Plymouth Township (part 2 of 6)

Forty acres of land, where the church stands, was entered, and the three first above named selected as Trustees, to whom this land was deeded.

In 1852, the present substantial and commodious brick church was erected, costing about $2,600. This building would have cost much more than this, had not much of the material and labor been gratiutously furnished. It is about 45x75 feet in size.

A beautiful cemetery is attached, and also a fine brick parsonage, costing about $2,000. The inside of the church is nicely finished ; the four altars costing about $1,200, and the organ $1,200. The church was erected during the ministry of the Rev. Peter Creusch. The ministers have been too numerous to receive mention here. Father Henni was followed by Father Tchenhens, C. S. R., a celebrated missionary. The present Pastor is Rev. D. Zinsmayer, who éntered upon his duties in 1877. The church is very strong numerically and financially, being located in what is known as the " German Settlement," a settlement of thrifty, well-to-do farmers, living many of them in substantial brick houses, with well-cultivated and very rich farms. The land is generally level and soil deep.

In 1838, a school was established by Father Tchenhens, the first teacher being Jacob Alex. At present the school is conducted by three Sisters as teachers, from the Franciscan Convent of Tiffin, Ohio, with an attendance of eighty pupils.

The Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, of Shelby, was organized in 1864, by Rev. H. D. Best. The preliminary meetings of this society were held in the dwelling of W. E. Klees. The church was erected by Father Kuhn, and cost about $800. Father Kuhn was succeeded by Fathers Abel, Pitts, Gerardin, Euler, Zinzmayer, Schmitz and Murphy. The present Pastor is F. J. Oberly. Fifty-six families constitute the present membership. The school was organized in 1877 by the present Pastor. There is now an average attendance of fortythree children.

The Reformed Church of Shelby is located on Church street. In 1851, Revy.. Joseph B. Thompson was Pastor of the Reformed congregations in the vicinity of Shelby. He held evening services once in four weeks in the M. E. Church. January 19, 1852, the first meeting to take measures for the erection of a church was held in the Exchange Hotel, William Hawk being chosen President, and Jacob Kuhn Secretary. William Hawk and John Strock were chosen Trustees, and they, with J. H. Hershiser seven members; Moses Crum and Deacon. The day after the corner-stone was laid, Rev. J. B. Thompson resigned, and Rey. J. C. Klar supplied the congregation from June to the end of the year 1852. Rev. Adam Stump occasionally preached during the vacancy.

The following were subsequent Pastors of the church: Rev. H. Willard, from April 1, 1854, to April 1, 1857; Rev. H. Hess, until 1859 ; Rev. F. C. Edmonds, nine months. A vacancy of one year aud three months occurred. Rev. D. W. Kelly became Pastor April 1, 1861, continuing two years. During this time the bell was procured. A vacancy of four months followed. Rey. N. H. Loose took charge August 1, 1863, and continued fourteen years, ending August 1, 1877. During his ministry, about $1,500 were expended in improving the building. The interior was frescoed and painted, a new pulpit erected, organ procured, etc., and 151 members added to the church. Mr. Loose also served at the same time the Reformed congregations at London and Ganges, to which there were added, respectively, fifty and fortythree members. He also officiated at 174 funerals, solemnized 188 marriages, and preached 2,000 sermons.

Rey. C.W. Good followed Mr. Loose, beginning August 19, 1877, and continuing two years and one month. Mr. George Bowman has been chorister of the choir for sixteen years. At present, April, 1880, the 'congregation numbers about one hundred and twenty-five, and has a hopeful future. Rey. O. E. Lake is Pastor.

A history of the press of Shelby is, so far as success is concerned, but a repetition of that of Mansfield and other places in the county, and fully establishes the fact that establishing a newspaper is a most precarious business. Success comes only through numerous failures, and those who finally succeed must fully earn and deserve their success.

So far as can be ascertained, the first paper in Shelby was issued by C. R. Brown, in 1858, and was called the Pioneer. It circulated freely and successfully atrirst, but soon adjourned sine die. The next paper was the Enterprise, issued in 1862 by Mr. Kenton, who was, in 1875, connected with the Marysville Democrat. This paper had a circulation of 300, and was in existence about a year. The LHiterprise was purchased, in 1863, by Mr. 8. 8. Bloom, who in connection with Mr. Baltzley, of the Plymouth Advertiser, contemplated publishing the Hapress, but political differences arising, owing to the excitement engendered by the war, a dissolution of partnership occurred before the first number was issued. ued about one year.

During the next three years, Mr. Glover and Mr. Bloom issued " occasionally" a paper called the Gazette, which was continued until 1867, when the Shelby Chronicle made its appearance, published by Messrs. Young & Hill. This paper continued until October 12, 1868, when it was purchased by S. 8S. Bloom, and merged into the Shelby Zndependent News. The first year, the circulation of this paper reached nearly six hundred, and it seemed fairly on the road to permanent success. It was edited by Mr. Bloom and published by J. G. Hill for a period of six years.

In the meantime, in 1868, Mr. T. H. Barkdull began the publication of the Gazette, and continued it about four years, Shelby haying the benefit of two papers during these years.

The Independent News was continued until 1876, when the Shelby Times, a Republican paper, made its appearance, under the editorial management of Mr. J. G. Hill. Mr. Bloom thereupon hauled down the " Independent"

The News still continues in a prosperous and healthy condition, under the editorial management of Mr. Bloom, with his son, W. P. Bloom, | as publisher.

The Times came into existence December 2, 1876, and yet continues under the editorial and business management of Mr. J. G. Hill. Its subscription list has continued to increase, and it is hoped and believed that it is on the road to permanent success.

men, of the above-named gentlemen, and their financial and social standing, it is fair to presume that success will attend this enterprise. Dr. Bricker is an old resident and President of the First National Bank of Shelby. He was for some years connected with the Buckeye Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Shelby, as Director and Treasurer. Mr. Close has heen, for several years, connected with the railroads passing through Shelby, as agent; and Mr. Wentz has hitherto been engaged in the insurance business.

3. Premium notes, amounting to three-fifths of such rate, are taken from members. Seventy per cent of said notes is collected in five annual installments, each five years in advance. If a member has paid more than the actual cost of insurance, in any five years, the excess is placed to his credit as part of the surplus of the Association. The interest, at 6 per cent per annum, on such surplus will, in a few years, pay the losses and expenses of the Association, when the members will cease to pay any assessment. /

5. The law under which the Association is incorporated authorizes it to insure its members against loss by fire and other casualties. Hence they include losses by fire, lightning, and accident to plate-glass windows and doors.

6. Every member knows how much and when to pay each year; hence dissatisfaction on account of unexpected. heavy assessments, is entirely avoided.

The Buckeye Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized September 23, 1873. The Board of Directors consists of 8. 8. Bloom, President; H. E. MeMillen, Vice President ;

S. Wheeler, Treasurer; F. Stambaugh, Secretary ; M. M. Barber, R. D. Stober, J. L. Bargaheiser, D. W. Stover, F. Brucker, A. J. Mack, Leroy Parsons, W. H. Gilmore. © The Company issued its first policy January 17, 1874. It had considerable difficulty in obtaining the requisite number of notes, as the law required that they should have $50.000 of premium notes, and $10,000 in eash before the Insurance Department would the financial affairs of the Company. Stambaugh, Secretary, is one of the original organizers of the Company. He solicited a large share of the notes. He has an extensive knowledge of insurance, and is an active business man. The other members of the Board are all well and favorably known as business men. The Company is well officered, and is a credit to the enterprise of Shelby.

issue a certificate. 8. F. Stambaugh and R. J. Butter were authorized to canvass for notes and applications for insurance. At a meeting of the Company, December 25, 1873, they reported that sufficient means were received amount to much until the Mansfield & Sandusky Railroad came through in 1846. when it became an excellent grain and . produce market. Robt. Mickey erected the first warehouse in 1846, which is yet standing and is used to comply with the laws, and the Company commenced business. It has had a steady, healthy growth until it has over $400,000 capital inf notes, and a growing business. It would not be doing the Company justice to omit mentioning its in part for a depot. The next warehouse was erected by Henry Leyman in 1847, opposite Mr. Mickey's warehouse. Mr. Mickey afterward, in 1850, erected a warehouse on the west side of town, on the Cleveland, Columbus, | Cincinnati & Indianmanagtment. Hon.

§.S. Bloom, President, and author to a great extent of the Ohio Insurance Laws, is a man of large experience in the insurance business. He isa careful, conservative man, and is well known in insurance circles. H. E. McMillen, Vice President, is a business man, and is well qualified for the position he holds. I. 8. Wheeler, Treasurer, is a farmer. He has been a member of the Company since its organization. He is a man of means, and keeps a vigilant eye over apolis Railroad, at present occupied by Messrs. H. Davis & Co., who yearly ship from this warehouse alone about one hundred thousand bushels of wheat, fifty thousand bushels of oats, and large quantities of other produce.

