HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 75 ship in the office. The partnership of McAfee & Ream was discontinued in September, 1839, and the paper went in the name of S. H. McAfee, though John H. Shearer had a half interest in the establishment. In August, 1840, Wm. F. Moeller bought the interest of McAfee for a younger brother, Alexander Moeller, who, not liking the profession, gave it up in a few weeks, and his interest was purchased by A. T. M. Filler. In September, 1840, the firm name was changed to J. H. Shearer & Co., and afterward to Shearer & Filler. This partnership continued until the first of February, 1845, when Mr. Shearer purchased the interest of Filler and became sole proprietor. The paper from 1835 to 1845, was published under the name of Western Post and Perry Democratic Advertiser ; but, on the 1st of November, 1845, Mr. Shearer having purchased a new outfit, changed the title to Western Post. The Post from the time of its first establishment until 1840, was a neutral paper, after which time it espoused the cause of the Whig party. In February, 1847, Mr Shearer leased the newspaper and office to James W. Shirley and John W. Bugh, for the period of two years. Mr. Bugh retired in November, 1848, whereupon Mr. Shirley filled out the unexpired term of the lease, which closed in February, 1849, at the expiration of which time, J. H. Shearer again assumed control of the office and continued the paper until 1855, when he sold the establishment to E. S. Colborn, who merged the paper in the Perry County American, under the title of the Perry County American and Somerset Post. This was the last of the Post as a distinctive newspaper, though it had lived for more than a quarter of a century—a long existence for a country newspaper, in a small interior county, in those days. In August, 1836, E. J: Ellis, who had been publishing a small sheet at New Baltimore, Fairfield County, Ohio, moved his printing office to Somerset and began the publication of the Perry Democrat. This was the first Democratic paper published in the county, and the first time that a second paper of any kind. had been ventured. In 1837, when Samuel Medary bought the Western Hemisphere office., in Columbus, and began his noted career with the Ohio Statesman, he sold to E. J. Ellis a Peter Smith press and some other materials, and the consequence was an enlargement of Ellis paper and a partial change in. name. It now became the Ohio Courier and Perry Democrat. In 1838 Mr. Ellis sold his printing office to John W. Davis and his brother, Henry M. Davis ; John W. had just been elected Clerk of the county; but Henry was the principal editor. Neither of them had any practical knowledge of the printing business. They had not been publishing the Democrat many months when along came a practical printer, Isaac Pepper, who first went into the office as foreman, and in less time than a year the whole concern passed into his control. In 1839 Mr. Pepper modified the title of the paper, and it became the Somerset (Ohio) Advocate and Perry Democrat. Thus the Courier was dropped finally and forever. About the first of April, 1841, Henry M. Davis became sole proprietor of the Democrat and Advertiser (as named by Pepper) until September, 1842, when Robert F. Hickman, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, bought the office and changed the name of the paper to the Flag of Seventy-Six. This paper was published by Mr. Hickman about two years, when he sold 76 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.. the office to Daniel Kelley. Mr. Kelley had control of the paper about a year, when it passed into the hands of Hiram Shaw, who run it a year or so, when he disposed of the concern to James Sheward, who had charge of the paper for two or three years, when, in 1849, he sold the establishment to E. J. Ellis, who ten years before had been editor and proprietor, and, as before stated, the founder of the first Democratic paper in the county. Ellis now bought new type and some other materials, enlarged the paper slightly, and gave it a very good appearance. He also changed the title to Perry County 'Democrat. Mr. Ellis was a good practical printer and successful business man, but he was not much of an editor, and made no pretentious to being a writer. But, at this time, Walter C. Hood, a talented and marvelously well informed young man, was much about the office, ostensibly as a compositor or foreman, but also in the capacity of editor and writer. Hood had abundant resources just where Ellis lacked, and the latter was shrewd enough to to avail himself of the splendid talents of the former. Ellis was printing a good and fine looking paper, and making money, too, just as the mutterings of the county seat removal thunder developed into a fearful storm and threatened political parties and newspapers, and seriously disturbed for a time many of the industries and enterprises of the county. Early in June, 1851, E. J. Ellis sold the Perry County Democrat office to Vanatta, Forquer & Co., of New Lexington, with E. S. Colborn as editor and business manager. The first issue was made by the new firm June 12th, 1851. The paper was continued by Vanatta, Forquer & Co. for something over a year, when the office was sold to E. S. Colborn and W. C. Hickman ; the latter continued only a few months, and then E. S. Colborn became sole proprietor. Mr. Colborn continued the publication of the Democrat until November, 1853, when the paper was discontinued. During all these years, since the establishment of the paper in 1836, it and its legitimate successors, down to the last issue of the Democrat in 1853, were the Democratic organs (so called) of the county, except for a few months in 1853, when the Perry County True Democrat disputed the claims of the Democrat to be so considered. In fact, the founding of the True Democrat, and party divisions and disaffections from various causes, were the principal reasons for the discontinuance of the Democrat. In the foregoing, a history is given of the original Neutral, then the old Whig, and of the old Democratic paper of the county. Attention will now be given to newspapers of a less extended character, confining what is said, for the sake of convenience, and classification, to Journals published in Somerset. Those published in New Lexington, will be considered in a body by themselves, as they are principally of a later date, and will naturally come in after the account of those in Somerset is completed. Later yet those of other towns will receive attention. In December, 1854, the old Perry County Democrat office, was set up by E. S. Colborn, in a new building, in the town of Somerset, and the first issue of the Perry County American was made January 3rd, 1855, and the paper was published by Colborn for precisely two years HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 77 when, the 1st of January, 1857, the American was discontinued, and the office materials removed to New Lexington. E. S. Colborn, who had been a Democrat, united, in 1854, with the new Republican party, and the Perry County American newspaper, was consequently Republican in politics, and supported Salmon P. Chase for Governor, in 1855, and John C. Fremont for President, in 1856. The Perry County True Democrat was established May 1853, printed on a new press, and with new type. A. McElwee & Co., appeared as proprietors, and John It O'Neill and Walter C. Hood as editors. The True .Democrat was bought and started in the Somerset interest, was intensely Democratic and claimed to be the true organ the of party in the county. It flourished for one campaign ; but as soon as the election was over, there was a great reaction, and the paper sickened and dwindled. It was, for a few months run by Dr. Martin Adams, but, early in 1854, the Perry County True Democrat died, quickly following its old antagonist, The Peru County Democrat, to the grave of newspapers. In 1855, the materials of the old True Democrat office came into the posession of James Sheward, and he commenced publishing a paper under the title of Democratic Union. A few months afterwards, he became associated with Dr. Martin Kagay, in the publication of the same paper, which partnership continued until the close of the Presidential campaign of 1856. The Democratic Union was continued with slight intermissions, during the years 1857 and 1858. Soon after the October elections of 1858, George M. Dittoe purchased the office. Mr. Dittoe published the Democratic Union regularly, until the spring of 1864, when he sold it to Charles E. Magruder. Mr. Magruder run the paper about a year, and then sold it to Charles D. Elder, who continued its publication in Somerset, until May, 1866, when he removed the offIce and paper to New Lexington. About the 1st of January, 1857, John H. Shearer repurchased from E. S. Colborn, the materials of the Somerset Post office, with the exception of the news type._ Mr. Shearer purchased new news type for his office, and began the publication of the Somerset Review, a neutral paper. In 1858, Shearer sold the Review office, to W. C. Hickman, who run the paper a few months, and then discontinued it. The Semi-Weekly Flag, a War Democratic paper, so termed, was published in Somerset, for a. few months, during the summer of 1861, by Martin Kagay. The Somerset Advocate, a neutral paper, was established in the fall of 1866, and was published about two years, by Martin Kagay. The Advocate was specially deYoted to the development of mineral and railroad interests. The Somerset Tribune was founded by J. F. McMahon, in the fall of 1871. It was the first nine column paper in the county. It continued to be. published in Somerset, until March, 1873, when it was removed to New Lexington, and became a Republican paper. The Somerset Press, purchased by an incorporated company, with M. J. Mains as editor and publisher, was established in the spring of the year 1873. 