Muskingum County, Ohio - Chapter 17: Fikb Depaktment, 1882

H. Shrimpton Hope Company Star Hose

December 22d, 1819, the "Zanesville Express" contained the following notice: "The subscribers to the Fire Engine Company are requested to meet in the court house, on Thursday, December 23d, at two o'clock, p. M., for the purpose of organizing, electing officers, and transacting such Other business as may be necessarjr."

Michael Dulty is credited with the information that ' ' the members were all property holders and business men, and they put out the fires - with as little water as possible."

Union Fire Engine Company. - The company organized as "Union Fire Engine Company," and elected Michael Peters, Captain. They had forty members, fifteen of whom were required to work the engine, and the remainder formed the "bucket line," which, sometimes, included men, women and children. The members were each furnished with two leather buckets, and his name was painted thereon. It was no unusual sight to see the fireman's buckets, which he kept at home, hanging up, filled with water, in readiness for service.

Among the members at this time, we have been able to obtain the narnes following : William Twaddle, Joseph Church, S. Deffenbaugh, James Culbertson, Michael Dulty, John Dulty, Adam and John Peters, Nathaniel and Charles Wilson, Nathaniel Sprague, and Richard and George Reeve.

Among the members during 1820-21, WL're : Robert Steward, Leonard P. Bailey, James Caldwell, Richard Gallagher, James Crosbjr, John M. Leary, John T. Fracker, William Blocksom, James Raguet, William Twaddle, Joseph Church, Solomon Deffenbaugh, James Culbertson, Chas. Hill, Jown Sheward, David Spangler, Isaac Dillon, John D. Dare, Henry Orndorff, George James, James Raguet, Gorgius A. Hall, and Isaac Campbell, Sr. Some of these were members in 1825.

Among the active members were : Samuel Clark, Daniel Applegate, Josiah S. Copeland, Horatio J. Cox, George Rishtine, William Blocksom, E. T. Cox and John D. Dare. They organized with one hundred members, and each wore a red badge, with " M. F. C," in gold letters, thereon. From 1836 to 1840 they used the old buildings, southeast corner of Fourth street and Fountain alley, for engine purposes.

The Relief Fire Company. - Zanesville, January loth, 1839. "Pursuant to notice given, a meeting was held at the Senate Chamber for the purpose of forming a new fire company. After the meeting was called to order, Mr. R. Hazlett was chosen Chairman, and E. Eastman, Secretary."

The Chairman was authorized to appoint a committee on Constitution and By-Laws, which consisted of G. L. Shinnick. B. Hyde, N. G. Abbott, H. Rogers and James Hazlett ; instructed to report on the the 14th, ult. On this day, pursuant to adjournment, they met at J. P. Barton's room, reported the Constitution and By-Laws, and elected the following officers :

The first engine they had was called "the Little Old Hydraulic," and stood side by side with the Union, (at southeast corner of Fourth and Fountain alley.) It was ver}^ exciting to see these two companies run with their engines to a fire. The engine was constructed so as to draw its supply of water and throw it at the same time, and was considered "the best in town." One half of the force required to work it stood on the engine, and the other half on the ground.

Uniox Fire Company - Act of Incorporation, dated Februai-y 14, 1840, signed. by Thomas J. Buchanan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and William McLaughlin, Speaker of the Senate, which is as follows :

Sec. I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, that James Raguet, Daniel Brush, Anthony Wilkins, D. J. Culbertson, William Shultz, Isaac Campbell and those who maj' hereafter be associated with them, are hereby made a body politic and corporate, for the purpose of extinguishing fires, under the name of the "Union Fire Company of Zanesville," with succession for thirty years, and by such name, and in their corporate capacity, they may make contracts, may sue and be sued, answer and be answered unto all courts of this State having cognizance'; may hold property, real and personal, to the amount of five thousand dollars, whether by purchase, gift, bequest or devise, and make and establish by-laws for their government, not incompatible with the constitution of the United States, or of this State, provided that the funds of said company shall not be used for building, insurance or any other purpose than those connected with the fire department.

Honorary Members - [Article XVII of the By- Laws admitted men of good moral character, on payment of two dollars, with rights and duties common with all others, except holding office ; and. Article XVIII . admitted such, after serving five years creditably.] Appended to the printed list of signers to the Constitution and B}'- Laws were the following : Daniel Brush, Isaac Campbell, Dr. John Hamm, Charles C. Russell, John Adams, Silvers Porter, Adam Peters, Edward Matthews, Austin Berry, William Galligher, John R. Pratt, C. B. Goddard, John Taylor, C. W. Potwin, John C. Hazlett, Benjamin Spangler, D.J. Culbertson, James J. Ross, Mai-k Louden, A. C. Ross, B. F. Hersh, Isaac Dillon, John A. Blair, S. H. Kauffman, J. B. H. Bratshaw, John Metcalf, R. H. Gilmore, Daniel Dillon, and Fred. Bird.

As these persons became honorary members at the signing of the Constitution, they evinced the ti'ue interest they felt in doing what they could for the safety of the community against fire, and, doubtless, would have enrolled as active members, had business permitted.

Attached to the company was a library of useful and entertaining books and periodicals, and, evidently, this was a popular and harmonious organization. Their last meeting was held, June i2th, 1874.

