HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 229

CHAPTER III.

THE COURT AND BAR-MEDIC AL PROFESSION-EARLY CHRISTIANITY-EDUCATION-POLITICAL

HISTORY-THE RAILROADS.

The history of the court and bar of Morrow County does not possess that degree of interest which attaches to the older counties of the State. The formation of the county, in 1848, ,was a period so modern in the history of the country that the backwoods simplicity of the courts of fifty years before had been pretty well obliterated by the hand of civilization, and the new county was enabled to start out with a well organized court and a corps of able, well-read and intelligent lawyers.

The formation of the new county brought to Mount Gilead, its seat of justice, a large number of lawyers who fancied they saw in the field thus opened an excellent opportunity for the display of' their talents, and a chance to reap a rich harvest by adopting the advice of the philosopher of the New York Tribunal to "settle down and grow up with the country." Many of the best of lawyers who emigrated to the county in the early part of 1848 left, after a residence of a few months, some returning whence they came, and others moving on in a further search for "pastures new." They discovered that even here they lacked room. A few remained, however, and became the nucleus of the Morrow County bar.

The first session of the court-the Common Pleas-of Morrow County was held on the 31st day of May, 1848, Hon. Ozias Bowen, President Judge. His Associate Judges were Richard House, Stephen T. Cunard and E. B. Kinsell, well-known citizens of Morrow County. William S. Clements was Clerk of the Court, and Ross Burns, Sheriff. Thus organized, the court proceeded to business, and although it was the first term of court in &.new county, several cases came up for trial, but none of them possessed much interest, all being civil cases. The first on the docket was David E. Patterson vs. Judson and Adah Lanson on appeal from a magistrate's court in Congress Township. Messrs. Kelley & Bushfield were the attorneys for the plaintiff, and Messrs. Delano* & Lapp for the defendants. The next case was Margaret Bingham vs. William Phares-Winters & Dunn for the plaintiff, and G. W. Elmer for the defendant. These, however, will serve to show the beginning of the court, and a further transcript of its proceedings is doubtless of no special interest to our readers.

From the first records of the County Commissioners' Court, held in June, 1848, in the days when the county charged lawyers a license to practice at the bar, and also made them pay an income tax, we find in their proceedings a list of the Morrow County bar of that period, which is as follows: Samuel Kelley, M. R. Willett, A. K., Dunn, J. M. Bushfield, J. H. Y. S. Trainer, George William Elmer, Henry P. Davis, William A. Oliver, William Bacon, Daniel Marvin, William Robinson, Judson A. Beebe, Robert B. Mitchell and J. H. Stinchcomb, of Mount Gilead, and Gilbert E. Winters, of Chesterville. Judge Dunn is the sole remaining representative of this edition of the Morrow County bar. He is a native of Maryland, and came to Ohio in 1830. He was admitted to the bar in 1847, and located in Mount Gilead in the early part of the year 1848, and has remained in the county ever since, a prominent member of the bar. In 1876, he was appointed to fill a vacancy as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.

*Columbus Delano, late Secretary of the Interior under President Grant.

230 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

Two other lawyers of the early bar of the county deserve something more than a mere mention, viz., Hon. Judson A. Beebe and Gen. Robert B. Mitchell-the former deceased, the latter a prominent soldier and politician. Judge Beebe was born in Columbia County, N. Y., and came to Ohio about 1840, locating in Waldo, Delaware County. He commenced the study of the law with Gardner A. Knapp before leaving his native State, and, upon his settlement in this county, completed his studies with Franklin Adams, of Bucyrus, and was admitted to the bar in July, 1842. After his admission, he began the practice of the law with Hon. Charles Sweetser, of Delaware, and, at the formation of Morrow County, he removed to Mount Gilead. In 18 73, he was elected one of the Judges of the Sixth Judicial District, and, immediately after his election, was appointed by Gov. Noyes to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Geddes, resigned. Politically, Judge Beebe was a stanch Democrat of the old school, and took an active interest in the workinp Of that party. Ile died August 24, 1874, sincerely lamented by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Mitchell had read law with Gen. Morgan, of Mount Vernon, and had been adwitted to the bar previous to locating here. His legal attainments were somewhat limited, but he made up the deficiency in dash and tact. To these latter traits were due his success, more than to any sound knowledge he had of the law. He was a politician of some note, and took an active interest in the elections and of the time. He married a daughter public men of of St. John, formerly a member of Congress from Tiffin. Mitchell left here about 1857, and went West, and we next hear of him about the beginning of the rebellion as Colonel of the Second Kansas Infantry. He was wounded at the battle of Springfield, Mo., and afterward promoted to Brigadier General. At the close of the war he was made Governor of New Mexico. Of his ca. -reer since then we know nothing definite.

Of the other early members of the Morrow County bar whose names have been given, not much information can be obtained. As we have said, most of them became discouraged at the general outlook, and retired from the field after a sojourn of a few months. The scraps of history picked up in regard to them may be given in a few words. Bushfield was a man of fine intellect and an able lawyer. He remained in Mount Gilead a year. or so, and then returned to Cambridge Ohio, the place from where he came, and arose, we are told, to prominence. Elmer was a native of New York, and remained in the county about a year. Stinchcomb was an Ohioan, and practiced law at the Morrow County bar some eight or ten years. Winters was also an Ohioan, and lived for a while at Chesterville, but upon the formation of the county came to Mount Gilead, where he remained some five or six years. Kelly & Robinson were partners, and stayed but a year or two; Willett also stayed about a year; Trainer, Oliver and Marvin were all Ohioans, and remained in the county but a few months. The most remarkable feature about Trainer was his name, which was reported to us as John Henry Yarrington Sleymaker Trainer, name enough to drag down anybody. Davis stayed about a year and Bacon left in the fall. Sanford and Brumback came in the fall of 1848; the former remaining some five years, and the latter until the beginning of the late war, when he enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Regiment, in which he was made a Lieutenant.

The following incident is related of the early practice in the Courts of Morrow County: During a term of court, Judge Geddes presiding, a case came up in which Columbus Delano, and Col. Vance, of Mount Vernon, were pitted against each other. In his speech, Col. Vance said something that ruffled the dignity of Mr. Delano, when hot words followed, and finally the two dropped their coats for a fisticuff, right in the presence of the Court. Judge Geddes without the least apparent excitement, quietly, but emphatically observed,"Mr. Sheriff, take those men to jail."

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This quelled the disturbance, the angry couple shook bands, put on their coats and apologized handsomely for insulting the Court, and business proceeded as usual.

The present bar of Morrow County comprise the following members: Judge Dunn, Thomas H. Dalrymple, James Olds, Judge J. J. Gurley, Thomas E. Duncan, Burt Andrews, Jabez Dickey, H. L. Beebe, C. W. Allison, L. K. Powell, A. A. Gardner, J. C. Dunn, S. C. Kingman, of Mount Gilead; Stephen Brown, R. F. Bartlett, George P. Styles, Theodoric S. White, of Cardington, and Joseph Gunsaulus, of Chesterville. Some of these gentlemen are prominent in their profession, possess fine legal abilities, and are veterans at the bar, while others are young, and are just starting out on the high road to fortune and fame. None but a prophet can foretell how many of them will yet be President. Judge Gurley was admitted to the bar in 1844, and has held several positions of trust, among them Prosecuting Attorney, Probate Judge; has also served in the Legislature, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention. Next to Judge Dunn, Messrs. Dalrymple and Olds are the longest in practice at the bar of Morrow County. Their practice extends over a period of some thirty years. They have acquired the reputation of honest and able lawyers, and hold their position in the entire confidence of their fellow-citizens. Mr. Andrews was admitted in 1846, and located in Mount Gilead in 1860. Mr. Duncan is a native Ohioan and was admitted to the bar in Columbus in 1863, and soon after came to Mount Gilead. He has been Prosecuting Attorney and a member of the Legislature.

It is somewhat embarrassing to write eulogiums of men still living, particularly lawyers. who are supposed the most modest men in the world anyway, therefore we will leave the present bar of Morrow County to receive its further deserts from same future historian, indulging in the hope that the words of Shakespeare, as regards them, will be reversed, and that "the. good they do may live after them," while "the evil be interred with their bones."

The following sketch of the medical profession of Morrow County was written by Dr. D. L. Swingley especially for this work, and will be found of considerable interest to the profession throughout the county:

A history of Morrow County would be incomplete without a sketch of the medical fraternity as it rose and progressed during the early settlement of the territory which sixty years ago was. part of the counties of Richland, Knox, Delaware and Marion, and whose towns were rather remote from the territory referred to, so that to obtain medical aid, the early settlers had to travel from fifteen to twenty-five miles, much of the distance without roads, through swamps and muddy creeks which were without bridges and almost without bottoms. Such was the condition of things the early physicians of Morrow County commenced the practical part of their professional lives. As the population increased, the demand for doctors also increased, and was supplied, not by any particular class or school of physicians, but by every imaginable kind that could be brought into service. There was the Indian doctor, the fire doctor, the water doctor, the charm doctor and also the old-school doctors or "regulars." Some of these systems of practice survived but a short time and then disappeared never to be known again, except as lingering recollections of the past. Time nor space will not admit of a detailed account of all these curative modes of action in disease, nor of their friends and advocates, but we will confine our work principally to the oldschool fraternity and the systems of practice that have sprung up since the settlement of the county and continue to exist at this time.

At the period when this sketch commences, like most new and timbered countries, the mass of the settlers in this country were in moderate circumstances as regards worldly wealth. They and their sons had all the difficulties to contend with incident to pioneer life. The land was to clear, cabins to build and roads to construct. The inducement at that early day to become doctors could not have

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been to obtain wealth. The remuneration. for professional services was so very small compared with the difficultes and dangers they had to undergo in the discharge of their duty, as to discourage any one bent on money-making alone. The practice of medicine in a new country forty or fifty years ago was no easy task. We will give the experience of a pioneer doctor for one night, which will serve as a fair sample of the time. After a hard day's ride over - execrable roads, to say nothing of the rain which had perhaps drenched him to the skin, he retires at night in the hope of a good rest and sleep. But not long does he indulge in this hope, for, scarcely has his head touched the pillow, when a sharp "hello! " salutes his ear, followed by the well-known inquiry, " Is the Doctor at home?" "Well, what is wanted? " is asked. " Want you to go to -; a very sick child there." "How far is it?" " About six miles." "How is the road?" "Well, the truth is, there is no road ; it is through the woods." "Is it very dark?" "No, not very, after you have been out awhile. But burry up, the creek is rising, and I should not wonder if we have to swim our horses; I will lead the way." This was all very well, but the Doctor on his return, having no guide, got lost and spent the remainder of the night in the woods, subjected to all the dangers and vexations of a dark, rainy night, surrounded by dismal swamps, in the midst of fireflies of every species, and regaled by the musical notes of the whole bullfrog family. The above is no fancy picture, but is drawn from actual experience, and doubtless every physician who practiced in this county from twenty-five to fifty years ago can give similar testimony. It is only within the past two or three decades that doctors could enjoy the luxury of buggy-riding in the pursuit of their daily and nightly-vocation.

