HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

BY H. S. KNAPP.

"To gather from still living witnesses, and preserve for the future annalist the important records of the past; to seize, while yet warm and glowing, and inscribe upon the page which shall be sought hereafter the bright visions of song, and the fair images of story which gild the gloom and brighten the sorrows of the ever-fleeting present ; to search all history with a steady eye, sound all philosophy with a careful hand, question all experience with a fearless pen, and thence draw lessons to fit us for, and light to guide us through the shadowed but unknown future."—

WILLIAM D. GALLAGHER.

It may not be out of place to note, in commencing, some landmarks that indicate changes which time and circumstances have wrought in the habits and customs of the people—to draw contrasts, and then deduce whether old or modern conditions confer the largest sum of happiness upon mankind. Among the pioneer settlers there existed very little distinction in worldly circumstances and modes of life ; and disparities in condition only developed themselves gradually, as the wild lands became subdued and reduced to a condition fit for tillage. In the Eastern States, and particularly the State of New York, of which most of the early settlers of Williams County were native, it was neither the indolent nor the opu lent, nor indeed, as a general fact, families possessing even a competence, who would seek homes in the West, to encounter the hazards and privations which attended life in the wilderness. They exchanged a prosperous and healthy for an inhospitable and malarious climate, and they quite well understood, before their resolution became formed to seek a Western residence, that they were sacrificing many home comforts which they could not hope to recover until they had endured years of probationary toil ; but their courage, faith and hope impelled them to face all hazards that might offer. In the " old settlements " as they were designated, many of the new emigrants had been tenants, as were their ancestry. Large portions of the most fertile districts of Eastern and Western New York were owned by a few proprietors—the former section chiefly by the Van Rensselaer families, and the the Western quarter of the State

212 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY

by the Holland Land Company and the Wadsworths and other aristocratic lordlings ; and the lands, of course, were cultivated by their tenants, at will, and it was their firm resolve to put forth every manly effort to emancipate themselves from a condition of semi-vassalage which threatened a doom of servitude for themselves and children scarcely less obnoxious than the landlord system, which for centuries had so oppressed the toiling millions of some portions of Europe ; and they could only escape these evils in removal to the cheap but wild lands of the Nest, where time, toil and patience would ultimately secure them good homes. It was from the land monopoly ridden sections of the State of New York that a larger number of the early settlers of Williams County principally came. The immigrant would always bring with him a sufficient amount of money to enter a tract of land at Government price, and a little surplus to provide for necessary subsistance and emergencies that might occur. It soon became a feature and a habit among the new settlers to avail themselves of opportunities to interchange with each other acts of neighborly kindness. It was indispensable that neighbors combine their labor when log houses or barns were to be raised, or heavy timber that had been cut or " niggered " into suitable lengths for "logging" were to be stacked together for purposes of burning. In this and some other work, combination of effort in "pulling together" would be advantageous and almost indispensable. No neighbor, whose services were required on occasions like these, would ever fail, except disabled by sickness, to respond to calls made upon him. When one would slaughter a domestic animal, or return from a successful hunt of wild game, all the near families would share alike the food. Friendships thus begun and cemented by common privations, perils and associations were among the most lasting and indissoluble that any condition of human society could call into existence, and their beneficent results are visible among remote descendants of the pioneer families of to-day.

EARLY SOCIAL CONDITIONS.

It is not necessary to inform the historical student that France held dominion over the immense region west of the Alleghany Mountains, as against all Europeans of other nationalities, and that Frenchmen established military, missionary and trading posts on the Maumee and Auglaize Rivers more than two centuries ago. It would seem probable, therefore, that they also may have had similar posts on the St. Joseph and Bean Creek streams, but no authentic evidence exists to establish such theory. It has, however, been historically demonstrated that at the head and near the foot of the Maumee River French settlements were made, and it was not until after the Anse of the French mar by whirls the right of eminent

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 213

domain was transferred from the French to the English monarchy, and not even then, and until after the close of the American Revolution, that the Anglo-Saxon race undertook colonization projects in the region of the Maumee Valley. Looking at the geographical position of Williams County, the in inference is a reasonable and almost irresistible one, that, while under the dominion of France, and during many years subsequent to the American Revolution, the French had trails leading through the territory embraced within the present limits of the county, as their often traveled route between the Wabash, Maumee, Detroit and St. Lawrence Rivers would place this county upon their direct line of travel.

The usual homes of all families were in rude log cabins. When the emigrant would reach the wild land he had previously entered (and before he had moved moved upon it) the parents and children would camp near the place selected for the site of their cabin—build fires over which their simple food would be cooked, and the constantly burning fires would also secure them from night attacks by wolves and other forest beasts, as wild animals instinctively dread night fires. At night they lodged in the wagon beds that had been their inn during their journey, and under the canvas tents that had covered and protected them against storms, heat and cold during their wearisome travels. In this way they lived until timber was cut down and logs of proper size and length made with which to erect a a cabin. Then the husband and father would sally forth in search of white neighbors to assist him in raising the rough walls and placing the roof upon his cabin ; and after this first wilderness trial, the family would soon be happily quartered in their new Western home. On many plantations thus commenced, are now reared as expensive and elegant mansions as may be found in cities.

THEN AND NOW.

The contrast between the furniture of the cabins and farm dwellings of the present day is no less marked. Upon leaving his Eastern home, the emigrant discovered that, after he had found places in his wagons for such members of his family as were unable to travel on foot, and for necessary bedding, a few cooking utensils and light farm implements, the family Bible and a few testaments and hymn books, only very small space remained. And so the furniture of the cabin consisted of improvised tables, seats, shelving, etc., made of puncheons, and the library was limited very closely to the books above enumerated. Even the coffins that inclosed the bodies of dead persons were made of puncheons, as there was no sawed lumber in the country. Newspapers and other current literature were scarcely attainable, because, generally, there were no post roads and no post offices, except such as were located

214 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

at remote distances, and the demands for labor, immediately about the home, were so imperative, and the journey to the post office so tedious, and not infrequently dangerous, that it was not often undertaken.

And now mark the change wrought in a comparatively brief space of time in the social and material condition of the people! On the same acres, so recently covered by a wilderness, where the Indian and wild animal met with scarcely any interference from civilized man, are prosperous commercial towns, and commodious church edifices and schoolhouses. The log dwelling is no longer used; but stately mansions, equal in style of outside and inside architecture, and possessing all home conveniences to the average which the larger cities of the State are enabled to point to.

The religious, literary, educational and benevolent organizations of the county are of it high order. Nearly every town and farm house is well supplied with standard books and current periodical and newspaper literature. In the households of the farmers may be discovered people whose education and refined behavior will favorably compare with those who dwell in cities; while their moral views are probably more elevated. Twenty-four post offices in the county afford mail facilities within the reach of every farmhouse, much more ample than those enjoyed forty-five years ago by the inhabitants of even the chief cities and towns in Northwestern Ohio. Then, and for many years later, not a daily mail route traversed any part of Williams County. The few mails were weekly and semi-weekly, and the most frequent semi-weekly, and all carried on horseback or on foot. There were no bridges over the rivers or creeks. The mail carrier, when he encountered a stream that he was unable to ford, would either plunge his horse into the flood and swim it, or, if a pirogue could be obtained, secure the services of a man, woman or boy to manage it, and placing himself, mail-bag and saddle in this water craft, would swim his horse beside it, aiding the animal to elevate his nose above the water by use of the bridle reins. The contents of the bags would often reach the post office so saturated with water accumulated in crossing streams, as above explained, and often in exposure to rain-storms, that the conglomerated mass would be reduced to a condition nearly resembling pulp. Letters and printed matter often employed the work of tedious hours to separate and dry out, so that the superscriptions could be read; but by exercise of the most patient and judicious care, portions of the matter did not escape utter ruin. These were among the disappointments and privations endured by the pioneers in mail receipts and transmissions. Even after the county., became considerably settled, and bridges spanned some of the streams, the stagecoach, familiar in the older settlements of the State, was unknown in Williams County.

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 217

The probable reason why that ancient vehicle never fretted the surface of a road within the limits of this county, was that the condition of the roads was such that they could not sustain so great a weight; and even now it is only a small portion of the year that a stage-coach could be drawn over most of the roads.

