USA > Ohio > Fulton County > A standard history of Fulton County, Ohio, an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and county, Vol. I > Part 20
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Tho' the Cabin is doomed, with all things that decay, The 'Rockery', firm with the labor of years, Let stand as an altar-place, sacred I pray, Lit with Memory's flame for the old Pioneers
Few of the pioneers were still living when the cabin was torn down, so that few had to feel the keen pangs that some unfortunately had to experience. In commenting on the incident, one paper stated that when "this old land-mark was destroyed ...... old men wept like children, for as Dr. William Ramsey, the veteran physician of
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Delta, has said: 'a connecting link between the past and present has been destroyed'." It is, however, here recorded for posterity.
In 1883, another Fair company was organized, a stock company, which traded as the Northwestern Ohio Fair Company. It owned a ground on the outskirts of Wauseon, but eventually the company was liquidated, having failed to attract sufficient public support.
The Fulton County Agricultural Society has always been suffi- ciently near to being a paying concern to be considered as permanently established. And its annual Fair meetings have in most years been successfully carried through. A. F. Shaffer succeeded Mr. Ely as presi- dent, and in about 1909, T. H. Fraker of Delta became president. He has since held the office. S. W. Sipe is vice president; C. A. Knapp is treasurer, and Carl F. Orth, is secretary. Other directors now are: Orlo Whittaker, Will Standish, Ellsworth Shade, Albert Lloyd, J. C. Geesey, W. L. Biddle, R. D. Miller, C. A. Knapp, Charles Arnsberger, Dan Clingaman, George A. Lew, Sr., E. G. Dalley, D. W. Williams, F. J. Spencer, and E. B. Beatty. Of late years, boys' and girls' clubs have been encouraged, with much credit to the Fair board, and such activities give a distinct interest to the annual fairs. Also, the re- markable development of Fulton county, as a dairying centre, is strik- ingly evident at the yearly meets. Fulton county now, in its exhibits of Holstein-Friesian cattle at the annual fair, leads almost all other counties in the state. While watching the race track events, it will interest many to know that thirty-five years ago, Richard Shadle, then seventy years old, "and a most highly respected citizen of Otto- kee" for the greater part of his life, now of course ended, "held the plow which first broke the ground for the ...... race track. Four yoke of oxen were used, and it required many days of hard toil be- fore Mother Earth was got into any kind of shape for a racing circle" stated the record.
The history of the many granges of Fulton county would be too voluminous to here record. Briefly, the movement in this county began in 1873, and grange organizations came rapidly into being in most agricultural centres of the county. Some however were of brief existence. The most prominent promoters of the movement were: M. H. Hayes, J. H. Brigham, and Wesley A. Blake; and others promi- nent in the various townships included: George Gasche, Lafayette Ely, George Roos, Albert Deyo, S. H. Cately, and S. B. Skeels. The first subordinate grange to be organized was Fulton Grange, No. 217, which was instituted on November 15, 1873, in York Township, S. B. Skeels being master. North Star Grange was organized, in Wauseon, December 7, 1873, with Colonel J. H. Brigham, master. Aetna, Otto- kee, Chesterfield, Gorham, Champion, Franklin, and Royalton granges came into existence in 1874. The Fulton County Pomona Grange was organized, in Wauseon, September 2, 1876, W. H. Williams, of Chesterfield, having the honor of being elected its first master. The histories of most of the subordinate granges would necessarily be very similar, therefore, as much for general as for individual record, a review of the history of one only-of the Chesterfield Grange, No. 367, which was organized on January 12, 1874, is given. The facts were compiled by Miss Olive Roos, who wrote:
.
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"William A. Williams beeame interested in the Grange, by hear- ing the matter discussed in Wauseon. He talked with the neighbors he met, but being engaged in teaching school could not give it the time neecssary to work it up, and at his request Ambrose Combs spent some time, and a meeting was appointed at his house (where Amos Fay now lives).
