Richland County, Ohio - The whole text, 1908 (part 3 of 16)

The city hay a number of capacious and beautiful public buildings. Its church edifices are spacious, modern in architecture, and mainly of stone. -\ new one, of the Methodist Episcopal persuasion, is now rising on a corner of the block in the center of which Senator, later Secretary, Sherman long had his home. .\ publie¢ library is in a large and elegant home. The schoolhouses are elaborate, particularly that of the high school, which is an ornament to the city. .\ well appointed Elks' Temple witnesses to the strength and devotion of the membership of the local lodge, which embraces many of the best and most influential citizens. Up-to-date business houses and office blocks are numerous.

Among the more prominent, hustling and popular men of affairs in the place ix a representative of Ashtabula county, Neil Fortune, formerly of Conneaut. It was pleasing to have many inquire with interest as to people, places and enterprises in this county on the northern rim of the state, whose influence in the making of the record of the grand old commonwealth has been recognized as no small factor for good.

In June Mansfield will celebrate her centennial. Preparations are being made for an occasion worthy of the event. The historian of that time will have a feast of rich things for those ~o fortunate as to be in attendance.

Our German Citizens

While others may acquire wealth and attain positions with rapid strides like a meteoric Hash, Germans reach distinction by a slower process, in a more regular orbit, and their lights will ~hine long after the dazzle of the meteors is gone and forgotten.

In 1852. a party of twenty-eight people from Rhenish Bavaria came to America in the same vessel and located in Mansfield. Since then fifty-six years, with their vicissitudes and changes, have come and gone, and of that number but three remain among the living today - Philip Wappner. Margaret Pfing= stay and Mrs. 8. W. Marshall. Among that party of emigrants was Mrs. Margaret Wappner, grandmother of Philip and Henry Wappner. Mrs. Wappner died in 1871, aged eighty-five years.

Napoleon, with an army of over four hundred and fifty thousand men and twelve hundred pieces of artillery, left Paris on the 9th of May, 1812, for a campaign against Russia, and on reaching the frontier, declared war against the Czar. The Nieman was crossed June 24, and Mozcow occupied September 14. Napoleon established his headquarter: in the Kremlin, the ancient palace of the czars. In the night the Russians fired the city and for nearly a week the flames raged and seven thousand houses - nine-tenths of the city - were destroved. There remained nothing for Napoleon but retreat and on the 19th of October the French army evacuated Moscow, and then began the most remarkable and disastrous retreat it was ever the province of history to record.

On the 6th of November a heavy fall of snow announced the advent of a terrible Russian winter, which opened earher than usual and with uncommon severity. When the retreating army recrozsed the Nieman, December 13, of the four hundred and fifty thousand men who had entered Russian territory six months before. scarcely one hundred thousand remained, and the ranks were still further decimated ere they reached France. The French had lost (besides those who died of disease) at least one hundred and twentyfive thousand killed in battle, and one hundred and thirty thousand perished of cold, hunger and fatigue, while upon that terrible retreat - the retreat that Grandmother Wappner saw passing through her native village when she was twenty-six years old.

Other Mansfield Bavarian families are Scholls. Massax. Bernos, Martins. et al. people Jong identified with our city's growth and development and well known to the readers of the News.

It would be very natural to infer that the great improvements made in firearms since the battle of Waterloo was fought (three vears after the Russian campaign) would add greatly to the casualties of an engagement. A breech-loading rifle or gatling gun that will throw more balls in five Minutes than the old flint-lock muskets would in an hour, one would suppoze would be relatively more destructive, and vet in no engagement fought within the past century have so many men fallen in proportion to the number engaged as at Waterloo on that fateful Sunday. June 15, 1815 - a day that was ushered in with the roar of three hundred and fifty cannon and one hundred and twenty thousand muskets, the volleys of which made the earth tremble.

The Rhine is neither a wide nor a deep stream and is not navigable above Bohn. Its banks are cultivated to near the water'= edge, except where they are too hilly and mountainous to admit of tillage. Every available foot of ground in Germany is utilized. Hence the desire of many to come to American to its "broad acres" and greater opportunities, and see how they have succeeded, like Vonhof, Bissman, Hautzenroeder, Scholl, Schoer, the Voegeles, the Remys, and others.

Many strange and romantic legends are connected with the history of the Rhine - its ivy-clad towers, its castles, its rocks and its hills. It is difficult, it is said, to find a finer or more varied scenery than along the banks of the Rhine from Coblentz to Bingen.

A friend - a German by birth - who had spent the greater part of his life in America, upon returning from a visit to the old country, said he had especially enjoyed his trip from Heidelberg to Munich, a distance of about two hundred miles; that the country through which the road passes presents, in many places, the appearance of a western prairie in America. The absence of timber, except fruit and cultivated shade trees, adds much to the similarity. There are no fences and but few hedges.

The farmers live in villages instead of upon farms, and in cultivating the land they plant and sow in narrow strips from twenty to one hundred feet in width and fifty to three hundred yards in length. There can be seen a strip of wheat, another of rye, oats, clover or potatoes, with here and there plowed ground, and these strips, with their varied colors, give the farms the appearance of landscape gardens. "'Why they farm in this way," said the gentleman, "I was unable to find out. Perhaps because their forefathers for centuries had cultivated the land in the same way."

As the tourist neared Munich he saw the spurs of the Alps in the distance, their high peaks glistening in the sunlight like giant columns supporting the sky. This was the most beautiful sight he saw in all Europe.

The Germans are a branch of the great Aryan family and were early distinguished from the southern races by their robust frame, their greater daring, their love of home, their respect for the honor of their women and by "a sense they call honor, which led them to sacrifice their life rather than their word."

The old German castles that were once the homes of counts and knights are falling into decay and time, the great iconoclast, has laid his hand heavily on the folly of men. But the Germans who came to Mansfield builded more wisely than did their forefathers of old. Germans love the olden-time memories of their native country, the sentiments of whose traditions are woven into the nursery rhymes and legendary songs of their fatherland.

Seventh Day Adventists

SALVATION ARMY. Salvation Army Barracks, 176 North Main; Ensign J. A. McCutcheon in charge. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. First Church of Christ, meets 53 Dickson Building; Miss Anna Moser, first reader. SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS. Seventh Day Adventists meet in lecture room of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church; H. H. Burkholder, pastor.

Substitute Stations

SUBSTITUTE STATIONS. No. 1 - 11 South Benton, near Park avenue, clerk in charge I. G. Robertson. No. 2 - Corner Bowman and Springmill, clerk in charge Fred E. Enlow. No. 83 - 115 Newman, clerk in charge W. B. Linn, Jr. On holidays one delivery over the city, starting at 7 a. m.

Fire Department Board Of Education

NAME AND LOCATION OF SCHOO!, BUILDINGS. High School - West Fourth, corner Bowman. First Street School - First .corner Crouse. Hedges Street School - Hedges between Arch and Home avenue. Fifth Street School - West Fifth, corner Miller. Fourth Street School - East Fourth, between Adams and Scott. Bowman Street School - Bowman, corner Harker.

County Infirmary

County Infirmary, six miles northwest of the city on the Olivesburg road - Harvey Imhoff, Superintendent. Directors - W. K. Oberlin, J. E. Elliott, C. C. Arehart.

City Officials The Oldest House In Mansfield

The oldest dwelling house in Mansfield stands at the northwest corner of Adams and Third streets, and is upon the original site upon which it was built in 1810.

It is a log house, weatherboarded on the outside and lathed and plastered within. The building is two stories high and a frame addition has been added to the north side. The house was built and first occupied by the Rev. Dr. William B. James.

In February, 1896, Professor James, of Chicago, a grandson of the Rev. Dr. James, in company with General Brinkerhoff went through the old building, which they found in an excellent state of preservation.

The Rev. Dr. James evidently intended to make Mansfield his permanent home. He was a physician as well as a preacher, but his useful life was brought to an early close, as he was gored to death by a bull.

Following Dr. James, other Methodist ministers lived there, among the number being the Rev. Charles Waddle and the Rey. Somerville. The late Mrs. Grant came to Mansfield on Easter Monday, 1815, and recalled the fact that Dr. James lived on that corner at that time, and that the town then contained but twenty-two houses, all told. When a family came to Mansfield then they had to build a cabin for a home, as there were no "'flats,"' "apartments" or "furnished rooms to let," in those days.

The James residence was regularly used for religious services until a church was built. Foster, the colored preacher, for whom Foster street was named, often told in after years of the "good meetings" that had been held in Dr. James' log house, and that when the audience could not be accommodated inside that the ''overflow" sat on the logs and stumps around the house and joined in the service.

this singing was blended the melody of praise, of thanksgiving and of devotion. There was a simplicity, a sincerity, a reverential solemnity pervading those meetings and services of songs that commended them to the people.

The first Methodist church in Mansfield was built in 1816, and the building is still standing on North Adams street, between Third and Fourth streets and is now used as a dwelling.

The James house was afterwards the home of the Rev. Bigelow and other Methodist ministers. It was owned for several years by Hiram R. Smith, but is now owned by Mrs. Lafferty Irvin.

The pioneer preachers worked hard and were not well paid. Late one cold, blustering Saturday night, the late Dr. William Bushnell met the Rev. Russell Bigelow at the corner of Third and East Diamond streets, going through the storm, carrying a sack, to get breadstuff to do his family over Sunday and explained to the doctor that he had just returned from a circuit trip, and found the family without bread - their means being too limited to lay in abundant stores.

