HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 251 CHAPTER V. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) RELIGIOUS HISTORY-EARLY PREACHERS- EDUCATIONAL-SCHOOLS. PAST AND PRESENT-THE NEWSPAPERS-RAILROAD. Contemporaneously with the howling of the wolf and the yelling of the savage came the preacher as "one crying in the wilderness," and proclaiming to the scattered pioneer families the "glad tidings of great joy" given to the shepherds that blessed morn on the plains of Bethlehem. On the wild frontier, far beyond the borders of civilization. "Where nothing dwelt but beasts of prey, Or men as fierce and wild as they." the pioneer preacher was found, fulfilling his mission of preaching "salvation without money and without price." With no companion but the faithful horse he rode, and with no guide but his knowledge of the cardinal points, he traveled over the country, and thus reaching the desired settlement, he presented to the assembled hearers the claims of the Gospel. Then after a night, rest in the humble cabin, and partaking of the simple meal, he entered upon the day's journey to preach again at a distant point at night. It was thus that the circuit of hundreds of miles was traveled. month after month, by these faithful ministers of Christ, and to them do we owe the planting of churches and the Christianizing influences seen and felt everywhere. That holy religion which is at last the only sure basis of permanent social or political improvement, was introduced into Crawford County with its first settlers, who were God-fearing men. Upon the almost burning embers of the war fire round which some barbarous chief but yesterday, as it were: recounted to his listening tribe, with horrid exultation, his deeds of heroism, we today, find temples dedicated to that religion which announces "peace on earth, and good will toward men." Yes, all over this land, once the home of the red savage, now side by side with the schoolhouse, stand those "Steeple towers And, spires, whose silent fingers point to heaven." Among the first preachers in this county, of whom we have any reliable account. was an old Presbyterian by the name of Matthews, and the renowned Methodist evangelist, Russell Bigelow. The following sketch is given of the Rev. Mr. Matthews "He stopped at Daniel Cooper's to stay overnight, and proposed to preach to the people of the place that night, if they could get together. Mr. Cooper immediately sent out word, and by early candle-light had gathered in some fifteen or twenty men, women and children, to hear the glad tidings of 252 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. salvation from the man of God. as he was the first of the kind that had ever been through on that errand." This old minister left an appointment four weeks hence, and agreed to preach once a month during the year for $15. Think of this, ye high-salaried. stall-feel pastors, who roll in luxury and "fare sumptuously every day." Even this small pittance he traded for dressed deer-skins, which he said his good lady could use to "face the boys pantaloons before and behind," as seems to have been a common custom in those days in the backwoods. The Methodists formed circuit, embracing the larger part of Crawford County, in 1828, and made Galion a station. Russell Bigelow was the preacher. "Preaching," says a writer of the time "was heard for the sake of the Word. Denominational prejudices did not then exist and the houses of all the settlers were thrown open to Rev. Bigelow." The following description by one who knew him is given of this able pioneer missionary: "He was a good speaker; an eloquent man. mighty in the Scriptures. He was a very large. muscular man had a voice like a lion: sharp, piercing eyes that when he became excited seemed almost to flash fire. He preached a great deal of hell-fire: was a very successful preacher, and an exemplary Christian in his deportment. His influence with the people was such. that he got many namesakes, the old ladies readily believing it would have a good influence over their sons to be called after such a powerful man as Russell Bigelow." Rev. Aaron Cary located in Cranberry Township as early as 1826, and was a local preacher of the Methodist Church. In Vernon Township, church societies were organized in 1827.The first religious services were held in Whetstone Township, at the settlers cabins as early as 1824. Rev. Solomon Mynheer was an early Methodist circuit rider in this part of the county. The fine grove of maples which grew where now stands the town of Galion, was once a famous camp-meeting ground. Bishop Harris of the M. E. Church, and who was born and raised in Morrow County, Ohio, was converted at a camp-meeting at this place. He is represented as having been a very bad boy, and that he; crew to manhood with little improvement for the better. He went to this meeting it is said, on purpose to raise a disturbance, but the Spirit smote him, and he was converted to God. Afterward he became a professor in the Ohio Wesleyan University, and is now a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. But we will not dwell further upon the churches and pioneer preachers here. In the. township histories which follow ample space will be given to the subject, and all the particulars of interest will be fully written up. The schools of the county deserve more than a passing notice. To the excellent school system of our country are we indebted. more than to anything else for our prosperity as a nation. No other country on the face of the earth has the facilities for educating their people that the United States have. As early as 1647, the New England colonies made a move looking to the establishment of common schools. It was enacted by them in that early day, that "every town or district having fifty householders should have a common school, and every town or district having 100 families, should have a grammar school, taught by teachers competent to prepare youth for college." A modern writer, commenting upon this movement, says: "It was the first instance in Christendom. in which a civil government took measures to confer upon its youth the blessings of education. There had been indeed, parish schools connected with individual churches. and foundations for universities, but never before was embodied in practice a principle so comprehensive in its nature and so fruitful in good results as that of training a nation of intelligent people by educating all its youth." One hundred and HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 253 forty years later, when our forefathers declared. in their ordinance of 1787, that knowledge with religion and morality "was necessary to the good government and happiness of mankind.' and that "schools and the means of education should forever he encouraged," they suggested the very bulwark of American liberty. In the early development of Ohio, there was a great variety of influences in the way of general education. The settlements were sparse, and money or other means of remunerating teachers was scarce. as the pioneers of new, countries are nearly always poor. There were no schoolhouses erected. nor was there any public school fund. either State or county. All persons, of both sexes. who had physical strength enough to labor, were compelled to take their part in the work of securing a support - the labor of the female being as heavy and important as that of the men and this continued so for years. In the last place, both teachers and books were extremely scarce. Taking all these facts together it is a great wonder that they had any schools whatever. But the pioneers of Ohio deserve the highest honors for their prompt and energetic efforts in the cause of education. Just so soon as the settlements would at all justify schools were begun at each one. The teacher or pupil of the present day, comfortably situated in their pleasant schoolhouses, has no conception of the difficulties under which an education was obtained right here in Ohio sixty or seventy years ago. It may be of some interest to the rising generation to read a description of the pioneer schoolhouse. A description of one will suffice for all, as there was but one style of architecture observed in building them. They were erected not by subscription, but by labor given. The neighbors would meet together at some point previously agreed upon. and with ax in hand. the work was soon done. Logs were cut sixteen or eighteen feet in length. and of these the walls were constructed. Broad boards composed the roof, and a rude fire-place and clapboard door, a puncheon floor, and the cracks filled with "chinks." and these daubed over with mud, completed the schoolhouse, with the exception of the windows and furniture. The window, if any, was made by cutting out a log the full length of the building, and over the opening, in winter, paper saturated with grease served to admit the light. Under this window, two or three strong pins were driven into the log in a slanting direction. On these pins a long puncheon was fastened, and this was the writing-desk for the whole school. For seats, they used benches made from small trees, cut in lengths of ten or twelve feet, split open, and in the round sides, two large holes were bored at each end, and in each a stout pin, fifteen inches long. was driven. These pins formed the legs. On the uneven floors, these rude benches were hardly ever seen to have more than three legs on the floor at one time. And the books ' They were quite as primitive as the houses. The New Testament, when it could be had, was the most popular reader, though occasionally a copy of the old "English Reader " was found and very rarely. the "Columbian Orator " was in a family. Pikes and Smiley's Arithmetics. Webster's Speller was the first used, and after awhile the " Elementary Spelling" came in. Grammar was scarcely ever taught: when