Wayne County, Ohio - Chapter 18, 1878

Chapter 18

Wayne county was organized by Act of the Legislature, January 4th, 1812, to take effect on the ist day of March thereafter. The same Act provided that the people of the county should elect county officers on the ist Monday of April, 18 12, to hold the same until the next annual election.

Columbiana, Stark and Wayne - Lewis Kinney and Joseph Richardson, from December 7, 1812, to December 5, 1814; John Thompson from December 5,

Public Officers

Wayne - Thomas McMillan, from December 4th, 1820, to December 6th, 1824, 2 terms, having been re-elected in 1822; Edward Avery, from December 6, 1824, to December 4, 1826.

Wayne and Holmes - Joseph H. Larwill, from December 4, 1826, to December 7, 1829, having been re-elected in 1828, and having resigned in 1829.

Wayne - Benjamin Jones, from December 7, 1S29, to December 3, 1832, having been re-elected in 1830; Thomas Robison, from December 3, 1832, to December

Wayne, Holmes, Knox and Morrow - Davis Miles, from January 6, 1862, to January 4, 1864; Joseph C. Devin, from January 4, 1864, to January i, 1866; Frank H. Hurd, from January I, 1866, to January 6, 1868; and Lyman R. Critchfield, from January I, l865, to January 2, 1867 - having resigned after the session of 1866; Robert Justice, from January 2, 1867, to January 6, 1868 - filling the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Critchfield ; George Rex and C. H. Scribner, from January 6, 1868, to January 3, 1870; Hinchman S. Prophet, from January 3, 1870, to January I, 1872; Henry D. McDowell, from January I, 1872, to January, 1874; Daniel Paul, from January I, 1874, to January, 1876; John Ault, from January I, 1876, to January, 1878.

Wayne and Ashland - Abraham Franks, Jr., and Jacob Miller, from December 4, 1848, to December 3, 1849; Abraham Franks, Jr., and George W. Bull, from December 3, 1849, 'o December 2, 1850; Charles R. Deming and Clinton Wilson, from December 2, 1850, to January 5, 1852.

From 1828 to 1852, William Larwill, John Sloane and Samuel L. Lorah conducted the office, though here the record is unsatisfactory. Benjamin Eason 1852 to 1858 John W. Baughman 1868 to 1874

William Smith was appointed first County Treasurer in 1812. The first executed Treasurer's bond on record in the Auditor's office, is that of Francis H. Foltz, dated 18 19, the office to be held by him until the first Monday of the following June.

In 1822 Samuel Quinby was appointed to the office, holding it until 1830, when he was duly elected, filling the position for eight more years.

t Mr. Weiker was re-elected to the office, but for incompetency, was compelled to resign, when C. C. Parsons, Senior, was appointed March 3, 1862.

tThis gentleman declining to serve, the Commissioners appointed Jonathan H. Lee, who soon thereafter died, when E. D. Shreve was appointed, and then elected in 1877.

181 1 - James Morgan, John Carr and Jacob Foulkes. 1812 - James Morgan, Jacob Foulkes and John Carr. 1813 - Oliver Jones, Jonathan Butler and Benjamin Miller. 1814 - Oliver Jones and Samuel Mitchel. 1815 - Oliver Jones, Samuel Mitchel and Robert McClarran. 1816 - Sam Mitchel, Geo. Bair and Aaron Baird. 1817 - Geo. Bair, John Lawrence and Thomas Taylor. 1818-19 - John Lawrence, James Robison and Benj. Jones. 1820 - John Lawrence, Matthew Johnson and James Robison. 1821 - Matthew Johnson, Charles Hoy and Jos. H. Larwill. 1822 - Charles Hoy, Matthew Johnson and Basil H. Warfield. 1823 - B. H. Warfield, Wm. McFall and Charles Hoy. 1824 - B. H. Warfield, Wm. McFall and James Hindman. 1825 - Wm. McFall, James Hindman and Stephen Coe. 1826 - James Hindman, Stephen Coe and Abram Ecker. 1827-28 - Stephen Coe, Abram Ecker and Jacob Ihrig. 1829 - Jacob Ihrig, Stephen Coe and Geo. Wellhouse. 1830 - Stephen Coe, Geo. Wellhouse and John P. Coulter. 1831-32 - John P. Coulter, Samuel Wilford and Geo. Wellhouse. 1833 - Samuel Wilford, Geo. Wellhouse and James McFadden. 1834 - Geo. Wellhouse, James McFadden and Peter Emery. 1835-36 - James McFadden, Peter Emery and Andrew Ault. 1837-38 - James McFadden, Andrew Ault and Wm. Burgan. 1839 - Andrew Ault, Wm. Burgan and James Cameron. 1840 - Andrew Ault, James Cameron and John Hess. 1841 - John Hess, James Y. Pinkerton and James Cameron. 1842 - James Y. Pinkerton, Henry Swart and Josh Kelley. 1843-44 - James Y. Pinkerton, Henry Swart and John Walters.

Public Officers. 2Si

First Infirmary Directors were Casper T. Richey, John Brinkerhoff and Thomas McKee. Jacob Huffman was elected in 1852, and served four years. I. N. Jones was appointed to fill a vacancy, occasioned by the resignation of Jacob Huffman, and was elected in 1855 and served for a continued term of ten years. John Hindman was elected in 1856, and served a term of six years. Thomas Elliott was elected in 1857, and served a term of six years. Aaron Franks was elected in 1861, and served a term of six years. Benjamin Norton was elected in 1863, and served <t term of three years. Andrew Moore was elected in 1865, and served a term of six years. Jacob Kramer was elected in 1866, and served a term of six years. Jacob Halfhill was elected in 1867, served two months, and died. Charles Gasche was elected in 1868, and served a term of eight years. Joseph Holtzer was elected in 1872, and served a term of six years. Adam Eyman was elected in 1873. John Alexander was elected in 1876. James McCIarran was elected in 1877. The three last mentioned compose the present Board of Directors.

