Delaware County, Ohio - Chapter 11 (2 of 2 so headed), 1880 (part 2 of 2)

later times of national peril, still manifest^ itself in the State militia organization of the present. Company K of the Fourteenth Regiment of Ohio National G-uardS was organized in the city, and was mustered into service on the evening of the 13th of February, 1879. The first officers elected were F. M. J6y, Captain; Orie S. Shuer, First Lieutenant, and B. F. Freshwater, Second Lieutenant. A short time afterward, Lieut. Freshwater resigned his commission, and John W. Jones was elected to his place. About the 1st of July, in the same year, the name of Joy Gruards was adopted by the company, in honor of the Captain. The organization numbers fifty-eight privates and non-commissioned officers, is uniformed with the national fatigue suit of blue, and armed with Springfield rifles.

In March, 1873, a petition, asking the Council to take the necessary measures to advance the incorporated village to a city of the second class, was signed by a large number of the citizens and presented to the City Fathers. In accordance with this petition, the Council submitted the matter to the people at the election in the following April, when the proposition to take on the new honors was ratified, and Delaware became vested in all the rights and responsibilities of a city of the second class. In the following July, the city was laid ofi' into three wards, and, in 1878, was re-apportioned into five wards. The officers of the city are all elective, save the members of the police, the .City Engineer and Clerk, who are appointed by the Council. The officers are a Mayor, Marshal, Solicitor, Street Commissioner and two members of the Council from each ward, who are elected for a term of two years. The County Treasurer acts for the city. The Council are divided into seven committees - on Finance and Taxation, Street Improvements, Claims, New Streets and Grades, Cemeteries and Parks, Sidewalks and Crossings, and on Gas. The officers, since Delaware became a city, are as follows :

The manufactiiring establishments of Delaware seem rather the happy result of fortuitous circumstances than of intelligent investigation of any advantages the place may possess for such enterprises. In early times, when the pioneers depended upon the industrious skill of their women and the flax-fields of their own cultivation for clothing,, the production of flax occupied a prominent place in the agriculture of the country. But an important part of this crop was lost to the farmer because of the lack of facilities to work up the seed which it produces' in abundance. In 1835, Mr. Abel Moore determined to save this great waste, and procured a press to extract the oil. The process of manufacture was crude enough at first. The seed was ground, or rather chopped, at the mill, and then carried to the press, which was simply a large log set upright, with a mortised hole in which bags containing the ground seed were placed. Wedges were driven in at the sides of the sacks, and a pressure maintained in this way until a large part of the oil was extracted. A few years later, he sold the business to Robert Cunningham, who set about improving his facilities for the manufactijre of oil. He secured the most improved machinery of the time, and, with the rest, a " compound-lever press." He soon found his resources inadequate for the successful prosecution of his ambitious and enterprising schemes, and gave an interest in the business to Mr. C. F. Bradley for the use of certain moneys. Mr. Bradley, thus connected with the manufacturing interests of Delaware, became the leader and mover in all the projects that have been made to establish such enterprises, and to him, through the oil-mill and its outgrowths, the city owes more, perhaps, than to any other one man. Mr. Bradley soon purchased the whole interest in the mill, and immediately associated Mr. Edward Pratt with him in the business. About a year afterward, Mr. Pratt sold his interest to Mr. Alexander Kilbourn, when the factory was removed from its premises on FrankUn street to the east side of the river, on North street. Here the old "compound-lever press" gave way to the hewer invention of an hydraulic press, and machinery for water power was added. The rapid settlement of the country and the growth of manufactures rendered the cultivation of flax of less importance, and, with their increased facilities, the proprietors of the oil-mill soon found the supply of seed inadequate to their demands. To supply this deficiency, Bradley took his team, travelins; over Franklin, Union, Delaware, Marion and Morrow Counties in quest of seed. He got 200 bushels and tried to prevail upon the farmers to take it and raise a prop of flax. He found the farmers loath to do it, as they claimed that the crop impoverished the land. He succeeded, however, in loaning out some one hundred bushels to the farmers about, and, among others, John Powers, who lived near Scioto. Mr. Powers sowed about ten acres, which yielded twenty-six bushels to the acre. This was a fine yield, and, what was more en'"ouraging, while wheat only brought 50 cents and corn from 16 to 20 cents per bushel, flax brought 62J cents. In the next year, Mr. Bradley easily loaned 400 bushels, and, as a consequence, his business vastly improved. In the winter of 1846, the dam washed out, and, tired of the uncertain power ofi'ered by the river, the factory was transferred to the brick building used afterward by a carriage manufactory. The business was enlarged, and the firm, by the accession of William Davis, Alexander Kilbourn and J. A. Burnham, became Kilbourn, Davis & Co., and, in 1847, added the foundry business. There were several changes in the firm within a few years, resulting in the end in simply replacing Mr. Davis by Mr. John J. Burnham. In 1850, the building was burned, but, with the firm's characteristic energy and enterprise, the order for rebuilding was issued before the fire was out. In 1855, Mr. Kilbourn died, and Messrs. Finch and Lamb were taken into the firm. In this year, there was a separation of the business, the oil enterprise being sold to Manley D. Covell and Edward Pratt, who removed the business to a frame building ^hich stood where the present stone structure stands. It changed hands several times until 1862, when the present owner, Mr. J. A. Barnes, bought the establishment. The business is now carried on in a stone structure 100x54 feet, and is three stories high. The first-story walls are three feet thick, the second, two and one-half feet, and the third, two feet. The motor power is supplied by a forty-five-horse-power engine, manufactured in Delaware, which is placed, with the boilers, in a fire-proof building. ' On the north of the mill is the cooper-shop, a fire-proof building, where the barrels that are used in the business are all made. When the firm added the foundry business to the interests of the firm in 1847, Mr. Bradley and

