Pleasant Township

Pleasant Township

This township was organized by its present name in 1807, though it then embraced four or five times its present area. It was reduced to its present limits by the formation of Jackson in 1815, and of Prairie in 1819. A settlement w^as commenced on Darby, near Georgesville, at an early age of the county. Amongst the settlers were, Messrs. Thomas Roberts, John Bigger, James Gardiner, Samuel Dyer, Samuel Kerr, John Turner and others. About as early as 1805, Mr. Dyer erected his mill, which was long known as " Dyer's mill," and has been kept up by repeated repairs till the present time. It was for some years owned by James Gardiner, and bore his name ; but it is now owned by William Dyer, and its former name restored. It is the only flouring mill in the township.

In 1815, a post office was established in this township by the name of " Pleasant Post Office." In 1816, Mr. Roberts laid out the town of Georgesville, and in

Wm. Scott, third postmaster, (present incumbent,) appointed Nov. 1851. Mr. Reynolds died in July, 1851. From that time till Mr. Scott's appointment (four months) the office was kept by his widow.

In June, 1836, the town of Harrisburgh was laid out by Joseph Chenowith, Esq., Frederick Cole, Esq., surveyor. It is now a lively village, containing about thirty families, two taverns, four stores, two physicians, a church, belonging to the Methodist denomination, and a post office. The post office, however, had been established at this place, by the name of " Darby Cross Roads," some years before the town was laid out. After the town was laid out, the name was changed to " Harrisburg Post Office." The successive postmasters have been :

At the session of 1850-51, the town was incorporated, and in 1851, the following gentlemen were elected the first Board of Trustees : Henry Miller, J. Chenowith, 0. T. Curry, L. W. Sefert and G. W. Helmick.

Successive Mayors, Recorders And Marshals

The population of this township in 1840, was 807. In 1850, it was 968. In 1853, the township constituted twelve school districts with an aggregate of 503 youth between the ages of five and twenty-one years. In 1857, the aggregate of such youth was 518.

Source changes here: from Facts and Figures of Franklin County, Ohio, by Strader, Levi T, published 1899; 5,164 words in this source stream.

City Of Columbus Columbus, Piqua And Indiana Railroad

We desire to zall the attention of our readers to the admirable condition of this road. Under the superintendency of Judge Mitchell, prosperity ' and success cannot but attend it. We found in the New York Tribune a

The Columbus, Piqua and Indiana Railroad is rapidly approaching its termination and final completion. The eastern division, extending from Columbus to Urbana, a distance of over forty-six miles, is now finished, and was formally opened for business on the 17th ult. Four regular trains pass over it daily, connecting at Columbus with the trains of the Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, and of the Central Ohio roads; and at Urbana with those of the Mad River and Lake Erie road, forming a connection with Cincinnati via Dayton, and also with Sandusky, by this new route.

The business of this division, being a fraction less than one-half of the entire line, for the six days amounted to $1,200, and will doubtless be very greatly increased as soon as the connections are well understood by the traveling public. The work on the remaining fifty-six miles of the line, extending from Urbana to Union City, is progressing well - the masonry and bridges are all finished, and with the present force the grade will be ready for the iron in less than ninety days. The rails for this part of the line are now being delivered, and it is confidently believed will be ready before the close of navigation, so as to be laid down during the fall and early part of the coming year. This road, when finished, will constitute a link of 102 miles in length of one of the trunk lines of railroad, extending from the Atlantic cities to the Great West, and will form the only direct connection between Columbus and Indianapolis, a distance of 128 miles, by a uniform gauge.

