220 - HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
CHAPTER XVII.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE SUBSCRIPTION TO THE FIRE COMPANY, 1819 —UNION FIRE ENGINE COMPANY—THE DOG, " MINUS " — THE MECHANICS' FIRE COMPANY —THE RELIEF FIRE COMPANY—UNION FIRE COMPANY—THE HOPE HOSE COMPANY—THE STAR HOSE COMPANY — THE EAGLE FIRE COMPANY — THE MUSKINGUM FIRE COMPANY —RESCUE HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY, NO. 5—RELIEF, NO. 7—" 76 " HOSE COMPANY— THE NEPTUNE HOSE COMPANY—NIAGARA HOSE COMPANY—THE RESCUE, NO. 7, REORGANIZED —REPORT OF THE CHIEF FIRE ENGINEER, MR. H. SHRIMPTON—HOPE COMPANY—STAR HOSE COMPANY, NO. 2—THE RELIEF HOSE COMPANY, NO. 3—EAGLE HOSE COMPANY, NO. 4—NIAGARA HOSE COMPANY, NO. 5.
December 22d, 1819, the "Zanesville Express" contained the following notice : "The subscribers to the Fire Engine Company are requested to meet in the court house, on Thursday, December 23d, at two o'clock, P. M., for the purpose of organizing, electing officers, and transacting such other business as may be necessary."
Michael Dulty is credited with the information that " the members were all property holders and business men, and they put out the fires—with as little water as possible."
UNION FIRE ENGINE COMPANY.—The company organized as "Union Fire Engine Company," and elected Michael Peters, Captain. They had forty members, fifteen of whom were required to work the engine, and the remainder formed the bucket line," which, sometimes, included men, women and children. The members were each furnished with two leather buckets, and his name was painted thereon. It was no unusual sight to see the fireman's buckets, which he kept at home, hanging up, filled with water, in readiness for service.
Among the members at this time, we have been able to obtain the names following : William Twaddle, Joseph Church, S. Deffenbaugh, James Culbertson, Michael Dulty, John Dulty. Adam and John Peters, Nathaniel and Charles Wilson, Nathaniel Sprague, and Richard and George Reeve.
Among the members during 180-21, were : Robert Steward, Leonard P. Bailey, James Caldwell, Richard Gallagher, James Crosby, John M. Leary, John T. Fracker, William Blocksom, James Raguet, William Twaddle, Joseph Church, Solomon Deffenbaugh, James Culbertson, Chas. Hill, Jown Sheward, David Spangler, Isaac Dillon, John D. Dare, Henry Orndorff, George James, James Raguet, Gorgius A. Hall, and Isaac Campbell, Sr. Some of these were members in 1825.
The company had ladders, also, which were kept at "the Fire Company House," southeast corner of Fourth stregt and Fountain alley.
This company had a dog—"a regular fireman's purp." His name was Minus, but he was never minus when the fire bell rung ; he knew the sound as well as any of us.
THE MECHANICS' FIRE COMPANY was organized in November, 1836, and elected the following officers :
President--Colonel John T. Fracker.
Secretary and Treasurer—Bernard Van Home.
First Engineer--Elias Ebert.
Second Engineer—Isaac Campbell.
Directors—Daniel Brush, James Raguet, and Anthony Wilkins.
Among the active members were : Samuel Clark, Daniel Applegate, Josiah S. Copeland, Horatio J. Cox, George Rishtine, William Blocksom, E. T. Cox and John D. Dare. They organized with one hundred members,, and each wore a red badge, with " M. F. C.," in gold letters, thereon. From 1836 to 1840 they used the old buildings, southeast corner of Fourth street and Fountain alley, for engine purposes.
THE RELIEF FIRE COMPANY.—Zanesville, January 10th, 1839. "Pursuant to notice given, a meeting was held at the Senate Chamber for the purpose of forming a new fire company. After the meeting was called to order, Mr. R. Hazlett was chosen Chairman, and E. Eastman, Secretary."
