Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 16

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149

USA > Ohio > Butler County > Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio > Part 16

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Be it known by these presents, that we, the subscribers, do each and severally and separately firmly bind and obligate ourselves or heirs and assigns, to the county of Butler, in the State of Ohio, for the different sums annexed to each and every name in the particular articles herein de- scribed, viz: money, stone, brick, lime, lumber, mechanical work, labor, hauling, etc., etc., etc.,- to be appropriated to the only use of said county to erect public buildings, and such other purposes as the commonwealth of said county may deem necessary. The same sums subscribed shall be recoverable at law by the trustees appointed for that and other public purposes in said county, providing that the seat of justice of said county be appointed and established in the town of Hamilton, in said county of Butler-otherwise to be void and of no effect. In witness whereof we, the subscribers, have severally and separately set our names with the sums annexed thereto, this eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and three.

The sums subscribed are to be considered in dollars:

John Torrence, $50; Frederick Fisher, $50; Charles Bruce, $50; Jonah Enyart, $10; Thomas Mccullough, $50; Joe Mccullough, $5; S. Line, $35; Zopkan Bell, $5; Paul Bony, $50; Timothy Woodruff, $10; James Lyon, $20; Benjamin F. Randolph, $51; David Line, $15; John Vinnedge, $30; Andrew Christy, $20; William Long, $5; Brice Virgin, $5; Samuel Gregory, $2; John Weyeney, $1; John Wingate, $20; Celadon Sym- mes, $50; Daniel Conner, $20; Azarias Thorn, $25; Joseph Walker, $20; Henry Watts, $6; Isaac Stan- ley, $25; Abraham Barlow, $4; Henry Wason, $20; Isaac Wiles, $25; John Moffett, $3; Barney Mc- Carron, $15; Jacob Lewis, $10; William Scott, $10;

John Gordon, $60; James Dunn, $20; Samuel Brant, $2; Gilbert McCrea, $5; William Mahan, $5; Thomas Alston, $6; John Dunn, 4; James Watson, $10; Samuel Walker, $10; James McGuire, $2; Jacob Scott, $3; Robert Johnston, $2; Wallis Alston, $2; John Crum, $2; John Maxwell, $2; James Blackburn, $25; John McDaniel, $5; Joseph Urmston, $5; Francis H. Gaines, $3; Samuel Ewing, $3; Joseph Holloway, $5; Abner Wilson, $4; Thomas Baxter, $6; John M. Crane, $10; George Marlan, $15; James Clark, $10; Richard McCain, $10; Samuel Alexander, $10; William Mc- Kinstry, $10; Edward Harlow, $10; James Cum- mins, $10; David Cummins, $10; Thomas O'Brian, $5; John Doty, $10; Philip Round, $1; Jacob Rowan, $5; Joseph Botten, $4; William Legg, $2; James Murphy, $1; Joseph Peak, $2; Henry Thompson, $5; D. W. Nutt, $10; John Smith, $5; William Herbert, $6; Miles Whitmore, $5; James Hamilton, $5; Tobias Talbott, $3; John Dixon, $1.50; William Symmes, $30; Joseph McMaken, $7; John McMaken, $2; Isaac Seward, $1; Samuel Seward, $10; George Van Ness, $5; George Bronnheard, $2; David Davis, $3; William Smith, $6; John Reed, $1; James Seward, $15; Hezekiah Bradbury, $26; Robert No- ble, $3; Sutherland E. Brown, $50; Jonathan Pitt- man, $5; Philip Hoyle, $3; Jeremiah Murfey, $1; Joseph Hennery, $10; William Ruffen, $10; James Patterson, $20; David E. Wade, $5. Cash, $355; timber, $124; mechanical work, $114; labor, $216; hauling, $123; whiskey, $69; grain, $241.50; total, $1,242.50.

In October, 1804, the commissioners of the county appointed Benjamin F. Randolph and Celadon Symmes to make collections on the subscriptions obtained. However, it was long before they were all collected; some of them remained unpaid as late as the year 1815. On the 30th day of Septem- ber, 1805, Ezekiel Ball, Matthew Richard- son and Solomon Line, commissioners of Butler county, made a contract with John Torrence and John Wingate to furnish the materials and build a jail for the county of Butler, on the south side of the public square. The building was to be of stone, thirty-three feet by twenty. two stories

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high, and to be erected and inclosed by the Ist day of September, 1806. for the price or sum of one thousand six hundred dol- lars. The contractors erected and inclosed the building according to their contract, by the fall of 1806. The finishing and com- pleting the interior of the building. and se- curing and adapting it in a manner requisite for a jail, was not included in the contract. but was an additional expense. and required some time to effect, so that it was not ready for the reception of prisoners until Decem- ber. 1808.