The following is a copy of the proceedings had at the first term of the Court of Common Pleas in Wayne County, Ohio, as the same appears on pages i, 2 and 3 of Journal No. i :

At a Court of Common Pleas, held in the town of Wooster in and for the county of Wayne, on Thursday, the sixth day of August, l8iz, present the Honorables Benjamin Ruggles, Esq., President, and Christian Smith, David Kimpton and John Cisna, Esquires, Associate Judges of said County. The Grand Jury being called, came, to-wit : George Poe, John Lawrence, James Cisna, James Morgan, Jonathan Butler, David Smith, Oliver Jones, Philip B. Griffith, John L. Dawson, Jacob Foulks, John Kinney, Nathan Warner, William Clark, John Foreman and Andrev^ Lucky, who being sworn, v?ere charged by the Court and sent out. Roswell M. Mason, Esq., was appointed Prosecutor for the State for the present term. Upon application, license was granted unto William Nailer, Josiah Crawford and Benjamin Miller to keep public houses of entertainment for one year in the town of Wooster, Ordered, that Thomas G. Jones & Co. have license to sell foreign merchandise in the town of Wooster for the term of one year. On application of Thomas Caulfield, and the Court being made satisfied that he has been a resident of the United States a sufficient length of time, the oath of allegiance was administered to him in open court.

The Grand Jury returned into Court and iriade the following presentments, to wit: The State of Ohio vs. Jacob Matthew, larceny - -a true bill. The State of Ohio vs. Jacob Matthew, assault and battery - a true bill. On motion, the Court appointed James Morgan administrator of the estate of James Bever, deceased, and John Cisna, John L. Dawson and Jonathan Butler were appointed appraisers, Joseph H. Larwill and William Larwill were accepted by the Court as securities of the said James Morgan. William Larwill presented a certificate from the Hons. Thomas Scott and William W. Irvine, Esqs., two of the Supreme Judges of this State, certifying his being duly qualified to execute the duties of Clerk to this Court; whereupon the Court appointed him Clerk of this Court for the term of seven years - ^Joseph H. Larwill, James Morgan and Jonathan Butler were accepted as his security. The Court appointed Joseph H. Larwill as Surveyor of this county ; William Smith and Robert McClarran were accepted as security. And the Court adjourned without day. Benj. Ruggles, Pres't.

First Place Of Holding Court

Thomas Butler, Westell Ridgely, John Mullen, John Smith, Henry Burns, James Goudy, Jonah Crawford, Robert Orr and Philip B. Griffith, good and lawful men, who were empaneled and sworn, and after hearing the evidence adduced and the allegations of the parties, upon their oaths do say, that the defendant is not guilty of the charge in the manner and form as he stands indicted. Whereupon it is considered by the Court that the said Jacob Matthew go thereof without day.

December Z4th, 1812. - The Court appointed William Larwill as Master Commissioner in Chancery of this county, agreeably to the provisions of the first section of an act entitled, " An act supplementary to an act directing the mode of procedure in chancery."

Court was first held on the old "Fin." Weed livery stable grounds on East Liberty street, in an old log shanty built by John Bever. The March term of 1813 was held at the house of Josiah Crawford.

rear of the lot where the Reformed church at present stands, and in this building, for a time, court was held, theology and law for once in harmony. The county paid fifty dollars per year rent for the church.

The first court house was built by the proprietors of the town, Messrs. Larwill, Bever and Henry, in 1819. It was one of the conditions with which they agreed to comply when the countyseat was removed from Madison. It was a three story building with a gallery, built of brick, a part of which was occupied by the county officers and the Free Masons.

It was located where the present court house stands on the public square. It was burned down in 1828 during a term of court, and some of the papers and public records of the court and county were lost. In June, 1823, the bell was put on the court house, John Bever having donated it to the county.

The old court house standing at present on the north-west corner of the public square, was built in 1831 and 1832. We make a brief extract concerning it from a clipping which appeared in The Advocate, a newspaper published in Wooster, by Joseph Clingan, and dated September 21, 1833 -

" The court house is a noble edifice, only finished this spring, and cost $7,200. It is doubtless the handsomest in the State, if not in the United States, and confers much credit on the enterprising architect, Mr. McCurdy. It is covered with lead, and from the cupola may be had an agreeable variegated view of the village and surrounding country."

John Babb, of Wooster, made the two balls on the spire. They are copper and were gilded and bronzed by David Barr. The large ball, Mr. Babb says, holds 24 gallons and 3 quarts, and the small one a gallon and a half. McCurdy paid him sixteen dollars for making them.

Public B Uildings

The second court house having become dilapidated, and considered dangerous from rotted timbers and defective walls, the City Council of Wooster, condemned it in the summer of 1877, as being unsafe for public use, which official action was confirmed by the County Commissioners after full investigation of the condition of the building. The place of holding court was then transferred to France's Hall, on West Liberty street, where its sessions have been held from that time to the present.

