Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 12

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals > Part 12

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).

fact that only two of the commissioners, Henry "Know all men by these presents that we, Newell and Jacob Gomber, assented to the let- John McIntire, Jeffery Price, Robert Taylor, ting of the contract to Ford at $480, the other William Raynolds, Joseph F. Munro, Wyllys refusing to sign because he thought the price Silliman, Daniel Converse, Robert Fulton, are extravagant, yet court house, sheriff's house, held and firmly bound unto Jacob Gomber, jail and debtor's prison cost only a trifle over Daniel Stillwell and William Newell, commis- $100 each. March 6, 1809, a committee from sioners of Muskingum county in the sum of the town of Zanesville appeared before the $16,000, for the payment of which we bind our, county board and offered to loan the county and each of our, heirs, executors and adminis- money sufficient to build a brick court house on trators. The condition of this bond is this, the public ground in said town. March 8, the that, whereas the commissioners of Muskingum commissioners having taken into consideration county have agreed to build a court house on "the proposals made by a number of the inhab- condition that the sum of money necessary itants of the town of Zanesville" for erecting a to build the same should be advanced by court house in said town, agreed and consented the inhabitants of said county, now, if the to the erection of said building on the follow- said sum necessary for building shall be paid "The money which may be the said commissioners agreeably to the con- ing conditions:

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

tract to be entered into by the commissioners chamber joists. There is to be a tier of cut for building said house, then this obligation to stone dividing the stories as exhibited on the be void, else to remain in full force." This plan. 2nd. The window frames are to be beveled document was signed and sealed in the pres- frames, made of the solid of black walnut or ence of Hugh Hazlett and John Van Horn by yellow poplar timber, to be wrought out in a John McIntire, Jeffery Price, Robert Taylor, proper manner to receive weights for hanging William Raynolds, Joseph F. Munro, Wyllys the windows, and rabbited to receive shutters Silliman, Daniel Converse and Robert Fulton. on the outside; the window sills to be of cut It was ordered by the board that the build- stone of a size corresponding with the caps. ing of the court house be sold to the lowest 3rd. The cornice to have a cove under the bidder on the first Monday in April following, plancher, and eyed lintels exactly proportioned and the digging of the well was likewise pro- to the height of the building. 4th. The vided for.

outside doors and the windows back of the

The plan of the court house was adopted judge's seat to be done agreeably to the plans. March 31, 1809, and ordered to be copied and 5th. The roof to be of the best of timber, and prepared for the examination of any person a sufficient quantity and size, and framed in the calling for the same. April 10, 1809, the day best possible manner for the support of the cu- advertised for the letting of the building of the pola, which roof and cupola are to be sufficiently court-house, the plan and necessary require- bound with iron wherever necessary. The said ments were made public. William Raynolds roof to be shceted with boards of a suitable was appointed crier, and the contract was let thickness, and of oak. The shingles to be to Joseph F. Munro, Daniel Converse, John made of chestnut timber, eighteen inches in Williamson and James Hampson for $7,550. length, and five-eighths of an inch thick at the William Newell was appointed to approve of butt end, to lay five inches to the weather, and the sufficiency of the security to be given by to be put on in the best possible workmanlike these persons for the erection of said building. manner, the hips and valleys to be turned It was ordered that the court-house be located in a proper and workmanlike manner. The fifty feet back from the main street, and in the cupola is to be eight-square (octagonal). center between the alley and east end of the 6th. The stairs to be made with rampt lot. Jacob Crooks bid off the digging and hand-railing and turned banisters, which stoning of the well at $100. "Requisitions stairs are to be neatly enclosed below with and restrictions for building the court-house in wainscoting; the residue of said stairs to be Zanesville: Ist. The foundation of said build- finished in the best, workmanlike manner, and ing to be laid with good and sufficient stone, in uniformity with the parts thereof before to be sunk eighteen inches underground, and described. 7th. The hand-railing and banis- raised one foot above the level of the surface ters in front of the judges, and all the other of the earth, which walls are to be laid thirty- hand-railings and banisters in said building to six inches thick. Thence (except in the back be finished in the same order as is mentioned or north end of said building) the walls to be in the sixth requisition. 8th. The platform on raised three tiers high with cut stone of the which the judge's seat is to stand to be raised following dimensions, viz .: The first or lower four feet from the floor, the stairs leading up tier to raise one foot, the second tier to raise to said seat to rise eight inches each step, and eleven inches, and the third tier to raise ten to be hand-railed as above; the judge's seat to inches. The wall from the bottom of the cut be a movable settee. 9th. The back jury boxes stone to the top of the same to be laid thirty- to be raised one foot from the floor, and the three inches thick; the back or north end of front boxes one foot and four inches, to be said wall to be laid the same height and thick- finished with hand-railing, and banisters in ness as last described, with suitable stone, but front. 10th. The sheriff's and coroner's boxes not cut. All of which stone is to be laid in to be raised one foot from the floor, and the good lime mortar, and in the best, substantial, deputy sheriff's and constable's boxes to be workmanlike manner. From the top of the raised eight inches, and the whole of the ex- cut stone the walls of said building are to be terior circle, whereon said boxes are placed, raised with good and sufficient brick, thirty-one to be finished with a hand-railing and banisters feet high. In the lower or ground story the of the description mentioned in the sixth re- brick walls are to be laid twenty-two inches quisition. 11th. All the circular seats, together thick, and raised eighteen feet high; the walls with the clerk's seat and desk, and the counsel of the upper story to be eighteen inches thick, table to be finished in the best workmanlike and raised twelve feet above the top of the manner, corresponding and in uniformity with

