304 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY CHAPTER V. CIVIL ORGANIZATION OF UNION COUNTY. ITS PEDIGREE-ACT ORGANIZING AND FACTS CONNECTED THEREWITH - ITS DIVISIONS INTO TOWNSHIPS - LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT COUNTY BUILDINGS. IT is interesting to trace the line of descent of the County of Union. By careful research it is ascertained that the territory now included within its boundary lines formed portions of nine, and perhaps ten, different counties before it was finally set off as Union. The first two counties organized in the Northwest Territory were in that portion now forming the State of Ohio. Washington County, erected by proclamation of Gov. Arthur St. Clair. July 27, 1788, included all that portion east of a line passing from the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, up that stream to the portage between it and the Tuscarawas branch of the Muskingum; thence across the portage and down the Tuscarawas to the site of old Fort Laurens, at the north boundary of what is now Tuscarawas County; thence west on a line identical with the subsequent Greenville treaty line to the Scioto River, and down that stream to the. Ohio. It is thus seen that the county of Washington as originally formed included about half of the present State of Ohio. Hamilton County was next organized. by the same authority, and included the region between the Miamis is as far north as a line drawn due east from the standing stone fork of the Great Miami to the Little Miami; this was January 2, 1-4,90. There is nothing to show that its limits were ever extended to the eastward, yet in the description of Wayne County, as formed by proclamation of Gov. St. Clair, August 15, 1796, it would seem that Hamilton had been extended to the Scioto; if so, it included what is now Union County, and from that date (1790) should begin the existence of an organized county of which Union formed a part. Wayne County, organized at the date above given, undoubtedly included the northern portion of Union, as the description will show: - " Beginning at the mouth of Cuyahoga River upon Lake Eric, and with the said river to the portage between it and the Tuscarawas branch of the Muskingum; thence down the said branch to the forks at the crossing place above Fort Laurens; thence by a west line to the east boundary of Hamilton County, which is a due north line from the lower Shawnee [Shawanese] Town upon the Scioto River(1); thence by a line (1) This town was a short distance below what is now Circleville, Pickaway Co., Ohio. A due north line from that point would pass considerably to the east of Union County. Page 305 - Picture of First Court House Page 306 - Blank HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. - 307 west northerly1to the south part of portage between the Miamis of Ohio and the St. Mary's Rivers; thence by a line also west-northerly to the southwestern part of the portage between the Wabash and Miamis of Lake Erie, where Fort Wayne now stands; thence by a line west- northerly to the south part of Lake Michigan; thence along the western shores of the same to the northwest part thereof, including lands upon the streams emptying into said lake; thence by a due north line to the territorial boundary in Lake Superior, and with the said boundary through Lakes Huron, St. Clair and Erie, to the mouth of Cuyahoga River, the place of beginning." This was the most extensive county formed in the Northwest Territory. After the treaty of Greenville, the limits of Hamilton County were extended westward to the boundary line designated by that treaty, which extended from Fort Recovery, in what is now Mercer County, Ohio, directly to the Ohio River at a point opposite the month of the Kentucky River. The seat of justice for Washington County was at Marietta; for Hamilton County at Cincinnati, and for Wayne County at Detroit, and these conditions remain unchanged to the present, except in the extent of territory in each county. July 10, 1797, St. Clair issued a proclamation forming another county, and calling it Adams, the boundaries of which were as follows, and, as seen by noting them carefully, included nearly the whole of Union County: "Beginning upon the Ohio River at the upper boundary of that tract of twenty four thousand acres of land, granted unto the French inhabitants of Gallipolis by an act of the Congress of the United States bearing date the 3d of March, 1795; thence down the said Ohio River to the mouth of Elk River (generally known by the name of Eagle Creek(1)), and up with the principal water of the said Elk River or Eagle Creek, to its source or head; thence by a due north line to the southern boundary of Wayne County, and easterly along said boundary so far that a due south line shall meet with the interior point of the upper boundary of the aforesaid tract of land of twenty-four thousand acres. and with the said boundary to the place of beginning." The counties thus far mentioned were organized before the sound of the settler's ax had echoed in the forests of Union County. The next county, Ross, was organized in the same year settlements were begun here-August 20, 1798, and was the last one under Territorial government. Its boundaries were described as follows: "Beginning at the forty-second mile tree, on the line of the original grant of land by the United States to the Ohio Company, which line was run by Israel Ludlow, and running from thence east until it shall intersect a line to be drawn due north from the mouth of Elk River (commonly called Eagle Creek); and from the point of intersection running north to the southern boundary of the county of Wayne, and from thence easterly, with the said boundary of Wayne, until a north line to be drawn from the place of beginning shall intersect the same; and if it should be found that a north line, drawn from the place of beginning, will not intersect the southern boundary of Wayne, then an east line is to be drawn from the eastern termination of the said boundary, until it shall intersect the aforesaid north line to be drawn from the place of beginning." Ross County included a large part of Adams, with all the portion thereof embracing most of what is Union County. March 24, 1803, Greene County was erected by act of the State Legislature, from parts of Hamilton and Ross, and possibly included a narrow strip on the west side of Union. The following were its boundaries: "Beginning at the southeast corner of the county of Montgomery; (2) running thence east to (1) This stream enters the Ohio in what Is now Brown County, a short distance above Ripley, and is generally known on the maps and by the people of that region as Eagle Creek. (2) Formed by the same act from a part of Hamilton, as were also Butler and Warren. 308 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. Ross County line, and the said course continued eight miles into the said county of Ross; thence north to the State line; thence westwardly with the same to the east line of Montgomery County; thence bounded by the said line of Montgomery to the beginning." A few days later, March 30, 1803, Franklin County was formed as follows, including a considerable portion of Union: " Beginning on the western boundary of the twentieth range of townships east of the Scioto River at the corner of Sections number twenty-four and twenty-five in the ninth township of the twenty-first Range surveyed by John Matthews; thence west until it intersects the eastern boundary line of Greene County; thence north with said line until it intersects the State line; thence eastwardly with the said line to the northwest corner of Fairfield County; thence with the western boundary line of Fairfield to the place of beginning." The county of Fairfield at that time extended north to the State line. February 20, 1805, the western portion of what is now Union County became a part of Champaign, the latter county being created that day including the following territory: " Beginning where the range line between the eighth and ninth ranges, between the Great and Little Miami, intersects the eastern boundary of the county of Montgomery; thence east to the eastern boundary of the county of Greene, and to continue six miles in the county of Franklin; thence north to the State line; thence west with said line until it intersects the said eastern boundary of the county of Montgomery; thence to the place of beginning." Delaware County was formed February 10, 1808, and embraced a large portion of Union. It was bounded thus: " Beginning at the southeast corner of township number three, in the sixteenth range of the United States military district; thence west, with the line between the second and third tier of townships, to the Scioto River, and continued west to the east boundary of Champaign County; thence, with the said boundary, north to the Indian boundary line; thence eastwardly, with said line, to the point where the north and South line between the fifteenth and sixteenth ranges of the said United States military district intersects the same; thence south, with the said last mentioned line, to the place of