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cement workers, W. H. Crawford, L. L. Compton, Charles Martindale, Roy McLaren, Harry South, T. C. Grogan; contractors, Foster Warn; F. Ludlum, Bloom & Conner, John Dayle, William Smithson; confectionery, Charles Heller, Roy Walker, The Palms, Swisshelm proprietor; The Utopia, Applegate, manager; creamery, French Brothers, Bower ; clothing, Charles L. Haworth, Katz & Bonecutter, Champlin & Mitchell; dry cleaning, Smith Brothers, William Sharky; dentists, W. R. Hale, Auber Peebles, R. F. Hale, C. H. Martin, Frank R. Smith, R. E. Peelle, F. G. Williams; decorator, Harry H. Walker; deparfment stores, Watt & Patterson, The Syndicate; drugs, T. E. Brindle, Brown's drug store, Harry Christopher, DeVanney's drug store, Egan Brothers, Charles Crumley, J. M. Durkin; dry-goods, J. C. & W. C. Linton, Eagle store, W. & J. Fife, Savage & Daly; elevator, Buckley Brothers, Wilmington Grain and Milling Company; electric supplies, Standard Electric Company, Dayton Power and Light Company, F. L. Gallup; furniture dealers, Crary & Bangham, G. M. Rice; funeral directors, Burch D. E. Arthur, C. A. Holladay, Taylor & Son; factories, Auto Compressor Company, Farquhar Furnace Company, Champion Bridge Company, National Safety Snap Company. Wilmington Casting Company, Irwin Auger Bit Company, Bates Canning Factory, Brown Manufacturing Company, Baird Umbrella Company; fence builders, H. C. Thatcher; feed store, John W. Urton; florists, Trebor Weltz, Wilmington Floral Company ; grocery, Martin Hampton, H. A. Davis, William Bright & Company, Dwight Moore, Charles Farquhar, J. E. Hart, G. E. Merker, R. C. Sprinkle, A. H. Hadley, Sabin Brothers, Russell Hiatt, Erskine Hayes; green house, George H. Moores; hardware, The Murphy-Benham Hardware Company, J. W. Sparks, W. G. Talmage; harness, Granville Wallace, J. E. Mann; hay dealers, Harry S. Hale, Charles Ayres, E. C. Linton; hotels, New Martin, Geiselman, proprietor; 'horse buyers, Frank Hunnicutt; house furnishings, Frank Gallup; ice dealers, Ireland & Tucker, Adams Dickinson; ice cream manufacfurers, H. M. Woodmansee, Charles A. Hatfield; insurance, Metszgar & Company, Clarence L. Haworth, F. B. Sayers, W. W. Walker, E. E. Terrell, C. S. Thomas, Mills & Brann, Henderson & Wright, Truitt & Linton; jeweler, Ed. DeVoss, Frank L. Miller; junk, Frank Schofield; livery, J. W. Wire, W. E. Smith, Osborne & Shidaker; laundry, South Brothers; live stock dealers, Clarence L. Haworth, M. & C. Buckley, Bennett & Thompson; meat market, M. Ludlum, Frank Pain, Sabin Brothers; music teachers, Ernest Hale, Viola Mussetter, Mrs. Mabel Peelle; millinery, Mrs. S. C. Kelso and daughter, Carrie B, Truitt, Nannie McCann, Elizabeth Wright, Mrs. C. B. Taylor, Hoover Sisters, Honora M. Keefe, Mrs. Otto Crawford, Simmons & Taylor; nursery, Leo Weltz; modiste, Mrs. John B. White; milling, Wilmington Grain and Milling Company ; monuments, W. A. Harsha; moving pictures, The Cub, Frank Murphy; The LaMax, Lacy & McCoy ; music store, George A. Baumann; newspapers, Clinton County Democrat, Journal-Republican, Daily Herald; optometrist, E. P. Stackhouse; painter and paper hangers, Frank H. Conner, Albert Williams, Lou Spurgeon, Bert Walker; photographer, Lester Spahr, J. W. Mock; poultry dealer, A. J. Whiteside, Snyder Poultry Company; physicians, G. M. Austin, A. D. Blackburn, E. Briggs, W. J. Dudley, Kelley Hale, D. V. Ireland, U. G. Murrell, S. D. Myers, F. A. Peelle, Elizabeth Shrieves, H. Whisler, A. D. Williams, G. W. Wire, G. W. Wood; osteopath, A. J. Williams; plumbers, Frederick J. Breeze, C. C. Hiatt, W. H. Taylor; pool and billiards, Walker Zimmerman, Andrew Sliker ; restaurant, Charles Heller, The Palms, The Busy Bee; shoes, Kate E. Reardon; sewing machines, Frank Harris; shoe repairing, F. A. Dunham, P. D. Barrett; theater, Dr. Russell Hale, manager; tinners, Charles W. Chaney. Wayne Jeffries, Fred Crane; variety store, The Famous, A. C. Stone. proprietor ; Peoples' Store, J. T. Watt; veterinarians, Sidney D. Wyers, H. K. Bailey ; wool dealers, Bennett & Thompson; well drillers, Waldo Peelle.