As we have said, these early practitioners were of the laboring classes, and consequently had never enjoyed the advantages of the preparatory education that at this time exists, nor had they the facilities for attending medical colleges, and so, comparatively few of them were graduates. Most of them had attended one course of lectures before commencing practice, and, as a general thing, made practical men, who were equal to the exigencies of the times. They. were not so fortunate, however, as to have the field to themselves, for their competitors, as we have seen, were on hand in the doctors of other systems. We will leave the difficulties experienced by the pioneer physician and devote a brief space to these men of science and their professional labors in the county.

Dr. David Bliss, the first practicing physician in Morrow County, settled in South Bloomfield Township prior to 1820. He was a man of robust constitution, well suited to the time and condition of things when he began his professional life, which was one of hardship and toil for a number of years. Several years previous to his death, which occurred before the late war, he paid little attention to the practice of medicine, but devoted his time to. farming.

Dr. Richard Randall was the second physician in the county, and located in Mount Gilead about the year 1827, when the roads were bad, or none at all, more properly speaking; mud at that time lasted through about two-thirds of the year. He continued in practice in Mount Gilead until 1840, when he removed to Williamsport, then to North Woodbury, and subsequently to one of the Western States, where he shortly after died.

Dr. R. E. Lord, another of the early physicians of the county, and the first in the town of Chesterville, was a man of rather delicate constitution, yet possessed of that degree of resolution and will which enabled him to perform his laborious duties during the most inclement weather and bad condition of the roads with as much alacrity as the most able-bodied man. He located in Chesterville about 1830, and continued his professional work, without interruption, until 1860, when he rather withdrew from active labor, but practiced in cases of emergency until his last sickness. He died in

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Chesterville in 1864, highly esteemed by all who knew him.

Dr. T. P. Glidden was the first physician to locate in the town of Westfield, this county. He commenced his good work in 1833, and continued there for a few years, when he removed to Carding-ton, and practiced his profession in that town until his death, a few years ago.

Dr. Jesse S. Hull settled in North Woodbury in 1842, where he practiced medicine until 1857, when his general health failed, and he soon after died of consumption.

The following physicians located in Chesterville: Dr. John McCrory, in 1840; Dr. Hamilton Main, in 1847; and Dr. William T. Brown, in 1849. Dr. McCrory continued in active practice for about ten years, when his health failed and he was unable to do any business up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1872, from cancer of the stomach. Dr. Main was an active practitioner until 1864, when he died of pneumonia. Dr. Brown practiced in the town and neighborbood until the breaking-out of the late war, when he volunteered as regimental surgeon, and died while in the service of his country.

Dr. E. Weatherby located in Cardin-ton about the year 1862, and began the practice of medicine. He was a man of delicate organization, but of unusual mental endowments; energetic in his calling and a social companion. He died of consumption. Dr. William Farquer settled in Chesterville in 1834, and practiced there for about six years, when he removed to Mount Vernon, Knox County. Dr. Richards was a native of Vermont, and came to this county in 1830, locating in Sparta, where he practiced his profession until 1838-40, when he removed to a western county of this State. Dr. L. H. Corie located in Mount Gilead, about 1838, and in 1854 moved away to the West. Dr. Fred Swingley commenced the practice of medicine in Chesterville, and labored there until 1842, when he came to Mount Gilead, and two years later removed to Bucyrus, where he still resides. Dr. Steikels located in Mount Gilead in 1832, but did not remain long. About the same time, Dr. Welch settled in Mount Gilead, but only remained some four or five years.

Dr. D. L. Swingley commenced the practice of medicine in Chesterville in 1840, where he continued for a number of years. He came to Mount Gilead in 1863, and still is in the active practice of his profession.

Dr. S. M. Hewett came from Vermont to this State in 1842-43, and located in Chesterville. He practiced medicine there until 1852, when he came to Mount Gilead and continued his professional labors. When the rebellion broke out he entered the service, and remained in it until the close of the war, when he located in Cincinnati and resumed his practice. He lives there at the present time.

Dr. I. H. Pennock commenced the practice of medicine at South Woodbury in 1843. He was a man of great energy, and soon obtained an extensive reputation and practice. He accumulated considerable wealth, and, in 1864, removed to Cardington, where be continued in his profession about eight years, when he retired from practice and devoted his attention to the banking business. Drs. Horac e White and McClure located in Cardington, and practiced medicine there, the latter for a few years, and Dr. White until 1861-62, when he died. Dr. William Geller located in Mount Gilead about the year 1840, and, after remaining some fifteen years, removed to California. Dr. Mansier located in Mount Gilead about the same time. Dr. Frank Griffith commenced the practice of medicine at Iberia about 1842, and, after remaining a few years, removed to Indiana. Dr. Reed commenced practice at Iberia at an early period, and is an active practitioner to the present day.

Dr. Talmadge Beebe settled in Mount Gilead about the year 1845, where be continued in active professional life until 1864, when he removed to Iowa. Dr. L. B. Vorhries settled in Iberia about 1850. He remained there some four years and then removed to Mount Gilead, where he still

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practices his profession. Drs. Duff and Weatherby commenced medical practice about 1845, at Williamsport. They continued there a year or two, when Dr. Weatherby removed West and Dr. Duff, after a few more years in the neighborhood, removed to Galion. where he died. Dr. Eaton settled in Sparta about the year 1842, where he practiced his profession fur about twenty-five years. Dr. Alfred Burns also located at Sparta, about. 1846, and practiced his profession there until 1864, when he died of erysipelas.

Drs. Shaw and James Page located in Sparta, the latter in 1843, and the former in 1858. Dr. Page practiced but a short time. then removed to Mansfield, where he died of cholera. Dr. Shaw's health gave away and he died in 1864, of consumption. Dr. Samuel Page located at Pagetown about 1839-40. He continued his profession some thirty years, when he retired and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Dr. Doty located at Westfield about 1859, went into the army and sickened and died. Dr. J. M. Lord, a son of Dr. R. E. Lord, commenced the practice of medicine in Chesterville about the year 1862, and continued until 1870, when he died with pulmonary hemorrhage.

Dr. Sylvester settled near Pulaskiville in 1842, and practiced his profession for about twenty years and then engaged in agriculture. Dr. Newcomb located at Johnsville about the same year, and continued in practice eight or ten years, and then removed to Westerville, Ohio. Dr. H. H. Shaw located at Johnsville in 1858-59, and entered into practice, which he continued until 1865, when he removed to Mount Gilead, where he is still engaged in his profession. Dr. Denison settled at Johnsville about the time Dr. Shaw moved to Mount Gilead, and is there at present in active practice. Dr. Ruhl, Sr., has practiced for a number of years in North Woodbury, and his son, Dr. Ruhl, Jr., located at West Point in 1877, and continues the practice of the profession there to this time. Dr. Howell located at Williamsport about the year 1868, where he practiced for two years, then removed to West Point and remained there until 1877, when he removed to Southern Indiana. Dr. Kelley settled at West Point about the year 1856, and remained there several years, when he removed to Galion and is in active practice there at the present time. Dr. James Williams located in Chesterville in 1864-65, and is still practicing his profession there. About the same date, Dr. Whitford located in Chesterville, and is still a practicing physician in the town. Dr. Thoman located at Williamsport about the year 1876, where he still remains.

Dr. Calvin Gunsaulus commenced practice in Sparta about the year 1864, and continued there until 1875, when he removed to Mount Gilead, where he still resides. Dr. Bliss, Jr., a grandson of Dr. David Bliss, commenced business in 1862, and is still in active practice. Dr. Green began the practice of medicine at Cardington in in 1868-69, where he still continues and has an extensive practice. Dr. Williams studied medicine with Dr. Green and graduated at Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, in 1876. He located in Cardington, where, by energy and industry, he has won a large practice. Dr. Conner located also at Cardington about 1877. He is a man of ability and is rapidly gaining a large practice. Dr. J. N. Thatcher located at Denmark about 1870, where he still continues the practice of medicine. Dr. Miller commenced business in the county at West Point, and is still in active practice. Dr. Tucker located in Mount Gilead about the year 1865, where he is still residing. Dr. Coble commenced business in Johnsville in 1868-69, and, after practicing there some five years, removed to the southern part of the State.

Dr. Cook commenced business at Pulaskiville about 1870 and pursued his calling successfully six or seven years, when he turned his attention and talents to the ministry, and is at present a prominent divine of the Christian Church. Dr Morgan located at Westfield in 1 1879, where he has acquired a large practice. Dr. Bennett located at Iberia about 1877, and formed a partnership

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with Dr. Reed, and is now doing a large business in the profession. Dr. F. C. Shaw located at South Woodbury about 1870, where he has since been actively engaged in his profession. Dr. T. J. Williams located at Marengo about the year 1875. He remained but a short time and then removed to Sunbury, Ohio. Dr. Merriman also located in Marengo, in the spring of 1878, but soon after removed to Centerburg, Ohio. Dr. A. D. James commenced the practice of medicine in the spring of 1880, in Mount Gilead, in partnership with Dr. D. L. Swingley, one of his former instructors. Dr. Howard commenced his professional labors at Marengo about the year 1876. He continued there but a short time and then removed West. Dr. S. Shaw also located at Marengo, in 1870, where he is gaining a large practice. Dr. Paxton practiced medicine at Iberia in an early period of its history, but we are unable to give any particulars in regard to it. Dr. Aaron Neff moved from Marion County to Williamsport, where he has established a good practice.