'In the spring of 1879, the ownership passed into the hands of W. P. Magruder, as editor and proprietor, under which arrange- 78 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. ment the Press is still running. For the last few years, the Press has advocated the principles of the Greenback National party. In 1848, James Taylor bought an office in New Lexington, and commenced the publication of the New Lexington Visitor. The press was an old Ramage, and the materials much worn. The Visitor was published a year, and then discontinued. The later numbers were printed at the office of the Somerset Post. The Visitor was an independent Journal. The Democratic: organ was established in New Lexington, December, 1853, by M. A. Boling. It was democratic in politics, as indicated by its name. The Organ was published about one year, and then discontinued. The New Lexington Locomotive, with P. Bastian, proprietor, and James Taylor, editor, succeeded the Democratic Organ. The Locomotive was independent, with an undisguised preference for the Republican side. The paper had an existence of about two years. The Democratic Sentinel began its existence in May, 1859, and was published, with some slight interruptions, about eighteen months. P. J. Ankeny, John R. Meloy, Robert G. Mossgrove, at different times proprietprs. The Sentinel was a Democratic paper. The New Lexington Ambrotype, by E. S. Colborn, began publication, early in 1857. It was continued two years, when the office passed into the hands of P. J. Ankeny, who started the Democratic Sentinel. In october, 1859, E. S. Colborn came into possession of the old Ambrotype office, and, having purchased a new outfit of news type, started the Perry County Weekly. This paper was published by E. S. Colborn, under the above name, about ten years. It had one or two short suspensions, and, for a few months in the summer of 1868, was leased to and run by Dr. Jerome Oatley. In the spring of 1870, the name of the paper was changed to Mineral Region News. E. S. Colborn continued to publish the paper under this name until August, 1872, when he sold the office to the New Lexington Publishing Company. The Perry County Weekly, Mineral Region News, and Ambrotype, were Republican in politics. The Mineral Region News, for a few months previous to its sale, advocated the election of Horace Greely, founder of the N. Y. Tribune, to the Presidency. The company who purchased the office, at once began the publication of the Perry County Republican, with Robert F. Hickman as editor and business manager. The .Perry County Republican was printed seven months and then discontinued, or merged in the New Lexington Tribune. The Democratic Union was brought from Somerset to New Lexington, by Charles D. Elder, in May, 1866, and continued by him until December, 1867, when he sold the office to Butler, Duffy & Meloy, who changed the name to Democratic Herald. Butler sold his interest in a few weeks. to Lewis Green, and the paper was published by Duffy, Green and Meloy, until the spring of 1870, when the establishment was sold to George Henricks. After a few months, Henricks sold to the old firm, Duffy, Green & Meloy. The Herald was continued by this firm until in 1872, Duffy purchased Green's interest. The paper was then published by Duffy & Meloy, until December 1st, HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 79 1876, when Lewis Green and J. R. Meloy bought out Duffy. Since that time the Herald has been published by Green. & Meloy. The Herald is Democratic in politics, and, with the exception of a year or two has been the only Democratic paper in the county. The New Lexington Tribune, by J. F. McMahon, commenced in March, 1873, having at that time united with the Perry County Republican, and become the Republican organ of the county. It has been continued from that time until the present, without change of name or proprietor. The Perry County Democrat was commenced on September 11th, 1879, by John H. Marlow & Co. It was published by this company ten weeks, and then sold to E. S. Colborn & Co., being E. S. Colborn & Sons. E. S. Colborn had been the editor from the commencement. The Democrat was published by E. S. Colborn & Co., and E. S. Colborn. until March, 1881, when it was discontinued. A number of campaign and otherwise transient sheets, were published at different periods. The Plain Dealer, in Somerset, by John Donavan, about the time of the war with Mexico the Perry County Co., Republican, by Taylor, McMahan & Co., in New Lexington, in 1857 ; and the Democratic Union, by Martin Kagay, in New Lexington, in the winter of 1857, are among the most notable of these, and were, for the time being, influential Journals. The Morning Call, by Otto Colborn, at New Lexington, was a sprightly little daily, published during the Perry County Teachers' Institute, in August, 1877. Also the Daily Tribune, by J. F. McMahon, during week of county fair, in 1878. The Perry County Vidette was commenced in Junction City in 1880, by James Haynes, published about one year, then discontinued. The Shawnee journal was commenced in 1878, by Cook & Davy, was published about one year, and then discontinued. The Shawnee Banner was commenced early in 1880, and is still published. The Thornville News was commenced in 1881, by George Kalb, and is still published. The Somerset Visitor was commenced in 1881, by William Mains, published about six months, and then discontinued. The Independent was commenced in New Lexington in 1881, by Duzenberry & Moore. After a few months Moore sold out to Duzenberry, who still publishes the paper. The Corning Times has been published about one year by Sopher & Weaver. A weekly newspaper, printed in another place, has been for a short time published in Junction City. A Mr. Cullinan, of Zanesville, bought Lewis Green's interest in the New Lexington Herald in 1881, and the paper has since that time been published by Cullinan & Meloy. It is believed the foregoing includes all the Journals which may be fairly classed as newspapers. The Collegian, a monthly periodical, was, for a year or two, about 1854, and '55, published at St. Joseph's College. The Collegian was not 80 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. devoted to politics or news, but discussed, chiefly, educational and religious topics. Perry county was not a very promising field for newspapers, and but little money was made in the business, until within the last few years. In the first place, the county was small, and only the northern and central portions partially settled. Yet later, for various causes, the newspaper business was not prosperous. But within the last ten years, some of the papers have been very well sustained. Every person who is conversant with all the facts will readily admit that no county is more indebted to newspapers for improvement and advancement than is the county of Perry. The newspapers, as a class, have labored for her interests, in season and out of season, with an assiduity and faithfulness well deserving mention, and not without a high degree of success. The early papers were small, contained little or nothing of local news, and had no mail facilities to amount to anything. They were delivered by carriers, commonly called " post-boys," who rode through the country on horseback and blew loud blasts from a bugle to announce their coming. Foreign news was considered a greater feature than local news, and they were usually much devoted to political literature. The first page matter did not differ much from the first page of the county paper of to-day. There was the inevitable story and poem, and short miscellaneous articles ; the fair sex and small boys had to be placated, and there was a suspicion among old-time editors that even men sometimes read those things behind the door or in a corner. The " New Year's Carrier's Address" was a feature of the early newspapers. The office " Devil" negotiated with the " home poet" to furnish the material, and the address was printed and sold for the benefit of his Satanic Majesty aforesaid, who was ever an accommodating little chap, and would cheerfully sell for either a dime or a dollar. The first newspaper (The Western World and Political Tickler) was very much of a curiosity. It was a dingy sheet, bitterly personal, and a part of the reading matter was set in large poster type. After a year or two there was a new outfit, in part, and the paper presented a more artistic appearance, and the overwhelming, pretentious title was dispensed with. One of the most remarkable things connected with the newspapers of Perry is the fact that John M. Laird, one of the early printers, who published a paper in Somerset in 1822, is still living (or was a short time since), and is editor and proprietor of the Greensburg Argus, at Greensburg, Pa. Alford, the original printer of 1821, was in Somerset a few years ago and searched diligently for a few old friends that he knew and loved so long ago. The history of the newspaper press of a county is in many ways a fair index to the connty itself. The newspaper history of Perry is an eventful one, as any person will concede who gives it anything like a careful perusal. The newspaper world may be likened to a stage, and the various journals have their entrances and their exits, like the characters in a play ; and all—good, bad, or indifferent—strut their brief hour, and sooner or later bow and retire. Very few of all the newspapers named are in the play or battle of life to-day ; and what is a HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 81 more serious thought, many of those who wielded the pen or scissors have passed on to the unseen land, and know newspaper wars no more. The newspapers which hold the stage to-day are, indeed, few in number compared with the many which have been, but are not, and only appear as spectres or shadows behind the scenes, while the real play or fight of newspapers goes on. The time will come of course, however remote, when the journals so active on the stage now will make their several exits, and, " gathering their drapery about them, lie down to pleasant dreams," or join the spectral column of worthies marshaled by the senior— Western World and Political Tickler—and, unknown and unseen, flit through the halls and corridors of the active newspaper stage, gazing in silence upon the ways and works of editors and newspapers to the present era unnamed and unborn. - 11 - 82 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY CHAPTER XI. RAILROADS. CINCINNATI, WILMINGTON AND ZANESVILLE RAILROAD.