Mercer County, Ohio - Chapter 2: Covnty Organization and History, 1907

Chapter 2: Covnty Organization and History

Mercer County was erected April i, 1820, by virtue of an act of the State Legislature for the erection of counties in Northwestern Ohio, which was passed February 12, 1820. This act provides that "all that part of lands lately ceded by the Indians to the United States, which lies within the State of Ohio, shall be and the same is hereby erected into fourteen separate and distinct counties, to be * * * named as follows: Van Wert, Mercer, Putnam, Allen, Hancock, Hardin, Crawford, Richland, Seneca, Sandusky, Wood, Henry, Paulding and Williams." Mercer County, according to the provisions of this act, was to include all of ranges 1, 2, 3 and 4, south of Van Wert County to the northern boundaries of counties theretofore organized. The same act also provided that Van Wert and Mercer counties he attached to Darke County until otherwise ordered. Mercer County was subsequently detached, in 1824, and Van Wert, in October, 1837. Mercer County was organized by an act of the Legislature, dated January 2, 1824, Celina being named as the county seat. The county originally contained approximately 576 square miles of land, with 4 townships, but at present its area is 460 square miles, with 14 townships. The Legislature of 1849 carved out the county of Auglaize, and in so doing took a portion of Mercer County from the eastern side. Mercer County was partially compensated for this loss in area by having set over to it that part of Darke County lying north of its present northern boundary line and south of the old Indian boundary line. The county is hounded on the north by Van Wert County, on the east by Auglaize, on the

Gen. Hugh Mercer

Mercer County was named in honor of Gen. Hugh Mercer, a distinguished officer of the Revolution, who was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1723 and educated in the university there, where he studied medicine. He served as surgeon's mate in the army of Prince Charles Edward, the hero of the civil war of 1745, in the battle of Culloden. In 1746 he came to America and settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, within a few miles of the site of the present town of Mercersburg. In Braddock's expedition, in 1755, as lieutenant-colonel, he commanded a regiment of volunteers. He also took part in the expedition under Col. John Armstrong against Kittanning, 20 miles from Fort Du Quesne, serving under a commission as captain. Upon the capture of Fort Du Quesne by Gen. John Forbes, on November 25, 1758, Captain Mercer was placed in charge with 280 men. He made immediate provision for the securing of that post, which had cost so much blood and treasure. A small fortification was thrown up on the bank of the Monongahela and named Fort Pitt in honor of the English minister. Col. Hugh Mercer was its first commandant. In the Revolutionary struggle he was commissioned brigadier-general by Congress and took a prominent part until he was mortally wounded on the battle-field of Princeton, January 3, 1777, dying 10 days later. He was buried at Princeton, but his body was afterwards brought to Philadelphia and buried in Christ Churchyard. On November 26, 1840, his remains were disinterred and removed with appropriate honor to the Laurel Hill Cemetery, where a monument was erected by the St. Andrew Society.

These consist of the 14 townships, viz., Black Creek, Dublin, Union, Center, Jefferson, Franklin, Marion, Granville, Gibson, Recovery, Washington, Liberty, Hopewell and Butler. Of these, Liberty, Black Creek, Dublin, Washington and Union are regularly bounded as congressional townships, six miles square, each containing an area of 36 square miles. The other townships are of different areas, each containing less than a regular township except Marion, which is over large and somewhat disturbed as to sections, as are also Granville, Gibson and Recovery townships, by the course of the old Greenville treaty boundary line. The townships themselves, and the villages within their borders, will be found appropriately treated under the head of "Townships."

Water Courses

The St. Mary's River rises in Auglaize County, passes Mendon in Union township, Rockford in Dublin township, and 'thence flows through the northeast corner of Black Creek township into Van Wert County.

The Wabash River rises in the "hog prairie," about four miles south of Fort Recovery, on the county line between Mercer and Darke counties. Thence it flows east through the Cranberry Swamp in Granville township, through the south side of Recovery township, passes by Fort Recovery, thence meandering east of north through Washington township, thence west through the southwest corner of Liberty township into the State of Indiana.

Big Beaver Creek rises in Marion township, flows north through Franklin township to Montezuma, through the western part of the Grand Reservoir at Celina, due west through the northwest corner of Washington township into the south-central part of Liberty township, and there connects with the Wabash River.

Natural Drainage

The natural slope of the whole county is toward the north, and the small streams which take their rise between the ridges run uniformly in that direction. Encountering the ridges, they unite to form one stream along the upper or outer side of each ridge, which then flows diagonally across the general slope toward the west or northwest, following the direction of these barriers. Thus the small streams which form the Wabash rise in Darke County or the extreme southern part of Mercer, and run north till they meet the St. John's Ridge, when they are diverted westward. Before the Wabash leaves the county, it crosses this barrier near Fort Recovery, owing, probably, to the very gravelly character and the rolling surface of the drift prevailing in that section, and then follows the natural, direct descent till it meets the Wabash Ridge. This it is not able to pass, but follows it into Indiana. It finally is carried in this way over the great watershed ; or, rather, the great watershed verges so far north as to appear on the other side of this ridge, allowing the Wabash to join the Ohio toward the south. A number of other streams of Mercer County are in the same way diverted westward by the Wabash Ridge. On the north of this ridge, the streams have a northerly direction to their union with the St. Mary's, when, with it, they are carried along the southern side of the St. Mary's Ridge till, meeting the St. Joseph, at Fort Wayne, Indiana, their united waters have succeeded in passing the ridge.

Surface Features And Soil

The surface of the whole county is a continuous plain, without undulations worthy of mention. The northern part of the county finds drainage through the St. Mary's River, while the central and southern part finds a watershed through the Grand Reservoir (now called "Lake Mercer" by the citizens of Celina) and its outlet, Big Beaver Creek, this stream flowing westward until it enters the Wabash River near the Indiana line. The changes of level in general are due to the inclination of the rocky floor beneath. Gentle undulations and local changes of level are, however, due to the condition of the drift deposit. In no county of Northwestern Ohio has that dependence been seen more perfectly exemplified. The whole county is underlain by the same member of the Silurian age, except a small area in the northeastern corner, which does not offer such differences of character as to permit unequal erosion by the great glacier. Yet there may be seen crossing the county three successive ridges, or belts of thickening of the drift deposit, which rise from 10 to 25 or 30 feet above the general level. It is only necessary to say at this place that they are believed to be glacial moraines, markingperiodical resting-places in the retreat of the glacier, which was prolonged southwestward from the great St. Lawrence Valley. In crossing these ridges in a southerly direction, the face of the country is seen to change, not uniformly, but by successive stages, marked by the location of the ridges. That part of the county north of the St. Mary's Ridge is flat, and has a close, often damp, clay soil. That portion between the Wabash and the St. Mary's ridges is also flat, but is characterized by several prairie tracts. It shows very rarely any gravel in the soil or stones on the surface. It is also, strictly, a portion of the Black Swamp, and has all its features. Between the Wabash and the St. John's ridges, the surface has a very noticeably rolling contour, although with some flats. The soil is sometimes gravelly. The color of the clay is somewhat lighter, and in general it is more easily subjected to perfect artificial drainage. That portion of the county south of the St. John's Ridge is still more gravelly and rolling.

