USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 10
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Only a few days after Mr. Brown, came John Porter Mitchell, whose family consisted of his wife. his two sons ( William H. C., born May 30, 1825, in Perry County, and Thornton T., born August 27, 1827) and one daughter, Minerva, born April 29, 1830. Mary, the youngest child, was born in Lima, January 30, 1833. Mr. Mitchell built his house where the Methodist Clrurch now stands, but kept hotel on the present site of the Union Block. When Mr. Mitchell came to Lima, he found John Mark's cabin tenantless, the latter having gone for his family, and Mr. Mitchell at once occupied it. Upon the return of the owner, Mr. Mitchell was obliged to move into his own abode, though it had not yet a roof. By this time Joseph Edwards and family had ar- rived and they lived with the Mitchells until their own cabin was built. Mr. Mitchell died August 27, 1834.
Just here may be mentioned the fact that the first five families-the Browns, Mitchells, Marks, Edwardses, and Peltiers-were Whigs, and the following two-the Bashores and Cun- ninghams-were Democrats.
James Peltier was our first dry goods mer,- chant. He came to the vicinity of Lima as an employee of Carlin & Company. of Find- lay, Ohio, in 1828. He built a cabin near where the Market street bridge now stands and kept a stock of miscellaneous character, which he traded to the Indians for furs and sold to the few white settlers. The Indians belonged
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
to the Shawnees. Some names prominent among them were Pht, Swaba, Turkey Foot, Little Fox, Tutaw and Quilna.
On the establishment of Lima as the county seat, Mr. Peltier bought a lot, was married September 5, 1831, bought the business of Car- lin and established a business on the site which was occupied in later years by Marmon's drug- store. Two years later he sold out to Henry Lippincott and removed to a farm near Sugar Creek.
Charles Baker was another of Lima's pio- neer merchants. He with his brother-in-law, J. M. Anderson, formed the firm of Anderson & Baker. They occupied a room in the first Court House, for the rent of which they paid $1.25 a month. We came across the following account :
Am't. of Anderson & Baker's bill for sundry
articles furnished county $20.000 Deduct rent of Court House 4.375
Balance due Anderson & Baker $15.625
Charles Baker was born on the banks of the Kennebec River, Lincoln County, Maine, December 8, 1804. He came to Ohio with his parents, who were the earliest pioneers of Ma- 1ion, Ohio. In 1828 he married Mary Ander- son, and November. 5, 1832, came to Lima and at once began to sell merchandise.
Dr. William Cunningham was born in Pennsylvania in 1798, and came in 1802 to Ohio, where he resided until he moved his family to Lima in 1832. He was Lima's first physician and at this time his family consisted of his wife Anna (Ewalt), two daughters- Anna S. (Tingle), deceased, and Eliza H. (Williams)-and two sons-William H., who died years later while on a visit to Mount Ver- non, and Theodore E., who filled many posi- tions of honor and trust creditably and well. Clementine (Mrs. W. K. Brice), John N. and Sarah V., deceased, were born in Lima. Dr. and Mrs. Cunningham were among the first organizers of the Presbyterian Church in Lima. The Doctor's practice extended over a large territory. His visits into the country were often through unbroken forests, along a bridle-
path, and through mud and svater. In summer, moreover, myriads of mosquitoes added to the pleasure of these lonely trips, yet night and day he was always ready to give his best efforts to relieve those in distress, even when the hope . of remuneration was without the bounds of reasonable probability. He served the county as treasurer one term by appointment but was never a candidate, being averse to personal contest. He died in 1842.
At an early time in Lima's history there were no mills nearer than Wapakoneta, and the families were compelled to depend upon traders who peddled the flour from town to town. In the winter of 1831-32, there was no breadstuff in the town and people were suffering. Mr. Mitchell took a half-bushel of corn on his back
VIEW OF LIMA FROM THE WAPAKONETA ROAD-1846.
Showing the Covered Bridge over Hog Creek and the Second Court House. From Howe's "Historical Collections of Ohio."
and carried it to Rhodes' Mills, where Vaughnsville now stands, and had it ground into meal, which he distributed among the fam- ilies residing here, making a little over three pounds apiece.
The Public Square was in those days a mud-hole so deep that, it is said, two horses could not draw an empty wagon over it. There was a bridge from the corner where the Col- lins Block stands to the present site of the Mitchell Block, and one across East Market street, where Colvin's barn stands. Water ran in the Square as far north as High street, in which the boys used to fish.
Hog Creek, before the forests were cleared
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away and the lands drained by canals, was as pretty a little stream as any to be found. It also abounded in fish. Old residents claim to have spent many a day fishing on its banks and the story is told that F. H. Binkley, one of the merchants back in the '30's went one rainy day to fish in the Ottawa River. He remained away so long that his wife became alarmed. Late in the afternoon, however, she saw her husband and another man coming, bearing a sapling on their shoulders, which was literally filled with pike, most of them a yard long. They gave fish to everybody in town and had enough to last their own family a week, until the sight of fish was well nigh unbearable.
The name "Hog Creek" originated in this way : During the War of 1812, a party of men was sent with hogs to Fort Meigs; when they reached the Ottawa River, the Indians stam- peded them and they fled for their lives, leaving the hogs to roam at will. For years after the first settlement was made, wild hogs were found here. Count Coffinberry, in order to make the meter right in one of his poems, dubbed the river "Swinonia," which name is still a prime favorite with newspaper men.
The town of Lima was officially organized March 29, 1842, with H. D. V. Williams, mayor; Dr. William McHenry, recorder ; John Alexander, Jr., Samuel Black, Hamilton Da- vison, Thomas K. Jacobs, Daniel D. Thomp- kins, trustees. The Council elected John B. Wamsley, treasurer; Amos Clutter, marshal ; Alexander Beatty, Daniel Boyer and R. E. Thomas, street commissioners, and Daniel Musser, supervisor. In May, 1842, the ques- tion of grading the streets was discussed on plans submitted by D. H. Morrison, engineer.
Henry De Villiers Williams, one of Lima's most prominent pioneers and the first mayor, was born in Pompey, New York, September 13, 1804. He graduated at Williams College with first honors. He married Cornelia Estelle Hill, of Hillsdale, New York. October 12, 1825. Mr. Williams came to Ohio in 1834. The next year he became connected with Gen- eral Blackburn in the United States Land Office, then located at Wapakoneta, and came to Lima in June of that year, when the office
was moved to this place. In 1826 he was joined by his family, which consisted of his wife and daughter, Henrietta C., who came to Toledo by boat and from there to Lima by wagon, through the Black Swamp and the wilderness which was almost unbroken. From the time of liis bringing his family laere, Mr. Williams became identified with the interests and enterprises of the town in a marked degree. He was elected county auditor in 1838 and served in that capacity until 1841. He was also at one time justice of the peace and was com- missioned colonel of the first militia regiment.
Mr. Williams was a unique character. Dressed in buckskin breeches, loose shirt and fur cap, with a pack of dogs at his heels, he tramped the country over. He was a great huntsman, and had a penchant for swapping arms, horses and other property. He was a generous-hearted, reckless, easy-going man, who would divide his last morsel with one in need. He was a great raconteur, and would sit for hours relating some of his experiences.
As mayor he introduced his own peculiar views of what constituted the "Blind Goddess." South of town there lived a strapping big fel- low, by the name of Ridenour, who was as powerful as he was massive. He came to town one day and in the course of his travels ran across a little fellow who wanted some fun at his expense. Ridenour ordered him to shut up and, as he was slow in complying with the command, he picked him up and set him down in the middle of a mud puddle. Ridenour was arrested and brought before the mayor charged with disorderly conduct. When he pleaded guilty, his Honor gave him a severe lecture on his violation of the law, and fined him $5, after which he said: "Now, Jacob, for having administered a well-merited punishment to a bully, I will allow you $5.25 and here is the change."
Colonel Williams met with a tragic death. He and Daniel Musser, Jr., were almost in- separable, and on one of their excursions to Marion for some fruit trees, Mr. Williams pur- chased at Kenton, a dog which he very much admired. In handling it, he was bitten on the hand. Some weeks later he was attacked with
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
hydrophobia, and with all the attendant horrors of that malady, died December 19. 1846.
Colonel Williams was the father of four children : Effingham; Mrs. P. G. Granel, de- ceased; Mrs. Fannie G. Church, of Janesville, Wisconsin; and S. Barney Williams, of Day- ton, who owns the "Old Reliable Fur Store" at Dayton, Ohio.
One of the most noted of the pioneers of this part of the State was Maj .- Gen. William Blackburn, who came to Wapakoneta in 1835, in charge of the United States Land Office, to which position he was appointed by President Jackson.
General Blackburn was born in Maryland June 23, 1787. In his early youth his parents moved to Pennsylvania, and while he was still a small boy they located in Columbiana County, Ohio. After General Hull surrendered his army in 1813, young Blackburn raised a com- pany of volunteers, marched to the frontier and participated in that memorable winter cam- paign which followed the surrender of Hull. Through the storms of midwinter he was sent with his little band to Frenchtown on the Raisin. He made his way by forced marches through storm and snow, wading swamps and swollen streams, not reaching his destination till after the battle and defeat of General Win- chester, but in time to save many of the fugi- tives from the tomahawks of the painted fiends. After the battle he returned to Maumee, and assisted in the construction of Fort Meigs. In 1817 General Blackburn was elected to the State Legislature from Columbiana County and by re-election continued in that office till the spring of 1835, when he resigned to take charge of the Land Office at Wapakoneta. He moved with the office to Lima, being reap- pointed by President Van Buren and serving until the removal of the office to Upper San- dusky, May 31, 1843. A position of very great responsibility was the handling and ac- counting for large sums of silver and gold, without the convenience of a modern safe. Nothing but coin was receivable, all of which had to be transported to Columbus by wagon. Only one error was made while the General held this office. He failed to retain the amount
due him at settlement and it was sent to the General's family after his death.
General Blackburn was a military enthu- siast. He had seen actual service and was com- missioned a major general of militia, in the or- ganization and drill of which he took an active part. Companies were organized and uni- formed at their own expense, and all able-bod- ied men between the ages of 18 and 45 years were required by law to appear for military drill two days in each year. These training days were the delight of the youth of those pio- neer times. The muster was held at Lima, and the bugle call, the rub-a-dub-dub of the drum, the shrill screaming fife, marching columns, plumed chapeaus, glittering epaulettes, bright swords and gaily caparisoned horses, filled the youthful mind almost to ecstacy.
Conspicuous on all such occasions was General Blackburn. He was of com- manding appearance, being full six feet tall, of 300 pounds weight, yet sitting upon his horse like a cavalier and looking the general from plume to spurs. His horse was a fit bearer of such a load-a tall chestnut sorrel-a "single-footer" of tremendous stride, who shared in all the enthusiasm of the drill. Old "Tam O'Shanter" is still remembered as a horse of undoubted excellence.
General Blackburn was elected to the State Legislature from this district. He moved from Lima to Allentown and enjoyed a life of quiet until his death, May 7, 1858, and was buried at Lima with military honors, followed to his last resting place by a large concourse of friends.
Thomas K. Jacobs was another of the makers of Lima's history. He came to Lima in 1838, following the tailoring trade for some time. From that he went into the general mer- chandise business, from which he retired to speculate in real estate. In this business he was eminently successful. In 1851, in con- junction with S. A. Baxter, Sr., F. H. Binkley and Daniel Boyer, he platted what is known as the "East Addition" to Lima. This addition lies on the east side of the C., H. & D. Railway, and extends from north of North street to south of the gas works, and includes North,
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High and Market streets, east to Pine street. Ten years later Mr. Jacobs platted the land from the above addition south to the river, and still later he platted Pine and Jackson streets south to a point between Eureka and Kibby streets. Nearly the whole of East Lima passed through his hands and upon his death he left a large tract of land lying south of Elm street and east of Cemetery street, extending south to Kibby street. No other man in Lima handled so much real estate as did Mr. Jacobs. These tracts cost on an average $50 an acre.
In politics Mr. Jacobs was a Democrat, serving the county nearly 10 years as treas- urer. In 1860 he was chosen Representative and was at Columbus when the firing at Fort Sumter took place. He at once voted to put Ohio on a war footing. He served the county with distinction in the Legislature, and was the originator of the measure to provide for the families of soldiers absent in the field. At the close of his term as Representative, he returned home and enlisted in the 99th Ohio, of which he was appointed quartermaster. He served with distinction until March, 1865, when he resigned on account of disability. He died suddenly November 12, 1884.
John Ward, Lima's first schoolmaster, was born October 14, 1795, at Moorfield, Virginia. He came to Champaign County, Ohio, with his grandfather, Joseph Ward, in 1806. Joseph Ward was a veteran of the War of the Revo- lution and had served under Lord Dunmore and later under Washington. John Ward vol- unteered in the War of 1812 at the age of 17 years, but was not mustered into service be- cause he did not fill the standard of height re- quired. In 1830 he moved with his family to Allen County, and began the arduous task of making a farm in an unbroken forest, remote from mills, stores, churches, kindred, intelli- gent associates and most of the social advan- tages left behind in more populous districts. On May 4, 1831, a daughter, Rebecca, was born. In the winter of 1831-32 he taught school near where Hawke's mill stood later; and in the spring following, several of his pupils came and paid their tuition by clearing ground and making rails.
In April, 1832, the family came to Lima, where a fourth daughter, Elizabeth, was born June 6, 1833. From the date of the survey of Lima, Mr. Ward took an active part in all that pertained to the best interests of the town. He was appointed clerk of the court pro tempore upon the organization of the county in 1831. He had received but three months' schooling but he supplemented this training until he was able to receive a first-class certificate. In 1832- 33 he taught school in the north room of the old Court House, which stood on the east side of Main street between the Square and Spring street. Mr. Ward died Christmas Day, 1842.
One of the very best teachers who have ever held sway in Allen County was Joseph H. Richardson, who came from Xenia to this county in 1836. He was born in Wythe County, Virginia. His wife, Eda Withro Smith, was a native of North Carolina. Mr. Richardson was a relative of Andrew Jackson -whom he is said to have much resembled- and his wife was a relative of James Madison. Their children were: Mary ( Mrs. Robert Me- haffey, William, Martha (Mrs. Ballard), America, Virginia and Charles. On coming to this county, Mr. Richardson entered land in German township, where he built a log school- house in which he taught for years. Sixteen years afterward his daughter Mary taught in a new frame building erected upon the same spot. His daughters have nobly carried on their father's profession. Mrs. Ballard taught for 25 years in the schools of Lima and was one of our very best teachers and one of the most dearly beloved. She was also a member of the County Board of Examiners, being the first woman in the State to serve in that ca- pacity.
Mr. Richardson was a self-made man and remarkably well educated for the times in which he lived. He was a fine reader, a rare accomplishment then as now, and was a fine mathematician and grammarian. After teach- ing for several years in German township, he moved to Lima and taught some years.
Lima has honored Mr. Richardson's name during the past year by giving to one of her new ward buildings the name "Richardson."
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HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
The subject of this sketch was a born pol- itician and did credit to his Jacksonian blood. He conducted Nichols' first campaign and vis- ited the entire district on horseback. The re- sult was that his man was elected by a hand- some majority. Mr. Richardson served as county auditor in 1844 and as clerk of the court in 1851. When the Richardsons came to the county, Mary, now Mrs. Mehaffey, was but two years old. She remembers distinctly the trials and perils of pioneer life. The fam- ily moved into their house before the windows and doors were put in; blankets were hung up to keep out wolves and weather. She re- calls the terrifying howling of the wolves, which were frightened by nothing but the im- mense fires which were built in the open fire- places. Mrs. Richardson was a typical pioneer mother who reared her children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, making them good citizens.
From 1840 to 1855, McDonald's sugar camp was a rendezvous for the boys and girls who went there when children to get the first sugar water, and later, when they had grown to youths and maidens, there they went to do . their courting. Not longer ago than 1845 there was a natural forest extending from where Jacob Keve now lives. Lima was a great place for picnics of the "go early and stay late" variety. They told of a picnic managed by "Aunt" Jane McGuire and her husband, where the table "fairly groaned" with roast pig, sheep, turkey, chicken, duck, nine kinds of pie and preserves and everything else in the gas- tronomic line beautifully proportioned. Those were the days when life was worth living, for certainly no dyspeptic could have lived in this part of the country.
In June, 1851, Lima suffered a visitation of the cholera. It created consternation greater than the bubonic plague would now. Ministers deserted their pulpits and fled and the average citizen took occasion to visit his country cousins. Edmund S. Linn, an active young business man, was the first attacked. He and his wife and child died within a few days. There were a number of other cases, several fatal.
In the early days of Lima the saloon had not assumed its present magnificent grandeur ; a barrel of whiskey would be brought into town occasionally and retailed at five cents a glass. The masculine part of the population had then to be content until 1853, when Wolf & Meyers brought the first large saloon to Lima and commenced operations on the north- west corner of Market street and the Square. This was the first storeroom built in Lima, it having been erected by Daniel Musser. This saloon had the fetching title of "The Old Fort" and its tragedy is one that all old settlers re- member. One Saturday night, on Christmas Eve, a crowd of fellows became involved in a quarrel and turned the contents of bottles and
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE PUBLIC
SQUARE, LIMA, IN 1850.
barrels into the street, setting fire to it. All Christmas Day the gutters burned with a blue flame and riot reigned supreme.
The schools of the olden times compared with our modern ones are as moonlight unto sunlight, with the advantage of sunlight emi- nentlý manifest. Books were few and method, that much abused term, was almost, if not en- tirely, unknown. Time was given to the "Three R's" and all this fin de siecle curriculum was undreamed of. There were no school- houses for several years, schools being held in the Court House, churches and various build- ings. Gen. John Ward was the first school- master, of whom mention has been made else- where. The early schools were of the sub- scription variety-that is, each householder subscribed a certain number of pupils for which he paid. The first school enrollment in-
2
ABSALOM BROWN
MARIA MITCHELL BROWN (The first white child born in Lima)
MOSES MCCLURE (The first white child born in Allen County on Hog Creek)
MRS. ABSALOM BROWN (Father and mother of Maria Mitchell Brown)
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cluded 39 pupils who were instructed for 66 days.
Col. John Cunningham taught during the winter of 1833-34 in the cabin of Jacob Downs on Water street, where the tannery now stands. Margaret Poague conducted a summer school in Valentine's cooper shop on West Elm street in 1834. The shop being floorless, it be- hooved her to teach in the summer time.
Miss Poague, who was afterwards Mrs. William Cunningham, was Lima's first "new woman," and made her initial bow to the public Over 70 years ago. The first general school law was passed when Lima was a howling wilderness and until 1832 "female school teachers" were not. In December, 1831, an act was passed providing that "on the petition of the inhabitants of a district, when the school examiners had granted such petition, the school directors should appoint a female to teach spelling, reading and writing."
In the early '50's free schools were estab- lished and the town was divided into three districts : The first south of Market and west of Main; the second north of Market and west of Main; the third the rest of the city. In each district was a small frame schoolhouse. The one east of Main was located at the pres- ent site of the Union Street Lutheran Church and was nicknamed "Onion College" from the pupils having at one time scented it with onions.
The Lima Academy was opened in 1852 with Rev. James Campbell as principal. It was a successful institution, patronized by Lima's best citizens and continued until 1856, when the organization of the Union School took from it the most of its students and the instructors went elsewhere.
Mr. Wilhelm, the superintendent in 1858, cut the High School course of study down to the common branches, but in 1860 the present system of schools was inaugurated. The cur- riculum at this time included Greek, and in- struction in painting, drawing, French and German was provided at an extra charge. Pub- lic oral examinations by the superintendent were held in each department. A Board of Education was formed at this time, and was
composed of W. H. C. Mitchell, William E. Lee and Mathias H. Nichols. William A. Shaw was superintendent. He was followed in 1862 by John Hanson, at which time the High School had its first lady assistant in the person of Mrs. J. R. Hughes.
The first class was graduated the 3d of June, 1864, and consisted of three young la- dies: Mary Watt (afterwards Mrs. Nichols), Fidelia Bennett (Mrs. Dr. Hunter) and Josie Cunningham (Mrs. O. W. Smith). The com- mencement exercises were held in Ashton's Hall, now the I. O. O. F. Hall, Thomas M. Cheever, of Lane Seminary, delivering the ad- dress. In 1865 there was but one graduate,- Miss Emma Cunningham (Mrs. Hutchison).
For two years there were no graduates, but since 1868 the list of graduates has steadily increased. William E. Crosby was superin- tendent in 1868. Following Mr. Crosby, G. W. Walker successfully served for 14 years and was followed by J. M. Greenslade. In 1895 Dr. C. C. Miller, one of the best known super- intendents in the State, was called to the head of the schools and under his broad and progres- sive administration the schools have attained a high standard of efficiency.
In 1871 a new building was built on Pine street between High and North. This building was destroyed by the wind storm of 1898 and was replaced in 1900 by the present handsome structure. During the last quarter of a cen- tury many ward buildings have been built to meet the rapid growth of the schools and the year just closed has witnessed the completion of the new High School, which is accorded one of the finest in Ohio.
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