Knox County, Ohio - History of the Press in Knox County, 1862

History of the Press in Knox County

The Ohio Register. - The Aurora - Standard - .Advertiser - Watchman - Gazette - Day-Book - Banner - True Whig - Times. - The various daily and weekly I'APERS, RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL PUBHCATI0N8, AND SOME ACCOUNT OF THE EDITORS AND THEIR ADVENTURES.

I:n^ July, IS 13, a press was j)ut up in Clinton, and the first newspaper ever issued in Knox county then made its appearance, styled The Ohio Register y printed and published ca ery Tuesday by Smith and McArdle. Samuel H. Smith was the proprietor of the town of Clinton, and lie induced John P. Mc- Ardle, who was a good practical printer, to engage with him in the publication of a newspaper, and in the printing business generally, at that place. Mc- Ardle emigrated from Ireland, March 17th, 1801, and came to this county in 1809. He is now living, in his 78tli year, at Fremont, in this State. Smith, as elsewhere stated, is alive, and surveying in Texas.

The waning fortunes of Clinton, and the rising greatness of Mount Vernon, caused the office, after two years of tribulation, to be transferred to the latter j^lace, and accordingly, on the 24th of April, 181(3, the first paper ever issued in Mount Yernon made its appearance, bearing the name of " The Ohio Register,^'' and having the laudable motto -

"Aware that what is base no polish can make sterling." It was the prolongation of The Ohio BegisteVy published for two years at Clinton by Sam'l H. Smith and John P. McArdle.

" On moving the office and establishment of The Ohio Register to this place, it will be expected the editor (according to custom) will say something to his patrons.

" The editor, well aware of the difficulties attending the task he has undertaken, to instruct, enlighten and please the public, must not only produce that which is excellent in its kind, but he must continually vary the matter and manner of his lucubrations ; he must, to a certain degree, he all things to all men. The serious, the gay, the learned and the unlearned, not only expect that their tastes will bo studied and their inclination gratified, but the same individual becomes dissatisfied with a long course of the same species of entertainment ; he hopes to be delighted and surprised ; he must find productions which are meant to be instructive, and novelty in those which are designed for amusement. How the editor will execute the duties of his employment, time will discover; he is not disposed to boast of his education, to make a parade of his abilities, or to seduce the public with a multiplicity of specious promises. It is too common for editors of newspapers to undertake more than th'ey are able to perform.

" The editor is determined not to subject himself to accusations of the nature above-mentioned ; and although he feels a considerable degree of diffidence, he would have it fully understood that he expects and desires to be judged by his work. One thing however he confidently promises, the most assiduous and persevering industry will be exerted to render his paper worthy of the patronage which he hopes he will meet with.

" Terms : The Ohio Register will be published every Wednesday, and will be distributed to subscribers in Mount Vernon and Clinton, and forwarded to those at a distance by the first opportunity, at $2.00 per annum if paid in advance, or $2.50 if paid within the first six months, or $3.00 if paid within the second six months.

" Those who receivp their papers by post, are to pay the postage. No subscription received for less than one year, and no paper discontinued until all arrearages are paid. A failure to give notice of discontinuance of a subscription, at or previous to the end of the time subscribed for, will always be considered as a new engagement."

The following good rule in regard to advertisements was set forth : " The COST must accompany all advertisements, otherwise they will be continued at the expense of the advertiser until paid for."

In those early times there were many who courted the muses, and among their effusions we find a lengthy piece Avhich appeared May 1st, 1816, and we have heard it ascribed to John H. Mefford. We extract a few verses descriptive of "Mount Yernon walk" and " Owl Creek's fertile banks," gratified, that as Shakspeare has it -

And though fools wisdom's lovely ways For want of sense, hate all their days, May all Mount Vernon walk erect In all the paths she may direct.

Then shall not war's furious guns Bereave parents of faithful sons ; The cries of children we'll not hear Whose fathers left them arms to bear ;

A fair damsel shall not complain For a true sweetheart in war slain; Nor citizens for faithful friends weep Who gave life their country to keep;

But fields shall bear, and we be blest AVith crops the choicest and the best; And gentle cows shall come at will Our pails with richest milk to fill.

