Allen County, Ohio - Chapter 5: Lima - the County Seat, 1906

By Dr. Samuel A. Baxter

Establishment of the County Seat - Lima's Godfather - Sale of Town Lots - The Court Houses - Christopher Wood, Director - Lima's First Settler - Maria Mitchell Brown, First White Child Born in Lima - The First Five Families - James Peltier, First Dry Goods Merchant - Dr. William Cunningham, Lima's First Physician - Hog Creek - Lima's First Officers - Henry D. V. Williams, the First Mayor - General Blackburn - Muster Da\ - Thomas K. Jacobs, a Builder of Lima - John Ward, the First Schoolmaster - The Distinguished Teacher, Joseph H. Richardson - The Cholera Visitation - The First Saloon - Early History of the Public and Parochial Schools of Lima - Dr. William McHenry - Allen County Medical Society - "Uncle Joe" Hover and His Market Street Bridge - Mills, Bridges and Roads - Alexander Beatty - Robert Bowers' Reminiscences - Silas Faurot - Lima's First Hotel - The Bashorcs - Daniel Musser - The Early Stores - Col. James Cunningham - Richard Metheany - The First Railroad - John Mcily - John P. Haller, the Builder.

By an act of the Legislature of the State of Ohio, dated February 12, 1820, the metes and bounds of four counties, Van Wert, Mercer, Putnam and Allen, were established. Nine years later a commissioner, Christopher Wood, was appointed to locate one quarter-section of land belonging to the State of Ohio, as county seat. The location was made, and by another act of the Legislature, passed March 3, 1831, the seat of justice of Allen County was established.

The town was surveyed in April, 1831. by Justin Hamilton, county surveyor of Allen County. Hon. Patrick G. Goode as godfather named the new child "Lima" after the Peruvian capital, which was then attracting attention. It is said that he was highly indignant that our plain, plodding pioneers objected to

In June, 1831, James S. Daniels, John G. Wood, and Samuel Stewart were, by law, appointed commissioners, and they named Christopher Wood director of the town of Lima, ordering that town lots be sold at auction. This sale was made in July or August following. The lots averaged about $25 apiece. For a whole square fronting on Elm and Elizabeth streets, Dr. Cunningham paid $36.75.

The first Court of Common Pleas for Allen County was held August 31, 1831, in James S. Daniels' cabin, which stood near the present Market street bridge. The next year a Court House was built just below the southeast corner of the square. In 1840 a contract for a new brick Court House was let to Orlando Boughton of Wooster, Ohio, and was finished in 1842. This building stood where the Cincinnati Block now stands, and for more than 40 years served the purpose of both Court House and County Jail. The corner-stone of the present Court House was laid July 4, 1882, and the building was formally opened in the fall of 1884. It cost, with the adjacent stone jail, $350,000.

Christopher Wood, our, first director, was a noted character. Born in Washington County, Virginia, March 9, 1772, he resided there until he was 1 5 years of age, when he removed to Maysville, Kentucky. He was one of Kentucky's pioneers and used to charm his children with the thrilling tales of his experiences in the border-land. Families guarded one another while planting their crops and many times whole settlements were compelled to flee to the forts to escape the savage attacks of the Indians. Mr. Wood was frequently employed as a scout and often met Daniel Boone on his excursions into the unbroken wilderness. In this service he traversed a large part of Western Ohio and Kentucky. In 1826 he moved his family to Allen County, and was elected first town director and first justice of the peace of Lima. His home was for many years a place of worship for everyone and the first Sunday-school of Allen County was organized at his house.

The eastern counties of our State did much to populate Allen County. These pioneers came with a view of casting in their fortunes with the new county seat and were eminently possessed of those strong traits which enabled them to subdue the wilderness and to lay the foundations for that civilization which supplanted savagery and transformed the forests into a great busy commonwealth.

We who today are in touch with the improvements of the early 20th century must regard moving as mere child's play compared with the moving of former times. Journeys were then made in covered wagons in which were stored all the worldly possessions, including members of the family. Through dense forests and trackless wildernesses the pioneers traveled, stopping for the night wherever darkness overtook them, and then up betimes in the morning to resume their weary way. At the journey's end the wagon still served as a shelter until the logs were hewn and the cabin built. They had need to be fearless, self-reliant, and industrious and withal generous and hospitable.

Absolom Brown was Lima's first settler. He came in the spring of 1831 on a prospecting tour and brought his family the following September. On February 5, 1832, a daughter was born to the Brown family, who has the distinction of being the first white child born in Lima. She was named Maria Mitchell in honor of Mrs. John P. Mitchell.

Only a few days after Mr. Brown, came John Porter Mitchell, whose family consisted of his wife, his two sons (William H. C., born May 30, 1825, in Perry County, and Thornton T., born August 27, 1827) and one daughter, Minerva, born April 29, 1830. Mary, the youngest child, was born in Lima, January 30, 1833. Mr. Mitchell built his house where the Methodist Church now stands, but kept hotel on the present site of the Union Block. When Mr. Mitchell came to Lima, he found John Mark's cabin tenantless, the latter having gone for his family, and Mr. Mitchell at once occupied it. Upon the return of the owner, Mr. Mitchell was obliged to move into his own abode, though it had not yet a roof. By this time Joseph Edwards and family had arrived and they lived with the Mitchells until their own cabin was built. Mr. Mitchell died August 27, 1834. *

Just here may be mentioned the fact that the first five families - the Browns, Mitchells, Marks, Edwardses, and Peltiers - were Whigs, and the following two - the Bashores and Cunninghams - were Democrats.

