Coshocton County, Ohio - County Buildings and Officers, 1881

THE first measure taken by the county commissioners, looking toward the erection of county buildings was to procure the construction of a suitable place of confinement for criminals. County offices might be kept at the residences or business places of the office holders, and courts could be temporarily held in any manner of structure, but strong bars and massive doors were absolutely necessary to retain the unwilling presence of the border law-breakers of 1811, and these did not exist in the little hamlet, which then constituted Coshocton. The contract for building a county jail was sold to Adam Johnson, as the lowest bidder, June 4, 1811, for $1,397, and the building was by him speedily erected. It was thirtysix feet long by sixteen feet wide and built of sound,, oak logs, well hewn. The commissioners had been authorized by the legislature to sell the public square, lying just south of the present square, and the proceeds arising from the sale amounting to $957.15, were used in paying for the jail. It stood on the site^of the present court house.

The first courts of Coshocton county were held in the second story of Colonel Charles Williams' old tavern stand, on the northeast corner of Chestnut and Water streets. It is said that Colonel Williams received thirty dollars a year rent for the court-room and two dollars per term for the room occupied by the jury. Ashur Hart also furnished a jury room occasionally on Second street. When Alexander McGowan became clerk to the commissioners in 1821, they entered into a contract with Wilson McGowan for a courtroom in the building occupied by William Whitten, standing near the corner of Second and Main streets, the site of part of th,e present Central house, and the cqjjrts were held there for some four years.

In July, 1819, the contract for clearing the public square was sold to Charles Williams for nineteen dollars and fifty cents, and at the same time Adam Johnson received the contract for building a " post and rail " fence around the square.

1821, it was determined to take measures for building a court house. It was agreed to send letters, under the hands of the Commissioners, to the different townships, as an address to the feelings of the people. The Auditor was instructed to draw up a subscription paper for the purpose of receiving donations. According to the terms, the donations were payable in lumber, labor, pork, wheat, rye, corn or oats, at the marketable price. The County Auditor was further ordered to " cause to be published in twenty-eight hand-bills, and then distributed proportionately through the county an address," in which was set forth the need of a court house, and the lack of county funds, and appealing to public patriotism for liberal donations. Several months later it was deemed proper to receive money only in subscriptions. At a meeting in June, 1822, a plan for the building was settled upon. It was to be thirty-two by forty feet in size, built of brick, one story in height, and to contain a court room and two small jury rooms. Notices of the sale of contract were ordered to be inserted in the Muskingum Messenger and the Tuscarawas Chronicle for three weeks, July 9 being fixed upon as the day of sale. During the same month, however, it was resolved to defer the sale until after the December meeting. Subscriptions must have been made very slowly, if at all, for in August,

1822, the Commissioners resolved that without the aid of the citizens in donating towards its erection, the same could not be effected, and subscriptions were again made payable in materials and produce, as well as cash. March 5, 1823, the Auditor was ordered to procure the appraisement of all improvements on town-lots and houses for the purpose of collecting a tax therefrom to assist in the erection of the court house. April 18, 1823, was the day appointed for the sale, and shortly before it was effected the plan of the building was changed to one forty feet square, two stories high, with square roof. On the day of sale Peter Darnes was the lowest bidder, at $2,185. The Commissioners were unwilling to award at this bid, and adjourned to the next day, April 19, when the contract was given to Charles Williams, for $1,984 ; the Commissioners agreeing that he associate with him, as joint-contractors, Peter H. Darnes, Abraham Richards and Andrew Daugherty. An allowance of several hundred dollars was afterwards made for extra work. The building was finished in the spring of 1824. The belfry was completed in 1830, under the supervision of John Elliott. The bell, still in use in the new court house, was purchased, at the request of the Commissioners, by William K Johnson, in 1834.

This court house remained the seat of justice for more than half a century, and, during a great part of this time, particularly in its earlier years, was used for many purposes other than those of justice. Before it was finished a grand ball was given in it. The pedagogue taught the future sovereigns here for a number of years. On the Sabbath the expounders of the various Christian creeds preached their doctrinal tenets to the assembled audiences, and several revivals were conducted here. Political orators harangued their partisan friends in heated campaigns, and, in fact, meetings of all kinds touching the public interest were held within its walls. The court house stood on the west side of the square, facing Third street.

In 1834 two one-story brick buildings, about thirty by forty in size, were erected as county offices, one on either side of the court house, and in a line with it, fronting on Third street. , The offer of William C. Blodget was accepted for their building, the bid being 11,360.75. In 1849 an additional story was built on the north building by William MoFarland for $1,334. In 1854 the south building also received an additional story, W. H. Robinson and William Welch being the contractors.