FIRST RAILROAD ENTERPRISE.

The importance of the opening of a railroad was early impressed upon the minds of the enterprising citizens of the county, and about 1846--47, a project, originating with the late Judge Ebenezer Lane and others, was undertaken to build a road from Cleveland or Norwalk, running westward, and crossing the Maumee River at the foot of the rapids, and from thence making its way on a west line to Chicago. It was known as the Junction Railroad, and a considerable amount of work was performed on it, including massive stone abutments for the bridge which was to cross the river to the northern bank at Maumee City. The corporation, in order to facilitate operations west of this point, solicited aid of stock subscriptions by individuals, towns, townships and counties, and succeeded in gathering an amount which aggregated a considerable sum. Regarding this first railroad enterprise, and in response to the request for stock subscription by Williams County, the Commissioners, at their session, held March 15, 1852, ordered "That public notice be given the qualified electors of Williams County to meet at their several places of holding elections in their respective townships on Monday, the 5th day of April, next, between the hours of 10 o'clock A. M., and 4 o'clock P. M., of said day, and then and there cast their ballots 'for subscription' or 'against subscription' of $100,000 stock for the location and completion of the Junction Railroad in said county, conditioned that said road shall pass from Maumee City westward through the said county of Williams to the Indiana State line, within two years from this date, and touching the following points, to wit: West Unity, Montpelier, La Fayette (now Pulaski), Bryan and Centre in said county, and that there shall be a junction of its branches at one of the above named towns in said county of Williams, and that said $100,000 be equally distributed on the several branches on said road in said county of Williams."

THE RIVAL RAILROAD SCHEME.

The Southern Michigan & Northern Indiana Railroad Company, realizing the damage it would be to their interests if the Junction enterprise should be successful, resolved upon the construction of an air line westward from Toledo to connect with their main line at Elkhart, Ind. In 1852, the same year that the Commissioners of Williams County took the

218 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

action above quoted, the S. M. & N. I. (its corporate name now being the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern), appeared quietly in the field with its corps of engineers, surveyed the route, asking no aid of stock subscriptions, and only right of way and donation of sufficient ground for passenger and freight conveniences. The company were very undemonstrative in their movements, and February 18, 1853, J. H. Sargeant, Acting Chief Engineer and Superintendent of the air-line road, called upon Hon. E. Foster, and passed into his hands a sum of money, with a request that he proceed without delay and receive donations or purchase the necessary right of way and depot grounds for that part of the road that would pass through Williams County. Many of the lands being owned by non-residents, the labor was protracted, and some resident owners acting stubbornly, Mr. Foster met with embarrassments and dalays in the prosecution of his work. 'Messrs. Edgerton and Trevitt, however, in addition to the very liberal donation of nearly sixteen acres of ground in the town for passenger and warehouse purposes, also generously donated the right of way through all their Williams County lands, of which they held large tracts. March 5, 1855, Mr. Foster closed his business with the company and their contractors, and on the 25th of the October following received the last payment for his services.

The first conductor on the road after passenger trains commenced running was Edward Moore. Mr. William D. Billings, now resident of Bryan (and who is part authority for the statements which follow), was the second agent at the station after trains had reached Bryan from the east —his predecessor, Mr. Johnson, who had opened the office, only remaining in the employ of the company a few months. Previous to this, Mr. Billings had had charge of the Middlebury (now Vistula) Station, on the old-line road. The first printed through "time table, No. 1," took effect "on Monday, June 8, 1857, at 5 o'clock A. M." The stations named on the table are Toledo, Springfield, Centreville, Delta, Wauseon, Archbold, Stryker, Bryan, Edgerton, Butler, Waterloo, Corunna, Kendallville, Rome, Wawaka, Ligonier, Millersburg, Goshen and Elkhart. Going West, the train left Toledo at 9:50 A. M., and reached Elkhart at 7:10 P. M., making the distance between the two points in nine hours, when no accident would occur. The same train moved from Elkhart on its eastward trip at 9:40 A. M., and would be due at Toledo at 6:40. Trains passed each other at Edgerton, that station being 64.3 miles west of Toledo, and 68.5 miles east of Elkhart. The trains then ran were decidedly, if not badly, "mixed "—consisting of a locomotive, tender, one passenger and one freight car, and two trains, thus formed, made up the entire rolling stock of the road. Now, one, of the least powerful of the many locomotives which almost hourly pass over the Air-Line road, would be enabled

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 219

with ease to draw a train consisting of at least three times the tonnage of all the rolling stock in use on the road in 1857. Six passenger trains, each drawing six coaches since the opening of 1882, have passed over the road daily ; and sixteen through and local freights, averaging thirty carp each, and having a capacity of 20,000 to 30,000 tons per car. The transition almost confuses the mind to contemplate, when viewed in all its length and breadth. What marvelous changes in the means of transmitting intelligence have been produced in a period of less than half a century! To-day, at any railroad station in Williams County, connected with which is a telegraph office, one may transmit a message 2,000 miles distant, or even to Europe or the Orient, and receive to it an answer in less space of time than, a half century ago, would be consumed by the speediest mode of travel then known to make the distance from Pioneer to Stryker and return, and, during the January and June floods that then appeared as regularly as the seasons, to communicate with a neighbor ten miles distant. Imagine a pioneer who, about three months after the Presidential election of 1832, had received an Eastern letter or newspaper conveying intelligence that Andrew Jackson had been re-elected President of the United States in the preceding November. If the settler is a Jackson man, he dons his hunting shirt and coon-skin cap and sallies forth in search of neighbors of his political faith to communicate the glad tidings, and mingle rejoocings. News of the result of a Presidential election would now be known in every considerable city and town in the United States and Europe within twenty-four hours after the close of the polls.

OTHER RAILWAY PROJECTS.

Several north-and-south railway lines, crossing the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern at Bryan, have long been contemplated and discussed. They are all embryo projects, and it is no legitimate field of a historian to hazard statements when he has no solid data upon which to base them. In these utilitarian times capitalists are governed altogether by their interests, and when they become assured of good investments, they do not hesitate. The most probable route to be completed is the one which, in 1852-53, was known as the Cincinnati & Mackinaw road. This road, from Cincinnati, according to the terms of its original charter, was to pass, after leaving Cincinnati and Hamilton County, through all the county seats of the western range of counties in Ohio, until it struck the Michigan line on the north—the route embracing the several seats of justice of Hamilton, Preble, Butler, Darke, Mercer, Van Wert, Paulding, Defiance and Williams. After the expenditure of a large amount in grading and making the road-bed ready for the ties, thousands of which ties were made and delivered on the line, and rotted upon the ground, the

220 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

panic of 1857 struck the enterprise and placed a rough lock upon its further progress. And in this comatose state the project remained until March 7, 1881, when some energetic men revived it, and filed the necessary papers with the Secretary of State for the incorporation of the Cincinnati, Van Wert & Michigan Railroad Company; and since that date a portion of the work has been completed, and it is now operated between Van Wert and Paulding. Should this project fail, and it probably will not, it is possible that the Baltimore & Ohio road might construct a branch of their line from their main trunk, at Delaware Bend, to make connection with the L. S. & M. S. road at Bryan ; but this, and a talked of cut-off, from Fremont to Bryan, by the Vanderbilt company, and all other schemes which have been discussed, rest upon no better basis, thus far, than conjecture, promises and hope.

Some eight or nine years ago the Mansfield & Coldwater Railway Company surveyed a route across the northeast corner of the county, and called upon the citizens interested to subscribe stock, and assist in constructing the road. The right of way was freely given, and the citizens contracted to grade the road. Not less than $100,000 in money and labor was thus expended ; but, owing to the financial failure of the projectors, the road, after being graded, was abandoned, greatly to the regret and loss of those citizens who had so zealously espoused its construction and equipment. This road will, no doubt, be completed some day, unless a wealthier and more fortunate company, on some other route, captures the traffic and trade for which the Mansfield and Coldwater enterprise was undertaken. The citizens yet live in sorrowful hope.

POST OFFICES IN THE COUNTY.