Our barns shall be filled with plenty, And Springs emit water gently, Which shall in small clear currents flow, To refresh man, or panting roe.

Then long shall Owl Creek's fertile banks Be a peaceful walk for all ranks. Where tlie sycamore tall does giow, And where the elm its shade doth show.

For lovely nymph and gen'rous swain, Its gentle stream shall long remain A pleasing prcepect for the view, Where songs of birds are ever new.

On the loth of Octolier, 1817, the first six months of the second Yolnmc of the Ohio Begistcr hayingbeen completed, the editor calls upon subscribers to pay up old scores -

" For witliout this one thing necossaiy, it is impossible to expect that we can live ; money would be preferable, but if that is scarce with you, rags, wheat, rye, corn, and almost all kinds of market produce will be taken in payment."

On the 5th of IS'ovember he proposes to " take for subscription, advertisements, hand-bills or bookbinding, wheat, rye, corn, buckwheat, &c., delivered at Davis' mill in this town, in preference to some unchartered paper." (A sly dig this at the Owl Creek Bank, Mr. McArdle.) On the 8th of April, 1818, he says -

" Peaceahly if we can, forcibly if we must." Hard Times!! So they are, but that is not my fault. - The next number of the 0?do Register vvil complete the 2(1 volume that has been printed in Mount Vernon. From many of our subscribers we have received nothing but promises for services rendered. But these will not always answer the purpose. Like the notes of some of our banks, they soon depreciate when thrown into market, unless it is known they are bottomed upon a specie capital ; and like them " they will not pay debts abroad." But to be brief, " we want money and must have it." Remember the trite old saying, " the laborer is worthy of his hire." As soon as this volume is out we intend altering the paper into a different form. As we expect on a large quantity of paper in the course of two or three weeks, (for vvliich we must pay the cash) we hope those in arrears will call immediately and settle their respective accounts."

On the 15th of April, A. D., 1818, Yol. 2, l^o. 52, was issued. Those who were in arrears and so often and politely requested to call and settle did not do so ; the large quantity of paper could not be paid for in cash, and John P. McArdle goes down under the debt of unrequited kindness - unrecompensed services. And the people of Mount Vernon, for a time, were without a newspaper because there were not enough among them having the high sense of honor to " pay the printer !"

gister. Various new papers were started, and the editors became dissatisfied, the publishers discouraged, and, after a little experimenting with journalism, went to some more profitable business, engaged in some new enterprise, or left the country. And we regret to say that the people seemed to have no proper appreciation of their journals, for there is not in existence a complete file of any of the old papers, and in fact scarcely a number of either to be found.

During this time the ablest men who were connected with the press, and the most violent in opposition to each other, were Charles Oolerick and William Beyans. They were arrayed against each other as candidates for ofiice, and each for several terms held the position of Sheriff of the county. Both were from Western Pennsylvania - Be vans from Fayette, and Oolerick from Washington county - and well skilled in the political wire-working and manceuvering for which the politicians of that county have ever been famous. In the division of parties, the former was for Adams and the latter for Jackson. The great bone of contention, however, was the county printing, and that might with much truth be said to have been the only principle at issue between them.