beginning." By an act of February 17, 1809, all that part of Franklin County lying north of Delaware was attached to the latter. February 16, 1810, Madison County was formed, " beginning at the southwest corner of Delaware County, thence east, with the south boundary of the said county line, to a point that a line running due south will be the distance of twelve and one-half miles west of the county seat of Franklin County; thence on a straight line, to the northwest comer of the county of Pickaway; thence with said line south until it intersects the line of Ross County; thence west with said line, to the line of Greene County; thence north with the line of Greene to Champaign County line; thence with Champaign line to place of beginning." The limits included the southern part of what is now Union County. Next in order was Logan County, formed December 30, 1817, with the following boundaries: " Beginning on the east line of Miami County, between sections number thirty-three and thirty-four in the third township, thirteenth range, and running east twelve miles, with the sectional line between the third and fourth tier of Sections; thence south one mile; thence with the sectional line between the Second and third tier of sections in said range, to the line between the United States and Virginia military land, and thence east to the line of Champaign County; thence north with said line to the Indian boundary line; thence west to a point so that a line drawn from said point due south will strike the Indian boundary line at a point where the line between the counties of Miami and Cham- HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. - 309 paign strikes said line; thence south, with said line, between the counties of Miami and Champaign, to the place of beginning; and also including the United States reservation at the rapids of the Miami of the Lake. " Logan County, as thus formed, included a strip off the west side of Union, running north from Champaign. James Curry, whose home was in Jerome Township, then a portion of Madison County, was the Representative in the Legislature, in the session of 1819-20, from the district in which that county was included, and through his efforts an act was passed January 10, 1820, entitled, "An act to erect the county of Union." The text of this act is as follows: SECTION 1. Be it enacted, etc., that so much of the counties of Delaware, Franklin, Madison and Logan, and also so much of the territory within the limits of this State laying north of the old Indian boundary line as comes within the following boundaries, be and the same is hereby erected into a separate and distinct county, which shall be known by the name of the county of Union, to wit : Beginning on the north boundary line of Delaware County, on that part known by the name of the Old Indian or Greenville line, at it point three miles west of the Scioto River ; thence due south fifteen miles ; thence east four miles ; thence south unto the north boundary of Franklin County ; thence south two and one-half miles into Franklin County ; thence west to the east boundary of Madison County, and to continue west unto the east boundary of Champaign County; thence north to the northeast corner of said county ; thence west three miles ; thence north so far that a line due east will strike a point three miles north of the beginning thence south to the said place of beginning. SEC. 2. That all suits or actions, whether of a civil or criminal nature, which shall be pending, and all crimes which shall have been committed within the limits of those parts of Delaware, Franklin, Madison and Logan Counties, so to be set off and erected into a new county previous to the organization of the said county of Union, shall be prosecuted to final judgment and execution in the counties aforesaid, in the same manner as they would have been if no such division had taken place ; and the Sheriffs, Coroners and Constables of the counties aforesaid shall execute all such process as shall be necessary to carry into effect such suits, prosecutions and judgments; and the collectors of taxes for the aforesaid counties shall collect all such taxes as shall have been levied and unpaid within the above described parts of the counties of Delaware, Franklin, Madison and Logan, previous to the taking effect of this act. SEC. 3. That all Justices of the Peace within those parts of the counties aforesaid, which by this act shall be erected into a new county, shall continue to exercise the duties of their respective offices until the term of their service expires, in the same manner as if they had been commissioned for the said county of Union. SEC. 4. That the electors within the fractional townships that may be set off by the erection of the county of Union shall elect in the next adjoining township. SEC. 5. That on the first Monday of April next the legal electors residing within the county of Union shall assemble within their respective townships, at the usual places of holding elections, and shall proceed to elect their usual county and township officers, who shall hold their several offices until the next annual election. SEC. 6. That courts of the said county of Union shall be holden in the village of Milford until the permanent seat of justice is established for the said county of Union. SEC. 7. That Commissioners shall be appointed, agreeably to the provisions of an act entitled, "An net establishing seats of justice,"to fly upon a permanent seat of justice for said county of Union, and make report thereof to the next Court of Common Pleas to be holden in and for said county, agreeably to the provisions of the above recited act ; and the Commissioners aforesaid shall receive a compensation for their services out of the treasury, of the said county of Union. SEC. 8. That so much of the territory lying north of the county of Logan as is contained within the following boundaries, to wit : Beginning at the northeast corner of Logan County. thence running north five miles; thence west to a point from which a south line will strike the northwest corner of said county ; thence south to said corner; thence east with the line to the beginning, shall be and it is hereby attached to the county of Logan, and shall hereafter form a part of said county. SEC. 9. That so much of the county, of Franklin as lays within the following boundary, to wit: Beginning on the line between the counties of Franklin and Madison, at a point two and one-half miles south of the north boundary of said counties; thence east two miles ; thence south four miles; thence west two miles ; thence north to the place of beginning be attached to and hereafter considered a part of the county of Madison. This act shall be in force from and after the first day of April next. February 12, 1820, an act was passed erecting fourteen counties out of "all that part of the lands lately ceded by the Indians to the United States, 310 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. which lies within this State." These counties were Van Wert, Mercer, Putnam, Allen, Hancock, Hardin. Crawford, Marion, Seneca, Sandusky, Wood, Henry, Paulding and Williams. February 4, 1825, the Legislature passed in act authorizing William Wilson, of Clark County, to run the line between Madison and Union Counties, commencing at the southeast corner of the latter and running due west to the line of Champaign County. He was to receive $3 per day and the markers and chain-carriers 75 cents per day for the time necessarily employed in such survey. January 29, 1827, another act authorized Jeremiah McLene, of Franklin County, to run said line, beginning the same place and running in a direct line so as to strike a point in the eastern boundary of Champaign County, two and one-half miles south of the line formerly run between the counties of Delaware and Madison. The same compensation was allowed as by the previous act. January 18,1828, an act was passed establishing the line between Madison and Union Counties according to the survey made by Levi Phelps in 1820. February 4, 1828, another act authorized Silas G Strong, of Union County, and James Eaton, of Delaware, to locate and establish the line between those two counties. Mr. Eaton was a very careful engineer, but used the magnetic needle, and as a consequence the line was somewhat crooked. In 1881, the permanent line between these two counties was run by F. J. Sager, Surveyor of Union County, and stone monuments were set at prominent stations; a transit instrument was used, which insured accuracy. The survey was made by Mr. Sager, as being best qualified to do the work, although the adjoining counties in this and other instances shared the expenses and appointed men to assist in the matter. Mr. Sager was one of five persons who organized the State Association of County Surveyors in 1879, and is the present Chairman of the Association. The permanent line between the counties of Union and Logan was surveyed in 1876, the surveyors making their report to the Commissioners, March 8, 1877. They were F. J. Sager, of Union, and W. H. McCormick, of Logan, and their report is filed in Vol. XVI, Law