James Peltier was our first dry goods merchant. He came to the vicinity of Lima as an employee of Carlin & Company, of Findlay, Ohio, in 1828. He built a cabin near where the Market street bridge now stands and kept a stock of miscellaneous character, which he traded to the Indians for furs and sold to the few white settlers. The Indians belonged

On the establishment of Lima as the county seat, Mr. Peltier bought a lot, was married September 5, 1831, bought the business of Carlin and established a business on the site which was occupied in later years by Marmon's drugstore. Two years later he sold out to Henry Lippincott and removed to a farm near Sugar Creek.

Charles Baker was another of Lima's pioneer merchants. He with his brother-in-law, J. M. Anderson, formed the firm of Anderson & Baker. They occupied a room in the first Court House, for the rent of which they paid $1.25 a month. We came across the following account :

Charles Baker was born on the banks of the Kennebec River, Lincoln County, Maine, December 8, 1804. He came to Ohio with his parents, who were the earliest pioneers of Ma- 'tion, Ohio. In 1828 he married Mary Anderson, and November. 5, 1832, came to Lima and at once began to sell merchandise.

Dr. William Cunningham was born in Pennsylvania in 1798, and came in 1802 to Ohio, where he resided until he moved his family to Lima in 1832. He was Lima's first physician and at this time his family consisted of his wife Anna (Ewalt), two daughters - Anna S. (Tingle), deceased, and Eliza H. (Williams) - and two sons - William H., who died years later while on a visit to Mount Vernon, and Theodore E., who filled many positions of honor and trust creditably and well. Clementine (Mrs. W. K. Brice), John N. and Sarah V., deceased, were born in Lima. Dr. and Mrs. Cunningham were among the first organizers of the Presbyterian Church in Lima. The Doctor's practice extended over a large territory. His visits into the country were often through unbroken forests, along a bridlepath, and through mud and water. In summer, moreover, myriads of mosquitoes added to the pleasure of these lonely trips, yet night and day he was always ready to give his best efforts to relieve those in distress, even when the hope of remuneration was without the bounds of reasonable probability. He served the county as treasurer one term by appointment but was never a candidate, being averse to personal contest. He died in 1842.

At an early time in Lima's history there were no mills nearer than Wapakoneta, and the families were compelled to depend upon traders who peddled the flour from town to town. In the winter of 1831-32, there was no breadstuff in the town and people were suffering. Mr. Mitchell took a half-bushel of corn on his back and carried it to Rhodes' Mills, where Vaughnsville now stands, and had it ground into meal, which he distributed among the families residing here, making a little over three pounds apiece.

The Public Square was in those days a mud-hole so deep that, it is said, two horses could not draw an empty wagon over it. There was a bridge from the corner where the Collins Block stands to the present site of the Mitchell Block, and one across East Market street, where Colvin's barn stands. Water ran in the Square as far north as High street, in which the boys used to fish.

away and the lands drained by canals, was as pretty a little stream as any to be found. It also abounded in fish. Old residents claim to have spent many a day fishing on its banks and the story is told that F. H. Binkley, one of the merchants back in the '30's went one rainy day to fish in the Ottawa River. He remained away so long that his wife became alarmed. Late in the afternoon, however, she saw her husband and another man coming, bearing a sapling on their shoulders, which was literally filled with pike, most of them a yard long. They gave fish to everybody in town and had enough to last their own family a week, until the sight of fish was well nigh unbearable.

The name "Hog Creek" originated in this way: During the War of 1812, a party of men was sent with hogs to Fort Meigs; when they reached the Ottawa River, the Indians stampeded them and they fled for their lives, leaving the hogs to roam at will. For years after the first settlement was made, wild hogs were found here. Count Coffinberry, in order to make the meter right in one of his poems, dubbed the river "Swinonia," which name is still a prime favorite with newspaper men.

The town of Lima was officially organized March 29, 1842, with H. D. V. Williams, mayor; Dr. William McHenry, recorder; John Alexander, Jr., Samuel Black, Hamilton Davison, Thomas K. Jacobs, Daniel D. Thompkins, trustees. The Council elected John B. Wamsley, treasurer; Amos Clutter, marshal; Alexander Beatty, Daniel Boyer and R. E. Thomas, street commissioners, and Daniel Musser, supervisor. In May, 1842, the question of grading the streets was discussed on plans submitted by D. H. Morrison, engineer.

Henry DeVilliers Williams, one of Lima's most prominent pioneers and the first mayor, was born in Pompey, New York, September 13, 1804. He graduated at Williams College with first honors. He married Cornelia Estelle Hill, of Hillsdale, New York, October 12, 1825. Mr. Williams came to Ohio in 1834. The next year he became connected with General Blackburn in the United States Land Office, then located at Wapakoneta. and came to Lima in June of that year, when the office was moved to this place. In 1826 he was joined by his family, which consisted of his wife and daughter, Henrietta C., who came to Toledo by boat and from there to Lima by Wagon, through the Black Swamp and the wilderness which was almost unbroken. From the time of llis bringing his family here, Mr. Williams became identified with the interests and enterprises of the town in a marked degree. He was elected county auditor in 1838 and served in that capacity until 1841. He was also at one time justice of the peace and was commissioned colonel of the first militia regiment.

