Fulton County, Ohio - Chapter 7: Politics and Official Honors, 1905

Chapter 7: Politics and Official Honors

FULTON County was organized at a time (1850) when public sentiment was rapidly crystalizing and the lines were being sharply drawn upon the great issue of slavery extension, and but two years after the remarkable Presidential contest had occurred between Cass and Taylor. About 1834, all that were opposed to the Democratic party formed a coalition under the party name of . Whig, and under this banner fought their battles until 1854, when a fusion between the Free-Soilers and Know-Nothings was made, and both elements combined Under the name of Republican. There existed, however, during many years, in the region now embraced in Fulton county, a small but brave and earnest body of Abolitionists, who were denounced and persecuted by both Democrats and Whigs, members of these organizations vying with each other in making assaults upon "the incendiary Abolitionist.? But it was only upon this common ground that the two powerful parties would make common warfare. Members thereof were pleased to call themselves "conservative? men, who deemed it their duty to thus emphasize their dislike of the fanatics who were advocating the abolition of slavery. The men of that day decried such agitation, because, they said, "it disturbed business interests." They were the psychological ancestors of those vainglorious men of today, who oppose every measure of reform that appears abstruse to their benighted reasoning powers. Dear "conservative" reader: Was the Emancipation Proclamation the culminating achievement of this Christian civilization, and were the enemies of human progress all slain when the Demon of Slavery perished? If not, then it is your duty to study proposed reform measures ; and in the conflict of opinion your weapons should bje reason and logic, not sneers and vituperation.

But this is a digression, arid we will return to the proper subject. Owing to the records of the county having been destroyed by fire, in 1864, we are unable to give the returns of the early elections held in Fulton county; but since its formation, in 1854, the Republican party has been constantly in the ascendancy, and what local successes the Democracy has met with has been due to the generosity of its individual opponents and the unpopularity of opposing candidates. In 1855, at the October election,. Salmon P. Chase carried the county and the Republican ticket was elected, and this was probably the first instance iirthe political history of Fulton county where the regular nominees of the Democratic party had been entirely overthrown in a strictly party cbntest But after the election of 1852, the very name and machinery of the Whig party had passed out of existence and practically all elements had been united in opposition to the Democracy. In 1856; Fulton county gave a heavy vote for the Republican ticket, increasing the party vote of the year before and the majority over the opposition. The contest of i860 terminated the "irrepressible conflict" between the Free and Slave States, as Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward had declared several years previously that it was destined to become, and so far as law could make it so, placed the former master and slave upon terms of civil equality. Fulton county very largely increased her Republican vote and gave to Mr. Lincoln a large majority.

There probably never occurred an election in Ohio that produced a higher degree of excitement within the State, or a more profound interest abroad, than the memorable campaign of 1863. , Since the opening of the war in 1861, there had occurred no conflict that would bear comparison, in the intensity of feeling it produced, with this one. After the close of the polls, on October 13, results were rapidly received and transmitted, and the governor-elect being then a resident of Cleveland, was, near 12 o'clock at night, in possession of sufficient returns to authorize him to transmit a dispatch to Edwin M. Stanton, then Secretary of War, that the entire Republican State ticket in Ohio had been elected by a majority of about one hundred thousand.

Since the civil war period, as well as for several years before, Fulton county has been reliably Republican, and the only question has been in regard to the size of the majority. It reached low water mark in 1896, when Mr. McKinley received a vote of 3,227, and Mr. Bryan received 2,460, a Republican majority of 767. In that campaign, Mr. Bryan's wonderful personality, magnetic force and matchless oratory, contending for a platform of principles that was unequivocal in meaning and clear in expression, succeeded in arousing an interest in political affairs to an extent seldom if ever witnessed before. In Fulton county every district school house became a political forum, and interest in everything else waned while the "Battle of the Standards" was in progress. The large vote given to Mr. Bryan, under the circumstances, was considered a great achievement by his followers. In 1904, however, high water mark was reached, and Roosevelt (Rep.) 'received 3,593 votes, while Parker (Dem.) received 1448.' These figures represent the largest vote and majority ever given to a political party in Fulton county. But, though there can be no doubt that the Republicans have a large majority in the county, the Presidential election of 1904 is not a fair criterion by which to judge its size. It is .hut stating a truth in history to say that Mr. Parker was not a popular candidate with the "rank and file" of the Democratic party, and especially was this true after he expressed his views on the coinage question. With such an independent character as Mr. Roosevelt in the Add, many Democrats considered it an opportune time to consign Mr. Parker, "irrevocably," to the shades of political oblivion. But, notwithstanding the great majority for Roosevelt in 1904, at the State

