Ashland County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 7 of those read), 1863 (part 2 of 2)

General prosperity has attended the church through all its history. It has grown from a membership of forty-three to one hundred and eighty. In the winter of 1842-3, an outpouring of the Spirit was enjoyed under the labor of Mr. S. Fulton, aided by Rev. Wm. McClandlish, of Wooster, which resulted in the addition of twenty-five by profession. Another season of refreshing was experienced in January, 1847, after which twenty-one were added by profession. On the 26th day of May, 1848, two additional elders, viz., Mr. Andrew McLain and Mr. James F. Milligan, were elected, and subsequently installed - but the latter withdrew from the church in 1852, on account of the use of an organ - and Mr. McLain removed to the West, in 1853. Three additional deacons were also, at the same time, elected, ordained, and installed, viz., Messrs. James 8. Mason, Benjamin Shearer, and Jacob Richard. The last named of these removed to the West in 1852. During the summer of 1851, the house of worship having become too small for the increasing congregation, the rear end was taken out, and twelve and a half feet added toit. In the winter of 1853, at the expiration of the ninth year of the pastorate of the Rev. J. Robinson, the salary was increased to $650, and in the winter of 1854 it was further increased to $700, and in the spring of 1855 it was yet further increased to $800.

In May, 1855, three additional elders were elected, viz., Dr. B. B. Clark and Messrs. John McLain and George Miller. These were all subsequently installed, having been ruling elders formerly, and consequently ordained elsewhere. At the same time three deacons were also elected, namely, Messrs. T. C. Bushnell, Peter Risser, and William Doty. These were ordained and installed.

After the decease of Rev. S. Moody, the membership of Hopewell felt unable pecuniarily to settle another pastor, and many of them regarded it as wrong to continue any longer the unhappy division which had now existed for fourteen years among the Presbyterians of the community. No effort was, therefore, made to secure another pastor, and the members nearly all cheerfully united with the First Church of Ashland. Evidences of the peculiar presence and power of the Spirit induced the pastor and elders to hold a protracted meeting during the winter of 1857, which was greatly blessed. On the first Sabbath of March, 1857, thirty-seven were added to the church by profession, and several others during the year. In the beginning of 1858, when the intelligence of the powerful work of grace going forward in many other portions of the land reached us, a deep anxiety was felt by many that we should enjoy a similar visitation from on high. A series of meetings was held early in January; but without any other apparent result than the increase of a spirit of prayer among a portion of the church. In March following, Union Prayer-Meetings were instituted in the village, and the Spirit's presence was soon apparent. Many were heard inquiring. A number of the most prominent members of the community were among these. This work continued with power until June. On the first Sabbath of June forty were received to the church by profession. About as many more were added to the other churches in the vicinity. Among these were many in middle life - many of the most prominent citizens, and a number of those who were generally regarded as most hopeless. The congregation now found their house of worship too small, and in July entered upon efforts to enlarge it. The front end was taken out and seventeen feet added. It is now 43 by 84, with a lobby of seven feet. It has ino gallery - a raised platform for choir - grained, frescoed, and heated with furnaces. It will now seat six hundred.

On the dth day of February, 1859, the congregation resolved to increase the salary of the pastor to one thousand dollars per annum, and assess this amount, together with the contingent expenses, upon the seats. This was done, and nearly all the seats taken at once. At the present time, (February 20, 1859,) there is harmony among us, and prayer-meetings are fully attended, and a few inquiring after the way of life.

During the interval between March, 1859, and September, 1860, there was little to cheer the heart longing for the salvation of sinners; few comparatively united with the church by profession, and several who had made a profession during the revival period gave evidence that the root of the matter was not in them, and were cut off.

On the 2d December, 1860, the congregation, at a meeting, resolved to elect four additional members of session. Upon balloting, it was found that Mr. Robert Nelson, formerly an elder in the Hopewell Church, was the only one of several nominees who received a majority of all the votes cast. On the following day, another meeting was held, and David Sloan was duly

Methodist Episcopal

Soon after the establishment of the seat of justice at Ashland, the County Commissioners purchased, of the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the stone building which they had erected for a house of worship, and it was thereafter used as a Court House, until the erection of the present public buildings.

