Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 16

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1086

USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th > Part 16

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EAST COUNTY BUILDING.

As a make-shift until a new court house could be had, or better arrangements made, a building was erected in 1868 on the southeast lot of the square, which was used as offices for the treasurer, recorder, auditor, commissioners and board of ag- riculture. This building at first was two stories in height. Afterwards a wing or addition was made running back almost doubling its original capacity, which served for the purpose for which it was erected, until 1904, when the county offi- cers moved into the present building situ- ated on the opposite side of the street. This building is now used by the Clark County Historical Society.

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WEST COUNTY BUILDING.

Shortly after the erection of the East County Building, a building very much similar was erected on the west side of the street, on the lot now occupied by the county officers' building in which the Pro- bate Court and other offices are located. This West County Building was used by the Probate Court, county surveyor's of- fice and county commissioners, and like- wise for a while by the clerk and sheriff.

During the erection of the new court house from 1878-1881 court was held in this west building in the room upstairs over the Probate Court office.

The building erected in 1869 was torn down in 1900 for the erection of the pres- ent commodious building now located up- on that site. This building was erected and furnished at a cost of about $110,000. It is modern in every respect and reflects credit to the architect that designed it, and the people who were instrumental in its erection. As a specimen of architecture it is not excelled by any building in our county.

COUNTY JAIL.

The jail is a complement of the court house. The first one in our town was a log and plank building on Fisher Street. It was on the east side about half way between Main and Columbia Streets, and it was erected by the citizens of the west end of the town, then called "Old Vir- ginia."

The people of this vicinity petitioned the county commissioners and agreed to build a jail sixteen feet square and one story high, for such price as the board might see fit to pay. It was finished in

1818. It is said that the first jailor, whose name was Abraham B. Mereness, to assist him in his duties kept a black bear chained to a stake near the jail door. A black man named Jackson being con- fined in that jail pried off the door, threw it into Mill Run and set out for parts un- known.

This jail was finally demolished and an- other one was erected on the lot now oc- cupied by the Soldiers' Monument oppo- site the court house. It was built of oak timbers, hewed square, and bolted togeth- er. The floor was of like material, cov- ered with several courses. The ceilings were built much in the same manner, though not quite so thick. Then over the outside of these there was built a brick wall inclosing the whole of the entire building, giving it a respectable appear- ance. It was two stories high, and the brick work was extended to the south of the jail far enough to enclose sufficient space for several county offices.

This jail was torn down in 1869 to make room for the Soldiers' Monument. How- ever, previous to this time it had been abandoned for jail purposes, as it was said in speaking of the court house, that it was the original intention of some to build a court house and jail combined, and with that object in view a building was begun about the year 1850 upon the lot where the Post Office is now situated, and was continued until 1852 far enough to com- plete the jail. This fourth jail was built of stone and brick, the labor being largely done by the day and superintended by the county commissioners. This jail was pulled down about the year 1880 and much of the stone taken therefrom used in building the present court house and jail.

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It was from this jail that the murderers of Daniel Hertzeler escaped. Just how they ever received their freedom has nev- er been definitely known, but they made their escape in such a complete way that they were never afterwards re-arrested, or their whereabouts discovered. The present jail was erected at the same time that the present court house was erected, the county now owning the lot out to the alley. A large part of the ground now oc- cupied by the jail was purchased for the sum of $10,000. It has served its purpose very well and seems to have been suf- ficient for the confinement of criminals. No escapes have been made, unless by neglect of some one in charge. Here was enacted an exciting scene when the riot- ers took from within it Henry Dixon in 1904.

SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.

For some time it had been felt by the people of our county that some fitting tribute should be paid to the memory of the "Boys in Blue" who had so nobly rep- resented this county in the Civil War of 1861-65. It is said that Clark County fur- nished more than 3,000 soldiers to the Civil war.