All earthly things are given to change, and the firesides of the pioneer period have given place to the furnaces and registers of today. Still the remembrance of the associations has an attractive charm and a strong hold on our sentiments and affections. Though the scenes of our memory may be darkened with shadows, yet still it is a sweet indulgence to recall them. The rose and the thorn grow on the same bush, so the remembrance of our friends who have "crossed over" is mingled with both gladness and sorrow.

The "fireside" is typical of a home and is endeared by many affectionate recollections. At the fireside our parents recounted the history of their earlier years, the difficulties they had encountered, and the objects they had sought to attain. And of all the members of the family circle who gathered around that fireside, the mother is the most lovingly recalled. "My mother!" is an expression of music, of melody and of love! It takes us back to the days of our childhood and places us again kneeling by her side to receive her caresses and loving benediction.

Old-Time Memories Revived

The other day by the kindness of a friend in your city, I was privileged to read the Daily Shield. Its date line and place of publication brought to mind, Mansfield, my boyhood's home, the old "Daily Shield and Banner," the "Mansfield Herald" and the scenes of fifty years ago last January, when as carrier boy for the Herald, I presented the New Year's address, written by ree das, Walker, D. D., and received therefor, seventy-five dollars. That glad day, '54 - and such a fortune, none like it since. The address was done in colors upon a hand press, a master piece of press work at that time.

I was then an apprentice - "the devil" - in the Herald office and Mr. Matthias Day its editor. I recall his kindness and remember his commanding presence and pleasant countenance as clearly as though I had seen him but yesterday. Could I ever forget the old Washington hand press with its wooden distributing cylinder and the two and sometimes three composition rollers with which I inked the forms and how, slowly but surely, the pressman and I worked off the edition and divided the honors in the neat appearance and well printed pages of the Mansfield Herald. No one in the whole establishment was more pleased to have the Adam's Power and Book Press installed in the plant than I. Though Mr. Day felt that it was a great stroke ef enterprise to introduce the self inking press, and give the Herald a. genuine boom, and the "devil" a respite from his inky labors.

I recall the Fremont campaign and.the street where Judge Charles Sherman lived, and how pretty Mary Sherman came out upon the porch and Jeaning against the big pillar, smiled as she listened to my first political speech. Did I hear you say that she was Mrs. General Miles and had added to the splendor of Washington society by her beauty and grace of spirit and keeps the heart and confidence of her husband and resents the slights to her distinguished consort? JI can believe it all, and more, for it was a Mansfield girl who captured the head of the army.

I do remember the "Shield and Banner," and I was such a partisan, that I verily believed that its editor and printers had but little chance for Heaven or this world, though the Shield circulation was much larger than ours, and many good people whom I knew took and enjoyed the paper, and will vou believe it, most of my church officials and some of my best members and friends have been and are now Democrats, and I - don't tell the Herald contingent - have even voted the Democratic ticket and kept my love for, and faith in the sainted Lincoln and the principles he stood for.

I was a boy in '54 and a soldier in '61. My knowledge of men and measures was small and my prejudices large. I now know that names of parties count but little and men are mere pawns in the game of politics which the bosses play, without conscience and without honor.

It was the obituary notice of Mr. Matthias Day, which I read in the Shield, that filled the long silent chamber of youth with the voices of other days. They sounded strangely sweet to me, like far off echoes as if reflected from the sunny slopes of boyhood, but none of them more skilled or assuring, among the men I knew than that of Editor Day, who made the toil of a printer boy bearable by his sympathetic appreciation revealed to us in liberal pay and words of praise.

Dear old Mansfield, she holds the dusts of my loved ones. Her streets were as familiar to me as my own name. I can see Glessner's hill, the Public Square, the business clocks, Sturges store, John Sherman's residence - but where are the boys and the girls who sang in the '"'Haisting's Glee Club" and possibly laid the foundation of the Choral Society whose Libretto of the Creation lies before me?

Missouri's Cardinal is singing out in the orchard, the great awakening is at hand. If God gives the seeds, and the flowers the power of a new life will He not keep the human grain that has fallen and give it an immortal springtime? '"O you of little faith."

Mr. Editor, you will forgive me but the wheels .kept turning and the phonograph gave out that which was upon the cylinder more than fifty years

Old Town Council Records

One who loves to delve among the musty volumes of the past, has unearthed the following concerning town councils and other municipal matters of the past:

The earlier records of council do not seem to be in evidence. Something of council's enactments are evidenced in the ordinances back as far as 1834 but the first entry in the oldest journal there bears the date of J anuary 29, 1846.

With imagination's eye one can see some of the people who were then prominent in the life of the village. T. H. Ford, the mayor in 1846 afterward served with distinction in the wars and became lieutenant-governor of the Buckeye state. And his law partner, Patrick Purdy Hull who at one of the meetings in '46 was allowed one dollar as rent for the council room, wood, "candles" and paper for the past year, was a gay young Irishman. The records which bear his signature as recorder are like copper plate. It is a pleasure to read them. They are in vivid contrast with some of the other records in which the misspelled words are numerous and the writing illegible. Hull was active in many ways in behalf of the little town and in the years from '46 to '50 his name appears on nearly every page of the town council records either as recorder, trustee, mayor or in some other capacity. Pat Ford, of this city, was named after his father's partner.

Along about 1850 after his term as mayor of Mansfield expired Hull went to the land of gold, California. The famous danseuse, Lola Montez, favorite of kings and many men in high position, met him, after he left Mansfield. He became infatuated with her and she with him. They were married and lived in Grass Valley, Cal., for awhile; later they separated. He never returned to Mansfield, and his remains were interred in California.

Governor Kirkwood

Samuel J. Kirkwood, one of the trustees of Mansfield in the early days, is often spoken of in the records in those times. He was admitted to the bar in 1843.

Mr. Kirkwood left Mansfield in 1855, went to Iowa where he afterward served two terms as governor of the state, was United States senator for a long time and in 1881 became the secretary of the interior in President Garfield's cabinet. At the probate office on page one hundred and seventy-three, volume four of marriage affidavits appears the record of the marriage of Samuel J. Kirkwood and Jane Clark in the township of Troy December 27, 1843, by Rev. E. Evens, of Lexington.

Judge Charles T. Sherman, brother of Senator Sherman, was recorder of Mansfield when some of the earlier ordinances were framed. Senator John Sherman is mentioned as a petitioner in one of the later records.

Marshal M. H. Gilkison, who is mentioned in some of the records, had the distinction of being the first male white child born in Mansfield, having first seen the light of day in a log cabin here.

The records show that there were other times when the Richland county courthouse was being repaired, being the cause of some enactments by council, when the courthouse stood in what is now Central Park.

The description of the boundaries of the three school districts as given in the journal under date of April 10, 1846, is a puzzler to most citizens of today, though probably some of the older citizens might explain it..

The council records are full of enactments regarding the construction of culverts, the grading of East and West Diamond and Market streets, the instructing of citizens to fix their gutters and put down sidewalks. There must have been lots of trouble in those days with animals running at large for a number of enactments appear regarding this.

Compulsory Vaccination

Compulsory vaccination in Mansfield is no new thing for the old records show that the board of health was instructed to have the medical students vaccinate everybody in town who hadn't been vaccinated previously.

Central Park Trees

An ordinance passed April 16, 1834, signed by John H. Hofman, mayor, and C. T. Sherman, recorder, provides 'that it shall be lawful for any inhabitant of the town of Mansfield to set a row of locust trees on each side of the public square of said town, said trees to be set at least twenty-five feet apart from each other, except where Market street passes through said square, there to be eighty feet from the front of the lots on the north and south side of said square and one hundred feet apart from the front of the lots on the east and west side of said square."

An ordinance to prevent persons from leading or riding horses on the sidewalks in the town of Mansfield was passed April 16, 1834, and at the next meeting an ordinance "to restrain the running at large, of Hogs, Dogs and Geese," passed April 8, 1830, was repealed.

Inspector Of Hearths And Fire Places

An ordinance for the appointment of inspectors to examine every chimney, stove pipe, fire place, hearth, flue and stove at least once a month was passed May 14, 1834.

Market House Stalls

In the record under date of March 10, 1840, is an ordinance providing "that on the third Monday of March annually the stalls in the Market House in Said Town shall be sold by the Market Master at public vendue for the term of one year." This is signed by C. T. Sherman, mayor; H. Humphrey, recorder.

Hitching Horses To Trees

In this record appears the indenture of apprenticeship between Uriah Gregg and James P. Baker and Elias C. Gregg, the latter binding himself as. an apprentice to James P. Baker from February 28, 1844, to February 28, 1846, to learn the trade and occupation of making, painting and furnishing "Comm" Winsor chairs.

Town Council Journal

"Council met pursuant to notice. Present Mayor T. H. Ford, Recorder William MeBride, Council, James Cantwell, A. L. Grimes, G. W. Carothers, Eli Teegarden.

"On motion ordered that the mayor and recorder be appointed a committee to settle with John Crall his Bill against the Corporation for services as Market Master and Marshal in full. On motion ordered we adjourn to meet on Saturday Week."

At the meeting March 26, 1846, among the bills allowed is one to "P. I'. Hull for One Dollar a= rent for Council room, Wood, Candles and Paper for the past year."