From three to four hundred thousand bushels of grain are marketed at Shelby yearly. The market for many years was much larger than at the present time, the building of new railroads serving to create other markets in various

The town was incorporated about 1853, and its growth has been steady, the population being now about two thousand. Regarding the business, there are at present three drug stores, four dry-goods, seven grocery, two hardware, four clothing, three boot and shoe, two jewelry, two furniture and three stove and tin stores; one bank, (The First National), two newspapers, one woolen-mill, one sash and blind factory, two hotels, two carriage factories, one wholesale liquor store, nine milliners and dressmakers, one furniture factory, one foundry and one tannery, beside a host of lesser industries.

the Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan, and the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railways. It can hardly be called a town, as no plat of it appears on record. It was started soon after the Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan road was completed, Mr. Sager, of Shelby, erecting a very good hotel there. In addition to this, there are two small stores, four or five dwellings and the depot building. A post office is established and is kept in the hotel.

HIS was originally part of Madison Township, and now lies directly west of and joins it. It was organized in 1816, at which time it was twelve miles long from east to west, and six miles wide, and included what is now Sandusky Township, and part of Polk and Jackson Townships in Crawford County. In February, 1818, it was cut in two in the center, leaving it in its present shape - six miles square. Its name was suggested by Mrs. Coffinberry, one of earliest settlers, on account of the numerous the springs within its limits, some of which are very beautiful and valuable. Perhaps the most noted of these is the Palmer Spring, one and a half miles-north of the village of Ontario. It produces a large volume of pure water, and supplies the little city of Crestline, being conveyed to that place in pipes. The spring 'is

Source changes here: from History of Richland County Ohio, by A.j. Baughman, published 1908; 65,301 words in this source stream.

Plymouth Township

Plymouth township was organized February 12, 1818, and as originally created was twelve miles long from east to west, and six miles wide from north to south.

By the creation of new counties and new townships, Plymouth was reduced in size to twenty-four sections - six miles from north to south and four from east to west. This territory was surveyed by Maxfield Ludlow in 1807, but no settlement was made until several years later. The land is generally fertile, slightly rolling, and an elevation extending across the township from east to west is the "Portage" between the river and the lake.

The old Wyandot trail, from the Sandusky river to Pittsburg, passed across the northeast part of the township and through the present village of

Plymouth. This trail was widened into a road by General Beall's army in 1812, and it was along this road that the early settlers of the northern part of the county came when hunting homes in the West. Many of the first settlers of Blooming Grove and other northern townships had been soldiers under General Beall, who had opportunities when encamped upon the banks of the Whetstone, at Olivesburg, and at Camp Council in Blooming Grove township. and in marching along the "trail," to see the beauty and the possibilities of the country, and at the close of the war returned to the forest scenes of their military operations. entered land and became pioneer settlers, and their descendants are today influential citizens of the county.

Abraham Trux was the first settler in Plymouth township. He built a cabin on the northwest quarter of section 5 in the spring of 1815. John Concklin, Daniel Kirkpatrick. Robert Green and John Long also came in 1815. John Morris, William and Daniel Prosser, Thomas MeCluer, James Gardner, Michael Gipson and James Douglass came in 1816. By 1818 there waz a sufficient number of residents to organize a township. The first election was held in the spring of 1818 and resulted in the election of Abraham Trux, justice of the peace; Stephen Webber, constable; John Conecklin. John Long and Thomas McCluer. trustees. A postoffice was established in 1817 on the military road a few miles east of Plymouth on section 4, now in Cass township. Jacob Vanhouten was the first postmaster.

The first settlers were at considerable inconvenience in getting grain ground, and had to go miles to reach a grist mill. There was not sufficient water in that section to run mills in dry seasons. Later a number of horsemills were erected. This was before steam was used as an operating power.

Whatever improvements have been made in Richland county, Plymouth township has shared those improvements. Whatever advancements there have been along educational lines and in civic betterments, Plymouth is always in line and touch with her sister townships.

At irregular intervals for vears past reports have been made of the discovery of coal in the northern part of the county. But such discoveries never materialized. The collapse of the recent "boom" was owing to the fact, as alleged, that the shaft had been "salted." Jt is a legitimate part of the work of a geological survey to expose and to prevent frauds, but not to assert that any particular individual has attempted or practiced a fraud. Thin seams of carbonaceous matter or beds of bituminous shale may be reached by boring. Coal if discovered in Richland county would have to be found below the carboniferous conglomerate, beneath which strata it has never been found in paying quantities.

The Pittsburg, Akron & Western railroad, which crosses the B. & O. at Plymouth, opened a market for the stone quarries that has been a material help to that vicinity. The Plymouth stone is of the Berea grit, the upper layers thin, the lower ones more massive and blue in color.

A story of a fight in Plymouth between two Irishmen comes down in the unwritten history of pioneer times. These sons of Erin were neighbors living south of Plymouth. Upon returning from a trip to the lake they quarreled as to which side of a stump they should drive around at the corner of Main and Plymouth streets. Their team was composed of a horse belonging to each; therefore, each claimed to speak as having authority. They stopped the horses and sat in the wagon and discussed the question, but as they could not agree, they proposed to decide the case by fighting. They got out of the wagon and fought in the street. Quite a crowd collected to see the performance, and while the "mill" was in progress the team started, went around the stump on the west side and was then halted by one of the bystanders. The Irishmen were separated and told that the horses had decided the stump question, going around it by keeping to the right. But the Irishmen replied that, although it was decided so far as the horses were concerned, it was still an open question between themselves, which they proposed to decide in their own way, and each taking a drink of whisky from a jug in the wagon, the pugilistic encounter was renewed and finally they were down in the muddy street "wallowing in the mire." A 'squire being present, he commanded peace in the name of the state of Ohio, and the belligerents de=isted from their strenuous contest, for the Irish are always loyal to those in authority. -\fter drinking again from the jug, they got into the wagon. avowing that they would fight it out when they got home.

(yoing to the lake in the old time meant a trip to Portland (Sandusky) or to Huron, the market marts on the lake. Teams came in long processions from the interior of the state to the market ports of Lake Erie. That markets are now at our doors is almost a literal fact.

One of the bear stories is the following: Michael Trux, Charles Bodley, Jacob Wolf, Jedadiah Moorhead, Michael Gipson, Robert Yearian and other early settlers were great hunters. Yearian made his own powder and guns, was a remarkable shot. as was also his son Frederick, who used a light rifle his father made for him. It is related of this bov, when he was about twelve years old. he wax one day separated from his father while hunting, and came suddenly upon a mother bear and hertwo cubs, upon whom he at once made war. The ball from his rifle was, however, too small to do much execution. and the bear turned upon him, pressing him so closely that he had neither time to reload or climb a tree, and so ran in the direction of his father. The latter, seeing him coming and the bear at his heels, called to him to run past him. which Fred did, and as the bear passed Yearian planted one of his ounce balls in some vital part of the animal with such certainty and precisien as to bring her down. They then carried the cubs home for pets.

Blackman's Grove, in the southwestern part of the township, where farmers' picnics were held for a number of years, was superseded by Holtz', in Blooming Grove township.

Monteith's, two miles south of Plymouth, has become a picnic place, where a lake has been formed on the headwaters of the Huron river. The place is now called "Huron Valley Park." decade or two ago, and the answer to each was '"'dead." How each decennial period removes from the living many of those who were influential in molding the affairs of the county and in shaping its destiny a generation ago.

Plymouth was first settled in 1815, but the town was not platted until Mav 17, 1825. The village was first called Paris, but at its incorporation in 1838 the name was changed to Plymouth.

Plymouth has the distinction of being in two counties - the main street running east and west, being the line between Richland and Huron counties. The postoffice is on the Richland county side of the line; the town is therefore always referred to as being in Richland county.

Plymouth became a village without the premeditation, plan or scheme of any land owner. After the close of the War of 1812 people came from the east to locate in Ohio. and quite a number came along the Beall trail and settled in the northern part of Richland county, and among them was one Abraham Trux. who erected a cabin on the headwaters of the Huron river, and became the first settler upon what later became the town site of Plymouth. Other cabins were soon thereafter erected near Trux's for the convenience of neighborly associations. and thus without design a town was founded.

A reference to the close of the War of 1812 suggests the difference in both the methods and the time required in transmitting and receiving news in 1815 with our facilities of today. The treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain was signed at Ghent, December 24, 1814, but the news of the same was not received here until a month later. and in the meantime the battle of New Orleans was fought, where General Jackson won his victory over the British. How different now, with telegraph wires and cables spanning continents and encircling the globe.

At the time Plymouth was platted there were sixteen houses, all of them log buildings, on the town site and occupied severally by Abraham Trux, Patrick Lynch, Benjamin Wooley, James Young, Enos Rose, Abner Harkness, A. D. W. Bodley, Haslo, John and Henry Barney, Christian Culp, B. F. Taylor, William C. Enos and Lemuel Powers. The travel through the village caused taverns to be opened in accordance with the law of demand and supply. Like other taverns of that period. three of the principal articles on the bill of fare were 'hog, hominy and whisky." If thee suited the guests. the present generation can be excused from registering a complaint now about what their forefathers ate four-fifths of a century ago.

Patrick Lynch was the first blacksmith in Plymouth: William C. Enothe first lawyer; Dr. Lemuel Powers the first doctor; Mr. Howe the first school teacher; Mr. Curtis the fir-t tailor; W. V. B. Moore and John Skinner the first shoemakers; Hugh Long the first tanner; Robert Moorfoot the first bricklayer and plasterer; \. D. W. Bodley the first wheelright: Anthony McLaughlin the first cooper: James Drennan the first cabinet maker: James Dickson, William Crall and Mr. Gilcrease the first carpenters; G. C. Graham, Mathero McKelvey and Wilson brothers the first merchants. The first mayor of the village was Daniel Colckglazier: the second. Ensign Benschoter: the third, Robert Wilson.