A vote was taken upon the question and it was decided that this recognition should take the shape of a monument to be placed upon the lot where the old jail was lo- cated. The statue was modeled by J. A. Bailey and cast by Henry H. Lovie, of Philadelphia. It is made of antique bronze and stands upon a pedestal of Quincy granite which weighs over thirty tons. The height of the figure is eight feet five inches, and the whole height of the monu- ment is twenty-one feet and a few inches.

It was dedicated May 30, 1870. The en- tire cost of monument and base was $10,- 000. The late Judge Mower was chair- man, and the orator, the late Judge Cox, of Cincinnati.

On several occasions a movement has been started to remove this monument from its present location to the mound in the cemetery; at no time, however, has the movement been of sufficient force to accomplish that result, and until the plot of land upon which it is situated is needed for some other county purpose, it is like- ly that the monument will stay where it is. It seems that its present location is not an inappropriate one, and that it can serve the purpose for which it was erected just as well where it is as it would if moved to the cemetery.

COUNTY INFIRMARY.

In 1833 the Board of County Commis- sioners passed a resolution to purchase a lot suitable for the erection of a poor house, and the following January, Joseph Parrott conveyed 48.54 acres to Clark County. To this was added in 1839 the tract upon which the Children's Home is located, and an infirmary was erected. This infirmary has been en- larged and remodeled and in its remodeled condition is still used for infirmary pur- poses. In 1836 the first board of direc- tors met and organized. Today the ground is quite valuable, and on several occasions it has been seriously urged that the grounds be sold and an infirmary be erected upon a larger tract of land, which could be purchased, from the proceeds of such sale, at a farther distance from the city. This no doubt will happen before many years roll around.

SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, SPRINGFIELD

CLARK COUNTY COURT HOUSE

COUNTY OFFICERS' BUILDING

CITY BUILDING, SPRINGFIELD

CLARK COUNTY INFIRMARY

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When the present buildings become un- fit for infirmary purposes, either by rea- son of their age or from insufficiency of room, it is likely that some other place will be selected. From the record we find that John Ross, of Bethel Township, was the first person to be admitted, that Den- nis Jones wa's the first superintendent, and that Francis Elliott was appointed to succeed him in 1842. The records are not complete, but in 1861 Christopher La- bourn was re-appointed superintendent. In 1863 W. H. Ford was superintendent and he served until 1876. Then Isaac Curl was elected to that position and he in turn was superseded in 1878 by James Fleming, and in 1892 William H. Hughes was elected to that position and served until 1902, when A. O. Huffman was chos- en; he was succeeded in 1907 by the pres- ent superintendent, Edgar W. Albin.

CHILDREN's HOME.

For some time philanthropists had dis- cussed the problem as to the manner in which orphan children should be taken care of. It was realized that the present child makes the future man or woman, and that if society is to be improved and civil- ization advanced, the child must be prop- erly cared for. A large number of or- phans left by soldiers who lost their lives in the war of 1861 served to bring this matter to prominence before the people, and in 1866 the legislature passed an act permitting counties to erect homes for such children.

The commissioners of our county sub- mitted the matter to a vote in 1875 and it was carried by a large majority and in 1877 they selected the present site, which

is north of the city of Springfield, east of the Urbana Pike, about one-half mile north of the corporation line. It is on a tract of land bought by the county from Richard Rodgers in 1839, and was for- merly used as a wood lot for the infirm- ary. It is well chosen and the buildings erected are commodious and properly ar- ranged for the purpose intended.

In 1878 the trustees for the home were appointed, Frederick Holford, Clifton M. Nichols and E. B. Cassilly being the first persons to fill that position. In March of the same year William Sloan was ap- pointed superintendent and his wife as matron. In 1880 Nathan M. McConkey and wife were appointed to succeed Mr. and Mrs. Sloan, and they served until the death of Mr. McConkey in 1885. Adam Lenhart and his estimable wife were ap- pointed superintendent and matron re- spectively of that institution. It is con- ceded by all who have come in contact with the management of that institution, that the persons in charge of it are admir- ably adapted for the positions they occu- py and the benefit received by the com- munity and society at large is beyond es- timation, and the good accomplished by the institution is fully up to the expecta- tion of those who urged its original erec- tion.

