Perry County, Ohio - Chapter 8: The Seat of Justice, 1883 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 8: The Seat of Justice

The bill providing for the organization of the county of Perry, which became a law in December, 1817, contained a provision for the Appoint ment of three Commissioners, whose duty it was to proceed to the newly organized county, make the requisite examination and investipation, and locate the seat of justice. The Commissioners named for the duty were, Daniel Converse, James Wilson, and David Shelby. r

As soon as practicable after the passage of the New County Bill, said Commissioners entered upon the discharge of the duty imposed upon them by the act referred to. When the Commissioners arrived, they found Overmyertown, Somerset, Rehoboth, New Lexington, Bristol, and it may be other places, candidates for the location of the county seat. Overmyertown was tlie oldest town claiming the honor ; but Somerset was much the largest village, and contained several hundred inhabitants. Overmyertown, Bristol, Rehoboth and New Lexington, were indeed insignificant villages. New Lexingtan had very recently been laid out. The locating Commissioners in their travels. visited all these places, and probably a few other suggested points. J*ive-sixths of the southern part of the county was then a wilderness, and bears, panthers, wolves and deer roamed over the hills and through the dense thickets ; and it was a favorite hunting ground for many of the older settlers of the northern part of the territory composing the new county, and also for many of the pioneer hunters of Muskingum, Licking and Fairfield counties. The Commissioners traveled on foot, and the writer hereof has often heard a pioneer describe their appearance as they journeyed along a newly cut out road, which Jed from New Lexington to Rehoboth. The Commissioners and pioneer sat down upen a 'rail cut"? and entered into a Jong and interesting chat. They told him they had been to Bristol and New Lexington, and were on their way to Rehoboth. After inspecting the different places and points, the Commissioners located the seat of justice at Somerset, and made an official report to that effect to the Court of Common Pleas. The location Was acquiesced in by all parties, though there was much dissatisfaction ¢xressed by the zealous adherents of defeated places ; and in particular i those of Rehoboth and New Lexington. "The people of these towns scarcely ever ceased to talk of the question as the years rolled) on. These were rival villages, only two miles distant from each other. Rehoboth was the oldest town, had the start and kept the lead until about 1840, when it came to a standstill and New Lexington continued to advance. They were rivals also in county seat aspirauions, The eflorts for compromise and united action were unw saried and unceasing, but for a long time, unavailing. In the winter of 1843-44, there was a large county seat removal meeting held in the old Presbyterian church in

New Lexington, which was addressed by John Manly Palmer of Somerset, George Redmond of Reading township. Dr. F. L. Flowers of Rehoboth, and by a number of citizens of New Le 'xington. This meetings was very large and enthusiastic ; but the most it did or could unite upon, was the adoption of a resolution that the county seat of Perry should be removed '* nearer its center." It looked at first as though an aguressive county seat ans had been inaugurated ; but the indefinite phrase, '* nearer the center," was the hole through which the enterprise was dissipated, and the movement had no immedi: ile SUCCeSS. But the friends of New Lexington never wholly ceased to press the matter until in 1851, after Years of great expense and unremitting e effort, a removal bill became a }aw.

Robert McClung of Pike township, a man of considerable intelivence and force of character, was the first Representative elected, who was expected to accomplish something in favor of a change of the seat of justice ; but he encountered greater difficulties than had been anticipated, and the most he succeeded in effecting, was the passage of an act for the establishment of a ' graded road" from Lancaster to Mc- Connelsville, passing through the town of New Lexington. James J. Wilson, also of Pike township, a well informed man, of character and influence, was the next Representative from whom something was hoped by the friends of removal. But at this period, New Lexington and Rehoboth were in the bitterest of their rivalry , the Jeadingy men of the two places were at loggerheads, and could agree upon no practicable plan to reconcile their differences or decide between the places. Mr. Wilson's two terms rolled around and nothing was accomplished or even commenced. A le effort, early in 1844, has already been described. As the years rolled by, between 1840 and 1850, Rehoboth continued to decline, and most of its leading citizens and business men '* pulled up stakes" and removed to New ; Lexington, and this place increased in business and population rapidly. Che Rehohoth people, - after their change of residence, became fully identified with New Lexington interests, and were eager to join their former rivals in a united and prolonged struggle for the seatof justice. The tirst objéctive point was the nomination of a democratic candidate for Representative, known to be in favor of submitting the question of the removal of the seat of justice to the qualified voters of the county, at an early day. Perrry was entitled to a ' floating" Representative, to be elected by the counties of Perry, Fairfield and Hocking, in the vear 1849.. The popular vote system for nomination prevailed that year with the Democrats of Perry, and the choice for district Represent: (live was thus submitted to the democratic voters. There were but two candidates for the nomination. Napoleon B. Colborn of Vike township was centered upon by those in favor of a vote upon the removal question ; and James Sheward of Reading, was supported by those opposed to such vote. A few votes doubtless were swayed by personal considerations, but the Removal question was the generally governing oue. Colborn received a decided majority of the popular vote in his own county, and went into the district convention held at Lancaster, with all the prestige of this indorsement. Sheward and his friends denied that the vote in' Perry was a fair expression of the popular democratic voice : claimed that the majority against him was fraudulent or unfair, and the names of both Colborn and Sheward were submitted to the district convention. he body patiently heard both sides, through leading spokesmen, qnd then confirmed the vote of Perry by formally making Mr. Colborn the nominee of the convention. He was duly elected in October following, securing the usual majority in all the counties of the district. Petitions for removal were circulated and signed, but nothing material was done until the following year, and after Mr. Colborn had been re-nominated and re-elected. q carly in the session of 1850-51. Mr. Colborn, the Representative from Perry, introduced the removal bill, which was referred to the Committee on New Counties. Sometime in January, 1851, the committee reorted back the billand recommended its passage. After its third reading, the bill passed without a dissenting vote. It was sent to the Senate, and there referred to the Committee on New Counties. Here the bill slept for weeks. - [t was finally in April reported back without recommendation. When the bill was read a third time, and put upon its passage, it was defeated by a close vote. But a reconsideration was moved and laid upon the table. When the bill was again taken up, itreceived a small majority, and then became a Jaw. Kemonstrances were circulated and signed, and the most strenuous efforts made by the Somerset interest to defeat the passage of the bill; but all in vain, The struggle in the Senate, for a time, was indeed a close and doubtful one; but the final result was as has been stated.

After the passage of the removal bill and the adjournment of the Legislature, came several weeks of absolutely painful quiet, for they only presaged the coming storm, The friends of New Lexington bought one of the county newspapers early in June, and soon thereafter the county seat campaign began in carnest. Meetings were held iu all parts of the county, and especially on the debatable ground in Jackson, Clayton, Reading and Monday Creek townships. Speakers, brass bands, drum corps, glee clubs and conveyances, were in great demand, and the county papers were filled with literature on the county seat sabject. Excifement at times ran high, and threatened serious collision ; but, fortunately, nothing of the kind occurred. At leneth the eventful day came, the votes were polled. and the resull showed that + For Removal" had a majority of 292. Thus ended the first county seat campaign. ae The next move of the Somerset interest was the institutes of a suit in court, aeging that the county seat bill was not Jegally passed, and if legally passed, that, for alleged reasons, il wits unconstitutional aun void. Fhe case came on to be heard in the district court in the fall of 1852, in the District Court sitting at Somerset. Hon, Allen G. Vhurman, then a Judge of the Supreme Court, anda member of the District Court, delivered the opinion and pronounced the decision, which wis against the petitioners. and a refusal to grant their prayers. Rhus was the law in controversy held to be constitutional and valid,

The friends of Somerset next resorted: to the legislative branch of the State government for relief, and to regain the ground they bad Jost. Win. E. Finck had been elected to the Senate in October, 185t. and John I. O'Neill to the House of Representatives : and, according to the

State Constitution adopted in June preceding, he Id office for two years. When the suit in court was decided against them in the fall of 1852, the Somerset interest circulated petitions praying for the passage of a bill providing for the removal of the seat of justice from New Lexington to

Somerset. Vhe former had not yet become the county seat, in fact, for the county records hid not yet been re Lat: rd. but awaited the erection of anew county building. Marly in 1853 the second removal bill was

Phe County Seat campaign of 1853 was more warmly contested, and excitement ran higher than in that of 1851. Two democratic Gone ets were nominated on sectional lines; the whig party' was ignored, and evel y body. and everything rallied to the support of one or the other of the local "democratic tickets. The democratic county committee divided, a new democratic paper wis brought to the County to espouse the cause of one of the factions ; and nothing, apparently, was left undone, that would) contribute to widen the breach, or fan the flames of sectional warfare. The drums were beaten, the brass bands rallied again, the glee clibs were called out, the **Ciceros"" putin training, and the ¢ campaign of 18516 repeated, with many interesting, amusing, and exciting variations.