CHAPTER XXXI.
SIDELIGHTS ON CLINTON COUNTY HISTORY.
ABOLITION IN CLINTON COUNTY.
To most of us who live in this day, when the black man, also, enjoys the privileges of "life, liberfy and the pursuit of happiness," those ante-bellum days that Harriet eecher Stowe so vividly depicted in "Uncle Tom's Cabin," seem almost to belong to the dim vistas of the past. To us those days possess a gripping fascination. We hear and read with interest of those old times, when slavery existed in the United States, while in our heart we are glad that it has been forever banished from our door, even though the cost was the bloody struggle between the North and South. And is there any doubt that of all the interesting bits of historic incident possessed by these days gone by, the most fascinating of all is the work and operation of the "underground railroads"—railroads whose trains very seldom followed their schedule during the day and never carried a light at night.
Clinton county, so close to the territory of the slave-holder and early to be crossed by "Underground Railroad" lines, was among the first to feel the fire of the abolitionists. But a short time after the holding of the famous international abolition convention in London in the year 1840, Clinton county had an anti-slavery society of her own. In its issue for December 10, 1842, the Clinton Republican gives an account of one a its quarterly meetings. Wright Haynes was the president and James Linton, the secretary. Resolutions were offered and speechs made by B. C. Gilbert, A. Brooke, J. 0. Wattles and S. Brooke, all of which are published at length. In February, 1842, an anti-slavery convention had been held at Wilmington, of which Perry Dakin was the president. A central committee was organized for Clinton county, and among those elected to serve upon it was Eli McGregor. The Abolition or Anti-Slavery party nominated a state ticket in 1842 also, with Leicester King as the gubernatorial nominee. The ticket received sixty-seven votes in Clinton county. At this time it should be remembered that one who stood for abolition was looked upon as almost mad. He was a social outcast and often the treatment of him bordered upon persecution. Even persons who were honestly opposed to slavery looked upon them as fanatics and thought they could accomplish no good by their methods. But the sentiment grew and in the fertile soil of Clinton county Friends, who were schooled in the doctrines of George Fox, William Penn, John Woolman and others, to "bear a faithful testimony against slavery," it flourished. Most of the Quakers were Whigs and to them a vote for abolition at first seemed like a vote for the Democrats, but gradually, under the leadership of Seth Linton, Dr. Abram Brooke, Abram Allen, John D. Thompson, John Hollin, Elihu Oren, Amos Davis and others, the seed was sown and the grain grew. This little group of Clinton county pioneer abolitionists found their inspiration in Levi Coffin, of Cincinnati, Isaac P. Hopper, of Philadelphia, Lydia Marie Child, of New York, and William Lloyd Garrison, of Boston. They believed that the right and the truth would triumph, and they imperiled their own names and fame in order to embrace those high principles, even though it was at the greatest personal sacrifice.