Mr. McKelvey, who had a number of daughters. erected a two-room frame building in 1831, started an educational institution called a seminary. with competent teachers, which was successfully conducted for several vears.

The first bank was started by a Mr. Barker in 1839, in connection with his mercantile trade. After Mr. Barker's death in 1859 the business was continued by Robert McDonough and 8. M. Robinson until -1870, when Mr. McDonough opened a regular bank of discount and deposit, which was continued until his death in 1873. After that the First National Bank was organized, with Josiah Brinkerhoff as president.

Bankcr Barker was the father of Frank Barker, who was killed in Mansfield by his brother-in-law, Robert Mercer Bowland, about sundown on the evening of June 18, 1846. The tragedy took place near the northwest corner of Main street and Park avenue west. A broken-shaft monument in the Plymouth cemetery marks Frank Barker's grave.

Plymouth always had able representatives in the legal profession. In the past there were Downing H. Young, D. M. Stambaugh, W. W. Drennan, Sherman Culp, S. M. Young and others.

Religious services were held at Plymouth at an early day, and church organizations effected. The Rey. Wolfe, a Presbyterian; the Rev. Arbuthnot. Covenanter, and the Rev. McIntire, Methodist, were early missionaries there. The Rev. Benjamin Wooley settled there and was a local minister of the

Methodist church. Nearly all the early ministers in the county preached in Plymouth at times. Among the number were Bigelow, Boardman, Conger and Harry O. Sheldon. The religious interests awakened in the little village of Paris in the long ago has ever since been maintained, and the churches of Plymouth today are an honor to the town.

The change of name from Paris to Plymouth was a felicitous one. '"What's in a name!" exclaimed the Bard of Avon. There is much in a name. Paris is suggestive of revolutions and of the guillotine; Plymouth, of the Mayflower and of the Pilgrims. Names in both poetry and prose appeal to the imagination. The title of a poem or story may induce its reading and conduce to its popularity. Poetry and song contributed to the rapid settlement of Ohio on account of its name. <A stanza drops in here as a matter of history. It ix from one of the songs that were sung "down east" at parties where kix-ing came in the games played by young people, many of whom later became settlers in Ohio:

"The homes of Ohio, free. fortuned and fair, Full many hearts treasure a sister's love there; E'en more than thy hillsides or streamlets they please, Ohio, my country, I love thee for these.

"God shield thee, Ohio, dear land of my birth, And thy children that wander afar o'er the earth; My country thou art, where'er my lot's cast,

This song was very popular in the past and its singing should be revived. The song is from Alexander Auld's "Key of the West.' He was the author of what was called the "patent-note" system, a change from the "four-note'' scale of the "Missouri Harmony." How dear to the memory of the older class of peopie are the text books of half century ago! They were Webster's "Elementary Spelling Book,' '"McGuffev's Readers," '"Ray's Arithmetics" and Harvey's and Pinneo's grammars. These books were studied under pedagogical instruction by the pupils of that period, but to recount those old school days would be interesting only to those who served under the old system of the "rod and ferule" rule, and to those who have been touched by the historical passion.

From the "Old Red" school house of the pioneer period, Plymouth advanced upon educational lines even more than it did in material growth. In 1834 the town was divided into two school districts, but in 1849 they were reunited and organized under what was known as the Akron law. Previous to 1835 special school laws were often passed for particular localities. This was permissible under the old constitution. The Akron law, enacted in 1847, made the town one school district, created a school board, authorized a suitable number of primary schools and one grammar school and conferred power to levy taxes sufficient to meet the expense of the system. This law was also enacted for other towns, Plymouth among the number. The state school law of 1853 was little more than an amplification of the Akron law. In 1875 a school building was erected in Plymouth at a cost of $25,000. This has since been improved and the town today takes no second place in the educational march of the age.

A newspaper called the Journal was started in Plymouth in 1851. Two years later the name was changed to the Advertiser, under which title it has been published for fifty years.

Among the early settlers in Plymouth were the Brinkerhoffs, of Knickerbocker, and the Beviers, of Huguenot descent. The Brinkerhoffs and the Beviers are related by marriage.

The Hon. Daniel Brewer, one of the distinguished citizens of Plymouth in the past, represented Richland county in the legislature in 1847-49. He was a fluent speaker and was an effective campaigner for "Buck, Breck and the Union" in 1856. The shibboleth of the other party in that campaign was "Fremont, Free Speech and Free Kansas." Mr. Brewer is now deceased.

Since the founding of Plymouth many changes have taken place - changes wrought by American genius. Genius is power. The power that grasps in the universe, that soars out into space. and overcomes all obstacles. Genius cannot be suppressed.

as to hush the voice of genius. Genius loves toil, impediment and poverty, for from these it gains its strength, throws off the shadows and lifts its proud head to fame. a. :

Lexington has always been noted for the culture and social standing of its people. The village is beautifully situated upon an elevation of gentle slope and the Clearfork of the Mohican laves its eastern boundary.

The town was named for historic Lexington, where the first battle for political freedom on the American continent was fought, April 19. 1775 - a battle that put an end to the long dispute between the colonies and Great Britain, and inaugurated the war of the revolution.

who built the first house - a log cabin - in the place, in the spring of 1812, soon after the town was platted. The second house was built by Jacob Cook. The first cabins had port-holes for purposes of defense against the Indians.

Grist and saw mills were erected on the Clearfork at Lexington within the year and contributed to the development of prosperity of the new town. A tannery was built and stores of general merchandise opened and Lexington soon had several hundred inhabitants.

About this time a very important event took place - the log school house was built. It was built of unhewed logs and covered with boards or shakes; the seats were of the ancient make - a slab with pegs for legs constituted the seats - counters ranged along the walls were the desks whereon to write and cipher.

Tempus fugit and years went by and in 1850 the "iron horse' came puffing along the valley. A railroad may make or unmake a town, but it did neither in this case - it simply let the village remain as it found it, which status it still maintains.

It is difficult to write of Lexington - a town with such a conservative history; of a well-balanced people, free from eccentricities and vagaries, such as make towns notorious. No people ever treaded the paths of peace with more willing feet. and the law of love has been the rule of their action and the light by which they interpreted events. Envy knocks in vain at the door of their hearts. The people are not jealous of their neighboring towns, but peace and good-will have a perfect habitation in the village's unruffled breast.

When Lexington was founded this was the western border. Since then civilization has marched westward with rapid strides, across the Mississippi, over the Rocky mountains and out to the isles of the Pacific, and will soon meet a similar column advancing from the East and ere long will engirdle the earth. Then the "border" will be obliterated and previous conditions changed.

Civilization is peregrinatic and capricious, and coming centuries may verify the prediction of Macaulay that New Zealanders shall sit upon the ruins of Westminster Abbey and gaze upon the crumbling ashes of forgotten London.

It is claimed there was an advanced civilization in China before Babylon was founded. and before Jerusalem existed, even in prophecy. Yet we now speak of the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire as "heathen Chinee" and call them "'barbarians."" What the future of American civilization may be, time alone can disclose.

Amariah Watson was instrumental in many ways in furthering the interests of the Lexington settlement, in founding its industries and in developing the country, and his name is interwoven with the early history of that part of Richland county. The Rev. Orville E. Watson - a descendant of pioneer Watson - is a priest of the Episcopal Church, and holds the position of canon in Trinity Cathedral at Cleveland.

The Lexington Seminary was a continuation of Monroe Seminary, situated in Monroe township, and was opened in 1851 by Rev. R. Gailey. The recitations were for a time conducted in a church, yet the school drew to itself a large share of patronage. Mansfield and Wooster sent many pupils to the school. In 1860 the school was removed to Lexington. A substantial brick building was erected by a stock company and devoted to school purposes. Some trouble arose in 1866 between the seminary and the public. The trustees offered the house for sale at fifty per cent of its normal value. Rev. Gailey purchased the house and furnished it, making some improvements. He sold the house the following year to the United Brethren Church. They paid off all claims against the property and furnished it comfortably. They occupied the upper room for a house of worship and gave the lower room to Miss Gailey for a school room. The school was a private enterprise, in no sense denominational. The enrollment in the fall of 1865 was eighty ; in 1866, one hundred and nine; in 1867, one hundred and twenty-six. The school declined in members for several years, so that only ninety-four were enrolled in 1878. Rev. Gailey after spending twenty-four years in the interests of the school, died in 1875, and was succeeded by his daughter, Miss Jane Gailey, who continued the school until the close of the spring term of 1880, when she was married to Rev. Mr. Dysart. This event closed the Lexington Seminary.

Lexington had several school teachers in the olden time who afterward became noted men in both state and nation. One of these was the late Hon. Columbus Delano, and Judge Kennon was another.

It is the custom of writers of history to dilate upon how railroads have affected certain towns, favorably or unfavorably, as it is often necessary to show cause for the prosperity or decadence of the same. But Lexington has been but little, if any, affected, pro or con, by the railroad that skirts its northern border. The town was not platted with the expectation that it would ever make a great citv. It was founded to be a country town for the convenience of country people, and as such it is a successful village, whose inhabitants have always been reputable among their fellow men. Even during the Civil War times at mass gatherings, where social probity was at times somewhat lax, the statement that a certain group of ladies were from Lexington was to them both passport and shield. Such women give tone and character to any community.