J. A. Burnham superintended the work and fitted up the building on the corner of Spring and Sandusky streets, used now as a carriage-shop by George A. Hayward. For the first year or two, stoves only were made, but, in 1850, Mr. J. A. Burnham being a practical machinist, the firm determined to engage in the manufacture of steam engines. The first of these built was to the order of Elijah Main, who used it for saw-mill purposes, and was doing duty up to a very late date. The business expanded until, in 1854, finding their old quarters too small to accommodate their business, they erected the large stone structure on Williams street, east of the river, beyond the railroad. In 1860, the establishment was purchased by J. C. Evans and Eugene Powell, but in the following year Mr. Powell sold out his interest to his parf^ ner and went into the army. For ten years the establishment was a scene of busy activity. Some thirteen hundred plows were turned out in a single year, besides engines and horse-powers. A revolving scraper, the invention of the proprietor of the machine works, was largely manufactured, reaching as high as a hundred per week. In 1873, the property was sold to Smith, Wason & Carpenter, carbuilders of Cleveland and Chattanooga, who continued it about a year, when it was closed for lack of business.

The flax-mill, as it is popularly called, is another enterprise that may be said to be due to the old oilmill. In 1855, Messrs. James M. Hawes and D. S. Brigham, from the East, became interested in turning to account the large quantity of flax straw that failed to find a ready market here, and, interesting Judge T. W. Powell in the project, they built a factory 40x50 feet, two stories high, and filled it with machinery for preparing the straw for market. This soon proved unprofitable, as the freights absorbed the whole margin, and, in 1857, the firm put in machinery for the manufacture of cotton baling. This was manufactured with profit until the beginning of the war, when the demand for the article ceased. Judge Powell had withdrawn at the end of the first year, and at this time Mr. Hawes bought out the remaining partner. He then set about at heavy expense to change the whole concern, fitting it for the manufacture of twines, burlaps, woolsacks, and seamless grain bags. In the meanwhile, a stock company was formed under the title of the Delaware Manufacturing Compariy, and in 1863, the large mill was 'erected. This structure was 50x100 feet, two stories high with an attic. A new engine of 125 horse-power was added. At the end of the war, the machinery was again changed for the manufacture of bagging and cotton baling. A warehouse 40x100 feet was added. In 1870, 182 persons were employed, drawing $4,000 per month. In the crash of 1873, the enterprise foundered, and the property has been recently sold to the Delaware Chair Company.