—The General Assembly of 1850-51, enacted a law chartering the Cincinnati, Wilmington and Zanesville Railroad Co., which proposed to construct a road from Morrow, in Warren county, on the Little Miami Railroad, through the counties of Clinton, Fayette, Pickaway, Fairfield, Perry and Muskingum to Zanesville. The counties through which the road was to be made, were authorized to take a certain amount of stock in the enterprise, provided a majority of .the people favored the measure and would so vote at a specified general election. All of them except Perry did, in fact, vote and subscribe stock ; and it would doubtless have done likewise, had there been anything like agreement as to the route through the county. There was great diversity of opinion, and a majority of the people voted in opposition to the measure of subscribing stock as a county. A large minority voted in favor of stock, leaving the directors to select the route afterward ; but a majority could not be obtained under these circumstances. The friends of the two principal routes, which were the New Lexington or Rush Creek Valley, and the Somerset route, each raised about one hundred thousand dollars, conditioned that the road be made on a specified line. The Board of Directors had various meetings to consider the matter, but they appeared to hesitate, or were reluctant to decide ; and it was not until September, 1852, that they, at a regular meeting at Zanesville, Ohio, formally decided to locate on the New Lexington or Rush Creek Valley route. Thus was at last settled a question upon which no little time, labor and money had been expended by a large number of persons in Perry county. Work was commenced on the road in the spring of 1853, and was prosecuted throughout that season with considerable vigor and energy, after the manner of railroad building in those days ; but it was not until the summer of 1854, that the cars first reached New Lexington from the west. There was for several months a transfer of passengers and mail at this place, from car to stages, which run temporarily between here and Zanesville. But it was not long until the tunnel, three miles east of New Lexington, was done and the east end of the road completed, since which time the cars have run regularly between Zanesville and Morrow, the entire length of the line. The road passed out of the hands of the original stockholders long ago, and has been under various management ; but it was never so well equipped, as well managed, nor did so much business as since it became a part of the Pan Handle system. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 83 The completion and opening of a railroad was quite an event in those days, and thousands of persons, men, women and children, gathered to see the first train come in. Excursions for. several years along the line were very frequent ; the people of the fiat counties along the western part of the line, would come up into the rolling hills of Perry, and the people of Perry and eastern Muskingum would go down to the plains of Pickaway and Fayette. The novelty of this in time passed away, and the people learned to look upon the railroad and all its advantages, as one 'of the common, every-day things of life. A MUSKINGUM VALLEY DEPOT. SCIOTO AND HOCKING VALLEY RAILROAD. —The old Scioto and Hocking Valley was chartered by an enactment which became a law in the winter of 1819, Newark and Portsmouth being given as the terminal points, and certain counties named, through which the road was to pass. Perry county was not named, or included in this original charter ; but at the legislative session of 1850-51, the law was so amended as to authorize the location of the road through Perry, Hocking and certain other counties named, provided the directors of the company thought it best to do so. In December, 1852, a certificate was filed with the Auditor of State, increasing the capital stock of the company already organized, one million dollars, making the capital three millions. The final location of the road was determined by a meeting of the directors held at Ports- ' mouth in the winter or spring of 1853, and the route through Perry, instead of Fairfield or Pickaway, was adopted. The Fairfield county interests were very strongly pressed ; but the Perry county men, backed 84 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. by the great coal deposits, carried the day and went home triumphant. Eli A. Spencer, then a citizen of Somerset, being present at Portsmouth, telegraphed the news of the location to Somerset in this characteristic and pithy manner : " T. B. Cox, Jr.: " Scioto and Hocking Valley Railroad located on the Perry county route. God and Liberty. E. A. SPENCER." The people of Somerset and vicinity were much elated at securing the location of the Scioto and Hocking Valley. There was an impromptu but great celebration in honor of the event, which lasted nearly all night. Immense bonfires were made, tar barrels burned, speeches delivered, songs sung, and every demonstration of joy was made. The result was scarcely expected, and when assured was almost overwhelming. The people of the northern and western parts of the county went to work, without delay, to obtain stock subscriptions : and there was subscribed along the line in Perry county, the sum of about one hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars ; of this sum about one hundred and seventy-two thousand was expended upon the road before the work ceased. That part of the line between Portsmouth and Jackson C. H., was completed in 1852, or early in 1853, and the part of the line between Jackson C. H. and Newark, the northern terminus of the road, a distance of ninety miles, and which had been surveyed and located by J. W. Webb, chief engineer, was now let to Seymour, Moore & Company. This firm consisted of Thomas Seymour, late Chief Engineer of the State of New York, a practical. railroader, engineer and builder ; James Moore of Pennsylvania, who was also an experienced railroad man, and George A. French of Dunkirk, New York. This firm sublet the entire line. Ward and Taylor of New York State, took the tunnel contract near Middletown, and began work upon the same about the first of April, 1853 ; Fink and Dittoe of Somerset, took three miles of the line to build, including the deep cut at Somerset. This firm consisted of Adam Fink and Henry Dittoe. They broke ground on their contract in February, 1853, and worked a large force of men and horses for six or eight months, when they were compelled to cease by reason of financial embarrassments. Fink and Dittoe sublet their northern section to John Sheridan, father of Gen. P. H. Sheridan. This section was finished by Mr. Sheridan. The next eight miles north were taken by W. S. French & Co. This firm consisted of Walter S. French of Dunkirk, New York, and T. Spencer Stillman of Wethersfield, Conn. They commenced work in April, 1853, and employed on an average about one hundred and sixty men and horses, and completed and turned over their part of the line in May. 1854. A. II. Mills of the State of New York, and Samuel Aiken of Pennsylvania. had about three sections of this light work in the county, which they completed. James McArdle, late of New Lexington, had a section or two in the neighborhood of Thornville. The names of a few other sub-contractors are not remembered. In the fall of 1853, and before the work on the cut at Somerset and the tunnel at Middletown was anything like completed, Seymour, Moore & Co. became greatly embarrassed. They were unable to HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 85 sell their bonds, and failed to pay their sub-contractors on their estimates of work. Some of the sub-contractors suspended work in 1853, others having more faith worked on until 1854 ; but one by One they succumbed, until W. S. French & Co.,' who had taken a new contract in Vinton county, were the only ones at work along the line, and they were dependent upon local subscriptions, where they were at work. Seymour, Moore & Co. did everything in their power to retrieve their fortunes and pay their sub-contractors ; they negotiated a purchase of iron sufficient to lay the track 0f twelve miles between Jackson C. H. and Hamden, the latter being on the Cincinnati and Marietta railroad. It was confidently hoped, that by building this. extension of twelve miles, and forming a junction with the Cincinnati and Marietta railroad, that new credit would