USA > Ohio > Knox County > A history of Knox county, Ohio, from 1779 to 1862 inclusive > Part 17
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KNOX COUNTY.
CHAPTER XX.
EVENTS FROM 1820 TO 1830.
WHITE MALE INHABITANTS AND VOTERS AT VARIOUS ELECTIONS WITHIN THIS TIME .- SOME ACCOUNT OF THE FINANCES AND REVENUE .- THE LAST OF THE INDIAN. - A WARNING. - THE OLD COURT-HOUSE FALLS, AND A NEW ONE IS PROJECTED .- OTHER OCCURRENCES.
THE white male inhabitants of Knox county above the age of 21 in 1820, were 1290, located as follows : Hillier 21, Bloomfield 69, Morgan 152, Miller 72, Jackson 178, Chester 122, Wayne 168, Morris 157, Union 144, and Clinton 207.
The county gave its vote for Ethan Allen Brown for Governor; John Sloane for Congress ; Wm. Gass for Senator ; R. D. Simons for Representa- tive ; Wm. Bevans for Sheriff; Abner Ayres for Commissioner, and E. G. Lee for Coroner.
Among the orders issued by the county, June 6th, 1820, were-
No. 3928. Paying Moody & M'Carty for articles furnished Overseers of the Poor for the squaw that was shot. $2.84 4
¥ 3929. Hosmer Curtis and Mott for expenses in- curred for the sick squaw . 1.00
3930. Jacob Martin, making coffin for squaw .. 6.00
This, in the Indian line, is among the last known in the county. This squaw was of the Stockbridge tribe, and one of a small party who, in traveling
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out of Licking county, was espied and shot by Hughes, when near Homer, and in Morgan town- ship. Without provocation or just cause, but sim- ply to gratify his private hatred of the Indian race, she was shot through the hip. Her comrades brought her on to Mount Vernon, where her suf- ferings became too great to admit of her being taken further. She was put in the old log gun- smith shop of John Earnhart, on High street, but the quarters being uncomfortable on account of cold November weather, she was moved to an old log house on the north-west corner of Mulberry and Vine streets, and there died. True to the Indian stoicism she never groaned or complained, although her sufferings were intense. Five or six of her tribe staid through her sickness, and then buried her in the north-east corner of the old graveyard. For several years afterwards her husband would return at the time of year when she died to view her grave and see that the body remained undis- turbed.
From this same old log house, in October, 1826, a gun was fired which caused the death of Ben. Roberts. George Low then lived in the house, and Jim Low was staying with him, when on Hallow Eve night, several of the town boys were out throwing cabbages against the doors, as has from time immemorial been the custom, and as they threw against Low's door, Jim took down his rifle and fired between the logs, the ball lodging in Ben's leg. He was carried home, and, after laying for some time, it became necessary to amputate the leg, which was done one Sunday, and the next
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afternoon at 4 o'clock he died. Low was tried, and Sam Mott defended him, and he was acquitted. This shooting affair caused very great excitement, and ever since, on the annual return of Hallow Eve, the old settlers rehearse this story to their children and grandchildren, as a warning against following this ridiculous custom of throwing cab- bage heads to the annoyance of quiet people.
In 1822, the county gave majorities for Daniel S. Norton for Congress ; H. Curtis for Representa- tive ; Wm. Bevans for Sheriff; John Kerr for Commissioner ; W. Y. Farquhar for Auditor; James McGibeny for Coroner.
In 1821, majorities were given for Jeremiah Morrow for Governor; Wilson for Congress ; Col- erick for Sheriff; Stilley for Commissioner ; Rig- don for Representative ; Runyan for Coroner, and Farquhar for Auditor.
In October, 1825, the jail built by Solomon Gel- ler is found according to contract, except " he is yet to put in a stove, and the door above going into the debtors' apartment."
In 1826, the whole number of votes cast was 1828, and the county gave majorities for Trimble for Governor; Norton for Congress ; Robeson for Representative ; Colerick for Sheriff; Runyan for Coroner ; Elliott for Auditor ; Leonard for Com- missioner.