In local and State affairs, however, an independent spirit has been manifested more or less ever since die close of the civil war. The voters of the county have been generally given to "scratching" their tickets, and it has been difficult to estimate results, particularly as regards candidates for county offices, until the votes have been cast and counted ; and members of the minority party have frequently been the incumbents of official positions. The first political convention of which there is any account, was composed of people of both political parties, and met in convention at the house of Daniel Knowls, in Pike township, about die last of March, 1850, for the purpose of nominating candidates for the official positions in the newly-erected county, which positions were to be filled at the ensuing April elections. This convention' was not fully characterized for harmony of purpose, but in consequence of the weakness of the then old Whig party, and its inability to succeed in the election of a party ticket, the members thereof quietly submitted to a portion of the choice of said convention. The successful ones at this convention were Mortimer D. Hibbard of Dover, for auditor ; George B. Brown of Royalton, sheriff f C. C. Allman of Delta, recorder ; Nathaniel Leggett of Swan Creek, treasurer ; William Sutton of Gorham, Christopher Watkins of Fulton, and Jonathan Barnes, commissioners. These gentlemen were <ktly elected and qualified as officers of the new county, severally entering upon the duties of their respective positions. Nathaniel Leggett of Swan Creek, John Kendall of Franklin, and Alfred C. Hough of Chesterfield were chosen the first associate judges, but Mr. Leggett refused to serve, and Socrates H. Cately of Swan Creek was appointed to fill the position. Samuel Durgin wa9 appointed clerk, and John A. Read prosecuting attorney; and in the fall of 1850, Alfred C. Hough was elected to the auditor's office and resigned the judgeship, William E. Parmalee of Chesterfield, and A. M. Flickinger of Gorham, in turn filling the latter office successfully until the change of the Constitution of the State, in 1851.

- The writer has attempted to perfect art official list of Fulton county, including National, State and County officers, from the organization of the county to 1905, and also to include with the list biographical matter concerning some of the gentleman who have borne the official honors. In some instances the favored ones have passed away, leaving-neither "kith or kin" to preserve their record, while .in others, either - from churlishness, cupidity, ignorance or some other cause, those who could have done so have manifested no disposition to furnish. the required information. Notwithstanding these difficulties considerable information is here presented, concerning residents of Fulton county who have borne official honors. For court judges and officers, see chapter on Bench and Bar ; and the biographical department of this woric also Contains additional information.

Politics' Amd Official Hono&8

Levi Walter Brown was born in Franklin township, Fulton county, December 21, 1841. He was reared on his father's farm, where he worked during the spring and summer, and attended school -in die winter, until he became eighteen years of age. He then commenced teaching in season, and was thus engaged, alternating between the farm and die school-room, for a period of about four years. At die age of twenty-five, having accumulated a small sum of money, the result. of his industry, he embarked' in the mercantile business at Elmira, Fulton county, having a small stock at the outset, but gradually enlarging it as his means permitted and the increasing trade required, until he became known as one of die most successful and reliable country merchants of the county. He continued his mercantile life until about 1872, when he sold out and moved to the farm of his parents, they then being in impaired health and strength on account of their advanced years. He continued his residence on the farm until February, 1879, when he removed to Wauseon to assume the office of probate judge. While he subsequently took a very active interest in political affairs, he did not become so engaged to any considerable extent prior to his advancement to this position. Taking his seat as probate judge, in February, 1879, he was twice re-elected, and soon became one of the acknowledged leaders of the Republican party in the county, his ability as an organizer also making him a prominent figure in the politics of the State. In 1886 he was a candidate for the nomination for the office of representative in Congress, but was defeated in the nominating convention, the late Hbn. M. M. BOothman of Williams county, being the successful aspirant. In the year 1887, Judge Brown was made chairman of the Republican State. Central Committee, a position that called forth his greatest effort as an organizer. He also took an active part in the organization of the National Republican League, and was a delegate in attendance, and member of the executive committee, representing Ohio in the first national convention held in New York City, December 15, 1887. His services in behalf of the Republican party Were recognized by President Harrison, who appointed Judge Brown to the position of Consul to' Glasgow, Scotland, a place he filled with credit to hhhself and honor to the country he represented. Being relieved from duty at that post by the change in national administration, he returned to his home in Wauseon and still con- ;tinued his great interest in public affairs. Hebecame a close student of economic questions and was a leading advocate of the free coinage of silver during the discussion of that question a few years ago. His convictions upon the subject of finance caused him to sever the political relations of a lifetime; and in the campaign 'of 1896 he boldly advocated the election of Mr. Brjrah to . the Presidency1. He continued to reside in Wauseon hhtiSi904, when ill health compelled a change Of climate and he removed to North CaroIinV^here he niofw resideSj to a cadetship in the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1864, but resigned two years later and began to read law. He was t admitted to the bar in 1868, but continued as a student until 1869, * when, on June 10, he settled in Fulton county, at Ottokee, for a short time and then at Wauseon (coming from Celina), and began the practice of his profession. He was originally a rabid Democrat, of the type called "Copperhead" during the civil war and for some years after, but he changed his allegiance and was elected prosecuting attorney in 1871 by the Republicans, serving until 1876, and was also a delegate to the convention at Chicago which nominated Garfield for President. He served as city solicitor of Wauseon for three terms and filled other local offices. During his first administration, President McKinley appointed Mr. Touvelle to the position of Consul to Belfast, Ireland. He filled the position for about seven years, when, owing to ill health, he returned home and later resigned the office. He died at his residence in Wauseon, November 10, 1904.