Mr. Williams was a unique character. Dressed in buckskin breeches, loose shirt and fur cap, with a pack of dogs at his heels, he tramped the country over. He was a great huntsman, and had a penchant for swapping arms, horses and other property. He was a generous-hearted, reckless, easy-going man, who would divide his last morsel with one in need. He was a great raconteur } and would sit for hours relating some of his experiences.

As mayor he introduced his own peculiar views of what constituted the "Blind Goddess." South of town there lived a strapping big fellow, by the name of Ridenour, who was as powerful as he was massive. He came to town one day and in the course of his travels ran across a little fellow who wanted some fun at his expense. Ridenour ordered him to shut up and, as he was slow in complying with the command, he picked him up and set him down in the middle of a mud puddle. Ridenour was arrested and brought before the mayor charged with disorderly conduct. When he pleaded guilty, his Honor gave him a severe lecture on his violation of the law, and fined him $5, after which he said : "Now, Jacob, for having administered a well-merited punishment to a bully, I will allow you $5.25 and here is the change."

Colonel Williams met with a tragic death. He and Daniel Musser, Jr., were almost inseparable, and on one of their excursions to Marion for some fruit trees'. Mr. Williams purchased at Kenton, a dog which he very much admired. In handling it. he was bitten on the hand. Some weeks later he was attacked with

Colonel Williams was the father of four children: Effingham; Mrs. P. G. Granel, deceased ; Mrs. Fannie G. Church, of Janesville, Wisconsin; and S. Barney Williams, of Dayton, who owns the "Old Reliable Fur Store" at Dayton, Ohio.

One of the most noted of the pioneers of this part of the State was Maj.-Gen. William Blackburn, who came to Wapakoneta in 1835, in charge of the United States Land Office, to which position he was appointed by President Jackson.

General Blackburn was born in Maryland June 23, 1787. In his early youth his parents moved to Pennsylvania, and while he was still a small boy they located in Columbiana County, Ohio. After General Hull surrendered his army in 1813, young Blackburn raised a company of volunteers, marched to the frontier and participated in that memorable winter campaign which followed the surrender of Hull. Through the storms of midwinter he was sent with his little band to Frenchtown on the Raisin. He made his way by forced marches through storm and snow, wading swamps and swollen streams, not reaching his destination till after the battle and defeat of General Winchester, but in time to save many of the fugitives from the tomahawks of the painted fiends. After the battle he returned to Maumee, and assisted in the construction of Fort Meigs. In 1817 General Blackburn was elected to the State Legislature from Columbiana County and by re-election continued in that office till the spring of 1835, when he resigned to take charge of the Land Office at Wapakoneta. He moved with the office to Lima, being reappointed by President Van Buren and serving until the removal of the office to Upper Sandusky, May 31, 1843. A position of very great responsibility was the handling and accounting for large sums of silver and gold, without the convenience of a modern safe. Nothing but coin was receivable, all of which had to be transported to Columbus by wagon. Only one error was made while the General held this office. He failed to retain the amount

General Blackburn was a military enthusiast. He had seen actual service and was commissioned a major general of militia, in the organization and drill of which he took an active part. Companies were organized and uniformed at their own expense, and all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 45 years were required by law to appear for military drill two days in each year. These training days were the delight of the youth of those pioneer times. The muster was held at Lima, and the bugle call, the rub-a-dub-dub of the drum, the shrill screaming fife, marching columns, - plumed chapeaus, glittering epaulettes, bright swords and gaily caparisoned horses, filled the youthful mind almost to ecstacy.

Conspicuous on all such occasions was General Blackburn. He was of commanding appearance, being full six feet tall, of 300 pounds weight, yet sitting upon his horse like a cavalier and looking the general from plumei to spurs. His horse was a fit bearer of such a load - a tall chestnut sorrel - a "single-footer" of tremendous stride, who shared in all the enthusiasm of the drill. Old "Tam O'Shanter" is still remembered as a horse of undoubted excellence.

General Blackburn was elected to the State Legislature from this district. He moved from Lima to Allentown and enjoyed a life of quiet until his death, May 7, 1858, and was buried at Lima with military honors, followed to his last resting place by a large concourse of friends.

Thomas K. Jacobs was another of the makers of Lima's history. He came to Lima in 1838, following the tailoring trade for some time. From that he went into the general merchandise business, from which he retired to speculate in real estate. In this business he was eminently successful. In 1851, in conjunction with S. A. Baxter, Sr., F. H. Binkley and Daniel Boyer, he platted what is known as the "East Addition" to Lima. This addition lies on the east side of the C., Id. & D. Railway, and extends from north of North street to south of the gas works, and includes North,.

High and Market streets, east to Pine street. Ten years later Mr. Jacobs platted the land from the above addition south to the river, and still later he platted Pine and Jackson streets south to a point between Eureka and Kibby streets. Nearly the whole of East Lima passed through his hands and upon his death he left a large tract of land lying south of Elm street and east of Cemetery street, extending south to Kibby street. No other man in Lima handled so much real estate as did Mr. Jacobs. These tracts cost on an average $50 an acre.

In politics Mr. Jacobs was a Democrat, serving the county nearly 10 years as treasurer. In i860 he was chosen Representative and was at Columbus when the firing at Fort Sumter took place. He at once voted to put Ohio on a war footing. He served the county with distinction in the Legislature, and was the originator of the measure to provide for the families of soldiers absent in the field. At the close of his term as Representative, he returned home and enlisted in the 99th Ohio, of which he was appointed quartermaster. He served with distinction until March, 1865, when he resigned on account of disability. He died suddenly November 12, 1884.