The following is the list of post offices that have been established within the present geographical limits of Williams County, with name of first Postmaster, and date of establishment and appointment: Pulaski, John Perkins, May 1, 1837 ; Williams Centre, John B. Kimmell, January 5, 1839; Bryan, Thomas Shorthill, February 22, 1841; West Unity, John Rings, September 28, 1842; Spring Lake, Martin Perkey, August 30, 1843; Northwest, William H. Billings, August 30, 1843; Eagle Creek, Robert Ogle, August 30, 1843; Nettle Lake, Augustus Porter, March 6, 1846; Bridgewater, Chandler Holt, April 14, 1846; Montpelier, Conroy W. Mallory, December 28, 1846; Deer Lick, Elias Barrett, April 1, 1847; Durbin's Corners, George W. Durbin, August 13, 1850; Pioneer, Philetus W. Norris, April 16, 1851; Luke's Corners, John Luke, April 29, 1854; Edgerton, Jackson M. Wood, June 3, 1854; Primrose, Lewis Keith, July 29, 1854; Stryker, William Sheridan, Jr., June 15, 1855; Melbern, John Kendall, March 16, 1866; Edon, Charles

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 221

Eichelberger, December 26, 1867; Kunkle, Philip Weidner, March 31, 1880; Blakeslee, John N. Chilcote, May 4, 1880; Ainger, John W. Wisman, August 25, 1880; Alvordton, Henry D. Alvord, April 27, 1881; Cooney, Almeda L. Fox, June 24, 1881; Karle, Frederick White, March 11, 1882; Howe, George Hart, April, 1882. Of these, Eagle Creek and Luke's Corners have been discontinued.

Few counties in Ohio, outside those in which are large cities, are more highly favored, as regards postal facilities, than Williams.

FORMATION OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

In April, 1820, the General, Assembly of the State of Ohio formed fourteen counties north of the Greenville treaty line, and the major number of those thus formed had their western boundaries on the Indiana line, only the three counties, Williams, Henry and Wood, having their northern boundaries on Michigan. In these legislative arrangements Williams was then, as now, the northwestern county of the State—having its northern border on Michigan and its western on Indiana. Prior to its formation, it had been under several jurisdictions—in the ante-territorial era, the same that now embraces Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Toledo, and some of the most populous cities, that now rank among those of the interior States; and, at length, by a provision of the act of 1820, it was attached for civil purposes, with several other counties then formed, to Wood County, then holding at Maumee City the seat of justice for all the vast region of Northwestern Ohio; but Maumee City held the capital only about three years, and then crossed the river to Perrysburg. At a session of the Board of Commissioners, of Wood County, held March 19, 1823, it was ordered "that so much of the Township of Waynesfield as is included in the organized county of Wood, and lying and being on the south of the south channel of Maumee River, from the west line of the county to the line between the original surveyed township, in Nos. 1 and 4 in the United States reserve; thence, the north channel to the State line, he set off and organized into a township, by the name of Perrysburg." And by this action of the Wood County Commissioners, it will be discovered, that the large territory comprehended in the limits described, embraced the present counties of Williams, Henry and Paulding, and also of the later erected counties of Lucas, Defiance and Fulton. But so far as this arrangement was concerned, it only continued a few months, when Williams, in turn, became organized as an independent county, co-equal with all others in Ohio, and having civil jurisdiction over a surface that now embraces portions of six well settled and prosperous counties.

222 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

THE FIRST WHITE SETTLER.

A number of years ago, Mr. Patterson, of the Democrat, then an officer of the County Agricultural Society, effected an arrangement that all old settlers who had been in the county a definite number of years, should be given a free pass to the county fair. This brought to Mr. Patterson's knowledge many interesting facts concerning the past of Williams County; and among other things was the undoubted truth that James Guthrie had settled in Springfield Township in the year 1827. Mr. Guthrie, though a farmer, was compelled by the fiat of events to depend largely for subsistence upon his skill as a hunter. His daughter, now Mrs. David Kent, of Mount Pleasant, Mich., whose birth occurred in 1828, was the first white child born in the present Williams County. Soon after Mr. Guthrie located in Springfield, a man named Zediker came to the county (the present Williams County), and a little later John Perkins arrived, and a few years later, many others. The statement has been made that a Mr. Lantz located in what is now Williams County as early as 1823 ; but this is known to be a mistake by a half dozen old settlers, who assert that Mr. Lantz (by the way, Mr. Lantz lies buried in Pulaski Township) did not settle in the county until about the year 1833, or, perhaps, 183.1. and that, for several years prior to that period, he had resided in Defiance County. It is possible, and is regarded as highly probable by many, that squatters" lived in the county before 1827; but so far as known, none located permanently until that ;ear, when Mr. Guthrie settled in Springfield.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

The first session of the Commissioners of Williams County (according to the well-preserved record of their proceedings), convened at the house of Capt. Benjamin Leavell, in the town of Defiance, December 3, 1824 the Commissioners being Benjamin Leavell, Cyrus Hunter and Charles Gunn, and Clerk, T. L. Smith. The business transacted at this session related only to the establishment of county roads ; and projects for new roads chiefly engrossed the time of the sessions held during many years following. Henry, Paulding and Putnam Counties were then attached to Williams for civil purposes. At the June session, 1825, it was ordered that a jail for the County of Williams be erected, the dimensions of the building "to be twenty-six by eighteen feet, nine feet between floors, with a partition of the same dimensions as the walls, and two grate windows, eighteen by ten inches, with five iron bars to each window," etc. ; $29 was ordered paid the County Auditor for his annual allowance, and the listers (or assessors, as now known), of the several townships were severally allowed from $12 to $1.87 1/2. At a session held October 15, 1825, it appeared that Isaiah Hughes had been appointed by theCourt of Common Pleas

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 223

Commissioner in place of Benjamin Leavell, resigned. Mr. George Lantz was appointed County Auditor in place of Thomas Philbrick. December 6, 1825, the board ordered that Clark Philbrick be allowed for his services in making a half bushel measure and brand for said county, the sum of $2. The proprietors of the town of Defiance having donated forty town lots to the county, the Commissioners ordered them offered for sale at auction, on the first day of February, 1826. Seven only of the forty lots were sold, in pursuance of said order, viz. : Lot No. 4 to William Preston for $80 ; Lot No. 12 to Samuel Vance, for $41; Lot No. 58 to John Perkins, for $40; Lot No. 64 to Samuel Vance, for $85; Lot No.101 to John Perkins, $71 ; Lot No. 107 to John Oliver, for $36 ; Lot No. 61 to Robert ant Nathan Shisley, for $77. From this date forward, and until 1840, when the seat of justice of Williams County was removed from Defiance (which had held it during sixteen years), to Bryan, no proceedings were had which affected, generally, the present County of Williams, because the county north of the Maumee to the State line had meager white population, and small influence with the boards of commissioners, who were elected by the settlers on the Maumee and its affluents. Hence necessary authority for opening county roads, which would reach the sparsely populated regions of the northern and western sections, were difficult to obtain at the hands of the County Commissioners ; and so it was that only parsimonious dolings out of legislative benefactions were grudgingly made. It would appear that the settlers on the margins of the Maumee, Auglaize, Lower Bean Creek, Blanchard's Fork and other bottom lands in Williams and the annexed counties of Henry, Putnam and Paulding, conscious of their numerical power, were not so regardful of the interests of the people struggling to obtain foothold in localities situated so distant from them that they could scarcely be regarded as neighbors. As an example of the general policy which controlled the action of the Commissioners at that time, it may be stated that of the three par cent fund, which was a revenue derived from the proceeds of the gross amount of sales of United States lands, and devoted by the Fund Commissioners of the several counties entitled to it, to road and bridge purposes, which fund, in 1826, amounted, in the four counties, to about $1,500, not one dollar was appropriated for the erection of a bridge or the improvement of a road within the present limits of Williams County—the white population of the area now constituting the county being too feeble in number to enforce demands upon the Commissioners, even if, in those rude times, they had any to prefer.

FINANCIAL CONDITION.

The following figures show the financial condition of the old county-from 1824 to 1827, inclusive, and of the present county in 1881: Total

224 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

amount of county orders issued in 1824 to 1827, inclusive, $2,279.02 ; 1824, amount redeemed by Treasurer, $99.64; 1825, amount redeemed, $261.93; 1826, amount redeemed, $365.55; 1827, amount redeemed, $259.27; total, $986.39 ; leaving a balance against the county of $1,292.63.

