CIVIL HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY - 133

CHAPTER IX.

CIVIL HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY-SEAT CONTROVERSY-ITS BEGINNING-THE QUESTION OF RE-LOCATION - THE RIVAL SITES - SARAHSVILLE AND THE CALDWELL FARM — A VOTE UPON THE MATTER PROVIDED FOR BY ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE, 1854—THE ELECTION - THE RESULT - THE VOTE BY TOWNSHIPS-THE ADVOCATES OF A CHANGE SUCCESSFUL - A LEGAL CONTEST -HISTORY OF THE LITIGATION -BUILDING OF THE COURT HOUSE IN CALDWELL -REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY OFFICES, 1858— THE TEMPORARY COURT HOUSE AT THE NEW COUNTY SEAT-THE FIRST JAIL IN CALDWELL - THE PRESENT JAIL-CIVIL LIST- COUNTY OFFICERS FROM 1851 TO 1887— MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS-AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS-MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS - POPULATION - POLITICAL STATISTICS.

THE County of Noble had scarcely been established and the location of its seat of justice fixed by the State commissioners before dissatisfaction arose, and the people of the new county speedily found themselves involved in a fight, which proved to be long and animated, over the county-seat question.

From the time when the project of a new county first began to be discussed, this topic had been prominent; but on the principle that a rabbit must be caught before it can be cooked, all had worked harmoniously together to secure the establishment of the county. The inhabitants of the county were divided in opinion between two sites. The old village of Sarahsville, being the only town near the center of the county, naturally was favored by many as the county seat. But another portion of the county, in which resided many of those who had worked most earnestly to secure the passage of the act erecting the county, favored a site on the Caldwell farm in the Duck Creek Valley as the best place for the future metropolis of the county. The question of geographical center entered prominently into the discussion, as it usually does in all such contests, but, owing to the fact that no eligible site could be found at the exact center of the county, the opponents of Sarahsville unanimously agreed upon a certain tract in the northwest quarter of section 3, Olive Township, as being the best site that could be found centrally situated. A portion of this tract was offered to the county by its owers as a donation, provided it should be selected as the county seat. Thus it came about that the entire question was narrowed down to a fight between the friends of Sarahsville and those in favor of the other proposed site.

The commissioners met and, as we have seen, decided that Sarahsville should be the county seat. Then the fight began. The dissatisfied ones charged that bribery had been resorted to in order to secure the prize I to Sarahsville, and loudly declared

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that they would not tamely submit to such injustice. Agitation began at once in favor of a change. A paper was started in Olive favoring the re-establishment of the county seat. The contest grew close and interesting.

Although a fight, it was a good- natured one. Anger was often aroused in the heated discussions which took place between the advocates of the rival sites, but no lasting enmity resulted nor were friends estranged because of the controversy. The Caldwell adherents shrewdly looked into the situation, and by giving to the other faction whatever else they desired in the way of county offices, managed to elect a majority of the board of commissioners favorable to themselves, thus preventing the erection of anything more than temporary public buildings in Sarahsville. All the contests over county offices were fought without regard to the lines of national political parties. Noble County knew but two parties, the friends of Sarahsville and those of the Olive Township site, or, as they were locally styled, the party of " The North " and that of " The South."

The advocates of a change busied themselves in advancing their interests, and on the 29th of April, 1854, secured the enactment of a law by the general assembly authorizing the people of Noble County to vote upon the question at the next annual election.

Then began an animated campaign in which both sides were confident of victory. The election was held on Tuesday, the 10th. of October, 1854, and resulted in favor of a change, but by only a small majority. The total number of votes cast was 3,630, of which twenty-one were scattering ; for the county seat to remain at Sarahsville 1,721 ; for location on the northeast quarter of section 3, Olive Township, 1,871. The vote by townships was as follows :

Scarcely had the result been announced, before the defeated faction resolved to contest the election. Fraud, illegal voting, and bribery were charged on either side, and the friends of the old county seat resolved not to yield without a struggle. Then began an interesting legal contest, in which hundreds of dollars were spent, and no little enmity engendered, all to no purpose. Caldwell became the seat of justice of Noble County.

The history of the litigation,* briefly recounted, is as follows :

The act of APril 29, 1854, " to provide for the permanent location or the seat of justice of Noble County

*Fifth volume, Ohio Statutes; John W. Noble and others as commissioners or Noble County opinion by Judge Scott.