Amariah Watson and Elisha Robins settled at Lexington in 1812. Then came William Gass, Calvin-Culver and Francis Mitchell. 'Uncle' Noah Cook came in 1814. Mr. Cook was a Presbyterian and conducted the first prayer meeting in the township. An account of this service has been given before, but as a good story, especially one of far-reaching benificent results, will bear a brief repetition here. The meeting had been announced for the school house of that neighborhood, and at the appointed hour "Uncle" Cook was the only person preser*. He hesitated only for a few moments, then opened a service of worship and sang and prayed and read a lesson from the scriptures and then preached a sermon. It is not on record whether he stated, "T take my text," etc., as some preachers do now, thinking, it seems, that the matter is not entirely clear that the extract of the scriptures read is intended for that purpose, but such doubts did not trouble Mr. Cook, for he had no congregation. But he had an unseen hearer for a part of the service. A passer-by, hearing the singing, did some eaves-dropping - pardonable in this case - and left at the close of the service, without making his presence known. But he told of the appointment and induced a number of his friends to attend, which resulted in a fair sized audience for the next meeting, and from that humble beginning the religious interest of the settlement advanced, even until this day.

The Lexington of today is a cosy village with a surrounding country of beautiful landscape views and of productive farms. The town has stores and shops to meet the wants of trade, and there are school buildings wherein the children can be instructed, and churches at whose altars the people may worship.

Village Of Butler

Butler is a thriving village in Worthington township, nineteen miles south of Mansfield, on the B. & O. railroad. The town was originally called "Independence," but was changed to "Butler" some years ago, to agree with the name of the postoffice named after General William O. Butler, of Kentucky, who was a hero of the Mexican war, and the candidate for vicepresident on the ticket with General Lewis Cass in 1848. The postoffice was established before the town was laid out and was kept at the residence of "Squire T. B. Andrews, the first postmaster.

Independence was laid out on the northwest quarter of section 20, January 12, 1848, by Daniel Spohn. The place was familiarly called Spohntown for a number of years by the people of that vicinity.

The extension of the Mansfield & Sandusky City railroad to Newark caused Independence to be laid out on its line, and as the business men of Bellville were jealous of having a rival town spring up within the limits of their trade, T. B. Andrews suggested that the new town be called '"Independence," in defiance of the attitude of Bellville. The town was therefore christened according to 'Squire Andrews' suggestion, and was called Independence over forty years ere it was changed to Butler.

The first business place in the town was started by William Lamley, who kept groceries and "wet goods," the latter being very much in demand during the construction of the railroad. The grocery was situate near where William Shively now lives. Lamley afterward put up a larger structure farther up the railroad, where he conducted a grocery and hotel for a number of years. The first public house was erected by Joseph Geary; the building has since been enlarged and is now kept by Mr. Wise.

In 1850 General G. A. Jones and others, of Mt. Vernon, erected a warehouse, bought grain and conducted a general merchandise for several years, making Independence a grain market. The name of the firm was Robinson, Jones & Co.

Pearce & Severns succeeded Robinson & Jones and conducted the business for a number of years. The warehouse was destroyed by fire some years

Daniel Garber was the first shoemaker in the town; John Diltz the first carpenter; John Daugherty the first wagon maker, and Daniel Loose the first cabinet maker. Garber and Loose married daughters of Richard Oldfield, who was an early settler and prominent resident of Jefferson township.

David Taylor and John Ramsey were county commissioners, and the latter was a justice of the peace. They were not residents of the village, but lived upon farms near by and were identified with the place. The Craig and Phipps families were also prorninent people in that community.

D. J. Rummel built the Rummel grist mill on the Clearfork below the town in about 1850 and it is still in operation, and is one of the most successful country mills in the county. The same can be said of the Kanaga mills (now Plank's), a mile above the town.

Among the recent acquisitions is a bank, in its own substantial brick building, on a corner of two of the principal streets. And the people also "point with pride' to the new depot recently erected.

Worthington township was named for Thomas Worthington. who was governor of Ohio in 1814-16. The surface is broken and hilly. especially along the Clearfork, where in many places the scenery is picturesque and beautiful. Two tributaries enter the.Clearfork near Butler - Andrews' run from the southwest and Gold run from the southeast.

Butler is situate at the great bend of the B. & O. road, where a number of railroad accidents have occurred, the most notable of which was the terrible collision in September, 1872. during the first state fair at Mansfield.

Although James McCluer was the first settler where Bellville now stands and the locality was called the McCluer settlement. the town of Bellville was founded by Robert Bell, for whom it was named.

The town site was well chosen, situate in the fertile Clearfork valley, lying between the hills of the "divide" upon the north and the less abrupt elevations to the south. Gushing from the hillsides are springs of living waters and down the valley a clear stream courses in graceful curves in its onward flow to the sea.

Bellville is one of the most beautiful of the smaller towns of Ohio. It is a village of lovely homes and while there are perhaps no very wealthy resi- dents, there are no paupers. The homes are mostly owned by those who occupy them, a condition that speaks well for the thrift of the people. The principal street is paved with brick, and a well shaded square makes a beautiful center-piece for the town.

The original plat of Bellville contained forty-eight lots and embraced the land between Main and Huron streets, and bounded on the north by Ogle and on the south by Durbin streets. The first lot sold was to Enoch Ogle - lot No. 1 - at the corner of Huron and Ogle streets. Ogle built a house and opened a tavern - the first in the township. Ogle was a prominent man there in his day, appreciated a good story and had a host of friends. The blockhouse and the McCluer cabin antedated Ogle's tavern, but the latter was the first building erected in the town proper after it was platted.

A postoffice was established January 22, 1824, with Isaac Hoy as postmaster. Prior to 1824 the residents of Bellville received their mail at Mansfield, and the postage on a letter was twenty-five cents.

About the time the postoffice was established John Moody opened a store of general merchandise, and by 1835 the town contained three stores.

John Moody was a preacher of the Christian denomination faith. He owned a grist mill at Bellville, with a large farm adjoining. He took no pay for his preaching, and when the country was threatened with a famine in the "thirties," Moody's garners were well filled with grain. When crops failed and people went to Moody's mill to buy breadstuff, the question was asked each, "Have you money to pay for it?" If the answer was in the affirmative. they were told to go elsewhere to buy. Those who had no funds went away with well-filled sacks and were told to return again when they needed more. The product of thousands of bushels of grain was thus given away, but giving to the poor and hungry did not impoverish Moody for the blight of drought did not touch his fields, but each succeeding harvest the crops yielded grain more abundantly, and Moody was blessed in the giving, as the people were in receiving his assistance. John Moody needs no monument in marble, for the memory of his good deeds lives in the hearts of the people of Bellville from generation to generation.

Benjamin F. Hines was a prominent citizen of Bellville for many vears. His wife's maiden name was \rmstrong, and her family was also old settlers. Mr. Hines was a successful business man and accumulated considerable property. Their only surviving child is Clark B. Hines, who is a prominent young attorney with law offices both in Bellville and in Mansfield.

Benjamin Jackson settled in Bellville in an early day and engaged in the mercantile business. Later, he became an associate judge of the common pleas court.

Dr. A. I. Beach was a leading physician at Bellville for many years. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, October 16, 1804, and located in

Bellville in 1826. He married a daughter of Judge Jackson. Dr. Beach was a brother of Moses Y. Beach, the founder of the New York Sun newspaper.

Other prominent physicians at Bellville were Dr. S. W. Ells, Dr. James C. Lee, Dr. J. M. Smith, Dr. B. Ridenour, Dr. N. D. Whitcomb and Dr. Thomas Austin. Dr. Lee was a California "forty-niner," and upon his return found gold at Bellville in 1853. Dr. Smith was the father of Mrs. B. F. Lantz, of Vennum avenue, Mansfield.

The Methodists were the pioneers in the religious field, and the Disciples came a few years later. The first house for worship was built by the Methodists in 1835. Jonathan Oldfield and Robert Bell were prominent Methodists. About the same time John Moody built a house of worship for those who believed in the views proclaimed by Alexander Campbell. Captain Joseph Johnson was a faithful member and officer of this church for many years.

In 1847 the Universalists organized a society at Bellville and built a church. Among their leading members were Samuel Cutting and Richard Oldfield. In 1838 the Presbyterians organized and later built a church. Among their prominent members were Enoch French, John Lafferty, Philip Traxler and Mathew Geary. About the same year a Lutheran congregation was organized two miles west of Bellville called Salem. Some years ago the village members of the Salem congregation organized at Bellville and built a brick church building of modern architecture. The late Rev. Mr. Ritz, the father of C. S. Ritz, of West Fourth street, Mansfield, organized the Salem society. The Baptist and Cumberland Presbyterians have had organized congregations there, but they are now gone. The church buildings are very creditable to the place, that of the Universalists' being of stone.

The Rev. William Dowling was the pastor of the Disciple - now better known as Christian - Church in the "forties." He was beloved by the community.

