Wayne County, Ohio - Chapter 7: County Government, 1910

Chapter 7: County Government

Wayne county was organized, as before related, January 4, 1812, and the machinery of a separate county government set in motion on the 4th of March that year. The first election for county officers was held on the first Monday in April, and such officers were to hold their term only until the next annual election. Up to 1810 what was styled Killbuck township comprised the entire county, but April 12, 1812, the county was divided into four civil townships, Sugarcreek, Wooster, Mohican and Prairie.

A^dlliam Smith, (appointed) treasurer in 1812: Roswell M. Mason, prosecuting attorney; James Morgan, Jacob Foulkes and John Carr, county commissioners; William Larwill, clerk of the court of common pleas; Benjamin Ruggles, president judge of the court of common pleas; Christian Smith, David Kimpton and John Cisna, associate judges.

The first work of the county commissioners was to divide the county into the four civil townships named and look after proposed roads in the newly organized county, as well as to provide some suitable place for the county offices to be established.

The original seat of justice for Wayne county rvas that designated by the locating commissioners, and was on the eminence east and south of where Wooster now stands, on lands then owned by Bazaleel Wells and company, and was called Madison. It was not satisfactory to the people, whereupon the Legislature appointed new commissioners, and they selected what is now Wooster as the permanent county seat. But a single cabin was erected in Madison.

The first place of holding court was on the old "Fin" Weed livery stable grounds on East Liberty street, in an old log shanty built by John Bever. The March term, 1813, was held at the house of Josiah Crawford. In 1814 was built the Baptist church, a frame structure, in the rear of the lot where later the Reformed church was built, and in this building, for a time, court was held. The county paid fifty dollars a year rent.

The Court House History

The first court house was built by the proprietors of the town of Wooster, Messrs. Larwill, Bever and Henry, in 1819. It was among the conditions with which they agreed to comply when the county seat was changed from the original seat of justice, Madison, to Wooster, that they should erect a three-story building with a gallery, built of brick, a part of which was occupied by the county officers and the Freemasons order. It stood on the site of the present beautiful court house, on the northwest corner of the public square. It was burned in 1828, during a term of court, and some of the papers and public records of the court and county were lost. It was in 1823 that a bell was placed on this building, the same being a donation by John Bever, one of the townsite men.

The next court house was erected in 1831-32 and from the files of the Advocate, dated September, 1833, it is gleaned that "the court house is a noble edifice, only finished this spring, and cost seven thousand, two hundred dollars ($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. Mc- Curdy. It is covered with lead, and from the cupola may be had an agreeable, variegated view of the village and surrounding country."

Among the novel and attractive features of the superstructure were two large metal balls, made of copper, by John Babb, and these ornamented the spire. They held, of licjuid measure, about twenty-five gallons and one and a half gallons, respectively.

Within this court house many an early-day scene in the history of the county was enacted. It stood as a safe and substantial building until time had wrought its inroads on its walls and it finally became a dilapidated, dangerous building, no longer safe for use as a public building. In the summer of 1877 the city council of Wooster condemned it as a public building and later the county commissioners, after fully investigating its condition, confirmed the opinion of the city council. The place for holding court was then transferred to France's Hall, on West Liberty street, where its sessions were held until a new court house could be provided.

February 16 and 18, 1878. meetings of the members of the Wayne county bar and other citizens were held in A^ooster to take action, by which the matter of a new court house should be set in motion. Flon. John Mc- Sweeney was chairman of this meeting the first day and Hon. John P. Jeffries on the last day. Col. Benjamin Eason and Capt. A. S. iMcClure acted in the capacity of secretaries.

A committee was selected to prepare a memorial to the Legislature, setting forth the need of a new building, and also to draft a bill to be presented to the Legislature for its approval, authorizing the county commissioners to issue bonds in an amount not exceeding seventy-five thousand dollars, rvith which to erect a new court house, the same to be built in the city of Wooster. Such committee was composed of the following named gentlemen: Hon. George Rex, John H. Kauke, Esq., Judge J. H. Downing,

The memorial and bill were duly sent on to the state capital and thus was laid the legal foundation for the construction of the handsome court house that still serves well its purpose. It stands on the site of all previous court houses in Wayne county and is a model of excellence and safety for the valuable records of the county, its courts and officials.