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by the legal voters thereof and for the erection of public buildings therein," provides in its first section, that from and after the taking effect of the act, "so far as the location of the county seat of Noble County is affected, the seat of justice of the County of Noble shall be permanently located and fixed, until otherwise provided by law," at a place particularly described in the northeast quarter of section 3 in Olive Township.

The second section provides that "this act shall take effect and be in force when and so soon as the same shall be adopted by a majority of all the qualified electors of said Noble County at the next general election after the passage of this act, voting in accordance with the rules and in the manner hereinafter provided.

The third section provides for the manner of voting, and that " if a majority of all the qualified electors of said Noble County, voting at said general election, shall vote for location of the county seat on said northeast quarter of section 3 in Olive Township, this act shall thereupon be considered and holden to be adopted by such majority."

The fourth section provides for counting votes, transmitting returns, etc,, to the court of common pleas of Noble County. The fifth section provides for recording the certificate and notice of the result of the election in case there is a majority for the new location ; and that such record shall be legal evidence for all purposes of the result of said voting.

The sixth election (on which the contest was mainly made) is as follows : " that the commissioners of Noble County shall, within twenty days after the result of said election shall be made known, as provided for in section 4 of this act, levy a tax sufficient, together with the proceeds of the sale of the public buildings in Sarahsville, which buildings such commissioners are hereby authorized and directed to sell, to erect a court house, jail, offices, and other necessary public buildings for said county, on the premises described in section 1 of this act : provided that if a majority of all the legal voters of said county voting at said election shall not vote in favor of locating the county seat on the premises mentioned in the first section of this act, when said public buildings shall be erected by the tax above provided for, in the town of Sarahsville, in said county."

The seventh section provides for notifying the electors to vote on the question submitted to them by the act, etc. The eighth section provides for the removal of the county offices, by notice of the commissioners, after buildings shall have been provided, etc.

The ninth section provides that " any elector of Noble County shall have the right to contest the validity of the vote authorized to be taken by this act, by serving a notice on the commissioners of said county," etc.; also that the court of common pleas "shall hear and determine the contest and make an order and decree determining the seat of justice of said

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county according to the true result of said vote."

The vote taken in pursuance of the act resulted as already stated. Thereupon John W. Noble and oth ers instituted proceedings to contest the validity of the election. The contestors moved the court of common pleas to adjudge that " there was no law of the State at the time of said vote, authorizing and prescribing the manner of holding such an election, and that the law authorizing said election and removal is unconstitutional and void."

The court having heard the cause upon the evidence, overruled this motion and decided that the seat of justice of the county was " permanently located and fixed" at the place described in Olive Township. The contestors took exceptions, and to reverse this decision a petition in error was filed in the district court of the county. Thence the case was taken to the supreme court which re-affirmed the decision of the court of common pleas. Messrs. Stillwell, Ferguson and Casey acted as attorneys for the contestors; and Messrs. Hanna, Dudley and Belford for the defense. From the interest in the subject, the length of the contest, and the legal talent engaged, this became, in truth, a "celebrated case."

The tract selected for the county seat (and for the donation of a bond of $40,000 was given by Samuel Caldwell and others, and recorded in the commissioner's journal, Dec. 6, 1854) is thus described : "Beginning at the place where the Lancaster and Louisville road crosses the west line of the northeast quarter of section 3, in township number 6, of range 9 of lands sold at Zanesville, Ohio ; thence north on said .west line 28 rods ; thence east, 29 rods; thence south, 28 rods ; thence west 29 rods to the place of beginning." This tract was deeded by Samuel Caldwell to the county commissioners, June 2, 1857.

December 6, 1854, after reciting the fact that a majority of the legal voters of the county have chosen the above described location as the seat of justice, the commissioners passed two resolutions, as follows:

"First. That Ezra McKee be authorized to cause to be surveyed the part of said northeast quarter of section 3, Olive Township, described in the first section of the law of April 29, 1854, * * * " and that in making such survey there be reserved as a public square about two and one- half acres, upon which to erect the court house, provided that a strip about three rods wide can be obtained on reasonable terms front the land-holders adjoining, in order to the laying out of streets all around and a tier of lots on two sides of said square.

