20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 2

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993


USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 2


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108


808


McConkey, Archibald


McConkey. Daniel


311


McCormick. T. J.


747


Mcfiaffey, John


527


JeGary Jacob R.


531


McGregor. Howard


Melntyre. Dr. A. H.


544


McKee. Elza E.


534


MeKenny. James L.


806


Mckenzie, Francis E.


647


Mckinley. Walter


057


Mckinney, Cyrus


Mckinney, Samuel


Mckinnon. Daniel


McLoughlin, Dr. A. C.


541


Mclean, Hon. John


515


MeNemar, R. R.


5925


Mahar. William Y


535


Malone, James B.


Martin, Abraham


...


Ilgaz60 by Google


Hinkle. Saul S ..


Hlirons. John B., M. D. .. 1016


ITiser. Charles LL.


617


Hiser. Daniel B.


617


Hockman. Milton H.


Hodge. Andrew


721


Hodge. Asa W


721


Hodge. J. Milton 721


Hoffman, Martin C. 767


Holt. Hon. George W 5.16


Hopkins. E. B. 893


Horner, W. R. ₹30


Horner. William R.


Houck, Edwin S


534


Houston, Leon LL.


.10.16


Houston. Robert


538


Houston. Thomas F .1016


Houston, William L.


1016


Howett. Daniel


Howett. Joseph R.


IImmbarger. John W


Humbarger. W'm. 915


Hunt, James M.


Hunt, Ralph 571


Ilunt, Dr. Richard 537


Hunt. Maj. William


HIunter. Lemnel


Hunter, William


Hyslop. William W


PAOK


Hatfield, James Hon


578


Hatfield. Nathaniel


578


Hauk, Columbus B.


Hauk. James N.


Haya, Edward A


Hays, Samuel


Heistand, Abraham C. 803


Heistand, Christian L. 881


Hleistand, Dr. C. M.


Helfrich, John E.


597


Helfrich, Michael


5.07


Helman, Cyrus 8 ..


5.37


Hendershott, Dr. Isaac


Hess, John


742


Hess. Thomas M. 742


Hicks, J. William 700


Higgins, Patrick J 534


IIIII. William D.


Hinkle, John


Hinkle, Michael


864


Kelly, John


504


Homan. James


130


Link, A. C ..


5.3.1


Linn, James A


791


Linn, William R


191


Laybourn. Lewla J.


702


Layton. Joseph


510


Layton, John A.


847


12


INDEX


!!


PAGR


Martin, Christian


588


Martin. David


DAS


Neer, William H.


821


Martin. Emanuel J.


5.88


Martin. Oscar T ..


Martin, P. B ..


5330


Neff. Jacob I).


Martin, Paul C.


Martin, William A. 1.4.1


Martz. B. F.


5.9.0


Mason. Gen. Samson


525


Mast, Hon. Phineas P.


886


Mattinson, Thomas


859


Maughan, Patrick L.


0.50


Maughan, Patrick


6.5.8


Maxson, Jesse I.


908


Mellinger. Benjamin F


Mellinger, Harry S.


830


Mellinger, John E.


Mellinger. John II. 830


Merritt, Charles II.


880


Merritt. Edward


880


Michael. Adam


750


Michael, Alexander


1018


Michael, Simon


75.6


Michael. Walter S


1018


Mickle. Charles E


.1010


Miller. Charles D.


957


Miller, Charles R.


956


Miller, Dayton


Miller. Emanuel


.. 1008


Miller, Dr. E. Calvin


Miller, J. J. 530, 535


Miller, John M.


Miller, Joseph


755


Miller. Moses


956


Miller, Oliver IL.


Miller, Oliver J.


702


Miller, Samuel


702


Miller, Seba H. 535


Miller. William


Minulch, Cassius W 783


Minnich, John


Minuich, Peter 811


Minnich, Thomas B 8:44 Milligan. Hou. Melvin L ..... 1029 Mills. John 830


Mitchell, James B


Mitchell. Ross


Mitzel, Jacob 869


Morris. Charles F.


524


Mosher, F. E.


Mower, Jacob Krieder


522


Muff. Stewart A.


.1055


Mumford. Tunis F.


