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CHAPTER VI.
CIVIL HISTORY.
In the winter of 1834 the citizens of Warren sought corporate powers and privileges under the laws of Ohio. Their petition to the Legislature was granted March 3d, by an enactment which defined the village limits as follows :
Beginning at a point one hundred and sixty rods due west of the center of the public square, thence running north one hundred and sixty rods, thence east three hundred and twenty rods, thence south three hundred and twenty rods, thence west three hundred and twenty rods, thence north to the place of beginning.
It will be seen that these limits embraced an area one-half mile square.
Municipal government was formally organized on the 5th of April by the election of officers. The election was held at the court-house and presided over by Liberty Reymond and Henry Lane ; Lyman Potter was clerk. The following officers were elected: George Parsons, mayor; Edward Spear, recorder; Charles White, Charles Smith, John Roberts, A. W. Porter, Walter King, Asahel Adams, and Richard Iddings, trustees ; George Mygatt, marshal ; and Samuel Chesney, treasurer. It appears from the records that the first measures considered by the council related to the park, which had not yet become much of an ornament to the town. It was resolved to sell to the highest . bidder the use of the park for " mowing land, but not to be used for pasture," for the term of one year. The fences, gates, trees, etc., were to be taken care of by the purchaser. The records of April 19th show that Mark Wescott was the purchaser of the mowing privilege, his bid being $12 ; pretty high rent for a tract so small, leaving out of account the fact that it was exposed to the boys.
In 1868 the corporate limits were enlarged, making each side of the square five hundred
PICTURE OF REV. JOSEPH MARVIN
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and twenty-rods, having the center of the park kr its tenter.
The municipal council since 1834 has been composed as follows :
1835----George Parsons, mayor; Edward Spear, recorder; Walter King, Charles White, Asahel Adams, Daniel Gilbert, Richard Iddings, and Ruts P. Spalding, trustees.
1836--Edward Spear, mayor; Azor Abell, recorder; Frederick Kinsman, Zalmon Fitch, Garry Lewis, Charles Smith, Horace Howard, Daniel Gilbert, and Eben Blachley, trustees.
1837—George Parsons, mayor; Charles Stevens, recorder; Horace Howard, Walter King, John Harsh, Liberty Raymond, James Gibson, David 'rod, and George Brewster, trustees.
1838—David Tod, mayor.; James Hoyt, recorder; George Hapgood, Walter King, George Austin, Liberty Raymond, John Crowell, Daniel McCleery, and John Harsh, trustees.
1839—John Crowell, mayor ; George Tayler, recorder; Liberty Raymond, Daniel Gilbert, Charles White, Daniel McCleery, Frederick Kinsman, Richard Iddings, and James L. Van Gorder, trustees.
1840—Alexander McConnell, mayor ; George Tayler, recorder; Heman R. Harmon, Samuel Chesney, Charles Stevens, William McFarland, Azor Abell, Frederick Kinsman, and Lewis J. lddings, trustees.
1841— Alexander McConnell, mayor ; William N. Porter, recorder; Benjamin Stevens, John Brown, Walter King, Augustus Greater, David Ernst, James Hoyt, and William Williams, trustees.
1842--Jonathan Ingersoll, mayor; W. F. Porter, recorder ; John Brown, Frederick Kinsman, Robert M. Miller, David Ernst, Zalmon Fitch, Albert VanGorder, and John Hutchins, trustees.
1843—Frederick Kinsman, mayor; George Hapgood, recorder; Benjamin Stevens, Azor Abell, J. L. VanGorder, David Hitchcock, George R. Brewster, Charles Pease, Lewis Hoyt, trustees.
1844—Samuel Quinby, mayor; Comfort M. Patch, recorder; John R. Canfield, David Hitchcock, Edward E. Hoyt, Edward H. Allison, He- man R. Harmon, W. N. Porter, and James Scott, trustees.
1845—James Hoyt, mayor; Comfort M. Patch, recorder ; Edward Spear, Alanson Camp, John B. Canfield, Charles Messenger, David Hitchcock, Heman Canfield, Zalmon Fitch, second, Sullivan D. Harris, trustees.
1846—James Hoyt, mayor; George Hapgood, recorder; Freeman Howard, S. D. Harris, 0. H. Patch, Anthony Luke, J. B. Canfield, C. Messenger, David Hitchcock, Albert Van Gorder, trustees.