'‘Resolved, second. That the name of the new county seat ordered to be surveyed be

While the question as to whether Caldwell was in reality to be the seat, of justice was still pending in the' courts, nothing was done with reference to the erection of new public buildings. Put on the lofh of .lane, 1857, the county commissioners, James Archer, Jonathan Echelberry

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and George Baker, " ordered and determined that there be erected on the public square, in the town of Caldwell, in this county, a court house in accordance with specifications hereafter to be determined upon," and agreed to give notice in the consolidated Republican that they would receive sealed proposals for the erection of said court house, until the 20th day of July following. Meantime. the commissioners order a sale of the lots in Caldwell, which belong to the county, on the 4th of July. The lots, thirteen in number, were sold at prices varying from $48 to $200 each.

The plans and specifications for the court house were drawn by Thomas Drake, who received $75 for the job. On the 21st of July, the commissioners having examined the bids for the erection and finishing of the building, awarded the contract to William J. Young and Dennis S. Gibbs, the lowest responsible bidders, who entered into bonds to complete the building by the 20th of September, 1858, for the sum of $13,000, to be paid in four installments. The building erected under this contract was accepted by the commissioners January 4, 1859, and is the present court house of Noble County. It is a well-built, two-story brick structure, situated on the beautiful, well shaded, neatly fenced public square of Caldwell ; and though not of a pretentious style of architecture, its external appearance will compare favorably with that of most court houses in the agricultural counties of Ohio, while its size and arrangement make it ample for the wants of the county.

While the court house was building, the frame building in Caldwell now standing across the alley from the county jail was used as a temporary court house. January 21, 1858, the commissioners " having provided a suitable court house and other necessary public buildings" in the town of Caldwell, ordered the officers of the county to remove their respective offices, books, papers and business to the places provided within twenty days ; also that the next term of the court of common pleas he held at the court house provided by the commissioners in the town of Caldwell. Although this order was appealed from, it was obeyed, and the transfer of everything except the prisoners in the county jail at Sarahsville followed immediately.

October 13, 1858, the board of commissioners awarded to James Dudley, the lowest bidder, the building of a jail and jailer's residence, to be finished by the first of December, 1859. The contract price was $3,800. The jail was a small brick structure on the site of the present jail.

The present county jail and jailer's residence is a good looking two-story brick building of modern style, well arranged and well finished. It was built in 1881-2, at a cost of about $10,000. The architect was J. W. Yost of Bellaire ; the contractors, Mills & Summers of Caldwell. The latter agreed to do all the work and furnish material for $9,477.55, at the same time purchasing the old jail for $425. In May, 1882, Kelly & Co. of Pittsburgh, contracted to

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construct steam heating apparatus, plumbing and a cistern for the sum of $985. The jail was finished in the latter part of the year 1882. The committee having it in charge was composed of the county commissioners, Adam Hamilton, John N. Shafer and John Smithson ; the clerk of courts, H. E. Peters ; the probate judge, J. H. Brown ; the sheriff, David Miller ; and William Glidden, appointed a member of the committee by the court of common pleas. The jail is a credit to Noble County, and speaks well of the executive ability of the contractors and superintendents who erected it.

COUNTY 1NSTITUTIONS.

As soon as practicable after the erection of the county and the building of a suitable court house and jail, the commissioners turned their attention toward providing a home for those unfortunates whom dire necessity had brought to the low estate of pauperism. Accordingly in the year

1861, the commissioners, John Lemmax, James Ball and William Crum, bought of Aaron Vorhies a farm of two hundred acres situated in the northern part of Center Township, on which to estabhsh a county infirmary. The price was $6,000, to be paid in three annual installments without interest. On the farm was a substantial brick farm house and other good buildings which were made to serve until 1865, when the present main building was erected. An addition has since been made to the building. The whole making a large and imposing structure ample for the present wants of the county. Two additions to the farm were made prior to 1883, and in that year one hundred and forty acres were bought at a cost of $8,000. This purchase included a large two-story brick dwelling which has been fitted up as a temporary children's home. The infirmary farm and the children's home lands now embrace 470 acres of excellent farming land, well improved and under a good state of cultivation. A large part of the lands are among the very best bottom lands in the county. The number of inmates of the infirmary is usually from fifty to sixty, though it was greater before the establishment of the home. The institution is not yet self-supporting, but has to be aided by county funds. The first board of infirmary directors were Ezra McKee, John Miley and Morris Danford. The superintendents have been Eastern Daniels, Benjamin Rain, Heed Johnson, John Lamley, Armstrong Johnston, Abner Davis, William Buckley and Clark E. Gray.

