100 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE. trials of local roads. It was twice in the hands of receivers, and was finally re-organized as the Ohio River & Western, under which name it was still operated in 1903. In 1902 the road passed into the hands of the Appleyard Syndicate, owners of a number of interurban traction lines. The development of the oil industry and the building of railroads led to the establishment of several new towns and villages. Dexter City, in Jefferson township, was laid off on August 5, 1870, by R W. St. John, Hiram Flanders being the proprietor of the site. Additions were soon afterward made to the original plat by George Bell, John Smithson, J. J. Shriver, and U. J. Cheshire. Some of the lots in these additions lay in Jackson township. The town was named for Dexter W. Sullivan, who erected the first building in the place after the original plat was surveyed. Soon after Sullivan’s building was commenced, David McKee began the, second one, in which le placed a stock of goods as soon as it was finished, thus becoming the first merchant in the place. Dexter City is located on the line of the Cleveland & Marietta railroad, the road being completed to that point about the time the town was laid off into lots. For some time the town enjoyed a boom, owing to the railroad and the adjacent oil field, after which it settled down to a steady growth, and is today one of the important commercial centers of the county. Two miles north of Dexter City, on the same railroad, the village of South Olive was laid out in August, 1871. Welton B. Ostrander owned the land and employed David Miller to make the survey, the original plat consisting of thirteen lots. Several additions to the original have been made by William Kirkbride and others. A railroad station was the first building erected. Soon after it was finished W. D. Guilbert opened a store in it, the first in South Olive. He was soon followed by Rice & Martin, and for a time South Olive was considered an emulator of Dexter City for commercial honors. A thriving trade was soon built up by the local merchants, and considerable business is still done there. One of the early industries was a large tobacco packing business, which was conducted by Gouchenour & Guilbert., In 1880 the warehouse that they had erected was sold to Jacob Purcell, who converted it into a modern grist mill. Three years later the mill was destroyed by fire, and this misfortune, coupled with the waning of the oil excitement about the same time, had a disastrous effect upon the town, from which it never fully recovered. Partial amends were made by the opening of the South Olive Oreamery Company in 1886 which brought new business to the village. Another village that sprang up about the same time as South Olive, was that of Dudley, where a flag station was established by the railroad company in 1871. As soon as the railroad station was built a store was opened in the structure by J. P. Arnold. A little village grew up THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 101 about the station but no official plat of the place was made until 1877. Several residences, a wagon shop, a saw and grist mill, a .school house and a Universalist church were built during the next decade, but Dudley never grew to metropolitan proportions. In April , 1873, William Lowe was employed by Levi Glover to lay out the town of Ava in Noble township, in the northern part of the county. The original survey consisted of twenty-two lots, but the town has been increased by additions to almost five times its original proportions. Ava is 'on the line of the Oleveland & Marietta railroad and is one of the principal trading points for the farmers of that section, and is also the center of the coal mining industry opened up in 1903. In 1872 Benton Thorla opened a store on his farm where Belle Valley now stands. In the same year a postoffice was established there and Mr. Thorla was appointed postmaster. Three years later he employed William Lowe to lay off the town plat. When the Bellaire, Zanesville & Cincinnati railroad was completed this place became a junction of that road and the Cleveland & Marietta, which made it quite an important point. At one time the town of Belle Valley boasted two hotels, a fine grist mill, three general stores, and several other business enterprises being only four miles from Caldwell, the growing county seat gradually drew the trade away and Belle Valley merely held its own for two decades, but in 1903 the town took on a new lease of life by the opening of the McBee coal mines, and nearly or quite doubled its population in less than a year. Between the time that Noble county was organized and the beginning, of the Civil war the villages of East Union, Moundsville, and Fulda were projected. East Union was laid out in the spring of 1856 by Charles Burlingame for Henry Archer, who had started a 'store there some years before. The postoffice was established in 1859 with Allen Floyd as the postmaster, a grist mill was erected by a stock company, and for several years a thriving business was done in buying and shipping tobacco. Moundsville was projected by Isaac Davis, who laid off twelve lots there in the spring of 1861." But the war coming on just at that time the growth of the village was no doubt retarded by it. Rufus Hall built a small mill there, and being a violinist of more than ordinary ability the place soon became generally known as "Fiddler's Green." After Hall removed from the place the mill fell into disuse and the few straggling houses constituting the village took the name of "Stringtown." W. D. Guilbert conducted a store there from 1866 until the completion of the C. & M. railroad, when he removed to South Olive. The town of Fulda, in Enoch township, was laid off in June, 1861, by Charles Burlingame for, John Brahler and John S.. Hohmann. A number of German families had settled in this locality some years before and the town was named for 102 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE. one near their old home in the Fatherland. Some time before the platting of the village a store had been opened there by Heiddlesheimer & Hohmann. Soon after the plat was filed a postoffice was established there with John S. Hohmann as the first postmaster. Fulda, is chiefly noted as the site of St. Mary,s Catholic. church. The parish is one of the oldest and largest. in that part of the State, and the church building is one of the most imposing edifices. in Noble, county. During the war the town of Caldwell made but little progress. Since that time its growth has been slow but sure. Before the building of the railroad the only means of communication was by means of a hack line from Caldwell to Campbell's Station on what is now the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The distance is twenty-two miles and the hack made but three, trips a week. This hack carried the mails and on the days between its trips there was a. mail from McConnelsville, thus giving Caldwell a daily mail service. The first school house in the town was built in 1866 at a cost of $2,300, S. B. Pugh being the contractor. Fourteen years later the building had become inadequate to the growing needs of the school population and a more commodious structure was erected at a cost of nearly $10,000. "School House Hill" is the highest point in the town where the building commands an excellent view, and where the best of sanitary conditions can be easily maintained. Both political parties have been well represented by newspapers in Caldwell, though the Republican papers have received better support, owing to the fact that the party has for many years been in a majority in the county. After the suspension of the Noble County Democrat in 1860, that party was without a local organ until 1863, when some of the Democratic leaders induced Robert Hutchinson to buy the outfit of the old Woodsfield Herald and establish a paper at. Caldwell. Accordingly in the summer of 1863 the Democratic News was launched. Nathaniel Capell soon became associated with Hutchinson, but the paper was not a financial success and the publishers sold out. to Robert. J. Smith, who continued its publication until 1865. The business was then transferred to McGlashan & Clymer. The latter shortly afterward retired from the firm and McGlashan changed the name to the Noble County News, continuing to publish it regularly until 1869, when he sold out to W. A. Wallace. Wallace published it as the Cottage Visitor for about two years when he turned it back to Cyrus McGlashan, who changed the name to The Spectator. A year later John M. Amos. and F. W. Moore bought the paper, changed the name to that of the Citizens Press, bought a lot, of new type and in many ways improved the appearance of