1847—James Hoyt, mayor ; Gecrge Hapgood, recorder; Zalmon Fitch, B. R. Jameson, Charles Messenger, Joseph Perkins, Albert Van Gorder, 0. H. Patch, A. Luke, F. Howard, J. B. Canfield, trustees.
1848 —James Hoyt, mayor; George Hap good, recorder; Samuel Quinby, E. If. Allison, Anthony Luke, George Tayler, Zalmon Fitch, B. P. Jameson, Jacob Perkins, and C. Messenger trustees.
1849—Oliver H. Patch, mayor ; Junius Dana, recorder; Henry Stiles, Azor Abell, M. B. Tayler, John Brindle, E. H. Allison, and George Tayler, trustees.
1850—George F. Brown, mayor; D. D. Belden, recorder; Charles Howard, Joseph Perkins, L. S. Kibbee, James Hoyt, John Brindle, Henry Stiles, Azor Abell, and M. B. Taylor, trustees.
1851—George F. Brown, mayor; D. D. Belden, recorder; Charles Howard, Henry Stiles, Joseph Perkins, D. B. Gilmore, L. S. Kibbee, E. H. Allison, James Hoyt, and Willliam H. Weeks, trustees.
1852—John L. Weeks, mayor; Azor Abell, recorder; Henry Weeks, D. B. Gilmore, R. S. Parks, E. H. Allison, Charles Howard, G. 0. Griswold, J. S. Kibbee, and George Hapgood, trustees.
1853—John S. Weeks, mayor; B. N. Robbins, recorder; Charles Howard, David B. Gilmore, R. S. Parks, John S. Kibbee, Giles 0. Griswold, trustees.
1854—John L. Weeks, mayor; B. N. Robbins, recorder; G. 0. Griswold, Zalmon Fitch, William G. Darley, C. M. Patch, and C. R. Wisell, trustees.
1855—E. W. Weir, mayor; Henry B. Reeves, recorder; Zalmon Fitch, C. M. Patch, Samuel Quinby, William Williams, and Edward Spear, Jr., trustees.
1856—R. W. Ratcliff, mayor; C. M. Patch, recorder; Edward Spear, Jr., George 0. Griswold,
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Lewis J. Iddings, James G. Brooks, and R. S. Parks, trustees.
1857—T. J. McLain, mayor; C. M. Patch, recorder; Daniel H. Warren, Lewis Hoyt, Cornelius Maser, A. Wentz, and Tames G. Brooks, trustees.
1858—T. J. McLain, mayor; George N. Hap- good, recorder; E. H. Allison, James G. Brooks, Lewis Hoyt, R. A. A. Baldwin, and C. C. McNutt, trustees.
1859—John M. Stull, mayor; G. N. Hap- good, recorder; C. B. Darling, J. C. Johnson, A. VanGorder, C. R. Hunt, and R. W. Ratcliff, trustees.
1860—C. W. Smith, mayor; G. N. Hap- good, recorder; C. R. Hunt, A. VanGorder, R. W. Ratcliff, C. B. Darling, and B. P. Jameson, trustees.
1861—G. L Wood, mayor; G. N. Hapgood, recorder;. C. R. Hunt, B. P. Jameson, C. B. Darling, A. VanGorder, Samuel Quinby, Louis Hoyt, trustees.
1862—A. B. Lyman, mayor; G. N. Hapgood, recorder; John R. Woods, G. T. Townsend, James G. Brooks, Horace Stevens, W. D. Hall, trustees.
1863—A. D. Webb, mayor; G. N. Hapgood, recorder; Albert Wheeler, J. R. Woods, Horace Stevens, J. G. Brooks, and Benjamin Cranage, trustees.
1864—Almon D. Webb, mayor; G. N. Hapgood, recorder; James G. Brooks, Albert Wheeler, Albert VanGorder, G. T. Townsend, W. B. Gorton, trustees.
1865—Almon D. Webb, mayor; T. J. McLain, Jr., recorder; Fred Kinsman, R. S. Parks, J. G. Brooks, W. B. Gorton, and I. N. Dawson, trustees.