At the June session, 1826, of the Commissioners, upon petition of Francis Wilkins and others, a road was ordered to be opened up Dry Creek, be- ginning on the farm of Daniel S. Norton, to inter- sect the old road on the corner of Frederick Carey's
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orchard. Jonathan Miller, R. D. Simons and James McGibeny were appointed viewers, and J. W. Warden, surveyor.
On the 30th of September, the county jail is re- ceived in full satisfaction by the Commissioners. Wm. Bevans was allowed $5 for crying sale of the jail.
VALUATION OF KNOX COUNTY IN 1826.
Land, 301,695 acres, valued at $716,070
Town property 81,362
Mercantile capital 60,000
Houses 26,340
Horses, 2467 98,680
Cattle, 4483
35,864
Total .. $1,018,376
At this time Mount Vernon is stated as contain- ing 80 dwelling-houses, one printing office, a brick court-house and jail, a merchant mill, a saw mill, a cotton factory, and within six miles, 9 grist and saw mills and three carding machines.
In 1827, Patterson and Smith, of The Western Aurora, published the Delinquent List for the or- dinary price, and refunded one-fourth of the whole amount for county use.
In 1827, March 29, W. Y. Farquhar was "ap- pointed keeper of the Knox county standard and half bushel measure, and authorized to get a half bushel of copper !"
Martin Tracy then gave bond as county Auditor, with John Troutman, Solomon and Paul Welker as securities.
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KNOX COUNTY.
At the June Term it was ordered that the Aud- itor cause two blank books for county orders to be procured, and that C. & J. Colerick print the same, and that the Auditor furnish six quires of paper for that purpose.
At the December Term, H. B. Curtis' account for office rent and wood is allowed-office rent, 7 months, $84; and wood 3 winters for Recorder's office, $15.
"OLD THINGS SHALL BE DONE AWAY WITH AND ALL BECOME NEW."
October 18th, 1828, James McGibeny contracted with the commissioners to build a stone wall to support the Court-house bank, standing ten feet north and south of the Court-house.
But all efforts to save it were unavailing : it had been written, "Carthago detenda est ;" and on the 2d of December an order issued to B. S. Brown for $40, in consequence of the loss of his office by the fall of the Court-house.
The Court-house was no sooner down than the commissioners ordered proposals to be published in the Standard and Advertiser, for the purpose of making donations for the building of a new Court- house, and for a plan of building, &c. On the 20th of January, 1829, they agreed with Thomas Irvine for his brick house for a court-house, at $25 per term, in orders on the county treasury. In April, James Smith is notified by Marvin Tracy that the commissioners have obtained Thomas Ir- vine's bar-room for an office. The levy for taxes in Knox county, June, 1829, was 1} mills on the
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HISTORY OF
dollar, on the whole valuation of property in said county, for State purposes, and 13 for canal pur- poses, making 3 mills upon the dollar for State and canal purposes ; and the commissioners, by and with the consent of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, levied a tax of 3 mills on the dol- lar for county purposes, 1 mill for road purposes, and 2 of a mill for school purposes ; one of the three mills shall be assessed and collected and ap- propriated for the building of the Court-house, and for no other purpose whatever.
At the June session, the following entry is made : "The account of James Smith, presented to the Board of Commissioners, for one year, from June 1st, 1828, to June 1st, 1829, including the rent un- paid at last settlement, books and stationery for clerk's office, all of which was rejected by the Board. The charges for one year's fire-wood, which was $12. From which decision the said Smith prays an appeal to the Court of Common Pleas as to the fire-wood." That record is clear, is it not ? The resolutions of the commissioners, published in the Standard and Advertiser, in reference to the building of a Court-house, represent that "they will meet on the 15th of July, for the purpose of receiving donations, &c. ; giving the public square $1,000 ; preference for location, &c. ; otherwise at any point in the town plat where $1,000 is sub- scribed," &c. On the 15th of July, the commission- ers met, and adjourned till the 24th of August, to receive donations, &c., for new Court-house.