The children's home was established in 1884. The first board of directors were James Ball, William S. Spriggs and William Musser: This board was abolished and the home placed under the management of the infirmary directors. Emmor Davis and wife have had charge of the home from the first, and Miss Lizzie Martin has charge of the school connected therewith. The number of the youth at the home is usually from forty to sixty.

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CIVIL LIST.

Common Pleas Judges.—Noble County has been, since its formation, in the eighth judicial district. The names of the judges who have presided in the common pleas courts of the county are as follows:

Archibald G. Brown, 1851 ; Richard Stillwell, 1852-4; John E. Hanna, 1854; Charles C. Convers, 1855; Corrington W. Searle, 1855-6; Lucius P. Marsh, 1857-8 ; Nathan Evans, 1859-63; Ezra E. Evans, 1863-7; Moses M. Granger, 1807-71; Frederick W. Wood, 1870-4; William H. Frazier, 187284; Lucius P. Marsh, 1874-6; E. W. Mathews, 1884; J. W. Campbell, 1885-6.

Clerks of Courts.— Isaac Q. Morris, 1851-2 ; Theodore Parrish, 1852-5, resigned March 3, 1855; William C. Okey, 1855-60 ; Isaac Q. Morris, 1860-2 ; James Stevens, 1862-6; Wilbert B. Teters, 1866-72 ; Irvin Belford, 1872-8 ; Henry E. Peters, 1878-84; Lawrence H. Barry, 1884-7 ; Isaac W. Danford (elected 1886).

Probate Judges.—Gilman Dudley, 1852, qualified February 9; Gilman Dudley, 1853-5; D. F. Sanford, 1855-7, died in office ; Samuel McGarry, 1857-64, appointed first, afterwards elected ; Dennis S. Gibbs, 1864-70; Jonathan Miley, 1870-6; A. P. Jennings, 1876-9; John h. Brown, 1879-85 ; D. M. Morrison, 1885-8.

Sheriffs—Joseph C. Schofield, 1851-3; F. M. Mason, 1853-5, resigned June 13,1855 ; Samuel Danford, 1855-9 ; William McKitrick, 1859-63 ; Eliab Matheny, 1863-7; William h.. Summers, 1867-71 ; Anderson C. Lawrence, 1871-5 ; Freeman C. Thompson, 1875-9; David Miller, 1879-83 ; Isaac E. McKee, 1883-5 ; Henry J. Cleveland 1885-7.

Prosecuting Attorneys.- Jabez Belford, 1851 (April to October); S. W. P. Cochran, 1851-3 (resigned 1853) ; E. A. Bratton, 1853; Jabez Belford, 1854-6 ; William II. Frazier, 1856-66 ; James S. Foreman, 1866-70 ; James M. Dalzell, 1870-2 ; David S. Spriggs, 1872-6 ; William Chambers, 1876-8 ; J. M. McGinnis, 1878-82; Nathan B. Wharton, 1882-4; Capell L. Weems, 1885-8.

Auditors.—Robt. Barkley, 1851-4; Henry Taylor, 1854-8; John W. Tipton, 1858-60 ; Geo. Bell, 1860-2 ; John W. Tipton, 1862-66 ; Norvel W. Taylor, 1866-70; Richard L. Allbritain, 1870-2 ; Jonathan F. Knouff, 1872-8 ; Dan'l Neuhart, Jr., 1878-81 ; Walter D. Guilbert, 1881-87.

Recorders.-R. Hellyer, 1851-4 ; James K. Casey, 1854 (appointed April 12, vice Hellyer, resigned); John Stevens, October, 1854, died in 1859 ; Thomas W. Morris, appointed to vacancy November 12, 1859; elected and served until 1862 ; balance of term filled by Jabez Belford, deputy, 1862-3; Benjamin 13. Waller, 1864-70; Thomas Lloyd, 1870-6 ; Enoch W. Wickham, 1876-88.

Treasurers.—Samuel McGarry, 1851-2; Philip McWilliams, 1852-4; James F. Capell, 15548; William Van Meter, 1858-.62 ; Abraham Simmons, 1562-6; Chrysostom Foster, 1866-70 ; William L. Moseley, 1870-4; George A. Smith, 1874-8; George

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W. Wyscarver, '1878-80 ; Thomas M. McVay, 1880-4; Azariah C. Cooper, 1884-8.