' The recent attempt made by the Indianapolis and Bellefontaine Company to set aside an existing contract between them and the Columbus, Piqua and Indiana Company, providing for a through line between the capitals of the two States, of a uniform gauge, having been overruled by a late decision of Judge McLean, of the United States District Court, it is believed that the question of gauge is fully settled. It is also proper for me to state, for the information of the friends of this road, that during the last year three companies have been organized and consolidated, under the law of Indiana, to construct a railroad from Union City, the western terminus of the Columbus, Piqua and Indiana Railroad, to Laport, Iowa, via Marion-and Peru. With this line at Marion, the Logansport and

Marion Road is, by a contract now entered into, to be connected; and with all these lines the Columbus, Piqua and Indiana Company have a contract for a perpetual running connection, with other privileges of very great importance to her interests. By the Logansport line, a connection is formed with the Peoria and Burlington line, which terminates at Logansport.

Fifty miles of this new line, from Union to Marion, is now under contract, with ample basis to secure its completion, and on thirty sections of the line a good force is now at work. At Columbus, the eastern terminus of this road, in addition to the advantages already obtained by connecting with the Cleveland and Wheeling lines, the Steubenville and Indiana road, which brings us in connection with Pittsburg, is to be extended immediately, from Newark to Columbus; this and the Hocking Valley road must add largely to the business of this road.

The project of a railway - the Broad Gauge - from New York, by Easton, Franklin and Mercer, Pennsylvania, by Warren and Franklin, Ohio, is receiving new life and impetus. Capitalists have taken it in charge, and seemed determined to push it on. In connection with this project, a convention was held at Massillon on the 26th and 27th of April - last week - well attended from Pennsylvania and Ohio. Columbus had a strong delegation there. Among other things we notice, was a resolution for the organization of a new company in Ohio (throwing aside the Franklin charter), under tne general law of this State. The committee to draft the articles is composed of Messrs. William Neil, Samuel Medary, John Miller, J. F. Bartlett and John L. Gill. The present design of our Columbus friends is to extend the line through that city, to connect at Maysville with the Southern trunk, from thence by Lexington, etc. William Dennison, Esq., was appointed to visit the several points in Kentucky interested in this matter. It behooves our citizens to look to this in time, and see that Cincinnati is not lost sight of. - Gazette.

From the conduct of the railroad influences of Cincinnati, heretofore, in relation to the '"'Broad Guage," it seemed that Cincinnati was to be "kept in sight" in a fashion quite peculiar. By the way, the inflammatory spirit running riot over Cincinnati in periodical paroxysms might make it dangerous to the interests of the company to take another railroad thither. Capital never seeks a riotous locality.

Incorporated Companies

The number of incorporated companies doing business in Columbus on April 10, 1898, was one hundred and sixty concerns, the total taxable valuation amounting to two million, six hundred and seventy-six thousand,

Incorporated companies, in pursuance of the provisions of Section 2744, Revised Statutes of Ohio, provides for the assessment of all property in the State, and for levying taxes thereon, according to its true value in money, of all personal property, moneys, credits, etc.

Insurance Companies

The number of insurance companies doing business in Franklin County that done business between January 1, 1897, and January 1, 1898, was two hundred and ten companies, and returned for taxation a total valuation of seven hundred and twentyeight thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars ($728,250).

Insurance companies, in pursuance of the provisions of Section 2745, 'Revised Statutes, and amended O. L., Vol. 85, page 183, and April 19, 1893, are required to make a sworn statement of the gross amount of premiums received for foreign insurance companies. This return must be made in May, and include business done for the year ending December 31st. In life and accident companies, in some cases commissions are deducted, and when they pay the tax the time for payment is on or before November 2oth they pay for full tax year.

[Note. - By authority of another act the firemen's pension fund gets one-half of the amount that is produced by the city council levy, which 'gave to fund in March, 1899, a sum of $4,472. This is about $200 more than one year ago. |

County Commissioner

COUNTY COMMISSIONER. Mosés-cSeymour, "'Dem...: sia ice « Hone caida ee GIP ee 2,940 Bit Jennings, Whig 2)... Stew, o clotted firme are ae ne ee 3,105

Genealogists Choose Quarters

[From Columbus Dispatch, April 28, 1899.] Permanent quarters for the old Northwest Genealogical Society of the city were selected last evening by the society, at 620 East Long street, the building being leased by the society for three years. The society is a growing one, and has received a letter from the Smithsonian Institute at Washington complimenting it in the purpose and scope of its work and the value it might be in its collection, preservation and dissemination of historical data of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan, the original States of the old Northwest territory, and the genealogy of families located there.