The Cincinnati and Zanesville Railroad AML n called the Cincinnati Wilmington and Zanesville,) and the Old Scioto and Hocking Valley Railroad, were, at this time, in course of construction ; the former passing through New Lexington, and the latter through Somerset. The presence'of many strangers, and numerous railroad laborers, many of the latter - and especiz lly ot those on the Scioto and Hocking Valley - of a violent, quarrelsome, and appare ntly uncontrollable nature, contributed much to the general fever of excitement and unrest, and intensifying the already angry fecling on the local issue. "The clec lion di ay finally came, the long agony was over and "for removal" hack to Somerset carried the day: but by such a vote aud majority as all conceded to be, ina great measure, irregular and egal. Chis spurious vote-the operators ib the Somerset interest justified, or excused, on the ground that New Lexington was doing the same thing, and that it became necessary to fight fire with fire. The friends of New Lexington denied this allegation of fraud, as against them, and claimed their vole as Jegal. The friends of Somerset. although not dispiting a Jarge fraudulent vote, claimed that such existed on both sides, and that a majority of the Jegal votes cast was in favor of Somerset, and the seat of justice again re-esttblisned at that plaice. The friends of New Lexington claimed that they had a majority of the legal votes and that the election of 1853, when rightly considered, was but a confirmation of the vote of 1851. But, of course, Somerset was credited with a majority. and as there was no stitute by which a county seat vote could) be contested, the disputed question remained aii doand undecided ; and

Somerset was left in possession of the seat. of justice, the county records having not yet heen removed to Mical Jexington, IN pursuance of the vote 1851. :

O'Neill had been re-elected Representative over Solomon Nunnemaker, by a majority substantially the same as the majority "for removal" back to Somerset. Nunnemaker inspired and aided by the New Lexington interest, contested and ousted O'Neill, and obtatned the seat Tor hime self, as the legally elected Representative of the county. It is justice to state that O'Neill and friends, though admitting frauds were clearly shown, alleged that there was no such sifting and canvassing of the votes as would satisfactorily show that Nunnemaker had received a majority of the legal votes cast.

The leaders in the New Lexington interest, failing to discover any authority for a contest of the county seat vote of 1853, or fearing that it would lead to no practicable resull, began to carefully and critically examine the removal act of 1853, with reference to its constitutionality and determined to attack it in that way, if found vulnerable, and there existed reasonable chances of a favorable result. They proceeded to raise money, and employed able lawyers, who gave it as their opinion that the law of 1853 was unconstitutional, and that the Supreme Court would so decide, when the question was properly brought before that tribunal. Suit was accordingly instituted, and the case fully argued before the Supreme Court of the State. An early decision, one way or the other, was anticipated ¢ but the case was postponed from lime to time, and delayed for over two years. Atlast, in December 1856, tike a clap of thunder from a clear sky, the decision came, unheralded and uuexpected ; and was to the effect that the law of 1853 was, in several respects, unconstitutional ; and, of course all. proceedings under it null and void.

The effect of the Supreme Court decision was to leave the removal act of 1851, and all proceedings under it, in full force and effect. The friends of removal had, in accordance with the provisious of the act of 1851, erected suitable county buildings, and these had for a year or two, been ready for occupancy. When the final decision was promulgated, steps were immediately taken for the removal of the public records from Somerset to New Lexington. The County Commissioners met, made an examination of the new public buildings erected at New Lexington, and accepted them on behalf of the county, as good and sufficient, in compliance with the requirements of the removal law of 1851. Everything was now ready for actual removal, by a transfer of the public records from Somerset to New Lexington: but the people of the former place plead and labored for delay, and some of the citizens went so far as to notify the county oflicers that any attempt to remove the records or other public property would be violently resisted. This was doubtless for the purpose of gaining time, in the hope that an injunction might be obtained, to stop proceedings. Tn the meantime, the people of the New Lexington interest clamored for immediate removal, fearing an injunction or other legal process. "The order fora 'transfer of records to the new Court House at New Lexington had been made by the County Commissioners ; but there was division of sentiment, and no concert of action among other county officers, and matters remained at a stand-still for quite a number of days. But, after a time, those acting for the Somerset interest failing to obtain any satisfactory legal redress, the people began to quiet down, and the county officers, fearing that they might subject themselves to penalties, or dismissal from office, if they Tonger delayed, or disregarded the law of 1851, and the order of the County Commissioners, finally decided upon an immediate transfer of their several offices, and all pertaining to them, to the new quarters at New Lexington ; and such transfer was made in the month of January, 1857. Some of the county oflicers, who were favorable to the interests of the new county town, had, by strategy, made a partial removal, a few days previous to the general break up of the public oflices at Somerset. There was then no railroad connecting the two towns, and all the records, and other movable public property, were couveyed in wagons, a distance of nine miles over roads in no sense good, at that season of the year. Aud thus it was, that, after years of almost continuous agitation and commotion, the Capital of Perry was rémoved trom Somerset to New Lexington.

hen actual removal had taken place, under the provisions of the law of 1851, in consequence ot the act of 1853 being pronounced unconstitutional, and, therefore null and void, by the Supreme Court of the State; and under which law the county seat had been voted back to Somerset in October, 1853; the friends of the Somerset interest claimed, and urgently demanded another vote, under a constitutional law, and immediately began to take steps to secure it. The legislature was in session, with [li A. Spencer of Somerset, a member of the Senate, and'Dr. IF. L. Flowers of New Lexington, a member of the IIlouse of Kepresentatives. A new removal law was passed in the Sen-- ate, but failed in the TTouse, afler a protracted struggle, both ou the floor, and before committees, by the lobby.

The Somerset people, by this defeat, did not however abandon the idea of another vote, as they expressed. it, under a valid and constitutional Jaw ; inasmuch as all their efforts of 1853 had been thrown away, in consequence of a worthless enabling act. They were awake to the apparent necessity of having a member upon the floor of the Llouse, and the county being Democratic, t they adopted the tactics of the Lexingtonians ye ars before, and made a point of naming the Democratic candidate fer Represent: itive. They succeeded in a delegate convention in nominating TV. B. Cox of Somerset, by avery small Piper Mr. Cox was elected, after an exciting canvass, by a vole that wa nearly sectional, though not entirely so. Lis opponent was Tlorace C. Granger of New Lexington. who was the Republican candidate for the same oflice. :

Petitions for a new Removal Law, and remonstrances against such an act, were again circulated and presented in the House of Representatives. Nothing material was done at the regular session ; but, at the adjourned session of 1859, principally by the influence and. untiring efforts of Mr. Cox, a new Enabling act was passed, providing for a vote in 1859. So the question of the Seat of Justice was once more to be submitted to the qualified voters of Perry.

There was a splitin the Democratic party this year, very much like that of 1853. T. B. Cox was nominated by the northern wing of the Democratic party, and Joseph Thompson, of Clayton township, by the southern wing. There were two full Democratic county tickets, both nominated and run on sectional or county seat lines. Active prepara- tions were made by both sides, for the prosecution of the local campaign ; but, likely with less hope on the part of the Somerset people. and more confidence on the side of the New Lexington interest, than in the former campaigns, involving the same issue. The '*Demostheneses"' and "Ciecros" were again putin training, and broughtout, brass bands, glee clubs, etc., once more came to the tront, and the old batthe-grounds of 1851 and 1853, were once more fought over, and the debatable townships and districts treated to free harangues and music abundantly : and everywhere echoed and re-echoed the din of conflict and the clash of arms. This must be taken as metaphoric, for, though there were some noisy and altogether lively meetings, on disputed grounds ; there was nowhere any serious collision, and all the sound and fury did not seriously hurt. "The local papers were again crammed with the peculiar County Seat literature ; an article that could not possibly be mistaken for anything else ; and if preserved for the benefit of future generations, cannot fail to be bighly valuable as a curiosity. But the Jonge, wearlsome contest came to an end, as all things earthly must. Election dav was comparatively quict, and when the returns were made and counted it was found that there was a majority of 300 against removal. "Vhus ended the third and last County Seat election.

Some of the incidents connected with the much vexed question are deserving of special mention. Inthe month of May, 1853. a number of caucuses had been held in the Eli Smith building, at the north corner of the Public Square, New Lexington, having as an object the forming of acompany to purchase a newspaper press and other printings materials with which to print a newspaper advocating: the New Lexington interest, and to be published at that place. Difference of opinion arose, and formidable difliculties presented themselves. Some were in favor of a neutral paper, to be printed in| New Lexington; others were in favor of a Democratic paper, to be published in the same place: while still others wanted to purchase the Democratic paper al Somerset, and remove it to New Lexington. Sull others thought it would be best to buy out the Democratic paper, but continue its publication at Somerset, at any rate, until after the election. Time and again the caucus met, counseled, clamored, and disputed, always failing to agree or effect anything tangible., At length came discouragement, almost dismay, for precious time was flitting by, and the highly important, vea, absolutely essential newspaper enterprise, appeared to be absolutely broken down. Buta week or two later, a portion of the men who had partici pated in the caucuses previously held, with others who had not before been engaged, but chanced to be present, or withm call at the time, met again in caucus, organized at once, and had a brief agreement of partnership drawn up. The necessary amount of stock was subscribed jn a very short time, quite a number of persons taking: part, from whom nothing had been expected. Considering the former dismal failures, the speedy accomplishment, at last, of the desired object, was a great surprise to all. [Tt was at once decided to buy the Democratic paper at Somerset, if possible, then published by . J. Ellis. 'A committee was at once sent to confer with him, who were informed that he had just sold the oflice to some parties in Somerset. The | New Lexington men then determined to purchase a new outfit ju Cincinnati; but, the next day

Mr, Ellis came to New Lexington, stating that the sale to Somerset parties had proven a tailure. Ina very few moments, however, and betore anything further was done. a young man came post haste from Somerset, with a note for E His, informing him that the Somerset partes would concede to all his terms. Tle had' nothing further to say to the New Lexington parties. Tle evidently was desirous of selling, but much preferred selling to the men at Somerset. But. after all, the negotiations between Mr. [ellis and the Somerset parties were brbken olf, and Ellis, evidently much chagrined, wrote to the New Lexington Company, that they mighthave his oflice. and for one hundred dollars less than the sum formerly agreed upon. A committee was at once sent to e fect the purchase. The bargain was soon closed, cash aud notes passed over, and the office passed into the hands of Vanatta, Forquer & Co., of New Lexington.