The old log jail was replaced by another upon the same site in 1836. It was of brick, and with the sheriff's house adjoining was built by Eldridge & McGowan, for $2,300. The present substantial stone jail, located on Third street, and the sheriff's house of biick, were built in 1873. The entire cost of these buildings was about $30,000. The plan was furnished by Carpenter & Williams, of Meadville, Pennsylvania, who were consulting superintendents, John Dodd, of Eoscoe, being acting superintendent. The contractors were M. Johnson and A. Wimmer.

In the fall of 1872, the question of building a new court house was submitted to a vote of the people of the county, and decided in the negative by a large majority, but during the ensuing winter the State Legislature passed a special enabling act^.and measures were taken for the erection of .the building. Plans were prepared and the work superintended by Carpenter & Williams, of Meadville, Pennsylvania. The contract for the new building was let to S. Harold & Co., of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The structure was turned over to the commissioners in July, 1875, the county officers moving in the latter part of that month, and the District Court sitting therein the following month. Additions, extra work, furniture and appliances added greatly to the cost of the building, making the sum total almost $100,000.

A farm of two hundred acres, situated two miles east of Coshocton, was purchased by the county commissioners in 1846 from W. K. Johnson & Co., at fifteen dollars per acre, for the purpose of erecting thereon a county infirmary. Two years later, the proposal of Davis, Richardson, Chamberlain & Richardson to build the infirmary was accepted at $3,885, a previous proposal by E. Davis having failed from non-compliance of conditions. The building is a two-story brick, and has recently received extensive additions. An adjoining tract of land was purchased from Henry Wheeler, for $2,500, and the whole farm now amounts to nearly four hundred acres. - A complete list of the county commissioners from the organization of the county to the present year, together with their several terms of service, is as follows :

County Auditors. - The first auditor (or clerk of the commissioners, as the office was then called), was Thomas L. Rue, who after a few meetings ceased to attend, and in consequence the appointment was transferred to Adam Johnson, who retained the office until 1821. The salary at that time was forty dollars per annum. Subsequently the auditors have been: Alexander McGowan, 1821-25; Joseph Burns, 1825-38 (resigned); J. W. Rue, 1838^8; (in 1843 Wilson McGowan and J. W. Rue each temporarily served in this capacity); H. Cantwell, 1848-50; B. F. Sells, 1850-52; WiUiam Himebaugh, 1854-58; Samuel Forker, 1858-62; C. H. Johnson, 1862-66; W. R. Forker, 1866-71; William Walker, 1871-75; William Wolf, 1875-80; John W. Cassingham, present incumbent.

Co^mty Clerks - At the first session of the court of common pleas, in April, 1811, Adam Johnson was appointed clerk, pro tern. At the second term in September, Thomas L. Rue was appointed temporarily to this office, but in December, 1811, Adam Johnson received the appointment for seven years. He was re-appointed and

County Treasurers - William Whitten was treasurer from 1811 to 1817 ; Dr. Samuel Lee, from 1817 to 1825. The emoluments of the office were at first five per cent of the moneys received, afterward reduced to three per cent, and amounted to from forty to sixty dollars per year prior to 1818. Dr. Lee \vas succeeded by James Renfrew, who agreed to serve for three per cent, and obligated himself " not to speculate on the county's money." For many years it was customary for the county to loan money to responsible citizens. John B. Turner served for 1827 and 1828, Alexander McGowan for 1829 and 1830. Samuel Rea became treasurer in 1831. He was removed in December, 1832 and Robert Hay appointed in his stead, holding the office until 1834. WiUiam G. Williams served from 1834 to 1846, and was suoceeded by Benjamin Bonnett, who resigned in 1849. J. W. Rue was appointed for the unexpired term ending 1850. William P. Wheeler held the office, 1850-52, and Lewis Demoss, 1852-56. Samuel Ketchum, elected in 1856, resigned in 1859, and Samuel Lamberson finished his term and served until 1864. Then followed Samuel Burrell, 1864-68 ; Thomas Jones, 1863-72; Richard W. McLain, 1872-76; John Waggoner, 1876-80; John Beaver 1880 - .