The Chairman was authorized to appoint a committee on Constitution and By-Laws, which consisted of G. L. Shinnick, B. Hyde, N. G. Abbott, H. Rogers and James Hazlett ; instructed to report on the the 4th, ult. On this day, pursuant to adjournment, they met at J. P. Barton's room, reported the Constitution and By-Laws, and elected the following officers :
President—N. G. Abbott.
Vice President—G. L. Shinnick.
Secretary--James Sheward.
Treasurer—Tames Hazlett.
First Engineer—Robert Lashly.
Second Engineer John Printz.
Standing Committee—A. Printz, R. S. Adams, R. I. Morrow, Jesse Fox and Horace Granger.
The membership consisted of Joseph W. Potwin, James Hazlett, Benjamin Hyde, Theodore Converse, R. I. Morrow, Zeph' Clements, Samuel C. Abbot, Gemmil Arthur, John Quigley, F. B. Abbott, Robert Hazlett, Jr., E. B. Eastman, James Sheward, N. G. Abbott, George L. Shinnick, John Alter, Jr., Robert Lashley, J. G. Stewart, Wm. Menard, J. C. Davis, Alfred Printz, Joseph Gallagher, A. K. Alter, Jesse Fox, John Printz, T. F. Nevitt, R. S. Adams, Israel W. Green, N. D. Mundy, James P. Barton, M. Abernathy, Jacob Eoff, H. C. Granger, Fred Dieterich, Wm. Scrivner, M. S. Mitchell, Hiram Davidson, Isaac B. Stubbs, George Dare, John Launder, S. Ragor, J. McCormick, C, McDill and H. P. Culbertson.
The first engine they had was called "the Little Old Hydraulic," and stood side by side with the Union, (at southeast corner of Fourth and Fountain alley.) It was very exciting to see these two companies run with their engines to a fire. The engine was constructed so as to draw
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its supply of water and throw it at the same time, and was considered "the best in town." One half of the force required to work it stood on the engine, and the other half on the ground.
UNION FIRE COMPANY—Act of Incorporation, dated February 4, 1840, signed by Thomas J. Buchanan, Speaker of the House of aepresentatives, and William McLaughlin, Speaker of the Senate, which is as follows :
SEC. I . Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, that James Raguet, Daniel Brush, Anthony Wilkins, D. J. Culbertson, William Shultz, Isaac Campbell and those who may hereafter be associated with them, are hereby made a body politic and corporate, for the purpose of extinguishing fires, under the name of the "Union Fire Company of Zanesville," with succession for thirty years, and by such name, and in their corporate capacity, they may make contracts, may sue and be sued, answer and be answered unto all courts of this State having cognizance ; may hold property, real and personal, to the amount of five thousand dollars, whether by purchase, gift, bequest or devise, and make and establish by-laws for their government, not incompatible with the constitution of the United States, or of this State, provided that the funds of said company shall not be used for building, insurance or any other purpose than those connected with the fire department.
[Section 2 omitted.]
"SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE,
"COLUMBUS, O., Feb. 28, 1840.
"I certify the foregoing Act to be a true copy from the original roll on file in this department.
"CARTER B. HARLAN.
"Secretary of State."
Officers—President, Joseph Johnson ; Vice President, Andrew Dawson ; First Director, James R. Kees ; Second Director, Alex. Johnson ; Treasurer, John Gerwich Secretary, Thomas Launder ; Pipemen, John H. Printz, J. A. Tucker, Isaac D'Garmitt, Harrison D'dar- mitt, Richard Drone and Henry Worstall ; Plugmen, William Arter and John Rogers ; Fire Police, Thomas Launder, Abraham Green, John Blessing, Perry Flowers and Samuel Chapman ; Axmen, A. D. Launder, Wm. Smith, John Mitchell, Joseph Rink, Henry Bimple and John Keplar ; Messenger, Thomas Launder.
