CHAPTER XVIII, PHYSICIANS OF KNOX COUNTY. With the settlement of every new country, the family doctor heads in after the first little settlement has been made and there he shares his fortune, be it for joy or sorrow, with the pioneer band. He visits the bedside of the sick of the community and binds up the wounds like a Good Samaritan, The medical profession is among the most valuable and important of any of the professions known to mankind. The science of medicine has rapidly advanced in the last half century. Especially is this true of surgery, which in the last quarter of a century has made wonderful strides and now the uncertainties of undergoing an ordinary operation deter but few from being relieved by the skillful surgeon, who knows just how to use the knife and in what cases it is needed. Both in medicine and surgery, fifty and a hundred years ago, there was a vast amount of guesswork, but not so today. But with all that may he said against the old-time doctor, he had so many good qualities of both heart and head, that despite the little that he really knew of the treatment of diseases and the use of medicines, still he endeared himself to the pioneer and by simple suggestions and some medicines, with a lot of sympathy and good nursing, his patients recovered in a majority of cases, He cared for his patients and they cared for him. He would not consult the directory to see if the family calling him was able to pay a fee bill, but bore the summer's heat and winter's blast in getting to the sick chamber and there soothed the fevered brow and gave such remedies as his peculiar school of medicine at that time prescribed. Then there should be some lasting monument erected—some historical record made concerning the physicians of the pioneer period as well as those who came in at a later date, even to the present—at least some mention of the men who have looked well to the relief of suffering men, women and children in Knox county, with the passing of an hundred years. It is believed that the first doctor to practice his profession in this county was Dr. Hilliar, a native of England, who came from Zanesville in 1805. He owned four thousand acres of Hilliar township and came on to improve the same, but practiced medicine as well, for the few years he lived. His death was the first in the township named for him. There were KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 251 but few families in the county, and nothing is now known of the pioneer doctor's methods of practice. The first physician to locate in Mt. Vernon was Dr. Henderson, of whom but little is known other than that he got up a small-pox scare and warned all settlers here to have their children vaccinated, and that pioneer Butler, one of the town site proprietors, ordered him off the premises with a knife, and it so frightened the youthful doctor that he left town and never returned, he not knowing the practical joker that Butler was. This was about 1808. The earliest physicians of much note were Dr. Timothy Burr and Dr. Byers, who came prior to 1812 and remained and were of much credit to the profession. Burr settled in Morris township and had served as a surgeon in the war of 1812. Byers settled at Fredericktown. In 1814 came Dr. Burge, who located at Clinton, as did W. Hastings in 1813. In 1814 came to Fredericktown Dr. G. B. Maxfield. In 1817 Dr. W. L. Brooks settled at Mt. Vernon, where T. Eugene Clark was an early practitioner. Drs. T. R. Potter and W. F. McClelland settled in Mt. Vernon very early and had a large practice. Among the very early physicians in this county were those of whom the writer has no knowledge save that they appear in newspapers, as being among the pioneer doctors who carried cards and advertised as much as the times in which they lived would permit, and kept within the bounds of professional etiquette were the following: Drs. R. D. Moore; J. N. Burr, Kirk, E. M. Mast, Moffett, Captain Elisha Hiatt, A. J. Hiatt, of Jelloway ; Thomas B. Miser, Martinsburg; N. S. Toland, John F. Shontz, Martinsburg; A. C. Scott, Bladensburg (Rev. Scott, the Presbyterian minister, was his father) ; Henry A. Childs, of Mt. Liberty, who started the first store there ; Riggs, Gunsalus, Foutz, Hildreth, Barkis, Duke, Deckrow, Russell, Green, Bradfield, Robertson, all of Mt, Liberty, at a later date. Not later than 1876 did any of these settle at Mt. Liberty. Thomas Walters, M, D., located at Waterford, and later came these doctors who practiced in the vicinity of Waterford: Drs. Clayton W, Townsend, Copeland, Griffee, Turner, Bird, Walters, Spooner, Townsend, Cook, King. C. C. Hill, all of whom practiced at Waterford between 1841 and 1881. William Hayes, M.D., came from Maryland and settled in Milford in 1830: Hatcher Brandon, in Miller township ; Wheaton Mills, in the same township: William M. Brooks, at Danville at a very early date and the first doctor of that section of Knox county. He had a large practice in eastern 252 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. Knox county for many years. John White, M.D., was also there in 1881 and had a large country practice for many miles around. David Wadsworth, M.D., came to Fredericktown in 1812. but little can be found concerning this physician, only the date of his coming-, which was mentioned in the newspaper files of early date. At North Liberty, the physicians who had practiced there up to about 1883 were : Drs. John Waddell, Robert McLaughlin, Ed Booth, T. Jefferson Young. George Shim, Charles Mahaffey. Dr. J. L. Black was at Amity as late as 1881, having a fine practice in that part of the county. He is now deceased. At Mt. Vernon Dr. J. Hess was still in practice as late as 1880. Dr. Norman Murray came to the place to establish his medical practice in 1821 and remained a permanent doctor of the county. From an old biographical record of this county we find the following facts gathered concerning a number of the more prominent physicians of this county. which will throw additional light on the subject of medical men at various dates in this county's history : Dr. Jonathan N. Burr, of Mt. Vernon, a native of Connecticut, born in 1800, whose ancestry came with John Winthrop's fleet in 1630, studied medicine with Dr. Daniel Upson, of Washington, and others, and finally in 1823 associated himself with Dr. James R. Hill, of Delaware, Ohio. and continued there to practice until 1825, when he settled in Mt. Vernon. In 1880 he was the oldest physician in Mt. Vernon, in years of practice. When he came to the city he found only two _other physicians, one of whom soon left for other fields. Dr. John W. Russell, another excellent physician, was born in Canaan, Connecticut. in 1804: entered Hamilton College, New York, in 1821: his health failed him and he went to South Carolina and taught school: returned to Connecticut in 1824 and studied medicine under Dr. Alanson Abbe, of Litchfield, took lecture courses at Yale College: attended various schools and among them Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, graduating in 1827. In 1827. he went to Sandusky, Ohio, and in the fall of the same year located at Mt. Vernon, where he spent the best years of his life in the successful practice. of medicine and surgery, being an especially fine surgeon. In the days of the Civil war he was examining surgeon for the soldiers who enlisted from here. He was president of the Mt. Vernon Bank during its existence and a large mining operator in Colorado. He died in March, 1887, aged eighty-three years. Dr. Mathew Thompson, of Mt. Vernon, born in Ireland in 1816, emigrated to this county in 1831, with his parents and located in Knox county, KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 253 Ohio. He united with the Methodist Protestant church in 1837; graduated from the Medical University of New York in 1842, and entered the practice of his profession with Dr. Russell in 1844, with whom he remained until 1861, when he practiced alone, He practiced also with Dr. Smith until the death of that doctor in 1867. As a Christian gentleman and an excellent physician, the Doctor had but few, if any equals in Knox county. Dr. Cassander E. Bryant, of Mt. Vernon, was born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1826; was reared on a farm ; attended the schools of Frederick-town; commenced the study of medicine when twenty-one years of age, Dr, Lewis Dyer and Dr. T. R. Potter being his preceptors. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1850 and began his active practice at Frederick-town, with Dr. Potter. He had for medical partners several, including Drs, McFarland and Burr. His health failed and after traveling in Europe for a year, he returned and retired from active practice. Dr. Joseph Gordon, of Mt. Vernon, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1841 ; emigrated with his father's family to Knox county, Ohio, in 1853, finally locating at Fredericktown. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Twentieth Ohio Regiment, and participated in dozens of the great battles of the Civil war. In the spring of 1865 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Russell. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1868. practiced a short time in New Jersey ; he then located in Mt, Vernon. Ohio, where he soon built up a fine practice and in 1880 was president of the Knox County Medical Society. He is now deceased. Dr. J. T. Hess, of Mt. Vernon, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, 1830 ; the year of his birth the family removed to Ohio, locating in Jefferson township, Knox county ; he read medicine with Dr. Shannon and Prof. Smith, of Philadelphia ; graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in the spring of 1857; in 1862 he was commissioned assistant surgeon in the Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Regiment ; served one year with the Thirteenth regulars ; this was Gen. W. T. Sherman's old regiment ; he was made surgeon of the Ninety-sixth Ohio ; was in charge of the United States hospital at Fort Gaines ; he served as division surgeon the last years of the war ; he amputated hundreds of limbs ; practiced after the war in Delaware.. Ohio. until the spring of 1877 when he removed to Mt. Vernon. He is now deceased. Dr. H. W. Smith. horn in Massachusetts in 1826, came with his parents to Ohio in 1839 ; received his preparatory education in Mt. Vernon; read medicine with Drs. Russell and Thompson ; graduated from the Medical University of New York City and practiced there twelve years, after which he came hack to Mt. Vernon in 1861 and formed a partnership with 254 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. Dr. Thompson which existed as long as Dr. Thompson lived, after which he practiced alone, and engaged in the drug business, which he followed until his death. December 15, 1875. He was a deacon in the Congregational church of Mt. Vernon a number of years and an excellent citizen. Dr. A. J. Hyatt, of Brown township, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1835. His parents, who were early settlers, moved in from Maryland. Young Hyatt entered Martinsburg Academy, then under charge of Rev. John Burns, and after his limited means was spent, he went to teaching school, which he followed winters and attended school summers until he had completed his course. In 1855 he took up the study of medicine with Dr. Isaac Putnam, of Mt. Holly. He attended medical lectures at Cincinnati in 1857-58 and in 1859 began the practice of his profession. In 1867 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine at the hands of the Charity Hospital of Cleveland. He moved west and died there a number of years since. Dr, William E. Edwards, native of Carroll county, Maryland, came to Coshocton county in 1832 with the family and four years later to Knox county, Ohio. His father died when he was young and he had to support the family until twenty-five years of age, when he began the study of medicine with Dr. Aaron Edwards and attended lectures at the University of Michigan ; began his practice in Muskingum county, Ohio, in the spring; in 1855 he came to Fredericktown ; the fall of 1859 he removed to Amity where he practiced twelve years, after which he returned to Mt. Vernon. He was a member of the Methodist church—first the Protestant and later the Methodist Episcopal. He belonged to both the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders and to the Sons of Temperance. Dr. Israel Bedell, of Mt. Vernon, was born in New York, in 1834 ; spent his youth on a farm ; commenced reading medicine with Dr. McCarther. of Circleville, Ohio. finishing his reading course with Drs. Russell and Thompson, of Mt. Vernon. He attended Ann Arbor and the University of New York City. finishing the latter place in 1863. He was appointed examining surgeon at Columbus, Ohio, for the Sixth Precinct of Ohio troops, reporting in the field for duty, at Bridgeport, Alabama, remaining until his regiment was honorably discharged. He was then appointed a contract surgeon, stationed at Camp Dennison, where he had charge eight months. He became first assistant surgeon for the One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Regiment, but was not mustered into service. He came home and was engaged in practice at Cardington two years and came to Mt, Vernon where he built up a large, paying medical practice. He was partner of Dr. Bryant for two years in Mt. 'Vernon, but the doctor's health failed and the partnership re- KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 255 lation was dissolved and Dr. Bedell practiced alone again. Dr. Bedell removed to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he still practices. Dr. John L. Black, physician of Pike township, was born in Union township, this county, in 1846: he attended the academy at Spring Mountain, Coshocton county, Ohio, and studied medicine with Dr. C. Sapp, of Danville. He attended lectures at Cleveland in the medical department of the University of Wooster, graduating in the spring of 1869, and at once commenced the practice of his profession at Amity, Knox county. He there Isaac and John E. Russell are both deceased, Jayne Payne, now deceased, built up a large, successful practice and was still there in the eighties. He accumulated a good property and stood high among his fellow practitioners. He served in the Civil war as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment, Independent Infantry, where he remained ten months. This physician has been dead a number of years. Dr. F. C. Larimore, physician of Mt. Vernon, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, April 12, 1846, his father being a merchant and canal contractor, who died when Frank was but ten years of age. He then came to Knox county to live with an uncle, Thomas Larimore, of Milford township. There he worked summers and attended school in the winter. In 1861 he enlisted as a soldier in the Twentieth Ohio Regiment, being a member of Company G. He was wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, in April, 1862, by a shell and was discharged on account of this. He then attended and taught school for a time, and in the spring of 1864 enlisted in Company 13, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment National Guards, and was appointed fifth sergeant. In March, 1865, he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Drs. Thompson and Smith. He read there a year and a half and attended lectures at Ann Arbor six months, and then returned to Mt. Vernon and read six months longer with his old preceptors, Thompson and Smith. He took other lecture courses at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which he graduated in March, 1869. He practiced