be secured, and that the bonds of the company would sell at a fair price ; but these hopes were not realized. With the failure of Seymour, Moore & Co., the Scioto and Hocking Valley Company broke down and were unable to pay the interest on bonds outstanding, and other liabilities. In 1857 the mortgagees tiled a petition in the Court of Common Pleas of Perry county, praying for a foreclosure, which was finally accomplished in 1864, J. W. Webb being special Master Commissioner in the sale of the road, and the trustees of Arcade Bank at Providence, Rhode Island, became the purchasers at the sum of four hundred and eleven thousand dollars. The purchasers at this judicial sale, subsequently sold all of the line between Portsmouth and the track of the Cincinnati and Zanesville road in Perry county, to the Cincinnati and Marietta Railroad Company. It is believed that the Arcade Bank would have sold the whole line to the Cincinnati and Marietta Company, had it not been for the special efforts and influence of J. W. Webb, who hoped to secure some future benefit to the original stock subscribers on the northern end of the line. That part of the line reserved by the trustees of the Arcade Bank, was held by them until December, 1869, when it was sold to the Newark, Somerset and Straitsville Railroad Company. It must not be supposed that the Scioto and Hocking Valley Railroad Company did not, between the years 1854 and 1861, make strenuous efforts to revive their credit and push on the road to completion. They made many efforts, both in this country and Europe, and were on the very point of succeeding through London, England, capitalists, when the country became involved in the great civil war, which suddenly closed all negotiations. An agent of London capitalists had been sent over here to investigate the road property and general conditions, and he made a highly favorable report ; but it all went for nought when Fort Sumter was fired upon, large contending armies raised, and Great Britain acknowledged the Confederate States as a belligerent power. NEWARK, SOMERSET AND STRAITSVILLE RAILROAD.—This company was incorporated in 1869, and having purchased so much of .the road-bed of the old Scioto and Hocking Valley as lay between Newark and the line of the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad, proceeded to business in a short time for the construction of the new road. Work was begun in a small way, upon the northern chid of the line in 86 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 1870, but it was not. until the spring of 1871 that work was commenced on the deep cut in Somerset, the most difficult part along the route. Meanwhile the road had been leased to the Baltimore and Ohio for a period of twenty years, and the task of its completion was henceforth pushed with all the energy that capital and skill could command. Work upon the deep cut at Somerset and the tunnel near Bristol went on uninterruptedly during the fall of 1871, and the winter of 1871-72, and in the latter year the whole line was completed to the town of Shawnee, the southern terminus of the road. In making the new road, the old road-bed of the Scioto and Hocking Valley was used from Newark to a point a mile or two north of the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad, whence the new road turned abruptly to the east, running almost parallel with the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley track, crossing the same at Wolf Station, (now the town of Junction City,) then running up, a water-course to the tunnel, near Bristol, and through it over on to the head-waters of Monday Creek, and up Shawnee Run to Shawnee, where the road terminates. The building of this road was instrumental, either wholly or in great part in the making of the new towns of Glenford, Junction City, Dicksonton, McCuneville and Shawnee. The road has had a large coal carrying trade ever since its construction, and its passenger business has not been inconsiderable. The sequel proved that J. W. Webb, Esq., was right in his prognostications. Though the stock subscriptions paid to the old Scioto and Hocking Valley Company were irrevocably lost, the road-bed resulted in serving as a basis for the Newark, Somerset and Straitsville, and brought a railroad to the people of Thorn, Hopewell and Reading townships, which they might not otherwise have secured, and certainly not on such favorable terms. STRAITSVILLE BRANCH OF THE' HOCKING VALLEY.—This is a railway about twelve miles in length, reaching from Old Straitsville and New Straitsville in Perry county to Logan in Hocking county, where it intersects the main line of the Hocking Valley. This branch road was the result of large investments in mineral lands, by several companies, in the neighborhood of Old Straitsville—New Straitsville not being in existense at that time. The Railroad Company was incorporated in 1869, and the road constructed and cars running in 1870. It is one of the most important twelve Miles of coal road in-the whole country. The output of coal from New Straitsville has been the largest from any one point tributary to the. Hocking Valley Railroad, and the passenger and other freight traffic of the road has been very considerable. One effect of this road has been to build up the new and large town of New Straitsville, and to more than quadruple the population of Old Straitsville. ATLANTIC AND LAKE ERIE.—When capitalists began to invest their money in the coal regions of Straitsville and Shawnee, a number of enterprising and public spirited citizens of New Lexington, who knew something of the geology of the coal measures, and also enlightened by several openings in the "great vein" on the waters of Sunday Creek, HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 87 came to the conclusion that the great seam reached its greatest maximum in the Sunday Creek Valley, and lay in a solid block under the valleys as well as the hills, and must, therefore, be equal to, if not superior, to any other coal section of the country. These wonderful coal deposits could be of no great use or value without a railroad to reach them, and how to accomplish this indispensable object was the next question. Both a northern and southern outlet was highly desirable, if not absolutely essential. Hence a railroad map of the State was examined, and it was discovered that there was a section of country from Toledo to Pomeroy, not already supplied with railroads, to any great extent, through which a through line might be built, taking in New Lexington and the great Sunday Creek Valley coal region on its way. Hence the origin of the Atlantic and Lake Erie Company. The company was duly organized and incorporated in 1869, and the towns and country all along the line of the proposed road thoroughly stirred up upon the subject. Stock books were opened everywhere, and two or three corps of surveyors set to work to explore and locate the line. Stock was subscribed liberally, almost all along the line. The installments necessary to complete the surveys and for other preliminary purposes, were collected and disbursed, and everything appeared to go on swimmingly. The first line surveyed from New Lexington north, was through the townships of Clayton and Madison, of Perry county, and by way of Brownsville, Licking county, to Newark ; but there were some heavy grades on this route, stock subscriptions did not come in very satisfactorily, and the city of Newark, especially appeared very lukewarm as to the success of the great enterprise. Consequently, the surveyors were put upon the line by the way of Bremen, Rushville, Pleasantville, Millersport and Hebron, which left Newark off the line of the road. It has been stated, and probably with a good foundation, that this demonstration was at first intended as a feint ; but the people of the eastern part of Fairfield county received the explorers and surveyors so cordially, and went to work so promptly and raised such liberal amounts of stock that, together with a favorable report of the surveyors as to this route, converted the feint into a reality, and secured the great thoroughfare on this line. Had the road been located and made on the first route surveyed, it would have accommodated a greater portion of the people of Perry county, and the change of line, which circumstances seemed to render imperative, was regretted at the time by the projectors of the road and nearly all of its friends in this county ; but the directory builded wiser than they knew, for the new line made a good outlet for coal to Columbus, which the first proposed line did not, and it was the easy and desirable Columbus outlet that first resurrected the road after its unfortunate collapse in 1877-78. Had the road-bed of the Atlantic and Lake Erie been made on the first surveyed route from New Lexington north, it is possible that the subsequent history and condition of the road might have been very different from what it now is. The line was more costly through Perry county than any where else, and the private subscriptions were altogether inadequate to the expense that must necessarily be incurred. To meet this difficulty a number of Coal or Mining companies, so called, had been organized and their 88 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. stock placed upon the market. Among them were "The Great Vein Company," "The Sunday Creek Valley Company,: 'The Hurd Company," and various other ones. These companies subscribed heavily to the stock of the Railroad Company, and as fast as stock was sold, a large proportion of the money thus obtained was paid to the Railroad Company, and expended upon the