Members—Jefferson Clarke, N. A. Guille, Michael Mayer, Zack. Ross, Eugene Moore, Robert Henderson, John J. Mecklin, J. J. Kelly, James D. Hoge, Henry Morgan, William Hankerson, Isaac Butterfield, John Wilson, Jason Rogers, Jesse Arter, Charles Roberts, John Miller, John Green, Winthrop Fox, 'Thomas Ferrell, William Nevitt, Robert Irlinbrook, William Hare, James Crozier, James Randolph, Charles Terry, Frank Van Horne, Leonard Smith, Charles Beaty, G. W. Margrove, Mahlon C. Hart, William Reeve, John Alter, Jr., George Miller, John Brennon, John G. Smith, J. D. Willis, James Brennon, William Runyon, John W. Alter, W. A. Runyon, L. Evans, E. H. John, Benjamin Comptor, James Stull, John Holland, Peter Keck, Charley Jenkens, Michael Brown, James R. Keyes, D. Launder, J. F. Rogers, John Ranger, Spencer C. Phures, David Beyant, John A. Goodin, Louis Cook, John Blessing, Joseph Walters, C. Burckholter, Martin Brennon, Joseph Sowar, Harrison D'Garmitt, Isaac D'Garmitt, Samuel Parker, Louis Lape, John D. Mitchell, Geo. W. Kink, Joseph B. Colins, George Evans, Joseph Cook, L. J. Clark, W. W. McCarty, Joseph F. Rink, J. S. Cochran, J. T. Callihan, Manly Howard, Charles Greenwell, John Perwich, Richard Drone, Henry Mulgrew, Perry Flower, Abraham Green, Harrison Dunnivan, James J. Henry, Henry Fluke, John Brannon, Arthur Van Horne, John Conner, William H. Crowell, Judson Hughes, A. J. Dawson, Charles Dare, F. A. Tucker, John J. Meckling, Isaac Loyd, George T. Cobb, H. Shaffer, Anthony Frost, Frank Emmet, S. J. Mitchell, Elias Clark, W. H. King, T. Farmar, John English, Thomas Keely, George W. Coon, Chas. Beatty, S. K. Henry, Lloyd Buckmaster, Johnny Wells, David Ellis, Dick Silvers, Jerry Wolf, Benny Lenhart, John Belm ear .
Honorary Members--[Article XVII of the By- Laws admitted men of good moral character, on payment of two dollars, with rights and duties common with all others, except holding office ; and Article XVIII admitted such, after serving five years creditably.] Appended to the printed list of signers to the Constitution and By- Laws were the following : Daniel Brush, Isaac Campbell, Dr. John Hamm, Charles C. Russell, John Adams, Silvers Porter, Adam Peters, Ed- ward Matthews, Austin Berry, William Galli- gher, John R. Pratt, C. B. Goddard, John Taylor, C. W. Potwin, John C. Hazlett, Benjamin Spangler D. J. Culbertson, James J. Ross, Mark Louden, A. C. Ross, B. F. Hersh, Isaac Dillon, John A. Blair, S. H. Kauffman, J. B. H. Brat- shaw, John Metcalf, R. H. Gilmore, Daniel Dillon, and Fred. Bird.
As these persons became honorary members at the signing of the Constitution, they evinced the true interest they felt in doing what they could for the safety of the community against fire, and, doubtless, would have enrolled as active members, had business permitted.
Attached to the company was a library of useful and entertaining books and periodicals, and, evidently, this was a popular and harmonious organization. Their last meeting was held, June f 2th, 1874 .
THE HOPE HOSE COMPANY was organized May 5th, 1851. Motto—" Prompt to act when danger calls." The first officers were :
President—David Orndorff.
Vice President—John T. Redmond.
Secretary—Charles S. Parish.
Treasurer—John Van Horne.
Messenger—J. Cantwell.
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Directors—James Morrow, and John Morrow.
Plugmen—William H. Shaffer, and John W. Campbell.
Standing Committee--D. H. Orndorff, J. T. Readmond, and William H. Stephens.