it was. the text-books used were Murray's and Kirkham's Grammars. The schools were made by subscription, the terms being from $1 to $2.50 per scholar for a term of three months, the schools usually being taught in midwinter, to give the boys a chance to attend. as at that season there was but little work to do on the farm. But enough ! Those, who know only the perfect school system of the present day, with comfortable schoolhouses, elegantly furnished and well-lighted and ventilated, can form but a slight idea of the system and its limited capacity half a century ago. There are 254 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. many, however, still living in Crawford County, who can testify to the truthful picture drawn of the pioneer schoolhouse. Who taught the first school in Crawford County, and where and when, are questions not easily answered at this time. Schools were established, however, as soon as there was a sufficient number of children in the different communities to compose schools. The first school in the town of Bucyrus, it is said, was taught by a man named William Blowers, though in what year we could not learn. He charged 50 cents a month for each pupil, and " boarded around." The house in which he taught was a log shanty on the river-bank and near the end of Spring street. The first building erected for school purposes in Bucyrus was of round logs, of the regular pioneer pattern, and stood near the present Catholic Church. Some of the early teachers in this house were Zalmon Rowse, Horace Pratt, Sallie Davis and others. The first schoolhouse was built in Galion in 1822, and stood near the residence of C. S. C rim, on West Main street, and was a log structure. David Gill was the first teacher in this building. The first teacher remembered in Holmes Township was John Pretz, who taught in an unoccupied cabin in 1829. The first school in Sandusky Township was taught in a cabin built of round logs, in 1826-27, by Miss Jane Hogan. Phares Jackson was an early teacher in the county and taught as early as 1825. James Dunlap taught in 1826, in a house built for the purpose 13x14 feet in dimension. A schoolhouse was built in Whetstone Township in 1828; Elizabeth Bear taught the first school in it. The first school in Chatfield Township was taught by Elizabeth Thompson in 1834. Thus. we see, schools were formed in every settlement as soon as the population would justify. We append the following statistics. from the last report of the Commissioner of Common Schools, which will be found of interest to the friends of education in the county: AMOUNT OF SCHOOL MONEYS RECEIVED WITHIN THE YEAR. Balance on hand Sept. 1, 1878. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$55,388 00 State tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,404 50 Irreducible school fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,426 69 Local tax for school and schoolhouse purposes. . . . . . . 51,099 24 Fines, licenses and other sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 868 81 Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $124,179 26 AMOUNT OF SCHOOL MOSEYS EXPENDED WITHIN THE YEAR Paid teachers-Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . $38,167.01 -High . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .2,405 00 Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,572 01 Managing, and superintending . . . . . . . 3,635 00 Sites and buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,190 43 Interest on redemption of bonds:. . . . . . 3,347 07 Fuel and other continent expenses . . . . 16,429 44 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $81,178 95 Payments to county . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,386 50 Received from county . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,267 09 Excess of Receipt . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 880 59 Number of youth between 6 and 21 years- White males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,996 females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,726 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,722 Colored males. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 " females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l5 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Grand total of enumeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,754 Population of county . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,500 Per cent of enumeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Number of townships in county . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Number of subdivisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Number of separate districts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Schoolhouses erected within the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Cost of same. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22,291 00 Whole number of schoolhouses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 114 Value of school property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $334,200 00 Teachers employed- Primary - Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 . . . . . . . . Females. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 253 Separate districts: Primary-Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Females. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 High-Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Grand total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 Average wages of teachers per month- Primary-Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $38 00 Female:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21 00 Separate districts : Primary-Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 00 Females. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 00 High-Males . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 00 Females. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 00 Pupils enrolled- Township: Primary-Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,560 Females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,094 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,654 Separate districts: Primary-Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,222 Females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,206 High-Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Females. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,694 Grand total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7,348 Average daily attendance- Townships: Primary-Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,477 Females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,298 Total. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,775 Separate districts: Primary-Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 823 Females. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 811 High-Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Females. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,827 Grand total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,602 The following is the report of the Auditor of the County to the state Commissioner of Schools: "It affords the pleasure to report an increased interest in the schools of Crawford County. It seems that every effort is being made throughout the county to procure the best talent for teachers that can be had. The County Board of School Examiners have exercised care in the examination of applicants in theory and practice, as well as the branches of education. "The union schools in Galion, Crestline and Bucyrus are managed by careful and attentive school boards, with competent and efficient superintendents and a good corps of teachers. The schools are rapidly improving. Especially is this the case with the Bucyrus Union schools, under the able management of Prof.. F. M. Hamilton, who has brought our schools up to a standard that will compare favorably with the best schools in the State. The Teachers Institute, which is always well attended, is producing an influence in promoting the interest and welfare of our common school system." A few extracts from the annual report of Hon. J. J. Burns, the State Commissioner of Common Schools, are appropriate, and are given for the benefit of those who feel an interest in the proper education of the rising generation. He says: "How shall we cause our pupils to make the largest possible attainments in these foundation branches, and also have them when they leave school, thirsting for more knowledge, and possessing trained mental faculties, so that they may acquire it ; the organ of these faculties to be contained in a healthy body, while mind and body are under the guidance of correct moral principle? To avoid haste of time and labor is to be able to better do the work in hand, and to apply the savings to something beyond. A search for wastage is a highly practical thing, and economy here a moral duty. "I have often asserted that there is a wastage in having pupils spend time in learning to spell hundreds, yes. thousands of words, which they never have occasion to use outside of the spelling class, while probably the dictionary, which should be in constant use, rests in pensive quietness on the teachers desk, if, indeed, there is one in the room. The meaning of words and their pronunciation are of far more moment than their spelling. The best text books from which to learn these are the reader and dictionary: the best proofs of progress are correct 256 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. oral reading and written compositions. In penmanship, we want more drill in writing from dictation in having the pupils put their thoughts or recollections upon paper rapidly and neatly. Copying that beautiful line at the top of the page with care and patience is a good exercise but some better gymnastic