The original building for the orphans' home cost $20,000.00. It is a large com- modious structure made of brick. Since that time other buildings and improve- ments have been added until the total ex- penditure has reached the sum of $45,678. Immeasurable good has been accom- plished, and a large number of children have been put into good homes, and many adopted by respectable people.

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Great care has been exercised by those in charge in seeing that persons who ap- ply for children, either to be apprenticed or adopted, be persons of a suitable and proper character. Since the home has been opened it has furnished a place of temporary abode for 1,546 children. The present number in the home is sixty-sev- en and the cost per capita is $122. The woods surrounding the home has been trimmed out and shows a most beautiful grove. In the southwest corner a part has been set off in which to bury the little ones that have come to the institution and have gone thence to their final home.

A school has been conducted in this building and the children are taught in a substantial way the rudiments of knowl- edge, and in all respects the institution has been the success hoped for by its founders.

CLARK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

On the 25th of January, 1840, a meet- ing was held at the court house for the purpose of organizing a county agricult- ural society. Of this meeting John R. Lehman was chairman. On motion of Ira Paige a committee consisting of Ira Paige, Matthew Bonner, Charles Ward, William H. Harris, Anthony Bird and John H. Cartmell were appointed by the chairman to report the names of persons for office. This committee reported John R. Lehman for president; James Bogle for vice-president; W. W. Spencer, re- cording secretary; Benjamin Moore, for corresponding secretary; Adam Stewart, treasurer; S. G. Moler, W. G. Serviss, John A. Alexander, executive committee.

Prior to this time there had been an ag-

ricultural society organized in the village of South Charleston, in 1837, of which Roland Brown was president and Alexan- der Waddle secretary. I am not aware how long this society was in existence, but perhaps not very long after the organiza- tion of the Clark County society; for we are told that for some time after the or- ganization of the Clark County society the fair was held in various parts of the country. This society, organized in 1840, held fairs for several years, but was nev- er on a very substantial basis. In 1853 the society was reorganized and ten acres of land were purchased from William Huntington for the sum of $120 per acre. Afterwards additional tracts were bought until the sum total amounted to forty-six acres. In 1870-71 the Ohio State Fair was held on these grounds and for that purpose an additional tract was rented from George Spence and George Dibert. In those days the state fair was moved every two years from place to place. Soon thereafter it was located permanent- ly in the city of Columbus, where, with State aid, very fine grounds have been ac- quired. The Clark County society having become involved and its members seeing no way in which they could be relieved un- less the grounds were to be sold, the prop- osition was made that if the county would assume the indebtedness, which then amounted to little over $12,000, the so- ciety would deed the grounds to the coun- ty and the fair could be conducted in such manner as the law would provide. This proposition was submitted to a vote of the electors of the county and having re- ceived a majority vote in the affirma- tive, in due time these grounds were trans- ferred to the county which now holds title

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to the same. By a law then in force or soon after passed, the directors were elected by the electors of the various townships, two from each township. Only persons were entitled to vote who held tickets for the next fair; it being thus sought to interest not only persons in the fair, but to place the management of the fair in the hands of the persons that were interested in its welfare. In this manner the directors were elected un- til some four years ago, when it was dis- covered that there had been a change in the law and that they would have to be selected in some other manner. Accord- ingly the directors are now elected by the parties that hold tickets, but they are not divided among the townships in the man- ner that they formerly were.

Some twenty or more years ago an as- sociation was formed called The Spring- field Trotting Association, and this or- ganization leased the grounds for their purpose for twenty-five years, and at once began to grade the race course. After spending in that manner some six or eight thousand dollars, the association went under, and the Agricultural Society re- ceived the benefit of the expenditures that they had made. A great many of our citizens who are interested in such mat- ters have on different occasions served on the agricultural board, usually a thankless task; S. Van Bird has been the obliging secretary for a number of years, H. L. Rockfield is president. The grounds being situate within the corporate limits of the city, are now quite valuable, and every once in the while some person sug- gests that they should be sold or convert- ed into a park. Neither of these sugges-