This latter business is a comparatively new enterprise, but one of the most flourishing in the city. It originated in 1870, with Messrs. T. E. Powell, C. W. Clippinger and R. G-. Lybrand. John Gr. Strain, an old chair-maker, interested these gentlemen in the general subject, and, putting up buildings and 'furnishing stock, they put him to work. Mr. Strain did not make it quite as successful as he hoped, but developed the fact that there was a demand for the goods. Mr. R. Gr. Lybrand, who was. engaged in the stove business at the time, gave it -up, and devoted his whole time to the chair factory. Their first building - -a frame structure 28x60 feet - stood on Winter street, east of the river. The first year's business was small, but the Chicago fire, in 1871, made a great demand for all kinds of furniture,. and these chairs rose rapidly in popular favor. Since then, their trade has been steadily increasing, requiring additions to be made to their building in 1872, '73 and '74, until the building, which the Company has recently left, has grown to 74x100 feet, and three stories high. On the 10th of March, the business was transferred to the Flax Mill building, as noted above. The number of hands now employed is 182, requiring a monthly pay-roll of $2,500. Hitherto they have manufactured about 40,000 chairs, annually, but, with increased facilities, , this business will be enlarged. The Company began in the manufacture of the splint chair, but have since adopted the double-caned seat. They were pioneers in the business, and have given the name of "Delaware chair" to all this class of work. The present firm is composed of T. E. Powell, R. Gr. Lybrand, A. Lybrand, Jr., and S. Lybrand - ^the two latter gentlemen taking Mr. Clippinger's place in 1871.

The Delaware Fence Company might more properly be called a general manufacturing company. It was organized in 1868, by A. J. Richards, the inventor, who in that year associated Mr. Eugene Powell with him in the manufacture ofthe fence. In 1879, Mr. Powell, and Cyrus Falconer, Esq., became sole owners of the business; and, in the winter of that year, the Company secured control of Pritchy's patent shifting rail for buggies, J. P. Munz's patent wrought-iron sulky for plowing, cultivating and harrowing, and an improved patent harrow invented by the same gentleman. The articles are all Delaw:are inventions, of which the Fence Company have control. The business is as yet in its infancy, but promises to do a business of $20,000 during the current year.

The Delaware Woolen Mill enterprise was established in 1869, by Messrs. Page & Stevenson, in the upper part of Clippenger & Powell's planingmill. Soon after this, Mr. W. K. Algire bought out Mr. Page's interest, and, in August, 1873, a stock company was forraed, with a capital of $30,- 000. They selected a spot on Union street, and built a brick building 40x90 feet, exclusive 'of boiler, engine and dye rooms, and supplied it with machinery for the manufacture of woolen goods in general. It is not now in operation.

Another manufacturing enterprise of Delaware is the cigar factory of Riddle, Grafi' & Co. The principal members of this firm carried on a cigar business separately for some time, but, in 1866, united their forces, and, in 1870, took in Leroy Battinfield. Their manufactory is located at No. 10 South Sandusky street, where it occupies a substantial iron and stone front building, three stories high, with a frontage of 20 feet, and a depth of 105 feet. The growth of their business has been very rapid, the number of their employes increasing from eight in 1870, to sixty-five at present. They work up about $30,000 worth of leaf, manufacturing about two and a half millions of cigars annually. Their taxes amount to about $15,000, and their annual expenditure for wages to some $18,000. To these more prominent enterprises may be added the usual number of flouring- ' mills, planing-mills and carriage manufactories.