The edifice now used by the church was commenced in 1848, and completed in 1858. The dimensions of the outside walls are 50 by 70 feet. In the basement there is a lecture-room and six class-rooms. The cost of the building exceeded $4000. The body of the church will accommodate, with seats, a congregation of about five hundred and fifty persons.

The membership. numbered. in June, 1862, two hundred and nine, which were embraced in eight classes, the names and number of which are as follows: Isaac Mason, 27; J. D. Jones, 26; H. C. Sprengle, 25; S. G. Bushnell, 28; H. Ames, 25; A. L. Curtis, 24; Johnson Oldroyd, 30; Pastor, 24. The present officers of the church are: Stewards - J. D. Stubbs, H. C. Sprengle, William Lash, Isaac Mason, Andrew Proudfit, Charles Page, J. H.. McCombs, John Mason, and A. L. Curtis. Thustees - J. D. Jones, H. Ames, A. L. Curtis, William Lash, J. D. Stubbs, H. C. Sprengle, L. J. Sprengle, Isaac Mason, and J. Crall. Trustees of Parsonage - Robert McMurray, Jacob Grubb, H. Ames, A. Proudfit, J. Crall, D. B. Gray, and Robert Fulton. The conference for 1862 assigned Rev. Mr. Kennedy as pastor.

Evangelical Lutiieran

This church was organized in the fall of 1839 - Rev. W. J. Sloan, pastor. There were then about twenty members. Christian Miller, Sen., and Jacob Young were the first elders; and Samuel Baughman and two others, whose names do not appear on the record, deacons.

The first house of worship was in a-building about a mile north of Ashland, known as the " Neff Church." In 1842, the congregation purchased the frame building on the southwest corner of Third and Orange Streets; which building was used as a place of worship until the completion of the present house, in the spring of 1852. The present edifice was erected under the ministration of Rev. W. A. G. Emerson; to whose energy and perseverance the congregation are indebted for the very comfortable and beautiful structure which they now hold, free of all mechanics' liens. The building is 40 by 60 feet, and cost originally three thousand dollars; subsequent improvements, about three hundred dollars.

The present officers are: Isaac Gates and Matthias Buffamyer, elders; Adam Baum, Levi McCauley, Levi Somers, and Scott Nelson, deacons. The present membership amounts to one hundred and eighty.

Baptist

The pastor is Rev. I. N. Carman; clerk, Joseph Patterson; trustees, S. Fasig, A. Jameson, and M. Meason. Services are held in the Town Hall. Preparations are being made for the erection of a building.

Disciple

In 1824, John Rigdon and Michael Riddle - the former a resident of Butler Township, Richland County, the latter of Montgomery Township, Ashland County - organized the first church of this denomination in the town of Ashland. Mr. Rigdon had been a Baptist clergyman, and had been pastor of a church in Ashland. At a Baptist Association, on Seymour's Run, in Mifflin Township, he had been suspended on charges of heresy. Being present when the decision was announced, he immediately rose and proclaimed to the congregation that he would preach from a stump, in the vicinity of the church; and at the hour named by him, he had for his audience the whole congregation, except his late brother clergyman and one of his elders. The result was, that on the same day he baptized nine, and his labors continued very successful.

In 1842, the present church building in Ashland was erected - its congregation then numbering about twelve. Prior to this time, however, Mr. Rigdon had taken his departure West, and was recently in charge of a congregation in Oregon. At the present date the membership in Ashland amounts to about one hundred - (in the United States to nearly four hundred thousand.)

" Disciples of Christ, or Campbellites - This society is of comparatively recent origin. About the commencement of the present century, the Bible alone, without any human addition in the form of creeds or confessions of faith, began to be preached by many distinguished ministers of different denominations, both in Europe and America. With various success, and with many of the opinions of the various sects imperceptibly carried with them from the denominations to which they once belonged, did they plead for the union of Christians of every name, on the broad basis of the apostles' teaching. But it was not until the year 1823 that a restoration of the original gospel and order of things began to be advocated in a periodical, edited by Alexander Campbell, of Bethany, Virginia, entitled 'The Christian Baptist.'