Topographical Survey

A work of considerable importance to this community, and necessitating about seven months' labor on the part of a force of half a dozen or more surveyors from the United States geological service, will be commenced in this locality to-morrow.

The force of surveyors are already on the scene, and the object to be gained is to secure a topographical map of Columbus and vicinity, taking in a radius of about five hundred square miles.

Mr. Hersey Munroe, of the United States geological survey has charge of the work, and has taken up his headquarters at the Great Southern hotel, where he is at present engaged in laying out the plans for his force of workmen. The work will be commenced to-morrow, and will be prosecuted daily until completed.

The topographical base to be made is for the geological report which is soon to be published, and the topographical map can be used for almost every purpose, such as the mapping out of railroad routes, canals, the laying out of public highways, etc.

In the proposed map will be shown all the public highways and all houses within the radius. In every township within the prescribed territory will be placed a metal bench mark plate, showing the correct elevation above the sea level. A record of the location of these bench plate marks will be kept by the surveyors, and it will be an easy matter for surveyors to ascertain just where to find them if necessary.

In placing the mark plates, which will contain the exact level, with datum, secure plates will be selected, either in the masonry of township houses, on rocks near the roadway, or on iron poles imbedded in the ground for the purpose.

In the topographical map, the exact elevation will be shown every twenty feet; also the various contours. It will require about seven months to complete the work, on account of the detail; the map will also show all timber area, nature of crops raised, analysis of soil, and various other information of a decided character.

When the work of survey is completed, the map will ve published by the interior department of the government, under the supervision of Director Charles D. Walcott, and copies can be obtained from the official at the mere cost of printing.

As soon as the topographic map is completed and published, the geological survey will follow up with its investigation, and the whole wil: be published in atlas form by the government.

An effort was made at the last session of the Ohio Legislature to pass a bill which provided co-operation with the geological survey in this work, and such a bill went through the senate, but was held up in the house on account of war expenses. The object of this co-operation was to secure such a map of the entire State.

Other States have co-operated with the service, the sum of $75,000 having been appropriated by New York, Maryland, Maine and Illinois, for such purposes. New York alone has, for the past several years, appropriated $25,000 annually for the work, and about a third of the work in that State has been completed.

' In 1898 a survey of the kind contemplated in this locality was made of Cincinnati and vicinity, and previous to that the area of Ironton was gone over. The work is taken up in areas divided by degree lines, and not by counties.

In the party which will survey this vicinity, in addition to Mr. Munroe, are Messrs. C. F. Horton, J. P. Mack, W. F. Hammond and Byron E. White.

Member Of The State Board Of Agriculture

Balance of bonds outstanding, Leonard avenue viaduct....... $ 15,000 00 Balance of bonds outstanding, West Fifth avenue bridge..... 2,000 00 Balance of bonds outstanding, Frank road bridge............ 7,000 00 Balance of bonds outstanding, Grand View avenue bridge.... 8,000 00 Balance of bonds outstanding, Gahanna river bridge.......... 7,000 OO Balance of bonds outstanding, Town street bridge............ 15,000 00 Balance of bonds outstanding, Taylor bridge ................ 4,000 00 Balance of bonds outstanding, Westerville bridge ............ II,000 00 Balance of bonds outstanding, Big Darby bridge............. 11,000 00 Balance of bonds ovtstanding, East Broad street bridge...... 20,000 00 Balance of bonds outstanding, St. Clair avenue viaduct....... 19,000 00 - Balance of bonds outstanding, Clifton avenue bridge......... 20,000 00 E Balance of bonds outstanding, Coe road bridge............... 8,000 00