Chis newspaper venture, and the deal with Mr. Ellis, was in some of its aspects, in lights, shadows and comicalities, ds interesting and exciting as a nove l, and fully as ludicrous as the broadest farce.

Some time in the fall of 1853, during the exciting campaign of that year, William McKenna, of Jackson Township, who was a candidate on the Southern Democratic ticket, visited Somerset, as he said, to see the people and talk to them a little as a candidate. Ile tried to make himself agreeable, but quite a number of persons concluded to treat him asa "spy" from the Southern camp. Marshaled by a man of some military celebrity, they surrounded McKenna, led him to his horse, which had been brought from the hotel stable, and told him to get on about as speedily as he could. ~As soon as he was in the saddle they Jed his horse southward on the New Lexington road, over the Academy TUHill. Mr. McKenna had a very considerable escort on this particul: ar jour ney. Ile was a very good humored man, and his face was wreathed in smiles during most of the performance ; but, no doubt, smoldering somewhere underneath there was a respect: thle volcano of madness. Yet. he cracked jokes with the crowd, and appeared to be having a good share of the sport himself. When they left him they told him to ride southward into his own country, which he concluded to do.

It was some time during the same campaign that a Mr. B., now a well-known business man of Zanesville, drove up tnto the litte town of Saltillo, Perry County, with a one-horse w see following his legitimate occupation of peddling tinware. Ile oe an unknown, smooth faced stranger, and on suspicion of being a Hs * of some since Was peremptorily arrested, his horse and wagon taken charge of, and himself somewhat rudely handled. Ile was duly cate chised investigated, when, after considerable detention, he was suffered to proceed on his way into the inner precincts of Perry County territory. Mr. B. was then quite a young man, but will atthe remember to his dying day, his rude, warm, and strange reception, more than a quarter of a century since, in the quict litle town of Saltillo.

At the October election, in 1853, John H. Kelley, of New Lexington, since Colonel of the 114 O. V. T., and Probate Judge of the county who had been brought up in Madison townshtp, concluded to visit the polls of that township. Although he was well acquainted there, and as he supposed, on the best of terms with 'the boys ;"

HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY: 67 until he came to the conclusion that he had vo further business at the Madison polls, and set his face resolutely in' the direction of the south.

Colonel John Ritchey, of Reading township, and one of the most trusted and popular Jeaders in that interest, was likewise a zealous Methodist, and made it a rule to attend Quarterly Mecting in New Lexington, and was in attendance at one before the excitement of 1853 had fully subsided. He put up at a hotel, attended the night meeting. was invited to spend the night at the house of a brother Methodist, and accepted the invitation. By the time church was over, a mimebr of men had Mr. R's horse bridled and saddled, and awaited the appearance of the owner, at the hotel, intending tq escort him out of town, as Mr. McKenna had been escorted out of Somerset. Ritchey did) not appear when church was out, and diligent search was being made for him. A well known citizen of New Lexington, and an active southern man, but a personal friend of Mr. R's, learning the condition of things, soon ascertained the private house at which the visiting brother had stopped, hurried to the place, and, as he approached, heard the well known voice of his Somerset friend, engaged in prayer with the family, previous to retiring: for the night. Circumstances would not adroit of much ceremony; aloud rap at the door cut short the prayer, and Mr. RR. was hastily apprised of the situation, and told to go to a certain point on the Somerset road, where his horse, after a while, would be sent to him. The parties haviny the horse in charge, and intending the escort business, failing tm the search for the owner, replaced the horse inthe stable, from whence if was aflerward taken to the designated place on the Somerset road, and delivered to the owner, who was near by in waiting. The parties who had originated the intended escort and indignity, were not a litte chagrined al the miscarriage of their undertaking ; and when they found out how they had been circumvented, were not very well pleased with the person who prevented the performance of the original programme.

Thomas O'Hallaran, a citizen of Pike township, anda zealous New Lexington man, just before the election of 1853, was sent, or concluded to visit the railroad shanties, at or near Somerset, to see what he could see, and hear what he could hear. Ile affected strategy, talked on the sly, and all that; but, on the second or third day of his visit, he was apprehended as a 'tspy."" taken charge of as such, and subjected: to numerous indignities, though unattended with any great degree of vtolence. But his treatment was rough enough. Ile was walked, run, rolled and tumbled ont of town, and started on his way toward New Lexington. Mr. O. was very much frightened, as well he might be. A narrative of his adventures, as related on the witness stand, in the ~O'Neill-Nunnemaker contest: case, is vary amusing, cud sometimes highly ludicrous. : :

An extreme southern township, at one of the elections, had a solitary Somorset voter, who publicly announced his intention to vote in that interest. Whenhe app scared at the polls, he was 80 emphatically made aware of his unpopularity aud proposed wrong-doing, that he lett the polls and went home without depositing his ballot. "Phe pressure for a 'solid south," and a ''solid north," in some places was very strong, even in those ante-bellum days. fips man well and favorably known throughout the county, once attempted to make a county-seat speech at Straitsville, in an extreme southern township. He was greeted with a large mecting, but was told that they wanted to hear no speech on the local question, from him. - ITe was well ac quainted with nearly all the men, but vainly assayed to proceed on the theme he was eat "dito talk about. Phe meeting would have none of it. Then Mr. S. told them he would talk to them concerning their great coal eos That would be all right, his auditors said. Sohe made a long speech on coal banks, and matters of kindred character. But he please "<dthem so well with his big coal talk, that he got to say about all he intended. on the county seat question. But Saltlick remained practically solid for the South.

Enough has been said, perhaps, to convey a clear idea of the many and various struggles, for the location and possession of the Seat of Justice of Perry county. Many of those who took a conspicuous part in the numerous contests, have passed from earth, and most of the living have removed from the county, and cast their fortunes elsewhere. Of all the active participants who remain, the old bitterness has died out, and the former sectional conflicts are sometimes talked over with interest, and in the best possible humor.

It took the peoplé of New Lexington a great many years to find out that they had not gained all they anticipated, in securing the Seat of Justice ; it took the people of Somerset fully as long to learn, that they had not lost as much as they had supposed, when the county oflices and courts went to New Lexington. A county seat, of course, is of some benefit to a place, and a county town has its advantages, which it is not the intention here to consider. Depending too much upon the advantages of a Seat of Justice, is a most effectual way of finishing and killing what, with the necessary enterprise and exertion, might become a thriving and populous town. Many instances outside of Perry county might be cited in verification of this proposition. But discussion of this branch of the subject is not intended here.

It is undoubtedly true that the long and varied contests, relative to the Seat of Justice, in the Legislature, before the people and in the Courts, and other questions closely identified with it, contributed much to the gener al education of the people, i ina number of w ays, and notably in various matters pertaining to public affairs; but it was a dear school, after all, to the great majority of all contestants. Ifa union of means, efforts and talents, which were expended upon the local question, had been directed to the development of the great coal and iron reyion, results might have been obtained, for all parties, which would have dwarfed into insignificance, the mere county town advantages of halfia dozen county towns. This is no extravagant statement, but a now self evident and universally accepted bie Public buildings, courts and county officers are, to be sure. some advantage to a town ; but churches, schools, newspapers, manufactures, and varied industrial interests, are of much greater value. And it may as well be admitted that remunerative employment for the people, of some kind or other, is the basis of all success worth mentioning, foreither towos, communities or States. These propositions, the correctness of which none will seriously question, are here presented, as a not imappropriate conclusion of this chapter on the Seat of ustice.

The first thing the pioneers did, after building the log cabin, was to clear and fence a few acres of ground and plant: corn, potatoes, and a few garden vegetables, that could be grown on new land. After the first crop of corn was grown, the ground would, the same year, be sown in wheat, so as to be ready for harvest the ensuing July. But corn was, for the first few years, the staple product of the farm.

Without corn, hogs and pork, this new and heavily timbered country would have settled slowly. Wheat, cattle and beef, are great and popular staples now, and it is even asserted that beef cating people are pesuing and takings possession of all the best countries and places of the world. But corn and hogs had_ precedence, if nol preference, among the pioneers of Ohio, and all heavily timbered countries. Hog and Hominy, to use a homely expression, 'generated the nerve power and formed the muscles by which the wilderness was in time subdued. Over fastidious persons of to-day, may object tothe homely fare alluded to, but it is very certain that without the corn and pork ot early days, hundreds of thousands of these dainty persons would have had no being or name upon the earth,

When the first cornfield was sown in wheat, the pioneer farmer would aim, before the ensuing: May, to clear out another field to be planted in corn, etc., and thus the work of opening oul a farm went on. Oats, buckwheat and flax also soon received their share of attention, Grasses and hay received attention later, for there was good pasture and plenty of it, on the 'Crange" or ** Congress land." The work horses and milch cows were, for a few years, almost the only stock ; but this changed after a while. Almost every pioneer farmer had a few sheep, of course, for the family had to be suitably clad for the winter. The first sheep were of the "common or Joug-wooled variety ; but this also changed, and the Merino was gradually introduced.