Receipts

Joseph Lindley was duly elected Mayor, James E. Cox, Recorder, and Samuel J. Kirkwood, P. P. Hull, Levi Zimmerman, David MeCullough and Jacob Leiter, Trustees.

School Districts

April 10, 1846, in accordance with the prayers of petitioners it was ordained that the "corporate limits be divided into three separate School Districts." District No. 1 was described as "commencing at the northeast corner of the incorporated plat of said town, running thence west to the center of Walnut street, thence south to the center of Third street, thence east to the center of West Diamond street, thence south to the northwest corner of the public square, thence east and along the center of the alley to the east 'boundary line of said town plat, thence north to the place of beginning."

District No. 2 "commenced at the southeast corner of the incorporated plat, running thence west to the center of Walnut street, thence north to the: center of Second street, thence east to the center of West Diamond street, thence north to the northwest corner of the public square, east and along the. alley to the east line of the town plat and south to the place of beginning."

Engine House

At this meeting, General Joseph Newman was granted the privilege of removing the Engine House to the back part of his lot and have the use of it for a lime house during the present summer, "provided he make no charge against the Corporation for rent during the time said engine house has stood upon his premises."

July 6, 1846, Isaac J. Allen, Esq., was directed to enter into a contract for the purchase of a fire engine at a cost of six hundred dollars and no more. Tt was a long time after this before the new hand engine was brought here and cost something like one thousand dollars.

Under date of January 4, 1847, appears the record of the appointment of C. L. Avery, James H. Frost, Eli Teegarden, Daniel Heistand, Jacob Hammer and John R. Robinson as fire wardens.

The receipts for the town of Mansfield for the year ending March 135, 1847, were $1,189.21 and the report showed a balance of $865.85 in cash and $30.47 in notes.

Vaccination Order

Under date of February 17, 1848, the board of health consisting of Joseph Lindley, David Wise and A. L. Grimes called the attention, of council to the fact that several smallpox cases were existing in the family of Samuel Boyle and asking that means be provided to prevent the spread of contagion. A resolution presented by Mr. Kirkwood was adopted "that the Board of Health of this town proceed immediately and employ the medical students of this place to visit every family in this place, divide the town off into districts and to vaccinate every person not heretofore vaccinated."

Fire Company Organized

Patrick Purdy Hull seems to have been a moving spirit in those days for his name is more frequently mentioned than those of the other trustees.

February 24, 1848, he presented a resolution that "Levi Zimmerman, A. L. Grimes, Robert C. Smith, Samuel J. Kirkwood, H. L. Baker, Peter Arbaugh. Samuel Au, Michael Linder, Thomas C. McEwen, John Rickets, Adam Heldman, Abraham Eminger, P. P. Hull, Alex McIlvaine, David.

Bushey and James H. Cook together with such persons as they may associate with them be authorized and empowered to organize a fire company."

Under date of March 6, 1848, the bill of Sturges, Grimes & Co. for $21.95 for one barrel of fish oil and forty-two pounds of tallow was allowed and they were given a certificate of the same to apply on the payment of their corporation taxes.

Kirk Wood, Mayor

At the election March 27, 1848, Samuel J. Kirkwood had two hundred and forty-four votes for mayor, P. P. Hull two hundred and three, Levi Zimmerman defeated James E. Cox for recorder by nine votes.

Fencing Public Square

The proposition to fence the public square was voted upon at that election, two hundred and eighty-three votes were cast against fencing it and one hundred and fifty-two for the fence, three hundred and ninety votes were cast for railroad tax and forty-seven for no railroad tax.

P. P. Hull was appointed town recorder April 17, 1848, Mr. Zimmerman having resigned. In 1849 Mr. Hull was elected mayor receiving two hun- 'dred and twenty-seven votes to two hundred and nine for N. M. McMullen. Alexander McIlvaine was elected recorder by a majority of sixteen.

At the meeting May 10, 1849, the marshal was instructed to take a list of all dogs and the owners thereof in the town of Mansfield and return the same to council.

At the meeting of July 2, 1849, a resolution was adopted that the Board of Health be requested to procure lime and have jit distributed in such manner as they may deem proper for the health of the town. At the next meeting J. Rickets was allowed $26.60 for money expended for lime. At the same meeting an ordinance was passed making it an offense punishable by fine to open any of the public cisterns or to take any water out unless by the direction of the trustees or the fire company.

To Dig A Well

In the record for October 1; 1849, P. P. Myers was given the privilege of digging a well on the sidewalk in front of the stable on West Diamond street belonging to the North American at his own expense providing he fixes up the sidewalk and gutter.

Railroad Subscription

The proposition to subscribe $30,000 to the Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad company voted upon at the courthouse, February 16, 1850, was nearly unanimous, two hundred and ten vote: being in favor of it and only one against.

Market Days

Saturday of each week and market hours from one hour and twenty minutes before sunrise until nine o'clock a. m. during which time no article of produce or meats shall be sold within the limits of said corporation by retail other than at the market house and any person violating the provisions of this section by purchasing or selling any such articles during time at any other places shall be liable on conviction thereof to a penalty not exceeding $10.

In the council proceedings for December 2, 1850, it is recorded that "Mr. Wise who was a committee to have an alley filled up in Frogtown reported the job finished."

Repairing Courthouse

At the extra session two days later an ordinance was passed by which the town of Mansfield released unto the county the use and occupation' of so much of the publie square in said town as the courthouse on, said square now occupies or may hereafter occupy with the improvement thereto, provided the county of Richland will within a reasonable time repair the courthouse by putting the courtroom on the second story thereof and the county offices on the first Hoor and raise and construct a new roof, build porticos on the north and south sides.

Rented To Church

In the council proceedings May 5, 1851, a motion carried that the "Methodist E. Church shall have the use of the Town House for the sum of $1 per month for the Sabbath Davy alone, finding their own wood and light and keeping the House in good order."

Cisterns Off His Hands

A. MelIlvaine and J. M. Snider were appointed to examine the cisterns and report. At the next meeting they reported favorable to the acceptance of the cisterns.

General William McLaughlin had presented a petition to council asking for an appropriation of $300 to be expended on West Diamond street from the railraad north to the mill race. Under date of June 4, 1851, appears the following:

"The committee who was apointed by his honor the mayor to examine the street or public highway from where the Rail Rode crosses the same north of the warehouse of Messrs. Hedges & Weldon to the mill race north of the foundry and recommend that the sum of $200 be donated."

At this meeting Judge Charles Sherman was present and made a few remarks on the subject of selling the pavement belonging to the railroad company on the north end of West Diamond street and a lot owned by himself on the same street.

Didn'T Want To Pay

that those persons having purchased the market stalls intend trying to be relieved from the payment of said stalls on account of the house having been burnt, I would here say that the time had fully expired for which they rented said stalls some sixteen days before the burning of the house and it was distinctly understood on the day of the sale that the stalls was selling during market hours and that they had no legal right to the house at eny uther time and further I proclaimed to them all at such a time the market would close and it was by me closed at that time."

No time was lost in taking steps toward rebuilding for at the same meeting, on motion of J. Rickets a committee of three was appointed to get a suitable place to erect a market house and report at the next meeting.

Shutters For Engine House

On the same date a committee was appointed to get shutters made for the "lore winders" on the engine house and $60 was appropriated for the use of the fire company.

Mayor Elected Annually

In those davs they elected mayor, recorder and trustees annually. In 1852 Perkins Bigelow defeated R. C. Smith for mayor by one hundred and fifty-two votes. Alex McIlvaine defeated E. McFall for recorder by one hundred and thirty-one votes. H. D. Shreffler, Adam J. Endly, H. B. Green, Abner Wright and Eckels McCoy were elected trustees. At the council meeting April 13, 1852, Mayor Bigelow was authorized "'to lease or grant the use of the Town Hall at such prices and for such purposes as he may determine, when unoccupied by the Town Council or Fire.Company, with the advice and consent of the recorder and trustees."

Their Own Wood And Light

At this meeting on motion of Abner Wright the members of the Second Methodist Episcopal church were given the use of the Town Hall on Sabbath days only for the ensuing year free of charge, " providing they find their own wood and light."

Temperance Petition

At the council meeting December 6, 1852, a petition was presented signed by some three hundred citizens praying council to pass an ordinance prohibiting the sale of intoxicating drinks. This was referred to a committee "to report at some future meeting.' At the meeting of January 3, 1853, James Purdy was allowed $9.50 "for Rent of Barn for use of engine in the year 1850."

In the old record: of council are found numerous indentures of apprenticeship, the person taking the apprentice agreeing among other things to teach him to read and write and the first four rules of Arithmetic and at the expiration of the time of service to furnish him with a new Bible and 2 "freedom suit."

. In the record of December 5, 1853, the committee appointed to investigate the petition of John Sherman reported favorable to granting the request.

The petition of John Sherman, the owner of certain lots in the addition had been filed together with the written consent of John Wood and the trustees of the Mansfield Female Collegiate Institution and the mayor and council being satisfied that there is good cause for the vacation of said alley * * * declare the alley running east and west between lots No. «, 8 and 9 and lots 10, 11 and 12 in said addition and also one alley lying east of said lots between the same and the property of the institution are hereby vacated."