.1023


Mumford, William H


1023


Murdock. Dr. William


538


Nave, Enoch K.


071


Phillips. Lewis


PAOK Piles, James PAGE


Plummer. John L.


Prince, Benjamin F


Pringle, Thomas J.


531


Procter, Joseph R.


Proctor, William


917


Prosser. George


95.0


Prosser, John S.


950


Rabbitts, Charles


Rabbitts. James IL.


Rabbitts. William 8


Rader, Michael


Rader. Philip


895


Rankin, James F


589


Rankin. John


5.80


Rankin. Stacy' B


3.80


Rawlins, George C.


532


Ray. John


Ray. Lewis


1025


Redmond, Harry G.


823


Redmond, Judson


823


Reynolds. Henry


FSB


Reynolds, William W. 935


Rice, Claude F 8.92


Rice, William


691


Paden, James


625


Richards, Edward


782


Paden, W. Q.


825


Paine, Thomas A 084


Parmenter. J. W. 939


Parrish, Orrin


516


Parsons, Israel


25.5


Parsons, John W.


Partington, Charles


Partington, James


41012


Roberts, James H.


Patrie, Charles E


697


Roberts, Reuben M.


Patric, Richard F


Patterson. Charles LI.


Patterson, Malcolm H.


Patton, Dr. William B. Sail


Penmon, Joseph


930


Pearson. William


Pease, Calvin


515


Pierce, Darwin


920


Pierre. Edwin


020


Pemberton. Philip E


Penqnite, James


5.07


Penquite. Samuel LI


Penquite. William


Perrin. John M


784


Rolfes. Frank LL.


Petre, Charles H


Petre, Lewis .


Phleger, Edward


854


Phleger, Edward C.


848


Ruby, Harry W


618


Phleger, John L.


Runyan. George


Runyan. Henry


800


Nave. Jacob. Sr.


071


Pierer. Charles H.


013


Runyan. J. Milton


Nave, Jacob,


671


Neer, Nathan


821


Needham, Dr. Willlam A.


537


Neff, Jacob. Sr.


702


Newberry, W. S.


5.30


Nickelson. Andrew


937


Nickelson. Charles


Nisley, Charles L.


Norton. Percy


.590, 535


Oglevee. J. F


Olinger, C. S. .


8.5.5


Olinger. George W


076


Olinger. Joseph C.


976


Olinger, William H.


978


Otstot, Daniel


78.0


Otstot. Jolın


30031


Otstot. John F.


997


Otstot, William


1031


Otstot, William T.


Owen, Dr. Edward


Overholser. Moses


089


Reynolds. Dr. Jobn H.


580


Richardson, George C.


Ricks, John T.


9-15


Ridgely, Charles T


Ritchie. Charles N.


Ritchle. Edward H. 983


Robbins, Dr. James


538


Roberts, Thomas LI


Robinson, Walter E 595


Rockel, Adam


Rockel. Henry


732


Rockel, Peter


Rocke !. William M.


Rockhill, C. B.


530


Rodgers, A. D.


Rodgers, Dr. John HI


Rodgers. Richard H


Rodgers, Dr. Robert


511


Rodgers, Robert C ..


835


Rogers, William A .. J51Z


Rolfes, Frank IL., Sr


Roller. Charles E


Roller. Sylvanus


83R


Digined by Google


Richards, John A.


Overholser, William H


988


Oxtoby, Henry


Mason, Rodney


525


13


INDEX


PAGE


Runyan, Thomas W


531


Snyder. Fred


Rust. Daniel


1018


Snyder. Henry


.813,


Snyder. John Jacob


Thomas. A. II. ..


Thomas, Hon. John H.


5.10


Thomas. Thomas P.


800


Thomas, William 800


Scarff, John J.


897


Scarff. Willlam N


897


Schaefer. Henry L. 693


Schaefer, Leonard 693


Schaffner. John D.


Schaffner. Peter


Schaus, W. LL.


854


Schuster, C. A ..


018


Selfers. Reuben


Stafford, Robert F.


Todd, William B 758


Steinbarger, George S


1011


Torbert, Hon. James L. ..