John Ward, Lima's first schoolmaster, was born October 14, 1795, at Moorfield, Virginia. He came to Champaign County, Ohio, with his grandfather, Joseph Ward, in 1806. Joseph Ward was a veteran of the War of the Revolution and had served under Lord Dunmore and later under Washington. John Ward volunteered in the War of 1812 at the age of 17 years, but was not mustered into service because he did not fill the standard of height required. In 1830 he moved with his family to Allen County, and began the arduous task of making a farm in an unbroken forest, remote from mills, stores, churches, kindred, intelligent associates and most of the social advantages left behind in more populous districts. On May 4, 1831, a daughter, Rebecca, was born. In the winter of 1831-32 he taught school near where Hawke's mill stood later ; and in the spring following, several of his pupils came and paid their tuition by clearing ground and making rails.

In April, 1832, the family came to Lima, where a fourth daughter, Elizabeth, was born June 6, 1833. From the date of the survey of Lima, Mr. Ward took an active part in all that pertained to the best interests of the town. He was appointed clerk of the court pro tempore upon the organization of the county in 1831. He had received but three months' schooling but he supplemented this training until he was able to receive a first-class certificate. I11 1832- 33 he taught school in the north room of the

One of the very best teachers who have ever held sway in Allen County was Joseph H. Richardson, who came from Xenia to this county in 1836. He was born in Wythe County, Virginia. His wife, Eda Withro Smith, was a native of North Carolina. Mr. Richardson was a relative of Andrew Jackson - whom he is said to have much resembled - and his wife was a relative of James Madison. Their children were: Mary (Mrs. Robert Mehaffey, William, Martha (Mrs. Ballard), America, Virginia and Charles. On coming to this county, Mr. Richardson entered land in German township, where he built a log schoolhouse in which he taught for years. Sixteen years afterward his daughter Mary taught in a new frame building erected upon the same spot. His daughters have nobly carried on their father's profession. Mrs. Ballard taught for 25 years in the schools of Lima and was one of our very best teachers and one of the most dearly beloved. She was also a member of the County Board of Examiners, being the first woman in the State to serve in that capacity.

Mr. Richardson was a self-made man and remarkably well educated for the times in which he lived. He was a fine reader, a rare accomplishment then as now, and was a fine mathematician and grammarian. After teaching for several years in German township, he moved to Lima and taught some years.

The subject of this sketch was a born politician and did credit to his Jacksonian blood. He conducted Nichols' first campaign and visited the entire district on horseback. The result was that his man was elected by a hand- .some majority. Mr. Richardson served as county auditor in 1844 and as clerk of the court in 1851. When the Richardsons came to the county, Mary, now Mrs. Mehaffey, was but two years old. She remembers distinctly the trials and perils of pioneer life. The family moved into their house before the windows and doors were put in; blankets were hung up to keep out wolves and weather. She recalls the terrifying howling of the wolves, which were frightened by nothing but the immense fires which were built in the open fireplaces. Mrs. Richardson was a typical pioneer mother who reared her children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, making them good citizens.

From 1840 to 1855, McDonald's sugar camp was a rendezvous for the boys and girls who went there when children to get the first sugar water, and later, when they had grown to youths and maidens, there they went to do their courting. Not longer ago than 1845 there was a natural forest extending from where Jacob Keve now lives. Lima was a great place for picnics of the "go early and stay late" variety. They told of a picnic managed by Jane McGuire and her husband, where the table "fairly groaned" with roast pig, sheep, turkey, chicken, duck, nine kinds of pie and preserves and everything else in the gastronomic line beautifully proportioned. Those were the days when life was worth living, for certainly no dyspeptic could have lived in this part of the country.

In June, 1851, Lima suffered a visitation of the cholera. It created consternation greater than the bubonic plague would now. Ministers deserted their pulpits and fled and the average citizen took occasion to visit his country cousins. Edmund S. Linn, an active young business man, was the first attacked. He and his wife and child died within a few days. There were a number of other cases, several fatal.

In the early days of Lima the saloon had not assumed its present magnificent grandeur; a barrel of whiskey would be brought into town occasionally and retailed at five cents a glass. The masculine part of the population had then to be content until 1853, when Wolf & Meyers brought the first large saloon to Lima and commenced operations on the northwest corner of Market street and the Square. This was the first storeroom built in Lima, it having been erected by Daniel Musser. This saloon had the fetching title of "The Old Fort" and its tragedy is one that all old settlers remember. One Saturday night, on Christmas Eve, a crowd of fellows became involved in a quarrel and turned the contents of bottles and

Southwest Corner Of The Public Square, Lima, In 1850

The schools of the olden times compared with our modern ones are as moonlight unto sunlight, with the advantage of sunlight eminently manifest. Books were few and method, that much abused term, was almost, if not entirely, unknown. Time was given to the "Three R's" and all this fin dc sicclc curriculum was undreamed of. There were no schoolhouses for several years, schools being held in the Court House, churches and various buildings. Gen. John Ward was the first schoolmaster, of whom mention has been made elsewhere. The early schools were of the subscription variety - that is, each householder subscribed a certain number of pupils for which he paid. The first school enrollment inu 2 - if ij L.jg :.-r}{ Jt»' ,fiiv: : > ~>r Os

Mrs. Absalom Brown

Col. John Cunningham taught during the winter of 1833-34 in the cabin of Jacob Downs on Water street, where the tannery now stands. Margaret Poague conducted a summer school in Valentine's cooper shop on West Elm street in 1834. The shop being floorless, it behooved her to teach in the summer time.

