Putnam County, Ohio - Chapter 16: Sidelights on Putnam County History, 1915

Chapter 16: Sidelights on Putnam County History

The following list of business and professional interests in Putnam county is taken from Dun's Report of 1870 and may prove interesting even after the lapse of forty-five years:

Columbus Grove

William Breckbill, stoves and tinware; Charles Busche, grocery; A W Chase, grocery and bakery; Thomas N. Day, general store; A. H ' Day & Bro., general store; C. H. Day & Co., grain; A. Edmonds, wagon maker- Edwards & Ward, bricklayers; Elkell & Bro., saw-mill; John Greek grocery; Fred Hannert, shoes; E. A. Hartley, hardware; E. Henderson & Co stave factory; David Jones, saddler; Jacob Kohli, wagon maker; McHenry & Gessells, produce; Simon Maple, dry goods, etc.; I. W. Martin, flour-mill- Martm & Son, general store; Joseph Oglevie, carpenter; A. Oglevie steam mill; Henry Oglevie, saw-mill; Mrs. E. Palmer, milliner; Anderson Reeder saw-mill; Jacob Risser, grocery; John Rollands, saddler; Alexander Slemmons, blacksmith; J. O. Smith, cooper; J. B. Sprague, drugs and groceries; Samuel Stirlen, furniture; Joseph Tingle, merchant tailor; Simon Turner physician; John D. Viers, cabinet maker; Ward & Arnold, groceries.

Louis Boehmer, mills ; Funk, silversmith ; F. H. Klakamp, grocery and tavern ; Christian Raabe, dry goods and groceries ; William Recker, grocery

Altekruse & Son, general store; Joseph Baker, shoes; Frank Brinkman, wagons; John G. Buckhold, hotel; J. W. Ellerbrock & Co., woolen factory; Henry Evers, shoemaker; Anthony Fox, shoemaker; Joseph Gerding, saddler; Ferd Gerding, harness; Henry Guelker, shoes; William Helker, gro- eery; F. W. Hoffman, general store; Hubert Huber, physicians; Hueve & Nartger, bricklayers; Henry Klassing, blacksmith; Kolhoff & Doepker, sawmill; F. Landgraber, general store; George Loudenbach, tailor; Henry H. Meyers, shoemaker; Moenke & Co., flouring-mill ; William Rampe, shoemaker; Mrs. E. Ricknier, grocery; John Schmenck, grocery; Henry Shafer, blacksmith; M. Shoemaker, tailor; Blasius Street, furniture; Nicholas Thom, wagons; Henry Wortcutter, tailor.

S. D. Ayers, grocery; Wilton H. Grain, wagons; Lee & Bro., drugs and dry goods; S. Metheney & Co., general store; John Overbeck, cabinet maker; L. L. Parker, dry goods; John T. Thrift, physician.

A. Ball, shoemaker; Frank Eastman, mill; R. Edgecomb, dry goods and groceries; S. S. Emery, physician; Joseph Faber, carriage; Folk & Son, clothing and grain; Hammet & Alt, general store; Daniel Leffler, grocery; Charles Mann, hotel; Jo,seph Opdyke, saw-mill; J. D. Timmerman, drugs; Jacob Werner, lumber; V. Winkler, shoemaker; A. J. Young, groceries and drugs; Solomon Young, drugs and dry goods.