.516, 523


914


Seitz. Andrew


.617, 827


Seltz, Henry 828


Seys. Dr. H. H 5-3


Sharon, Joshua D.


Sharp. John 928


Shellabarger, David E.


Shellabarger. Ephraim 927


Shellabarger. George 933


Shellabarger, Isaac 959


Shellabarger, Samuel


Sherlo, Garrett 700


Shouvlin. P. J .. 870


Showers. Frank 530


Shroyer. David 808


Sleverling. William H.


Silvers, Eli F.


817


Skillings, Eben


748


Skillings, Lewis 007


Slaughter, George H. 840


Smith. Adolphus H 291


Smith, Amos


Smith. Arthur Z.


Smith, Charles C. 037


Smith. Christian M. 887


Smith. David J. 645


Smith, Ell 503


Smith, Howard 8 740


Smith, J. Quincy 845


Smith, Lewis H.


701


Smith, Oscar L.


701


Sun, Gus


Nmith, Peter


887


Smith, Roger V 535


Smith. Russell 878 Smith, Seth W


Smith, T. A. 878


Snaufer. Jacob 643


Snodgrass, Andrew 784 Snodgrass. Joseph F 783


Snyder. Christian


Snyder. D. L.


843


Taylor. John


Snyder, Eli


Taylor, Lewellen


797


Tehan. George W


PAGE


Thackery, Joseph H.


Thackery, William


Russell, Hugh 008


Russell, Hugh, Sr


Snyder. Samnel 057


Spyder. Steven D


Snyder, William L.


SES


Spence, George A


SST


Thomas, Ilon. William S.


Tindall. Robert A.


789


Tindall, Thomas 754


Tippie, George J


Titus, Harley


Titus, James


P


Stafford. Horace W


535


Todd, James


Stafford, Joseph LL


Todd, Samuel A.


Scott, W. A.


Seitz. Amos


817


Stevans, Dr. W. G ..


763


Toulmin, Harry A


Stewart, Chase


Stewart, Charles F 710


Stewart, David W SLS


Stewart, Earl


5.35


Trout. O. B.


595


Stewart Family 5.61


Stewart. Frank E.


Stewart, James G


535


Stewart, John T. .1009 Tuttle, Caleb


Stewart, Oscar N. 831


Stewart, Perry


SOS


Stewart, Perry H.


Tuttle. Rev. Harvey H. 707


Stewart. Samuel


Tuttle. Isaac


Tuttle, Jacob


Stickney. John


Tuttle. James O.


Tuttle, John


.712 22


Tuttle, Sylvanus


.630,


707


Tuttle. William E


931


Tuttle. William H.


877


Tuttle, W. F


Twichell, Clayton HI


Twichell, Smith S


l'lery, Rev. George


740. 594


T'lery. Isaac


T'Jery. Joseph


I'Jery, Mrs. Mary Ann


740


Underwood, J. B


Vale, William S.


1052


Yan Bird. ...


Van Bird. Silas


S11


Van Horn, Joseph


Verity. Henry


Verity, Luella


Verity. Sarah E


Vinal, Harvey


Voges. Ilerman


157. 749


Volmer, Jaroh


Wady. C. E ..


Waddie. Joseph M.


716


Trout. Philip


Troxell. William


Turner, Edwin B.


779


Tuttle. George


Tuttle. George W 717


Stipp. Abraham


Stipp, Martin L ..


Stockstill, Dr. J. N


Stoner. Adam


Stone, Dr. John C ..


Stotts, Roscoe G., M. D. $41


Stroup. Jesse


Studebaker, Peter


Studebaker, Samnel


Sullivan, John W Sultzbach, Howard 100%


Snitzbach. Joseph


941


Swaidper, John S.


Swan, Joseph R ..


Swartzbaugh. Theodore


Tarbutton, Jesse


Tatman. Joseph


Tateman, Stewart I.


Taylor. Birch R.


Taylor. Daniel R


449


Snyder. Felty


Spence, George


Spence, Mark


Stackhouse. W. LI. OSS


Stafford, Finley


Stafford. George


Troupe, Toppy


Trout. John F


Trout. . Joseph D.


Stewart, William C.


