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CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES - 249 CHAPTER VIII COUNTY GOVERNMENT THE BEGINNING OFFICIALLY-FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT COURTHOUSES -THE JAILS OF THE COUNTY-CHILDREN'S HOME-COUNTY INFIRMARIES-ASSESSED VALUATIONS-SCHOOL DISTRICT VALUATIONS -POPULATION. THE FIRST COURTHOUSE Harrison County has been organized one hundred and seven years and has only had two courthouses-one erected in 1815 and the present building erected in 1895. The county commissioners met on August 10, 1815 and fixed the spot of ground on which the first courthouse should be built and caused the same to be surveyed from off the public ground in the town of Cadiz. On September 4, 1815 the commissioners advertised for bids for the erection of a brick courthouse, to be forty-two feet square, and the same was awarded to John McCurdy, he being the lowest bidder. His bid was five thousand, six hundred and ninety- five dollars. The building was to be completed by April, 1819. The minutes of the meeting of the county commissioners shows that on July 24, 1827, the contract was let to John Olmstead to build the county offices, for the sum of twelve hundred and ninety-nine dollars. This courthouse was provided with a bell by Daniel Kilgore, June, 1829. This Harrison County's first regular courthouse and its surrounding offices, served as the seat of justice for the county for seventy-four years, and besides being the official seat of justice for the county it also served as headquarters and meeting place for all public functions, including political speeches, debates, war and other mass-meetings, etc. Within its walls assembled great Civil war gatherings and many were the eloquent speeches on behalf of the Union and freedom of the slaves. All who took part in the events of those stirring times have long since been gathered to their fathers and rest in the tomb. The second and third generations have come, and other issues have been at stake, including the present crisis. THE SECOND COURTHOUSE The second and present courthouse in this county was erected in 1893-94, at a cost of ($86,985) eighty-six thousand, nine hundred and eighty-five dollars. It was in January, 1893 that a preliminary meeting was held in the county auditor's offrce for the purpose of taking some action concerning the erection of a new courthouse, which had in reality become an absolute necessity, as the old offices were no longer a safe place in which to deposit the valuable public records. At this meeting, Col. John S. Pearce was appointed to prepare a 250 - CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES memorial to the Ohio legislature, setting forth the need of a new courthouse ; also Major Cunningham and S. B. McGavran to draft a bill to be submitted to the legislature for its approval, authorizing the county commissioners to issue bonds in a sum not exceeding $100,000, with which to build a new courthouse at Cadiz. The memorial and bill were forwarded to the county's representative, Hon. R. G. Kean. PICTURE OF OLD COURTHOUSE, CADIZ The annals of Harrison County would not be complete without a copy of the above mentioned memorial and also a copy of the original bill prepared by Major Cunningham. The memorial read as follows: TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OHIO We, the undersigned citizens of Harrison County, do hereby respectfully petition your honorable body to enact a law authorizing and requiring the commissioners of said county, to build a new courthouse at Cadiz, the present county seat, of sufficient size to contain suitable rooms for the holding of he several ccurts for said county, including that of the Probate Court and all the county offices, not to exceed, however, in price, the sum of $100,000, and we state the following reasons therefor: CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES - 251 First: The present courthouse and the other county buildings which are outside of it, are all old and dilapidated, having been built in the year 1816, and are now too small and crowded for the proper and safe keeping of their records and office papers, and the convenient transaction of business therein, and especially have they become very unsafe places for the keeping of such records and papers. The courthouse is so constructed that it is almost impossible, especially during sessions of the grand jury, to hold court therein, on account of the confusion 'created thereby, the grand jury and its witnesses having no other means of access to the jury room other than by a stairway in said court room and owing to the construction of the building this cannot be remedied, and has always existed. Second: The office of the probate judge is in the rooms over the fire engine house, formerly the old market house, and is (if possible) in a worse condition for the want of capacity, and convenience for the transaction of its business and