Assistant Secretary of Agriculture . - Joseph H. Brigham, a history of whose public services is given in the biographical department of this work.

Dresden Winfield Huston Howard was born in the village of Dresden, on the east bank of Seneca Lake, Yates county, New York, November 3, 1817. In 1821, then being but four years old, with his parents and other relatives he, came to the Maumee country. They came by wagons to Buffalo, where the party divided, a portion taking passage on the thirty-ton schooner Eagle, while the balance continued the wagon journey overland. After an unpleasant voyage of eight days, the schooner arrived under the picketed walls of Fort Meigs on the evening of June 17. The land party were some weeks on the road before they reached their destination - the Maumee. It was the intention of these families to go to the new settlement at Ann Arbor, but the fatigue of the long journey and the dread on the part of the women to enter the dark and seemingly interminable forests, changed their plan, and they were easily persuaded by the few white settlers to remain on the murky waters of the "Miami of the Lakes," and they were soon provided with small log cabins and a few acres of cleared land on the river flats, on which they planted corn, potatoes, and other necessary earth products. During the next summer, lands were purchased on the right bank of the river, at the head of the rapids, or at Grand Rapids, as it is more commonly known. Here three log cabins were built for the accommodation of the families, and to which they moved in March, 1823. On the opposite side of* the river was the Ottawa Indian village of between one and two thousand people, and the Indian children of the village were soon the companions and playmates of Dresden Howard, thus enabling him to soon learn to speak their simple language His association with them became so friendly and intimate that he as often slept in their wigwams, on their beds of blankets and skins, as in the comfortable cabin of his parents. His good mother was in a state of almost constant anxiety for the safety of her son in the camp of the dreaded Indian ; but the boy soon learned to love the free, wild life in the woods, under no restraint. The Presbytery of Massachussets had established an Indian mission (church and school) at a point eight miles down the river from the Howard cabin, and there Dresden attended school from the age of six to nine years, and, other than this, the days of youth and boyhood gave him but little chance for an education at school. Before he was ten years old, young Howard was taken from school and put at work far too important for one of his years. According to his father's idea, the life of an Indian fur trader was the best for his son, and therefore he was hired out to a merchant in the Indian trade, with the limited knowledge of the business which he had acquired in his father's little store of Indian goods. But the boy soon became an expert, and knew the value of all the articles of trade, accurately judging the quality and value of skins and furs brought into market by the Indians and the few white hunters of the region. These accomplishments, for such were they then considered, together with the understanding of the Indian languages which he possessed, made him an exceedingly valuable employe, so that at the age of fifteen he had a safe passport into any of the fur trading establishments of the country. In the early summer of 1827 or 1828, a young Howard accompanied Benjamin F. Hollister with a pack "train of horses laden with goods for the Indian trade, on a journey to the "treaty grounds,'' on the shores of Lake Michigan, near the mouth of the Chicago river (now the site of the great western metropolis), where were gathered the various tribes - the Fottawatamies, the Sacs, the Foxes and the Winnebagoes - who were met in council with agents of the government for the purpose of treating upon various subjects. During the summer of 1831, young Howard's father sent him on an expedition down the Wabash river, thence through to the Mississippi, for the purpose of locating bounty lands, to which the father was entitled as a veteran of the war of 1812-15. For this purpose our young hero - for such he was, being but fourteen years old at that time - was fully equipped and fully authorized to act On this journey his route lay up the Maumee by boat with some French "freighters," thence down the Wabash, on the back of an Indian pony purchased at Fort Wayne, to the old trading post at Terre Haute, and thence across the prairie to the Mississippi. In the summer and# fall of 1832 was commenced the removal of the Indians from this section, the last of them making the journey west in 1838. Mr. Howard prepared to follow them, in 1840, taking a large stock of goods for the fur trade. He ascended the Missouri as far as Fort Leavenworth, where, in consequence of the shallowness of the river, he disembarked, procured freight wagons with eighty mules and Spanish drivers, and followed the land trail up the river. One incident which occurred during this trip is deserving of mention in a chap* ter devoted to political affairs. It occurred on the day of the Presidential election, in 1840. There was gathered under a large cottonwood tree a party of ten or twelve traders, trappers and hunters of the region, among them Mr. Howard, for the purpose of holding an election for president. General William Henry Harrison seems to have been the unanimous choice of this small assemblage. The oldest trapper was chosen chairman and the youngest trader secretary of the meeting, this .latter calling into requisition the services of Mr. Howard who kept the poll on a piece of paper torn