When the court house was finished it was not properly divided, in regard to rooms, and with the passing of years improvements in the floors, etc., were found necessary for the comfort and convenience of those connected with the offices and courts, so, in 1909, the county commissioners wisely decided to expend not to exceed ten thousand dollars in such repairs and changes as were needed. The work is now in progress.

The years have passed, and the minutes and hours that have made up the days and months have been ticked off and truly noted by a "city clock" which hangs in the high tower of this court house, the bell attached thereto being one of unusually clear and musical tone.

While, as a general rule, the citizens of this section of Ohio have been law-abiding people, yet, in common with all other counties, there has from the first been a pressing demand for some safe place in which to keep offenders of the law from escaping before final trials, and hence the jail has always been numbered among the necessities of the county. The first jail built by this county was situated on lot No. 57, and was purchased by the commissioners of John Bever for the sum of two hundred dollars. Bids were had for the construction of a jail, July 13, 1816, and the lowest responsible bidder was Benjamin Jones, who contracted with the county to erect one for one

"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 ist day of January, 1817, and to give the commissioners, Oliver Jones, Samuel Mitchell and Robert McClaran, possession of said room by that day ; the balance of the building to be completed before the ist day of May, 1817. One-third of the amount to be paid on the execution of the contractor'^ bond ; onethird to be paid when room No. 2 is completed, and the remaining installment three months after the completion of the job."

The records show that on August 7, 1817, the commissioners accepted the finished jail as having been constructed according to contract. The building was constructed chiefly of timbers taken from the old block-house, called "Fort Stidger," erected by General Stidger, of Canton. It may not be lacking in interest to more minutely describe this pioneer jail. It was twenty-six feet outside of the walls each way, and was forty feet from the northwest corner of the lot. Its foundations were of "good stone" laid in good lime mortar. The floor was cf oak timber, laid on sleepers of sufficient size and number. It was one story high, eleven feet between floor and ceiling, the walls being of hewed timber not less than eight inches square and notched together at the corners, "so as to be strong and close." In some of the rooms the logs were doubled. Over the entire interior was laid a floor eight inches thick, made from hewed logs. The eaves w-ere boxed with plain boxing, the gable ends weather-boarded, and the whole was covered with a shingle roof. It contained four door frames, of good and sufficient size to make it secure, "fitted to the ends of the logs that were cut off," and was 'Svell spiked with at least four good and sufficient spikes," not less than three-quarters of an inch square. It had "four good and sufficient doors, planed and plo\ved, of two-inch stuff, or of such stuff as would make the doors four inches thick." The boards were put across each other, and made with at least four "good and sufficient iron straps to run lengthwise of the door, and at the base four straps of the same kind." The doors were hung with three "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 on the outside, "the doors to the entry having a double set of iron bars."

The building contained a hall and three rooms, marked Nos. i, 2 and 3. The lower floor was laid with oak plank, planed and grooved, well nailed down, 'fhe rooms were lined on each side and overhead, with "dry two-inch plank." Rooms 2 and 3 were well covered with a "good coal of coarse sand

Such is the description of the commissioners who entered into contract with the builder, to furnish a good jail for Wayne county, and from the wording, it appears that all was "good and sufficiently" constructed.

It is believed that the first prisoner to be lodged within the oaken walls of the "sufficient" jail was one Thomas Porter, "a prisoner who had escaped from jail and other service," as he was advertised by Joseph Barkdull. He was confined here as early as i8i8.

The second jail of the county was known as the "Stone Jail" and was built in 1839 by O. Bough ton. It was a solid, dung'eon-like building, in which were incarcerated many of the Wayne county and Wooster offenders of the laws of the commonwealth. It was burned December 18, 1863, during the Civil war period. Sheriff Wilson, the then official incumbent, occupying it. At the date of the fire there were confined in it a boy (John Bowers), and Isaac Wiler for attempting to kill his wife.

The next jail was built on the northwest corner of North Walnut and North streets, and was counted among the finest jails in Ohio, when it was erected in the early seventies. It was built of both brick and stone, and cost a large sum of money.

Aside from the court house and jail, there have also been other county buildings for the use of the county officials. These are now spoken of as the "old" and the "new" county buildings. The first set of these offices came about in the following manner ;

Friday, March 27, 1829, a year or so after the burning of the old court . house, a special session of the county commissioners was held, the commissioners then being Stephen Coe, Jacob Ihrig and Abram Ecker, who met for the purpose of making some provisions for the erection of public buildings. It was resolved by the board "to erect on the northwest corner of the public square, in the town of Wooster, four substantial fire-proof offices of such dimensions as may hereafter be agreed upon." The auditor of the county was authorized to "give notice by advertisement in the Republican- Advocate and by getting hand-bills struck and circulated."

