13—Samuel Mott. 1814-15--Charles R. Sherman. 1816-24—Hosmer Curtis. 1825-32—John W. Warden. 1833-36—Benjamin S. Brown. 1836-40—Columbus Delano. 1840—Matthew Mitchell, resigned. 1841-42—Mark A. Sayre. 1847-48 - Lafayette Emmett. 1843-46—John K. Miller. 1849-50—Clark Irvine, Sr. 1851-52—George W. Morgan. 1853-54—William Windom. 1855-59—W. Fletcher Sapp. 1859-63—William C. Cooper. 1863-64—Frank H. Hurd. 1865-69—Walter L. Simons. 1869-70—Lewis H. Mitchell. 1869-70—Lewis Hart, Jr. 1875-76—Clark Irvine, Jr. 1879-82—Frank R. Moore. 1883-88—Sam'l R. Gotshall. 1889-91—William L. McElroy. 1892-95—Samuel R. Gotshall. 1895-97—David E. Ewing. 1898- I 903—Columbus Ewalt. 1904-06—Lot Stillwell. 1907-08—James A. Shaeffer. 1908-10—James A. Shaeffer. 1911-12—Lyman T. Cromely. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 89 KNOX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. The following is supposed to be about a correct list of all who have served as commissioners of Knox county since its earliest history down to is the year in which they were elected, and including 1911. The year noted unless otherwise noted : 1808—John Herrod, John Lewis, Joseph Walker, William Douglass, Mathew Merrett, Henry Markley. 1809—William Douglas. 1810—Robert McMillen. 1811—John Harrod. 1812—Daniel Cooper. 1813—Robert McMillen. 1814—William Mitchell. 1815—Jonathan Miller. 1816—Moses Merritt. 1817—John Warden, William Mitchell. 1818—Allen Scott. 1819—Gilman Bryant. 1820—Abner Ayers. 1821—John Wheeler. 1822—John Kerr. 1823—Abner Ayers. 1824—John Stilly. 1825—Daniel Sapp. 1826—Byram Leonard. 1827—Levi Harrod. 1828—Peres Sprague, Jabez Beers. 1829—Gilman Bryant, William McCreary, Franklin Wilkins. 1830—Francis Wilkins, 1831—David Shaw. 1832—William McCreary. 1833—David Shaw. 1834—Silas Brown. 1835—William McCreary. 1836—David Shaw. 1837—Silas Brown, Joseph Adams, Thomas Wade. 1838—Christopher Wolfe. 1839—Thomas Axtell. 1840—Thomas Wade. 1841—Christopher Wolfe. 1842—Thomas Axtell. 1843—Henry Prather. 1844—James Withrow. 1845—Robert Graham, 1846—William Babcock, 1847—James Withrow, 1848—Robert Graham. 1849—William Babcock. 1850—Wait Whitney. 1851—George W. McWilliams. 1852—Abraham Darling. 1853—George W. Jackson. 1854—Sewell Gray. 1855—John McElroy. 1856    William McClelland. 1857—Jacob Bell. 1858—John McElroy, 1859—Jacob Bell. 1860—William McClelland. 1861—James W. Bradfield. 1862—John S. McCamment. 1863—William McClelland. 1864—J. W. Bradfield, 1865—Simon L. Bonnett. 1866—William McClelland. 1867—Lyman W. Gates. 1868—Simon L. Bonnett. 90 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. 1869—David S. Halsey. 1870—John Lyal. 1871—John C. Levering. 1872—David S. Halsey. 1873—John Lyal. 1874—John C. Levering. 1875—Samuel Beeman. 1876—John Ponting. 1877—Moses Dudgeon. 1878—Samuel Beeman. 1879—John Ponting. 1880—Stephen Craig. 1881—Thomas J. Wolfe. 1882—James H. McFarland. 1883—Jacob Ross. 1884—T. J. Wolfe. 1885—J. H. McFarland. 1886 - Jacob Ross. 1887—Stephen Craig. 1888 - S. T. Vanatta. 1889—William D. Foot. 1890—Charles A. Young. 1891—S. T. Vanatta. 1892—Charming F. Rice. 1893—Charles A. Young. 1894—George T. Murphy. 1895—Charming F. Rice. 1896 Charles A. Young. 1897—George T. Murphy and Harrison Ferris. 1898 - Joseph Myers. 1899—Leander Hayes. 1900—George E. McCulley. 1901—Joseph Myers. 1902—John Taylor Smith. 1903—George E. McCully. 1904—Meshac Simpson. 1905—John T. Smith. 1906—John Motz. 1907—W. D. McMillen. 1908—Harrison Ferris. 1909—John M. Motz and William Lewis. 1910—William Lewis, Legrand Britton and T. M. Dill. COUNTY INFIRMARY DIRECTORS. 1842—John Hobbs, J. F. McLain. 1842-3—W. Bordon. 1844—Abraham Darling. 1845—C. A. Drake. 1846—Abraham Darling and Absalom Buckingham. 1847—G. W. Jackson. 1848—Abraham Darling. 1849—Christian Musser, 1850—G. W. Jackson. 