Frank Martin, Joseph Johnson, Bushrod Leonard, C. C. Flunnicutt, William Rager, Amos Sickle, James Reed, James Bell, William Garnell, William Stiles, Michael Stroope, Daniel Trainer, Nelson Williams, Lloyd Dillon, John Henry, Thomas Elton, Richard Rhody, Farley Bissett, Samuel McBeth, Edward Ewing, John Wiles, William Clausey, James Hanness, James Lindsay, John Drake, Henry McCoy, Samuel Reid, James Holmes, Joseph H. Stephens, Chas. Wheeler, Samuel Durban, Rustling Moore, Thos. ' Wallace, Darius Goodwin, George Fealheart, Rush Williams, John Grooms, John Reynolds, John Doyle, Isaac B. Steele, John Murray, Jesse Langton, David Mitchell, William Burton, Geo. Pickrel, Andrew McVicker, James Kimbelc)-, William Ingman, William, Charles and Israel Godfrey, William Willis, James and John Ballinger, William C. Br3'an, J. L. Johnston, David and Daniel Coletrap, George E. Jenkins, William Shaffer and Matthias flanniss. The latter once saved the court house, for which he was presented with a silver medal.

Hope Company had a knowing dog, named " Dash," familiar with the fire alarm, and always on the ground when the boys were on duty. Firemen's dogs were regarded with jealousy - some- . times the cause of fights.

There were fifty members, but the following list is all that can be obtained now : John Peters, Henry C. Peters, Charles Peters, James Smith, Louis H. Worrell, William Lee, Levi Miller, Dudley W. Cassidy, George Cassidy, William W. Wimmer, George W. Delzell, Daniel Miller, John English, George Lee, James S. Ward, H. C. Helmick, Joseph Wheatley, Charles Dunn, and James Morgan.

The total membership was forty. The city built a two-story house for their use, at a cost of $1,600. The company subsequently changed its name to Relief. April ist, 1878, they disbanded, and went into the paid Department of the city.

Rescue Hook and Ladder Company, No. 5, was an independent Company in 1854. They built a tine, two-story, brick house, on the corner of Court House square and Fountain alley. They purchased their truck of Rogers & Co., Baltimore, Maryland, for $1,200. They numbered forty members, thirty-four of whom volunteered in the army, to put down the rebellion. Their officers were :

M:embers - W. H. Hurd, W. M. Harriott, Isaac Ross, John G. Gittings, Charles Blocksom, William H. Nevitt, Charles Fletcher, Hugh Dunn, L. M. Dayton, Robert M. Applegate, Samuel W. Spencer, James Dixon, Charles Sullivan, George Lentz, Louis D. Sandal, Alfred F. Fillmore, A. F. Cassell, William Balthis, and B. D. Abbott. These are all the names that can be obtained.

Neptune Hose Company, organized Maj^ 17, 1872, with thirty members - an independent company, declared to hold themselves in readiness to turn out at large fires, or as a reserve, except in their own ward, where they would turn out to fii-es, whether called or not. The temporary officers were :

Niagara Hose Company was organized July 5th, 1872, with fifty-eight members. The first officers were as follows : President - ^John Curtis. Vice President - Andrew Farnum. Secretary - John D. Jones. Treasurer - Orlando C. Farquhar.

Their building, situated in theninth ward, was erected by the city. They disbanded, with twentytwo active Members, March 27th, 1876, and divided the money, cash on hand, and proceeds of property, between them.

Rescue, No. 7. - This company was organized from Relief, December 29th, 1874, ^^^ was accepted by the city, January nth, 1875. The first officers under this organization, were : of 1879, these companies, with others, received from the city $150.00 per year, which was used in furnishing their hall, in the second stories of the Hose buildings. The Messenger was paid $40.00 per year, and the Secretary $25.00 per year, for services.

"As required bj'^ law, I submit herewith the annual report of the Fire Department for the year, ending September ist, 1879. '^^^ condition and detail of the department is as favorable for the service required of it, as it can well be with the number of men, and the amount of money appropriated to defray the expenses thereof."

The report is explicit, and, doubtless, highly satisfactory, as the intimations of increased force being needed, have been carried into effect, hence we, follpwing the practical manner of the worthy Chief, herewith submit the present force, briefly, which is as follows :

Niagara Hose Company, No. 5-Isaac Springer, driver ; George Shrum, hoseman ; Charles Powell, runner. The hose houses, eight in number, are all in good repair, except No. 2, on Seventh street. The apparatus consists of five hose reels, arranged for horses ; one hook and ladder truck, fully equipped, but not manned, except when emergency demands, when part of the force now in use is directed to take charge of it; one old engine, in good condition.

The new fire alarm telegraph went into operation the 20th of February, 1879. ^^^^ effective branch of the department consists of twenty-one signal boxes ; six electric gongs ; one electric bell striker, for general alarm ; one galvanometer, and ten miles of wire on two hundred and twenty-five poles, and a complete electric apparatus.

The volunteer companies were composed of the bevSt citizens - embracing clergy, professional, business, and laboring men - who bore "the heat and- burden of the day." As organizations, they never received more than $215 per company, per annum, to defray expenses. After years of service, when the demands upon their time became burdensome, and the city found itself able to afford a paid department, they gave way, and by act of the city council, were disbanded. May 26th, 1879. Their deeds of heroism a:nd self-sacrifice entitle them to be held in grateful remembrance.