Knox County, Ohio - Chapter 13: Notable Events of 1815, 1862

Chapter 13: Notable Events of 1815

- The jail a costly thimg. - -Licenses to preach, to sell and to entertain. - The supreme court for seven terms. - The old folks sing. - What pay soldiers received in olden time. - The lawyers get into THE county. - Election of 1815 for state and county officers.

The Grand Jury at tlie spring term of Common Pleas Court consisted of Anthony Banning-, foreman, John Merritt, Peter Bricker, John Hawu, David Hawn, John Green, Wm. Marquis, George Davis, Moses Craig, James Strange, Azariah Davis, Jacob Martin, Benjamin BeU and Gilman Bryant. Tliey returned 19 indictments for "assault and battery" and "affrays." Quite a number of the parties plead guilty, and were fined f 2 and costs. Of this Grand Jurv but one man is no^v livina'. Adnal Hersey, of the Christian Church, was licensed to marry. John Cook, of the Baptist, Avas als^o licensed to do the same. Samuel Mott was appointed Master Commissioner in chancerv. Tavern licenses were granted this year to Jonathan Hunt, Elisha CoruAvall, Abner Ayres, John Baxter and A. H. Boyce ; and store license to Mcholas Mc- Carty, George Girty, Eli Miller, Anthony Banning, L. S. Silliman, Gilman Bryant, John Wilson and

James N; Ayres. Two important roads are opened this year, namely : from Mount Vernon towards Sandusky, under the supervision of John Lewis, as commissioner, for which he is granted by the county commissioners orders for f 100, and is paid f 15 for his services ; another, a road opened by Benjamin Rusli, as commissioner, to Mansfield, for which services he is paid $9, and $200 is expended by the county in work upon the same. Among the bills paid in IS^ovember, 1818, by the commissioners, are : to Anthony Banning, for 182^ lbs. iron, and brick for jail, f26.55, and Archibald Croflferd, for the following work for the county : 1 pr. liand-cufls, $3 ; 1 hasp, 50 cents ; shackles and hasp, $1.50 ; 2 gi-ates, $13.80 ; eight spikes, 50 cents - $19.50. The job of making further improvements to the jail and jailor's house is given to Wm. Douglass at $125. The commissioners were determined, if possible, to make the jail burglar proof. That little log thing was a great institution truly - a first rate concern to sink money in, without any prospect of ever getting it back.

The first session of the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio held in Knox county w^as on the 3d day of August, 1810, by Honorables William W. Irwin and Ethan Allen Brown.

The only cases were those of the State vs. Ichabod Nye and Samuel ISije. Upon oath by the defendants that they did not believe an impartial trial

The second session was hekl May 1st, 1811, but two causes were on the docket. Sylvenias Lawrence, for the use of Benjamin Rush, vs. George Davidson, and James Peuthres ts. Samuel Kratzer ; both of which were dismissed. Xo other business was to be transacted, and the court adjourned until tlie next court in course.

The third term was held April 9th, 1812. In addition to the former cases the docket shows the following : Joseph Butler vs. Elizabeth Yendrew ; Wm. AV. Farquhar vs. James Craig; Andrew Craig vs. Henry McCart and James Cunningham ; James Smith vs. Samuel H. Smith; Henry Smith vs. Beniamin Barnev; Henrv Smith vs. Samuel H. Smith and Benjamin Barney; and Thomas Slater vs. Lovina Slater. Attachments were issued vs. Amos 'Yarn old and Alexander Enos for refusing to attend as witnesses.

In Craig vs. McOart and Cunningham, judgment of non-suit is entered, because of non-appearance of plaintitf. Earquhar vs. Craig is continued, and the defendant is to pay all costs of tliis term witliin six months, or judgment, &c. John Jones vs. Joseph CherryHolmes and George Lybarger - the complainant being thrice called did not appear, nor any per son to prosecute this suit for him, therefore tlie injunction is dissolved and bill dismissed. The injunction case of Benjamin Barney vs. Henry Smith is heard by counsel, and the injunction is made perpetual, plaintiff to pay all costs. James Smith vs. Samuel H. Smith is argued by counsel, and the court decide that the defendant go hence, witJiout day, and recover of plaintiff costs, &c. David Davis vs. John Cambridge, removed from Licking count}^ is continued. Slater's divorce j)etition is dismissed at cost of plaintiff. Lewis Dent and Co. vs. John Wheeler - judgment for plaintiff for |493.80 and costs. Another divorce case, Isaac Bonnet vs. Elizabeth Bonnet, is continued at cost of plaintiff", to be paid in six months, and npon condition tliat he give personal notice to the defendant of the ponding of this suit in six months.

