Williams County, Ohio - Chapter 7: The Last Forty Years, 1905

ON January 31, 1862, a new weekly publication was launched at Bryan, entitled the Union Press, under the editorial management of S. L. Hunter, a son of William A. Hunter, of Williams county newspaper fame. It was a well-edited and nicely-printed sheet and continued to make its weekly visits for a period of six months, when William M. Starr having purchased the Williams County Leader, the two papers were consolidated and thereafter, appeared as one publication under the name of Press and Leader. In August, 1863, the latter part of the cognomen was dropped and the paper was issued as the Union Press. In August, 1865, Thomas Starr purchased a half interest and the paper was conducted by the partnership thus formed until June 1, 1867, when General Isaac R. Sherwood, having returned from the war, laden with honors and filled with enthusiasm, repurchased the establishment and assumed editorial control. In 1868 General Sherwood, having received the nomination for secretary of state on the Republican ticket, resigned the editorial management into the hands of Robert N. Traver, though the former continued as publisher. In the issue of August 26, 1869, General Sherwood announced the sale of the Union Press to Gen. C. P. Hayes, and in the issue of October 28, following, the name was changed to the Brvan Press, which has since been the title of the publication, and at the same time the dimensions of the sheet was considerably enlarged. On July 2, 1874, General Hayes sold the Press to D. B. Ainger, and the latter's salutatory appeared in the issue of that date. General Hayes removed to Illinois, purchased a newspaper establishment there, and in less than two years after he settled in that state he was elected to Congress and served two terms. Mr. Ainger continued in charge of the paper until November 15, 1877, when he sold to Bowersox & Gillis - Charles A. Bowersox, editor, and Simeon Gillis, business manager. This firm continued until November 28, 1878, when the property passed into the hands of Gillis & Ogle. In January, 1884, Mr. Gillis became sole proprietor and continued the publication until June, 1889, when he sold the Press to J. Herbert Letcher and Carleton S. Roe. On March 1, 1896, Mr. Letcher retired from the firm, since which time Mr. Roe has conducted the paper alone, and wc may properly add, with marked ability and success.

It will have been noticed, in what has been said concerning General Sherwood and General Hayes (former editors of the Press) that the public careers of those gentlemen seemed to be singularly fortunate.

Scarcely less so was that of Mr. Ainger. After his sale of the Press he immediately crossed the border and purchased a Republican paper at Charlotte, Mich. A year later he was appointed to the responsible and lucrative position of postmaster at Washington City, which office he filled for a period of a little more than four years. He afterwards became quite prominent in Michigan political affairs.

No effort was made to establish a Democratic paper in Williams county, after those recounted in a previous chapter, until April 30, 1863, when Robert N. Patterson launched the Weekly Bryan Democrat. Mr. Patterson was a native of Delaware, O., where his birth occurred January 19, 1831. He lived at home until the age of seventeen, when he began learning the printer's trade in the office of the Buckeye Eagle at Marion, Ohio. He worked on different papers in Ohio until 1863, and then came to Bryan and established the paper named above, of which he continued publisher and proprietor until September, 1900. He then sold the property to Reuben L. Starr, who in a few months transferred it to "The Democrat Publishing Co." Under the management of Mr. Patterson the Democrat flourished, and it has not lost any of its popularity since passing into other hands. For the past forty years Williams county has been very creditably represented by newspapers, reflecting of course differing political views, but at the same time registering the story of the county's progress and prosperity. We are largely indebted to the files of these weekly publications for a great deal of the history contained in this chapter.

In February, 1864, the Stevens' Exchange Bank complied with the new law regulating national banks, and became the present First National Bank of Bryan.

The first post of the Grand Army of the Republic in the county was organized at Bryan in December, 1866. Gen. William Stough was the first district commander; Capt. L. E. Brewster, district assistant adjutant general and secretary; Sydney M. Gleason, assistant quartermaster of the district.

On the 14th of September, 1867, occurred the first match game of base ball in Bryan, and probably in Williams county. There appeared to be a great interest in the national game that year, as the people were being taught the distinction between it and "town ball" or "two old cat."

