USA > Ohio > Ashland County > History of Ashland County, Ohio > Part 30
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
followed by Father Sproal, and during the past five years Rev. John Ryan has been in charge; he resides in Loudonville.
THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This congregation stands in association with the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and other states. It was organized in 1865 and in 1868, a good brick building was erected on the corner of Broad and Main streets. The first minister was Rev. Schmidt. The interests of this organization has taken on new life. The inevitable dissolution was coming upon the society as a result of clinging to the German language in its service, in the midst of a developing English community. In recent years the services were conducted in both languages, and a new era of progress has entered its history.
The first pastor was called in 1867, Rev. Schmidt; 1872, Rev. Muller ; 1880, Rev. Graubner; 1881, H. Hunsicker; 1884, G. A. Harter; 1886, J. A. Shulze; 1894, E. Mack; 1895, E. Ahl; 1897, A. Benzine. The pulpit was vacant for several years. In 1904 Rev. L. M. Mohrhoff became pastor, and continues in charge to date. The church was remodeled about 1906 at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars.
THE FIRST GERMAN EVANGELICAL REFORM CHURCH.
On Monday, November 20, 1865, twelve persons assembled at the home of Louis Scherff, in Ashland, to unite themselves into a church society, and adopted the foregoing name. Trustees were elected as follows: Louis Scherff, Louis Call, Jacob Kreichbaum; clerk, Charles W. Harmany. A frame church was erected on Sandusky street in the year 1867. The continued use of the German language alienated the young people and the strength of the society diminished, and on January 1, 1909, the property was sold and the proceeds devoted to general mission work, and the organization ceased to exist.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This organization was effected in 1889. On account of difficulty in the First Presbyterian church of Ashland, sixty members withdrew; and after due consideration, they decided to form themselves into a Congregational church. A delegation was sent to Mansfield to confer with Dr. Hubbell, pastor of the Congregational church. On May 14, the committee made its report, and a motion carried to form a Congregational church. At a meeting, June 4, officers were elected as follows: J. O. Jennings, Martin Mason, J. C. Sloan, U. S. Shelly, G. W. Urie, and G. H. Topping, deacons ; R. C. Kinnaman, R. M. Campbell, E. S. Briggs, G. W. Ryall, E. A. Potter and E. P. Smith, trustees. A. G. Damp was chosen clerk and J. O. Jennings, treasurer.
Services were held in the opera house for some time, the first regular services of the organized church occurred June 7, conducted by Dr. Hubbell. Rev. J. M. Merrell was called as pastor.
1
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH- AGHLAND, O.
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METHODIST CHURCH, ASHLAND, O.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ASHLAND METHODIST CHURCH, ASHLAND
LUTHERAN CHURCH, ASHLAND EVANGELICAL CHURCH, ASHLAND
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
Steps were taken to erect a church home. In November, 1890, the new building, a heavy and elegant brick structure of Gallatian architecture, was oc- cupied, and large success has attended the wrok. In 1895 Rev. S. B. Hershey became pastor; 1897, W. G. Schoppe; 1901, C. W. Wilson ; 1905, Roy E. Bowers; 1908, William Smith.
THE CHURCH OF JESUS.
A small society organized a few years past which recognizes no denomina- tional lines in the Christian faith; and no rules of discipline outside of the Bible. A. L. Garber is one of the active workers.
THE SALVATION ARMY.
The Army opened its work in Ashland in 1885, and for years the second story hall, corner of Orange and Second streets, opposite the postoffice, was used for a meeting place, and was begun by Captain and Mrs. Garner. Its forces held up for some years, then weakened, and services were abandoned for a period.
In 1902 or 1903, Captain Holygrefe took up the work, full of determination and superior power, and succeeded in recruiting a large following. In 1904 a convenient frame building was erected on East Main street for a meeting hall and officers' quarters. Soon after the dedication of the hall, the captain fell, dying amidst his successful work and "in the harness." His remains were lovingly laid to rest in the Ashland cemetery, a lasting inspiration to his com- rades to press the battle on. The workers die but the work goes on. The living rooms are nicely furnished; and in 1909, Captain Baddy is in charge; the Army is prospering.
To the foregoing sketch the author adds the following :
No Protestant Episcopal church parish was ever founded in Ashland county, but services of the church have frequently been held there, usually at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Clark. Notwithstanding their isolation, they have ever re- mained steadfast and loyal to the faith once delivered to the saints.
XI.
THE PRESS AND THE LEGAL AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONS.
ASHLAND COUNTY NEWSPAPERS.
By George Hildebrand.