It may be inferred that county orders were at a heavy discount. In 1836-37-38, embracing the flush times of that day, county orders fell to the standard of the most depreciated wild-cat bank issues of that period, and with a view that creditors of the county suffer only part of the loss, the Commissioners ordered the Auditor to add 50 per cent to the amount of the claim of a creditor; so that one, for example, having a claim of $9 against the county would receive an order for $13.50. After a few years' trial of this disastrous practice, it became obvious to all that the finances of the county would be irretrievably ruined if it was continued, and it was abandoned as a practice having no legal sanction, and hostile to public policy.

The amount of the valuation of taxable property in the early years of the county cannot be ascertained from the records, but it is reasonable to conclude that it was very small. Reaching the Williams County of 1982, shorn of its original dimensions as it has been, by the erection of the Counties of Defiance and Fulton, the books show that the amount of orders issued upon the Treasury at the close of the fiscal year of 1881 amounted to $99,913.30, or only $86.70 less than $100,000, while in 1882, the valuation of real and personal property, as represented on the tax duplicate, amounts is $11,369,616, and orders upon the Treasurer are at par, and cashed on presentation. Fifty-eight years have brought the inhabitants of Williams County, financially, at least, within the gates of the promised land. These references are made only to call attention to the marvelous contrast exhibited in the condition of Williams County as discovered in its infancy, and, as the figures now present, the county in its vigorous and healthy manhood.

DESTRUCTION OF NATIVE TIMBER.

With the first settlers, naturally enough, it was their primary object to lay their ax at the trunk of every tree, and either chop down or girdle, and destroy tree and shrub without discrimination or reservation, saving only a portion of such as would be suitable for fence timber; and for these purposes black walnut was quite often used. So merciless was the war upon timber that, upon the fields first cleared, scarcely a shade-tree would be permitted to stand as shelter for man or beast against the fervid rays of the sun. Trees of all dimensions and varieties were regarded as trespassers upon the soil, and the ambition of the early settler was to rid

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 227

the earth of the incumbrance as hastily as possible. If there is a town plat in the county where a

native forest tree stands on the same ground where its growth commenced, the writer does not know the fact; but if there are cases of this character, they must be exceptional. Upon the grounds, in Bryan, where now rests the court house, and for miles surrounding it, there was as fine a body of forest timber as clothed any portion of the earth ; but it was all doomed to swift destruction directly after the county seat became established. A few years later, and when the denuded surface in the public square inclosure presented an appearance akin to desolation, the County Commissioners ordered transplanting evergreens and other exotics, but no provision was made in behalf of the magnificent trees originally supplied by nature, and that once covered nearly the entire surface of the county. On many streets in towns, and lining some public highways in the country, are discoverable the pestilential silver maple, whose multitudinous roots strike the wells and insinuate themselves through the walls, and defile, if they do not poison, the water. The introduction of small-pox into the country and towns of Williams County could scarcely inflict greater evil on animal life than the transplanting of some of the foreign shade and so-called " ornamental " trees that have superseded the ones that God planted upon this soil. Some of the streets of towns, as if in very mockery, bear the names of Beach, Lin, Walnut, Cherry, Mulberry, Maple, Sycamore, Elm, Hickory, Oak, Ash, etc., but the native tree will not be understood by future generations by the mere names of streets, which to them will be meaningless and have no significance; but the only true and secure method of symbolizing the grand native forestry is by transplantation upon public and private grounds, and on the public highways and streets, so that, in their season, their beautiful foliage and grateful shade will be ever present.

WILLIAMS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

No county in Northwestern Ohio, probably, possesses better elements to guarantee prosperity to an agricultural organization than this of Williams. Except the waters of a small lake and those that form river and and creek channels, there is not a waste acre in the county. Outside the the corporation of Bryan, the county contains 265,702 acres of arable land. The county society was founded in 1856, as appears by the official minutes. In compliance with notice, a number of citizens of Williams County convened in the court house at Bryan, June 14, 1865, to consider the matter of forming an agricultural society. The meeting was organized by appointing Levi Cunningham, Chairman, and David Morrow, Secretary. A committee of five was appointed to draft a constitution and by-Iaws, and the committee consisted of P. W. Norris, W. A. Smith,

228 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

David Morrow, John Davis and E. G. Denman. The constitution being adopted and signed by those present, the meeting made choice of the following officers to serve during the present year: President, David Morrow ; Vice Presidents, William Stubbs and E. G. Denman; Secretary, W. A. Smith; Treasurer, R. B. Rush ; Managers, P. D. Benson, Silas Gore, P. W. Norris, Daniel Farnham and Samuel Allen.

An adjourned meeting was held at the court house, August 6, and perfected a premium list, and the fair was fixed to be held at Bryan, on the 7th and 8th days of October. Although the premiums offered at this first fair were small in amount, the attendance was large, and the friends of the enterprise were much encouraged. This fair was held on the court house square. At a meeting of the board held February 10, 1857, it was resolved that the citizens of Defiance and Fulton be admitted as competitors for premiums on equal terms, except on field crops, with the citizens of Williams County.

GROUNDS FOR FAIR PURPOSES.

At a meeting of the board, held June 1, 1857, propositions were received for fair grounds, at which a committee appointed at a previous meeting reported, "that David Morrow offered ground one and one-fourth miles from the town, free. P. W. Norris, of Pioneer, offered as much ground as the society would need, in fee simple, and A. P. Edgerton offered the ground lying between the Evansport and Lafayette roads in the town of Bryan, for five years, provided the society intend to make permanent fixtures (which your committee would earnestly recommend), and they report the following resolution :

"RESOLVED, That the President and Secretary be directed to contract with A. P. Edgerton for the use of said ground."

After the expiration of this contract, the fairs were removed to the present grounds, where they have remained continuously.

LAST FAIR. AND CONDITION IN 1882.

Amount in premiums offered in 1881, $2,250; amount awarded, $1,322; number of entries, 1,730; receipts of the fair, $2,165.60. Officers for 1882: President, John J. Rudisill; Vice President, B. Calvin; Secretary, Robert N. Patterson; Treasurer, J. W. Nelson. These officers are all busy and able workers, and the interests of the Williams County Agricultural Society are in the hands of intelligent and faithful officers.

JUNE FROST, OF 1859.

As untimely frosts have close relation to agriculture, it may not be out of place here to recur to the memorable frost which visited this portion

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 229

of the earth on the 4th of June, 1859, and which produced effects so desolating, that they can never be effaced from the memories of those who, at that date, were of an age to be impressed with so remarkable an event. On Sunday morning, June 5, after the sun appeared, and as its rays began to have influence, the extraordinary spectacle of utter blight was visible upon every grain field, every orchard, and upon even the foliage of forest and other trees: and yet, the day before gave promise of a good harvest. Ice formed in some places to a thickness of three-fourths of an inch. "Wheat and rye froze in the blossom, corn in the stalk, potatoes and vines froze to the ground." The weather was cold and changeable until the 4th day of July, in the morning, when there was another frost, not so devastating in its effects, only because only little little remained for destruction. The late Dr. S. P. Hildreth, of Marietta, records similar disasters as having occurred in 1816, and in 1834.

CONDITION OF THE COMMON SCHOOLS.

Through the kindness of Hon. Charles A. Bowersox, of the Ohio House of Representatives, the following exhibit of the general condition of the common schools of the county, and of Bryan and Pulaski Township is given, as reported to him by the State Commissioner:

232 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

There are not many counties in Ohio that can exhibit a more rapid or satisfactory development.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' SESSION, JUNE 7, 1841.