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

the other parts of said building; the clerk's placed on the pediment. 28th. The chamber seat to be raised one foot and four inches from joists to be placed eighteen inches asunder the floor. 12th. The second story to be divided from center to center, to be fourteen inches in agreeably to the plan, all of which partitions depth, and three inches thick. 29th. The com- are to be studded, lathed and plastered, all of missioners shall have a right to alter their which work is to be done in a substantial, ground plan, and chamber floor plan, so far as workmanlike manner. 13th. The two first floors to add other summers or girders, and also two are to be laid out with good oak boards of one other pillars and posts for the support of the and one-fourth inch thickness, and to show six same. 30th. The principal timbers in the inches when laid, to be tongued and grooved, lower floor to be fourteen inches by twelve and to be broken joints; the chamber floor to inches, of the best whiteoak timber, and the be planed, all to be done in the best workman- main timbers in the chamber floor to be twelve like manner; the garret floor to be laid with inches by fourteen inches, and the main timbers oak boards, tongued and grooved, and done in in the garret to be ten inches by twelve inches, a suitable manner. 14th. To each window in and the joists of said garret to be twelve inches said house there shall be Venetian blinds, by three inches. 3Ist. The mantelpieces are to be painted green, and hung in a proper to be of cut stone, and the jambs are also to manner, with inside bolts, and harps to fasten be of cut stone, and done in the best manner. them back on the outside. 15th. The garret All and singular, the work necessary for com- stairs to be inclosed with a stud partition, pleting said building, and which may not be lathed and plastered. 16th. The walls of said mentioned in these requisitions, is to be done house to be painted and penciled, the window in the best, substantial, workmanlike manner. frames, sash and cornice to be painted white; 33d. The foundation is to be, and the timber the roof sufficiently painted with Spanish brown; for the lower floor is to be placed ready to com- the doors and inside work all to be painted such mence the brick work on or before the tenth day color or colors as the commissioners may of July next; the brick walls to be raised to the direct. 17th. The windows are to be capped top of the first story, and the chamber timbers with cut stone agreeably to the plan. 18th. All placed on or before the tenth day of October the inside of the house to be lathed (when next; the second story to be raised and the necessary ), and plastered in the best workman- roof on and shingled by the tenth day of De- like manner. 19th. All the doors and chimney cember next; and the whole of the work for breasts to be finished inthe composite order, and the completion of said building shall be done in good, workmanlike manner. 20th. The door- on or before the first day of November, one steps to be of cut stone agreeable to the plan, thousand eight hundred and ten. 34th. On and the door sills to be of cut stone; the plat- condition that the work on the aforesaid build- form for the doorsteps to be four feet wide. 2Ist. ing shall progress as before required, there There shall be a water table of cut stone, four shall be paid to the contractors on the tenth of inches deep. 22d. The sash to be one and three- July next one thousand dollars, and one fourths inches thick, and made and glazed in the thousand dollars thereafter to be paid quarter- best manner. 23d. The windows to be jamb- yearly until six thousand dollars shall have cased with panel-work, and a double overatrive been paid, and the residue, if any, to be paid wrought on the inside casing, the outside in six months thereafter, which payments are doors to be jamb-cased and overatrived in the to be made by a draft on John McIntire, same manner. 24th. There shall be a good Jeffery Price, Robert Taylor, William Raynolds, and sufficient washboard and chairboard in Joseph F. Munro, Wyllys Silliman, Daniel every part of said house where they may be Converse and Robert Fulton, or their treasurer, thought necessary, to be executed in a manner as per their bond given the commissioners for conforming with the other work on said build- the payments as aforesaid. 35th. The com ing. 25th. All the doors for said building are missioners reserve a right to employ other to be panel-work, and the locks on the outside hands to carry on said building in case the doors to be ten inches long, with brass knobs contractors shall neglect or fail to carry it on and handles, the inside doors to have brass agreeable to their requisitions, which workmen knob locks of a suitable size. 26th. Two ten- shall be paid by the contractor, or the money plate stoves are to be placed in the chamber, stopped in the hands of the commissioners for agreeable to the plan, with sheet iron pipes their payment. The commissioners shall, once of suitable dimensions leading from said stoves in three months from the signing of the in a proper manner into the chimney. 27th. An contract, examine the works on said building, oval or round window is to be made, glazed and and either approve or disapprove of the same