On the 11th of September public notice is given in the Western Aurora and in the Advertiser and
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KNOX COUNTY.
Standard, of sale of contract to build a Court- house, to the lowest bidder, on the 5th of October next, &c. Peris Sprague is authorized to get E. G. Carlin, or some other person, to make and draft a plat for the same. This plan, as agreed upon, ap- pears on the journal, specifying that the building is to be erected on the west side of Main street and north side of High street, and that $1,000 is to be paid to the contractor on the 10th of January, 1830, and $1,000 annually thereafter, and all orders to be expressly understood to be paid when due and presented. Edward G. Carlin is paid county order for $10, for making plat of new Court-house, and describing timbers, dimensions, &c. Richard House, for assisting Carlin in describing the plan, is paid $1 50.
October 5th. The building of the Court-house is sold to John Shaw for $5,485, who enters into bond with Byram Leonard, Philo Norton, Charles Sager, Solomon Geller, Thomas Irvine and H. B. Carter, in the sum of $10,970. Such is the record of the second Court-house built in Mount Vernon, which stood on the public square until 1853. It was built of brick, two stories high, with a cupola, and a very imposing building in its time. It an- swered well its part for many years-may we not say for that generation, as almost all then upon the stage of action have passed "hence without day." The Supreme Court, District and Associate Judges, the Commissioners, Sheriff, Auditor, Assessor, Treasurer, Surveyor, and Coroner, the Contractor and his sureties-are all, all dead. Melancholy
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HISTORY OF
is the reflection that few of the men, who flourished here only thirty-two years ago, now survive.
In 1828, majorities were given for Campbell for Governor ; Stanbery for Congress ; Shaw for Sher- iff; Colerick for Representative ; Tracy for Audi- tor ; Sprague and Beers for Commissioners, and Neal for Coroner.
In 1829 the population of the county is stated at 8,326. There were then eight post-offices, viz. : Danville, Darling's, Martinsburg, Mount Vernon, Miles M Roads and Sandusky Roads in Chester township, Fredericktown and Houck's.
The state of the County Treasury may be judged of from the following entry, June 7th, 1830: "Or- dered that the Auditor issue an order on the Treas- urer in favor of Daniel Converse & Co., for the amount of principal and interest due on a certain county order, payable to Solomon Geller, for the sum of $275, dated February 10, 1824, endorsed not paid for want of funds by the Treasurer when the said order shall be presented ;" thus paying an old order by issuing a new one. The original debt for building the first court house not having been paid until after the building itself had crum- bled and fallen, and the county was compelled to erect a new one.
Artemas Estabrook is, at the same time, allowed an order for boarding, bringing up on Habeas Cor- pus and attending the Judges-Eli Losh-amount- ing to $11.60.
C. G. Allen makes his escape from the county jail after his board bill had amounted to $8.05.
In 1830, the county went for McArthur for Goy-
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KNOX COUNTY.
ernor; Stanbery, Congress; Greer, Representative; Neal, Sheriff; Tracy, Auditor; McFarland, Asses- sor ; Low, Coroner ; Wilkins for Commissioner. The total vote cast was 2,086.
During this decade the foundation was laid and the commencement made of that institution of learn- ing which has contributed so much to the advance- ment and prosperity of this county-Kenyon Col- lege. Under its appropriate head we have devoted a chapter to this subject, and hence will say no more here than has reference to the action of the County Commissioners on matters connected with it. On December 7th, 1829, the petition of Philander Chase and others was presented to the Board for the view of four roads. 1. From the junction of Wiggin and Gaskin streets towards James Smith's mill. 2. To Coshocton. 3. To Giffin's mill. 4. Around the foot of College hill south west to Frederick Roh- rer's tavern stand. The Commissioners ordered Thomas Griffith Plummer to survey ; and Jonathan Miller, Wm. Marquis and Joseph Critchfield to view. All of these parties are now dead.
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HISTORY OF
CHAPTER XXI.
LITERARY AND OTHER SOCIETIES.