Famous Fire Company

Two early Mansfield boys, knowing cach other over sixty veurs ago. met in Central Park the other day. As usual the old-time greeting was extended. Seating themselves under the broad foliage of a beautiful elm they began to talk. The more talk the more reminizcences of old times were revived, how things looked then compared with the pre<ent.

The cobwebs of memory seemed to be brushed aside and they stood once more on the playing ground of their vouth. There stood the old court and market house. The old barnyard of a square seemed to smell as savory as of old. The team horses hitched to the rear of the wagons xeemed to be nibbling their feed as leisurely as of yore. , Last, but not least, there also was the irrepressible boy in all his glory deeply interested in his favorite games of "Black Man." "Prisoner Base." "Town Ball." marbles. anty-ball over the markethouse. ete.. ete. Those bovs are scattered to the four winds - dead and missing are the vast majority. few ving remaining with us. The three oldest living born in Mansfield are Mathias Day, William Morgan Roop and Manuel Mav, the latter being the youngest. is entitled to the first premium as the infant among the trio.

What changes time brings about! The Lovs of the present have long since hunted up new playing grounds. Progress and culture has changed the old -ouare into a park of 'tbeauty and joy forever." Its beautiful shade trees, comfortable seats, sparkling fountain, historic monuments, beautiful surroundings all embellished with plants and flowers, bid welcome to thousands of visitors and citizens, who leave with pleasure and good impressions of the taste, thrift and euterprise of the newer Mansfield.

Hoping the above digression will be excused, we wish to speak of what occurred July 4. 1852, just fifty-six vears ago. On that day a number of our citizens met and organized Torrent Fire Company No. 2, it being the second volunteer fire company established in Mansfield, Old Deluge No. 1 having been organized some years previously. and both the nucleus of our present and splendid fire department.

Our purpose is to speak only of the early members of Torrent No. 2. The early records of the company being lost or misplaced, we are obliged to rely on our memories for the few early members found in the list below. Under such circumstances many names will not appear, because they have been forgotten in the lapse of time, much to our regret and sorrow. Here are the names obtained at this writing, those deceased being designated by *:

The death rate since fifty-six vears ago seems appalling. only three living out of the fiftv above recalled. "Tis a sad commentary on the uncer tainty of life.

With sad hearts and sympathetic tears we recall the departed. awaiting our turn to soon join them, fully believing the inspired poet as he sang:

"Tis the wink of an eve. 'tis the draft of a breath. From the blossom of health to the paleness of death. From the gilded salon to the bier and the shroud; Oh! Why should the spirit of mortal be proud?" TorRENT No, 2

Early Railroads

The Mansfield Lyceum during the vear 1899 gave one evening a month to the consideration of historical topics. The meeting held February 2. being local history night. a paper was presented by -\. J. Baughman on the history of the first railroads in Ohio, particularly Mansfield's first road.

Mr. Baughman referred in his preface to the condition of the country prior to the construction of the canals. and stated as the country became more thickly populated and its resources better developed and as its products increased cheaper means of transportation were studied and considered. The question of canals was then discussed and considered, and as these waterways had been constructed and successfully operated in the older countries, it was concluded to be desirable to have canals in Ohio. and the state undertook the construction of them.

Ground was first broken for the Ohio and Erie canal at Newark July 4, 1825, with imposing ceremony, De Witt Clinton. then governor of the state of New York, throwing the first shovelful of dirt.

The first railroad in Ohio, according to the historian Atwater, was finished in 1836, and extended from Toledo westward into Michigan a distance of thirty miles.

The late Hon. E. D. Mansfield, whose historical statements have generally been accepted as correct. claimed that first actual piece of railroad laid in Ohio was on the Cincinnati & Sandusky, better known in history as the Mad River railroad. But, as the charter of the Mad River road was not granted until March 11, 1836, and its history shows that work was not commenced on its roadbed until 1837, and it is a fact that the Toledo road was in operation in 1836. we must accept Atwater's statement in the matter, and as his history of Ohio was published in 1838, and the railroads were then few and far between, Atwater, no doubt, knew whereof he wrote.

Mansfield's first railroad was the Mansfield & Sandusky City railroad. and extended from this city to Sandusky, a distance of fifty-four miles. This road was a consolidation or conglomeration of several roads, as follows: Monroeville & Sandusky City, chartered March 9, 1835; the Mansfield & New Haven, chartered March 12. 1836; the Huron & Oxford, chartered February 27. 1846. The Monroeville & Sandusky City road at first had wood rails and the cars were drawn by horses.

The Columbus & Lake Erie railroad was chartered March 12, 1845, and its construction was commenced a few years later, but consolidated with the Man-field & Sandusky City. and the new corporation was entitled and known ax the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark railroad, and the line was extended to Newark, sixty-two miles south of Mansfield, making the total line one hundred and sixteen miles in length.

The first train on the Mansfield & Sandusky City road, carrying passenger=. Wax run on the 16th day of May, 1846, and brought a party of excursionists from Plymouth and Shelby to attend a war meeting in Mansfield, when General McLaughlin was recruiting a company of volunteers to serve in the war with Mexico. in which the United States was then engaged.

The track was then "barely passable' (as the Swiss guide told the great Napoleon of the pass in the .\lps), and was laid only to the north edge of the town. not far from where the waterworks pumping station now stands. Our late esteemed fellow citizen. J. H. Cook, was the conductor of the train, and among other incidents of the occasion, often related how the crowd which had gather to see the cars come in, scattered and scampered when the engineer blew the engine whistle.

But the first passenger train that ran into Mansfield was on the 19th of June, 1846. The extension to Newark was completed in 1800, but no definite date can be ascertained when regular trains ran through on schedule time.

In conclusion, Mr. Baughman spoke of the contrast between the railroads and their equipments of today with those of the earlier period, and, in illustration. stated an incident that occurred north of Shelby in the long ago, as narrated by the late John Hoover, for many years a conductor on the Mansfield-Sandusky road. Something had gone wrong with the engine, and when they got it in running order again night was upon them and they sought lodgings for the night at a farm house near by. A passenger <ugee-ted that if they had a big lantern a man might carry it abead and the train follow him to Shelby. The idea wax looked upon as ab-urd and the man who suggested it viewed with pity, if not with contempt. for whoever heard of sv train of cars running after night!

Mr. Baughman's paper called forth reminiscent remarks from Mixs Sturges, General Brinkerhoff. Captain A. H. Condict. S. C. Parker. Saninel Bell and others.

The manufacturing industries of Mansfield were xo well pre<ented in a special-feature article in the Mansfield News during the week of the Feast of Ceres, held in this city in the fall of 1907, that it is reproduced here:

It is not untimely, as Mansfield approaches its centennial anniversary, to stand for a brief spell on the proud eminence of the city = present prosperity and cast a backward glance over the hundred vears in which it has erown from a wilderness settlement into a city which is fast approaching the 25,000 mark in population.

Mansfield does not come under the classification of "boom" cities, the kind which grow up in a dav, stand for a short time in the hmelight and then pass quietly from view. This is not a city hastily built to meet temporary requirements. but is the result of gradual development which was made necessary 1n meeting the increasing needs of its people.

As the slow-growing oak sinks its roots deeply and clings so tenaciously to mother earth as to withstand the buffetings of the severest storm. ~o Mansfield has grown, and the growth to its present stature has required an hundred vears.

But. looking now upon the result of this hundred years of growth. every resident of the city and every resident of the county may well feel proud of the achievement. The development of the city has not been one-sided - no one part of the city structure has been strengthened at the expense of some of the other parts, but as he who would become a perfect athlete trains each muscle in order that no vulnerable point can be found. so has the city steadily grown in strength and numbers until now it stands firm and well rounded. a credit to its founders and its present residents.

Contemplate for a moment if vou will. Mansfield as you now see it, with its busy factories, fine mercantile establishments, beautiful parks. elegant residences, handsome churches, commodious schoolhouses. its paved streets, street car lines, all of its modern improvements and conveniences: then imagine, if you can, the desolate wilderness from which all of thix has grown in a short five score of vears.

Where stands a fine business block was erected the first unpretentious cabin which served as the home of one of the earliest settlers, and during the seven vears that followed the total building done amounted to only twentytwo houses and two block houses, the latter being required about that time for protection against the attacks of hostile Indians. many of whom skulked through the woods about the little settlement.

For a time the rough hewn logs sufficed in the construction of places of abode, but it was not long until the sprit of progress which impregnated those sturdy people of the early days made itself felt and resulted in the erection of a sawmill. primitive. it is true - propelled, in fact. by three yoke of oxen, but indicative, nevertheless. of a confidence that the settlement was to be a permanent one.

Then, as the needs of the settlers increased and the ability came to meet these needs, there followed the erection of the first grist mill, the grinding theretofore having been done at Fredericktown or Mount Vernon, which, in view of the fact that horses and oxen furnished the only means of transportation, was about a two days' trip.

And after a while came the first store. the first tailor, the first shoemaker, and the first tinner, each fitting into his respective niche in the growing community and each arriving at the psychological time when his services were required.

So the little settlement grew and there came the hotelkeeper. preacher, the lawyer and the doctor. And amoung the early manufacturing enterprises there was the carding null. which carded the wool that went into the clothing of the settlers. the tannery, the pottery and the cooperage shop.