Dr. Charles Kelley be-an practice at Williamsport about the year 1846. He remained there some eight or ten years, and then removed to the neighborbood of Mount Gilead, and continued his work there until 1877, when be removed West. Dr. John Ressley begun business in Cardington in 1839-40, and practiced medicine there for thirty years or more. Dr. J. W. Russell, Jr., located at Johnsville in 1859-60, where he practiced medicine very successfully for a few years, when his health failed. Dr. Alf McConica studied medicine with Dr. Pennock, about 1845, and practiced at South Woodbury until 1855-56, when he removed West, where be died. Dr. J. F. Vigor located at Levering Station in 1878, where he is rapidly gaining an extensive practice. Dr. W. H, Lane located at Cardington about 1875, and continued but a few years, when be removed to Columbus. Dr. S. Ewing commenced business at Cardington in 1876-77, but remained a few years only. Dr. J. M. Randolph located, about 1840, in the neighborhood of Marengo, where he has practiced medicine uninterruptedly ever since.

In the above sketch we have given as complete a record of the practicing physicians, past and present, of Morrow County, as it is possible to make up from memory, and the meager information to be obtained in the short time we have had to complete the work. If there are omissions, as doubtless there are, they are the result of a lack of information, and are not intentionally left out. We shall now make a brief mention of the medical societies of the county.

About the year 1850, the first effort was made in Morrow County to organize a medical society. After a general call had been made, a number of physicians met at the court house in Mount Gilead, viz., Drs. I. H. Pennock, Hiram R Kelley, Hamilton Main, Charles Kelley, S. M. Hewitt, W. T. Brown, James M. Briggs and D. L. Swingley, who proceeded to organize a society, by electing Dr. J. M. Briggs President, with other requisite officers. A few meetings of this society took place, when the members became lukewarm, and all efforts to keep up the organization ceased. Again, in 1867, another -effort was made for a county medical society. A number of physicians met together and, after considering the matter, decided that the -old society was dead, and it would be necessary to form a new one, with an entirely new constitution and laws. Accordingly, with Dr. Briggs in the chair, an election for officers was held, which resulted as follows: Dr. I. H. Pennock, President; Drs. J. M. Lord and D. L. Swingley. Vice Presidents. and A. S. Weatherby, Secretary. The business of the society went on prosperously, and many matters of importance to the profession were brought up and discussed at its meetings. At the second annual meeting, the following officers were elected: D. L. Swingley, President, and A. S. Weatherby, re-elected Sec. retary. Toward the close of this year, occurred the death of 1. M. Lord, first Vice President of the society. September 30, 1869, the election of the following officers took place: Dr. A. S. Weatherby, President; C. Gunsaulus and H. R.

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Kelley, Vice Presidents; H. S. Green, Secretary, and I. H. Pennock, Treasurer. The society continued to flourish, until the failure of Dr. Weatherby's health rendered him unable to attend the meetings. An indifference then grew up on the part of the members, and on the 14th of July, 1870, the last meeting of the association was held, at which there were present but five members. Another meeting was appointed for the 25th of August, but when the day came, there was not a quorum present, and further effort to keep the society alive was abandoned.

It seems that after a lapse of nearly five years, a few of the old members met at the court house for the purpose of again re-organizing the medical society of the county. The old constitution and by-laws of the previous association were adopted with few amendments, and the following officers elected: Dr. Gunsaulus, President; D. L. Swingley and D. A. Howell, Vice Presidents; H. S. Green, Secretary; and H. H. Shaw, Treasurer. The next meeting was at Cardin-ton, August 19, 1875. There seems to have been another break in the society, as the next meeting after this was held in August, 1877. This meeting took place in Cardington, and, upon again organizing a medical. society, proceeded to elect officers, as follows. Dr. H. S. Green, President; Drs. Connor and Tucker, Vice Presidents; Dr. J. L. Williams, Secretary; and Dr. Gunsaulus, Treasurer. The old constitution and laws were again adopted for their government, and used until June 7, 1878, when a new constitution was adopted. At the meeting in October, 1878, the following officers were elected: H. S. Green, President; Drs. Gunsaulus and Miller, Vice Presidents; Dr. Williams, reelected Secretary, and Dr. Tucker, Treasurer. The meetings of the society now occurred regularly, and, at the next annual meeting, Dr. Miller, of Iberia, was elected President, and Dr. Williams re-elected Secretary. The association is now regarded by the inhabitants of the county, as well as by the physicians, with a good degree of interest, and the indications are that it is now established on a permanent 'basis.

As we stated in the beginning of this article, we shall now devote a brief space to some of the other schools, or systems of practice, that have sprung into existence since the first settlement of the country, and have continued in vogue to the present day.

About the year 1843, Edward Smith, formerly of Pittsburgh, Penn., introduced homoeopathy into Morrow County. Since that time this fraternity has increased, and now numbers six practitioners in the county, viz.: Drs. A. D. Wright and William L. Case, of Mount Gilead; Drs. Watson and Ivey, of Cardington ; Dr. Jackson, of Chesterville, and Dr. Timms, of Sparta.

At a somewhat later period, the eclectic school of medicine was started. Among the first disciples of this system were Dr. Granger, of Westfield Dr. Brown, of Denmark; Dr. Llewellen, of Westfield; Dr. Conklin, of Woodbury; Dr. Buxton, of Sparta; Dr. Pratt, of Marengo ; and Dr. Emie, of South Woodbury. These are all living, and practicing their branch of the profession at the present day, except Dr. Granger, who died about the year 1862. There are some other systems that have had a brief existence in the county, but were short-lived and do not possess sufficient interest to require notice here.

The introduction of the Gospel into Morrow County was coeval with its settlement by the whites. The pioneers were mostly moral, Godfearing people, who, at the close of the day's toil, and before retiring to their humble couches, would take down the old family Bible, and reading a portion of the precious word by the aid of "fire light," would kneel down and earnestly implore the protection of Heaven, and thank the Great Ruler for their preservation from the dangers of wilderness life. In this way, the teachings of the Christian religion were felt and realized in the most remote settlements. Among the pioneers were numbered the pioneer preachers. They came as "one crying in the wilderness," and "without

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money and without price," exposed to danger and disease, subject to trials and privations, and foregoing the joys of home and the society of ones, labored " in season and out of season" for the advancement of truth and the salvation of What a rebuke their self-sacrificing devotion the ministers of the present day, who, partaking of the spirit of this fast age, can only aim the word from marble pulpits to parishioners dozing in silk-cushioned pews. The first )were not unlike the "holy men" described by Byant:

" * * * * * * * Who hid themselves

Deep in the woody wilderness, and gave

Their lives to thought and prayer, till they outlived

The generation born with them, nor seemed

Less aged than the hoary trees and rocks

Around them."

While the latter class are of those

"* * * * * * * *holy men

Who deemed it were not well to pass life thus."

The pioneer preacher, with no companion but his faithful horse, traveled over the country by the aid of his knowledge of the cardinal points, and thus reaching the desired settlement, would present the claims of the Gospel to the assembled hearers, after the toilsome and long day's journey. After a night's rest in the humble cabin, and partaking of the simple meal, he enters upon the journey of the day, to preach again at a distant point. Thus was the "circuit" of hundreds of miles traveled month after month, and to these faithful ministers of Christ do we owe the planting of' churches and the Christianizing influences seen and felt in society everywhere.

Among the pioneer preachers of Morrow County we may mention Revs. David James, Henry George, John Cook, S. Leiter, William Ashley, George Fuller, Benjamin Green, Henry Shedd; and the well-known Methodist Evangelist. Rev. Russell Bigelow, used sometimes pass through this part of the " moral vineyard," and preach to the people. Many other faithful ministers were in the county at an early day, but their names have passed from memory. The pioneer's cabin served them as preaching places, until the building of schoolhouses and churches. As the population increased, and the country grew in wealth, churches were built in every neighborhood, until at the present day, there is not a township in the county but has from one to half a dozen churches in its territory. But it is not our purpose to go into a detailed church history in this chapter. The subject will be more fully treated in the townships respectively. We have only intended to glance briefly at the introduction of Christianity into the county.

The cause of education received the early attention of the people of this section of the country, thanks to New England. As early as 1647, the question of common schools was agitated in that that region, the birthplace, as it were, of education and civilization. In the year mentioned, an act was passed to enable " every child, rich and poor alike, to learn to read its own language." Soon after, it was enacted that "every town or district having fifty householders should have a common school; " and, that " every town or district having one hundred families should have a grammar school, taught by teachers competent to prepare youths for college." A writer, commenting upon this act in after years, of our New England fathers, notices it as the " first instance in Christendom in which a civil government took measures to confer upon its youth the blessings of education." " There had been," he said, "parish schools connected with individual churches, and foundations for universities, but never before was embodied in practice a principle so comprehensive in its nature and so fruitful in good results as that of training a nation of intelligent people by educating all its youth." And when our forefathers, nearly a century and a half later, declared in the famous ordinance of 1787, that "knowledge, with religion and morality, was necessary to the good government and happiness of mankind," they suggested the bulwark of American liberty. 'Science and literature began to advance, after the

238 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

adoption of that ordinance, in a manner they had never done before, and the interest awakened at that time is still on the advance.

In the early settlement of this part of the State, there were a great many influences in the way of general education. Neigbborhoods were thinly settled, money was scarce, and the people generally poor. There were no schoolhouses, nor was there any public school-fund, either State or county. All persons, of both sexes, who had physical strength enough to labor, were compelled to take their part in the work-the labors of the females being as heavy and important as that of the men ; and this strain upon their industry continued for years. And another drawback to education was a lack of teachers, and of books. Taking all these facts together, it is a wonder that the pioneers had any schools at all. But the early settlers deserve the highest honors for their prompt and energetic efforts in this direction. Just as soon as the settlements would at all justify, schools were begun at each one, and any vacant cabin, stable, barn or other outhouse, was used as a temple of learning. The schools were paid for by subscription, at the rate of about 50 or 75 cents a month per scholar. Although the people displayed this early interest in educating their children, yet, when the Legislature passed a law in 1825, making education compulsory, it raised quite a tempest. The taxpayers heartily indorsed the Legislature in passing the Canal Law, which voted away millions of money, but as heartily condemned it for passing a law compelling them to support "pauper schools," and the poorer classes were loud in their condemnation, because the law made "pauper scholars" of their children.

Those who remember the early school laws of Ohio will remember the frequent changes made in them. It was, indeed, changed every session of the Legislature, until it became a perfect chaos of amendments, provisions, etc., which none were wholly able to explain. One district would act under one law, and its neighbor under another. But the adoption of a new constitution gave the State a revised school law, said, at the time of its adoption, to be the best and most perfect within the broad bounds of the Union. And from that day to the present, it has kept its place as the best and most liberal school law of any of the States.