In the 30s a Frenchman named Light came to Bellville and engaged in the mercantile trade on the northwest corner of Main and Ogle streets. where he conducted business for a number of years. He bought the "old vellow house" on the west side of the square, remodeled it as it stands today. After having been there several years, he dropped the name '"'Light" and resumed his French name of '"LeBlond," the meaning of the words being somewhat similar. One of his sons - F. C. LeBlond - settled in Celina, Mercer county. and represented that district in the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth congresses - 1863-67. James L. High, a son of the village blacksmith, became a leading Jawyer in Chicago, and his legal writings gave him high rank in his profession. John P. Altgeld, deceased, worked his way from the fields northeast of the village to prominence as a lawyer in the city of Chicago, and later to the high position of governor of the great state of Illinois.

The first newspaper in Bellville was established in 1849, by A. Lauback and was called the Rainbow and Repository. Its publication was discontinued within the year. After a long interval, the Dollar Weekly came in 1872 and was continued for a number of years. It was published by James C. Potts, our present county surveyor. In 1875 the Richland Star was started by the Garber brothers. After some vears another paper, called the

Independent, was started. In time the Star and Independent got out of the way for the Bellville Messenger, a six-column quarto, with James A. Price as editor and proprietor. The Messenger was established December 8, 1892.

In the Civil War Bellville and Jefferson township furnished more than their full quota of men and sent officers and privates to every battle field in the Union. They each performed a part in that great drama in the history of the republic. They assisted in settling for all time the supremacy and perpetuity of the Union. And after the war was over, realizing that mercy is the brightest flower in the victor's wreath, they bade the vanquished return to their homes, lay aside their swords and muskets for the tools and implements of workshop and farm, and mingle with the songs of the birds their joyous lays of contentment, industry and peace. Thus spreading over the bloody past the mantle of charity and brotherly love, and soon the soldiers were merged with and into the ranks of citizens of peace. The soldiers of the Civil War are on their last march, and the majority of them have answered the long roll-call. In the Bellville cemetery lie the remains of Captain Miller Moody, Captain D. W. Wilson and a hundred other soldiers who served their country in the great war of the rebellion.

Captain Miller Moody, a son of the Rev. John Moody, the philanthropist, was the captain of Company I, Sixteenth O. V. I., a company of "first-call troops" raised at Bellville at the outbreak of the Civil War. At the close of that term of service he raised a company at Bellville for the Fifty-ninth New York infantry and became its captain. He was in the battle of Gettysburg, where he received wounds from which he died after submitting to five amputations. His remains were brought home and interred in the Bellville cemetery. Captain Moody was a graduate of Kenyon College, and had been a member of the Ohio legislature in 1849-50. Captain Moody wore faultless broadcloth and was of dignified bearing and courteous manners, but the poor and humble ever looked upon him as a friend. He gave his life to his country, and who could do more?

Captain A. W. Loback was the first lieutenant of Captain Moody's company of "first-call" troops. In 1862 Comrade Loback raised a company at Bellville for the three years' service, and went into the One Hundred and Second O. V. I., and served until the close of the war. Captain Loback took good care of his troops, and a braver soldier never "donned the blue."

Captain D. W. Wilson was one of the first to volunteer when troops were called for at the beginning of the Civil War, and at the close of his term of service reenlisted for three years, and was in the service four years and three months - from the beginning of the war to its close - and returned as the captain of his company, with the good will and confidence of his men. ~

Lieutenant James Riddle was an officer in the Sixteenth O. V. I. in the three months' service of 1861, and later entered the One Hundred and Second and lost his life in the service. Lieutenant S. B. Donel was a member of Captain Miller Moody's company in the Sixteenth O. V. I., and was the first man wounded in the regiment. In 1862 he entered Captain A. W. Loback's company of the One Hundred and Second as a lieutenant, and served until

The first lawyer in Bellville was Professor Wilcox, who had been a teacher in the high school, or the academy, as it was then called. John Quincy Goss was a Bellville lawyer in the '50s. He possessed literary attainments; was a contributor to the press and lecturer of some note. He removed to Nebraska in 1859. George C. Howard read law with Judge Bartley, but, being engaged in business pursuits, only practiced in lower courts. Other lawyers have been located at Bellville for a time, but did not make it their permanent home. John Morrow was a Bellville merchant for nearly a half-century. He has been dead for a number of years.

Agitation of the temperance question was waged at Bellville for years and there were various and varied exhibitions of the zeal and earnestness of the prohibitionists. Liquors were spilled or bought as occasions seemed to require to close the saloons.

Bellville has a beautiful village green - a lawn-like square in the center of the town, studded with graceful trees - through which giants were seen to stalk at night in the autumn of 1861. People returning from evening "prayer meeting" walked with quickened steps as they passed the square, casting furtive glances to the right as they hastened homeward. The "giants" in this case were some soldier-bovs returned from the first three months' service, and had a little fun with the timorous by one sitting upon another's shoulders, with an army blanket draped around them as a shawl, shawls being worn instead of overcoats in those days. This composite figure made a giant about nine feet high, and in the semi-darkness of the night, as a citizen now deceased expressed it, ''made an awful sight."

Bellville, not to be behind any of her sister towns, even in the matter of ghosts, has its haunted house, or had forty years ago. Then there is the ghost that is said to appear occasionally at the bend in the State road, just north of town, at Deadman's run, the appearance of which chills men's blood and makes horses careen. This is a bar-room tale that is spun sometimes for the entertainment of travelers who may have to drive to Mansfield after the shadows of a starless night have enveloped Gold Valley.

The Wild Irishman episode was not of the spook variety, but was viewed as a banshee call, foreboding direful events. At night a voice could be heard from the Durbin hill, warning people to "repent, for the day of judgment is at hand." Some one facetiously called this hill-preacher the "Wild Irishman." After the exhortation had come in stentorian tones from the hill-top nightly for a week or more, a searching brigade was organized. The party wended its way slowly up the steep, smooth slope of Durbin's hill, but when the summit was reached from which the voice had seemingly come, no one was to be seen, but from the Moody hill, north of the town, came the same words of warning, "Repent, ye, for the day of judgment is at hand!" The party which had so expectantly marched up the hill then marched down again, the men troubled in spirit lest the warning and prophecy might be too soon fulfilled.

bin's and the other Moody's hill, resolving to capture the "Irishman," and put an end to hill-talk. As the squads advanced, prophetical sentences and words of warning were wafted antiphonally from one hill-top to the other in sepulchral tones, but, as before, when the places were reached, no one could be found, but a change of venue had sent the "Irishman" to Snake hill, and the words came solemnly upon the midnight air, 'As one risen from the dead, I beseech you to repent!" That was the last hunt and the last cry of the banshee. While the majority of the people considered the preaching the work of some practical jokers, a few viewed the occurrences in a more superstitious light, and the religious sects held protracted meetings and a great revival followed.

In the social glow of a campfire in West Virginia, in the spring of 1861, a comrade stated to the writer that he was one of the "Wild Irishmen," and what fun they had out of the affair. These "prophets" were named Joshua and Samuel.

Honey creek valley is a fertile and prosperous farming locality and lies south of Bellville, in Jefferson township. Honey creek makes a confluence with the Clearfork of the Mohican, a short distance above the site of the old Greenwood mills, in the shadow of the Spruce hills. Honey creek and its branches have a joint length of over ten miles and drain a considerable area of country - a land that flows with "milk and honey." The several branches of Honey creek are fed by the springs which flow from the unpretentious hills that skirt the wide, undulating valleys. The Honey creek farms are not only fertile and productive, but their well-kept appearances show the prosperity and thriftiness of the owners.

The volume of water in Honey creek is not as large as formerly, which is true of all the streams in the county. But in former times the stream furnished water power for both grist and saw mills. A Mr. Cornell built a grist mill in 1821, on section 15, a half-mile below where the creek crosses the Old State road. It served its time and purpose, but has long been numbered witb the "things that were but are not.'' A pottery was operated for several years in the locality of the mill. The late Johnson Howard, father of the Hon. James E. Howard, of Bellville, and of Dr. Howard, of Mansfield, built a sawmill on this creek, between the two state roads, which he operated for a number of years. Samuel Heron had a mill on the east side of the New State road, and the Marshall mill, a mile up the central branch, sawed logs for many years, and was later purchased by Samuel Heron.

A mile south of Bellville the State road forks. The left-hand or old road goes via Ankenytown and Harter's tavern to Mt. Vernon, and the right-hand or new road goes through Palmyra and Fredericktown to Mt. Vernon. The State road does not leave Bellville for the south upon its original location, which was-from Huron street, near to Switzer's stables, but now goes over . Durbin's hill from South Main street.

In the fork of the State road at the northern border of Honey creek valley, the old "Red House" tavern - one of the most popular and best known hotels between Mt. Vernon and the lake, in the stage days, was situated. Its location was favorable to command the trade of both branches of the road. A line of stages ran north and south over the State road through Bellville from 1826 to

The "Red House" was built in 1831, by John Young for Jacob Hollabaugh, who conducted it as a public house for several vears, then sold to a man named Kling. William Geteney, Peter Friedline and others occupied the position of landlord there later. The place was a great resort for dancing parties, not only from Bellville but from Mt. Vernon and Mansfield also.

About 1846 James Morrow built a new hotel - ''Morrow's Inn'' - across the road from the "Red House," and ran the same successfully until the railroad relegated the stage coach to the by-gones. There was a race-track on the old State road between the '"Red House" and schoolhouse, where the speed of horses was tried for many years.