Balance of bonds outstanding, Norwich tp. cemetery road....$ 6,000 00 Balance of bonds outstanding, Mifflin tp. cemetery road...... 6,000 00 Balance of bonds outstanding, Slate Hill, Col. and Del. road. 6,000 00

Suburban Road Improvement Debt

The roads are improved by order of the Board of County Commissioners by special act of the General Assembly. The cost and expense _ thereof, taxed to persons owning the real estate abutting thereon, is now enjoined the Treasurer from collection of the tax. The money from the sale of the bonds is all paid out. Bonds and interest are now partly due and no balances to meet them. Just when and what the outcome will be no person can tell.

Franklin: townships:0.3<. oh van Vee ee ee eee $ 53,000 00 The North Fourth street improvement - Clinton township...... 85,000 00 The East Broad street improvement - Marion township....... 34,000 00 The North High street improvement - Clinton township....... 79,000 00 The North Broadway improvement - Clinton township......... 32,000 00 The Fifteenth avenue improvement - Clinton township......... 13,000 00 The Wyandot avenue improvement - Clinton township........ 4,500 00 The Neil and Kingery E. Fifth avenue improvement - Mifflin

Authority for causing maps to be prepared for the use of the decennial appraisers is found in Section 2789 of the Revised Statutes. This section requires the Auditor of the county, as soon as practicable after the 1st day of March, 1880, and every tenth year thereafter, to make out and deliver to the Assessors of each district in his county an abstract from the books in his office, containing a description of each tract, lot or real property, situate within such district, with the name of the owner thereof and the number of acres or quantity of land contained therein, and also a map of each township and town within such district.

SEcTION 2814. The Auditor shall lay before the Board of Equalization the returns made by the District Assessors, with the additions which he shall have made thereto; and they shall then immediately proceed to equalize such valuations, so that each tract or lot shall be entered on the tax list at its true value, and for this purpose they shall observe the following rules:

* t. They shall raise the valuation of such tracts and lots of real property as in their opinion have been returned below their true value to such price or sum as they may believe to be the true value thereof, agreeable to the rules prescribed by the title for the valuation thereof.

2. They shall reduce the valuation of such tract and lots as in their opinion have been returned above their true value, as compared with the average valuation of the real property of such county, having due regard to their relative situation, quality of soil, improvements, natural and artificial advantages possessed by each tract or lot.

3. They shall not reduce the aggregate value of the real property of the county below the aggregate value thereof as returned by the Assessors, with the addition made thereto by the Auditor, as hereinbefore required.

New buildings are added to the tax duplicate each year as appraised by the assessors of personal property. With the growth and development of the country, this new value in ten years amounts to a large sum. In Columbus, annually, eight hundred new structures or changes would increase the taxable valuation in ten years, say, $10,000,000. Real estate is now supposed to be taxed at its true value in money. Many persons have it firmly in their mind that real estate should be appraised at two-thirds of its value, and that this amount would represent the true value, as real estate was hardly ever sold for cash, and on time given there are losses. However, there is one thing sure; in many sections values have so changed that it is difficult to realize a perfectly equitable adjustment. Assessments should not be based on a few sales made at extravagant and fancy prices. One of the principal inducements to attract capital to our city is to have a fair and equitable rate of taxation.

Real estate is worth nothing except in its capacity to produce rent or its equivalent - a useful occupation by the owner - and the amount of this rent marks its value. Every owner of real estate is getting the most rent he can, and he surely knows the value.

