Marion County, Ohio - The Village of Marion - Marion Township, 1883 (part 1 of 2)

The Village of Marion - Marion Township

d a^ village of Marion is situated near the center of one of the greatest States in the Union, in latitude 40? 35' north, and lóngitude 83° 08' west of Greenwich. Its elevation above Lake Erie is 410 feet, and above the ocean 977 feet. A point two and a half miles southwest of Marion is the highest on the railroad grade between Columbus and Toledo. The site of Marion, except the swale along Canal street, was covered with timber up to the time the county seat was fixed here ; and up to this time the place was known only as

Upon the return of certain Commissioners, an incident somewhat memorable occurred. The Commissioners encamped in what is now the south part of the town of Marion, and dined on salt bacon and other food, but had no water to quench their thirst or moisten their food. About 11 o'clock at night, Jacob Foos declared he was thirsty and could stand it no longer. Thereupon he arose, took an ax, and made a wooden shovel, and, approaching a moist place, or find water." He dug down about four feet, when abundance of water oozed out of the earth. "This well was found by the thirsty army of General Harrison, and was used for many years by emigrants as a watering-place, and in honor of Mr. Foos it was ever afterward called.*Jacob's Well" The locality was south of the original plat of Marion, but is now some distance within the village limits, on the east side of Main street, between Canal street and the foot of the hill. i "WAR ROAD."

The old " war road" entered what is now the south line of Marion, about the west line of Col. Gorton's place ; thence followed very nearly what is now Main street, crossed the ditch about where the culvert now is, thence running a little west, crossed Center street, very near where McNeal & Wolford's office now stands ; thence through the front gate of the Bartram residence, near the Presbyterian Church ; thence to a point between the old Simon Pierce property and the old brick schoolhouse, where the road forked. One fork passed on north toward the lakes, while the other turned west to a point near_where the old log house on Nathan Peters' old place is standing north of the old fair ground ; thence it ran near the sand pit on the old Reuben Smith farm, since better known as the " Widow Pettit farm ;" thence to the E. Conley and the William McWhorter farms ; thence to Hillman's ford, where it branched, one fork going up by old Mr. Page's, and on tothe old Col. Concklin place, and the other turning south by Elisha Griswold's farm, Southwick's, Dudley's, Squire Messenger's, Big Island,aud meandering according to the necessities of the

First Settlers

'It is difficult to ascertain who was the very first man to settle in or near the present site of Marion. The known facts are these: John and Ebenezer Ballantine, - Chandler, Edmund Hanford, Alexander Berry and Calvin Barnett were all in the neighborhood when Eber Baker arrived in the spring of 1821. The Ballantines arrived in the fall of 1820, soon after the land sale of August at Delaware. The double cabin, found unoccupied by Mr. Baker on the ground afterward made the original village plat, had been occupied by Chandler and Hanford. The precise locality of this cabin was on the east side of what is now Main street, a few doors south of South street. Nearest them was Alexander erry, who owned 160 acres of land, embracing what used to be called * Berry's Hill," but afterward * Gospel Hill." He was then living with his second wife. He followed farming, and occupied this place till his death. It is now within the corporation limits. Barnett died but a short time ago, a poor man.

Alexander Holmes, one of the original proprietors. of Marion, never lived here; but his sons William, Alexander, Jr., and James, who came in 1821, lived here for some time and went further West. Samuel Holmes, another son, first settled two or three miles north, and afterward moved into town, where he finally died.

Eber Baker arrived March 4, 1821, bringing with him a family, also a brother-in-law, Reuben Smith. See political chapter for further notice of Mr. Baker.

Benjamin Davis came about 1822. He died about 1833, his widow surviving him many years. His only son died young. Several of his daughters were married to men well and favorably known in Marion - Louisa, to Rev. George W. Baker; Ann, to Hon. James H. Godman ; Minerva Marion, the first white female born in Marion, married J. J. Williams, Esq.

James Bowen settled here about 1823, and still resides in the log cabin he first entered, at the present toll-gate near the cemetery. The house is now covered with siding. In front is a locust tree, from the seed planted by Mr. B. when he first came, sixty years ago. Mr. Bowen is now about ninety-three years of age, still an early riser, and is able to walk to town two or three times a week.

Among the earliest deaths were those of Dr. George Miller, a physician here during the earliest years of Marion, who died November 15, 1825, aged thirtyseven years; Dr. E. Ballantine (not practicing) died October 7, 1825, aged sixiy-eight years; Dr. Simon A. Couch, November 17, 1826, aged thirty-two years; Ebenezer Ballantine died in July, 1825; Benjamin Hillman, October 19, 1826 ; Thomas Backus, October 24, 1825, in his forty-first year; Elisha Crosby, a merchant, February 9, 1827, aged twenty-five years.

General Progress

April 3, 182%, is the date of the acknowledgment of the town plat by Eber Baker, who named the place after Gen. Francis Marion, of Revolutionary fame, and he lived to see the village he laid out become a place of some 2,500 inhabitants, with a large trade, and with two important railroads running through it. During this year, the question of locating the county seat began to be agitated, The Legislature appointed Commissioners to select a suitable site for the county seat of the newly created county, whose boundaries had been defined and the county named as early as 1820. Of course there were many rival claims 'for the Jocation. Mr. Baker presented his place, pointing out its advantages. The Commissioners visited several localities, and finally concluded to report in favor of Marion. In law, the town had thus been created; in fact, there was one house and a patch of ground - perhaps five or six acres - that had been occupied by a squatter; the rest was in a state of nature. Probably the accessibility or wate?! was me turning point in deciding for Marion. At this time, Samuel Holmes seems to have been a practical surveyor, and was employed by Mr. Baker to survey the village plat, when he gave to the county the court house square and a lot for a jail, placing thereon a jail at his own expense. He also gave to the county the ground now occupied by the Kerr House and a lot north of it, and four lots for church purposes, and four for schoolhouses, and also a tract of ground for a cemetery, now known as the "Old Cemetery," and still under the control of the Township Board of Trustees.

* When we first came to Marion there was but one family living where the town plat now is; that was Alexander Berry's. He had a large family, principally boys, Abraham and Samuel being the eldest. They lived near Jacob's well. After the land was surveyed, Center Township was organized, and the first election for township officers was held at my father's house, and Elias Murray and David Tipton were elected Justices of the Peace. There were not to exceed twenty voters in the township at that time, and we still remained attached to Delaware County until this county was organized. :

" Some two years afterward, when Commissioners were appointed by the Legislature to locate the county seat, and came on for that purpose, they were invited to visit several locations, prominent among which were Marion, Claridon and my father's place on Rocky Fork. The interested parties of each place vied with each other in doing honors, and in giving receptions to the Honorable Board of Commissioners and other visitors, by sumptuous entertainments, which were accepted by them very gracefully. After viewing the respective localities, they stuck the stake at Marion. Then the enthusiasm of the people of that place recognized no bounds, and they got up an imprompiu jollification; and not having any artillery at hand, they improvised a substitute by boring holes in seveial large oak trees with a two-inch auger, and putting in charges of powder, which they fired. Some of the trees were shattered to fragments. The next thing in order was the election of officers."

At thefirst settlement of the town, people experienced great difficulty in getting grinding done. There were water mills .at Cardington and Delaware ; but when water was low, traveling was better and the mills more thronged than ever. To remedy the difficulty at Marion, Mr. Baker built a horse mill, which. was run for some time, with great benefit to the people.

The first tavern in Marion was on the lot occupied by a Mr. Chandler. He had built a double-log cabin, and in 1822 Mr. Baker added a one-and-a-half story hewed-log house in front - the first building after the town plat was laid out. It was about twenty feet square. These structures soon proved too small, and the next year he added a frame building. The boards were sawed out with a whip-saw by Mr. Baker's sons, Lincoln and Charles. The clapboards were rived with a frow and shaved. The next hotel here was started by a Mr. Hoddy, in a hewed-log house, about one mile north of the court house. About the same time, Squire Davis kept hotel at the corner of Main and South streets. Mr, Hoddy next built a large brick tavern on the west side of Main street, south of where the C., C., C. & I. Railroad now crosses it. This building was used for a number of years by John Merrill for a tailor shop, and by Curley Drake for a chair shop, till the old house was ready to tumble down. It disappeared long ago. Mr. Tootle built a two-story frame hotel at the northeast corner of Main and South streets. This house was called for many years the

Elisha Crosby started the first dry goods store on the original town plat. It was situated at the eorner of Main and South streets, which locality at one time became the business center of the town. William and James Holmes had a small stock of goods in a cabin. John and Ebenezer Ballantine had a small store about two miles north of town. In 1828, and afterward, there were general stores under the firm names of John E. Davidson & Co., and R. Lamb & Co. Inthelatter company were Caleb Howard and Richard Patten. f

The first house of any pretensions in Marion was built by Samuel Holmes. It is now standing next west of R. S. Fisk's. The Indians came in considerable numbers to see it. On the occasion of the death of one of their chiefs, a man of large size, Dr. Holmes, a brother of Samuel, "raised" the remains and hid them in the cellar of the house. The Indians, infuriated at the removal of the body, came to Marion on suspicion, to search the place. By this time the Doctor had carried his Indian into the woods west of town and boiled out the bones in a soap kettle. The Indians searched the Doctor's premises, but in vain, and they retired to their native wilds disappointed. Theskeleton of the chief hung up in Dr. Holmes' office for many a year afterward.

Samuel Holmes first settled on the farm now owned by E. Brewer and known as the " Pettit place." He built the large hewed-log house in which Mr. Fitzhugh afterward lived, and preserved the native grove which renders the place so beautiful.