United States." This was the first vote of Mr. Howard for a presidential candidate, and it may be remarked that the meeting was held near the ruins of old Fort Calhoun, beyond the jurisdiction of state or territorial government. The first public station to which Mr. Howard was called, was an appointment by the State Legislature, as commissioner, or one of the commissioners, to locate and construct a turnpike from Fort Meigs to Fort Wayne, or to the Indiana State line. This was about the yfear 1843. I® 1870, he was elected a member of the State Board of Equalization for the real estate of Ohio. Then, in 1871, he was elected to represent his district as senator in the Legislature of the State; and, in April, 1887, he was appointed by Governor Foraker, to the board of trustees of the asylum for insane persons at Toledo. These were the leading positions to which Mr. Howard was called ; but he was identified as prominently with the growth and development of Fulton county and Northwestern Ohio as any resident within its borders.

Immediately following the formation of Fulton county, Lucius H. Upham located at Delta and opened a law office. He was then in the prime of life, living been born in i8p8, in Windsor county, Vermont, and receiving a thorough preliminary education for the active business of^Efe at Chester Institute, in his native county. He then came to-rOhio and located and lived for several years at Wooster, Wayne 'county, and, in 1841, began studying law with Judge Levi Cox. In 1843, Mr. Upham was admitted to the bar, and for the first six years thereafter practiced his profession at Wooster, from which place he removed to Fulton county. Mr. Upham, Ra C Common and Amos Hill became citizens of the county aboi foj$ke same time. In 1856, Mr. Upham took his seat as a member of the legislature of Ohio, and served one term in the House of Representatives thereof, his constituency being the counties of Lucas and Fulton.

Octavius Waters was of English birth, but left the land of his nativity to become a sailor at the age of fifteen years. He received his education .at an institution called Guy's Academy, in Worcestershire. During his career as a sailor he visited many portions of the globe, landing finally at New York city, in 1844. Immediately thereafter he came to Ohio and located in Wood county, where be engaged in the work of the Christian ministry, and for several years was known as a devoted and eloquent Methodist clergyman. In 1851, he located in Fulton county, and engaged for a short time in mercantile pursuits at the village of Delta. Occupying all his leisure time for the next five years in legal study, in 1856 he was admitted to the bar, and at once began practicing law at Delta, at that time* the most enterprising and populous place in the county. He was prosecuting attorney of Fulton county for two terms, and a representative for one term in the Fifty-sixth general assembly of Ohio, and served as a Presidential elector at the elections 6f Grant and Garfield to the Presidency. At the date of his death, which occurred at Delta, he was sixty-four years old. Mr. Waters was very prominent as a Mason, and as a Republican politician.

On June 10, 1850, within a few months after the legal creation of the county, Hon. Amos Hill became one of its residents, and immediately opened a law office He was a native of Stark county, . Ohio, and was born April 4, 1824. Early in life he removed with his parents to Williams county, where he grew to young manhood on a farm, receiving in the meantime a good common school education,' and teaching school for a brief period. He studied law with the late Hon. S. E. Blakeslee, at Bryan, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar a few months previous to his settlement in Fulton county. He resided at Ottokee, the county seat, until 1870, when he removed to Wauseon, whither the seat of Justice had just previously been removed. For the first twenty years of his practice he was recognized among the very foremost of the attorneys of the Fulton county bar. In 1867 he was elected to represent Fulton county in the House of Representatives of Ohio, where he served this constituents with fidelity and ability for four years, having . been re-elected in 1869.