The inside walls of the prison were lined with logs about a foot square. laid close to- gether, on which was a lining of two-inch oak plank, well secured with iron spikes. The floor and ceiling were of hewed logs, placed in the same manner as the sides, so that the whole was very secure against escapes. The lower story was divided into three apart- ments, having a cell in the middle for a dun- geon. The upper story was divided into two rooms for debtors.

On the 2d day of February. 1807, the commissioners of the county made a con- tract with William Squier, to erect a build- ing adjoining the jail already erected. for the accommodation of the jailor and his family : the building to be of stone, thirty- three feet by thirty. and two stories high. corresponding with the width and length of the jail then erected. Mr. Squier was to furnish all the materials, and have the build- ing entirely completed. according to the plan laid down. by the Ist day of December. 1807. for which he was to be paid the sum of one thousand six hundred and ninety dollars. Mr. Squier. however, not prosecuting the work with energy. did not complete the job by the time stipulated in his contract. It was the beginning of the year 1810 before

the building was entirely ready for the re- ception of the jailor and his family.

The remodeled building was divided by a hall running across the building between the prison and the added portion, which was divided into two apartments in the lower story for the occupancy of the jailor and his family.

The upper story. over the jailor's apart- ments. was fitted up to accommodate the sit- tings of the courts, in which room the courts were heid from the year 1810 until the year 1817. and during which time the venerable Francis Dunlavy presided as judge.

At the time the jail and the jailor's house were erected. the numerous fine stone quar- ries now known to exist in the neighborhood of Hamilton had not been discovered. Nearly all the stone then attainable were procured from the bed of the Miami river, and were generally of small size and of an inferior quality. The mechanical arts of building had not then acquired the perfec- tion to which they have since at- tained. and the whole work of these buildings appears to have been exe- cuted without a sufficient regard to that strength and durability necessary to render a building designed for a prison entirely se- cure. During the time it was occupied as a jail frequent escapes were made, by means of breaches through the walls where the fire- places were, which subjected the county. from time to time, to very considerable ex- pense. The jail and jailor's house, together, which stood on the south side of the public square. formed a building fifty feet long by thirty-three feet wide. two stories high. of rough stone. In its external appearance and internal arrangement it presented neither a model of elegance nor convenience.

On the 15th day of July. 1848. the com-

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missioners exposed the old jail and jailor's house, with all the materials, as they stopd, for sale at public auction, when Robert E. Duffield became the purchaser, at the price of one hundred and ninety-four dollars ; and on the 9th day of August following the old jail was abandoned, and the jailor and his family took possession of the present jail.

THE PRESENT JAIL.

On the 4th of March, 1846, the commis- sioners of Butler county made a contract with Alex. P. Miller to furnish all the ma- terials, and erect and complete the present jail, which stands on a lot immediately south of the public square, for the sum of eight thousand five hundred and eighty-one dol- lars. It is a plain, but neat and substantial building. fronting fifty feet on Basin street, now Court street. and extending back eighty- four feet. It is built of very solid limestone ; the front of the building, neatly cut. pre- sents a handsome appearance. The build- ing when first erected was covered with a composition' roof. composed of first a paper covering laid on sheeting, and that covered with coal-tar, sand and gravel. The front part of the building was arranged into apartments, for the accommodation of the sheriff and his family: under these apart- ments. in the basement or cellar. were built two secure cells. prepared as lock-up rooms. designed for the temporary confinement of offenders. committed for a short time for minor offences. In the second story were two secure rooms, designed for the confine- ment of females, or other persons committed for minor crimes.