Toiling on through the vears Mansfield finally. in 1828, reached a sufhicient degree of importance to be incorporated as a village. but, although all steps were forward, it was not until 1846. when the first railroad train came into the city. that he town began to take on that marked activity which has brought it to the position which it now occupies.

And now. after this hasty glance at the receding vears, a picture of the city in its swaddling clothes, let us take a look at least at one feature of the present-day city - Mansfield as a manufacturing center.

Probably few people are aware of the fact that Mansfield is located in the very center of the manufacturing belt of .\merica. it being shown by the official report of the factory department of the United States Census Bureau that the actual center of manufacturing in the United States, based on the value of output. is just seventeen miles southeast of this city.

At the present time Mansfield has sixty-one manufacturing industries, the largest of these being the Ohio Brass Company. with six hundred and twelve employes. This concern is regarded as one of the best of the kind in the world, and is looked upon as ranking high in its class in point of general construction, convenience of operation, economy of conduct and also as to the appointments for the employes in the way of sanitary conveniences.

Employed in the factories of Mansfield at the present time are 4,492 persons, 3.110 men and 1,382 women, and the amount paid annually in wages to these emploves is computed at $2,241,820, while the output of the factories for the vear ended July 1 will reach nearly $9,000,000.

The number of factory employes as above given is exclusive of the plants of the Seneca Chain company. the Globe Steel company and the Safety Cylinder Valve company, which will add at least another three

A marked diversification of manufactures has been advantageous to Mansfield in many ways and with the satisfactory labor conditions thé wage-earning population of the city is found to be uniformly happy and contented.

It is a fact worthy of note that no less than sixty per cent of the skilled mechanics of the city own their own homes, while the percentage of other wage earners owning their homes is vastly larger than is to be found in many other cities of the state.

The manufacturing interests of Mansfield have been very largely built up by home people and nearly all the factories are practically owned by Mansfield citizens, there being only one case in which the holdings of the company are entirely foreign to our people and only three in which the majority of the stock is held by non-residents.

Prominent among the industries of the city and giving some idea of the diversified nature of their output, may be mentioned the two manufacturers of agricultural instruments, the stove foundries. the sanitary apphance plants. the three brass factories. two manufacturers of electrical equipment, one chemical manufacturing plant, a suspender factory, a number of cigar factories, seven wood working establishments, and a great many smaller ironworking establishments.

Prominent among the newer factories of the city is the growing plant of Browning Bros., which is now operating entirely in the manufacture of railroad wreckers and cranes.

And too, it may be said that the local plant of the National Biscuit company is regarded as one of the prominent ones of the concern and thai it is known abroad as being a producer of the best ovster cracker made.

Taste of the water with which the people of Mansfield are supplied and then, 1f vou will, consult the mortality statistics of the city, take into consideration the extremely low death rate, give «a thought to the general health conditions and the beauty of the surroundings, and you cannot help realizing that when our forefathers chose thix ax the site for a future city they builded better than they knew.

In the growth of Mansfield as a manufacturing city there has been one factor that stands out with more than ordinary prominence as an attraction to industries of every sort, this being the railroads, for without facilities for transporting their ouput the factories would have no wavy of reaching other than a strictly local market, while as it now is the product of these factories finds buyers in every part of the world.

From the standpoint of its railroad facilities Mansfield is one of the most advantageous points for manufacturing in the United States. It is located on the main lines of the three greatest railroads of the country - the Pennsylvania, the Baltimore & Ohio. and the Erie - and in this Mansfield stands out prominently as being the only city between New York and Chicago transversed by these great arteries of interstate commerce.

ore from seven different sources at the equal tariff of one dollar, this one thing making the situation of the city more advantageous than any one of the sixteen other Ohio cities of about the same population.

-\t the same time Mansfield has two direct lines of transportation to ihe rivers and the great lakes, giving us unexcelled fuel advantages, in addition to which the natural gas supply of Mansfield is without doubt superior to that of any other Ohio city, with a possible <ingle exception.

The progressivene=s of the people of Mansfield and their adaptability to modern conveniences could scarcely be shown in a better way than by a reference to the growth of the telephone busizess in the city. While twentyfive years ago only forty business offices and residences enjoyed the advantages of telephone service, it is found that at the present time the total number of subscribers of the two competing companies in the city will pass the four thousand mark and the vicinity business adds another fifteen hundred to the list.

In the wholexale or jobbing business in the city there are three large grocery firms, one of general merchandise, one wall paper, two hardware, an oil company, a drug firm, one of agricultural implements and two cigar jobbing houses, all enjoying a lucrative business and covering many states with their traveling salesmen.

In the retail business the merchants of Mansfield, in every line, are live and progressive, glad of a chance to compete in quality and prices with the stores of the larger cities and handling such comprehensive stocks as to leave no inducement for residents of the city to do out-of-town trading, but at the same time offering many advantages to the residents of the surrounding country and nearby towns.

From the standpoint of churches and schools Mansfield may be said to offer exceptional advantages, all of the leading denominations having beautiful and costly houses of worship, while the schools take high rank in the recognition received from the colleges and universities of the country.

The Telephone Its General And Local History

That the American people readily take to new utilities and adapt themselves to the new conditions shown by the fact that, although it has been but twenty-nine years since Alexander Graham Bell first exhibited his apparatus for the "transmission of sound by electricity," over two million telephone instruments are now in use. This shows a phenomenal growth of the use of one of the greatest inventions of the age along the line of general utilty.

In 1881, two years after Professor Bell had strung his first long-distance wire from Boston to Lowell, a distance of forty miles, there was only one telephone subscriber to each 1,074 of population; in 1904, the ratio was reduced to 1 to 53. During the vear 1881. the telephone was used 300,000 times in the United States; in 1904, the average daily number was 10,134,- 020. In 1881. the number of communications per inhabitant per vear averaged two; in 1904 the average had rizen to forty-two.

At the time of the invention of the telephone. O. H. Booth Was the superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph company at Man-field. One of his co-workers was Sanwel Ublich, an expert electrician, with ample means to engage in any business enterprise that might suit his fancy, Soon after Professor Bell had made his invention, Mesr<. Booth and Uhlich took the initiative work of introducing the telephone in Mansfield. and in the summer of 1877, a telephone entertainment was given in the Sunday school room of the Congregational church. A wire was run from the old parsonage to the church, with an instrument in each building. Singers were at the parsonage, and an audience at the church. At a given signal, the choir would sing, and then the people at the church would file along by the table where the instrument was placed, each having the privilege of taking the receiver and listening a moment to the singing. all declaring. "it is something wonderful."

About this time a third person (W. L. Leonard), without being financially interested in the matter. assixted Messrs. Booth and Uhlich in founding a telephone plant in Mansfield. Prior to coming to this city. Mr. Leonard was a telegrapher in Cincinnati. After locating here he conducted a cigar stand in the Wiler House. The "Wiler" was then under the managemeni of Rush H. Field, and was one of the leading hotelx in thix part of Ohio.

Mr. Leonard installed a telegraph instrument in the office of the Wiler House. and lecame interested in the sale of tickets for a number of railroads connecting with the trunk lines that pass through Mansfield. and the hotel became headquarters for information relative to trains, the price of grain, ete.. and this line of business information was increased after a 'phone had been placed in the office. and prior to the telephone getting into general use.

In 1880, Messrs. Booth and Uhlich installed a telephone exchange in the Stocking building and got a few subscribers. and after conducting the same for a year or more. sold out to the Central Union Telephone company. which had obtained a franchise from the city council in 1881. and early in 1882 the exchange was removed from Stocking to the Dickson building. where it remained for a number of vears.

It is twenty-six years since the Central Union exchange was installed with forty-nine subscribers, and now there is a total of about six thousand 'phones in use, city and suburban, by the two companies operating in Mansfield.

Miss Ella Wulle was the first lady operator and served a year or more before she had an assistant. Miss Wulle was attentive to her duties, was a plain talker, and gave general satisfaction to the public.

There was no night operator at the exchange for several years. The first step toward a night service was to get a man to sleep in the office, who was supposed to answer calls, if he heard them.

About ten years ago a Mansfield Telephone company was organized and installed, and the two companies now fully occupy the field, making Mansfield one of the most thoroughly 'phoned towns in Ohio. /

The late John B. Netscher for a number of years bought apples at a frame building that stood between West Sixth street and the B. & O. freight house. One day a farmer entered the Wiler House and asked Mr. Leonard what Mr. Netscher was paying for apples. Mr. Leonard said he would inquire, and, going to the 'phone at the door of the cloak room, asked, "Mr. Netscher, what are you paying for apples today?" Upon getting a reply, Mr. Leonard turned to the farmer and stated the price. "Why doesn't Netscher come out and tell me himself? What is he cooped up in that little room for?" the farmer asked. He did not know about the telephone and supposed Mr. Netscher was in the cloak room. .

A man and wife from Butler came to Mansfield on a shopping trip soon after telephones had been placed in some of the stores. At Sam Lowenstein's, in the Dickson building. they were looking at a suit of clothes shown them by Mr. Geltz. A man was using a 'phone at the back part of the store. The woman saw him, but did not know of the 'phone, and addressing her husband in an undertone. she requested him to leave the store, saying, "There is a man standing back there talking to the wall. He is evidently erazy and is liable to get violent at any time."

A story is also told of a new subscriber who heard his telephone bell ring after he had retired, and, jumping out of bed, said, "All right; I'll be there in a moment." Before he got down stairs the bell rang again, and this time he answered impatiently, "I told you I am coming."