Stickney. Henry


Stickney, William T


PAGE


Digiized by Google


14


INDEX


PAGE


Waddle. William


503


Willis, W. H ..


Yakey, 530


Walhay. William 850


Wilson, LL Blair


Yeazeli. Abraham


Walhay. Wilson 850


Wilson. John H. 618


Wilson, Hugh . 823


Yeazell, Jacob


Wallace. Edward 8 531


Wilson. Michael B. 714


Yeasel. Jobn A.


Wallace. Ira W. 718


Wallace, Thomas D.


Wilson. William S.


Yeazell. William M.


Weaver, Joseph


Winger Hon. Amaziah


611


Winger, Jacob


612


Welgel, Benjamin F 887


Welty. J. Jerome 135


Wise. Charles F


West, David E.


Wise, John U.


708


West, Louis


Wine. Lewis 708


Wheeler, Ebenezer 665


Witmeyer, W. W


Wheeler, Elliott D. 605


Wood. Albert


Wood. Isaiah


725


White, Charles R 518


Wond James J.


1051


White, Fletcher 530


Wolf, Amos


White, William 517,


Wickham, Henry


Wildman, Alvin E


900


Wildman, Edward


803


Zimmerman, George


Wildman. John


Zimmerman, John L.


Zimmerman, Samuel


Zinn, Gold W.


316


Willis. F. W


530


Xanders, William


Zinn, Peter S.


-


-


Digiized by Google


Zeller. John M ..


Zerkle, Samuel S. JOBS


Ziegler, George L ...


Zimmerman. Albert L. 535


Wray. William


505


Wren Co .. The Edward 1040


Wren, James K.


Wildman, William


9.03


Wilkinson, John A.


709


PAOK


PAGE


Weaver. Hon. Walter L 2.00


Young. Charles Adam 841


Young, Charies Addison


Young, Dr. LL U


Young Jacob


Young, John 811


Young.


.emue


745


Young. I.utber EL


535


Wheeler. John


005


Wraight. Henry G 530


Wray, Filmund


505


Xanders. Enos W


Yeazell, George 577


Walker, Willis S 53.0


Wilson, Michael 714


Yeazell. Joseph Milton


Yeazell, William


5.12 Winwood. Dr. Benjamin 945


Illustrations


PAGE


American Seeding Co.


162


Amphitheatre-Fair Grounds


Ansted & Burk Company's Plant. 171


Arcade Building. Springfield 403


Black Opera House


192


Bookwalter Block, Springfield


405


Bretney Tannery. Springfield


102


Bridge Across Mad River 08


Buckingham Block, Springfield 408


Bushnell Block. Springfield


520


Bushnell School, Springfield


Center Street M. E. Church, Springfield 488


Central Engine House. Springfield


Chillicothe Street, So. Charleston 22%


Champion Chemical Company's Plant 184


Champion Works, International Harvester Co. 212 City Building. Springfield 150 City Hospital, Springfield 434 Clark. Gen. George Rogers


Clark County Children's Home 434


Clark County Court House 150 Clark County Infirmary


Clark Memorial Home for Aged Women 200 Clark County Historical Society Building 119 Country Club, Springfield County Officers' Building 15.0 Crowell Publishing Co's Building, Springfield 408


East Side Main Street, New Carlisle 340 Elmwood School. Springfield


Factory Street Engine Honse, Springfield 118 Fairbanks Buildings and Lagonda Bank, Springfield 520


Friends' Meeting House. Selma


First Congregational Church, Springfield 5.02 First Baptist Church. Springfield 489


First Lutheran Church, Springfield


First Presbyterian Church. Springfield


148


Old Saw Mill


270


Fons Manufacturing Company's Plant


Foos Gas Engine Co., Springfield 174


Gen. Whiteman's Old Stone House, Clifton 214 Gotwald Bullding. Springfield


Harmer. Gen. Josinh


68


Harrison. Gen. William LI.