tions has, however, at any time struck a popular chord, and the probability is that it will remain for some time the property of the county, and that for years we will annually visit the "County Fair" in its old-time location, dating back to our child- hood days, and that the merry-go-round and the big snake and hairy man and armless child will amuse our children and grandchildren as they amused us in the years that are gone. Some criticism is annually dealt out to the directors on the charge that the fair has gone to horse- racing and that agricultural matters are largely forgotten; but if such is the case it is because the people themselves dis- play more interest in that direction. The fair is not supported in any manner by taxation and the management must pro- vide the kind of attraction that ensures attendance. The more that come, and the more the gate receipts are swelled, the more can be paid in premiums and the better will be the exhibits.

OFFICERS (1907).

H. L. Rockfield. President

C. W. Minnich. Vice-President

S. Van Bird Secretary

F. J. Johnston Treasurer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

F. J. Johnston, Pike 1909

E. W. Xanders, German 1908

J. S. Nicklin, Moorefield. 1909

N. W. Lemen, Pleasant. 1908

Chas. Snyder, Harmony . 1909

Geo. Reid, Springfield. 1908

H. L. Rockfield, Springfield City 1908

C. W. Minnich, Bethel. 1909

Silas Printz, Mad River 1908

J. E. Johnson, Green. 1909

M. Cheney, Madison 1908

CHAPTER X.

PUBLIC ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

Road Map of Ohio, 1810-Condition of Roads Indicative of Advancement-Indian Trails, etc .- Early Roads-Military Routes-Corduroy Roads-National Roads-Toll Pikes-Stage Coach Trip Through Springfield in 1834-Dick- ens' Ride Through Ohio in 1842.

CONDITION OF ROADS INDICATIVE OF AD- VANCEMENT.

Before the building of railroads all commerce carried on from place to place was necessarily transported over roads or highways, or lakes and rivers. Neces- sarily the construction of good highways became a matter of the supremest im- portance, and thus we find that it engaged the attention of our statesmen who gave their earnest efforts to the solution of the problem until the railroad came. Then for a time it seemed to be less a subject of public attention, but it has always been one that has received more or less atten- tion because of its affecting directly a larger number of people than almost any other as regards their welfare, comfort and happiness. Indeed the advancement that a community or people make in this respect has been taken to indicate the degree of their advancement in civiliza- tion. A distinguished writer has said: "If you wish to know whether society is

stagnant, learning scholastic, religion a dead formality, you may learn something by going into universities and libraries ; something also by the work that is doing on cathedrals and churches, or in them; but quite as much by looking at the roads. For if there is any motion in society, the road, which is a symbol of motion, will indicate the fact. When there is activity, or enlargement, or a liberalizing spirit of any kind, then there is intercourse and travel, and these require roads. So if there is any kind of advancement going on, if new ideas are abroad and new hopes rising, then you will see it by the roads that are building. Nothing makes an in- road without making a road. All creative action, whether in government, industry, thought or religion, creates roads."

HORACE BUSHNELL.

INDIAN TRAILS, ETC.

It is a singular thing demonstrated in the modern building of railways, that the

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pathways made by the great wild ani- mals that formerly roamed over our country are those which are best adapted for the building of roads required by modern civilization. Upon this point Archer Butler Hulbert in the introduc- tion of his "Historical Highways of America," says : "It was for the great animals to mark out what be- came known as the first thoroughfares of America. The plunging buffalo, keen of instinct, and nothing if not utilitarian, broke great roads across the continent on the summits of the watersheds, beside which the first Indian trails were but traces through the forests. Heavy, fleet of foot, capable of covering scores of miles in a day, the buffalo tore his roads from one feeding ground to another, and from north to south on high ground. Here his roads were swept clear of the debris in summer, and of snow in winter. They mounted the heights and descended from them on the longest slopes, and crossed each stream on the bars at the mouth of its lesser tributaries. * *