is required to fit the writer for hours of real work. In one way or another language rightly claims a large share of the attention of the teacher. It is the grand characteristic which distinguishes man from the other animals the most direct product of his inner consciousness. The child has begun the study of language before his school-life commences. Learning to talk seems as natural as learning to laugh or cry or play. But so much of knowledge and the world is hidden in books that a key must be found to unlock these treasures and that key is reading-the power to translate the written word to recognize it as the graphic symbol of all idea before in possession, so that the ability to reverse the process will follow and printed words become the source of ideas. As the pupil masters words and their meanings he is getting into his possession the tools with which he may dig in books for further knowledge, make his own knowledge more useful to him as a social being, and secure a body for his thoughts without which incarnation they are as little subject to control as the weird fancies of a dream. The art of silent reading deserves more attention in school-practice in grasping the meaning of a passage in the shortest possible time, and reproducing it with pen or tongue. But along with this in its earlier stages, and for a short time preceding it, is the oral reading exercise, wherein the reader must serve as eyes to the listener, so that they may, through his voice see the printed page. "The translation of a written sentence into a spoken sentence is much more than the mere translation, in their right order of the words of the written sentence: and, to do this well. requires. besides the names of the written characters, culture of voice, training of eye quickening of emotion. To serve as medium through which others may know the printed page, catching the syllables upon the ear is not low art. To breathe life into dead words and send them into the; depths of the moral and intellectual nature of the hearer, and that with power, to convince, to arouse, to subdue, greater than if the hearer had peen his own interpreter, is high art indeed. "One very good result of increased attention to literature in the schools is the marked increase in the amount of wholesome reading-history, biography, travels, poetry, popular science and the lessened demand for dime novels and other low fiction. Few questions are in their bearings upon the future of our country, more important than this: W hat are the boys and girls, reading? I would not then, have less time spent in our schools upon language but teachers may well look into the subject, and see whether that time is spent to the best advantage. "The public regard arithmetic par excellence, as the practical study. It is the practical educators strong tower, and we have it taught in season and out. Measured by any definition of the practical. as a means either to fit one directly for bread-getting in the common business of life, or as a means of mental culture and discipline, a large part of arithmetic, as found in our looks and taught from them falls short. Instead of introducing at an early stage the science of geometry, we fritter away valuable time upon annuities and allegations and progressions; and as for interest one would think that mankind in general made a living by shaving each other's notes. Children begin early to develop the idea of numbers. It concerns matter of their daily life. The elemental steps of writing and reading, numbers naturally follow and usually are not difficult of acquire- HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 257 ment. But there is such a gap between the conditions needed for the ready-learning of these things and the more mature judgement and that knowledge of business and the world demanded in the intelligent solution of ordinarily difficult problems in discount and certain other branches of applied arithmetic. Back and forth across this stretch the boy's mind must swing like a pendulum, repelled by what it cannot comprehend and by what it has grown tired of. He marks time when he could so readily oblique into some other study and march forward. Then, by and by, if these advanced parts of arithmetical science are needed, their acquisition would be easy. Meanwhile the child may give increased attention to literature and be learning interesting and profitable lessons about this world into which he has come and in what body he came and how to take care of it. While these priceless practical lessons are in progress, one can fancy that the arithmetic itself would enjoy the rest. "In the time which can be saved also a few short steps could be taken in some other branches now much neglected. The reason for, and the practical mode of doing, many things which are to be done in real life by the citizen, the man of business, the manager of a household, might be taught in the schools. Something of the nature of the materials which we eat, drink and wear, and economy in the buying and using would be excellent lessons. If he is a benefactor of mankind who causes two blades of grass to grow where one grew before, the language does not furnish a name for him or her, who shall cause the laboring man to know how to make one dollar produce the good results of which he must now expend two. No matter whether we regard the school as established primarily for the good of the children or for the preservation of the State, we must admit that the most valuable result of all education, is the building of good characters. This, to speak definitely, is to instill correct principles and train in right habits. Citizens with these, constitute a State. Men and women with these are in possession of what best assures rational happiness, the end and aim of Human life. "I am not forgetting that we grade for deportment, and that deportment is a sort of outside view of character. But our sight is very short, even when we attempt to trace actions back to their causes, and we are entirely blind to the evil intention which never met its opportunity, to the fierce but quiet combat against wrong impulses, when nothing marks the victory but a continued walk in the path of right. Yet, in every properly conducted school, these lessons are being given. The faithful teacher is following an unwritten curriculum, and training his pupils in truthfulness, honesty, obedience to law, neatness, cheerfulness, kindness, in that divine summing up of active virtues, the Golden Rule. He is acting lectures on these theories, and constantly, by his own example, pleading at the door of the child's moral nature for all that is true, beautiful and good. Pure sentiments, generous promptings, love for God and man, should be the fruits of a liberal education. If this child grows into this inheritance, he has riches which he call keep and yet give away, which he will carryout of the world. yet leave behind to build his noblest monument." The newspaper of the present age, is one of the most important features in the history of the country, and possesses as much interest, and as accurately measures the progress of social development, as any other influence that can be brought to bear; perhaps more. It is the faithful chronicler of passing events, which, as time rolls on, become historical facts. Without the newspaper, the country would be a benighted wilderness. And the county press is no weak part of the vast newspaper influence of the country. Its power is felt at home, and in its own immediate circle it wields a greater 258 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. influence, perhaps, than the great cosmopolitan journal does in the country at large We shall devote considerable space in this chapter to the press of Crawford County. The history which follows, of the Bucyrus press is by Thos. P. Hopley, and is compiled in an able manner If the county newspaper of 1850 be compared with those published in Bucyrus from thirty to fifth years ago, it will become apparent that the press of Crawford County has kept pace with the progress of the last half-century. Fifty year ago, the Bucyrus editor had. seemingly, no use for a pen. The scissors were the brains of the establishment. and his publication each successive week was filled with advertisements and such news items, political articles and miscellaneous matter as could he gleaned from the exchanges. Occasionally a marriage notice was published. or a three or four line announcement that some prominent citizen of the county was dead. The editor published columns of second-hand political news: but never seemed to consider that his readers might take an interest in events occurring within their own county and neighborhood. After the year 1840, original political editorials became frequent but the dearth of local news continued until several years after 1850. It is doubtful if the entire amount of local news published in all the Bucyrus papers previous to the year 1850 exceeded what can he found in either the Journal or Form during any three months of the year 1880. The first printing press brought to Bucyrus or Crawford County, was the property of William Y. McGill. It was an old Ramage press, and about 1829 (Moderwell), he contemplated publishing a Jackson paper, but after the first number appeared the publication was discontinued. McGill must have been a man of excellent financial judgement for he had discretion enough to foresee that even in that day, running a newspaper in Crawford County would not be an easy road to financial prosperity, and he promptly suspended the new enterprise. He continued as a resident of Bucyrus and vicinity for many years, occasionally teaching school in the village and surrounding country. April 1, 1833, he acted as election clerk in Liberty Township: and, at the same time, his fellow citizens having implicit confidence in his integrity elected him to the lucrative