With the telephone. trolley cars and other modern utilities, Mansfield people have within their reach more conveniences and better facilities than had any other people of all the vears that have gone to make the history of the world.

The Butler Oil And Gas. Field

The finding of oil and gax in the vicinity of Butler, in the southern part of Richland county, was an event of so much importance that the subjoined account of the same is taken from the Butler Messenger newspaper, of Friday, March 30, 1905.

The village of Butler has been the Mecca of oil and gas men for nearly a year and still holds its record for that. This town, with its eight hundred inhabitants, nestles cosily amid the hills of Worthington township, about one mile west of the geographical center of the township, which is the extreme southeastern one in Richland county. It is surrounded by fertile, wellimproved agricultural land, and up to a little over a year ago the raising of all kinds of crops occupied the attention of the land owners of this locality.

But a change came over the scene. One year ago last December leasing of the territory for prospecting for gas and oil was commenced in earnest. Although many of the land owners had leased some years ago without any consideration whatever, they were willing to lease once more for the privilege of finding what lay underneath their farms.

The farmers, who were the first to sign leases in favor of the Butler Oil and Gas Co., were promised fifty cents per acre per vear, payable at the end of the year. Several thousand acres were taken up at this figure. Many others, more fortunate, refused to lease at such a small stipend, and consequently secured $1.00 per acre. Others who were slow in leasing received much more' than that, especially after the first well came in.

After considerable speculation regarding the matter of gas and oil, the Butler Oil and Gas Co. was finally incorporated with $40,000 capital. Stock was readily sold at $25 per share, and it was a momentous day when the work of constructing the first derrick, which is on Marion McClellan's farm, one and a half miles southeast of Butler, was begun. As soon as it was completed drilling machinery was installed and the work of sinking a shaft went forward. As the immense drill kept on going lower and lower into the earth, enthusiasm continued to increase, aud when on June 18, 1905, the McClellan well came in a mammoth gasser, it knew no bounds.

It is always pleasant. and it is usually inspiring, to contemplate success, and a retrospect of the development of the Butler Oil territory will be full of interest. So far as can be determined, the early stages of the development of the field has proved an unqualified success in every particular.

The first well was drilled on the Marion McClellan farm. The well came in about July 25 a big gasser, with about 4,000,000 capacity. Step= were immediately taken to pipe the product into Butler, and also supply Bellville with fuel. Some delay in securing the necessary piping was caused, but about he firs of October gas was turned into the mains and a big demonstration took place in honor of the event. Two large pipes were erected at different places in Butler and the gaz fired, while the band plaved on. The consumers were given gas at twenty cents per thousand. with a ten per cent discount, making it eighteen cents net.

Soon after the first strike arrangements were formulated to put down a well on A. W. Mishev's farm. a little south of east of the MeClellan well. This well was drilled to a depth of twenty-six hundred feet and abandoned as a duster. No Clinton sand was encountered in this well, but instead, a sort of reddish zand, such as was later found in the Russell well. There was no indication whatever of oi] or gas and the derrick was at once torn down and the casing removed.

Failure in the Mishey well did not dishearten the projectors and almost immediately another well wax located. This was about five hundred yards south of the gas well on the Mengert farm, the property of L. C. Mengert. of Mansfield, Peter Mengert, of Troy township, and Fred Mengert, of Washington township, heirs of the late Wiliam Mengert. The drilling of this well consumed nine weeks, and on December 22, 1905, at a depth of two thousand five hundred and forty-eight feet oil was found in nine feet of Clinton sand. Before the full depth of the sand had been reached the oil spurted forth twenty feet higher than the eighty-foot derrick, throwing out stones and sand with great force. And what oil it was! Genuine PennsvIvania oil in every particular. In color it was of a transparent yellow, and in specific gravity fifty-seven. making it eligible to the top notch of market price. <A dilemma confronted the company at this time. Expectant of a tlow of gas insead of oil, they were illy prepared to receive the golden shower precipitated upon them from nature's refinery, and as a result, at least one thousand barrels of the precious liquid ran away. <A small spring ran near it and floated into Gold run, where much of it was secured by Butler resident=, as it floated through the east part of town. However, a force of men was secured and a dyke was made below the well, checking the wasted oil until the tanks were secured to put it in. The well was afterward drilled in and a steady flow of oil resulted. The estimated capacity was from two hundred to two hundred and fifty barrels per day for several days. and finally it dropped down to a flow of from seventy-five to one hundred. This capacity has been held up since that time. When the McClellan gas well became clogged a gas saver was attached to the Mengert well, and the wonderful well has xince kept up its record of pouring out both oil and sufficient gas for Butler and Bellville also.

The finding of oil in this territory caused an influx of interested men from all parts of the United States. Butler hotels were taxed to their utmost capacity. and the livery business Hourished. Butler had become more than a mere speck on the map. Experts were early in the field and readily recognized from the quality of the oil. the possibility of the great new oil field.

The Remy well operations toward putting down a well about two hundred vards from the Mengert well. was begun soon after the famous hole had commanded the attention of the oil world. This well came in March 7, and proved to be almost ax good an oiler as the Mengert No..1. The sand at this point is thirteen feet deep. and the oil is mixed with a good flow of vax. The intermittent ~purts of oil in the early stages of this well caused more than one spectator to get a drenching in oil. For a time the flow was pulsating, but it finally xettled down to a flow of from twenty-five to thirty-five barrelx. Tanks were ready to receive the oil, and there was no waste to speak of.

The Buckeye Pipe line takes charge of the oil at the wells, and after being gauged, it is transferred through pipes by gravity to the loading point at Butler. Here twenty-six cars of oil have already been loaded and shipped away. Some to the Sun refinery at Toledo, and some to the Standard refinerv in Indiana. Each well receives proper credit for its output, and as the quality is the same, commands the same price at the wells, $1.38.

The Edna Oil company had in the meantime, erected a derrick and begun drilling on the Reed lease, consisting of twenty acres for which $2,000 had been paid. March 21 this well came in an oiler, but gas was a minus quantity, and the oil did not flow from the top of the pipe as is the case with the Mengert and Remy wells. The oil stands about one thousand five hundred feet deep in the pipe, and although the quality is the same, the well will have to be pumped. The Reed well stands on much higher ground to the southeast of the Remy well and is not over two hundred feet from Mengert No. 2. which came in in due season.

Mengert well No. 3 came in with a How of gas estimated at, about 6,000,000. In less than an hour afterward a heavy flow of oil which spurted to a great height. Thirty. barrels of the oil came from the well during one night. It is of the xame transparent yellow color, which characterizes the other wells in the Butler field. This well is located about one thousand feet from the Mengert No. 1, in a southwesterly direction, and the oil was piped to the tanks at No. 1.

Soldiers Of The War Of The Revolution

A number of the soldiers of the War of the Revolution are buried in Richland county cemeteries. The list in the possession of the Richland County Historical society is not complete, but the following are given.

Henry Nail, Sr., is buried on lot 1218, Mansfield cemetery. He was born in Germany in 1757; came to America in 1777, and some time later enlisted in the Continental army, and served until the close of the war. He came to Richland county in 1816, and remained here until his death., He was the grandfather of our A. F. Nail, of "Drummer Boy" fame, who was a soldier in the war of 1861-5, and is the son ax well as the grandson of a soldier.

John Jacobs, another soldier of the war of the Revolution, is buried in the Mansfield Roman Catholic cemetery. Jacobs died about xeventy vears ago and was first buried in the old cemetery, but the remains were later removed to the present burial ground.

On Memorial Day list is the name of Jacob Uhlch as having been a Revolutionary soldier. The name should be George Uhlich, a soldier of the war of 1812. Mrs. Miller, of Bowman street. a daughter of this xoldier. states that her father served his country in the war of 1812, and that he died in 1836. His father's name was also George. but he was not a soldier. Mrs. Miller accounts for these errors from the fact that after the removal of the remains from the old burial grounds at the corner of Adams and First streets, to the present cemetery. a new héadstone was put up. and the mistake in the inscription was uot noticed at the time. Mrs. Miller later requested that the inscription be corrected. but it was never done.

The Memorial list also gives the name of Jacol) Cook ax a Revolutionary soldier buried in the Mansfield cemetery. This statement is also incorrect. On the Cook monument are several cenotaph inscriptions - thoze of Jacob Noah and Jabez Cook.

Jacob Cook was the great-grandfather of the late J. H. Cook, and died in 1796, aged eighty-four vears. and was buried in Washington county. Pa.

Noah Cook, son of Jacob Cook, served several terms of enlistment in the Revolutionary war, and at one time was chaplain of the Fifth regiment of Continental troops in General Sullivan's brigade.

Noah Cook came to Lexington, Richland county. in 1814, and died in December, 1834, and is buried at Lexington, but has a cenotaph inscription on the monument of his grandson, the late James Hervey Cook.

Noah Cook did much to promote the religious interests of Troy township. He announced a meeting for a religious service at the schoolhouse but at the appointed hour, "Uncle Noah" was the only one there. but he held the services. Some passers-by heard him singing and stopped to listen. Then he prayed. and read, and preached, as though the benches were listeners with ears to hear and souls to save. The report of this service was noised abroad, with the result of good congregations of people at subsequent services. Noah Cook was descended from Francis Cook, one of the Mayflower passengers, who with other pilgrim fathers, came from Holland.