The mercantile business of Delaware presents no remarkable features, and is of the character usually found in school towns of this size. In the early history of the place, the demand of the Indian and frontier trade had a powerful influence in molding its character, and we find almost every branch of trade now here, represented then. There was Shoub, noted for the excellence of his small-beer and gingerbread; William Utter, who refreshed the pioneer in his " tonsorial parlor," on the east side of Sandusky street, between North and Winter ; David Campbell, with his " tin,' copper and sheet-iron factory;" Emanuel Coonrod, the hatter; Williamson & Curtis, tailors; Joseph Mendenhall, the first da- guerreotype aj:tist, with the millers, taDners, carding, fulling and woolen mills, saddlers and harnessmakers, hotel keepers, newspaper publishers, merchants and professional men,who have found mention elsewhere. Beyond the products of her manufactories, Delaware makes no pretensions in the way of a wholesale trade, save a wholesale grocery. The business was established in 1855. All lines of merchandise are well represented in a retail way by good, enterprising men, the dry-goods merchants, merchant tailors and grocers attaining a prominence in numbers, which the educational character of the town explains.

A very important feature of the business of Delaware, which, though placed last in this description, is by no means least in the consideration of the world, and to which much of the city's business prosperity is due, is the ample banking facilities which have been enjoyed from the first. An account of the early efibrts to establish a bank here will be found on another page. There was no decided call for its existence at that time, and it is probable that a bank then might have proved more of a curse than a blessing. Since 1845, there have been ample banking facilities conducted under such a management that while similar institutions were breaking up and paralyzing the business interests of the communities where they were situated, Delaware has proved a notable exception, and this bank, known then as the Delaware Branch of the State Bank of Ohio, has never lost a dollar by bad notes, nor cost its bill-holders a penny from lack of credit. As organized in June, 1845, Hosea Williams was President, B. Powers, Cashier, and Sidney Moore, Teller. This bank was one of eight branch establishments in the State, and had its first place of business in William Little's store. Later a room was fitted up especially for its use in the American House, where it continued business until it took its present apartments. The charter expiring in 1865, the present organization, the Delaware County National Bank, was formed in April of that year, with Hosea Williams, Benjamin Powers, W. D. Heim, Sidney Moore and H. Gt. Andrews as Directors.

The First National Bank began its existence under the free- banking system of Ohio in 1857, through the instrumentality of very much the same men who stood sponsors for the one just noticed. P. D. Hillyer was the first President, and C. Powers, Cashier. It started in the American House, and continued until January 1, 1866, when it removed to a building a few doors below the hotel, which had been erected for the purpose during the previous fall. On January 16, 1864, the bank was re-orjianized under the national banking system with Benjamin Powers as Presinent, and W. B. Moore as Cashier. Mr. Powers has recently resigned the responsible position of President on account of advancing years, and has been succeeded by Cary Paul, Esq.

The Deposit Banking Company was organized December 1, 1867, with a capital of $25,000; H. W. Pumphrey, President, and H. A. Welch, Cashier. The business is growing and prospr rous.

The later growth of the city is difficult to meas ure, in the absence of annual directories, but a painstaking article, which appeared in the Gazette of July 26, 1872, may be valuable as a means by which to make an approximate estimate. The number of buildings is put at 1,289, of which 786 were wooden, 488 were brick, and 16 were stone. Of these - and the remaining 215 are scattered over Euclid, Louis, Campbell, Elizabeth, Catherine, Cherry, Estetla, Little, Richardson, Frank, Branch, Fair, Ann, Berlin, State, Channing, Wade, Waldo, Hammond, ' Parker, East, Olentangy, Webb, Janus, Blymyer, Grace, Grant, Griswold, Harrison, Chamberlain, Reid, Half, Oak, Vine, Berkshire, Rheem and High streets.