office of "Fence Viewer." This is the only office received by the man who introduced the printing press into Crawford County. When war was declared with Mexico. McGill left for the seat of hostilities, deeming, no doubt. that the success he had failed to obtain by his pen might be gained with the sword, but misfortune was still his lot, for while on the way home he took sick and died at Newport, Ky. It is doubtful if any copies of this first newspaper published in Crawford are preserved at the present time. The second attempt at journalism was made by William Crosby who obtained possession of McGill's press and materials and about September 1, 1831, commenced publishing a newspaper advocating Democratic principles. He must have been more successful than his predecessor if the number of issues published he taken as proof for the statement. The oldest copy known to he in existence is at the Bucyrus Journal office, and dated March 9, 1833. Crosby's paper was then known as the Western Journal and Bucyrus Advertiser, and was "printed and published on Sandusky avenue a few doors north of the post office." The post office was then kept at St. Johns' store where Malice & Gloyd's establishment is at the present time. This issue of March 9, l833 is No. 80 and in Vol. II. If the newspaper appeared regularly each week for the preceding seventy-nine weeks, then it inust have been established about September 1, 1831, but it is doubtful it the publication was issued regularly every Saturday and consequently the Western Journal might have been started several months previous to September 1831, only local HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 259 news contained in No. 80, is two marriage notices; the issues being filled with miscellaneous reading matter and advertisements. from which many historical facts in regard to the the early history of Bucyrus can be proved if necessary. In those days, money being scarce, the publisher notifies his patrons that their subscriptions can be paid in "county orders, bacon, wheat, sugar and other articles." No. 80 does not present a fine typograchpical appearance, and in these later days any tenth rate pressman would not take pride in showing this issue as a specimen of his workmanship. It would seem that Crosby's printing ink ran out and he supplied the deficiency by opening a crock of apple butter." The publisher continued the paper for about three years; the issue of July 12, 1834 No. 32 of Vol. III. whole number 136, being still in existence. It was then called the Bucyrus Journal. Crosby sold the printing office to Charles P. West, who published for about one year the People's Press, which aimed to be neutral in politics. In 1845, President Polk appointed Crosby Consul of the Port at Talcahuano, Chili, in South America. Moderwell says in regard to Crosby's later history "Finding the office was not ,a very lucrative one, he resigned and engaged in the whale fishery which proved to be much more profitable, and in which he is still engaged. He visited Bucyrus in October 1867. David R. Lightner was employed in the People's Press office before the publication was discontinued, and when West sold the establishment to .Joseph Newell, arrangements were made for a newspaper, to be published by Newell & Lightner. Mrs, Newell, however, opposed this new move on her husband's part and, in order to "keep peace in the family." Newell turned the enterprise over to John Reeder, and gave him ten bushels of wheat for "taking the bargain off his hands." Reeder and his son, Jonathan, and his nephew. Lightner, then started the Ohio Intelligencer. The first number appeared about January 1, 1836, for the twenty-first number was issued July 23, and the forth-second December 30, 1836. This paper was neutral in politics, the issue of July 23 publishing both Presidential electoral tickets. The name of the firm was then D. R. Lightner & Co.: but, after fifty-two numbers had been published, John Reeder retired and his son Jonathan, continued in partnership with his cousin Lightner, for several more numbers of Volume II. Young Reeder also became discouraged and sold his interest to John Caldwell. The Ohio Intelligencer was then discontinued and Caldwell & Lightner started the Crawford Republican about August 1, 1837, with Caldwell as editor, and D. R. Lightner as publisher. The office was then on the corner now occupied by Frank Blickes' store. In the eighth number, dated November 4, 1837, on the first page, and November 28 on the third. the proprietors make the following announcement: "The experiment we have commenced in publishing a Democratic paper, is now in full tide of operation and with the result so far we have no reason to complain. In addition to the old list of subscribers, we have obtained about one hundred and twenty five new ones, and are daily receiving more. We want two Hundred more immediately, and no labor or expense will be spared to make our paper interesting and important crisis is now approaching in both our State and National affairs, with which every man in the county should make himself acquainted, and which we will endeavor to lay before our readers faithfully as they transpire." This number was issued during the panic of 1837, and. money being very scarce, the proprietor, in order to secure patronage, published on the fourth page, in sale-bill type, the following notice : Wheat, corn, buckwheat, oats, pork, beef, butter and candles will be received on subscription at this office." After fifty-two numbers of the Crawford Republican had been 260 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. published. Caldwell retired from the firm, and Lightner continued the paper another year, or rather for another volume of fifty-two numbers, the last appearing about January 1, 1840. The Democratic party were not satisfied with the, management of the paper under Lightner, who says that some declared I was not a good Democrat for publishing a communication from Bishop Tuttle, in which the people were advised to examine both sides." Lightner was not sorry to be relieved, and the office was transferred to Caldwell, and the paper discontinued for about three months. Mr. Lightner was afterward elected Mayor of Bucyrus in April, 1842. and re-elected in 1843.He is at present a resident of the town. Caldwell, for many years a resident of Crawford County, removed to California, and was murdered while carrying mail. In the summer or fall of 1838, a new Whig, paper, the Bucyrus Democrat, was established by John Shrenck, Number 52, of Volume I, was issued October 2,. 1839. An examination of this issue would prove that if it be a specimen of the political newspapers published in 1839, the character of Bucyrus newspapers has improved very much during the past forty year. It would seem that the sole idea for which Shrenck published the Democrat was to abuse the Democratic candidate for Prosecuting Attorney. This gentleman was reelected by a larger majority than ever. and is still an Honored and respected citizen of the town, while the Democrat "yielded up the ghost " nearly forty years ago. Shrenck continued the paper several years: No. 47, of Vol. III, was issued May 4,1842, and it was published during a political campaign of that year. After a precarious existence of four years, he removed the press and materials to Upper Sandusky, and from there to Fremont, Ohio, where he died a few years afterward. This Bucyrus Democrat was the first paper published in the county in opposition to the Democratic party. The Democracy of Crawford were anxious to have an organ at Bucyrus, and the publishers of the Ohio Statesman, at Columbus, recommended Thomas J. Orr and .John White as two printers who could conduct a paper to suit the party. About April 23, 1840, these young men having obtained possession of the printing material formerly owned by Caldwell & Lightner, started the Democratic Republican, tile fourth number of which appeared May 14, 1840. White then retired from the establishment; it is generally reported that the partnership was dissolved by Orr kicking White out of the office for being intoxicated. Considering the present partisan meaning attached to the words Democratic and Republican, it appeals strange that in 1840, the organ of Crawford County Democracy should he named the Democratic Republican, while the Whig paper opposed to the Demmocracy, should be called the Bucyrus Democrat. Orr continued in the newspaper business at Bucyrus for several years, and was supported by the Democratic party. The first volume of the Democratic Republican was completed May 28, 1841, and, shortly after this, Orr commenced issuing the paper very irregularly, for although the second volume was started June 4, 1841, it had only reached the thirty-eighth number by July 23, 1842. The other fourteen numbers were possibly issued during the next eight months but on Saturday, April 15, 1843, the second number in Volume I, of the Bucyrus Republican w-as published. In the next twelve months the paper was generally regularly issued. the fifty-second number appearing June 8, 1844. When the Presidential campaign was over the Republican was published so irregularly that the patrons became disgusted with Orr's management, and the People's Form, established in the spring of 1845, received the patronage of many who had formerly supported the Republican. No. 27, of Vol. II was issued March 22, 1845, and soon after this the paper was discontinued. Orr was elected Clerk of PAGE 261 - PICTURE OF JOHN HOPLEY PAGE 262 - BLANK HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 263 the Court in 1851, and re-elected in 1851. In 1859, he was chosen to represent Seneca, Crawford and Wvandot Counties in the State Senate. During the second session, the war broke out, and Orr supported the measures adopted by the Legislature, for the preservation of the Union. For doing this he was bitterly denounced by many Democrats and, when he sought a re-nomination at the next primary election, received only 782 votes in Crawford County, while Judge Lang, of Tiffin. received 760. Orr afterward removed to Calhoun County, Iowa, where he died July 2, 1874. Many leading Democrats in Craw ford County were not satisfied with Orr's irregularly issued publication, and J. R. Knapp. Jr., who had for several years been connected with the Marion Mirror, was induced to establish another Democratic paper at Bucyrus. The first number of this. the People's Forum, appeared April 12, 1845, and for more than thirty-five years the Forum has been regularly published by different proprietors. Knapp's office, for a few weeks was opposite the court house, then a few doors east near the Methodist Episcopal Church. In April 1848, the printing material was removed to the room over Lauck & Failor's store: April. 