Commissioners.—The first board, holding office from April to November, 1851, was composed of Jacob Lyons, Timothy Smith and John Noble. Since then the office has been filled by the following, new commissioners taking their seats in December of the year in which they are elected : Jacob Lyons, 1851-2 ; Alfred Ogle, 1851-5 ; George Baker, 1851-7; Elijah Hatheway, 1852-6; J. Archer, 1855-8; Jonathan Echelberry, 1856-9 ; Robert McKee, 1857-60; William McWilliams, 1859, appointed March 28, vice Echelberry, removed ; Wm. Crum, Jr., 1858-61 ; James Ball, 1859-62 ; John Lemmax, 1860-3; E. P. Sullivan, 1861-7; George Wilson, 1862-5; William W. . Stringer, 1863r'9; William J. Gregg, 1865-41 ; James Eakin, 1867-73 ; William Long, 1869-75; Robert Cal- land, 1871-7 ; John Moore, 1873-6 ; William Ross, 1875-8; John Conner, 1876-9 ; Samuel Hatheway, 1877-80 ; Adam Hamilton, 1878-81; John N. Shafer, 1879-82; John Smithson, 1880-3 ; Isaac Crow, 1881-84 ; W. W. Collins, 1882-5 ; Julius R. Groves, 1883-6-9 ; J. R. Gorby, 1884-7 ; N. B. Barnes, 1885-8..

Surveyors.--George George Bell, 1851 ; John H. Jeffries, 1853 ; Charles Burlingame, 1853 ; Henry Miller, 1866 ; David Miller, 1872 ; William Lowe, 1878 ; Levi D. Merry, 1881.

Infirmary Directors. —Term three years.— Ezra Mckee, 1861 ; John. Miley, 1861; Morris Danford, 1861 ; Samuel Laughlin, 1861-8, 1876-9; James Ball,* 1807 ; W. W. Rhodes. 1867 ; Jonathan Miller, 1868, 1871; James N. Hedge, 1870 ; Robert Barry, 1872; Anderson Briggs, 1873; Stephenson Trimmer, 1874 ; William Musser, 1875, 1878 ; Joab W. R. Newton 1879 ; Joseph 11. Clark, 1880,1883 ; John N. Graham, 1881, 1884 ; George Weekley, 1885; Peter Vorhies, elected 1886.

Coroners, --The following list contains the names of those who have held the office of coroner, so far as obtainable, from the incomplete data to be found regarding the same : — David McGarry, 1851 — May to October ; John Bainum, 1851-5 ; Martin Beatty 1855 ; Lewis Groves,.1856-8 ; Alien Floyd, 1858; F. M. Brown, 1861 ; Richard S. Deal, 1863-7 ; Robert C Downey, 1867-73; Michael H. Neveille, 1873-5; Hiram J. Downey, 1875 ; Joseph H. Hilton, 1879 ; W. S. Bebout 1882-4; Felix 0. Neptune, 1884-6 ; John D. Aldridge, 1886-8.

MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

From 1852 to 1862 Noble County was without representatives or senators of its own, the different parts of the county voting for those officers with those counties from which they were taken. Since 1862 Noble has been allowed a representative, and a part of the county has been in the fourteenth senatorial district, and the remainder in the nineteenth, The fourteenth district is composed of the Counties of Washington and

(*No record can he found of those, who held the office from 1862 to 1857.)

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Morgan, and the Townships of Brookfield, Sharon, Jackson, Noble and Olive, and part of Elk, Jefferson and Center Townships. The nineteenth senatorial district comprises Guernsey and Monroe Counties ; also Stock, Enoch, Marion, Beaver, Buffalo, Seneca and Wayne Townships, and part of Elk, Jefferson and Center Townships in Noble County.

Senators, Fourteenth Distract,— William P. Sprague, 1862-4 ; William F. Curtis, 1864-6 ; S. Knowles, 1866-8; Abraham Simmons, 1868-70; Rodney M. Stimson, 1870-2 and 1872-4; Peres B. Buell, 1874-6 ; Richard Stanton, 1876-8 ; John Irvine, 1878-80; Francis B. Pond, 1880-2 and 1882-4; Gilbert Smith, 1884-6; Abel W. Glazier, 1886-8.

