Allen County, Ohio - Chapter 15: Statistics of the County, 1885

Chapter 15: Statistics of the County

rCEBE is no more certain index to the condition of a free State than its public accounts. So it is with any division of the State. In the following review of the statistics of the county, the figures of population are placed first. This points out at a glance the advances made during the last half century. Following this table are the financial and industrial statistics, compiled from the official records of 1883 which form in themselves an exhibit of the present worth of the county.

* The townships marked form a portion of the adjoining county of Auglaize, since the organic changes referred to in the chapter dealing with the transactions of the Commissioners' Board. The estimated population in 1884 was 40,000.

In 1860 the Indian population of. Ohio was 30, increased to 100 in 1870, and to 180 in 1880. Of this number there were four Indians residing in Allen County (census of 1880). The number of males in 1880 was 16,213; of females, 15,101; estimated at present at 21,000 and 19,000 respectively. The nativity of population, according to census of 1880, is shown as follows: Ohioans, 25,625 ; Pennsylvanians, 1,151; New Torkers, 365; Virginians, 532; Eentuckians, 99; Indianians, 863; Canadians, 59; Irish, 594; Welsh and English, 842; Scotch, 28; Germans, 939; French, 60; Swedes, 6; Indians, 4; colored citizens, 510; Chinese) 3.

The number of marriages in Allen Oounty for the year ending April 1, 1883, as reported by the Probate Judge, was as follows : Whites, by license, 849, by banns, 5; colored, by license, 2; total, 856.

The number of prisoners reported in county jail during the year ending April 1, 1888, was 72, of whom 89 were foreign' bom citizens. The cost of keeping the prisoners was $1,528.50.

The number of acres under wheat in 1882 was 81,560, which produced 227,168 bushels; the number under buckwheat was 92, yielding 1,196 bushels; under com, 88,742 acres, yielding 1,470,145 bushels; under oats, 6,800 acres, yielding 202,530 bushels ; under ry9, 288 acres, yielding 8,697 bushels; under barley, 187 acres, yielding 4,868 bushels ; under meadow, 12,874 acres, yielding 26,596 tons of hay ; under clover, 6,860 acres, yielding 6,898 tons of hay and 8,161 bushels of seed; under flax, 660 acres, yielding 5,678 bushels of seed and 10,621 pounds of fibre; under potatoes, 1,128 acres, yielding 109,056 bushels ; under tobacco, onehalf acre, yielding 805 pounds ; under sorghum, 58 acres, yielding 2,448 pounds of sugar and 5,601 gallons of syrup; 58| acres of vineyard produced 11,890 pounds ; under orchards, 8,490 acres produced 89,282 bushels of apples, 754 bushels of peaches, 190 bushels of pears, 86 bushels of cherries, 10 bushels of plums ; under sweet potatoes, 29 acres, producing 429 bushels.

In 1883 there were 48,520 gallons of milk sold for family use ; 493,- 827 pounds of batter and 12,930 pounds of cheese made in home dairies. The bee hives numbered 623, producing 7,040 pounds of honey. The maple groves produ^ 6,750 pounds of sugar and 6,782 gallons of syrup. There were 410,378 dozens of eggs produced.

The value of tin, copper and sheet iron ware was set down at $24, - 200; cabinet ware, $5,150; carriages, buggies, $28,300; wagons, carts and drays, $8,000; all other manufactures of wood, $5,000; value of leather, $7,000; saddles, harness and other manufactures of leather, $7,900. Drain tile made, 120,800 feet, valued at $6,700 ; clothing, valued at $55,000 ; prepared meats, $20,500 ; malt liquors, $18,400 ; cigars and tobacco, $40,000; other manufactures not specified, $19,800. The paper mills of Lima, hoop and stave factories, foundries and sawmills throughout the county increase the value of manufactures above $2,000,000. {Vide Township and Village History.)

The consideration for lands which actually changed owners during the year 1883, was $902,404; of town acre lots, $12,308, and of town or village lots, $588,027. The mortgages recorded during the year amounted to $687,894, and the mortgages cancelled to $815,631. The former does not include $20,000 recorded in name of C. & A. B. R Co.

Financial Statistics

State debt or sinking fund, five- tenths of a mill, $6,808.20; general revenue fund, one and four- tenths of a mill, $19,063; State common school fund, one mill, $13,616.44; total state tax, two and nine- tenths mills, $39,487.64. Total amount of all other than State taxes, $274,292.73; delinquent taxes on real estate and forfeitures, $15,208.63; delinquent taxes of former years on personal property, $4,400.45; total taxes for all purposes, including delinquencies and forfeitures, except per capita tax on dogs, $333,389.45; dog tax, at $1 each, $2,345.

The taxes collected in 1883 under the Scott Law amounted to $14,970.62. Sixty-eight places were taxed $200 each, and fifteen places $100. Of this sum, $5,585.92 was transferred to the municipal police fund, a like amount to the municipal general fund, $3,723.94 to the county poor fund, and balance to meet expenses of collection, etc.

The uninterrupted prosperity which has waited on the various branches of enterprise and industry, from the earliest settlement of the county to the present day, and the change from an unbroken wilderness to a rich and populous territory, effected within the last fifty years, lead the mind to a contemplation of the condition to which the progressive energies of the people will raise this county in the future. We have only to examine the resources of wealth which the county presents, the strength, skill and aptitude of the people to draw forth from natural advantages all they offer, to enable us to measure approximately what the future shall bring forth to reward the laborers.