Passing Honey creek schoolhouse, south of Bellville, one day last summer at the noon hour, groups of children were seen playing upon the lawn, recalling the days of fifty years ago, when the man who paused to observe them was a boy and a pupil there. Lucy Oldfield, the teacher then, is now resting in the paradise of the redeemed, waiting for the final summons to the home not made with hands. While the boy to whom she spoke helpful words still plods on, finding the road rough and steep at times.

Shelby is the second town in size in Richland county. and was first settled in 1818. Shelby is so well known that its location and boundaries need not be given. Trolley line cars ply forth and back, like a weaver's shuttle, between Mansfield and Shelby every hour, and there is also a trolley line from Shelby to Norwalk and Lake Erie. The intervening land between Mansfield and Shelby may be so built up within the coming years that it will be difficult to know where one city ends and where the other begins. The first settlers in Shelby were Stephen Marvin, Henry Whitney and Eli Wilson, who came from the vicinity of Norwalk, Conn. Mr. Wilson erected a cabin on what is now South Gamble street, where W. R. Brooks now resides. This is the highest point in Shelby and has a gentle slope towards the Blackfork that. immediately south, sweeps around to the east before turning to the north in its course through Shelby. Mr. Marvin built his cabin on the same day, on what is now North Gamble street. Between these Mr. Whitney put up a cabin, near what is now the northwest corner of Gamble and Mill streets.

The Gamble brothers - Hugh and John - came in 1823, and the father - James Gamble - came two vears later. John Gamble erected a grist mill on the southeast corner of Main and Gamble streets, and the settlement was called "Gamble Mills," which name it retained after it had grown into a village. A postoffice called ""Gamble's Mills" was opened in 1828, with John Gamble as postmaster. It is related that after serving as postmaster for many years, receiving but a small remuneration for his services, an attempt was made to have Mr. Gamble removed, the salary having been increased with the growth of the village, making the office, or the salary at least, a thing to be desired. To counteract the movement a mass meeting was called, which was successful both as to numbers and results. The Hon. Henry Leyman was the principal speaker. Mr. Leyman was quite an orator, as was his son, N. N. Leyman, in later years. Mr. Leyman described the state and condition of the country at the time the postoffice was established, that the mail was then carried through the wilderness by post-boys on horseback, and that the postmaster served more to accommodate his neighbors than for the small salary he received. He gave a vivid portrayal of pioneer life and stated that John Gamble as postmaster had kindly aided the early settlers in getting letters from their old homes and friends in the East; that he frequently went out into the wilderness to meet the post-boy and would lead his horse along intricate bridle-paths into the little village. And after years of such unrequited service the town had so grown and the country had been so improved that the government allowed the postmaster a larger salary, and that spoilsmen were now attempting to crowd the faithful old servant out of office, when he should be permitted to remain and receive a recompense, at least in part, for past services. The opinion of the meeting was so unanimous and its decision so emphatically expressed that it reached the ear of power at Washington, and Mr. Gamble was retained. In narrating this incident, a man. who as a boy six years old attended the meeting, says he was so much impressed with Mr. Leyman's eloquence and looked upon his figures of speech as actual occurrences, and in his innoceney supposed that John Gamble really had to lead the post-boys' horses along bridle-paths. How the realities of life encountered in later years dispel the fancies and destroy the pictures created and drawn by the imagination in the May-morn of a man's youth!

The Hon. Henry Leymiuan represented Richland county in the Ohio legislature in 1834-35. He was in the mercantile business in Shelby for a number of years, then removed back to Mansfield, where he died in 1879. His son - N. N. Leyman - once a Shelby boy, was a prominent Mansfield lawyer in the '70s and early '80s. He died in New York years ago. He was faultless both in dress and in speech. No grammatical inaccuracies ever escaped his lips.

The town. outgrowing the name of Gamble's Mills, was rechristened "Shelby," in honor of Governor Shelby, of Kentucky, a hero of the Revolution, as well as of the war of 1812. General Shelby was successful in both the military and the civil service of his country, and Shelby town has prospered even bevond the expectations of the promoters of her present industries.

Mrs. G. M. Skiles contributed an article to the Ladies' Edition of the Shelby News. of April 10. 1896, on the "History of Shelby," and to her acknowledgment is hereby made for many of the facts contained in this chapter. Mrs. Skiles wrote: 'The writer will not attempt to give in detail the history and progress of this village from the pioneer days to the present time. Suffice it to say, however, that Shelby has grown so large that today it is in fact a city. It has all the surroundings, advantages, privileges, fascinations and 'airs' of a city. Let us look at Shelby reflection in a mirror as she is today. A true picture is presented to our view and we see eight churches, all flourishing and their pulpits filled with able ministers, and on beautiful Sabbaths the pews well filled - rainy ones not so many attend. We have four school buildings. We are certainly proud of our high school building. It is located on the right bank of the magnificent winding Blackfork, that flows with its never-ceasing waters through the center of our village, dividing the town as it were into east and west. It is a very fine building with a large and beautiful lawn dotted with shade trees. We are very proud of our schools."

Concerning the schools, another writer says that within three years after the first settlement was made, the pioneers of the town, unwilling that their children should be deprived of the benefits of an education, built a log schoolhouse, made from hewed slabs, and in place of windows they used oiled paper. It was here that eighty years ago "Aunt" Debbie Moyer taught the first school within the limits of Shelby. Her salary was nine shillings per month, with the understanding that she was to board herself. This building was burned within a year, and in 1822 another log building was built, but the log buildings in time were supplanted by more modern structures, and in 1874 the present central building was erected. Not only have the schools outgrown their primitive buildings, but they have steadily moved forward from the day when the teacher was required to teach only orthography, reading, writing and arithmetic as far as the "single rule of three," till today there are eight grades and a four years' high school course.

The pioneers encountered much and accomplished much. They worked hard and left to their descendants, as a rule, unsullied names. And while there was a hospitality then that present conditions would not make desirable, no one should contrast the present unfavorably with the past. A certain so-called equality may have been recognized then that would not now be congenial. There is a social and mental scale, which, like Banquo's ghost, will not down and can not be ignored. Let the carpist try to qualify himself to fill a higher niche, rather than to drag others down to his own level. Aim higher. 'Hitch your wagon to a star."

Friendships may exist between individuals and families; or, taking a more comprehensive scope, may bind a whole neighborhood together in common interests, as was the case with the pioneers.

The early settlers, as a class, were poor, comparatively. But poverty is not only the mother of invention, but the promoter of industry and enterprise. Poverty does some of the greatest and most beautiful things that are done in the world. It cultivates the fields and operates the shops and factories, and carries the commerce of nations upon the high seas. It sees the day break and catches the sun's first smile. It inspires the orator and the essayist and gives pathos to the poet's song. But while poverty places people upon a certain level, perfect equality is impossible. There never has existed a nation without gradations in society ; and it is evident that without grades the business of life could not be carried on. There could be neither leader nor followers, commander nor soldiers, director nor operator. The idea that there should be no gradations in positions in life is about as absurd as to expect that all hills should be of the same heights. Providence created an infinite variety in external nature and a variety as diversified seems to exist naturally among men. .

A "pioneer" has been defined as a person who resided in Richland county prior to 1820. Within this octogenary definition, but few pioneers remain.

The majority of the people who were living eighty-three years ago have passed into the land of the leal in their journey to that kingdom where Enoch and Elijah are pioneers.

In the continuation of the history of Shelby the schools deserve especial mention. When it is recalled that it has been but a short time, reckoned by history, since the public school system was inaugurated in Ohio, the rapid advances that have been made in both town and country schools, in the modes of teaching and in the uniformity of text books, is the more marked. Nowhere is this advancement more noticeable than is illustrated by the schools of both Mansfield and Shelby. The first schoolhouse built in Shelby was in 1821, in that part of the village then called "Texas." It was a log building, as were all the buildings of that day. The seats were rough benches made of hewn slabs, and slabs placed along the walls were used as desks. In such a rude cabin Debbie Moyer taught the first school in Shelby, eighty-two years ago. -\nd as a retrospective look is taken at the schools of that period the' fact is recalled that it was in such schools that the most prominent men of the country received their preliminary education, which in time enabled them to successfully take part in the great events of history. Fifty-four years after the school was taught in that log cabin by Debbie Moyer, a union school was opened September 1, 1875. in a large. handsome and convenient brick building that had been erected at a cost of over $26,000, and statistics for that vear showed that the running expenses of the several schools aggregated nearly $6.000. The first superintendent of the union schools was W. H. Pritchard, now deceased. Mr. Pritchard was born and reared in the vicinity of Bunker Hill. in Worthington township, this county. He was named for the Rev. William Hughes. a Presbyterian minister. who was much beloved by the people in southern Richland and Ashland counties, among whom he labored for many years. After some vears spent in teaching, Mr. Pritchard read law and became a member of the Mansfield bar - the law partner of his brotherin-law, Judge N. M. Wolfe. Later Mr. Pritchard removed to the far Northwest. where he became a judge of the court. serving upon the bench there at the same time Judge Wolfe did here.

But great as the Shelby school building was considered in 1875, it has since been enlarged to more than double its original size, and its campus is one of the most beautiful in the state.

The first survey for Shelby was made by John Stewart, June 26, 1834, and the plat contained twenty-three lots. The village was incorporated in 1854. William Hills was the first mayor. He was succeeded by Harrison Mickey, who was afterward a state senator.