"M. IT. Hayes, of Wauseon, deputy state master, was there and explained the object of the organization. The majority of those present became charter members, as follows: J. H. Turner, David Marks, F. A. Denson, Richard Roos, F. B. Sheffield, Morris Smith, Peter Romans, John Roberts, A. Combs, William A. Williams, A. M. Lee, Eustace Leggett, Joseph Johnson, Josiah Lee, Lester L. Ward, Chester Welch, and their wives; Mrs. Mary Mead, Edgar Mead, and C. H. Stutesman. They proceeded then and there to organize and take the pledge of membership, eleeting and installing offieers as follows: William A. Williams, W. M .; Josiah Lee, W. S .; Eustace Leggett, W. S .; A. M. Lee, secretary ; F. B. Sheffield, gatekeeper; Mrs. A. M. Lee, Pomona; J. H. Turner, W. O .; Joseph Johnson, chaplain ; David Marks, A. S .; Ambrose Combs, treasurer; Mrs. J. H. Turner, Ceres; and Mrs. David Marks, Flora.
"The next meetings were held at the homes of William A. Williams and J. H. Turner. In the meantime, Mr. Roberts offered the use of his cheese factory (situated opposite the house of the Delevan Gillis place, now owned by Oliver Onweller) until needed in the spring, and the arrangement was made. Then they arranged with J. H. Turner to build a cheap building on the W. A. Williams place, which had been moved to the roadside on the same farm now owned by Mr. Jennings. Mr. Turner had the hall ready by the time Mr. Rob- erts wanted the factory, the members paying for it by subscription. The hall was used that summer without plastering, and when that work was done in the fall by Frank Denson, the building made a very comfortable meeting place. It was seated with benches, until they could procure funds to reseat it with chairs.
"The present Grange hall was built by J. H. Turner, and was dedicated by Col. J. H. Brigham on June 6, 1886. This grange is said to have the finest hall in the county. In 1904, the grange cele- brated its 30th anniversary, in a very appropriate manner. After a sumptuous dinner had been served, a program arranged by C. T. Stutes- man .
"It is said that among the charter members J. H. Turner was the most prominent until he moved to Morenci. The ground for the first hall was leased by the late Peter Romans, and the land where the present hall is was deeded to the grange by the late Darwin Gillis. The grange recently purchased a fine piano for its hall, and the order is in a very flourishing condition."
The granges of course have their practical uses, but they serve as another of those channels through which flow the constant stream of good neighborliness. Prominent early members of the pioneer granges of the county were: G. P. Roos, G. W. Roos, R. P. Boody, A. M. Lee, O. B. Verity, J. D. Aldrich, J. L. Chatfield, Joseph Shadle, J. W. Iloward, G. M. Tappan, J. M. Sindel, W. H., E. M., and E. S. Strong, R. H. Scott, W. P. Garrison, John Borton, L. G. Ely, H. S.
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Persing. There were of course many others who had prominent con- nection with the early granges, to which belonged most of the promi- nent agriculturists of the county.
Another of the strong organizations of the county is the Farmers' Institute, which for many years has had annual meetings, at which are discussed not only matters that bear directly on agricultural prob- lems and progress, but upon the general life. For instance, central- ization of township schools has been the subject of interested and ani- mated discussion. Speakers come from various parts of the state, and from other states, to address the gatherings, and the agriculturists of the county benefit much by the functioning of the Farmers' Institute.
Another organization of agricultural purpose, but of recent estab- lishment, is the Fulton County Farm Bureau, the purpose of which is to help solve the farmer's problems, and to improve agriculture in all lines, having the social welfare of farm life well in view, as well as crop production. R. A. Cave became county agent in 1918, and still holds that capacity. The officers now are: C. L. Shreves, of Wauseon, president; W. B. McClarren, of Delta, vice president; Har- mon Gasche, of Wauseon, secretary-treasurer. The various depart- ments, and their respective heads, are: T. L. Aumend, of Wauseon, farm crops; E. J. Krieger, of Swanton, soils; C. D. Perry, of Wauseon, boys' and girls' club work; George Knapp, of Delta, livestock; W. L. Biddle, of Wauseon, dairy; Frank H. Reighard, of Wauseon, legisla- tion ; W. B. McClarren, of Delta, fertilizer; and D. B. Simpson, of Wauseon, good roads. The Bureau now has about 650 members.