1851—Timothy Colopy. 1852—John McCamment. 1853—G. W. Jackson. 1854—J. B. McGrew. 1855—Thomas Rogers. 1856—Lewis Lairmore. 1857—E. I. Whitney. 1858—Thomas Rogers. 1859—Thomas Lairmore. 1860—E. I. Whitney. 1861—Asahel Allen. 1862—James Scott. 1863—R. H. Bebout. 1864—Asahel Allen. 1865—P. G. Beardslee. 1869—R. C. Campbell. 1870—Samuel Snyder. 1871—William Cummins. 1872—R. C. Campbell. 1873—Samuel Snyder. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 91 1874—Andrew Caton. 1875—Adam Hornwell. 1876—R. H. Bebout. 1877—Andrew Caton. 1878    Michael Hess. 1879—R. H. Bebout. 1880—William Rinehart. 1881, 1882, 1883—Andrew Elliott. 1884—William Rinehart. 1884—William Welsh. 1885, 1886—B. K. Jackson. 1887—William Rinehart and James O. McArtor ; also William Welsh. 1888 - B. K. Jackson and M. C. Bone. 1889—W. H. Wright, Wm. M. McKinley, Charles Cooper. 1890—J. K. Lauderbaugh. 1891—James C. Hammond, William C. Wright. 1892—W. V. Wright. 1893—James Coe. 1894—Jacob Baker. 1896—Jacob Lybarger. 1897—William C. Hammond. 1898    John F. Ward. 1899—James W. Coe. 1900 - George W. Shultz. 1902—Jacob Lybarger. 1903—George W. Shultz. 1904—E. M. Ramsey. 1905—Jacob Lybarger. 1905—Oscar Shaw. 1907—E. M. Ramsey. 1908—J. W. Coe. 1909—F. E. Cotton, R. Levering. With the year 1913 this office will be abolished and the county commissioners will handle the business, with the county auditor's assistance. COUNTY SURVEYORS. From the best obtainable records the following have served as land surveyors in and for Knox county : The first surveyor here was John Matthews, a government surveyor, in 1797, who sectionized and "quartered" the several townships in the county. The first name mentioned after this became an elective office was Edison Harkness, in about 1825-8. Then came Merrit M. Beam, in 1841; Thomas , C. Hickman. two or three years ; David Gorsuch, to 1852 ; Thomas C. Hickman again, till 1854; then David C. Lewis until 1866, followed by Mr. Hickman again, he serving until 1868; he was succeeded by Alfred R. McIntyre, 1869 ; Emmett W. Cotton till 1876; J. Nelson Heddington served to 1881-2 ; George Helen up to 1884; John McCroy, ten years; John Bruner, 1894-5 ; Oscar Lee Ashcraft succeeded him and served till the present surveyor, A. C. Wolfe, was elected. 92 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. DISTRICT JUDGES. Under the code of 1851, the office of district judge has been represented in the district in which Knox county is situated by the following gentlemen : 1852—Rollin C. Hurd, of Knox county, five years. 1857—Sherman Finch, Delaware county, five years. 1862—Thomas C. Jones, Delaware county, ten years. 1867—Jefferson Brumbaugh, Newark, resigned October, 1869. 1869—Jerome Buckingham, Newark, one year. 1870—Charles Follett, Newark, two years. 1872—Charles Follett, Licking county, five years. 1872—John Adams, Knox county, ten years. 1882—Charles H. McElroy, Delaware county, ten years. 1877—Samuel M. Hunter, Newark, ten years. 1887—Clark Irvine, Knox county, five years. 1888—Jerome Buckingham, Newark, five years: 1892—John S. Gill, Delaware county, five years. 1892—John B. Wright, Knox county, five years. 1897—John David Jones, Newark, five years. 1897—Emmett M. Wickham, Delaware county, five years. 1902—Charles W. Seward, Newark, five years. 1902—George S. Coyner, Delaware county, five years. 1907—Charles W. Seward, Newark, six years. 1907—Edward M. Wickham, Delaware county, six years. PROBATE JUDGES. The present constitution of the state was ratified in June, 1851, and took effect in September. It provided for the probate court as a county office, to take from the common pleas court the settlement of estates and kindred matters. The term of office was fixed at three years and was to commence on February 9, 1852. The following named have held such office in Knox