the paper. Mr. Amos soon became the sole proprietor and under his management the paper continued to prosper until 1884, when he sold out to A. P. Jennings & THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 103 Son, who changed the name to the Caldwell Press. A rival Democratic paper was started in July, 1886, by C. W. Evans. It was called the Noble County Democrat and after about a year was consolidated with the Press. In 1887 Jennings & Son sold the paper to L. W. Finley & Son, who continued its publication until 1894, when the plant was sold to J. W Bigley. In June, 1902, it passed into the hands of William C. Archer, a young man of fine attainments, who has greatly improved the appearance and character of the paper. The Press is the only Democratic paper in Noble county. The first Republican paper in Caldwell was the Noble County Republican, as mentioned in a former chapter. It was removed from Sarahsville with the county seat by Randall Ross. In 1859 he sold the paper to John L. Shaw, who conducted it. until 1866. In March of that year the ownership was transferred to Goodrich & Teters. In July, 1869, John W. Bell and Wallace H. Cooley succeeded Goodrich & Teters, and about a year later Mr. Bell retired from the partnership leaving Mr. Cooley in. charge. In August, 1883, the first number of the Caldwell Journal made its appearance. Its publication was begun by Frank M. Martin, who had previously been connected. with the Noble County Republican and the Woods field Gazette. From April to December, 1886, Mr. Martin: had a partner in the person of J. F. Knouff, and after this partnership was dissolved the former continued the publication of the paper until May, 1903. In July, 1898, he purchased the Noble County Republican and consolidated the two papers under the name of the Noble County Republican. Journal. In May, 1903, he sold out to Eastman Archer, but remained with the paper until the first of the following July. On May 3, 1899, the first issue of a. new Republican paper appeared. It was called the Noble County Leader and was published by J. S. Harris, a newspaper man of wide experience and recognized ability. The Leader is still under the management of Mr. Harris and has a. large patronage.* For some time P. F. Yoho was associated with Mr. Harris in the publication of the Leader, but his death left Mr. Harris the sole proprietorship. By an act of the county commissioners, February 4, 1870, the town of Caldwell was incorporated. The resolution was passed by the board in response to a petition signed by nearly every legal voter and taxpayer in the village. The names attached to the petition were: J. M. Dalzell, W. IL Summers, R. S. Allbritain, S. P. Evans, F. M. McKee, David Gookins, Worthy McKee, Cyrus McGlashan, John Martin, C. A. Foster, D. A. Foster, J. M. Burlingame, John M. Amos, Weedon. Headley, S. R. Pugh, A. G. Evans, A. H. Evans, W. P. Evans, W. H. Cooley, John W. Bell, Frank Shafer, John L. * Mr. Harris also publishes the Summerfield News. 104 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE. Young, W. F. Wiley, W. H. Frazier, H. J. Hinkle, Ira Collins, D. C. Jones, P. Jackson, R. J. Singer, J. 0. Bickford, G. W. Fogle,. T. W. Morris, Joseph Stillwell, Adolph Michael, J. W. Kraps, F. G. Okey, C. J. Jenne, N. W. Taylor, William Glidden, Hambleton Wiley, T. H. Morris, George Winders, R. Belford, Jabez Belford, Robert McKee, J. W. Caldwell, E. B. Waller, J. D. Wiley, L. H. Davis, George Allen, W. S. Archer, A. Simmons, John Wehr, Taylor Bivens, G. A. Way, W. B. Teters, J. S. Foreman, D. S. Gibbs, E. H. Stillwell, and Irvin Belford. The first trustees of the town were William H. Frazier, C. A. Foster, and John. M. Amos. Mr. Frazier was elected chairman of the board and Mr. Amos clerk and treasurer. In November, 1871, the former resigned and William H. Summers was appointed to the vacancy. The trustees elected in 1872 were Jabez Belford, chairman; John M. Amos, clerk ; and C. J. Jenne, treasurer. Soon after Caldwell was incorporated a movement was started in favor of making it an incorporated village of the second class, under the laws of the State. The question was submitted to the voters at an election held on April 8, 1872; the vote resulting sixty-one in favor of the measure and fourteen against it, and on May 20, the first election of officers occurred under the new regime. The officers of the town since that time have been as shown by the following list; together with the year of their election. Mayors: William Chambers, 1872 ; William W. Ripley, 1876 ; E. H. Archer, 1880 ; Milton James, 1884 ; C. A. Foster, 188.6 ; C. M. Watson, 1888 ; (Watson served as mayor until November, 1891, when he resigned and I. B.. Phillips was appointed till the next regular election). C. A.. Foster, 1892; (I. B. Phillips: was again appointed in September, 1892, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Mayor Foster) ; A. C. McKee, 1893 ; I. B. Phillips, 1894 ; Ames F. Steen, 1895 ; 0. 0. Dye 1896 ; A. O. Archer, 1898 ; C. O. Dye, 1900 ; L. B. Frazier, 1902 ;* W. H. Richcreek, 1903. Clerks: George M. Yarnall, 1872 ; J. W. Barnes, 1874 ; W. E. Tipton, 1875 ; M. C. Julien, 1877 ; J. J. McAdams, 1878 ; E. Perry, 1879 ; A. C. Okey, 1880 ; J. J. McAdams, 1882 ; R. W. Summers, 1883 ; O. M. Watson, 1884; J. H. Mills, 1888 ; Cyrus McGlashan, 1896; Adolph Michael, Jr., 1898 ; J. F. aney, 1900; Cyrus McGlashan, 1901; R. P. Summers, 1902. The record of the treasurers of Caldwell is not very clear. The first mention of an incumbent of the office, after the village was incorporated in the second class, is. in 1874, when Gilead Ogle was elected to the position. M. 0. Julien was elected in 1878 ; and again in * Under the Municipal Code, passed by the Ohio legislature. October 22; 1902. the elections are held on the first Monday in April. Mr. Richcreek is the first mayor under the new order. THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 105 1880, but it is not certain whether some one else was treasurer between those dates. ,L. W. Glidden was elected in. 1884 ; T. H. Morris in 1885 ; J. J. McAdams in 1897; and J. T. Young, the present incumbent, in 1903. The completion of the railroad in 1871. necessitated improved facilities for commercial transactions, and in December of that year the Noble County Bank was organized with a capital stock of $40,000. W. H. Frazier was elected president and E. P. Pierce, cashier. On March 18, 1873, the bank was merged into the Noble County National Bank, which was then organized with a capital stock of $60,000. The president and cashier remained the same and Charles T. Lewis was elected assistant cashier. The number of stockholders was materially increased and a board of directors consisting of W. H. Frazier, John Lemmax, Henry Large, Ezra McKee, and George A. Smith, was chosen. In 1903 the officers of the bank were E. J. Hoge, president ; J. E. Smith, vice-president ; W. E. Tipton, cashier ; A. C. Okey, assistant cashier. The board of directors was made up of E. J. Hoge, J. E. Smith, J. M. Maring, John Lemmax, and George E. Large.. The capital stock remains, at $60,000 but at the close of 19.03 the bank had a surplus of $40,000 and undivided profits amounting to $12,000 more. In September, 1902, the Citizens National Bank of Caldwell was organized and it opened for business on November 3, with O. O. McKee, president; J. S. Jones, vice-president; V. E. Harkins, cashier. The capital stock of the bank is $60,000, all of which is held by residents of the county. At the close of the first year,s business the bank had a surplus of $4,000. In 1903 the stockholders decided to erect a building on the south side of the public square. The building is three stories high, the bank and a drug store occupying the ground floor, the second story being used for offices, and the third story by the K. of P. Lodge. The cost of the building was about $35,000 and it is considered. the finest and best appointed business building in Caldwell.* In May, 1883, the Caldwell District Fair Association was organized and in the following July it was incorporated with David Miller, president; I. M. Combs, vice-president; E. H. Archer, secretary; and G. A. Smith, .treasurer. The capital stock was fixed at $6,000, which was later increased to $10,000. Immediately after the association was incorporated a tract of land about a half mile west of Caldwell was secured for a fair ground, a fine half mile track was constructed, and the first fair was held under the auspices of the association .in September, 1884. Since that time a number of successful exhibitions * National banks, have also been organized at Batesville and Summerfield. 