On February 16 and 18, 1878, meetings of the Wayne county bar, and other citizens, were held in Wooster to take action, by which the matter of the erection of a new court house, as a necessity to the county, should be put in motion.

Hon. John McSweeney was Chairman, and Isaac Johnson, Esq., Secretary of the first meeting. At the second meeting Hon. John P. Jeffries was Chairman, and Colonel Benjamin Eason and Captain A. S. McClure, Secretaries.

The following committee was appointed to prepare a memorial to the Legislature, setting forth the need of a new court house, and also to draft a bill to be submitted to the Legislature for its approval, authorizing the County Commissioners to issue bonds in amount (on motion of E. Quinby, Jr.,) not exceeding ^^75,000, with which to build a new court house in Wooster :

The first jail bult in Wayne county was erected on lot No. 57, and was purchased by the Commissioners of John Bever, for $200. The contract for its building was sold July 13, 18 16, to the lowest bidder, and was struck off to Benjamin Jones at ^1,311. He executed the requisite bond, and complied with the following terms :

The building to be so far completed as to have room No. 2, east of the entrance and hall, finished in every respect on or before the 1st day of January 1817, and to give the Commissioners, Oliver Jones, Samuel Mitchel and Robert McClaran, possession of said room by that day ; the balance of the building to be completed before the 1st day of May, 1817. One-third of the amount to be paid on the execution of the contractor's bond ; one-third to be paid v^hen room No. 2 is completed, and the remaining installment three months after the completion of the job.

The Commissioners do hereby agree to accept of the jail erected by Benjamin Jones in the tov^n of Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, as being agreeable to his agreement with them.

The building was chiefly constructed of timber taken from the old block-house, called "Fort Stidger," erected by General Stidger, of Canton.

The dimensions of the first jail were 26 feet outside of the walls each way, and it was set 40 feet from the north-west corner of the lot. Its foundations were of "good stone, laid in good lime and sand mortar ;" the floor was of oak timber, laid on sleepers of suflicient size and number ; it was one story high, and 1 1 feet between floor and ceiling, the walls being of hewed timber and not less than 8 inches square, and notched together at the corners "so as to be strong and close." In some of the rooms the logs were doubled. There was a floor laid over the entire inside of the house, at the hight of the story, of 8-inch square hewn logs. The eaves were boxed with plain boxing, the gable ends weather- boarded, and it was covered with a shingle roof. It had 4 doorframes, of good and sufficient size to make it secure, " fitted to the end of the end logs that were cut off, ' and was ' ' well spiked with at least 4 good and sufficient spikes, of not less size than threequarters of an inch square, etc." It had "4 good and sufficient doors, planed and plowed, of 2-inch stuff, or of such stuff as would make the doors 4 inches thick. " The boards were put across each other, and made with " at least 4 good and sufficient iron straps to run lengthways of the door, and at the base 4 straps of the same kind." The doors were hung with "3 good and sufficient iron straps, and hooks to each, of sufficient strength to make it secure." Each door had "a good, strong lock on the inside and outside," the doors to the entry having "a double set of iron bars." The building contained a hall and 3 rooms, distinctively marked i, 2, 3. The lower floor of the "house" was laid "with oak plank, planed and grooved, well nailed down." The rooms were lined on each side and overhead "with good, dry 2-inch oak plank." Rooms 2 and 3 were "well covered" with "a good coat of coarse sand and small gravel well beat in, so as to fill each crevice between the logs, and then had ' ' a good coat of lime and sand mortar plastered over it."

Thomas Porter, "a prisoner who had escaped from jail and other service y as he was advertised by Joseph Barkdull, was confined in the new jail as early as 1818, and was likely its first inmate. The house adjoining the jail, known as the "jailor's house," was built by David Losier in 1824.

official incumbent, occupying it. At the time of the conflagration there were confined in it a boy (John Bowers), and Isaac Wiler for attempting to kill his wife.

Built but a few years ago, is located on the corner of North Walnut and North streets, and is one of the finest edifices of its kind in the State, and is constructed of brick, stone and iron, at great cost and a view to solidity, permanence and security.

On Friday, March 27, 1829, a special session of the Commissioners was held, composed of Stephen Coe, Jacob Ihrig and Abram Ecker, for the purpose of making arrangements for the erection of public buildings. It was resolved by the Board "to erect on the north-west corner of the Public Square, in the town of Wooster, four substantial fire-proof offices of such dimensions as may hereafter be adopted and agreed upon." The Auditor of the county was authorized to ' ' give notice by advertisement in the Republican Advocate'' 2x^6. by "getting hand-bills struck and circulated."

On the ^24th of April, of the same year, the Commissioners met in the Public Square of Wooster, between the hours of 10 A. M. and 4 p. M., and offered the contract at public auction, Daniel Miller appearing as the lowest bidder ; but the Commissioners, upon consultation, concluded he was not a suitable person to undertake the work, and adjourned. On the next morning they repeated the experiment of public outcry, when the contract was awarded to Calvin Hobart. The buildings were of brick and stone; were 72^ feet in length, with walls 8j^ feet high between the foundation and the commencement of the arches. Hobart obligated himself to complete the job by the ist of December, 1829. He took the contract at $989.99. The brick from the

Public Buildings

The new county buildings, erected at the close of the war, are situated on the north-west corner of the Public Square. They are constructed of stone, brick and iron, are solidly and massively built and amply capacious for the purposes contemplated in their projection. On the first floor are the offices of the County Treasurer, Auditor, Recorder, Surveyor and County Commissioners ; and on the upper floor those of the Probate Judge, Clerk and Sheriff.