three years at Mt. Vernon, and in 1872 went to Europe for the purpose of visiting the hospitals, spending six months. in Vienna, Austria, in the hospital, gaining knowledge there from private instructors in medicine and surgery. After traveling and studying thirteen months in Europe, he re turned to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and opened his office for general medical practice, which he has kept up ever since. With the general public as well as with the medical profession Dr. Larimore stands high and in surgery is counted superior to any within the county. Dr. Jennie Brown, the third daughter of Gilman Bryant and wife, the well known pioneers of Mt. Vernon, was born May, 1819. Her father 256 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO, was the first merchant and postmaster in the city of her birth, She married Dr. Joseph Brown in 1851. He was a professor of the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati. She read medicine with her husband, attended lectures at Cincinnati, also at Syracuse, New York, where she graduated in 1854. She practiced with her husband until she graduated and assisted him, especially in diseases of women. Shortly after her marriage they removed to Lyons, Iowa, where they established a health institute, which was successfully conducted two years, when they sold and went to Chicago, where Dr. Joseph Brown died in 1874. She was unfortunate enough to be burned out twice. In 1873 she returned to Mt. Vernon where she practiced medicine many years. She had the honor of being the fourth lady graduate in the United States. Dr, Eugene Eggleston was horn near Chicago in 1836, his birthplace being within an Indian tent of the Cherokee tribe. He received his education at Utica, Ohio ; read medicine with his father, Hiram Eggleston, M.D., and attended lectures at Springfield, Illinois, after he commenced practicing, coming to Mt. Vernon in the seventies. Dr. B. Merriman, physician, of Waldo, Hilliar township, Knox county, was born in Bloomfield, Ohio, 1854, son of a farmer; worked on the farm summers and attended country schools in the winter months. When twenty years of age he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. F, C. Larimore, of Mt, Vernon. He completed his office studies with Drs. Russell and McMillen, of Mt. Vernon. He attended Columbus Medical College and Long Island College, Brooklyn, New York, graduating in 1878. He first started his practice in Marengo, Morrow couiity, Ohio ; removed to Centerburg, Knox county, Ohio, in the autumn of 1879, where he became a successful doctor of medicine. He still practices at Centerburg, this county. Dr, E. G. Wilson, physician at Mt. Vernon, was born in Granville, Licking county, Ohio, in August, 1853 ; educated at Dennison University, at Granville, in April, 1875, commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Larimore, of Mt. Vernon. In the winter of 1877-8 he took his first lectures at the Columbus Medical College, graduating in June, 1879, from Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, New York. He was appointed resident surgeon of that hospital, filling that position until the summer of 1880. He then returned to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and formed a partnership with Dr. F. C. Larimore, with whom he was associated many years. He is now practicing in Columbus, Ohio. Since about 1880 the following have practiced at Mt. Vernon, in addition to those already named as being here at that date. Of their whereabouts, the following paragraph will inform the reader : KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 257 R. W. Carey, who removed to Colorado and became very wealthy. Isaac and John E. Russell are both deceased. Jayne Payne, now deceased, was an eminent physician and, notwithstanding he had only one eye, was very successful. Jacob Stamp, Dr. Bruce and Dr. Robinson, also John W. McMillen and L. Y. Scribner, all practiced here since 1880 and are all now deceased. PRESENT PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY. In October, 1911, the following physicians were practicing within Knox county : Ackerman, E, V., at Fredericktown, Arndt, G. D., at Mt. Vernon, Armentrout, L. W., at Mt. Vernon. Blair, H. W,, at Mt. Vernon. Best, S. R., at Centerburg. Buxton, J. W., at Howard, Claypool, J. B., at Gambier. Colville, R. W., at Mt. Vernon. Cole, R. E., at Democracy. Coleman, D. S., at Howard. Conrad, C. K., at Mt. Vernon. Conwell, C. B., at the State Hospital. Darling, H. S., at Fredericktown. Deeley, S. E., at Mt. Vernon. Deeley, W. S., at Mt. Vernon. Eastman, W. H., at Fredericktown. Eastman. N. R., at Mt. Vernon. Eley, W. T., at Fredericktown. Eley, T. L.. at Mt. Vernon. Fisher, V. L.. at Mt. Vernon. Fulton, G. T., at Mt. Vernon. Grant, O. S., at Centerburg. Gray, I. E., at North Liberty. Humbert, B. F., at Mt. Vernon. Hahn, J. E., at Brinkhaven. Hull, Marion, at Bladensburg. Jefferson, T. E,, at Danville. Larimore, F. C., at Mt, Vernon. Lind, L. C,, at State Hospital, Lee, J, F., at Mt. Vernon. Merriman, W. B,, at Centerburg, McLaughlin, R. B., at Mt. Liberty. Norrick, J, H., at Fredericktown. Nixon, Isabelle, at Mt, Vernon. Pennell, W. W., at Mt. Vernon. Phillips, W. O., at Centerburg. Porter, E. L., at Danville. Putnam, Robert, Brinkhaven. Putnam, W. S., at Brinkhaven. Reed, John G., at Jelloway. Scott, B, B., at Mt, Vernon. Shrontz, J. F., at Martinsburg. Shrontz, W. E., at Martinsburg. Singery, F. L., at Mt. Vernon, Stonehawker, W. W., at Bladensburg. Watson, D. D., at Fredericktown. Walker, C. D., at Gambier. Welker, G. D., at Gambier. Williams, L. L., at Mt. Vernon. Workman. I. S., at Mt. Vernon. THE KNOX COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. At a called meeting of the legalized practitioners of Knox county held in the basement of the Baptist church at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, on April 10, (17) 258 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. 1903, a temporary medical organization was effected by the election of Dr. W. \V. Pennell. chairman, and Dr. F. C. Larimore, secretary. On motion, Drs. Blair, Colville, Humbert and Lee were appointed a committee on constitution and by-laws. The next meeting was held April 24, 1903, when the following named physicians came forward, signed the constitution and by-laws and paid two dollars for their annual dues for 1903 : Drs. Larimore, Pennell, Colville, Blair, Lee Norrick, Arndt. Hyatt, Bradfield, Gray, Mahaffey, Humbert, Elev, Jefferson, Lewis, Ackerman, Deeley. Conrad, Pickard, Cosner, Russell. At the same meeting the following were elected officers of the society : President, R. W. Colville ; vice-president, G. D. Arndt ; secretary, H. W. Blair ; treasurer, W. H. Elev. The board of censors was made up as follows : W. W. Pennell, J. H. Norrick, E. J. Hyatt. Delegate, F. C. Larimore. The society is known as the Knox County Medical Society and it holds its meetings the second Friday in each month, except in the months of June, July and August, when they are omitted. At least once a year open meetings are held at which the general public are invited to attend and to take part in the program if they choose to. The officers serving at this time (the autumn of 1911) are : President, W. H. Eastman ; vice-president, H. W. Blair ; secretary, I. S. Workman; treasurer. J. H. Norrick. HOSPITALS OF MT. VERNON. There are now two creditable hospitals and sanitariums in Mt. Vernon, What is known as the Mount Vernon Hospital-Sanitarium was established in 1904 by U. S. Clymer, as a private institution. In the fall of 1906 it was incorporated by a stock company, which was dissolved in 1908. It was then taken over by L. C. Penn, who conducted it until September, 1911, when Dr. Charles E. Welch took hold of it and is making it a successful concern. Its capacity is about twelve patients. Both surgical and medical work is here carried on. Trained nurses and a training school for nurses is a part of the work of the institution. It is open to any school of practice and many of the city and county physicians bring patients here for treatment. Its location is ideal, being in a quiet section of the city on Thistle Ridge, No. 115 Hamtramck street. It is in the old John Cooper residence, later known as the Braddock place, and is owned by John Hawn. It is a three-story and basement structure, well planned for hospital uses. The grounds are ideal for pleasure. comfort and health renewing qualities. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 259 The Mount Vernon Medical and Surgical Sanitarium, at the corner of Sugar and Mulberry streets, Mt. Vernon, was established in 1906 by V. L, Fisher, as superintendent. They have built up an enviable reputation and have all the cases they have room for. This hospital was at first conducted out at the park and was there known as the College Springs Sanitarium, being run in connection with the Advent College out there. It was moved to the city in October, 1909. They here bought a large, handsome residence property at' the above-named streets and have a cottage to the east of the hospital and a medical and surgical office on High street. They conduct a training school for nurses and take what patients they can care for. They have thirty-two rooms, well-lighted and heated by both natural gas and electricity. Elevators convey people from one floor to another of the building, which has hot and cold water throughout. A large addition has been built to the original house. It is operated on the Battle Creek plan and the rates are reasonable. To do good is their motto. CHAPTER XIX. BANKS AND BANKING. Banking in Knox county dates back to the close of the war of 1812-14, when there was a great complaint of the scarcity of money all over the United States, especially in the western states, including Ohio. Hence it was suggested that there be issued what was called "currency." As early as December. 1814, a meeting was held, and articles of association for the organization of a bank to be styled the "Owl Creek Bank of Mount Vernon" were entered into, fixing the capital stock at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, divided into shares of fifty dollars each, payable in installments of not exceeding five dollars each, and appointing certain commissioners to open stock books. etc. Petitions were then presented the Legislature, praying for a charter, and this being denied them, they concluded to go ahead without any state sanction. April 10, 1816, the first meeting was held at the court house, at which meeting the following proceedings were had : "Agreeable to previous notice, there was a meeting in the court house on April T0. Jonathan Miller was called the chair, and Joseph Brown was appointed secretary. The following independent sentiments were set forth : "Resolved, that we have by the constitution of this state a full and fair right and privilege to have charters granted when we shall petition the legislative body of this state for that purpose. We, the undersigned, have complied with the requisitions of the constitution, and will continue to do so, without waiving our rights and privileges. "Therefore be it resolved, that we do form ourselves into a company for the purpose of establishing a hank in the town of Mt. Vernon, Knox county,. "Resolved, that the following named gentlemen be appointed managers of said bank and to draft articles of association and by-laws for the future government of the company, viz : James Smith, William Mitchell, M. Merritt, Abraham Darling, Hosmer Curtis, John Warden, Gilman Bryant, Jonathan Miller, L. S. Stillman, Benjamin Martin, Joseph Brown, John Green and Jacob Young." OWL CREEK BANK. After the above named meeting and resolution, the articles of association were drafted and they numbered twenty in all. Among these provisions KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 261 may here be named : Article first, "The capital stock of the company shall be two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, current money of the United States. with the privilege of extending it to five hundred thousand dollars," The bank was to commence as soon as twenty-five thousand dollars was subscribed. Article sixth provided that the affairs of the bank should be conducted by thirteen directors (the "unlucky number," as it proved), a president and cashier. James Smith was elected president and L. S. Stillman, cashier. Having been refused a state charter, the association went ahead, trusting to the honor. honesty and integrity of its borrowers, they pledging themselves to waive all rights the laws might give them. Every borrower was required to sign the following oath before some qualified justice of the peace : "Before me, A. B., a justice of the peace for the county of aforesaid, came C. D., who before me being duly sworn and saith, that, whereas he has thrown a note into the Owl Creek Bank of Mt. Vernon for discount ; saith, that if discounted, he will take no advantage of any statute law of this state; and farther this deponent saith not." Under these conditions the bank commenced doing business, and in March, 1817. it declared a dividend of six per cent. The stockholders were all jubilant and things went merry so long as the bank had money to loan. But one day its funds ran low, it had no cash, notes became due and an effort was made to collect them. Then came the "hard times." People were suddenly convinced of the deep sin and crime of fostering an unchartered bank. Samuel Williams, a hotel keeper of Mansfield, had borrowed five hundred dollars, and after taking his oath that he "would not take advantage of the law," when these notes were tendered him for hotel bills, refused them, and freely used the columns of the newspapers to destroy this banking house that had befriended him when in need. In such times of evil talk what could the bank do but go down ? But suddenly a few whole-souled men came in to rescue the bank. The number of stockholders were never known, by reason of mutilation of the books which took place pending a suit at law between Luke Walpole and some of the stockholders. One night the bank was entered and a large box containing the hooks and papers was carried away. Later the box was found in the hazel brush, east of town, broken open, the books and papers scattered, with several of the names of stockholders obliterated. When once carried through the courts, the papers in the case, all labeled "The Owl Creek Bank Case," would fill a large volume. The building in which this Knox county's first banking institution was kept was a covered log house that stood where later the hardware store of James Rodgers stood ; it was about twenty feet square, contained two rooms, with 262 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. doors and windows protected with large-headed nails. These were driven in so thick that no one could saw or cut their way into the bank, it was believed. The bank building was painted fire red and was conspicuous indeed. The books and list of stockholders having been partly destroyed, the case assumed one of great difficulty. Finally, Henry B. Curtis was appointed master commissioner, and he, after a thorough examination, in September, 1837, made a report which was published in the newspapers. The supreme court in September that year approved this report, by which it appeared that $26,796.20 was required to be raised to meet and discharge the present unpaid indebtedness of the bank. The liabilities of the stockholders being shown, it was ordered that said sums, as assessed by said master commissioner, be paid by said parties to him, but the cause was continued on some law point. Other commissioners were appointed. One was Mr. Hunter, in 