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

so far as it shall then have progressed; and if of money in the county treasury. Third- they disapprove of it, the commissioners shall Bonds are to be given for the payment of the choose one mechanic, and the contractor money necessay for erecting and finishing said another, of good character, who shall examine buildings. Fourth-The money to be paid the work, and if those so chosen cannot agree, agreeable to the contract the commissioners they are to choose a third person to examine may make with the undertaker, and by draft, and determine with them. No person is to be as in case of the court house. Fifth-The chosen for the aforesaid purpose but those building to be sold to the lowest bidder the perfectly disinterested, and who have not 10th day of April next." Following is a copy wrought on said building, and in case the said of a bond for the payment of the money loaned referees are of the opinion that the work, or as above mentioned, for the purpose specified: any part thereof, is not done agreeably to "Know all men by these presents, that we, contract they shall estimate the deficiency, Isaac Van Horne, John McIntire and Wyllys which shall be deducted from the next pay- Silliman, are held and firmly bound unto Dan- ment. 36th. Bonds for the performance of iel Stillwell and Thomas Nisbet, commissioners said work are to be given, with approved security. of Muskingum county, in the sum of one thou- 37th. The pillars to be made in the Tuscan sand dollars, for the payment of which we bind order, and neatly executed."

ourselves, one and each, our heirs, executors

June 7, 1809, the board ordered that Benja- and administrators firmly by these presents. min Tupper make out and furnish the contract Sealed with our seals, dated this eighth day of for building the court-house, with the necessary March, one thousand eight hundred and ten. plats of said building. The commissioners met The condition of the above obligation is this, in accordance with adjournment, Monday, June that, whereas the commissioners of Muskingum 10, 1809. William Newell, Jacob Gomber and county have agreed to build offices for the Daniel Stillwell were present, and proceeded register and clerk of the county, on condition to examine the work on the brick court house, that the sum of money necessary for the erec- so far as it had progressed, and gave Messrs. tion and completion of said building shall be Williamson and Hampson an order on John Mc- paid the said commissioners agreeable to the Intire, treasurer of the Zanesville Court House contract to be entered into by them for erect- Company, for $750, that being the balance due ing said building, then the obligation to be on the first installment.

void, otherwise to remain in full force and vir-

October 6, 1809, it was ordered by the board tue." This document was signed by Messrs. that the clerk give an order on John McIntire, Van Horne, McIntire and Silliman, in the pres- treasurer of the Zanesville Court House Com- ence of Benjamin Tupper and W. Raynolds. pany, for $1,000, to be given in favor of Messrs. April 9, 1810, the commissioners met, and

Hampson and Williamson.

The work on the formulated the following requisition and re-

court house, so far as it had progressed, met strictions for building the county offices:

with the approbation of the commissioners.