106 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE have been held, the Caldwell fairs ranking among the best in Southeastern Ohio. Another institution that has been of almost incalculable benefit to Caldwell and the immediate vicinity is the. Caldwell Building & Loan Association, which was organized in the spring of 1885. The incorporators W. H W..H. Cooley, who was elected the first president ; O. T. Wilde, secretary ; W. D. Guilbert, treasurer ; Stephen Mills; John Emmons, T. O. Kane, John W. Tipton, Jr., John M. Amos, and A. C. Okey, directors. Some of the finest residences in Caldwell have been built through the agency of this association, which has been honestly and efficiently conducted from its first organization.. On April 14, 1888, the Ohio legislature authorized the municipal authorities to issue bonds to the amount of $5,000 for the purpose of providing fire protection for the property holders of the town. Two years later another act was passed increasing the amount to $15,000, a portion of which was to be used for improving the streets.. In 1897 two disastrous fires occurred, the first. on May 4, destroying nearly all the buildings on the south side of the public square the second on June 1, which destroyed all the buildings, in the square, bounded by four streets, north of the public square. These unfortunate events stimulated the demand for better protection against conflagrations of a like character in. future. Steps were accordingly taken to construct .a water works system that would not only be an important, factor in extinguishing fires, but which would also .supply the citizens of the town with water for ,drinking and domestic purposes. On November 10, 1897, the council adopted a resolution awarding the contract for the construction of water works to Davis & Archer, of Bellaire, for $14,000, and at the same time a contract was awarded to the Hughes Steam. rump Co., of Cleveland, for $1,500 for an engine and boiler for the same. The completion of the works gave to the people of Caldwell an abundant supply of good water, established a feeling of security against losses by fire, and enhanced the value of property. In connection with the water works plant is the city, electric light plant. In a little cemetery near Hiramsburg stands an unpretentious slab of plain, white marble, bearing the inscription : "John Gray, died March, 29, 1868, aged 104 yrs. 2 mon. and 23 days. The lasWashington,ston's companions. The hoary head is a crown of glory." John Gray was born near Mount Vernon, Va., January 6, 1764. In his boyhood he was employed by George Washington on numerous errands. His father fell at the battle of White Plains, and the son enlisted in the Patriot Army in 1781, where he served until the close of the war. John Gray was twelve years of age when the Independence of the United States was declared ; fifty-one when Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo; and seventy-three when Victoria mounted THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 107 the English throne. He lived to see the American arms: victorious in the war of the Revolution, the war of 1812, the Mexican war, and the war between the States. In 1829 he settled in what was afterward Noble county and there peed the remainder of his life. In 1866 he was granted a pension of $500 a year by an act of Congress, but he lived only two years to enjoy it. According to the records of the pension office at Washington he was the last surviving pensioner of the Revolution, and he was probably what the inscription on his tombstone declares—"the last of Washington’s companions." The last years of his life were spent in a humble home, about two hundred and fifty yards from; the little cemetery, where his mortal. remains found their final resting place, and where a number of his relatives lie buried. Many interesting incidents are told of the old veteran by Noble county people who knew him, and it is probable that in future a suitable monument will mark his grave. In connection with the Civil war it is worthy of note that Noble county furnished the only private soldier who afterward achieved a national reputation. James M. Dalzell, better known to the public as "Private" Dalzell, enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry as a private, though he was promoted sergeant major for gallant conduct. In 1866 he was appointed to a clerkship, at Washington, where he remained for two years, devoting his evenings to the study of law; in 1868 he was admitted to the bar. Returning to Caldwell he began the practice of law and took an active part in political affairs. His name was soon widely known through his contributions to the leading newspapers of the country, and as a public speaker in political campaigns he had few equals. In 1871 he conceived the idea of a general national reunion of soldiers who had served in the Union army during the war. A call was issued for such a meeting, at Lansing, Michigan, on March 4, 1872. Owing to insufficient advertising and lack of support, the reunion was a failure. A second effort was made with Washington, D. C., as the meeting place and March 4, 1873, as the date. This reunion was but little more successful than that at Lansing the previous year and most of those who had' become interested in the movement grew discouraged. Not so with "Private" Dalzell. Undismayed by two failures he made a third effort, selecting his home town for the meeting place and September 15, 1874, as the time. Here he had the co-operation of his old comrades in arms and September proved a. much better month for a reunion than March. For months prior to the time fixed for the meeting, Mr. Dalzell kept the newspapers busy in publishing his articles relating to the project, with the result that many took an interest in the: matter. Congress passed resolutions recognizing the reunion as a national affair and granted the use of a number of pieces of artillery with an appropriate supply 108 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE. of ammunition. General Sherman and other prominent commanders were present; nearly every northern State was represented in the vast crowd, which was estimated at from 25,000 to 30,000 people. The reunion was held in a beautiful grove just west of Caldwell where the program was carried out according to the original plan. Old acquaintances were renewed and old friendships cemented at this first, and greatest, . national reunion of Union soldiers. Notwithstanding Caldwell had at that time but one line of railroad the crowd was not inconvenienced for want of accommodations and everybody went away happy, but none more so than "Private" Dalzell, who had witnessed the successful culmination of his long cherished scheme. Reunions were also held at Caldwell in 1875 and 1876 but neither of those later meetings equaled in magnitude or interest that first great reunion. Mr. Dalzell represented Noble county in the Ohio legislature for four years from 1875 to 1879, and in 1882 he was a candidate for the Congressional nomination. The convention met at St. Olairsville, and after nearly three hundred ballots adjourned without making any nomination. After that he retired from politics and devoted his time to the practice of his profession. All through the Ohio Valley have been found the ruins of structures, in the shape of mounds, erected by some ancient but long since extinct population. Several of these mounds have been found in Noble county. In 1872 a number of scientists, came to the county for the purpose of exploring one known as the Bates Mound in Beaver township. Among the relics taken from the mound were three skeletons of gigantic stature, grim mementos of a pre-historic race. They measured over eight feet, in height and recalled to mind the children of Anak reported by the spies sent out by Moses to reconnoiter the Promised Land. Upon' being exposed to the air the bones soon: crumbled to dust but the scientists who had made the investigation expressed themselves as being highly pleased with the discovery. In 1889 the first election under the Australian ballot law was held in Noble county. The first election commissioners for the county under the new system were J. F. Knouff and George Rhodes, Republicans, and Peter Miller and L. H. Barry, Democrats. Schools of instruction were conducted by both parties for the purpose of instructing the voters as to the workings of the law. Notwithstanding some friction occurred in the change from the old to the new method of voting the system worked well and met the general approval of the voters. So well had the schools of instruction: done their work that a smaller percentage of votes were thrown out in Noble county, on account of defects, than in most of the counties of the State. Since that time the system has grown in popular favor and few of the THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 109 electors of Noble county