It was in the autumn of 1867 that Weston, the great pedestrian, accomplished the remarkable feat of walking from Portland, Maine, to Chicago, over the post road - a distance of 1,228 miles - in twenty-six days. His route lay through Williams county, and great interest was manifested by the citizens thereof in the walker's contest with distance and time. He passed through Bryan on Saturday afternoon, November 23, but by ten o'clock a. m. the streets were well filled with people. Livery teams and private carriages were brought into requisition, and hosts of people started out on the Pulaski road, many going all the way to Stryker. At 11 130 Weston left the latter place and arrived at Bryan at 1 142 - making the distance, nine and one-half miles, in two hours and twelve minutes. He made the last four miles in just forty- eight minutes or at the rate of five miles an hour. After remaining one hour at Burke's hotel, in Bryan, he again took up the line of march, intending to dine at Edgerton and sup at Waterloo, Indiana.

The old log jail, located on the present site of Long's drug store, had by this time (1867) become completely out of date and insecure, so far as confining prisoners was concerned. Several escapes, made by reckless evil-doers, caused an out-spoken demand for a better bastile, and in February, 1869, the present commodious structure, at the corner of Beach and Bryan streets, was completed under the personal supervision of A. W. Boynton. Among the last of the criminals to be incarcerated in the old jail was the notorious "Sile" Doty, who was arrested at Burke's hotel in Bryan for stealing a horse in Branch county, Michigan, and was taken to Coldwater the following day. In mentioning the demolition of the old jail the Democrat humorously stated that "Tyler's ghost flitted to other quarters last Saturday night at low twelve."

The census report showed that in 1870 the population of Williams county, was 19,485 native and 1,506 foreign-born citizens - total, 20,991. The increase during the previous decade had been 4,448.

The political campaign of 1872, Grant and Greeley being the contestants, aroused much political enthusiasm, features of which were the tannery habiliments, worn by the followers of one candidate, and the conspicuous white hats representing loyalty to the other.

A serious epidemic, known as the "epizootic," crippled all industries requiring the use of horses during the later part of 1872, and left horse-owners with diseased and imperfect animals for a number of years afterward. The plague was universal throughout the country.

In 1873 Williams county sent the late Albert M. Pratt as a represetive to the State constitutional convention. Mr. Pratt was born in Berkshire county, Mass., December 26, 1825, and was a direct descendant of the Puritans. He was reared on his father's farm in his native county, and in 1846 entered Williams college, from which he graduated in 1850. In December of the latter year he came to Ravenna, Ohio, began the study of law there, and was admitted to the bar in Medina in 1853. In the autumn of that year he came to Bryan - then a town of less than five hundred inhabitants - and began the practice of his profession, in which he met with gratifying success. Mr. Pratt was originally a Democrat in politics, but became a Republican during the war. In addition to the position of trust named above he officiated as mayor of Bryan. He died October 13, 1889.

The Grange movement took shape in this county in 1874, and organizations came into existence all over the county. Some of these are still in existence, though most have been abandoned. The active movers during the early agitation were Messrs. J. P. Marsh of Jefferson township; P. S. Garlow of Pulaski. Thomas Hodson of Madison. With these three were associated other local workers in various townships, among them being the following: S. B. McKelvey, Daniel Thorp. Henry Kimball. A. J. Alvord, T. W. Stocking and T. A. Bowser. These names will all be recognized as of men who were leaders in all move- merits looking to the betterment of conditions generally. Particularly is this true of Thomas Hodson, a statement that will lie corroborated by the older residents of the county. Mr. Hodson was born in Navenby, Lincolnshire, England, April 28, 1814, and attended school there until twelve years of age, when he was put to work on a farm. In 1827 he was brought to America by his parents, who located in Richland county, Ohio, and there Mr. Hodson grew to manhood. He removed to Williams county in April, 1854, having previously purchased over six hundred acres of land therein. For about one year he resided at Bridgewater Center and then located at Pioneer, where he spent the remainder of his life, giving his attention to agricultural pursuits and also practicing law to some extent. He was independent in politics, voting for the men and measures he thought best, and did active work and made many speeches for the establishment of his v'-ews. He possessed one of the finest libraries in the county.

The year 1874 is remembered as the time of the "Women's Crusade." The movement developed in the month of February, and though perhaps but few, if any, saloon-keepers were driven out of business, yet the sentiment created, no doubt, had a salutary effect in curtailing lawlessness in the liquor traffic.

