Columbiana County, Ohio - Chapter 4: Civil History, 1905

Chapter 4: Civil History

Columbiana in the Earliest Galaxy of Counties - Date of Organization - Comity Deprived of Territory in Formation of Others - Location of County Seat - The Old Log Court House and Jail and Their Successors - The Gaol, Sixty-five Years in Senice, Repeatedly Condemned.

Immediately after the enactment of the Ordinance of 1787. land within the bounds of what was afterwards Washington County, including the site upon w hich Marietta was built, was purchased by a company of pioneers, chiefly from New' England. A colony was established April 7. 1788. the settlement being located at and near the mouth of the Muskingum River.

On the 26th of April, 1788. an executive council was held, presided over by Gen, Arthur St. Clair, the first Governor of the Northwest Territory. At this council the county of Washington was established. The following were the lumnds of the county :

"Beginning at the bank of the Ohio River where the western boundary line of Pennsylvania crosses it. and running with that line to I Lake Kric; thence along the southern shore I of said lake to the mouth of the Cuyahoga : River: thence up said river to the portage 1«- | tween that and the Tuscarawas branch of the \ Muskingum: thence down the branch to the forks at the crossing-place above Fort Laurens;* thence with a line to t>e drawn westerly to the portnge of that branch of the

Big Miami on w hich the fort | : stood that was taken by the French in 175J. until it meets the road from the lower Shawanese town to the Sandusky; thence south to the Scioto River, down that to its mouth, and thence up the Ohio River to the place of beginning."

It will be seen that at that time Washington County included almost the entire eastern half of what is now the State of Ohio, including of course within its bounds what is now Columbiana County.

Incidents Op Pioneer I.Ike

Some of the privations of the early settlers were related by the pioneers of Washington County and the Northwest Territory. A num- Ikt of these have lieen reproducd in Howe's "Historical Collections of Ohio."

During the Indian war. which soon succeeded the first settlements, the inhabitants suffered much for the necessaries of life. Although some of the settlers were killed, and others carried into captivity, yet the massacre of Big Bottom was the most alarming event. The escape of the settlers from greater suffering

' A fort at the mouth of Mad River The "fort" was visited by Christopher Gist, in 1752. while making explorations in the country north and west of the Ohio, who found it to t>c only a trading-post with a stockade. Me named the stream Mad Creek-- Imlay's "America." paj;e i->o from this source was owing to the strong fortifications erected, and the admirable judgment and foresight they displayed in taking precautions against danger. Among the incidents connected with the troubles with the Indians, was the taking prisoner at Waterford of Daniel Con vers, a lad of 16, who was carried to Detroit ; the murder of Warth, while at work near Fort Harniar; the taking prisoner of Major Goodale, of Belpre, who was, it is supposed, murdered; the death of Captain ' Rogers, who was out with Mr. Henderson, as ; a spy, and was killed near the Muskingum, - atxnit a mile from Marietta ; the death of a Mr. Waterman, near Waterford, and the narrow escape of Return J. Meigs, into Font Harmar, by his flectness of foot while being pursued by the enemy. On the other hand, retaliation was in a measure inflicted upon the Indians, and among those most active in this duty was Hamilton Carr, a man eminently distinguished as an Indian hunter and spy.

During the war a stockade, called Fort Frye, was erected near the mouth of Olive Green Creek above Waterford, which became the frontier garrison and had in it about seven or eight men and boys able to bear arms. Just before Wayne's victory, August 4, 1794, they lost one man, Abel Sherman, who went into the woods incautiously and was killed by the Indians. A tombstone with a scalped head rudely carved upon it marks the sjKjt where he lies.

Among the inmates of this garrison was George Ewing, father of Hon. Thomas Ewing. His fortune and history were similar, to that of many of the Revolutionary officers who migrated to the West at that early day. He inherited a handsome patrimony and sold it. investing the proceeds in bonds and mortgages, and entered the Continental Army as a sub- ] altern officer in 1775, being then but little over ; 21 years of age. He continued to serve, w ith a few short intermissions, during the war. When the bonds fell due, they were paid in continental money, which, proving worthless, reduced him to poverty. In 1785 he migrated to the West and remained on the Virginia side of the Ohio until 1702. when he crossed over and settled at Olive Green.