The back part of the building. which constituted the main prison, in which the cells were placed. is a large room, forty-four

feet by forty-six in the clear, and thirty feet high to the ceiling. The windows which ad- mitted light to this room were set nineteen feet above the stone pavement which formed the floor. The unusual height of these windows was designed to prevent persons on the outside from having any intercourse or communica- tion with the prisoners within. The windows were securely grated with iron grates placed on the inside of the sash of the windows, so as to present no appear- ance of a jail. This prison, or cell room, was approached through two openings; one through the sheriff's office, the other from the rear of the building. Each opening was secured by two iron doors-one a tight or closed door. the other grated, for the pur- pose of admitting fresh air. In this room were ten cells, each about eight feet by ten, and six and one-half feet high in the clear. The piers of the cells. against which the doors shut, were single blocks of Dayton stone; each about three and one-half feet wide, six and one-half feet high and twenty inches thick. The sides and ceilings were heavy cast-iron plates; the floor large and heavy stone, six inches thick, placed on a solid foundation of stone masonry, well laid and ground. The doors were grates, made of heavy round iron bars. Under the cells a large cast-iron pipe, or sewer, was laid. having a considerable inclination, and which connected with a vault outside of the build- ing. This main pipe was pierced by ten other smaller pipes. communicating with each cell. The mattresses or beds of the prison were supported by light lattice work of iron. fastened to the sides of the cells, and constructed so as to turn up when not in use. All around the cells was an area or

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space about twelve feet wide between the can now justly make claim to possessing cells and outer wall, which is two feet thick, the best, up-to-date jail in Ohio. in which the prisoners took their exercise when not closely confined. THE SECOND COURT HOUSE.

The interior arrangement of the jail re- mained the same as described above until 1897, when its sanitary condition became so bad that the state board of charities recom- mended extensive alterations and repairs in the building. At a cost of about fifteen thousand dollars, the county commissioners caused the main prison department to be re- modeled and refitted with a modern steel jail equipment, which furnishes ample ac- commodations for the county prisoners, in making them secure from escape, and in - maintaining them under the most healthful and proper conditions.

At this time a new office for the turnkey was erected, besides other extensive repairs were made in the building. Also a new and effective heating system was provided. -

The original plan of the jail building embraced a front of brick, and the rear to be of plain stone work. Through the earn- est petition of a number of citizens of the county, the commissioners were induced to alter the plan, and substitute a cut stone front and sides, as presented, which of course added somewhat to the cost, and vastly to the appearance and value of the building. The alteration of the plan it is said somewhat delayed the execution of the work; but in reality it was an advantage, as it gave the mortar time to harden. Now, almost fifty- eight years after their erection, the walls remain solid; not a crack appears in any of them. On the whole, the old building, with its massive walls and its new modern equip- ment is well adapted for the purpose for which it was intended, and Butler county

On November 20, 1813, the commission- ers of the county contracted with John E. Scott to furnish all the materials and erect and finish a court house, according to a plan that had been drawn and agreed upon, to be completed by the expiration of the year 1816, for the sum of nine thousand dollars. He entered upon the execution of the work immediately, and had it com- pleted by the time stipulated in the contract. The building was of brick, erected on a stone foundation. It was fifty-four feet long by forty-four feet wide, and two stories high. The lower story, twenty feet high, was fit- ted up for the court-room. having the judges' seat on the south. The main en- trance was by a door on the north; there was also a door on the east and another on the west side of the building, and a pri- vate door on the south, near the southwest corner, to communicate with the jail. The second story was eighteen feet in height, divided into a hall and four rooms, for the accommodation of the grand and petit jur- ies, and for such other purposes as might be required. On the top of the building, in the center of the roof, which was hipped on all four sides, was a cupola, surmounted with an iron spire, on which were two balls of gilded copper. The height from the ground to the uppermost ball was one hun- dred and ten feet.

The contract price for building the court-house, as before mentioned, was nine thousand dollars. However, on the applica- tion of the contractor, who alleged that he had lost money on the job, the legislature,

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at their session of 1817-18, passed a law authorizing the commissioners of Butler county to make a further allowance to the contractor not exceeding one thousand dol- lars, if, in their judgment, on an examina- tion of the accounts of his expenditures, it should appear that he had sustained a loss on the contract. The commissioners, on an examination of the account of his expendi- tures in erecting the building, made the al- lowance authorized by law, and accord- ingly, on the 12th day of October, 1818, they paid him the further sum of one thou- sand dollars, making the whole cost of the court-house ten thousand dollars. The sit- tings of the courts were transferred from the old stone building, and the first court was held in the new court-house at the April term. 1817.