At this session (the seat of justice of Williams County having been removed from the margin of the county to near its geographical center), the board, conscious of having popular scrutiny directed to their action, recognized in their proceedings, that there had sprung up a mysterious power outside the population located upon the old bottom lands of the rivers, that quite overshadowed the first settlements, that had so long ruled by virtue of superior numerical strength, and we discover at this session that some attention was paid to the long-neglected section. As example: " Petition of J. B. Kimmell and others, for a county road, commencing at the township line where the Bellefontaine State road crosses the line between the townships of Farmer and Washington; thence running north on said township line to the State line between Ohio and Michigan." Petition granted. And another road, on petition of J. C. Church and others, asking for a county road commencing at the town of Bryan, running thence by the nearest and best route to Beaver Creek, near the saw-mill frame of A. Rawson, on Section 10, in Pulaski Township, was granted. Then follows the petition of A. C. Church and others, asking for a county road commencing at the town of Bryan, running thence by the nearest and best route to Beaver Creek, near the saw-mill of A. Rawson, on Section 10, Pulaski Township; thence northwestwardly and eastwardly, so far as to intersect a State road running northwardly near Beaver Creek, on the east side thereof; and these petitions, with many others that affected the new county seat interests appear to have been adopted nem. con., and thus illustrated the transfer of the people's power to a new locality.

At this session, the board ordered the names of several lawyers and physicians to be placed on the duplicate for taxation for the crime of practicing honorable professions.

Board allowed John Drake $24.69 for removing public records and furniture from Defiance to Bryan.

THE COUNTY JAIL.

At the special July session, 1841, the Board "consider Inlot No. 137, in the town of Bryan, in said county, the proper and most suitable situation for the erection of said jail, and select the same for that purpose, for which a bond was given by John A. Bryan, for himself, and William Trevitt, to the Commissioners of Williams County, and their successors in office." Upon what conditions the bond was executed, does

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 233

not appear. But it is recorded that Erastus H. Leland was appointed "a special Commissioner to sell at public auction, to the lowest responsible bidder, the job of clearing off the above-named Lot 137, with instructions to have the same done as soon as possible."

The board, at their session, October 30, 1841, "allow John McDowell the sum of $525 for material and building of jail. Board also make an allowance to E. H. Leland of $7 for clearing off jail lot."

COUNTY COURT HOUSE.

At a session of Commissioners held February 14, 1842, it was ordered that the court house that is to be erected in and for this county be placed in the center of the public square in the town of Bryan—said square not included in the two lots deeded to the county at the south end of said square. The board order that the plan drawn by H. Daniels for a court house, specifying the dimensions of said court house to be fifty-three feet by eighty-seven and a half feet, including the porches, be, and is hereby adopted by the board for a court house for the county of Williams.

Incidentally, the following bill was allowed : "The board allow John Drake the sum of $5, for bringing one dozen chairs from Defiance to Bryan, and also $3 with an addition of 331 per cent added for candles, stationery, etc., as per bill rendered the 7th day of January, A. D. 1842."

Following is the County Commissioners' understanding of what town proprietors promised: 11 The Commissioners, Payne C. Parker and Oney Rice, Jr., direct the auditor to make an entry on the record that they consider the understanding between the Proprietors of the town of Bryan and the Commissioners of Williams County, when they received the bond for the erection of a court house, the following, namely : That the signers of the bond were to lay out judiciously, under the direction of the Commissioners of Williams County, $8,500, and nothing further."

At the session April 20, 1842, " The Board order the Clerk to enter on the record the copy following of a letter to Messrs. Bryan and Trevitt, to wit: ` We, the Commissioners of Williams County, Ohio, have agreed upon and adopted a plan [of the court house] drawn by an architect of this section, the size of which is fifty by sixty-eight feet, to be executed in the Ionic order ; the estimated cost in cash shall not exceed $10,000. The temporary court house is very uncomfortable and cold ; the court, complaining to the Commissioners, say that they shall hold and call upon the Commissioners to see that the house is made comfortable and more convenient.' "

In regard to the jail building contract, “The board order the auditor to inform John McDowell that, if the jail is not finished for this county by the 1st Monday of June next, they will proceed against his sureties."

234 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

TAXES ON LAWYERS AND PHYSICIANS IN 1842.

The following names on the tax list will show who were in practice in the above-named year :

Lawyers—William Semans, William Carter, Horace Sessions, William C. Holgate, George B. Evans, Edwin Phelps, E. H. Leland, George L. Higgins.

Physicians—Thomas Kent, E. H. Allen, Ioram Allen, James M. Gillespie, Ira M. Ladd, Henry Marcellus, Stephen Major, William Porter, Oney Rice, Jr., Jonas Colby, Levi Colby, James Taylor.

LIST OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY AUDITORS FROM 1841 TO

1882 INCLUSIVE.

In pages immediately preceding this are embodied the names of persons who served in these offices from the organization of the county in 1824 until 1840 inclusive. In regular order now, and without interpolation of proceedings of the board, is continued and concluded the list of these officers:

1841—Commissioners, Oney Rice, Jr., Payne C. Parker and Albert Opdyke; Auditor, William A. Brown.

1842—Same officers.

1843—Commissioners, Levi Cunningham, Albert Opdyke and Oney Rice, Jr.; Auditor, William A. Stevens.

1844—Same officers.

1845—Same Board of Commissioners, except that John Stubbs takes the place of Oney Rice, Jr.; Auditor, same.

1846—Commissioners, George Ely, William Sheridan, Sr., and Albert Opdyke.

1847—Commissioners, William Sheridan, Sr., Harman Doolittle and George Ely; Auditor, William McKean.

1848—Commissioners, Ezekiel Masters, Harman Doolittle and Jacob Bowman; Auditor, same.

1849—Commissioners, same; Auditor, same.

1850—Commissioners, Jacob Bowman, Robert Ogle and Daniel Farnham; Auditor, same.

1851—Commissioners, Robert Ogle, Joseph Reasoner and John Washburn; Auditor, Jocob Bowman; Surveyor, James Thomson.

1852—Commissioners and Auditor, same.

1853—Commissioners, Thomas Burke, Joseph Reasoner and John Washburn; Auditor, M. B. Plummer.

1854—Commissioners, John Washburn, Thomas Burke and S. B. McKelvy; Auditor, George Ely; Treasurer, John Rings.

1855—Commissioners same as preceding year, except that William

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 237

Letcher takes the place of John Washburn, while the Auditor continues.

1856—Same Commissioners, and A. R. Patterson, Auditor; Treasurer, Samuel Ayres.

1857—Commissioners, Timothy W. Stocking, William Letcher and C. Brannan; Auditor, F. M. Case.

1858—Commissioners, Timothy W. Stocking, A. W. Boynton and Christopher Brannan; Auditor, same.

1859—Commissioners same, except that Daniel Farnham succeeds Christopher Brannan, and Mr. Case continues as Auditor.

1860—Commissioners and Auditor continued.

1861—Commissioners continue in office, and C. W. Mallory succeeds Mr. Case as Auditor.

1862—Commissioners and Auditor remain in office. 1863—Commissioners, A. W. Boynton, Daniel Farnham and George R. Joy; Auditor, same.

1864—Commissioners and Clerk, same.

1865—Commissioners, Robert Haughey, A. W. Boynton and G. R; Joy; Auditor, C. W. Mallory.

1866—Commissioners, A. W. Boynton, Robert Haughey and Hiram Opdyke; Auditor, C. W. Mallory.

1867—Commissioners and Auditor same.

1868—Commissioners, Hiram Opdvke, William G. Fish and Jacob Haughey; Auditor, Simeon Gillis.

1869—Commissioners and Auditor, same as preceding year.

1870—Commissioners, Hiram Opdyke, William G. Fish and Timothy W. Stocking; Auditor, Simeon Gillis.

1871—Commissioners, Hiram Opdyke, Timothy W. Stocking and Daniel Farnham; Auditor, same.

1872—Commissioners, Timothy W. Stocking, Daniel Farnham and Eli Booth; Auditor, same.

1873—Commissioners, Daniel Farnham, John B. Grim and Eli Booth.

1874—Commissioners, Eli Booth, John B. Grim and Clark Backus; Auditor, Jacob Kelly.

1875—Commissioners, John B. Grim, P. S. Garlow and Clark Backus; Auditor, same.

1876—Commissioners, Peter S. Garlow, C. W. Mallory and Jonathan Burke; and same Auditor.

1877—Commissioners, C. W. Mallory, G. R. Joy and Jonathan Burke; Auditor, George Rings.

1878—Commissioners and Auditor same.

1879—Commissioners, George R. Joy, Jonathan Burke and George Webber; Auditor, same.

238 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

1880—Same Commissioner and Auditor held over.

1881—Commissioners, George Webber, Jonathan Burke and A. Riley ; Auditor, A. F. Solier.