Ottawa

H. F. Beach, wagon maker; C. E. Beardsley, physician; John Beck, dry goods, etc.; R. J. Beeney, baker and grocery; J. S. Bowers, furniture; Andrew Brinkman, blacksmith; Sarah Buahler, milliner; Burkmier & Gosling, saddlers; C. M. Carson, hotel; Carnahan & Ault, builders; Mrs. M. Cover' milliner; M. C. & J. P. Ewing, produce; Foltz & Taylor, marble; John Fipp,' groceries; Samuel F. Foltz, livery; Freese & Raff, dry goods; Joseph Gerdmg, harness; F. S. Godfrey, baker and grocery; N. Goetchius, foundry- Mrs. J. Goldsmith, grocery; N. M. Haviland, groceries and provisions; J. S. Hale, furniture; A. J. Hamilton, tinner; Thomas H. B. Hipkins, groceries and produce; Thomas H. B. Hipkins & Sons, dry goods and groceries; Holtz, Goetchius & Co., manufacturers hubs, etc.; Kelly & Hauck, drugs ; George D. Kinder, printing; J. C. and H. F. Knowles, insurance; Laskey, ' Pratt & Campbell, stoves, etc.; Frank Lassance, clothing; Lentzy & Willoughby, merchant tailors; David Lowery, hardware; McBride & Humberger, steam mill; McCoy, Slauson & Co., dry goods and groceries; Miles & Son, builders; A. S. Miller, contractor; Misner & Brockman, boots and shoes; Lyman M.' Moe, physician; J. T. Moorehead, books, notions; Newman & Co., dry goods; Freeman F. Paul, physician; E. Pomeroy, groceries and notions; C. H. Rice & Co., bankers; Michael Row, hotel; Charles Schimpff, jeweler; William Schmitschulte, groceries; Mrs. F. Sargent, milliner; Samuel Shoup! drugs; John P. Simon, groceries and provisions; Slausson, Ewing & Cox, bankers; Slawson & Ewing, real estate dealers; J. R. Thompson, photographer and picture; C. E. Tupper, physician; Lycurgus Willoughby, hotel.

Joseph C. Forrier, groceries and dry goods; Gerhart Otte, dry goods and groceries; Charles Wannemacher, shoemaker; Mathias Winkleman, dry goods and grocery.

Joe Keinie, dry goods and groceries; John Lacont, grocery; James Mc- Bride, tailor; J. C. Snyder, dry goods and groceries; Mark Thompson, general store.

The Story Of Johnny Appleseed

Who has not heard of Johnny Appleseed? He spent his hfe in the woods, wore cast-off clothes, tramped the year around in his bare feet, had httle or no money and died in comparative obscurity and yet did more to promote the raising of apples in the state of Ohio than any other man. The fruit he was responsible for raising would fill millions of bushel baskets.

Johnny Appleseed for years wandered through Ohio planting apple seeds, collected at cider mills and carried in a little sack over his shoulder, in practically every cleared tract he could find. Often he would clear pieces of land in the heart of the wilderness and plant either sprouts or seeds. So well known did he become that people forgot his real name was John Chapman and called him by his soubriquet.

Johnny Appleseed was born in 1775, at Springfield, Massachusetts, the son of Nathaniel Chapman, and came with his half brother to Ohio in 1801. Soon afterward a desire to wander and develop apple orchards struck the young man and, abandoning civilization, he set forth. As early as 181 1 he had become known all over the state and before he left it to go west, where the ax of the pioneer was not heard, he was probably the best known man in the state. Few communities did not boast of orchards planted by his hands. He died in Allen county, Ohio, in the summer of 1847, aged seventy-two years, forty-six of which had been consecrated to his selfimposed mission.

Johnny Appleseed was a man of many manias. He abhorred the extinction of all forms of life. One time, when lying before his fire in the woods, he saw that gnats and mosquitoes were flying to their death in the flames. He promptly arose, extinguished the fire and permitted himself tO' be bitten all night by the pests. At another time he sought shelter from cold and snow in a hollow log, which he found occupied by a bear and her cubs. He quickly withdrew and laid in the snow and cold all night. At another time he accidentally killed a rattlesnake which had bitten him. Heblamed it on an ungodly passion.

Johnny Appleseed was an apostle of Swedenborg, whose literature he distributed among the people he met. Once, when his supply had become exhausted, he tore his only remaining book in two and gave one part to eachof the two men with whom he was talking.