The schoolhouses of an early day, as a general thing, were of the poorest kind. In towns, they were dilapidated buildings either frame or log, and in the country they were invariably of logs; usually but one style of architecture was used in building them. They were erected, not from a regular fund, or by subscription, but by labor given. The neighbors would gather together at some point previously a-need upon, and, with ax in band, the work was soon done. Logs were cut sixteen or eighteen feet in length, and of these walls were raised. Broad boards composed the roof, and a rude fireplace and clapboard door, a puncheon floor, and the cracks filled with "chinks," and these daubed over with mud, completed the schoolhouse, with the exception of the windows and the furniture. These were as rude and primitive as the house itself. The window was made by cutting out a log the full length of the building, and over the opening, in winter, paper, saturated with gease, served to admit the light. Just under this window, two or three strong pins were driven in the log, in a slanting direction. On these pins, a long " puncheon " was fastened, and this was the writing-desk of the whole school. For seats, they used benches made from small trees, cut in lengths of ten or twelve feet, split open, and, in the round side, two large holes were bored at each end, and in each a stout pin, fifteen inches long, was driven. These pins formed the legs. On the uneven floors these rude benches were hardly ever seen to have more than three legs on the floor at one time. And the books! They were as promiscuous as the house and furniture were rude. The New Testament was the most popular reader, " Introduction to the English Reader," "Sequel to the English Reader " and finally the reader itself. "The New Eng and Primer," in which the child was taught that in

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY. - 239

"Adam's fall, we sinned all," was one of the primary books. The higher spellers were Dilworth's and then Webster's. Grammar was scarcely ever taught ; when it was, the text-books used were Murray's and Kirkham's Grammars. But we will not follow the description further, Those who have known only the perfect system of schools of the present day can scarcely form an idea of the limited capacity of educational facilities fifty or sixty years ago. There are many, however, still living in Morrow County, who can very clearly realize the above picture of the pioneer schoolhouse.

It may not be out of place to glance hastily at some of the early schoolhouses and teachers of Morrow County. In the Owl Creek settlement, as it was called, and what is now the southern part of Perry Township, Lawrence Van Buskirk taught school as early as 1817, in a small log cabin built for school purposes, near where Joshua Singrey lives. Isaac Morris was an early teacher in what is now Peru Township, and Benjamin Trux in Congress. In Gilead Township, some of the early teachers were Peleg Mosher, T. Randall, William Campbell, and Elizabeth and Martha J. Foster. Mrs. Mary Shedd taught the first school in the village of Mount Gilead. Arch. McCoy was an early teacher in North Bloomfield., John Gwynn is supposed to have taught the first school in Chester. Enos Miles was an early teacher in this section. A schoolhouse of the primitive type was erected as early as 1815, in Franklin Township, on the site of the Baptist Church, in the northeast part of the township. W. P. Cook and W. T. Campbell were among the early teachers in Franklin. Dr. Floyd and a man named Spears were early teachers in North Woodbury.

In addition to the public schools of the county, may be mentioned Iberia College, Hesper Mount Seminary and Alum Creek Academy. Iberia College is located at the village of Iberia, in Washington Township, and has been in operation a little more than a quarter of a century. It was started as a select school, and, having passed through all the grades of select school, seminary and academy, it finally became a college, endowed with all the rights and benefits belonging to such an institution. It will, however, be more fully written up in the chapter devoted to Washington Township.

Hesper Mount Seminary and Alum Creek Academy are both located in Peru Township. The former was opened in 1845. It is near the church of the Friends, and has generally been known as the "Quaker School." Alum Creek Academy is situated a little west of Ashley, and was founded in 1875 by Dr. Townsend. It is now conducted by Rachel E. Levering. A more extended history of these institutions is given in the chapter on Peru Township.

The following statistics are from the last annual report of the Commissioners of Common Schools, and will be found of interest to all friends of education:

Amount of school moneys received within the year:

Balance on hand Sept. 1, 1878 . . . . . . . .$22,697.90

State Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,096.70

Irreduceable School Fund. . . . . . . . .. . . . 1,625.56

Local tax for school and school.

house purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,174.34

Fines, licenses and other sources . . . . . . . 571.30

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $66,165.85

Amount of school moneys expended within the year:

Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$28,275.41

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,900.00

$30,175.41

Sites and buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,151.25

Interest on redemption of bonds. . . . . . . . 1,238.22

Fuel and other contingent expenses . . . . . 7,862.46

$11,246.92

Total expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $41,422.33

Balance on hand Sept. 1, 1879 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$24,743.52

Payment of Common School Fund of counties . . . . . . . 9,100.50

Received from counties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,189.10

Excess of receipts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,088.60

Section 16 School Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,844.51

United States Military District

School Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218.18

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,062.64

240 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

No. of youth (white and colored) between 6 and 21 years:

White, males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,084

White, females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,884

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,968

Colored, males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Colored, females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Whole number between 6 and 21 year,.. . . . . . . . . .6,016

Whole number between 16 and 21 years . . . . . . . . . .1,593

Number in United States Military District . . . . . . . . .2,273

Population of county in 1870 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18,583

Enumeration of youth in 1879 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,016

Per cent enumeration is of population in 1879 . . . . . .32

Number of townships in county . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Number of sub divisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Number of separate districts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Schoolhouses erected within the year (primary). . . . . . 1

Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $400

Whole number of schoolhouses . . . . . . . . .109

Separate districts, (primary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Total in county . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Value of school property:

Primary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$74,700

Separate districts (primary) . . . . . . . . . 90,000

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $164,700

Number of different teachers employed within the year

Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

Separate districts :

Primary, males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

High, males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Grand total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228

Average wages of teachers per month:

Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$36.00

Females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.00

Separate districts :

Primary, males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45.00

Females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.00

High, males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87.00

Number of different pupils enrolled within the year:

Primary, males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,347

females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,955

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,302

Separate districts :

Primary, males 383 ; females, 374 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .757

High, males, 121 ; females, 91 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

Grand Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,271

Average daily attendance within the year

Primary, males, 1,351 ; females, 1,232 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,589

Separate districts:

Primary, males 278; females, 260 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 538

High, males, 63; females, 56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Grand total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,246

A. R. Dunn Esq., in his report to the Commissioner of Common Schools, speaks thus of the schools of this county: "Morrow County has made very commendable advancement in the educational advantages afforded to her people, and, although the progress made in each succeeding year is not as great as is desirable, yet in the course of the last twenty-five years the improvement is very obvious. Much has been done by way of improving the appearance and comfort of the buildings erected for the use of the public schools, although a great deficiency in these respects still exists in many districts of the county. The graded schools and schools in special districts are well conducted, under the control of well-qualified and efficient teachers, by whose efforts the proficiency in the branches taught has been made very creditable, and by reason thereof the districts are supplied with better qualified teachers than formerly, and the standard of qualifications has been gradually "a and raised, from time to time, until the teachers schools of the county will compare favorably with other counties in the State.

"A great evil in our county, that requires a speedy remedy, is the many very small districts, enumerating but a small number of scholars, in many instances not half enough to make a school respectable in numbers if all in the district should be in daily attendance. In these small districts teachers are usually employed, not so much with a view to their qualifications as to their cheapness and to confer a favor on some relative, friend or neighbor. In such districts, usually, the teachers who are barely able to obtain fourth class certificates are employed. If these small districts could be combined or consolidated in such way as to make each district contain the necessary number of scholars to form a school large enough to generate a spirit of emulation among pupil, and

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 241

teachers, the tendency would be to make qualification in the teacher the chief object in their employment instead of low price and favoritism, and teachers of fourth class qualifications would find no VIM to impose themselves on the community.

"One of the main difficulties in the way of obtaining well-qualified teachers is the entire neglect on the part of many directors to make a high standard of qualifications a requisite for employment, it being sufficient, in the estimation of such directors, that a teacher have a certificate to enable him to draw the public money, no matter how low the grade. The only remedy for this evil is in the directors and the people in such districts."

A few extracts from the annual report of Hon. J. J. Burns, State Commissioner of Schools, appear to us altogether appropriate in this. connection, and we make them for the benefit of all who feel an interest in the education of the rising generation. He says: "How shall we cause our pupils to make the largest possible attainments in these foundation branches, and also have them, when they leave school, thirsting for more knowledge, and possessing trained mental faculties, so that they may acquire it, the organ of these faculties to be contained in a healthy body, while mind and body are under the guidance of correct moral principles? To avoid waste of time and labor is to be able to better do the work in hand, and to apply the savings to something beyond. A search for wastage is a highly practical thing, and economy here, a moral duty.

"I have often asserted that there is a wastage in having pupils spend time learning to spell hundreds, yes, thousands of words which they never have occasion to use outside of the spelling class, while probably the dictionary, which should be in constant use, rests in pensive quietness on the teacher's desk, if, indeed, there is one in the room. The meaning of words and their pronunciation are of far more moment than their spelling. The best text-books from which to learn these are the reader and dictionary; the best proofs of progress are correct oral reading an written compositions. In penmanship, we wan more drill in writing from dictation, in having the pupils put their thoughts or recollections upon paper rapidly and neatly. Copying that beautiful line at the top of the page with care and patience is good exercise, but some better gymnastic is required to fit the writer for hours of real work In one way or another, language rightly claims large share of the attention of the teacher. It is the grand characteristic which distinguishes man from the other animals, the most direct product of his inner consciousness.

"The child has begun the study of language before his school life commences. Learning to talk seems as natural as learning to laugh, or cry or play. But so much of knowledge and of the world is bidden in books, that a key must be found to unlock these treasures, and that key is reading-the power to translate the written word to recognize it as the graphic symbol of an idea before in possession, so that the ability the process will follow, and printed words become the source of ideas. As the pupil masters word and their meanings, he is getting into his possession the tools with which he may dig in books for further knowledge, make his own knowledge more useful to him as a social being, and secure a body for his thoughts, without which incarnation they are as little subject to control as the weird fancies of a dream. The art of silent reading deserve more attention in school-practice in grasping the meaning of a passage in the shortest possible time, and reproducing it with pen or tongue. But along with this, in its earlier stages, and for short time preceding it, is the oral reading exercise, wherein the reader must serve as eyes to the listener, so that they may, through his voice, se the printed page.

"The translation of a written sentence into spoken sentence is much more than the mere translation, in their right order, of the words of the written sentence ; and to do this well requires, besides the names of the written characters,

242 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

culture of voice, training of eye, quickening of emotion. To serve as medium through which others may know the printed page, catching the syllables upon the ear, is not low art. To breathe life into dead words, and send them into the depths of the moral and intellectual nature of the hearer, and that with power to convince, to arouse, to subdue, greater than if the hearer had been his own interpreter, is high art indeed.