Mr. Holmes' daughter, Mrs. J. S. Reed, remembers, when a child, seeing deer playing in the woods around the house, Indians passing along the trail, and seeing her sister drdwn in the spring east of the house, on the banks of the Rocky Fork. |

A large frame barn. which stood on the rising ground nearly opposite the Holmes house, was one of the original meeting-houses of the place; and many a sermon and exhortation was delivered here by the early preachers upon a ` congregation half of whom were " lolling " sleepily upon the hay and straw.

Marion in 1825 comprised seventeen families, to wit: Those of Eber Baker; George Baker, Benjamin Davis, David Tipton, Jr., Dr. George Holloway, ZHiggins, Jobn Baker, John O'Harra, James Withrow, Samuel Fish, Mrs. Dr. Miller, Col. H. Gorton, A. C. Priest, Eber Smith, Elder Bradford, James Jenkins and Dr. Simon A. Couch.

There were three taverns. Eber Baker kept a kind of aristocratic house, where all the Judges, lawyers, etc., "put up." He, however, had no tavern sign out. Hotel business must have been the chief industry, as about one-fourth of the population were engaged in it. Tavern rates in 1825, in Marion, were 64 cents|for lodging, 123 cents (New York "shilling ") for feeding a horse, and 182 cents fora meal of victuals; and to movers a large discount was made from. these rates.

The three stores were kept by Crosby & Co., W. & J. H. Holmes, and a Mr. Will. There were two blacksmith shops, one kept by Henry Peters in the north part of town, and the other by Benjamin Williams at the south end of Main street. Rev. George W. Baker had a horse-mill that would grind four bushels of corn per hour; toll for corn, one-fourth; for wheat, one-sixth; and Baker was an honest miller, not taking even what was due him. James Lambert afterward purchased this mill, and remodeled and enlarged it to some extent. It went down in comparatively early times, but the frame-work about the wheel remained until it was torn down in the fall of 1871. The wheel was about forty feet in diameter. A. C. Priest had a tan yard, J. L. Withrow a shoe shop, and John O'Harra a chair and bedsteadshop. The foregoing are all the manufacturing establishments that Marion had in 1825. There were also two doctors - George Halloway and Simon A. Couch; one lawyer, Charles L. Boalt; one minister, Elder Bradford; one jail, and at times it was pretty well led.

The town in 1827 differed but little from the foregoing picture; but an old resident, who came to the place that year, adds the following particulars :

Large trees still existed upon the court house square and all*through what is now the business center. Main street and the swales were the only parts clear of timber. A swale existed back of the site of the Magruder Novelty Saddle Works, crossing Main street near the Sarles stone building, where Samuel Kraner now lives, running around near the west end of Bennett's Block, where the post office now is, crossing Center street, and meeting another swale from the court house square at or near the rear end of Leonard's Block, and then running west through the rear end of J. H. Reed's lot and the front of Judge Bennett's, John J. Hane's, F. P. Seffner's, the schoolhouse and other lots, and where Center street now is, to the line of the present ditch not far from the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad track. Near where Samuel Kraner now lives, there was a tree, turned out of root, that was used by pedestrians to cross the swale at that point ; and where the old "war road" crossed this swale, on what is now J. H. Reed's lot, was a puncheon bridge to cross the swale.

Calvin Barnett lived in a double log cabin, on the west side of Main street, between Mr. Mintzenberg's and Mr. Prosser's. In the fall of 1827, his cabin was partially destroyed by fire. He moved to the Schall farm, and afterward built a house not far from where George H. Kling's new residence stands, on the east side of Main street.

Going north on Main street (west side), the next building was Widow Berry's log cabin, nearly where Jacob A. Snyder's residence now stands. Abraham Kline lived in a frame house on or near where Edward Durfee now lives. He had a tannery on his premises. Benjamin Davis kept tavern in a hewedlog one-and-a-half-story house, on the lot where. John Hardy now lives. On the David Mouser lot, Elisha Davis had a hewed-log house of one room, adjoining the tavern, and used in connection with it by the latter for an office.

Next north was Dr. Couch's office, but occupied in the fall of this year (1827) by Col. Gorton as a County Auditor's office. This little frame was really on South street. It was afterward removed to the lot on the west side of Main street, where T. C. Hoxter resides. The next building was a little frame built by William Crosby, and used by him for a store; afterward by William Bain . for the same purpose. The latter had a hewed-log house of one story on the lot where his widow afterward resided, now occupied by Saiter's stove store. It stood some distance from the street.

No building then existed between the last-named point and the premises now occupied by Moore Brothers and Yake & Uhler's stores. This building was a two-story brick, with two rooms above and two below, with an " L" at the north end. It was then both a store and a dwelling.

Next north, where Bartram's Block now is, there was a one-story frame building, about sixteen feet wide, running north to the alley. It was used by Jared Bartram for a tailor shop, and afterward by Richard Wilson for a chair shop. The next building was a one-story héwed-log house, on the ground now occupied by Gregory's grocery, twenty-eight feet from the street, owned by Peter

| * Mark, who sold it to Judge Bartram, and the latter used it for a dwelling. Where Conrad's brick block now stands was a two-story log house, which aft many years was used for a shoe shop by William Cronk. The next was the Hoddy taverf, on the Conrad lot, next to the ©, C., C. & I. R. R. This must have been quite a pretentious house in its day, aq it was a two-story brick, 20x66, with an * L," eto. d

The house now occupied by Widow Clark, immediately north of the C., C., & I.R. R., was occupied by John B. Salmon as a residence; it was built by Dr. George Miller. The little brick building next north was used in 1827,

. by Nathan Peters for a cabinet shop." Nathan Peters resided in a hewed-log house on the fot where Philip Dietrich nów lives, but back some distance from the street. Where the two-story brick north of the Kerr House aat Mar-

John B. Salmon's cabinet shop was a frame building on the south lot of the Catholic parsonage property. Noah Kimple lived in a double log house on the Conover property. The Holmes Brothers had their first store in this house. One-half this building was of round poles, and the other scutched. Mrs. Hillman lived in a frame house on the lot where Mrs. Snider now lives, which was formerly known as the "Corn property." Judge William Holmes resided in a one-and-a-half-story frame on the ground where William Koontz's residence

A two-story hewed-log building used by Dr. Mills for a dwelling, on the twelve-acre lot now owned by Jacob Blaich. Where Mrs. Kent's house now stands was an old round-pole cabin used * promiscuously." Next was a two- Story hewed-log house in which James Jenkins, the first Treasurer of Marion County, died. Atos i

Elder Bradford, a Baptist minister, had a two-story log house north of the present McMurray & Fisher's carriage factory. Alvin C. Priest lived on ground now partly occupied as a lumber yard by Mr. Huber. Priest had a one-and-a-half-story hewed-log house, a bark house and a tannery. The brick house north of the railroads was next south of Priest's. This house was built by Col. Hezekiah Gorton for a residence. South of this, William Norris had a little frame shoe shop. Samuel Calvert lived in q small frame house adjoining. Where ihe Huber Machine Works now stand, Maj. George H. Busby built a emall one-story brick residence, which was also used for the County Clerk's and Recorder's offices, which he then held. Richard Wilson's.chair shop in 1828 was a small one-story frame on this lot. The two-story brick residence now known as the Hudson House, was built by Daniel Musser.

Adam Uncapher built a two-story frame dwelling on the lot where the Kerr House stands. This dwelling had one room and a hall on the first floor. It was afterward incorporated into the. American House.

Samuel Calvert, saddler, had a little clapboarded frame building on the court house lot, toward the southwest.corner. Dr. Couch's residence was on the Thew corner, a one-story brick building with attic. The John Tootle tavern, the old " Catch-all," was the next, standing on the corner of South and Main streets. The old stone house south of Leffler's grocery was the residence of John Ashbaugh, who had a pottery back of it on the same lot. Next was Eber Baker's tavern. Where Kowalke's residence is, Judge Thomas J. Anderson had a one-story brick dwelling. Benjamin Williams had a little onestory stone house where Charles Irmer lives, and near the same place, Mr. W. had a blacksmith shop.

the village. Charles Baker lived in a frame house where J. S. Reed's residence is now. The old horse mill stood nearly opposite the present residence of John J. Williams. The latter place was occupied by a large hewed-log house, built by Rev. Baker, the most of it being erected by himself alone. The Sheriff occupied a building adjoining the jail. John Baker lived in a hewed-log house, where McNeal & Wolford's office now stands. The latter is in fact the same building, turned around and re-modeled by Judge Bowen. John O'Harra lived on the corner of Center and West streets. The Methodist parsonage was on Dr: Sweney's west lot; it was of hewed logs. Near the corner of West and Silver streets, Jacob Rice had a little distillery and horse-mill, and a residence a short distance south. Dr. Holloway's frame dwelling was where Henry True _ now resides. Mrs. Baughman lived in a iog house where Mr. Painter was living a few years ago, and her son Michael in a small cabin near the east line of what was Judge Bennett's pasture, south of Mr. Ryan's.

In the Independent of February 13, 1879, an old resident published some reminiscences concerning the western portion of Marion as it existed in 1828, and for a short time afterward. We cannot do better than to quote the article verbatim :

* While we had no churches [buildings] in Marion in 1828, we had the primary frontier convenience, a schoolhouse, which in the liberality as well as necessities of pioneer inhabitants, were always open to the gathering of the people, be they religious, political, mental, moral, or fun-loving and farcical. Our schoolhouse was of brick. situated on Lot 142 of the original town plat ; or, that those who may have not traced the numbers of the lots may know, it was situated upon the lot and present site ofthe large one-story brick just north of the residence of John O'Regan. It was burned down in the year 1832, if I remember rightly, during a term of court, and with it also a portion of the county records ; and the present main building, eight feet longer than the former one, took its place untilj we adopted the union school system [in 1842.] You will readily discover that the house of 1828 was of quite limited capacity, and yet it was our court house, meeting house for the different religious denominations then among us (not quite as many as we now have), elections of all kinds ; and,let me say, the first political caucus ever held in Marion was at that schoolhouse, to nominate a candidate for Representative to the State Legislature.