Record, Union County Clerk's office, pp. 19, with opinion of attorney in the case. The total length of the line as run was 102,130 feet, or about 191 miles. Stone monuments were planted at all important points. When the line between Union and Delaware Counties was run in 1881, it was found that the official survey of 1828 was far from being on a straight line, as called for by the act creating the county, and, by order of the Commissioners of the two counties jointly, it was established on a slightly different course, being straightened somewhat. The " 15 mile line" (south from the Greenville treaty line) is straight from the northwest corner of Delaware County to a point in the south side of the lands of William Peet, recognized as the county line; thence straight to the point recognized as the county line at the Delaware and Bellefontaine road on the south side of Boke's Creek; thence straight to the south end of said 15 mile line. The 4-mile line was run straight as nearly as possible to the old line. and the 7-mile line the same. The variation in the old 15-mile line was probably attributable to local influences upon the magnetic needle in the survey of 1828. The first angle in this line is 910 rods south of the place of beginning, the point being 194.80 feet west of a straight line which would connect the two ends of said 15-mile line, the bearing being S. 0' 30' W.; thence S. 1' 2' E. to the south end of said line: thence N. 89' 28' E. to the east end of the 4-mile line; thence S. 1' 22' E. to the south end of the 7-mile line. Sandstone monuments three feet with six inch dressed faces were set at prominent points on the line. The survey of the line between Union County and the counties of Marion and Hardin was made by F. J. Sager, of Union, W. H. Brown. of Hardin. and HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. - 311 Isaac Young, of Marion, beginning May 26, 1879. They could find no recorded evidence that the north line of Union County had ever been run, but found some evidence in the field. The point, on the Greenville treaty line at the east boundary of the county designated as three miles west of the Scioto River, is actually three miles and sixteen rods. The line thence north to the northeast corner of the county was well marked, yet there was no trace of said corner ever having been marked, nor could any evidence be found to show where it was. The north boundary was found by examination to have been nowhere near straight as formerly surveyed, varying in places from a due east and west line as much as twenty rods, The surveyors established the northeast corner of Union County and marked it with a stone monument, planting similar monuments at other prominent points along the line. The distance from the Greenville treaty line north to the county corner is three miles and three and forty-eight hundredths rods long. The northern boundary was run, per order, from the established northeast corner to a point twenty-five feet north of the floor of the bridge across Rush Creek on the Marysville & Kenton State road, in a direct course, continuing in the same course to the northwest corner of the county, which was established and a stone monument set 117 rods south of the northeast corner of Logan County. Total length of north boundary, 4,589.06 rods. The west boundary of Union County has not yet been permanently fixed, although probably very little change would be made in it should the Commissioners order a new survey to be made. SUBDIVISION OF THE COUNTY INTO TOWNSHIPS. May 10, 1803, at a meeting of the Associate Judges of the Common Pleas Court of Franklin County, then newly formed and including a portion of what is now Union County, it was "Ordered, That the lands contained within the following boundaries, to-wit: Beginning on the west bank of the Scioto River, one mile, on a direct line, above the mouth of Roaring Run; from thence, in a direct line, to the junction of Treacle's Creek with Darby Creek, which is frequently called the Forks of Darby; thence south unto the line between the counties of Ross and Franklin; thence west with said line until it intersects the county line of Greene; thence with the last-mentioned line north, and from the point of beginning up the Scioto, to the northern boundary of Franklin County, do make and constitute the second township in said county, and be called Darby Township. "Ordered, That in Darby Township there be elected one Justice of the Peace, and that the electors of said township hold their election for that purpose at the house of David Mitchell, in said township, on the 21st day of June next." Joshua Ewing was elected to the office at the date specified. Franklin Township was formed at the same time with Darby, and included "all that part of Franklin County contained within the following limits, to wit: Beginning at the forks of Darby Creek, that is, at the junction of what is called Treacle's Creek with Darby; running thence south to the line between the counties of Ross and Franklin; thence east with said line until it intersects the Scioto River; thence up the same until it comes to a point one mile on a straight line, above the mouth of Roaring Run, and from thence to the point of beginning." An election for two Justices of the Peace was ordered to be held at Franklinton, the temporary seat of justice of Franklin County, and Zachariah Stephen and James Marshall were chosen to fill the offices. The point designated as " one mile on a direct line, above the month of Roaring Run," was a little south of the present town of Dublin, Franklin County, the stream being now known as Hayden's Run. The spot is referred to in Mar- 312 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. tin's History of Franklin County, 1858, page 19. It is seen from the description that Franklin Township included a strip off the south end of the territory now included in Union County, while Darby Township lay to the north and west. When Union County was organized, in 1820, its three subdivisions were the townships of Union, Darby and Mill Creek. At a meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Union County, on the 12th day of March, 1821, it was "Agreed, That the county of Union be divided into townships as follows: Beginning at the southwest corner of Union County, running east five and one-half miles; thence north six miles; thence west three miles; thence north to the north boundary of Union County; all west to be Union Township. Second township: Beginning at the southeast corner of Union Township, running five and one-half miles east; thence north six miles; thence west to the northeast corner of Union, to be Darby Township. Third township: Beginning at the northeast corner of Darby; thence east to the east line of Union County, all south to be known by the name of Gerome [Jerome]. Fourth township: Beginning at the northeast corner of Darby, running west three and one-half miles; thence north to the north boundary of said county, all west to the line of Union Township to be known by the name of Paris. Fifth township: All east of Paris to the east boundary of said county to be known by the name of Mill Creek. Ordered by the Board, That notice shall be given by advertisements to the electors of Paris Township to meet on the first Monday of Aprile at the house of Abriham Emrine [Abraham Amrine], for the purpose of electing township officers. Likewise, that notice shall be given to the electors of the township of Gerome to meet on the first Monday of Aprile at the house of Aaron Tawsey, for the purpose of electing township officers." On the first Monday in June, 1822, the Union County Commissioners organized the township of Liberty, with the following boundaries: Beginning at the southwest corner of Paris Township, thence west to the county line; thence north to the, north boundary of said county; thence east to the west boundary of Paris Township; thence with said line to the beginning. Leesburg Township was next organized in 1825, but a careful search of the Commissioners' records reveals nothing to show the amount of territory it originally included. June 5, 1827, Allen Township was set off from the south end of Liberty, and an order for the election of officers was granted the following day by the Commissioners, said election to be held June 23, 1827, at William Milligan's. Jackson Township was formed March 3, 1829, from the north end of Leesburg. March 4, 1833, an order was issued for the formation of Claibourne Township, from the south part of Jackson; but for some reason the organization was not completed under the first order and a new one was issued March 5, 1831, at which date the civil history of the township begins. York Township was set off December 3, 1833, from the north end of Liberty, before the organization of Claibourne was fully effected. June 9, 1836, a new township called Washington was formed from that part of York Township lying north of the Greenville treaty line. An order was issued by the County Commissioners on the 5th of March, 1839, for the organization of Dover Township, and the election of officers therein, but no boundaries are