1866—John L. Weeks, mayor; Henry H. Townsend, recorder, Fred Kinsman, W. B. Gorton, I. N. Dawson, R. S. Parks, and James G. Brooks, trustees.
1867—I. N. Dawson, mayor; H. H. Townsend, recorder; Fred Kinsman, J. G. Brooks, L. J. Hoyt, T. J. McLain, and John Anderson, trustees.
1867—I: N. Dawson, mayor; H. H. Townsend, recorder; F. Kinsman, I. G. Brooks, L. J. Hoyt, T. J. McLain, John Anderson, trustees.
1868—I. N. Dawson, mayor; H. H. Townsend, recorder; F. Kinsman, J. J. Gillmer, A.
Wheeler, A. Truesdell, H. B. Perkins, trustees. In 1869 Warren became a city, and was divided into three wards.
1869—*I. N. Dawson, mayor ; E. W. Hoyt, clerk; Charles R. Hunt, Alonzo Truesdell, C. C. McNutt, J. J. Gillmer, Henry J. Lane, and Albert Watson, council.
1870—B. P. Jameson, A. Truesdell, James Hoyt, H. H. Lane, C. C. McNutt, and Albert Watson, council.
1871—I. N. Dawson, mayor; E. E. Hoyt, clerk; Albert Wheeler, Leonard Burton, David B. Gibbons, James Hoyt, B. P. Jameson, and A. Truesdell, council.
1872—Albert Wheeler, L. Burton, D. B. Gibbons, B. P. Jameson, A. Truesdell, James Hoyt, council.
1873—I. N. Dawson, mayor; E. E. Hoyt, recorder ; Jered N. Green, James H. Smith, John Wheatley, B. P. Jameson, A. Truesdell, and James Hoyt, council.
1874—B. P. Jameson, Alonzo Truesdell, James Hoyt, Jered N. Green, John Wheatley, and James H. Smith, council.
1875—I. N. Dawson, mayor; E. E. Hoyt, clerk; Jered. N. Green, James H. Smith, William G. Watson, B. P. Jameson, A. Truesdell, and James Hoyt, council.
1876—Jered N. Green, James H. Smith, W. G. Watson, Warren D. Hall, Alonzo Truesdell, ,.and James Hoyt, council.
1877-78—I. N. Dawson, mayo1 ; E. E. Hoyt, clerk ; W. D. Hall, A. Truesdell, James Hoyt, Robert S. Wilkins, James H. Smith, and Warren Finn, council.
1879—Columbus Ward, mayor; E. E. Hoyt, clerk; James Hoyt, W. D. Hall, A. Truesdell, Robert S. Wilkins, Thaddeus J. Reed, George H. Quinby, council.
1880—James Hoyt, A. Truesdell, Daniel IV. Camp, R. S. Wilkins, T. J. Reed, and G. H. Quinby, council.
1881—Columbus Ward, mayor; E. E. Hoyt, clerk; James Hoyt, A. Truesdell, R. S Wilkins, T. J. Reed, George H. Quinby, H. S. Pew, council.
TOWNSHIP OF WARREN.
The court of general quarter sessions of the peace, held at Warren on Monday, August 4, 1800, appointed Amos Spafford, Esq., David
* Two years.
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Hudson, Simon Perkins, John Minor, Aaron Wheeler, Edward Payne, and Benjamin Davidson, a committee to divide the county of Trumbull into townships, to describe the limits and boundaries of each township, and to make report to the court thereof.
This committee gave the boundary lines of Warren township, which were as follows: "All that tract of, country lying within a line beginning at the southeast corner of township one in the fifth range ; thence running north to the southeast corner of township number three, in the fifth range; thence east to the southeast corner of township number three, in the third range; thence north to the northeast corner of township Number five, in the third range; thence west to the northwest corner of township number five, in the sixth range; thence south to the southwest comer of township 'number one, in the sixth tinge; thence east along the south line of the county, to the place of beginning, shall constitute one township, and to be called and known by; the name of Warren."