Miss Poague, who was afterwards Mrs. William Cunningham, was Lima's first "new woman," and made her initial bow to the public over 70 years ago. The first general school law was passed when Lima was a howling wilderness and until 1832 "female school teachers" were not. In December, 1831, an act was passed providing that "on the petition of the inhabitants of a district, when the school -examiners had granted such petition, the school directors should appoint a female to teach spelling, reading and writing."

In the early '50's free schools were established and the town was divided into three districts : The first south of Market and west Main ; the second north of Market and west of Main; the third the rest of the city. In each district was a small frame schoolhouse. The one east of Main was located at the present site of the Union Street Lutheran Church and was nicknamed "Onion College" from the pupils having at one time scented it with

The Lima Academy was opened in 1852 with Rev. James Campbell as principal. It was a successful institution, patronized by Lima's best citizens and continued until 1856, when the organization of the Union School took from it the most of its students and the instructors went elsew'here.

Mr. Wilhelm, the superintendent in 1858, cut the High School course of study down to the common branches, but in i860 the present system of schools was inaugurated. The curriculum at this time included Greek, and instruction in painting, drawing, French and German was provided at an extra charge. Public oral examinations by the superintendent were held in each department. A Board of Education was formed at this time, and was composed of W. H. C. Mitchell, William E. Lee and Mathias H. Nichols. William A. Shaw was superintendent. He was followed in 1862 by John Hanson, at which time the High School had its first lady assistant in the person of Mrs. J. R. Hughes.

The first class was graduated the 3d of June, 1864, and consisted of three young ladies: Mary Watt (afterwards Mrs. Nichols), Fidelia Bennett (Mrs. Dr. Hunter) and Josie Cunningham (Mrs. O. W. Smith). The commencement exercises were held in Ashton's Hall, now the I. O. O. F. Hall, Thomas M. Cheever, of Lane Seminary, delivering the address. In 1865 there was but one graduate, - Miss Emma Cunningham (Mrs. Hutchison).

For two years there were no graduates, but since 1868 the list of graduates has steadily increased. William E. Crosby was superintendent in 1868. Following Mr. Crosby, G. W. Walker successfully served for 14 years and was followed by J. M. Greenslade. In 1895 Dr. C. C. Miller, one of the best known superintendents in the State, was called to the head of the schools and under his broad and progressive administration the schools have attained a high standard of efficiency.

In 1871 a new building was built on Pine street between High and North. This building was destroyed by the wind storm of 1898 and was replaced in 1900 by the present handsome structure. During the last quarter of a century many ward buildings have been built to meet the rapid growth of the schools and the year just closed has witnessed the completion of the new High School, which is accorded one of the finest in Ohio.

In 1865 the first resident pastor of the parish of St. Rose's Catholic Church built a little frame schoolhouse in which the children of the parish were gathered. They were placed under the care of three ladies, Miss Richardson, Miss McGucken and Miss McGuire. In 1868 the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary took charge and were followed by the Franciscan Sisters, of Milwaukee. After these came the Dominican Sisters and these again were followed by the Sisters of Charity from Mount St. Joseph.

In 1889 the little frame schoolhouse, with its additions, was abandoned for the beautiful io-room, brick structure on West street, just north of the church. This building is a standing monument to the labors and efforts of Rev. James O'Leary and to the generosity of St. Rose parish. In 1904 another new school building was built on McKibben street, to the rear of the church. The school in 1904- 05 enrolled 512 children.

St. John's Parochial School was erected on South Main street in 1901. It enrolled last year 258 children, who are under the able instruction of the Sisters of Charity. The Catholic schools maintain a high standard of excellence. Their teachers are finely educated and the intellectual progress in education is combined with the spiritual.

Dr. William McHenry was Lima's second physician. He came in the month of May, 1834, soon after his graduation from the Philadelphia College of Medicine and began at once the practice of his profession.

1 he lot of the pioneer doctor was as hard a one as could be found. The pools and ponds were full of stagnant water, which the driftwood and decaying vegetation rendered perfect breeders of disease, especially malaria. Dr. McHenry manfully met all demands upon his patience and skill, making himself at the same time the friend of all his patrons. In addition to his regular practice, he had almost all the cases of surgery within a radius of 20 miles for 10 years or more.

On December 17, 1835, Dr. McHenry married Malvina Thompkins, sister of Daniel D. Thompkins. They made their wedding journey- on horseback - as was the custom in those days - taking the trip to Xenia and return.

The Doctor always kept pace with the times and was ever ready to adopt new remedies as soon as they had been thoroughly tested. He was a man of rare ability, a scholar of high order, a profound reasoner and was peculiarly concise in expression. He was watchful of the city's welfare, and was a warm advocate of any educational progress in the city. He died with the satisfaction of having done

To Dr. and Mrs. McHenry were born nine children, five of whom survived him, - Mrs. Isaac Satherthwaite, of Lima; Mrs. McCauley, of Detroit; Mrs. C. B. Shepler ; William T., of Lima, and Frank T., of St. Louis. Dr. Mc- Henry died August 19, 1890, aged 78 years. His wife survived until 1892, being 75 years of age.