In 1873 need °f a building for the poor upon the farm in Jefferson township, purchased from John Hester in 1872, gained official action, and the county commissioners established a brick yard on the farm and let the contract for the erection of the buildings. Work was commenced in earnest the same year, and in December, 1874, the new quarters were occupied by the county's wards, the institution taking the name of "Williams County Infirmary." The buildings are elaborate and expensive, covering nearly an acre of land. The infirmary, proper, is a three-story brick structure, conveniently arranged for heating with the least possible danger of fire. An insane ward is also provided for the care of patients designated as "harmless and incurable." A district school, near by, affords the means to properly rear and train the unfortunate children who are taken in charge at the infirmary. The farm contains two hundred and eighty acres, and produces surplus products not consumed in the institution, to the value of about one thousand dollars annually. The average cost of maintenance, including outside relief, is about ten thousand dollars annually. The infirmary directors have supreme control and employ, subordinate to their direction, a superintendent and matron, who attend to the details of the institution. Inmates who are able to work are employed on the farm, or in caring for stock and "choring" on the premises. Good, wholesome and substantial food is provided in abundance, as is also comfortable and seasonable clothing, and volunteer ministers from the various churches in the county supply the spiritual needs. At the time of the semi-annual report in March, 1905, there were thirty-three inmates in the institution.

The first steam fire engine in the county reached Bryan in 1874, and was considered a feature of sufficient interest to appear as an exhibit

In August, 1875, a newspaper was established at Edgerton, called the Edgerton Weekly, by H. A. Granberry and J. R. Fusselman. The following summer Granberry assumed entire control, and ran the journal till 1877, when he sold out to Sardis R. Williams of Bryan, who afterwards located in Indiana, where he died in 1887. Mr. Williams changed the name to Edgerton Herald, ran the paper nearly a year and then turned it over to its former owner, Mr. Granberry, who suspended publication in the summer of 1882. The journal was independent in politics. Mr. Granberry was a native of New York, where he was born June 21, 1858. He came to Edgerton in 1874, where he attended school two years, and while doing so launched the first issue of his paper.

A new weekly paper was established at Bryan in 1876. The Fountain Citv Argus, Shouf & Williams, editors, issued No. 1 of Volume I on May 25th. On April 26, 1877, the name of Van B. Shouf appeared alone as editor and publisher; on June 7, following, Shouf & Plummer, and in August, 1879, Van Shouf again appeared alone. The Argus was radically Democratic in politics, but directly after the October election of 1879 it closed its newspaper life and the material was disposed of to different parties at private sale. It was generally understood, although his name did not appear, that Judge M. R. Willett was the managing editor throughout the term of the existence of the Argus. As a partisan Democratic journal it achieved extended notoriety.

The Bryan Light Guards were organized in June, 1877, and on July 6 was mustered into the State service, becoming Company E of the Sixteenth Ohio National Guard, with J. O. Foot, captain ; C. F. Donze, first lieutenant; A. B. Ackerman, second lieutenant. The sergeants were J. R. McNary, John S. Williams, William Harding, John Evans and Fred Nunn. Lieutenant Ackerman was made quartermaster of the Sixteenth regiment. This company has seen active service under various calls of the State, in quieting riots, controlling strikers, guarding property, etc. It was on active duty during the court house riot in Cincinnati in 1884, the miners' riots in southeastern Ohio in June, 1894, and was among Ohio's soldiers at the opening of the Louisiana Purchase exposition of 1904. Further history of this company is presented in connection with its services in the Spanish war. At the time of its organization a large number of the members of the company were ex-soldiers of the Civil war, and for several years the commanding officers were of that class. William Harding, who served for some time as captain and commanded the company during its first active service during the Cincinnati riot, was a private in Company C, One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry. For years he was engaged in business in Brvan, but afterwards removed to Defiance, where he now resides.

1878. J. W. Grisier was the editor and he wielded the quill for several years. In 1888, E. T. Runnion purchased the newspaper and conducted it for a couple of years and then sold to Olin Kenyon, who changed the name to Reporter, and has successfully managed it since.