From the communications of some of the early settlers at Olive Green are annexed some facts respecting their privations and the discovery of the salt well, which was at that day considered a remarkable interposition of Providence :

"The inhabitants had among them but few of what we consider the necessaries and comforts of life. Brittle wares, such as earthen ware and glass, were wholly unknown, and but little of the manufactures of steel and iron, both of which were exceedingly dear. Iron and salt were procured in exchange for ginseng and peltry, and carried on pack horses from Fort Cumberland or Chaml>ersburg. It was no uncommon thing for the garrison to be wholly without salt for months, subsisting upon fresh meat, milk and vegetables, and bread made of corn pounded in a mortar - they did not yet indulge in the luxury even of the hand-mill. There had been an opinion, founded upon the information of the Indians, that there were salt springs in the neighborhood, but the spot was carefully concealed. Shortly after Wayne's victory, in 1794, and after, the inhabitants, had left the garrison and gone to their farms, a white man, who had been long a prisoner with the Indians, was released and returned to the settlements. He stopped at Olive Green, and there gave an account of the salt springs, and directions for finding them. A party was immediately formed (of which George Ewing, , Jr., then a lad of 17, was one), who, after an absence of seven or eight days, returned, to the great joy of the inhabitants, with about a gallon of salt, which they had made in their camp kettle. This was, I think, in August, 1795. A supply, though a very small one. was made there that season for the use of the frontier settlement. Whether this salt spring was early known to the whites I am unable to say. It may have been so to spies and explorers, and perhaps to the early missionaries; but this was the first discovery which was made available to the people." -

River, where the western boundary of Pennsylvania crosses it, and down the said river to the southern boundary of the fourth township in the fourth range (of those seven ranges of townships that were surveyed in conformity to the ordinance of Congress of the 20th of May, 1785), and with the said southern boundary west, to the southwest corner of the sixth township of the fifth range ; thence north along the western boundary to the said fifth range to the termination thereof; thence due west to the Muskingum River and up the same to and with the portage, l>etween it and the Cuyahoga River; thence down the Cuyahoga to Lake Erie; thence east, along the shore of the lake, to the west boundary of Pennsylvania, and south with the same to the place "of beginning."

An act of Congress was aproved by the President April 30, 1802, "to enable the people of the eastern division of the territory northwest of the Ohio River to form a constitution and State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union on an equal footing with the original States, and for other purposes." The State constitution was adopted November 29th of the same year, at a convention held at Chillicothe, at which the following nine counties, then existing within the limits of the present State, were represented : Washington, organized July 26, 1788; Hamilton, organized January 29, 1790; Adams, organized July to, 1797; Jefferson, organized July 29, 1797; Ross, organized August 20. 1798; Trumbull, organized July 10, 1800; Clermont, organized December 6, 1800; Fairfield, organized Decemlier 9, 1800; and Belmont, organized September 7, 1801.

At the first session of the State Legislature, in March, 1803, at Chillicothe, eight new counties were erected, viz., Scioto, Warren, Butler, Montgomery, Greene, Columbiana, Gallia and Franklin. The following is a copy of the act organizing Columbiana County:

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Slate of Ohio: That alt that part of the counties of Jefferson and Washington as comes within the following boundaries be and the same is hereby laid off and erected into a separate county which shall be known by the name of Columbiana: Beginning at the mouth of Yellow Creek, on the north side of the same; thence up said creek, with the meanders thereof, to the northern boundary of the eighth township in the second range; thence with the same west to the western boundary of the seventh range; thence north to the northwestern comer of the sixteenth township of the said seventh range; thence west on the south boundary" of the ninth township in the eighth and ninth ranges to the Muskingum River; thence up the said river, with the meanders thereof, to the southern boundary of tile county of Trumhull ; whence wjt|, the same cast to the Pennsylvania line; thence with the said line south to the Ohio River; thence down ' the same, with the meanders thereof, to the beginning. Sec. a. And be it further enacted, That from and after the first day of May next the said county shall I be vested with all the powers, privileges, arid im- ! munitics of a separate and distinct county; Provided always. That all actions and suits which may be pending in the conntics of Jefferson and Washington, on the said first day of May next, shall be prosecuted and carried on to final judgment and execution; and all taxes, fees, fines, and forfeitures, which shall be then due, shall he collected in the same manner as if this act had never been passed.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted. That until a permanent seat of justice he fixed in the said county by the commissioners appointed for that purpose the temporary scat of justice shall be at the house of Matthias Lower, in the twelfth township and second range; and courts shall be held thereat, in and for the county of Columbiana aforesaid.