1840, who made a final report, showing that there was still $17,457 short of paying out the amounts due. It was continued along in the courts until 1859, when in June of that year an entry was made on the journal that the case was ended at last, by the payment of a sufficient sum to liquidate all outstanding indebtedness. The receiver's final report has these among other befitting words concerning this celebrated bank case in Knox county : "In taking leave of this case, which for more than thirty years has occupied a conspicuous place on the docket of this court, and in closing the trust, which for more than twenty years has been confided to the undersigned, he takes leave to congratulate the court on the final adjustment of the whole matter, and to express his profound thanks for the confidence so long continued, without which the vexed, complex and protracted labors of the case would have been rendered much more onerous, and the results obtained for less satisfactory. "To the parties (many of the original of whom have departed this life since the commencement of this suit), and to their heirs, the full record of this case, while it may recall some reminiscences of an unfortunate enterprise, and its calamitous results, will also remind them of many incidents and profitable lessons in the great school of experience, and be, for all time to come, the veritable history of the Owl Creek Bank of Mount Vernon." It is related of this bank that its bills and stationery all carried the picture of a fine, large owl, and when the bank was in financial troubles, one of its enemies killed a large owl and bringing it to the desk of the hank, exclaimed, "There d___ you, we have killed your president!" Whatever may have been the outcome, it was not the intention of the founders of this bank to defraud any living being, and had they been treated right by their supposed hackers and friends, the bank would not have failed. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 263 Yet it was presumptuous on their part to not listen to the state authorities, but they went ahead "unchartered" and the reader has seen the result, Again, remainer banking laws were not then what they are today in the United States. The present is a superior system and but few go wrong, under state and government oversight. KNOX COUNTY NATIONAL BANK. The Knox County National Bank was originally organized in 1847 as the Knox County Bank, a branch of the State Bank of Ohio, with Henry B, Curtis, J, W. Russell, Columbus Delano, Jesse B. Thomas and Sewall Grey directors ; Henry B. Curtis, president. In 1865, soon after the national banking act went into force, this institution changed over to that new and better system, assuming the name of the Knox County National Bank, whose capital in 1880 was one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and was counted as among the best institutions in Knox county. At present it is known as the New Knox County National Bank, owing to the fact that the red tape of the government requires a change of name with the re-issue of a bank charter, this bank now working under its second charter. FIRST NATIONAL BANK, The First National Bank was organized in April, 1862, as the Bank of Mt. 'Vernon, J. W. Russell, president ; Columbus Delano, Matthew Thompson, Walter H. Smith, F. D. Sturges, directors. The capital was one hundred thousand dollars. Electing to do business under the provisions of the national bank act, it changed its name to that of the First National Bank. After the retirement of Dr. Russell, Columbus Delano was made president. In 1880 it was working under a fifty thousand dollar capital. It began as a national bank in 1865. Its present capital is $50,000; deposits are $290,000; loans, $135.- 000 ; undivided profits, $6,000. Its officers are : H. H. Greer, president ; Benjamin Ames, vice-president : S. \V. Alsdorf, cashier. It should be added that this banking house succeeded the private bank of Russell, Sturgess & Company, established in 1853, by Dr. J. W. Russell and Fred D. Sturgess, who conducted it successfully until it was reorganized. The statement of the First National Bank of Mt. Vernon for September 1, 1911, shows the loans and discounts to be $152,540: bonds, securities, etc., $76,600 ; capital stock, $50,000 ; national bank notes, $37,500 individual deposits subject to check, $251,109: demand certificates, $53,138. This makes the resources and liabilities, all told, as per statement, $413,083. 264 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. KNOX COUNTY SAVINGS BANK. The Knox County Savings Bank, at Mt. Vernon, was established in 1873 and now has a capital of $50,000, with S. H. Israel, cashier, and D. B. Herron, assistant cashier. The building, which is on the west side of the public square, is owned by S. H. Israel, individually. This solid financial institution was established by Jared Sperry, 0. M. Arnold, John D. Thompson, Alexander Cassil, Thomas Oldbert and Samuel Israel, who started on a $25,000 cash capital and now its capital and surplus amounts to $100,000; undivided profits are $30,000. No bank in the county stands higher than does this one. Its original officers, back in 1873, were : Jared Sperry, president : Samuel Israel, vice-president ; S. H. Israel, cashier, The June, 1911, statement of this banking concern showed their resources and liabilities to amount to $1,011,343.72. Of the resources, $117,- 510 were realty loans; other loans and discounts amounted to $224,166; bank notes issued, $57,000. Of the liabilities, it may be said that the items include time certificates of deposit, $81,976 ; deposits, $604,810, showing the confidence with which the bank is held by the citizens of Knox county. COMMERCIAL AND SAVINGS BANK CO. The First National Bank of Buckeye City was organized March 8, 1905, with a capital of $25,000. Its officers were : E. B. Rice, president; L. F, Colopy, vice-president ; H. G. Hammond, cashier. May 13, 1906, it was changed into a state bank, called the Commercial and Savings Bank Company, its present title. It retained its old capital and its present officers are : E. B. Rice, president ; N. H. Hunter, vice-president ; H. S. Workman, cashier. Its record of growth is as follows : From 1905 to 1911 its deposits increased from $18,000 to $62,000 and its total resources increased from $46,000 in 1905 to $87,000 in 1911. This bank owns its own neat, spacious brick building, which with furniture and fixtures, is valued at $8,000 ; it is located on Bank and Ross streets. The stockholders now number over thirty. The directors are : E. B. Rice, N. H. Hunter, D. S. Workman, John Gardner, Joseph H. Colopy, Joseph L, Hammond and Stephen Blugaugh. DANVILLE BANK. At Danville the banking interests are in the hands of a private banking house of unquestioned solidity, the Danville Bank, with Albert J. Wolfe as KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 265 proprietor and A. G. Watson as cashier, established in 1884, The banking of the place is in safe, conservative hands and meets every requirement of the business men of Danville. FIRST NATIONAL BANK, CENTERBURG. The First National Bank of Centerburg was organized in 1906 and has a capital of $25,000. Its deposits are about $65,000 and its loans about $60,000. T. D. Updike is president and L. M. Dolly, vice-president. HOWARD SAVINGS BANK. The Howard Savings Bank, located at the village of Howard, was established in 1907 as a state bank, with a capital of $25,000 and it is the same amount at this date. The first as well as the present officers are E. A. Wolfe, president ; John F. Gardner, vice-president ; C. D. Horn, cashier. This bank leased the building it occupies. It has the confidence of the people who have banking transactions in Howard township and village and is steadily increasing its business. CENTERBURG SAVINGS BANK. The Centerburg Savings Bank was organized as a private banking house in August, 1892, with M. Burlalinger, president ; M. Cook, cashier. In March, 1906, it was organized into a stock hank known by its present name, the Centerburg Savings Bank, with a capital of $40,000, the same as now carried, The 1911 officers are : C. H. Bishop, president ; C. W. Coe, vice-president: Harry Bell, cashier: Ralph Ramey, assistant. The beautiful bank building was erected in 1904. The present capital is $40,000 ; surplus and undivided profits, $8,000; deposits about $145,000; loans, $13 5,000. There are about fifty stockholders in this bank. The following are the directors : Mark Cook, C. H. Bishop, M. Burr Talmage, C. W. Coe, William M. Carlisle, J. D. Vail, George M. Shaffer, Harry Bell. FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF FREDERICKTOWN. First National Bank of Fredericktown was established February 7, 1901. The organizers were : William Irvine, William Wyker, J. N. Braddock, R. G. McClelland, C. D. Swetland, T. H. Dickey. The first and present capital is $25,000. The present (1911) officers are : J. N. Braddock, president ; R. G. McClelland, vice-president ; M. P. H0wes, cashier. 