Real Estate Valuation

Lands and the improvements and buildings thereon, or affixed thereto, shall be valued at their full, true value, estimated at a price they would bring at a fair, voluntary, private sale, not a forced or sheriff's sale, taking into consideration the fertility of the soil, the vicinity of the same to railroads, macadamized roads, clay roads, State or county roads, cities, towns, villages, rivers, water privileges on same, or in the vicinity of the same, the location of any railroad, or any other local advantage of situation. In-lots and out-lots in all towns, cities or villages, with the improvements thereon, or affixed thereto, valued at their true cash value, taking into consideration all the local advantages upon actual view of the premises, the valuation of lands, lots, or parts of lots, set down in a separate column, the buildings in a separate column, for that purpose.

This subject of real estate valuation should be looked into by every taxpayer. This valuation for 1900, to last for ten years, should be done right, and not guessed at.

Equality Of Assessments

It looks as though equality of assessments can never be secured as long as responsibility is divided and a specific method for ascertaining values not prescribed by law. There must be one responsible head - one person who shall have control of the matter - and say what shall go in all things. With the Assessors, the first original assessment of land and buildings is the one that is the very groundwork to build upon. If this is done wrong by the Assessor, it is wrong the ten years through. No county, city or State Board of Equalization can do very much good. If they start to tinker, talk and patch up, they do great harm in many cases. The owner of property added, too, makes a merry howl, a few make the changes, and hundreds are not changed; hundreds want change, and there you are. The State Board is too large, and they, too, are apt to fight for low values for home districts and do injustice to others. The Assessor should be held wholly responsible for the proper performance of the work and be free from interference of any one. This is an office held by every Assessor, that should be divorced from outside influence. When questions arise the head should make the final decision on all appeals..

Assessors are subjected to pressure. They are imposed upon by many who have wealth, influence and special interests, and are deceived in many ways.

Value, True Value, Valuation

"The word 'vaiue' may mean one of two things, the utility of an 'object or its purchasing power. Value differs from price in this, that the price of a thing may be above or below its value. The word 'value,' as used in the tax act of 1883 means, I think, market value; that is, not what a piece of

'property would bring at a forced sale, but what persons generally - if those desiring to purchase were found - would be willing to pay for it. 'True value' means what a thing is reasonably and fairly worth, and not a fictitious or spectilative value. 'Valuation' is the act of ascertaining the worth of a thing.

"OFFICE OF THE Boarp or ASSESsSorS, District or CoLUMBIA, "WasuinctTon, April 18, 1892. "Hon. Sir: Agreeable to the request of your committee herewith _ please find copy of the resolutions adopted by said Board July 7, 1891, as its rule of action in making assessments:

" 'Resolved, That in making the assessment of real property in the District of Columbia fox the triennial period beginning with the fiscal year, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, the terms "value" and "true value," used in the existing law governing it, shall be regarded as meaning one and the same thing, to wit: true or intrinsic value; and that the measure of such true or intrinsic value is that amount in lawful money which such property would probably bring at a force sale under adverse circumstances. iS: "*Resolved, That the above rule of "value" and "true value" shall be - adhered to equally in all parts of the said District in making the said assessments.'

Aarp Rab Es How To Reduce The Same

You cannot reduce taxes without reducing expenses. Bonds cost money. It is easy to get into debt, but hard to get out. All schemes for expenditures should be avoided. All special legislation authorizing the issue of bonds, the borrowing of money, the contracting of debts, and the ~ loaning of the credit of the city, county, village or township should be cut off. In Franklin County, with a taxable valuation of $84,000,000, when one mill will produce the snug little sum of $84,000, the money should be in the treasury before spending it.

Local debts have increased. Extravagance has crept into every branch of public business. Economy is now needed in every branch of our local government. Every official should be required to practice strict economy.

Pay off all the old debts as they become due and stop the interest, This fellow called interest works all day, works while we sleep all night, and in time will land you sure.