"One very good result of increased attention to literature in the schools is the marked increase in the amount of wholesome reading-history, biography, travels, poetry, popular science, and the lessened demand for dime novels and other low fiction. Few questions are, in their bearing upon the future of our country, more important than this: What are the boys and girls reading ? I would not then have less time spent in our schools upon language, but teachers may well look into the subject, and see whether that time is spent to the best advantage.

"The public regard arithmetic, par excellence, as the practical study. It is the practical educator's strong tower, and we have it taught in season and out. Measured by any definition of the practical, as a means either to fit one directly for bread-getting in the common business of life, or as a means of mental culture and discipline, a large part of arithmetic, as found in our books, and taught from them, falls short. Instead of introducing at an early stage the science of geometry, we fritter away valuable time upon annuities, and allegation and progressions; and as for interest, one would think that mankind in general made a living by shaving each other's notes. Children begin early to develop the idea of number. It concerns matter of their daily life. The elemental steps of writing and reading numbers, or the symbols of numbers, naturally follow, and usually are not difficult of acquirement. But there is such a gap between the conditions needed for the ready learning of these things, and the more mature judgment, and that knowledge of business and the world demanded in the intelligent solution of ordinarily difficult problems in discount, and certain other branches of applied arithmetic. Back and forth, across this stretch, the boy's mind must swing like a pendulum, repelled by what it cannot comprehend, and by what it has grown tired of. He marks time when he could so readily oblique into some other study and march forward. Then, by and by, if these advanced parts of arithmetical science are needed, their acquisition would be needed. Meanwhile, the child may give increased attention to literature, and be learning interesting and profitable lessons about this world into which be has come, and in what body he came, and how to take care of it. While these priceless practical lessons are in progress, one can fancy that the arithmetic itself would enjoy the rest.

"In the time which can be saved, also, a few short steps could be taken in some other branches now much neglected. The reason and the practical mode for doing many things which are to be done in real life by the citizen, the man of business, the manager of a household, might be taught in the schools. Something of the nature of the materials which we eat, drink and wear, and economy in the buying and using, would be excellent lessons. If he is a benefactor of mankind who causes two blades of grass to grow where one grew before, the language does not furnish a name for him or her who shall cause the laboring man to know how to make one dollar produce the good results for which be must now expend two. No matter whether we regard the school as established primarily for the good of the children, or for the preservation of the State, we must admit that the most valuable result of all education is the building of good characters. This, to speak definitely, is to instill correct principles and train in right habits. Citizens with these "constitute a State." Men and women with these are in possession of what best assures rational happiness, the end and aim of human life."

The State Commissioner, in his report of 1878, upon the subject of "compulsory education "-a

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subject which is now receiving considerable attention in many parts of the country-says: "Concerning the right of State or Government to pass and carry into effect what are known as compulsory laws, and require parents and guardians, even against their will, to send their children to school, there does not appear to be much diversity of opinion. Concerning the policy thereof, dependent upon so many known and unknown conditions, there is the widest diversity. I can write no history of the results of the act of March 20, 1877, for it does not seem to have any. A great good would be wrought if the wisdom of the General Assembly could devise some means which shall strengthen and supplement the powers of boards of education, and enable them to prevent truancy, even if only in cases where parents desire their children to attend school regularly, but parental authority is too weak to secure that end. The instances are not few in which parents would welcome aid in this matter, knowing that truancy is often the first step in a path leading through the dark mazes of idleness, vagabondage and crime.

"Whatever may be said of young children working in mills or factories, youthful idlers upon the streets of towns and cities should be gathered up by somebody and compelled to do something. If- they learn nothing else, there will be at least this salutary lesson , that society is stronger than they, and, without injuring them, will use its strength to protect itself. While we are establishing reform schools for those who have started in the way to their own ruin and have donned the uniform of the enemies of civil societies, it would be a heavenly importation to provide some way to rescue those who are yet only lingering around the "camp."

The political history of Morrow County is somewhat limited in interest, as compared to older counties. In the early times, when in four quarters of Morrow belonged respectively to Richland, Knox, Delaware and Marion Counties, there was but little party strife, and the scramble for office very different to what it is at a later day, The office sought the man then, not the man the office, and people were more honest, or the temptation to evil less, than in this fast age An unfaithful "steward" was rarely heard any of the most lucrative offices were filled by appointment, and not by popular election, and, as a general thin-, by faithful and competent men, who discharged their duties without fear or favor.

But to take up the organization of political parties recalls a period several decades anterior to the formation of the county, and scarcely comes within the scope of this work. A few words upon the subject, however, may not be considered wholly out of place.

At the Presidential I election of 1824, the candidates for this exalted position were Henry Clay, of Kentucky; William H. Crawford, of Georgia , John Q. Adams, of 'Massachusetts, and Gen. Jackson, of Tennessee. These candidates had each his friends, who supported their favorite from personal motives and not from party consideration or party discipline. Presidential booms were not invented yet, at least not from political standpoints. At that election, Mr. Clay, though not the choice of the majority of voters in this section, was the choice of a majority of the voters in the State, but he was overwhelmingly defeated for the Presidency. Neither of the candidates had a majority of the votes in the Electoral College according to the constitutional rule, but stood, Jackson in the lead, Adams second, Crawford third and Clay fourth, the latter being dropped from the canvass when it came to the count. Upon the House of Representatives devolved the duty of making choice of President. Each State) by its Representatives in Congress, cast one vote. The choice fell upon Mr. Adams by the casting vote of Kentucky. 'Mr. Clay was Speaker of the House of Representatives, and it was doubtless owing to Ohio's influence that the Kentucky delegation was induced to cast the vote of that State for Mr. Adams instead of Gen. Jackson. By this little stroke of policy, Mr. Clay was

246 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

instrumental in organizing political parties that survived the generation in which he lived, and ruled in turn the destinies of the Republic for more than a quarter of a century. At the next Presidential election, party lines were closely drawn between Mr. Adams and Gen. Jackson, and the result of a hot and bitter contest was the election of the hero of New Orleans by both the electoral and popular vote. For several years after the political power and official patronage had passed into the hands of Old Hickory, parties were known throughout the county as the Jackson and Anti-Jackson parties. These, however, with a few changes and modification, became the Whig and Democratic parties, the latter of which has retained its party organization down to the present day, and is still one of the great political parties of the period.

The first election of any great political importance in which Morrow participated as an independent county was that of 1848, when Gen. Taylor, the hero of Buena Vista, and Hon. Lewis Cass were the Presidential candidates. Morrow County gave a large majority to the Democratic candidate, and, four years later, Gen. Franklin Pierce was elected President over Gen. Scott, the former receiving a majority of the votes cast in this county. When the next Presidential election rolled around (1856), a new party had sprung into existence, and, although then no larger "than a man's hand," was destined to wield a vast influence in the country and in its turn to rule it for a long period of years. In 1854, the Know-Nothing party carried the county, the first time since its formation that the Democrats had failed to carry it by several hundred majority. The dissolution of the Whig party followed the organization, in 1856, of the Republican party, which came into full power in 1860, and has since that time piloted the ship of state. With few exceptions, the Republicans, since their organization as a party, have carried off the "loaves and fishes" of offices, as shown by the following vote since 1860, the epoch from which we may date a new era in the political history of the country:

In 1860, the highest Republican majority in the county was 235; in 1861, the majority of Gov., Tod (Rep.) was 857; in 1862, the Democrats elected a Representative in the Legislature-other, majorities were Republican; in 1863, the majority of Gov. Brough (Rep.) was 609; in 1864, a Democratic Representative was elected, while other majorities were Republican ; in 1865, the aggregate Republican majority was about 500, and, in 1866, upward of 600 ; in 1867, Gov. Hayes (Rep.) had a majority of 475 ; in 1868 and 1869, the Republican majorities were from 400 to 600; in 1870, the Democrats elected a Representative, while the other majorities were largely Republican; in 1871, the county went Republican by some 500 majority; in 1872, it resulted similarly to 1870 ; in 1873, a mixed ticket of Democrats and Republicans was elected; in 1875, the majority of Gov. Hayes (Rep.) was 130, the Democrats electing Auditor, Probate Judge and Commissioner; in 1876 6, Republican majorities were from 200 to 350 ; in 1877, the majority of Gov. Bishop (Dem.) was 3, .while other majorities were Republican; in 1878, a Democratic Representative was elected, while other majorities were. Republican; in 1879, Republican by about 300; in 1880-we'll see.

From these figures it will be seen that the county, upon a full vote, is Republican in politics, although the Democrats now and then step in and elect a man. At present the county officers are thus divided politically: Clerk-D. L. Chase, Republican; Recorder-J. B. Gatchell, Republican; Probate Judge-W. D. Mathews, Republican; Auditor-S. Rosenthal, Democrat; Sheriff, D. C. Sanford, Republican ; Prosecuting Attorney-C. W. Allison, Republican ; Commissioners-G. W. Hershner, Democrat, and William Brooks and J. C. Swetland, Republicans; Surveyor-J. T. Buck, Republican; Coroner-Stephen Brown, Republican; Infirmary Directors-Hiram Payne, Democrat and N. Noble and E. C. Haskins, Republicans.

In conclusion of the political history, we present the following list of Representatives in the State

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Legislature* since the formation of the county and their political faith at the time of their election : George N. Clark (Dem.), 1852-53; J. J. Gurley (Dem.), 1854-55; T. S. Bunker (Know Nothing) 1856-57; David Reese (Rep.), 1858-61 (two terms); Joseph Gunsaulus (Rep.), 1862-65, (two terms); J. H. Rhodes (Rep.), 1866-67 ; J. M. Dann (Rep.), 1868-69 ; Col. A. H. Brown (Rep.) 1870-73 (two terms; T. E. Duncan (Rep.), 1874-77 (two terms); Allen Levering (Dem.), 1878-79 ; James Carlisle (Rep.), the present Representative. The county has four times represented the district in the State Senate, in the persons of John T. Creigh, 1854-55; Davis Miles (Rep.), 1858-59; J. H. Benson (Dem.), 1866-67; H. S. Prophet (Dem.), 1868-69; and once in Congess in the person of Gen. John Beatty.