1882—Commissioners, Jonathan Burke, Alfred Riley and Eli Wisman; Auditor, George F: Solier.

LIST OF COUNTY RECORDERS FROM 1824 TO 1882 INCLUSIVE.

Recorders hold their office for the term of three years, and are eligible to re-election for an indefinite number of terms. Since 1824, there have been only twelve incumbents in the office, and their names and order of service are as follows: John Evans, Horace Sessions, Calvin L. Noble, Jacob Youse, M. B. Plummer, James B. Wyatt, George L. Starr, Harvey H. Wilcox, Isaac N. Sheets, Robert D. Dole, Barrett E. Conklin and Thomas J. Coslet.

FIRST COURT HOUSE AND JAIL.

The log court house in which the first court was held, after Bryan became the seat of justice, was situated on Main street, on the lots now occupied by George W. Myers, and the adjacent one on the north. The log jail occupied the lot owned by A. T. Bement, and where he recently resided. The public offices and records were first lodged in a log structure, on the south side of the public square, on the ground now used by the Bryan Boot and Shoe Company ; and after this, and until the present court house was built, the public offices were distributed over various sections of the new town.

TERMS OF COURT AT BRYAN.

The first term of court held at Bryan “was begun and held at Bryan on the 19th day of April, 1841, and of the State of Ohio the 39th. Present. Emery D. Potter, President Judge, and Jonas Colby and William D. Haymaker, Associate Judges of said court; John Drake, Sheriff, and Edwin Phelps, Clerk."

The Sheriff having returned the venire for the grand jury, the following persons answered to their names, to wit: Horace Hilton, John Bowdie, James Partee, Jacob Kniss, Zachariah Hart, William Travis, Francis Loughhead, Daniel Wyatt, George W. Durbin and Jacob Dillman. Isaiah Ackley, Amos Stoddard, Seth Stinson, Frederick Miser and Jacob G. Wilden were summoned from among the by standers as talesmen, and thereupon the court appointed Jacob Dillman foreman of the jury, who were duly impaneled, sworn and charged. At this term, twelve bills of indictment were found by the grand jury—four for selling liquor, three for assault and battery, three for gaming, one for assault on Constable and one for affray. Upon the civil docket appear 148 cases, in addition to a grant of the petitioners of the proprietors to vacate the towns of

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 239

Freedom and Denmark, and the naturalization of four men of foreign birth.

" The court authorize the Clerk to grant permits to such persons as shall apply during vacation, to ferry footmen across small streams where a regular ferry is not necessary, and allow them to receive 6 cents for each footman."

The journal, on the 21st of April, 1841, closed with the following entry: "All matters, causes and proceedings, pending in this court, not otherwise disposed of, are continued, and thereupon the court adjourn without day. Emery D. Potter, President Judge."

At the September term, 1842, appeared the same President Judge and Associates—Reuben B. James, William D. Haymaker and Jonathan B. Taylor; Clerk, Edwin Phelps; Sheriff, John Drake.

September term, 1843, same Presiding Judge and Associates—Thomas Kent, Jonathan B. Taylor and William D. Haymaker; Clerk and Sheriff, same.

April term, 1844—President Judge, Myron H. Tilden ; Associate Judges and Clerk, same as in 1843 ; Sheriff, James M. Gillespie.

June term, 1845—President Judge, Patrick G. Goode ; Associate Judges, Jonathan B. Taylor, Thomas Kent and Payne C. Parker; Clerk, Levi Colby ; Prosecuting Attorney, E. H. Leland; Sheriff, James M. Gillespie.

[At this term, part of the judiciary became involved in trouble—E. H. Leland, Prosecuting Attorney, having been indicted for gaming, and Judge Thomas Kent for assault and battery. Both were acquitted.]

June term, 1846—President and Associate Judges, same as in 1845: Clerk, John Paui ; Prosecuting Attorney, Joshua Dobbs; President Judge, same; Associate Judges, Thomas Kent, Payne C. Parker and Abner Ayres ; Clerk, Prosecuting Attorney and Sheriff, same.

May term, 1847—No change in any of the judicial officers.

April term, 1848—President Judge did not appear at this term, and court was held by the Associates; Clerk and Sheriff, same as at former term.

May term, 1849—President Judge, George B. Way; Associates and Clerk, same; Sheriff, Daniel Langel.

October term, 1850—President Judge, same; Associates, Payne C. Parker, Abner Ayres and William M. Stubbs; Clerk and Sheriff, same.

September term, 1851—All the court officers continued ; and this was the last term of a court in Williams County held under the judicial system established by the constitution of 1802, which had been the supreme law of Ohio during a period of half a century.

Under the present constitution, the first term commenced on the 6th

240 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

day of April, 1852, and Williams County was embraced in the Second Subdivision of the Third Judicial District. John M. Palmer, who had been chosen, at the annual election held in October, 1851, as Judge of the Subdivision, produced his credentials, signed by Reuben Wood, Governor, with the great seal of the State of Ohio thereto attached, and dated the 16th of January, 1852, with and bearing the official signature of William Trevitt (one of the fathers of Bryan), Secretary of State.

The officers of the new court were: John M. Palmer, District Judge Walter Caldwell, Clerk; Thomas Shorthill, Sheriff.

At the April terms of court, 1853, 1854 and 1855, the names of the same court officers appear upon the journal, with the exception that, at the April term held the last-named year, the name of William A. Stevens is recorded as Clerk ; and at the terms held in 1856, there appear to have been no changes, except that John Bell appears to have succeeded Thomas Shorthill as Sheriff.

At the March term, 1857, Alexander S. Latta appeared and presented his credentials as Judge of the Second Subdivision of the Third Judicial District of the Court of Common Pleas of Ohio, after the reading of which, court was duly opened- No change had occurred in the other offices.

March term, 1858—The same officers were at present this as at the last term, with the exception that Jacob Youse succeeded William A. Stevens as Clerk, and at the March term, 1859, the same officers appeared; and at the March term, 1860, the only change that had occurred was that Hiram Byers had been qualified as Sheriff.

From 1861 to 1863, inclusive, the same judicial officers were in service; but in 1864, Milton B. Plummer had been elected Clerk, and William S. Lewis; and 1865 and 1866 brought no changes in court officers, but at the March term of 1867, Lewis E. Brewster became Clerk. At the March term of 1868, Edwin J. Evans was sworn in as Sheriff.

[From this forward, only new officers in the judicial force, as they occur, will be noted.]

In the several years of 1869, 1870 and 1871, there had been no change, but in 1872, Henry L. Walker took charge of the Sheriff's office.

In 1873, no change, and the only one in 1874 was that Henry L. Walker was superseded in the Sheriff's office by William W. Darby.

At the first term held in 1876, E. E. Bechtol was qualified as Clerk.

At the March term, 1877, Selwyn N. Owen presented his credentials as Judge.

February term, 1878, George C. Kober entered upon his duties as Sheriff.

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 241

At the February term, 1879, William H. Chilcote entered upon his duties as Clerk.

In 1880 and 1881, no changes had occurred; but in 1882, Ezra E. Bechtol succeeded William H. Chilcote as Clerk, and Jacob A. Dorshimer succeeded George C. Kober as Sheriff.

And now, having concluded the list of judicial officers for the Court of Common Pleas, it may be added that a most important part of the Ohio judicial system is the office of Probate Judge, which was created by the constitution of 1852 ; and a full Iist of the several incumbents who have filled the office is here appended : Joshua Dobbs, elected in 1852 and reelected in 1855; Meredith R. Willett, elected in 1858 ; Isaac R. Sherwood, elected in 1861, and resigned to enter the military service. William A. Hunter was commissioned by the Governor to succeed Sherwood, but he also very soon entered the army, and November 6, 1862, William H. Ogden succeeded Hunter. In 1863, Alexander Bodel was elected, but resigned, and August 26, 1864, the Governor appointed George E. Long to fill the unexpired term of Judge Bodel, and in 1867 Judge Long was elected for the full term. In 1870, John W. Leidigh was elected, and in 1873 was re-elected. In 1876, Charles A. Bowersox was elected, and in 1879 Martin Perky was elected, and in 1882 re-elected, and under circumstances highly flattering to himself and friends.