Members--Benjamin H. Highfield, Thomas H. Crippen, George W. Ebert, John Offord, William Runyon, William Wright, George R. Bostwick, George W. Brenholtz, Charles Huntington, Dennis Hays, Thomas Phelps, William Stokes, James Bloomer, Frank Fracker, William Donivan, Henry Whitcher, Benjamin Smeltzer, Thomas Ross, James H. Harris, Lawrence Galligher, John Newell, Frank Donlin, Charles Wilbert, Richard Menhenick, Edward Galligher, Patrick Brennan, David Launders, Jeff. C. Clark, David Foster, John Cullen, John Spaulding, Charles Bailey, James Markel, William Ford, Joseph Oldham, Rufus Fell, Mathias Richmond, George Smith, John Lewis, Benjamin Spangler, Henry Alexander, George W. Campbell, George McNelly, Smith Garner, Jacob Hammond, John Bampus, John Galligher, Thomas Harkel, Patrick Carter, John Armstrong, Samuel Oldham, H. J. Summers, Richard Brown, William H. Woodsides, Joseph Galligher, L. Zimmerman, John Coulter, Enoch Hensley, Charles Green, W. Sheppard, James J. Toole, Jesse Randolph, Charles Nichols, William Allison, John Drumm, Charles G. Lowden, Bernard Reynolds, William Kappes, Perry Matthews, Lemuel Fouts, Samuel Stokes, John Reid, John Garnell, Fred. Foster, Chas. W. Spangler, John Oiler, Thos. Toole, John Dugan, John Grubb, John McCormick, William Y. Johnson, Patrick Madden, William E. Bostwick, Calvin Hankison, Isaac Reed, William Veach, William Bryan, William McBeth, Thomas Smith, Edward Crawford, Washington, Frank Martin, Joseph Johnson, Bushrod Leonard, C. C. Hunnicutt, William Rager, Amos Sickle, James Reed, James Bell, William Garnell, William Stiles, Michael Stroope, Daniel Trainer, Nelson Williams, Lloyd Dillon, John Henry, Thomas Elton, Richard Rhody, Farley Bissett, Samuel McBeth, Edward Ewing, John Wiles, William Clausey, James Hanness, James Lindsay, John Drake, Henry McCoy, Samuel Reid, James Holmes, Joseph H. Stephens, Chas. Wheeler, Samuel Durban, Rustling Moore, Thos. Wallace, Darius Goodwin, ,George Fealheart, Rush Williams, John Grooms, John Reynolds, John Doyle, Isaac B. Steele, John Murray, Jesse Langton, David Mitchell, William Burton, Geo. Pickrel, AndreW McVicker, James Kimbeley, William Ingman, William, Charles and Israel Godfrey, William Willis, James and John Ballinger, William C. Bryan, J. L. Johnston, David and Daniel Coletrap, George E. Jenkins, William Shaffer and Matthias Hanniss. The latter once saved the court house, for which he was presented with a silver medal.
Hope Company had a knowing dog, named " Dash," familiar with the fire alarm, and always 0n the ground when the boys were on duty. Firemen's dogs were regarded with jealousy—sometimes the cause of fights.
The lady friends of the companies manifested their appreciation in presenting them with handsome fEags.
STAR HOSE COMPANY—Organized, May 1st, 1852 ; sixty members.
Motto--"Our impulse to action--The danger of our citizens."
The first officers were :
President—William Fox.
Vice President—John Stone.
Secretary—James Cochran.
Treasurer—Epaminondas L. Grigsby.
Messenger—Henry A. Heritage.
Directors—William Fox, T. G. McCormick, and Isaac Cummins.
Members—James A. Throckmorton, Daniel Hattan, Henry P. Slack, Samuel, Rufus, Isaac, George, and Adam V. Fell, George Fenstemaker, Joseph Northrop, Nimrod Taylor, Joseph, Albert, and Charley Church, Patrick Mulvey, Thomas, and William Barrett, Thomas G. McCormick, Dr. Alfred Ball, John B. Roberts, Lewis Slack, Henry Granger, William Jasper, Isaac Cummins, Jacob Hetzel, Peter lKraus, Mathias Colcher, Daniel Colcher, Isaac Piersol, Emanuel Amick, George, and Thomas Matthews, Samuel Rager, Joseph Debolt, James Guttery, Moses H. Willey, John P. Ford, J. L. C. Owings, John Carr, John Horton, Lewis Wall, Robert Evans, John Bailey, Daniel Bailey, John J. Arter, John Richards, Thompson Burwell, Joseph E. Cassiday, and Richard Hawkins.