Johnny Appleseed Visits The Reservation

While the early settlers found a number of good-sized apple trees on the reservation when they first came here, no one of our pioneer citizens knew of Johnny's visits prior to the year 1833, when he came down the river in a canoe laden with young apple trees. It is stated that wherever he could find a white settler he would furnish him with trees without regard to the settler's ability or disposition to pay for the same. His last trip down the Blanchard was in the year 184 1. The history of this remarkable man and great philanthropist is so well known . throughout Ohio, especially in the northwest portion of the state, that it is not necessary to give it in detail here. Many years ago the writer of this history interviewed a large number of the pioneer citizens of the county in regard to events and incidents connected with its early history. Among those interviewed was Mr. Brower, who settled on the banks of the Blanchard river, in Greensburg township.' Among the incidents Mr. Brower related was one referring to Johnny Appleseed, who figured as a "tourist" in this part of the state from the close of the war of 1812 and for some twenty years after. The present generation is no doubt familiar with the eccentricities of this man and the life he led, therefore we well but briefly notice one of his visits to this at which time he paid a visit to Mr. Brower, who states that during the visit Johnny exhibited his usual characteristics or eccentricities of habits. While on this visit he brought with him a big supply of apple seeds, which were encased in pumice from cider-mills in western Pennsylvania, the source of his supply. Johnny made it a business to plant these seeds on available spot along the Blanchard river and in a few years afterward the early pioneers gathered many apples from the trees grown from the seed planted by Johnny, and a number of the trees bore fruit for many years after the organization of the county. When he planted the seed he usually put some brush around the spot to protect the young trees, yet as the was^ cleared up and brush burned, many of the young trees were destroyed.

Early Taverns

Prior to 1850 there were many taverns in Putnam county, and places for the entertainment of man and beast were located about every three miles along the roads generally traveled in those days. In every small village two or more taverns existed. In Gilboa, in 1847-1850, taverns were kept by Matthias Chambers, Wilham McClure, William Hipkins and Christtan Hensy, while in Kalida taverns were kept by Arthur E. Martin, William Phillips, James H. Vail, T. R. McClure and Mr. Foss. It was a common -custom then to have bars, where liquor was sold at the modest sum of five cents per drink. Then there was only a state tax of five dollars a year for the privilege of dispensing strong drinks-, no revenue or county tax being required. Beer and ale were not then a common beverage.

An Early Distillery

There was one distillery of whisky in the county. It was known as Ash distillery, located in Jennings township, near the canal. It is common report that often, when government revenue officers were expected to call, weights would be put on barrels of liquor which were sunk in the canal, until after Uncle Sam's men had gone. A few years ago a barrel was found in the canal, after being there many years. It is supposed that this one was overlooked and forgotten by the owners. Of course canal whisky is always good.

County Expenses In 1849

The county commissioners' report for the year ending June 4, 1849, certifies that the amount paid prosecuting attorney, for one year's salary, was $108.33; P^^d clerk of courts, yearly allowance, $43.33; paid for stationery, during year, $49.50; paid for postage by the county for all officials, $2.83; paid for wolf scalps, $39; auditor's salary, $499; treasurer's salary, $489.38.

In the year 1849, the three county commissioners received sixty dollars for per diem allowances. These items show how expenses have increased in sixty-six years.

Kalida Market, March, 1 847

For purposes of comparison, the following market quotations are reproduced from the Kalida Venture of March, 1847: Wheat, per bushel, 75 cents; corn, per bushel, 25 cents; oats, per bushel, 15 cents; clover seed, per bushel, $3.00; timothy seed, per bushel, $1.00; flax seed, per bushel, 62 cents; beans, per bushel, 75 cents; potatoes, per bushel, 25 cents; pork, pickled, per pound, 4 cents; beef, fresh, per pound, 4 cents; butter, per pound, 9 cents ; lard, per pound, 6 cents ; ham, per pound, 6 cents ; tallow, per pound, ID cents; maple sugar, per pound, 10 cents; eggs, per dozen, 5 cents.

Cholera At Gilboa In 1852

In 1852, during the epidemic of cholera, Gilboa was the worst afflicted illage in the county. It had nineteen cases of the dread disease, from which fourteen deaths occurred, only five persons who had the disease recovering. A great many of the people fled from the village, and only two doctorsremained to administer to the afflicted. One of these two was Dr. T. E. Paul and the other Doctor Thatcher, a Hungarian by birth, who died with the disease at the time.