266 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. This bank owns the building formerly known as the Wagner Hotel and was thoroughly remodeled and a part of the building is used for the Bank Hotel, a first-class house. The bank is on the first floor, in the corner of the block, The last statement shows the institution to have had $160,000 in deposits, and $90,000 in loans. The private bank of Dan Struble & Son of Fredericktown was established in 1870, by Dan Struhle, on a $25,000 capital and the same is carried today. This is a safe, conservative banking concern and has the confidence of all the community. At Brinkhaven there was a bank of a few years duration, but in about 1910 it went down, to the disgust of the entire community, many of whom innocently lost large amounts considering the size of the bank. At Gambier also the banking business became a sad failure, after operating from 1898 to 1911, on a capital of $25,000. Its president was C. N. W. Yank and vice-president, H. W. Jones. The pretty concrete building is all that remains as a monument to loose methods and poor management upon the part of those in charge there. Many lost much money, as the amount paid back to depositors thus far, October 7, 1911, was only twenty per cent. Widows and poor Civil war veterans, with well-to-do farmers, lost eighty per cent. of all deposited there. The feeling was hitter against the management of this concern. At Mt. Vernon in 1906 was established a banking concern known as the Guarantee Savings Bank and Trust Company, operating under a $25,000 capital, with Frank W. Owens, president, and William Walsh, vice-president. This bank, with a large name in way of "guarantee" and "trust," only survived until in 1911, when it failed and was closed up. BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS. At the thriving town of Centerburg there is one of the largest building and loan associations in Ohio. It is the Centerburg Building & Loan Association, established in 1894, and its dividends have never been less than six per cent. It is prompt, conservative and safe. Its present capital is one million five hundred thousand dollars. Its officers are: C. W. Coe, president H. C. Smith, vice-president: C. H. Bishop, secretary Harry Bell, treasurer. The directors are: C. H. Bishop, J. B. Wilson, Homer C. Smith, C. W. Coe, R. B, Bishop, Harry Bell, J. C. Coe. It has grown from $11,000 assets in 1895 to $772,869 in 1911. This institution is known and patronized all over Ohio and stands as a wonder in the line of building and loan institutions in the central West. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 267 The city of Mt. Vernon has three well managed building and loan concerns, the Knox Building and Loan Company, the Home Building and Loan Company and the Citizens Building, Loan and Savings Association. The Knox Building and Loan Company was organized December 11, 1897, with W. P. Bogardus, president, and C. F, Colville, secretary. The company has a capital of $500,000 and is doing a fine business. Its officers are : W. P. Bogardus, president ; A. F. Stauffer, vice-president ; C. F. Colville, secretary ; Miss Jean Starr, assistant secretary, The Home Building and Loan Company was organized in April, 1883, by John D. Thompson, Frank L. Fairchild, William Banning, Lucian P. Holbrook and C. A. Merriman, as incorporators. The present (1911) officers are : John W. Ewalt, president ; A. R. Sipe, vice-president ; S. H. Israel, treasurer ; B. M. Allen, secretary ; R. M. Greer, attorney. Of the original board of directors, only F. L. Fairchild and William Banning survive on the board. This institution has helped along and provided means with which to erect more than a thousand residences in Mt, Vernon, a record to be proud of, The Citizens Building, Loan & Savings Association of Mt. Vernon was organized in July, 1907, with a capital of $300,000, same as now carried on with. Their offices are over the First National Bank and the present officers are : William H. Smith, president ; W. A. Hosack, secretary ; William Welsh, treasurer ; Thomas Canning, vice-president. CHAPTER XX. CITY OF MOUNT VERNON. There were three towns "having a local habitation" in Knox county prior to its organization, Clinton, Mt. Vernon and Fredericktown, none of which had advanced very far towards being places of importance. Clinton was laid out by Samuel H. Smith, in 1804; Mt. Vernon in 1805 by Messrs. Benjamin Butler, Thomas B. Patterson and Joseph Walker, and Fredericktown in 1807, by John Kerr, who named the place "Frederick," after his old home in Maryland. Mt. Vernon, as has been observed in previous chapters, became the county seat, first by the organizing act of the Legislature as a "temporary seat of justice" and February 9, 1908, commissioners were appointed to locate a permanent county seat, and, as has been shown, Mt. Vernon won out as against Clinton, the only real competitor. One of the early settlers having emigrated from Virginia and loved the name of Mount Vernon, where the remains of George Washington were entombed, at. his suggestion this place in the wilds of Ohio received the same name, and that without much opposition, for who in all broad America could object to it or furnish a more appropriate name for the county seat town of Knox county? The present beautiful scenes in and about Mt. Vernon are, indeed, in marked contrast to the scenes of 1805, when the entire tract of land was covered with a dense forest, with the waters of Owl creek flowing peacefully on toward the far-off sea, through the channel of the majestic Kokosing river, with which it forms junction within the limits of the city. All was wild and wilderness-like to the eyes of the few pioneers. Today there are but few, if any, cities within the borders of Ohio that surpass Mt. Vernon for its beauty and the enchanting panorama of its environments, viewing the scenes from any given direction, The forests have all disappeared ; the streets, which are paved, are broad and beautified by shade trees ; the residences are of the most modern, imposing style of architecture and its people are prosperous and happy. After the question of Mt. Vernon being the permanent county seat was settled, Clinton began to wane. Mt. Vernon went ahead, while Clinton con- KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 269 tinued but a few years longer as a place of business, and after the departure of its chief worker to other parts its people moved to Mt. Vernon, Fredericktown and elsewhere, and not one of the old inhabitants remained in 1876 to tell the story how nobly the first settlers there had fought, but failed, to win the prize, and were it not now for historic