About 1822, Charles Colerick with his brothers, John and Henry, made their appearance in this county, while Bevans was Sheriff, and they set about establishing a small printing-ofiice. In 1824 Edson Harkness, a printer, surveyor and schoolteacher, emigrated from " Down East" to Mount Yernon ; and in 1825 he started a very small news- paper, which he styled The Western Aurora, and, after publishing it two years, he sold out, in 1827^ to James Harvey Patterson, from Eayette county. Pa., and William Smith, from Washington county. Pa., who, under the firm of Patterson & Co., continued its publication until 1829, when they transferred the establishment to William Bevans, who carried it on until 1831, when he disposed of it to Wm. P. Keznor, who had learnt his trade in the office and lived with Bevans. In 1832, O. P. Bronson became associated with him, and for a time the paper was published by Bronson & Beznor, until, in October, 1833, Dan Stone buys out the office and carries the paper on a few months alone ; and then Dr. Morgan L. Bliss is associated with him, and it continues, under the style of Stone & Bliss, until November 29th, 1831, on account of severe and protracted illness, the latter withdraws, and Dr. Lewis Dyer, in a salutatory of two mortal columns, enters the list as editor, as a permanent business ; but in January, 1835, he disappears, and Dr. John Thomas succeeds him, who, being like his immediate predecessor, of a philosophical turn of mind and inclined to treat upon physiology, hygiene, temperance and the laws of health, found the age unsuited for moral reform, and, seized by one of his fits of "azure devils," suddenly abdicated the tripod, leaving Dan Stone alone in his glory, who continued "solitary and alone" until May 16th, when he too published his valedictory, and the paper fell into anonymous hands ; and it had thenceforth a very short and precarious existence, and has passed from memory forever.

The first name of the paper published by this press was the Western Aurora - the hist name was the Mount Verno7i Gazette. This office was first set in operation at a small frame house where Dr. Thompson's residence now stands, on lot No. 113, Main street ; subsequently it was on the lot where General Jones now resides, on the west side of the Public Square, Mount Vernon, and from thence was moved into the second story of the Market- House, where Mefi'ord's saddler shop now is. Among the hands who worked in it were John Borland, now of Hocking county, Patterson, Eeznor, and Wm. Crosby. Elliott C. Vore was the carrierboy in 1825-6, and Lewis Lindsay in 1827-8.

About these times the rliymester of this office was Dan Jewett, a brother of Cynthia, wife of Ira Babcock. He wrote the Carrier's Address of the year 1828, and, as the first verse is worthy of consideration in these times of disunion, we give it for consideration :

'- Yc lovers of Freedom, I pray you attend, And listen awhile to the post-boy, your friend; Lay aside all disunion. United let's stand, The fiicnds and supporters of our happy land."

In 1838 a new office was established here, and a paper called the Westei^n Watchman published by Samuel M. Browning, and for a few months John Teesdale was connected with this paper as editor, and had bargained for the establishment; but being a philanthropic Englishman, happening to insert an abolition article, he found it advisable to leave and never complied with his engagement as to paying for it. In 1839, October, the paper was published by S. Dewey & Co. but for a very short time. And a new candidate for public favor called the Family Cabinet was published for a few weeks, and then compelled to give up the ghost "under the pressure of existing circumstances." And thus we have traced the one side up to 1810, now let us retrace our steps and bring down the other.

The Colericks, as heretofore stated, had come from Washington, Pa., where their father had a printing office at a very early day, and they had been brought up to the business. Ko copies of their papers are extant. They were intelligent and energetic men and labored under great disadvantages for many years, as did other newspaper men in this county.

The name was changed the next year to Loohing Glass and Whig Reflector, and in the campaign of 1834, between Ools. Peres Sj)rague and James Mc- Earland, it was very bitter against the former, who ran on the Independent ticket, as may be judged from the following chorus, which we extract from a song of the times as showing the acerbity of the contest :

The people did not regard these vices as disqualifying Sprague for office, for he received, for Representative, 1,518 votes to 1,289 for his opponent !

This printing office was also migratory in its disposition, having been during its existence on Mulberry street, on the lot where H. W. Ball now lives, on the old Jeifres lot where Barnes' marble factory is, and in the second story of the frame where Bobert Irvine's shoe store now is, on Main street.

In June, 1835, Charles Colerick established The Day BooTc, which was conducted by him with much energy and sj)irit until he volunteered as a soldier and went to Texas, when the office was bought by Delano and Browning, and the paper continued by William Byers until in the winter of 1837-8 it was transferred to S. M. Browning.

When the campaign of 1810 opened, the Whigs having become dissatisfied with the abolition article of John Teesdale and caused him to give up the publication of that paper, found it necessary to pass resolutions in their county convention inviting Whig editors to view this location, and appointed a committee, of which Johnston Elliott was chairman, to advertise in the leading Whig journals in the State for some one to come on and publish a paper. Under this call James Emmet Wilson, a son of Judge James Wilson, of Steuben ville, came and started the Knox County Republican, and in about six months associated with himself as publisher Milo Butler, his brother-in-law. He Avas a poor stick ; and this paper which started under the most favorable auspices in the triumphant campaign of 1840, in the fall of 1841 was discontinued by reason of the inertness and inability of the said Wilson and Butler to give the patrons a "live Whigpaper," and because they were too much of the and Butler went to preaching. And in 1842 Wm. H. Cochran, who was teaching school in Newark, came up and chartered the office and issued The Times', and from that office has been continued a paper, under diiferent names and editors and proprietors, until the i)resent day - the Mount Vernon Repuhlican brings up the list.

This paper has been known to its readers as The Times - The Repuhlican Times - The Ohio State Times, etc., as conducted by Cochran and Silmon Clark; G. E. Winters, J. H. Knox, O. B. Chapman, Witherow, J. W. Shuckers, the Bepublican joint stock company, and H. M. Bamsey. At present it is under the editorial management of W. C. Cooper, Esq. Other names may have been omitted who, for short periods, edited the paper.

After the Day Book office had been bought up and merged in The Western Watch7nan, an effort was made to establish another paper ; and llie Democratic Banner was started in April, 1838, by summer it was edited by C. J. McNulty; but upon its sale to Edmund J. Ellis, it was continued without an editor in 1839, and, until it was sold to John Kershaw, in 1811, it was issued without an editorial, except as some partisan, able to write, would furnish it an article gratis. Kershaw edited and published it until, in June, 1841, he sold it back to E. J. Ellis, and then it was edited by G. W. Morgan, until, in 1815, it was sold to D. A. Robertson, who after a short time resold it to Ellis, who continued its publication until its sale, in November, 1817, to William Dunbar, who had associated with him in its publication for some six months George W. Armstrong ; and for the remainder of his time edited and x^^^blished it himself, until, in December, 1853, he sold it to Leckey Harper, then of the Pittsburg Fost, who has since edited and imblished it. During Mr. Dunbar's management, a daily Democratic Banner was published in the Avinter of 1852 for thirty days.

Upon the nomination of General Taylor for President, in 1818, the editor of the Times refused to support the Taylor and Eillmore ticket, because Zachary Taylor lived South and owned slaves ; whereupon another printing-office was brought to Mount Vernon that should advocate Union principles, and, to distinguish it from the l)ogus article, it was styled The Mount Vernon True Whig, and was published for seven years - edited during the campaign of 1848 by Joseph S. Davis, Esq. ; in 1849 by John W. White, and the remainder of its existence by A. Banning Norton. With the exception of a brief period, when it was i^ublished by Higgins and White, the foreman of the office was that excellent printer, George Smith, now in the Keokuk (Iowa) Daily Oate City.

Eor three years Norton's Daily True Whig was published with the motto of Davy Crocket - " Be sure you're right, then go ahead ;" and having become satisfied in that time that this place would not sustain a daily, unless out of the pocket of the publisher, and hence that it was not " right" to continue it, in March, 1855, its diurnal appearance ceased.

The motto of the True Wliig was taken from Washington's Farewell Address, and would in these times be somewhat original : - " Frown indignantly upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together its various parts." It was adopted as expressive of the determination to stand by the Constitution and the Union, and to oppose abolitionism and sectionalism of every form and description.

Several short lived newspapers have made their appearance in the county within the past eight years, which, by being named, may be kept fresh in the memories of some of the people. They were the Bainhow, which was of the nature of the "Nashville, Bowling Green, Louisville Courier" of these war times - migratory in disposition, and altogether fleeting. It was opened out at Mount Yernon by Rev. A. Laubacli, sojourned a while at Fredericktown where the Reverend editor was sokl by a vile acrostic ; then tarried a brief space at Belville, and the last heard of was among the Senecas, at the city of Tiffin ! The Lilly, which advocated short frocks and emigrated to the far west with Amelia Bloomer - the TJnwersalist Advocate at Centerburg, which Daniel Wolfe found must proclaim glad tidings to all j)eople without price, or not at all, and The Western Home Visitoi% which was too large for Mount Yernon and could not find a home at Columbus. After these came The National, when its publishers, Agnew & Raguet, found it without a nationality, and after three months search in the exciting times of 1858 it gave up the ghost ! The Knox County Express was started by Agnew & Tilton, in December, 1860, and is now published by O. M. Phelps & Co., and edited by Judge J. S. Davis.

The Banner, Republican and Exj^ress are the papers published in Mount Yernon in July, 1862, and The Western Episcopalian at Gambier, in this county. The Episcopalian is devoted to the interests of the Church, and of Kenyon College more particularly. It was first started as The GamMer Observer, upon the Acland Press, at Gambier, in 1827, and has been continued from that time to the present under diiferent editorial and financial managers. George W. Meyers was for many years its publisher, and its present publisher is R. M. Edmonds. It has been ably edited by Dr. Sparrow, Dr. Wing, Dr. Muenschcr, Dr. Colton, the Rev.

Xorman Badger, and George Deuison, and lias been favored with many very able articles from the pens of professors of the college and other friends.

The first book printed in Knox county was " The American Revolution," written in scriptural, or ancient historical style - "Honi soi qui mal y' pense." " Clinton, Ohio. Printed by Smith & McArdle at the office of The Ohio Begister, Year of our Lord, 1815." 170 pp. And the second was "The Columbiad, a poem on the American War, in 13 cantoes, by Richard Snowden." pp.38. The next waSi " James Smith's Vindication."

There was also published at Tlie Oliio Register office "A caveat against the Methodists, by a Gentleman of the Church of Rome." I have not sent these Prophets, yet they ran ; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. - Jeremiah, chap. 23, verse 21.

C. & J. Colerick published a directory of Knox county, compiled from the tax list, and showing the value of every man in the county as listed for taxation.

In 1835, the Laws and Ordinances of Mount Vernon were printed by the Day Booh office and bound. And in 1852 the Charter and Ordinances of Mount Vernon were printed at the True Whig office and bound, making a work of 50 pages.

"An Essay on Justification by Faith, with particular reference to the Theory of Forensic Justification, by Joseph Muenscher, A.M., Rector of St. Paul's Church, Mount Vernon, 1817." pp. 63.

monr, or Disappointed Revenge - a drama in 3 acts. 88 pp. And the Book of Chronicles, hiunorously illnsti'ated, being a history of the dissensions among the harmonious democracy of Knox upon the Kansas question, written by Telcgi'aphic Inspiration ! pp. 32.

Prom the Acland Press a number of pampUets and small works have been issued pertaining to Church and College affairs. Among others, Tissue's Grreek Eorms, a very valuable book, by one of the Professors.

The Rev. Dr. Muenscher has now in press " A Commentary on the book of Proverbs," which will make about 400 pp. duodecimo ; and " A Treatise on Biblical Interpretation," 350 pp. duodecimo. We have seen a portion of the proof sheets of each - they are neatly executed, and from the acknowledged ability and learning of the author will be o^f much value.

Our young friend Charles H. Scribner, Esq., has prepared for the press an excellent IVeatise on Dower - which will be a Law book of much size, and of very great value to the legal i)i'ofession and the public generally.

The pioneers of the press in this count;v% who, a half century ago, spread the first information before the people in the columns of a paper, are both living, having passed the " three score years and ten allotted to man" - McArdle being almost a score over the time, and Smith over a century old. They are still hale and hearty, while the younger brothers of the press have not become " fat and forty;" and those who immediately succeeded them.