Geological Structure

The only rock seen in outcrop within the limits of Mercer County belongs to the Guelph phase of the Niagara. These exposures, however, extend over the entire length of the county from north to south, and there can be but little doubt that that rock underlies the greater part of the county. It has not been seen in the eastern portion. Near Fort Recovery, section 19, it is slightly worked and burned for quicklime, and also in Jefferson township, about six miles west of Celina, it is worked and burned for lime. In the case of the lime burned at Fort Recovery the stone is taken from the bed of the Wabash River; while in Jefferson township it is taken from the bed of Big Beaver Creek. It is porous and fossiliferous, in beds of three to six inches. It is generally of a light blue color with spots of a darker blue, weathering buff or white. It makes a white lime of great quickness and strength. The Niagara is again seen in the Wabash, the northwest quarter of section 33, Washington township, and near the same place at the junction of the Totti Creek with the Wabash. It appears again in the Wabash, the northwest quarter of section 22, of the same township. It is also said to have been formerly taken from the Wabash at Monterey for quicklime. In sections 7 and 8, Jefferson township, the Niagara rises near the surface of the drift and is seen in a number of exposures. The stone is here similar to that seen in the Wabash at Fort Recovery. The beds are about three inches in thickness, lenticular, vesicular, fossiliferous, rapidly rusting with peroxide of iron. It finally weathers a light buff. Exposure, about three deep ; dip, undistinguishable. On the southwest quarter of section 8, a quarry was opened to the depth of about four feet. On the northwest quarter of section 8, was a quarry in the same beds. The dip is here unmistakable, and about eight degrees to the southwest. The beds are here exposed to the depth of about nine feet, without showing much variation. In the State survey of the Wabash for ditching purposes, the surveyor reports rock struck at 13 different places, in all cases but one covered with alluvium or drift, sometimes to the depth of 1 1 feet. As an instance, the fact may be cited that three miles west of Celina lime rock is found almost on a level with the surrounding country, yet in the town of Celina and east of it the drift has been penetrated to depth varying from 70 to 80 feet without reaching the underlying rocju It is said to have a dip to the south. On the northeast quarter of section 32, Liberty township, they have taken stone from the bed of the Wabash. Near the State line they have quarries in the valley of the Wabash, on opposite sides of the stream. It is here of the same character as already described, and belongs to the Guelph phase of the Niagara. This character of the formation prevails as far west at least as New Corydon, in Jay County, Indiana, where it is quarried and burned for lime. It is also met at

Wilshire, in Van Wert County, where they have burned lime and taken out stone for foundations from the bed of the St. Mary's and of a small stream tributary to it. The dip here can not be made out with certainty. It is a porous and fossiliferous rock, in beds of about three inches, of a light blue color when freshly broken, but which soon weathers buff. On section 8, Dublin township, within the limits of the Godfrey Indian Reserve, a quarry in the river bottoms of the St. Mary's discloses the same character of the Niagara. Pieces which were gathered near the opening are porous, and bleached nearly white. This stone here affords a quicklime of superior quality. Stone was formerly taken from the bed of the St. Mary's River at Mendon. It is believed to be the same as at Rockford.

The Drift. - The characters of this deposit are such as prevail throughout the Black Swamp generally, although much of the southern part of the county is more broken and gravelly. Its chief constituent is clay, which, below io or 12 feet, is blue, but to that depth is of a yellowish or light brown color. The original color of the whole was probably blue, the brown or yellow colors being due to oxidation from above. No distinct, constant characters, or line of demarcation separating the brown from the blue, indicative of different or successive origins or depositions, have been seen in the county, nor in Northwestern Ohio. On the contrary, the colors have been seen to gradually fade into each other in a great many instances. This clay is usually a compact, unstratified mass, impervious to water and embracing stones and bowlders of all sizes up to several tons weight. At Mercer, in Dublin township, and throughout a radius of four or five miles, it acts as a confining stratum for a number of artesian wells, which flow from the sand at the depth of 35 to 40 feet, the water rising from five to eight feet above the surface. Such wells may be seen near Celina, on the north side of the Big Beaver Creek. It has afforded a great number of bowlders of the Lower Corniferous, some of which have been worked into stone for building. They are met near the surface in ploughing the field. One was worked up on the land of Mr. Petre, which furnished eight of ten wagon-loads of good blocks, suitable for common building purposes. The ridges which cross the county consist of gravel and sand in glacial stratification, usually overspread by a few feet of this clay. The thickness of the drift cannot be stated. A well at Rockford was in the blue clay, at a depth of 60 feet, without water.

Material Resources

The soil of Mercer County will necessarily always be the source of its greatest material wealth. It will, however, reach its highest development and yield its greatest revenue only when it has been subjected to thorough artificial drainage, and to careful and skillful tillage. The forest that once covered the soil is now cleared, and beautiful farms dot the county from one end to the other, well drained and in a high state of cultivation ; the buildings are of modern structure, up to date in every particular.

The Grand Reservoir Or Lake Mercer

It has been claimed for this reservoir, which supplies the St. Mary's feeder of the Miami Extension Canal (from which it is situated three miles west), that it is the largest artificial lake on the globe. It is nine miles long, from three to five miles in width, covers an area of 17,600 acres of ground and has an average depth of 10 feet. It is bounded on the north by Jefferson township, on the south by Franklin township, on the west by Butler township, Mercer County, and on the east by Auglaize County. One-third of the reservoir is in Auglaize County, and the remaining two-thirds in Mercer County, its western end being in the corporate limits of Celina, the county seat of Mercer County.

The reservoir was commenced in 1837 and completed in 1845, at an expense of $600,000. The west embankment was completed in 1843. The water filled in at the upper end to the depth of several feet, but, as the ground rose gradually to the east, it overflowed for several miles to the depth of a few inches only. The inhabitants, to the number of about 150, fearing that this vast body of water, exposed to the rays of the sun, would, if allowed to remain, produce disease, with spades and shovels made a passage for the water through the enbankment. It cost several thousand dollars to repair it.

"Long before the location of this reservoir, several adventurers bought and settled within the prairie, now forming the reservoir. Among these were Thomas and Joseph Coate, Messrs. Mellinger, Large, Hugh, Miller and others, all on the south side. On the north side were Messrs. Sunday, Crockett, Bradley, Judge Linzee, Hollingsworth, Nicholls, Gipson, Hull, Kompf, Pratt and Rev. Asa Steams, all good and true men, and noble specimens of the frontier.

"Mr. Mitchell, an engineer, in 1830 ran the first line around the reservoir, and Samuel Farrer was the commissioner, who reported to the General Assembly, after they had examined the bank, that it would cost $90,000. Subsequently, in 1837, it was again run by Messrs. Barney and Farrer, compassing a circumference of 18,000 acres. In the same year all the timber outside the prairie was let for deadening, which was done by the contractors of the several locations. When the left bank was let to Messrs. Giddings, Stepson and Hottsbecker, it was let from a point south of Celina, a distance of 120 rods, at 37 cents per entire yard, and was to be wharfed with good

"Justin Hamilton, the member of the Legislature from this county, introduced a resolution into that body, which was adopted unanimously, declaring, 'that no water should be let into the reservoir before the same should be cleared of timber and the parties paid for this land.' An appropriation of $20,000 was made by the Legislature to pay the owners of the land, but it was squandered by the officers and land speculators.

"When the banks were finished and the water let in, it submerged all but one acre for Mr. Sunday with 34 acres of wheat, 15 for Mrs. Crockett, the whole of Thomas Coate's land, 60 acres with several thousand rails for Judge Holt, of Dayton, who owned a farm two miles east of Celina, 19 acres of Judge Linzee, nearly 40 acres of Abraham Pratt, with all the rails thereto belonging, and the whole of Mellinger's farm except a few acres around the house, besides great damage to others on the south side.

"This outrage on the part of the officers of the State was too much to be borne by the people of Mercer County. Wars have been proclaimed on less pretenses. America declared her independence, and refused to pay a small tax on h^r tea, which of itself was not oppressive, but it was oppressive in principle, and the people would not be taxed without the consent of their own Legislature. Mercer County followed the example and declared she would not be imposed upon by the authorities of Ohio.

"On May 3, 1843, a meeting was held in Celina, Samuel Ruckman (county commissioner) acting as president. It was unanimously resolved that Benjamin Linzee, Esq., should go to Piqua, the headquarters of the Board of Public Works, and lay their grievances, with an address, before them.' Mr. Linzee, having performed his, duty, Messrs. Spencer and Ramsey returned the sneering answer, 'Help yourself, if you can.'

"On May 12th the meeting requested Mr. Linzee to return to Piqua with the answer, that if they did not pay for the land and let off the water, they would cut the bank on the 15th. The reply came back, 'The Piqua Guards will be with you and rout you on that day.' When this response was heard by the people, the muttering around the reservoir was not only loud but deep - every person was excited.

"On the morning of the 15th, by seven o'clock, more than 100 citizens, with shovels, spades and wheelbarrows, were on the spot ready for work. The place selected was the strongest on the bank in the old Beaver channel. The object of the people was not to damage the State, and the dirt was wheeled back on the bank on each side. It employed the men- one day and a half before the cutting was complete, and was dug six feet below the level of the water, and a flimsy breastwork was made to hold the water back.