PACK


High School Building, Springfield


520


High Street M. E. Church, Springfield


118


High School, So. Charleston


House Built by John Paul


241


High School, Plattsburg 350


Hotel, Catawba


340


Jesse Boyd Hotel


Jefferson School, Springfield


Johnson Bullding ( Wren's Store) Springfield


520


Judge Halsey Property, Springfield


88


Kelly Piant, Springfield


King Bullding. Springfield 408


Knights of Pythias Home


Lagonda Club, Springfield


45.4


Masonic Building. New Carlisle


340


Masonic Home. Springfield


431


Mast, Foos & Co., Plant, Springfield


102


Metallic Casket Co. .


M. E. Church, Catawba


M. P. Church, Catawba 340


New Sun Theatre, Springfield


10º


New Zimmerman Building, Springfield


520


Odd Fellows' Home, Springfield


Oesterlen Orphans' Home


118


Oll Mill on Buck Creek 270


O. K. House


270


Old Brick House, W. Main St., Springfield 102


Old Cartmell Residence. Pleasant Township Old City Hall. Springfield 39


214


Old Court House


Old Episcopal Church


118


Old Mill at New Carlisle


244


Old Pennsylvania House. Springfield 270


Old Schoolhouse-Hopewell School


Peoples' Home, Plattsburg


3.5.0


Post Office. Springfield


P. P. Mast & Co's Office, Springfield


408


P. P. Mast Plant. Springfield


10%


Presbyterian Church. So. Charleston


3:28


Present Station House, Springfield


Digazed by Google


16


INDEX


RESIDENCES.


PAGE


Battin, Samuel R., Madison Township 118


Bushnell, Mrs. A. S., Springfield 540


Crowell, J. S., Springfield


540


Evans, Milton L., German Township. 981


Foos, William, Springfield


78


Geron, Peter, Moorefield Township 759


Haddix, Frank, Mad River Township 952


Hodge, Asa W., Moorefield Township 720


Mast, P. P., Springfield 78


Mitchell, Ross, Springfield 78


Parmenter, J. W .. Springfield 78


Roller, Charles E., Bethel Township 837


Thresher, John, Lagonda, Springfield 24-4


St. Bernard's Church, Springfield 502


St. Charles' (Catholle) Church, So. Charleston


502


St. Clair, Gen. Arthur


66


St. John's Lutheran Church, Springfield


502


St. Raphael's (Catholic) Church, Springfield


488


St. Raphael's School, Springfield


118


School Building. New Carlisle 340 Selma Special School, Selma 466


Soldiers' Monument, Springfield 150


Sinking Creek Church, Springfield Township 244 Snyder Mill, Springfield Township 270


Springfield Malleable Iron Co.


162


PAGE


Springfield in 1832


98


Stand Pipe, Springfield 38


Town Hall, Catawba 340


Town Hall, Clifton 98


Thomas Manufacturing Co., Springfield


350


Travelers' Rest, Springfield Township 270


United Presbyterian Church, Springfield 488


View in Ferncliff Cemetery, Springfield. 296


View in Snyder Park


View on Little Miami, near Clifton 206


Warder Public Library, Springfield 434


Water Works Pump House, Springfield 528


Wayne, Gen. Anthony


66


Western School. Springfield 38


Wickham Piano Plate Co., Springfield 350


WITTENBERG COLLEGE, FOUR VIEWS OF.


384


Dormitory


Hamma Divinity Hall


Main College Building Zimmerman Library


Y. M. C. A. Building, Springfield 502


Y. W. C. A. Building, Springfield


434


-


-


-


Mailized hy Google"


bigtroco by Google


-


-


Dig zed by Google


history of Clark County.


CHAPTER I.


PREHISTORIC MATTER.


A Tale of the Airly Days-Geological Formation-Limestone Formation-Coal, Oil, and Gas-Glacial Drift-Singular Growth of Timber-Prehistoric Man -Prehistoric Animals-Mounds and Mound-Builders-The Bechtle Mound.


A TALE OF THE AIRLY DAYS.


Oh! tell me a tale of the airly days- Of the times as they ust to be;


"Piller of Fi-er" and "Shakespear's Plays" Is a'most too deep for me!


I want plane facts, and I want plane words,


Of the good old-fashioned ways,


When speech run free as the songs of birds 'Way back in the airly days.