The first election held in Warren township was on the 6th of April, 1802, at the house of Ephraim Quinby; John Leavitt, chairman; Ephraim Quinby, clerk ; Simon Perkins, Benjamin Davisoh, and John H. Adgate, managers. The following officers were chosen: Zopher Carnes, Thomas Ross, appraisers of property ; George Lovelace, lister ; Zopher Carnes, William Hall, and John Leavitt, supervisors of highways ; Meshack Case and Thomas Prior, overseers of the poor; Charles Dally, Benjamin Davison, and James Wilson, fence viewers ; Jonathan Church, William Crook, constables.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
In a previous chapter a description was given of the physical features of the tract embraced in Warren. The system of grading which was afterwards followed made some streets in spring time almost bottomless mud holes. Main and the lower end of Market were particularly bad, for near their junction is a fill of about ten feet of clay and muck, which was loosened to the bottom by the spring thaw and rains. The pasty clay in other streets gave the town an unenviable celebrity. In 1866 the long agitated subject of street improvements was taken hold of in earnest. The town bad been building railroads and helping other enterprises for the public good to the comparative neglect of immediate home interests; but when the work did begin it was pushed with rapidity and thoroughness. All the principal streets have been paved and the wall, s flagged, while most of the avenues are well graveled. Few small cities in Ohio excel Warren in the beauty and durability of sidewalks. The flagging stone, which is quarried near the corporation limits, is smooth, even, and fine-gra ned. An occasional spot colored by iron nodules adds rather than detracts from the natural beauty.
Shade trees minister to the comfort as well as appearance of Warren's avenues. These have grown to magnificent size along Mahoning avenue, and give that part of town a con posed and finished appearance. A liberal estin ate places the public and private cost of stree improvements in Warren at $300,000. If the adage be true—"The way to improve a town is to make it look healthy"—a good foundation has been laid for the future. If external circumstances forbid rapid growth, the surroundings of comfort and ease have at least been secured.
MAIL SERVICE.
It has been seen in a previous chapter that United States mail facilities were first provided for the Reserve in the year 18o1, and that General Simon Perkins was the first commissioned postmaster at Warren. We have traditional evidence that a common pocket handkerchief often served as a wrapper for the whole delivery after the carrier had passed Canfield and Youngstown. At a later day, when stages brought the mail from Ashtabula on the old pike, and several little offices were along the way, each postmaster opened the mail bag and hunted out what belonged to his office, sometimes having to look over a hundred pieces to find one or two letters, while impatient passengers were condemning his slowness, or the more considerate the arrangement which made such waiting necessary.
General Perkins gave little personal attention to the office, further than securing some one to minister to the public wants. John Leavitt kept the key and attended to the business for about one year. His boarding-house, or tavern, was the principal stopping place for strangers and chatting place for residents. When the semi-weekly mail arrived it could nearly all be delivered in the tavern bar-room.
George Phelps, clerk of the courts, was the
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next deputy. George Parsons, Samuel Quinby, and Samuel Chesney were successive deputies. The first record of a post-office account was rendered December 31, 1807, and showed a balance due the Government of $4.76. After Jackson's inauguration to the Presidency in 1829 a general change was made in the civil service all over the country. Warren did not escape the wave of political change which swept over the country. General Perkins was succeeded by Matthew Birchard.
The following list of officers is furnished by T. J. McLain, Esq.: Simon Perkins to 1829, Mathew Birchard to 1832, David Tod to 1838, R F. Hoffman to 1841, George Hapgood to 1842, Thomas J. McLain to 1845, John W. Collins to 1849, Comfort Adams to 1853, John S. Kibbee to 1856, Theodore Webb to 1861, C. M. Patch to 1866, Jefferson Palm to 1867, Henry Townsend to 1871, E. K. Wise, present incumbent.
Mr. Wise, the present postmaster, was born. in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and 1eceived common school education. He began business in Davenport, Iowa, and afterwards acted as a clerk on lower Mississippi boats, and was in the South at the breaking out of the Rebellion, but came north and enlisted under Lincoln's first call for troops fo1 three months. Enlisted in the Eleventh Pennsylvania volunteers for three years; was in sixteen 1egular engagements, and numerous skirmishes; was wounded in the right arm at Gettysburgh, Pennsylvania, which necessitated amputation. After recovery he was put in charge of transport steamer Connecticut, in conveying sick and wounded from the front. He was dis charged September 5, 1864. Was appointed assessor of internal revenue at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Soon after was elected alderman of the Sixth ward, and not long after this removed to Warren, Ohio. He was elected postmaster in 187i, and assumed the duties of his office in May; was re-appointed in 1875 for four years more. On his accepting the office in 1871 he at once set about making improvements to suit the public wants. The old office fixtures were replaced by new and improved designs, nineteen old lock boxes being replaced by one hundred and forty-seven new ones. A few hundred call boxes by twelve hundred and eighty new ones. The revenues of the office are constantly increasing. Fourteen mails are despatched and received daily.