"He and.his father, Thomas Campbell, renounced the Presbyterian doctrine, and were immersed in the year 1812. They, and the congregations which they had formed, united with the Redstone Baptist Association, protesting against all human creeds as bonds of union, and professing subjection:to the Bible alone. This union took place in the year 1813. But in pressing upon the attention of that society and the public the all-sufficiency of the Sacred Scriptures for everything necessary to the perfection of Christian character - whether in the private or social 'retations of life, in the church or in the world - they began to be opposed by a strong party in that association. After some ten years' debating and contending for the Bible alone, and the apostles' doctrine, Alexander Campbell, and the church to which he belonged, united with the Mahoning Association, in the Western Re-

"In his debates on the subject and action of baptism with Mr. Walker, a seceding minister, in the year 1820, and with Mr. McCalla, a Presbyterian minister, in the year 1823, his views of reformation began to be developed, and were very generally received by the Baptist society, as far as these works were read.

"But in his 'Christian Baptist, which began July 4, 1823, his views of the need of reformation were more fully exposed; and as these gained ground by the pleading of various ministers of the Baptist denomination, a party in opposition began to exert itself, and to oppose the spread of what they regarded as heterodox opinions. But not till after great numbers began to act upon these principles, was there any attempt toward separation. Not until after the Mahoning Association appointed Mr. Walter Scott an Evangelist, in the year 1827, and when great numbers began to be immersed into Christ, under his labors, and new churches began to be erected by him and other laborers in the field, did the Baptist Associations begin to declare non-fellowship with the brethren of the reformation. Thus, by constraint, not of choice, were the Campbellites obliged to form societies out of those communities that split, upon the ground of adherence to the apostles' doctrine. The distinguishing characteristics of their views and practices are the following :- -

"They regard all the sects and parties of the Christian world as having, in greater or less degrees, departed from the simplicity of faith and manners of the first Christians, and as forming what the Apostle

Paul calls 'the apostacy.' This defection they attribute to the great varieties of speculation and metaphysical dogmatism of the countless creeds, formularies, liturgies, and books of discipline adopted and inculcated as bonds of union and platforms of communion in all the parties which have sprung from the Lutheran reformation. The effect of these synodical covenants, conventional articles of belief, and rules of ecclesiastical polity has been the introduction of a new nomenclature - a human vocabulary of religious words, phrases, and technicalities, which has displaced the style of the living oracles, and affixed to the sacred diction ideas wholly unknown to the apostles of Christ.

"To remedy and obviate these aberrations, they propose to ascertain from the Holy Scriptures, according to the commonly-received and well-established rules of interpretation, the ideas attached to the leading terms and sentences found in the Holy Scriptures, and then to use the words of the Holy Spirit in the apostolic acceptation of them.

"By thus expressing the ideas communicated by the Holy Spirit, in the terms and phrases learned from the apostles, and by avoiding the artificial and technical language of scholastic theology, they propose to restore a pure speech to the household of faith; and by accustoming the family of God to use. the language and dialect of the Heavenly Father, they expect to promote the sanctification of one another through the truth, and to terminate those discords and debates which have always originated from the words which man's wisdom teaches, and from a reverential regard and esteem for the style of the great masters of polemic divinity; believing that

"They make a very marked difference between faith and opinion; between the-testimony of God and the reasonings of men; the: words of the Spirit and human inferences. Faith in the testimony of God, and obedience to the commandments of Jesus, are their bond of union, and not an agreement of any abstract views or opinions upon what is written or spoken by divine authority. Hence all the speculations, questions, debates of words, and abstract reasonings found in human creeds have no place in their religious fellowship. Regarding Calvinism and Arminianism, Trinitarianism and Unitarianism, and all the opposing theories of religious sectaries, as extremes begotten by each other, they cautiously avoid them, as equidistant from the simplicity and practical tendency of the promises and precepts, of the doctrines and facts, of the exhortations and precedents of the Christian institution.

"They look for unity of spirit and the bonds of peace in the practical acknowledgment of one faith, one Lord, one immersion, one hope, one body, one spirit, one God, and Father of all; not in unity of opinions, nor in unity of forms, ceremonies, or modes of worship.