The study of the railroad system of the country is one of exceeding interest, and holds unquestionably the front rank in modern improvements. There are but few occupations of any importance, perhaps not a single one, but it has radically affected. Agriculture, commerce, manufactures, city and country life, law, finance, and even government itself, have all felt its influence. Since the invention of railroads, or, rather, their introduction into the United States, a little more than fifty years ago, the improvements made in them almost surpass belief. From wooden rails over which cars were drawn by horses and mules, we have. to-day palatial coaches propelled by steam over steel rail tracks, with a velocity simply astounding, and with an ease scarcely equaled by any other mode of transportation.

At our Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, in 1876, the Pennsylvania Railroad had on exhibition a locomotive named the "John Bull," built in 1831, by George and Robert Stephenson, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. It was made about three years after Stevenson had built the "Rocket," the first railroad locomotive ever constructed. The "John Bull" was ordered bythe Camden & Amboy Railway, and stood in the Exposition,

* Furnished by Mr. George N. Clark.

to which it had not only worked its way, but had drawn several passenger cars of an equally venerable antiquity with itself, upon pieces of the original iron rails, rolled in England for the first construction of the road.

The first railroad in the United States was built in Massachusetts in 1827. It extended from the granite quarries of Quincy, a distance of three miles, to the Neponset River, and was operated by horsepower alone. In January, 1827, a second railroad was laid out from the coal mines of Mauch Chunk, Penn., to the Lehigh River, a distance of nine miles, and, with various, changes and additions, its whole length did not exceed thirteen miles. In 1828, the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company constructed a railroad from their coal mines to Honesdale, the terminus of their canal, and sent a commissioner to England, for the purchase of rail, iron and locomotives. In the spring of 1829 these locomotives arrived, and were the first ever seen in this country. In December, 1830, the first locomotive built in this country was finished at the West Point Foundry. Doubtless there are many young men still living, and in a vigorous state of manhood, who witnessed its completion. At but few eras within recorded history has the good fortune been afforded within the compass of a single life to witness such wonderful changes as those produced by the locomotive.

This first locomotive was, by a happy chance, called the "Best Friend," and was constructed for the South Carolina Railroad, from Charleston to Hamburg, in that State, under the personal supervision of E. L. Miller, who was a strong advocate for the use of steam power in. this early day, when its success was still problematical. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which was originally chartered in 1827, was in process of construction, and was ranked among the supporters of the claims of horse power. The first roads in the United States, viz., from the granite quarries of Massachusetts and from the coal mines of Mauch Chunk, used horse power, and these were then (1827) the only railroads in existence.

248 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

Mr. Miller had such a faith in the success of steam that he agreed to take the responsibility of the construction of this first locomotive, which, on trial, proved its efficiency. From a report made by the Commissioner of the South Carolina Railroad in 1833, another fact concerning this first locomotive appears, which is singularly suggestive. The Commissioner says: "The 'Best Friend' was accepted by the company and performed with entire success until the next summer, without a single day's interruption, until the negro who acted as fireman, being incommoded by the unpleasant noise of the steam escaping through the safety-valve, ventured on the experiment of confining it by pressing the weight of his body on the lever-gauge of the safety-valve, which experiment resulted in the explosion of the boiler."

Thus slowly, and with much precaution, did the people of this country take bold of railroads. In January, 1832, it was reported that there were nineteen railroads, either completed or in process of construction in the United States, and that their aggregate length was nearly 1,400 miles. Though Congress afforded no material aid to this new era of internal improvements-the land-grant system not having yet been invented-yet this same year it exempted from duty the iron imported for railways and inclined planes, and actually used for their construction. In 1840, it has been estimated that our yearly average of railroad construction was about 500 miles. In 1850, this average had increased to 1,500. In 1860, it was nearly 10,000, and, in 1871, it was stated that enterprises requiring an expenditure of $800,000,000, and involving the construction of 20,000 miles of railroad, were in actual process of accomplishment. In 1872, the aggregate capital of the railroads of the United States, which were estimated to embrace one-half of the railroads of the civilized world, was stated to amount to the enormous sum of $3,159,423,057, their gross revenue being $47 3,241,055.

As a matter of some interest to the reader of railroad history, we would mention the building of the Union Pacific Railroad, which may be termed the perfection of the railroad system in this country. The event, though probably still fresh in the minds of many, will, no doubt, in future years, become one of surpassing interest. The bill for the building of this road was signed by President Lincoln on the 1st of July, 1862, and, on the same day, he issued a call for 300,000 men to fight the battles of the Union. The idea of building the road was suggested by the generally felt necessity of a closer communication between the distant parts of the country. By the terms of the grant to the Union Pacific, the whole line, from the Missouri River to the Bay of Sacramento, was to be completed not later than July 1, 1876. The road was, however, completed, and the last tie-of polished laurel wood bound with silver bands-laid May 10, 1869, and fastened with a gold spike furnished by California, a silver one furnished by Nevada, and one of a mixture of gold, silver and iron furnished by Arizona. This ceremony took place near the head of the Great Salt Lake, where the roads-the Central Pacific, chartered by California, and the Union Pacific, starting from the Missouri River met. It was the culmination of the period of railroad growth, and had a poetry about it that was sublime and grand. By a preconcerted arrangement, the wires of the telegraph had been connected with the sledge used to drive the last spike, and the intelligence that the country had been spanned by the railroad was known at the instant of its accomplishment, at San Francisco and New York.

But to return to the early period of railroads. From 1830 to 1835, railroads in the East received a considerable impulse. Improvements of all kinds were being made in them, and, as the system developed in the older-settled States of the East, the Western people caught the fever, and, with a laudable ambition to give their own States a full share of the advantages thus attained by the Eastern States, they voted away large sums of money for the construction of roads. Ohio, as well as

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY -249

other Western States, took position early in favor of internal improvements. As to her first railroad, there are some conflicting statements. One of these statements is to the effect that a little road about thirty miles in length extending from Toledo into the State of Michigan, was the first built in the State. Another authority states that the first was the Cincinnati & Sandusky Railroad, and another, the. Little Miami Railroad, while still another authority claims the Sandusky & Mansfield Railroad. It was chartered as the Monroeville & Sandusky City Railroad March 9, 1835. The project had been agitated for a year or two before its friends succeeded in getting it chartered. Other roads followed in rapid succession in different parts of the State, and, as the years went by, finally reached the perfect system we have to-day.

The first completed railroad, in which the people of Morrow County took particular interest was the Cleveland & Columbus Railroad, now known as the "Bee Line," or the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway. From a published history of the road we extract the following: " The question of building the Cleveland & Columbus Railroad was agitated as early as 1835. A charter was granted March 14, 1836, for the purpose, as it states, of constructing a railroad from the city of Cleveland through the city of Columbus and the town of Wilmington to Cincinnati. Several amendments were made to the charter prior to the commencement of the work, among them that of relieving the company from any obligation to 'construct its road to or through any particular place.' Cleveland and Columbus were finally, after years of agitation of the question, settled on as the northern and southern termini, and work commenced in the fall of 1848. A corps of engineers and surveyors had, in the mean time run several lines between Cleveland and Columbus, and all necessary steps had been taken looking to a permanent location of the route. It was long a matter of doubt where the road would run; whether over the present line or further east, passing through Mount Vernon, and several surveys were made of both routes. It was finally located on the present line; preliminaries were definitely arranged, and work begun at both the northern and southern termini, as we have said, in the latter part of 1848 ; notwithstanding most of the country through which the road passed was new, the work was rapidly pushed forward, and, early in 1851, trains were running over the road."

In the years to come, it may be a matter of interest to some to know why this road did not come through Mount Gilead instead of passing two miles to the westward. One great reason, perhaps, was a feeling possessed by the people of Mount Gilead, somewhat akin to that of the old man who swore that

"-A line due north and south

Would strike his house from any place,"

and they stood back, believing the road would strike their town, or be compelled to come through it anyway. No inducements, we are told, were offered the company to bring their road this way, under that impression. Finally the company became a little stiff-necked, and determined to leave them out in the cold. Cardington made special offers, and, as both places could not very well be touched, Mount Gilead discovered, when too late, that she, to use a trite expression, was "left with the bag to hold and both ends of it open.?,

At the time of its completion, the Cleveland & Columbus Railroad was considered an enterprise of the greatest magnitude, and excited as much interest then, perhaps, as did that of the Cincinnati Southern, recently completed. In this enterprise Cleveland gave a celebration, to which she invited her southern neighbors (as far south as Columbus), just as Cincinnati did upon the completion of her southern road. This celebration took place at Cleveland in January, 1851, and, as a part of the proceedings, we give the following song, which was sung in honor of the occasion:

"We hail from the city-the capital city,

We left in the storm and the rain;

The cannons did thunder, the people did wonder,

To see pious folks on a train!

250 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

The iron horse snorted and puffed when he started,

At such a long tail as he bore;

And he put for the city that grew in the woods

The city upon the lake shore.

CHORUS-The beautiful city, the forest-tree city,

The city upon the lake shore.

The mothers ran out with their children about,

From every log cabin they hail;

The wood-chopper he stood delighted to see,

The law-makers ride on a rail!

The horses and cattle, as onward we rattle,

Were never so frightened before;

We are bound for the city that grows in the woods,

The city upon the lake shore.

CHORUS-The beautiful city, the forest-tree city,

The city upon the lake shore.

"From lake to the river, united forever,

May roads such as ours environ,

The forest, the queen, and the capital cities,

Like network all woven with iron.

Magnificent trio-bright gems of Ohio

Enriching the State evermore.

Hurrah! for the city built up in the woods,

The city upon the lake shore!

CHORUS-The beautiful city, the forest-tree city,

The city upon the lake shore."

Thus was completed the Cleveland & Columbus Railroad. Its Cincinnati connection was made via the Little Miami until the building of the Springfield, Delaware & Mount Vernon Railroad. This road was completed early in 1854, making connection at the town of Delaware with the Cleveland & Columbus road. The Springfield, Delaware & Mount Vernon was never completed further east than Delaware, and from some cause or other, seems to not have paid very well, and became involved in financial difficulties. Unable to stem the tide of its misfortunes, it was sold in January, 1862, and purchased by the Cleveland & Columbus Railroad, for $134,000. Some time after, an arrangement was made, or consolidation effected, with the Cincinnati & Dayton Railroad, and thus a direct route was formed to Cincinnati, via Springfield and Dayton, which was considerably shorter than that by way of Columbus. A line had previously been established by way of Galion and Bellefontaine to Indianapolis, but, upon the opening of the new route to Cincinnati, direct communication was also made with Indianapolis by way of Cincinnati. Thus it was that the road obtained the title of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway.