have almost all passed to "that bourne from whence no traveler returns." Of the editors - Col. Charles Colerick, after having served a tour in the Texan revolution, and assisted in achieving, though he did not live to behold the recognition of her independence, is dead. Gen. William Bevans, after having served his fellow-citizens creditably in many official positions, has departed. Dan Stone, a quiet, unassuming man of much goodness of heart, died in this town, where his widow and two sons survive. Dr. M. L. B-liss died shortly after he left the paper. James Harvey Patterson moved to West Union, Adams county, and, after the death of his wife, went South. John Thomas was a very singular genius, well read, particularly in anatomy, geology, conchology, and herpetology et als. ologies, but was so much subject to the blues, or what he called "azure devils," as not to enjoy life; he would not drink out of a cuj) or saucer that had a flaw or crack in it, nor eat with a knife that he did not see scoured bright - consequently he worried himself out of the world before his time. W. H. Cochran and H. M. Ramsey died with the editorial harness on - the latter this spring - both much lamented by a large circle of friends, and their widows reside in Mount Yernon. S. M. Browning died at Burlington, Lawrence county, about 1852. Dr. Dyer resides in Iowa, Beznor in Illinois ; Harkness also is in Dlinois, where he is noted for liis large nurseries of excellent fruit trees ; Kershaw is an attorney in Philadelphia, Pa. ; Morgan is a Brigadier General, with the army in Tennessee ; Bronson is in Boston, Mass., making blood-food for curing consumptives ; Robertson, after haying served as TJ. S. IVIarslial for Minnesota, settled down there in the practice of the law ; McNulty, the only editor of the county sued for libel, from whom Elder Power recovered a large verdict, after having volunteered as a soldier in the Mexican war, died and was buried at Helena, Ark., by his brave comrades. Ellis had better have been dead than to have become a traitor to his country, and been driven beyond the lines. He was publishing the Boone County Standard, at Columbia, Mo., when he sinned against light and knowledge. Three of the old set - Smith of the Clinton Bcgister, Smith of the Western Aurora, and Korton of the True Whig - a few years ago found themselves residing in the same district in Texas. Two of them yet remain there, while the third is writing these lines, having, from love for the Constitution and the Union, found it necessary to seek once again the shores of Owl Creek. Such are life's changes.

Events From 1820 To 1830

The white male inhabitants of Knox county above the age of 21 in 1820, were 1290, located as follows : HiUier 21, Bloomfield 69, Morgan 152, MiUer 72, Jackson 178, Chester 122, Wayne 168, Morris 157, Union 141, and Clinton 207.

The county gave its vote for Ethan Allen Brown for Governor ; John Sloane for Congress ; Wm. Gass for Senator; R. D. Simons for Representative ; Wm. Bevans for Sheriff ; Abner Ayres for Commissioner, and E. G. Lee for Coroner.

This, in the Indian line, is among the last known in the county. This squaw was of the Stockbridge tribo, and one of a small party who, in traveling out of Licking connty, was espied and shot by Hughes, when near Homer, and in Morgan township. Without j)rovocation or just cause, but sim- ]3ly to gratify his priyate hatred of the Indian race, she was shot through the hip. Her comrades brought her on to Mount Yernon, where her sufferings became too great to admit of her being taken further. She was put in the old log gunsmith shop of John Earnhart, on High street, but the quarters being uncomfortable on account of cold N^oyember weather, she was moyed to an old log house on the north-west corner of Mulberry and Yine streets, and there died. True to the Indian stoicism she neyer groaned or complained, although her sutferings were intense. Eiye or six of her tribe staid through her sickness, and then buried her in the north-east corner of the old graveyard. For seyeral years afterwards her husband would return at the time of year when she died to yiew her graye and see that the body remained undisturbed.

Erom this same old log house, in October, 1826, a gun was fired which caused the death of Ben. Roberts. George Low then liyed in the house, and Jim Low was staying with him, when on Hallow Eye night, seyeral of the town boys were out throwing cabbages against the doors, as has from time immemorial been the custom, and as they threw against Low's door, Jim took down his rifle and fired between the logs, the ball lodging in Ben's leg. He was carried home, and, after laying for some time, it became necessary to amputate the leg, which was done one Sunday, and the next afternoon at 1 o'clock lie died. Low was tried, and Sam Mott defended him, and lie was acquitted. This shooting affair caused ver}^ great excitement, and ever since, on the annual return of Hallow Eve, the old settlers rehearse this story to their children and grandchildren, as a warning against following this ridiculous custom of throwing cabbage heads to the annoyance of quiet peo^^le.