The laying of the corner-stone of these buildings was an occasion of excitement, at which Hon. George Bliss made a speech and read some interesting reminiscences of Wooster, which are in the possession of George Core, of Applecreek, a numismatist, who has many remarkable and antique coins.

The Wayne County Infirmary, located two miles east of Wooster, was built after the passage of the new Constitution, and the first session of the Board of Directors, as appears from the record, met July 24, 1852. Simon Christine was the original builder. Dr. S. Pixley, of Wooster, was the first physician in in charge. Cyrus Segner was the first Superintendent, and continued until 1858, when Mr. A. R. Sweeney was appointed, and, with the exception of seven months and ten days, when J. P. Harris officiated, he has served up to the present time most acceptably in that capacity.

The official report for the year ending March 31, 1876, showed the admission of 49 paupers during that year, and gj paupers otherwise supported by the county, at a total cost of ^8,043, or a cost per day of 17 cents per head. The Infirmary farm consists of 280 acres. The building is three stories high, the basement of stone, the balance brick, and including cellars, bath rooms, etc. , contains lOO rooms, and is heated by hot air. Under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney everything is in capital running order. System, neatness, good taste and cleanliness characterize the entire management, and its apartments and general business are conducted with the method and good order of a first class hotel. In this institution the benevolent spirit of the county finds its noblest expression, and in Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney the county has most faithful servants. Superintendent A. R. Sweeney is a native of East Union township, where he was born, March IS, 1829, and was married, September 18, 1851, to Sarah Humbert, the present matron of the institution.

The Society was organized in 1849. I^s first President was Robert Reed, of Dalton, Sugarcreek township. The first address delivered to it was by William Turner, then a resident of Wooster, but now of Cleveland. The first fair was held in the grove near the present residence of D. Q. Liggett, where the exhibitions were continued until 1854.

On the 24th of January, 1859, the Society contracted with E. Quinby, Jr., for eight acres of land on North Market street, where, until 1869, its exhibitions were held. These grounds, for various reasons, were sold, whereupon the board of managers proceeded to make another selection. After due activity, with a view to procuring the same, they purchased of Henry Myers, twenty-four acres of land, a short distance west of the city of Wooster.

The grounds are pleasantly located, gracefully studded with young shade trees, and enclosed by a tight fence, seven feet in hight. The buildings in the enclosure are permanent and capacious, and the track for a "half-mile-go," one of the best in the state.

The present officers of the Society are : Captain G. P. Emrich, ; W. A. Wilson, Vice President ; Thomas Kinney, E. B. Connelly, Philip Troutman and Isaac Daniels, Managers.

Ohio Canal

At a session of the Ohio Legislature, in 1824, an act was passed, February 2, of that year, for the incorporating of a company for the purpose of making a turnpike road from Wooster to Cleveland, Ohio. In the April numbers of the Wooster Spectator notice is given "that books will be opened at the house of Gaius Boughton, in Cleveland ; at the house of John Hickcox, in Medina; and at the house of John Hemperly, in Wooster, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions of stock" for the same. Rufus Ferris was President of the Board of Commissioners, and John Freese was Secretary.

Running from Cleveland to Portsmouth, on the Ohio river, a distance of 307 miles, was begun in 1825, and completed in 1832, at a cost of ^5,000,000. On the 4th of July, 1825, the ceremony of breaking ground on the National Road, west of the Ohio, was celebrated. On the same day ground was broken at Licking Summit, for the construction of the Ohio Canal. The immortal De Witt Clinton, of New York, whose colossal mind projected "the great Erie Canal," threw out "the first shovelful of earth" on this occasion.

Surveys were made by General Alfred Kelly and M. T. Williams, the Canal Commissioners, through Wayne county, as early as 1823, from the head of Killbuck, and on south through the county, to Millersburg.

One thing is indisputably certain, that the Ohio Cdi.na\ furnished the farmers the old Fulton and Massillon markets - gave them cask for their produce, and the date of its completion defines the transition period in the early history of Wayne county.

This religious society was organized May 14, 1821, in the Court House, Wooster. At a meeting called to take into consideration the project of a Bible Society for Wayne county, A. Hanna, an elder of the Presbyterian church, was chosen to act as Chairman, and E. O. Jones, Baptist, to act as Secretary.

We, the subscribers, inhabitants of Wayne county, Ohio, deeply impressed with a sense of the great importance of a general circulation of the Holy Scriptures, as the grand means of promoting both the present and the future welfare of men ; convinced, also, that in our vicinity there are many individuals and families destitute of the inestimable treasure, and, comparatively, but few families so well supplied as they ought. In order that this deficiency may be supplied to the extent of our means and influence we do hereby form ourselves into a society, etc.

The following persons were chosen Directors : Rev. Joseph Harper, Presbyterian, Rev. H. Sonnedecker, German Reformed, Rev. James Adams, Presbyterian, Rev. T. J. Jones, Baptist, William Goodfellow, Matthew Johnson and Alex. Hanna.