Early Liquor Violations

The contention now in regard to the liquor question is not a new thing,, or "boot-legging" a hew species of crime under the laws of this state. Eightyone years ago (1834), at the first term of court ever held in this county, the first grand jury convened brought in six indictments, four of which were "for selling spirits without a license." The first criminal case in the first court was for this offense, and the dispenser of the spirits was fined twenty-five dollars and costs. In those days a license to traffic in liquor was required and the amount of the license was five dollars. Upon the adoption of the new Constitution in 1851-52 the license law became obsolete and a penalty was prescribed for the sale of liquor and everyone selling it laid himself liable to a fine. This condition existed up to the time of the enactment of the law requiring dealers to pay a tax. Up to this latter date nearly every grand jury indicted from one to a dozen saloon keepers. They were each fined about twenty-five dollars and costs for each offense, which waspaid and the dealer proceeded in the business until the next court convened,, when in many instances he was again indicted and paid his fine. In some cases, a term in the county jail was added to the fine.

An Early Postmaster Of Gilboa

In looking over some old documents in our possession we came acrossthe followmg letter, written by the second assistant postmaster-general to Hon. William Sawyer, notifying Mr. Sawyer of the appointment of Stansberry Sutton as postmaster at Gilboa, this county, with Mr. Sawyer's letter to Mr. Sutton informing him of his appointment :

Dec. loth, 1845. "Sir - I have the honor to inform you that the postmaster-general has appointed Stansberry Sutton postmaster at Gilboa, in the state of Ohio, in place of J. E. Creighton, resigned. I am respectfully your obedient servant,

There are very few of our older citizens who do not remember Stansberry Sutton, one of the most highly respected and prominent citizens of Gilboa and Ottawa for many years, and who died in Ottawa in the year 1879, after a long and useful life.

In 1852 a resident of Kalida invented a rat trap which is duly mentioned in the Venture at that time : "The trap consisted of a hollow stick, about seven feet long, closed at one end, and after putting some grain and litter in it he set the trap in his hay mow and covered it with hay. The next morning he plugged the hole in the trap, and carried it out and killed the rats." The inventor claimed that the trap was a great success.

The Wolf Scalp Industry

During the early history of Putnam county, many wolves infested the county as well as the other counties in this part of the state. At that time the state paid a bounty for the scalps of wolves, and the early pioneers were industrious in hunting them. The money they received for the scalps was certainly a blessing to them in those days, as money was very scarce and what was received from this source paid taxes and afforded now and then a better living in several respects. All scalps had to be presented to the clerk of the court, who issuecl an order on the county treasurer for the amount. The order called for four dollars and twenty-five cents for each scalp. Persons presenting scalps had to swear that they killed the wolves.. The following is a sample of the affidavits required to be made :

"You, George Sweiger, do solemnly swear that the scalps now produced by you are the scalps of wolves taken by you within the county of Putnam, within twenty days last past, and verily believe the same to have been under the age of six months, and that you have not spared the life of any she wolf within your power to kill, with a view to increase the breed.

The George Sweiger above mentioned was quite a success as a wolf hunter, as he presented many of the scalps of wolves killed at various times. During the period from 1834 to 1836, many wolves were killed in this county, and about a hundred were killed during the year 1834. Many persons killed only a single wolf, while others seemed to make it a business.

Among those drawing the most money during the year 1834, for wolf scalps, were the following: George Sweiger, $60; William Kenny, $42.75; John Woods, $26.75; Andrew Clawson, $20; John Elder, $21.25; John Mc- Gill, $15; Joseph Nichols, $15; Leonard Sweiger, $12.50; John Neill, $9,25, and George Blessing, $7.50.

Miles Crow, many years ago a resident of Greensburg township, was a great hunter and was possibly the last man in the county to trap or kill wolves. He was successful in killing more wolves than any other man, after the year 1840.