safety of its records, than any of the other offices. This room is not only a very unsafe place, for the papers of such an office, the destruction of which by fire, would cost the county more than would the building of a new courthouse, but it is difficult and dangerous of access, especially so, for aged and infirm persons. The truth is, not one of the county buildings is a safe place for the keeping of its records and office papers, the destruction of which in any of them, by fire, would be an irreparable and incalculable loss to the county. Third: A new courthouse containing all the county offices and court rooms, would not only be a great convenience to those having business to transact with them, but would be economy in the end, in the expenditure of the public money, in providing places of safety for the pubhc records and papers, and convenient transaction of business therein. The foregoing are some of the facts upon which we base this application for a new courthouse, others might be given, but we deem it unnecessary to do so; those given being suffrcient in our judgment to justify the petition and its prayers. Should there be any question made as to the correctness of the above statements of facts we would respectfully ask that your honorable body appoint a suitable committee to make a personal examination of them for itself. The following is a true copy of Major Cunningham's bill: Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio. That the commissioners of Harrison County, Ohio, are hereby authorized and required to construct, without unnecessary delay, a courthouse on the public square at the county seat of said county at a cost not to exceed $100,000. For the construction of such building, bids are to be received as provided by law ; but no bid shall be entertained by said commissioner that shall exceed the sum of $100,000 as herein authorized for the completion of the entire building. Section 2. That the county commissioners of said county for the purpose of constructing said courthouse, are hereby authorized to borrow such sums of money as may be necessary at a rate not exceeding 6 per cent per annum and issue bonds of said county to 252 PICTURE OF HARRISON COUNTY COURTHOUSE CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES - 253 secure the payment of principal and interest thereon; such interest shall be paid semi-annually at the office of the county treasurer. Said bonds shall be issued and sold in all respects in pursuance of existing law at no less than their face value and the principal shall be paid at the said county treasurer's office at such times as the commissioner shall prescribe, not exceeding nine years after date and said bonds shall specify the object for which they were issued. The commissioners shall annually, at their June session, levy such amount of taxes as will fully meet the interest on such indebtedness and at least one-ninth of the principal. Section 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives January 27, by Hon. R. G. Kean and read the second time January .30, and referred to the committee on county affairs. Mr. Kean announced that the bill would not be hurried through, but that sufficient time would be given to discuss the claims for the new courthouse as set up in the memorial of Colonel Pearce. The opposition to the bill became so formidable that the committee of county affairs came to Cadiz on February 17, 1893. After the committee in this manner investigated the necessity for a new courthouse for themselves they reported favorable and the bill passed the House February 28, 1893. There was not a dissenting vote. A like committee of the Senate visited Cadiz March 17. 1893 and after a complete examination of our old buildings and hearing arguments on both sides, the bill was recommended favorably and passed March 22, 1893. A supplementary act passed the House April 13, 1893, authorizing the judge of Common Pleas Court to appoint a building com- mittee. The court appointed David Cunningham, William H. Arnold, A. O. Barnes and W. A. Holmes. The building committee with the county commissioners, W. C. Adams, Thomas H. Ryder and John W. Spiker employed Yost and Packard of Columbus, Ohio. as architects. The plans and specifications were carefully prepared and the building of the courthouse was awarded to E. M. Long, of Bowerston, August 12, 1893, at the contract price of $86,985. A minute description of the structure shows that in round numbers the courthouse is 100 feet square built of Berea stone trimmed in Oolitic limestone. The Berea stone came from. near Cleveland, Ohio, while the trimming stone came from quarries near Spencer, Indiana. The building was made as near fire-proof as was possible at that date. A tower 112 feet high surmounts the superstructure, and within such tower is placed a "town clock" with bell striking off the hours as the days and nights go by. The complicated business of the entire county government is transacted in this courthouse, which appears good for several generations yet, barring some act of unnatural violence. 