Gamble's grist mill was situated at the southeast corner of Main and Gamble streets, the present site of Peter's drug store. It has been claimed that Gamble's was not the first grist mill in that locality - that there was a water power mill on the Blackfork. just south of Main street. But Hiram R. Smith, of Mansfield, now in the ninety-first vear of his age, states that such was not the case, and he transacted business at Gamble's frequently. The Gamble mill was operated by horse power, and it would not seem likely that if a water power plant was in operation on the Blackfork, that a horse power concern would be built upon the next corner. The surveyor's notes of a county road refer to McCluer's mill site further up the Blackfork, but it was a "site," not a "mill." The first water power grist mill on the Blackfork was built by John A. Duncan in 1839, where Whitney avenue crosses the stream. :

John Gamble, the founder of Gamble's Mills, was the promoter of the business interests of Shelby in many ways, and was the first postmaster of the place. His brother, Hugh Gamble, was distinguished in legislative and judicial affairs. He was a justice of the peace for a number of years and was an associate judge of the court of common pleas, and served two terms in the legislature.

The first newspaper in Shelby was called the Pioneer and was founded in 1858 by C. R. Brown. The next venture in that line was made by the late C. M. Kenton, who had served an apprenticeship in the Banner office at Mt. Vernon. Kenton afterwards succeeded well in the newspaper field, as editor and publisher of the Journal, at Marysville, Union county. Shelby, like other towns, has its newspaper grave-yard, which it is not the purpose of this sketch to disturb. Much as he is attached to his craft, the failure of his paper seldom breaks a printer's heart. He simply puts his rule in his pocket, goes to another town and makes another venture.

In the religious field a number of denominations have congregations and houses for worship in Shelby. The Methodists were the first to organize, and among their ministers were Harry O. Sheldon and Russell Bigelow. The Presbyterians first organized at Tavlor's Corners, in Jackson township, in 1822, but later changed their place for meetings to Shelby. Their new church building is of variegated sandstone uniquely constructed. The Christian church was organized in 1858, and the congregation has recently built a new house of worship. The pioneer preacher of this congregation was the late Elder Benjamin Lockhart. who was then a resident of Bellville. The United Brethren people organized in 1859. Thev erected a new church building a few vears ago. In fact, all the Shelby churches are new, or as good as new. The Lutherans organized in 1858. with forty-two members, and the Rey. A. R. Brown as pastor.

The beginning of the history of the Catholic church in Shelby dates back to Indian times. In 1745 Father Armand de la Ruhardie. pastor of the Tionontates or Wyandots at Sandusky, frequently visited the Blackfork, and traveling along its shores preached to the Indians. He was succeeded by Joseph Peter de Bonnecamp. The Reformed church was organized in 1852, with the Rev. J. B. Thompson as pastor. The names of many of Shelby's old-time residents are upon the membership list of this congregation. St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church was organized as a mission in 1892. While the St. Mark building is the smallest church edifice in the town, it is both handsome and convenient.

The late John Meredith - many years a resident of Shelby - was probate judge of Richland county in 1858-64. Judge Meredith purchased the Mansfield Spectator newspaper in 1836, and changed the name to the Ohio Shield, and later to that of the Shield and Banner. He retired from the business in 1841.

The late Hon. S. S. Bloom, lawyer, statesman and author, was identified with the Shelby press for many years. While the names of a few of the more prominent men who were identified with the history of Shelby can be cited, many who contributed to its growth, prosperity and good name can not be given in this limited chapter. As has been said of war: Every battle has its unnamed heroes. The common soldier enters the stormed fortress and, falling in the breach which his valor has made, sleeps in a nameless grave. The subaltern whose surname is scarcely heard beyond the roll-call on parade, bears the colors of his company where the fight is hottest. And the corporal, who heads his file in the final charge, is forgotten in the earthquake shout of victory which he has helped to win. The victory may be due as much or more to the patriot courage of him who is content to do his duty in the rank and file than to the dashing colonel who heads the regiment, or even to the general who plans the campaign, and yet unobserved, unknown and unrewarded the former passes into oblivion, while the leader's name is on every tongue and goes down in history. So it also is in local history; only a few of the many who deserve mention can be named. Shelby, like the other towns of Richland county, had her noble men who contributed each his share in making the county what it is today.

A notable personage whose business life covered fifty years of Shelby's history was the late Colonel John Dempsey. He was actively engaged in the wholesale and retail trade for a quarter of a century, then sold his business and turned his attention to his farms in that vicinity. He was the proprietor of the Mohican stock farms, and during the latter years of his life occupied the fine suburban residence situated in the center of beautiful grounds.

J. G. Hill was a resident of Shelby from the close of the Civil War until a few vears since. when he sold his newspaper plant and retired to a farm, and. for a time at least. has put "thirty" on the hook. Mansfield and Shelby are sister cities. bound together by rails of steel, with amiable relations and reciprocal interests.

The old barn which stands back of the Sutter-Higgins block has a history. Under its roof one of the greatest men in American history was first nominated for congress. It was then the city hall. It has since been used as a livery stable. Few people who notice the dilapidated structure know that it marks the starting point of Sherman's career.

The Hon. John Sherman was nominated the first time for congress in the summer of 1854, in what was then called Wilson's hall, in Shelby, Ohio. The building was of frame, two stories high, with its side to the street; various kinds of shops occupied the lower story, and the entire upper part was thrown into a hall, with a platform at one end. In this hall he was nominated as against Thomas Ford and Jacob Brinkerhoff, of Richland county, Ohio, and Hon. James M. Root, of Sandusky City, who had already occupied a seat in congress. His competitor was Hon. Mr. Lindsey, from Erie county, then a member of congress who was a wealthy and very respectable farmer, but whose early education had been neglected. This he manifested by his writing to one of his constituents that he had a new kind of "cede korne' that he wished to send to him to try. The letter was published and created merriment as campaign humor, but the democrats came back on the whigs by saying that Lindsey would show them how to plant corn, if he couldn't spell it. This was the year of the know nothing party's first success. It was a secret oath-bound party. Nobody seemed to know anything about how the election was going. The vest pocket votes prevailed; Lindsey was defeated by over two thousand three hundred majority by John Sherman. The latter even carried Richland county for the first time by three hundred majority. He really did not expect it, though he hoped so. "Old Sam Kirkwood," of Mansfield, who was then a democrat, told Sherman he guessed the democrats had beaten him badly, but in a few days the vote showed up differently. Every county in the old Thirteenth district had gone for Sherman and he had gained about three thousand from the previous election.

The Hon. S. S. Bloom, of this city, although a democrat was a personal friend of Mr. Sherman. He relates an incident which transpired when he was a member of legislature. Mr. Bloon saw Mr. Sherman standing at the bar of the house almost unnoticed. He rose to a question of privilege and when recognized by the speaker said: "I see standing at the bar of the house one of the most distinguished citizens of the United States, of Ohio and of my own county, the Hon. John Sherman, secretary of the treasury. I move the house take a recess of fifteen minutes to pay its respects to the honorable gentleman." Mr. Bloom was thanked very courteously for the marked attention shown the senator.

Another interesting story is told of the senator regarding his introduction to Joseph Neal who was then a resident of Shelby. Mr. Bloom and Mr. Neal were engaged in conversation relating to business when Senator Sherman came walking along West Main street in front of the building now oceupied by Anderson's clothing store. Mr. Bloom spoke to the senator. and Neal. who had never seen Sherman, was anxious to meet him. Mr. Bloom volunteered to introduce him and together they walked across Main street and stopped Mr. Sherman. The senator was told that Mr. Neal had always admired him and, having heard so much about him, was anxious to meet him and shake his hand. The senator was pleased and, as he extended his hand. he said, "Well, Mr. Neal, Iam glad to meet vou. Judging from all vou have heard of me, | suppose vou thought I had about seven heads and ten horns. but vou see J am very much the same as other men."

Robert Kellogg, of Norwalk, as near as can be learned. was chairman of the convention which nominated Mr. Sherman in this city. After being nominated Sherman of course was called upon for a speech. His first declaration was "T am an American citizen.' Prominent politicians who took part in the ' convention were: Messrs. Downing H. Young, George W. Moore. J. Smiley. Eli Wilson, John Kerr, Robert Kerr. S. M. Rockwell, Steven Marvin. Samuel Wiggins, Charles Gamble, Hiram and Edgar Wilson and Amos Levman.

Shelby Of Today

Louis Kossuth, in his tour of Ohio in 1851, passed through Shelby on the Cleveland & Columbus railroad. The train made a short stop at the junction and Kossuth gave a talk to the people who had assembled there to see him. The country was not then cleared and improved as it is now, and instead of the cultivated fields and fine homes that now line the road on either side, there were then stretches of woods, and log-cabins were seen on many farms. There was a strip of timber between the Junction and the village, almost hiding the town from the railroad station. William T. Coggeshall, of Columbus, accompanied the party as prompter, but Kossuth understood the name of the place as "Shallbe" instead of Shelby. Looking around and seeing no town, he exclaimed, "'Shallbe!'' Here are railroads and forests and lands, but in the future a town will spring up, and in time it 'shall be' a city." Prophetic words.