In 1822, the county gave majorities for Daniel S. Norton for Congress ; H. Curtis for Eei3resentative; Wm. Bevans for Sheriff; John Kerr for Commissioner; W. Y. Farquhar for Auditor; James McGibeny for Coroner.

In 1821, majorities were given for Jeremiah Morrow for Goyernor ; Wilson for Congress ; Colerick for Sheriff ; Stilley for Commissioner ; Eigdon for Representatiye ; Eunyan for Coroner, and Earquhar for Auditor.

In October, 1825, the jail built by Solomon Geller is found according to contract, except " he is yet to put in a stove, and the door above going into the debtors' apartment."

In 1826, the whole number of votes cast was 1828, and tlie county gave majorities for Trimble for Governor ; Xorton for Congress ; Eobeson for Eepresentativo ; Colerick for Sheriff ; Eunyan for Coroner ; Elliott for Auditor ; Leonard for Commissioner.

At the June session, 1826, of the Commissioners, upon petition of Francis Wilkins and others, a road was ordered to be opened up Dry Creek, beginning on the farm of Daniel S. Korton, to intersect the old road on the corner of Frederick Carey's

On the 30th of September, the county jail is received in full satisfaction by the Commissi>oners. Wm. Bevans was allowed $5 for crying sale of the jail.

At this time Mount Vernon is stated as containing 80 dwelling-houses, one printing office, a brick court-house and jail, a merchant mill, a saw mill, a cotton factory, and within six miles, 9 grist and saw mills and three carding machines.

In 1827, Patterson and Smith, of The Western Aurora, published the Delinquent List for the ordinary price, and refunded one-fourth of the whole amount for county use.

In 1827, March 29, W. Y. Farquhar was " appointed keeper of the Knox county standard and half bushel measure, and authorized to get a half bushel of copper !"

At tlie June Term it was ordered tliat the Auditor cause two blank books for county orders to be procured, and that 0. & J. Colerick print the same, and that the Auditor furnish six quires of paper for that purpose.

At the December Term, H. B. Curtis' account for office rent and wood is allowed - office rent, 7 months, |84 ; and Avood 3 winters for Recorder's office, $15.

October 18th, 1828, James McGibeny contracted with the commissioners to build a stone wall to support the Court-liouse bank, standing ten feet north and south of the Court-house.

But all efforts to save it were unavailing : it had heen ^vrittGn, "CarfJiaffo dctenda est T and on the 2d of December an order issued to B. S. Brown for $10, in consequence of the loss of his office by the fall of the Court-house.

The Court-house was no sooner down than the commissioners ordered proposals to be published in the Standard and Advertiser, for the purpose of making donations for tlie building of a new Courthouse, and for a plan of building, &c. On the 20th of January, 1829, they agreed with Tliomas Irvine for his brick house for a court-house, at $25 per term, in orders on the county treasury. In April, James Smith is notified by Marvin Tracy that the commissioners have obtained Thomas Irvine's bar-room for an office. The levy for taxes in Knox county, June, 1829, was IJ mills on the dollai", on tlic wliole yaluation of property in said county, for State purposes, and 1^ for canal purposes, making 3 mills upon the dollar for State and canal purposes ; and tlie commissioners, by and with the consent of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, leyied a tax of 3 mills on the dollar for county purposes, 1 mill for road purposes, and :| of a mill for school purposes ; one of the three mills shall be assessed and collected and appropriated for the building of the Court-house, and for no other purpose whateyer.