The first meeting of the Directors was held June 9, 1821, at the house of Thomas Robison. The second meeting was held July 16, 1 82 1, at the Baptist meeting house, where it was resolved that $100 worth of books be ordered, and tha:t twenty-five Bibles of one class and thirty-five Bibles of another class be ordered. It was likewise resolved to present a copy of the Union Type Bible to the editor of the Spectator for services rendered to the Society, and one to the Sheriff of the county for the use of prisoners. From the beginning the history of the Society was one of har-

Less than twenty-five years ago the three daughters of Leander Smith, now deceased, gave Rev. C. S. Martindale three dollars, with the request that it be used to send Bibles to India. He sent it to New York with these directions. The society to which it was forwarded sent it to Dr. Scudder, missionary at Calcutta. Dr. Scudder purchased with these three dollars six Mahratta Bibles, and sent them up to the foot of the Koord mountains. This was the beginning, the nucleus, which in six years after resulted in the establishment of a Union Station, which in 1870 had six out-stations and one hundred and fifty communicants.

The first marriage that occurred in Wayne county was that of Thomas Butler to Rebecca Morgan, April 12, 1809, both inhabitants of FrankHn township, Robert McClarran, a justice of the peace in Wooster, performing the ceremony. The entire population of the county was present at this wedding.

The first marriage on record in the Probate office is that of Daniel Noggle to Lydia Warner, both of Wayne county, November S, 1812, and was solemnized by Esquire Vatchel Metcalf

The first railroad agitation of any importance manifesting itself in Wayne county, was with reference to the Cleveland & Columbus line, in the year 1845. A meeting was called on Thursday, October i6th, of this year, agreeably to previous notice published by John P. Jeffries, Esq., and others, to take into consideration prompt and energetic measures for the securing of this most vital link of communication. *

This meeting was presided over by the Hon. Cyrus Spink, E. Quinby, Jr., acting as Secretary. It was resolved and determined upon this occasion to convene a county meeting on the first day of the then approaching November.

This call was promptly obeyed, and measures were immediately inaugurated to raise sufficient funds for a thorough and complete survey of the road. T^his survey was made, but excitement and considerable interest arose in regard to a proposed route from Pittsburg, Pa., to Chicago, 111., which augmented and intensified, and which ultimately culminated in the construction of said chain of railway.

Hon. John Larwill, Dr. S. F. Day, John McSweeney, Esq., David Robison, Sr., J. P. Jeffries, Jesse R. Straughan, E. Quinby, Jr., Eugene Pardee, Esq., etc., immediately went to work, making speeches, canvassing town and county, and making every conceivable endeavor to procure the indorsements and subscriptions. Everybody went to work, and, shoulder to shoulder, the enterprise

Pittsburg, Ft. Waynes Chicago Railroad

The Republican and Z'^wocra^ were jealous of each other's arguments in its behalf, and every week their columns were ladened with details and statistics of the advantages of the railroad system, while every other consideration, through this medium, was presented to induce its speedy construction.

A series of forcible, practical and statistical articles are found in old files of the county papers, upon railroads, and especially upon the advantages of the one then in contemplation. Some of these letters, it appears, came from the industrious pen of J. P. Jeffries, Esq., of this city, from one of which we quote :

That the stock will be profitable, there is not the possibility of a doubt - that it will net to the stockholders over ten per cent, per annum, is in our opinion just as certain. * * * * Nearly every man in the county is able to take one share, and this he should do, particularly the owner of real estate, because he will be benefited just in proportion to his business, be it great or small. Should every man in the county who subscribes a share of $50 lose it entirely, he will still be the gainer, from the fact that the value of his land, his labor, and the price of his produce will be greatly enhanced ; and the business of the merchant and mechanic will increase in proportion to that of the farmer, and thus the benefit of the road will be reaped.

This railroad project was the cardinal, capital and emphatic enterprise of the citizens of Wayne county. The solution and consummation of it is witnessed in the continuous and majestic line of iron threads, known as the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad.

It must be recorded, to the enduring credit and honor of Hon. John Larwill, that he was chiefly instrumental in procuring its charter, to which systematically and powerfully organized opposition was made by the friends of the Cleveland and Pittsburg, and the Steubenville and IndianapoHs Railroads. The charter being obtained, it was necessary for somebody to follow up the work of soliciting subscriptions, completing the organization, and conducting its affairs to a successful issue.

general convention was had in behalf of the road until June, 1848, when a meeting convened in Canton, and Directors were elected, consisting .of Messrs. Robinson and Bakewell, of Pittsburg ; Pinney, of Beaver ; Street, of Salem ; Wellman, of Massilon; J. Larwill, of Wooster ; and C. T. Sherman, of Mansfield. At this stage the possibility of making the ascent from the Ohio river up to the table lands in Columbiana county was doubted by the friends, and stoutly denied by the enemies of the route. Nothing was done but to order surveys and explorations in that region, and provide the means to pay for them.

The first chain ever stretched upon the line of the present Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad was at Bowls' Point, at the mouth of Big Beaver, July 4, 1848, by Jesse R. Straughan, engineer, in pursuance of the orders of this board.

By the winter, lines had been run by all the possible routes from the mouth of Big Beaver, and that of the Little Beaver, and from the mouth of Yellow creek, and from all this extended and exhaustive data the selection of the route was submitted to the decision of Colonel W. Roberts, Chief Engineer, of Philadelphia, who was endorsed and recommended by the officers of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, as possessing the confidence of themselves and of the eastern'capitalists. Amid all the criticisms from persons living within the wide range influenced by this road, there were none to dispute the wisdom of the Board as to the selection of their Chief Engineer.

As the friends of other routes considered that only one road westward from Pittsburg could ever be expected, their efforts were proportionally vigorous and unceasing.