On June 28, 1879, the first number of the Border' Alliance, a sixcolumn folio newspaper, made its appearance at Pioneer; editor, C. J. DeWitt; publishers, the Alliance Printing Company. In four weeks the paper was enlarged to a seven-column folio and its name then became the Pioneer Alliance ; but two years later the name was changed to simply the Alliance. It was then enlarged, July 8, 1882, to a six column quarto and its name changed to the Tri-State Alliance. Mr. DeWitt conducted the paper until a few years ago when he sold it to other parties ; and although changes have since been made in its management, it still continues as a weekly representative of the thriving town in which it is published. C. J. DeWitt, the founder and first editor of the Alliance, is a native of Steuben county, New York, and came to Medina county, Ohio, with his parents in 1847. He attended Hillsdale college, Michigan, in 1858, 1859 and i860, taught school and was finally ordained as a Baptist minister. He served in the One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio National Guard during the Civil war, after which he followed mercantile pursuits in the west for a number of years. After disposing of the Alliance at Pioneer he went South and engaged in the ministry there.

John Kaufman, one of the two first settlers in Bryan, died on November 3, 1879. For years he was a familiar and interesting personage in Williams county. He was born at or near Little York, Pa., on Christmas day, 1793, and but little is known of his early life. When Baltimore was menaced by the British troops, in 1814, he was in that city and promptly enlisted in the Thirty-ninth regiment of Maryland militia, and served with it through the battle of Long Point and the defense of Baltimore. He came to Williams county before the county seat was established at Bryan and in several ways contributed to the making of the county's history. He was employed to make the brick for the old court house, and after the completion of the building he was appointed door-keeper to the court room, a position he continuously held for thirty-five years. As a tribute to his memory, the court house and several county offices were appropriately draped with mourning badges on the day of his funeral.

In 1879 telephone made its first appearance in Williams county. It was looked upon with the same curiosity which met the introduction of electric railways, in more recent years. A telephone exchange was established at Bryan in 1882, by which time the new invention had been greatly improved and popularized.

Volume I, No. 1, of the Buckeye Vidette made its appearance at Bryan, April 22, 1880 - J. W. Northrop, editor, and J. R. Douglas, assistant. The Vidette was an organ of the Greenback party, and early in 1882 the material and publication were transferred from Bryan to Columbus. Later it was removed to Salem, Columbiana county.

four months, at Pioneer, in 1880 - first appearing as a monthly, then as a semi-monthly, and finally as a weekly. Its aim was to reform the questions of politics and intemperance and to advocate strenuous moral measures. Its editor was Rev. J. L. Rushbridge.

The Detroit division of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railway was built through Williams county in 1880. It at once opened a market for the surplus farm and garden productions of the rich agricultural region of which Montpelier is the center, and by increasing the value of such products by establishing a new market, it conferred substantial benefits upon the farmer, the manufacturer and the merchant. With this new impetus Montpelier grew with marvelous strides and is now the most important town on the lines of the Wabash between Detroit and Chicago, or Toledo and Fort Wayne.

With a keen foresight of the advantages that would be afforded Montpelier by the opening of the Wabash railroad, on September 18, 1880, Messrs. Ford & Smalley commenced the publication of the Montpelier Enterprise - F. M. Ford, editor, and J. R. Smalley, publisher. In the fall of 1882 Mr. Smalley retired from the publication and Mr. Ford conducted it alone until November, 1884, when he sold the paper to George Strayer. Until this time the Enterprise had been independent, ignoring politics, but Mr. Strayer hoisted the flag of Republicanism and continued to issue it as an advocate of that party until January, 1889, when Ford & Willett became the owners, and it again assumed an independent position. In 1903, Mr. Willett severed his connection with the paper, and F. M. Ford, the founder and first editor, successfully pilots the Enterprise in its course of usefulness to Montpelier and Williams county. James R. Smalley, who was associated with Mr. Ford in starting the Enterprise, is now a prosperous manufacturer at Sandusky, Ohio.

On February 8, 1881, at Columbus, O., occurred the death of Dr. William Trevitt, who was well known to all the early citizens of Williams county, having been one of the original proprietors of Bryan, and largely instrumental in securing the location of the county seat there. He was twice elected secretary of state of Ohio, and was consul to Valparaiso under Pierce and Buchanan.

The news of the shooting of President Garfield on July 2, 1881. created tremendous excitement. After his long period of suffering, and final death, the citizens of Bryan showed their grief and sympathy bv holding a meeting of all creeds at the Armory, where the pastors of the various churches and others conducted a fitting memorial service in the presence of a vast throng of sorrowing people. All public offices and business houses were closed and the court house bell tolled. from two to four o'clock.