In the cupola was suspended a fine-toned bell, which was used not only for the assem- bling of the court. but on other public occa- sions, and tolled at the funerals of promi- nent citizens. It was also, for a number of years, rung regularly every day at nine o'clock in the morning. at twelve o'clock at noon. and at nine o'clock in the evening, by a person employed for that purpose. who was regularly paid for that service from a fund raised by voluntary subscription of the citizens of the town.

The plan and arrangement of the court house being considered inconvenient and not well suited for the accommodation of the court and those in attendance on that tri- bunal, the commissioners of the county, in the year 1836, resolved to make an alteration and improvement of the building, and for that purpose employed William H. Bartlett. a carpenter then residing in Hamilton, to su- perintend and carry into effect the plan of

the alteration, which was immediately com- menced by him, and completed in 1837, in the manner in which the building remained when dismantled and torn down. The court-house, as remodeled and arranged, was fifty-four feet in length from north to south by forty-four feet in width from east to west, with a portico of ten feet projection in front on the north, with four columns of brick, plastered with hydraulic cement. The columns were of the Grecian-Ionic order, thirty-two feet in height, supporting a cor- nice and pediment of the same order. On the north end of the building was erected a handsome cupola, surmounted by a figure of Justice, holding a sword and balance. The whole height from the ground to the top of the figure on the cupola was one hun- dred and eleven feet. The court-room was in the second story, which was finished in very neat and elegant style. The judges' seat was on the south side of the court-room, with a gallery on the north. The lower story was divided into four apartments. The most northern one. at the general en- trance, was occupied as an ante-room, in which was the stairway leading to the ves- tibule of the court-room. In the northwest corner was a room occupied as a sheriff's office. The remaining southern part was fitted up for the accommodation of the coro- ner and for grand jury rooms. The whole expense of the new modeling and alteration · of the building made under the superintend- ence of Mr. Bartlett amounted to the sum of fifteen thousand nine hundred and nineteen dollars. Some remodeling and alteration was done about 1850.

In the cupola was suspended a fine-toned bell, the same which formerly hung in the cupola of the old court-house. Between

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1830 and 1840 a fine clock was purchased and placed in the cupola, having a face on each side of the square, pointing out the lapse of time, and striking the hours on a bell as they pass. The clock cost one thou- sand dollars, which was paid for by the vol- untary contributions of the citizens of the place.

THE PRESENT COURT HOUSE.

The legislature of Ohio, through the efforts of Senator George F. Elliott, hav- ing authorized the issuing of bonds for the construction of a new court house, and the arrangements for erecting the new building having been completed, steps were taken for the formal abandonment of the old build- ing. The common pleas court at Hamilton adjourned Saturday, June 6, 1885. The work of tearing down the court-house com- menced shortly thereafter and this promi- nent land-mark, so familiar to all, disap- peared. The bar of Butler county, 1885, namely : Thomas Millikin, Thomas Moore, General Ferd Van Derveer, Hon. H. L. Morey, Isaac Robertson, Houston James, Allen Andrews, S. Z. Gard, Israel Williams, Aaron Wesco, P. W. Smith, J. C. McKemy, Nelson Williams, Robert N. Shotts, Philip G. Berry, C. J. Smith, J. F. Neilan, Al V. Schaffer, Dan McClung, B. F. Thomas, Charles S. Haines, W. C. Shepherd, W. H. Todhunter, Ben W. Baker, Edgar A. Bel- den, L. D. Doty, Elwood Morey, Hon. James E. Neal, W. H. Harr, P. C. Conklin and Stephen Crane,-met on Saturday aft- ernoon before Judge Hume adjourned court, and during a short recess indulged in several suggestive addresses, which were greatly appreciated by the immense audi- ence.

Thursday, October 29, 1895, the corner stone of the new court-house was laid. The parade formed at 2:30, but owing to the muddy streets and bad weather it was cut short. It was about two squares long, and three brass bands furnished music for the occasion. It was a highly creditable pro- cession but the carriages were unable to join it and simply assembled on High street. The procession arriving at the stand, erected on the corner of High and Second streets, Colonel James E. Neal called the assembly to order and Rev. E. Simpson offered a short prayer, after which Hon. H. L. Mo- rey read the list of articles placed in the copper box, as follows :