On the 10th of May, 1803, the associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas for Columbiana County met at the house of Matthias Lower, in Fairfield township, section 23, and proceeded to lay out the county and townships, and apportioned the number of justices to be elected in each township. They established by name five townships and defined their I lioundaries, as follows : "Springfield was made ten miles square, and commenced for boundary line at the southeast comer of Trumbull County. Middleton township was ten miles square, immediately south of Springfield. St. Clair township extended south to the mouth of Yellow Creek, west with the creek and including parts of Jefferson and Carroll counties as they now are, and north including part of Stark County, and east to the Pennsylvania line, including what is now seventeen townships. Salem township was a small state when first described, commencing at the boundary line of Trumbull County, west of Springfield township, and running south ten miles to the southeast corner of section 20, in Fairfield township, thence west to the Muskingum River (now called Tuscarawas), and from there to the south line of Trumbull. Center township commenced at the northeast corner of section 29, in Fairfield township, and running south ten miles to the southeast corner of section 8, in Madison township, and including all west of these north and south lines." The number of original townships (consisting each of an area of about 36 square miles), embraced within the county limits at the time of its erection, was 47. For a short time subsequent to the erection of the county, courts were held at the house of Matthias Lower, in Fairfield township. Resin Reall was appointed by the court to the office of clerk (or recorder) and treasurer, July 26, 1803; John Crozer was elected sheriff, October 17, in the same year; William Hcald was appointed surveyor in 1803; Obadiah Jennings, of Steubcnvillc, was the first prosecuting attorney, appointed soon after the county was organized; David Scott, the first auditor, was appointed in 182 1; Calvin Pease, the first president judge, was appointed in 1808; Robert Simison, Henry Bachman and William Smith were appointed associate judges in 1803, and constituted the first Prolnte Court. The commissioners met March 4, 1805, and fixed the boundaries of the several townships.

! County on the west, in 1808; Carroll County on ! the south, in 1832; Mahoning County, on the north, in 1845. February 13, 1808, all that ! part of Columbiana County west of the fifth range was attached to Stark County, just organized, but continued for several years to participate with Columbiana County in the election of Senators, Representatives, and members of Congress. The territory surrendered to Stark County embraced but a single organized township (Lake) out of the following 13 then existing: Springfield, Middleton, St. Clair, Salem, Center, Elkrun, Greene, Butler, Lake, Hanover, Unity, Yellow Creek and Fairfield.^

Carroll County was erected hy act of December 25, 1832, and took from Columbiana the townships of Saline, Fox, Augusta and East, being about three and one-half townships. This left Columbiana with 21 organized townships, the name of Saline being changed to Washington. June 3, 1833, upon petition of "sundry inhabitants of the township of Wayne, and the fractional townships of Franklin and : Saline" the Board of County Commissioners altered the boundaries of such townships as follows : Sections 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31 were taken from Wayne and attached to Franklin; I sections 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 were taken from j Wayne and attached to Saline (now Washington). They likewise provided for the election of township officers on the 25th of the same month: for Franklin, at Jacob Fox's residence; for Washington, at " 'Squire Gilson's." The commissioners present at the meeting at which the changes were made were Michael Arter, lssac Wilson and John Smith.

Perry township was erected, by order of the same commissioners. December 5. 1832, for which purpose sections 5, 6, 7, and 8 were taken from Salem township; 29, 30, 31 and 32, from Greene township; 25, 26, 35 and 36, from Goshen township; and 1, 2. 11 and 12, from j Butler township. A township called Damascus , was formed by the commissioners, December 2, 1833, from parts of Goshen. Butler, Smith, and Knox; but the order for the erection was repealed March 4, 1834. The township of Liver- : pool was erected June 3, 1834, and was com- posed of fractional township 5, of range 1, - which had been a part of St. Clair, an original township whose boundaries were fixed by the commissioners March 5, 1805 - added to other sections of St. Clair, in township 6, viz.: 31, 32> 33. 34. 35 and 36. The first election was appointed for June 23rd at the house of Aaron Brawdy, in the town of East Liverpool.