THE MOUNT VERNON POLEMIC SOCIETY .- THE THESPIAN .- THE LIBRARY SO- CIETY .- THE LYCEUM .- THE FRANKLIN .- MECHANICS .- HISTORICAL, AND ITS LIBRARY.
THE first society of a literary character, estab- lished at Mount Vernon, was the " Polemic So- cicty," in 1815, which was kept up until 1817, and included among its members the more talkative and social citizens. It was converted into a Thes- pian Society and well sustained for many years. Theatrical performances were generally gotten up every winter, until about 1810, and were very credi- table to those concerned. The object was to spend the long evenings agreeably-not to make money. Lawyers, doctors, merchants and students lent a hand as occasion required. Among the active and valuable upon the boards were Dr. R. D. Moore, Philo L. Norton, Jacob B. Brown, Charles Sager, J. W. Warden, Wm. Bevans, Chas. Colerick, B. S. Brown, T. G. Plummer, Jacob Davis, S. W. Hil- dreth, Wm. Smith, S. W. Farquhar, Eli Miller, N. N. Hill, T. W. Rogers, Henry B. Curtis, Isaac Hadley, John Colerick, J. S. Banning, and Calvin Hill.
The exhibitions were usually at the court house, or at the "Golden Swan Inn." The clothing, equipments and scenery, were of very rich mate- rial. One of the old actors says-"it was most
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KNOX COUNTY.
splendidly illustrated with gorgeous parahernalia in most profuse variety and transcends representa- tion."
" The Mount Vernon Library Society" wasformed in the year 1816. Among the members of this association were Joseph Brown, Hosmer Curtis, R. D. Moore, Gilman Bryant, Timothy Burr, Dan- iel S. Norton, John Warden, Samuel Mott. H. Curtis was its last Librarian. It had a very good collection of standard works, which, in the end, were divided among its stockholders.
" The Mount Vernon Literary Society" organized in the winter of 1821-2, by a number of young bachelors of the town, to wit: Dr. Norman Mur- ray, David Wadsworth, Henry B. Curtis, John W. Warden and James Beebee. Members subsequent- ly admitted-Benjamin S. Brown, S. Farquhar, N. N. Hill and Samuel R. Curtis. The organization existed for several years. The society fell through by reason of the young men becoming absorbed in the more active duties of life.
" The Mount Vernon Lyceum," in 1830, was formed and well sustained for many years. At the session of the Legislature, 1833-4, it was incor- porated, and high hopes were entertained of its being a permanent organization. We have before us the inaugural address of Henry B. Curtis, Esq., delivered January 1st, 1834, in which he says :- " We have now assumed a different and more im- posing attitude. Having adopted a public charter, we from this time become a part of the history of the State. And let us at least hope that the account which its faithful pages may hereafter give of us
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HISTORY OF
and of our transactions shall be such as would not make us blush, could we be permitted to see them." May the hope of President Curtis be gratified ; for, although the Lyceum has long since been con- signed to the "tomb of the Capulets," and the greater portion of his associates have departed hence with- out day, he yet lives to " be permitted to see" " the account which the faithful pages of history"-our history of Knox county doubtless predicted-" gives of its transactions."
It was the best literary association and the longest lived ever in Mt. Vernon. It continued in successful operation until 1842, and numbered among its active members many of the best citizens of Knox. Its regular meetings were held at the court-house, and the public generally and ladies particularly attended its sessions. Literary essays, orations and discussions were the chief entertain- ment.
Among the number of those who have died we may name Benjamin S. Brown, David Dunn, John A. Holland, S. W. Hildreth, M. A. Sayre, Daniel S. Norton, T. W. Rogers, W. A. Hocy, T. G. Plummer, and Dr. M. L. Bliss.
Among those living in other parts, Wm. Byers, J. F. Kinney, J. C. Hall, G. Hathaway, J. W. Chapman, H. Curtis, J. B. Foster, E. Sparrow, D. C. Dunlap.
Among the survivors in this county are C. Delano, M. H. Mitchell, J. W. Miller, Henry B. Curtis, Rollin C. Hurd, J. S. Davis, J. N. Burr.
The Lyceum established a very good library of several hundred volumes.