Tell me a tale of the timber-lands -- Of the old-time pioneers; Somepin a pore man understands With his feelin's 's well as ears. Tell of the old log house,-about The loft, and the puncheon flore-


The old fi-er place, with the crane swung out,


And the latch-string through the door.


Tell of the things just as they was -- They don't need no excuse!


Don't teach 'em up like the poets does, Tel theyr all too fine fer use !- Say they was 'leven in the fambily- Two beds, and the chist below,


And the trundle-beds that each helt three, And the clock and the old bureau.


Then blow the horn at the old back-door Tel the echoes all halloo,


And the children gethers home one't more, Jest as they ust to do: Blow fer Pap tel he hears and comes, With Tomps and Elias, too,


A-marchin' home, with the fife and drums And the old Red, White and Blue!


- 1


Dia zed by Google


20


HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY


Blow and blow tel the sound draps low As the moan of the whipperwill,


And wake up Mother, and Ruth and Jo, All sleepin' at . Bethel Hill : Blow and call tel the faces all Shine out in the back-log's blaze,


And the shadders dance in the old hewed wall


As they did in the airly days. Riley.


GEOLOGICAL FORMATION.


In a work of this character only a cur- sory view of the geological formation of the county could properly be given.


According to the geological map of Ohio, the dividing course of the lower and upper silurian rock are within the bounds of this county, the entire bed rock of Ohio being Trenton limestone, which is the first in formation in the lower silu- rian period. This rock' takes its name from a picturesque and well-known local- ity in Trenton Township, Oneida County, New York. It has generally been re- corded in Ohio as being found at a depth of from one to two thousand feet.


The Utica Shales are the second in for- mation after the Trenton limestone and Professor Orton says, "In the wells of Springfield, Urbana, and Pigna it is found in undiminished thickness, but in some more calcareous in composition."


As to what may properly constitute the geological scale applicable to Ohio. the following is taken from a work of Prof. Orton :


"A brief review of the scale and struc- ture of the State will here be given, but before it is entered upon, a few funda- mental facts pertaining to the subject will he stated.


"1. So far as its exposed rock series is concerned, Ohio is built throughout its whole extent of stratified deposits or, in other words, of heds of clay, sand and limestone, in all their various gradations, that were deposited or that grew in water, There are in the Ohio series no igneous nor metamorphic rocks whatever; that is, no rocks that have assumed their present form and condition from a molten state or that, subsequent to their original for- mation, have been transformed by heat. The only qualification which this state- ment needs pertains to the beds of drift by which a large portion of the State Is covered. These drift beds contain boul- ders in large amount, derived from the igneous and metamorphic rocks that are found around the shores of Lake Supe- rior and Huron, but these boulders are recognized by all, even by the least ob- servant, as foreign to the Ohio scale. They are familiarly known as 'lost rocks' or 'erratics.'.


"If we should descend deep enough be- low the surface we should exhaust these stratified deposits and come to the granite foundations of the continent which con- stitute the surface rocks in parts of Can- ada, New England and the West, but the drill has never yet hewed its way down to these firm and massive beds within our boundaries.


"The rocks that constitute the present surface in Ohio were all formed in water, and none of them have been modified and masked by the action of high tempera- tures. They remain in substantially the same condition as that in which they were formed.


"2. With the exception of the coal seams and a few beds associated with


Dos200 by Google


21


AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.


them, and of the drift deposits, all the formations of Ohio grew in the sea. There are no lake or river deposits among them, but by countless and infallible signs they testify to a marine origin. The remnants of life which they contain, often in the greatest abundance, are decisive as to this point.


"3. The sea in which or around which they grew was the former extension of the Gulf of Mexico. When the rocks of Ohio were in process of formation, the warm waters and genial climate of the Gulf extended without interruption to the borders of the great lakes. All of these rocks had their origin under such con- ditions.


"4. The rocks of Ohio constitute an orderly series. They occur in widespread sheets, the lowermost of which are co- extensive with the limits of the State. As we ascend in the scale the strata con- stantly occupy smaller areas, but the last series of deposits, viz., those of the Car- boniferous period, are still found to cover at least one-fourth of the entire area of the State. Some of these formations can be followed into and across adjacent States, in apparently unbroken continu- ity.