During the early history of Delaware as a village, every citizen was a member of the fire department. At the first alarm every one rushed out with pail in hand to the scene of action, and so efi'ective did they prove that but two or three fires of any importance occurred during the first twentyfive years of the town's existence. As the town became more thickly settled, there was a growing apprehension, on the part of the citizens, that these primitive measures would, sooner or later, prove an insufficient protection, and the Council, through . the columns of the Patron, called a meeting of the citizens at the court house, to consider the question of purchasing a fire engine. This meeting was called June 17, 1831, but the village, with its proverbial deliberation, did not secure these safeguards until 1834. The engines procured were small, rectangular boxes, with a pump worked by levers, at which four men, by crowding, could find room to work. They were mounted on very small wheels, but, in case of necessity, two men could lift them by the handles provided for the purpose, and place them where they chose. It is related that Thespian Hall once took fire, and the flames, breaking through the roof, were rapidly getting beyond control, when one of the engines was quickly unshipped and carried up the stairs, which were built outside' the building, within easy reach of the flames, which were quickly subdued. The department was well supplied with pails, and two lines of men were formed from the water supply to the engine, and thus passed along the water and returned the empty pails. In October of this year, the Council devised a plan for the organization of a fire department, which for years operated these hand engines. The town was divided by Winter street into two districts ; the north one was known as No. 1, and the south one as No. 2. In each of these districts a company, consisting of a Captain, one or two subordinate officers, and twenty-five men, was organized ; Henry Moore being Captain in District No. 1, and Edward Potter, a tailor, Captain in the other district. The Captain of the first engine on the ground, at any fire, took command of the whole department, a regulation which added a strong incentive to prompt action on the occasion of an alarm. Four wells were constructed for the use of the department, and supplied with pumps ; one at the junction of North and Sandusky streets, one at the junction of Winter and Sandusky streets, ' another at the junction of Williams and Sandusky streets, and the fourth at the junction of Winter and Washington streets. In the meanwhile, it was made the duty of the Captains of the respective companies to house and take care of the engines belonging to their company. In 1838, the Council decided to build two engine-houses, and secured a site on William Hansen's lot, on the southwest corner of Williams and Sandusky streets, for one, and on the court-house lot for the other. It was late in 1839, however, before they were completed, and they cost the corporation, exclusive of painting, $57.45. The town soon outgrew the capacity of these small engines, and, in 1846, the Council purchased a larger hand-engine, selling afterward these smaller ones ; one of which is yet to be seen in. Mr. Anthoni's brewery. The engine purchased was one of Hunneman's patent, for which they paid $675. In the bill we find enumerated in addition, one long and two short pipes, six torches, with handles, one signal lantern, one bell and irons to engine, 300 feet of leading hose, twelve pairs of brass coupling, and two boxes of packing, bringing the whole amount up to the sum of $978.50.