A state Abolition ticket was again placed before the public in 1844, with King again at its head. This time Clinton county honored It with two hundred and eighteen votes. In 1846, Samuel Lewis, for the same position, received three hundred and ninety-two
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votes in Clinton county. It has been impossible to ascertain whether the Abolitionists nominated a separate ticket in 1848. In 1850, however, a ticket was put in the field) upon which the name of Edward Smith appeared as the candidate for governor, and Clinton county gave him three hundred and fifty votes. On the same ticket Samuel Lewis received from this county two hundred and sixty-eight votes in 1851 and eight hundred and thirty-nine votes in 1853. The strength of the party steadily grew from this time until 1854, when the Republican party was organized, and Salmon P. Chase received in 1855 and. 1857, respectively, one thousand six hundred and forty and one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight votes from this county. William Dennison, in 1859, received one thousand seven hundred twenty-one votes and in 1861 the Republican candidate received two thousand eighty-one votes. From a small beginning, the men who opposed slavery—men who were almost persecuted for their views—grew in power until they finally caused the overthrow of slavery in the United States and established the grand principles to which they had adhered when they were in a hopeless minority.
Among the early workers against slavery in Union township the names of Abram Allen, Jonathan Hadley, Thomas Hibben, Eli McGregor, Thomas Wraith, John Work and many others appear above the rest. It was these men that maintained the "underground railroad" stations and helped the fleeing slaves on their journey north to Canada. In this township the excitement became so great that even religious societies were affected, and, about the year 1844, a split occurred in the Methodist Episcopal church, which resulted in the organization of the Wesleyan Methodist church, a strong anti-slavery denomination. The latter society purchased the old school building at Wilmington and fitted it up for a house of worship. Rev. Mr. Voucher was one of the early ministers in this church, which continued its meetings until the results of the Civil War removed the cause of separation, when most of its members returned to the parent church.
Perhaps the strongest of the Abolitionists in Chester township was John Grant, of New Burlington. His chief aids were Allen Linton, Amos Compton, Sr., and Doctor Brooke, of Oakland. Doctor Brooke became so zealous in the anti-slavery cause that he erected a large building on his land that became known as Liberty Hall, where enthusiastic conventions were held.
In Clark township, Aaron etts and Christopher Hiatt were the leaders and were constantly persecuted. The story is told that on one occasion, when some anti-slavery speakers were stopping over night at Mr. Hiatt's house, the manes and tails of their horses were trimmed closely by some of the pro-slavery citizens of the community.
Thomas Woodmansee, a pioneer of Washington township, was one of the original anti-slavery men of southern Ohio, and also kept a station on the "underground railroad."
Perhaps Liberty township has the most enviable anti-slavery history. The "underground road" that crossed this township seems to have done a thriving business 'during the time it was in operation. Elihu Oren's house seems to have been the principal station in the township and was often filled with dusky passengers fresh from the blue grass regions of Kentucky. The chief train on the road seems to have been known as the "Liberator." It was a large, closely-curtained carriage, made for the purpose by Abram Allen, that was driven at night, with the north star as its guide. The old "Liberator" was in the service for several years and carried many passengers, on their way to freedom. At Paintersville, there were two or three ready to relieve it of its passengers and care for them. Joseph Coat, Abel Beven and Doctor Watson knew when it was due to approach and just what disposition to make of its contents. Samuel Haines, of this township, was one of the pioneers of the anti-slavery cause and it is supposed that he cast the only vote that was given in this township for James G. Birney in 1840; but this was the last time he voted alone. The anti-slavery sentiment grew stronger every year.
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THE DESERTED CAMP.
The following story of the "deserted camp" is taken from the notes of the late Judge Robert B. Harlan, of Wilmington:
"Clinton county is by no means celebrated for her many places of historic interest. A reason for this may be found in the fact that no Indian town was located within her borders, and the white man's war-trace and the Indian warrior's road generally lay to the west or east of us. Among the places of more or less celebrity within the county, the Deserted Camp is perhaps the most conspicuous. This is a well-known landmark, and is prominently shown on the county map. It is situated on a high bank of Todd's fork, about three miles northeast of where Wilmington now is, on the spot now covered in part by Starbucktown. Surrounded by flat and rather low lands, this place of encampment is high and rolling, and, in a state of nature, was covered by a heavy growth of large oaks and such other trees as are common to the forests in the neighborhood. With such a surface, and so convenient both as to wood and water, it offered facilities for encampment unsurpassed for miles around.
"The name of the place was plainly derived from a circumstance which is said to have occurred there several years prior to the first white settlement in this part of the state.