Trade With Neighbors

With its many natural advantages, Columbus does not find it difficult to increase its business transactions with cities and towns situated within a large circle of which the capital is the center. By trade excursions and other means, much has already been accomplished, but much more could be and should be done. =

One method of extending the sales of Columbus merchants is to increase the circulation of Columbus newspapers throughout the State. The influence of the newspapers of this city in interesting people of other parts of the State in Columbus is far greater than is generally understood. If the farmers and residents of cities for miles around Columbus read daily the newspapers of this city, they will come to regard Columbus as the natural place for them to visit and do their buying. In every town the people look upon some city as their natural Mecca. What city that is, depends largely upon what newspaper they read. Hence, The Citizen urges all loyal Columbus people to boom Columbus newspapers when visiting in the towns and rural homes of the State.

Board Of Trade Influence

The social session of the Board of Trade last evening was an occasion of much interest, and ought to be of advantage to the city in many ways. There were brought together about the table representatives of the city and State governments, of educational interests of State and city and of the local - manufacturing and mercantile interests, and the words spoken on behalf of each of these interests were listened to by hundreds of men whose influence, unitedly exerted, cannot fail to be a power for good.

There is really no end to the good that may be accomplished by an interchange of opinions in this free fashion. Men come to know other men as they did not before; to understand their aims, and to appreciate their difficulties and thus better to judge of their achievements.

It is good for the city to be reminded of what it owes to the State, and for the State to feel the pulse of the city; there is a better and wider recogni- tion of the mutual helpfulness and the duties that each owes to the other. It is good to hear the representatives of the commercial and manufacturing interests speak; what concerns them should:be of concern to the city, and what concerns the welfare of the city is naturally of concern to them. Expressions by municipal officers, too, are most advantageous. The pledge to good service cannot be too often taken, and the support which may be given by such a body of business men as the Board of Trade is something worth striving for: And the cordial nature of the intercourse last night was a guarantee of a hearty support of any administration that would give good government, beautify the city, keep it clean and reduce the tax rate by an economy which, while cutting off nothing necessary to the comfort or safety of the people, shall permit no extravagance and wink at no corruption.

It was a happy moment which gave birth to the idea of these banquets with their after-dinner oratory, and the success of the two that have thus far been held seems amply to demonstrate the advantage of their continuance.

Buggy Industry Laborers Now Employed In Making Carriages

HAS MADE COLUMBUS KNOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD - MANUFACTURE OF VEHICLES HERE COMMENCED BEFORE 1870 - OVER FOURTEEN HUNDRED LABORERS NOW EMPLOYED IN MAKING CARRIAGES.

The Past Thirty Years

There is perhaps nothing that has accomplished so much in making Columbus known abroad as her carriage industry. Columbus buggies have for years been sold in every State in the Union, and in every country on the face of the earth. The manufacture of buggies and carriages was commenced in Columbus prior to 1870, and the industry has experienced a substantial and continuous growth from that time until the present. The output from the Columbus buggy factories has always consisted of the highest and best grades of work, which fact has contributed largely to its universal popularity. As for styles manufactured there is almost unlimited varieties to select from. One company publishes a catalogue of nearly a hundred different designs.

There have been several new buggy factories established within the past few years which are now operating a very successful business. There are two reasons assigned for the advantages offered now by the city as a center for the manufacture of buggies. First - That so many skilled laborers live here; and, second - The factories that have existed here for so long have won a most enviable reputation for the city as well as for themselves.

A representative of the Press-Post recently made an investigation of the extent of the industry, and from the figures furnished by the representatives of the various factories compiled the following statistics: There are now engaged in the manufacture of buggies in Columbus 1,400 laborers, exclusive of office forces, traveling men, etc. The amount of capital invested is $1,200,000; the number of vehicles turned out annually is 28,575, the value of which aggregates $2,660,000 annually. The concerns taken into consideration in compiling these figures are: Buckeye Buggy Company, located at 482 North High street; Climax Buggy Company, located at the corner of Spring street and '

Dennison avenue; Columbus Buggy Company, located at 277 North High street; Columbus Carriage Manufacturing Company, located at the intersection of High street and the Hocking Valley railway; Columbus Vehicle Company, located at the west end of Buttles avenue; M. and E. K. Hayes, located at 203 East Town street; Monarch Vehicle Company, located at 188 West Broad street; Scioto Buggy Company, located at 504 West Buttles avenue; Warren-Southwick Carriage Company, located at the corner of Cleveland avenue and Grove street, and Parsons Vehicle Company, located at the corner of Dennison avenue and Spruce street.