WOODLAND CEMETERY.
It has already been noted where the first graves were located. The old cemetery on Mahoning avenue, in which Mrs. Adgate was the first person buried, has also been spoken of. It continued to be the receptacle of Warren's dead until 1848. In the year 1848 Messrs. Jacob Perkins and Frederick Kinsman took the initiative toward providing a cemetery which should be of ample size for the growing city, and so located as to admit of being beautified as becomes "the home 0f loving, mournful memories."
Woodland Cemetery association was organized November 15, 1849, under the act of Assembly making provision for the incorporation of cemetery associations, passed February 24, 1848, Messrs. John Harsh, L. J. Iddings, F. Kinsman, Joseph Perkins, Matthew Birchard, Richard Iddings, D. B. Gilmore, Hiram Iddings, B. F. Hoffman, Chester Bidwell, Jacob Perkins, and Orlando Morgan being the incorporators.
The original purchase of land by the incorporation was a tract of about sixteen acres, which, with the improvement made on it, has been paid for entirely by the sale of lots for burial purposes. From this source also has been accumulated a fund from which the association has been enabled to add, from time to time, to the grounds, until it is now possessed of a tract of fifty-five acres, in a compact form, separated only by the right of way of the Atlantic & Cleat Western railroad. The last recent purchase embraces a tract of over seventeen and a half acres upon the Niles road, immediately south of the old grounds, and a tract of about nineteen and a half acres lying immediately west of the Atlantic & Great Western railroad, all of it being well adapted to cemetery purposes, These purchases were made from the assignee of S. L. Freeman at reasonable prices, and the association had on hand funds sufficient to meet the entire purchase money except about $400, which it is expected will soon be collected from amounts due for lots heretofore sold.
It is the expectation of the officers within a reasonable time to enclose the entire tract with a suitable fence, to take out the logs, underbrush, and stumps in the new part, and to lay out
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drives throughout the entire tract so that visitors may have easy access by carriages to all parts of the ground, and in time, if means are afforded, to build an ornamental gateway at the entrance, and to construct within the grounds a pond or lake, to be supplied with water from Red run, which courses through the westerly part of the improved grounds.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Few rural cities have suffered the quick destruction of fire so frequently, and with so great loss as Warren. But this fact cannot be attributed to carelessness on part of the authorities to make reasonable provisions for preventing conflagrations. Of course, fire extinguishing apparatus, like everything else, was at first primitive, and the present efficient system is the product of steady growth. Under the act of incorporation every citizen was required to devote, in addition to his two days' road tax, two days to the construction and improvement of sidewalks. There were practically no other expenditures, so that tax levied year after year accumulated in the treasury. The levy was light, and accumulation slow, but by 1838 there was a surplus of $800. How it should be spent became a question in municipal politics. All, however, agreed upon the necessity of securing a fire engine. At a session of the council held October 3r, 1838, a resolution was passed authorizing the purchase of a rotary engine at a cost of $295, which was warranted to throw one hundred gallons per minute upon a three-story building. This little machine was little better than a common force pump, such as are now used in manufacturing establishments. It was operated by eight men, four to a crank and-handle on each side. Belonging to the truck was a tub, from which the water was drawn. This tub was kept filled by a bucket brigade; only a few rods of leading hose could be used. About the same time an ordinance was passed organizing a fire company, whose duty it was to manage the engine and take entire police charge during the progress of a fire. Citizens were "enjoined" in this ordinance to form themselves into bucket brigades, and carry water for the engine. The company was required to practice at least once a month. Keeping the tub full was the laborious part of these training. days.