"The Holy Scriptures of both Testaments they regard as containing revelations from God, and as all necessary to make the man of God perfect, and accomplished for every good word and work; the New Testament, or the living oracles of Jesus Christ, they understand as containing the Christian religion; the testimonies of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, they view as illustrating and proving the great proposition on which our religion rests, viz., that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the only begotten and wellbeloved Son of God, and only Saviour of the world; the Acts of the Apostles as a divinely authorized narrative of the beginning and progress of the reign or Kingdom of Jesus Christ, recording the full development of the gospel by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven, and the procedure of the apostles in setting up the Church of Christ on earth; the Epistles as carrying out and applying the doctrine of the apostles to the practice of individuals and congregations, and as developing the tendencies of the gospel in the behavior of its professors; and all as forming a complete standard of Christian faith.and morals, adapted to the interval between the ascension of Christ and his return with the kingdom which he has received from God; the Apocalypse, or revelation of Jesus Christ to John, in Patmos, as a figurative and prospective view of all the fortunes of Christianity, from its date to the return of the Saviour.

"Every one who sincerely believes the testimony which God gave of Jesus of Nazareth, saying, '7' his is my son, the beloved, in whom I delight, or, in other words, believes what the evangelists and apostles have testified concerning him, from his conception to his coronation in heaven as Lord of all, and who is willing to obey him in everything, they regard him as a proper subject for immersion, and no one else. They consider immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, after a public, sincere, and intelligent confession of the faith in Jesus, as necessary to admission to the privileges of the kingdom of the Messiah, and as a solemn pledge, on the part of

"The Holy Spirit is promised only to those who believe and obey the Saviour. No one is taught to expect the reception of that heavenly monitor and comforter, as a resident in his heart, till he obeys the gospel..

"Thus, while they proclaim faith and repentance, or faith and a change of heart, as preparatory to immersion, remission, and the Holy Spirit, they say to all penitents, or all those who believe and repent of their sins, as Peter said to the first audience addressed after the Holy Spirit was bestowed, after the glorification of Jesus, 'Be immersed, every one of you, in the name of the Lord Jesus, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit' They teach sinners that- God commands all men, everywhere, to reform, and to turn to God; that the Holy Spirit strives with them so to do, by the apostles and prophets; that God beseeches them to be reconciled, through Jesus Christ; and that it is the duty of all men to believe the gospel, and turn to God.

"The immersed believers are congregated into societies, according to their propinquity to each other, and taught to meet every first day of the week, in honor and commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus, and to break the loaf, which commemorates the death of the Son of God, to read and hear the living oracles, to teach and admonish one another, to unite in all prayer and praise, to contribute to the necessities of saints and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.

of the congregations; and every church, either from itself or in co-operation with others, sends out, as opportunity offers, one or more evangelists, or proclaimers of the word, to preach the word, and to immerse those who believe, to gather congregations, and to extend the knowledge of salvation where it is necessary, as far as their means extend. But every church regards these evangelists as its servants, and,' therefore, they have no control over any congregation; each congregation being subject to its own choice of presidents or elders, whom they have appointed. Perseverance in all the disciples is essential to admission into the heavenly kingdom.

"Such are the prominent outlines of the faith and practice of those who wish to be known as the disciples of Christ; but no society among them would agree to make the preceding.items either a confession of faith or a standard of practice; but, for the information of those who wish an acquaintance with them, they are willing to give, at any time, a reason for their faith, hope, and practice."

Since April, 1861, Rev. L. R. Norton, of Mt. Vernon, has officiated as pastor. John Mykrantz, J.B. F. Sampsel, and Hugh Burns are the elders.

Masons And Odd Fellows

At the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Masons, of the State of Ohio, which assembled at Zanesville, on the 19th of October, 1846, there was granted, on the petition of Charles R. Deming, Lorin Andrews, Benjamin F. Whitney, William A. Hunter, Luther M. Pratt, James McNulty, Bela B. Clark,

George W. Urie, Sage Kellogg, and Wells Kellogg, a charter for a regular and constitutional Lodge of Masons, by the name, style, or title of Ashland Lodge, No. 151; and appointing Charles R. Deming, first Master; Lorin Andrews, first Senior Warden, and B. F. Whitney, first Junior Warden.