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KNOX COUNTY.
In 1834, a "Mechanics' Society" was formed, which continued till 1840, and enlisted J. B. Brown, G. C. Lybrand, E. Alling, D. McFarland, Abel Hart, and pretty much all the workmen in this vicinity.
In 1839, a society called the "Franklin" was organized for mental improvement, by John Lamb, Robert Thompson, Ben. McCracken, W. H. Old- ham, Isaac J. Allen, W. P. Griffith, W. T. Curtis, R. S. Thomas, and others, which was well sustained for three or four years, and then went down.
In 1850, Zoar Blair, Noah Hill, Robert Thomp- son, Dan. Clark and Sam. Davis started the Me- chanics' Mutual Protection, which after two years, was merged in the Brotherhood of the Union, and continued till 1854.
In December, 1849, several gentlemen of Mount Vernon set about getting up a Historical Society for Knox county, and in January, 1850, a consti- tution was drawn up and signed by Hosmer Cur- tis, Gilman Bryant, Joseph Muenscher, M. E. Strieby, Jesse B. Thomas, James Scott, Daniel S. Norton, M. H. Mitchell, Henry B. Curtis, R. C. Hurd, R. R. Sloan, A. Banning Norton, C. P. Buckingham, G. W. Morgan, C. Delano, M. W. Stamp, Walter Smith, N. N. Hill, G. Browning, Matthew Thompson, J. C. Ramsey, J. N. Burr, S. Israel, J. W. Vance, W. H. Smith, J. C. Stock- ton, D. Potwin, J. W. White, J. H. Peacock, W. Beam, Samuel Mower and John W. Russell. H. Curtis was elected President ; G. Bryant, V. P .; R C. Hurd, Treas'r; Cor. Sec'y, Rev. J. Muen- 18
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HISTORY OF
scher, D.D .; Recording Sec'y, Rev. M. E. Strieby ; Cabinet-keeper, R. R. Sloan. Among other stand- ing committees were the following: on Agricul- ture, M. H. Mitchell; on Manufactures, Daniel S. Norton; on Mechanic Arts, C. P. Buckingham; on Fine Arts, H. B. Curtis; on Education, R. R. Sloan; on History, R. C. Hurd; on the Medical Profession, J. N. Burr, M.D .; on the Clerical Pro- fession, Jos. Muenscher, D.D .; on Diseases, J. W. Russell, M.D .; on Population, S. Israel; on Gen- eral Biography, A. Banning Norton; on Geology and Mineralogy, Prof. H. L. Thrall, M.D .; on Meteorology, Rev. Prof. Geo. Dennison; on Liter- ature, W. H. Smith. Twelve years have passed by, the society long since was numbered among the things that were-and this comes the nearest to being a report of anything that yet has emana- ted from any of its members. Following in its wake, however, is an institution which it is to be hoped will long continue in existence-"The Mount Vernon Library Society," which has collected, through the instrumentality, principally, of the Rev. Dr. Muenscher, its learned Librarian, several hundred volumes of valuable standard works, and may serve as a nucleus for a future large collection. It was started in 1856, and its rooms are in Hunts- bery's building, Main st., Mount Vernon,
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KNOX COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXII.
HON. ANTHONY BANNING.
HOLY
Anty, Gaming
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HISTORY OF
AMONG the old settlers whose names have figured conspicuously in the history of Knox county, was Anthony Banning. Connected with the business, the growth and prosperity of the county at every period of its history after the first, and concerned as he was in various industrial pursuits, in com- mercial operations, in temperance movements, in church affairs, in political actions ; and as his name has been widely known in legal history, his mem- ory is worthy of more than a passing notice. "Judge" Banning as he was called more frequently than "Parson," notwithstanding his monument states that he was a Methodist preacher sixty years, was born in Talbot county, Maryland, and was the only son of James Banning, a proprietor of much consideration and influence, who had but two chil- dren, the son, James Mansfield Anthony Banning, and a daughter who married Benjamin Chew, of Philadelphia, Chief Justice of the State of Penn- sylvania, a lawyer of much distinction and a man of great wealth, who was a bosom friend of Wash- ington and whose family were his most intimate associates.