First-A brick house, 24x28 feet; the story to

On the 8th of March, 1810, the inhabitants be ten feet in the clear, the brick to be of a of the town of Zanesville made a proposition to good quality. Second -- The foundation to be the commissioners, for the erection of a brick of stone, sunk eighteen inches below the sur- building on the public square, one part of which surface of the ground, and raised eighteen should be appropriated as an office for the reg- inches above the ground, with good ranged ister of the county, and the other part as an work; one range ten inches, the other eight, office for the county clerk. After considera- the stone under ground to be of a good quality tion, the board agreed to the erection of said likewise, all to be twenty-two inches thick, ex- building, on the following conditions: "First- cept the cross walls, which are to be fifteen. The money necessary for erecting said build- Third-All the out walls to be fourteen inches ing is to be loaned the county by individuals, thick, except the vaulted ends, which are to be which is to draw interest after the buildings are twenty-two and a half inches, the partition finished. Second -- No part of either principal walls and gable ends to be nine inches thick, or interest of the money so loaned is to be paid except the part connected with the vaults, until after the money which has already been which is to be fourteen inches. The arches are loaned for the building of the court house, to- to be sprung lengthwise of the vaults, and to gether with the interest thercon, shall have be nine inches thick. Fourth -- The floor to be been paid, and all other contingent expenses laid with brick or tile, and to be leveled with which have accrued, or may accrue, shall have the brick work. Fifth-Two chimneys agree- been discharged, and there shall be a surplus able to the plan, Sixth-A square roof framed

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

in a good manner, sheeted with oak boards, to fere with other appointments, and that the be covered with joint shingles, made of chestnut Presbyterian society occupy the new court timber, eighteen inches long, to lay five inches house. Both societies are to keep the house to the weather. Seventh-A plain cornice with clean and to make good any damage which bead molding. Eighth-Six fifteen-light win- may be done in consequence of their meeting dows, glass to be 10x12 inches, revealed frames, therein. Any other Christian society shall have single architraves inside; ovolo sash, panel a right to meet on the same grounds; that is, of shutters, with sufficient hangings and fasten- keeping clean, and in either of said houses ings; the windows to be glazed in a good man- when not occupied as above." ner. Ninth-Two doors in front, with revealed

On the 10th of January, 1811, on application frames, transom lights; the doors to be pan- of the subscribers to the court house stock, the neled and lined, and to be hung in a sufficient board ordered that subscribers who had paid manner, with ten-inch knob locks; an arch to their subscriptions in full should receive certfi- be sprung over each door and window. Tenth- cates for the same in accordance with the There are to be two doors leading to the fire- original order, made March 8, 1809, which proof rooms, to be made of sheet iron, with should bear interest from January 10, 1811, and brass running round the edges, two bars run- that all payments made in full subsequent to ning lengthwise of the doors, and four across, that date should bear interest from the time it which bars are to be of a sufficient size of should be made, and dividend payments should wrought iron; and two bars over each door, to be made to such stockholders out of the sur- support the arches; also best kind of hinges, plus revenue in the county treasury, in accord- built in the wall, and double-bolted padlocks. ance with the requisitions for building the court Eleventh-The inside of the house, wherever house in proportion to their individual sub- necessary, to be plastered with two sufficient scriptions and payments. coats. Twelfth-Plain work and chairboards March 6, 1811, it appears, the commission- round the two outside rooms. Thirteenth- ers acknowledged the indebtedness of the The sash to be painted white. Fourteenth- county to John McIntire, Jeffery Price, Robert The brick to be penciled. Fifteenth-All Taylor, William Raynolds, Joseph F. Munro, the materials for the before-mentioned build- Wyllys Silliman, Daniel Converse and Robert ing to be of the best quality, and all the work Fulton, of $7,550 with interest at 6 per cent. to be done in the most workmanlike manner. from December 1, 1810. This was a part of the Sixteenth-The money to be paid to the con- indebtedness incurred in erecting the brick tractor in four different installments-the first court house. March 5, 1811, it was ordered instalment on the first Tuesday of June next, that the old court house be rented to the Rev. at which time the foundation must be laid; the William Jones for the term of one year from remaining installments to be paid quarter yearly. and after the IIth day of March instant, to be Seventeenth -- The building to be completed by occupied as a school room, for which Mr. Jones the middle of September next. Twentieth- was to pay two dollars per month, and to re- The contractor shall give bond to the commis- pair all damages which might be done said sioners, with approved security, for the faithful room by himself or scholars, and to leave the performance of the conditions of sale in double same in as good repair as at the beginning of the amount at which the building is bid off." his term of lease.