In November, 1882, the Herald having suspended publication, J. R. Smalley commenced the publication of the Observer at Edgerton. Mr. Smalley was quite successful in his undertaking and after conducting the paper a few years sold it to Anson Schaeffer, who changed the name to Edgerton Earth. There have been several changes in the ownership of the Earth since then, but it has continued to make regular weekly visits. The present proprietor is C. E. Miller.

On March 22, 1883, occurred the death of Dr. Thomas Kent, a prominent resident of Williams county, and rendered more so in a historical sense in that he established the first drug store in the county and also assisted in starting the first newspaper, the Northwestern.

The presidential campaign of 1884 is memorable as having been more exciting in Williams county than any preceding one. Cleveland and Blaine had the magnetism to solidify the ranks of their respective followers and party lines were closely drawn. The young men of both parties organized marching clubs and wore uniforms or hats designating their party affiliations. The "Cleveland and Hendricks Clubs" were the organizations of the Democrats, organized in the several towns of the county and composed of scores of stanch adherents to the principles advocated by "the man from Buffalo." The different clubs united at various meetings during the campaign and kept the Cleveland enthusiasm at white heat. On October 7, a monster meeting was held at Montpelier, addressed by Hon. W. H. Springer of Illinois, and others. The enthusiasm was tremendous and the "white hat brigade" was in its glory. The Republican clubs were equally zealous and active ; and though they were denied the privilege of seeing their chieftain elected to the high office which he sought, many of his followers had the pleasure of seeing and hearing him during the campaign. Although Blaine did not come to Bryan in his speech-making tour, he visited several neighboring points.

The People's Advocate was the title of a newspaper, the first number of which was issued at Montpelier in June, 1885. Its editor was F. M. Ford, who continued its publication until January, 1887, when he disposed of the material and 'good will to W. Otis Willett. Mr. Willett changed the name of the paper to Montpelier Democrat, and in August, 1887, disposed of a half interest to William H. Shinn, who' edited the Democrat until January, 1889, when it was merged intothe Enterprise.

A temperance paper was started in Bryan in October, 1886, with Maumee Valley Prohibitionist as its name. It was a neatly printed' six-column quarto and was edited by W. J. Sherwood. In Junc? 1889, the plant was moved to Toledo, where the publication was continued.

In the latter part of 1886, citizens of Bryan, backed by reasonable public confidence in the enterprise, sank a gas well in the southeast part of town and were rewarded by striking what appeared to be an exhaustless supply of oil. Other wells were immediately started at Bryan, Edgerton and Stryker, at each of which places a supply of gas was obtained, and for a time that substance was extensively used as fuel in the towns named. But the supply became exhausted in a comparatively short time: and the projecting tubes of the wells and occasional "salubrious" odors from their vicinity are about the only monuments to the memory of the well-meant efforts.

Several north and south railway lines through Williams county were long contemplated and discussed, but the one which was finally constructed in 1887 was ^le one originally known as the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw, and later as the Cincinnati Northern. This road, as originally projected, in 1852-3, was to pass, after leaving Cincinnati and Hamilton county, through all the county seats of the western range of counties in Ohio, until it struck the Michigan line on the north - the route embracing the several seats of justice of Hamilton, Preble, Butler, Darke, Mercer, Van Wert, Paulding, Defiance and Williams. After the expenditure of a large amount in grading and making the road bed ready for the ties, thousands of which were made and delivered on the line, where they rotted on the ground, the panic of 1857 struck the enterprise and placed a rough lock upon its further progress. And in this comatose state the project remained until March 7, 1881, when some energetic men revived it, and after six years more of doubt and uncertainty the road was completed from Cincinnati to Jackson, Michigan. In Williams county it passes through Bryan, West Unity and Alvordton, crossing an east and west road at each of these places, and withal it is a source of convenience and profit.