* Here was convened the meeting for the organization of the Presbyterian Church of Marion, presided over by Revs. Van Deman and Jenks, both from Delaware County. The house being found too small, as well as inconvenient, by reason of the construction of seats and writing desks, and this being an unusually large assemblage for the organization of the church and administration of the sacrament, the people withdrew to the 'Grove,' which was a nice, clean shady partof the same lot and adjoining woods, open, though well shaded with massive oaks, the primitive occupants of the soil. - L

'* My impression is that there are some others in the county who participated in the ceremonies of that day, though perhaps not now members of this church. There is the sister of Mrs. Busby (deceased in January, 1879), Mrs. Isabella Clark, nee Kennedy, who was present, but whether then a member and partook of the sacrament, I do not remember; my recollection was she did. There.were some, indeed a large portion of the members in that day residing in the country. I cannot recall to mind any that are now living, unless Mother McElvy be one. * r

« There was no improvement on West street south of the schoolhouse, unless a brick yard and shed upon the lot where Mr. Linsley now lives Pubs be considered such. - On Center street, on the lot lately belonging to Col. Busby, John O'Harra had a long, one-story log building, composed of three cribs or divisions, living in the east and middle ones, and using the west one for a chair shop. Opposite to that, and upon the north side of Center street, where the pine tree stands in the front yard of Mr. Howard Copeland's residence, stood a low, one-story log cabin, composed of logs of a larger size than the usual little buildings first erected along the line of the old war road, but with clapboard, roof, and in true pioneer style. It was occupied in 1828 by John B. Salmon as a cabinet-maker's shop. Northwest of it and near the place where the east end of Mr. Copeland's little wood-house stands, was still remaining the little bridge or culvert used by the soldiers of the war of 1812, with its puncheon covering, over which was drawn the cannon that went to the North, and maybe those that told so well upon the enemy at Fort Stephenson. Upon the west lot, now owned by Dr. Sweney, was situated the Methodist Episcopal parsonage ; but ` the lot where the Doctor's house stands, and all west of the parsonage to Mr. Holmes' orchard, was unimproved.

* [ caught a fine swarm of bees upon a hickory bush near where the east wing of the Doctor's house now stands, in 1828. This was a prize to me then. At that time, we had no bee-moth in this country, and my bees in a few years counted more than forty swarms ; but the terrible destroyer came and soon diminished the number. i

* Dr. Holloway bought three acres, situated between Center and South streets and west of the town plat, and extending to where the street east of the residence of J. E. Davids now is ; and W. Bain bought seven acres next to that, and extending to a line west from the south line of the town ; and Judge Bennett bought where the school lot now is, or all lying between his lots where he lived and the east line of the Henderson lot, now Campbell's, and I think all commenced clearing up in 1828. The lots where Judge Bennett lives, and those north of them, and the lot where the Presbyterian Church now is were in the brush. The two north of where the church now is had been cleared, and a garden was cultivated on one, and a small nursery of fruit trees was on the other. Judge Bennett, I think, purchased and improved the lots where he resides, in 1829. That beautiful but mammoth oak, now spreading its lofty branches with so much grandeur, was deprived of its top in the spring of 1829, when the tree was perhaps six to eight inches in diameter at or near the ground. Little did I then expect ever to see such a tree as the present one in its place. :

Chair Factory Lots

'¢ All that location north of the schoolhouse above mentioned, or north of the alley on the north side of that lot, was composed of Outlots 6, 5 and 4 of Holmes' Addition, extending to the north line of the Scott orchard. But there was a comfortable log house standing a little west and north of the present residence of Mr. Diegle. .

Distillery

"This distillery was of the old copper-worm order, and west of and attached tq it was a horse mill, to aid in the prepáration of the mash, and on the north that other necessary appendage, a hog pen. Within and in close proximity to the ditch, but separated from it by an open stone wall, was the well from which was obtained the water for the mash. This well was about five feet wide and four feet deep, and afforded the necessary amount of water for all practical purposes, as it was regularly replenished from the ditch. This establishment was under the supervision of the same John O'Harra that carried on the chair shop above mentioned, on Center street, but by another man as de facto operator, by the name of Randall Tyler, the memory of whom, doubtless, still lingers in the minds of some citizens.

"In the spring of 1829, our old pioneer friend, Jacob Rice, from Shepherdstown, Va., succeeded to the possession and control of those premises, and continued for several years, when he left and went West, to 'grow up with the country,' and that was an end to the distillery businesss in that location. But the dwelling house remained and formed a residence for W. G. Johnson for severa! years, and the main building of the distillery remained standing until 1847, when the writer of this paid $3 for it, took it down and converted a part of it into lintels in the erection of a brick house, and disposed of the rest for divers purposes. * * *

Other Old Landmarks

* There was a road, or what the Yankees calla 'path, leading from the Kennedy tavern, where the Conrad Block now is, past the schoolhouse ; and a small cabin built by Jacob Nichols, an Englishman, in the hollow east of where John Diebold's garden now is; thence across that knoll, then thickly covered with small brush, and thence to Abel Tompkin's, now Gorenflo's ; thence to Reuben Smith's, now Kling & Wallace's; near Smith's stone quarry, then Bowdish & Ballantine's, now Mr. Conley's; thence to Hillman's Ford. It was mostly used for horsemen and foot passengers, but wagons also passed over it.

"Time has obliterated the last traces of most of those things, but a few pioneers will recall them to mind, and with them those singular men, Jacob Nichols and Johnnie Appleseed, the leather stockings of Marion, who, many long years ago, went West to plant their nurseries and 'grow up with the country.' "

Gane M. Koons, one of the earliest blacksmiths of Marion, used to make business for himself, when Indians brought their guns to him for repairs, by stealing an opportunity, when the Indian's back was turned, to fracture the spring a little, and then calling the red man's attention to the fact that his gun needed a new spring or a new lock, as the case may be. Many an extra coonskin he is said to have "earned " off the " poor Indian " in that way.

Sundry Beginnings

The first physician who located in Marion was Dr. Simon A. Couch. To .build an office for him Eber Baker set his sons Lincoln and Charles to work, cutting down a tree and sawing out some lumber with a whip-saw, and they soon had the little structure completed.

The first dentist was Dr. Barnhart, although a Mr. Garwood had practiced. in this line a little before his day; then "Theodore H. Dickerson, E. C. Throckmorton and William S. Drake. i

The first daguerrean artist was Maj. Magee, from Georgia, a jolly man; then Mr. Frary, W. H. Moore, Moore & Green, Moore & Reynolds and Prentice & Mar first marble works were run by Milo Lumbard. The first livery stable was probably kept by Wallace Hoxter and W. J. Clugston.

The first menagerie and circus show in Marion was in 1831, which was exhibited on the lot now occupied by the Conrad store, corner of Main and Railroad streets.

John Wildbahn was the first to introduce instrumental music in the church, which he did by means of a bass-viol, that " great, ungodly fiddle," as many considered it.

by Michael Coon, then Stokes, William H. Wallace and finally Toven. The latter brought to Marion the first steam engine ever set up in the place, and in the above establishment carried on also a linseed-oil factory, a screw press being 'used. This was on the corner of Railroad and East streets. A prosperous business was done here for many years, both in wool carding and oil pressing, until about 1855, when it was discontinued.

In 1835-37, a steam grist and saw mill at the south end of the village was run by Olney R. Stone, whose engineer was one Winterhalter, and afterward * Steam Mill" Wheeler. Thomas M. Sloàn had a carding-machine at the north end of the village, run by horse-power and engineered by the Merrits.

The first foundry and machine shop in Marion was started in the southern part of town by Samuel Tillotson. He afterward sold out to Levi Bair, and he to Messrs. Rice. About thirty years ago, John Gurley ran a foundry and manufactured steam engines, machinery, fixtures of all kinds in the line of iron and steel, atoves, etc.

The first stores opened in Marion were branches from other towns, unless the Holmes firm formed an exception. The village was laid out in 1822. In 1824, when the county was organized, there were three stores, three taverns and several workshops and cabins. The stocks of goods were small and consisted of whisky, tobacco, powder and lead, cotton cloth and calico. These were the staples, and there was no money in the country. Every one wanted to buy, but no one had anything to pay with. Coon, mink and deer skins were legal tender, and great quantities of them were gathered in by traders. Credit was freely given to the people, and as a large part of them were transient and single, there were many flittings, and loans were about equal to gains. Occasionally an exceptionally mean transaction was advertised, and the office of. Judge Lynch was threatened in plain terms by the people, to deter a repetition of similar outrages.

Business of all kind was conducted on a small scale. In 1829, the entire receipts of the County Treasurer amounted to but $696.30, and thecounty was in debt $842.95. In 1834, the receipts were $3,583.82. Wolf scalps were paid for to the extent of $7.75. In this, or the previous year, the Commissioners sold off the office lots, on Main street, at public sale, and announced to the public that the new court house was done, and would be occupied August 31, 1833. The first barber who regularly opened out to stay was Simon Pierce, who announced himself in a fearful deliverance of poetry, ending with, * Hon esty carries a smooth skin.' Simon was a tough shaver; was religious by spells, and was a very Samson in strength, both physical and noseographical. He settled in 1834, and for many years was a landmark on our streets. In - - - A - - ohasa he LL D eu e Ll e cR

Marion public. He has outlived a generation of patients, and enjoyed an extensive and, it must be said, successful practice. He is a generous, liberal, public-spirited man, full of good works, and known as the poor man's friend. September 5 of that year, a meeting was called at Calvert's tavern to take under consideration the mode of a " regular forced graveyard." This year Summundewat, and two other chiefs of the Wyandots, advertised for proposals for a grist mil] near Upper Sandusky, for the use of the Indians. January 2, 1836, an effort was made to have the streets graded and paved. A meeting was held in the court house and $700 subscribed to be expended on Main street.

With slow growth the village made its way 3 to 1839. Goods were sold at enormous prices, and credits were the rule. But little money entered into trade. The merchants bought cattle, horses, hogs, grain, furs, etc., and turned them into money. Very few made both ends meet; no one made anything beyond a living. As an illustration of the independence of the old regime merchants, we mention an instance that occurred on the lot now occupied by Moore's grocery, where Joel D. Butler kept a store. Butler came from Delaware and established a branch store for a firm in that place. Everything was kept neatly in place, and no crowd could induce him to wrinkle and tumble his goods. A lady came in one day and was a little hard to please, as ladies are, once in awhile, nowadays. After what would be called a brief showing by modern clerks, Butler left the lady, came round the counter and filled and lit his pipe, and sat down, saying, " You don't want a d d thing, and you had better clear out - the sooner the better." With all his brusqueness: the man managed to own his store and the room next north, which he afterward sold to J. S. Reed & Co., who occupied it for a long term of years. He did, however, fail, having adhered to old methods of business until he used himself up in the unequalcontest. He took money of the farmers, paid them interest by the year, kept no regular account of his indebtedness, made no provision for payment, and by and by, when his creditors called for money, failed.

In this year, the need of a bell for funerals, meetings and court purposes was felt, and as the Commissioners declined to go to this expense, the people raised money and bought one. By agreement, it was placed on the court house, and was to be used by the several churches, the public and the county. All expense was met by subscriptions, not a dollar by taxation or the county treasury, and the bell belongs to the donors, the county having no right to sell or dispose of it. 3

As this bell was the first one ever brought to the county, the citizens naturally desire it to be kept as a relic of olden times. In an eastern town its sale or removal would cause a riot. But in newer sections reverence and history are comparatively unknown factors. We introduce the old bell because its purchase was made by the old merchants and citizens, now nearly all dead. When the money was raised, a dollar was equal to twenty now, and many a contributor felt the loss of his donation. Should it be disposed of, when too late it would be regretted. Marion would then regret that coming generations could have no relic of the old time. By all means save the old bell for the future ibrar memorial hall. i 1 rd 1839, T. M. Sloan kept a store where Patten's grocery now 18; Richard Patten, where Fahey's store is kept; G. H. Busby, where J. Strelitz & Son have their store; J. S. Reed & Co. had store and bank where Yake & Uhler now is ; J.D. Butler, where Moore's, grocery now is ; Hardy & Spalding, where Haberman's hardware store is; E. Hardy, where Eckhart's clothing store 1s ; Kimble & Kendrick, where Oppenheimers and Barretts do business; Bain and Will- iams, where J. Fribley. & Co. hold forth ; Godman & Williams, where Wyatt is; Search & Miller, where Harshberger and Terpany & Rhoads do business ; H. & E. Peters, where Mrs. Walters harness shop is; Davidson, where Kleinem's clothing store is, and Ault & Gordon, where Matthews' grocery was, east of court house. Of all this long list there survives but the following, viz.: H. and E. Peters, William Hardy, B. H. Williams and J. S. Reed.

About this time, a Yankee merchant opened out, and cut down the old system, by selling for cash at small profits. The old traders, who had taken up the business without training, were shocked. Every effort was made to drive off the Yankee, but in vain; he had come to stay. Gradually, the business of the county changed into better shape. Farmers prospered, for they saved half their expenses ; merchants prospered, for they ceased to lose their profits in bad debts. In place of stocks of goods amounting to $2,000 or $3,000, stocks of $20,000 or more began to be common.

Wheat was hauled by wagon to the lake, and the teams loaded back with goods. Wegive a sample of the receipts given by the teamsters on these occasions :

Received Marion, Ohio, October 2, 1842, forty-two bushels wheat in good order, to deliver in like order to Townsend & Henderson, Sandusky City, Ohio, at 20 cents a bushel, payable in goods. I agree to haul back load at 314 cents per hundred, also payable in goods. Received on account $2 in cash.

John Griffith D. R. Griffith

signed by the farmers of the day. Among them we notice John Thompson, ` Adam Sherman, M. Brown, N. Stoneberger, Jacob Baker, John Downs, Thomas Bloxam, Nathan Rayl, William Griswold, Jacob Retterer, John Downs, Adam 'Fink, James Lambert and Thomas Slick.

It was a great undertaking to get off the wheat taken in for goods during the winter, and to sell and re-invest in goods, and get them back into store again. There were so many changes in value, so many expenses and risks, that but few merchants succeeded. The statistics of Marion County mercantile business establish failure as the rule, and success as the exception.

Railroads gave Marion the go-by for many years after they were introduced into Ohio. Bucyrus, Kenton, Delaware and Mansfield had received an impetus from rail long before Marion had any hope of hearing the steam whistle. But when once the county was crossed by the old B. & L, others soon followed, and now Marion can count more routes than any of them. Railroads banished the old style of business.

The long string of covered wagons, frequently fifty in one line, loaded with - grain for thelakes,; each with bed and lunch box. which slowly and patiently toiled over the long distance, with its night encampment, its camp fires and pleasant groups of story tellers, have disappeared, and is now known only by tradition. The old-fashioned store with its scant stock of staples; its handy whisky bottle and tin cup; its ample day book and its ledger; its quaint salesman with few words and plain dress, and meager pay ; its fearful prices with Noah's ark fashions - all these have gone to the death to be seen no more! Young America with its * make or bust," its plate glass windows, its expensive, fashionable goods, dandy-dressed clerks, diamonds, and lavish salary, and the woman of the period equal in fashionable extravagance - all these have come in, and the cost and expense of the modern machine would have: shocked the old-timer, and driven him into suicide.

The first attempt at banking came in as an incident of mercantile business as early as 1839. J.S. Reed & Co. lent their receipts to cattle dealers, who paid interest on the money, and repaid in exchange on New York. The lat- ter was worth two to ten per cent premium. From small beginnings they grew, until the concern opened an office for banking alone. The nearest bank was in Columbus, and people found it convenient to be able to do this business at home. The present Marion County Bank is the succession to this first banking venture, and it is under the same ownership and management. Later, the Deposit Bank and the Farmers' Bank came in and succeeded. Since banking has been introduced with regular eapital and organization there have been no failures or suspensions. The men engaged in the business have actual capital and are not adventurers, and there is no county in the State where money can be procured more conveniently than in Marion. It is the money center for the counties adjoining. Other county seats show more handsome buildings, more display and more style, but they also show meager bank balances and plenty of mortgages on their big blocks and fine houses. The absence of these latter ornamental plasters upon Marion real estate, forms one of the most pleasing features in an examination of the county records.

Business Establishments

The oldest business house that is still operating, without change of firm, is that of T. J. Magruder's Novelty Saddle Works, which were established January 2, 1854. William Rutan was with him the first year. Mr. M. has added some improvements to the business, among them a style of pad trimmings and a military saddle-tree, for which latter he received a diploma from the Ohio State Board of Agriculture in 1866. |

Chair Factory. - The principal chair factory that has been in existence in Marion was located on the corner of West and Silver streets. A small building was first erected here many years ago for a button factory, by H. Scott & Son, but before it was started into operation as such, additions were made to it and the whole establishment converted into a carding mill by Nyrum Rundle and woolen factory by the Longe brothers, and as such was run by them during the war and afterward.

The building was next converted into a chair manufactory, about 1872, and a flourishing business in this line was carried on by a company consisting of Capt. Elisha Hardy, H. Copeland, J. R. Paddack and M. J. O'Brien, until July 25, 1876, when an incendiary fire swept it all away, Capt. Hardy losing the building. Total loss, about $16,000. The same fire burned down George Diegles house; loss, $2,500. The main building in this establishment was 50x100 feet in dimensions. Since then no factory has been rebuilt upon the premises.

The Huber Manufacturing Company. - In the spring of 1866, nine years prior to the organization of the present company, Mr. Edward Huber became a member of the firm of Kowalke, Hammer & Co., in the proprietorship of a planing mill. In 1870, that firm was changed to Huber, Gunn & Co., who manufactured the Huber Revolving Hay Rake. The present company, as named at the heading of this paragraph, was incorporated in January, 1875, to carry on the business of manufacturing and selling agricultural implements and machinery, and virtually succeeded to the business and good will of Huber, Gunn & (o. and Holmes & Seffner, consolidating the property of the two firms. The incorporators were Edward Huber, E. Durfee, J. J. Hane, Lewis Gunn and M. W. Haines.

The-eapital stock of the present company was originally $75,000; but this was soon found inadequate to the business, and in 1881 it was increased to $150,000, with a surplus of $20,000, making $170.000 capital actively emloyed. The only specialty: manufactured by this company at the start was the Huber Revolving Rake, the invention of Mr. E. Huber, to which was soon added the Huber Revolving Steel Road Scraper and Steel Dump Scraper, followed by the Huber Farm Engine, all the product of Mr. Huber's inventive genius. Later on, the Huber Grain Thresher, the joint product of Mr. Huber and Mr. F. Stroble, was brought out, and proved as successful as those that superseded it in the market.

The product of the company is being sold in nearly every State in the Union, and some little is being done in the way of export to other countries. The company employ in the aggregate about 150 men in all the different departments, and manufacture per annum 150 engines - plain, locomotive and straw-burning ; 150 grain threshers of all sizes, from the smallest commonly used tothe mammoth machine used in the Northwest ; 2,000 revolving steel scrapers, 3,000 steel dump scrapers, and 6,000 revolving hay rakes, besides

The working force is divided into departments, as wood workers, painters, blacksmiths, boiler-makers, sheet iron workers, molders and machinists ; and each department is presided over by a foreman, who is in turn responsible to the Superintendent for the management of his particular department. The whole is so thoroughly systemized that all parts move along with perfect har mon

'and Superintendent ; A. J. Brockett, M. D. (Cleveland), Vice President; S. E. Barlow, Treasurer, and J. Swinnerton, Secretary ; who have the management of the whole business in connection with the present Board of Directors as advisory. The board comprises E. Huber, M. W. Haines, E. Durfee, J. J. Hane, G. H. Kling, T. P. Wallace, J. C. Titus and A. J. Brockett.

Mr. Huber has perfected and brought out * The Huber " straw-burning engine, which has taken its place at the front in the Northwest, and held it to the exclusion of all others, while "The Huber" locomotive has kept it company, and invaded the other territory, being used largely by contractors in building pikes and roads in nearly every section of the country, as well as by farmers to thresh their crops and move them to market.

Thecompany occupy about five acres of ground, with their shops, offices, lumber yards and shipping arrangements, and pay out annually in wages to employes about $60,000.

The building used as a wood working shop was originally a church, and used as such for a long time, and afterward as a school, and then converted into a sash and door factory, and finally remodeled and added to and converted to its present use. The building used as a machine shop was originally built for a grain elevator, and by Messrs. Holmes & Seffner converted into a machine shop, and as such it has since been used. The company have added some fine buildings since, and will continue as the business increases from year to year.

This extensive foundry and machine shop is located near the C. & T. depot,and is one of the busy establishments of Marion. The main shop is 35x56 feet, and two stories. The foundry is 30x50 feet, with melting house attached, and an engine house 15x30 feet. A specialty here is the manufacture of a drain-tile machine, of which Abram La Tourrette is the inventor. It weighs 4,500 pounds, is made wholly of iron and steel, of the best material. It will make tile from two to nine inches caliber. It is probably the best tile machine in use. Mr. La Tourrette has the honor of having made the first tile machine ever made in the United States. He was then doing business in Waterloo, N. Y., and constructed the machine after models from England, adding many improvements of his own.

M'Murray & Fisher'S Carriage Works

This institution was established in the year 1866, by the firm of Moore & McMurray. The building was consumed by fire in March, 1868, when Mr. Moore retired from the firm, and J. W. MeMurray sueceeded him in the company, which now became T. J. & J. W. McMurray. These gentlemen immediately rebuilt the works. In 1870, W. B. Fisher became a partner, and the firm name was accordingly changed to MeMurray, Fisher & Co. In 1874, J. W. McMurray retired, and the firm name has since been McMurray & Fisher. Their building is a brick structure, 66 feet in frontage and 166 feet deep, is two-stories high, and cost $11,000. In this establishment the firm employs from eighteen to twenty-eight men, turning out annually about 300 carriages, buggies and spring wagons, and the business amounting from $30,000 to $40,000. Their buggies find a sale in the States and Territories all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific, including the largest cities, as New York, Baltimore, San Francisco, etc. This business was begun on a very small scale by Messrs. Moore & McMurray in 1866, but they have built up an extensive trade and earned an enviable reputation in their line of business.

Bieber'S Flouring Mill

This is the old academy. raised from a two to a three-story building, of brick, and furnished and run as a first-class flouring-mill. It is 45x65 feet in dimensions, contains four runs of buhrs, employs three hands, and has a capacity of sixty barrels per day, doing both merchant and custom work. In 1867, Mr. Bieber, in company with Mr. Keiler, purchased this mill, aud conducted the business under the name of Keiler & Bieber about eighteen months, when L. C. Haines purchased Keiler's interest, and the firm of Haines & Bieber continued one year; then Mr. Haines sold to his son, Monroe W., and one year afterward Mr. Bieber bought his partner's interest, since which he has been sole proprietor and manager.

Jacob Keiler'S Planing-Mill

This mil was built in 1875 or 1876, by the present proprietor, at an expense of $4,000. It is 24 by 100 feet in size, and is devoted to the manufacture of doors, sash, blinds and all kinds of building material, employing on an average eight men.

Clark Dix'S Tile Factory

This factory was started in 1869, on East Center street, near the eastern limit of the corporation. At this place is manufactured first-class drain tile of all diameters, from two to eight inches inclusive, averaging about 14,000 rods of tile annually.

Henry Shaffner'S Furniture Factory

HENRY SHAFFNER'S FURNITURE FACTORY. This factory is situated between South Main and East streets, was built in 1877. Mr. S. employs four men, and manufactures all kinds of furniture.

Stone Quarries

Marion is a city situated "upon a rock," and has thus not only a solid foundation as enduring as the " everlasting hills," but is as convenient as possible to the best material for the construction of walls, foundations of buildings, abutments, etc. both as to stone and lime. Below are noticed three of the principal quarries now being worked at Marion:

Haberman's Stone Quarry. - This is located three or four squares northeast of the court house, and was discovered in 1857, in the following manner: Mr. Christian Haberman tracked a rabbit that had been gnawing his young apple trees, to where it entered the ground between two rocks. In attempting to dig it out, he found he had struck a fine quarry of stone. He immediately purchased half an acre, paying $150, which has returned him thousands of dollars. It is blue limestone, and excellent for building purposes. He still works this quarry, contracting and building, having in his employ twenty men.

The Marion Stone Company comprises C. E. & G. E. Smith, whose quarry is situated about a mile northwest of Marion, on the C., H. V. & T. Railroad, and oifice in the Campbell Block. They commenced May 1, 1878, and now employ ten to thirty men, shipping blue and gray limestone, crushed stone and stone for walling, bridges, ranges and furnaces.

Norris & Christian commenced partnership in 1882, and work the largest limestone quarry in Central Ohio, having steam hoisting machines, etc. They also quarry and ship good building stone from the same place. They contemplate the production of 1,000 bushels of lime per day.

The "Marion Elevator,' on the C., C., C. & I. Railroad, toward the eastern part of the city, was built in 1852 by Ault & Gorton. It is 40x80 feet on the ground, and two stories high. Ever since the fall of 1854, it has been owned by Simon E. De Wolfe, who is now carrying on an extensive trade.

Gregorys Elevator was built by John Gregory in 1874, on the northwest corner of West and Railroad streets. It is 26x76 feet on the ground, and 74 feet high, and has a capacity of 70,000 bushels. It cost $20,000.

The earliest hotels or "taverns" have already been referred to. John Tootle's, about 1830 and afterward, became Isaac Kellar's, with the sign of the rising sun. ;

In 1837, four hotels were kept in Marion: Father Edward Kennedy's, in a brick building at the. corner of Main and North streets, kept for a time by a German named Groll ; Fred Byerly's, half a square south ; the Marion. Hotel, kept by Cyrus B. Mann, a good landlord, and the Mansion House, on the corner of Center and East streets, built by Eber Baker and kept by Father Parish. The Byerly Hotel was subsequently kept by Michael Coon, Joseph Stokes, the Messrs. Shaubs and J. E. Sands. It was rebuilt by Benjamin Kerns, and kept by Gen. Clark, who died of cholera iv 1854 ; then by C. B. Mann, Mr. Davis and Philip Loebrich. While the latter was in possession in 1859, the property was burned down.

In the Marion Hotel, Mr. Mann was succeeded by Mr. Young, John Search (who died of cholera in 1854), Fred Freese (who added another story, and changed its name to American; A. H. Brown, architect and builder), Freese,

The Marion House was once kept by George Smith, who, in 1859, ran away in debt to many. This was afterward changed to American House, and conducted by A. Paxson, A. Germain, C. B. Mann & Son, etc. P. Loebrich kept the United States House before the war. R. Gray had Gray's Hotel. ;

Kerr House. - This imposing four-story brick structure was built in 1873, on the site of the old American House, by Robert Kerr, who still owns it, and was opened as 2 hotel April 14, 1874, by J. Cochran, who kept it until 1877, when the present landlord, Mr. Johnston, took possession. It is 60x120 feet, and cost about $60,000.

Hotel Marion - This modern hotel building was erected in 1882-83 by A. H. Kling, George H. Kling and J. J. Hane, at a cost of $40,000 to $50,000. Its walls are made of pressed brick, with Amherst stone trimmings, while internally the wood work is of Georgia and white pine, not painted, but tastefully finished in the natural wood.

The main structure is four stories high, not including the basement, which is fitted up for a barber shop, laundry, etc. On the first floor is located the hotel office, 18x45 feet. Off from it is the ladies' reception room, reading room, sample rooms and a conveniently fitted wash room. In the rear of the office is a large and well-lighted dining-room, complete in all its appointments. On the second floor are large, double parlors. The rest of this floor and the two upper floors are divided into sleeping apartments, and all of them are well lighted, pleasant rooms. The house is fitted with an elevator, fire escape and bath rooms, while in the third story is atank of 100 barrels' capacity to supply soft water for the use of guests. The whole number of rooms is sixty-one.

The building on the ground covers an area of 70x100 feet. It was completed in the summer of 1883, and rented to Mr. E. D. Ely, of Akron, Ohio, who, after newly furnishing it throughout, opened it for the accommodation of the public August 15, 1883. Mr. Ely is a gentleman well and favorably known throughout the country as a thorough hotel man, and also as a courteous landlord, and since the evening it opened the Hotel Marion has been overflowing with guests.

C. & A. Railway Hotel. - This neat and commodious two-story frame building, just completed, fronts the Chicago & Atlantic and the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio tracks, just west of the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo track. Lunch and dining rooms are the specialty.

Prior to 1840, the entire money business of the county was done at Columbus, Delaware and other adjoining places. Now Marion has a larger actual capital in its banks than any of its neighbor county towns, ånd is entirely independent in money matters. Large amounts are constantly on loan in Union, Hardin, Wyandot, Crawford and Marion Counties. Almost any reasonable amount of money can be raised in Marion, at short call, on good security. Ex-" cept one suspension some twenty years ago, which entailed no real loss to any one, the banks in Marion have stood sound and firm, enjoying the entire confidence of the people. They are owned and managed by actual money lenders, who, lending their own means, are not hable to be shut up by every panic. No interest is paid by any Marion bank upon deposits. Any good man, with good paper, can at all times get the money for his paper at a uniform rate, without being shaved. The banks are all unincorporated, private organizations, there being no national bank or other incorporated institutions in the county. The county and village municipal treasuries are also always in sound condition, carrying in the opinion of many entirely too large balances of money on hand. The same sound, conservative condition characterizes the merchants, traders and farmers of the county. Failures are rare, and success and thrift

.H. A. True and R. H. Johnson, under the firm name of J. S. Reed & Co., with a capital of $30,000. J.S. Reed was made President, and H. A. True Cashier. The bank was re-organized in 1843-44, under the name of "Marion County Bank." In 1856, R. H. Johnson succeeded Dr. True as Cashier, and has since held that relation with the bank. This bank issued the first certificate of deposit that was given in Marion County, and at the present time has it in its possession. The present'owners of the bank are: J. S. Reed, President ; ^R. H. Johnson, Cashier; Henry True, Assistant Cashier; and J. H. Reed.

The bank now. has a capital of $100,000, and, although not incorporated, each member is individually responsible for the liabilities of the bank. This institution has been conducted by the original owners, and is kept in the family, according to the old English system. It is the oldest banking house in Marion, and for forty years had a standing bank account with a bank in New York City. The Marion County bank has passed through all the financial panics without suspending business an hour, and has always been prompt in meeting its obligations.

Marion Deposit Bank. - This monetary institution was formed June 10, 1854, by Orren Patten and T. P. Wallace, under the firm name of Patten & Wallace, with Mr. Wallace as Cashier. The firm started with a small capital, and by careful, judicious management, in time became strongly established. The real stability of the bank was shown in 1857, when, in common with nearly all of such establishments, a run was made upon it, but only to establish it more firmly in the confidence of the depositors, as every engagement was promptly met. It was successfully conducted through every subsequent revulsion of business, without ever dishonoring a check. 'lhe deposit bank has pursued a very conservative course, never dealing in options or business that was attended with any risks; and as a result it has enjoyed alarger deposit business, for the last twenty years, than any bank in Marion County. The firm continued without change till the death of Mr. Patten, October 31, 1872. Since 1875, Mr. Wallace has been the sole owner and manager of the bank.

. The Farmers - Bank. - The Bank of Marion was chartered and organized in 1851, with a capital of $50,000, the principal stockholders being O. Bowen, W. W. Concklin, E. Hardy, William Bain, C. Brady, John Ballantine, etc. The first Directors were O. Bowen, W. W. Concklin, E. Hardy, C. Brady and William Bain. The Bank of .Marion continued in business until March, 1864,as à State bank. The various Presidents were Ozias Bowen, John Ault, W. W. Concklin, T. B. Fisher and A. Monnett. The Cashiers were W. W. Concklin, S. Moore, John Ault and John J. Hane. The Bank of Marion discontinued business in March, 1864, and in its place was organized the First National Bank of Marion, with -a capital of $125,000, with Robert Kerr, A. Monnett, C. Brady, N. Peters, J. J. Hane, L. C. Haines, F. Gooding, etc., as the principal stockholders. The first Directors were K. Kerr, A. Monnett, N. Peters, C. Brady and John Merrill. The officers elected : A. Monnett, President ; John Merrill, Vice President and John J. Hane, Cashier. A. Monnett, President, and John J. Hane, Cashier, served during the entire existence of the bank. In 1869, the First National Bank of Marion gave up its charter, and R. Kerr, A. Monnett, John J. Hane, L. C. Haines, George Snyder, Nathan Peters and F. Gooding organized the present Farmers' Bank of Marion, with a capital of over $100,000, A. Monnett being the President, and John J. Hane the Cashier. The Farmers' Bank has continued in business from 1869 to this date, with a capital stock of $100,- 000. John J. Hane has served continuously as Cashier from 1860 to this date (1883) in the Bank of Marion, First National Bank and Farmers' Bank.

Faheys Bank was established by T. Fahey in 1872, and since that time he has conducted a regular banking business. A. C. Edmondson is Cashier.

Marion Gas-Light Company

These men, during the fall, formed an incorparated company, and, November 29, 1861, elected A. H. Knowles, John E. Davids, J. W. Bain, H. Peters and A. H. Kling as a full Board of Directors. Mr. Bain was then elected President, A. H. Knowles, Secretary, and A. H. Kling, Treasurer.

The present Directors are T. B. Fisher, T. P. Wallace, R. H. Johnson, George H. Kling and J. J. Hane. Officers: R. H. Johnson, President; T. P. Wallace, Treasurer; and D. J. Humphrey, Secretary and Superintendent of the Gas Works. Factory at the southwest corner of West and Canal streets.

The gas factory has nine retorts, or three benches of three each. The proximate annual amount of gas manufactured is 2,500,000 feet. In the city are sixty-five street lamps lighted with gas, besides forty or more furnished with coal oil. The streets were never lighted with any species of lamps prior to the establishment of the gas works in 1861.

Miscellaneous Enterprises

The Building and Savings Association was organized in 1871, as a stock company, with shares at $100. Thomas W. Prosser, President ; E. Durfee, Secretary ; J. J. Hane, Treasurer; John J. Williams, Solicitor. The company dissolved in 1881, by limitation of term.

Masonic Block. - After the disastrous fire, described on a subsequent page, had destroyed the old Masónic building, the present magnificent block was erected on the same site, by True, Johnson & Co., at a cost, when labor and material were very cheap, of nearly $25,000. The upper, or third, story is owned by the Freemasons, and was dedicated by them June 24, 1878, with imposing ceremonies.

Wigwam. - This is a large, new and neatly built frame building, 54x96 feet in dimensions, erected in 1883, on the northwest corner of West and South streets, by a company of which George B. Christian is President, C. C. Pettit, Secretary and G. R. James, Treasurer. It is the theater for Marion, having stage and scenery equal to that of a first-class theater in the cities. Entertainments and public meetings of all kinds are held here.

Telephone. - This was established here about the 1st of July, 1882, by H. G. Reiser, who is Superintendent. Forty-five instruments are used in the city. No connection is yet made with other towns.

Municipal

The original plat of Marion, made in 1821, extended from a line sixteen rods north of the present New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad to thirty rods south of South street, and from the alley west of West street to that east of East street. Since then, nearly half a hundred additions have been made, until now the territory of the corporation is ten or twelve times as large. In the original plat, all the lots fronting east or west are 4x10 rods, while those fronting north or south are 5x8 rods, each containing one-fourth of an acre. Main and Center streets are five rods wide, and the others four. Alleys one

Additions to the Town of Marion. - Below is a list of the additions which have been made to the town plat of Marion from time to time, in chronological order, comprising the grantors' names, the date of filing for record, the number of lots or acres and the locality:

Eber Baker (Second), called "Third," November 8, 1848, twelve lots adjoining the original plat on ` the east, and both sides of Center street.

Wallace & True, August 9, 1873, twenty-two lots, from Center to South streets and from Orchard to Garden streets, being southwest of the Center Street School building.

Marion As An Incorporated Town

During the winter of 1829-30, the Legislature of Ohio passed an act incorporating the village of Marion as a town. The first entry in the record of the town reads as follows:

Be it remembered that on the 15th day of March, A. D. 1830, an election was held at the court house in the town of Marion, County of Marion, and State of Ohio, for the purpose of electing a Town Mayor, one Recorder and five Town Councils [councilmen] (trustees) ; and according to the returns of said election it appears that the following persons were duly elected to office, to wit: Nathan Peters, Mayor; Benjamin Davis, Eeri Trustees - Benjamin Williams, Eber Baker, Samuel Calvert, David Jenkins and Edward Smith; as certified by George Holloway and Benjamin Williams, Judges of said election, and attested by G, H. Busby, Clerk, who, according to the pollbook, were duly sworn according to law previous to their entering on the duties of their respective offices. ! i

Henry Peters, present, pleaded to be excused from serving as Marshal, on account of his brother Nathan's being Mayor. J. A. Pomeroy was appointed to the office of Marshal, in place of Henry Peters.

Then follow affidavits and bonds of officers, by-laws, etc. The amount of corporation tax, at 3 mille on the dollar, for 1830, is given in the record, from which it appears that the heaviest tax-payers were in order as follows: O. &. S. Crosby & Co., Bennett & Hardy, John E. Davidson, William Bain, Eber Baker, Joel D. Butler, Alvin C. Priest, Abraham Kline, S. S. Bennett, George H. Busby, R. Lamb & Co., James Swan, Alexander Holmes, William M. Holmes, Edward Kennedy, etc.

1838 - Mayor, John Wick; Recorder, James H. Godman; Trustees, J. Clark, John Bartrum, Nathan Peters, Joseph Durfes and Thomas J. Ander- 80D. 1884 - Mayor, David T. Fuller; Recorder, James H. Godman; Trustees, same as for preceding year.

1835 - Mayor, Frederick Byerly; Recorder, G. A. Moore; Trustees, John E. Davidson, Eber Baker, Zephaniah Fullon, Richard Wilson and David Epler.