An incident is related of one of Ottawa's first settlers wherein about every male citizen of that time became very much excited. In March of 1835, a man who lived at the river bank -on the west side of what is now known as Walnut .street, had a barn yard where now is located the old wheel works. He had in the yard a flock of sheep. The snow had been deep on the ground for nearly a month. A pack of wolves came across the river and made a raid on the sheep. About every man in the village turned out to fight the wolves. In the fight two valuable dogs were killed by the wolves.

while but a few of the wolves were captured. The owner of the dogs greatly regretted their loss, as in that day a good hunting dog was valued at a greater price than an entire flock of sheep.

The First School On The Reservation

The first school taught on the Indian reservation was held in a part of a double log cabin owned by Christian Huber. This cabin was located on. the farm now owned by Mr. Miller, and situated immediately north of the. present waterworks plant. Miss Priscilla Compton taught the first school in the first school house in Ottawa, that being located immediately north of the residence for a time occupied by Thomas Carnahan. This school house was built of logs, the seats and desks were made of slabs, and the floor was. of puncheons.

Selecting Postmasters In 1845

It is not generally known that the people of the various towns of Putnam county helped to select their postmasters seventy years ago. Such, however, appears to have been the case, if the report given in a local paper is to be believed. The following extract from the Kalida Venture tells its own story:

"In pursuance to notice heretofore given the Democratic citizens transacting their business through the Postoffice at Kalida met at the office of Ben Metcalf and proceeded to nominate a suitable person to be recommended to the Postmaster General to fill the vacancy in the Postoffice at Kalida to be occasioned by the resignation of M. M. Gillett the present incumbent :

There seems to have been considerable discussion in the local newspapers concerning the first iron bridge in the county. From the best evidence obtainable it appears that it was built over the Blanchard at Cuba in Greensburg township. The Auglaize and Blan chard rivers, with their many tributaries, have necessitated the building of a large number of expensive bridges. There are no less than five bridges across the Blanchard at Ottawa, although the county built three of them, the others being erected by the steam and electric roads which come into the town. The county has built fourteen iron bridges over the Blanchard river and eight across the Auglaize; in addition, there are scores of bridges across the many tributaries of the two larger streams of the county. It is not too much to say that the spanning of the rivers and streams of Putnam county has cost nearly half a million dollars within the past half century.

Early Debating Societies

In the early history of Putnam county, debates on public questions were one of the most popular features of entertainment, and debating societies were in vogue in every community where a school house existed. The Ka- Uda Venture of March 21, 1848, contains the following notice: "There will be a meeting of the Kalida Lyceum held on the evening of March 28. The question for debate will be 'Ought all laws for the collection of debts be repealed.' "

A Wonderful Rail Fence

A short time ago, John F. Clevenger, of Columbus Grove, made an interesting discovery while tearing out an old rail fence. He found no less than thirty-two different kinds of timber represented in the old fence row and the enumeration of this varied assortment of timber throws an interesting light upon the character of the early forests of Putnam county. The complete list of trees which \vere represented in this wonderful rail fence is as follows: Buckeye, native poplar, Lombardy poplar, Carolina poplar, black locust, honey locust, black ash, white ash, burr oak, red oak, white oak, jack oak, beech, sugar, maple, sycamore,, pawpaw, dogwood, ironwood, linden, willow, cottonwood, black walnut, white walnut, shellbark hickory, smoothbark hickory, white and red elm.

The colored man has never been a welcome resident in Putnam county and at the present time there are none living in the county. However, there have been a few colored people here in the past and history records that at least one colored man, by the name of Mines, voted in Blanchard township. This particular son of Africa worked for William Guy.

"Whereas Henry Wing, of Putnam County, Ohio, has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a Certificate of the Register of The Land Office at Piqua, Ohio, whereby it appears that Full Payment has been made by the said Henry Wing according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820 entitled, 'An Act making further provisions for the sale of the Public Lands for The North fraction of the North half of Section fourteen, in township one North of Range six east in the district of lands offered for sale at Piqua, Ohio, containing twenty-one acres and thirty-hundredths of an acre, according to the office plat of the survey of the said lands returned to the land office by the Surveyor General,' which said tract has been purchased by the said Henry Wing.