Over forty years had elapsed since the building of the court house at Bryan, when, in 1888, a movement was started looking to its repair and enlargement. For years it had been apparent that a court house, built to satisfy the demands of pioneer days, was decidedly inadequate to the needs of the county after forty years of progress and increase of both wealth and population. But it was also well understood that any movement toward the erection of a new building would open the question of a removal of the county seat and engender a strife between the people of different sections of the county that would be bitter in its intensity and long-standing in its results. After the building of the Wabash railroad through Montpelier, that town had increased rapidly in population, and being situated in close proximity to the geographical center of the county, her citizens fondly hoped and expected that when a new court house was erected it would be in their midst. It did not require the gifts of a prophet to foresee the inevitable struggle, and while the adherents of either Bryan or Montpelier disclaimed any such incentive for their actions, yet the election returns for several years prior to 1888 showed that each was getting ready for the fray. In 1886 the flattering majority given in Pulaski township for a candidate for commissioner, who was supposed to be favorable to Bryan, was answered a year later, in the northern part of the county, by the defeat of a candidate for representative for no other reason than that he resided in a rival town. These events, coupled with the urgent need of a safer and more commodious building, brought the court house question to the front as a burning issue in the early part of 1888, and for some time such minor questions as the election of a president, etc., received little consideration at the hands of Williams county citizens. On February 10, 1888, a bill was introduced in the Ohio State senate authorizing and requiring the county commissioners of Williams county to borrow fifty thousand dollars for the purpose of repairing the old court house or building a new one at Bryan. The citizens of Montpelier made strenuous efforts to defeat the bill, but their efforts availed them nothing and it became a law on March io, following. The commissioners decided to erect a new building and active operations to that end were promptly inaugurated. The contract to tear down the old court house was let to Samuel Priest and the old college building on North Lynn street was leased for county purposes until the new structure could be completed. In the meantime, citizens of Montpelier had not. given up the contest. They made application for a writ of injunction to restrain the county commissioners from letting the contract to build the new court house. A temporary injunction was granted, but upon a hearing, held before Judge Sutphen at Bryan on August 14, it was dissolved and two days later the contract was let to Malone Brothers & Earhart of Toledo, the material to be Berea stone and the contract price of the building, $107,450. An appeal was taken from Judge Sutphen's decision to the Circuit court, but that tribunal dismissed the motion and sustained Judge Sutphen's decision. The first stone in the foundation of the new court house was put in position on October 1, and the first brick in the walls was laid October 22, 1888. As the amount of the first appropria^ tion ($50,000) was less than half of the contract price of the new building, the legislature, at its session in 1889, authorized the commissioners to issue additional bonds, not exceeding sixty thousand dollars in amount. The Williams County Pioneers' Association laid the corner stone of the new court house on Tuesday, April 30, 1889, that day being chosen because it was the centennial anniversary of the inauguration of the first president of the United States. A large crowd of people gathered to witness the interesting and impressive ceremony. Hon. Charles A. Bowersox delivered the address ; and there was deposited in the box, a history of the location of the county seat at Bryan and building of the old court house, the act directing the commissioners to build the new court house, records of all proceedings connected therewith, names of county officers, names of the officers and members of the Pioneers' Association, a copy of each newspaper then published in the county, and a few voluntary contributions. Work upon the structure proceeded rapidly, and in July, 1891, it was accepted by the commissioners and occupied by the county officials. The cost of the building, however, far exceeded early expectations, the total amount expended for building and furnishing reaching the sum of one hundred and eightyfive thousand dollars, in round numbers.

The Montpelier Republican was the title of a paper started at Montpelier in 1889. C. E. F. Miller was its editor and publisher, but its existence was of short duration, and after a few months it suspended publication. A few weeks after its demise, Messrs. George Strayer and David Stauffer launched the Montpelier Leader, also a Republican paper. They continued its publication until the building of the Montpelier-Chicago branch of the Wabash railroad brought into existence the new town of Ashlev. Indiana, and then Mr. Strayer removed the plant to the latter place and commenced the publication of a paper there. After a lapse of several months Theo. Donellen, of California, located at Montpelier and resumed the publication of the Leader. Its career for several years following- was decidedly checkered, several parties having charge of it at different times, until 1899, when it passed into the hands of Clyde E. Thomas, who has guided its course ever since. Under Mr. Thomas' management the Leader has attained a position in the front rank among Williams county newspapers.