A historical association was organized in 1883, and took the name of the Fulton County Pioneer and Historical Association. Prominent in the organization were Michael Handy, L. G. Ely, D. W. H. Howard, Albert Deyo, Joseph Shadle, and James S. Dean. Meetings were held twice yearly for some years, but it ceased to function eventually, and its transactions, which should have been faithfully preserved, cannot now be traced. Most of the pioneers who were prominent in the early meetings of the association have passed away. The last officers seem to have been : Mrs. John S. Butler, who was daughter of Chesterfield Clemons, and was honored by election to the presidential office. She died some years ago; Charles F. Handy, secretary. He was a worthy pioneer, Civil War veteran, was seventy-six years resident in the county, and for twenty-five years a justice of the peace. He died in 1917; and George D. Newcomer, treasurer. He is still alive, and states that the small sum left in the treasury of the association in 1917 he con- tributed to the Red Cross, when funds for war purposes were solicited in its behalf in that year. So, has passed away the one society which had as its object the preservation of historical records of pioneer days in Fulton county.
In 1903, the Fulton County Humane Society was organized, with sixteen members. No members were added in fifteen years, and of the sixteen only twelve were alive in 1918, and of that number only two were resident in the county in that year. In 1910, Mr. Charles Gingery, of Swan Creek Township, was appointed County Humane Officer, at a salary of twenty-five dollars a month, payable from county funds. In 1918, Prosecuting Attorney Stahl notified the Commis- sioners to stop payment, whereupon Mr. Gingery, it was soon after-
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wards stated. declared his willingness and determination to continue the work without pay.
Out of county funds also, of course, has come the sums neces- sary, from year to year, to maintain the Fulton County Home, or as it was formerly known the Fulton County Infirmary, at Ottokee. When it was decided by the October election of 1869 that the county seat should be removed from Ottokee to Wauseon, it was evident that a good and commodious building used as a court house at Ottokee would soon become vacant. and idle. Therefore, the commissioners of the county, in March, 1874, the Ottokee courthouse having been vacated, and the new Wauseon building opened, decided to establish a county institute, or home, for the destitute poor, and to set apart the old court- house at Ottokee for that purpose. Three hundred nearby acres of land were purchased, a large and commodious barn was built, and the refitted courthouse was ready for occupancy, as a poor home, on May 1. 1874. it being thought that the cultivation of the 300 aeres of land
FULTON COUNTY HOME.
would probably in time, make the institution self-sustaining, or nearly SO. James S. Riddle, one of the first directors of the Infirmary, wrote "A Short History of Fulton County, Ohio," in 1883, and the following information, regarding the Infirmary, is extracted from that history :
"In March, 1874, the County Commissioners established the County Infirmary, and appointed O. A. Cobb, of Dover; P. R. Lewis, of Swan Creek ; and J. S. Riddle, of Franklin, as Infirmary directors. They were notified by the Auditor of their appointment, and they were requested to appear before the Commissioners, on the 9th of April, give bonds, and be sworn into office. Accordingly they met, and were severally sworn into office, and organized by appointing J. S. Riddle, secretary. They met at the Infirmary, the Commissioners with them to counsel and instruct, and appointed O. B. Verity as superintendent. They had everything to provide for the carrying on of the institution,
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and no money to buy with; but the Commissioners came to their relief and transferred some other funds, for the time being, and helped ยท them to make a start. The first inmates were taken in on the 2nd day of May, 1874.
"At the October election following, P. R. Lewis, of Swan Creek, was elected director for three years; S. B. Skeels of York for two years; and J. S. Riddle for one year. In 1876, J. S. Riddle was elected for three years. In1 1876, J. H. Turner of Chesterfield was elected in S. B. Skeels' place. In 1877 Stephen Eldridge, of Dover, was elected in place of P. R. Lewis; in 1878, O. A. Cobb, of Dover, was elected in place of J. S. Riddle; and E. H. Patterson, of Dover, was elected in. place of Stephen Eldridge in the year, 1880.
"O. B. Verity and Mrs. Verity served as superintendent and ma- tron very acceptably for nearly five years, when, desiring to be re- lieved, John Whittaker and lady were appointed to the positions.
"Some complaint was made at first that the poor farm was too much expense, but when we take into consideration that the farm was to be cleared, fenced and ditched, and all the farm utensils, house- hold and kitchen furniture to purchase, the expense was not as much as for similar institutions in adjoining counties. The institution is now in a prospering condition and the inmates have always been treated humanely."
The present brick structure was built in 1894, and was occupied on Christmas Day of that year, thirty-five to forty charges sitting down to their Christmas dinner in their new home. The building was erected at a cost of about $40,000, was well built, and has since splen- didly served the purposes for which it was intended. There are now twenty-three male and eight female inmates, and the accommodation for them consists of: two single rooms and nine double rooms, two of which are for three beds, in the men's wing; and two single, and eight double rooms in the women's wing. There is also a sitting room for the women inmates. In addition, there are the spacious general liv- ing rooms, dining hall, sitting room, and parlor. The sanitary condi- tions are exeellent, and the building is lighted by electric supply from Wauseon. Those of the inmates who are strong enough, take part in farm work on the agricultural estate of the institution. Altogether there are 294 acres, 271 of which are improved, and tillable, and in most years successfully tilled. In 1919 the sale of farm produce yielded $6,884.45, which contributed subtsantially to the cost of maintaining the institution. In 1919, the total cost of maintenance was $11,312.75.
Formerly, the County Infirmary was controlled by a board of di- rectors, elected by the voters of the county, but latterly the institu- tion has been under the direct control of the county commissioners. Of the later directors, the service as such of Mr. A. R. Shaffer is deserving of special mention. He was a very efficient director for many years, retiring in 1904. The superintendents have been: O. B. Verity, for about five years; John Whittaker, for about eight years; S. S. Atkinson, for eight years; Charles Hartman, for fifteen years; H. B. Smith, for four years; W. S. Egnew, for two years; and B. F. Jones, since 1916. The institution also has two other employees, as farm hands. Charles Hartman and his wife, who retired in 1909, had excellent records as superintendent and matron, and the present super-
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intendent has also given every satisfaction, proving himself in every way capable of properly managing such an institution.
The older fraternal orders, such as the Masonic, Oddfellows and Pythian Orders, are well represented in Fulton county, and the de- tailed listories of many local lodges will be given in the township chapters. Another fraternal order quite strong in Fulton county is the Ancient Order of Gleaners, of which Mr. H. H. Hough was one of the chief state officials, being now Supreme-Vice-Chief-Gleaner. It is a fraternal organization of agricultural eharaeter, and the lodges in Fulton county are mainly in agricultural centres. The lodges are, as listed by Mr. Hough: Pike Centre Arbor, located in Pike Town- ship; Lyons Arbor, at Lyons, Royalton Township; Ai Arbor, Fulton Township; Swanton Arbor, Swanton; Oak Shade Arbor, situated at Brailey, Swan Creek Township; York Centre Arbor, York Township; Chesterfield Arbor, Chesterfield Township; Franklin Arbor, Franklin Township; South Fairfield Arbor, at Whiteville, Amboy Township; Ai Arbor, Delta; and the Ottokee Arbor, No. 851, Dover Township.
Among the Wauseon societies are two active women's organizations, the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Women's Club; of Wauseon.