John Fenton, who represented Fulton county in the Ohio legislature of 1876, and also officiated as justice of the peace of Fulton township for a period of twelve years, was born in Scotland of Irish parents, in 1825. He was a sucessful farmer and a publicspirited citizen.

I Recorders. - The following occupants of this office are given in the order of their service: C. C. Allman, Joseph Jewell, S. B. Darby, R. H. Howard,. J. K. Newcomer, W; H. Stevens, Jr., Richard Tay- I tor, Albert S. Bloomer, Harrison E. Randall, A. M. Lee, George i Lee, H. E. Prentiss and Frank W. Zerman.

Samuel B. Darby, who was the third man to fill the position of Recorder of Fulton county, was one of the early pioneers. He was born in Rutland county, Vermont, May 28, 1807, and with his parents removed to Allegheny county, New York, in April, 1809. There he grew to manhood and began the life of a farmer, but, in the fall of 1836, sold his farm and removed west. He entered forty acres on the banks of the Tiffin river, where he lived the remainder of his life, in what was then Lucas county, but which was after* wards made a part of Fulton county. On February 15, 1838, he arrived with his family to take possession of their new home. His possessions were a wife and three children, two pairs of oxen and a wagon, one dollar and seventy-five cents in money and a little provision, with the sheltered side of a stump for a habitation. The country was low, wet and yet destitute of pure water - "water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink/' For neighbors it gave them plenty of Indians, and offered plenty of game, such as bears, wolves, turkeys, deer, etc. Mr. Darby shook his head and thought it looked forbidding, but Mrs. Darby was full of hope ; so with stout hearts they pitched their tent and began pioneer life, disposed of one pair of oxen, replenished the stock of provisions, built a cabin home, opened up the woods and looked hopefully toward the future. The following winter, Mr. Darby and a few neighbors built a small school house and Mr. Darby taught, the winter school numbering twelve pupils. He was the first postmaster in the county, his office being on a mail route from Defiance to Medina, Michigan. German township was organized in 1840, and Mr. Darby was elected township clerk, soon afterward justice of the peace, which office he filled the greater part of the remainder of his life, with the exception of three years when he was county recorder.

Richard Taylor was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, July I, 1838, and settled with his parents in Fulton county, Ohio, in 1843. He was elected county recorder in 1872.

County Commissioners. - The record of the proceedings of the board of commissioners properly begins with the June term, 1850, when the first meeting was held after the organization of the county, but owing to the records having been destroyed when the court house was burned, in 1864, it is impossible to give the dates of the election of the gentlemen who were members of the board prior to that time. However, the names of the commissioners are here given, with the year in which each was inducted into office, since 1864. In 1850, the first board was composed of Christopher Watkins, William Sutton and Jonathan Barnes. Then followed Warren McCutchen, Stephen Houghton, E. Masters, George Taft, Joel Brigham, James Cornell, William Dye, Henry Jordon, and

William Sutton, a member of the first board of commissioners of Fulton county, was born, May 2, 1808, in Seneca county. New York, and after reaching manhood lived in Ontario county of the Same State until 1835, when he removed to Morenci, Michigan, and engaged in the hotel business. He purchased a farm of 320 acres in Fulton county, and in 1838, removed thereon, where he resided until 1868, when he removed back to Michigan. Mr. Sutton's general business during life was farming, but he was also a firstclass carpenter ; and when he first came West he was engaged as agent for selling lands by different companies, and was also employed as agent for fine wool sheep. In these occupations he traveled all through the northern and western States.

James Cornell was born in New Jersey and settled in Fulton county in 1839. He was one of the early county commissioners and served in that capacity three terms.