We are furnished with a pamphlet entitled, ' ' A letter to Thomas Bakewell, President of the Board of Trade of Pittsburg," dated October, 1848, and signed, among others, by the distinguished Edwin M. Stanton, containing the following, as one of the arguments against the route selected by Colonel Roberts :

Obstructions of Snow. - This is a consideration which you can not overlook. The point fixed in their charter, which they must reach before they assume their

Tliis point is but a few miles south of the south boundary of the Western Reserve. And no one who has paid the least attention to the subject, will estimate the average duration of snow, one year with another, at a depth of from six inches to two feet, at less than thirty days longer in each year than you have at Pittsburg, or we at SteubenviUe. » » » » it traverses the State on very nearly the same parallel of latitude. » » » « It was with an air of triumph that Colonel Roberts exclaimed, "and to Mansfield, 158 miles, without the obstruction of the Ohio!" but may we not add, 158 miles, through frequent snowdrifts. What traveler on the route in the winter time would not exclaim, with Horatius Flaccus, of old,

But upon this line the road was built, the snow-drifts and Horatius Flaccus to the contrary notwithstanding, and this pamphlet in the hands of Mr. Larwill was made to assist in arousing the people to realize the value of a road so anxiously desired by the people along other proposed routes.

As a basis upon which to establish sufficient credit to warrant the beginning of the work, five thousand dollars per mile was to be subscribed in each of the counties in Ohio, and ;^6oo,ooo in Pittsburg and Allegheny.

This from Wayne county was allotted to Mr. Larwill, who had the untiring assistance of James Jacobs, Dr. S. F. Day, Samuel Knepper, John K. McBride, Smith Orr, John P. Jeffries, and the occasional assistance of J. R. Straughan and many others, but it required meetings, speeches and private effort in every school district within the county. The whole of the winter of 1848-49 was thus occupied, for the gross sum of 1^150,000 looked aslarge then as ^500,000 at this day, and the last few thousand exhausted the patience and the hopes of the most sanguine. Logic, entreaty, persuasion, the argumentum ad crumenam, everything, was employed, and finally with success.

Great as was the labor and consumption of time required in Ohio to secure this subscription, it was accomplished before that in Pittsburg and Allegheny had been begun. They were waiting a more propitious time, and listening to the snow-drift arguments of enemies. And certainly there were danger and doubt as to this subscription which could not be concealed from the masses. Friends wore anxious faces, enemies and croakers again came forth exultant, with their opposition.

The Board was called to meet at Pittsburg, April 23, 1849, which was attended by the Ohio members with the avowed determination to have those cities come up to their subscriptions now, or to return home, and give up all further effort. To some of the Pittsburg people this seemed like a rash determination, but the circumstances demanded it, while the result vindicated the wisdom of it.

But vast enterprises like this have their tempests and cyclones, and that meeting soon showed signs of storm. The Pittsburg directors argued the inauspicious time, the collapse of the city scrip, the dull trade from down the river, etc., and many of the prominent citizens were induced to confirm their arguments, they finally refusing their co-operations in an effort so useless, in their judgment.

It was the fate of this company to have many narrow escapes from destruction. On either side Scylla and Charybdis were ever appearing, and the period now referred to was the first, and in every way, the most important escape. Men like General Moorehead, Joshua Hanna and others, who were not friendly to Colonel Robinson, President of the company, becoming acquainted, through Mr. Larwill, with the views of Ohio members and the opposition of Robinson and his friends, warmly seconded Ohio and offered to assist in canvassing the city for stock, thus securing a large and influential addition to the friends of the road.

At an informal meeting in the parlors of Mr. Hanna, with Moorehead to represent Pittsburg, and only John Larwill and Jessie R. Straughan from Ohio, this plan of operations was devised :

Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne &- Chicago Railroad

To the first of these arose the united opposition from Steubenville and the Cleveland and Pittsburg lines, both before the Board of Trade and the two Chambers of the Council ; but the efforts of Mr. Larwill and his newly found allies - Moorehead and others - not only surprised but defeated their well-drilled forces ; the subscription carried. In Allegheny it also carried, the proviso helping it much, as many voted for it thinking, as well as hoping, that the ^200,000 individual subscriptions was impossible. The most doubtful part and the most laborious was yet to come - that from individuals.

or threat - not to return home until Pittsburg had made up its subscription. This was conducted as it had been in Ohio. The Pittsburg Chronicle, of April 26, 1849, announced a meeting of the citizens of Pittsburg, on the evening previous, in the rooms of the Board of Trade, to hear the reports of a number of gentlemen from Ohio, as to the progress of the undertaking. Among the honorable gentlemen present on this occasion was the distinguished Senator from Missouri - Colonel Thomas H. Benton - who delivered, as the above paper says, "a beautiful address." Among the Ohio members Mr. Larwill conspicuously took the lead. He said :

They had already got subscriptions and stock sufficient taken to justify them in going immediately to work. They of Ohio did not wish Pennsylvania to subscribe their money for the purpose of building the road in Ohio - all they asked them to do was to build that which passed through their own State, and that being done, Ohio was ready to complete the whole of her share. Unless this was done, Ohio would be under the necessity of seeking some other outlet for her products and investments for her capital. In Wayne county alone they had got an individual subscription of over $100,000, and with these facts they were anxious to return home and tell their stockholders and subscribers that Pittsburg was ready. In Ohio the people were perfectly convinced, not only of the feasibility of this route, but also of its superior advantages over all other roads of conveyance, as well as its profitableness as an investment of capital. It was for Pittsburg to look to her own interests now. Ohio must move in one way or other, and if Pittsburg did not meet them, they would in all probability join with the Baltimore and Ohio line.