"Now, Know Ye That the United States of America, in consideration of the promises and in conformity with the several acts of Congress in such case made and provided. Have Given and Granted, and by these presents Do Give and Grant unto the said Henry Wing and his heirs the said tract described; To have and to Hold the same, together with all the rights and privileges immunities and appertinances, of whatsoever nature Thereunto belonging, unto the said Henry Wing and to his heirs and assigns forever.

"In Testimony Whereof I, John Quincy Adams, President of the United States of America, have caused These letters to be made Patent and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. -

"Given under ray hand, at the City of Washington, The thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twentyseven and of the Independence of the United States the fifty-first.

When the present Hquor law went into effect in the fall of 19 13, there were thirty-two saloons in Putnam county. Since the number is now restricted to one for every thousand inhabitants, there are only nineteen saloons. They are distributed as follows : Five in Ottawa, two in Continental and one each in the towns of Ottoville, Ft. Jennings, Cloverdale, Gilboa, Kalida, Glandorf, Miller City and West Leipsic. In addition, there is one saloon in Monterey township and one in Jennings township. These two saloons are really in the towns of Ottoville and Ft. Jennings, respectively, but the boards of both towns changed the corporation lines so that the saloons would legally be in the township. There is a saloon in Liberty township, just outside of the corporate limits of Leipsic, and another in Pleasant township,, adjoining the corporation of Columbus Grove. Leipsic and Columbus are both "dry" as the result of local option elections.

Saloon licenses are now granted by a county liquor licensing board appointed by the governor. The first appointees for Putnam county were Frank Gmeiner and Walter Stevenson, both of whom received their commissions on April 6, 1913. Mr. Stevenson resigned on April i, 1915, his resignation takmg effect on the 15th of the same month. The members receive the nominal sum of twenty dollars a month for their services. When the law went into effect, in October, 191 3, there were thirty-two saloons in the county and fifty applications before the board for the nineteen saloons which was the limit allowed by the law. Each applicant must pay five dollars at the time of application, and, if granted, he must pay a county tax of one thousand dollars and a government tax of twenty-five dollars. A renewal or transfer costs sixty dollars.

The Greatest Flood Of Ottawa

In the latter part of March, 1913, Ottawa emerged from the greatest flood of Its history. No loss of life occurred. The hungry waters got no victims. The loss in dollars ran into hundreds of thousands. The town was swept by water many feet deep. Out of the darkness of Monday night March 24, 1913, came the rising, rushing, raging flood. Swift and sure it went high, then higher, then highest in the history of the town. Homes had to be deserted, and on Tuesday morning the town sent out a cry for help The quiet citizen saw the need of quick and daring action. As the night brings out the stars, so did the flood bring out the good there is in men No one faltered. The man from the common walks of life became the real hero. Wind, water, cold and storm were laughed at by men who met the occasion and were equal to the task. All railways were paralyzed. Boats were lacking. Travel was at a standstill. But lightning flashed a message over the wires, and soon men, boats, food and help were on the way. From Leipsic, Columbus Grove, Lima, Toledo, St. Marys and other places relief came at double quick. That it did, was a blessing, for Ottawa was in dire distress and sore need. Out of the whole situation came a spirit of humanity, heroism, and helpfulness that was almost sublime. Lives were risked to save other lives. Property was secondary and the welfare of human beings was the first concern.

Farmers came with wagon loads of supplies of food and fuel. This kindly action was of their own motion. They did not wait to be asked to help. On this Sunday morning, Ottawa has the appearance of a flood-swept town. Wreckage, debris, washouts, and a hundred tokens showed the power of little drops of water when angry and united into torrents and currents.

When Putnam county was organized in 1834, the Democratic and Whig parties were just getting definitely separated. The twenty years preceding this time had seen only one party, the Democratic, and whatever differences existed politically were personal. Adams, Jackson and Clay ran for President on the same ticket, their followers being known as Adams, Jackson or Clay men.

- In the early thirties the old Democratic party, dominated by the hero of the battle of New Orleans, began to disintegrate and by 1832 it was evident that Jackson's control of the party was fast slipping away from him. Clay, his greatest opponent, was forging to the front as a leader and seriously disputing the old warrior's leadership. It was in the midst of this new alignment of political parties that Putnam county came onto the scene of action, and both of the parties began to lay their plans to capture the township and county offices.