Long before its career as a separate and distinct part of the commonwealth began, Ashland county recognized the vital importance of having newspapers to dissemmate its news, mould public opinion and to promote its growth and prosperity. Many able men have been connected with its journalistic enter- prises, men of influence and power, who have given to their papers prestige that extended beyond county lines.
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
The first newspaper established in the county was the Mohican Advocate and Hanover Journal, started at Loudonville in October, 1834. The first paper published in Ashland-"The Herald"- appeared a few months later, in Decem- ber of the same year. It was edited by J. C. Gilkinson and had a brief existence of eight months. Its successor was the Ohio Globe, published by Joshua Ruth, a veteran printer who for many years was employed on the Ashland Times. The Globe continued to revolve only one year.
The Western Phoenix, which preceded the Ashland Times was the first Whig paper in Ashland county. It was established in the presidential cam- paign of 1836 and was edited by Samuel McClue. It continued to soar about one year.
The Ashland Standard was the first paper established after the organization of the county in 1846. It represented the bank currency ring of the democratic party and in the same year another democratic paper, The Ashland Democrat, was established, to represent the hard money wing of the party. The rivalry between the two papers closed with their consolidation in 1848, under the name of The Ohio Union, with H. S. Knapp as editor. In 1855 this paper was sold to Collins W. Bushnell, who changed its name to Ashland Union. In 1857 Mr. Knapp repurchased the paper and continued its publication until 1860, when it was sold to John Jacobs. The Union then passed through the successive owner- ships of B. F. Nelson and John M. Landis, then to Landis Brothers. In 1868 the paper was purchased by Dr. George Hill, who became state representative. He changed its name to the States and Union. In 1887 the paper was sold to B. F. Nelson and W. H. Gates, the latter of whom is now its owner. Its name was then changed to "The Ashland Press." William T. Allerson and William
G. Heltman then succeeded to its ownership.
Then W. T. Allerson became its
sole owner, and under his able management it became a power. Later W. H. Gates entered into partnership and in turn became sole owner of the Press, and is its owner today, having long and faithfully served his county as a newspaper man and public official. Its editorial management is in charge of Hon. A. P. Black, state representative, and its city editor is Edgar Koehl. It is strongly and ably edited and is recognized as one of the best weekly papers in the state.
The Ashlander which followed the Phoenix as a whig paper was established in 1850 by William B. McCarty. At the close of the presidential campaign of 1852 it was purchased by L. Jeff Sprengle, who changed its name to that carried today, "The Ashland Times," which is the oldest of any paper in the county under one name. The Times has seen Ashland county grow from a village of twelve hundred people to a prosperous and enterprising city of seven thousand, and has had a part in that history. It was founded by L. Jeff Sprengle, a sturdy whig patriot. Its first editor was William Osborn an honored citizen afterwards elevated to judicial position. Under his management the paper began a term in the councils of the whig party. Mr. Osborn retired in 1855 to devote himself to the practice of the law. Josiah Locke had editorial charge of the paper a short time and then Mr. Sprengle took upon himself the editorial duties of the paper as well as its management. At the birth of the republican party the Times espoused its principles and in the dark days of the rebellion struck sturdy blows for the cause of union and liberty. During his adminis-
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
tration Mr. Sprengle was assisted by Mrs. Sprengle, J. L. Sanborn, J. J. Ashen- hurst and Henry Robinson. In .1876 the paper was purchased by Joseph E. Stubbs, now president of Nevada State University. He was succeeded by his brother, William G. Stubbs, who ably managed the paper. In 1883 the paper passed into the possession of W. H. Reynolds and George Hildebrand. This partnership continued up to October 29, 1887. When in a justice court at Nankin, where he had gone to protect a poor man from fraud and oppression, W. H. Reynolds was cut down by an assassin's bullet. The tragic death of this fearless and outspoken soldier threw the management upon its present editor, George Hildebrand, who had entered the office as an apprentice in 1877, and has filled every position in it, being absent only from his post when he served as state senator from 1889 to 1893.
In 1887 the Ashland Gazette was started by Thomas M. Beer, who owned it up to his death. It was managed and edited by his sons, Frank R. Beer and Harry C. Beer, who later started a daily. This paper continued up to August, 1893, when it was consolidated with the Ashland Times, under the ownership of the Ashland Printing Company. George Hildebrand continued in the editorial and business management, and this position he holds today in addition to his duties as postmaster. The publication of the daily has continued and it occupies a leading place in the newspaper field of the state. Charles L. Bowman is city editor and the foreman of its work room is A. A. Kerr, who has been continu- ously with the paper for thirty-four years.
In the southern part of the county there are two strong and ably managed papers, the Loudonville Democrat, owned and edited by John P. Bowman and the Loudonville Advocate, owned and edited by H. E. Zimmerman.