The first meeting of the Lodge was held on the 7th May, 1847. There were present, C. R. Deming, W. M.; L. Andrews, 8S. W.; B. F. Whitney, J. W.; G. W. Urie, Treasurer; W. A. Hunter, Secretary; L. M. Pratt, S. D.; E.G. Selby, J. D. pro tem., and Charles Riley, Tyler. At this meeting the only business worthy of mention transacted was the consideration and adoption of a constitution and by-laws - the reference of petitions from John H. McCombs and Joseph B. Cowhick, and the conclusion of arrangements "for procuring a room in the jail about being erected in this place for the use of the Lodge." The room thus referred to was occupied by.the Lodge until 1859; at which time the fraternity leased the hall on the third floor of the building of John Miller, and continue to occupy it.

phrey, Wells Kellogg, Henry Spafford, Andrew Miller, H. D. Ruth, and Daniel Campbell, on the 13th of June, 1855, by the name, style, and title of "Ashland Chapter, No. 67;" and appointing Companion Rolla H. Chubb, their first High Priest; Companion C. R. Deming, the first King, and Companion G. W. Urie, the first Scribe.

On the 19th of June, 1855, in pursuance of said dispensation, the first meeting was held. The names of forty-one members appear attached to the by-laws; nine of whom are now deceased or removed'or absent in the military service.

The officers for the current year are: G. H. Topping, H. P.; James McCool, King; A. Sponseller, Scribe pro tem., (in place of Wells Kellogg, deceased ;) David Fike, Cap. Host; H. D. Ruth, Prin. Soj.; Jonas H. Stevens, R. A. Capt.; E. T. Drayton, 3 V.; G. W. Urie, 2 V.; E. W. Wallack, 1 V.; G. Osterlin, Treasurer; J. P. Devor, Secretary, and Eli Coleman, Guard.

Independent Order Of Odd Fellows

The Warrant or Dispensation for Mohican Lodge, No. 85, I. O. O. F., was granted by the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio to the petitioners, Matthew Clugston, James Sloan, Jackson Wolverton, John Clark, H. J. Hayes, and John Musser, on the 26th of December, 1846. The Lodge was instituted on the 10th of May, 1847, by Thomas C. McEwen, D. D.G. M. Five members were present at the first meeting.

After the institution of the Lodge, the brothers proceeded to elect the officers for said Lodge for the ensuing term; which election resulted as follows: for

The First Burial Grounds

The first burial ground for Uniontown and vicinity adjoined the old Hopewell Church, one mile and a half west of town. The first body deposited in that ground was in 1816. A few years later the ground adjoining the present Hopewell Church was selected, and used until 1857, when the grounds became so crowded that the selection of another place was considered a public necessity.

The late Bolivar W. Kellogg, Esq., in the fall of the year 1855 circulated a paper, tu which he obtained the signatures of ninety-two citizens of Ashland, agreeing "to purchase ground suitable for family burial lots, at a price not to exceed ten dollars per lot; provided an association be properly organized

Cemetery Associations." In 1856, the Ashland Cemetery Association was organized, and an arrangement made with Lorin Andrews, administrator of the estate of his father, Alanson Andrews, deceased, for the purchase of ten acres of the grove west of town as a site for the cemetery. The body of Mr. Kellogg was the first deposited in the new cemetery, though the lots were not surveyed and the title perfected until May, 1857. A large number of the tenants of the Hopewell churchyard have been disinterred and deposited in the new cemetery. The grounds embrace ten acres and a few perches. There are seven hundred and six lots 12 by 24 feet.

Ohio Normal Academy Of Music

This institution was organized as a corporation in the summer of 1860 - the object being to afford facilities for acquiring a thorough musical education, especially to those whose object is to qualify themselves for teachers of music, either vocal or instrumental. The regular sessions of the institution are in July and 'August of each year, and the third term commences on the 2d Monday of July, 1862. The Board of Instruction are: B. F. Baker, Boston, Massachusetts; W. H. Ingersoll, Boston, Massachusetts; KE. C. Kilbourn, Ashland, and Robert Kidd, Cincinnati. E. C. Kilbourn and Dr. I. L. Crane, Superintendents, and E. C. Kilbourne, Cor. Sec'y. The institution has achieved a success fully equal to the hopes of its enterprising founders, (the most active of whom were Professor Kilbourne, Dr. Crane, and Professor Ingersoll,) and is regarded as permanently established.