James MeDermot, a Revolutionary soldier buried in the Koogle cemetery, east of Mansfield. was a native of Pennsylvania, and served two years at Fort DuQuesne, then marched over the .\llegheny mountains and joined Washington's army at Valley Forge. He was at Princeton and other battles. He died in Mifflin township, this county, June 25, 1859, aged over one hundred years.

Christian Riblett enlisted in the Continental army in Pennsylvania in 1779, at the age of eighteen years, and served to the close of the war. He died April 6, 1844. and is buried at the east line of Sandusky township, on the road leading from Mansfield to Galion. Daniel Riblett. a son of this Continental soldier. represented Richland county in the legislature (senate) in L854.

William Gillespie was a major in the Revolutionary war, and is buried at Bellville. and a headstone marks his grave, which is yearly decorated with towers by the comrades of Miller Moody post, G. \. R. Major Gillespie died February 17, 1841, aged one hundred and four years.

Samuel Poppleton was one of the Green Mountain boys who fought under Colonel Ethan Allen. and, as color sergeant. planted the American flag upon the walls of Fort Ticonderoga at its surrender and heard the historic words: "In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental congress." Major Poppleton died in 1842. aged ninety-nine vears, and is buried in the Evart graveyard. a mile south of Bellville. The inscription on his headstone hax been somewhat effaced by the frosts and storms of time. The major was the grandfather of the late Hon. E. F. Poppleton.

Adam Wolfe. another Revolutionary soldier, is buried at Newville. He was born in Beaver county. Pennsylvania, Dec. 16, 1730, and came to Richland county, Ohio, in 1816, and entered the southeast quarter of section 26 in Monroe township. He died April 24, 1845. Adam Wolfe was the grandfather of Judge N. M. Wolfe and a great-great-grandfather of Harry L. Goodbread, of Wvandot county. and of Verner Z. Reed, of Colorado. Hiram R. Smith, then with McFall. frequently cashed Adam Wolfe's pension draft.

While the victories and achievements of our recent and present wars take the attention of the people of today. the soldiers of other American conflicts. especially the war of the Revolution, must not be forgotten, for to that struggle we owe our existence as a free and independent nation. Ana in no other period of the world's history were events more deeply fraught with interest or more full of moral and political moment than in the era in which -\merican independence was achieved.

It is said the noblest work of the pen of history is to state facts, describe conditions and narrate events which illustrate the progress of the human mind; that in the coming age the history of wars, even when presented in

But who would obliterate from Roman history the record of the heroism of those who drove the Persian hordes into the xea at Marathon? No Englishman desires to take from the history of his country the deeds of her Wellington or her Nelson. The French point with pride to the man whose frown terrified the glance his magnificence attracted. What patriot would rob American history of the record of the victories of our army and navy in the several wars in which our nation has been engaged, aud depnve the people of the benefits and results of those grand achievements?

Memorial Day is a tribute to patriotism - a tribute of utility to gratitude a confession that war is at times neces<ary. that life bas nobler things in it than mere business pursuits. and that men sometimes rise to those sublime heights when life is looked upon as of secondary consideration, and that honor and liberty and law are the only things for which the heart beat~ in pulsating flow.

The people of today are far removed from the events of the war of the revolution, but the principles for which the patriots fought underhe our political superstructure and permeate every department of the government. and the heroism of the Continental soldiers shine with effulgent glory through the mists of a century.

John Stoner served through the entire war of the Revolution. Te waborn in 1758 and died in 1845. in Blooming Grove township. this county, aged eighty-seven vears. He was buried with military honors in the Pre-- byterian cemetery at Rome, this county. There is no monument nor headstone to mark his grave.

At the northern lmit of the Blackfork settlement. to which reference has heretofore been made. lived a Pennsylvania German. Martin Ruffner by name. The Ruffner cabin stood about a mile northwest of Mifflin. and about a half mile west of the Staman sawmill on the Ruffner run. Ruffner had in his employ a German boy who is known by the historical sobriquet of "Billy Bunting."

A few days after the burning of Greentown. a party of Indians were seen sitting upon a small elevation of ground not far from the Ruffner cabin. The Indians were seen by Billy Bunting, who hastened to inform Mr. Ruffner of his discovery. Ruffner at once took his rifle and followed the Indians who were making directly for the Zeimer cabin farther down the valley. Ruffner deployed around the Indians and reached the Zeimer cabin in advance of the savages.

The Zeimer family consisted of Frederick Zeimer and wife, their son Philip and their daughter Kate. Soon after Ruffner arrived at the Zeimer cabin the Indians put in their appearance.

Soon after Philip had left the house the Indians came and seemed surprised upon finding Ruffner there. The friendly Kate, thinking to appease them, got them supper, but they still seemed sullen, showing that they meant harm to the family. For some time a desultory conversation was held at intervals, but finally the actors to the impending tragedy sat and eyed each other in silence, conflicting emotions, no doubt, passing through the mind of each. Ruffner. the valiant German, sat like a Trojan soldier between the helpless family and their savage foes. Finally, when suspense could be borne no longer, the Indians sprang to their feet with a yell of demoniacal fury, and made a rush at the brave Ruffner, who shot his foremost assailant dead, and, clubbing his rifle, felled another prostrate to the floor. As he struck at the third, he accidentally hit the stock of his rifle against a joist, and the Indians, taking advantage of the mishap, fired upon him, two shots taking effect, either of which would of itself been fatal. They dragged the body of the dying man into the vard, and inhumanly removed his scalp ere he expired!

At the beginning of the assault Kate fainted. When she regained consciousness she realized that Ruffner had been killed, and, seeing them assault her aged parents. she again fell in a swoon, unconsciousness kindly veiling from her sight the horrible spectacle.

When Kate recovered and realized the awful butchery that had been committed, her grief gave vent in heart-piercing shrieks and lamentations, whose intensity should have reached the calloused hearts of even those inhuman savages. But, instead, she was ordered by her relentless foes to give them her father's money and the valuables of the family, and as she complied with their demand, her betrothal ring was rudely taken from her finger. But they did not then spare her life, for Kanotche, raising his tomahawk, buried it in her brains. and she fell upon the hearth, mingling her life's blood with that of her parents!

The account of this tragedy was given some time later by Kanotche himself, while he was confined as a prisoner in the jail at New Philadelphia.

The principal motive which lead to the murder of the Zeimers was that of robbery, as they were regarded as quite wealthy and were known to possess considerable money.

When Philip returned with his party, nature had already thrown her sable mantle of night over the valley. Except for the occasional hooting of an owl, there was almost deathlike stillness. No breath of wind stirred the leaves of the forest, and the stars shone with a pale, flickering light. As the party neared the cabin, no light was seen and all was quiet and still within. After a consultation, Mr. Copus advanced alone to the rear of the house and tried to peer through its four-light window, but nothing could be seen in the darkness within. He then cautiously crept upon his hands and knees around to the front of the building, and, finding the door ajar, endeavored to push it further open, but found something against it like a

Returning to the party, he thought it best not to tell Philip what he had discovered, fearing that the Indians might still be in the house awaiting - the son's return. Enjoining silence, he led them quietly away, and when at a safe distance, told them that he feared the family had been taken prisoners, and that they had better go to the block-house for assistauce.

Philip's anxiety for the safety of the family made him want to rush recklessly inside the house to learn their fate; but his friends restrained him, and the weary, groping walk through the darkness to the block-house was commenced. <A halt was made at a Mr. Hill's, where the town of Lucas now stands, and upon the break of dav they proceeded to the Beam blockhouse on the Rocky Run, where the first settlement in the county was made, and there got a detachment of troops and some settlers, who accompanied them back to the Zeimer cabin, where they found the dead and mutilated body of the brave Ruffner in the yard, and those of the family inside the house.

The grief of Philip was so great that many of the strong men present were moved to tears by witnessing his sorrow. Father, mother and sister all gone, and he left alone! Would that he had shared their fate with them, was his wish. Jind friends tried to console him, while others dug graves and performed the last office the living can do for the dead. Then they returned to the block-house.

Philip gave his service to his country during the remainder of the war. Several years later he sold the farm to a Mr. Culler, whose descendants own it today, aud upon the site of the ill-fated cabin a monument now stands, erected to the memory of the Zeimer family and Martin Ruffner. who fell in their defense.

The Indians who committed thexe crimes were stragglers from the Greentown tribe, who returned for rapine and murder. Of the five who constituted the party. Ruffner killed two, whose bodies were carried away. as was the custom among the Indians, and the three survivors were afterward captured about five miles below New Philadelphia, on what is now called Fern Island, a picnic resort on the C. L. & W. railway, near the Roval Clay works.

The massacre of the Zeimer family aroused the feelings of the people not only in Richland, but also in other counties, almost to frenzy, and companies were organized at Wooster. New Philadelphia and other places toprotect the settlers. Captain Mullen commanded the Wooster company, and Alex. McConnel, the one at New Philadelphia.