In submitting this statement, the committee of the Council add, " One-half of the amount we paid out of the engine-ftind, the balance we gave a town order for, due six months from the 23d of last October, payable at the Delaware Bank with the current rate of exchange. The transportation from Boston here on the engine, hose, etc., amounted to $86.01 ; a part of the amount was paid out of the engine-fund, the balance was advanced by Mr. Latimer; for the same he has received an order on the Treasurer. We also got the engine insured in Columbus, for which we paid $9.12 ; the same was included in Mr. Latimer's account." At the same time, the Council provided a hose-reel and hook and ladder truck, with ladders, pikes, hooks, and spanners, at a cost of $147.58. So large an addition to the department necessitated the providing of new accommodations, and the west end of the Williams street marketr-house was fitted up for that purpose. A re-organization of the companies took place, and a Fire Association was formed, consisting of the company organized to take charge of the new engine, called the Olentangy Engine Company, the Neptune Hose Company, the Rough and Ready Hook and Ladder Company, and the Protection Company, which still worked one of the smaller hand engines. Besides the company officers, there was a Chief Engineer and two Assistant Engineers. The Protection Company soon gave up its organization. Later, the different companies joined together for a festival to raise funds for uniforms, with what result the foUpwing report of the committee having the matter in charge will show. They say, "the engine Olentangy and hose cart Neptune were taken to Templar hall, and by the ladies beautiftiUy decorated with evergreens and flowers. The tables were most bountiftilly spread with ' good things,' and, with the aid of the Delaware String Band and vocal performers who kindly volunteered their services, the occasion passed off pleasantly and satisfactorily to the citizens and firemen." The net receipts of the entertainment were $199, which was divided among the various companies for the purpose for which it was raised. These festivals were of frequent occurrence aflerward, and were equally pleasant and profitable. Early in 1856, the Fire Association expressed their opinion through a committee, that the safety of th^ town required the addition of another engine to their force. At this suggestion, another company was formed called the Washington Fire Company No. 2, which was supplied with an engine and hose-reel in the October following. This machine was bought from Hunneman & Co., of Boston, and was designated on the bill as a fire engine with five-inch cylinders, vacuum chambers to the suction part, with four- sections of suctionhose, copper strainer, wood-saddle, torches, axes, etc., costing $1,184.88, with the freight, $136.58 additional. In the meanwhile, the Council had been considering the question of building two engine-houses to accommodate the two machines. By March, 1857, there were two substantial brick structures, one on the corner of the parade ground, still standing, and one on the corner of Franklin and North streets, which has since been torn down, built at a cost of some fifteen hundred dollars. This suflBced for the needs of the city for seven years, when the east part of the town put in a claim for an engine company. In response to this call, the Council in 1864, bought of the city of Cleveland, a second-hand engine at a cost of $800, and A company was formed to man it. This was but part of the work to be done, and the company began to talk seriously of disbanding before the Council got ready to build a house for their accommodation. They began to erect an engine-house early in 1868, and by the 1st of August it was ready for the company, costing the village the sum . of $3,294.76. The town had thus three service- ' able engines, three hose-reels, a hook and ladder wagon, and companies to operate them. But there was something more needed to make them effective, which we gather from a report of the Chief Engineer on February 1, 1869. There was but 1,700 feet of hose, 400 feet of which had become unreliable on account of its long use, and 500 feet was rubber. There was a scarcity of water available for the use of engines, a large part of the town being dependent upon private wells and cisterns, a very poor reliance in time of fire. There were but nine public cisterns, and they were many of them in poor condition. The engineer asked for a new wagon for the hooks and ladders, and a bell for the enginehouse east of the river. In the following year, a new element was introduced in the fire department, which has worked a wonderful change. On December 15, 1870, the city bought a brass-plated Silsby Rotary Engine of the third size, and the old market-house was fitted up for its receptioii. A team was bought, and Greorge H. Aigin appointed engineer. In 1874, another Silsby Rotary Engine was bought, a nickel-plated machine of the second size. Aigin was transferred to the new enginfe, which was named the W. E. Mooore, No. 2, and W. E. Kruck was appointed engineer of the first engine bought, the Delaware No. 1. Hitherto the hose reels had been managed by volunteer companies, but in this year, a horse hose-reel was bought which displaced the old force. In 1876, the hook and ladder wagon was fitted for horse-power, and the whole^fire department was put on a first>class basis. The old shed on the east side of the market-house was inclosed for the hook and ladder, the engines were put in front part of the main buUding, while the horses were comfortably housed in the rear of the machines. The department is composed of seventeen men, six with the hose-reels, six with the hook and ladder truck, and the rest with the engines, save the Chief who manages the whole. The annual appropriation is $3,500, out of which, besides the expenses of teams, etc., are paid yearly, salaries to two engineers and two drivers, the others receiving 50 cents per hour of service. This small complement of men is made to serve the apparatus by the engineer of the Delaware No. 1, acting as the driver of one of the reels. There are but four horses, two for the engine, one for the hose reel, and one for the ladder wagon. The whole apparatus is in one building, and, in case of necessity, the team is sent back for the second engine, and the ladder team goes after the other hose-reel, and the second engineer takes charge of his engine. There is no code of signals, and the alarm is given by the usual outcry when the bells tap the number of the ward. The department have two engines, two hose-reels, a hook and ladder wagon, one hand engine in good repair, and 4,D00 feet of fabric hose. Four men are constantly on duty, and the department is furnished with all the conveniences of such establishments in cities. The teams are well trained, the engines are supplied with the Dayton Champion swinging harness, fire torches, etc. The water facilities seem to be unexcelled for a place where the only dependence is upon local reservoirs. There are fourteen cisterns, with a capacity of from 260 to 1,200 barrels each. There are two reservoirs made by damming Delaware Run ; one on Washington street, 30x60 feet by 3 feet deep, the other on Main street, 25x30 feet and 18 inches deep, which may be re-enforced from that on Washington street, if desired. Near the dam are two large stone reservoirs, fed by the river, which are practically inexhaustible. Since the re-organization of the department, in 1874, there has been an average of a httle over eleven fires per year, with an average of about three false alarms. The department, by its promptness and efficiency, has now the respect of insurance men, and, during the six years of its present efficiency, there have been no serious losses which better management of the department could have saved. In 1871, at the burning of the flax-mill, east of the river, the engines were on the ground ready for work in thirteen minutes, which speaks well for their drill. Their present officers are : Chief Engineer, William J. Davis ; Captain of the Hose, Daniel Jones ; Captain of the Hooks, C. V. Owston ; Engineer of the W. E. Moore, No. 2, Greorge H. Aigin ; Engineer of the Delaware No. 1, W. E. Kruck ; Driver of Engine, Jackson Cunningham ; Driver of Hose, Walter F. Watson.