Isaac Bonnet vs. Mary Bonnet, divorce. "After argument the court continued the cause under advisement until the Coshocton Supreme Court, their decision to be certified from that or some other Court to this Court." The first jury eause ever tried

Knox Couktt

Jury - Wm. Harriss, John Harriss, John Sawyer, Jacob Cooper, John Kerr, Bartholomew Bartlett, John Davidson, John Wilson, Thomas White, Erancis Mitchell, Isaac Bonnet and Benjamin Martin. Verdict for plaintiiF, f 103.60. A motion is made by defendant for a new trial, argued by counsel, and overruled by Court.

The State of Ohio vs. Martin D. Lems. On indictment by Grand Jury of Licking county for larceny. On motion, and affidavit of defendant, the Court ordered venue to be changed to this county, on defendant giving bond for f 500 and security in $200 to appear first day of next term. Henry Markley becomes his security. After two days' session. Court adjourned.

The sixth term was held August 7th, 1815. Judges - Ethan A. Brown and John A. Couch, who j)i*o(luced his commission in room of Hon. Thomas Scott, resigned, &c.

The only jury trial was that of Samuel Mott vs. Oilman Bryant. Jury - Isaac Vore, Sr., John Vennoms, Samuel Durbin, James McOibeny, Joseph Hunt, John Arbuckle, Thomas Williams, Moses Merrit, Oeorge Dial, Wm. Sapp and John Stilley. "Verdict for plaintiff, $5 and costs. Josiah Hedges vs. Samuel Kratzer, Andrew Craig and Oeorge Davis. Default against defendants, and cause continued for inquiry. Anthony Banning vs. Samuel Kratzer and John Williamson. On motion of plaintiff's counsel for dismission of appeal, on hearing tlie arguments of the parties by their

August Stli, 1815. John Williamson vs. Samuel Earquhar. Continued till next term, on motion and affidavit of j)laintiif, and at his costs. Wm. W. Alexander vs. John Wilson. Suit dismissed at costs of defendant, except docket fee in court below, which is not to be taxed to either party. Anthony Banning vs. Samuel Kratzer and John Williamson. Decree by court for plaintiff, "as per decree on file, signed by Chief Judge."

The seventh term was held August 15th, 1816, by Judges Brown and Couch, the latter having produced his commission for seven years from the lltli of Eebruary, 1810. But one cause was tried by jury - Moses Eobison vs. Isaac Dial. Yerdict for plaintiff, $101.80 and costs. Williamson vs. Earquhar is again continued, with leave to amend, and at costs of plaintiff. Stephen H. McDougal, assignee of Wm. Taylor, vs. Enoch Harris. Judgment by deftiult, for $88.80 and costs. There are four other cases upon the docket, in all of which our old friend Samuel H. Smith figures as plaintiff' or defendant. The other parties are Eobert Eulton, Erasmus Beaty, Levi Davis, Joseph Walker, administrator of Philip Walker, and John Walker. On tlic 16th court adjourned till next court in course.

Other Matters Of Some Degree Of Interest

In Eebruarj, 1815, George Girty opened a store in Mount Yernon, and also one at Eredericktown. There was but little increase in the number of lousiness men or in other respects this j^ear.

On the 8th of April a "Singing Assembly" of ladies and gentlemen, comprising diiferent singing societies in the county, gaA e a grand concert at the court-house in Mount Yernon, at 1 o'clock P. M. All persons feeling willing to unite and particii)ate in the exercises came. It was one of the olden kind of gatherings, like the "Old Eolks' Concert" given in Mount Yernon this spring of 1862, as we have been assured by one of the vocalists who j)articipated in both "singing assemblies."

In these war times, while some are disposed to gTumble at the low rates soldiers receive, it may be well to remind them of the pay in 1815. In March the ])ixy of non-commissioned officers and privates in the army of the United States was reduced to the following prices: To each sergeantmajor and quartermaster-sergeant, 9 dolhirs; sergeants, 8 dollars; corporals, 7 dollars; teachers of music, 8 dollars; musicians, 6' dollars; artificers, 10 dollars; and privates, 5 dollars.

mont to practice law in the wilderness, and was the first lawver resident in the countv. Enos was the second, who, one of the old settlers says, had

May 9th, H. Curtis takes this way of informing his friends and the public that he has changed his place of residence from Newark to Mount Vernon, and, in the vacations of the courts, clients will find him in the town of Mount Ycrnon. In 1817 he became a fixture of the county, and here remained until 1858, as elsewhere told.

At the October election this whole county polled 315 votes. Alexander Enos was chosen Kepresentative ; John Shaw, Sherifi:'; Oommissioner, Jonathan Miller; Coroner, Dr. W. Hastings.