Ashland Newspapers

On the 30th December, 1834, the first number of the "Ashland Herald," published by J. C. Gilkison, appeared. It professed to hold a neutral position on the question of politics. The office was "one door east of Granger & Campbell's new brick store room;" and "here," as announced in its motto, "Shall the Press the People's rights maintain - unawed by influence, and unbribed by gain." The paper before us is vol. i, Na 3, dated 13th January, 1835. The Herald did not, it appears, enter upon its second volume. In this number is a letter list advertised by Luther M. Pratt, postmaster. A. W. Melsheimer advertises the "Golden Eagle" tavern. Granger & Campbell advertise goods at the Ashland cash store, and also notify those indebted to the late firm of A. Campbell & Co. to make prompt settlement. S. Moulton advertises dry goods, etc. TTherrygood Smith offers for sale in "the very flourishing and business village of Ashland" a lot on which is "a good dwelling-house, thirty feet in front and twenty feet back," and "a convenient storeroom, 30 by 18, ready for use." W. M. Deming would have his debtors "take heed, if you wish to save cost." John P. Reznor advertises as Agent for the Columbus Insurance Co. Reznor & Luther demand of those indebted to the old firm of Reznor, Luther & Deming, to call and settle - "for goods bought at Ashland, payment will be made to Reznor & Luther, at the same place; for goods bought at Orange, payment will be made to Reznor & Deming, at Orange." And finally the printer advertises horsepills, justices' blanks, and blank deeds - and that "bookbinding is carried on at this office." He also

In 1835-36, J. H. Ruth published the "Ohio Globe." The paper advocated the election of Martin Van Buren for President, and Richard M. Johnson for Vice-President. The number for July 13, 1836, contains an oration delivered on the fourth of July of that year, by Lorin Andrews. The editor says of it that he has the pleasure of laying before his readers the oration delivered by Mr. Lorin Andrews, on the fourth instant, near Mr. Ritter's hotel. "It is brief, but embraces language so strong and so well worthy the occasion as to do honor to the young gentleman who delivered it." The number for July twentyseven contains part of an oration delivered on the fourth, at Orange, by Dr. Deming. Among the advertisers are Wm. Wasson, Ruth & Jacobs, Reznor & Luther, Hugh Davis, 8S. B. Whiting, Granger & Lang, R. P. Fulkerson, and R. B. Campbell & Co.

Soon after the organization of the county, in the spring of 1846, R. V. Kennedy established the " Ashland Standard," and continued its publication until the spring of 1849, when H. S. Knapp purchased the "good-will" of the office, and the Standard was. discontinued - Mr. Kennedy removing 'to Missouri. William J. Jackson was the publisher of the paper during the last two years of its existence - Mr. Kennedy retaining his position as editor. Mr. Kennedy was a polished and agreeable writer, and the best practical

The "Ashland Democrat," by Hunter & Maffett, was the fifth journal established in Ashland, and made its appearance within a few days after the issue of the first number of the Ashland Standard. They were both professedly of the same party, but exceedingly bitter in the hatred they manifested in their editorial columns toward each other. The Democratic party at that time were divided upon the question of "hard" or "paper money," and the Democrat was the organ of the "hards," and the Standard of the "softs." In February, 1848, Hunter & Maffett dissolved their partnership - Jonathan Maffett having purchased the interest of his partner, William A. Hunter. In April, 1848, H. S. Knapp purchased the printing materials, and in January, 1849, enlarged the paper and changed its name to the "Ohio Union." He continued in charge of it until November, 1853, when he sold to John Sheridan, by whom it was continued until November, 1855, (having meantime again changed the name to "Ashland Union,") when Collins W. Bushnell purchased the establishment. In January, 1857, H. S. Knapp repurchased, and continued the Palillitiol of the paper until May 30, 1860, when he sold to the present proprietor, J. J. Jacobs.

The first number of "The Ashland Times" was issued from the press upon which was formerly printed The Ashlander, by L. J: Sprengle, proprietor, and William Osborn, Saker, on the 14th of July, 1853. In 1858, Josiah Desks assumed the editorial man- agement of the paper, from which he retired in 1857. Since the latter date, Mr. Sprengle has had sole charge of the Times as editor and publisher.