Dr. Samuel Sanford came to Lima in 1847 in company -with Dr. N. B. Howard and established a business in drugs, paints, oils, etc. In 1849 he married Jane, the second daughter of William Scott, and began the practice of medicine, still retaining his interest in the drugstore.

In several issues of the Lima Weekly Gazette of 1867 are accounts of the meetings of the Allen County Medical Society. Some familiar names among the members that are mentioned are: Drs. McHenry, Ashton, Neff, Thrift, Baxter and Hiner.

William Scott came to Lima with his wife in 1834, and established himself near the Market street bridge in East Lima. This bridge was the subject of a great deal of controversy in its day, and "Uncle Joe" Hover was unmercifully ridiculed about it. One of the earliest editions of our very first paper burst forth into song as follows :

Mr. Scott owned all of the land that was afterwards platted into town lots as "Scott's Addition," together with lands east to the Lima Northern Railroad, anti north to High street. He operated a sawmill, by means of water just above the bridge, and supplied the early settlerswith lumber.

Among the items in the old Allen County records none are more interesting than those concerning the mills, bridges and roads. We read of Quilna, a friendly Indian, assisting the settlers to open a road to the mill at Wapakoneta. He surveyed the line of this road, without compass, using only his knowledge of different points and the Indian method of reaching them. This Quilna belonged to the Shawnee Indians, who in the month of August, 1832, took up their line of march for the far West.

The first bridge authorized by the commissioners of Allen County was at the session of December 4, 1839, when "Alexander Beattys reported the expenditure of fifty dollars in erecting a bridge over Little Hog Creek, where the road from Lima to Wapakoneta crosses said stream."

Alexander Beatty was one of Allen County's early sheriffs and at the session of December 3, 1833, ^ie an(J Daniel Musser and Griffith Breese were appointed commissioners to view a public road commencing at Lima and running to St. Marys - and again December 5, 1839, "Commissioners agreed to meet in Roundhead, Logan County, on the 2d day of January, A. D., 1840, for the purpose of proceeding to Columbus to examine the State and county buildings, in reference to erecting a Court House and Jail in Allen County, Ohio." We read further that Columbus was in those times as many days away from Lima as it now requires hours to traverse the distance.

Robert Bowers in his reminiscences gives us an interesting picture, real or imaginary, of the road conditions of the early '30's. He says Lima had then "no outlet or inlet either by rail or earth. In the spring we traveled below, in the summer we traveled on top. As an illustration of the impassable condition of the roads, we would frequently pick up a hat, and upon close examination would find a man and a horse still further down. Our roads were trails and section lines. Emigrants were constantly changing the trails, seeking better and drier land for their footing and wheeling." of the domestic life of the times: - "The latchstring was always out and often the last pint of meal was divided regardless where the next would come from. The horse and hand-mill or the tin grater were always reliable and in constant use as the means of preparing our breadstuff. I was my father's miller, just the age to perform the task. My daily labor was to gather corn and dry it in a kiln, after which I took it on a grater made from an old copper kettle or tin bucket, and after supper made meal for the johnny cake for breakfast; after breakfast I made meal for the pone for dinner ; after dinner I made meal for the mush for supper. Our home was a cabin, containing parlor, kitchen and dining room. Connected was a shoe shop, also a broom and repair shop. Tosave fuel and light and to have everything handy, we had the whole thing in one room,, which brought us all together so we could oversee each other better. After supper each one knew his place. In our house there were four mechanics. I was a shoemaker and corn grater. My father could make a sledge and the other two boys could strip broom corn. My sisters spun yarn, and mother knit and made garments. Imagine you see us all at work. Sister Margaret sings a song, father makes chips and mother pokes up the fire. Isaac spins a yarn - John laughs at him - and thus our evenings were spent in our wild home, for we were all simple, honest people and feared no harm from our neighbors."

Silas Faurot followed the trade of wheelwright, purchasing James S. Daniels' stock in 1839 or 1840. He made spinning-wheels for the spinning of flax or wool. As every housewife did her own spinning then, the wheel business was almost as much of a fad as it now is. Each producer was also a manufacturer and consumer, so that political economy was not then the vexed problem that it is to-day.

Mr. Faurot was elected justice of the peace soon after coming to Lima, and one of the first cases he had was the trial of two men for counterfeiting. Eli Manville and Titus Locy were the guiltv ones. Amos Alfred was constable at the time and had brought the men-

There was no jail strong enough to hold them, so they were quartered in Mr. Faurot's house for a time. David Fay, a nephew of Mr. Faurot, occupied an upstairs room adjoining that of the prisoners. The poor child could not sleep and rose at 3 o'clock in the morning, starting down the stairs. A. J. Ward, Samuel Mussel* and C. E. Faurot were the guards and were armed to the teeth with billets of wood and iron pokers. There they stood ready to spring upon the poor youth, when luckily they discovered their mistake.