1850, to the Anderson Block now the residence of C. K. Ward and George C. Gormly: in the spring of 1855, to the Sims House corner. Knapp sold the paper to Mordecai P. Bean, in 1847, and he was proprietor for ten years. During the latter part of this decade, Philip Dombaugh was associated with him, but never owned an interest, although considered publisher for several years. They finally dissolved business relations April 24, 1857 and shortly afterward Bean sold the Forum to J. A. Estill, now editor of the Holmes County Farmer. The office was removed to Quinby Block April 1,1859, and, in a few weeks, passed into the hands of A. McGregor, present editor of the Stark County Democrat, who remained until April 20, 1860, and then transferred the paper to Thomas Beer, now a Judge of the Common Pleas Court. The office was removed to Burkhart's Block, now the property of J. G. Mader, Jr., January 1, 1862, and April 25, Henry Barnes and Thomas Coughlin purchased Beer's interest in the paper. After five months, Barnes retired from the partnership, but Coughlin continued as proprietor until April, 1868. In October, 1867, he was elected County Clerk, and re-elected in 1870. Before entering upon the duties of this position, he sold the office to John R. Clymer. Clerk for the previous seven years. About this time, the oflice, which had been improved by the addition of a fine Cincinnati cylinder press and other new printing material; was removed from Blair's Hall to the second story of story of Quinby Block. August, 1867; Coughlin employed as associate editor of the paper, William Hubbard, who continued with the Forum until April 1869. This gentleman was an unusually earnest and forcible writer, who had attained, as editor of the Logan County Gazette, a national reputation. When he retired from the Forum, the partnership of Hubbard & Coughlin was formed and they bought the Democratic Northwest at Napoleon, Ohio, which the gifted Hubbard edited until he died, May 11, 1872. J. R. Clymer continued as publisher of the Forum for nine years, until -April 20, 1877. when he sold the office to Maj. J. H. Williston. In February, 1871, an engine was purchased. and the paper printed by steam. For over twenty-seven years, the paper was folio in form until in October, 1871, it was changed to a quarto, and subscribers who desired it semi-weekly were furnished four pages on Tuesday and four pages on Friday. This system was continued until the four-page form was resumed November 17, 1876. During the nine years Mr. Clymer was publisher, the office occupied, at different times, each floor of No. 8 Quinby Block. In December, 1878, the establishment was removed to the basement of the Deal Block, where it has continued since 264 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY that time. An attempt was made to establish a daily Forum during the past year. The first number appeared July 12, 1880, but, after continuing regularly for four months, the daily was discontinued November 3. In June, 1851, the name of the publication was changed from the People's Forum to the Crawford County Forum. It is well known that Crawford County has always been strongly Democratic, and during the past thirty-five years the Forum has been regarded as the party organ. Its course on the many questions at issue before the nation have met with the hearty approval, and the firm stand it has always taken in the interests of the party have been enthusiastically indorsed by the Crawford County Democracy. After Shrenck's Bucyrus Democrat had been discontinued, the Whigs of Crawford were without an organ for nearly ten years. Near the close of 1852. subscription papers were circulated throughout the county, and, as enough subscribers were Guaranteed to warrant J. A. Crevier in publishing a new Whig paper, January 6, 1853, the first number of the Bucyrus Journal was issued. Soon after this, the Republican party was organized, and. the Journal, under Crevier, warmly espoused the doctrines advocated by its leaders. Since then, the paper, under different proprietors, has faithfully labored in the interests of the Republican party. With the exception of eleven eight page numbers, printed during the first three months of 1856, it has always been folio in form. For two years, the office was located "at the corner of Main street and Pill alley ; " then on Main street north side of square ; May 1, 1856, it was removed to near where Ritz & Van Voorhis' restaurant is at the present time; February 22, 1858, to McCoy's building, opposite the court house; January 1, 1859, to the second story of Rowse's new block, where the paper was published for seventeen years. In the year 1853, a strike occurred among the printers at work on the Pittsburgh daily papers; two of them, David R. Locke and James G. Robinson, started on a Western trip. They reached Plymouth, Ohio and were induced by citizens to revive the Advertiser, which they sold in 1855, and. with Rudolph Brinkerhoff', purchased the Mansfield Herald. Soon after, Locke sold his interest in this paper and March 20, 1856. purchased of Crevier, the Bucyrus Journal. For several months his brother, D. W. Locke, was associated with him, but they dissolved partnership July 15. Shortly afterward, Locke prevailed upon his former partner to take an interest in the Journal and, in April, 1857, the two friends were again united in their business interests. The office was improved by the addition of a Robinson Princeton power press, which was the first cylinder press brought to Bucyrus. These two enterprising men cordially worked together, and advocated in the Journal many new enterprises needed by the community. Among the many public and private improvements which were the result of their persistent agitation, are the gas-works, the cemetery, the many shade trees, the well-paved sidewalks. and many buildings. In April 1861. Mr. Robinson was appointed Postmaster of Bucyrus by President Lincoln, which position he held until removed for political reasons, by President Johnson in 1866;. Mr. Locke retired from the Journal November 13, 1861, and purchased the Fremont Journal, and afterward an interest in the Toledo Daily Blade with which paper he is connected at the present time. While editor of the Fremont Journal he commenced writing the noted Nasby Letters which obtained for him a national reputation. September 2,1867. Mr. Robinson sold his interest in the Journal to J. Hopley for $2,000. April 1, 1862, Ralph Robinson became associated with his brother in publishing the paper. and continued with Mr. Hopley until May 20, 1868, when he also sold his interest to his partner. After leaving the printing office, James G. Robinson em- HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY - 265 barked in the drug business with It. Dr. M. C. Cuykendall, and continued at this until he died. April 14, 1872. Ralph Robinson removed to Iowa, and has since been connected with the Fairfield Ledger, Clarinda Herald and Newton Journal, of which he is now sole proprietor. In October 1875, a new Cottrell & Babcock improved drum cylinder press was added to the printing material of the Journal and shortly afterward. December 30, the office was removed to the Converse Block and fitted up with steam power. [For many years the present editor of the Journal has been engaged collecting files of Bucyrus newspapers and he has secured many copies of publications printed in the village during the early settlement of this county. All of his files were kindly placed at the disposal of the gentlemen engaged on this county history, and these papers have proved , in many cases, a valuable aid to the historian and furnished many historical facts that otherwise would have been over-looked -HISTORIAN] Two German papers have been published in Bucyrus, during the least three decades. The first number of the Crawford County Demokrat was issued September 15, 1855, by Mordecai P. Bean proprietor of the Forum. This German paper was continued for several years, a portion of this time it was under the charge of Bernhardt Roch who was killed by the cars at Dayton, Ohio April 10, 1863.and shortly afterward the Demokrat was discontinued. The first number of the Deutscher Courier was published in January 1875, by Joseph Killian, proprietor of the Mansfield Courier In about a year the office was removed to Mansfield but for some time after this, a Bucyrus edition of the paper was Published. The Independent Democrat was started by Dr. A. E. Jenner, of Crestline, in February 1873. The office was first located in that town: the paper was folio in form until May 14, 1875, when it was changed to eight pages and the name to the Crawford County Democrat. For two years it was in charge of A. N. Jenner, son of the proprietor, who continued in the office until .July 15, 1875. Some mouths previous to his retirement J. E. D. Ward purchased an interest in the office, and. when young Jenner left, continued sole publisher until Charles Wright became associated with