would express themselves in favor of the old method of casting their ballots. By an act of the legislature, passed March 8, 1892, an additional judgeship was created in the eighth judicial district. The subdivision is composed of Muskingum, Morgan, Guernsey and Noble counties, and is known as the first subdivision of the eighth district, and had two judges previous to the act of March 8, 1892. Under the provisions of the act the first election for judge was to be held on. the first Monday in April, 1892. At that time William Chambers, of Noble county,. was elected judge and continued' to hold the Office for ten years. When the Spanish-American war broke out Noble county was not called on to furnish any volunteers but a number of Noble county boys, who were serving in the regular army participated in the military operations in Cuba. Among them were Stephen M. Archer, who held the rank of captain in the Seventeenth United States infantry, Oliver M. Knouff; and William H. Wehr, now foreman in the Republican Journal composing room, Who was wounded in the hip at El Caney, Harry. Collins and 'P'ursell Archer, both of whom were in the artillery service and fought at El Caney and the other engagements. around 'Santiago. About a year before the beginning of the war a company was organized at Summerfield, known as the Guilbert Rifles, and was mustered into the Ohio National Guard, as Company E of the Seventh regiment. The company numbered sixty men, the first captain being Robert W. Calland, a veteran of the Civil war, and 'who was afterward promoted to major of the Seventh regiment. A signal honor was paid to this company on the occasion of the reception to Admiral Dewey. at Wheeling, Va., February 22, 1900, when it was selected as escort to the admiral and assigned the post of honor in the procession. The company was named in honor of W. D. Guilbert, auditor of State, who is a citizen of Noble county. In 1903 the commissioned officers of the company were Grant S. Hastings, captain ; Luther Danford, first lieutenant; and Clyde McClintock, second lieutenant. This is the only company of the National Guard in the county, but it. is regarded as one of the best drilled in. the State, owing in a. great measure to the skill and perseverance of Captain Calland, who aroused a military pride in the bosoms of the young men constituting the company. Prior to 1869 the physicians of Noble county had never established a local medical society. The pioneer doctor, with a practice covering a territory extending over a radius of ten to twenty miles, out at all times of night and in all kinds of weather, visiting his patients over roads that were at times almost impassable, had but little time for association with his professional, brethren. Mounted upon a good horse, with a stock of medicines in the old-fashioned pill-bags thrown 110 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE. across the rear of his saddle, he combatted disease in his own way according to his best judgment. Among the early physicians of the county were William McKee and David McGarry, of Olive ; J. F. Cape11 and William S. Spriggs, of Sarahsville; John Kirkpatrick and Francis Slater, of Sharon; J. M. Stone and N. P. Cope, of Hiramsburg; John Keller, of Mt. Ephraim; Joseph Wilcox, of Batesville; R. P. Summers and. David Frame, of S:ummerfield ; John Martin, G. A. Way, and J. W. Kraps; of .C'aldivell. There were others but these were perhaps the most prominent in their day. In the summer of 1869 there was organized and incorporated The Noble County Medical Society, with the following charter members: Drs. Mechem and R. B. Taylor, Summerfield ; John Martin, J. W. Kraps and G. A. Way, Caldwell; W. G. Martin, Harrietsville ; Charles Schreiber, Sharon ; R. C. Downey and W: P. Spriggs, Sarahsville. Dr. John Martin was the first president and G. A. Way the first secretary. This organization continued in existence for several years and held regular quarterly meetings, many other physicians joining at intervals. On April 20 and 21, 1901, occurred one of the heaviest falls of snow ever known. in the county. It began snowing early on Saturday morning, the 20th, and Continued without cessation for thirty hours. In that time three feet of snow fell, interfering greatly with the ordinary business pursuits, and almost . blocking the highways to travel. Few people attended church that Sunday morning. The bells hung silent in the steeples, sending forth no invitation to come to worship, while everyone who was able to lend a hand turned out to clear the roads or clean the snow off the flat roofed buildings to prevent their, collapse under the great weight. For once the old settler was nonplussed. From his storehouse of recollections he could bring no reminiscence of a similar phenomenon in the years gone by, and as the date of the great snow was so late in the season it is quite probable that it will not occur again in many years. Future generations, when a heavy fall of snow comes, can sit around the firesides and hear old men tell of the great snow storm of April, 1901. In celebrating the centennial of Ohio,s admission into the Union it fell to the lot of Noble county to furnish the poet, who wrote the ,ode .that was widely used in the exercises of the public schools of the State. The ode was written by J. Milburn Harding, a young attorney of Caldwell, and was first used' in the Caldwell public schools on February 27, 1903. On Sunday, March 1, it was published for the first time in the Ohio State Journal, and soon afterward was used in the public schools of Chillicothe. It was published in the Caldwell Republican Journal on March 26, and during that month was widely used in the schools as the best tribute to Ohio’s THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 111 progress and patriotism. The poem, which is reproduced below, tells in graphic language the story of the State's redemption from savagery to civilization. It has been preserved in the report of the Historical and. Archaelogical Society of Ohio, for 1903, and was published in the quarterly journal of the society. OHIO CENTENNIAL ODE. Columbia’s pride, Ohio, grand and fair, Where wealth and beauty are beyond compare, Where labor, truth and knowledge have control, Thy name is peer upon the honor roll. Ohio, first born of the great northwest, Nursed to thy statehood at the Nation’s breast And taught the wisdom of the Ordinance Rule, No slav’ry chain, but e’er the public school. Ohio, name for what is good and grand, With pride we hail thee as our native land; With jealous pride we sing our heartfelt lay To laud thy name, this first Centennial Day. One hundred years and half as many more Ago, from ripples on proud Erie’s shore Far to the south where, beautiful and grand, The placid River's wave kissed untrod sand, The dusky twilight of the forest old Concealed the native Indian, wild and bold. Within the awe of that primeval wood, The white-skin captive, pining; lonely stood And longed to lift the prison veil to roam From savag'ry to join dear ones at home Here lived the greatest, noblest Indian men. Retreating from their eastern glade and glen, They crossed the river, called. this land their own And hoped to hunt and fish and live alone. Here came another race. The renegade, The scout, the trapper, followed each his trade. Here, too, the priest and bishop, with sad face, Converted souls, built missions, "Tents of Grace." But they are gone. The annals of the strife That brought to one race death, another life, Have oft been writ, by deeds not free from stains, In noblest. blood that coursed a race’s veins. 