Mr. Faurot, Crain Valentine, Samuel Mc- Clure, David Tracy and James S. Cheever went up to Fort Meigs on the Maumee River to hear General Harrison speak at a mass meeting held June 11, 1840. This little jingle compares very favorably with the campaign and poster poetry of to-day :

The first hotel in Lima was kept by John P. Mitchell at the southeast corner of Market and Main streets, where the Union Block now .stands. Another hotel keeper and also one of the true pioneers, was John Bashore, he being the seventh man to take up his abode in Lima. He brought his family in February of 1832. He was here at the sale of lots and had engaged workmen to build him a cabin. Upon arriving however, he was disappointed to find that no cabin had materialized. Dr. Cunningham, who had been here scarcely a month, with large and true-hearted hospitality characteristic of the man, took the Bashore family into his own cabin of two rooms. The cabin was without windows or doors, coverlets and carpets serving in their stead. "Doan'' was then a baby of 18 months, and Mrs. Cunningham took her in her arms, and climbed the ladder to the loft above, giving the room below to her unexpected guests. Kate Bashore was born in the

Cunningham cabin March 10, 1832, being the second child born in Lima. Clementine Cunningham, now Mrs. W. K. Brice, was born the September following.

Mr. and Mrs. Bashore were the parents of the following children : Mary B., born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, who died at Findlay; Edward Strohl, born at Findlay, who died at Lima February 20, 1892; Susannah Catherine, born March 10, 1832, and married to John Adams; Elnora, born January 28, 1834, now Mrs. Cyrus Mowen; John Washington, born 1836; William Jefferson, born March 5, 1837, who died December 18, 1869; Henrietta Malinda, born January 16, 1839, afterwards Mrs. J. C. Musser; and Harriet, born February 23, 1844, now Mrs. James Langan.

Mr. Bashore kept hotel in Lima for a number of years. The old American House was located between Spring and Elm streets and furnished entertainment for "man and beast." The structure has long since been torn down and in later years the grounds passed into the hands of Judge Collett, who erected a pleasant home there.

Mr. Bashore died at Lima April 13, 1849. He was a good man and a good citizen, beloved by all who knew him. His wife died August 10, 1891, having lived to see a village of a few souls grow into a prosperous city.

Daniel Musser, in 1836, married Mrs. John P. Mitchell and kept hotel at the old Mitchell stand for a number of years. This was a favorite place for travelers and was one of the best buildings then in the town.

Mr. Musser came to Lima in 1833 where he passed the remainder of his life. He was one of the pioneers who helped to hew the city out of the wilderness and his energy and enterprise made him for many years a central figure in the community. Many amusing incidents are told of "Uncle Dan," as he was familiarly called. He was a great huntsman and in his time killed many deer. They tell one story of his craftiness as a huntsman, or rather woodsman. Having been lost in his excursions for cattle which had strayed after wild pea-vines, his plan was to rush suddenly at his cattle and frighten them, whereupon they would make for

Mr. Musser sold his hotel to Hollias Fisher, whose daughter became the wife of that eminent man, Mathias H. Nichols. Among the regular boarders at Fisher's were the eccentric but gifted Abelard Guthrie, Gen. Lester Bliss, Julius C. Curtis, Moses B. Newman and Lorin Kennedy, all of whom were prominent men, well known to the oldest inhabitants.

The general merchandise stores, of which there were three in the early '40's, embraced stock of rather a promiscuous and diversified nature. There were coonskins (which were then a legal tender for all they were worth), stoves, tinware, "stoga boots," pegged shoes for the women, Kentucky jeans, drugs, calicoes and other things. Productions of the farm lands were also kept.

James Peltier, our first merchant, sold out to Henry Lippincott, and he in turn sold his stock to Daniel Musser, Sr. Mr. Musser built the first frame business room in Lima. It was afterwards known as "The Old Fort" and was situated on the northwest corner of Main and Market streets.

Rev. John Alexander, who had been a missionary minister when the Indians inhabited the country, and Adgate Hoover were a mercantile firm occupying a room on the Public Square near Musser's tavern. These stores all extended credit, it being the general belief that there was no money in the country with which to pay for necessaries required for even the very limited wants of the people. Later, howver, J. W. King, a merchant from the East, appeared with a stock of goods well adapted to the needs of the country, and offered bargains for cash and cash only. His price rates tempted the people and brought forth hidden treasures from old stockings and other secret places.

and finally secured a position in the Land Office under General Blackburn. At this time he was. appointed colonel of the militia, whence his title.

Colonel Cunningham was married February 1, 1837, to Martha Kennedy, only daughter of Thomas and Hannah Kennedy, who came to Lima from Portage County in 1836. The Kennedy family consisted of the oldest son Russell, and Lorin, who was elected prosecuting attorney in 1837, at the time Colonel Cunningham was elected treasurer. The oldest son and the mother died in 1840.

The most important events in Lorin Kennedy's life are told in the quaint and humorouslanguage of Mr. Williams, our first mayor and a royal gentleman of the old school. It is taken from his diary: "Jan. 10, 1843. - This evening: we attend a Bridal party of our neighbors. Bachelor Lorin has concluded to take untohimself a Rib at the ripe age of thirty-five. The wedding to be celebrated at J. C. Curtis, our next door neighbor." "Aug. 30, 1844. - This morning about five o'clock Lorin Kennedy, a lawyer, died at his residence on Elm strqet at the house we formerly owned and' lived in. He has left an amiable and affectionate wife who will most truly feel and' deeply mourn his loss." Mr. Kennedy was here but a short time, but he made himself felt inthe community. He was a remarkably brilliant man and fine lawyer.

In 1849 Colonel Cunningham was elected tothe State Senate on the Democratic ticket. He carefully studied the needs and wishes of the people, serving them with ability. He was an active Democrat all his life. He was at one time provost marshal, and was succeeded in 1863 by Captain Brown.