June 13, 1810, the commissioners ordered

It was ordered that, on the presentation of that " the public offices be placed as follows: a certificate signed by these parties or any five The south wall of the offices to range with the of them, stating that the person in whose name north wall of the court house and on the west it was to be issued had paid for his stock in end of the same."

full, the clerk should issue an order on the

December 6, 1810, James Hampson stated county treasurer for the amount of the same, to the commissioners that the public offices agreeable to the requisitions of the commis- were completed according to contract, and it sioners for building said court house, and was ordered that the clerk give Hampson an agreed to by Mr. McIntire and the others, the order on John McIntire for $920 as payment sum specified on said certificate, to be con- in full for building said offices.

sidered as a part of the aggregate sum named

December 6, 1810, on motion "it was or- and charged accordingly on the books of the dered and agreed that the Methodist Society commissioners. The following was adopted as shall have a right to occupy the old court house the form of the order: "Commissioner's Office, for a meeting house, and the new court house Muskingum County, Ohio, April -, 181 -. Or- on their quarterly days, when it shall not inter- dered by the commissioners that the treasurer

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

of said county pay A. B., or his assigns the sum

The following lists of county officers from of --- dollars, with interest from the first day 1804 to 1877 were compiled from the " Proceed- of December, 1810, to be paid out of any sur- ings at the Dedication of the Muskingum plus money in the treasury of said county, County Court House," and published for the agreeable to the contract entered into by the Bar Association in 1877: commissioners and John McIntire and others MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. for building a court house in the town of

Senators,-1805, Jos. Buell, Hallem Hemp- Zanesville, and in conformity to the resolutions sted, Athens, Gallia, Washington and Muskin- of the commissioners of the 8th of March, gum; 1806, Hallem Hempsted, Leonard Jewett, 1809.'

April 18, 1811, the board ordered that Wil- Sharp, district the same; 1808-9, Robert Mc- liam Craig be directed to get the necessary re- Connell, Muskingum and Tuscarawas; 1810-II, pairs made on the pump in the public well at Robert McConnell, Guernsey, Muskingum and the expense of the county; and that Jacob Tuscarawas; 1812-14, Robert McConnell, Musk- Crooks be directed to make the necessary re- pairs on the jail and erect a whipping post.

ingum; 1815-16, Ebenezer Buckingham, Musk- ingum; 1817-18, George Jackson, Muskingum; district the same; 1807, Leonard Jewett, John

September 21, 1811, the commissioners, at 1819, Samuel Sullivan (resigned), Muskingum; the request of James Hampson, proceeded to 1820, John Matthews, Muskingum; 1821-22, view the court house and satisfy themselves Thomas Ijams, Washington; 1823-24, Ebenezer that it was finished according to contract; Buckingham, Muskingum; 1825-26, Wylly's "and having made some progress, they Silliman, Muskingum; 1827-29, John Hamm adjourned to meet on October I." On the lat- (resigned), Muskingum; 1830, James Ragnet, ter day, the record states, "they proceeded to Muskingum; 1831-32, Ezekiel T. Cox, Muskin- examine the court house work and compare it gum; 1833-34, Thomas Anderson, Muskingum; with the requisitions of the contract; and hav- 1835-38, Samuel J. Cox, Muskingum; 1839-42, ing made some progress, they adjourned to James Henderson, Muskingum; 1843-44, David meet to-morrow morning at eight o'clock." Chambers, Muskingum (speaker, 1844); 1845- The following entry appears under date of 48, Charles B. Goddard, Muskingum (speaker, October 2: "Commissioners met agreeable to 1847); 1849-50, Charles C. Convers, Muskingum adjournment, when they proceeded as above, (speaker, 1850); 1852-53, William E. Finck, and also to settle with the contractors of said Muskingum and Perry; 1854-55, Hugh J. building, and do find that the county stands Jewett, Muskingum and Perry; 1856-57, Eli A. indebted to Messrs. Hampson . & Williamson, Spencer, Muskingum and Perry; 1858-59, Eze- as contractors, for extra work in the sum of kiel Vanatta, Muskingum and Perry; 1860-61, $194.76." Charles W. Potwin, Muskingum and Perry; December 4, 1811, James Hampson, in the 1862-63, William E. Finck, Muskingum and name of Williamson & Hampson, received an Perry; 1864-65, Thomas J. Maginnis, Muskin- order on John McIntire, treasurer of the Court gum and Perry; 1866-69, Daniel B. Linn, House Company, for the sum of $1,550, the Muskingum and Perry; 1870-73, William H. last payment in full for the erection of the Holden, Muskingum and Perry; 1874-77, Elias court house, in accordance with the contract Ellis, Muskingum and Perry. entered into by John McIntyre and others.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 12

Author: Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 642

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642