pages and old musty, dusty newspaper files, its history would be forever lost. EARLY IMPROVEMENTS AT MT. VERNON. In 1813 there were in the village but few houses on what is now busy Main street. The greater part of the place was on West Gambier street, between Main street and the railroad. Here the business of the town was carried on, and way down near the street's end lived Joseph Walker, in a large two-story, yellow painted frame house, the finest in town. The school house was the first brick building in Mt. Vernon. It stood on Mulberry street, southeast of the present high school. N. N. Hill related about how he made sugar one spring in the lower part of town, there being then quite a sugar grove in the lower part of what is now Mt. Vernon city. The first tavern, Benjamin Butler's, stood near the corner of Gambier and Main streets and during the war of 1812 this building was turned into a block-house and made a place of safety from invasions of Indians, should any appear on the scene. After the war ended it was resumed as a hotel and was known as "the war office," for there had been so many fights there between townsmen and strangers. The old Indian chief, Armstrong, from Greentown, frequently came here and as frequently imbibed too freely and became beastly drunk on not a few occasions. Once while Abe Emmett was drilling his company of militia, Armstrong greatly annoyed them, and after telling him many times to keep out of the way of the men, Emmett finally knocked the chief down. It had its desired effect, but the Indian never forgot it. Sometime afterwards, Armstrong, accompanied by three other Indians, met Emmett and Riverius Newell in the woods, when Armstrong asked, "Is your name Emmis?" "Yes, sir, my name is Emmett." "What for you fight Indian?" said the old chief. "Because you kept getting in my way." "You fight Indian now ?" said the chief, making a motion to draw his tomahawk. "Yes !" replied Emmett, with an oath, and immediately drew his tomahawk, while Newell cocked his gun and brought it to bear upon one of the other Indians. This determined attitude not being relished by the Indians. a truce was called and the parties separated. When Butler moved to his farm his tavern passed to other hands, and among the landlords who succeeded him are now recalled David Ash and John 270 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. Davidson, both Marylanders. Ash was very much of a gentleman and continued to conduct the hotel for a number of years. The second tavern in town was a log house on Main street near where in later years stood the N. N. Hill brick business house. John Haron was proprietor. He turned his hotel over to his son-in-law, Gottlieb Zimmerman. The sign boards of these pioneer inns, or taverns, as generally styled, were extremely large and sought to contain some flashy, attractive name. This one carried the full-sized portrait of Gen. Anthony Wayne. The third tavern was a frame building on Main street where Warner Miller kept a store many years. It was two stories high and painted white and was called the Green Tree Tavern, having a green tree painted on its huge sign which swung in front, creaking in the wind. This hotel was kept by Mordecai Vore, who sold it to Judge Eli Miller, who sold to Charles Timberlake. Constance Barney came next to conduct this inn, and alsO ran the first stage line from Mt. Vernon to Sandusky. Others were landlords there, but all have long since gone from earth. The first brick hotel in Mt. Vernon was built by T. \V. Rogers, who occupied it some years as a private residence, then changed it to a hotel. It became very popular. Its first landlord was Killin Winne. It had been preceded by a frame building. This hotel stood on the southwest corner of Main street and the public square. Later A. Wolfe erected his large business block on this lot. In 1840 the "Lybrand House" was erected on the west side of Main, between Front and Gambier streets ; in 1880 this was owned by Jerome Rowley, but changed hands often. The Curtis House. on the southeast corner of the square, was erected in 1876 by Henry B. Curtis and it is now (191 I) still the leading commercial hotel of Mt. Vernon. Mt. Vernon was provided with its first illuminating gas by the organizing of a company in 1857, the incorporators being John Ramsey, judge Eli Miller, Henry B. Curtis and others. The capital stock was thirty-five thousand dollars. About 18c8, N. H. Hill and Columbus Delano purchased a controlling interest and eight miles of piping was laid for the use of the city. This was artificial gas, and was done away with when natural gas was piped into the city. A postoffice was established in 1810 and Gilman Bryant was appointed postmaster. Gilman Bryant, the postmaster just mentioned, also conducted the first store here. It was located on Main and Gambier streets, on lots later occupied by the Mead store building. Bryant and Dr. Burr were the two earliest merchants and were prominent citizens in the laying of the founda- KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 271 tion stones to Mt. Vernon's future prosperity. At that day the larger portion of the eastern part of the city was in thick hazel brush and timber. There were not to exceed a dozen houses on Main street, north from the public square. About this time the merchants here were summed up as follows : Burr & Bryant, John Moody, Daniel S. Norton, Eli Miller, Samuel Mott, J. B. Rogers and Anthony Banning. All did an excellent business, but nearly all was carried on by an exchange plan, there being but little money in the country. Gilman Bryant was later opposite the Knox County Bank's old stand, under the Curtis house, and below Bryant were three or four stores. In the spring of 1814 Dr. Burge offered his services as physician and had a flaming notice in the Ohio Register, the pioneer newspaper here. The newspaper in 1814 carried this notice : "Two hundred bushels of wheat, to be delivered at William Douglas' mill, during the month of August next." August, 1814, James Selby and Samuel Selby advertise themselves as the first hatters in the new town. Robert Irvine opened a drug store in Mt. Vernon in June, 1815. Miss Fulton started the first millinery shop here in May. 1816, at H, Curtis', second door from the old court house. The "Traveler's Rest," a hotel, was opened in 1816 and flourished several years. In July, 1816, there was an attempt to incorporate Mt. Vernon through petitioning the Legislature at its next session. Nothing ever came of this effort to put on city style: In 1817 there were but twenty-two chartered banks in Ohio and the Owl Creek Bank of Mt. Vernon (unchartered) was running at that date. July 4, 1814, at the ending months of the war of 1812-14, the war spirit was high. The flag of our country ("Old Glory") was raised near pioneer Zebulon Ashley's residence, on a liberty pole sixty-eight feet in height. A grand Fourth of July celebration was held and twenty toasts were drank. all of which partook of the military spirit of those days. Mt. Vernon was originally platted and filed for record July 16, 1805, by Messrs. Butler, Patterson and Bell. Fifty-five years later (1860) the reports show the city had sixty-one industrial institutions established and the value of products for that year amounted to $704,500. Its equalized assessed valuation was then (according to the state board) $723,329, which only included its town lot property. The population had grown from a mere handful in 1805, to 4,147 in 1860. It was at that date divided into four wards. The number of colored people was then forty-six. It is now three hundred. 