This company disbanded when the paid department was introduced.
THE EAGLE FIRE COMPANY .—Organized, May 10th, 1852. First officers were as follows : President--Thomas Dixon.
Vice President--George W. Harris.
Secretary—Samuel Chapman.
Treasurer—Charles H. Werner.
Directors—T. Dixon, and G. W. Harris.
Members—George W. Harris, William Dixon, Thomas Dixon, Felix Fulton, Edward P. Moorehead, Samuel Bowman, James Darlinton, Moses M. Granger, Joseph Rehl, Frank Myers, Jacob Crotzer, William . Cooper, Samuel Chapman, Robert Howard, Stephen R. Hosmer, William Ruth, James Boyd, Bernard Howson, Leander Williams, Humphrey Woods, Michael and Patrick Flood, Gottleib and John Sterly, Daniel O'Kief, Leonard Moehler, Henry Granger, William Jasper, Benjamin and Thornton Pritchard, Michael Chauncey, Adam Voll, Hugh Murphy, Jacob Fisher, William and John Winters, Charles H. Werner, Adolphus Werner, William Bridwell, Charles Worstall, John Swoope, Patrick Haney, Dennis Fulton, James Keys, George Williams, Decatur Sockman, John Hoy, and John Stulock.
[Thanks are here tendered to Thomas Dixon and George Harris, 0f the Eagle Hose Company, for the above record.]
MUSKINGUM FIRE COMPANY [West Zanes-
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ville]—organized June 1,1853, with the following officers :
President—Charles Peters.
Vice-President—Louis H. Worrell.
Treasurer—William W. Wimmer.
Secretary—James S. Ward.
There were fifty members, but the following list is all that can be obtained now : John
Peters, Henry C. Peters, Charles Peters, James Smith, Louis H. Worrell, William Lee, Levi Miller, Dudley W. Cassidy, George Cassidy, William W. Wimmer, George W. Delzell, Daniel Miller, John English, George Lee, James S. Ward, H. C. Helmick, Joseph Wheatley, Charles Dunn, and James Morgan.
In 1871, this company was reorganized, and called "Reliance Hose Company, with the following officers :
President—Thomas Smith.
Secretary—Henry Kendall.
Treasurer—Frank McKinney.
Messenger—John Mills.
Standing Committee—John Whikehart and Daniel Dugan.
Pipemen—Charles L. Grimm and William Maker.
The total membership was forty. The city built a two-story house for their use, at a cost of $1,600. The company subsequently changed its name to Relief. April 1st, 1878, they disbanded, and went into the paid Department of the city.
RESCUE HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY, No. 5, was an independent Company in 1854. They built a fine, two-story, brick house, on the corner of Court House square and Fountain alley. They purchased their truck of Rogers & Co., Baltimore, Maryland, for $1,200. They numbered forty members, thirty-four of whom volunteered in the army, to put down the rebellion. Their officers were :
President—John Dymond.
Vice-President—George James.
Second Vice-President—Edward Wheeler.
Secretary—W. F. Baker.
Foreman—H. C. Lillibridge.
Assistant Foreman—Charles H. Ross.
Members—W. H. Hurd, W. M. Harriott, Isaac Ross, John G. Gittings, Charles Blocksom, William H. Nevitt, Charles Fletcher, Hugh Dunn, L. M. Dayton, Robert M. Applegate, Samuel W. Spencer, James Dixon, Charles Sullivan, George Lentz, Louis D. Sandal, Alfred F. Fillmore, A. F. Cassell, William Balthis, and B. D. Abbott. These are all the names that can be obtained.
"RELIEF, No. 7," was organized in the Seventh ward, June 30th, 1870, with about forty
members, and the following officers :
President—William Godfrey.
Vice-President—David Hook.
Secretary—William E. Atwell.
Treasurer—William Deacon.
Directors—Isaac Morgan and David P.Mercer.
Plugmen—Charles Huff and Arthur Palmer.
Messenger—Denton Graves.
Pipemen—Albert Worstall and Samuel -Murray.