Senators, Nineteenth District.— John D. O'Connor, 1862-4; and 1864-6; R. Savage, 1866-8; William Lawrence, 1868-70 ; James 0. Amos, 1870-2, and 1872-4 ; John W, Laughlin, 1874-6 ; Joseph B. Williams, 1876-8, and 1878-80 ; Frank M. Atkinson, 1880-2; Albert J. Pearson, 1882-4; William S. Crowell, 1884-6.

Representatives. — Oliver Keyser, 1862-4, and 1864-6 ; Charles Hare, 1866-8, and 1868-70 ; Bethel Bates, 1870-2; Benjamin F. Spriggs, 1872-4; Wm. Van Meter, 1874-6; James M. Dalzell, 1876-8, and 1878-80; Henry R. Smith, 1880-2, and 1882-4; Levi W. Finley, 1884-6; T. C. Williams, 1886-8.

MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS.

The total value of land and buildings in Noble County, as equalized by the State board of equalization, was as follows in the years mentioned : In 1853, $2,524,0(0); in 189, $2,960,229; in 1870, g4,461,311; in 1880, $4,431,360.

In 1880 there were 22,497 acres of wheat sown in the county. which produced 296,015 bushels, or an average of 13.2 bushels per acre. The same year the county produced 1,356 bushels of rye, 1,310 bushels of buckwheat, 1,176 bushels of barley. The acreage of corn was 20,421 ; number of bushels, 757,486. Number of acres of oats, 4,006; bushels, 79,139. Number of tons of hay other than clover, 18,797 ; clover hay, 565. Number of acres of potatoes (Irish), 671 ; bushels produced, 44,984; sweet potatoes, 9-1 acres, 532 bushels. Tobacco, 2,251 acres, which yielded 2,183,704 pounds. Only five counties in the State produced more tobacco than Noble. For some years Noble stood second in tobacco culture.

In the same year the county produced 47,287 gallons of syrup from 450 acres of sorghum. There was also manufactured 1,358 pounds of maple sugar, and 473 gallons of maple syrup. There were 1,115 hives of bees, which produced 6,484 pounds of honey. The number of pounds of butter manufactured was 552,130 ; cheese, 7,920. Number of dozens of eggs produced, 375,039. The yield of fruits was as follows : Apples, 313,430 bushels from 4,596 acres ; pears, 584 bushels ; cherries 2,688 bushels ; plums, 1,570 bushels, The acreage of grapes was 13, from which were gathered 28,400 pounds of grapes, and 3,445 gallons of wine were manufactured.

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The county had, in 1881, 90,007 sheep, which produced 374,081 pounds of wool, and were valued at $203,930; 15,984 cattle, worth $182,660 ; 5,604 horses, $229,681 ; 168 mules, $7,500; 12,581 hogs, $39,665. Total value of horses, mules, cattle, sheep and hogs, $663,436. Later statistics prove that the county is constantly increasing in the value and extent of its agricultural, horticultural and live-stock products.

For five years, 1878-83, the average total number of bushels of wheat produced in Noble County was. 230,890 bushels annually. The highest yield during the five years was 296,015, for the year 1880; the lowest, 161,603, in 1881.

In the year ending May, 1881, Noble County produced 266,475 bushels of coal, worth $9,024, and 513,600 gallons of petroleum, valued at $16,060. Only Washington County, which produced 864,000 gallons, exceeded Noble in the petroleum product.

According to the census of 1880, Noble County contained 105 manufacturing establishments in which $149,185 was invested. Employment was given to 141 hands above sixteen years of age, and to eleven children and youth. The total amount of wages for the preceding year was $20,921 ; value of materials used, $281,357; value of products, $371,884. Since that census was taken the manufacturers of the county have greatly increased in importance.

POPULATION.

In 1860, Noble County had 20,751 inhabitants; in 1870, 19,949; in 1880, 21,138. The population by townships in 1880 is given below :

Beaver Township, including Williamsburg village, 1,829 ; Brookfield Township, 1,000 ; Buffalo Township, 804; Center Township, including Sarahsville village, 1,850; Sarahsville village, 249 ; Elk Township, 1,539 ; Enoch Township, 1,480; Jackson Township, 1,267; Jefferson Township, including Middleburg village, 1,506 ; Middleburg village, 102; Marion Township, including Summerfield village, 1,582 ; Summerfield village, 435 ; Noble Township, 1,420; Olive Township, including Caldwell village, 2,332; Caldwell village 002; Seneca Township, 1,004; Sharon Township, 1,221 ; Stock Township, 1,543 ; Wayne Township, 761.