254 PICTURE OF CHILDREN’S HOME, CADIZ CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES- 255 THE JAILS OF HARRISON COUNTY So long as sin exists in the world and men and women disregard the laws of both God and man, there will be use for prisons and jails. There has been use for jails in this county, in common with all other sections of the country. Here the jail history runs back as early as April 12, 1813, when at a meeting of the county commissioners, they contracted with Joseph Harris for his stone smoke house for a jail. Charles Chapman was employed to make all necessary improvements on the building. August 3, of the same year, the commissioners met again and entered into a contract with George Mires, he being the lowest bidder, to construct a wooden jail, for the sum of $1,485. It was to be built of sound oak logs well hewn. September 25, 1837, the commissioners decided to build a second jail and the contract was let to Joseph Divine and James Crossen for $8,249. This jail served the needs of the county until 1873, when the records show that the county commissioners contracted for a third jail, the amount being $14,674. It was constructed of stone, slate roof with eight iron cells. On June 5th, 1893, the roof of this jail was destroyed by fire, and the walls more or less damaged. The new courthouse then in course of construction, utilized the material from this half- destroyed county jail, and the county was without a jail only until the cells could be transferred to a one-story frame building on the corner of the alley from Main and Market streets, on the old Beall lot. This served as the county jail until 1897 when the new jail was built. When W. T. Perry was prosecutor those days, at times he says the jail was so full that prisoners had to be taken to Steubenville for safe keeping. It might be added in this connection that saloons existed at that date, too. CHILDREN'S HOME Nothing speaks better for the moral and religious element of any community than to note its care for the unfortunate orphans in its midst. The true spirit of Christ who said "Forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven" seems manifest in the establishing and carrying on the Harrison County Children's Home which is located one mile southeast of the corporation limits of the city of Cadiz. The farm on which this Home is located had twenty-five acres at first, with two never-failing springs, and all in all, appears to be an ideal location. The Home was built on the cottage plan and the buildings are of brick which were made on the grounds and were hand-pressed. The cottage stands back about fifty feet, from the pike and is truly a monument to the benevolent spirit of the people of Harrison County. Twenty-seven years ago-1893--the visiting committee made the following report to his Honor Judge Mansfield : There are at this date in the Home thirty-six inmates : Males, 23; females, 13. Received since last report, 31 ; indentured, 10; returned to parents, 8 ; transferred, 2. We take pleasure in noting the condition of this institution. The buildings are large, nicely and healthfully arranged and most beautifully located. Economy, 256 - CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES, neatness, discipline and order characterize its management by its present efficient superintendent. Great care is being taken in preparing good homes for the children. We are satisfied there are other children in our county who ought to receive the benefit to be derived from so efficient a home as this is and are led to believe the fault lies at the door of the township trustees. We find at the Home a good daily school under the supervision of a competent teacher and confidently believe that many will go out from this institution, both intellectually and morally, fully able to cope with the many who have been more highly favored. The institution as conducted is certainly a very great blessing to the poor unfortunates who come within its influence. Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM CROSKEY, JUDITH JOHNSON, MARGARET MCCREADY, D. B. WELCH, Committee. In the month of October. 