"The tradition of the neighborhood is that an expedition in some force was fitted out in Kentucky during the existence of the long and bloody war between the people of that district and the Indians, to march against the towns of the Miamis or Mad Rivers. On its way, it encamped on Todd's fork, and in the morning it was discovered that one of the men had deserted to the enemy. Several questions arise here, as, What expedition is here referred to? When did it march? And who was the man who abandoned the brave and civilized Kentuckians to unite his fortunes with a savage people?
"The expedition was one of force, or it would never have ventured into the Indian county so far as the Deserted Camp. Four armies (if that is not too magnificent a term) were sent against the Indians mentioned above, and only four at any time.
"The above mentioned 'armies' consisted of Colonel Bowman's, in 1779; Gen. George Roger Clark's first, in 1780; Clark's second, in 1782; and Col. enjamin Logan's, in 1786. Neither Harmar's, St. Clair's. nor Wayne's need be mentioned in this connection, because they were not fitted out in Kentucky, and were not near the Deserted Camp. Bowman and Clark marched against the Shawnee towns, but they either collected their forces at the mouth of the Licking river, opposite the point where Cincinnati now is, or marched that way. Neither Bowman nor Clark was ever within the limits of what is now Clinton county.
"Logan took another route. He marched by way of Bryants Station, on Elkhorn and the Lower Blue Lick to the Ohio river, where Maysville now is. This was a large force for that day. It was raised in Kentucky, in October, 1786, and Gen. Benjamin Logan received the command. General Logan, from whom Logan county derived its name, was a man well acquainted with Indian warfare and well qualified to command. The numerical strength of the force was variously estimated at from four hundred to seven hundred men. It was the second expedition fitted out in Kentucky that year. The first, commanded by George Rogers Clark, fifteen hundred strong, was on its way to the Illinois country. Kentucky had sustained a heavy drain of her men to supply the requisite force of General Clark's expedition, and when General Logan's call was made and responded to, she was, as it were, deprived of male help and defense.
"The mustering of these forces prevented the meeting of the convention elected to form a constitution for the state.
"The expedition under General Logan was raised for the purpose of punishing the warlike Shawnees for their murders and cruel outrages, and to keep the warriors of the (23)
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Miami, Wyandot, Delaware and Shawnee tribes close at home, while General Clark was operating against the. Wabash and Vermilion Indians.
"The men engaged in General Logan's expedition, among whom were Daniel Boone, Major (afterwards General) Simon Kenton, Judge McManis (an early associate judge of Clinton county) and Col. Robert Patterson (one of the proprietors and on old resident of Dayton), were mostly backwoods riflemen. All were mounted. They crossed the Ohio river at Limestone, now Maysville, and took a course almost directly north, aiming to strike the first blow at the Shawnee town on Mad river, the birthplace of the great Tecumseh, situated about five miles southwest of the site of the present city of Springfield, Clark county. They entered into what is now Clinton county at or near Lynchburg, Richland county, passed east of the sites of Martinsville, Morrisville and Wilmington, and west of the site of New Antioch, and encamped for the night at this point, since known as the Deserted Camp.
"Some time during the night, a Frenchman belonging to Logan's army deserted to give notice to the Indians of the near approach of the Kentuckians. The fact of his desertion was soon ascertained. The army was aroused and put in motion. The race for the Indian village was closely contested, but the deserter, having the advantage of the start, retained it until the end. When Logan arrived at the principal Indian town, the Indians were aroused and evidently trying to make their escape. The deserter had given notice of the approach of the Kentuckians, but not in time to enable the Indians to get away. Their towns were destroyed by fire and their fields of corn laid waste. Twenty warriors were killed, seventy or eighty prisoners taken, and the women and children left but a precarious supply of miserable food.
"The Frenchman who deserted from Logan's army had been taken prisoner by General Clark, in one of his campaigns in Illinois, under such circumstances as plainly showed that he and the Indians were not on opposite sides. He was permitfed to accompany the army of Clark to Kentucky, where he remained two years, when he joined the forces of Logan and accompanied them to the crossing of Todd's fork.
"The camp then and there made was a controlling call for the depufy surveyor of Colonel Anderson, the principal surveyor of the lands reserved by the state of Virginia for the officers and men of three years' service in the Virginia, or Continental, establishment. On the county map, it is named the Deserted Camp. Five military surveys start from this spot, as one corner of each of these surveys. All call for 'beginning at Logan's encampment in October, 1786, where a man deserted from him.' "
SHADAGEE.