A copy of the Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, one copy of the Daily News, of Hamilton, Butler County Democrat, Hamilton Telegraph, Daily Herald, Hamilton Observer, National Zeitung, Watchman, Middletown Signal and the Journal, one copy of the Oxford Citizen, a copy of the law authorizing its construction, roster of county commission- ers and building committee, architects and contractors, plans and specifications of the building, copy of court house bond, photo- graphs of former court-house and county officials, photograph of the old court-house and suspension bridge, presented by Ezra Potter, roster of circuit and common pleas court, roster of Butler county bar and county officials, copy of invitations issued, address of Thomas Millikin, Esquire, address of Colonel George F. Elliott, roster of national, state, county and city officers, Hamilton city directory, biennial reports of Hamilton pub- lic schools, history of Butler county, copy of laws passed by the first legislature of the state of Ohio, the Holy Bible, Catholic di-

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rectory of the United States, sketch of the first Presbyterian church of Hamilton; also of Church of Christ, United Presbyterian, Reformed, German Methodist, St. John's Evangelical. African Methodist Episcopal and Universalist ; record of Patriotic Sons of America: First and Second National bank notes of five dollars; specimens of United States coin; by-laws and roster of Washington Lodge, No. 17. Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Hamilton; roster of Com- pany B. Seventh Regiment, Ohio National Guard: catalogue of Long & Allstatter Com- pany: catalogue of the Bentel & Margedant Company. copies of the by-laws and consti- tution of Hanselmann and Miami Com- manderies, Knights Templar.

The box was then sealed by Conrad Moebus, and deposited in the corner stone by Hon. H. I .. Morey at precisely 2:53 P. M. The stone covering the box, and weigh- ing two tons, was then lowered into position, resting solidly at exactly three and a half minutes before three.

The grand officers who conducted the ceremonies were as follows: Most worship- ful grand master. S. Stacker Williams, of Newark : deputy grand master. William S. Phares, of Columbus: senior warden, Wil- liam Tucker. of Oxford; junior warden. W. E. Frost, of Lebanon : senior deacon, John Maas, of Hamilton: junior deacon. W. R. Crume. of Oxford; treasurer, Charles Brown, of Cincinnati; chaplain, L. E. Gren- nan, of Oxford: orator, Allen Andrews, of Hamilton ; marshal, J. D. Reinhart, of Cin- cinnati. and tyler. S. Warner, of Oxford.

Architect Gibbs and Contractors Comp- ton and Driver assisted in the ceremonies, the tools being delivered to Mr. Gibbs as the master workman. by the masons.

ADDRESS OF COLONEL GEORGE F. ELLIOTT.

Ladies and Gentlemen and Fellow Citizens: The custom of laying the corner stone in public buildings is as old as history. We, of Butler county, have met today to lay the corner stone and dedicate to the public the finest structure this county has ever built, either public or pri- vate.

I had the honor on the 22d day of last Janu- ary to introduce a bill in the senate of Ohio, to authorize the commissioners, in connection with the building committee, to build a court house in this county. That bill passed the senate the same day. Whatever of blame or credit there is attached to this bill I am willing to assume. I now hold in my hand a certified copy of the law authorizing the building of this court house. This law has been certified to by the secretary of state and by all the state officials that are authorized to do the same.

And now, with my best wishes for the con- tractor, the architect, the county commissioners, the building committee and all of those who are employed in the construction of this court house, together with all the county officials and the citi- zens of this county, I have deposited in this box, to be laid in the corner stone of this building, the law which authorizes the building of the same.

ORATION BY THOMAS MILLIKIN.

My Fellow Citizens: We have met today to contribute to the beautiful and imposing cere- mony of laying the corner stone of the new court house in Butler county.

Time-honored custom has devolved this duty upon the ancient and honorable fraternity of Masons.

In this instance they have with commendable zeal and patriotism accepted the trust, and entered upon the discharge of this honored duty. They have kindly invited orders of brotherhood from other counties, and other civic orders of this county to be present, and aid in the ceremony; and we rejoice in their welcome presence.

They have invited the people of the county, without distinction of race, color, pecuniary or so- cial condition, to be present, and to give hearty sanction to the great event we are here to cele- brate.

Our minds naturally go back today to the earlier period of our judicial history.

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Ohio was admitted as a state into the Union in the year 1802. At that time we were a part of Hamilton county. In 1803 Butler county was organized by an act of the legislature, and by its direction the courts were directed to be held at the tavern house of John Torrence until a perma- nent place of holding courts could be provided.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 16

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1149

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149