Abraham B. Thompson was bom in Lincolnshire, England, March 5, 1831. When he was but three months old his mother died, and about a year later his father left England and migrated to the United States, leaving three small children entirely dependent upon the kind charity of relatives. The father did not return to England until the year 1848, and at that time Abraham was seventeen years old. Upon the return trip to America he accompanied his father, and they came to Royal ton township, Fulton county, where the son lived until he attained his majority, and then started out determined to work his own way in life, and, above all other considerations, to acquire, at least, a fair business education. After working out by the month for nearly a year, Mr. Thompson attended school at Maumee City, and there he remained as long as he had money to pay his board and tuition, but was finally obliged to give up further study for want of funds. About this time there was considerable excitement . over the wonderful gold fields of California, and, in 1854, then being twenty-three years old, young

History 07 Fulton County

Thompson made the journey by the Nicaragua route. Upon reaching San Francisco he was entirely out of money ; but by no means discouraged, he borrowed thirty dollars from a friend and started for the mines full of hope and expectation. For about four years he endured the hardships, privations and disappointments of life in the mines, when, in the fall of 1858, he returned to Ohio, having accumulated about $2,000 in money as the result of his toil. With this he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Amboy township, the improvement and cultivation of which he immediately commenced. He soon became recognized as one of the township's most thrifty farmers and enterprising business men. In 1869, he erected a suitable building and commenced the manufacture of cheese, which industry he continued for years with the most favorable results. In 1875, Mr. Thompson moved to York township, where be built another extensive cheese factory, and, until 1883, operated both this and the one in Amboy township, when the latter was sold. While Mr. Thompson was a very busy man in conducting his business affairs, he nevertheless found time to show a patriotic interest in the welfare of his township and county; and in the political history of each he was a prominent figure, as is shown by his various political holdings. He filled with entire satisfaction the offices of township road supervisor, school director (fifteen consecutive years), treasurer, trustee, justice of the peace; and m connection with the county's affairs he filled the important and responsible position of commissioner for nine consecutive years.

Heman Arza Canfield was a native of New York State, born in the town of West Bloomfield, Ontario county, January 25, 1816. Soon after arriving at the age of twenty-one years he came to Ohio and took up a tract of land, two hundred and forty acres in extent, located in Chesterfield township, and which was a part of what has been styled the "Oak Openings." As a farmer Mr. Canfield was thrifty, thorough and practical. His farm, when first purchased, was of such land as atxmnded in the region, forest lands and oak openings, but, through his persevering efforts, it was made one of the best and most productive of the locality. In connection with his agricultural pursuits he is remembered as having been an extensive cattle dealer and drover at an early day, taking live stock as far east as Syracuse, in New York State, and to other markets in that State. At a later period, being found capable and worthy of confidence, he was entrusted with the management of several estates, and in each and every trust reposed in him he answered fully and faithfully its requirements. In the matter of die drainage of the Carroll swamp Mr. Canfield was a prime mover, and although a long and tedious litigation followed, h$ held firmly to the project and became, eventually, successful. In the political history of the county, and of his township, too, Mr. Canfield was an influential though not conspicuous person. He never asked for or sought an office, but held nearly every position within the gift of the people of the township. From 1871 to 1874, he filled the position of county commissioner, and performed his part with exceedingly good judgment and to good purpose.

Joseph Shadle was one of the first settlers of Dover township. He was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, August 16, 1815, and in 1836, removed to Wayne county, Ohio. For several years there he worked a farm upon shares, and then came to Fulton county, where he purchased 160 acres of land upon section two in Dover township, upon which he moved his family, November 13, 1845, and immediately erected a log cabin. He afterwards added to his first purchase several times, until at one time he was the owner of six hundred acres of land, the major portion of which he cleared. He was many times honored by his township with the offices of trustee and constable, once with the office of land appraiser and later with that of justice of the peace, but for the latter he did not qualify. He was twice honored with the office of county commissioner and served his people six years, during the time being instrumental in establishing an infirmary for Fulton county.

David B. Allen was born in East Windsor, Connecticut, March 1, 1809, upon a homestead which came into the possession of the Allen family in 1630. Mr. Allen settled in Clinton township, Fulton county, in 1855, and in addition to the office of county commissioner he served as justice of the peace for ten or twelve years.

County Treasurers. - The gentlemen who filled this responsible position prior to 1864, were, in the order of their service, Nathaniel Leggett, Isaac Springer, Julius Marsh and L. L. Carpenter. Their successors have been : 1866, A. B. Canfield ; 1870, David Ayers ; 1874, H.' L. Moseley; 1878, Jared M. Longnecker; 1879, Thomas A. Kelley; 1881, James W. Howard; 1885, John B. Schnetzler; 1889, Jacob S. Newcomer; 1893, A. C. Daniels; 1897, J. F. Grove; 1901, C. E. Guilford.