The session of 1843 of the Legislature of Ohio repealed the charter of the town of Marion, and the only entry which appears on record concerning or in connection with the resolution is the following:

It seems' that there was not corporate business sufficient to justify the people for the trouble and expense of keeping up a distinct organization from that of the township. During the year ending March 17, 1841, there is not a single entry in the journal of proceedings. But by the year 1847, the growth of the village was such as to justify a renewal of the charter. Accordingly, Marion was again incorporated as a town, February 8, 1847, by a special act of the Legislature, describing the boundaries as follows: "So much of the territory of the township of Marion in the county of Marion as is included in the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of Holmes' Addition to the town of Marion, thence south three degrees east to the half section line dividing Section 22; thence north eighty-sever degrees east, to the center of said Section 22; thence continuing on said half section line, crossing the line dividing said Section 22 from Section 2/, to a point in the half section line dividing said Section 27, so that a line running south eighty-seven degrees west will strike the most southern line of Sloan's Addition to the town of Marion; thence south eighty-seven degrees west to the southwest corner of said Sloan's Addition; thence north three degrees west on the west line of said addition, to the section line between Sections 21 and 28; thence to the southwest corner of a lot owned by James H. Godman, Esq.; thence north three degrees west to the northwest corner of said Godman's lot, in the center of the road leading from Marion to Big Island; thence west with the center of said road to the southwest corner of a lot owned by Thomas Henderson, on which he now resides; thence along said Henderson's west line north three degrees west to the northwest corner of said lot; thence north eighty-seven degrees east; on said Henderson's north line, to a lot belonging toG. H: Busby; thence north three degrees west, on a line dividing lands belonging to heirs.of Samuel Holmes from lands belonging to said Busby, J. Bartrum, J. G. Clark's heirs, Joseph Bond and F. Raichley, to a point on the south line of lands belonging to the heirs of Peter Mark, at the northwest corner of said Raichley's lot; thence north, eighty-seven degrees east, on the south

The substance of Section 2 of the act is as follows: " It shall be lawful for all white male inhabitants of said town, having the qualification of elebtors of members of the General Assembly of this State, who have resided within the limits of said corporation for the term of twelve months. next preceding any election, to be held under this act, to meet at the court house in said town of Marion, on the third Tuesday of April next, and at such time and place annually thereafter as may be designated by the Town Council, and there proceed by plurality of votes to elect one Mayor, one Recorder and five Trustees, who shall be residents of said town, and otherwise possess the requisite qualifieations of electors at such election; and said Mayor, Recorder and Trustees shall eonstitute the Town Council, any five of whom shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided no tax shall be levied at any time except by a vote of the majority of the whole Council."

Sections 3 and 4 provide for sidewalks. Sections 5 to 7 provide for the levy and collection of taxes; Section 8 makes it the duty of the County Auditor to report finances to the County Treasurer. Section 9 declares that the schools shall remain under the control of the Township Trustees as before. Section 10 provides for fire companies. Section 11 for taxing shows. Section 12 transfers the property of the old town to the Council of the new corporation. As this section contains some important dates, it is given below entire:

"The Mayor, Recorder and Trustees of said town of Marion, in their corporate capacity as aforesaid, are hereby invested as the lawful.owner or proprietor, with all the real and personal estate heretofore held and owned by the Town Council of the town of Marion in their corporate capacity, under an act of incorporation passed February 22, 1830, repealed by an act entitled 'An act to repeal the act entitled " An act to incorporate the town of Marion, in the county of Marion, and for other purposes," passed February 29, 1843; provided all acts done or contracts made by the Trustees of Marion Township under the last-named act shall continue in force the same as if this act had not been passed."

Sections 13 and 14 conclude the act by reference to the general law for further powers and privileges; and the act is signed by William P. Cutler, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Edson B. Olds, Speaker of the Senate.

According to the provisions of the act of incorporation, an election was held April 20, 1847, which resulted in the choice of the following officers: Mayor, William Brown; Recorder, Robert King; Trustees, William Bain, John Ault, John Merrill, James H. Godman and David Epler. The last named, however, declined to serve as Trustee. At the meeting on May 7, Messrs. Brown, Merrill and Godman were appointed a committee to draft a set of ordinances for the government of the town. Their report, made May 14, was adopted.

July 22, Mr. Brown resigned the office of Mayor and John Bartram was. appointed in his stead; but the latter declined to accept the office, and Peleg Bunker was appointed July 30.

1851 - Mayor, G. R. Knapp; Recorder, T. P. Wallace; Trustees, Will. iam Bain, H. A. True, J. C. Norton, R. Patten and E. Steckel. 1852 - No record of an election. April 23, William Bain resigned as Trustee and Bradford R. Durfee was appointed in his place; T. P. Wallace resigned as Recorder, and James H. Barker was appointed in his stead; Edmund Steckel resigned as & Trustee, and John Gurley was appointed in his place. R. Patten resigned as Councilman (Trustee), and Benjamin H. Williams was appointed in his place.

1855 - Mayor, James H. Anderson; Recorder, S. A. Griswold: Trustees, T. B. Fisher, J. E. James, D. B. Krause, Harvey Peters and Charles Smith.

1862 - Mayor, T. B. Fisher; Recorder, H. M. Ault; Trustees, S. E. DeWolfe, J. Merrill, D. Jameson, David Mouser, Ira Uhler; by appointment during the year, to fil] vacancies, William Hesse and - - Turney.

From this date to the present, the Mayor, Clerk and six or eight Councilmen have been elected for two years, half of the Councilmen in 1870 be ing elected for one year only, so that half the Council would be renewed every year.

In July, 1852, the Town Council established a meat and vegetable market on Lot 37, being the northeast corner of Center and East streets. This served until the summer of 1857, when the present city hgll

was erected, 35x80 feet and two stories high, on the northeast corner of South and West streets; contractors, William Garberson and John Venning. It was used as a market house only three or four years. The lower story is now the engine house and city prison, and the upper is still the place of public meetings.

Fire Department

The first fire engine was purchased April 10, 1848, of McMillan, Irish & Co., of Middlebury, Summit Co., Ohio, for $950, including ail appur.

of nine-inch diameter each, which, with sixteen men, would discharge a stream of water through a two-and-three-quarter-inch hose horizontally to a distance of 160 feet, and perpendicularly 100 feet.

Since that time, various changes have marked the department. To day it is in good condition, consisting of- three companies and nearly seventy members, with a fine steam fire engine, engine house, hook and ladder department, etc.

The department is officered as follows: William Fies, Chief. Excelsior Fire Company: James A. Knapp, Foreman; John Glick, Assistant. Seventeen members, not counting the engineer, chief, etc. The engine isa Silsby rotary, costing $6,500, Sidney Moore, engineer. Huber Fire Company: E. D. Barlow, Foreman; James Fairbanks, Assistant; twenty-five members. Hand engine, purchased many years ago. Hook and ladder Company organized in 1876; twelve members; H. F. Snyder, Foreman.

Water Works

WATER WORKS. A movement was made in the fall and winter of 1881-82 for the establishment of Holly water works in the town of Marion. On January 2, 1882, a popular vote was taken to authorize the Council either to levy a tax of 2.5 mills yearly or issue bonds not to exceed $75,000, for a fund to build the works, and the result was 442 yeas and 391 nays. But, on account of certain defects in the proceedings, the enterprise failed. It is the intention, however, soon to go forward again with the work.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - The first Methodist class in Marion was formed by Rev. Erastus Felton in the winter of 1824-25, consisting of John Ashbaugh and wife, Benjamin Williams, wife and two daughters (Sarah and Elizabeth), Sarah Hillman, Henry Peters, and one or two others. Soon others were added, as Thomas J. Anderson and wife and Andrew Kinnear, Harvey Clark and Horace Strong and their families. All the above are now deceased except Henry Peters, now living in Upper Sandus- ky. The circuit then extended from Bucyrus to Worthington. For the characteristics of pioneer preaching and religious life, see the chapter entitled " Pioneer Life." There was preaching in Marion once in four weeks, the services being held in the old brick schoolhouse on West street, and in the evening. "Quarterly meetings" were held about once a year in Marion. It was not uncommon for people to go twenty or thirty miles to attend these meetings.

The oldest date in the " Trustees' book" is September 25, 1830, and it contains a rude pen sketch or picture of the old stone church, the first building owned by the Methodists as a house of worship in Marion. The account represented it as a one-story house, with three windows on each side; nothing is said about the front and rear appearance. The seats had no backs. The Trustees in 1830 were Andrew Kinnear, Chairman; William Godman, Secretary; Henry Peters and Thomas J. Anderson. They resolved to purchase In-lot No. 2 on East street, which was north of the present railroads, near where the Lutheran Churc> now' stands. Messrs. Peters & Anderson superintended the quarrying and hauling of the stone for the building, which edifice was not completed until 1842, although used since® 1833; and in 1845, the building was sold to Josiah S. Copeland for $175, to pay a claim of Thomas M. Sloan against the society for $20.

Prior to this, however, in 1842, a " Centenary Committee" had been appointed, who made arrangements to build a " chapel," 45x68 feet, on the northwest corner of East street and Railroad street (old North street). It was built and used until the railroad, constructed by it in 1852, became so noisy as to be intolerable, and at the same time the society outgrew the size of the building, and determined to build another and a larger structure. _ The old stone church is now a part of the Huber Machine Works.

The present church edifice on the southeast corner of Center and East streets, was erected in 1854, at a cost of about $9,000, with a seating capactiy of about 600. Toward the construction of this building,Gen. James H. Godman gave $3,500. i

A flourishing Sunday school is kept up in connection with this church, of which Daniel Uncapher is now Superintendent; average attendance, 146, with six officers and fourteen teachers besides the pastor.