At tlie June session, the following entry is made : " The account of James Smith, presented to the Board of Commissioners, for one year, from June 1st, 1828, to June 1st, 1829, including the rent unpaid at last settlement, books and stationery for clerk's office, all of which was rejected by the Board. The charges for one year's fire-wood, which was $12. Prom wliich decision the said Smith l)rays an appeal to the Court of Common Pleas as to the fire-wood." That record is clear, is it nof? The resolutions of the commissioners, published in the /Standard and Advertiser, in reference to the building of a Court-house, represent that " they will meet on the 15th of July, for the purpose of receiying donations, &c. ; giying the public square $1,000 ; preference for location, &c. ; otherwise at any point in the town plat where $1,000 is subscribed," &c. On the 15th of July, the commissioners met, and adjourned till the 21th of August, to receiye donations, &c., for new Court-house.

Standard, of sale of contract to bnild a Courthouse, to the lowest bidder, on the 5th of October next, &c. Peris Sprague is authorized to get E. G. Carlin, or some other person, to make and draft a plat for the same. This plan, as agreed upon, ap- I)ears on the journal, specifying that the building is to be erected on the west side of Main street and north side of High street, and that $1,000 is to be paid to the contractor on the 10th of Januar}', 1830, and f 1,000 annually thereafter, and all orders to be expressly understood to be paid when due and presented. Edward G. Carlin is paid county order for $10, for making plat of new Court-house, and describing timbers, dimensions, &c. Richard House, for assisting Carlin in describing the plan, is paid |1 50.

October 5th. The building of the Court-house is sold to John Shaw for $5,485, who enters into bond with Byram Leonard, Pliilo Norton, Charles Sager, Solomon Geller, Thomas Irvine and H. B. Carter, in the sum of $10,970. Such is the record of the second Court-house built in Mount Yernon, which stood on the public square until 1853. It was built of brick, two stories high, with a cupola, and a very imposing building in its time. It answered well its part for many years - may we not say for that generation, as almost all then upon the stage of action have passed " hence without day." The Supreme Court, District and Associate Judges, the Commissioners, Sheriif, Auditor, Assessor, Treasurer, Surveyor, and Coroner, the Contractor and his sureties - are all, all dead. Melancholy

In 1828, majorities Avere given for Campbell for Oovernor ; Stanbery for Congress ; Shaw for Sheriff; Colerick for Representative ; Tracy for Auditor ; Sprague and Beers for Commissioners, and jN^eal for Coroner.

In 1829 the population of the county is stated at 8,326. There were then eight post-ofiices, viz. : Danville, Darling's, Martinsburg, Mount Yernon, Miles M Roads and Sandusky M Roads in Chester townshij), Eredericktown and Houck's.

The state of the County Treasury may be judged of from the following entry, June 7th, 1830: "Ordered that the Auditor issue an order on the Treasurer in ftivor of Daniel Converse & Co., for the amount of principal and interest due on a certain county order, payable to Solomon Geller, for the sum of |275, dated Eebruary 10, 1821, endorsed not paid for want of funds by the Treasurer when the said order shall be presented ;" thus paying an old order by issuing a new one. The original debt for building the flrst court house not having been paid until after the building itself had crumbled and fallen, and the county was compelled to erect a new one.

Artemas Estabrook is, at the same time, allowed an order for boarding, bringing up on Habeas Corpus and attending the Judges - Eli Losh - amounting to |11.60.

ernor ; Stanbeiy, Congress ; Greer, Eepresentative ; N^eal, Slierifi*; Tracy, Auditor; McFarland, Assessor ; Low, Coroner ; Wilkins for Commissioner. The total vote cast was 2,086.

During this decade the foundation was laid and the commencement made of that institution of learning which has contributed so much to the advancement and prosj)erity of this county - Kenyon College. Under its appropriate head we have devoted a chapter to this subject, and hence will say no more here than has reference to the action of the County Commissioners on matters connected with it. On December 7th, 1829, the petition of Philander Chase and others was presented to the Board for the view of four roads . 1 . From the j unction of Wiggin and Gaskin streets towards James Smith's mill. 2. To Coshocton. 3. To Giilin's mill. 4. Around the foot of College hill south west to Frederick Rohrer's tavern stand. The Commissioners ordered Thomas Griffith Plummer to survey ; and Jonathan Miller, Wm. Marquis and Joseph Critchfield to view. All of these parties are now dead.