View On The Grand Reservoir In 1846

When the tools were taken out and all was ready, Samuel Ruckman said, 'Who will start the water?' 'I,' said John Sunday; T,' said Henry Linzee; and in a moment the meandering- waters were hurtling down 50 yards below the bank. It was six weeks before the water subsided.

"As soon as this was known at headquarters, warrants were issued for the arrest of all who were engaged in the work. Thirty-four of the leaders, comprising all the county officers, judges, sheriff, clerk, auditor, treasurer, deputy treasurer, recorder and surveyor, with merchants, farmers and private citizens, were all arrested and bound over to the next term of court. The grand jury refused to find a bill of misdemeanor, and so the matter ended. It cost the State $17,000 to repair the damages.

"We add the names of those who resisted the oppressive movements of the State in cutting the west bank of the reservoir: Judge Robert Linzee,

J. S. Houston, surveyor; Frank Linzee, clerk of the court; Joseph Carlin, sheriff; Frederick Schroeder, auditor; L. D. McMahon, recorder; B. Linzee, deputy treasurer; Samuel Ruckman, commissioner; H. Trenary, B. Mowery, Porter Pratt, Elias Miller, M. D. Smith, Mr. Allen (tavern keeper), Eli Dennison, John Sunday and all his family, the Crockett boys, Thomas and Joseph Coate, Britton and son, Abm. Miller, Dr. Beauchamp (from Montezuma), Matthew, Frank, Gray, Ellis, and Hugh Miller, with a hundred others who came through curiosity or some other purpose."

In years past Lake Mercer furnished fish of almost every variety and was the source of a considerable revenue to those who dwelt on its banks, for many thousand barrels of fish, caught in its waters, were shipped to markets many miles distant, always meeting with a ready sale. At the present time, the fish are nearly all gone, but the Game and Fish Commission of the

State are making an effort to restock it with black bass and other fine, edible fish and at no distant period it is expected that fish in abundance will once more be found in the lake.

In the winter season, it furnishes as fine a field of ice for packing purposes as can be found anywhere. The frozen surface of the lake also invites those who delight to indulge in the sports of skating and ice-boating.

In the spring and autumn of each year, wild ducks and geese gather here in large and almost incredible numbers, furnishing excellent sport for the hunters who come from far and near.

For many years boating on Lake Mercer has been a popular pasttime and many fine pleasure boats float on its placid waters. As early as 1850-51, a Mr. Doyle, of Dayton, owned a steamboat, which ran between Celina and St. Marys on the Grand Reservoir.

Since the completion of the Lake Erie & Western, the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton and the Cincinnati Northern railroads through Celina, together with the Western Ohio traction line, Lake Mercer has attracted great numbers of hunters and fishermen from all parts of Ohio and Indiana and is becoming better known with each succeeding year. Aside from this, large parties, constituting excursions, from all parts of the country, visit here during the summer season simply as a place of recreation, as it offers inducements to those desiring excellent boating, hunting and fishing.

The Celina Chautauqua Assembly

In the summer of 1905, in the beautiful grove or park of the old Fair Grounds, located on the north bank of Lake Mercer, the Celina Chautauqua Assembly held its first session, which was attended by thousands of people from all sections of the country, great numbers camping in tents on the grounds during the entire session. The assembly met with such an unparalleled success the first season, that a large auditorium was erected for the accommodation of its patrons. The assembly has secured the best talent in the land and its attractions are recognized as equaling those of the best Chautauquas in the country. It is under the management of Milton I. Brown of Cincinnati, manager; John E. Hamburger, of Celina, superintendent of grounds ; and Ira Crampton, of Celina, secretary. The officers, as well as the citizens of Celina generally, are very generously supporting it, believing that it will prove to be a great education, both moral and intellectual, to the entire community.

The first meeting of the Mercer County Pioneer Association was held in* Moore's Grove at Mendon in the fall of 1882, at which meeting an organiza- tion was effected. Dr. David F. Parrott being chosen president and James Shepherd, secretary. The officers for 1883 and 1884 were Thomas Upton and James Shepherd, president and secretary, respectively. J. W. Presho was president and T. W. Murlin, secretary, in 1885. Smith H. Clark and T. W. Murlin served respectively as president and secretary in 1886 and 1887. The officers for 1888 and 1889 were: J. W. Presho, president; T. W. Murlin, secretary; and J. M. Hussey, treasurer. In 1890 Moses Townsend became president ; A. H. Roebuck, secretary ; and Alexander Partner, treasurer. The following year the president was Thomas J. Godfrey; secretary, A. H. Roebuck; and treasurer, G. D. Dunathan. The officers for the years 1892, 1893 and 1894 were: Thomas J. Godfrey, president; W. F. McDaniel, secretary ; and G. D. Dunathan, treasurer. The following officers served for the years 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898: Thomas J. Godfrey, president; Henry Lennartz, secretary; and G. D. Dunathan, treasurer. The officers in 1899 were W. F. McDaniel, president; Henry Lennartz, secretary; and Calvin E. Riley, treasurer. Mr. Riley has continued in office as treasurer from that time to this. In 1900 J. S. Rhodes became president, Mr. Lennartz continuing to act as secretary. In 1901 J. F. Timmons was elected president and R. H. Chapman, secretary; the latter has ever since contiued to fill the office of secretary. In 1902 S. A. Nickerson succeeded Mr. Timmons as president and continued in office until 1906 when A. H. Roebuck became president. The present officers are as follows : A. H. Roebuck, president ; R. H. Chapman, secretary ; and Calvin E. Riley, treasurer.

The constitution and by-laws of the association were adopted at the meeting held at Mendon in 1892. Colonel Mott and Hon. F. C. LeBlond were the orators at the meeting of 1893. The association held its annual meetings at Mendon up to 1894 in which year the change was made to Celina, where they have ever since been held. The 1894 meeting was addressed by Hon. Caleb H. Norris, of Marion, Ohio, on the topic - "Early History of Northwestern Ohio." In 1895 the association was addressed by Hon. G. M. Saltzgaber, of Van Wert, Ohio; topic - "The Wilderness of Northwestern Ohio." In 1896 the meeting was held in a large tent on the old Fair Grounds; the orator of the day was Rev. O. S. Green. At this meeting a committee was appointed to erect an old-fashioned pioneer cabin on the Fair Grounds, of which committee Smith H. Clark was chairman. John Betz, Jacob Leininger, Stephen Howick and other pioneers assisted in the work. The cabin, a view of which appears elsewhere in this work, was built and furniture of the old times placed therein. At the meeting of the association held in 1897 David Money, a pioneer of Jay County, Indiana, and J. R. Oliver, a native of England, but a pioneer of Mercer County, entertained the people with reminiscences of former days. Prizes of $5 each were awarded to James Morrissey,

99 years old, a native of Ireland, who was reported to be the oldest man present at the meeting, and to Sophronia Nttss, 96 years old, a native of Germany, the oldest woman present. At the meeting held in 1898, Fred Smith, 92 years old, and Margaret Hiles, 84 years old, were the oldest pioneers present. Hon. C. M. Anderson, of Darke County, addressed the association in 1899 on the acquisition of more territory by the United States. A. M:. Tracy, aged 90 years, was the oldest man present, and Catharine Beam, aged 87 years, the oldest woman. In 1900 Hon. H. C. Glenn, of Van Wert, and Hon. F. C. LeBlond addressed the meeting and reviewed old times. M. M. Newcomb was awarded the prize offered to that pioneer who was the longest married in the county and present at the meeting, his record being 52 years. In 1901 Prof. J. F. Lumh, the blind orator, made the address.

The association meets in the new Fair Grounds at Celina on the first or second Thursday of August each year. The executive committee, composed of six members, has the program of events for each meeting in charge. Every person who has lived in the county for 50 years is a pioneer.