Committees now began to canvass every wrard in both cities and worked industriously for several days, reporting at headquarters every evening. The ;^200,ooo was reached, but the canvassing was continued until ;^23S,ooo was obtained. This news was telegraphed to all points in Ohio, and general joy prevailed.

It was the birth-day of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway. In both city and country the meed of praise was awarded Mr. Larwill. Colonel Sloane, Samuel Hemphill, Thomas Robinson, Doctor Day, James Jacobs, David Robison, Judge Orr, and many others energetically identified with this stupendous project, have died - mounted the narrow stairway of the grave, which leads from the illusions of life to the presence of the "Assayer of souls, who proves men." Their united efforts in behalf of the great enterprise, however, will not soon be forgotten, but will appear as fit pictures in the frame-work of their lives.

The arrival of the first passenger train in Wooster, Tuesday afternoon, August lo, 1852, was an event not soon to be forgotten, and in the future will be reverted to as such, not merely for the satisfaction a knowledge of the date will afford, but as a circumstance and occasion by which other occurrences and incidents may be identified. On that day Wooster was in a paroxysm of bustle and excitement. A national salute was fired at sunrise. Four p. M. was the hour announced for the arrival of the train. At 2 p. M. the surging multitude began to gather at the depot, and by 3 o'clock it was estimated that from 15,000 to 20,000 persons were on the grounds. At 3 p. m. a dispatch was received from Masillon assuring us that two trains were coming with 600 passengers, 500 of whom were invited guests from Pittsburg and Allegheny. At ten minutes past 4 p. m. the train arrived. The scene was magnificent; the people shouted, cannons boomed thunderingly, whirlwinds of gladness swept over acres of clapping hands, and on faces young and aged, a "grand Homeric jubilation was radiant." It was the Pentecost of gayety. The fire companies never looked or behaved better ; the martial music was inspiring and heroic, and the guests were happy and hilarious, both by choice and compulsion. It seemed, indeed, to many, like " Curiosity's Benefit Day."

Processions were formed under direction of Colonel R. K. Porter and J. H. Kauke, Marshals of the day, and proceeded to the grove north-east of the depot, where a table had been spread by H. Howard, Esq., of the American House. The festal arrangement exhibited the uniqueness and taste of perfection. The guests being seated, Judge Dean called for order, when they were welcomed by him, in an appropriate speech. General Robinson, President of the road, delivered an address, when the company sat to a sumptuous dinner.

The guests being entertained and supplied, the cloth was removed, and S. Hemphill, Esq., read a series of toasts, to which responses were made.

4th Toast - Hon. John Larwill, resident director of the Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad. The celebration to-day, and the repeated election to his present post, as are the best tributes that can be offered to his merits as an officer and a man.

Mr. Larwill returned his thanks for the flattering expression of approbation by his fellow-townsmen and the gentlemen present. The opening of the road was to him a most gratifying event. He bad known Wooster from the time the first stick of timber was cut to the present moment. No other improvement had ever so much enlisted his feelings and anxieties. This had been to him a proud day and he was most happy to enjoy it, and to have the privilege -of returning his thanks for the honor done him.

At night the fire companies made a splendid parade, the engines drawn by matched horses, caparisoned with flowers, plumes and floating banners. During the evening there was a gorgeous display of fire-works. George W. Kaufiman sent up a balloon, and the firemen of Pittsburg were the invited guests of the Woos-

Three other roads have penetrated Wayne county, but to the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad we owe the rapid growth, development and material prosperity of the county.

We have thus drawn and gathered currente calamo a synoptical statement of the origin, progress and completion of this road, and the part Wayne county enacted, ilt was, and is, the colossal and gigantic enterprise of her citizens. Boldly conceived, vigorously executed and gloriously completed, it will stand an honorable monument to its projectors, a measureless convenience and blessing to the citizens, forming another solid link in the duplex chain that is to bind the people and the States in

Since the construction of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad, the Columbus, Mount Vernon and Cleveland Railroad, the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, and the Tuscarawas Valley Railroad, have been built, and run through portions of the county.

Names Of Heads Of Families

The following statement gives the aggregate valuation of all the real and personal property placed upon the duplicate for taxation in each township, village and city, and separate school districts in the county, and the rates levied upon such property, stated in mills and decimals, upon each dollar, for 1875 and 1876. The number of mills, therefore, will indicate the amount of tax in dollars upon each thousand dollars of valuation :

For the year ending August 31, 1876, by the report of the State Commissioner of Common Schools, Wayne county received the following amount of money for school purposes :

Amount paid teachers in High School and Primaries, ;^S2,- 797.78; amount for other expenditures, including the foregoing sum, making a total of ;^i2i, 101.63.

There were in the county, between the ages of six and twentyone, 13,473 white children and 9 colored; of this number there were 3,253 between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one ; there were of this number 6,828 boys and 6,645 gi^s, and 5 male and 4 female colored.

There were in the county 138 sub-divisions, 11 separate districts and 1 1 sub-districts included in separate districts. The total value of school property in the several townships and separate districts, ^343, 562.

There were employed during the year in the schools within the county a total of 320 teachers, and 10,064 pupils were enrolled ; of this number there were 1,029 between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one. The average attendance was 6,333.

We trust we will not be considered as dealing in extravagant assertion, when we say that the cause of Education in Wayne county is perhaps as far advanced as in any other county in the State, and that in its progress and development it can challenge comparison with the foremost in Ohio.

and the subscription school was early encouraged and put to practical working, and answered a noble and sublime purpose in those dim by-gone days. The short-term schools of a later period encountered prompt and commendable patronage and support, and were a part of the progressive and civilizing agencies of the times.