tunnels that had to be made in order to reach the great vein region. Ground was "broke" upon the Atlantic and Lake Erie line at New Lexington, June 22d, 1870. The day was one of great pomp and magnificence. A large meeting was held in Kelley's Grove, at a point now within the corporate limits. Speeches were made by Charles Follett, of Newark, Ohio ; D. B. Swigart, of Bucyrus ; Darius Talmadge, of Lancaster, and by various other gentlemen. Thomas Ewing, Sr., who had intended to be present and speak, but was unable to attend, sent a carefully written address; which was read at the meeting. The meeting was extraordinarily large, and its proceedings were telegraphed to leading newspapers in all parts of the country. The ceremony of "breaking, ground" took place precisely where the track is now laid, a few rods north of Water street. A few weeks later, work was commenced upon the tunnel, one and a half miles southeast of New Lexington ; and a little later upon the one at Carter's Summit, near Oakfield ; but money was not very abundant,, and the work proceeded slowly. Work progressed all along the line from Perry county to Toledo, during the years of 1871-72 and 1873, and when the great financial panic struck the country, the road-bed was nearly completed from the tunnel near New Lexington to the northern terminus of the road. Had not the financial revulsion come just when it did, the bonds of the road could doubtless have been sold at a fair price, and it could have been finished and equipped by its original owners. As it was, strong efforts were made, and iron bought and laid on a portion of the road, but all of no avail. The name of the road had meanwhile been changed to The Ohio Central, but neither this nor the new management to which the stockholders entrusted its fortunes, made any perceptible change for the better. The company had one old wheezy engine and one car, which plied between New Lexington and Moxahala—to which latter place the road had been finished in 1874—irregularly in the years 1875-76 and 77, but at last gave it up altogether, and the old engine was thrown off the track near the tunnel, where it lay for a long time, a monument of the former impecuniosity and bad tortunes of the now famous and rich thoroughfare, which will soon reach from the Ohio river to the Lakes, passing nearly through the center of this great State. The track had been laid by the old Ohio Central Company, from the crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio, west of Newark, to Moxahala, but only that part between the latter place and New Lexington, had been put to use, and that, with very insufficient equipments, as stated above. The company could not go on with the work, could not dispose of its bonds, could not meet its outstanding liabilities, and, in March, 1878, the entire property, franchises and privileges of the road, from Toledo to Pomeroy, were sold at Judicial sale, and thus passed out of HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 89 the hands of the original stockholders forever, property upon which over two millions of dollars had been expended. Parties from the East became the purchasers, who sold so much of the road as lies between Granville, Licking county, and Chauncey, in Athens county, to a syndicate, who organized a company for the construction of a road from Columbus to the Sunday Creek Valley, intersecting the Ohio Central Line, at Bush's Station, Fairfield county. COLUMBUS AND SUNDAY CREEK VALLEY.—This company, in the course of a few months, put the line under contract, and, in the latter part of 1878, or January '79, the contractors got to work. The principal job was the tunnel, at Carter's Summit, near Oakfield. This tunnel is almost sixteen hundred feet long. Early in 1880, the tunnel and whole line. was finished, and the cars running from Columbus to Corning. The company or syndicate, about this time decided to complete the entire line from Bush's station north to Toledo, and changed the name of the road and cars to The Ohio Central. OHIO CENTRAL.—It is understood that the organization of this new company included new men, and heavy capitalists of the East, in addition to those who had been interested in the Columbus and Sunday Creek Valley. Work was pushed vigorously along the northern end of the line, and early in 1881 the cars were running between Corning and Toledo, as well as between Corning and Columbus, intersecting at Bush's Station, now Hadley Junction, in Fairfield county. In the fall of 1880, an extension of the Ohio Central, from Corning, in Perry, to near Oxford, in Athens county, was begun, and also a switch, diverging from the main line, six or eight miles in length, up the west branch of Sunday Creek, to Buckingham and Hemlock, which extension and switch are both finished, and the cars are running over them. The company has also commenced work upon the southern end of the road, between Oxford, in Athens county, and Pomeroy, in Meigs county, on the Ohio River, and this extension will be finished during the year 1882, and the cars running regularly between Toledo and Pomeroy. The Ohio Central Railroad and its predecessors, have made the towns of Corning, Moxahala, Rendville, Hemlock and Buckingham, and developed an immense coal trade, in the "Great Vein" Region. The road now ships about three hundred cars daily, and it expects to ship six hundred or more per day, when more shafts are sunk, and more mines opened, and a greater number of coal cars, and the requisite additional rolling stock added. The passenger traffic is good now, and will be greatly augmented, when the road is completed through to the Ohio River, and connection made with the southern system of roads, to the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, which will surely be done. The Atlantic and Lake Erie, the forerunner of the Ohio Central, was organized and set on foot by men residing at New Lexington, Perry. county, Ohio. They, of course, sought the counsel and aid of men all along the line of the proposed road, and in the organization and management of the several mining companies, without the aid of which the road could have made no progress, they solicited and secured the co- - 12 - 90 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. operation of men residing in various parts of the country. Whatever may be the future success and gigantic operations of this great railroad, it is but simple justice to state in this volume, and let the fact pass down to future generations, that the road had its origin in the minds of New Lexington men, and was pushed by them with unusual energy, in the direction of final and complete success, until crushed by the great financial revulsion of 1873, which ruined so many enterprises, and crushed so many people. The Ohio Central now proposes an extension of a branch line from Rendville or Corning, through Bearfield township, to McConnellsville, Morgan county. There is, also a projected line of railroad from Bremen, Fairfield county, by the way of Maxville, Perry County, to Chauncey, Athens county, to be called the Monday Creek Valley. The Cleveland, Connotton Valley and Straitsville Railway. Company, also proposes a line from McLuney, or Crooksville, Perry county, on the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley, by way of Moxahala, crossing the Ohio Central here, to Straitsville, or elsewhere in the "Great Vein" region. A road is also talked of to come by way of Uniontown, Muskingum county, and Saltillo Rehoboth and New Lexington, in Perry County, to intersect the "Great Vein" Coal region; at some point between the Ohio Central and the Newark, Somerset and Shawnee roads. It is also thought that a road will be made from Thornport or Glen-ford in Perry county, by way of Mount Perry and Uniontown, to intersect the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley, at or near Roseville. There is also the proposed Bellaire, Shawnee and Cincinnati Railway, which is designed to pass through the "Great Vein" coal section of Perry county. New Straitsville, Shawnee and Corning, are all sure to be in some way united by rail, and other roads, now unthought and undreamed of, will doubtless make their appearance sometime in the swiftly coming years. The very desirable and highly valuable coal deposits in Clayton township, are sure to eventually bring a new road, and the limestone of Hopewell, Madison, Reading and Clayton, will be in good demand in the not distant future. Short lines and switches too numerous to be conjectured, must inevitably be made, as they are gradually demanded, to reach\ after the iron ores and coal situated more or less remote from the main lines. This state of things will ultimately make the county, and especially the principal mineral sections thereof, a network of railroads, the like of which exists in but few parts of the world. Since the foregoing was written, the Columbus and Eastern Railway Company, has surveyed a line and placed fifty miles under con, tract. The surveyed line is by the way of Millersport, Thornport, Glenford, Chalfant, Mount Perry, Uniontown and Saltillo, to Selby's Pass, a short distance east of New Lexington. Further than that the road has not yet been located. It is also announced on what appears to be good authority, that the Hurd Iron and Coal Company have decided to build, in the next eight months., a railroad from McLuney to Buckingham, passing through the possessions of the Hurd Company. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 91 CHAPTER XII. POLITICAL MATTERS. At the time the county of Perry was organized, James Monroe was serving his first term as President. and not long after was re-elected, practically without opposition. He was, as president, probably the most universally popular of any man that ever held the office, and during his term of service, the old federal party, which had been vigorous and influential in the earlier days of the Republic, ceased to exist as an organization, and its light went out. Many of the talented sons of old Federalists, had united with the Democratic or Republican party of that day (it was called by both of these names) and when the Presidential campaign of 1824 came on, all the candidates, Clay, Jackson, Adams and Crawford, were of this party, held the same political faith, and the struggle which ensued, though memorable in the history of the country, was a war of factions, and not between two great political parties, advocating different doctrines upon great public questions. Jackson was very popular in this county, and when Adams was elected by the House of Representatives, though Jackson had the highest electoral vote, his (Jackson's) popularity and strength increased, and he carried the county in 1828 and 1832, by good round majorities, and the modern Democratic party, modern as compared with the parties previous to 182o, became strong and dominant in Perry county. It should be remembered, however, that the Whig party, by which name the opposition to Jackson eventually became known, was strong and powerful in the country, and there was from the beginning to the dissolution of that organization, a strong and vigilant minority of that party in this county. Clayton, Madison and Harrison were Whig townships, and sometimes Reading and Monroe, by small majorities. Thorn, Jackson, Pike and Saltlick were the heavy Democratic townships, and the others gave small Democratic majorities. This was the status of political parties in the county from 1828 to 1853, a period of twenty-five years, and includes the time in which the Whig party lived, moved and had a being. The Democratic majority through all these years was from six to eight hundred. The year 1854 was one of political changes in Perry county. The old Whig party was expiring, the Democratic party was, in a measure, disintegrating, the new Republican party was forming, and all this was complicated by the so-called Know Nothing movement. The result was, the Democratic and Republican vote was pretty evenly balanced in the county. In the succeeding year, 1855, Salmon P. Chase, the Republican nominee fdr Governor, received a majority of three hundred over his antagonist, Hon. Wm. Medill, who was Governor and a candidate for re-election. In 1856, James Buchanan, the Democratic 92 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. candidate for President, had a majority of about four hundred over John C. Fremont, the Republican candidate, while about four hundred Yotes were cast for Millard Fillmore, the so-called American candidate. In 1857, Henry B. Payne, the Democratic nominee for Governor, received a majority of about three hundred over Salmon P. Chase, the Republican nominee. From 1859 to 1863, the Democrats continued to carry the county by majorities ranging from two to seven hundred. In 1863, when there was a strong soldier vote in the army, John Brough, the Republican nominee for Governor, received a majority of one hundred over Clement I,. Vallandigham, the Democratic nominee. In 1864 the Republicans carried the county by a small majority at the October election, but in November, George B. McClellan, the Democratic candidate for President, received a majority of twenty-five over Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate. In 1865, the Democrats had a majority of about one hundred on the head of the ticket. The Democratic majority was gradually increased, and from 1869 to 1881, the Democrats carried the county on general issues by majorities varying from two hundred to eight hundred. Of late years, the Greenback or National party has cast a considerable vote, sometimes aggregating five or six hundred. The Prohibitionist party has also kept up a small vote, probably never exceeding one hundred in the county.. Though the Democrats had a majority in the county, the Whig leaders who were shrewd and popular men, succeeded in being elected to many of the local county offices, until county conventions were invented, or rather imported from the East. This was about. 1835. From this time forward, the Whigs were out maneuvered and overpowered, and with few exceptions, were obliged to take back seats, and the convention ticket was put through. Thomas J. Maginnis was the first to make a successful break. He had received the Democratic nomination and been elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney in 1841, and was before the convention for re-nomination in 1843. J. Manly Palmer, a shrewd Yankee from the East, was also before the Convention, and the contest was a warm one. Palmer received the nomination by a majority of one or two votes only. This created a tremendous row. Maginnis and his friends complained of the improper filling of vacancies from Monroe and Saltlick townships, whereby Palmer men were seated in place of Maginnis men. After the convention was over, Palmer and Maginnis both made speeches outside to large and excited crowds. Maginnis proclaimed that he was still a candidate, and would go before the people for endorsement. Thus began one of the most furious political contests ever waged in Perry county. The county was canvassed over and over again by both contestants, who were good speakers, and Palmer was noted as a political wire-puller. Maginnis, in opposition to the party paper and central committee, made a canvass that surprised his friends and almost astounded his enemies. He was a splendid political orator for the times, and would speak for. three hours at a stretch. Palmer also did his best, but from the first appeared to be depressed and apprehensive of failure. Election day came, and Maginnis was successful by a majority of two or three hundred. The Whigs had a candidate, Henry Lovell, who received several hundred votes, but the majority of the Whigs voted for Maginnis. It was indeed a memorable local HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 93 canvass. This was only an episode, however, and for years the convention ticket was elected. Once, Wm. Spencer, a Whig, was elected over L. M. Closs for Prosecuting Attorney. The county seat question finally came in to disturb the political elements, and convention candidates of dominant parties were not always elected. The Republicans elected their entire county ticket in x855, and again in 1863 ; and these were the only years in which they did so. In several other years, and as late as 1881 , they succeeded in electing a part of their ticket. The Republicans elected Representatives in 1855 and in 1863, when they also had a majority on the general ticket ; and they elected the Representative in 1879, and re-elected him in 1881, when the county was heavily Democratic on the genral ticket. No candidate of a Whig convention was ever elected to that office after the days of party conventions. There were speeches by candidates for Congress and others, of course, previously ; but political campaigns on a large scale came in with the memorable one of 1840, when General Harrison was the Whig nominee for President in opposition to Martin Van Buren. The Whigs held a large meeting at Somerset, then the county seat, and the old hero of Tippecanoe was present and made a speech. Other distinguished speakers were also there. There was a free dinner, and the meeting was very large. The dinner was spread, and the speeches ,made, 1n a grove a little south of town, near the place now occupied by the Sheridan family residence. Some of the Democrats evidently feared the influence of the presence of the old hero, and induced an old German soldier of the war of 1812, who probably did not comprehend what he was doing, to go before a magistrate and make oath that he pulled General Harrison out of a hollow log at the battle of Tippecanoe. This is a specimen of the electioneering done in those times. The Harrison campaign made some inroads upon the Democratic party in Perry County, and some of those who voted for General Harrison never returned to their old party, though most of them did. The Democrats got up a mass meeting at Somerset during this campaign, which was addressed by Allen G. Thurman and John Brough, two very able and popular speakers, but the Court-house held all who came. The Democratic speeches were probably superior to those made at the great Whig demonstration, but the Democrats were manifestly pulling against a strong current, which made campaigning hard work. It is impossible, in words, to give a correct idea of the extraordinary campaign of 1840. It began before harvest and waged unremittingly until the ballots were in the box and the polls closed. The Presidential campaign of 1844 was also a memorable one in Perry county. The Whigs held their principal meeting of that year at Rehoboth, then a thriving village, and the chief Whig town of the county. There was a free dinner, with a roasted ox, etc., in Thrall's woods, a little south of town. But for the inclemency of the weather the demonstration would have reached or surpassed the one at Somerset four years previous. The incessant rain, however, dampened the ardor of the most enthusiastic. It poured down nearly all day, ceasing for only a few minutes at a time. Thomas Corwin, Henry Stanbery, and Philadelph Van Trump, were the orators of the day. In consequence HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 94 of the rain the meeting was held in the large