Agriculture

The earliest farmers of Mercer County had to contend with innumerable obstacles; with the wildness of Nature, the attacks of Indians and wild beasts upon their stock, the difficulty of obtaining farming implements and seeds, and with conditions of climate and soil, very different from those of the old countries whence they derived all their methods. The pioneer farmer was compelled to use the crudest methods. He cut down, heaped and burned the small trees and undergrowth, and belted the large ones. He scratched the surface a little with a home-made plow, and cultivated his corn and tobacco with a wooden hoe. Pie harvested the crop that Nature gave him in a careless manner and used it wastefully. He cultivated the same field until it was worn out, when he cleared another and moved his family near to it. So long as land was so abundant, no attention was paid to the conservation of the fertility of the soil. This country was so large and fertile that it took the people a long time to find out that there was any limit ter its productiveness. These conditions were quite sufficient to explain the slow progress made in agriculture in the early development of the county.

Draining The Land

1 he land of the county is generally level. In an early day, swamps and marshes were found in many parts of the county, rendering the land unfit for cultivation. A study of how to bring about the profitable cultivation of the wet land was a question that sorely puzzled the progressive farmer, Tut the problem was solved by the drainage of the land. The first system of drainage was a rude affair, but it was the best that could be done. Plenty of material was found near at hand, the ditch was made and then the drain - made of planks in the form of boxes without ends - was laid. This wooden drain proved but a temporary makeshift, however, and soon became useless as the wood decayed and the ditch became filled with dirt. As the county became older associations were organized, which took up the discussion of subjects pertaining to the interests of the farmers, the tile mill was built for manufacturing drain tile. This solved the question of how to remove the surplus water and the farmer, aided also by wise legislation on the drainage question, was no longer bothered by having his crops drowned out by an overflow of heavy rainfall, the soil became more productive, and the result was that abundant crops were raised. With all this progress came in due time the improved machinery for planting and harvesting the crop.

Have been great help-mates in the progress made in farming during the past 35 years. In the beginning they were rather small and but slimly attended and the attractions were not such as to draw the public generally, but it was found that by having attractions in which people were interested there was a material increase in attendance, which swelled the receipts. By having good speakers at the Farmers' Institutes, and such attractions at the county fairs as the times demand, they have grown to be places of amusement and profit. In a measure, the county fair has been the means of bringing about the raising of better grades of stock, and the using of better and more improved farming implements and machinery, which has resulted in the securing of better prices for all the products raised on the farm. The Grange, an institution of not many years ago, was for the benefit of the farmer and was run by and for this class of people, but it had its day and in its place a system of Farmers' Institutes was organized. These are held in different localities in the county as stated times and are well officered by a president, secretary and treasurer.' At the institute meetings lectures are given on subjects that pertain to the welfare of those interesed in agriculture and stock-raising.

This society was organized many years ago. For the first few years of its existence, the attempt was made to keep it up by means of the gate receipts at the annual county fairs held under its auspices, but these receipts fell far short of paying the premiums and the running expenses. The county fairs for the past io years have been self-sustaining. In the dark days of the society, the county came to its aid and to pay the society's debt and keep the institution alive raised money by issuing bonds, which were met by a tax levy.

The exact date of the first fair cannot be obtained, but it was probably about 1857 or 1858. It was held on the east side of the town of Celina, on the north bank of the Grand Reservoir, on a plot of ground owned at that time by the State of Ohio, containing about 17 or 18 acres, which is the present location of the Celina Chautauqua Assembly. It is a beautiful tract of land overlooking the Grand Reservoir - Lake Mercer - and the native oak and elm trees furnish an abundance of shade. The deed records show that the society in February, 1872, purchased this tract of land from the State of Ohio, and upon this the annual fairs were held until recently. In June, 1878, the society, foreseeing the necessity of more ample grounds for the yearly meetings, bought 21.32 acres of land for $1,900 from the Brandon heirs, on the west side and adjoining the town, which tract constitutes the present Fair Grounds, where the society holds its annual meetings. On November 2, 1893, the society purchased from John W. De Ford a tract of 180 acres adjoining the ground already owned by it, paying therefor the sum of $2,700. The size of the Fair Grounds is therefore in excess of 39 acres. Here a firstclass, regulation track for speeding horses has been built. A large amphitheatre, located on the south side of the race track, will seat from 3.000 to 4,000 people. The other buildings on the grounds for the accommodation of the visitors are modern and well adapted to the purposes for which they were built. The society has been to great expense in erecting buildings and in otherwise improving the grounds for the accommodation and convenience of the people. It is to-day in a prosperous condition. The fairs of to-day throughout the State are divided into circuits and a time fixed for each one to hold its yearly meeting, that of Mercer County being in August. The fair in 1906 was held from August 21st to August 24th, inclusive.

We would like very much to give the officers of the society from the first to the present time, but are unable to do so as the old records can not be found. We have been informed that a Mr. Browning was the first president. The present officers (1906) are as follows: President, C. F. Kruger; vicepresident, Sol. Shock; secretary, Samuel J. Vining; treasurer, J. C. Brookhart; directors - John Birkmeir, John Chivington, Irvin Hole, B. B. Wilson, Henry Beckman, Levi Young, W. B. Doner, Barney Albers, T. W. Clark, W. R. Severn, Noah Denney and the four officers named.

Article 2. - The object of this society will be the improvement of agricultural and horticultural productions, educational science, useful domesticated animals, domestic manufactures and the mechanical arts.

Article 3 - Every citizen of the county of the age of 21 years or over, who shall pay annually $1.00 to the treasurer of the society, on or prior to the last day of the fair, shall be a member of the society.

Article 4. - The affairs of the society shall be managed and directed by a board of fifteen directors, whose terms of service shall be two years and whose compensation shall not exceed $2.00 per day of actual service. Seven of said board shall constitute a quorum to do business. Candidates for members of said board must be members of the society.

Article 5. (As amended) - On the last day of the fair, annually, an election shall be held to elect one-half the members of the board of directors mentioned in Article four, the polls opening at 12 M. standard time, and closing at 4 P. M. Voting will be by ballots, which will be furnished by the Society and contain the names of the persons to be voted for. Only bona fide members of the society will be entitled to vote. The board shall elect two clerks and two judges from its membership. Candidates for membership on the board may have their names placed on the official ballots by handing to the secretary by 6 o'clock P. M., on the second day of the fair, a written request, signed by five members of the society. Official ballots only will be counted.

Natural Gas And Oil

In tlie past 20 years natural gas has been a source of revenue as well as a great convenience to the citizens of nearly every town in the county, and to a great many farmers who use it for fuel and light. The first gas-wells were drilled on town lots in Celina about 1888, and not long after this a great gas field was opened in Franklin township. A gas company was formed by a syndicate of Celina citizens, known as the Celina Gas Company, who installed a gas plant in Celina and furnished the town with fuel and light for a number of years. Later a second plant was formed by home people and gas piped to the town. Finally the day came when the gas failed, and both plants were sold at a great sacrifice. The Indiana & Ohio Gas Company now furnish all the natural gas for Celina, bringing it from the vicinity of Columbus, about 140 miles distant.

The oil industry of the county followed the finding of gas. The first wells were drilled northeast of Mendon and about the same time others were drilled some miles west of Celina. The first wells ever drilled in the county were under the supervision of George H. Houser, of Celina, who has made and lost a fortune in the oil business, but who still believes there is a fortune in drilling for oil in Mercer County. At first oil sold at 15 cents a barrel; when the best wells were drilled, about 1890 to 1893, the price was 78 cents per barrel. It may be stated that oil has been discovered in every part of the county. In the northwest part of the county a great oil field has been opened up and a great many good wells drilled ; in the northeast part of the county, drilling has been going on for a number of years and several companies have good and paying plants. Southwest from Celina a new territory has been developed with a number of paying wells, and no doubt is entertained but that the entire part of that section of the county is underlaid with gas and oil.

Colonization Of Colored People Emlen Institute

In the late '30's, Augustus Wattles, a native of Connecticut, founded a colony of colored people, amounting to several hundred, scattered through the townships of Marion, Granville and Franklin, who lived principally by agriculture, owning extensive lands. We quote his own language in regard to the settlement of these people :

"My early education, as you well know, would naturally lead me to look upon learning and good morals as of infinite importance in a land of libeVty. In the winter of 1833-34, I providentially became acquainted with the colored population of Cincinnati, and found about 4,000 totally ignorant of everything calculated to make good citizens. Most of them had been slaves, shut out from every avenue of moral and mental improvement. I started a school for them and kept it up with two hundred pupils for two years. I then proposed to the colored people to move into the country and purchase land, and remove from those contaminating influences which had so long crushed them in our cities and villages. They promised to do so, provided I would accompany them and teach school. I, gravelled through Canada, Michigan and Indiana looking for a suitable location, and finally settled here, thinking this place contained more natural advantages than any other unoccupied country within my knowledge. In 1835 I made the first purchase for colored people in this (Mercer) county. In about three years they owned not far from 30,000 acres. I had travelled into almost every colored neighborhood in the State and laid before them the benefits of a permanent home for themselves and of education for their children. In my first journey through the State I established by the assistance and co-operation of abolitionists, twenty-five schools for colored children. I collected of the colored people such money as they had to spare, and entered land for them. Many, who had no money, afterwards succeeded in raising some, and brought it to me. With this I bought land for them.

"I purchased for myself 190 acres of land to establish a manual labor school for colored boys. I had sustained a school on it, at my own expense, till the nth of November, 1842. Being in Philadelphia the winter before, I became acquainted with the trustees of the late Samuel Emlen, of New Jersey, a Friend. He left by his will $20,000 for the 'support and education in school learning and the mechanical arts and agriculture, of such boys of African and Indian descent, whose parents would give them up to the institute.' We united our means, and they purchased my farm and appointed me the superintendent of the establishment, which they called the Emlen Institute."

Judge Leigh, of Virginia, purchased 3,200 acres of land in this settlement for the freed slaves of John Randolph, of Roanoke. These arrived in the summer of 1846, to the number of about 400, but were forcibly prevented from making a settlement by a portion of the inhabitants of the county. Since then acts of hostility have been commenced against the people of this settlement, and threats of greater held out, if they do not abandon their lands and homes."

In Van Buren township, Shelby County, about 400 colored persons settled. An attempt was made in July, 1846, to colonize with them 385 of the emancipated slaves of John Randolph, of Virginia, after they were driven from Mercer County, and scattered in Miami and Shelby counties.

In Brown County two large settlements of colored persons, amounting to about 500 each, were made. One was three miles north of Georgetown, and the other was in the northeast part of the county, 16 miles distant. They emigrated from Virginia, and were the slaves of Samuel Gest, who manumitted and settled them upon two large surveys of land.

In the office of the clerk of the courts of Mercer County is a manuscript docket, entitled "Record of Free Blacks," in which are the following entries:

"State of Kentucky, Mason County, June 21, 1842. John James Key, clerk of said Court, certifies that at the April Court, 1832, Thomas Bowles produced his certificate of his being a free man from the corporation of Lynchburg, Virginia, which was ordered to be recorded, he being thirty-five years of age, of black complexion, five feet nine and a half inches high, which certificate bears date March 29, 1826.

"On December 21, 1842, Thomas Bowles registered his son, aged twenty years, five feet six and a half inches high, bushy head, and heavy made, mulatto color, with a scar in the upper edge of the right eyebrow. - Franklin Linzee, Clerk."

"North Carolina, Northampton County, March 4, 1834. Richard H. Weaver, clerk of the Court, certifies that David Mitchell is thirty-six years of age, five feet six inches high, light complexion, and a scar on the left side of the left leg, and a blacksmith.

"Mrs. Elizabeth Moore, on August 25, 1826, of the county of Harrison, Kentucky, but now resident in Clermont County, Ohio, emancipated a negro woman named Dorcas, and eight children, viz., Mintee, Henry, Charles, Denison, Rachel, George, Alfred, and William, which deed is recorded December 30, 1830, in the clerk's office of Mercer County, Ohio. - James W. Riley, Clerk.

"May 21, 1833. Israel Alexander Thomas, of Hardy County, Virginia, registered himself as 24 years of age, five feet, nine and one-half inches high, in that Court, and afterwards at Mercer County, Ohio, December 21, 1850. - Jas. W. Riley, Clerk."

"Benjamin King, Esq., formerly of Iredell, North Carolina, but now of Washington County, Indiana, manumitted his negro man, Squire Knox, forty years of age, entered of record December 30, 1850, and at the same time Squire Knox entered his wife, Rachel Jane Knox, thirty-six years of age, four feet six inches high, light color, with straight hair, and well made. Also Thomas Delaney, aged fourteen years, and Solomon Delaney, aged eight years, with brown skin and curly hair. Squire Knox also registered his own children, born of Rachel Jane Knox, viz., George and Sarah, with brown skin and curly hair. - James Watson Riley, Clerk.

"State of Alabama, August 15, 1847. Guilliam Nicholson petitioned the Court presided over by Hon. H. M. McElnan, to emancipate a negro man named Thomas, and his wife, Sydney, and their children, Harry, Allen, Priscilla, Clarissa, Thomas and Franklin, which the Court decided, notice thereof having been given in the newspapers published in the town of Tuskegee, in the county of Macon, Alabama, in consideration of the long and faithful and meritorious services performed by said slaves, have emancipated and set free.

"John Harper, of Randolph County, North Carolina, made his will December 2, 1850, admitted to probate May, 1851, manumitting his faithful and obedient servants, Francis, Julie, Sylvanie, Sandy and little Harry, and such issue as may be born of either of them, and to go to some of the free States; requiring some of his nephews, J. H. and R. G. Lindsay, to see that the slaves be permitted to have and use the following property devised for them : -

"To his servant York, $100; also to York, Julie, James, Condie, and Sylva each a feather bed, bedstead, and necessary furniture. Harry to get his choice of two horses, and Kitty his wife two cows and calves, and $500 in money to be invested for their benefit; and if Harry, Kitty and their children go to Liberia or some of the free States, then Harry is to get the horses, and

"Mr. Harper also provided that if any of the white legatees of his will oppose the emancipation of his slaves, he or she shall receive no portion of his estate, but that share to be divided among the others ; and if all of the legatees opposed, then one-half of his estate goes to the American Bible Society, and the other half to the Colonization Society. He also provided for the other slaves that man and wife should not be separated.

The idea of a free public school, maintained entirely at municipal or State expense and altogether under State and secular control, is a modern development which was not realized until the 19th century. The growth of democracy in the last hundred years has been one of the chief causes of the rapid advance of the free and secularized public school system. Only in the United States, however, has the public school system had a development such as a democratic society logically demands. A system to be truly democratic must have the following characteristics: (1) It must be free to all; (2) it must extend over all stages of education; (3) it must have what is called the educational ladder ; that is, pupils must be able to pass upward freely from one grade to the next higher; and (4) it must be patronized by all classes of the community. It may fairly be claimed that the American public school system has now reached a stage where all these ends have been attained.

The people of Mercer County have ever been alert on the subject of providing good schools, which they have been able to secure under the wise legislation of the State. Believing that in the education of the children the perpetuity of our free institutions can best be preserved and the prosperity and happiness of the people be prolonged, they have always been ready to aid and assist in securing good and efficient teachers and in building good and comfortable schoolhouses. So from the log schoolhouses, with their oldfashioned fire-places, wooden benches for seats, and broad boards placed around the walls for writing desks, we now have, in all the townships of the county, large brick buildings, seated with the latest improved single seat and desk for each pupil; while the fire-places have been supplanted by furnaces. All school buildings are now modern and up-to-date, and the boy or girl of school age to-day would look upon the old schoolhouse with wonder and astonishment, and their judgment would be that it was a curiosity. There is scarcely a neighborhood in the county but that has a township high school ; or. that not being the case, they have a special school district. All are eager to make the most they can out of the advantages to he derived from their home schools, as these schools are preparatory for the college or seminary. Normal schools are conducted in the county, mostly at Celina, during the summer vacations.. There was at one time a college at Coldwater, which flourished for a time,, at last giving way to the public school, which is one of the best in the county. There is not a town in the county that does not boast of having the best school in the country and they make their boasts good by sending out teachers from their public schools every year. The parochial schools and religious educational institutions of the county, of which there are many important ones,, will be noticed elsewhere in this work.

The public schools of Mercer County have from the beginning been free - open to all who wished to avail themselves of the opportunities offered them for obtaining an education. The first schools of the county, when the county was sparsely settled, were maintained by subscription, but this state of affairs was not of many years duration; as the county grew, in wealth as well as in population, the subscription schools gave way to the system of raising school funds by taxation for the support and maintenance of free public schools. School districts were created whenever a sufficient number of scholars of school age were found to support and maintain a school. Districts were made to accommodate the scholars - usually about two miles was the distance that the schoolhouses were apart. Each of these districts was managed and controlled by a local "board of three directors, who took sole control of their special district. They employed teachers, fixed the salary and had general supervision over the school. This board was subject to a township supervision composed of one member from each sub-district. With the addition of the township clerk, who was also clerk of the School Board, the township board bought sites and built schoolhouses, and levied the taxes for their support and maintenance.

A County Board of School Examiners has always granted certificates to teachers as to their qualifications as teachers. The board has consisted of three members, appointed by the probate judge of the county, the full term of office being three years. Examiners for teachers were selected usually from the best educators of the county, nearly all of whom were active teachers until within the past years. The list of questions for teachers' examinations was left entirely with the County Board of School Examiners. As the law now is, the State Commissioner of Schools prepares a list of questions for the entire State; this list is sent to each county board.

Some of the early educators of the county were not professional teachers but were educated for other professions and for want of professional teachers they supplied the place. Among the early teachers of the Recovery township schools was Professor George, a Covenanter minister, who taught a number of years ; he was an educated man and a good teacher. Another teacher, who taught in the Franklin township schools, was George Rickoff, a learned man and a brother of A. P. Rickoff, who visited and gave instruction at the county teachers' institutes when he was school commissioner of Ohio. Among the old time educators and teachers may be named : Rev. M. W. Diggs, a Congregational minister and teacher, who taught in Gibson township; William Rood, who taught at Fort Recovery - he was a Connecticut man ; and B. B. Allen, Abraham Mott, William D. Stone, Miles B. Briner, who were old teachers in the southern part of the county. You will notice that no mention is made of any women as teachers. Well, there were a few in those days. One of the best teachers that Gibson township ever had the pleasure of employing was Ada Chamberlain, a lady who came from Massachusetts on a visit to some friends, and was prevailed upon to teach one of the district schools in the southern part of the county, which so pleased everybody that her fame as a teacher went a long ways from home. This opened the way aVid then women were employed as teachers and gave good satisfaction. Thus the prejudice against a woman for a teacher was gradually done away with and to-day our schoolrooms are filled with lady teachers almost exclusively and they command just as good wages as men. The system of teaching and the entire management of the public schools have made great progress in the past few years. Teachers' institutes and township teachers' meetings certainly have had much to do with the advancement of education.

There are io township school districts, each of which is divided into sub-districts, of which there are 86 in all. Independent of the township districts, there are 38 separate school districts. Each township and each separate district has a Board of Education, made up of five members. The total number of scboolhouses in the county is 129, of which 86 are in the township districts and 43 in the separate districts. Each of the schoolhouses of the sub-districts consists of one room, making 86 rooms in all. The school buildings of the separate districts contain 87 rooms, of which 13 rooms are devoted to high school purposes. The total number of rooms in the school buildings of the county therefore, is 173. The school property of the elementary township districts is valued at $98,120, while that of the elementary saparate districts is $185,950, the aggregate valuation being $284,070. In 1905 two elementary schoolhouses were built in separate school districts, at a cost of $4,425.

In the township districts, 60 men and 31 women are employed as teachers; in the separate districts, 40 men and 34 women in the elementary schools and 9 men and 5 women in the high schools, making a total of 179 teachers employed in the county. The average monthly wages of both men and women, in the elementary schools of the township districts, and of the women, in the elementary schools of the separate districts, is $41. The wages of the men in the elementary schools of the separate districts is $48. The men employed as teachers in the high schools of the separate districts get average monthly wages of $75, while in the high schools of the township districts, the average wages paid per month is $70. In the township districts, the average school year consists of 32 weeks, while in the separate districts it consists of 34 weeks.

Fort Recovery High School (village district) - James Ross, superintendent; Mrs. J. A. Hunter, principal; three teachers; two rooms; 57 pupils. Second Grade. -

In connection with the schools of Mercer County, we will notice the helpmates to the teachers and schools of our county. Among them, and the one most helpful, is the Mercer County Teachers' Institute, which was organized in the fall of 1859, at Celina, Ohio, with a few of the leading teachers of the county present at its first session. The fall meetings were continued only for two years. Then the institute for many years held its annual sessions at the holiday season, this being vacation week for the teachers. After a time the institute meeting was changed from the holiday season to the summer vacation, the time being in August, just before the commencement of the fall term of school. This has proven the best season of all and is the date now fixed for holding the institute. Since its organization the institute has never failed to hold a yearly meeting. The place was first at Celina and no other place was ever thought of until recently when other towns in the county sought to be recognized. The last institute was held at Fort Recovery. Coldwater, Mendon and Rockford have also entertained the Mercer County Teachers' Institute. Since its organization, the State commissioner of schools has rarely failed to be in attendance at its yearly meetings, delivering one or more lectures. The services of other leading educators also have been secured and the institute has become one of the leading factors in the educational interest of the schools. Some of the leading educators and teachers who have taken part as instructors at our county institute in the past have

F. McDaniel, A. G. Clark, R. W. Mitchell, John Brock, Stephen A. Armstrong, I. F. Raudabaugh, George S. Harter, James Ross, W. E. Kershner, A. C. Beaghler, J. P. Dysert, Abraham Mott, Dow Carlin, A. H. Roebuck, David Counterman, S. S. Scranton, Mrs. J. A. Hunter,

Lizzie Cook, Catharine Cook, Eva Winter, Jessie Snyder, Nellie Winter, F. J. Barnard (now representing the American Book Company in the State of Washington), B. M. Clen Dening, Prof. S. Wilkin, Prof. J. W. Pogue, R. E. Offenhauer and B. F. Klinger, all of whom have been or are at present teachers of the county. The State school commissioners who have attended the Mercer County Teachers' Institute have been the following: A. J.

Rickoff, Thomas W. Harvey, C. C. Smart, Ansell Smyth, W. W. White, J. J. Burns, L. D. Bonebrake (present incumbent), T. C. Mendenhall, O. T. Corson, C. C. Miller and others. Thomas J. Godfrey, who died recently, was at the organization of the institute and was present at every meeting. In the early history of the institute nearly all the attorneys of Celina, who at one time were teachers, enrolled themselves as members, being Thomas J. Godfrey, Hiram Murlin, J. G. Loughridge, John W. Loree, Stephen A. Armstrong, Patrick E. Kenney, J. T. Kenney, I. T. Raudabaugh, D. J. Callen and Keepers Alberry. Some of the older lady teachers were: Mary E. Tou Velle, Mary C. Loague, Mattie E. Miller, Lizzie C. Kable, Amelia Kable and Mrs. Adarene Landfair, who served many years as a primary teacher in the public schools of Celina.

The first meeting of the association for the year 1906-07 was held December 15, 1906, at the Town Hall, Celina. Prof. T. B. Pearson, of Columbus, gave two talks - one on "Some Fundamentals in Teaching," and one on

"Robert Burns and His Poetry." Prof. W. E. Kershner, manager of the State Teachers' Reading Circle, gave talks on "Reading Circle" work and on "Dickens as an Educational Reformer." William A. Bair is president of the association, Eva Winter, secretary, and R. E. Offenhauer, J. H. Koesters and S. Wilkin constitute the executive committee.

County Board Of School Examiners

Fort Recovery; Samuel Cotterman, Rockford; and A. C. Eifert, Maria Stein (appointed vice C. E. Thomas, resigned). The members of the board in 1904 and 1905 were: Samuel Cotterman, Rockford; C. E. Thomas, Mendon ; and Hugo Anthony, St. Henry. The following served on the board prior to 1880: S. F. DeFord, George A. Reinhart, B. F. Suwalde, Hiram

Murlin, John W. DeFord, M. C. Culver, James F. Loughridge, Edward Landfair, Fred Lorspetter, Joseph Reichart and John W. Loree. Patrick E. Kenney was appointed a member of the board in 1887; William Mackey and J. T. Kenney, in 1889; R. W. Mitchell, in 1893; Elma Rapp, in 1894; A. G. Clark, in 1895; and C. J. Stein, in 1898. Samuel Cotterman is now serving his third term on the board, having been first appointed in 1899. C. E. Thomas was first appointed in 1901 and was reappointed in 1904, but resigned before the end of his second term, being succeeded by A. C. Eifert. Hugo Anthony was appointed in 1903.

The first Court House was a frame structure, 20 by 24 feet in dimensions, two stories high, built in 1828-29 by W. McCluney. The price paid, $291.49, included price for lot 57, which was valued by two disinterested men at $40. The furniture was provided by Joshua Warfield at a cost of $57-37/4. Previous to the erection of this building, the Court of Common Pleas had held sessions in the tavern of John Pickerell, to whom the commissioners on December 3, 1827, allowed $5 for the use of the same.

On September 12, 1839, the commissioners and auditor met to select 34 lots donated by the proprietors of Celina to aid in the erection of public buildings in the town. On November 5th of that year 20 of these lots were sold for $327.25 and on the 7th eight additional lots were sold for $292.50.

On September 13, 1839, the commissioners put under contract the building of a new Court House at Celina. The contract was let on December 3, 1839, to Samuel Hunter and John McGee for $1,350. The building was completed in June, 1841, but it seems that the Court House as first constructed was not plastered for on June 7, 1843, Milton M. Miller received the contract for plastering the rooms of the second floor, which were used for court purposes, consisting of a court-room and two jury rooms. At the same time W. Brandt was awarded the contract for plastering the upper story and Franklin Linzee the contract for building a fence around the Court House. In April, 1846, John Carlin and John Bolton were awarded the contract for plastering the rooms in the first or basement story. In April, 1850, William Auguster was given the contract for roofing the Court House with pine shingles and the contract for the finishing of the court-room was given to Stephen McVicker, each contract being for $110. In July of this year the contract for painting the Court Blouse was awarded to Levi Dibble for $165. In April, 1851, Abraham Miller was awarded the contract for the underpinning of the Court House with stone and for walling and digging a well. In September, 1858, the commissioners built an office of brick for the county treasurer, 16 by 24 feet in dimensions, with stone foundation.

On April 13, i860, the commissioners resolved to erect a Court House 58 by 70 feet in ground dimensions, three stories high, including a stone basement. At a subsequent meeting held the same month, the dimensions were changed to 60 by 97 feet. The first bids, which were opened on May 18, 1866, not proving satisfactory, no contract was awarded. On March 13, 1867, Mr. Rumbaugh, an architect of Lima, Ohio, submitted plans for a Court House which were adopted. The plans provided for a building 56 feet 6 inches by 81 feet 4 inches, two stories high - with main tower 16 feet square, four stories high and a smaller tower 14 feet square, three stories high - to be of brick work, cut stone, plastering, stucco work, roof slating, court-room, painting, clock, etc. The building was to be finished by September 15, 1868. Ten bids, ranging from $39,000 to $44,850, were considered, the contract finally being awarded to R. G. Blake and F. C. LeBlond. By consent of the commissioners this contract was transferred by Messrs. Blake and LeBlond to M. P. Guffey, on the same conditions. On June 22, 1869, the commissioners sold the old Court House lot (No. 276) to D. McMurray for $630 and the north part of the lot with the brick building used as treasurer's office for $500. On April 17, 1869, the Court House having been completed, the cost was reported to be $43,773.41.

On December 29, 1825, the County Commissioners awarded the contract for the building of Mercer County's first jail to Asa Hinkle, for which he received lots 31, 34, 37, 42 and 50 and $150 in cash, settlement taking place June 6, 1830. In 1833 it was repaired by covering the inside of the door

On July i, 1842, the contract for building a new county jail was awarded to Gustavus Darnold which was to be finished on September 28, 1842, the price of the same - $397 - to be paid in part in town lots. On March 4, 1849, the commissioners ordered an addition to the jail and debtor's room (which was a frame building) and awarded the contract to H. L. Johnson for $630, at the same time giving the contract for plastering to Levi Lipps and that for iron work to Hezekiah Trenary.

On January 11, i860, the contract for erecting a sheriff's residence on the northeast corner of the Public Square was awarded to Valeau & Jacobs, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for the sum of $5,000. The plans for the building provided for a structure 38 feet 6 inches by 29 feet, with an elevation of 22 feet 8J4 inches to the top of the cornice, to be built of brick with stone foundation and covered with sheet iron!

In the spring of 1875 the contract for a new county jail and sheriff's residence was awarded to E. W. Wilson, of Van Wert, Ohio-, for $25,500, according to plans and specifications which were prepared by T. J. Toland & Son, of Delphos, Ohio. On March 8, 1876, the jail was ordered to be heated with steam and the contract was awarded to C. Buehler & Company, of St. Marys, Ohio, for $935.

This institution dates from July 19, 1863, when County Commissioners George Speaker, Christopher Sclnmck and Adam Baker purchased of William Hale and Elizabeth, his wife, for $3,500 the following described premises, for the purpose of establishing the County Infirmary : Northeast fractional quarter of section 3, township 6 south, range 2 east, containing 165.13 acres, less one-half acre of the northeast corner for school purposes. On October 24, 1877, the farm was increased in size by the purchase of a 160-acre tract, adjoining the first mentioned tract on the south, being described as follows : East half of the southeast quarter, the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter and the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 3, township 6 south, range 2 east. The property was bought of David E. Gray for $j,ooo. The Infirmary farm is located about two miles west of Celina, in Jefferson township. The buildings and grounds are well cared for and present a very pleasing appearance. The farm is almost entirely selfsupporting, the only support derived from the county being through the liquor tax. The institution has about 50 inmates yearly. The present superintend-

On September 11, 1863, B. F. Suwalde, George W. Mosier and Thomas Upton were appointed directors of the County Infirmary to take charge of the property until their successors were duly elected. The original house on the Hale property was used until 1868, when an additional house was built at a cost of $1,550, the work being finished by Fred. Beckman. The building was a frame structure, 32 by 42 feet in dimensions, attached to the main building with a hall through the center 12 feet wide and with four sleeping rooms. On July 22, 1871, a brick building was contracted for to cost $8,278, which was completed in 1873. In the latter year a barn, 46 by 72 feet in dimensions, was erected by William Long at a cost of $1,000. The wants and comforts of the inmates requiring new and more convenient rooms, the contract for another building was awarded 04 March 30, 1876, to J. S. Smith, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, for $7,270, which was finished and completed to the satisfaction of the directors October 13, 1876. Another brick building, erected especially for the male inmates, was added in 1893. These buildings contain all the modern improvements and are heated with gas. Plans are now being prepared for a hospital building at the County Infirmary, which, it is thought, will be erected in the near future.

from June 7, 1886 to election 1886; T. G. McDonald, 1886; J. M. Lisle, 1888; Dr. D. H. Richardson {vice Lisle, resigned) - by appointment from December 9, 1891, to election 1892, when be was elected to succeed himself (reelected in 1894) ; Dr. L. P. Lisle, 1896; Dr. Ayers, elected in 1900, who failed to qualify; Dr. G. J. C. Wintermute, the present incumbent, who was appointed in 1900 to fill the vacancy until the next election when he was elected to the unexpired term (reelected in 1902, 1904 and 1906).

Probate Judges. - Under the first State constitution, the associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas in each county had jurisdiction in matters probate. A Probate Court was established in each county by the Constitution of 1851. The following have filled the office of probate judge: W. L. Blocher, 1852; Jacob Broadwell, i860; R. G. Blake, 1866; William Clay, 1872; D. J. Roop, 1876; H. H. Pulskamp, 1881 ; S. S. Scranton, 1888; F. S. Collins, 1894; John G. Beckman, 1897; Robert L. Mattingly, 1897 (appointed vice Beekman) ; C. G. O. Miller, 1898; P. F. Dugan, 1901 ; and Charles S. Younger, 1905 - .

Town Hall, Coldwater Town Hall, Mendon

Bollenbacher, 1898; George W. Frysinger, 1899; John W. Karch, 1900; Daniel Meyers, 1901; Peter Linn, 1902; Isaac Brandon, 1903; Daniel Meyers, 1904; Peter Linn, 1905; Isaac Brandon, 1906. The last three named constitute the present board, and all will hold office until I9°9> on account of a recent change in the law. For little over 10 years, the terms of new commissioners have commenced on the third Monday iri September instead of January 1st. Isaac Brandon, who was elected in the fall of 1906 to succeed himself, will begin his new term in September, 1907, which term, because of the change referred to above, will be one year short.