shown on the record, probably from their not having been transcribed from the petition asking for the formation of said township. December 3, 1849, a petition was presented to the Commissioners for the formation of a now township from portions of Leesburg Liberty and York. HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. - 313 A remonstrance against any further division of York Township was received at the same time, and both were laid over for further action. On the morning of December 5, 1849, the board agreed unanimously to erect the new township, and gave it the name of Taylor. This was the last one organized in the county, making the total number fourteen, as at present. There have been various slight changes in the boundaries of the several townships,. but none that have materially increased or reduced their area. LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT. Agreeably to the act erecting the county of Union, the following joint resolution was passed by the Legislature on the 25th of February, 1820. It is found on page 140 of Vol. XVIII, Laws of Ohio: Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That Stephen Bell, of the county of Greene, Reuben Wallace, of the county of Clark, and John Huston, of Newark, in the county of Licking, be and they are hereby appointed Commissioners to fix the seat of justice in the county of Union. These Commissioners were required to make their report to the "next Court of Common Pleas" for Union County, and doubtless did so, but there is nothing upon the records to show such was the case. Mention of Marysville as the county seat, on the pages of the court record, is found under date of May 15, 1821, when it was "ordered that David Comer be paid $1.50 per day as Director of the town of Marysville, the seat of justice of this county." Mr. Comer had been appointed to the position of Director on the 10th of July, 1820. Matters concerning the sale of lots, etc., will be found in the historical sketch of Marysville in this volume. VILLAGE PLATS. The first town plat laid in the county was North Liberty, by Lucas Sullivant, in 1797, as mentioned elsewhere. The others, in their regular order, are as follows, as shown by the records in the office of the County Recorder: Milford-George Reed, proprietor; acknowledged before Thomas McDonald, J. P., April 8,1816; is now the oldest town existing in the county and is thus described on the original plat: "A town by the name of Milford, laid off and surveyed for George Reed on a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the county of Delaware, Union Township, and State of Ohio, on the south side of the Big Darby, near George Reed's Mill-No. 3,016, originally entered in the name of Levin Jones, sold to Alexander Carr, and patented in the name of George Reed and Robert Grant under a decree of a Court of Chancery held in Franklin County and State aforesaid. The above town is composed of streets, alloys, and forty lots named and numbered as follows," etc. Marysville, the county seat, fully described elsewhere, was laid out August 10, 1819, by Samuel Culbertson. Richwood, in Claibourne Township, was laid out August 8, 9, and 10, 1832, by Philip Plumber, the survey being made by Levi Phelps. The town is on the Pelham Survey, No. 6307, which was long known as the "rich woods. " In the description of the plat, the following varieties of timber are named as abounding in the immediate vicinity: Beech, blue, black and gray ash, backberry, or hoop ash, mulberry, wild cherry, black walnut, white walnut, white oak, red oak, buckeye, or horse chestnut, honey locust, linden tree, coffee tree, a species of mahogany, hickory, red and white elm, hard and soft maple, box older and dogwood, with a "copse wood" of spice brush, prickly ash, burning bush, grape vine, bladder bush, bramble; the herbage was mostly maiden hair, pea vine, yellow root, ginseng, Indian madder, etc. Kingsville, in Liberty Township; surveyed for Samuel King, proprietor, 314 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. September 26, 1834, by Levi Phelps; thirteen lots on State road leading from Carter's settlement to Garwood's Mills. Summersville, York Township; surveyed for John Johnson and others by Levi Phelps; original plat contained forty-eight lots; recorded August 11, 1835. Watkins, Mill Creek Township; laid out by William Conklon and Thomas P. Watkins (the latter represented by his attorney, Joseph S. Watkins), on Dandridge's Survey, No. 1,307, on " road to Scioto River," July 12, 1838; lots numbered from one to twenty-eight. Arbela, Washington Township; forty-five lots and a public square, by Marquis L. Osborne, July 25, 1838; this town is not now in existence. Newton, Liberty Township; surveyed for the proprietor, David Paul, by Levi Phelps, August 25,1838; twenty-five lots; plat resurveyed for Nathaniel and Melissa Raymond, twenty-three lots, February 1, 1839. Hainesville, Washington Township- twenty-one lots and a public square, near present site of Byhalia; laid out by Jonathan Haines, September 4, 1838. York Center, York Township; nineteen lots, surveyed by Levi Phelps, June 14, 1841; name of proprietor not given in description of plat; new survey made for Gregory Stormes, October 31, 1860 Frankfort, Jerome Township; original town, consisting of forty lots, laid out by George Hensel, Amos Beach, Henry Beach and William H. Case; surveyed by William B. Irwin, April 1, 1846; place formerly known as "Beach Town." Unionville, Darby Township; fifteen lots; total area of plat, 7 5/8 acres; laid out by John, Frederick and David Sager, and surveyed by William B. Irwin, February 8, 1847. Pharisburg, Leesburg Township; Allen Pharis, proprietor, as administrator of estate of Robert Pharis, deceased; plat included forty-five lots, covering a little over ten acres, at the junction of the Bellefontaine and Marion roads - locality formerly known as " Scott's Cross Roads;" surveyed by William B. Irwin, July 21, 1847. Now California, Jerome Township; twenty-seven lots; name of proprietor not given on plat; surveyed August 27, 1853, by William B. Irwin. Dover, Dover Township; surveyed by William B. Irwin; William Richey Adam Richey, Thomas Aplin and B. F. Benton, proprietors, May 11, 1854. Additions to Plain City, Jerome Township, made by Edward W. Barlow, April 23, 1859, and Charles Amann, July 26, 1875. Main town in Madison County. Union Center, Taylor Township; laid out November 9, and December 17 and 18, 1863, on a part of survey 829, by H. P. Goff, Hiram Danforth, Ira A. Robbins and Charles J. Sayer; included 19 96/196 acres a short distance east of present site of Broadway; now out of existence. Broadway, Taylor Township; laid out August 15 and 16, 1865, by Z. C. Pooler and Leonard Richey, and surveyed by A. S. Mowry, who gave the town its name. Pottersburg, Allen Township; twenty-four lots laid out May 18, 1869, by David A. Williams and George F. Bennett. Peoria, Liberty Township; twenty-eight lots; platted by Joseph K. Richey, June 20, 1870. Magnetic Springs, Leesburg Township; fifty in-lots and blocks A, B, C, D and E; laid out November 24 and 25, 1879, on Survey 3,696, by Duncan McLean and J. E. Newhouse; locality usually known as Green Bend. Claibourne, Claibourne Township; thirty-nine lots on Survey 6,107; laid out by William Jolliff, Jr., March 14, 1881. Page 315 - Blank Page 316 - Picture of 3rd Court House HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY - 317 Homer in Union Township, and Essex, in Jackson Township, are two villages of which we have not the dates of platting. Essex was laid out on Rush Creek, on part of Survey No. 9,922. on the State road from Columbus to Kenton. It consisted of forty lots, and was surveyed by William C. Lawrence, Deputy County Surveyor. Homer was laid out at an early date by Elisha Reynolds, on parts of Surveys 7,789 and 4,946, on Little Darby Creek, on the county road running on the line between the two surveys. It had thirty-five lots, and was for some time a village of considerable importance, but is among the places now on the list of those that have seen better days. COURT HOUSES. Union County could not boast of a court house until subsequent to 1822, and the first building of the kind erected was a frame structure which stood on the south side of East Center street, on the east side of the alley between Center and East streets.