Most of the first settlers brought apple seeds or seedling sprouts from the old home in the East. The first apple orchard would be probably forty or filly trees. comprising. perhaps, nearly as many varieties, Some of them would be quite good, others only tolerable, and others almost worthless. But the enterprising: pioncer would saw off the limbs of the worthless trees, and graft better fruit upon them, About this time he would also plant new trees, budded at the root. Peach. cherry. plum and pear trees would also be planted. And in this way. in the course of time, the early orchards became a thing of beauty and value.

times the price ruled very low. Zanesville was, for many years, the principal wheat market for P erry county, though a portion was disposed of at Newark, Lancaster, Logan and McConnelsville. tlorses, cattle, sheep and hogs also began to be raised for sale and export, as the country became cleared up; but prices were low, and the markets unsteady and uncertain. :

From 1825 to 1845, a very considerable portion of the county was quite extensively engaged in the culture of tobacco. In many portions tobacco houses were more numerous than barns or dwellings, particularly in the southern and central parts of the county. These bees were mostly of round logs, and built square and high. "Phey were without a floor, of course, for In most cases fires were "puilt under the tobacco ; but sometimes it was air-dried. Rushville, Fairfield county, was the first tobacco market for the product in Perry ; but later, Rehoboth becume a great tobacco market; and there it was also packed in hogsheads, then wayoned to Zanesville and shipped to Baltimore, Md. Jackson, Bre Clayton, Harrison, Bearfield, Monroe, Pleasant, 'Saltlick and Mond: ty Creek were all tobacco Loan) and, with many persons living on small farms, it was for years the staple 'product. But most farmers raised wheat, corn, oats, eras and potatoes, as well as tobacco, and were kept very busy the year round, for raising and preparing tobacco for market was a slavish work, especially when added to the other manifold duties of the farmer. While Rehoboth was the great tobacco market for the county, it was not an uncommon thing to see a hundred or more wagons, !oaded with the weed, drive into town in one day ; and sometimes the road from New Lexington to Rehoboth, two miles in length, was lined with teams, ranging from six horses down to one. 'There was not much money paid for tobacco, but the farmer managed to exchange it for large quantities of groceries, dry goods and hardware. After the local tobacco merchants broke up, some of the farmers continued to produce tobacco, and packed and shipped to Baltimore on their own account. But this gradually declined, and, after 1850, the industry almost entirely ceased,

The year 1850 was, in many ways. a turning point in the agricul-' ture of Perry county. Until that lime, as a general thing, it had been the policy of farmers to get all they could out of their land without returning anything to the soil. Nearly all of them hauled and returned > to the soil the barn- yard and stable manure; but no systematic eflort was made to save the producing qualities of the soil, or to add to them. This line of action had to be changed, and was changed. In some cases it had been done at an earlier lage than 1850.

About this time it was determined to have a county fair. A county agricultural society was accordingly organized and fairs held for three or four years. The first fair was held at the residence and upon the farm of Wm. M. Brown, one mile west of Somerset. There were no fair grounds proper, and the society labored under many disadvantages. Yet there was a respectable show of stock, farm and household products. "The fair was held in the same place in 1852, with about. the same results as in the preceding year. In 1853, the fair was held at the court house in town, and at the firm of E. A! Spencer in the suburbs, the stock being left at the latter place. This was the last of a Perry county fair for quite a number of vears. Several causes contributed to and brought about this result. ' _ These fairs, imperfect and unsatisfactory as they were, were produc- - tive of good ; and no doubt their influence, direct and indirect, contributed a good share towards turning over a new leaf in the agriculture of the county, which took place about this time. Better plowing was done, more clover sown, new and better breeds of stock were intvoduced ; fine blooded sheep were brought in aud the industry of woolgrowing greatly extended, while plowing and planting poor land began to be abandoned as unprofitable and wasteful. "Phe county was ina fair way to agricultural prosperity, when it was struck by the destroying cyclone of the great civil war. Phis was a severe blow to agriculture, and to many other industries in the county. Three thousand meu served a term of some Jength in the army, many came back disabled, and hundreds returned to their flocks and fields no more.

It took several years to show that the county and the country were even beginning to recover from the effects of the terible strife and waste of the war. Just as this recovery began to be fairly perceptible, steps were taken to reorganize the Perry County Agricultural Society. "This was accomplished in the summer of 1869, aud a fair held in that year, on suitable grounds leased from the infirmary farm, and adjacent to the town of New Lexington on the west. The fair was held after the middle of October, and both till and winter came unusually early that vear, The first night of the fair it snowed to the depth of three or tour inches, and everything presented an unpromising and dreary appearance, But the second day opened bright and cheery, the snow soon melted away. and the first of the second series of county fairs proved to be a success, The county fairs have continued yearly, upon the same grounds, until the present time, and they are ina profitable and satisfactory condition, Nearly all of them have been very creditable exhibitions, aad finaoeially a success. Some of them have been wonderful in the extent, variety and quality of articles exhibited, and have been very favorably noticed by journals published iu neighboring or distant counties.

Che Perry County Agricultural, Life Stock and Mechanical Art Union Society was organized and a fair held at Somerset in 1870, and every year since, with one or two exceptions. These fairs have, in the main, been very creditable and successful, and have done their full share toward improving and developing the various industries of the county. The managers of these yearly exhibitions have evinced great skill, energy and perseverance, and without county aid of any kind, have kept th enterprise afloat, rendering satisfaction to exhibitors and spectators. Grounds have been secured and duly fitted up, and it appears to be the design of the management to keep up the fairs for an indefinite period, if they continue to meet the approbation of the public.

As previously stated, the productive powers of the soil had seriously declined just previous to 1850, and wheat was no longer the certain and remunerative crop that it had been in former years, and the yield of corn had greatly fallen off. From 1850 to 1860, there were about as many failures as successes in crops, and the outlook for the farming community was not encouraging. 1860 was a fruitful year, but the war came on, and from that and other causes, wheat and corn fell short, and the millers of the county found it necessary to purchase thousands of bushels of wheat and other grain in Cincinnati, Toledo and Chicago, to make flour to sell to the resident people of the county, farmers included.

The first wheat crop after the war, (the sewing of 1865 and the harvest of 1866,) was the most complete failure since the first settlement of the county, and farmers were under the necessity of purchasing wheat abroad, at three dollars per bushel, for seed as well as family use, and the price of flour run up to $17.50 per barrel. Wheat was nece ssarily sown sparingly for a year or two, with seed at such high prices 5. and it was not until 1869 that a wheat crop of fair proportions was again harvested. From that time on there was a gradual increase of acreage and wheat production untilin 1880, there was probably the greatest crop ever produced. The yield of 1881 wits not quite so large, but the berry was very good as a general thing. The millers of lite years are not buying in "dist: int markets; at least not much in comparison with some former years,

The culture of wheat, corn and other crops, too, has very much changed within the last few years. Wheat is now nearly all planted with the drill, and the land top- -dressed with barn manure, or commercial fertilizer sown upon it. The farmers have also turned over a new leaf with regard to corn. Instead of cultivating many acres of poor land, to little or no purpose, as many of them once did, corn is now usually planted upon good, productive soil, that will not wash, and is cultivated with great care. The ne is well pulverized, and commercial fe ea or barn-yard manure is often used in the hill. There is a less acreage, but a larger vield, and, consequently, more profitable and satisfactory results. As imuch as one hundred and thirty bushels have been produced from an acre receiving special attention. This shows what it is possible t o do. itis noteworthy that corn produced in this way is superior to the best that is shipped in from .the black lands of Muskingum, Fairfield or Pickaway counties.

Butter, eggs and poultry have, for many years, been a very consider-_ able item of trade. The e country, for the most part, is well adapted to these, and their production will necessarily increase, as the demand increases from mining and manufacturing towus.

Vhe cultivation of Irish and sweet potatoes, turnips, melons and garden vegetables, has also much oo. within the last few years, stimulated | by the great demand from new and growing towns, which are scarcely ever fully supplied.

There has of late years been a marked improvement in all icbeatis of stock. New and improved breeds have been introduced, and stock of all kinds has been better fed and cared for. Sheep hush: andy has not only increased, but the finest and best blood Bias been imported, and wool-growing brought to a high state of perfection. Many of the wool growers s find no difficulty i in securing the highest price for their clips. The greater part of the county is highly adapted to sheep raising and wool { rrowing, and enterprising men are disposed to make the most of the dy antages offered.

WISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. he limited quantities about dwellings and yarde ns: darge vineyards bave not, in many cases, been profitable. Peaches have she ren pretty much abandoned, except upon the high linds and these are plentiful cnough, surely, to produce a large supply. Apples of certain leading varieties have been successful enough to encourage a much larger plantings. Most of the county is well adapted to the growing of apples. Dairmson plums do as well here as anywhere. "The "onal frnits, such as currants, strawberries, raspberries, etc., have all had a fair trial and have done well. The blackberry and raspberry have no better home than much of this county.

The original forests contained many maple and "sugar" (ees, se called, and sugar camps were amoug the be longings of the pioneers, and even the settlers of a later day." But the origin: al trees have mostly passed away, and sugar and molasses are vo longre r made in the little lone shanty i in the w ecules Some land owners are beginning to have sugar and maple e groves of the second growth, and it is probable that they will Jargely increase in the future.

The original forests in mauy parts of the county, contained chestnut and walnut trees. Many of the farmers have left here and there a tree of these varicties growing in the ficlds or along their Janes, and they are beautiful and appear picturesque as well as furnishing shade for stock in summer, and nuts for the children of small and large

The Newspaper Press

Tradition and authorities are a litle conflicting as to the first newspaper published in the county. John M. Laird, yet living, at an advanced age, and still engaged in the newspaper business, was one of the early printers and publishers on Perry county. Ina letter published in the Nee Lexington 7rrbunc, of May 14th, 1874, he speaks of the "Scorpion" and "Paltlesnake" as ear ly newspapers published in Somerset previous to his advent there in the spring of 1822. But, at the most these papers must have but fitful and irregular publications, issued by contending factions and cliques, as electioneering or defamatory documents, and hardly entitled to the name of newspapers.

It appears pretty well settled, by tradition and otherwise, that the first regular newspaper ever published in Perry county was established by John Lidey and I. P. Alford, at Somerset, the first issue thereof being made March 28th, 1821, and was called " 7e Western World and Political Tickler." Levidently the pioneer journal did not lack for aname. The ' 7ickler" was published about a year, and was a most violent and scurrilous journal, and the virulent and petty contests that had begun in the 'Scorpron" and 'Rattlesnake' were transferred to the ever ready columns of the '* 77zck/cr,"" and served to keep the whole reading community in a state of constant uproar. Such were the temper and spirit of the times.

In the spring of 1822, the ** 77ck/er" was discontinued, and was succeeded by the Perry Mecord, printed and published by John M. Laird, though the names of John Lidey and James Patterson were, at one time or another, used in counection with the proprictorship of the paper and it is probable that they furnished most of the printing materials, which, it is scarcely necessary to slate, were neither extensive nor cost

The Perry Record was continued about three years, when Mr. Laird, who was the practical printer, returned to the east. The Record, was succeeded by the People's Advocate, published by John Miller, prob: tbly with the names of Henry Filler aad Henry Crumrine as proprietors. he Advocate was purchased in May, 1831, by William F. and Louis J. Moeller who changed the name to Western Post feted Perry Advertiscr. Vhey published the paper jointly a few months when Wm. F. Moeller assumed entire control and took off the "And Perry Advertiser," from the name, leaving it simply ' 7he Western Post." In January, 1835, Louis J. Moeller purchased the entire office, and changed the title to Western Post and Perry Democratic Advertiser. In April, 1837, Mr. Moeller sold the oflice to Samuel McAfee and Jonathan W. Ream, both young men who had served their apprentice- ship in the oflice. The partnership of McAfee & Ream was discontinued in September, 1839, and Jhe paper went in the name of S. UL. McAfee, though John H. Shearer had a half interest in the establishment. In August, 1840, Wm. I. Moeller bought' the interest of Mc- Afee fora younger brother, Alexander MoclHer, who, not Tikinge the profession, gave it up in a few weeks, and his interest, was purchased by A. T. M. Filler. In September, 1840, the firm name was changed to J. LH. Shearer & Co., and afterward to Shearer & Jfiller. 'This partnership continued until the first of Webruary, 1845, when Mr. Shearer purchased the interest of Idler and became sole proprictor. The paper from 1835 to 1845, was published under the name of Mes¢- ern Post and Perry Democratic Adveriiscr ; Wut, on the tst of November, 1845, Mr. Shearer having purchased a new outfit, changed the title to Western Post. Vhe Post from the time of its first establishment until 1840, was a neutial paper, after which time it espoused the cause of the Whig party. In February, 1847, Mr. Shearer leased the newspaper and oflice to James W.. Shirley and John W. Bugh, for the period of two years. Mr. Bugh retired in November, 1848, whereupon Mr. Shirley filled out the unexpired term of the Jease, which closed in February, 1849, at the expiration of which time, J. TL. Shearer again assumed control of the oflice and contined the paper until 1855, when he sold the establishment to E. S. Colborn, who merged the paper in the Perry County American, under the tite of the Perry County Anertcan and Somerset Post.

This was the last of the Post as a distinctive newspaper, though it had lived for more than a quarter of a century - a long existence fora country newspaper, in a small interior county, in those days.

In August, 1836, I. J: Ellis, who had been publishing a small shect at New Baltimore, Fairfield County, Ohio, moved his printing office to Somerset and began the publication of the Perry Democrat, "Vhis was the first Democratic paper publisbed in the county, and the first time that a second paper of any kind had been ventured. Jn 1837, when Samuel Medary bought the Western Hemisphere ollice, in Coltumbus, and began his noted career with the Ohio Statesman, he sold to EK. J. Telts a Peter Smith press and some other materials, and the consequence was an enlargement of Ellis' paper and a partial change in name. Te now became the Oho Courier and Perry Democrat. In 1838 Mr. Ellis sold his printing office to John W. Davis and his brother, Hleury M. Davis; John W. had just been elected Clerk of the county, but [lenry was the principal editor. Neither of them had any practical knowledge of the printing business. 'They had not been publishing the Democrat many months when along came a practical printer, Isaac Pepper, who first went into the oflice as foreman, and in less Gime than a year the whole concern passed into his control. In 1839 Mr. Pepper modified the title of the paper, and it became the Somerset (Ohio) Advocate and Perry Democrat. Thus the Courier was dropped finally and forever, About the first of April, 1841, Hlenry M. Davis became sole proprietor of the Democrat and Advertiser (as named by Pepper) until September, 1842, when Robert I. Wickman, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, bought the oflice and changed the name of the paper to the Klay of SeventySix. This paper was published by Mr. Hickman about two vears, when he sold the office to Daniel Kelley. Mr. Kelley had control of the paper about a year, when it passed into the hands ot Hiram Shaw, who run ita year or so, wheu he disposed of the concern to James Sheward, who had charge of the paper for Wwo or three years, when, in 1849, he sold the establishment to E. J. Ellis, who ten years before had been editor and proprietor, and, as before stated, the founder of the first Democratic paper in the county. Ellis now bought new type and some other materials, enlarged the paper slightly, and gave it a very good appearance. He also changed the title to Perry County Democrat. Mr.

Ellis was a good pr actical printer and successful business man, but he was not much of an editor, and made vo pretentions to being a writer.

But, at this time, Walter C. Hood, a talented and marvelBusly well informed young man, was much about the oflice, ostensibly as a compositor or foreman, but also in the capacity of editor and writer. Hood had abundant resources just where Ellis lacked, and the latter was shrewd enough to to avail himself of the spletidid talents of the former. Ellis was printing « good and fine looking paper, and making money, too, just as the mutterings of the county seat removal thunder developed into a fearful storm and threatened political parties and newspapers, and seriously disturbed for a time many of the industries and enterprises of the county.

Early in June, 1851, Ee. J. Ellis sold the Perry County Democrat office to Vanatta, Forquer & Co., of New Lexington, with E: S. Colborn as editor and business manager. The first issue was made by the new firm June 12th, 1851. The paper was continued by Vanatta, Forguer & Co. for something over a year, when the office was sold to E. 8S. Colborn and W. C. Hickman; the latter continued only a few months, and then I. S. Colborn became sole' proprietor. Mr. Colborn continued the publication of the Democrat until Nov ember, 1853, when the paper was discontinued.

che Ss all these years, since the establishment of the paper in 1836, it and its legitimate successors, down to the last issue of the Democrat: in 1853, were the Democratic organs (so called) of the county, except for a few months in 1853, when the Perry County True Democrat disputed the claims of the Democrat to be so considered. In fact, the founding of the 7rue Democrat, and party divisions and disaflections from various causes, were the principal reasons for the disc onlinuance of the Democrat.

In the foregoing, a history is given of the original Neutral, then the old Whig, and of the old Democratic paper of the county. Attention will now be given to newspapers of a less extended character, confining what is said, for the sake of convenience, and classification, to Journals published in Somerset. Those published in New Lexington, will be considered in a body by themselves, as they are principally of a Jater date, and will naturally come in after the account of those in Somerset is completed. Later yet those of other towns will receive attention,

In December, 1354. the old) Perry County Democrat ollice, was set up by Ie. S. Colborn, in a new building, in the town of Somerset, and the first issue of the Perry County American was made January 3rd, 1855, and the paper was published by Colborn tor precisely two years when, the rst of January, 1857, the American was discontinued, and the office materials removed to New Lexington. [2 S. Colborn, who had been a Democrat, united, in 1854, with the new Republican party, and the Perry County Anertcan newspaper, was consequently" Republican in politics, and supported Salmon P. Chase for Governor. in 1855, and John C. Fremont for President, in 1856.

The Perry County True Democrat was established May, 1853, printed on a new press, and with new type. A. Mcklwee & Co., appeared as proprietors, and Johu Hl. O'Neill and Walter C. Hood as editors. The Zrne Democrat was bought and started in the Somerset interest, was intensely Democratic and claimed to be the trac organ the of party in the county. It Mourished for one campaign: butas soon as the election was over, there was a great reaction, and the paper sickened and dwindled. [It was, fora few months run by Dr. Martin Adams, but, early in 1854, the Perry County Truc Democrat died, quickly following its old antagonist, Ze Perry County Democrat, to the grave of newspapers.