him in November 1876. About this time the office was retired to Bucyrus, but, solve mouths previous to this change. a Bucyrus edition of the Democrat had been printed at Crestline. Wright retired after several weeks experience and Frank Plants took his place. W hen Major Williston purchased the Forum in April 1877, the publishers of the, Democrat soon found they could not successfully compete with him for the patronage of the Crawford County Democracy, and their paper has discontinued about July 1, 1877. Since the first printing press was brought to Bucyrus, several attempts have been made by different parties to establish other miscellaneous publications. In 1838, William Robbins issued to firs number of a semi-monthly publication called the Buckeye. It. It was printed at the Republican office, told the articles contained in it were of a class to amuse rather than instruct : no efforts were made to publish local news. The Buckeye was continued for several mouths : No. 9, Vol. I, appeared April 27, 1839, but shortly after this the paper was discontinued. May 1855, the first number of an agricultural paper, the Farmer, was printed at the Journal office. Robert N. Patterson was publisher; J. A. Crevier and C. Elliott were editors. It was a monthly paper, four pages in size and "devoted to agriculture, horticulture, gardening, mechanics and domestic industry." but discontinued after several numbers. May 1, 1861,. No. 1. of, Vol. 1. of the Millers' Journal was published by Raub & Butterfield. It was a small four-page monthly "devoted to the interest of millers-terms, 50 266 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. cents per annum." Although it was issued in the interest of the Ingham California Wheat Cleaner, it was a bona-fide publication, but the second number never appeared. Martin Deal, who has the only copies in existence, says this was the first milling journal ever printed in the United States. In 1867, Henry J. Deal published the first number of the Bucyrus Chronicle, a paper for boys. The next year the name was changed to Bucyrus Budget, and the second number appeared, which was followed be several others during the next six months. Another amateur publication was started January 1, 1869, by J. E. Hopley & Co. This little sheet, The Acorn, was issued semi-monthly; after the first three months, the senior partner gave his brother, Thomas P., an old shot-gun, if he would assume the financial responsibility. An entire volume of twenty-six numbers was published, and then the Acorn was planted but never sprouted. In July 1879. Daniel Kanzleiter issued the first copy of the Sunbeam, an illustrated sheet printed "semi-occasionally." The wood-cuts were designed and engraved by the publisher, and four copies of the Sunbeam appeared before it; ceased to shine for twenty-five a cents a year. The newspaper history of Galion ranks next to that of Bueyrus. The following sketch of the Galion press was compiled by Dr. J. C. McIlvaine: The newspaper business commenced early in the history of Galion, indeed before it was possible to secure patronage sufficient to support it. The frequent changes of names, politics and partners of the first paper in Galion, give evidence of the trials and difficulties of the enterprise. The early printers of Ohio had an obstacle to the circulation of their papers in the matter of postage, that was almost fatal to their success. There was a discount on bank bills, and specie sent by mail in small sums, lost enormously. If the publisher of a county newspaper received enough for a bare subsistence, it was considered sufficient remuneration for his arduous duties. But till within late years such papers have not paid for themselves. While the churches and schools molded the character of the people in their own peculiar way, another influence was quietly gaining its sway over the masses, widening out the scope of mind. Religion and education are the two great powers of civilization, refinement and human progress. The press. though silent in its admonitions, its chronicles and histories of the ever present has made its influence felt throughout the world. to an extent unequaled be any other power. In 1855, the first newspaper was published in Galion. The establishment was owned by John W. Putnam, who was for many years, the worthy editor of the Ohio Statesman. The office was removed by him from Union City, and the first numbers were printed in the building now owned by James Martin, but at that time by P. W. Webber, and which stands on Main street. Dr. D. Abger became a partner, and the name of the paper was changed to the Galion Weekly Train. It was independent in politics, but the partnership lasted but a short time. Dr. Abger removed to Crestline, where he started a paper, and J. N. D. Moore came from Union City, and took his place as a partner with Mr. Putnam. When the campaign of 1856 opened, Mr. Moore retired and Jacob Riblet took his place. With this change of proprietors, there came a change in the political complexion of the paper. From Independent it became Democratic, and was re-christened the Gallon District Democrat. In 1857, . Andrew Poe, a former citizen of Mansfield, purchased Mr. Riblet's interest in the paper, and soon after Mr. Putnam retired. The business did not pay Mr. Poe, and soon after it was sold under an execution. In the year 1864, it was bought by the Matthias brothers, and edited by Peter Schum, who is now publishing a daily and weekly journal in Joplin, Mo., called the Joplin Morning News. It HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 267 was not long until H. S. Z. Matthias took the editorial control, and changed the name of the paper to the Galion Democrat. It was Democratic in politics, but was not properly supported. and was soon after abandoned and the office changed into a job office until July 1865. At this time, Mr. Matthias commenced publishing a paper called the Weekly Review, independent in politics. In September 1871. the Matthins brothers sold out to John C. Covert, of the Cleveland Leader, who changed its name back to Democrat, but made it Republican in its tone. In the fall of 1872, G. W DeCamp, of Mansfield. edited it under the same political color, but changed the name back to Galion Review, and so continued until it passed into the hands of the present proprietor. A. D. Rowe and F. E. Coonrod. in July 1874. These Gentlemen trade it once more Democratic in politics and conducted it in that faith until February 1, 1877, when it flopped again, and became Republican in sentiment. remaining so to the present time (1880). The office is in the third story of the Sponhauer Block, where they leave plenty of room and a good office. The present editor and owner of the Galion Sun is George T. Ristine. The Sun was established by Mr. Ristine, October 31, 1872, as an independent weekly newspaper of twenty-eight columns. The success that followed this enterprise warranted him in enlarging the paper to its present size. The office is located in the second of the Ristine Block, on East Main street. In 1875, Mr. Ristine introduced steam power into the establishment making it the first steam printing house in Galion. In August 1876, a campaign paper was established under the name of the Republican Free Press. As such it was run for one year and seven mouths. On the 29th of September 1877, it was purchased by S. G. Cummings & Co., which company changed the name of the paper to the Gabon Enquirer, and have published it ever since as a Democratic paper. Hon. J. G. Meuser is the political editor, and H. S. Z. Matthias has charge of the local department. The office is a fine one, and is in the second story of David Mocky's new block, on South Market street. The three weekly sheets of Galion are fair specimens of county newspapers. There is a hearty support given to each one, and the subscription lists are large. Of the three, one is Democratic. one Republican and one neutral, or independent. Each issue of these papers is largely sought for by the citizens of the town. The Crestline press is of more recent origin than either that of Bucyrus or Galion, and consequently its history is more brief. The Crestline Advocate is the only paper now published in the town. There have been others established, however, but after a short career were discontinued The newspapers of Crestline will be noticed more at length in the chapter devoted to that town. The perfection of the railroad system of the country is one of the grandest achievements of modern times. As we contemplate the improvements of railroad construction, and the perfection to which the system has been brought in the last quarter of a century, we are ready to accept any suggestions or prophecies on the subject, though it be to the effect, that in a quarter of a century more we will he flying through the air as we now fly over the country at the heels of the iron horse. The ideas which led to the invention of railroads, originated more than two centuries ago. In the seventeenth century, roads were constructed in the collieries, in the north of England. with wooden rails, upon which carriages ran to and from the mines, drawn by horses or mules. Later, the tops of these rails were covered with plate or bar iron, to render them more durable. About the year 1776, flanges were added to the wheels too keep the wagons from running off the track. As early as 1794, the use of locomotives instead of animals was sug- 268 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. gested, though we hear of no locomotive being built until about 1805. Slowly, and by little at a time. improvements were made, and roads were extended from the mines to the shipping points. and then to the chief markets. Steam was introduced. and in 1825, George Stephenson invented and placed in successful operation an engine that draw a train of cars over a wooden railway, protected