Public Buildings And Institutions

The church edifices in Ashland will compare favorably, in number, style of architecture, and capacity, with those of any town of equal population in the State.

The Court House and Jat are also an honor to the county, and are much better edifices than the average of those found in older and.more populous counties. 7

The Town Hat. Burprne, erected in 1857, at a cost, including the lot, of $10,000, is 54 by 80 feet, three stories on Centre, and two on Main Street. The lower floor is occupied principally as an engine house, a place for holding elections, and a prison for offenders against the ordinances of the town. The second floors on Main Street>are used as storerooms, by Messrs. Gorham & Parmely, dry goods merchants, and by EK. W. Wallack, grocer, etc. The hall itself, about 50 by 65 feet, is valued by the citizens of Ashland as the best public enterprise that has been accomplished

Ashland Bank

This is an institution of discount and deposit. It was organized in 1851, under the name and style of Lutuer, Cratt & Co. - the partners being then, as now, Hulburt Luther, Jacob Crall, James Purdy, W.S. Granger, G. H. Topping, and J. O. Jennings. Mr.

Jennings has been cashier since the organization of the bank. The institution has been wisely and honestly conducted, and possesses the full confidence of the business community. 3

The charter of this company was granted by a special act of the General Assembly of Ohio, passed on the 8th February, 1851.. The corporators named in the law were L. J. Sprengle, Hugh Burns, G. W. Urie, J. Wasson, J. Crall, B. B. Clark, Abraham Huff man, J. Musgrave, H. Luther, P. Risser, and J. B. F. Sampsel. lL. J. Sprengle has been the secretary and active manager of the business of the company; and it is to his energy and skill that the institution has obtained a character throughout the State as among the most successful and reputable Mutual Companies that have been organized in Ohio. The Board of Directors for the current year consists of T..C. Bushnell, H. Luther, Jacob Crall, Joseph Wasson, L. J. Sprengle, Wm. Osborn, Peter Risser, J. O. Jennings, and H. C. Sprengle.

Ashland Gas Light Company

This company was organized in 1858 - John M. Stevenson, President, and Wm. Stevenson, Secretary and Treasurer. The embarrassments of the original company compelled a sale, and in December, 1861, J. W. Smith, Esq., became sole owner of its franchise and property. Mr. Smith has made a marked improvement in the quality of the light; and the rapid extension of gas pipes to remote and hitherto dark corners of the town is the result of his judicious management,

In addition to the county buildings, the town contains 5 churches; 1 town hall; 1 Masonic lodge, and 1 lodge of I.0.0. F.; 2 printing-offices; 4 hotels; 5 dry goods stores; 2 drug stores; 3 provision stores; 3 boot and shoe stores; 1 grocery, crockery, and hardware store; 1 hardware store; 1 grocery and hardware store; 2 confectionery and baking establishments; 3 groceries; 1 hat and cap store; 1 steam saw-mill and planing machine; 1 woolen manufactory and flour-mill; 2 clothing stores; 4 blacksmith shops; 2 clover hulling manufactories; 1 carriage manufactory; 1 wagon manufactory; 3 tanneries; 2 saddlery shops; 4 millinery establishments; 1 jewelry shop; 1 daguerrean gallery; 2 founderies; 4 furniture establishments; 1 carding and fulling mill; 6 clergymen; 10 attorneys; 8 physicians, and 2 dentists.

Gray, D. B. & Co. - Livery and sale stable, and proprietors of New London, Oberlin, Shelby, Rochester depot, Mansfield, and Wooster stage lines, Main Street.

Luther, Crall & Co. - Bankers, Main Street. Organized in 1851. Hulburt Luther, Jacob Crall, James Purdy, W. S. Granger, G. H. Topping, and J. O. Jennings.

Potter, W. H. H. - Agent. Dealer in drugs, medicines, books, stationery, wall paper, etc. Also telegraph operator and express agent, Main Street.

Wentworth, N. - Proprietor of daily line of hacks and Express line between Mansfield and Ashland. Leave Ashland at 8 a.M., and Mansfield at 2 p.m.