"But the greatest marvel is that these early pathfinders chose routes, even in the roughest districts, which the tripod of the white man cannot improve upon. A rare instance of this is the course of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad between Graf- ton and Parkersburg, West Virginia. That this is one of the roughest rides our palatial trains of to-day make, is well known to all who have passed that way, and that so fine a road could be put through such a rough country is one of the marvels of engineering science. But leave the train, say at the little hamlet of Petroleum, West Virginia, and find on the hill the famous old thoroughfare of

the buffalo, Indian, and pioneer, and fol- low that narrow thread of soil westward to the Ohio River. You will find that the railroad has followed it steadily through- out its course, and when it came to a more difficult point than usual, where the rail- road is compelled to tunnel at the strategic point of least elevation, in two instances the trail runs exactly over the tunnel. This occurs at both 'Eaton's tunnel' and 'Gorham's tunnel.' "

There is no doubt but that the red man had a number of trails or paths over va- rious parts of this county. As he planted his villages generally along the river val- leys, his movements would be, as ours are today, from village to village, sometimes following the streams of water and at other times going across the table lands from one valley to another.

We know from Simon Kenton's ad- ventures, when in captivity among the In- dians, that a trail came up Mad River, through what was then the Indian village of Piqua, to the city of Springfield, prob- ably crossing Buck Creek not far from the present Limestone Street, thence north near the Urbana Pike leading on to the villages of Wapakoneta and Wapa- tomika.

We know also that there was a trail or pathway leading from old Chillicothe down to about where Goes' Station is now, and up through Enon through the ancient village of Piqua, for it was over this route that General Clark and his troops came on their march to the famous battle there fought. Then no doubt there was also a trail or Indian path that led to the southeast, its ultimate object be- ing the Little Miami River further to- wards its source, and no doubt there was

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another trail or pathway leading from of the orders made, I think, in the No- where the old village of Piqua was lo- vember term of the Court of Common Pleas sitting at Franklinton, viewers were appointed to lay out a road from Frank- linton west to Springfield. At what time of the year 1803 this order was made I do not know. Neither am I aware of how soon thereafter the order was carried into execution and a road laid out. cated, passing not far from the present location of New Carlisle to the Indian villages on the Big Miami, and possibly there may have been a trail southwardly from the city of Springfield reaching the Little Miami River and afterwards the Indian villages down on the Scioto. While we do not know that there were any other trails in the eastward direction, yet there may have been one running that way.

EARLY ROADS.

Whether the Old Columbus Road or the road leading from here through the Yellow Springs is the oldest, is somewhat of a doubtful question. That there were roads leading from Springfield east to- wards Columbus or south through Yel- low Springs before any record of such roadways was made is unquestioned, for we know that Griffith Foos and his com- panions came to Springfield from Frank- linton. This Franklinton was a town laid out west of the forks of the Olentangy and the Scioto Rivers in 1797. It is there- fore older than Columbus and it is now absorbed by that city and is usually des- ignated as West Columbus. We also know that a great many of the settlers in this county came from Kentucky, either up the Big Miami from Cincinnati through Dayton, or by fording the Ohio River not far from the entrance of Eagle Creek in Brown County, and in close proximity to Maysville, Kentucky, and up north through Greene County. It seems that under our early laws the com- mon pleas judges had jurisdiction over road matters, and thus we find that one

In Beer's history it is stated that a wagon road was surveyed in 1803 between Dayton and Springfield, and that two years after the road had been located be- tween Springfield and Dayton, Captain Moore and his brother Thomas taking the contract to open the road from Franklin- ton to Springfield. That the arrival of the construction corps was greeted with as much enthusiasm by the citizens of Springfield as when in after years they welcomed the railroad and locomotive; that when within a few miles the con- tractors made a frolic of the job and in- vited all the people to come and help them, so that they might go into Spring- field in one day, the event being celebrated by a supper and immense ball at Foos' Tavern.

In the November term of the Court of Common Pleas, 1803, sitting at Xenia a view of the road was ordered commenc- ing from Springfield and passing through Yellow Springs. James Galloway, Jr., was surveyor.

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Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 16

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 1086

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1086