by an iron covering at the rate of twelve miles an hour. This great achievement astonished the English people, who prophesied only dire disaster and distress would attend the operating in such a monster. In 1826, the first railroad in the United States was built. This was a "tramway". from the granite quarries of Quincy, Mass., to the Neponset River, a distance of three miles. A second road was laid out in January following from the coal mines of Mauch Chunk, Point., to the Lehigh River, a distance of nine miles. Other similar enterprises followed. among which. in 1828, was the Baltimore & Ohio, now one of the greatest railroad corporation, in the country. It has increased in business and importance since the publication of the following statement The receipts for traveling and transportation on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for the six months ending the 31st of August 1833, exceeded $108.000. The receipts during the same period last year did met quite amount to $90,000; the increase, therefore was about $18,000, being an average of $3,000 per month. From 1830 to 1835, railroads in the East received a considerable impulse. Improvements of all kinds were being made in them, a speed of twenty and thirty miles an hour was attained, and the benefits of their construction and use were becoming more and more apparent. As the railroad system developed in the older settled Eastern States, the Western people caught the "Internal Improvement " fever and, with a laudable ambition to give to their own States a full share of those advantages accruing to the people of the East, voted away millions of money for the construction of railroads and canals. Legislatures responded to the ardent messages of their Governors in a liberal manner, by chartering such a number of roads as to literally checker the map of their states. They saw nothing but the most prosperous times ahead. and the system of financiering that was in inaugurated well-high, in the end improverished the entire country. Ohio stepped to the front of the Western states in the old internal improvement system "In January 1847," says Howe, "the first resolution relating to a canal connecting the Ohio River with Lake Erie was introduced into the Legislature. In 1819 the subject was again agitated. In 1820, on the recommendation of Gov. Brown, an act was passed providing for the appointment of three Canal Commissioners, who were to employ a competent engineer and assistants for the purpose of surveying the route. But, the canals of the State have no especial place in this work we shall not go into details. This brief allusion is made merely to illustrate the excitement which prevailed in regard to the system of internal improvement. There is some question as to the first railroad built in the Slate of Ohio. Many are of the opinion, and with a good show of authority that the Cincinnati & Sandusky originally known as the Mad River Railroad, was the first road built in the State. Others claim that a little road, about fifteen miles in length, extending from Toledo into the State of Michigan, was the first. While still others claim the Little Miami as the pioneer railroad. But. with these conflicting statements, it is not altogether an easy matter to definitely decide as to the priority of the different roads in either commencement or completion. A "preponderance of the evidence," legally speaking, however. is in favor of a division of the Mad River, or Cincinnati & Sandusky, Railroad. Other roads followed in rapid succession in dif- HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 269 ferent parts of the State, and, as the years went by, culminated in the perfect system we have to-day. The first road to intersect Crawford County was the Mad River road, above referred to, which passes through the northwestern part of Wyandot County, then a part of Crawford County. In 1851, the Cleveland & Columbus Railroad, now known as the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati to Indianapolis, or "Bee Line," Railroad, was built through the eastern part of the county. The question of building this road was agitated as early as 1835-36. But, as railroad-building was then in its infancy, it was not until 1851 that the line from Cleveland to Columbus was completed, an event that was celebrated by a great banquet at Cleveland, to which everybody was invited. All effort was made to secure it to Bucyrus, but sufficient inducements financially were not made to the company anal a route further east was chosen. According to an act of the Legislature then in force, on a majority vote of the electors of any comity through which a railroad might pass, the County Commissioners were allowed to subscribe to the capital stock. In the spring of 1846, a proposition to subscribe $50,000 to the Cleveland & Columbus Railroad was submitted to the people of Crawford County and defeated by a vote of 1,507 to 361. In January 1862, the Cleveland Columbus road purchased the Springfield, Delaware & Mount Vernon Railroad for $134,000 by which more direct connection was made with Cincinnati. Some years later, this road purchased the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis Railroad, which forms the Indianapolis Division of the Bee Line, one of the great railroad corporations of the country. But the main road of Crawford County is the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad. passing from east to west almost through the center of the county. From the most reliable facts to be obtained. the history of this road may be thus briefly given: In February, 1848, the Legislature of Ohio passed an act incorporating the "Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad Company." On the 11 th of April of the same year, the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed a similar act, making the company a corporation of that State. The act of incorporation of the Ohio Legislature gave the company power to construct a railroad from Mansfield, in Richland County, eastward by way of Wooster, Massillon and Canton, to some point on the east line of the State, within the county of Columbiana, and thence to the city of Pittsburgh; and from Mansfield westwardly by way of Bucyrus to the west line of the State. The work on this road was commenced in July, 1849, and the entire track was laid and the road was opened for travel from Pittsburgh to Crestline on the 11th of April, 1853. The Board of Directors had determined in 1850 to make Crestline the terminus of the Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad. This made further action necessary by the citizens of Crawford County and of the people west in order to secure a continuation of the line through Bucyrus westward. The subject was warmly discussed for some time, and efforts in this direction were fiscally successful. On the 20th of March, 1851, the Ohio Legislature granted a charter to the "Ohio & Indiana Railroad Company," for the purpose of making a road from a point on the Cleveland Columbus Railroad, through Bucyrus and Upper Sandusky to the west line of the State, and thence to Fort Wayne, in Indiana. Liberal subscriptions were made to the stock of this company by the citizens of Crawford County, and the County Commissioners, after a vote by the people, which determined their authority to act, took in the name of the county, $100,000 of the stock. The organization of the company was completed at Bucyrus on the 4th of July, by electing a board of Directors, which met soon after and selected Dr. Willis Merriman 270 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. President. On the 10th of the same month, J. R. Straughn was elected Chief Engineer, who at once commenced making the necessary surveys for the location of the road. In September following, the Directors fixed the eastern terminus of the road at Crestline, and in January 1852, warded the contract to William Mitchel & Co., for building the entire road from Crestline to Fort Wayne, a distance of 131 miles, the company to furnish the rails. The contractors prosecuted the work with energy, and had it ready for passing trains over the whole road on the 1st of November, 1854; the contractors receiving in part payment for work, stock in the road. Stock was also paid for in wild lands, farms, town lots. right of way and farm products; but little cash was paid into the treasury by the stockholders. The people in the counties between Fort Wayne and Chicago, determined to make a strong effort to build the last link in the chain between Philadelphia and Chicago. A convention was called at Warsaw, Ind., in September 1852, for devising ways and means for accomplishing the object. This meeting was largely attended by those interested in the enterprise, and the object in view proved successful: inasmuch as that in 1856, the work was so nearly completed on this new line, that. by using a portion of the Cincinnati, Peru & Chicago Railroad, a continuous line was opened on the l0th of November, 1856, from Pittsburgh to Chicago. On the 1st of August 1856. the three corporations were consolidated under the name and title of the "Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne &. Chicago Railroad," by which name it has ever since been known. Such is the history, in brief, of this great railroad thoroughfare, one of the best roads in the United States. It belongs to the Pennsylvania system, and is the direct source of its communication with the great West. Says a local historian of the county; "Where was an isolated wilderness is now a thriving garden, connected with all parts of the continent. Less than a generation ago, the necessary supplies of life could be secured only by tedious journeys through almost trackless forests: now we take the cars and speed away to the best markets in the world in less time than the pioneers went forty miles to mill on horseback, with a bushel of