Standing Committee—Newton Hall, R. Perry Bean, and Enoch S. Huff.
Members—Luther Morgan, John E. Leach, Benoni Willis, Sutliff Bates, John Leach, Allen Twaddle, James Garden, William Burns, John Kitchen, James Winning, Isaac Murray, William
E. Atwell, Levi B. Fink, Hugh Dugan, William Langton, Denton Graves, and Charles Stanton. These are all the names that can now be had.
" '76" HOSE COMPANY, was organized April i5th, 1872. The first permanent officers elected were :
President—Harrison Marshall.
Vice-President—Jacob Fischer.
Secretary—John J. James.
Treasurer—George S. Fitz.
Director—Daniel E. Giles.
Assistant Director—John Keeswell.
Plugmen—John A. Brennan and Frederick Fischer.
Standing Committee—Richard Hocking, Joseph Wise, and James Wallwork. Messenger-Nicholas Strauss.
Pipemen—Jesse D. Fell and Robert McNabb, The house was built on the west side of Monroe street, Sixth ward, by the city, in 1872.
The company disbanded June 1st, 1874, dividing the proceeds of their property among the
then active members.
NEPTUNE HOSE COMPANY, organized May 17, 1872, with tbirty members—an independent company, declared to hold themselves .in readiness to turn out at large fires, or as a reserve, except in their own ward, where they would turn out to fires, whether called or not. The temporary officers were
President—Joseph Haffer.
Secretary—James F. Ryan.
The first elected officers were:
President—Frederick Hirshy.
Vice-President—Peter Keck.
Secretary—Wallace Quigley.
Treasurer Joseph Haffer.
Captain—Frank Myers.
Assistant Captain—Peter Shubach.
Messenger—Philip Huffman.
Standing Committee—John N. Steiner, James
F. Ryan, and John Kreuter.
With their Constitution, they published the ordinance to establish and regulate the Fire Department of the city of Zanesville.
The company was accepted by the City Council, May 25, 1872.
NIAGARA HOSE COMPANY was organized July 5th, 1872, with fifty-eight members. The first officers were as follows :
President John Curtis.
Vice President—Andrew Farnum,
Secretary—John D. Jones.
Treasurer—Orlando C. Farquhar.
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Directors—Frederick Olmstead and Henry D. Flanagan.
Plugmen—Robert Wallace and John Deaver.
Pipemen—Samuel Atkinson, Wm. H. Ratliff, Wm. Osmond and Stephen Grecmiger. Messenger—Taylor Shrum.
Standing Committee—A. J. Farnum, C. N. Clark and Wm. Osmond.
Members—John S. Rudolph, Wm. F. Campbell, Frank Hosler, Wm. F. Ratliff, Jedadiah Copeland, Chas. Parshall, Lee Wallace, Wm. A. Scott, George Shrum, George Elmore, Richard Osmond, George Osmond, Joseph Cowell, Florence Hosler, Wm. J. Stonesipher, Scott Drake, Seborn, and James Hicks, Chas. T. Burwell, Chas. R. Carter, Chas. A. McDonald, Jessie G. Lauch, Isaac A. Lauch, Oley Nesbaum, Albert Stiers, James Richardson, Edwin A. Hicks, James Chute, John Bowers, Jr., Samuel Scott, Harvey Frederick, Chas. Osmond, George Brown, Albert Atkinson, George Farquhar, James Meeker, Andrew Taylor, Wm. Butler, Joseph Brown, Edward Wells and. Chas. H. Leasure.
Their building, situated in the ninth ward, was erected by the city. They disbanded, with twenty- two active Members, March 27th, 1876, and divided the money, cash on hand, and proceeds of property, between them.
RESCUE, No. 7.—This company was organized from Relief, December 29th, 1874, and was accepted by the city, January 11th, 1875. The first officers under this organization, were :
President—Henry Minter.
Vice President-LW. H. Gillingham.
Secretary—Wm. E. Atwell.
Treasurer—Patrick Dugan.
Directors—Arthur Palmer and L. Twaddle.
Plugmen—Philip Cullman and S. Eason Huff.
Messenger—Isaac Murray.