An act passed by the Legislature, February 16, 1846, authorized the erection of Mahoning County, and carved from Columbiana the five townships, Springfield, Beaver, Greene, Goshen and Smith. Greene and Goshen had each surrendered four sections, in 1832, to Perry township. The five townships continued to vote with Columbiana County for State and national officers, until a new apportionment was made.

By the act for the erection of Carrol County, passed December 25, 1832, the following described territory was taken from Columbiana and attached to Jefferson County : "Beginning at the northeast corner of section three in township thirteen, range four; thence due east six miles to the northeast corner of section three, in township twelve, range three; thence south one mile to the southeast comer of section three, township and range aforesaid; thence due east to the Ohio River; thence down the river with the mcanderings thereof to the termination of the eastern boundary line of Jefferson County, on the said river; thence west along the present lx>undary line between the counties of Columbiana and Jefferson, to the southeast comer of section one, in township thirteen, range four; thence north three miles to the place of beginning."

The townships named, so far as can be ascertained, were organized on the several dates mentioned, viz. : Springfield, Middleton. St. Clair, Salem, Center, May 10, 1803; Unity, Yellow Creek, Elkrun, Fairfield, Greene, Wayne, Hanover, Butler, June 3, 1806; Knox, March 7. 1808; Madison, June 12. 1809; Goshen, September 11, 1810; Beaver, April 1, 181 1 ; West. February 15, 1814: Franklin, March 4. 1816; Washington (as Saline), 1816; Smith, March, 1821 ; Perry, December 5, 1832; Liverpool, June 3. 1834. (Compiled from Ensign's "History of Columbiana County.")

And Present

In relation to the location of Wie county seit at New Lisbon (now Lisbon), a couple ot paragraphs will be quoted from the "Historical Sketch of the Old Village of New Lisbon, Ohio," published on the occasion of the centennial celebration of the town, June 17-18, 1903, which sketch was written by Charles D. Dickinson, associated with the centennial celebration committee, C. S. Speaker, C. C. Connell and George T. Farrell :

"It would be interesting to know just when the first settlement (of LisUm) was made, and the name of the hardy adventurer who began the work of civilization at this place, but no record is available from which to learn these facts, and any one who might have given the

! the earliest permanent settlement of this locality as being alxnit the beginning of the last century, for Lewis Kinney, who owned the land i upon which the village was laid out. built a cabin near the creek where the Arter tannery was afterward erected, and proceed to found the town, which he named New Liston, on February 16, 1803. lie donated lots for county i buildings and erected a log Court House and Jail in the fall of that year, for which he received from the county the munificent sum of $150. He sold the land upon which he had first settled to John Arter in 1805. His name was well known in county affairs in the early part of the 19th century, for he was major of the First Battalion of Columbiana County Miltia, which was first mustered in 1806, and he served in the State Senate from 1808 to

"The log Court House erected by Mr. Kinney continued in use until 1816 when the brick Court House which was torn down some years ago was built. The present structure was erected in 1871-72, and was occupied several years before the old brick building was razed.

the northeast corner of the intersection of Beaver and Chestnut streets. This landmark was erected in 1808, of native sandstone, strong walled and deep windowed, meant to keep the elements out and the vicious in, and to this day it looks its part. No better preserved monument of the past can be found in the town, it now being substantially as it was when first erected."

That old stone jail served its day and generation to better purj>osc, considering the needs of the times, than its successor has done during the past 60 and cxld years, or, at least, for the past 20 or 30 years; for the present county prison during the past 30 years, has been repeatedly condemned by grand juries, one of the duties of which has been to visit, at the opening of each term of court, and inspect and pass upon the condition and adaptability to the requirements to which it is sujwsed to lie sul>- jected, of the county "gaol."

The "History of Columbiana County," published in 1879, by Ensign & Company, of Philadelphia, contains a detailed account of the erection, and some description of several of the public buildings of the county, ancient and modern, and much of the data for that which follows on this subject has been secured from that authority. Between the years 181 1 and 18 1 7 the brick Court House, which preceded the one standing at present, was planned and built, being completed in 1817. It was built by William Harbaugh and Peter Spiker. An entry on the commissioners' record, August 29, 18 1 7, shows that John Ritz and others were paid for examining the work done in the New Lisbon Court House; while another entry, December 17, 181 7, shows a payment of $38 to Peter Spiker, "in full for finishing the New Lislx>n Court House." This building cost not far from the sum of $4,700. The first bell was bought in May, 181 5 ; it cost $315.48, and was used nearly 60 years. The building was enlarged in 1823 by the addition of "puhlic offices." In April of that year the commissioners - Thomas Creighton. George Atterholt, and Rculjen Taylor - caused a plan of the offices to be furnished, and let the contract for their erection.