The history of political control in Putnam county may be very briefly summed up. The Democrats have been in complete control ever since the county was organized with the exception of a brief period when the Republicans elected three county officials. In 1852-53 there was a big effort made by the Whigs to gain control and with the aid of the disgruntled Democrats, they camie very near succeeding. A secret organization, political in nature!

known as the Knownothings, came into existence at this time, which ostensibly sought to confine all offices to native-born Americans. Several lodges were organized in Putnam county, the largest being in Gilboa, Blanchard township. To combat this organization, the Democrats organized an equal number of lodges under the name of the "Sag Nichts" or "Say Nothings." Both organizations used all the tricks of seasoned politicians, but the result terminated favorably to the Democrats in the succeeding election.

The decade preceding the Civil War was one of great strife in political matters and scores of anti-slavery Democrats left the old party and allied themselves with the new Republican party. However, the supremacy of the Democrats was never seriously threatened, in Putnam county, although its majorities were cut down. From 1855 to the opening of the war, the tension in political affairs was often at the breaking point, and it took cool heads to keep matters from degenerating into open encounters at times. Following the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act, the Whig party went out of existence and in the two following years the Democratic party lost hundreds of thousands of its leaders in the Northern states. In Ohio the new party at first styled itself the Union party, and later hyphenated itself into the Union- Republican party. Although many of the Democrats joined the new party, there was a corresponding shift from the old Whig party to the Democrats, the defection being due to the slavery question. The net result was that the Democrats were able to maintain their hold on political affairs in the county.

While ante-bellum politics were in such a seething state, there were large political gatherings in every town and village of the county and enthusiasm often outran men's better judgment. The greatest gathering, however, occurred the second year after the close of the war. It was held in Ottawa, on September 19, 1867, and Hon. Clement L. Vallandigham was the orator of the day. The newspapers of the day said that there were twenty thousand people present and that the parade was two and a half miles in length. It consisted of decorated floats, wagons, horsemen, bands, etc., and must have been an imposing spectacle. Many big meetings have been held since then, but none to compare with this particular one in magnitude.

Like other counties in the state of Ohio, Putnam has had its Prohibition, Socialist, Progressive, Independent and People's parties, yet they ha^-e been but as "side shows" traveling with the two great parties. As has been said, the Democrats have always been in power in the county, with the exception of a short time. At one time (in the early nineties) some Democratic officials became derelict in their duties and three of them were sent to the penitentiary. The people rose up in their might and elected a Republican county treasurer.

Celebration Over The Victory Of Dewey

The most enthusiastic celebration ever held in Ottawa followed the receipt of the news of Dewey's bloodless victory at Manila bay, May i, 1898. The celebration occurred the night of May 2, and for hours bells were rung, whistles blown and general pandemonium reigned. Red-fire lighted up the main streets and a happy people gave vent to their heartfelt appreciation of Admiral Dewey and his splendid victory.

Fourth Of July Celebration

The greatest Fourth of July celebration ever held in the county occurred m 1876. Ottawa and Columbus Grove both celebrated that year and each town tried to outdo the other and get the largest crowd. For weeks before that day, both towns used every effort to advertise their attractions and a number of unusual features were promised by .the committees who had charge of affairs in the respective towns. As might be expected, Ottawa had the largest crowd, although Columbus Grove was not far behind in point of attendance. The crowd at Ottawa was estimated at from twelve to fifteen thousand people, and such another celebration was never held before or since. More noise was made, more popcorn consumed, more lemonade drunk and more powder burned on that day than any other in the history of the town.

Population Statistics Highway Statistics

The statement of road and bridge expenditures for the four years ( 1910- 19 13) discloses the fact that the county has spent nearly three hundred and fifty thousand dollars in that short time on roads and bridges. The figures for 1913 include all expenditures up to and including August 31, 19 14, paid out by the county commissioners and township trustees, exclusive of the money expended by the state.