April 24th, the same year, the commissioners met in the public square of Wooster, between ten and four o'clock and offered the contract at public auction, Daniel Miller appearing as the lowest bidder; but the commissioners, upon consultation, concluded that he was not a suitable person to award the contract to and adjourned the session until the next morning, when the contract was let to Calvin Hobart. The buildings were of brick and stone ; were seventy-two and a half feet in length, with walls eight and a half feet high between the foundation and the commencement of the arches. The contractor obligated himself to have the building completed by December i, 1829, and for such work he was to receive the sum of nine hundred eightynine dollars and ninety-nine cents. The brick from the walls of the old court house (burned in 1828) were appropriated in these buildings.

This office building served well the purpose for which it had been constructed until the close of the Civil war, when more and better office accommodations were demanded by the prosperous, growing county. The "new" county building, that accommodates the present offices of the county, stands adjoining to the court house proper, to the west on Market street. The structure is built of stone, brick and iron, solidly and massively constructed, and is ample in room and appliances for the present needs of the county. The first floor is devoted to the offices of the county treasurer, auditor, recorder, surveyor and county commissioners ; the second floor was planned for the accommodation of the probate judge, clerk and sherift'. The laying of the corner stone was an occasion of great rejoicing and speeches were delivered by Hon. George Bliss and others. The date of building this structure was 1866.

As viewed by a stranger today, this building seems to be l)Ut a wing of the court house proper, and from its fine state of preservation one would conclude that it was a part of the original building, notwithstanding the court house is built of stone, while the office building is a compound of brick, stone and iron. This building is still in use (1909) and, from its excellent style of building, seems almost like a modern-built structure.

The citizens of Wayne county have always been a liberal minded and truly charitable people. They have never encouraged idleness, but have ever provided for the poor and unfortunate subjects within its borders. Prior to the adoption of the state constitution of 1852, the pau])ers of M'ayne county were cared for by the \arious townships, as best they could l)c by the commissioners and township trustees, but upon the passage of this consti- tution, and at the first session of the board of county directors, held July 24, 1852, the Wayne county infirmary was located two miles east of Wooster. The original builder of this institution was Simon Christine, and Dr. S. Pixley, of Wooster, was the first physician in charge. The original building was a three-story structure, the basement being of stone, while the superstructure was of brick. It contains one hundred rooms and the entire building is heated with hot air. Cyrus Senger was appointed the first superintendent, and served until 1858, when A. R. Sweeney was appointed, and served many years.

The official report of this county institution for 1876 showed the admission of forty-nine paupers during that year, with ninety-seven other paupers supported by other means, at a total cost of eight thousand and forty-three dollars, or amounting to a cost of seventeen cents per day for each one cared for. Connected with the infirmary, there was originally two hundred and eighty acres of land which helps to sustain the institution.

Of the present standing of this benevolent institution let it be said that the last annual (1909) report shows that there were fifty-two inmates - thirty-two men and twenty women. The total value oi property, as per invoice just taken, is sixty-nine thousand five hundred dollars. The total expenditures for the last fiscial year was nine thousand six hundred and eightynine dollars, including a fire escape costing five hundred and sixty-nine dollars.

Not unmindful of the unfortunate children of the county, as early as July, 1881, steps were taken for the securing of land and the erection of proper buildings to care for the children without suitable homes of their own. The county commissioners issued bonds and purchased eighty-two and a fourth acres of valuable land in section 28 of Wayne township, aboiit two miles from the city of Wooster, for which they paid the sum of twelve thousand two hundred and fifty dollars to E. Baum, the deed of which was recorded July 7, 1881. There suitable buildings were soon erected and today this humane institution is the pride of Wayne county among those who see the goodness in thus caring for the poor children in their midst. The last quarterly report shows that this home had in its care and safe keeping fortytwo children. The total cost of keeping them for this quarter was one thousand eight hundred and forty-seven dollars, or forty-three dollars per child for the quarter. W. E. Jarvis is the careful superintendent at this date.

October, 1909. With plenty of good land to till and plenty of excellent, wholesome food, and proper training, these children will ere long grow to men and women of usefulness and not find their way into vice and crime.

The subjoined is a list of the valuations in the various townships and villages and cities in Wayne county, for the year ending August i, 1908: