USA > Ohio > Wood County > Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 1 > Part 51
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In September, 1885. two of the Swinebart boys left home at Eagleville to search for the cows. The children lost their way in the forest, but were found some days later, thirty miles away,
near the Hancock county infirmary. Within the last decade the agriculturist and oil operator have cleared the forest, so that to-day there is scarcely a possibility of even a child becoming lost in the territory traveled by the urchins in 1885.
First Land Buyers .- The pioneers of the township, who purchased their lands from the United States, are named in the following list. A few others bought lands froin Ohio, while many old settlers purchased from speculators, who en- tered large tracts in this township. The buyer. description, number of section and date are given: David Adams, pt. N. E. 4 Sec. 3, July 15, 1836.
Jonathan Stull, pt. of S. W., S. E. of S. W. and N. W. 4 Sec. 4, June 16, 1834.
John Soleleather, S. W. of S. W. Sec. 4, Sept. 28. 1840.
Mallon Whitacre, pt. of N. W. and W. of S. W. 4. Sec. 5. Nov. 29, 1833.
Lott Milbourn, E. of S. W. and W. of S. E. , Sec. 5, May 3. 1834.
Henry Zigler, N. E. and E. of N. W. and E. of S. E. Y, Sec. 5, June 16, 1:34. Mahlon Whitacre, E. of N. F. and S. E. 14, Sec. 6, Nov. 29, 95. Abraham Weldy. S. W. T Sec. 6, Nov. 29, 1:33. Edward Whitacre. N. E. of N. E. W Sec. 7, Nov. 29, 1833. Edward Whitacre. N. W. of N. W. 4 Sec. 8. Nov. 29, 1333. John Flickinger. N. of S. E. 4 Sec. 8, May 28, 1534. Jacob Flickinger, S. of S. L. 4 Sec. S. May 28, 1834. Samuel McCrory, W. of S. E. f Sec. 9, May 3. 1834. Daniel Myers, W. of S. W. , Sec. 9. June 16, 1834. Samuel A. Studebaker, W. of S. W. , Sec. 10, July 25, 1856. Michael Musser, N. W. 4 Sec. 10, Sept. 6. 1-36. Moses Hales, N. E. 4 Sec. 12. May 19, 1834.
Frederick Frankfather, W. of S. W. 44 Sec. 15, June 14. 1884. Jacob Flickinger, N. E of N. E. T Sec. 17, May 29, 1:34. .
--- Samuel Heller, S. E. o.f. S. W. 4 Sec. 18, and N. W. ; Sec 19. May 1. 1833.
John McWilly, pts. of S. W. and S. E. T Sec. 19. April 9. 94. Peter Weaver, S. E. S. W. f Sec. 22. Feb. 7, 1840.
Henry Warner, S. of S. E. 1 Sec. 22, April 15. 1:33.
Moses A. Campbell, N. E. of S. E. M Sec. 23. Nov. 4, 1898 John Smith, S. W. 4 Sec. 23. April 15, 1SB.
William Fox, N. of S. E. 4 Sec. 24, May 17. 1833. Julius Easton, S. W. 4 Sec. 24. May 10, 1833. Jonathan Hav. W. S. W. 4 Sec. 28. Jan. 18, 15%.
Ora Baird, W. of S. E. and S. E. of S. W. Sec. 26, May 20. 3 !. Thomas Loman. S. E. of N W. T Sec. 26, Sept. 23, 18.15. Philip Helmer, W. N. W. M/ Sec. 26, July 1B, 1838.
Francis Fast, S. W. of S. E. and S. E. of S. W. 4 Sec. 27. and N. W. of S. E. of Sec. 34. March 22, 1523.
Mahlon Whitacre, S. of S. W. V. Sec. 28. Nov. 29, 1833.
Henry Smart, W. S. W. 4 Sec. 20 and S. E. T Sec Bu Var 24. 1833.
Matthias Robbins, E. of S. W. and S. of S. E. 4 Sec. .. Nov. 5. 133. James Archer, W. of S. W. T Sec. 80. Aug 27, 1-31.
Peter Musgrave, W. pt. of N. W. 4. Src. 30. Aug. Bu 1 ... Henry Copus, S. W. T Sec. Bl. Aug. 27, 1831.
.John Johnston, E. pt. N. W. 4 Sec. 81. Sept. 15, 14
Robert and William Black. N. E. and S. F. T. See. BIS 15, 1834.
Daniel Eagle, S. a. S. E. and S. of S. W. 4 Sec. 82, 0et 23. 4. Jacob Leathers, jr .. S. W. ; S. 33, Jan. 18, 1-33. John Leathers, S. W. and S. W. ml \ R \ See A 1:10.
Jonathan Hay, N. of N. E. 4. Sec. 24. Feb. 25, 18:1 Daniel Robbins, N. E. of N. P. A. See. 35. April U. I ... Francis Redtern. S. W. of S. F. 4 Sec. 35. Jan. 21. 5% George Detenbaugh, S. of S. W. 4 Sec. A. Dec 45 Levi Simon, S. W. of N. E. T Sec. B5, retal forthe - 1 1- Jonathan W. Myers, S. of S. W. 4 Sec. 36. April 20. 1-5;
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Male Residents, 1839 .- Within six years of the day on which the pioneers located here, there were over 150 inhabitants, including the follow- ing named males, who, in April, 1839, were 21 years of age or over: James Archer, Henry from it the following paragraphs are taken: "In the spring of 1835 the settlers concluded to effect an organization of the township. Daniel Rob- bins, Jonathan Hay and Samuel Heller, acted as a committee to carry out the resolution. They Archer, Christopher Apple. Ora Baird, Henry : could not agree upon the name of the township. Copus, Alexander Stewart, Henry Smart, Charles ! or rather what the name of the township should be. Heller proposed to call it Green; Hay proposed the name of Amanda, while Robbins proposed and preferred the name of Bloom. They agreed to write the name, proposed by each, on a slip of paper, and carry it to Perrysburg where the matter was to be determined. They also agreed that Hay carry the paper to Perry's- burg and return on the third day after leaving home, when Robbins and Heller agreed to meet him and obtain the result of the decision. Hay performed his part of the programme. At the appointed time, Robbins and Heller were on hand, eager to ascertain the result of the mission. On the latter named gentleman's approach to the house, Hay shouted: . The child is born, and its name is Bloom! ' And from that day to this it continues to wear the nanie. C. Smart, Samuel Smart, Jabez House, Matthias Robbins, George A. Swain, James June, William June, Jonathan Hay, Peter Hay, John Leathers, Jacob Leathers, James Slater, Hiram Westcott. William Fox, Eli June, Thomas Loman, Jacob Zigler, Daniel Robbins, Thomas H. Phillips, Edivin Gorton, Joseph Roberts, John Mackerel, Joseph Redfern, Enoc G. England, Jacob Flick- inger, Jacob Clevers, John Clevers, Christopher Ensbarger. Lyman Ensminger, Henry Otto, Sam- nel Heller, James D. McWiley, Frederick Frank- father, John Ross, Reason Whitacre, Michael Shafer, John Snyder, Peter Painter, Harman Hockenberry, Henry Smith, Moses O. Jones, Israel Drake, William Drake, Phillip McManus, Jonathan Stull, Adam Stull, Phillip Wintermaker, Lot Milbourn, Andrew Milbourn, David Milbourn, Abiah Stackhouse, Mahlon Whitacre, Edward M. Whitacre, Isaac Whitacre. Edward T. Whitacre and John Fast, while a few others who came late in 1839 were not noticed by the assessor.
An Old Cemetery. - Among the soldiers buried in the Sugar Grove cemetery are: James Mc- Nealy, of the Revolutionary war; Marcus and Lyman Palmertor, and R. Lowe, of the war of 1812; W. Stull, A. Palmertor, T. J. Shinebar- ger, G. Hiser, J. Morks and T. H. Phillips, of the Civil war. These veterans lie in the old cemetery on the Reason Whitacre farm, cast of Cygnet. The cemetery was opened in 1841, with the burial of Hannah Whitacre, the eldest child of the present owner of the land. In the newer cemeteries of the township many soldiers of the war of the Rebellion find a resting place beside the warriors who entered the forest in the "thirties," and gave battle to the obstacles which they encountered. The Bloom cemetery, re- ferred to in other pages, was opened in 1842. The Weaver cemetery, one-half mile north of Bairdstown, was established about twenty years ago, while one or two other spots are dedicated to the dead.
Organisation. -- This township, as established March 2, 1835, embraced Congressional Town- ship No. 3, Range 11. The first election was ordered to be held at Frederick Frankfather's dwelling on the first Monday of the following month. Squire Richard, in 1867, gathered the story of the municipal beginnings of Bloom, and
" The first election was held in April, 1836, at the residence of Frederick Frankfather, near the center of the township. The following named persons were in attendance on the day appointed for the selection of township officers: Daniel Robbins, Matthias Robbins, Mahlon Whitacre, Samuel Heiler, Henry Smart, Ora Baird, Lot Milbourn, A. Stackhouse, Edward Whitacre, Frederick Frankfather, Jacob Leathers, John Leathers, and Jonathan Hay. Daniel Robbins, Matthias Robbins, and Mahlon Whitacre served as judges of the election. They elected the follow- ing officers: Trustees, Ora Burd. Mahlon Whitacre, and Henry Smart; treasurer, John Leathers; clerk, Lot Milbourn: constable, Ora Baird. Whether they elected an assessor or not. the writer has been unable to ascertain-the first records of the township having been lost or de- stroyed, and these old veterans' memory being nnable to supply the information.
" In June of the same year, an election was held for justice of the peace. Daniel Robbias and Mahlon Whitacre were selected to fill the positions. The returns of this election were made by Ora Baird, who was compelled to swim his : horse several times before reaching Perrysburg On his rerurn the same scene had to be enacted. The first assessor of the township was Danie! Robbins He was obliged to pass through the western part of Perry township, in order to ilh the inhabitants of the northern part of the top n- ship, the central and eastern part of Bloom being
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completely inundated at the time. The fee, or pay for his labor, in making the assessment, and the returns to the county seat, amounted to nearly five dollars."
The action of Mr. Richard, a fifth of a century ago, in transferring to newspaper print this inter- esting story, must be appreciated by the people as it is by the writer, who, however fortunate in tracking old record books in this township and documents relating to them in the auditor's office, confesses that, without the effort of 1875, he could not obtain the names of trustees farther back than 1839.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
In giving the following list of trustees, clerks, treasurers, and justices of the peace, assurances are also given that the names and dates are taken from all the records which could be found in the township or in the auditor's office:
Trustees. -
1839 --- Hiram Westcott, Henry Smith.
1843 -William Campbell, Henry W. Musser, John Weaver. 1844-Andrew Campbell, Henry. W. Musser, John Weaver. 1845 -- Mahlon Whitacre, Jonathan Myers, George J. Lee. 1846-Edwin Gorton, Jonathan Myers, George J. Lee.
1847-49-Reason Whitacre, Jonathan Myers, George J. Lee.
1850 -- William Campbell, Ora Baird, Henry W. Musser.
1851-Andrew Campbell, J. M. Bronson, Henry W. Musser. 1852 -Andrew Campbell, Jacob Zigler, Henry W. Musser. 1853 -Israel Simon, Jacob Zigler, Henry W. Musser. 1854-Israel Simon, Asa Biglow, Henry W. Musser. 1855 -- Israel Simon, William Campbell, Joseph Redfern. 1856 -Israel Simon, Reason Whitacre, H. W. Musser. 1857-Israel Simon, Reason Whitacre. G. J. Lee. 1858-Ora Baird, Reason Whitacre, G. J. Lee. 1859-Ora Baird, Andrew Klingersmith, G. J. Lec.
1860-Reason Whitacre, Jacob Richard, G. J. Lee.
1861-Reason Whitacre, Jacob Richard, David Adams. 1862-John Dunn, Solomon Gilbert, David Adams. 1863-64 - John Dunn, Israel Simon, Solomon Gilbert. 1865- Anthony Frederick, Israel Simon, A. Klingersmith. 1866- Alva L. French. Joshua Yeaman, 1. Weaver. 1867- Reason Whitacre, Wilber Brown, Martin G. Snyder. 1868-69 --- Charles Cotant, Joseph Stove, Wilber Brown. 1870- G. Ledyard, F. R. Sherman.
1871-72 -- Lawrence K. Soule, James W. White. 1873-William McMurray. John Solether, Alfred Simon.
1874- William Mc Murray, Samuel H. Raub, James W. White.
1875- William McMurray. Martin G. Snyder, James W. White.
1876- Levi Kistler, Martin G. Snyder, M. Milbourn.
1877 Philip Brubaker, Samuel Hamman, Hugh Campbell. 1878-79- Derasins Lee, Willian: Crum, David H. Wirick. 1880 -Isaac Peasel, Reason Whitacre, Wesley Leathers. 1881- John Heller, Derastus Ice, A. D. Loc.
1882 John Heller, William Kline, A D. Loc.
1883 J. R. Redfern, Hugh Campbell, J. Calvin Solether. 1884 -1. R. Redfern. Hugh Campbell, Solomon Simon. 1885 -T. J. Campbell, J. R. Redfern, Solomon Simon. 1886-T. J. Campbell, C. W. Solether, E. J. Rosendile. 1887
T. J. Campbell, M. Milbourn, E. I. Rosendale.
1888-T. J. Campbell, M. Millbourn, E. J. Rosendale. 1889 E. H. Monasmith. John Russell, M. Milbona. 1890-Benj. Sutherland, John Russell, E. IL. Monasnuth
1891 James W. Smith, Benj. Sutherland. E. H. Monasmith.
1892 -- Daniel L. Kunkler, W. E. Fries. E. H. Monasmith. 1893-J. A. Bailey, D. L. Kunkler, E. H. Monasmith. 1891- J. A. Bailey, D. L. Kunkler. B. W. Leathers. 1895- J. A. Bailey, J. H. Simon, B. W. Leathers. 1896 --- James H. Whitacre was elected.
Clerks .- The office of clerk, commencing 1843, has been filled as follows: 1843, Edwin Gorton; 1844, Jacob Flickinger; 1847, Asa Bige- low; 1849, Levi Simon; 1850, John Weaver: 1853. Lewis Butler; 1854, John Weaver; 1856. J. A. Bonnell; 1859, John Whisler; 1860, John A. Bonnell; 1861, James M. Bronson; 1862, John A. Bonnell; 1863, W. S. Richard; 1864. Levi Simon; 1865, Levi Kistler; 1869, Wilber Brown; 1870, Levi Kistler; 1873. T. J. Camp- bell; 18So, W. H. Dennis; 1884. J. C. Solethe: : 1886, Nathan Frederick; 1887, W. H. Dennis: and R. B. Fast, 1896.
Treasurers. - The treasurers of the township. as far as records tell, are named as follows: 1844. John Leathers; 1845, E. Gorton; 1847, John Weaver; 1849, Edwin Gorton; 1850, Asa Bige- low; 1852, Jacob Bailey; 1853. Jacob Frankfather: 1857. R. Simon; 1860, John Weaver; 1861. Jacob Bailey; * 1874. Isaac Feasel. 1878, Henry J. Smith; 1880, Anthony Frederick: 1881-95, W. H. Strock.
Justices .- On June 6, 1835, the first justices were elected, there being eleven voters present, including Adam Stull and Jacob Clever. The justices of Bloom township have been Danie! Robbins and Mahlon Whitacre, who qualified in December, 1835; 1838, John Beeson and Jacob Flickinger; 1838, Daniel Robbins: 1840 and 1843. Henry Smith; 1842, Edward T. Whitacre; 1847. Edwin Gorton: 1846 to 1870, John Russell: 1850, Lot Milbourn; 1855. Jacob Flickinger. 1856-59, Samuel Klingersmith: 1861, John Weaver; 1865, George E. Lee: 1868, Reason Whitacre; 1870 to 1892, William S. Richard: 1871, L. K. Soule; 1874, James Bronson: 18;6 to 1885, Theodore Brown: 1879, Abraham Hampshire; 1885, C. A. Risser: ISSS, G. C. Weaver, resigned in 1891; 1891, George W Black; 1892, W. D. Campbell: 1894. A. B Probert; 1895, H. V. McGivern.
Assessors .- In 1896, William Bishop. Joseph S. Enos, Lewis S. Whitacre and John F. Echel- barger were elected.
School Board .- In 1896, Joshua Weaver. Joshua Walden. T. A. Rosendale, A. M. Plotner. J. H. Whitacre and J. S. Simon were elected members of the school board.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Early Schools. - The first school house Eagleville was erected on the southeast corner
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
of Sec. 26. Round logs, a puncheon floor and large fireplace were the characteristics of the cabin. The house was burned the Sunday night prior to the day set for opening school. A year or two after a similar cabin was built on the same site, in which Hiram Westcott was the first teacher. In 1856 or 1857 the cabin was razed. and a frame building erected by the district.
The first school house remembered by Reason Whitacre stood on the S. W. } of Sec. 5. It was built by Mahlon Whitacre, Lot and David Milbourn, Abiah Stackhouse and Edward Whit- acre. That was a hewed-log structure, twenty- four feet square. John McCrory was the first teacher and Abraham Loe the second. The children of school age numbered fifteen, of whom Mandeville Milbourn appears to be the only one now living in the township. A new house was built north of the old one in 1861, which was mnoved a half mile north in 1889, and is now the dwelling of James Whitacre. The third house was built in 1889, one-half mile east of the first Whitacre school, and is now in use. Abigail Bisby was one of the early teachers.
Mills, Etc .- Joshua Yeaman's sawmill was established in the S. W. } of Sec. 6 in the spring of 1841. He dammed Rocky Ford above the Sam- uel McCrory cabin, and constructed a race to the undershot wheel used in the mill. In 1850 or 1851 he added a gristmill, using two run of buhrs; but in after years he introduced steam power and new machinery. In 1871 Mr. Yeaman died, and the estate sold the buhrs, old machinery and frame to Henry Zody and John Rees, of Risingsun, before the survey of Cygnet. The Richards steam flouring-mill at Bloomdale may be called the first leading industry of that class in the township.
The ashery of John McCrory and Benjamin Sutherland was located in the N. 3 of N. E. } of Sec. 6. The manufacture of potash was com- menced by them in 1855, but when the cloud of war spread over the country the industry was abandoned. The stave factories and lumber inills at Jerry City, Blooindale. Bairdstown, etc .. and the great oil refinery works at Walker are modern industries.
The contrast between Bloom of thirty years ago and Bloom of the present time is a strong one, indeed. In the winter of 1866-7 there was the log school house of District No. 4 standing and in use. Five steam sawmills, owned by J. D. Bronson & Co., at Stulltown; John Weaver & Sons, northwest of the Center: Hammond & Shoemaker's, at the Center (where a circular saw was used); E. Raub & Co.'s, at Eagleville, and
French & Rosendale's, one-fourth mile north of Eagleville, with which a shingle machine was used. Joshua Yeaman's gristmill, in the north- west corner of the township, was then in opera- tion; moved to Cygnet, converted into a planing- mill and burned. At Eagleville were E. P. Emerson's store, S. H. Raub's grocery, S. John- son and William Cook's shoe shops, Mork & Richard's carriage shop, Johnson & Fry's tan- nery, and C. Richard's blacksmith shop. E. P. Emerson was then postmaster. The Methodist Episcopal Society had a building on John Baird's farm, the Protestant Methodists at the Lee meeting house, on the Layard farm, and the Universalists, Disciples and other bodies at the Union church, at Eagleville.
To-day there are four incorporated villages in the township, each with its officials, merchants. tradesmen, physicians, teachers and preachers. while outside their limits are the agriculturalists, a wealthy, intelligent people, possessing large homes as well as the wealth of cattle and fertile lands.
VILLAGES.
Eagleville was surveyed for J. M. Bronson February 18, 1852. The first post office in that part of the township was located about the year 1858 or 1859, with Dr. Ozias Baird postmaster, on what is known as the "Cornelius Simon" farm, in Section 29. About the year 1860 Mr. Baird abandoned the office, and John Weaver, his surety, took charge. In 1861 the office was moved about four miles to the village of Eagle- ville, with James M. Bronson deputy postmaster. From the first it bore the name of . Bloom. " and retained that name until changed to . . Bloom- dale" in 1878. James M. Bronson acted as deputy postmaster until his death, when Dr S. B. Emerson was appointed, who served some three years, when James D. Bronson was appointed and served until his removal to Bow- ling Green, about the year 1868. E. P. Emerson succeeded Bronson by appointment, and he acted as postmaster until the office was transferred to the village of Bloomdale, having been changed from " Bloom " to " Bloomdale," and the office known as . Bloom " was discontinued. In Feb-
ruary. 1885, an office was re-established named " Ted, " and E. J. Rosendale confirmed as master. He served until T. A. Rosendale was appointed
The Union church of Eagleville was buth over forty years ago. James Broason, a Univer- alist preacher, being the leading spirit m th. enterprise. It was dedicated by him and used for worship by the Universalists, United Brethren
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and Christians. The trustees of the last named denomination purchased the building in 1883, refitted the interior, abolished its union char- acter, and made it a meeting-house for the members of their society.
The Christian Church was organized in 1854, with the following members: Asa Baird, Re- becca, Lydia A. and Sarah Baird, John, David, Sarah, Eliza and Nancy Fast, Asa Bigelow, and : Lydia and Irial Coon. The pastors, in order of service, were William Dowling. L. Randall, G. W. Cline, F. B. Morris, W. F. Morrison and G. M. Kemp; and the clerks, W. S. Richard, E. L. Stove and T. A. Rosendale. There were ninety members reported in 1895.
Bloom Center and neighborhood is a rich pastoral district, north of the Eagleville ridge. South of it is Bloom cemetery, where Daniel, son of F. and C. Frankfather, was buried April 12, 1842, and where many pioneers of the town- ship have since found a resting place. The church and school are found in the neighborhood. Northward is the town hall, where the township fathers meet at regular intervals, and all round are the fertile farins and comfortable homes of the farmers. On April 1, 1876, a literary society was organized here with N. Frederick, president, and J. D. Halsey, secretary. Its membership embraced twenty males and twenty-two females. who organized with the object of improving their knowledge of history, letters and the sciences. Twenty years have made many changes. not the least being in the personnel of that society.
Welker on the N. W. part of the N. E. } of S. W. }, Sec. 30, R. 11, was surveyed October 7, 1886, for Henry Byal. In ISS7, Stillwell's addition was surveyed. The great oil refinery at that point represents the investment of large capital, while the employment of a number of workmen insures to the district a weekly income. North of the refinery, the company owns fifteen cottages, which are rented to their employes at a nominal sumı. The hamlet, at the junction of the B. & O. and T. & O. C. shows very few evidences of advancement.
Trombley. or Blake, on the N. E. } of N. W. {, Sec. 6, was surveyed in 1885. Trombley's sawmill (built in 1885) was the only industry of the place. The name was subsequently changed to Trombley. Edwin Gorton was the first post- master; William Downing, the second postmaster, is also the general merchant of the place.
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Incorporated Villages. - The villages of Bairdstown, Bloomdale and Cygnet are entirely within the township, while Jerry City is partly in Bloom and partly in Portage township, the divis-
ion being very nearly equal in the matter of pop- ulation, for in 1890 there were 251 inhabitants on the Bloom side, and 279 on the Portage side. As the early settlement of the village was more closely identified with Bloom than with Portage. the history finds a place as a part of this chapter.
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BLOOMDALE.
This well ordered little capital of Bloom township deserves the pretty and euphonium name it bears. Like her western neighbor. North Baltimore, the construction of the Balti- more & Ohio railroad suggested the building of a town at this point, but the building of the town must be primarily credited to the men of enter- prise who settled there, knowing that, if they failed to make it a manufacturing town, they could depend on the rich farming country around it for trade and commerce. The transfer of the old post office, nanied "Bloom," to the new town, in 1877 or 1878, was a testimonial to its advancement which the people of the flourishing country round it realized, and the local mer- chants and tradesmen made the most of it. Dur- ing the ensuing decade inducements were offered to manufacturers to locate works here, and to home seekers to build town houses; but not until the close of the decade did this policy bear fruit. Then Bloomdale entered on her new life, which gave her a compact business center and a few well-built residence streets The population, in ISSO, was 130: in 1890 increased to 519: and in April, 1895, estimated at between Soo and goo.
Municipal Affairs .- The petition for the in- corporation of Bloomdale was presented to the cominissioners July 30. 1887, signed by fifty- eight inhabitants. A remonstrance followed: bat on December 7, 1887, the petition was granted. and the people ordered to organize their village in April following. The officers elected, April 2. 1888, were A. B. Probert, mayor; M. G. Snyder. clerk; D. N. Easley, treasurer; Jackson Loman. marshal; J. L. McKee, sealer; and J. B. Linhart. D. Wineland, E. D. Beam, A. B. Goodyear and F. K. Stacy, councilmen. They qualified on April 4, 1888, before Squire Richard, and the be- ginnings of municipal life were made.
The mayors have been A. B. Probert, ISSS-00, Thomas J. Campbell, 1890-91; F. K. Stacy. 1891 (to fill a vacancy, and re-elected in 182 In April, 1894, Dr. H. H. McClaran was elected. in 1896, Justin L. Easley.
M. G. Snyder served as clerk from April. 1888. to April, 1892, when Charles F. Simon.
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was elected and qualified. In 1896, W. E. Van- Eman was elected.
In May, 1888, a calaboose was authorized to be built at a cost of $87.oo (sold in January, 1895, for $12). In July an attempt to make a fire department of Edison Fire Extinguishers, and a few similar acts, showed the precocious ideas of the young council. The town hall was begun and finished in 1892, by J. L. Easley, contractor. The total cost, $1, 800, was appropriated from the general tax, and a large two-story brick house given for this small sum. The debt of the town is a little over $700, and the income $1, 859.33. for the year ending April 1, 1894. There were 108 votes cast in April, 1888, and 164 in April, 1895. but the number of voters, on the latter date, was 210.
The municipal election of 1895 resulted in the choice of J. F. Smith (D.), J. L. Van Emnan (R.) and R. A. McKee (R.) for councilmen. The first received 99 votes, the second 91, and the third 75. . W. E. Sadler was elected street com - missioner, and W. W. Emerson, marshal. The election of 1896 resulted in the choice for coun- cilmen of J. W. Simon, M. T. Urie, and F. R. Stacy, the other members of the council being John L. Van Eman, R. A. McKee, and J. F. Smith; S. A. Linhart was elected treasurer; Joseph Enos, marshal; E. D. Bloom, corpora- tion solicitor. Thomas G. Campbell and Jere- miah Loman were elected members of the school board, the other members being Mrs. Almeda Stouffer, J. W. Smith, S. A. Linhart, and C. F. Simon.
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