In the original plan of the town, the square bounded by North, Sandusky, Winter and Franklin streets, was set off for church purposes, including the cemetery. It was subsequently vacated, and property in various parts of the town was given to different churches. A few graves, in the meanwhile, were made in what is now known as the Court House Square, but then known as Brier Hill. April 4, 1811, a part of Lot No. 5, situated on the southeast corner of North and Sandusky streets, was sold to the Trustees as a buryingground for the consideration of $50. The boundaries began at the northwest corner of the lot, thence one and one-half rods south, thence east seventeen rods, thence south six rods, thence east eighteen rods, and thence north seven and one-half rods to the street, incliiding an acre of ground. This was not used, however, for this purpose, as the Trustees bought a plat of one acre of Dr. Lamb, situated east of Henry street, where the railroad now passes. This began to be used as early as 1812, and, the following winter and spring, numbers of soldiers were buried there. Many of the old settlers were buried there without anything to mark their graves, and the place of their burial was long ago lost. In excavating for the railroad, all vestiges of remains were taken up and re-buried in the later cemetery just north of the old one; and it is related that among others was found the remains of a military officer so well preserved that his rank was identified by his clothes. The place had long since been left to nature, and what Trowbridge has said of another cemetery, may with peculiar fitness be said of this :

About 1820, some two acres of ground was secured east of Henry street, adjoining the old cemetery on the north, and, with later additions, it has increased, until now it borders on the run. This was bought by an association, whp paid for it by buying the burying-lots. In 1850, it became evident that more room and better facilities niust be had for this purpose, and a committee was appointed by a meeting called for that purpose, to investigate the subject. The report of this committee was made to a meeting held in the court house June 29, 1850, and was written by the Chairman, Dr. R. Hills. It shows the marks of patient investigation, and we quote the historical part of it as the best evidence on the subject extant: "The old ground (the one of 1820), originally appropriated, consisting of about two acres, has long since been taken up, and the only extension since made has been that of a few lots on the north from the private grounds of Mr. Chamberlain, and of about two acres on the south from the lands of Dr. Reuben Lamb. These .extensions have all been made, and the lots been laid off and sold, by the aforesaid private owners. It is ascertained that all the land thus appropriated has been taken up, with the exception of three or four lots. It is ascertained, also, that in the indosure of Dr. Lamb, immediately adjoining the burial ground south, about midway between the road and the river, and about six rods south of the present burial ground, there is an old burying-ground (the one of 1812), of rectangular form, which, with an alley of one and one-half rods in width running out to the road, amounts to one acre. The ownership of this ground is vested in Delaware Township, and a deed to the Trustees, duly recorded, is now in the possession of Dr. Lamb. This ground, thickly populated with the dead, is uninclosed.