grain divided between the two ends of the sack.' The Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway a road now known as the Ohio Central, is one in which the people of Crawford County have taken an active interest from the first inception of the enterprise, up to the completion of the road. This project was agitated as early as 1868-69, and meetings held in the different counties and towns through which the road was designed to pass. At these meetings the ilea of a railroad through the county, running from northwest to southeast. was discussed and in the summer of 1869, the route from Toledo to Pomeroy, began to assume a tangible form. A number of meeting were held in towns along the proposed line, and much enthusiasm manifested for a road that had already peen incorporated as the Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway. In the fall of 1869, a survey of the route was commenced, and the county papers announced the fact "that the work had actually commenced: that a corps of engineers had been employed at each end of the route: one corps leading south from Chauncey, and the other north from Newark to Toledo, and our citizens will know within sixty days, weather permitting. where the road will run." The Columbus Journal, in May 1870, publisped the following: Our local columns yesterday morning contained a notice of the letting of a contract for the construction of 118 miles of the Atlantic &: Lake Erie Railway, being so much of the line as lies north of Trimble Township, Athens County, and south of Bucyrus, Crawford County, passing through or near Millerstown. Oakfield, New Lexington, Rehoboth and Mount Perry in Perry County ; Newark, Greenville, Alexandria. Johnstown and HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 271 Hartford, in Licking County: Sparta and Mount Gilead. in Morrow Count, and Bucyrus and other points in Crawford County." A contract was made with A. M. Huston & Co. for the construction of that part of the road lying between the Athens line and Bucyrus. By this contract the road was to he finished and ready for trains from Newark to Bucyrus by April 1873. In February, 1872,. a contract was let to Michael Moran and W. V. & A. M. McCracken. of Bucyrus to grade the road from the latter place to Toledo. A contract was awarded in July of the same year, to B. B. McDonald & Bucyrus, to put iron on two sections of the road from Pomeroy north. A contract was made about the same time for the bridge across the river at Bucyrus. With varying progress, the work on the road moved along through the summer and fall. The following extract is from a letter written by the President to a gentleman in Toledo, under plate of December 6, 1872; ''A carefully revised estimate of the cost of construction, made with more than one half of the road between Toledo and Ferrara, in the very heart of the 'Great Vein' coal-field completed, shows an excess of reliable stock subscription, applicable to that portion of the work. of more than $200,000 over-estimated cost. That stock subscriptions have not been more rapidly collected and the work vigorously prosecuted during the past summer, is the result of a well-considered conclusion arrived at in the early part of the season, that, with the prevailing price of iron and equipment, the interest of the company would not be subserved thereby It has now been determined by the board. to collect the subscriptions and push forward the work as fast as possible, with a view at its completion the coming summer." But with all the favorable circumstances sttending the enterprise. the first year or two after it was iaugurated it dragged along rather slowly, and in September 1875, a meeting was held at Bucyrus, when the following points in the history of the road were brought to light: "That the road was in imminent danger, that it had been proposed to sell portions of it, and this would virtually sacrifice Wyandot, Crawford and other counties: that this proposition was defeated in the board, for the present ; that the road was in debt, and that if something was not clone in thirty days, the project would have to be abandoned." In view of this, it was proposed to organize a new company to finish the road upon terms similar, though not quite so favorable, to those secured by the Ohio Construction Company: that this Company be formed by a subscription of $450,000 to be apportioned among the counties along the line the sum allotted to Crawford being $50,000. The terms of the subscription were, that it was to be paid in installments of ten per cent a month and no installment payable until $400,000 of reliable subscriptions should be made. In March 1876, the county papers mention the fact that two locomotives have been bought and arrangements made for the third, for "our new railroad." Fifty-miles of the road was to be completed and the cars to be running over it by June. The 1st of September it was announced that fifteen cars were being painted and finished at the Bucyrus Machine Works to be used for the purpose of delivering rails on the road, and that the rails for the division from Moxahala to New Lexington would all be delivered in two weeks. With all these cheering prospects, however, it was not until the latter part of the summer of 1880 that trains ran through Crawford County on this road. During the winter of 1879-80. it took a new lease of life, after a Rip Van Winkle sleep of a couple of years, and during the spring and summer was prosecuted to completion. In March, 1878, the road was sold, and bid off for $106,668, in trust for certain bond- 272 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. holders. A short time previous to its sale, the name and thle of the road had been changed from "Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway," to the "Ohio Central Railroad." This change of name was made for the purpose of selling the bonds to better advantage than could be done under the old name. In the Ohio Central, Crawford County has another outlet, which will prove of incalculable benefit to the county seat and the county generally. It gives direct communication with the vast coal-fields of Southeastern Ohio, and with the city of Toledo, one of the best markets in the State. The Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan Railroad, or as now known, the "Northwestern Ohio Railway," also passes through a corner of Crawford County, but is of no special benefit except to the northeastern part of the county. The first efforts made toward building the Mansfield & Coldwater road were about the year 1867. Parties in Toledo, acting in conjunction with the citizens of New Washington and vicinity, made strong endeavors to engineer the project through. and have the road to run directly from Toledo to Crestline passing through New Washington and Annapolis. This was the original intention of the parties interested. and of the two towns. Annapolis and New Washington, the one subscribing the largest amount of stock, was to have the depot. Annapolis won the depot by the most liberal subscription, but the road was not built through the town, on account of the indifference to the matter of the citizens of Crestline declining to take sufficient interest or stock to obtain it through their town. The citizens of New Washington then conferred with the interested parties in Toledo and Mansfield and finally succeeded in getting the road from Toledo to Mansfield, under the name and title of "Mansfield. Coldwater & Lake Michigan Railroad." Work commenced on the road in the spring of 1872, and, by October of the same year enough of the track was laid to allow construction trains to pass back and forth between Toledo and New Washington. On the 1st of May, 1873, regular trains first began running over the road. In .June 1878, through some financial trouble or embarrassment the road passed into the control of the Pennsylvania Company, and its name was changed to "Northwestern Ohio Railway," it now forms an important division of that company. The road merely touches the northeastern part of the county, passing through two townships and having two stations in the county viz.: New Washington, in Cranberry Township, and DeKalb, in Auburn Township. There was about $30,000 of stock subscribed to the road in the two townships named above. Shares were $50 each so as to enable any farmer in ordinary circumstances to take a share or two. The amount was made up by subscriptions of from one to five shares. The road is now completed and as stated in the beginning of this sketch, is of no particular benefit to the county at large, but merely to a very small corner of it. The Athintic & Great Western Railway has one station in Crawford County. Galion is the headquarters of the third and fourth divisions of this road. The Atlantic & Great Western was put through the county or a little corner of it. in the summer of 1863, and. in June, 1864,, the last rail was laid at Dayton with considerable ceremony. Shortly after its completion, the shops of the third and fourth divisions were built at Galion. In 1874, the large brick shops were erected. which added greatly to the prosperity of the town. Galion is also the eastern terminus of the Indiana Division of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati a Indianapolis Railroad, and its junction with the main line. This requires shops also of this company at Gallon. These two roads, with their immense shops anal hundreds of employes, constitute the life and vitality of the place. It is estimated that at least 65 per cent of the population of Galion is railroad men and their families. HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 273 From the foregoing pages, it will be seen that Crawford County is well supplied with railroads and lacks neither modes or travel or transportation. but is in direct and easy communication with all the best markets both East and West.