From the report of the Railroad Commissioner, in 1868, the road at that time had 25 stations, 9 engine-houses and shops, 45 engines, about 800 cars of all kinds, and 1,315 employes. The main line, in 1868, had 138 miles of track, 29 miles of double track, and Springfield Branch, 50 miles. Average cost-of road, $34,000 per mile.

The following extract, pertaining to the route between Cincinnati and Cleveland, is from a publication made in August, 1872: " Six magnificent sleeping-cars, to cost $55,000 a piece, and to be unequaled in style, comfort and convenience, are being built at the factory at Philadelphia, for the Short Line route between Cincinnati and Cleveland, and will be on the road in a few days." A week or two later, the Cincinnati Commercial said: "The Empress, one of the fine sleepingcoaches now being built, made its first trip Out on Monday, at 9:30, in charge of Capt. F. Long' over the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway, to Cleveland. The exterior of these coaches is plain, and they are provided with rotundas at each end, and balconies with iron railing, and a patent safeguard over the steps. The gates close securely, and travelers desiring a whiff of fresh air and a view of the country while they enjoy their Havanas, can regale themselves while sitting on the verandahs."

A, railroad enterprise that has, perhaps, created even more excitement, and interested the people of Morrow County more than the "Three C's & I,". is what was formerly known as the "Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway," but is being pushed forward at present, with a fair prospect of early completion, under the title of the Ohio Central Railroad. This project was agitated as early as 1868-69, and meetings held in neighboring towns and sections of the country, at which the question of a railroad

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 251

through this county from the southeast to the northwest was thoroughly discussed. During the summer of 1869, the question of a road from Pomeroy to Toledo began to assume a tangible form. A number of meetings were held in towns along the proposed route, and considerable enthusiasm manifested in the enterprise. Alluding to this road, which had been incorporated as the Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway, the Mount Gilead Sentinel said: "Here is an important matter right upon us for the active consideration of our town and county. There is a very good prospect that the road will be built, at and with so fine an opportunity of having it brought through our town as an earnest effort on the part of our citizens will insure, we should press energetically forward in the matter without delay."

In the fall of 1869, a survey of the route was commenced, and the county papers announced the fact that "work had actually commenced; that a corps of engineers had been employed at each end of the route; one corps leading south from Chancey, and the other north from Newark to Toledo, and that the citizens of Morrow County will know within sixty days, weather permitting, where the road will run." The Columbus Journal in May, 1870, has the following: Our local columns yesterday morning contained a notice of the letting of a contract for the construction of 118 miles of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway, being so much of the line as lies north of Trimble Township, Athens County, and south of Bucyrus, Crawford County; passing through or near Millerstown, Oakfield, New Lexington, Rehoboth and Mount Perry in Perry County; Newark, Greenville, Alexandria, Johnstown and Hartford in Licking County; Sparta and Mount Gilead in Morrow County, and Bucyrus, and other points, in Crawford County. The contractors, A. M. Huston & Co., are gentlemen whose financial and business reputation afford a sure guaranty that the work will be prosecuted with energy." And upon the same subject, the Sentinel says, editorially: " We have the pleasure of announcing that the Board of Directors of the Atlantic & Lake Eric Railway, at their meeting in Columbus on last Thursday (May 5), concluded a contract with A. M. Huston & Co., for the construction of so much of the above road as lies between the Athens County line and Bucyrus, by which the road is to be completed ready for trains as far as Newark by the 1st of January, 1872, and to Bucyrus the 1st of April following. We also learn that the board is now negotiating for the construction of the road from Bucyrus to Toledo, and confidently expect that portion of tile line to be under contract within a few weeks at furthest."

On the 22d of June, some three thousand people assembled near New Lexington, to witness the breaking of ground, and amid great enthusiasm and excitement, the ceremony of throwing the first shovelful of dirt was performed by the President, Col. D. W. Swigart. The work of grading now commenced in earnest, and everything appeared favorable for an early completion of the road. A movement was set on foot looking to the organization of a company for the purpose of erecting a furnace on the grounds of the Great Vein Mining Company, and so energetically pushed on to success that it was believed at the time that it would be making railroad iron within six months. In February, 1872, a contract was let to Michael Moran and W. V. & A. M. McCracken, of Bucyrus, to grade the road from the latter place to Toledo. The work was to commence as soon as the weather would permit, and be completed during the summer. A contract was awarded in July, 1872, to B. B. McDonald & Co., of Bucyrus, to put iron on two sections of the road from Pomeroy, north. A contract was made about the same time for the bridge across the river at Bucyrus.

With varying progress the -work on the road moved along through the summer and fall. The following extract is from a letter of the President to a gentleman in Toledo, under date of December 6, 1872: "A carefully revised estimate of the cost of construction, made with more than one

252 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

half the road-bed between Toledo and Ferrara, in the very heart of the 'Great Vein' coal-field completed, shows an excess of reliable stock subscription, applicable to that portion of the work, of more than $200,000 over estimated cost. That stock subscriptions have not been more rapidly collected, and the work vigorously prosecuted during the past summer is the result of a well-considered conclusion, arrived at in the early part of the season, that with the prevailing prices of iron and equipment, the interest of the company would not be subserved thereby. It has now been determined by the board to collect the subscriptions and push forward the work as fast as possible, with a view to its completion the coming summer."

But with all the favorable circumstances attending the enterprise, the first year or two after it was inaugurated, it dragged along rather slowly, and in September, 1875, a meeting was held at Bucyrus, when the following was brought to light, in its history: "That the road was in imminent danger; that it had been proposed to sell portions of it, and this would virtually sacrifice Wyandot, Crawford, Morrow and other counties; that this proposition was defeated in the board, for the present; that the road was in debt, and that if something was not done within thirty days, the project would have to be abandoned." In view of this, it was proposed to organize a joint-stock company to finish the road upon terms similar, though not quite as favorable, to those secured by the Ohio Construction Company-that this joint company be formed by a subscription of $450,000, to be apportioned among the counties along the line as follows: Lucas, $100,000; Wood, $25,000 ; Seneca, $35,000 ; Wyandot, $15,000; Crawford, $50,000; Morrow, $50,000 ; Licking, $50,000 ; Fairfield, $20,000; Perry, $25,000; Athens, $25,000; Meigs, $55,000; total, $450,000." The following was to be the the terms of subscription: "The undersigned hereby severally subscribe the sums set opposite their names to the capital stock of the Toledo & Pomeroy Construction Company, to be paid in installments not exceeding 10 per cent each month, as may be re quired by the Board of Directors. No installment shall be payable until $400,000 of reliable subscriptions shall have been made."

The Bucyrus papers of March, 1876, referring to the progress of the work on the road, mentions the fact that two locomotives have been bought, and arrangements made for the third, for "our new railroad." Fifty miles of the road was to be completed, and the cars running over it by June. The 1st of September, 1876, it was announced that fifteen cars were being painted and finished at the Bucyrus Machine Works, to be used for the purpose of delivering rails on the road, and that the rails for the division from Moxhala to New Lexington would all be delivered within two weeks.

With all these cheering prospects, however, some four years have passed, and the completion of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway is yet an, achievement of the future. But during the winter of 1879-80, it seemed to take a new lease of life, and work upon it at the present writing is being pushed forward, with such energy as to warrant the belief that the entire road will be finished in as short a time as circumstances will allow. During the years of 1877 and 1878, it indulged in a kind of Rip Van Winkle sleep. In the latter year (March 26) it was sold, and bid off for $106,668 in trust for certain bondholders. Previous to the sale of the road, its name and title had been changed from Atlantic & Lake Erie Railway to the Ohio Central Railroad. This change of name was made for the purpose of selling the bonds to better advantage than could be done under the old name and title.

The time was taken up mostly in talk and examination of the route, until the beginning of the present year. On the 24th of January, 1880, a meeting was held at the court house, in Mount Gilead, at which Col. Brice, of Lima, and Col. Lemert, of Bucyrus, were present, and set forth the plans of the new company, and its demands upon Morrow County, which were, substantially, an additional $20,000 to complete that portion of

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 253

the road lying in the county ready for the ties. The following committee was appointed to wait on the property owners for the purpose of raising the required amount, viz., Dr. L. B. Voorhies, W. C. Wilson, D. C. Mozier, W. M. Carlisle J. H. Pollock, Allen Levering, M. B. Talmage, Elzy Barton, Minor Herod, William Hazen, S. T. Galleher and James Fulton.

The Ohio State Journal, some weeks later, contained the following in regard to the road: "Mr. Howard, General Manager of the Ohio Central Railroad, and Master of Construction for the northwestern extension of that road from Bush's Station to Fostoria and Sandusky, is now in the city, making contracts and directing the building of the road, which is to give a greater outlet to the exhaustless resources of the Sunday Creek Valley coal fields and iron-ore beds. Mr. Howard is a member of the firm of Brown, Howard & Co., of Chicago, the lessees of the road, who have contracted with the New York syndicate for the construction of the northwestern line. While Col. Pease is the General Superintendent in operating the road, Mr. Howard has the general management of the interests of his firm and the syndicate in both the road and the great coal lands recently purchased. He is now directing the work of the contractors and arranging for the laying of the iron, the work being already in progress, and to be pushed forward with all possible dispatch from Bush's Station, on the Sunday Creek Road, to Fostoria. Forces of workmen have been put at work on the grading at different points, starting both from Bush's Station and Fostoria, and they will work toward each other. There are about twenty-five miles of new road to be built in Morrow County, and the contract for this has been let to Mr. McLean, of Michigan, who has begun operations, and has the facilities for pressing the work to the most speedy completion. The grading on on the old Ohio Central will soon be made ready for the ties and iron, and laying of the track will soon be begun from Bush's Station and Fostoria in about two weeks. The company will use steel rails exclusively, and thirty-eight car loads of steel rails have already arrived at Bush's Station, to be used on the southern end. The iron will now be received in daily consignments, and twelve hundred and fifty will be on hand at Bush's Station by to morrow, and fully as much furnished at Fostoria next week. Mr. Howard expects to have the northwestern branch of the road in running operation by August next. The company have secured what local aid they want, have an abundance of capital, and are prepared for everything as they go along for the immediate construction of the road."

Such is the progress of the read at the present time. As we have said, everything is favorable, and the probabilities are that it will now be completed without any further delay. A large number of workmen are engaged along the whole line, and doubtless but a short time will elapse before Morrow County can rejoice in having another railroad.