172 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE. Then came forth through the gate-way of the West That band of war scarred soldiers, all in quest Of peaceful homes. Their river voyage past, The Mayflower of the West her moorings fast To Buckeye faith. With noble, pure desire Debarked that crew—to found a new Empire. They brought with them their all ; but, e'er they, came The purest laws that Liberty could frame. More settlers followed them. With steady stroke, And fire they cleared the land of native oak, And reared their cabin homes. Soon did appear The rude log schoolhouse of the pioneer. One decade and a. half of honest toil Create a state of Freemen on Free Soil. One century of statehood—statehood such As all the World proclaims the guilding touch Of man’s long strife for liberty, and one Full-gemmed with purest deeds that men have done. When Tyranny, in dark expiring throe A few times dared on our horizon show A cloud of war, Ohio's noble sons Were first to bear and last to stack their guns. With Erie’s waters mixed their crimson blood ; They reached and, crossed the Rio Grande’s flood ; They Starred and Striped, the Montezuma's halls ; They filled the ranks at Lincoln’s several calls, And fought till Freedom won. Ohio’s roll Was near Four Hundred Thousand men, each soul Free born and taught, for that great civil strife. Ohio men in every fight were rife. In cabinet and battle camp each plan A Stanton, Chase, a Sherman, Sheridan Or Grant direction gave. The slave is free. The breeze but one Flag floats from sea to sea. Pure, noble women, honest, learned men For peace and progress here have ever been. Each Morning’s breeze, throughout our hills and dells, Wafts on its wings chimes of ten thousand bells; Ten thousand fields of sheep and kine give voice Ten thousand whistling factories rejoice; Four million people' rise, from slumber sweet In happy homes, their daily tasks to meet. THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 113 Ohio, pearl of western forest sea, Where lived a Race in dark antiquity To speak to us of industry and toil With tongues entombed in mounds of clay and soil ; Ohio, guardian of eternal right, The lamp of justice burned but dimly bright Till thou, from off thy Northwest Throne, Interpreted, with will and arm of stone That grand old page, where Heaven's guided pen And said, "Born free and equal are all men ;" Ohio, may thy "Jewels" number rise To guard thy name a thousand centuries. Chapter VIII. BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTY—AREA—SURFACE—SOIL—CROPS TOBACCO— OCCUPATIONS—MINERAL PRODUCTS—SANDSTONE — COAL—IRON—SALT— NATURAL GAS—TAXABLE PROPERTY IN 1903 — MORTGAGES — CHURCHES METHODIST EPISCOPAL —CATHOLICS — BAPTISTS—PRESBYTERIANS— DISCIPLES—OTHER DENOMINATIONS—EDUCATIONAL GROWTH—SCHOOL STATISTICS — FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS — MASONS — ODD FELLOWS —KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS—GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC—SONS OF VETERANS— CIVIL GOVERNMENT—LIST OF OFFICIALS SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY—POLITICAL—ELECTION STATISTICS—CENSUS REPORTS—DISTANCES—GENERAL REFLECTIONS. NOBLE COUNTY is situated in the southeastern part of the State and is bounded on the north by the county of Guernsey ; on the east by the counties of Belmont and Monroe; on the south by the county of Washington ; and on the west by the counties of Morgan and Muskingum. The area is a little over 400 square miles, the county containing 258,560 acres. It is one of the hilliest counties in the State. A ridge running east and west through the county divides it into two main slopes. This watershed runs through Marion, Center, Noble, Buffalo, and a corner of Brookfield townships. North of it the streams flow in a northwesterly direction to the Muskingum river. These streams are the three forks of Will's creek—Buffalo fork, Seneca fork, and Beaver fork—with their lesser tributaries. South of the ridge the principal streams are, the east, west, and middle forks of Duck creek, which flow southeast to the Ohio. Although the surface is exceedingly uneven the soil is of that limestone formation that makes it strong and productive. The hillsides are well adapted to grazing while the bottom lands along the streams produce bountiful crops of all kinds of cereals. Fruit is also grown in abundance and is of great variety. One of the most profitable crops is tobacco, which is raised throughout the county and is generally of a fine quality. Agriculture is the principal occupation, though several important mineral products are to be found in the county. Limestone is found THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 115 in every township and in several localities there is sandstone well adapted for Wilding purposes. The largest of these deposits is near Whigville, in Marion township, where the ledge measures in soma pkces forty feet in thickness. Another large bed of sandstone is on Reasoner's Run in Jackson township. Iron ore is also found in some parts of the county. It is said to be of excellent quality but has never been worked to any great extent. What is known as the Meigs creek coal has been found at several points and it is believed that it underlies the entire county. At numerous points it crops out and at such places mines have been opened and, worked to good advantage. The coal is not of the best quality, however, containing but about forty-five per cent of fixed carbon, and leaving a krge amount of ashes and clinkers. The vein varies from three feet to five and a half feet in thickness and is mined without much difficulty. This enables the producers to put it on the market cheaply and the chances are that the local demand will be supplied by the local mines for some time to come.* The Meigs creek coal is mined in drifts or banks. In addition to this vein extensive testing shows the existence of two other veins of excellent coal, the Cambridge, or No. 7, at a depth of about 180 feet and the Hocking Valley, or No. 6, at a depth of about 280' feet, underlying the entire Duck Creek valley, north of Caldwell. There are now three shafts working in the different veins just north of Belle Valley, the Chris McKee plant being the finest in the valley between. Caldwell and Cambridge, and is equipped with the latest improved electrical mining, machinery. Practically all of the coal lands on both sides of the Marietta branch of the Pennsylvania railroad north of Caldwell, for a mile on each side have been bought outright. Other mines have already been located and at no distant day the little city of Caldwell will become the center of an important coal mining industry. The Caldwell Mining Car and Manufacturing Company was organized in 1892 and is now making cars, tipples, and other coal mining supplies, and their products are used not only in the various mines in the Duck Creek and Will's Creek valleys, but are shipped to nearly every State in the Union. In early times when salt was scarce' and hard to obtain its manufacture was conducted at several places in the county, salt water being found almost anywhere by drilling a well. When the railroads were opened through the county it was soon discovered that salt could be more easily obtained through commerce and the salt works of Noble county were discontinued. The oil industry, described in a previous chapter, is one of the principal sources of wealth. A few years ago when natural gas began to be utilized for fuel in Western * A full, technical description of the coal deposits of the county may be found in the report of the Geological Survey of Ohio, volume V, chapter XIX. 116 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE. Pennsylvania, various parts of Ohio, and in Eastern Indiana, the attention of certain persons in Noble county was directed to the conservation of the gas from the wells in the oil district, a product which had hitherto been allowed to go to waste. As a result of their endeavors the people in the: principal towns and .villages, and many of the farmers of the county, have for some years enjoyed the benefits arising from the use of this gas as a clean and economical fuel. The experience of the Noble county gas fields does 'not differ materially from that of others. In time the pressure began to: decrease, the long hard winter of 1903 was so severe a test that many found the supply of gas inadequate to their needs and returned to the use of coal, which, though not so clean nor so convenient, they found more reliable. The casual observer, in passing through Noble county, might conclude, from the uneven surface, that the people are rough in character and poor in property. Such, however, is not the case. The men who settled the territory were of industrious habits and their descendants have proved 'themselves to be men of the same distinctive quality, who have by their energy wrested wealth from the rugged hills. In 1903 the real estate of the county was appraised for taxation at $3,874,010, and the personal property at $1,858,319, making a total of $5,732,320, or about $1,250 to each family. Few agricultural counties can make a better showing. The census of 1901 gave the number of families on the farms at 2,815. Of these 1,726 owned their homes free from encumbrance, 563 were mortgaged, and the remainder were tenants. Schools and churches were among the first institutions to be established, distinguishing the early settlers as believers in education and as a. moral, reverent and God-fearing people. The oldest church in the county was probably the Methodist Episcopal church at Carlisle, founded about the year 1812. At first it was only a class, with Elisha Enochs as leader, but in 1820 a log house was erected and the congregation regularly organized. Amthe earlyarly inhabitants of the county the Methodists were the most progressive and aggressive of any of the religious denominations. The first Methodist church Summerfield was erected in 