272 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. The Clinton faction, who had lost out in the county-seat contest in 1808, undertook to have the seat of justice relocated and took the matter to the Legislature, but all to no purpose—the work of the locating commissioners was counted valid, notwithstanding some questionable things connected therewith, as some of the community believed. One of the Mt. Vernon townsite proprietors, or promulgators, as well as a county-seat contest fighter, also had the distinction of being the father of the first white child born on the plat it was his son, Joseph Butler, born October 26, 1806. The father, Benjamin Butler, died at New Castle, Ohio, in 1887, aged ninety-six years, while the son, it is believed, died at the same place in the eighties. Of the many changes in the streets and the surface of the same, with the passing of the years, let it be known that in an early day the public square was sadly turned up toward the setting sun. On the east side of Main street it had been taken off about twenty feet. On the west side, where the town cistern was constructed in 1880, it was filled up fully fifteen feet. About 1879 when workmen were digging a pit for coal, they cut through no less than three distinct sidewalks, the first one being met with no less than three feet below the surface. When Gilman Bryant built the old market house, in 1832, his contract was to fill in twelve feet before he laid the pavement. This only gives the present generation an idea that the changes have been great since Mt. Vernon was first platted and the contrast is marked between the old city and that of today, with its beautified streets and paved alleys and parked public square, with its ever-flowing fountain of sparkling water, its two drinking fountains and the imposing soldiers' monument in the center of the square. In 1832 a market house was built for the town by Gilman Bryant. It stood near the old court house at the square and served many years. POSTOFFICE HISTORY. A postoffice was established at Mt. Vernon and Gilman Bryant appointed postmaster December 9, 1809. The office was kept in the original store of the town, that of Mr. Bryant's. His store stood at the southwest corner of Gambier and Main streets, on the lots for many years occupied by the Mead store. At that day it was very swampy and muddy at that point, hence the building stood on piling many years and these stilts or piling timbers were about six feet above the common level of the streets. Bryant kept the office until 1818. The next location for the office was at the corner of Main and Vine streets, or rather one door to the north of that number, the national bank now being on the corner lot, just to the south of where the office stood. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 273 The many changes in location being immaterial to this generation, it may be recorded that the office was removed to its present place in Masonic Temple building, in September, 1897. The sixth postmaster appointed was Benjamin F. Smith, who was chosen by the people, who petitioned the department, after the following exciting contest : A wire was stretched between two trees, quite high, and the man who could throw a coon's tail over the wire was considered qualified for the office of postmaster at Mt. Vernon. A man named Jones was the first to throw the coon's tail over the wire; he accomplished the feat by buying a few shot of a neighbor, and attaching them to the tail, thus giving it weight. Jones did not care for the office, but gave it over to his friend, Benjamin F. Smith, the son of James Smith, a Methodist preacher and justice of the peace for many years. It may be said that the postoffice was kept in the near neighborhood of the corner of Vine and Main streets for a half century. The subjoined is a list of all postmasters having served in this postoffice, the same having been carefully compiled and verified by the department at Washington, by William Silcott, a local historian of accurate and painstaking methods, who has materially aided in various ways in the compilation of this work : Gilman Bryant, appointed December, 1809, served eight years ; Alexander Elliott, appointed January, 1818, served six years, ten months ; James Mc-Gibney, appointed November, 1824, served three years ; Eli Miller, appointed December 27, 1827, served three years, seven months ; Isaac Hadley, appointed August, 1831, served nine years, eleven months ; Benjamin F. Smith, appointed July, 1841, served two years and two months ; William H. Whitton, appointed September, 1843, served four years, six months ; Daniel McDowell, appointed April. 1848, served eleven months ; Johnston Elliott, appointed March, 1849, served four years ; Frederick J. Zimmerman, appointed March, 1853, served four years ; William J. Morton, appointed April, 1857, served three years and eleven months ; C. Sherman Pile, appointed March, 1861, served five years, four months ; William H. Mefford, appointed August, 1862, served eight months ; Maria L. Hood, appointed May, 1867, served two years ; Noah Boynton, appointed May, 1869, served four years, ten months ; George B. White, appointed April, 1874, served eight years, one month ; John G. Stevenson, appointed May, 1882, served four years, two months ; John D. Thompson, appointed July. 1886, served three years, four months ; James Israel, appointed December, 1889, served four years ; Charles E. Critchfield, appointed January, 1894, served four years ; George E. Canning, appointed February 5, 1898, served ten years, three months : Sheridan G. Dowds, appointed May 17, 1908, still serving. (18) 274 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. The above shows that the average length of time which the postmasters in Mt. Vernon have held the office is four years, four months and sixteen days. Rates of postage were then as follows : On single letters, for any distance not exceeding thirty miles, six cents ; over thirty, and not over eighty miles, ten cents; over eighty and not over one hundred and fifty, twelve and one-half cents ; over four hundred miles, twenty-five cents. This was from 1809 to about 1840, then a trifle lower. Mt. Vernon was made a free delivery station among the Ohio postoffices on March 1, 1891. The first carriers were Robert F, Blythe, W. D. Bell and Ed C, Mahaffey. There are now seven carriers, as follows : Ed C. Mahaffey, W. D. Bell, Guy H. Stimmel, Fred S. Craig, H. H Hildebrand, Clarence W, Kost and Edison J. Breece. The balance of the office force in the autumn of 1911 were the following persons : Sheridan G. Dowds, postmaster; Charles C. Dowds, assistant postmaster; R. Melvin Davis, postal money savings and money order departments ; Alfred C. Coile, general delivery ; Sumner S. Pierce, mailing division; John C, Wood, same ; Noble E. Weir, city distributer; Frank P. Haymes, mail messenger. There are now five mails each way by rail daily. Amount of business transacted, other than money order business, in the year ending June 30, 1911, was twenty-seven thousand dollars. The postal savings deposit system went into effect here July 15, 1911. The office has had no defaulters or robberies. There are now eight rural routes from Mt. Vernon office. The first four were installed November 15, 1900; the average route's length is twenty-five miles. MUNICIPAL HISTORY. Mt. Vernon was made a "town" incorporation by act of the Legislature, dated February 26, 1845, the same being entitled : "An Act to Incorporate the Town of Mt. Vernon, in Knox County," The only special provisions of such legislative act were the following: "That all grounds hereafter laid out and recorded as town lots, or additions to said town by name or otherwise, if contiguous thereto, shall, from the time of being recorded, be included within the corporate limits of said town and constitute a part thereof," The same act also divided the town into five wards and prescribed the manner of holding the first election and named the offices to be filled, Eight years later, 1853, the Legislature enabled the town to become a "city of the second class."