The Wauseon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolu- tion was organized on April 18, 1903, at the home of Mrs. Clara H. Neweomer, who became the first regent. The other original officers were: Mrs. Charlotte Ham, vice regent; Mrs. Mary S. Greenleaf, recording secretary ; Mrs. Maria S. Green, treasurer; Mrs. Mary C. Edgar, historian; Mrs. Helen Outealt, registrar; Mrs. Ellen Brigham, chaplain ; Mrs. Harriet B. Sohn, chorister. The members, in 1920, are:
Resident: Mrs. Carrie (Light) Ackerman, Mrs. Celia (Brigham) Bennett. Mrs. Elizabeth (Lucas) Brigham, Mrs. Helen Brigham, Mrs. Elsie ( Allen) Campbell, Mrs. Lura (Hollister) Campbell, Mrs. Grace (Struble) Cole, Mrs. Mary (Lord) Collins, Mrs. Minnie (Waid) Darby, Mrs. Minerva (Clement) Davies, Miss Ruth Davies, Mrs. Grace (Pritchard) Deyo, Mrs. Orpha (Darby) Dimke, Mrs. Edith (Shaw) Dudley, Miss Marjorie Dudley, Mrs. Flora (Hilton) Eager, Mrs. Eliza (Ham) Edgar, Mrs. Chloe (Ruppert) Edgar, Mrs. Mary (Dimond) Greenleaf, Miss Anna Louise Greenleaf, Mrs. Catherine (Barnes) Ham, Miss Adeline Augusta Howard, Mrs. Lillian (Strong) Johnson, Mrs. Sarah (Hultz) Kenyon, Miss Fanny Kenyon, Miss Lola Knapp, Miss Jessie Knibloe, Mrs. Florence (Spring) Maddox, Mrs. Agnes (Howard) McClarren, Mrs. Helen (Neweomer) Outealt, Miss Mabel Read, Mrs. Anna (Biddle) Ruppert, Mrs. Fanny (Eager) Standish, Mrs. Pauline K. Stozer, Mrs. Eva (Marsh) Struble, Mrs. Mary (Read) Touvelle, Mrs. Clara (Montgomery) Ham. Non- resident: Miss Carrie Allen, Mrs. Lizzie (Knapp) Ames, Mrs. Mary Denman, Mrs. Ella (Bradley) Gosline, Miss Ethel Hoover, Mrs. Mary Nachtrieb. Miss Florence Scott, Mrs. Elvira (Taft) Lee, Miss Elsie Ely, Mrs. Mary (McClarren) Bruce, Mrs. Alice (Ely) Boothmall, Mrs. Nell (Biddle) Petteys, Mrs. Cora (Biddle) Hatt, Mrs. Gladys (Waid) Walker, Mrs. Myrtle (Flick) Roberson, Miss Lillian Hough, Mrs. Florenee (Riddle) Howe, Mrs. Florence (Boothman) Arnold, Mrs. Lena (Montgomery) Roos, Miss Mildred Curry, and Mrs. Mabel G. (Fliek) Altstetter.
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Mrs. Eliza (Ham) Edgar is the present regent, and Mrs. Orpha (Darby) Dimke, vice regent. The chapter came distinctly into favor- able notice by its Red Cross work, in particular, during the recent war; in fact, it has been stated that the day next following that upon which President Wilson declared the nation to be in a state of war with Germany, the Wauseon Chapter of the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution initiated Red Cross work in Wauseon.