No opportunity was given this company to prove its capability in the great fire of 1846. That conflagration in a few minutes was beyond the control of any engine. Fortunately the flames were confined to the old part of the town, but for that reason they spread more rapidly. Beginning near the corner of Main and Market streets the fire made its way eastward from house to house to Liberty street, and south o Liberty until stopped by exhaustion of fuel. This occurred on June 1st. Three blocks ";ere consumed, and twenty-two buildings. Twe ye stores and shops were destroyed. Main street, which was then the center of business, was in imminent danger, and was only saved by a united effort of owners and occupants of property. The poor little engine in the hurry and excitement was not entirely forgotten, though the bucket brigade occasionally so far neglected its duty as to run directly to points of danger with water in place of keeping the engine tub supplied. The truck was finally broken and the little concern planted on boxes at the corner of Main and Market streets, where it did some useful though not conspicuous service.
The ashes of the fire of June 1, 1846, had scarcely time to cool before measures looking toward an efficient and properly equipped fire company began to be agitated. Early in July Messrs. James Hoyt and 0. H. Patch were appointed a committee to go to Cleveland and purchase a Button engine at a cost of $600. This was a. common hand fire engine, similar to the one owned by the company now. The embarrassing difficulty was in raising money to pay for it. The treasury was depleted and there was no authority to Issue bonds. But there was a statute -in existence at that time which helped them out. It authorized the treasurer to issue certificates on the treasury which were receivable for taxes. After considerable canvassing the committee in charge succeeded in selling a sufficient amount of certificates to pay for the much needed engine. The former company, of which Mr. Bridle had been chief, was disbanded, and a reorganization effected under title of Mahoning company, with Charles Messenger as chief. The council offered a standing premium of $3 to the member of the company who would reach the engine house first in case of fire. The house stood on Liberty street, back of the First National bank building. A close contest was made
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for this prize, on the night of the great fire of 1849, which consumed two blocks on Market street. The fire was seen apparently at the same time by W. R. Stiles and James Hoyt, both merchants. Both ran with all possible speed toward the engine house, where they arrived so nearly at the same time that at the instant Mr. Hoyt grabbed for the latch Mr. Stiles seized it, thus winning the money.
A second hand engine named the Saratoga was purchased in 1851, and a company organized for its management.
The present hand engine was purchased in 1855. It will be noticed that these purchases followed soon after fires. The burning of the VanGorder block in 1854 inspired this one.
In 1860 occurred the most destructive fire in Warren's history. It was absolutely beyond all Control, and reduced to ashes with terrible rapidity nearly the whole business part of the town west of Liberty street and south of Market street. The fire started in Truesdell & Townsend's furniture factory, about mid-day, and was spread from building to building by flying sparks and Shingles. The buildings for a considerable distance along Main street, on both sides, were burning at the same time, the flames forming an arch over the street. The burnt district embraced several acres, but did not long remain a desolate ruin. The final result was rather beneficial than otherwise, although more than $300,000 worth of property was destroyed. Main street was at once graded to its present level, and before a year elapsed substantial brick blocks had replaced the old structures. With a few exceptions the buildings between Liberty street and the river spared by the conflagration of 186o were consumed in 1866 and 1867. Five frame houses on Market street, occupying the lots on which the Stiles and the Smith blocks now stand, were swept away in 1867. The King block, no longer an ornament, made two narrow escapes. There have been many smaller fires, but this last comprises all that are especially memorable.
The first steamer was purchased in accordance with an ordinance passed June 30, 1868. It cost, together with nine hundred feet of hose, $9,000. A new company was organized and named in honor of the mayor, I. N. Dawson. That name Was also applied to the steamer. J. L. Smith was chosen chief of the department, and has served in that capacity till the present time. A new engine was purchased in July, 188i, at a cost of $4,000. Both are under the management of the I. N. Dawson Fire company. In 1875 a team for drawing the engine was purchased and trained. Improved equipments have been added from time to time. Efficient action may reasonably be expected of the department, should an occasion unfortunately require.
ANTI-SLAVERY DAYS.