Another railroad enterprise that created considerable excitement in its day, and withal, interested the citizens of this county, was the Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Continental Railroad. Strong hopes of ultimately building this road was for a time entertained, and about the year 1872 its prospects seemed quite as good, if not even better than the Atlantic & Lake Erie. In the early part of March, 1868, a certificate of incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State, for a new railroad, to be known as the Mount Vernon, Mount Gilead & Marion Railroad. The corporators were 0. Bowen, W. Peters, J. J. Williams, T. J. Wallace, T. H. Holden, of Marion; L. B. Harris, J. S. Trimble, J. M. Briggs, David Richards, of Mount Gilead; E. W. Miles and D. B. Kinsell, of Chesterville; Samuel Israel, W. T. Bascom and L. Harper, of Mount Vernon ; with a capital stock of $500,000. A meeting was held at Mount Vernon, soon after, at which the building of an east and west railroad was favorably discussed and strongly advocated, to connect at Marion with the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis, and the Atlantic &

254 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

Great Western Roads. This project seemed a feasible one, and for a time was looked upon as a certainty. Meetings were held at Mount Vernon, Chesterville, Mount Gilead, Johnsville, Marion, and the liveliest interest was manifested in the enterprise.

The title of the road was finally changed to Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Continental. A meeting was held at Bellville April 12, 1870, at which meeting was present Judge Richards and J. A. Beebe, of Mount Gilead, who addressed the meeting on behalf of Morrow County, showing the advantages and importance of the road to Bellville, Mount Gilead, and all other places along the route. By a unanimous vote, Bellville and Jefferson Township were pledged to subscribe $80,000 in stock, and the right of way through the township, and to double the amount of stock if necessary. It was stated, that by a recent survey of the line, it was found that nature had so well graded the way, that a road could be built from that place to Pittsburgh on an air line nearly, with but one grade of thirty five feet per mile, and most of the way with but sixteen feet per mile. Referring to this meeting the Sentinel said: "We would advise the people of Morrow County to foster and encourage the location and construction of the Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Continental Railroad and thereby, if possible, secure the great enterprise. Although our citizens, and the people along the line of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Railroad, have subscribed liberally for the building of that road, and have nobly done their duty by way of individual stock subscription, the building of the Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Continental Railroad does not interfere or deter, in the least, the building of the Atlantic & Lake Erie Railroad, as it, if ever built, will pass through Morrow County from south to north, and the Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Continental from east to west, passing through a different tier of townships, thereby benefiting the immediate interests of different villages, and the individual interests of an entirely different community. This great thoroughfare contemplates passing through the State of Ohio from east to west, entering our State in Columbiana County at Archertown ; thence proceed through Columbiana, Carroll, Stark, Tuscarawas, Holmes, Ashland, Richland, Morrow, Marion, Hardin, Auglaize and Me Counties, making Omaha, for the present, its west ern terminal point." This was a railroad en prise of stupendous magnitude, and there is lit room for wonder in its failure. It seems almost as if the bold projectors had taken for their mot the idle boast of Puck, that he would "put a girdle around the earth." But that it meant business ness was indicated by meetings being held in many,: parts of the country along the proposed route, and, the utmost enthusiasm manifested. A company, was organized in Indiana to carry the road on, through that State, under the title of "Celina,, Huntington & Chicago Railroad." In the fall of 1870, this road and the Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Continental were consolidated, and afterward known as the "Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Continental & Chicago Railroad," and the following gentlemen were elected Directors of the new company: L. T. Hunt, of Kenton, Ohio; David Richards, of Mount Gilead, Ohio; J. M. Osborne, of Bellville, Ohio; A. Waddle, of Columbiana, Ohio; J. G. Chamberlain, of Leetona, Ohio; George Hardisty, of Malvern, Ohio; John H. Page, Jr., of Pitts. burgh; Clifton Wharton, of Pittsburgh; John Studebaker, of Bluffton, Ind.; John Roche, of Huntington, Ind.; William Sturgis, of Rochester, Ind.; William Elmendon, of Knox, Ind.; T. A. E. Campbell, of Valparaiso, Ind.; and the board organized by electing L. T. Hunt, President; T. A. E. Campbell, Vice President; George S. Bell, Secretary; and David Richards, Treasurer. At the election of the above board, representatives from all points along the line were present, and seemed fully alive to the importance of the enterprise.

But "the best-laid plans of mice and men aft gang aglee," wrote the poet of Bonny Doon, and with all the interest with which the-enterprise had hitherto been nurtured, it, died out, and for a year

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 255

or two nothing was heard of it. In the spring of 1872, it awoke to life, and we find the following in the Fredericktown Independent of that date: "We take pleasure in informing our people that the western end of the Pittsburgh & Continental line,, as far east as Marion, Ohio, is under contract. The route to be taken from Marion east is still undecided. Energetic measures are being taken by the citizens of Bellville and Johnsville for its location in that section of country, but as that course will cut off all support from Mount Gilead, besides being the longest and most difficult route, the attempt will undoubtedly fail if the citizens of Mount Gilead, Chesterville and Frederick town will take prompt action in the matter. The route via Mount Gilead is much the best route of the two. It takes in Claridon, Denmark, Mount Gilead, Chesterville and Fredericktown, runs through Amity and crosses the C., Mt. V. & C. Railroad, at some point near Orville, Wayne Co., Ohio. Now is the. time for the people long the line to work. Mount Gilead has another railroad on hand, but we are reliably informed that the citizens of that city will do their full share." This seems to have been one of the last struggles of the expiring company, which finally died a natural death. Morrow County is still without an east and west railroad, and whether the Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Continental will ever be resurrected is somewhat problematical.

In 1874, a certificate of incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State for the "People's Freight Railway Company," and again hope sprung up, that Morrow County would yet have an east and west railroad. The route was much the same as that of the Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Continental, and it is not altogether improbable that the new company was founded upon the old one. The Union Register of September 9, 1874, gives the proceedings of a convention of the People's Freight Railway Company of Pennsylvania, held upon a circular of the Cheap Transportation Company of New York. The object of the convention was to perfect an organization in the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, for the purpose of surveying a line for a cheap freight railway between New York and the Mississippi River, and arranging for the incorporation of a People's Freight Railway Company; Ohio division to be under the laws of this State. The line of the road was to pass through this State, as before stated, upon the old route of the Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Continental line. A report, supplemented with a recommendation from the committee on the order of business, was made, in accordance with which a committee was appointed in each State along the proposed line of the road, to obtain subscriptions for the purpose of perfecting a preliminary survey of the People's Freight Railway Company, along the entire route from New York to the Mississippi River, and branches diverging to Chicago and St. Louis. A central committee was also appointed, with headquarters at Pittsburgh, to which the committees were to report.

When the company was incorporated in this State the names of the following gentlemen appeared upon the certificate as incorporators : J. C. Devin, P. H. Updegraff, George Rogers, Samuel Israel, James Boyd, David Richards, John C. House and W. A. Coulter. They incorporated with a capital of $100,000, with the privilege of increasing the amount to $15,000,000. Says the Mount Vernon Banner upon the subject: "Morrow County has upon the subscription-books her full quota for the preliminary survey of the road, and Knox County has within a few dollars of the estimate made for that county. We hope all the counties from the Ohio River to Marion, Ohio, (from which point surveys have been made), will it once subscribe their proportion, and then the surveyors will be put in the field at once. Every farmer is interested in this road, because it will reduce the cost of the transportation of his products to the East more than one-half Every merchant is interested because it will reduce the rate of freight on his goods in the same ratio, and certainly every unprejudiced consumer must wish its completion and success, as it will reduce the

256 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

price of commodity in proportion to the reduction of transportation, 75 per cent of which comes out of his pocket." As a proof of the interest taken in the enterprise by Morrow County, the Union Register has a report of a meeting held in Mount Gilead, on the 3d of October, 1874, a few weeks previous to the publishing of the notice copied above from the Banner, the object of which was to decide upon some plan by which a fund might be raised to defray the expenses of a preliminary survey through this State, the route of the People's Freight Railway Company. A committee of six was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Charles Shedd, Henry Talmage, Joseph Pollock, J. S. Trimble, Dr. Voorhies and Henry Snyder, to wait on the citizens and solicit subscriptions to said funds. An executive committee, consisting of three members, was appointed, viz., Henry Talmage, Joseph Pollock and J. S. Trimble.

This, like a number of railroad projects that have been agitated, never amounted to anything beyond what is given above. The enterprise finally died out, as did the Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Continental line a few years previously.

An extension of the Pittsburgh & Marietta road on through to Coshocton and Lima by way of Mount Vernon, Mount Gilead and Marion, over the old Owl Creek route, was another of Morrow County's railroad enterprises. For some time this project was agitated, and the interest manifested excited hopes in the minds of its supporters that it might eventually be built. But other enterprises came up in which the people felt a livelier interest, and this road was suffered to go by default. The Cambridge & Lima road, and the Wheeling, Lima & Chicago road were also projects that created light breezes for a time, but they were short-lived, and never received much encouragement from this county.

Last, if not least, in the railroad history of Morrow County, is the "Short Line," a trunk route from Mount Gilead to Levering Station on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad, and which, as its name indicates, is a short line, being some two and a half miles in length. This road was agitated several years before it became an accomplished success. The act for the present road was passed by the Legislature in the spring of 1878, but it was not until April, 1879, that the Mayor- issued his proclamation for an election, at which election a vote should be taken for or against the road. The election resulted favorably to its building, and work commenced at once. It was pushed forward without unnecessary delay, and opened to the public for travel and traffic on the 1st of May, 1880. It is in good running order, with eight trains passing back and forth each day between Mount Gilead and Levering Station, for the accommodation of passengers and freight, thus proving very beneficial to the town and surrounding country. We shall allude to the road again in the history of Gilead Township.

Before the building of the Short Line, the little town which is its western terminus, was known as Gilead Station. After the road got into operation, it became necessary to change the name of Gilead Station, as it seemed a little out of place to have the same name at both ends of this great through route. So it was changed to Levering, in honor of a prominent citizen of Mount Gilead. Soon after this change of name, the following incident occurred, which was related by the gentleman who took part in it. He boarded a Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis train at a station south of Levering, some fifty miles or more. When the conductor came around, he handed that important functionary his ticket upon which was written (instead of printed) " Levering Station." The conductor took the ticket, looked at it, turned it over, looked at it again, then looked at the passenger' from whom be had received it, then back at the ticket, stuck it in his punch, but took it out without punching it, looked at the passenger again, and finally blurted, "where in the his Levering Station ?"