It was, however, reserved for the era inaugurated by the adoption of the New Constitution of the State of Ohio, to communicate the powerful stimulant and add the tremendous impulse which at this time so signally discriminates and marks the practical operations of the Free School System throughout the great State of Ohio.

The enactment of the first general law upon this subject, April 14, 1853, imparted a giant impulse and momentum to the cause and progress of education in Wayne county.

This law was prepared by a Senate Committee, consisting of the following members : Hon. Harvey Rice, of Cuyahoga county ; Hon. George Rex, of Wayne county ; and Hon. Alonzo Cushing, of Gallia county. Its provisions were grand, glorious and beneficent, and for the first time in the history of education in the State of Ohio, enacted an entirely new and enlarged Free School System.

On the taking effect of the law, the people of Wayne county seemed to grasp its advantages without delay. Among the first townships to move under the law was Plain, and the first schoolhouse built under the new law was what is known as " People's College," in Sub-district No. 7. And, as is customary with new enterprises, this met with severe and decided opposition ; but, under the direction and management of Hon. Benj. Eason, Jacob Welty and Robert C. Beard, the local Directors, the sub-district completed its building, which served as a model for years for other sub-districts of the county.

Various amendments to the law have, from time to time, been enacted ; but in all subsequent legislation upon the subject, the salient features of the original law have been retained ; and to-day the same system of free education to all the youth of the State

The Primitive School House Aaw Schools

The primitive school house, as described to us, was eighteen feet square, built of logs, round or hewn, as the caprice of the builders suggested. It had a floor of split-logs called puncheons ; it was roofed with clap-boards, with ridge-poles to hold them to their places and keep the wind from blowing them away. At the one end was a fire-place, in fact the whole end of the cabin sometimes was the fire-place, and herein were rolled and tumbled immense back-logs. At the other end was a door with a string and latch, and a window was formed by sawing out a section of a log, inserting therein a light frame and stretching over the same some white paper which was oiled.

In the center of the room were slabs which were used for benches, without backs, and these were set on feet, or sticks set perpendicularly at each end. Boards arranged at a slope were fixed for the "on scholars," on which to put their copybooks and slates.

The schools were gotten up by subscription, that is, a parent subscribed so much for each member of his family ; if he sent one, so much; if more, that much more. These subscriptions were usually for a quarter, and the school commonly began in November. Though it was a short term it was sometimes long for the teacher. The teacher was most [anybody they could pick up ; sometimes an intelligent neighbor, sometimes the peripatetic gentleman "from York State." In those days the teacher was held in great esteem - aye, reverence. He was a master, and was supposed to know everything. He could solve puzzles, do sums, make capital letters, sometimes he drank nothing but milk, and his last and most unfortunate gift was, that he could - sing. He always kept "order" in the school-room, his weapons to make the scholars "behave," consisting of a rule and a quiver of "gads."

When he trounced somebody's son he employed his whole intellect. If he thumped him he did it boldly ; if he struck his knuckles with his club, he did it with refined courage ; if he pulled his ears, why this was - government, and the scholar's father thought his child was being instructed. He pretty nearly always boarded with the scholars, and of nights he would call around him the little, trembling urchins, with black marks on their tender backs which resulted from his cruel hammering during the day, and pat them on their heads and cheeks and tell their parents how apt and smart they were ; that this was a Cincinnatus, and that a Cicero. The father would " take it in," and reflectively remark to his wife of the fame that was to come upon them. Sometimes the scholars would "bar" him out on Christmas or New Year's, and then His Satanic Highness was to pay with a depleted exchequer. He would probably break in the door, or crawl through a window, or jump down the chimney; or, if there were any big scholars in attendance, he would " cave in " and promise to " set things up" the next day. The "treat" he would furnish would be composed of candies, cakes, gimcracks, and sometimes that adjunct of sterling pioneer civilization, a jug of whisky. On the last day of school the heads of families would come in, and the master, would cough up some endearing terms of parting to his children.

The subjects taught were the three celebrated R's - "Readin", 'Ritin' and 'Rithmetic" - to the Rule of Three. If the teachersaid he could go this far he was hired. Parsing then was unborn, and grammar fit only for barbarians. If a pupil could "bound" the United States he was a classic, and fit to preach or practice law. Spelling was a big thing, for the masters were always spellers themselves, and in addition " worked out the hard sums " of the neighborhood. The children sometimes had a great distance to travel to where the school was taught, and in such cases their parents made furrows with their plows through the woods, or "blazed trees" as guides for them. Here they would gather, boys and girls, the omnipresent "big brother" likewise putting in his appearance. The boys in those days, too, kept an eye to fun,

The Primitive School House And Schools

They all voted for long recesses and short recitations. But under all these circumstances they managed to make some acquirements, and proved to be highly useful members of the new country, and to them are we largely indebted for the legacy of the fine farms and enlightened prosperity we possess.

But in connection with these primitive schools, and the opportunities they offered for obtaining an education, other means of instruction and of intellectual discipline were presented, in the debating clubs and other societies of mutual improvement.

Moreover, and let it be emphasized, there were good, pious fathers and mothers in those days, who had their pleasing stories, fairy tales, instructive legends to relate, which amused, interested and kept open the leaden eyelids of the little urchins as they tired of their "flaring, idle toys." The mother putting away the spinning wheel, the father through with the moils of the day, and