Colonel Cunningham bought the land nowcovered by South Lima, from the river, south. 200 acres. The farm buildings were located upon what is now known as "Coulson's Hill." Here he resided until his death, March 15,. 1864. Mrs. Cunningham survived the hardships of pioneer life, and lived to see her family of eight children grown and settled in life.

Another prominent name in the early official history of Lima is that of Richard Metheany. He was born June 16, 1805, and died June 22, 1879. The following review of his life is taken from the tribute delivered by T. E. Cunningham at the funeral of Mr. Matheany, which occurred on Wednesday, June 25, 1879.

"In the month of March, 1844, he came to Lima from his farm three miles north of Wapakoneta, which at that time was within the territorial boundaries of Allen County. Under the old judicial system, he was appointed to be clerk of the courts, in place of John Alexander, who had just died. Mr. Metheany was then less than forty years old, mild in his manners, but always self-sustained and dignified. He fast won the respect and affections of the people, and, happier in this respect than most men who are in public life, he retained the public esteem without abatement, until the end of his life. He remained in the clerk's office until 1852, when his office was terminated by the operation of the new constitution of the State. At this juncture the Ohio & Indiana Railroad was projected and Mr. Metheany at once comprehended its importance as a link of the great thoroughfare, which the near future was to realize in the great road which now connects the valley of the Mississippi with the Atlantic seaboard. He was the right-hand man of Judge Hanna, of Fort Wayne, who was the inspiring genius of this great work. The road could not be built unless the counties would lend their credit and to the difficult task of securing this county, Mr. Metheany bent every energy of his mind and heart. Dr. Mc- Henry was a noble coadjutor in the work of bringing public opinion in favor of the project, and success crowned their efforts. The magnificent railroad from Pittsburg to Fort Wayne is one of the monuments he aided to build in bis life, which living after him perpetuates one of the results of his labors.

for one term, he discharged with singular fidelity. After this he embarked in business and remained in business until a few months past. But while in business he was repeatedly chosen to be mayor, justice of the peace, and member of the School Board, until at last he refused any further public employments.

"But it was in his social life that Mr. Metheany was loved the most. His kind and genial face was always shining for his friends. He always had a good word with which to encourage his weaker neighbors, and no worthy object of charity was ever dismissed emptyhanded from his presence.

"On the 1 6th of June, 1836, he was married to Esther Ann Levering, daughter of Judge Charles Levering, one of the associate judges of the county, and together they climbed the hill of life for more than 40 years. Twelve children were born to them and 1 1 are here, with their mother, with bowed heads before their father's coffin. The other one, with three of his grandchildren, met him last Sabbath when it was afternoon here, but there it was in the perpetual morning of Eternity."

Fisher, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, July 25, 1820. They were married in Mansfield, Ohio, December 3, 1839. Mr. Meily was part owner of a foundry in Mansfield, but sold out and moved to Lima in 1845, when the town was but a little village. It was at that time that our second Court House, which used to stand at the corner of Main and Market streets, and which by its grand Doric columns put to shame the unpretentious log dwellings of the town, was new and the pride of the county. Mr. Meily's eldest daughter Olivia cried to live in that edifice, but her vaulting ambition had to content itself by living in a little log hut of no particular style of architecture. Olivia, however, lived to become the wife of one of Ohio's noted United States Senators.

To Mr. and Mrs. Meily were born the following children: Olivia (Brice), Luther, married to Miss Young, Anna Eliza (Freeman), - these three born in Mansfield; Ringgold, married to Miss Orbison, George Henry, married to Miss Tucker, Frances Josephine (Orr), Harriet Amelia (Motter), Mary Vanda (Irwin) and Sarah Elizabeth, who died in 1887 at the age of 24. Luther passed away in 1894.

Mr. Meily was at one time township clerk, receiving $8 a year. That was in our infant days. Later he was clerk of the court. Judge Mackenzie says of him : "He was firm and steady in his opinions and thinkings, and sometimes apt to express himself with severity of indignation at what he judged to be public or private wrong; but I have rarely known a man more free from all malice and personal ill-will to neighbor or citizen than the deceased or who thought more kindly or generously of others. He was in force of character all he aimed to appear, of simple manners, of good intellect, not ambitious, of strong sense, and fair and generous judgment, a kind neighbor and an unselfish friend." born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Beck) Haller, who came to Ohio in 1835, and to Allen County in 1839. Our subject, who was educated in the country schools, studied civil engineering under Mr. Washburn. He was elected county surveyor in 1850 and re-elected in 1853 ar*d 1 856, serving nine years. In 1861 he was elected county auditor, re-elected in 1863, continuing in same until 1866. From 1866 to 1870 he was employed by the City Council as engineer. In 1880 he was elected city engineer and re-elected in 1882 and 1884. He was also contractor for a number of years and built the first large brick schoolhouse in the city - the old West Building, one of the most substantial ever constructed. His name appears as contractor for the first County Infirmary built in 1856-57. He finished the front of the old Court House, putting up its Doric columns and stone steps, and laid the large brick sewer running from High street through Main street and the Public Square to the creek. In excavating for this sewer the workmen came upon logs in a good state of preservation, which had been thrown in years before to help fill up the Square. The sewer is five feet in diameter and upon its completion Mr. Haller gave it final inspection by walking through it from beginning to end. He died June 3, 1886.