Philip Linn, who has been janitor of the Court House for the past 10 years, is the most faithful guardian of the county's property that the County Commissioners have ever had in their employ. He is ever present on all occasions and zealously guards the county's interests. Mr. Linn is a native of Germany.

Members Of The General Assembly

Senators. - The 32nd Senatorial District of Ohio, of which Mercer County is a part, has for over 50 years also included the counties of Auglaize, Allen, Van Wert, Paulding, Defiance and Williams. For the first quarter of a century of its life, Mercer County was variously combined with other counties in Northwestern Ohio. Herewith are given the names of the State Senators that have represented the districts that have included Mercer County, from 1821 (20th General Assembly) to the present time: John Alexander, David F. Heaton, John G. Jameson, David F. Heaton, John M. U. McNutt, James Johnson, John E. Hunt, William J. Thomas, Joseph S. Updegraff, John O'Ferral, William M. Wilson, Sabirt Scott (Mercer County), John Taylor, Ed. M. Phelps (Auglaize County), Edward Foster, Charles C. Marshall (Allen County), Meredith R. Willett (Williams County), Thomas J. Godfrey (Mercer County) and W. Carter (Defiance Coimty), Charles Hoesel (Auglaize County), Charles Boesel (Auglaize County) and P. W. Hardesty (Williams County), William Sheridan, Jr. (Williams County) and G. W. Andrews (Auglaize County), G. M. Saltzgaber (Van Wert County), Thomas J. Godfrey (Mercer County) and Elmer J. White (Defiance County), Robert Mehaffey (Allen County) and J. P. Schmeider (Auglaize County, Robert Mehaffey (Allen County), Melville D. Shaw (Auglaize County), Melville D. Shaw (Auglaize County) and John L. Geyer (Paulding County), Henry J. Lawlor (Allen County) and James D. Johnson, (Mercer County), James D. Johnson (Mercer County and William F. Conley (Mercer County), William G. Brorein (Auglaize County) and William E. Decker (Paulding County), William G. Brorein (Auglaize County), Stephen D. Crites (Allen County) and Thomas M. Berry (Van Wert Coun-

Representatives. - The following is a list of the members of the House of Representatives from Mercer County and the districts to which it has belonged from its organization to date : Justin Hamilton, Patrick G. Goode, Stacy Taylor, Hiram Bell, Justin Hamilton, Thomas Shideler, Justin Hamilton, Jacob Counts and John McClure, James Watson Riley and Daniel Alexander and James Bryson, Isaac Spear and Isaac Hostetter, Michael Leatherman and Ezekiel Thomas, John S. Purviance and Dr. Philip J. Hines, Cyrenus Elliott, Samuel R. Mott, Henry Lipps, William Blackburn, F. C. Le Blond, John. Shaw, Charles F. Edson, A. P. J. Snyder, John A. Estell, Daniel J. Callen (the first Representatives from Mercer County alone), Hiram Murlin, George W. Raudabaugh, Archelaus D. Marsh, William F. Miller, Archelaus D. Marsh (elected Speaker of the House), C. M. Le Blond, L. N. Wagner, B. M. Clen Dening, J. T. Kenney, Samuel V. Brown and J. J. McLaughlin, the present incumbent.

Mercer County at the present time is in the Fifth Congressional District, which is represented by one of the county's citizens, W. E. Tou Velle, elected in the fall of 1906. Only one other Mercer County man has served in Congress - Francis C. Le Blond - his term covering four years, 1863-67.

The following have served as members of the State Board of Equalization from the 32nd Senatorial District: Miller Arrowsmith, 1846: John W. Waters, 1853; Hugh T. Rinehart, 1860-61; Francis J. Lye (Allen County), 1870-71 ; V. V. Pursell (Paulding County), 1880-81; Frank Westgerdes (Mercer County), 1900-01. A new board is formed every 10 years.

Population Statistics

The first census of the county was taken in 1830 and showed a total population of 1,116. This was increased to 8,277 in 1840, but the census of 1850 showed a decrease, there being but 7,712 residents of the county in that year. This decrease arose from the fact that a portion of the territory of the county was set off to Auglaize County by the Legislature of 1849. Since 1850 each census has shown an increased population, that of i860 being 14,104; 1870, 17,254; 1880, 21,808; 1890, 27,220; and 1900, 28,021.

Of the unincorporated towns, Maria Stein is the largest, having a population of about 250. Cassella and Neptune come next, with 177 and 160, respectively, according to 1900 figures.

The history of Mercer County is nearly as old as that of the State of Ohio. Only about 18 years after Ohio was admitted into the Union as a State, Mercer County was erected by an act of the Legislature, dated February 12, 1820. While this section of Ohio was as yet an unbroken wilderness - where only a few years before the Indian had held full sway - there were a few hardy pioneers who had come from the older parts of the coun- try, and settled in the boundaries of what is now Mercer County. Long before the county was established, the white man and his family lived at Fort Recovery on the extreme southern boundary, on the Wabash River; while in the northern part of the county, on the St. Mary's River at Shane's Crossing (Rockford), there was quite a trading post, which would seem quite natural, as the St. Mary's River afforded the means for the transportation of goods and merchandise from the settlements in the older sections of the country.

Thus the county began to grow, slow at first, but after years of bard and laborious toil the old log cabins with their stick chimneys have given way to good, modern frame and brick buildings, with all the modern improvements of machinery for tilling the soil. The wilderness of long ago has become the paradise of modern civilization, and to-day we can boast of the finest farms, the most modern schoolhouses and the best edifices for the worship of the Creator in all the State of Ohio. There is no^ neighborhood within the borders of Mercer County that is without a good school and church or not in easy access to good markets for all that can be produced. Time, patience and perseverance, joined with indomitable pluck and industry, have wrought wonders.

In the history of Mercer County, even in the last 25 years, three steam railroads have been built through the county - the Lake Erie & Western, passing through the county in a direction from northeast to southwest; the Cincinnati Northern and a branch of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton passing through north and south, connecting the county seat with all the important towns in the county, as well as giving direct communication with the outside world.

The securing of good drainage for their farms has been one matter that the citizens of Mercer County have wisely looked after. By reason of the surface of the county being nearly level, only slightly undulating, many sections did not have the proper drainage and the swamps and marshes which existed on account of these conditions decreased the amount of land that could be profitably cultivated. The necessity of providing good drainage for their fields was seen by the intelligent and enterprising agriculturists of the county, who set about the accomplishment of the task. First the County Commissioners made the main ditches in nearly every township; then the farmers began systems of drainage for their cultivated fields and even for their wood lots and pastures, and were well repaid for all money thus expended by the increase in the productiveness of their farms. Not only did the crops prove more abundant, but there was also a decided improvement in the health of the people.

County. About this time a petition for a gravel road was presented to the County Commissioners, which met with strong opposition ; but the petition prevailed and the pike was built. Since that time, from year to year, there have been a number of pikes built, so that to-day there is not a road leading out of the county seat to any part of the county but is graveled and otherwise improved.

Two years ago the Western Ohio Traction Company built tl^e first electric railroad in the county, which gives the people another means of transportation to all parts of the country and adds greatly to their comfort and convenience, as well as helping to pay the county taxes.

The county is not traversed by any great streams of water except the Wabash River which flows through five townships in the southwestern part, and in an early day furnished the power for sawmills and grist-mills. Steam and electricity have now supplanted the water power.

In this connection it may well be said that many of the towns are now lighted by electricity and that telephone systems bring all sections of the county, rural districts as well as urban communities, into close relations. All the telephones in use are those of independent companies, which are owned and controlled by home people.

The growth and wealth of the people of Mercer County in the past 20 years is in many respects remarkable. There was a time when foreign capital found a home in Mercer County, because the farmers needed the money to pay for their farms and to improve them, but that time has gone ; the borrower has now become the leader. The farmers of to-day are adding more acres to their farms, building more brick buildings and buying more improved machinery.