"The edges of the successive deposits in the Ohio series are exposed in innumer- able natural sections, so that their true order can generally be determined with certainty and ease.


"For the accumulation and growth of this great series of deposits vast periods of time were required. Many millions of years must be reckoned in any rational explanation of their origin and history. All of the stages of this history have practically unlimited amounts of past


time upon which to draw. They have all gone forward on so large a scale, so far as time is concerned, that the few thou -. sand years of human history would not make an appreciable factor in any of them. In other words, five thousand years or ten thousand years make too small a period to be counted in the formation of coal, for example, or in the accumulation of petroleum, or in the shaping of the surface of the state through the agencies or erosion."


LIMESTONE FORMATION.


The limestone cropping out around the · City of Springfield and west along Mad River, and in some other places of the county is what is known as Niagara shale, and constitutes some of the finest build- ing stone and lime to be found anywhere, and in the geological survey of Ohio it is spoken of as follows:


"We come next to what has been de- nominated the Springfield Stone, viz .: the building-stone courses which form so con- stant an element in the Niagara rocks of Ohio at this horizon. It is separated from the West Union limestone by a distinct boundary. As this portion of the series is so well developed and exhibited in the Springfield quarries, it seems appropriate to designate it as the Springfield lime- stone, and this name has accordingly been attached to this division in all portions of Southwestern Ohio in which it is shown. It is a prominent member of the Highland County series, as will be seen in the report of the geology of that county, subserving there the same purpose as a building stone that it does here.


"The Springfield limestone is a mag-


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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY


nesian carbonate, containing generally atmospheric agencies. The drab courses about fifty per cent of carbonate of lime, are almost all durable building stones in all ordinary situations. Making up as they do the bulk of this division, they fur- nish an invaluable supply of building- stone to Springfield and the adjacent country." and forty per cent of carbonate of mag- nesia. Some of the remaining substances -- a small percentage of silica, and also of alumina-stand in the way of its be- ing burned into an approved lime. There is, however, no uniformity in its composi- tion. COAL, OIL AND GAS.


"The prevailing color of this rock in Clark County is a light drab, though sev- eral blue courses ocenr. To the south- ward, the rock is mainly blue. The desir- ability of the light-colored stone for fine work is sometimes lessened by faint red- dish streaks through its substance.


"The thickness of this division is never more than twenty feet, and seldom ex- ceeds fifteen feet in this portion of the state. At Holcomb's, it is thirteen feet. Like the other members of the series, it expands to the southward, reaching at Hillsboro its maximum in Ohio of forty- five feet.


"Beginning in the Springfield quarries at the bottom of the series, we find sev- eral heavy courses, from ten to eighteen inches thick, overlying the West Union cliff. These lowest courses are blue in color, and, despite their massive appear- ance, are generally treacherous as bild- ing-stones. Where exposed to the weather, they lose, in a few years, their dressed surfaces, their seams continually widen, and, in a word, they show them- selves to be undergoing a state of certain, thongh slow, disintegration.


"The blue courses generally, even when found above the lowest beds, show the same tendency, and should at least be carefully tested before being used in structures where they can be attacked by


The Carboniferous and Sub-carbonifer- ous formations in Ohio occupy the greater portion of the eastern and southeastern part of the state. Although numerous attempts have been made, no gas or oil has been found in this county in paying quantities.


In 1865 gas was discovered in Pike Township but not in paying quantities. After oil and gas had been discovered in the Lima district in 1884, the matter was again discussed and brought up in our county and Judge Mower and others became interested, and a well in the vicin- ity of the former one in Pike Township was again sunk, but only what is known as a "pocket" was discovered. This was in 1890.


In 1887, a well was sunk in the old Frey stone quarry immediately north of Buck Creek and east of Fountain avenne, and a "pocket" of gas was discovered, probably prodneing more gas than any other well that had been sunk in the coun- ty, for some time afterward it was allowed to burn and go to waste, when finally it was piped into Mr. Frey's house and was for some time used by him for domestic purposes.


In 1892, P. P. Mast sunk a well in the western part of Springfield, and in 1888, William N. Whitely also sunk one near what is now the Foos Gas Engine Works,




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