Pipemen—J. Stowe and J. Murray.
Standing Committee—James Douglass, Hugh Dugan and Marion Varner.
The officers for 1880 :
President—Amos Josslyn.
Vice President—J. E. Leach.
Secretary—W. E. Atwell.
Treasurer—Patrick Dugan.
Messenger—Isaac Murray.
Directors—Isaac Morgan and S. Eason Huff. Plugsmen—Dillon Murray and John Josslyn. Pipemen—George Tanner and Delaware Fletcher.
Standing Committee—Abraham Allman, Levi B. Fink and Wm. Langton.
Members—Henry Minter, Hugh Dugan, Geo. W. Tanner, Abraham Allman, S. Eason Huff, Levi B. Fink, Wm. Langton, Enoch S. Huff, Delaware Fletcher, James H. Hopkins, John Josslyn, Dillon Murray, Isaac Morgan and John McCall.
They adopted the same By-Laws under which Neptune worked. This is an Independent Volunteer company.
From the date of organization, until the spring of 1879, these companies, with others, received from the city S150.00 per year, which was used in furnishing their hall, in the second stories of the Hose buildings. The Messenger was paid $40.00 per year, and the Secretary $25.00 per year, for services.
In the last report of the Chief Fire Engineer, Mr. H. Shrimpton, to the City Council, he says :
"As required by law, I submit herewith the annual report of the Fire Department for the Year, ending September 1st, 1879. The condition and detail of the department is as favorable for the service required of it, as it can well be with the number of men, and the amount of money appropriated to defray the expenses thereof."
The report is explicit, and, doubtless, highly satisfactory; as the intimations of increased force being needed, have been carried into . effect, hence we, following the practical manner of the worthy Chief, herewith submit the present force, briefly, which is as follows
Hope Hose Company, No. 1—Isaac Minthorn, driver ; George W. Nicol, hoseman ; Thomas Moore, runner.
Star Hose Company, No. 2—William Bell, driver ; James A. Sears, hoseman and Assistant "Fire Chief;" Joseph Millfield, runner.
Relief Hose Company, No. 3—John T. Lynn, driver ; Chas. L. Grimm, hoseman ; William Mohler, runner.
Eagle Hose Company, No. 4—William .H, Nevitt, driver ; John Adams, hoseman ; Albert Seymour, runner.
Niagara Hose Company, No.5-Isaac Springer, driver ; George Shrum, hoseman ; Charles Powell, runner. The hose houses, eight in number, are all in good repair, except No. 2, on Seventh street. The apparatus consists of five hose reels, arranged for horses ; one hook and ladder truck, fully equipped, but not manned, except when emergency demands, when part of the force now in use is directed to take charge of it ; one old engine, in good condition.
The hose consists of 2,850 feet, leather, 911 feet of which is new, and 1,533 feet of rubber and leather, which is nor deemed reliable.
The new fire alarm telegraph went into operation the loth of February, 1879. This most effective branch of the department consists of twenty-one signal boxes ; six electric gongs ; one electric bell striker, for general alarm ; one galvanometer, and ten miles of wire on two hundred and twenty-five poles, and a complete electric apparatus.
Number of alarms from Sep. 1, 1879, to June 1, 1880 - 50
Loss by fire, to buildings, stock, etc - $5,756 00
Insurance recorded on the same - 4,561 00
Lost over insurance - 1,195 00
This is a most flattering testimonial to the efficiency of the Fire Department.
The cost of running the fire department, as now constituted, is $1,360.25 per company, per annum.
WATER. WORKS.-The hydraulic pressure is
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO - 225.
about sixty-five pounds to the square inch, which gives a force sufficient to deluge all but the highest buildings.
The volunteer companies were composed of the best citizens—embracing clergy, professional, business, and laboring men—who bore "the heat and burden of the day." As organizations, they never received more than $215 per company, per annum, to defray expenses. After years of service, when the demands upon their time became burdensome, and the city found itself able to afford a paid department, they gave way, and by act of the city council, were disbanded, May 26th, 1879. Their deeds of heroism and self-sacrifice entitle them to be held in grateful remembrance.