What changes fifty years have brought! But back of all these lies the pioneer history of the county, in which all should feel a grateful pride, and as we recount the story of the past let us determine to do the work and perform the duties that devolve upon us as our fathers and mothers did in their day and generation.

Shelby of today has a nom de plume or misnomer of Tubetown, inasmuch as Shelby was the first place in the United States where cold steel tubing was drawn and made use of by the government for boiler flues in building their mammoth men-of-war, torpedo boats, ete., gun barrels, shrapnell. A little city of less than ten thousand souls, not capricious at all, its churches, schools, factories in connection, with its skilled labor, being four most essential paramount factors. Shelby could likewise be called the "city of churches," as most of its church edifices have been recently constructed of the latest architecture: each congregation seemed to vie with the others in seeing who could erect the most beautiful structure. The following congregations are represented: Baptist, Rev. I. E. Moody, pastor; Catholic, Father A. A. Crehan; Christian. Rey. Charles C. Wilson, pastor; Episcopalian, John Oldham, pastor; English Lutheran, H. C. Funk. pastor; Methodist, O. J. Coby, pastor; Reformed. H. C. Blosser. pastor: Presbyterian, W. C. Munson, pastor; United Brethren, P. O. Rhodes, pastor. Were we to attempt to eulogize and bring out the many good qualities of the profession of the frock, of Shelby, who go * forth preaching the death of the Christ, it would make a volume of itself, hence we refrain. The church-going people of Shelby aggregate over three thousand souls. As to Shelbv's educational institutions, suffice it to say that Shelby pays today the highest rate of taxation, namely 15 mills, for promoting and supporting its schools, than any municipality in the great commonwealth of Ohio. Its school buildings, four in number, far excell most college buildings in modern construction, from a standpoint of architecture, with an eye single to its heating and ventilating facilities. Its board of education employ a faultless, disciplined corps of teachers in this realm of intellectuality, hard to excell anywhere.

The factories of Shelby of today are a legion and will receive special attention later. The indoor skilled mechanics of Shelby of today receive annually over $1,000,000 for its labor, and, it being one of Shelby's essential factors, it is opportune to add that labor is the source of all wealth. The blessings of government, like the dews of heaven, should be dispensed alike upon the rich and the poor, the high and the low. Neither should the government, by legislation, take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. It must be indelibly impressed on our minds that all men were created equal. Labor is prior to capital, capital being the fruits of labor. Hence labor. is superior to capital.

The citizens of Shelby of today are imbued with indomitable will, perseverance and energy; no task too great, no problem too deep to fathom. In the year of grace 1908, with a financial crisis affecting all commercial industries, Shelby of today forged ahead and built three new factories; namely, the Shelby Canning Company, the Tungston Lamp Company and the Ohio Seamless Tube Company. The Shelby Steel Tube Works, owned by the United States Steel Company, located in Shelby, a corporation in the trust, burned June 18, 1908, and by September 1 of the same year its citizens capitalized a stock company of $500,000 and commenced rebuilding an independent tube works. The main building was one hundred and fifty by four hundred and fifty feet, of brick material, interior steel structural, with powerful cranes attached on tracks, dispensing with much of the former heavy lifting on the former tube plant site.

The writer, only a few years ago, made a truthful comparison relative to Shelby of today, as follows: "In ancient days all roads led to Rome; in the present day and age all piked roads, in Richland county, lead to Shelby.

Another essential factor for Shelby of today is its miles of asphalt pavements (noiseless) and artificial curbing; with its fine high school campus, all of which assist in beautifying our little city. The fraternal and social clubs of Shelby are well sustained. The Colonial is the leading club, having commodious quarters. The secret and beneficial societies are well represented: Masonic Order, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Maccabees, Modern Woodmen, Foresters, Eagles, Owls, Knights and Ladies of Security, Ben Hur, Junior Order of American Mechanics, Daughters of America, Eastern Star, Rathbone Sisters. This city takes great' pride in Harker Post of the G. A. R. and its Sons of Veterans.

Shelby is well connected with the outside world. The main line of the Big Four, or New York Central, and the Baltimore & Ohio systems cross at this point and give an outlet in every direction. These two systems of railroads, recognized as among the best in the country, give this city splendid passenger service and ample shipping facilities. Shelby has two interurban electric lines. The Sandusky, Norwalk & Mansfield. one of the arteries of the northern Ohio system, gives ample outlet to the north. By means of this line a person can reach almost any city of importance in the northern part of the state. The Mansfield & Shelby Interurban is one of the links which will soon connect us with the network of lines to the south. These lines have been of great service to Shelby of today in a business way. Farmers, finding the electric lines very convenicnt, visit the citv much more frequently than before their construction. There is not a city, far or wide, large or small, in the state which has a finer agricultural country surrounding it than Shelby. The soi] is very rich and fertile, and the farmers are intelligent and prosperous. Go in any direction you please from this little city and vou will find fine farms.

good substantial buildings and highly productive land. Shelby affords an excellent market and for that reason is a great trading center, farmers coming even from adjoining counties.

The municipality owns and operates the electric light plant. The Logan Natural Gas Company furnishes gas for fuel and light at a moderate price, giving all the modern conveniences. The waterworks not only furnishes the purest water in the state, but the mammoth standpipe towering high gives ample pressure in the event of fire. The hotel accommodations are of the best. A visitor is guaranteed courteous treatment, a good table, clean beds and comfortable furnishings at both the Hotel Sherman, George W. Scott, proprietor, and the New Shelby House, owned by Selby Cole. The Citizens' Telephone Company and the Bell Telephone Company give excellent service, not only in the city, but also in the suburban and long distance calls. The city is well governed by an intelligent, conscientious set of officers. C. H. Huber is our mayor; W. D. Hanna, city clerk; Orville Mott, city treasurer ; B. F. Long, city solicitor: Melville Simon, marshal; John N. Miller and Jacob Gates, night police. The city council consists of L. A. Portner, William Imhoff, William Wise, George Koch. Joseph W. Smith and Leo McGaw. Publie service board, W. A. Shaw, Victor O. Peter and L. E. Scott.

Go where you please in the United States and you will not find a better class of business men than you find right here in Shelby of today. They are not only accommodating and courteous to a high degree, but are also thrifty and alive to every opportunity, and desirous of giving their patrons the best the market affords at a price commensurate with the quality of goods. In no better way can the thrift and prosperity of a community be measured than in the deposits in its banks. In this feature the banks of Shelby show up well in comparison with those in other cities of its size. Shelby has three strong financial institutions: the First National Bank, the Citizens' Bank and the Shelby Building & Loan Company. The First National Bank was organized April 1, 1872. The capital of the bank is $50,000 and it carries a surplus fund of $15,000. The growth in deposits has been very marked in the last few years. At the present time the bank deposits will amount to .......... and its loans and discounts to $ - - - - - - - __ The bank is a member of the Ohio and American Bankers' Association, is insured against burglary, has safety deposit boxes for rent, pays interest in its savings department at the rate of three per cent per annum and issues drafts on all the leading centers of the world. It is well managed and ably officered. B. J. Williams is president; J. L. Pittenger, vice president: James W. Williams, cashier, and W. I. Close, assistant cashier. Its board of directors, B. J. Williams, James W. Williams, J. L. Pittenger, Danforth Brown, W. A. Shaw, H. W. Steele and J. L. Seltzer.

The Citizens' Bank, although comparatively young, is one of the best known business houses in this section. It was organized in 1893, with a capital of $60,000. The bank is a member of the American Bankers' Association. It is insured against burglary and every means has been employed to secure to the depositors the oe degree of safety. At the present time the bank's deposits are $..........; - loans and investments, $.......... : surplus and undivided profits, $ - - - - - . The bank has safety boxes for rent and a saving department in which three per cent is paid on deposits. It issues bankers' money orders, guaranteed by the American Surety Company. The development of the bank during the past four years speaks well of the officers. Roger Heath is president; H. W. Hildebrant, vice president; H. G. Hildebrant, cashier, and C. C. Bloomfield, assistant cashier. The directors are R. Heath, H. W. Hildebrant, G. M. Skiles, Henry Wentz, I. Hollenbaugh, Edwin Mansfield, B. F. Long, W. H. Morris, J. C. Fish and L. A. Portner.

The Shelby Building & Loan Company is one of the strongest institutions in this city, and has brought sunshine and happiness into a large number of homes. It has been the means by which many a hard-working man has been the proud possessor of a home. Since its organization in 1895 it has enjoyed a constant and steady growth. The capital stock, which was originally _ $250,000, has lately been increased to $500,000. The last year has been the best in the company's existence. A three per cent semi-annual dividend was paid on July 1. The company has arranged a three per cent semi-annual dividend during all the years of its existence, a showing which has not been made by other similar organizations. Five per cent interest per annum, payable semi-annually, is paid by the loan company on certificates. Its loans are all made on real estate, with first mortgage security. With the exception of the attorney, B. F. Long, the officers of the company have remained practically the same since it was organized. They comprise: H. W. Hildebrant, president; W. A. Shaw, vice president; J. W. Williams, secretary; L. A. Portner, treasurer, and B. F. Long, attorney. The committee on appraisement consists of H. W. Hildebrant, L. A. Portner and J. L. Pittenger; committee on expenses, H. W. Steele, James Funk and L. A. Portner; auditing committee, J. L. Pittenger, James Funk and J. B. Shatzer.