tobacco warehouse belonging to John Ijams, but it would not hold half the people. Large delegations were present from Somerset, Uniontown, and other places, a twenty-four horse team being one of the attractions. The meeting inside the warehouse was orderly enough, but outside all was uproar. The Whig rowdies had possession of the grog shops during the greater part of the day, but toward evening the Democrat roughs outnumbered their antagonists and took possession. One man became raving wild by intoxication, and attempted to kick and knock to pieces the siding of an old house in which he was placed for safe keeping, and had finally to be tied down with a rope. The extreme inclemency of the day, no doubt, was the cause of much of the drinking and consequent riotous conduct. Had the weather been favorable the political demonstration would have been a grand one. The Democrats held the principal meeting of the presidential campaign of 1844 at New Lexington, which was addressed by Hon. William Allen, David Tod, and Hon. Isaac Parish. Allen was United States Senator, Tod was the Democratic nominee for Governor, and Parish for Congress. This meeting was held in Skinner's Grove, adjacent to town, on the south side. The day was fair, and there was a large assemblage. Allen and Tod made long and characteristic speeches. They rode in an open carriage along the crowded streets, and Tod continually smiled and bowed to the people on either side. Allen sat bolt upright, and looked neither to the right nor to the left. The whole demonstration was a quiet one, compared with the Whig display at Rehoboth. The Presidential campaigns of 1848 and of 1852, were quiet affairs in comparison with those 1840 and 1844. In 1852, the Whigs let the county go almost by default. Hon. William. Dennison, candidate for Whig State Elector, was announced to speak at Somerset, but he did not come, and the meeting was addressed by Hon. Wm. E. Finck and Charles Borland. The court house was not one-third full, and the meeting was very dull. The Democrats did a little better, both at Somerset and New Lexington. They raised a pole at the former place, and Hon. S. S. Cox made a speech. An eloquent Irish orator from Baltimore, Md., spoke at New Lexington, and also at Somerset. The canvass however was a tame one. The Presidential Canvass of 1856 was a more lively one. especially on the part of the new Republican party. A large mass meeting was held at New Lexington, and also at Somerset. There was disappointment at both places, on account of speakers, but the people were present. At the New Lexington meeting there was a band of young ladies dressed in white, one for each State. The one who represented Kansas was dressed in deep mourning, and carried a small white flag, with a deep black border ; the others carried white flags with the name of the State which they represented inscribed thereon. Later in the campaign, there was a great Republican rally at Somerset. Large delegations attended it from New Lexington and other places. The delegation from New Lexington was headed by a procession of ladies on horseback. The several delegations united at a point south of town, HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 95 and preceded by a band of music, marched through the principal streets, making quite a display. The Democrats of the county also made a great effort, and with a better success : of the speakers, Ex-Governor Medill, Judge Whitman and others spoke at New Lexington, and later in the canvass, Allen G. Thurman, David Tod and H. J. Jewett all spoke from the same stand at the east end of the old court house, at Somerset. This was a strong array of speaking talent, but the meeting was not an unusually large one. Thurman also spoke at night, and remained over the next day (Sunday) with his sister, the wife of Rev. Cornelius Remensnyder, then pastor. of the Lutheran church, at Somerset. The campaign of 1860 was conducted with considerable energy by both parties, and large meetings were held at New Lexington, Somerset and other places. Hon. John Sherman and Hon. Valentine B. Horton spoke at the New Lexington meeting. Judge D. K. Canter, and Horton spoke at the Somerset meeting. The "Wide Awakes," or "Sons of Abraham," as they were called in this county, were out in great force in both places. Henry B. Payne and other speakers addressed a Democratic Mass Meeting at New Lexington, and meetings were also held at Somerset, Thornville and elsewhere. The Republicans made the most noise and greatest display. The Breckenridge and Lane, and Bell and Everett forces were weak, and made no demonstration. The campaign of 1864, was conducted with considerable vigor by both parties. but the people were tired out by the war, which was then raging with great fury, and the so-called mass meetings were not very largely attended, though many were held at New Lexington, Straitsville, Somerset and other places. In the campaign of 1868, the county was thoroughly canvassed by both parties, and many small meetings held. The so-called mass meetings, held at the principal towns, were failures, as compared with those of more exciting years. The Presidential campaign. of 1872 was one of very considerable activity. Large meetings were held in the principal towns, and a very spirited canvass was made by both the leading parties. Each party had at New Lexington a large company of uniformed and well trained men. with oil and lamps for night parade, and they paraded the streets on various occasions. Large meetings, processions and parades, were the order of the time. Day and night meetings were held in nearly every township in the county. The canvass of 1876 was not so noisy as that of 1872, but both parties worked with their accustomed energy, and many speeches were made in various parts of the county. It was not a campaign, however, for great central mass meetings. That of 1880 was a comparatively tame affair, compared with almost any of its predecessors. Both parties found it difficult to organize clubs, or keep up meetings, and, in some places, where clubs had been organized, they were abandoned, even before the October election. As a political campaign among the people, it was insipid and spiritless. The shouts for either Garfield or Hancock, were few and far between, though a tolerable full vote was polled. 96 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY There were some gubernatorial and congressional canvasses of such exceptional interest as to be worthy of record. The first gubernatorial campaign of the Republican party, in 1855, is one of them. Wm. Medill was Governor, and had been nominated by the Democrats for re-election. Salmon P. Chase was put in nomination by the newly organized and only half disciplined Republican party. Medill was a good, strong man, against whom nothing personal could be urged. Chase was a giant, but his strength was not generally known. His nomination had been opposed in the State Convention by delegates from Perry county, and his candidacy was not over well received. He made a very thorough canvass of the State, but did not visit this (Perry) county.. William H. Gibson, however, addressed two large meetings here, and, on both occasions, made powerful efforts in behalf of the new Republican party. Samuel Medary and Governor Medill came to the county and spoke for the Democrats, but neither of _them in oratory and eloquence, could cope with Gibson. The county wheeled into the Republican column and gave Chase three hundred majority. Two years later, in 1857, Mr. Chase personally visited the county and spoke to a large meeting at Somerset, and also at New Lexington, remaining over night at the latter place. H. B. Payne, the Democratic candidate, however, received a majority in the county of three hundred and thirty, making a change of over six hundred in two years. The congressional campaign of 1862 was a most remarkable one, so far as relates to Perry county. Carey A. Trimble was the Republican, and William E. Finck the Democratic candidate. Trimble personally visited and spoke in every township in the county, and had good meetings almost everywhere. At some points they were very large. It was the c0unty of Mr. Finck's residence, and he canvassed it well, but not so thoroughly as Mr. Trimble did. Trimble labored as long and as earnestly, as though he had a prospect of being elected, which he had not. The county gave an increased Democratic majority, but it would have been still further increased, had it not been for the earnest and persistent efforts of Mr. Trimble. The gubernatorial canvass of 1863, in the midst of the war, wherein John Brough was the Republican candidate and Clement L. Vallandigham the Democratic candidate, is distinguished as being the most exciting one that ever occurred in the county. Before either party had made nominations, Mr. Vallandigham had been invited to speak at Somerset. He came and addressed what many regard as the largest political assemblage ever convened in the county. It was, indisputably, a great demonstration, and was one of the events that indicated the rising popularity of Vallandigham with his party, and his probable nomination for Governor. Previous to the assembling of the Republican State Convention, Governor Tod had received and accepted an invitation to attend a Fourth of July celebration at Somerset. Between the time of the acceptance of his invitation and the anniversary, the Republican State Convention had been held and John Brough substituted for Tod at the head of the ticket. Governor Tod was a little chagrined, as well he might be, under the circumstances, for most of the Perry county