The third edifice is much larger and more imposing than its predecessors, and marks the increase of the county's wealth no less than the growth of its demands upon the ministers of the law. This building is of stone, and was erected in 1871-72, at a total cost of $106,- 350.14, exclusive of furniture. The dome is surmounted by a statute of Justice, with her suggestive symbols of authority and equity.

The following account of the proceedings of the commissioners in regard to the erection of this new edifice is taken from the records : On the nth day of March, 1870, the Board of County Commissioners - Samuel Burger, Andrew Armstrong and Uriah Thomas - caused the following entry to be made on their journal :

"Notice. - Notice is hereby given that the county commissioners of Columbiana County intend to build a new Court House in the village of New Lisbon in said county, the cost of which shall exceed the sum of $1,000. The commissioners will hear jwtitions for and remonstrances against said projwscd improvement at their office in said county."

On the 1 2th day of March, 1870. the notice having been legally published, the board took up the remonstrances on file against the building of the Court House, and carefully considered them, together with all the objections urged against said proposed improvement ; and after full consideration of the subject, determined that "the board are of the opinion that it is necessary to build a new Court House in New Lisbon, and hereby resolve and determine to proceed forthwith to take the necessary steps to build the same, in the manner provided by law."

On April 2nd, plans and s|>ecifications of the building were presented by H. E. Myer, architect, which were duly aproved by the commissioners, and by John A. Myers, clerk. Thomas C. Morris, sheriff, and Solomon J. Firestone, probate judge.

On May 20th. after due notice for sealed proposals for building the Court House, a contract was made with William C. Megown and Simon Harrold, the lowest bidders, who agreed to erect the same according to plans and specifications, for the sum of $98,717, and entered into a bond in the penal sum of $75,000, with sureties, for the faithful performance of their engagement. On the same day the commissioners awarded the contract for heaters for the new Court House to Peter Martin, who agreed to furnish the same for $6,500. The bell was purchased October 19, 1871, at a cost of $932.60, from A. Fulton, Son & Company. The town clock was furnished by the Telegraph Supply & Manufacturing Company, of Cleveland, February 8, 1873, upon a contract made by the commissioners with the Automatic Fire Alarm Company, of I.eetonia, and cost $735-

The present Court House is, considering the time at which it was built, and the ability of the people 35 years ago to bear the cost of such a building, an imposing and altogether creditable structure. The first door of the building is occupied by the offices of the auditor, commissioners, probate judge, treasurer, recorder and surveyor; the second floor by the court room, offices of the clerk and sheriff, jury room and apartment intended for witnesses room, but which, proving too small for that purpose, has been given over to the court stenographer.

The original log Court House and Jail, erected by Lewis Kinney, in 1803, have already been referred to. On July 12, 1819, there was held a meeting of the commissioners - John Crumbacher, Reuben P. McNamee and John Springer - "on purpose of consulting of purchasing one lot of ground for a gaol and drawing a plan of a gaol house, and proceed drawing the plan and describing the same." The following day they proceeded, finishing the description of the "gqol," and purchased of Matthias Springer lot No. 1 19 in the town of New Lisbon, on the northwest corner of Beaver and Chestnut streets, for the sum of $200. "$100 payable on the 26th day of July. 1819, and $100 to be paid on the first day of January, 1820, next." The work of building the jail was let at auction July 26th, and was "openly struck of? of John Beeson and Daniel Harhaugh. being the lowest bidders, for the sum of $1,819. $300 to be paid at time of entering into bonds for the performance, and S300 every three months' end.'' In October the contractors were allowed $53, "for extra work found necessary to be done to said gaol, of an alteration in the 'petitions' of the entries between the entry and the gaoler's parts above and below." January 5, 1820, the work of the contractors was accepted. The finishing of the Jail was struck off to David McCurdy, January 4, 1820, for $1,087, whose work was completed and accepted December 4, 1822. This Jail, a substantial stone building, is still standing, being used as a residence.