In addition to the factories enumerated, there are many shops of greater or less importance, that do repair work as a rule, but turn out some new work. There are also establishments that make parts of buggies only. Perhaps the most important of these is the Excelsior Seat Company, which manufacture only seats and bodies. This company employs one hundred and twenty-five hands and turns out goods to the value of $125,000 annually.

The Peters and Herron Dash Company make dashes and fenders exclusively, employing one hundred persons and turning out 300,000 dashes annually. ;

The Brown Manufacturing Company produce carriage lamps, while the Lanman Company and Berry Bros. manufacture clips, bolts and other carriage hardware.

The Columbus Rubber Tire and Supply Company manufacture rubber tires for carriages. The company is operating at the rate of one thousand sets per year.

Arrival Of The Sixtieth Regiment

The Sixtieth Regiment, O. V. I., arrived at the depot this morning at two o'clock, from camp near Washington, D. C., which place it left on Friday, July 28th. The number of men at present is four hundred and five; officers, fifteen.

This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, on the 24th day of April, 1863, being made up of companies recruited for various other regiments from different parts of the state, but was finally consolidated into 'the Sixtieth. Companes G and H were originally the Ninth and Tenth Companies of Ohio Skarp Shooters. As soon as organized this regiment was sent to aid Grant, in his movement on Richmond, being assigned to First Division, Second Brigade, Ninth Army Corps; and although in service but fifteen months, it saw much hard work in the field.

The following list of battles in which it has bourne honorable part, is a record that any veteran regiment might feel proud: Wilderness, Nye Run, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Bethesda Church, Coal Harbor, Hatcher's Run, Fort Steadman, Capture of Petersburg.

Levi T. Strader is fifty-four years of age, and was born in Jackson town- _ ship, this county. In 1864 he enlisted in Captain House's company, A, Sixtieth ©. V. I.; was wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania, Virginia, and was the color sergeant of this regiment. He .has the honor of being one of the f sergeants who placed the Stars and Stripes on the dome of the courthouse of captured Petersburg, Virginia. After the close of the war Mr. Strader was a book-keeper with Miller, Reinhard & Co., bankers, and afterward Deputy Auditor under S. E. Kile. He succeeded Mr. Kile, being elected & Auditor himself at the November election, 1874, for the term of two years. His opponent was James H. Hess. Strader won out by 383 majority. The = county in those days was 2,600 Democratic. Strader ran for re-election in 1876. His opponent this time was S. I. McCoy. .This time Strader was elected by 1,140 majority. He was the first Republican ever elected to this office in Franklin County, and giving him four years. This large vote was brought about by the fight made through his entire term in the interest of taxpayers, ig having rejected illegal tax levies amounting to many thousands of dollars. The rate of taxation was brought down from $2.52 to $2 on each $100 Z valuation. After the fight was won all of the departments fell in line and public expenditures were carefully looked after and the tax rate took a drop. ¥ In the year 1878, Strader, at the solicitation of many persons, was induced 3 - to go on the ticket. Emil Kiesewetter, a book-keeper for P. Hayden & Sons, . was nominated by the Democratic party, and was elected. The office was ~ turned over to him, with all tax duplicates completed. When W. H. Halli- _ day, our present Auditor, was elected in 1893, and before he went into the office, October 15, 1894, he asked Mr. Strader to accept a position with him. _ After several weeks' hesitation he accepted, and to-day he can be found any } a hour at his place. He is well posted.on county affairs, and is very deserving.