In 1855, the materials of the old True Democrat ollice came into the posession of James Sheward, and he commenced publishing a paper under the title of Democratic Union. A few mouths afterwards, he became associated with Dr. Martin Kagay, in the publication of the same paper, which partnership continued until the close of the Presidential campaign of 1856. The Democratic Union was continued with slight intermissions, during the years 1857 aud 1858. Soon after the October elections of 1858, George M. Dittoe purchased the office. Mr. Dittoe published the Democratic Union regularly, woitil the spring of 1864, when he sold it to Charles FE. Magruder. Mr. Magruder run the paper about a year, and then sold it to Charles D. Eder, who continued its publication ip Somerset, unt) May, 1866, when he removed the office and paper to New Lexington.

About the tst of January, 1857, John Il. Shearer repurchased from E. S. Colborn, the materials of the Somerscl Post oflice, with the exception of the news type. Mr. Shearer purchased new news type for his office, and began the publication of the Somerset Revicw, a neutral paper. In 1858. Shearer sold the /Pezicz office, to W. C. Hickman, who run the paper a few months. and then discontinued it.

The Senu-Weckly lag, a War Democratic paper, so termed, was published in Somerset, for a few months, during the summer of 1864, by Martin Kagay. ;

The Somerset Advecate, a neutral paper, was established in the fall of 1866, and was published about two years, by Martin Waray. The Advocate was specially devoted to the development of mineral and railroad interests.

The Somerset. Tribune was founded by J. lk. McMahon, inthe fall of 1871. Tt was the first nine column paper inthe county. 1 continued to be published in Somerset, until March, 1873, when itwas removed to New potas and became a Republican paper. %

The Somerset Press, purchased by an Incorporated COMPAany with M. J. Mains as editor aud publisher, wits established in the spring ol the year 1873. In the spring of 1879, the ownership passed into the hands of W. P. Magruder, as editor and proprietor, under which arrange-

In 1848, James Taylor bought an office in: New Lexington, and commenced the publication of the Vow Lexington Visiter. "The press was an old Ramaye, and the materials much worn. The Pzsr/or was published a year, and then discontinued. The Tater numbers were printed at the office of the Somerset Post. Vhe Virsctor was an independent Journal. ;

The Democratic Organ was established in New Lexington, December, 1853, by M. A. Boling. Tt was democratic in politics, as indicated | by its name. The Organ was published about one year, and then discontinued.

The New Lexington Locomotive, with Po Bastian, proprictor, and James Taylor, editor, succeeded the Democratic Organ. Vhe Lecomoftve was independent, with an undisguised preference for the Republican side. The paper had an existence of about two years.

The Democratic Sentinel beyran its existence in May, 1859, and was ublished. with some sliyht: interruptions, about eighteen months. VP. r Ankeny, Johu R. Meloy, Robert G. Mossgrove, at different times proprietors. The iii ie a Democratic paper.

The Mew Lexington Ambrolype. by Vo S. Colborn, began publication, early in 185,. 0 Tt was continued two vears, when the oflice passed into the hands of P. ie Ankeny, who started the Democratic Scutinel. In october, 1859, J. 5. Colborn came into possession of the old Amdrotype office, and, having purchased a new outfit of news type, started the Perry County Weekly. This paper was published by E. S. Colborn, under the above name, about ten years. Tthad one or two short suspensions, and, for a few months in the summer of 1868, was leased to and run by Dr. Jerome Oatley. In the spring of 1870, the name of the paper was changed to Iftneral Reeron News. Ve. S. Colborn continued to publish the paper under this name until August, 1872, when he sold the oflice to the New Lexington Publishing Company. The Perry... County Weekly, Mincral Region News, awl Ambrotype, were Republican in politics, The Afineral Region News, for a few months previous lo its sale, advocated the election of Tforace Greely, founder of the 2. I. Trrbunc, to the Presidency. :

The company who purchased the oflice, at once began the. publication of the Perry County Repndiican, with Robert F. Wickman as editor and business manager. The Perry County Tepublican was pins seven months and then discontinued, or merged in' the New sexingtlon 7rebusie.

The Democratic Union was brought from Somerset to New Lexington, by Charles D. Elder, in' May, 1866, and continued by him until December, 1867, when he sold the office to Butler, Duffy & Meloy, who changed the name to Democratic [erald. Butler sold his interest ina few weeks. to Lewis Green, and the paper was published by Duffy, Green and Meloy, until the spring of 1870, when the eenieieness was sold to George Henricks. After a few months, Henricks sold to the old firm, Dually, Green & Meloy. The //era/d was continued by this firm until in 1872, Duly purchased Green's interest. The paper was then published by Dually & Meloy, until December ist,

1876, when Lewis Green and J. R. Meloy bought out Dully, Since that time the //era/d has been published 'by Green & Meloy. The Herald is Democratic in politics, and, with the exception of a year or two has been the only Democratic paper in the county. ¥

The New Lexington Tribune, vy J. &, McMahon, commenced in March, 1873, having at that time united with the Perry Conntly Republican, and become the Republican organ of the county. Tt has been continued from that time until the present, without change of name or proprietor.

The Perry County Democrat was commenced on September rth, 1879, by John H. Marlow & Co. It was published by this company ten weeks, and then sold to E. 5S. Colborn & Co., being KE. 5S. Colborn & Sons. E. S. Colborn had been the editor from the commencement. The Democrat was published by FE. S. Colborn &-Co., and 1.55: Col born. until March, 1881, when it was discontinued.

A number of campaign and otherwise transient sheets, were published at different periods. The P/a7n Dealer, in Somerset, by John Donavan, about the time of the war with Mexico; the Perry County Republican, by Vaylor, McMahan & Co., in New Lexington, in 1857 ; and the Democratic Union, by Martin Kagay, in New Lexington, in the winter of 1857, are among the most notable of these, and were, for the time being, influential Journals.

The Aforning Call, by Otto Colborn, at New Lexingtou, was a sprightly little daily, published during the Perry County Teachers' [nstitute, in August, 1877. Also the Darly Trrbune, by J. V. McMahon, during week of county fair, in 1878.

The Independent was commenced in New Lexington in 1881, by Duzenberry & Moore. After a few mouths Moore sold out to Duzenberry, who still publishes the paper.

A Mr. Cullinan, of Zanesville, bought Lewis Green's interest in the New Lexington //era/d in 1881, and the paper has since that time been published by Cullinan & Meloy. oh

Perry county was not a very promising field for newspapers, and but little money was made in the business, until within the last few years. In the first place, the county was arent and only the northern and central portions partially settled. Yet later, for various causes, the newspaper business was not prosperous. But within the last len years, some of the papers have been very well sustained.

livery person who is conversant with all the facts will readily admit that no county is more indebted to newspapers for improvement and advancement than is the county of Perry. The newspapers, as a class, have labored for her interests, in season and out of season, with an assiduity and faithfulness well deserving mention, and not without a high degree of success.

The early papers were small, contained little or nothing of local news, and had no mail facilities to amount to oe They were delivered by carriers, commonly called '* post- -boys % who rode through the country on horseback and blew loud blasts from a bugle to announce their coming. Foreign news was considered a greater feature than local news, and they were usually much devoted to political literature. The first page matter did not differ much from the first page of the county paper of to-day. There was the inevitable story and poem, and short miscellaneous articles; the fair sex and small boys had to be placated, and there was a suspicion amony old-time editors that even men sometimes read those things behind the door or in a corner. The "New Year's Carrier's Address" was a feature of the e arly hewpapers. The office '* Devil" Aebiened with the 'home poet" to furnish the material, and the address was printed and sold for the benefit of his Satanic Majesty aforesaid, who was ever an accommodating little chap, and would cheerfully sell for either a dime or a dollar.

The first newspaper (Zhe Western World and Political Tickler) was very much of a curiosity. It was a dingy sheet, bitterly personal, and a part of the reading matter was set in large poster type. After a year or two there was a new outfit, in part, and the paper presented a more artistic appearance, and the overwhelming, pretentious title was dispensed with.

One of the most remarkable things connected with the newspapers of Perry is the fact that John M. Laird, one of the early printers, who published a paper in Somerset in 1822, is still living (or was a short time since), and is editor and proprietor of the Greensburg Argus, at Greensburg, Pa. Alford, the original printer of 1821, was in Somerset a few years ago and seurched diligently for a few old friends that he knew and loved so long ago.

eventful one, as any person will concede who gives it anything like a caretul perusal. The newspaper world may be likened to a stage, and the various journals have their entrances and their exits, like the characters in a play; and all - good, bad, or indiflerent - strut their brief hour, and sooner or later bow and retire. Very few of all the newspapers named are in the play or battle of life to-day; and what is a

The newspapers which hold the stage to-day are, indeed, few in number compared with the many which have been, but are not, and only appear as spectres or shadows behind the scenes, while the real play or fight of newspapers goes on. The time will come of course, however remote, when the journals so active on the stage now will make their several exits, np * gathering their drapery about them, lie down to pleasant dreams," or join the spectral column of worthies marshaled by the senior - Western World and Political Tickler - and, unknown and unseen, flit through the halls and corridors of the active newspaper stage, gazing in silence upon the ways and works of editors

(CINCINNATI, WILMINGTON AND ZANESVILLE RAILROAD. - The General Assembly of 1850-51, enacfed a Jaw chartering the Cincinnati, Wilmington and Zanesville Railroad Co., which proposed to construct a road from Morrow, in Warren county, on the Litthe Miami Railroad, through the counties of Clinton, Fayette, Pickaway, airfield, Perry and Muskingum to Zanesville. The counties through which the road was to be made, were authorized to take a certain amount of stock in the enterprise, provided a majority of the people favored the measure and would so vote at a specified general election. All of them except Perry did, in fact, vote and subscribe stock ; and it would doubtless have done likewise, had there been anything like agreement as to the route through the county. There was great diversity of opinion, and a majority of the people voted in opposition to the measure of subscribing stock as a county. A Jarge minority voted in favor of stock, leaving the directors to select the route aflerward; but a majority could not be obtained under these circumstances. The friends of the two principal routes, which were the New Lexington or Rush Creek Valley, and the Somerset route, each raised about one hundred thousand dollars, conditioned that the road be made on a specified line. The Board of Directors had various meetings to consider the matter, but they appeared to hesitate, or were reluctant to decide ; and it was notuntil September, 1852, that they, at a regular meeting at Zanesville, Ohio, formally decided to locate on the New Lexington or Rush Creek Valley route. Thus was at last settled a question upon which no little time, labor and money had been expended by a large number of persons in Perry county.