CONVICTIONS FOR MURDER.

Only two cases of trial and convictions on charge of capital crime appear in the judicial annals of Williams County. The exceptional case was that of the State of Ohio vs. Daniel Heckerthorn and Andrew F. Tyler, who were arraigned at the September term, 1847, on the charge as explained below, in a synopsis of the bill of indictment, found by the grand jury at said term :

STATE OF OHIO,

WILLIAMS COUNTY. ss.

Court of Common Pleas of the term of September, in the year A. D. 1847, the Jury of the Grand Jurors of the State of Ohio within and for the body of the county of Williams upon their oaths and solemn affirmations, in the name and by the authority of the State of Ohio, do present and find that one Daniel Heckerthorn, late of said county of Williams, heretofore, that is to say on the 20th day of June, A, D. 1847, with force and arms, at Jefferson Township, in said county of Williams, in and upon one David Schamp, in the peace of God and State of Ohio then being, feloniously, willfully and purposely, and of deliberate and premeditated malice, did make an assault, and that said Daniel Heckerthorn, with a certain stick, did then and there, with force of arms, etc., * * * And that one Andrew Tyler, late of the said county of Williams, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being seduced by the instigation of the devil, before the felony and murder aforesaid, by the aforesaid Daniel Heckerthorn, in manner and form aforesaid, done and committed, that is to say, etc. * * * And the jurors aforesaid, in the name and by the authority aforesaid. on their oaths and affirmations aforesaid, do

242 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

further present and find that the said Daniel Heckerthorn, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, and of his malice aforethought, wickedly contriving and intending the said David Schamp with poison, feloniously, willfully, unlawfully, purposely and of deliberate and premeditated malice to kill and murder, * * * to wit ; the quantity of two drams of the said white arsenic, did put, mingle, mix and infuse into and with a certain quantity of candy, and then and there gave to him, the said David Schamp, a large quantity of the said white arsenic, so as aforesaid by him, the said Daniel Heckerthorn, mixed, mingled and infused with the said candy to eat and swallow. * * * And that one Andrew Tyler, late of the county of Williams, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil by the felony and murder last aforesaid, by the aforesaid Daniel Heckerthorn, * * * did stir up, move, abet, counsel, advise and procure, contrary to the form of statute, etc.

[Signed] JOSHUA DOBBS, Pros. Att’y.

On which bill of indictment was the following indorsement, to wit

Williams County, Common Pleas, State of Ohio vs. Daniel Heckerthorn and Andrew Tyler, indictment for murder, A true bill. Addison McNabb, foreman. Found upon the testimony of witnesses sworn in open court, by order of the court, on the request of the Prosecuting Attorney, sent before the Grand Jury. Filed September 8, 1847. John Pau:, Clerk, by F. M. Case, Deputy. J. Dobbs, Prosecuting Attorney.

And afterward, to wit :

On the 10th day of September, 1847, on motion to said Court of Common Pleas, it is ordered that Charles Case be appointed Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in this case. The Court appoint Andrew Coffinberry and William Semans to defend the said Daniel Heckerthorn ;

And afterward, to wit:

On the day and year last aforesaid came the said State of Ohio and the said Daniel Heckerthorn and Andrew Tyler, being each separately arraigned, in their own proper persons, in open court, and the said indictment being read to them, and the said Daniel Heckerthorn and Andrew Tyler, being each separately inquired of what they pleaded to said indictment, do each of them, before pleading to said indictment, elect to be tried in the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio to be holden within and for the county of Williams. It is therefore ordered by the Court that the said Daniel Heckerthorn and Andrew Tyler be remanded to jail and there confined to await their said trial in said Supreme Court upon said indictment, which was done accordingly; and afterward, to wit, on the day and year first aforesaid came the said State of Ohio, and the said Andrew Tyler being arraigned in his own proper person, says he is not guilty as he stands charged in said indictment, and thereupon came a jury, to wit, Joseph Stoy, Bannister Poole, William Sheridan, Volney Crocker, Jonathan Hoge, Harvey Koons, William H. Ozier, John Bowman, Daniel Aucker, William C. Preston, Benjamin Bowman and John Turner, who being duly tried, empaneled and sworn well and truly to try the issue joined between the State of Ohio and the said Andrew Tyler, upon their oaths aforesaid do say that the said Andrew Tyler is guilty of willfully, deliberately and purposely and of deliberate and premeditated malice stirring up, moving, selecting, counseling and procuring the said Daniel Heckerthorn willfully, purposely, and of deliberate and premeditated malice the said David Schamp to kill and murder in manner and form as he stands charged in said indictment, and the said Andrew Tyler being set to the bar of the court, and it being demanded of him to say why the sentence of the law should not be pronounced against him, says that he has nothing to say further than he has already said ; wherefore, it is considered; sentenced and adjudged that the said Andrew Tyler be taken from hence to the jail of the county, and therein be safely kept until Friday, the twenty-sixth day of

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 243

January next, between the hours of twelve o'clock, M., and three o'clock, P. M., the said Andrew Tyler shall be taken to the place of execution, and hanged by the neck until he is dead.

And as to the said Daniel Heckerthorn this case is continued.

P. HITCHCOCK, Chief Judge.

At the Williams County Supreme Court term, held in Bryan in 1849, Heckerthorn was tried and sentenced to be hanged, but the Governor of Ohio commuted the sentence to imprisonment for life in the Ohio Penitentiary. And thus began and closed the only murder trials adjudicated in Williams County.

THE WILLIAMS COUNTY BAR.

Following is the roster of the members of the Williams County bar at different periods :

1837—At this time, there was a law in force imposing a capitation tax on lawyers of one dollar. In Williams County three were listed, namely—Curtis Bates, Horace Sessions and William Semans. William C. Holgate, afterward successful as a lawyer, and Prosecuting Attorney of Williams County, though more eminent as a sagacious business man, was at this time a law student in the office of the late Horace Sessions, at Defiance.

1844—The names of the following Williams County lawyers, and then all residents of Bryan, appear at the terms held this year upon the bar docket: Leland & Blakeslee, Case & Foster, Joshua Dobbs, S. M. Huyck and James Welsh.

1846—The following names are docketed for the terms of this year: John Paul, J. Dobbs, Coffinberry & Semans, Carter & Case, Leland & Blakeslee, William Carter, S. E. Blakeslee, Carter & Case, H. Sessions, C. Case, E. H. Leland, Case & Coffinberry, Peter Snook, Case & Case, Saunders M. Huyck, J. A. Simon, G. H. Wilson, John K. Morrow, S. A. Treat, Foster & Pratt and McKinley & Treat.

1882—Pratt & Bentley, Leidigh & Scott, Foster & Bowersox, Emery & Boothman, Smith & Strayer, Serrels & Johnston, M. R. Willett, J. A. Simon, J. W. Nelson, M. 11. Bond, S. E. Blakeslee, H. Preusser, B. E. Sheldon, Solomon Johnson, C. W. Pitcairn, 0. C. Beechler, A. D. Austin, Peter Friend, George E. Coy, Hiram H. Calvin, John M. Caulkins, C. P. Winbigler and Charles B. Jones.

DESTRUCTION OF LANDMARKS.

The erection of Defiance County under the act passed March 4, 1845 (the same day Mr. Polk was inaugurated President of the United States), was, for the time, disastrous to the interests of the county as originally formed, in several respects, not only by mutilating its symmetrical lines, but by transferring to the new county a large portion of its most valuable

244 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

taxable property ; while it also opened up a vexatious war for the removal of the county seat from Bryan to West Unity, and in this conflict many old friendships were for the time severed. At the time of the erection of Defiance, Williams was composed of seventeen townships, namely: Defiance, Tiffin, Springfield, Brady, Mill Creek, Jefferson, Pulaski, Washington, Delaware, Farmer Centre, Superior, Bridgewater, Florence, St. Joseph, Milford and Hicksville. Some of these townships exceeded the established limits of the United States surveys, owing to the clashing of the Harris and Fulton lines, which finally resulted in the boundary conflict between Ohio and Michigan; but yet it left Williams a territory considerably in excess of the minimum area prescribed by the constitution ; and the General Assembly, in 1849, erected Fulton, which further despoiled the old county by clipping off three of the eastern sections of Mill Creek and two from Brady Township. But this last legislative act was comforting to Bryan local interests, because it placed the eastern boundary of Brady so near the " ragged edge," that it blasted all hope of West Unity for capturing the county seat, and made perpetual peace between the two places by consigning the vexed controversy to " the tomb of the Capulets." With these two clippings, we find, according to that eminent and experienced surveyor, Miller Arrowsmith, that the present superficial area of the county is about equal to eleven and two-thirds townships, or 420 square miles—being then, according to this good authority, only about twenty square miles above the constitutional limits; but the lines as now drawn may be regarded as perpetual, except that the fundamental law be changed establishing the minimum limits of counties—an event not probable to happen, as it has remained a policy that has existed unchanged since Ohio became a member of the Union.