1830, though a class had been in existence there ever since the year 1819, Nathaniel Capell being the first leader. A Methodist church was established at Sarahsville about the time the town was laid out and is therefore one of the oldest in the county. Thomas Barry and William Shaw were among the: leaders at this point. The church at Mount Ephraim was organized in 1830, with Joseph Graham as class leader, and in 1844 the first building was erected for the congregation. This building was replaced by a larger one in 1880. In 1832 a few Methodists in the vicinity. of Harrietsville got together and organized a class with Jonas Lovett THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 117 as leader. After a school house was built the congregation was organized into a regular church, meetings were held. in the school house until 1869 when a church building was erected. In 1836 Methodist churches were organized at Mount Tabor in Stock township and at Crumtown in Elk township. Two years later a meeting-house, as the early church buildings were generally called, was erected by the Methodists at Sharon. This afterward became one of the strongest congregations in the county. The old building was superseded by a larger and finer structure in 1870. The Middleburg Methodist church was organized. For some time class meetings had been conducted under the leadership of Henry Enochs. Jacob Miller was the first pastor of the church at Middleburg. In 1859 the Methodist church of Caldwell vas founded. The church was really organized at the old village. of Olive years before Noble county was created. After the location of the county seat at Caldwell, Samuel Caldwell donated a lot for a. church site and the congregation removed to the new county seat. It is the oldest church in Caldwell. Some of the most prominent. citizens of Caldwell were among the membership. After the completion of the railroad from Marietta to Caldwell the Methodists turned their attention to the founding of new churches in the villages that sprang up along the line of the railroad. In 1872 the church at Dexter City was organized, meetings being held for a time in the school house with Rev. Luther Timberlake as the pastor. Two years later the church building was erected, the first. in Dexter City. In 1881 William Kirkbride offered to give the Methodists a lot in South Olive if they would build a church there. The same year the South Olive Methodist church was organized by Rev. George Willis. Although small at first, the congregation soon became one of the largest and most active in the county. Methodist churches were also established at an early day at Batesville and in Buffalo township. Next after the Methodists came the Catholics. In 1819 Rev. Edward Fenwick came from Maryland, as a missionary to the settlements northwest of the Ohio. The same year he organized Catholics about Batesville into a. parish and founded a church. It was at first known as St. Dominic's but was: later changed to St. Mary's. The Parish prospered and in a few years numbered several hundred members. In 1840 the "Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of St. Mary" was organized at Fulda. During the next nine years Father Kremer visited the church twice a month, and it was not until 1853 that the first church edifice was dedicated. It is now one of the strongest religious organizations in the county with a good parochial school. St. Michael's, at Mount Ephraim, was founded in 1841 and was for seine time under the same pastoral charge As St. Mary's of Fulda. Another Catholic organization that was conducted 118 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE. for a time as a mission of St. Mary's was that of St. Henry's, established in 1868, and located about two miles east of Harrietsville in Elk township. On February 8, 1825, a number of Baptists gathered at the house of Ezekiel Dye, Sr., in Brookfield township, and organized a Baptist church. This church, afterwards known as the Brookfield Baptist church, was the first organization of that denomination in the county. In the spring of 1826 a log building was erected. On May 26 and 27 the Meigs Creek Association met in this building before it was fully completed. Another Baptist congregation was organized in 1825, in the vicinity of South Olive. It was re-organized in 1843, at which time it took the name of the New Harmony Baptist church. In 1856 a neat frame church was built, the membership having grown to about one hundred. Five year after the organization of these two churches the Manchester Baptist church, was established, taking its name from Manchester township in Morgan county. A minister by the name of Gabriel was the first pastor. Another Baptist church was organized near Hiramsburg, in 1850, and after 'struggling along for a number of years under the most discouraging circumstances was finally disbanded. The Roadfork Baptist church, in Elk township, was established in 1857, with Henry Lyons as the first pastor. Meetings were held in the school house until 1859 when the congregation built a home of its own. The Baptist church at. Caldwell was established in 1861 by Rev. O. W. Churchill. The church building was erected the same year at a cost of about $1,200. For some time the growth of the church was slow, owing to the civil war, but later it prospered and at the present time it is the largest Baptist church in the county. A Presbyterian church was founded at Olive as early as 1820 and was for many years supported by the board of. Home Missions until it grew strong enough to sustain itself. Among the early pastors was John Arthur, though but little is known of the early history of the congregation. In 1823 the Presbyterians erected a church building at Sharon. It was used also by the United Presbyterians. The Presbyterian church at Caldwell was organized on July 27, 1868, by Rev., H. C. Foulke, of Cumberland, assisted by other ministers, the membership numbering less than twenty at the time of the organization. Churches were established by the Cumberland Presbyterians at Pleasant Hill, in Center township, in 1845, and at Hiramsburg in 1870. The first named church afterwards passed into the hands of the Methodist Protestant denomination, which also had congregations at Belle Valley, Hoskinsville, and in Jackson, Noble and Center townships. Christian churches were organized in the county at Mount Ephraim, in 1839, by John Burnett, an evangelist; in the northwestern part of THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 119 Enoch township, about the close of the Civil war; and at Middleburg in 1879. Other churches were those of the United Brethren at Fredericksdale, and in Olive, Enoch and Jackson townships the Wesleyan Methodists at Summerfield, Sarahsville and in Beaver township, the last named being founded as early as 1822 St. John's Evangelical church, established in Elk, township in 1842 Mount Hope Evangelical Lutheran church at Batesville, in 1828 and the Universalist church at Dudley, in 1878. For more than a quarter of a century the believers in the doctrines taught by the Universalist creed had been holding meetings in this part of the county, but it was not until after the building of the railroad that they became strong enough to venture upon the organization of a congregation and the erection of a building. Some of these congregations have given way to others of later creation showing evidences of greater vigor and vitality, but it can be said that the people of Noble county believe in the precepts of the Christian religion. The history of the educational progress of Noble county is but a repetition of, the experience' of all new countries. As population increased, the growth of the school interests kept pace with the development 'along other lines. The log house, with the huge open fireplace, the greased paper windows, and the puncheon seats, gave way to the more modern. brick or frame structure, offering greater comforts to the pupils and better facilities for imparting instruction. Uniform text books were adopted, which permitted the arrangement of the scholars into classes, while the constant accumulation of the school funds afforded a larger revenue for educational purposes. Under these conditions the schools of the county have prospered. In 1901 the State department of education reported 133 school buildings in the county, with 155 rooms, the property being valued at $103,250. The term of school was 29 weeks in the township schools and 32 weeks in the separate districts. The number of teachers employed was 216, at salaries ranging from 00 to $55 per month. The total revenue reported amounted to $70,069.51, of which $46,781.55 was expended, leaving a balance of $23,178.96 in the treasurer's hands at the close of the school year—certainly a