German Methodist Episcopal Church. - On the southwest corner of South and West streets, where once stood Duncan's brewery, afterward J. B. Salmop's residence, there now stands the most beautiful church edifice in Marion; it belongs to the above-named society, who held their first meetings in the court house, Dr. J. Kindler being the first preacher, in 1845. At that time, J. H. Sauer and wife, who had belonged to the church in Cincinnati, moved to Marion and took hold with the minister. Rev. John Bier succeeded Dr. Kindler and did good work. The first converts were Peter Sehweinfurth and his brother John, the latter now being a prominent minister in the denomination. Rev. Bier's successors preached in the basement of the Methodist Episcopal Church till 1868, when the society resolved to build a chureh of their own. They were but few in number, and it looked like a large undertaking. However, they bought a desirable, well. located lot, and commenced to build under the supervision of Rev. J. Fleiner. The edifice was completed in 1869, under Rev. Charles Nachtriob. It eost over $9,000, and was paid for and dedicated free from all debt. It is 38x58 feet in size, with a tower about 120. feet high.

Ther» is now a membership of about eighty, with two class-leaders, namely, William Graceley and Adam Schweinfurth. There are also two local preachers, William Graceley and Charles Myers. J.C. Markert is the Superintendent of the Sunday school, which has an average attendance of about eighty. Commencing with about 1855, the pastors have been: Conrad Bier, two years; John Hurst, two years; Frederick Diether, two years; V.-Jahraus, one year; A. Warns, two years; John Schweinfurth, two years; John Kopp, two years; J. Fleiner, two years; C. Nachtrieb, three years; John C. Egley, three years; J. S. Schneider, three years; Dr. J. Braun, three years; and J. G. Herzer, since the fall of 1882.

Gwinn Chapel, African Methodist Episcopal Church. - The first meeting was held December 20, 1872, and the church organized about a week afterward, at the city hall, by the Rev. Emanuel Cumberland, with the following membership: A. P. Henderson, Henrietta Henderson, Harriet Highwarden, Matilda Day, Mrs. Jones, David Fields and George Davener. The first officials were A. P. Henderson, David Fields, George Davener and Matilda Day. Meetings were held at Mr. Henderson's residence and in the basement of the Methodist Church until their own church was erected in 1873-74, 35x48 feet iu size, on Park street, and costing about $3,000, Mr. Henderson footing a large portion of the bill. $ The pastors Tite ied Revs. E. Cumberland, M. M. Smith, H. A. Grant, - - Rich, N. M. Mitchell, - - - Montgomery and C. R. Green, the present incumbent. The principal revival was under the Rev. Grant's administration. Present membership, ten; officers, I. Mendenhall, Steward; James Allen, Bruce Peyton and John Shepherd, Trustees. l ;

Methodist Episcopal Church, Colored, was organized in 1879, with fif- . teen or twenty members, under Andrew J. Scott, pastor. Rev. Payne succeeded him, and Rev. Brown is the present pastor. The society meets in a small log cabin in the northeastern portion of the city.

The Free-Will Baptist Church of Marion was organized in 1824 by Revs. David Dudley and Samuel Bradford. It was the first church organized in the town. its first members were Hezekiah Gorton, a Mrs. Higgins, a Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Alvin and Betsey Priest, John and Betsey Tompkins, and a few others. The organization took place in a schoolhouse on West street, where the stated meetings were afterward held. During the first twelve years, the church had the labors of Revs. D. Dudley, S. Bradford, A. Hatch and J. Wallace. In 1827, Rev. George M. Baker professed religion, was baptized and admitted to the church. He soon after commenced to exhort, then to preach, and on May 28, 1837, was ordained by Revs. D. Dudley, Wyatt and others. He preached more or less for this church. In 1838,

. Mr. Baker moved to Licking County, other ministers were called elsewhere, and the church, left destitute of pastoral care, became much reduced. In 1841, Rev. Isaac Datson came, collected the scattered fragments, held a series of meetings just out of the town, in the barn and house of Jacob Ulsh, resulting in a revival and the growth of the church from about a. dozen members to ninety. In 1842, the church built a meeting house, but, unfortunately, out of the town three-quarters of a mile. In 1850, Rev. G. W. Baker returned, took charge of the church, encouraged the removal of the church house into the town, which was done, and located upon Lot 367 of Baker's Fourth Addition, was repaired and a small bell placed upon it by the efforts of the ladies of the congregation. The removal was not. agreeable to all the members, more or less of whom withdrew, which, with the death and removal of others, and irregularity in pastoral care, again much reduced the number and strength of the church, only twenty members. remaining. In the spring of 1857, Rev. Samuel D. Bates became . pastor. The house was again repaired, a Sunday school organized and the congregation and church steadily built up. In 1865, the pastor and people decided to build a new.and better house, upon a better site - the east half of lot 11. The new house was dedicated in the fall of 1867, having cost, with site, $16,000. Continued prosperity attended the labors of pastor and people In April, 1876, Mr. Bates resigned, having served the church as pastor nineteen consecutive years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Parsons, who rémained three years and resigned to be succeeded by Rev. Addison Jones, who, on account of ill health, remained only one year; was succeeded by Rev. O. D. Pateh, who also left at the close of one year, on aecount of ill health of the family. During the pastorate of Mr. Parsons, the church 'built a good parsonage on South street. Rev. Oscar E. Baker became pastor, April, 1881, and is pastor at this date, August 3, 1883. During 1882, the church house was again thoroughly repaired, at considerable cost. The pastors have all been reputed as worthy men, and each has done good. The: largest accessions to membership have been revivals, first under Rev. I. Datson, next during the pastorate of Rev. S. D. Bates, and during the past two years, within which one hundred have been added. The church now numbers 232. The distinguishing feature of the church and denomination may be indicated in afew words: Free will, free salvation, free communion, free church government, or government by the people, free speech and free men.

First Presbyterian Church of Marion, Ohio. - The first meeting of this people was held at the brick schoolhouse on West street, September 1, 1828, and on the 9th of that month, at the same place, the church was organized by Rev. Henry Vandeman, with the following forty-five members: Simeon Wyatt, Adam Uncapher, John Uncapher, William Bain, James Carr, John

The first church edifice was erected in 1834 of brick, hut in 1849 it was partially demolished by a storm, and the present structure, also of brick, was erected on the same site, 1849-51. It is 45x80 feet in size, with base ment and auditorium, and cost about $8,000. It is in a good state of preservation. Upon the same lot is a fine brick parsonage, recently built, at a cost of $5,000.

Lutheran and Reformed. - In 1841, Rev. J. Van Linger came to Marion and preached for the Lutheran and the German Reformed societies, holding services in the court house and other places, for two or three years. Stephen Neidhart and Henry Koon were Elders; Karl Mintsenberg and Philip Dietrich, Deacons, and John Uncapher, Treasurer. In 1848, the two societies united in building a brick church, the corner-stone being laid August 8 of that year. Rev. Joachim Schladermund was at that time their preacher. The next preacher was Rev. J. E. Schneider, Lutheran, who was opposed to the two denominations worshiping in common, so they began to hold services alternately, each having their own preacher.

Salem Church, German Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed, was organized May 13, 1850, at their meeting house, Charles Munzenberg, Chairman; and C. A. Bodeman, Clerk. The first members numbered thirtyseven. The church now comprises eighty-five families, or about 200 communicants, worshiping in the building above referred to, on the east side of East street, just north of the railroads. Godfrey Leffler is President of this congregation and Frederick Staub Secretary. Rev. John Heiniger is pastor, and also Superintendent of the Sunday school.

"St. Matthews English Mission Evangelical Lutheran Church, - This was commenced under Rev. Humberger, in 1870, who then lived at Prospect, for the purpose of retaining the young members in the church. The next minister was Rev. P. H. Mueller, and in 1877 Rev. J. J. Sutter, the present pastor, took charge of the mission. Public services are now held both in German and English. The following are substantial members of this church: P. Retterer, D. Yake, John Lust, A. Leffler, J. Gugel, J. Schmelzer, Jacob Schoenlaub, George Schoenlaub, and J. Piper. The total membership is twenty-six.

First Reformed Church of Marion (German). - This society dates its origin in July, 1850, but was in some sense united with the two preceding churches until February 18, 1854. - At first, it numbered fifty members, who were organized under the superintendency of Rev. J. G. Ruhl, their pastor for about eleven years. Their first Elders were Dr. E. F. Gross and Stephen Neidhart; Deacons, Peter Fogler and Peter Dorn. ^ The pastors have been Revs. J. G. Ruhl, 1850 to 1860; J. Winter, 1861-62; H. Eschmeier, 1803; J. Kester, 1864 to 1870; D. F. Serhroth, 1871 to 1882; Frederick Schaad, November, 1882, to the present time. Present Elders, J. W. Fischer and Michael Brigel; Deacons, Philip Ebert and Ernest Zeller. This church has a Sunday school and a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. Standard of doctrine, the Heidelberg catechism.

Meetings have always been held in the old brick church on North East street; but this year (1883) they sold their interest in that church to the Lutheran congregation, and are now erecting a house of worship on South 'West street, to cost, with lot, about $2,500.

Parish of St. Paul's Church, Protestant Episcopal. - This was organized April 25, 1849, with the following Board of Wardens and Vestrymen: Eber Baker, J. C. Norton, S. S. Bennett, J. J. Williams, P. Bunker, W. A. Turney and J. Barnhart. These men were also constituted a Board of Trustees, and J. J. Williams was elected Clerk, both of the Vestry and of the Board of Trustees. This parish has been kept alive ever since' its organization, and is now in good financial condition. Present number of communicants, sixty-four; Vestrymen, J. S. Reed and W. A. Turney; Wardens, C. C. Fisher, John Cunningham, J. R. Harshberger, D. Dorward and George Smith. At the Sunday school there is an average attendance of about thirty-six; number of scholars enrolled, forty-eight; teachers, six. The rector is the Superintendent. All the ladies of this parish are also organized into a mite society, which is-now active. There is also a ladies' missionary society of about twenty members. For the last eleven years, Rev. J. E. Julian has been the rector. The present church edifice, a neat brick structure, 40x60 feet, was built in 1852-53.