Work was commenced on the road in the spring of 1853, and was prosecuted throughout that season with considerable vigor and energy, after the manner of railroad building in those days: but it was not until the summer of 1854, that the cars first reached New Lexington from the west. There was for several months a transfer of passengers and mail at this place, from car to stages, which run temporarily between here and Zanesville. But it was not long until the tunnel, three miles east of New Lexington, was done and the east end of the road completed, since which time the cars have run regularly between Zanesville and Morrow, the entire length of the line. = ia

The road passed out of the hands of the original stockholders long ago, and has been under various management} ny it was never so well equipped, as well managed, nor did so much business as since it became a part of the Pan Handle system.

HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 83 The completion and opening of a railroad was quite an event in those days, and thousands of persons, men, women and children, gathered to see the first train come in. [excursions for several years 'along the line were very frequent; the people of the flat counties along the western part of the line, would come up into the rolling hills of Perry and the people of Perry and eastern Muskingum would go down to re plains of Pickaway and Fayette. The novelty of this in time passed away, and the people learned to look upon the railroad and all its advantages, as one of the common, every-day things of lite.

A Muskingum Valley Depot

Scioto AND Hocxine VALLEY Rattroav. - The old Scioto and Hocking Valley was chartered by an enactment which became a law in the winter of 1849, Newark and Portsmouth being given as the terminal points, and certain counties named, through which the road was to pass. Perry county was not named, or included in this original charter ; but at the legislative session of 1850-51, the Jaw was soa mended as to authorize the location of the road through Perry, Tfocking and certain other counties named, provided the directors of the company thought it best to do so.

In December. 1852, a certificate was filed with the Auditor of State, increasing the capital stock of the company already organized, one million dollars, making the capital three millions. The final location of the road was determined by a meeting of the directors held at Portsmouth in the winter or spring of 1853, and the route through Perry, instead of Fairfield or Pickaway, was adopted. 'The Fairfield county interests were very strongly pressed ; but the Perry county men, backed by the great coal deposits, carried the day and went home triumphant. Eli A. Spencer, then a citizen of Somerset, being present at Portsmouth, telegraphed the news of the location to Somerset in this characteristic and pithy manner: ONT eGR Fics: route. God and Liberty. E. A. SPENCER.' The people of Somerset and vicinity were much elated at securing the location of the Scioto and Hocking Valley. There was an impromptu but great celebration in honor of the ev ent, which lasted nex urly all night. Immense bonfires were made, tar barrels burned, speeches delivered, songs sung, and every demonstration of joy was made. The result was scarcely expected, "and when assured was almost over- Wwhelming. |

The people of the northern and western parts of the county went to work, without delay, to obtain stock subscriptions: and there was subscribed along the line in Perry county, the sum of about one hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars; of this sum about one hundred and seventy-two thousand was expended upon the road before the work ceased. That part of the line between Portsmouth and Jackson C. H., was completed in 1852, or early in 1853, and the part of the line between Jackson C. H. and Newark, the northern terminus of the road, a distance of ninety miles, and which had been surveyed and located by J. W. Webb, chief engineer, was now let to Seymour, Moore & Company. TT his firm consisted of Thomas Seymour, late Chief Engineer of the State of New York, a practical railroader, engineer and builder ; James Moore of Pennsylvania, who was also an experienced railroad man, and George A. French of Dunkirk, New York. This firm sublet the entire line. Ward and Taylor of New York State, took the tunnel contract near Middletown, and began work upon the same about the first of April, 1853; Fink and Dittoe of Somerset, took three miles of the line to build, including the deep cut at Somerset. This firm consisted of Adam Fink and Henry Dittoe. They broke ground on their contract in February, 1853, and worked a large force of men and horses for six or eight months, when they were compelled to cease by reason of financialembarrassments. Fink and Dittoe sublet their northern section to John Sheridan, father of Gen. P. H. Sheridan. . This section was finished by Mr. Sheridan. The next eight miles north were taken by W.S. French & Co. This firm consisted of Walter S. French of Dunkirk, New York, and T. Spencer Stillman of Wethersfield, Conn. They 'commenced work in April, 1853, and employed on an average about one hundred and sixty men and horses, and completed and turned over their part of the line in May. 1854. A. IT. Mills of the State of New York, and Samuel Aiken of PanetR are had about three sections of this hght work in the county, which they completed. James McArdle, late of New Lexington, had a section or two in the neighborhood of Thornville. The names of a few other sub-contractors are not remembered.

In the fall of 1853, and before the work on,the cut at Somerset and the tunnel at Middletown was anything like completed, Seymour, Moore & Co. became greatly embarrassed. They were unable to

HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. 85 sell their bonds, and failed to pay their sub-contractors on their estimates of work. Some of the sub-contractors suspended work in 1853, others having more faith worked on until 1854: but one by ane they succumbed, until W. S. French & Co., who had taken a new contract in Vinton county, were the only ones at work along the line, and they were dependent upon Jocal subscriptions, where they were at work. : '

Seymour, Moore & Co, did everything in their power to retrieve their fortunes and pay their sub-contractors ; they negotiated a purchase of iron suflicient to lay the track of twelve miles between Jackson C. II. and Hamden, the Jatter being on the Cincinnati and Marietta railroad. It was confidently hoped, that by building this extension of twelve miles, and forming a junction with the Cincinnati and Marietta railroad, that new credit would be secured, and that the bonds of the com- Par ne sell at a fair price; but these hopes were not realized.

ith the failure of Seymour, Moore & Co., the Scioto and Hocking Valley Company broke down and were unable to pay the interest on bonds outstanding, and other liabilities. In 1857 the mortgagees filed a petition in the Court of Common Pleas of Perry county, praying for a foreclosure, which was finally accomplished in 106450]. W. Webb being special Master Commissioner in the sale of the road, and the trustees of Arcade Bank at Providence, Rhode Island, became the purchasers at the sum of four hundred and eleven thousand dollars. The purchasers at this judicial sale, subsequently sold all of the line between Portsmouth and the track of the Cincinnati and Zanesville road in Perry county, to the Cincinnati and Marietta Railroad Company. It is believed that the Arcade Bank would have sold the whole line to the Cincinnati and Marietta Company, had it not been for the special efforts and influence of J. W. Webb, who hoped to secure some future benefit to the original stock subscribers on the northern end of the line. That part of the line reserved by the trustees of the Arcade Bank, was held by them until December, 1869, when it was sole to the Newark, Somerset and Straitsville Railroad Company. It must not be supposed that the Scioto and Hocking Valley Railroad Company did not, between the years 1854 and 1861, make strenuous efforts to revive their credit and push on the road to completion. "They made many efforts, both in this country and Europe, and were on the very point of succeeding through London, England, capitalists, when the country became involved in the great civil war, which suddenly closed all negotiations. An agent of London capitalists had been sent over here to investigate the road property and general conditions, and he made a highly favorable report; but it all went for nought when Fort Sumter was fired upon, large contending armies raised, and Great Britain acknowledged the Confederate States us a belligerent power.

NEWARK, SOMERSET AND STRAIPSVILLE Ratroap. - -This company was incorporated in 1869, and having purchased so much of the rond-bed of the old Scioto and Hocking Valley as lay between Newark and the line of the Cineinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad, proceeded to business in a short time for the construction of the new road. Work was begun in a small way, upon the northern end of the dine im

1870, but it was not until the spring of 1871 that work was commenced on the deep cut in Somerset, the most difficult part along the route. Meanwhile the road had been leased to the Baltimore and Ohio for a period of twenty years, and the task of its completion was henceforth pushed with all the energy that capital and skill could command. Work upon the deep cut at Somerset and the tunnel near Bristol went on uninterruptedly during the fall of 1871, and the winter of 1871-72, and in the latter year the whole line was completed to the town of Shawnee, the southern terminus of the road. '

In making the new road, the old road-bed of the Scioto and Hocking Valley was used from Newark to a point a mile or two north of the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad, whence the new road turned abruptly to the east, running almost parallel with the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley track, crossing the, same at Wolf Station, (now the town of Junction City,) then running up a water-course to the tunnel, near Bristol, and through it over on to the head-waters of Monday Creek, and up Shawnee Run to Shawnee, where the road terminates.