The Women's Club, of Wauseon, Ohio, was organized in 1895, and became federated in the same year. Its purpose is mainly liter- ary, and much credit is due to its members, and to the club as a whole, for the appreciable help they have afforded to the Wauseon Library Association during its period of instability. But the activities of the Women's Club have not been wholly literary; its functioning has had connection with the general and well-recognized range of women's work, in social, benevolent, and neighborly spheres. It will be of in- terest to name the charter members. They were:
Florence R. Howe, Pauline K. Stotzer, Lizzie L. Brigham, Mary R. Touvelle, Cora E. M. Gelzer, Helen M. Eager, Dora Myers, Prussia J. Brailey, Eva B. Struble, Nellie Eager, Harriet B. Sohn, Mary S. Green- leaf, Libbie D. Lyon, Dora A. Eager, Mattie Jameson, Jennie L. Grey, Mary S. Hunt, Laura H. Grabiel, Kate E. Ham, Connie Smallman, Emma W. Knapp, Lottie A. Ham, Retta Williams, Lucille Hunt, Esther S. Brown, Ellen E. Brigham. The present officers are: Mrs. Frank Kenyon, president; Mrs. C. W. Struble, vice president; Mrs. W. H. Maddox and Mrs. M. L. Altstetter, secretaries; Mrs. F. H. Reighard, treasurer.
There has been a county medical society for very many years, and information regarding it will be found in the medical chapter.
One other association which calls for a review is the Fulton County Soldiers and Sailors Memorial and Monument Association. It was organized in 1912, but its history goes back, really, for more than fifty years, to 1867, when, mainly through the efforts of that never- to-be-forgotten pioneer and patriot, D. W. H. Howard, the citizens of Fulton county began to erect, in Wauseon, a soldiers' monument, in memory and honor of those sons of the county who had served in the Civil war. The monument was never finished, and the project remained dormant until early in 1912, when Mr. Allen Shadle sought to revive interest in the matter. Soon afterwards a meeting of citizens took place, and the Fulton County Memorial and Monumental Asso- ciation was formed, to carry on the work to completion. J. M. Long- necker, of Delta, was elected president, and Frank H. Reighard, of Wauseon, secretary. During the next few years the public subscribed satisfactorily, school children throughout the county figuring cred- itably in the work. The fund stood at about $3,300 in 1915. In February, 1920, the amount available was $4,116.14, and the Monu- mental Bronze Company, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, with which firm the contract for the erection of the monument had been placed, was urged to hurry the work to completion. The long delay has been regrettable, yet, it is gratifying now to realize that when erected, the monument will symbolize the people's respect for those who served and suffered in the great war just ended, as well as for those patriots
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who gave themselves to the nation during the stress of the Civil and Spanish wars.
It is noteworthy in this connection to record that while Col. D. W. H. Howard, "that patriot, statesman, and progressive citizen," spent more than $1,000 from his personal means in a praiseworthy attempt to ercet the monument "to perpetuate the sacred memory of the brave soldiers of Fulton county who risked all to keep the Stars and Stripes from trailing in the dust, and to save the sacred Union established and preserved by our noble ancestors," a worthy soldier of Civil war service, Allan Shadle, and his wife, have volunteered to contribute more than $1,000 if necessary "to crown the failure with suceess." Their contribution is part of the $4,116.14 now available to complete the erection of the monument.
CHAPTER X
THE PRESS OF FULTON COUNTY
In the early days of the settlement of the county the pioneers rarely saw a newspaper; in fact they rarely had any news at all of the outside world. They were of course conversant with the daily trend of affairs in their own little community, living practically as one family; and to some extent they had news of and from contiguous settlements; but little did they hear of the county in general, or, rather, of the territory in general, for until 1850, when Fulton county was organized, the territory now embraced in it was within the bor- ders of three counties, Lucas, Henry, and Williams. Happenings in distant parts of the county came to the knowledge of the pioneer set- tlers mainly by hearsay. Indeed, some of the pioneers were altogether isolated, and saw little of even their "nextdoor" neighbors. "Uncle John" Butler, who came with the family of Alanson Briggs to sec- tion 12 of Chesterfield Township in 1835, explained how, six months after they had arrived, they first became aware that a neighbor was within two sections of them, and had been there for twelve months. He stated: "When I first came here we knew of no white person liv- ing in the country, nor did I see a white person until in the fall. One October day some Indians came into the store (a trading post), and told Mr. Briggs that they had seen a white man. ..... A few days later Chief Winameg .. . came to the store ...... and when I asked
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