Prosecuting Attorneys - Wright Warner was appointed prosecuting attorney in September, 1811, for seven years. The court allowed him at first twenty-five dollars per term of court for his services. He resigned before the expiration of his term, and was succeeded by Alexander Harper, who served until 1823, when he resigned, having been elected judge. Charles B. Goddard then served till 1827. W. Silliman, David Spangler and Richard Stilwell each served during terms of court until March, 1830, when Noah H. Swayne was appointed for a full term. But in 1833, Josephus Ricketts, having been elected, came into office. He resigned in 1834 and G. W. Silliman was appointed and afterward elected in 1835, but, his health failing in 1841, the latter part of his term was filled by T. S. Humrickhouse, by appointment. Thomas Campbell was elected in 1843 and in 1845. Then succeeded William Sample, 1849-51; John T. Simmons, 1821-55; John D. Nicholas, 1855-57; Charles Hoy, 1857-60 (resigned); Thomas Campbell, 1860 In 1860, Richard Lanning was elected, but in the second year of his tcm, he resigned the office, having been commissioned major of the Eightieth Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Thomas Campbell finished his term. Asa G. Dimmock served from 1862 to 1868. He resigned- shortly before the expiration of his third term, owing to ill health, and the remainder of the term, by appointment,, was filled by R. M. Voorhees, who continued in the office by election and re-election until 1872. Then followed William S.- Crowell, 1872-76; A. H. Stilwell, 1876-78 ; T. H. Ricketts, 1878-80; Albinus H. Stilwell, 1880-.

Coroners. - The following list of coroners is incomplete as to the earlier ones : David Bookless, George Leighninger, James Eavenscraft, Abraham Sells, Benjamin Coe, Thomas McAnally, Addison Syphert, James T. McCleary, Joseph Hitchens, WiUiam Jeffries, Thomas Piatt, Nicholas Schott, John Eicheson, Joseph Burns.

Infirmary Directors. - The following have served the county as infirmary directors : Lewis Eow, James Jones, Henry Wheeler, Isaac W. Miller, John M. Johnson, Stephen D. Sayer, Thomas Dwyer, D. E. Laughlin, George McCune, J. C. Frederick, William Simons, James MoBriar, John Chambers, Nathan Buckalew, John Hawley, William McCoy, C. F. Sangster, Samuel Gardiner, Thomas Wiggins, E. C. Warren and Daniel Frey.

From 1811 to 1820 Coshocton and Tuscarawas counties were represented in the State house of representatives by a single member. Until the adoption of the present constitution in 1851, the Tepresentatives were elected annually, and where two counties were combined into one district, they would usually alternate in presenting the member. Probably the first representative from Coshocton county was Eobert Giffen, who served a single term about 1812, when the legislature met at Chillicothe. In 1814 Charles Williams was elected. .This election was contested, and a new election ordered by the legislature. It was held in January, 1815, and the people ratified their first choice. In 1816, 1818-20, and 1828 Joseph W. Pigman was chosen, and in 1817 'Squire Humphrey. In 1820 Coshocton county itself became a representative district, and James Eobinson was the representative for 1820-21, also for

For some years after its organization, Coshocton county was combined with Guernsey and Tuscarawas in a State senatorial district. From 1820 to 1830 the district was made up of Coshocton and Tuscarawas ; and after 1824, Holmes, which was in that year organized. Still later, Coshocton and Knox made the district. Since 1850, Coshocton and Tuscarawas have formed the district. The first citizen of Coshocton elected State senator was Wilson McGowan, serving 1821-22. Samnel Lee was senator, 1826-27; Charles Miller, 1828-29; James Eavenscraft, 1834^- 36; James Matthews, 1838-39; John Johnson, 1842-43; W. F. Thornhill, 1845-46 ; Andrew Ferguson, 1850-51; Heslip Williams, 1854-55; A. LCass, 1853-59; William Stanton, 1864-65; James M. Burt, 1866-7, also, 1870-71; John C. Fisher, 1873-74, and in 1878-79.

Coshocton county has furnished four Congressmen. The first of these was David Spangler, who served two successive terms, from 1833 to 1837. The congressional district, which he represented, comprised Coshocton, Holmes, Knox and Tuscarawas counties. James Matthews also served two terms, from 1841 to 1845. John Johnson in 1851-53, apd Joseph Burns in 1857-59, were the other two national representatives.

In the State constitutional convention of 1851, this county was represented by John Johnson, and in that of 1874 by William Sample. James M. Burt represented the Coshocton and Tusca- rawas distrfct in. the State Board of Equalization in 1860. James Gamble was chosen a member of the board of public works in October, 1862 - entering upon his duties in February, 1863. He died in March, 1864, and James Moore was appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy in April, 1864. He was elected in October, 1866, and held the office for a term of three years. John C. Fisher was appointed a member of the Ksh Commission in 1875, by Governor Allen. J. W. Dwyer ivas, for some time - in Delano's administration of internal revenue affairs- supervisor of internal revenue for the northern district of Ohio, with office at Coshocton. He was, at a later date, pension agent, with office at Columbus. W. A. Johnson served for several years as deputy United States internal revenue assessor; and John Flew, James Dryden and Dr. J. H. Lee as deputy collectors.