The building of this road, was instrumental, either wholly or in great part in the making of the new towns of Glenford, Junction City, Dicksonton, McCuneville and Shawnee. The road has had a large coal carrying trade ever since its construction, and its passenger business has not been inconsiderable.

The sequel proved that J. W. Webb, Iesq., was right in his prognostications. Though the stock subscriptions paid to the old Scioto and Hocking Valley Company were irrevocably lost, the road-bed resulted in serving as a basis for the Newark, Somerset and Straitsville, and brought a railroad to the people of Thorn, Ilopewell and Reading townships, which they might not otherwise have secured, and certainly not on such favorzble terms.

STRAITSVILLE BRANCH OF THE HockInc VALLEY. - This is a railway about twelve miles in length, reaching from Old Straitsville and New Straitsville in Perry county to Logan in Hocking county, where it intersects the main line of the Hocking Valley. This branch road was the result of large investments in mineral lands, by several companies, in the neighborhood of Old Straitsville - New Straitsville not being in existense at that time. The Railroad Company was incorporated in 1869, and the road constructed and cars running in 1870. It is one of the most important twelve miles of coal road in the whole country. The output of coal from New Straitsville has been the largest from any one point tributary to the, Hocking Valley Railroad, and the passenger and other freight traffic of the road has been very considerable. One effect of this road has been' to build up the new and large town of New

ATLANTIC AND LAKE Erte. - When capitalists began to invest their money in the coal regions of Straitsville and Shawnee, a number of enterprising and public spirited citizens of New Lexington, who knew something of,the geology of the coal measures, and also enlightened by several openings in the '*great vein' on the waters of Sunday Creek, came to the conclusion that the great seam reached its greatest maNimum in the Sunday Creek Valley, and lay ina solid block under the valleys as well as the hills, and must, therefore, be equal to, if not superior, to any other coal section of the country. These wonderful coal deposits could be of no great use or value without a railroad to reach them, and how to accomplish this indispensable object was the next question. Both a northern and southern outlet was highly desirable, if not absolutely essential. Hence a railroad map of the State was examined, and it was discovered that there was a section of country from Toledo to Pomeroy, not already supplied with railroads, to any great extent, through which a through line might be built, taking in New Lexington and the great Sunday Creek Valley coal region on its way. Hence the origin of the Atlantic and Lake Erie Company.

The company was duly organized and incorporated in 186g, and the towns and country all along the line of the proposed road thoroughly stirred up upon the subject. Stock books were opened everywhere, and two or three corps of surveyors set to work to explore and locate the line. Stock was subscribed liberally, almost all along the line. The installments necessary to complete the surveys and for other preliminary purposes, were collected and disbursed, and everything appeared to go on swimmingly.

The first line surveyed from New Lexington north, was through the townships of Clayton and Madison, 'of Perry county, and by way of Brownsville, Peking county, to Newark; but there were some heavy grades on this route, stock subscriptions did not come in very satisfactorily, and the city of Newark, especially appeared very lukewarm as to the success of the great enterprise. Consequently, the surveyors were put upon the line by the way of Bremen, Rushville, Pleasantville, Millersport and Hebron, which left Newark off the line of the road. It has been stated, and probably with a good foundation, that this demonstration was at first intended as a feint; but the people of the eastern art of Fairfield county received the explorers and surveyors so cordially, and went to are so promptly and raised such liberal amounts of stock that, together with a favorable report of the surveyors as to this route, converted the feint into a reality, and secured the great thoroughfare on this line. Had the road been located and made on the first route surveyed, it would have accommodated a greater portion of the people of BLY county, and the change of line, which circumstances seemed to render imperative, was regretted at the time by the projectors of the road and nearly all of its friends in this county ; but the directory builded wiser than they knew, for the new line made a good outlet for coal to Columbus, which the first proposed line did not, and it was the easy and desirable Columbus outlet that first resurrected the road after 'ts unfortunate collapse in 1877-78. Had the road-bed of the Atlantic and Lake Erie been made on the first surveyed route from New ex ington north, it is possible that the subsequent history and condition of the road might have been very different from what it now 1s.

The line was more costly through Perry county than any where else, and the private subscriptions were altogether inadequate to the expense that must necessarily be incurred. To meet this difficulty a number ot Coal or Mining companies, so called, had been organized and their stock placed upon the market. Among them were '*The Great Vein Company," 'The Sunday Creek Valley Company,? **The Hurd Company," and various other ones. These companies subscribed heavily to the stock of the Railroad Company, and as fast as stock was sold, a large proportion of the money thus obtained was paid to the Railroad Company, and expended upon the tunnels that had to be made in order to reach the great vein region. ted

Ground was ''broke"' upon the Atlantic and Lake Erie line at New Lexington, June 22d, 1870. The day was one of great pomp and magnificence. A large meeting was held in Kelley's Grove, at a point now within the corporate limits. Speeches were made by Charles Follett, of Newark, Ohio; D. B. Swigart, of Bucyrus; Darius Talmadge, of Lancaster, and by various other gentlemen. Thomas Ewing, Sr., who had. intended to be present and speak, but was unable to attend, sent a caretully written address; which was read at the meeting. The meeting was extraordinarily large, and its proceedings were telegraphed to leading newspapers in all parts of the country. The ceremony of 'breaking ground" took place precisely where the track is now laid, a few rods north of Water street. A few weeks later, work was commenced upon the tunnel, one and a half miles southeast of New Lexington; and a little later upon the one at Carter's Summit, near Oakfield; but money was not very abundant, and the work proceeded slowly.

Work progressed all along the line from Perry county to Toledo, during the years of 1871-72 and 1873, and when the great financial panic struck the country, the road-bed was nearly completed from the tunnel near New Lexington to the northern terminus of the road. Had, not the financial revulsion come just when it did, the bonds of the road could doubtless have been sold at a fair price, and it could have been finished and equipped by its original owners. As it was, strong efforts were made, and iron bought and laid ona portion of the road, but all of no avail. The name of the road had meanwhile been changed to The Ohio Central; but neither this nor the new management to which the stockholders entrusted its fortunes, made any perceptible change for the better. The company had one old wheezy engine and one car, which plied between New Lexington and Moxahala - to which latter place the road had been finished in 1874 - irregularly in the years 1875-76 and 77, but at last gave it up altogether, and the old engine was thrown off the track near the tunnel, where it lay for a long time, a monument of the former impecuniosity and bad fortunes of the now famous and rich thoroughfare, which will soon reach from the Ohio river to the Lakes, passing nearly through the center of this great State.

The track had been laid by the old Ohio Central Company, from the crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio, westof Newark, to Moxahala, but only that part between the latter place and New Lexington, had been put to use, and that, with very insufficient equipments, as stated above.

The company could not go on with the work, could not dispose of its bonds, could not meet its outstanding liabilities, and, in March, 1878, the entire property, franchises and privileges of the road, from Toledo to Pomeroy, were sold at Judicial sale, and thus passed out of the hands of the original stockholders forever, property upon which over two millions of dollars had been expended, Parties from the East became the purchasers, who sold) so much of the road as Mes between Granville, Licking county, and Chauncey, in Athens county, to a syndicate, who organized a company for the construction of a road from Columbus to the Sunday Creek Valley, intersecting the Ohio Central Line, at Bush's Station, Fairtield county.

CoLuMBUS AND SunpAY CREEK VALLEY. - This company, in the course of a few months, put the line under contract, and, in the latter part of 1878, or January '79, the contractors got to work. 'The principal job was the tunnel, at Carter's Summit, near Oakfield. This tun- _nel is almost sixteen hundred feet long. Early in 1880, the tunnel and whole line. was finished, and the cars running from Columbus to Corning. The company or syndicate, about this time decided to complete the entire line from Bush's station north to Toledo, and changed the name of the road and cars to The Ohio Central.

Ouro CenTRAL. - It is understood that the organization of this new company included new men,.and heavy capitalists of the Hast, in addition to those who had been interested in the Columbus and Sunday Creek Valley. - Work was pushed vigorously along the northern end of the line, and early in 1881 the cars were running between Corning and Toledo, as well as between Corning and Columbus, intersecting at Bush's Station, now Hadley Junction, in Fairfield county.

In the fall of 1880, an extension of the Ohio Central, from Corning, in Perry, to near Oxford, in Athens county, was begun, and also a switch, diverging from the main line, six or eight miles in length, up the west branch of Sunday Creek, to Buckingham and ILemlock, which extension and switch are both finished, and the cars are running over them. ; :

The company has alsocommenced work upon the southern end of the road, between Oxford, in Athens county, and Pomeroy, in Meigs county, on the Ohio River, and this extension will be finished during the year 1882, and the cars running regularly between Toledo and Pomeroy.

The Ohio Central Railroad and its predecessors, have made the towns of Corning, Moxahala, Rendville, Hfemlock and Buckingham, and developed an immense coal trade, in the ''Great Vein" Region. The road now ships about three hundred cars daily, and it expects to ship six hundred or more per day, when more shafts are sunk, and 'more mines opened, and a greater number of coal cars, and the requisite additional rolling stock added. The passenger traflic is good now, and will be greatly augmented, when the road is completed through to the Ohio River, and connection made with the southern system of roads, to the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, which will surely be done.