dele- HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 97 gates had voted for Brough ; but true to his promise, Tod came on according to appointment. A committee of arrangements, with the de- sign of meeting the Governor some distance from town with an escort, wrote to ascertain at what time he would arrive, and on which road he would come. He promptly replied, snubbing the committee, and expressing his ability to get into town without so much trouble. He came to Thornville the evening of the 3d of July, remained there over night, and the result was that when he reached Somerset in a private conveyance, nobody knew who he was, and he had visited a barber shop, and was in town some considerable time before his presence was known. The meeting was held in Parkinson’s grove, and was a very large affair. Gov. Tod anti T. J. Maginnis spoke at length in the forenoon, then the meeting was dismissed to partake of the basket dinner. A most remarkable thing followed. The day had been extremely warm, the sky clear, and the sun had been shining brightly. The people had scattered through the grove, and most of them had finished their dinner, when, with the sun shining through the tree tops, and no sign of a cloud anywhere, a few' large drops of rain began to fall. The gentle falling of these drops continued for several minutes, and was enjoyed by all, for the heat had been oppressive. But after a little while the rain increased, and at last came harder and faster, until it seemed to pour down in t0rrents ; and in less than ten minutes there could not have been a dry stitch in the large assemblage. The people were completely drenched. For half an hour the rain continued, and when the shower was over, the people, men, women. and children,' were a sight to behold. Many of the ladies were dressed in white, and all looked as though they had just emerged from a bath at Saratoga or Cape May. The afternoon speeches were never heard. There was another remarkable thing connected with this meeting. While Maginnis was speaking, before noon, or just about noon, he announced that some one had just told him "Grant had taken Vicksburg," and " Meade had whipped Lee like the devil at Gettysburg.'.' This news had come by the " grape vine line," so often heard of during the war ; for Somerset was not then a railroad town, and had no telegraph. In the latter part of August, of the same year,. Judge Backus of Cleveland spoke to a large crowd in the court house yard at New Lexington. On the tenth of September, John Brough, John Sherman and T. J. Maginnis, addressed an immense mass meeting in " Fowler's Grove," near New Lexington. The people came in long processions, with banners flying and drums beating. A large procession of ladies on horseback met and escorted most of the delegations into town. The meeting itself was 'highly. enthusiastic. The Democrats had also an overwhelming meeting in this grove in September, addressed by Hon. Daniel Voorhees and other distinguished speakers. The delegations made their preparations with great labor and 'not a little expense. A number of huge conveyances on wheels, constructed for the occasion, and other novelties were features of the great procession which moved through the principal streets of the town and out to the grove. A large number of ladies on horseback headed the procession. Early in October of the same year, Benjamin F. Wade spoke for-three hours to a large concourse of people at Somerset, in the edge of - 13 - 98 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. an old orchard on the site of John Fink's tavern of long ago. Wade came through in a private conveyance, and was in his best mood. It had rained in the morning, but the afternoon was unusually nice and pleasant. No reporters were present, but persons who were somewhat familiar with the old Senator, said that it was one of the greatest efforts of his life. Political friends and enemies alike stood for three hours and heard him through. Col. McGroarty also spoke at various places in the county during the canvass, and meetings were held in all the townships by both parties. The visit to a little county like Perry, in a single political campaign, of Senator Wade, Senator Sherman, Gov. Tod, John Brough, C. L. Vallandigham, Dan. Voorhees and Col. McGroarty, to say nothing of other speakers more or less distinguished, is certainly Yery remarkable. Considered altogether, it will not be seriously questioned that the gubernatorial campaign of 1863 was the most noted one that the county of Perry ever knew, and has seldom if ever been surpassed by any in other counties of the State. The gubernatorial canvass of 1867 was also one of great interest. The Republicans had taken an advanced position favoring negro suffrage, and they felt that they must work -hard to maintain their ground. Ex-Governor Dennison and Gen. Moses B. Walker spoke in August at New Lexington, in the little park at the public square. Robert C. Schenck and William H. Gibson spoke later in the public square at Somerset. Schenck and Gibson were men very unlike, but together made a strong team. Later still, and early in October, Gibson, and A. S. McClure of Wooster, spoke at New Lexington, in a little grove near the depot, to a very large crowd. The Democrats had a large rally at the little public park, in New Lexington, where speeches were delivered by Allen G. Thurman, the Democratic candidate for Governor, Hon.. H. J. Jewett and Hon.Wm. E. Finck. Numerous other meetings were held throughout the county. It was a spirited campaign on the part of the Democrats, and they succeeded in making a very considerable gain, over the vote of the preceding year. In the Congressional canvass of 1864, William E. Finck was the Democratic candidate, and Job. E. Stevenson, the Republican candidate. Finck resided in Perry, and Stevenson in Ross. Stevenson was one of the most eloquent speakers in the State, and spoke to large audiences in New Lexington, Straitsville, Somerset and various other places. Mr. Finck, also a trained and popular orator, did not, of course, neglect his own county. It it is not often that two better speakers are pitted against each other, in a Congressional race. The result of the election was a little curious. Stevenson received a small majority in Perry, his opponent's own county, and it was the only one that he carried.. Perry has had only four terms in Congress, since the organization of the county. Two, in the person of Gen. Thomas Ritchey, of Madison township, and two by Wm. E. Finck, of Reading. Ritchey was first elected in the old Perry, Morgan and Washington district, and afterwards in the district composed of Perry, Fairfield, Athens, Hocking, Vinton and Meigs. Finck.was twice elected in the district composed of Perry, Fairfield, Pickaway, Ross, Hocking and Pike. The county has never had an elective State officer, nor a Court of Common Pleas Judge. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 99 CHAPTER XIII. THE MILITARY IN TIME OF PEACE. THE war with the Indians in Ohio and Indiana, subsequent to the close of the revolution, and the bloody part that the red man took in the war of 1812, was inducement enough to cause the emigrants in what is now Perry county, Ohio, as well as elsewhere, to keep and guard well their trusty rifles, and learn to use them in squads and companies, in case emergencies might arise. Hence, with or without statute requirements, many of the pioneers organized into military companies, and had their place and times of regular drill. The uniform of these early military companies, was the ordinary hunting shirt of the times, and a fur cap. The men were armed with a rifle gun, usually of large bore and long range. These hunting suits were gotten up with considerable care, and made quite a nobby dress. As a military uniform, they corresponded with the times and surroundings, and were both picturesque and handsome. There was one or two of these companies about Rehoboth, and New Lexington ; the same number about Somerset and Overmyertown, (New Reading). The hunting shirt, when new and bright, was worn to church, and many of the elder sons of the first settlers, wore this comfortable garment, trimmed with variegated homespun fringe, when they called upon their sweethearts on Sunday evenings, and afterwards were married in the same suit. These hunting shirt companies, as they were called, lasted some ten or twelve years, when the times required a change. A law had also been enacted authorizing the organization of Light Infantry companies, "which were armed with heavy flint lock muskets, with bayonets attached, at the expense of the State. Some of the old rifle companies re-organized under the new law, and were furnished with the State arms ; other new companies were organized and equipped in accordance with the provisions of the new military law. The Perry Guards declined to organize under the new order, and stuck to their old arms, the common domestic rifle. The members of this company lived mostly in Clayton and Harrison townships. The Perry Guards became known and spoken of as the "Old Rifle Company." It mustered for ten or twelve years along with the Light Infantry and Militia. The company laid aside the hunting shirt uniform however, and adopted a suit of mingled white and red, that was very showy and quite comfortable in the summer season, but would not do so well in cool weather. Under the new State law, authorizing the Light Infantry and furnishing arms, there were organized and equipped, the Somerset Guards, Reading Guards, Thornville Guards, National Guards, New Lexington Guards, Rehoboth Guards, Jackson Guards, and possibly others. Each com-