separately, and is now, and for many years has been, used by Dr. Lamb (in connection with the surrounding grounds), as a meadow and pasturage. The monuments in this ground are all broken down, and, with the exception of three, are completely defaced and obliterated. It is not long since one of your committee found the widow of one of our earliest citizens [probably ^Irs. Joab Norton], seeking in yain in this pasture for the grave of her husband.

' ' The other grounds' are very imperfectly inclosed, in part by a common board fence, and partly by a low, dilapidated rail fence. The condition of the gTound itself is deplorable. Many of the monuments, for the want of a little care, are broken and defaced and greatly obliterated, and much the larger portion of the whole are leaning from an upright position, in all directions and in all degrees. In the original grounds there was a straight carriage road running through the middle from west to east, and narrow foot-alleys through the rest of the grounds, but it would require a surveyor with compass and chain to find their locations; and your committee ai-e informed that in the additions on the south, the lots are so carelessly laid off, that instead of having alleys, the lots in some instances are lapping on each other. In addition to these facts, it is evident to any who visit the. grounds, that, either by authority or without it, hogs and cattle have been permitted to trample upon and root up these homes of the dead to an extent shameful to the living. It is evident to your committee that two things have become absolutely and essentially necessary. First, the preservation of the old grounds in at least a respectably decent condition ; and, second, the purchase or appropriation of more burying-ground either here or elsewhere." This report was accepted and practically adopted. The old ground has been surrounded by a neat fence, and the whole bears a well-kept appearance. On July 13, 1850, a joint-stock company was formed, and, later, the KUbourn farm of fifty acres, just south of town, was bought, and named the Oak Grove Cemetery. On July 24, 1851, the dedicatory exercises were held, when the following programme of exercises was presented: Invocation, by Rev. Henry Van Deman; music, original ode, by B. F. Gushing ; reading Scriptures, by W. C. French ; prayer, by Rev. Dr. Thomson; music, original ode by Dr. R. Hills : preliminary address, by Dr. R. Hills, President of the Association; dedicatory address, by Prof. F. Merrick ; music, original ode by J. Larimore ; benediction, by Rev. E. H. Pilcher.

The grounds thus dedicated lie one mile south of the central part of the village, on the west side of the turnpike. It is nearly square in shape, being eighty rods on the road by one hundred east and west. About one-half has been cleared off, and has been cultivated ; the rest is in its natural state, save where the hand of art has removed the signs of natural decay. The surface is undulating, abounding in situations, which are being admirably improved for the purpose to which it has been devoted, while through the northern portion runs a little rivulet which passes through the entire length of the grounds from west to east, reaching out its branches into all parts of the tract. The grounds were transferred to the city in 1862, and are now cared for by a special tax, as are the other departments of the city. The appropriation is quite generous, which, expended by good taste, has rendered Oak Grove Cemetery a place where the last earthly home of loved ones may be made in " a sweet, secluded spot, where the green lawn beneath the sylvan oak or spreading elm, the cool shade, the rippling water and the rustling leaves, the cheerful song of the wild bird, and all the Toices of nature in her own beautiful home, conspire to render it a place where all may refresh wearied nature, and find food for profitable meditation." The scene, on a lovely summer's day, is fit to inspire in every heart the sentiment expressed in the closing ode of the dedicatory exercises :