Ephraim Brown, one of the pioneers of Bloomfield township, wrote in 1807: "I have been taught from my cradle to despise slavery, and will never forget to teach my children, if any I should ever have, the same lesson." Mr. Brown was not alone in entertaining that sentiment, for it found frequent and emphatic expression, both in words and deeds, all over the Reserve. Warren was well represented in the management of what was figuratively named the "underground railroad." A great many people fleeing from bondage passed through here, and were at times concealed in the houses of citizens. Probably the first place among Warren abolitionists should be accorded the Sutliff family—Levi Sutliff, Milton Sutliff, and Calvin G. Sutliff; then came James D. Taylor and Ralph Hickox. The former was a speaker of ability, and one of the most aggressive workers in Ohio. Judge Leicester King attained a wider reputation as an abolitionist than any other Warren man, having been placed in nomination in 1847, by the Abolitionists, with John P. Hale, for President. Both declined in favor of VanBuren and Adams, nominees of the Free-soilers. Mr. King had been the Abolitionist candidate for Governor in 1842, and presided over the National Liberty party convention in 1844. Judge Hoffman, of Youngstown, and John Hutchins, of Warren, were also aggressive workers.
POLITICAL EVENTS.
It was but natural that a majority of the freeholders of Warren, retaining the Federalist principles of their Connecticut ancestors, were, after a second division of parties, Whigs. There was, however, a practical unanimity of sentiment on the growing question of slavery; so that the New England portion of the population, with few exceptions, were ready in 1855 to march under
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the banner of the Republican party. Warren at once became a center of political management, and is famous throughout the State as a place for great Republican mass meetings. Ever since the war hardly-contested campaigns have never passed without great gatherings of people of the eastern part of the Reserve at Warren. A most potent influence was exerted by the meeting of 1875, when General Hayes was a candidate for Governor. That year also was marked by the largest Democratic meeting since the war.- Currency expansion was a financial heresy possessing great attraction for all engaged in the coal and iron industry. The result was doubtful, and a special effort was made by the Republicans to make a greater show of enthusiasm than had been made by the Democrats. The audience which greeted Governor Hayes was the largest assembled that year in Ohio. Its effect is a part of the political history of the country.
During the campaign of 1881 the greatest political gathering in the history of the Reserve was held at Warren. It was the personal desire of General Garfield, who had so long represented this county in Congress, that the people should be given an opportunity to demonstrate their attachment. To that end it was arranged with the State and National committees that Roscoe Conkling, of New York, should be present as principal speaker, and that General U. S. Grant should preside over the meeting. September 28th was the day appointed. The local committee, with John M. Stull as chairman, made elaborate preparations. A wigwam with a capacity of twelve thousand was erected, and entertainment secured for distinguished guests.
On the eve of the day visiting delegations began to arrive. Among other distinguished men was Roscoe Conkling, then at the summit of his popularity. He was conveyed directly to the residence of H. B. Perkins, where he received a few calls dining the evening and passed a nervous night preparatory to his first oratorical effort in the West. In the morning General Grant arrived, and joined Senator Conkling at Mr. Perkins' residence. General Grant at that time was the most popular citizen in America, and his presence naturally attracted thousands who were not even in sympathy with the cause. Besides Grant and Conkling there were present on that day ex-Senator Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania; Senator John A. Logan, of Illinois; General M. D. Bradley, of Kentucky; President Chadbourne, Williams college, Massachusetts ; Hon. John Beaver, of Pennsylvania, and others of National reputation. The streets were appropriately decorated and festooned. Less than half the people who thronged the little city were able to gain admission to the wigwam. There were in the city about six times its en ire population. After the meeting the distinguished guests repaired to Senator Perkins' residence, and from there started on a journey to Mentor to pay their respects to the distinguished leader of the party.
CITY BUILDINGS.
The first engine house stood on Liberty street, just south of the First National Bank building. It was an insecure frame structure, but was the only building belonging to the town until 1858, when the two-story brick just west of the park and south of the present hall was erected. Engines, hose, etc., were packed into the lower story of that little building, which was then on a level with the street, since filled to a level with the second floor. The second story was used for a firemans' hall, and part of the time for council room, but it was found expedient to rent a room for the latter purpose.
The inconvenience constantly experienced from the absence of a hall for public meetings, town offices, and ample facilities for the fire company gave rise to numerous projects for the construction of a city hall. The council, yielding to public opinion, passed resolutions October 23, 1874, which resulted in the erection of the present handsome structure. Its entire cost was about $40,000.
TEMPERANCE REFORM.