satisfactory financial condition. Of the 6,230 boys and girls of school age 3,864 were enrolled in the schools, 124 being in the high school grades, and the average daily attendance for the year was 2,647. The total number of graduates from the county high schools since their establishment was given as 184. Good buildings have been erected in all the principal towns and villages, and in most of the country districts. Caldwell, Middleburg, Batesville, Summerfield and Dexter City are noted for the superiority of their schools. No history of Noble county would be complete without some mention of the secret, benevolent and fraternal societies. The Masonic 120 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE. fraternity was the first to enter the field by the organization of Sharon Lodge, No. 136, which was instituted in March, 1846, with only eight members, the Worshipful Master being Rev. Patrick McCue. In 1903 the Lodge had a membership of forty-three, W. L Walters being the Worshipful Master. In 1857 this lodge erected a two story building, the first Masonic building in the county. The second Masonic lodge to be organized was Olive Lodge, No. 210, at Sarahsville. This lodge received its charter on. December 4, 1851, soon after Sarahsville had been selected as the county seat. Eight charter members were enrolled, with J. Y. Hopkins as master of the lodge. In 1903 the lodge had forty-one members and J. M. Murphy was the master. Summerfield Lodge, No. 425, F. and A. M. was organized in 1869, receiving its charter on October 20, of that year, with twelve charter members and George W. Mason as master. In 1903 C. W. Farley was the master and the lodge had a membership of forty-seven. Noble Lodge, No.. 459, Free and Accepted Masons, was instituted at Caldwell, October 17, 1872, With fourteen charter members and William H. Frazier as the first Worshipful Master. The membership of this lodge in 1903 was sixty-one, E. G. Chamberlin being the Worshipful Master. Summerfield Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, was organized in September, 1870, with fourteen charter members. The charter of Summerfield Chapter was surrendered about 1890. Cumberland Chapter, No. 116, wa.s instituted January 6, 1869, at Cumberland. On February 18, 1889, the place of meeting was changed to Caldwell. In 1903, Cumberland Chapter had about sixty members, and Homer L. Hastings was the gigh Priest. Olive Lodge, No. 259, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted at Olive, December 4, 1854. In 1861 the meeting place was changed to Caldwell. In 1903 the lodge had a membership of one hundred and four and a fund of several thousand dollars invested. On August 23, 1866, Batesville Lodge, No. 382, I. O. O. F., was instituted. For some years the First National Bank of Batesville occupied the lower story of the Odd Fellows building. The lodge had a membership of sixty-one in 1903. The next organization of Odd Fellows was Keith Lodge, No. 466, at Keith's in Jackson township. Peter and Adam Keith were among the charter members. A hall was built in 1884, and in 1903 the lodge had ninety-four members on the rolls. Dexter City Lodge, No. 496, was instituted on August 22, 1871. It prospered from the start. and soon owned a good hall and property worth several hundred dollars. The membership in 1903 numbered sixty-one. Two Odd Fellows' lodges were organized in 1873 ; Gem Lodge, No. 552, at Sharon, and Noble Lodge, No. 563, at Harrietsville. The former was instituted in July and the latter in December. At one time Sharon Lodge had the largest and best furnished hall in the county. It is still in a prosperous condition, THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 121 reporting an active membership of sixty-seven in 1903. The lodge at Harrietsville never grew to the proportions of some of the others in point of membership but those belonging to it have shown their devotion- to the principles of the order by their liberality in charitable work. In 1903 the membership numbered thirty. South Olive Lodge, No. 763, has been organized More recently and has. a membership of forty-nine. M. C. Ogle, of this lodge, was a Deputy Grand Master in 1903. Lodges of the. Daughters of Rebecca have been organized at South Olive, Batesville and Caldwell, the total membership being one hundred and twenty-five. Within the last fifteen years six lodges of the Knights of Pythias have been instituted in Noble county. The first of these was Caldwell Lodge, No 280, which in 1904 had a membership of seventy-nine; Batesville Lodge, No.. 331, reported thirty-one members; Rado Lodge, No. 632, thirty-three Autumn Lodge, No. 646, located at Summerfield, one hundred and sixteen; Spring Lodge, No. 705, at Hiramsburg, fifty-five; and Jewel Lodge., No. 726, at Dexter City, fifty-eight. The total membership in the county was three hundred and. fifty-seven and in three of the lodges a section of the Endowment Rank was maintained. Concerning the growth of this order the last Journal of Proceedings, of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, said : "Pythianism is at a premium. in, Noble County. All the Lodges report prosperous conditions with good future prospects." Upon the organization of the Grand Army of the Republic the Noble county veterans took steps to establish local posts of the order. The first mustered was at Dexter City, July 8, 1884, with thirty charter members. It Was named the John M. Moseley Post. in honor of the captain of the first volunteer infantry company recruited in Noble county, and who died at Cheat Mountain, Va., September 27, 1861. The Post number is '470-. Noble Post, No. 491, was organized on September 18, 1884, at Caldwell, with forty-eight charter members. On January 21, 1885, John Brown Post, No. 504, was organized at Summerfield. It received its name from Capt. John Brown, who enlisted from Summerfield as first lieutenant in Company D, Ninety-Second volunteer infantry. He was promoted captain. in July, 1862, and died from wounds received in the battle of Chickamauga. At. the time the post was mustered nineteen charter members wereenrolled, among them being R. W. Calland, who organized the militia company at Summerfield in 1897. Following the establishment of Grand Army posts came the, organization of camps. of the Sons of Veterans. On July 29, 1885, James Trimmer Camp, No. 53, was organized at Caldwell, with seventeen members, and on September 20, 1886, William C. Simmons Camp was instituted at Batesville with ten members. Noble county has been fortunate, ever since its formation, in having 122 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE. its affairs administered by public servants who were both honest and efficient. No scandals have attached to her civil officers, and but few of their official acts have been deserving of severe criticism. Following is a list of the judicial, executive and administrative officers since the organization of the county in 1851, with the year in which each went into office to serve until his successor was elected and qualified, as shown by the succession of dates. The county has been in the eighth judicial district ever since its creation. Some of the common pleas judges in the list were residents of other counties of the district. Common Pleas Judges.—Archibald G. Brown, 1851; Richard Stillwell, 1852 ; John E. Hanna, 1854 ; Charles C. Conyers, 1855 ; Corrington W. Searle, 1855 ; Lucius P. Marsh, 1857 ; Nathan Evans, 185Ezrar'a. E. Evans, 1863 ; Moses M. Granger, 1867 ; Frederick Wood, 1870 ; William H. Frazier, 1872 ; Lucius P. Marsh, 1874 ; E. W. Mathews, 1884 ; J. W. Campbell, 1885 ; William B. Crew, 1891; William Chambers, 1892 ; J. H. Mackey, 1902. Clerks of Courts.—Isaac Q. Morris, 1851; Theodore Parrish, 1852 ; William C. Okey, 1855 ; Isaac Q. Morris, 1860 ; James Stevens, 1862 ; Wilbert. B. Teters, 1866 ; Irvin Belford. 172 ; Henley E. Peters, 1878 ; Lawrence H. Barry, 1884 ; Isaac W. Danford, 1887 ; W. W. Ackley, 1893 ; E. C. Chamberlain, 1896 ; A. A. Day, 1903. Probate Judges.—Gilman Dudley, 1852 ; D. F. Sanford 1855 ; (died in office in 1857 and Samuel McGarry appointed to the vacancy). Samuel McGarry, 1857 ; Dennis S. Gibbs, 1864 ; Jonathan Dilley, 1870 ; A. P. Jennings, 1876 ; John H. Brown, 1.879 ; D. M. Morrison, 1885 ; C. Foster, 1888 ; Andrew Brotton, 1891; M. B. Archer, 1894 ; L. W. Wheeler, 1900. Sheriffs.—Joseph C. Schofield, 1851; F. M. Mason, 1853 ; Samuel Danford, 1855 ; William McKitrick, 1859 ; Eliab Matheny, 1863 ; William H. Summers, 1867 ; Anderson C. Lawrence, 1871; Freeman C. Thompson, 1875 ; David Miller, 1879 ; Isaac E. McKee, 1883 ; Henry J. Cleveland, 1885 ; T. W. Parrish, 1890 ; J. M. Murphy, 1894; H. F. Hancher, 1898 ; T. M. Thurlow, 1902. Prosecuting Attorneys.