WILLIAMS COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY

At one time there existed a strong medical association in the county, but from some cause the organization was abandoned, and the society became extinct by reason of a discontinuance of the annual meetings. The profession have material for a medical society which might occupy the highest rank.

WILLIAMS COUNTY INFIRMARY.

This farm, buildings and improvements, reflect credit upon the County Commissioners who undertook the enterprise; upon the boards of Infirmary Directors who succeeded them ; and upon the superintendents and matrons, who have had management of its affairs since the opening of the house for the reception of inmates. Work upon the main building was begun in 1873, and so far completed in the following year that, on its opening day, six unfortunates were received, and before the close

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 247

of that month, fifteen additional ones. The first directors of the institution were elected October, 1874, and they were Hiram Hoatley, Jr., Robert L. Burns and Joseph Reasoner. On November 25, 1874, Andrew Scott was appointed superintendent. The first semi-annual report of the directors was made September 1, 1875. Mr. Reasoner, who had been elected for the full term of three years, resigned after a brief service, and his place was filled through the County Commissioners by the appointment of D. M. Webb, to serve until the next regular election. November 25, 1876, M. L. Mason was appointed superintendent, and yet retains the place. The number of monthly inmates of the institution, since its opening, has been about thirty, and highest number during any month, forty-nine, although the buildings would afford accommodation for about sixty, aside from the superintendent's family and employes. The Infirmary farm, consisting of 280 acres, cost $14,000, and was bought of John Hester. The original contract price for the building, exclusive of brick, which the county furnished, was $12,000. Since then, an administration department has been built at a cost of $2,000; a horse-barn, costing $700, and a laundry, twenty by forty feet, two stories, at an expense of $600, in addition to other necessary improvements. The situation of the ground could not have been one more favorably selected, had the county been searched over—the ground falling in every direction, and affording the best drainage facilities. The rooms are heated, when required, by furnace, and arrangements are most judiciously made for the escape of the inmates of the building in case of fire. The Infirmary board for 1882 consists of John T. Markel, A. Collie, and George Bible.

GEOLOGY, POLITICS AND THE COUNTY PRESS.

TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES.

The soil of Williams County is generally clay, strongly impregnated with lime, but a portion of it is a sandy loam. The surface is sufficiently undulating for drainage, and by ditching and tiling it becomes as productive as the best lands in Ohio. There are no swamp lands in the county that may not be reclaimed at small expense, and when prepared for tillage are among the most productive acres in the State. All the cereals, large and small fruits of this latitude and garden vegetables afford ample reward to the intelligent and industrious husbandman. "In common with the adjacent counties north of the Maumee River, its surface has a general slope to the southeast, and the highest land in this portion of the State is in the township of Northwest, where the general surface lies from 400 to 450 feet above the level of Lake Erie, where a

C

248 - HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY.

few hills rise fifty feet higher." On the Air-Line of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, Stryker has an altitude of 146 feet; Bean Creek, 125 feet ; Bryan, 198 feet ; Melbern, 270 feet; Summit, 304 feet ; Edgerton, 270 feet ; and Butler, Ind., 297 feet above the level of Lake Erie. [For these altitudes the public is indebted to Hon. Jesse L. Williams, of Fort Wayne, one of the most accurate, as well as most eminent, civil engineers in the Union.] The southeast corner of the county is 300 feet lower, the descent being gentle, and, with one notable exception, uniform throughout. This exception is occasioned by a ridge which crosses in a northeast and southwest direction just east of the St. Joseph River. Topographically, it is a mere swell on the surface of the plain, six or eight miles broad at the base, with a maximum height of fifty feet, and not differing in superficial characters from the adjacent country. All of the country west of this ridge is drained by the St. Joseph River, which flows southwestward and, by a junction with the St. Mary's at Fort Wayne, Ind., forms the Maumee. East of the ridge the water is collected by Bean Creek, which crosses the southeast corner of the county and flows southward to the Maumee at Defiance. The small streams rise in the main from perennial springs, and are lively and clear, and the beds of all the streams rest upon rock.

GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE.

For matter gathered for this department, the writer is indebted to Prof. G. K. Gilbert, of the Ohio Geological Corps. The indurated rocks, being everywhere covered by a heavy bed of drift, have been reached in this county only by boring, and this only at one place. A well drilled for oil at Stryker, on land of Hon. John Sheridan, Jr., after traversing 129 feet of drift, met the Huron shale, with a thickness of sixty-eight feet, and underlaid by limestone. Combining this record with the railroad levels, the base of the Huron shale is shown to be here fifty feet below the level of Lake Erie. Comparing this, again, with the altitude of the same horizon at various points along the Maumee River, it appears that its dip is to the north, or northwest, at the rate of seven or eight feet to the mile. In adjacent portions of Michigan, the dip, so far as known, is in the same direction ; and it is hence presumed to be continuous through the unexplored interval. There is reason to believe, too, that the gradual rise of the country toward the northwest is accompanied by a corresponding and equal activity of the rock surface. It follows as probable that the higher land is underlaid by 500 feet of strata superior to the base of the Huron shale, and that the upper portion of this base belongs to the next succeeding base—the Waverly. The lower margin of the Huron shale is in every direction beyond the limits of

HISTORY OF WILLIAMS COUNTY - 249

Williams County. The stratagraphical data are so unsatisfactory that the map of the county has been made to represent, instead, the features of the surface geology, which in their relation to the distribution of soils are of more interest and importance.

The geology of the soils is independent of the underlying rocks, and referable exclusively to the drift ; they are divided into two somewhat marked provinces by the upper beach ridge. This enters Defiance County at Williams Center, and, passing with a nearly straight course just west of Bryan and Pulaski and through West Unity, crosses into Fulton County a half mile north of the Fulton line. Its soil is sandy, and in some places objectionably light on the summit of the ridge, but the eastern slope affords everywhere a rich and highly prized sandy loam, which shades gradually into the clay loam of the plain. Easy drainage, easy tillage, and the advantage of building sites at once pleasant and salubrious, led to the early occupation of this'land, and it now bears prominently the visible marks of prosperity. A second ridge, lying a little east of the other and running from the south line to Bryan, presents similar characters, and some sand ridges lying east of West Unity may be included in the same category. West of the upper beach the surface consists of unmodified Erie clay, and the soils present all the variety of that heterogeneous deposit. The major part is a yellow or buff clay, with enough sand and gravel to render it arable and permeable. Patches of unmixed clay are frequent, but small ; and, though sometimes friable, are more commonly very adhesive and difficult of management. Except in swales, the accumulation of mold is inconsiderable, but the soil is retentive of vegetable manures, and gives a good return for their application. Carbonate of lime was originally very abundant, and remains on the more level portions, but appears to have been washed from the slopes. Sand is rarely predominant, but in Northwest a tract of two or three miles area is covered by a clean, yellow sand. It has for the most part a subsoil of clay so near the surface as to render the land valuable, but near Nettle Lake is deep and light. The country generally is rolling or undulating, and abounds with deep marshes, in which are extensive deposits of marl, and peat or muck. Along the St. Joseph River, and appearing alternately on the opposite banks, is a strip of flat, sandy land, nearly identical in character with the bottom land that forms the immediate bank of the river. It is in fact an ancient bottom or flood-plain of the St. Joseph, formed when its current was checked by lake water standing at the height of the upper beach. At Edgerton this deposit has a depth of forty feet, and its extreme width is about one mile. It can be traced northward as far as Pioneer, but above there is not distinguishable from the present bottom.