His parents died when he was very young, and he was consigned to the care of an uncle, Henry Banning, a bachelor, who was a sea-captain and took Anthony with him several voyages. The family were members of the Episcopal church, but in his eleventh year Anthony joined the Metho- dists. When about sixteen he went to preaching as a circuit rider in Greenbrier, Virginia, and the wilderness mountain region. In consequence of the great length of his name, and its inconvenience
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in writing, he dropped a portion of it in early youth. He married Sarah Murphy, daughter of one of the first settlers on Redstone, near Uniontown, Pa., who was also a native of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and had been raised near Ellicott's mills. The children, by this marriage, were Sarah, wife of Daniel S. Norton; Jacob M: who died in 1835, and whose widow and children reside in Hardin county; Rachel, wife of Rev. Elnathan Raymond; James S .; Mrs. Mary Caswell ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Bronson; Priscilla, Mrs. Gray, and Anthony.
After his marriage he settled in Fayette county, Pa., and resided for several years near Mt. Brad- dock and in Connelsville, where he preached the gospel, carried on a tanyard, kept a store, officiated as a justice of the peace, (from 1790 until 1799) traded in stock of every description, and navigated the western waters.
During his residence in the Keystone State slave- ry existed there, and this good man thought it no sin to better the condition of negroes by holding them in bondage. Twenty-eight family slaves of the Maryland stock were thus held at his marriage, and he subsequently bought Hannah, Peter, Jim, Cass and George, in Virginia; and in moving west sold them to Daniel Rogers and Abraham Bald- win, two of the most respectable and worthy men in that country.
In one of his trading expeditions on the western rivers he sold a load of goods to Ebenezer Buck- ingham, of Putnam, for the fine farm now occu- pied by Nicholas Spindler, Esq., in Howard town- ship. He made several trips up the Muskingum
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with goods and wares from 1808 till he moved out in 1812. After he had bought lands in the county he traded a lot of iron, leather, saddlery, &c., to Samuel Kratzer, Esq., for the principal part of his interest in the town of Mount Vernon, and then took up his residence here. During his long abode he was engaged, as elsewhere, in a diversity of pur- suits; and by reason of his remarkable energy, in- dustry, prudence and business tact, prospered in all and enjoyed, to a very great extent, the confi- dence of the people. He was for the greater part of his life concerned in merchandizing at Mount Vernon, Tymochtee, Danville, &c .- carrying on his mills at Clinton and his tanyard, farming exten- sively and preaching.
His name is found as President of the first Clay meeting ever held in this county ; he was all his life an ardent admirer and friend of that great statesman and patriot. In principle, politically, he was a Whig-religiously, a Methodist-strictly moral and temperate-in all the relations of life a good example.
He was honest and conscientious-liberal and kind hearted-determined and resolute-never dis- guised his sentiments or harbored unkind thoughts; was not a fanatic in temperance, morals, politics or religion ; but by his well balanced mind and daily walk exerted a great influence for good.
Among other public positions held by him was that of Commissioner to select the permanent seat of justice of Clermont county, under act of the General Assembly, January 25th, 1823, associated with John C. Wright, then of Jefferson, and James
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Clark, of Stark. He served as one of the Associ- ate Judges of this county from 1827 to 1834.
In every public enterprise and work calculated to benefit the town, county and people he was ac- tive, liberal and useful. Among the many inci- dents of his life the following most clearly shows the liberality of his mind: In 1836 he set about erecting a church near his residence, and upon his own land. The neat brick edifice had been in- closed and about completed, when the Rt. Rev. Bishop Purcel visited Mt. Vernon for the first time, and there being no Catholic church the followers of that denomination, of whom there were but two or three families then in the place, to wit-David Morton's, Wm. Brophy's and Tim. Colopy's, re- quested the use of one of the churhes for the Bishop to hold service in on the forenoon of a certain Sunday. The favor was denied. An effort was then made to procure the use of the court house, and that too was refused.
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