It is a favorite tenet of the conservative and unprogressive East that western pioneer communities are made up of the overflow of civilization, and that only by process of long cultivation they are made comparable to the Atlantic States. But against this idea stands the historical fact to which the West, and Ohio in particular, points with pride, that the pioneers were of the best blood and most hardy muscle the East could furnish, and out of these materials have been produced the foremost men in the Nation's history. The very best families of old Connecticut were represented among the pioneers of New
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Connecticut, and were strengthened by rugged contact with natural obstacles for the harder contests which followed in the public arena. They brought with them the social habits of the eastern homes, one of which was the free, in some cases inordinate use, of spirituous stimulants. Public and common indulgence in strong drinks was a vital legacy of old English life, which met with little or no restraint to New England until within the last half century. It is a fact of which the West may well be proud that radical, thorough, and conscientious reaction began in the Ohio colonies of New England. There is no evidence that the habit had become more destructive here than at the East. Warren particularly, was noted for its healthful moral tone and intelligence, but even here every store kept a pail of whiskey with a tin cup in it standing upon the counter, to which customers had free access. It was purchased by the barrel and sold freely by the gallon for home use. Every house, even to the log cabin with roof weighted down with poles, had a sideboard filled with decanters and tumblers. The kind of liquors depended much upon financial circumstances, the wealthy having wines and brandy, and all had whiskey in profusion. A guest never entered, even to call, without being offered a drink, nor was he expected to decline. Ministers, physicians, politicians, and lawyers all came together at the festive board—all drank from the same bottle. We are convinced by careful inquiry into individual history that the popular belief that "there was no drunkenness in those days" is an error. Men died from the effects of Intemperance then as they do now, and always will so long as mischievous appetite exists.
The first reform movement on the Reserve was almost ineffectual, except as it served to prepare the way for a future movement. In 1830 a temperance advocate visited Warren and was well received. He held several meetings and received a few signatures to a pledge to abstain from all alcoholic beverages except wine and eider. He left no permanent impression.
The second movement was in 1841, and was followed by better results. Captain Turner, of Cleveland, inaugurated the movement and was chiefly instrumental in carrying it 0n. He had been an old sea captain, and bore the pseudonym, "Old Sea Dog." He was an interesting and
forcible speaker, and understood the art of making an unpopular subject attractive. For four weeks he spoke to large audiences, and pledged the best people to abandon their sideboards and the merchants to remove from their counters the whiskey pail. Since those meetings ministers from Protestant churches have wholly abstained from spirituous beverages in public, and generally in private; none of the better class of general stores have kept whiskey, either to treat customers or for sale—for many years tavern bar-rooms were the only drinking places open to the public. Since that time abstinence and temperance have made their opposites to say the least, unpopular and unprofitable.
A supplementary movement. was instituted about 1852, but did not receive substantial support, the subject of slavery at that time engrossing aggressive public sentiment. While moral sentiment on the subject of temperance was steadily improving, there was no violent movement until 1873, when what was known as the women's crusade was instituted. This was eminently a women's movement, originated by a woman, and carried into execution in every town in the West by women. Of the Warren association Mrs. Junius Dana was president. The central object was to close the saloons and other places 0f drinking, and for that purpose delegations of women visited, time and again, the retail dealers, and exercised the powers of prayer and persuasion to induce them to close the doors of their places of business. Mass meetings were held at night for the purpose of reviving a sustaining public sentiment. While the crusade had the effect of calling public attention to the extent of a great social evil, it was not followed by any direct permanent result. Most of the retail houses were closed for a time but were all reopened.
The Murphy movement in 1878 was more logical. It recognized the fact that supply depends upon demand, and the proper place to begin is with the antecedent. The movement instituted by Francis Murphy in Pittsburg, reached every State in the Union. A long series of meetings were held in Warren, and Mr. Murphy himself lectured here.
PUBLIC MORALITY.
The moral tone of Warren is indicative of a high order of intelligence. There are few cities of equal size in Ohio where drinking is less pop-
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ular, or where drunkenness is less common. Good order prevails upon the public streets, both night and day, and the Sabbath-day is quiet and well observed. There are eight flourishing churches, which have generally been supplied by able and well-paid clergy. Warren has always, from the primitive village years, been remarked for the high character of its society. Wealth and culture have combined to make life agreeable and to stimulate an ambition which has already produced golden fruit on various fields of activity.