1920, the writer was informed by the efficient matron, Mrs. Laura B. Johnson, who has had charge since 1916, that the Home now has a farm consisting of thirty acres ; two buildings—the hospital and the heating plant—have been added to the original set of buildings. The present number of inmates or members of the "Home family" is twelve boys and ten girls, a few of which are boarders from other counties. At present the children from this Home are attending the common public schools of Cadiz, but usually a school is kept at the Home, but it appears that it is found best to have these children mingle with other pupils at the public school and the experiment is working well for the orphans of this institution. The present superintendent of the farm, D. L. Cope, together with his wife, who does the cooking, are well adapted to the work at hand, as is also the worthy matron, Mrs. Johnson. The ages of the inmates run from three to seventeen years. This Home was founded by the commissioners of Harrison County and built in 1889-90 and the hospital and heating plant were provided in 1918-19. COUNTY INFIRMARIES The people of Harrison County have never encouraged idleness and shiftlessness upon the part of its citizens, but when through any cause of a legitimate nature, persons residing within the borders of the county have become infirm and unable to care for and properly support themselves, the authorities of the county have ever been pleased to render these unfortunate poor any reasonable aid, and for almost a century such poor people have been maintained on what has been styled the Poor Farm, County Farm, or Infirmary. THE FIRST INFIRMARY April 23, 1825, at a special meeting of the county commissioners, a contract was entered into with Samuel Boyd for 104 acres of land 257 - HARRISON COUNTY INFIRMARY, CADIZ 258 - CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES (later known as the Hedges farm) for poor farm purposes for this county. There was a farm-house on the place at the time the county purchased it, and the commissioners appointed Walter B. Beebe, Thomas Lewis, Jacob Webb, Michael Moore, Joseph Johnson, John Hurless, John Patterson and Matthew Simpson, directors of the poor establishment. The institution was open for actual use in March, 1826 under superintendent John Willson. At its opening the, number of inmates was three males and one female. "The superintendent received $162.17 for keeping poor and clothing the same," is the first financial record made—for what period of time it is not now known. Other entries are found in the county records, as follows: Paid superintendent for making rails, $6.00. Paid superintendent for making stakes, $1.00. Paid Samuel Lewis for support of outdoor poor, $12.00. Paid Dr. W. R. Slemmons, medical attendance, $4.00. Paid Walter B. Beebe for one blank record book, $2.00. The second infirmary of the county was provided for in April, 1832, when commissioners Thomas Martin, David Thompson and John Caldwell, contracted with Sheridan Cox for 303 acres of land in Archer Township for $3,636, for the poor farm. The commissioners gave Robert Watson $240.85 for erectmg a poor house on this land. George Cox was superintendent at this place, but later the place was sold to Matthew McCoy. In 1835 the third infirmary was established, when the county commissioners were Henry Ford, John Ramage and Samuel Colvine. They bought of Walter McClintock, sixty acres of land, also in Archer Township for $450 for a poor farm. The directors of the poor were, then : Edmund Tipton, Daniel Welch and William Arnold. This farm was sold August 1, 1845, to Samuel Pittenger and Abraham Busby. William Speer was then superintendent, and the number of inmates was nine. The fourth county infirmary was purchased by the commissioners June 6, 1845 of Nathaniel McFadden and consisted of 124 acres, situated on the State road leading from Cadiz to New Philadelphia, for the sum of $4,000. August 6, 1845, the commissioners entered into an agreement with Thomas McCreary and Henry Boyles as principal, and William Tingley, John Olmstead and Chauncey Dewey as securities, for the building of the poor house. The building was seventy-four feet long and forty feet wide, built of brick, two stories high and the contract price. was $3,740. This building remained in use until 1884, when the question of building a new building was submitted to the tax-payers of the county, the same carrying by a large majority. Therefore a new building was erected in 1884-85. This was a three-story structure. The basement was of stone, while the superstructure was of brick. It contained ninety-one rooms, and was heated by hot air pipes. The official report of this institution in 1893 gave the total number of inmates as forty-eight. The infirmary farm contains 400 acres. Welch Rogers was appointed superintendent April 1, 1894. As was well stated at the time, by Dr. McGavran : "In this institution the benevolent spirit of the county finds its noblest expression." CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES- 259 Up to the date of the building of the last named infirmary, the superintendents over the various infirmaries of the county had been: John Willson, Samuel Boyd, John Amspoker, George Cox, William Speer, Samuel Amspoker, Benjamin Richey, Samuel Baker, Thomas Barrett, Gabriel Holland, R. McKee, James Keesey, John Robb, E. Z. Evans, Alexander English, Welch Rogers, J. G. Rogers and Welch Rogers, the present superintendent. ASSESSED VALUATION The following list shows the 1920 assessed valuation of both real and personal property by townships and villages ; also amount of taxes levied in the several sub-divisions of Harrison County :