Fern island is an isle in the Tuscarawas river, one of the most poetryinspiring streams in the state. It courses through one of Ohio's most fertile valleys with an ease and grandeur that is both restful and inspiring, as rays of light shine upon its dark waters that reflect emerald tints as though the bottom was paved with precious stones. But the Indians had not sought that locality because of its romantic beauty, nor because the waters of the Tuscarawas were wont to dazzle one with their diamond-like gleams, but for the protection the dense forest of that secluded isle would give them. The mark of Cain was upon them and the avenging Nemesis was following their trail. In that forest-embowered isle stood armies of ferns with nodding plumes and crimson falchions. and among these the tired savages lay down to sleep.

Captain McConnel, hearing that the Indians were upon the Island, marehed his company over the "Plains," and when the destination was reached. he left his men on the bank and swam his horse across the eastern branch of the river, and, surprising the redskins, took them prisoners. On reaching the company with his prisoners. some of the men suggested that the Indians should be put to death. ''Not until they have a trial according to law." said the captain. The prisoners were then marched up past the old site of Shoenbrun to New Philadelphia, and there incarcerated in jail. When the news of this capture reached Wooster, the excitement there became intense and Captain Mullen marched lis company to New Philadelphia to take summary vengeance upon the captives. Henry Laffer. then sheriff of Tuscarawas county. called upon the citizens to turn out and protect the prisoners, which they refused to do. John C. Wright, an attorney from Steubenville. waz in town. and volunteered hix services to the sheriff. Mr. Wright was afterward the judge of the court of that circuit. Captain MeConnel. Sheriff Laffer and Mr. Wright pleaded with the atttacking party for the lives of the Indians and declared if the prisoners were molested it would be after they had walked over their dead bodies. The attack was finally abandoned and the company returned to Wooster.

While in jail there. Kanotche made a confession to the Sheriff, detailing the Zeimer-Ruffner murder and the part he took in the same, admitting that he had killed Kate. and that the principal motive for the crime was robbery. The other prisoners did not confess and Kanotche refused either to implicate or exonerate them.

The Indians were kept in jail until Governor Meigs arrived in New Philadelphia. when they were turned over to the military authorities and were conducted by Lieutenant Shane, of the regular army. to the western part of the state, where, under the terms of a cartel, they, as prisoners of war. were released. the charge of murder not being placed against them.

While enroute Lieutenant Shane, with his troops and prisoners, stopped over night at Newark. where an attempt was made by two recruits to buv drugs to poison the Indians, which shows the deep-seated feeling then existing against them on account of the atrocities and murders they had committed.

The fact that Kanotche. one of their Indian prisoners, was the selfconfessed murderer of Kate Zeimer and other white persons, doubtless incensed the soldiers to such a state of mind that they made the attempt to buy the poison. Although Kanotche was not punished by the law, about a year later he met his death by the hands of one of his own people. His punishment came according to Bible lines, that whoso sheddeth human blood, by man shall his blood be shed.

Tradition says she was engaged to be married to a man who lived near her former home in the east, but this is not verified by history. Her reputed lover, Henry Martin, like Lilly Pipe, was a myth. Both were the creations of that gifted novelist, the Rev. James I'. McGaw.

While June is the month of roses. September is regarded by many as being the most charming of the year. The hazy halo of the atmosphere with its languorous warmth, are conducive to day dreaming. And, to follow the romance of the novelist, there were days of dreaming for the beautiful Kate, whose betrothed lover was soon to come to claim her for his bride. Days of roaming in the leafy forest or rowing upon the crystal lake; days of watching the crimson sunset shining redly through the darkness of the branches and glittering away as golden threads to a paradise too sweet to name; days when love seemed, to fill the air and make music sweet in the rustle of the leaves; days when Kate wondered vaguely whether she was not dreaming happy dreams - dreams too enhancing to last; and they were, for, instead of the bridal robe. the winding sheet was soon to be her habiliment.

The news of the murder of the Zeimer family caused the settlers to go to the blockhouse for safety, and nearly every cabin was left tenantless, and the country was filled with alarm. and not without cause, for other deeds of blood were soon to follow.

The name Zeimer was pronounced by the settlers somewhat like "Zemer," and McGaw, in his historical romance, changed the name to '"'Seymour." That Zeimer is correct is fully proven by muniments of the Zeimer estate. It is a German name of Swiss origin. and has been Amerieanized, locally at least in the Blackfork valley. as both "Seymour" and "Zimmer."

In 1799, Frederick Zeimer came with his family from Maryland and entered one-half of section 27 in Washington township. Pickaway county. Ohio, where he settled and lived until he came to Richland county in 1812. Mr. Zeimer was a man of means, and after getting considerable land in Pickaway county, he gave each of his married children a farm, then removed to Richland county with his family.

After Philip's return from the war, he returned to his former home in Pickaway county, and later sold the Richland county farm to Michael Culler. The deed was executed May 1, 1815, before Thomas Mace, a justice of the peace in and for Pickaway county, Ohio.

Philip Zeimer and wife were the parents of five children - three sons and two daughters - all now deceased. Philip's wife died in 1836, aged forty-eight years. Philip died August 8, 1850, aged sixty-five vears. The man who was said to be engaged to Kate Zeimer, and to whom McGaw gave the name of Henry Martin, was Jedediah Smith. who came to Ohio and entered land in Washington township, this county, in 1812. Mr. Smith.

when looking for land, was directed by Johnny Appleseed to the Zeimer cabin, where he met and fell in love with Kate, as is reputed. Mr. Smith, however, was at his old home in Washington county, Pennsylvania, when the Zeimers were killed by the Indians, and he did not return to Ohio until 1816. He did not marry until several years after Kate's death.

The Copus Battle

The news of the Zeimer massacre was spread in every direction, causing the settlers to flock to the blockhouses for safety. Every cabin became tenantless. Among the others, James Copus and family took refuge in the blockhouse at Beam's Mills. Mr. Copus, however, remained at the blockhouse with his family but a few days. Quiet having been restored and hearing of no more depredations, he concluded to remove his family back to his farm. Before leaving the blockhouse one of the officers promised him to encamp at his house with a reconnoitering party that night. A small squad of soldiers was detailed to go with Copus and family and remain with them for several days.

The Copus cabin was down the valley from that of Zeimer's, about half way between Zeimer's and Greentown. It stood at the foot of a high bluff about a half mile from the Rockyford. About three or four rods from where the cabin stood there gushes out of the hill one of the best springs of water in the country. .\ newly-cut road ran parallel with the bluff at its base and between it and the cabin. The range of the bluff is nearly north and south, and the cabin stood on the west side and a field of corn, then in roasting ears, nearly surrounded the cabin. The place was wildly romantic and well calculated to inspire the soldiers with a spirit of sport, and they enjoyed the afternoon in running, jumping and wrestling exercises until evening.

-As the shades of night advanced the mind of Mr. Copus became unaccountably agitated. The reconnoitering party having gone further than had been intended did not get to Copus' until the afternoon of the following day - too late to render aid. Mr. Copus told the soldiers who were with him that he feared they would be attacked that night. But the soldiers only smiled at his fears, telling him that they arose, doubtless, from the impressions left upon his mind on seeing the murdered family of Zeimer the day hefore. Nine o'clock came and the soldiers got permission to sleep in the barn, as the night was extremely warm. During the night the dogs barked almost constantly and in the direction of the corn field. The night was dark and moonless and the messengers of death, silent and frightful, had gathered themselves around that solitary cabin, ready at the appoined hour, to smite their victims to the earth. Yet no one of that little band except Mr. Copus expected that danger was so nigh. At the first dawn of that Tuesday morning, September 15, 1812, the nine soldiers, true to their promise. left their couches of hay at the barn and went to the cabin. As they grouped around the door, amber streaks darted into golden rays in the eastern sky, heralds of the coming day. The soldiers recalled the red-flamed sky of the evening previous and were thankful that the night was being succeeded by the glorious light of another day, a light so beautiful in its aspect that one might have imagined that it presaged the resurrection and looked for angel= to appear and proclaim that "Time was, time is, but time shall Le no more," but instead it was the angel of death that was soon to claim four of that little band.

Mr. Copus. still apprehensive of danger, cautioned the svldiers to be on their guard, but they laughed at his fears and, leaning their musket» against the outside of the cabin, went to the spring, a few rods from the house. but ere they had finished their lavations the Indians came upon them with -demoniacal yells, and - ''On the right, on the left, above, below, sprang up at once the Indian foe'" - and forty-five painted savages, armed with muskets, tomahawks and scalping knives, rushed upon the unarmed soldiers and a scene of murder and butchery ensued.

When the attack was made Mr. Copus seized his rifle and went to the door, and as he opened it a ball fired by an Indan passed through the leather strap supporting his powder horn and entered Mr. Copus' breast. inflicting a wound from which he died within an hour.

When the soldiers were fired upon at the spring. being unarmed. they fled in different directions; two attempted to reach the forest upon the hillside for protection. but were pursued by the Indians. were overtaken. murdered and scalped. Their names were John Tedrick and George Shipley. Another soldier - named Warnock - was shot through the bowels. but went some distance and, becoming weak from loss of blood, sat down by a tree and died. He had stuffed his handkerchief into the wound in an effort to stop the flow of blood. His body was found several weeks afterward in a sitting posture. Five of the soldiers who were nearer the cabin got inside safely. but the sixth - named George Dve - was not so fortunate and was shot through the thigh as he entered the door. and George Launtz wa< shot in the arm a short time later while removing a chink to make a port-hole in the wall. Mr. Copus realized that he was mortally wounded and entreated the soldiers to defend as best they could his wife and family.