(1) This was in use a number of years. March 5,1834, James Herd, William B. Irwin and David Galland, Commissioners, ordered " that a notice be put up by the Auditor that a proposal will be received at their session in June next for making and laying into the walls of a court house from one hundred to one hundred and fifty thousand bricks, to be completed by the 1st day of August, 1835; the bricks to be 9 inches long. 4 1/4 inches wide, and 2 1/4 inches thick after being burnt; the bricks are to be of the first quality, and computed in the walls, the doors and windows to be reckoned in the count; the walls to be two lengths of a brick thick, all but the gable end and partition." June 6, 1834, the Commissioners agreed to levy 2 1/2 mills tax per dollar on the grand levy, for the purpose of building a court house, 3 1/2 mills' for county expenses, and 2 mills for road purposes. On the 30th of the same month, they examined bids for brick, and awarded the contract for building the walls of the court house to Harvey Ward, his proposals being the lowest and best. December 12, 1834, the Commissioners met to form a definite plan for a court house, and Levi Phelps was ordered to procure a draft, also the advice of competent judges, as to the best manner of laying off the court house- "whether the court room shall be formed on the first or second floor, and also for placing the jury rooms; also the height of each story." December 27, 1834, the Commissioners met to make arrangements for covering and inclosing the "contemplated court house in the town of Marysville," employed Nathan Adamson to furnish a draft, description and schedule of necessary timbers to be used, and ordered the posting of notices for proposals for furnishing said timbers and materials, and "doing the carpenter work for inclosing said court house." Proposals were to be opened January 22, 1835. Another meeting was held on the appointed day, but the record does not show who was the successful bidder. Harvey Ward was on that day allowed $100 in part pay for stone work for the foundation of the building to enable him to pay for hauling said stone. A very lengthy description of the building, from the plans drawn, is given in the Commissioners' record for March 3, 1835, and it must have required nearly as long a time to "Compile " it as it did to erect the court house. June 6, 1835, the Commissioners appointed William Page " Superintendent over the performance of labor in building the walls of the court [house] in the town of Marysville." On the same date, they agreed that the Auditor might " enter into an agreement with Henry Kezartee for his purchase of 20 feet in front and 5 poles back of Lot No. 50, the lot on which the present court house stands." (1) This building was two stories high, about 20x40 feet on the ground, and was not of much account. It was used for various purposes after it was sold by the County Commissioners. 318 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. October 8, 1835, the Commissioners settled with Harvey Ward for brick work in the court house, and found that 194,348 bricks had been used in the construction of the walls. The total amount paid Ward was $1,085.41. March 8, 1836, it was agreed that the stairs, doors, floors, window casings and painting should be completed, and proposals for the same were advertised for to be opened on the 28th of the same mouth. On the day appointed, Silas G. Strong was awarded the contract for laying the floor and filling in ashes on the same as high as the second tier of joists. Adam Wolford received the contract for building the stairs, casing the windows, making the doors, etc., and Benjamin Hopkins was awarded the painting contract. The job of painting was accepted as satisfactory on the 9th of July following. A good story is related of this part of the work, by Capt. H. C. Hamilton, of Richwood, who was then a boy, carrying the mail between Richwood and Marysville. It was said that the paint was mixed up with buttermilk, and left standing in a tub outside the building; and that the hogs got at it one night and ate it all up, much to the chagrin of the painter. Material for making paint was so costly at the time, that the contractor undoubtedly considered he could make more out of the job by using buttermilk. It caused a smile to spread over the faces of the inhabitants. January 26, 1837, the Commissioners met for the special purpose of selling the old court house, and also for selling the work of finishing the interior of the new one. The old building was sold on that day to M. Bentley and Noah Garret, for $151.50, for which sum they gave their joint note, payable nine months after date. These parties were also to have the use of the ground on which the old court house stood, together with a space of twenty feet front, running back as far as the court house, for five years. The sale of the work for finishing the interior was postponed to the 6th of February, 1837, when Adam Wolford contracted for work amounting to $110, Enos Wood, $130, and James M. Wilkinson, $600. Wolford's work was settled for October 14, 1837. William M. Page and David Sprague plastered the building in the fall of 1837, and were partially settled with on the 13th of November, when the sum of $309.86 was paid them. At the same time, Levi Churchill was paid $47.56 on his contract for laying brick floors in the building, and James M. Wilkinson $150 for inside work. Harrison Frank made a case and some tables for the Recorder's office, and Calvin Winget made cases for the Auditor's and Clerk's offices. Bills were allowed March 5, 1838, as follows: To William H. Frank, furniture for offices, $34; to Calvin Winget, book and paper cases for Clerk, Auditor and Commissioners, $67.50; appropriated for pitcher, broom and crock for stove in Auditor's office, per C. Lee, 68 cents. March 6, Stephen McLain was allowed $40 for two stoves, and on the 12th of June, 1838, final settlement was made with James M. Wilkinson for work on the cupola, etc. The court house, when completed, was the most imposing building in the county, and the citizens were proud of it. June 4, 1840, the Commissioners directed William B. Irwin to procure a bell for the court house, and see that it was properly hung. The bell cost $85, and the expense of transportation, hanging, etc., was $19.26; settlement was made with Mr. Irwin December 8, 1840. December 8, 1846, the Commissioners ordered that a chain be attached to the posts along the sidewalks in front of the building. In the public offices, wooden floors were substituted for the brick ones, as the latter were cold and the cause of much discomfort in the winter season. The structure was never a first class affair and its days of actual usefulness were numbered long before it was abandoned. July 16, 1880, the Board of County Commissioners, having contracted for HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. - 319 certain lands for a court house site, executed bonds of the county in the sum of $4,500, payable in four and five years, to Mrs. Drusilla Cassil, who executed and delivered to the board a warranty deed for said lands, described as All of In-lot No. 67, and two-fifths of the south half, east side of Out-lot No. 3, situated in the village of Marysville. At the same date, the Commissioners issued bonds in the sum of $3,000 to, and received a warranty deed from, the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Marysville, for two-thirds of the south part of In-lot No. 66, in Marysville, being the ground on which the society's parsonage stood. The buildings on the land purchased were sold by the Commissioners at public auction, for the sum of $683.10, the parsonage alone bringing $612. August 3, 1880, Commissioner J. B. Whelpley was authorized by the board to contract for 600,000 bricks for the new courthouse., David W. Gibbs, a Toledo architect, had been authorized, on the 16th of July, to prepare plans for the proposed building, and they were unanimously approved August 14, 1880, upon the following resolution by Mr. Whelpley: "Resolved, That the plans, drawings, representations, bills of material, etc., made and presented by David W. Gibbs, architect, for the purpose of being used in the erection of and completion of a court house in the county of Union, and State of Ohio, be and the same are hereby approved. " September 22, 1880, the Commissioners awarded the contract for erecting and completing the court house to Karst & Woodruff, for the sum of $84,350. A somewhat lower bid from a Toledo firm was rejected on the ground of general incompetency. The Legislature, by an act passed April 1, 1880, authorized the Board of Commissioners for Union County to issue bonds to build said court house, and they were subsequently issued to the amount of $65,000; they were sold for $66,275. A second act was passed in the winter following, Authorizing the issue of additional bonds in the sum of $25, 000, and the Commissioners carried out its provisions. The work was begun and pushed rapidly forward, and a magnificent. imposing structure now stands in the center of the space (north and south) designed for it, fronting to the east, with entrances also at the north and south. It is of brick, with cut stone and galvanized iron trimmings, and is one of the finest edifices for county purposes in the State. Surmounting the well-proportioned tower is a colossal figure of Justice, and in the tower is a fine clock and bell, the latter weighing 2,500 pounds; the cost of the clock, which was set in place in November, 1882, was $2,500. The building is heated entirely by steam, the apparatus having been purchased of Brooks & Kemper, of Dayton, Ohio, for $4,300. The dials of the clock are illuminated, and the interior of the building is very finely and tastefully frescoed. The entire cost of the structure, in round numbers, has been about $135,000. The county officers took up their quarters