--Jabez Belford, 1851; (resigned in October and S. W. P. Cochran appointed, serving until 1853). E. A. Brat-ton, 1853 ; Jabez Belford, 1854; William H. Frazier, 1856 ; James S. Foreman, 1866 ; James M. Dalzell, 1870 ; David S. Spriggs, 1872 ; William Chambers, 1876 ; J. M. McGinnis, 1878 ; Nathan B. Wharton, 1882 ; Capell L. Weems, 1885 ; Charles A. Leland, 1888 ; A. M. Morris, 1894 ; H. W. Kuntz, 1900. Auditors.—Robert Barkley, 1851; Henry 'Taylor, 1854 ; John W.. Tipton, 1858 ; George Bell, 1860; John W. Tipton, 1862 ; Norvel W. Taylor, 1866; Richard L. Allbritain, 1870 ; Jonathan F. Knout. 1872 ; Daniel Neuhart, Jr., 1878 ; Walter D. Guilbert, 1881; A. C. Okey, 1887 ; W. J. Johnson, 1892 ; Homer L. Hastings, 1898 ; W. J. Shiveley, 1904. THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 123 Recorders.—Robert Hellyer, 1851; James K. Casey, 1854; John Stevens, 1854;9' Thomas W. Morris, 1859; Jabez Belford, 1862; Benjamin Waller, 1864 ; Thomas Lloyd, 1870 ; Enoch W. Wickham, 1876; H. M. Roach, 1888; J. D. Newton, 1894; Conrad Harmon, 1900. (Harmon was re-elected in 1903). Treasurers.-Samuel McGarry, 1851; Philip McWilliams) 1852; James F. Capell, 1854; William Vanmeter, 1858 Abraham Simmons, 1862 ; Chrysostom Foster, 1866; William .L. Moseley, 1870 ; George A. Smith, 1874; George W. Wyscarver, 1878 ; Thomas M. McVay, 1880; Azariah C. Cooper, 1884; James F. Rannels, 1888 J. H. Shankland, 1892 ; G. S. Ullman, 1896; John W. Emmons, 1900; Mark Warren, 1904. . County Commissioners.—Commissioners are elected for terms of three years. After the organization of the first board in 1851 lots were drawn so. that the term of one commissioner would expire in each year. As a consequence of this arrangement one member of the board is elected. each year, for a full term of three years. In .the. list where the regular order of dates is broken it is an evidence that the commissioner whose term expired in that year was re-elected. Jacob Lyons, Timothy Smith,- and John Noble, 1851; (in April). Alfred Ogle, 1851; (in November). "Elijah Hathaway, 1852; J. Archer, 1855 ; Jonathan Echelberry, 1856; Robert McKee, 1857; William Crum, 1858 ; James Ball, 1859; John Lemmax, 1860 ; E: P. Sulli- van, 1861; George Wilson, 1862 ; William W. Stringer, 1863; William J. Gregg, 1865 ; James Eakin, 1867 . William Long, 1869 ; Robert Calland, 1871; John Moore, 1873; William Ross, 1875 ; John Conner, 1876. Samuel Hathaway,. 1877; Adam Hamilton, 1878; John N. Shafer, 1879 ; John Smithson, 1880; Isaac Crow; 1881; W. W. Collins, 1882 ; Julius R. Groves, 1883; J. R. Gorby, 1884; N. B. Barnes, 1885 (Groves, Gorby and Barnes each served two or more terms). C. J. Eagler, 1889 ; Charles Craig, 1890; I. M. Combs, 1891; D. L. Shafer, 1895 ; E. C. Brown, 1896; J. S. Archer, 1898.; F. M. Calland, 1902 ; W., M. Wilson, 1903. Surveyors.—George Bell; 1851; John H. Jeffries, 1853 ; Charles Burlingame; 1855; Henry. Miller, 1866; David Miller, 1872; William Lowe, 1878 ; Levi. D. Merry, 1881.; C. S. McWilliams, 1888 ; G. H. Willson, 1894 ; E. S. Danford, 1900. Coroners.--(It is probable that this list is not complete as records of some of the, elections could not be obtained). David McGarry, 1851; (elected in April);John Bainum, 1851; (elected in Octo- * Hellyer resigned in April, 1854, and Casey was appointed to serve the remainder of the term. In October Stevens was elected but died in office in 1859 and T. W. Morris was appointed to the vacancy. He was elected in November, 1859, and served until 1862, when his deputy, Jabez Belford, completed the term. 124 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE. ber). Martin Beatty, 1855 ; Lewis Groves, 1856; Allen Floyd, 1858 ; F. M. Brown, 1861 ; Richard S. Deal, 1863 ; Robert C. Downey, 1867 ; Michael H. Neville, 1873 ; H. J. Downey, 1875 ; Joseph H. Hilton, 1879 ; W. S. Bebout, 1882 ; F. O. Neptune, 1884 ; John D. Aldridge, 1886 ; Corwin E. Bugher, 1888 ; G. T. Snode, 1890 ; O. O. McKee, 1892 ; J. G. Duff, 1894 ; J. W. Beebout, 1898 ; D. B. Horton, 1902. Infirmary Directors.—The term of office of the infirmary directors is three years, and, like the commissioners, one is elected annually. The first full board was elected in Noble county in 1861. After this board no further records of the directors can be found until 1867. Ezra McKee, John Miley and Morris Danford, 1861 ; Samuel Laughlin, 1861; James Ball, 1867 ; W. W. Rhodes, 1867 ; Jonathan Miller, 1.868 ; James N. Hedge, 1870 ; Robert Barry, 1872 ; Anderson Briggs, 1873 ; Stephenson Trimmer, 1874 ; William Musser, 1875 ; Samuel Laughlin, 1876 ; J. W. R. Newton, 1879 ; J. B. Clark, 1880 ; John N. Graham, 1881; George Weekley, 1885 ; Peter Vorhies, 1886 ; Richard Tams, 1887 ; Thomas R. Davis, 1889 ; George Davidson, 1890 ; Arch. Osborne, 1891; Sylvester Reed, 1893 ; D. N. Brown, 1895 ; L. W. Palmer, 1897 ; J. W. Ruby, 1899 ; G. A. Bell, 1903. Members of the Legislature.—For ten years after the erection of Noble county it had no direct representation in the general assembly of the State. During that time the voters continued to cast their ballots for legislators in those counties to which they had formerly belonged. From 1862 until 1900 the county was allowed a member of the lower house. Since 1902 it has been in the Morgan–Noble joint district. By the census returns of 1900, neither Morgan nor Noble counties had sufficient population to allow them separate representation. By an amendment to the constitution adopted at the election of 1903 every county in the State is allowed separate representation. In the future Noble county will constitute a separate representative district. The boundaries of senatorial districts are fixed by the State constitution, and as Noble county was formed after the formation of the present constitution, the constitutional convention adjourning a few days after the act creating the county was passed by the legislature, the voters have continued to cast their ballots for senators as though still in the counties from which the territory was taken. The county is divided by the senatorial line nearly in the center, several townships being divided. This has caused a. good deal of confusion in voting, and many mistakes have been made that were impossible to correct. Noble is the only county not mentioned in the constitution of the State. The constitution was adopted in the fall after the creation of the county, but the convention which drafted the constitution THE COUNTY OF NOBLE - 125 adjourned just a few days before the act creating the county was passed. The western townships are in the fourteenth district, with Washington and Morgan counties, and the remainder of the county is in the nineteenth district with the counties of Guernsey and Monroe. Since the allotment of a representative to the county, elections have been held regularly for members of the general assembly, with the following results : Representatives.—Oliver Keyser, 1862 and 1864; Charles Hare, 1866 and 1868 ; Bethel Bates, 1870 ; Benjamin F. Spriggs, 1872 ; William Van Meter, 1874 ; James M. Dalzell, 1876 and 1878 ; Henry R. Smith, 1880 and 1882 ; Levi W. Finley, 1884 ; Thomas C. Williams, 1886 ; C. L. Weems, 1888 ; Chris. McKee, 1890.; Thomas O. Williams, 1892; David J. Green, 1894; Charles A. Leland, 1896 and 1898 ; Chris. McKee, 1900 ; L. F. Cain, 1902 ; Dr. E. LeFever, of Morgan county, 1904. Senators.—W. P. Sprague and John D. O'Connor, 1862 ; William F. Curtis and John D. O'Connor, 1864; S. S. Knowles and R. Savage, 1866 ; Abraham Simmons and Lawrence, 1868 ; Rodney M. Stimson and James O. Amos, 1870 and 1872 ; P. B. Buell and John W. Laughlin, 1874 ; Richard Stanton and J. B. Williams, 1876 ; John Irvine and J. B. Williams, 1878 ; F. B. Pond and F. M. Atkinson, 1880 ; F. B. Pond and A. J. Pearson, 1882 ; Gilbert Smith and W. S. Crowell 1884; A. W. Glazier and William Lawrence, 1886 ; T. F. Davis and David H. Mortley, 1888 ; H. T. Cleveland and J. A. Buchanan, 1890; John. Q. Abbott and Jesse B. Forbes, 1892 ; John Q. Abbott and Walter S. Hardesty, 1894 ; George Falloon and John H. Morgan, 1896; Charles A. Cable and David O. Kennon, 1898 ; S. H. Bright and J. E. Hurst, 1900 ; D. H. Moore, and J. Edward Hurst, 1902 ;* D. H. Moore and Alexander Smith, 1904. In the first few years of Noble county's corporate existence the Democratic party was in the majority, but, as in many other localities, the issues growing out of the Civil war changed the political complexion of the county and since that time it has been reliably Republican by majorities ranging from twenty to seven hundred votes, the largest majority for governor being in 1901, when Nash defeated Kilbourne in the County by 751. The following table shows the vote for governor since the Civil war: *In the list the first named senator was from the 14th and the second from the 19th district. 126 - THE COUNTY OF NOBLE.