Since the trials of Tyler and Heckerthorn for the murder of the little Schamp boy, in 1847, the judicial annals of Williams county have been singularly free of trials and convictions on the charge of murder. On the night of May 4, 1892. however, a blot was put upon the record by the killing of Arthur Brown within but little more than a square of the court house, in the village of Bryan. The motive for the atrocious crime is supposed to have been robbery and the details of the affair were horrifying in the extreme. George Burchell, Michael Burchell, Walter Plummer and William Elkins were charged with the commission of the crime, and in turn were tried, found guilty and sentenced to the Ohio penitentiary for life. Michael Burchell died in prison, Elkins and George Burchell were pardoned, and Plummer is still confined within the gloomy walls.

The Wabash extension - Montpelier to Chicago - was opened on May 14. 1893, when several additional passenger trains were put on to accommodate the World'-s Pair demands.

The year 1894 was characterized by the great labor strikes all over the country and the exceptionally "hard times" incident to and following a world-wide monetary stringency. Coxey and his army of followers marched through the land enroute to Washington, where he hoped that a "petition in boots" would stimulate favorable consideration of relief measures by the congressional bodies. But Coxey's interest in the "commonweal" brought an entirely different result - he was arrested for "walking on the park grass" in Washington. A few of his followers passed through Williams county, and "Weary" Iler, the quartermaster of the "On to Washington" army, was a former resident of Bryan.

A cyclone, terrible in its effect upon property and human life, passed over the northern part of Williams county, on May 17, 1894. The section devastated was from fifty to. one hundred yards wide and extended from the St. Joseph river, about three miles northeast of Montpelier, to a half mile south of Kunkle - a distance of five miles. Buildings were lifted as though they were so many shingles and scattered over the country, and four persons were killed, as many more being seriously injured.

the haughty Spaniard. In the settlement of this trouble, Williams county responded with old-time vigor and enthusiasm. The noble sons of patriotic sires promptly offered their services in the cause of liberty and performed their duty with commendable devotion. The response was so universal over the land that many were disappointed in not reaching the scene of action ; but they had shown their devotion to country and sympathy with the down-trodden and oppressed. The Williams county boys, mostly members of Company E of the Sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, were off to the rendezvous at the earliest opportunity. They returned after a few months of service, but were dissatisfied that they could not have done more. A grand reception was accorded to the company on its return, and thus its members resumed the thread of peaceful life. A few Williams county men reached the scene of action in the Philippines, where they rendered valiant service and proved their worthiness on every field. The officers of Company E of the Sixth Ohio volunteer infantry were: Captain, Charles E.

The Klondike excitement was somewhat abated during the Spanish troubles, and many young men who would otherwise have gone to the new territory of the far northwest were diverted from that purpose to enter the army. But Williams county had its representatives in the Alaskan gold fields, several young men having tried their fortunes and their endurance with results not entirely satisfactory.

Absorbing interest was manifested in the national campaign of 1900, as it had been on a similar occurrence in 1896. In both cases a distinguished citizen of the state led the successful party. In Williams county the two campaigns were fought with remarkable vigor by the adherents of each party creed.

Beginning as far back as the 70's, Northwestern Ohio, and especially Williams county, was for many years the scene of disastrous conflagrations, frequent in occurrence and plainly incendiary in character. Dwelling houses, barns, and business houses with their stocks of merchandise, were in turn victims of the fire fiend, until every citizen felt insecure and insurance companies preferred other localities in which to transact business. The state fire marshal and his deputies were tireless in their efforts to find the guilty parties, but year after year passed by with small prospect of success. In May, 1903, however, the Williams county grand jury was furnished with sufficient evidence to cause them to return indictments against a number of men, charged with burning different buildings ; and so thorough had been the work of the officers, and so complete the information secured, that out of eighteen who were arraigned and charged with such crime, sixteen plead guilty and the remaining two were easily convicted upon trial. It is too early as yet to write the history of these transactions, for it is understood that there are other developments to follow. However this may be, it is hoped that a quietus has been put upon the organized band who so long plied their nefarious vocation in this locality.

The Twentieth century has started with fine prospects for Williams county in a material sense. In 1901 the Wabash railroad built a branch from Montpelier to Toledo; in 1903 an electric railway from the latter place was built as far west as Pioneer, touching Alvordton in its course, and, in 1905, Bryan and Stryker were given the advantages of an electric road. Other highways of travel and commerce are promised, and with her fertile fields, thriving towns and excellent people, Williams takes a high rank among her sister counties of the Buckeye State.