in it in December, 1882, but the court room was not quite ready for the sitting of the court in January, 1883, and the old building was necessarily used. The now court house is a model for beauty, elegance and convenience, and will be the pride of the citizens of the county for many years. The new court house was dedicated, with appropriate ceremonies, January 27, 1883, and from an account in the Union County Journal, of February 1, is taken the following description of the building: "The building is approached from the north, east and south by three massive and elegant porticos, 22x28, and 35 feet in height, composed entirely of Berea stone, elegantly ornamented. Here the Commissioners deserve great credit for the change made in the original contract from galvanized iron to that of Berea stone in the construction of the porticos. "Tho style of the new building is essentially modern in its leading features, and presents an example of " renaissance" architecture, modified and 320 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. adopted to suit an American structure of this character. The building proper covers an area of 96x109 feet, and the three fronts are similar in design. In construction, a continuation of pressed brick and Berea stone have been used. The basement, to the line of the water table, is laid in courses of heavy rock face range work, forming a fitting base for the vast superstructure it supports, and the center and corner pavilions are carried up in stone pilaster work, the first story rusticated. The two stories are divided by a lintel cornice, elegantly molded of stone, which extends entirely around the building, and at the center of the street fronts project so far as to form the roofs of the porches, each of which is supported by four stone columns 20 feet high, the porches being surmounted by a stone balustrade of neat design. The main cornice, pediments and whole exterior of tower are of galvanized iron, painted and sanded in imitation of stone. Each of the street front pediments is Surmounted by an eagle with spread wings, six feet from tip to tip, resting upon a globe and pedestal. A prominent feature of the exterior of the building is the tower, which rises 168 feet from the ground, and is surmounted by a figure of Justice, ton feet high. Properly speaking, it is divided into four stories, constructed entirely of wrought iron, and contains a striking tower-clock with illuminated dials, each seven feet in diameter, manufactured by Howard & Co., of Boston, Mass. The roof-construction-trusses, purlins, rafters, etc. -is entirely of wrought iron, sheathed with corrugated sheet iron. and covered with slate laid in asbestos cement, making it a thoroughly substantial and fireproof and Mansard roof, which is pierced on two sides by appropriate dormer windows, lighting the attic. The window openings on all sides of the building are unusually large, and none but the best French plate glass has been used. The basement story proper is about two feet below the grade, and twelve feet in the clear in height. It is reached upon all four sides, and contains Surveyor's office, engine and store rooms, janitor's room, vault room, besides other apartments. "Entering the building from the Center street front the visitor passes through a massive arched doorway and finds himself in a well-lighted hall, 11 feet wide, with a ceiling 17 feet high, extending through to the opposite side, with a cross hall leading from the West street door, and giving, entrance to the Commissioners' room. located in the center of the west side of the building. The floor of the halls is laid with marble tile, alternate black and white. "The Auditor's office is located to the right on entering from the Center street front. The main office is 22x26, and opening from that on the west is the Auditor's private office, 15x26. The office is supplied with a large fireproof vault. A doorway connects tee private office with the Commissioners' room on the south side, which is 18x20. "On the right, in entering from the West street front, is the Treasurer's office. The main office is 22x33 feet, with an arched alcove opening from the west side, in which is found the private office and safes, but in the main room is also found a burglar-proof vault. This might be, and we believe is, the most pleasant room in the building. "Directly opposite, and in the southeast corner of the building, is found the office of the Probate Judge.. the entrance to which is immediately to the left of the West street entrance. The private office is 22x32, and is supplied with a lavatory and vault. Adjoining this one on the west is the Probate Court room, which is reached from either the private office or the hall. It is 22x35 feet in size and has a neat desk for the Judge, a bar rail and seats for spectators. The Recorder's office is located in the southwest corner of the building, the first door to the left on entering from the South street entrance, which con - HISTORY OF UNION' COUNTY. - 321 tains two rooms, the main room being 20x25, with vault, and well-lighted; the private room, 15x22, is gained by a door in the west side. "Returning again to the hall, the grand staircase was reached either from the Center, West or South street corridor by an almost imperceptible wind, meeting upon a platform half way up and then uniting to form a single flight, six feet wide at the base and widening to ten feet at the top, at the landing in the rotunda on the second floor. "The most striking feature of the interior is the rotunda, a feature which is one in a thousand. It is 26x36, and is oval in form, lighted from the top through stained cathedral glass, and at night by a chandelier containing twelve beautiful gas jets. The floor is of marble tile, like that of the halls below, and the sides contain heavy pilasters with elegantly molded and enriched capitals and bases, resting upon a massive pedestal. The pilasters are surmounted by a classic entablature, with molded ribs, extending to the top of the vault or dome, which is 40 feet from the floor. From the rotunda, access is had to all the rooms on the second floor. Opening from it on the east side is a corridor, eleven feet in width, and twenty feet high, lighted at the end by an arched window. From this corridor an entrance leads to the office of County Clerk. which occupies the northeast corner. The main a room is 22x32, with a private office 12x15, and vault and closets. The Clerk has direct access to the court room through a lobby, and a private entrance to his office through the rotunda. In the passage way to the court room through the lobby is the private office of the Judge, elegantly fitted up with washing, heating and lighting apparatus, and before entering the court room, on the east side entrance, is a- private consultation room. Opening immediately from the rotunda on the east by large double swinging doors, is the court room, 43x65 feet in size, and 30 foot in height. The ceilings are elegantly and elaborately frescoed, and in the background on the ceiling in the rear of the Judge's stand is a life-size picture of "Justice," giving the whole a most animating appearance. The Judge's desk rests upon a platform, which is gained by a flight of steps. In front and on the right side are found the Clerk's and Sheriff's desks, which, like that of the Judge, are finished in black walnut. Stretching across the room, in oval form, is the bar rail, of solid black walnut, inclosing a space of about 20x43 feet. This space contains the jury box on the left facing the Judge. The seats for spectators are raised to the rear, in four rows, twelve seats in each row, capable of seating six persons in each seat, or about three hundred persons in all. They are ap proached by an aisle extending entirely around them, and by two center aisles. The rich, frescoed ceiling contains two 60 inch double cone reflectors, of silvered glass. The walls are plain tinted, with a heavy dado and border of rich maroon. "In the northwest corner is located the Sheriff's office, and in the southeast corner the male and female witness rooms and grand jury room; the latter adjoining the court room, a private entrance connecting the two. All the rooms contain water closets and lavatories. Every room in the building is well lighted. while the ventilation and sanitary appliances have all been carefully attended to. The building is heated throughout by steam. the apparatus being contained in the basement of the building, and is lighted brilliantly by gas, furnished by Clingman's patent. The building is fire proof throughout, the floors being constructed of wrought iron beams, corrugated iron arches and concrete. All stud partitions are of iron, and the ceilings and partitions lathed throughout with iron lath. "The furniture throughout was made to order for each room, by a Toledo firm, out of black walnut, and is beautiful in design and rich in manufacture. 322 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. "The entire cost of the building, including grounds, furnishing, lighting and heating, is about $135,015.50. " Following is the statement of Auditor W. L. Curry, regarding the work of the Commissioners, the detailed cost of the new building, etc., read on the day of dedication: MR. CHAIRMAN: I have the honor in behalf of the Commissioners, to submit the following report in regard to their proceedings in the matter of the erection of this court house. The law authorizing the Commissioners of Union County to issue bonds for the purpose of erecting a court house was passed by the Legislature of Ohio on the 1st day of April, 1880. On the 6th day of June, 1880, the Commissioners, J. B. Whelpley, J. T. Mahaffey and J. K. Dodge purchased of the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Marysville the Methodist Episcopal parsonage grounds, including the buildings, for the sum of $3,000. They also at the same date purchased the old John Cassil property, including buildings, for the sum of $4,500, for additional court house grounds. The buildings on these grounds were sold for $743.10, and the money paid into the County Treasury. Another lot was purchased from D. C. Winget on the 22d day of September, 1882, for $500, making total cost of grounds after deducting amount for which buildings were sold, $7,256.90. On the 16th day of July 1880, the Commissioners employed David W. Gibbs, architect, to make plans to be submitted for the consideration of the board. On the 14th day of August, 1880, D. W. Gibbs having drawn up plans, this day submitted said plans to the Commissioners, together with the building committee, consisting of the Probate Judge. J. B. Coats, Clerk of the Court, W. M. Winget. Sheriff, J. J. Miller and R. L. Partridge. The plans submitted by D. W. Gibbs were approved and accepted, and he was employed as architect of the building. The board having advertised and received bids, awarded the contract of erecting the court house, on the 22d day of September, 1880, to Jacob Karst and William Woodruff for the sum of $84,350. The board having issued the bonds of the county in the amount of $65,000, bearing interest at the rate of 5 per cent per annum, and having advertised to receive bids, said bonds were on the 15th day of January, 1881, sold to R. M. Henderson, representing the Bank of Marysville, for $66,275, or at a premium of $1,275. Said bonds were delivered and money paid into the County Treasury on the 9th day of March, 1881. After careful consideration, it was determined by the board to change the porticos, cornice and window caps. The specifications and contract calling for galvanized iron, it was decided to change to stone, and this change was made at a cost of $16,620. The specifications called for excavation for the foundation of 4 feet and 6 inches, but in order to get a good foundation it had to-be made in some places to the depth of 14 feet at a cost for stone, labor and material of $3,822.70. A law was passed on the 11th day of April. 1882, authorizing the Commissioners to issue the bonds of the county in the amount of $25,000 for the completion of court house. Said bonds were issued in the amount of $25,000 bearing interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum, and on the 24th day of May, 1882, they were sold to A. T. Carpenter for the sum of $25,550, or at a premium of $550. On the 1st day of April, 1882, the old court house grounds were sold for $15,050, the buildings being reserved and are yet to be sold. The building is now completed with the exception of a few days' labor, and the following is an itemized statement of the cost of the building, including heating, lighting and furnishing, subject to a few changes: First contract ........................................................................................$84,350 00 Change in porticos, cornice an window caps from galvanized iron to stone .................................................................................... 16,620 00 Extra labor and material in foundation ................................................ 3,822 70 Repairs of walls .................................................................................... 418 00 Tower cornice ....................................................................................... 26 80 Moving bell ........................................................................................... 2 00 Extra brick vault under safe and changing arches .................................. 123 50 Gas-pipes on porticos ............................................................................. 77 92 Difference in hardware, are, bolts and plates, vault walls .................... 129 76 Filling vault fronts .................................................................................. 2 50 Flooring in attic ....................................................................................... 38 54 Scuttles .................................................................................................... 11 00 Masonry under steps ................................................................................ 13 50 Carpenter work in basement .................................................................... 845 49 Extra work on stairway ............................................................................ 350 00 Extra on graining ..................................................................................... 300 00 Plate glass ................................................................................................ 266 00 HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY - 323 Flooring, basement stairs. ....................................................................... 26 01 Siding and ceiling attic stairway ............................................................ 51 80 Vault doors ............................................................................................. 950 00 Steam Heater ........................................................................................... 4,300 00 Furniture .................................................................................................. 5,964 00 Clock ....................................................................................................... 2,500 00 Bell ........................................................................................................... 803 92 Gas machine and chandeliers ................................................................... 1,731 00 Sewer ........................................................................................................ 608 58 Grade ........................................................................................................ 727 58 Painting rotunda ........................................................................................ 400 00 Plastering basement .................................................................................. 270 00 Mantels ..................................................................................................... 360 00 Cistern ...................................................................................................... 60 00 Watchman, court house ............................................................................ 29 00 Painting basement ..................................................................................... 135 00 Concrete basement floor ........................................................................... 360 00 Pump and well .......................................................................................... 84 00 $127,758 60 Court House grounds .............................................................................. 7,256 90 Total ......................................................................................................$135,015 50 Deduct amount for old court house grounds and buildings sold .......... 15,798 10 Balance ...................................................................................................$119,222 40 The changes made were, in our judgment, for the best interests of the citizens of the county, and were only made after carefully considering matters in all their bearings as to economy and durability. The Commissioners who have served during the erection of the building are J. B. Whelpley, J. T. Mahaffy and J. K. Dodge. J. K. Dodge's term expiring December, 1880, N. Howard was elected as his successor; J. T. Mahaffy's term expiring December, 1881, Uriah Cahill was elected as his successor; J. B. Whelpley's term expiring December, 1882, Luther Liggett was elected as his successor. J. B. Whelpley had immediate superintendence of the building from the beginning of the work until the expiration of his term of office, and most of the time since. We take pleasure in saying of the contractors, Karst & Woodruff, that they have performed their contract in a satisfactory manner; although they were well aware, for many months, that they would lose heavily on the contract, they have, in our judgment, filled the specifications, both in material and workmanship, except one item of iron work which they refused to accept from the sub-contractor. We have in all matters connected with the erection of this building done what, in our judgment, was for the best interest of the whole county, and feel conscious of having kept clear of all parties, cliques or factions, and time will tell whether our work has been well done. Although we have been subjected to the usual criticism that is poured down upon the heads of those having in charge the erection of public buildings, we have the cousolation of feeling confident of the fact that in transferring this beautiful building to the citizens of Union County, that as evidenced by the testimony of many County Commissioners and contractors from all parts of this State, who have examined the building that for beauty of architecture, good workmanship, convenience and completeness in equipment, it is not excelled, if equaled, by any court house in the State of Ohio. The first spade of earth was turned September 22, 1880, and the building was completed and dedicated January 27, 1883. Respectfully submitted, by order of County Commissioners. W. L. CURRY, County Auditor. JAILS. The first jail was a double log structure, which stood on the lot on the south side of East Center street, in the rear of the court house It was used not only for a jail, but occasionally for a residence; Philip Snider, now of Marysville, lived in it for a time when he moved to the town, in 1849. On the 5th of March, 1856, the Commissioners ordered that the old jail lot (No. 50) be sold, with the view of purchasing a lot in another location, on which to build. a new jail. At the same time, it was ordered that an advertisement for proposals for erecting a new building be inserted in the Marysville Tribune. The part of Lot No 50, owned by Union County, and occupied by the old jail, was sold April 2, 1856, to E. J. Nugent, for $1,000.50.A new lot was pur- 324 - HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. chased by G. A. Cassil at the same time, for $600, and the now building was at once erected upon it. This was destroyed by fire, on the night of December 22. 1870, having been for a number of years practically worthless as a place of detention for offenders against the law. July 13, 1872, the following entry appears upon the record of proceedings of the County Commissioners: "In the matter of purchasing a site for county buildings, and building a county jail thereon: It appearing to the Commissioners that due notice has been given by publication in two newspapers published in the county of Union, and by circulation of handbills, of their intention to purchase a site for a county jail and court house for said county of Union. at Marysville, Ohio, and of their intention to build a county jail thereon as soon as practicable; thereupon, those matters came on for hearing, upon the petitions for and the remonstrances against the proposed purchase of such site and building of such jail, and said petitions and remonstrances were heard and examined by the Commissioners; upon consideration whereof, the said Commissioners are of the opinion that a site should be purchased and a jail built thereon as soon as practicable. They have, therefore, this day purchased Lot 55 [or 65]. and one-third of Lot 66, in the town of Marysville, Ohio, of H. Campbell, for the sum of $2,500, for the purposes and uses named above." Bonds were issued Lied to the above amount August 10, 1872. For the purpose of building the now jail, bonds were issued to the amount of $20,000. The contract for constructing the jail was let by the Commissioners, March 28, 1873, the successful bidders being H. Rice and I. Grummons, and the contract price $18,644. This sum covered the necessary excavations, the stone, brick and carpenter work, and everything complete except heating apparatus. By the last of June, 1873, the stone foundation had been completed and the range work set, and the building was rapidly carried to completion. The entire cost of the structure was about the same as the amount of bonds issued-$20,000. It is of tasteful design, the front portion being finely fitted for the residence of the Sheriff. In August, 1878, a new safe was purchased for the County Treasurer's office, of the Hall Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio, at an expense of $2,500, the old safe being turned in on account for $600. The new safe weighed ten tons -- 20, 000 pounds-and stood in the office in the rear of the block at the south-west comer of Main and Center streets, until the third week in October, 1882, when it was removed to permanent quarters in the now court house. COUNTY INFIRMARY. June 7, 1849, the Commissioners, after due consideration, agreed unanimously to levy a tax for the purpose of purchasing land on which to erect a county poor-house, and a tax of one-half mill on the dollar of valuation, or a total of about $850, was ordered. In December, 1850, seventy-five acres of land were purchased of Josiah Kelsey, to be used as a poor-farm. January 5, 1850, the contract for erecting a building on the premises had been let to James McIlroy, for the sum of $1,400. In a report made by the County Treasurer, on the 10th of June, 1851, are found the following items: Paid Josiah Kelsey, principal and interest, for farm ......................... $ 978 50 Paid James W. Evans, for erecting house and outhouse ................. 1,457 61 Paid Robert Gibson, for repairing fences .......................................... 20 00 Paid for furniture, fixtures and provisions ........................................ 307 56 Total to that date ............................................................................ $2,763 67 The building, as constructed, was 40x31 feet in dimensions, two stories high, with a hall across the middle; also a wing, one story high, with a cellar under, and a porch in front of the wing eight feet wide; the whole building constructed of brick. McIlroy, to whom the contract was first awarded, was Page 325 - Picture of 4th Court House Page 326 - Blank HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY. - 327 subsequently put under bonds for an offense against the State, and the Board of Commissioners re-awarded it March 4, 1850, to James W. Evans, for $1,409. Final settlement was made with him March 5, 1851, and at the same time John Johnson, John W. Cherry and Joshua Marshall were appointed Poor House Directors. Mr. Cherry died ear early in 1857, and Thomas E. Brown was appointed to fill the vacancy. In the winter of 1860-67, an amount of land equal to the original purchase was bought of G. W. Kent, making the present size of the farm 150 acres. May 19, 1870, the Commissioners advertised for proposals for 500,000 brick, and on the 6th of June following authorized the levy of a tax of two mills on the dollar for the purpose of building a new Infirmary. January 30, 1871, Commissioners Joseph K. Richey and James Fullington, and Infirmary Directors, John F. Sabine, Daniel G. Cross and John Guthrie, met and considered plans for the new building, and adopted the one presented by Jones & Gartner, architects, of Columbus, Ohio. March 31, 1871, the Commissioners met to consider bids for erecting the building, and the contract therefor was awarded to R. N. Jones & Co., of Delaware, Ohio, for $27,600; their bid not including heating appliances. Several other firms competed for the work. Several changes were made in the plan, and the entire cost, exclusive of heating apparatus, was increased to $29,200. June 1, 1871, bonds were issued to the amount of $25,000, to procure funds for proceeding with the work of construction; they were disposed of in New York City, by W. W. Woods, for $24,500, which sum was placed to the credit of Union County in the Bank of Marysville. The building was completed and occupied in 1872, and the old one is now utilized as a barn. The first Superintendent of the Infirmary, in 1851, was William Porter, father of Judge John L. Porter, of Marysville. His successor was George Mills, followed by Levi Keeran, William Olds, 0. W. R. Ingman, Robert Sharp; Ingman and Sharp served alternately, three years each. R. S. Bonnett is the present Superintendent, having held the position since March, 1882. The first inmate admitted after the farm was ready was a woman from Paris Township. The journal of the first Secretary of the Board of Directors has been lost, and, doubtless, much that might have been interesting is lost with it. It is the recollection of John F. Sabine, Esq., the present Secretary, that the institution had but three inmates when first opened in 1851. The health of the inmates has always been remarkably good; no epidemic has ever occurred, the deaths being mostly from chronic diseases or old acre. But about one-fifth of the farm is uncultivated. In September, 1882, when the Secretary made his report, the institution contained 32 male and 31 female inmates, a total of 63; 19 persons had been received during the year then ended, 14 had been discharged, 2 ran away, 5 died and 2 were sent to other institutions. The total expenditures for the year were $5,024.90; receipts, $627.29; net expenses, $4,379.61. The Infirmary building is one of the finest for the purpose in the State. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)