The location of the court house in what is known as "Shadagee square" has called attention to this peculiar name. Its origin is shrouded in Irish mystery and during the summer of 1915 many persons have been discussing the reason for applying this name to fhis particular square. The Journal-Republican probably is responsible for applying this name to the square hounded by South, Main, Sugartree and Walnut streets. The word "Shadagee" belongs properly to only the southwest corner of the square and by this peculiar Irish appellation Wilmington people have known it for more than a half century.
When the matter of locating the court house came up and that square was selected by nearly everybody as the proper place for the new building, the Journal-Republican commenced calling the enfire square Shadagee, that being the shortest and simplest way to identify it, but, strictly speaking, the nickname Shadagee, through many years, has been applied to the one corner of the square.
From the best information which can be obtained, the corner got its name in fhe fifties af the time the first railroad was built through Wilmington. The road was known then as the Cincinnati, Wilmington & Zanesville, but now is a part of the Pennsylvania system. The contractor who was building the section through this county employed and
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brought here a large force of Irish immigrants, many of whom could speak no language but their own, and for several weeks they were housed in, temporary shacks near that corner. In those days Wilmington had saloons and bad whiskey provoked many fights. Drunk and disorderly cases were numerous in that section. In fact, Shadagee was Wilmington's bad section in the early days, and it is believed that during the time those Irish workmen were here some one of them applied that name to the fighting corner. Shadagee may be an Irish name, and the condition of that section of the town may have reminded one of the laborers of a similar place in Ireland. This is a surmise, but it is a reasonable one. The corner was given the nickname about that time and it has clung to it ever since. Lately the name was broadened to apply to the whole square, but, in all probability, the word Shadagee is of Irish origin and perhaps was, and it may be still, a well-known place on the "ould sod."
THE CLINTON COUNTY HOME-COMING.
The Clinton county and Wilmington centennial celebration and home-coming opened on Thursday, August 25, 1910. For a month three professional decorators, with their assistants, had been working night and day, and still many of the orders were left unfilled. There was not a business house or a residence but wore its gala dress.
The record shows that two thousand two hundred ninety persons registered, and many more failed to do so. People came from all over the United States; some had not been back for five or ten years, some for thirty or even fifty, but they all joined in the home-coming spirit, making it an occasion to be remembered and an important event in the history of the county.
The home-comers were entertained with band concerts, fire-works, receptions, reunions, addresses from prominent men of the state and county, centennial street pageants, and many other forms of amusement and events of interest to those assembled to enjoy fhe occasion. Over twenty thousand people thronged the streets on Friday, and the good order everywhere was remarkable.
The one hundredth birthday celebration of Clinton county came to a delightful close on Sunday, August 28. The occasion will long be remembered by the inhabitants of the county and those who returned to their native town, as an event to be remembered a life time.
CLINTON COUNTY INFIRMARY.
The commissioners of Clinton county approved the purchase, on March 20, 1835, of, one hundred acres of land one mile east of Wilmington for the consideration of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars as a site for a county infirmary. A building, erected on the farm a short time afterwards, was constructed with the constant view of sfrictest economy consistent with the requirements necessary for the convenience and comfort of the occupants. James Harris, James Fife and Isaiah Morris were appointed directors on March 11, 1836, and they at once selected as the superintendent and matron James Wilson and his wife Eleanor, then residents of Wilmington. They were in charge for four years. During their term of office the greatest number of inmates at any one time was seventeen, but the average number was much smaller The first inmate admitted was Mary Johnson, of Clark township, a native of North Carolina. She had been a resident of Clinton county twenty-six years, a pauper for seventeen years and subject to fits of insanity. Julia Clause, the second person admitted, was from Union township, and was afterwards transferred to the asylum for the insane at Columbus. George Washington Morey, the second superintendent, remained in charge until March, 1845, when he was succeeded by Isaac Pidgeon. Mr. Pidgeon had charge of the infirmary from March, 1845, to March, 1855, and was succeeded by Humphrey Riddell, who was superinfendent until September, 1855, when he resigned and was succeeded by William E. Ashcraft, who served .until March, 1858. A. Taylor Moore then became superintendent
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and continued in the position until March, 1861, when he was, in turn, succeeded by Bennet B. Arnold, who remained until March, 1866. William P. Wolf entered upon the duties as superintendent in March, 1866, and continued in charge for three years. Josephus Blair succeeded him in March, 1869, and discharged the duties of that office until March, 1872, when H. F. Armstrong succeeded and continued the same until 1880. Armstrong's place was taken by Joseph N. Stephens, who remained until 1885. In 1885 Ralph Miller was appointed superintendent and remained in office until 1893, when he was succeeded by Joseph N. James. Mr. James served as superintendent for over fifteen years. He was succeeded by Charles Holaday, who gave way, in. March, 1913, to Frank L. McDonald, the present incumbent of the office.
The first addition to the infirmary farm was made on April 10, 1856, when fifty acres were purchased from Jesse Hughes in survey No. 1,690, for two thousand six hundred dollars. The next addition was made on December 29, 1859, when thirty-six and three-quarter acres were purchased in the same survey from Jesse Hughes for the consideration of one thousand nine hundred and fourteen dollars and ninety cents. The third addition was made on March 28, 1867, from survey No. 1,162, and consisted of one hundred eleven and forty-one hundredths acres. This land was purchased of the sheriff of the county, who sold it under a partition suit styled Francis M. Underwood vs. Socrates Harlan et al. The price paid was six thousand two hundred sixty-six dollars and twenty-five cents. Fifteen acres in survey No. 2,690, bought on June 1, 1872, of James R. Webb, for one thousand eight hundred dollars, constituted the fourth addition to the farm. On March 6, 1876, a purchase of one and thirty-seven hundredths acres in survey No. 2,693, was made from James Wallace for one hundred sixty-five dollars and forty cents. The sixth addition was purchased from Edith Emma Moody on October 2, 1880, and consisted of fifty-four acres in survey No. 1,693. The sum paid for this tract of land was four thousand eighty-seven dollars and ninety-five cents. This brought the total area of the infirmary farm up to three hundred sixty-eight and fifty-two hundredths acres. However, at the present time (1915), the infirmary farm consists of three hundred and thirty and ninety-eight hundredths acres. When the remainder was disposed of by the county the historian has been unable to discover.
The county commissioners, on March 3. 1902, voted to refer to the voters of the county the question of whether twenty-seven thousand dollars should be spent in repairing and rebuilding the building. On July 11, 1902. the contract for repairing the infirmary was awarded to J. P. Vance for a total of eight thousand four hundred seventy-two dollars and thirty-five cents.
In 1913 a change was made in the management of the infirmary. At that time the board of infirmary directors was abolished and their powers divided between the superintendent and the county commissioners. The commissioners now select the superintendent. The following is a list of the directors:
1836, James Harris, James Fife, Isaiah Morris; 1839, Samuel Smith, William Ruble, Warren Sabin; 1843, Daniel C. Hinman, Perry Dakin, Samuel Smith; 1844, Nathan Walker, Perry Dakin, Samuel Smith; 1845, Nathan Walker, Samuel Smith, Isaac B. Thomas; 1846, Joseph W. Hackney, Isaac B. Thomas, Nathan Walker; 1847-50, Samuel Nordyke, Joseph W. Hackney, Isaac B. Thomas; March 5, 1850, John Jones, Joseph W. Hackney, Isaac B. Thomas; 1851, John Jones, Joseph Woods, Joseph W. Hackney; 1852, Joseph R. Moon, John Jones, Joseph Woods: 1853, John Hazard, Joseph R. Moon, Joseph Woods; 1854, Eli McMillan, Jesse Doan, Joseph R. Moon; 1855, John Rannells, J. V. Whinery, Eli McMillan; March 25, 1856, John M. Wright, Thomas Custis, Eli McMillan; October, 1856, Asa Walker, John M. Wright, Thomas Custis; October, 1857, James Gregory, Thomas Custis, John M. Wright; 1858-60, Jonathan Doan, James Gregory, John M. Wright; 1860-63, Thomas Custis, John M. Wright, Jonathan Doan; 1863-64, David Chance, Jonathan Doan; 1864-66, William M. Mann, David Chance, E. W. Marble;
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1866-68, William M. Mann, E. W. Marble, William Applegate; 1869, Robert Skimming, William Applegate, William M. Mann; 1869-70, Samuel H. Hadley, William M. Mann, Robert Skimming; October, 1870-71, William entley, Robert Skimming, Samuel H. Hadley; November, 1871-72, Samuel H. Hadley, William Bentley, Jonathan Bailey; November, 1872-73, William Bentley, Jonathan Bailey, Harlan F. Walker; November, 1873, Jonathan Bailey, H. F. Walker, S. H. Hadley; November, 1874, H. F. Walker, S. H. Hadley, Robert Skimming; 1875-76, S. H. Hadley, Robert Skimming, William M. Mann; 1876-82, Mark Peelle, Robert Skimming, William M. Mann; 1882-1895, Robert Skimming, W. M. Mann, R. B. Peelle, J. D. Spears, Mark Wilson: 1895, E. S. Coate, William Mann, Thomas L. Kelso; 1898-1900, William Mann, J. D. Moon, Thomas L. Kelso; 1901, William Mann, J. D. Moon, N. G. Hartman; 1902, J. D. Moon, N. G. Hartman, A. H. Harlan'; 1903, N. G. Hartman, A. T. Craig, A. H. Harlan; 1904-1908, A. T. Craig, C. R. Van Tress, A. H. Harlan; 1D08-1913, Frank J. Pendrey, C. B. Riley, Milton Holaday.
CLINTON COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME.
The first official mention of a county children's home came on February 4, 1884, when the board of infirmary directors met in conference with the county commissioners to consider the cost of keeping dependent children in the children's homes of other counties. At this meeting it was agreed that "it would be a saving to the county if a suitable home could be built for the unfortunate and dependent children." The question of erecting such a home was referred to the voters of the county on April 10, 1884, the result being an affirmative majority. By October, 1884, a site had been purchased and buildings erected. William M. Mann, Joseph Noon and Harlan H. Hadley were appointed trustees, with their terms to end, respectively, on the first Monday in March, 1886, 1887 and 1889.
On July 20, 1899, the commissioners rejected bids for the construction of an addition to the children's home on the ground that they were too high for the amount of money in the treasury for that purpose. The report of the trustees for November 30, of the same year, shows thirteen children in the home.
In 1902 it was decided that a new home should be built, and on March 31, of that year, the commissioners accepted plans for a building submitted by Hannoford & Sons, and ordered the auditor to give notice for bids of the work. The bids were received and examined on May 9, and the contract let to J. P. Vance for the following items: Excavating, brick work, carpenter work, cut stone, heating, rooffing, painting and glazing, plaster and iron work, at a total of twelve thousand five hundred and sixty-five dollars. The Electric Supply and Construction Company, of Columbus, Ohio, received the contract for the electrical work at one hundred dollars. The old home farm was disposed of and the new buildings erected on the present site of the home, about a Mile northwest of the city of Wilmington, on the Xenia pike. The farm consists of forty-six and eighty-three hundredths acres, which was purchased from Shipley McMillan.
The following is a list of those who have acted as trustees of the children's home: 1885-6, William Mann, Joseph Noon, H. H. Hadley; 1889, L. P. Whinery, Joseph Noon, H. H. Hadley ; 1892, Matthew Fife, Joseph Noon, H. H. Hadley; 1893, Matthew Fife, Dr. R. T. Trimble, H. H. Hadley ; 1894, Matthew Fife, Dr. R. T. Trimble, Jesse N. Oren; 1897, Matthew Fife, Dr. R. T. Trimble, C. Rhonemus; 1899, Jesse N. Oren, Matthew J. Fife, C. Rhonemus; 1900, Jesse N. Oren, Matthew J. Fife, Dr. R. T. Trimble; 1901, Jesse N. Oren, Matthew J. Fife, Dr. R. T. Trimble, C. Rhonemus; 1902, David M. Rudduck, Mafthew J. Fife, Dr. R. T. Trimble, C. Rhonemus; 1908, David M. Rudduck, Matthew J. Fife, Dr. E. Briggs, C. Rhonemus; 1911, David M. Rudduck, J. F. ennett, Dr. E. Briggs, C. Rhonemus; 1912-15, David M. Rudduck, J. F. Benett, J. E. Clevenger, C. Rhonemus, James E. Smith has been superintendent of the home for many years past.
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