The old "jail and kitchen" were sold at auction May 4, 1821, the former to Joseph Morris for $55.25, the latter to Daniel Ilarbaugh for $15.27.

After about 17 years the prison of 1819-20 was decided to be unfit for occupancy, and on the 6th day of December, 1837, the board of commissioners - John Smith. George Burns and James Justice - took the following actions concerning it: "The board having repaired to j the prison of the county, to examine into the situation of the inmates who had been confined for insanity, found that the situation of the prison was such as to l>e deleterious to their health and adverse to their comforts ; the board, upon due consideration of the matter, order that Mrs. Wise, William Smoot and Thomas McCoy be discharged from confinement in the jail, in order that they may be sent to the poor-house of the county."

On the 8th of March following, after due deliberation, the board determined "to build a new prison on the public square on the hill." and authorized the auditor to give notice for proposals accordingly. On April 5th, not being satisfied with the proposals received, they postponed their award until the 23rd, when a contract for erecting the new prison was made with Morris Miller and Nathaniel McCracken, their bid of $7,800 l>cing the lowest presented. A change in the plan of the walls was made on October 1st, and the structure completed and accepted September 9, 1839. Alterations were made in the northeast room of this Jail by David and John Strickler, under a contract dated February 3, 1840, and cost $291.45. This jail is still in use. though, as has been stated, it jury of the January, 1905, term of court, not only condemned the structure, but recommended that the commissioners take steps as early as possible looking to the submission to the people of the question of the erection of a new jail - one which shall be commensurate with the increase of population, and the reasonable requirements of such a structure.

The Infirmary farm is three miles west from Lisbon on section 17. It contains 332.65 acres - 200 acres of which was purchased in 1829, at a cost of $3,100, and 132.65 acres acquired in 1 86 1, at a cost of $3,600 - the total cost of the land as it is now embraced in the farm being $6,700.

The first notice found in the commissioners' records concerning a poor-house is under date of August 15, 1829, where it is stated that "The board proceeded to examine the old house on the land on which the poor house is erecting, and order that it be repaired and that certain other improvements be made on the land in relation to the well, etc. ; to-wit, the board order that a new sill be put under the sleepers, that the corners of the house be cut down and new floors be laid al»ove and Irelow, that a partition be put up, a chimney of brick in the inside be built large with a hearth, that a closed flight of stairs be built, and four twelve-light windows be put in - two alwve and two below - and that the house be chinked and daubed with lime mortar, and a door be made and cased for the outside. They order that the old well be dug deeper and walled, or a new one dug and walled." On October 3rd the contract for the repairs named was made with Andrew Scott, who was to receive therefor the sum of $92. March 23, 1830. it was determined by the board that the "work of the p<x>r-house and the old house near it" was not according to contract.

The main Infirmary building, which is still in use in 1905, being well suited for the purposes for which it was erected, and in good condition, was built in 1861, at a cost of $12,- 570. The insane building, added to meet a growing need, was built in 1873. at a cost of $8,000. The main building is of brick, is 45 by 100 feet and three stories high. It is intended for the general use of the infirm and well-disposed inmates. The insane building is also of brick, and three stories in height. There are on the farm several other large buildings, including a fine frame barn. The appraised value of the farm and buildings was, in 1870, $25,000; in 1880, $40,000; at the present time (1905) at a reasonable valuation the farm and improvements are easily worth $50,000. As the property is not taxable, no legal valuation is put upon it.

September 1, 1880, the total number of inmates of the Infirmary was reported as 176, classified as follows: Total sane inmates, 100; insane - males 16, females 28 - total 44; epileptics - males 6, females 4 - total 10; idiotic - males 9, females 10 - total 19; children - boys 2, girl 1 - total 3. February 16, 1905, the number of inmates reported was 125, classified as follows: Sane - males (including one boy. the only child in the institution) 77, females 18 - total 95; insane - males 4, females 5 - total 9; idiotic - males 13, females 6 - total 19; epileptics, males 2. The reduction in the number of inmates of the Infirmary during the past 25 years, notwithstanding the rapidly increasing population of the county, speaks well for the enhanced conditions of health, industry and prosperity throughout the county. In April, 1905, Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Riddle had completed their 12th year as superintendent and matron, respectively, of the infirmary, and their administration had been so efficient and satisfactory that it seemed likely that their lease of official life might be continued almost indefinitely.