WILLIAM A. DUFF.
William A. Duff, newspaper man and short story writer, resides in Ashland, in the old fashioned brick residence at the corner of Center and Walnut streets, built by Jonas Freer more than sixty years ago, and in which Mr. Duff was born. He is the son of Captain John W. Duff, who at the outbreak of the Civil war was one of the few loyal people in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Captain Duff served four years as captain of Company M, Sixth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. While he was away at the war, Confederate troops destroyed his carriage factory which was full of finished work. Mr. Duff's maternal grandfather, Lafayette Markley, was a soldier in the Mexican war. Mr. Duff's mother died when he was three years old and he was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Freer, noble people whose memory will be cherished. £ Mrs. Freer gave a ninety-three acre farm for the Ashland County Children's Home, a soldiers' monument, a town clock and various other. gifts.
Mr. Duff, on account of ill health, did not finish his college course at Ohio Wesleyan University, but went into newspaper work, and was editor of the Ashland Daily News, the first daily paper published in the town. Afterward for over eight years he was on the Mansfield Daily News reportorial staff and for three and one-half years was city editor of the Mansfield Daily Shield. For
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
some time he was engaged in newspaper work in Cleveland, doing police and later courthouse reporting for the Cleveland News.
He has devoted considerable time to historical research in the preparation of special articles and dialect stories. He was united in marriage June 12, 1894, with Carrie C. Cowan, daughter of Dr. Frank Cowan and granddaughter of former United States Congressman Jacob P. Cowan. The children are Helen Elizabeth, born June 3, 1903, and John William, born September 26, 1905.
THE LEGAL PROFESSION.
Before the erection of Ashland county, there were but few regularly ad- mitted attorneys in Ashland. Elias Slocum, Sterling G. Bushnell, Silas Robbins, Jr., Erastus N. Gates and J. W. Smith, of Ashland, and Nicholas M. Donaldson. of Loudonville, attended to the legal business of the county, which was princi- pally before the justices of the peace, but occasionally they conducted trials in the court of common pleas at Mansfield.
Nicholas M. Donaldson, of Loudonville, was elected the first prosecuting attorney of Ashland county.
Since Ashland became the seat of justice for this county, the resident attorneys have been : Erastus N. Gates, James W. Smith, John S. Fulton, Bolivar W. Kellogg, John H. McCombs, William A. Hunter, Jonathan Moffitt, James Sloan, John W. Rankin, John Clark, Harvey H. Johnson, Ohio F. Jones, Willard Slocum, S. W. Shaw, J. Vincent, A. M. Fulton, Albert L. Curtis, Alexander . Porter, Thomas J. Kenney, William Osborn, John W. Fry, Almer R. Campbell, A. V. Watts, S. D. Gault, J. S. Wertman, F. C. Semple, T. J. Smilie, Geo. W. Geddes, Nicholas M. Donaldson, of Loudonville; Wm. Henry, of Savannah ; and subsequently, Thomas J. Bull, of Loudonville; Amos Norris, of Orange; George W. Carey, of Rowsburgh; John J. Gurley, of Hayesville; William Cowan, of Green; Francis Kenyon, of Savannah, and John Scott, Jr., of Hayesville, became practicing attorneys.
About the year 1849, William B. Allison, T. J. Kenny, George W. Hill, George H. Parker, William B. McCart, and Robert Beer were admitted, and, shortly after, the list was enlarged by the names of John J. Jacobs, Robert M. Campbell, C. S. Van Arnam, J. D. Stubbs, and William T. Johnston; and has since been increased by the addition of the names of George B. Smith, H. S. Knapp, H. S. Lee, J. P. Devor, John D. Jones, D. S. Sampsell, J. Hahn, John McCray, Henry McCray, Byron Stilwell, William O. Porter, Peter S. Grosscup, and Charles Dorland.
In point of ability and learning the bar of Ashland will compare favorably with those of the surrounding counties.
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
The following is a list of the Ashland physicians and the year they located there as near as can be gleaned :
Drs. Joel Luther, 1816; Joseph Hildreth, 1824; William N. Deming, 1825; A. L. Davidson, George W. Cochrane, Gustavus Oesterlin, 1834; Peoples, 1836; Burr Kellogg, 1842; Willard Slocum, 1834; John Hanna; Marshall, 1839; N. S. Sampsell, 1844; J. B. F. Sampsell, 1845; Bela B. Clark, 1846; W. R. S. Clark, 1846; Jacob W. Kinnaman, 1847; Benjamin F. Whitney, 1849; P. H. Clark, 1850; David S. Sampsell, 1851; I. L. Crane, 1856; J. P. Cowan, 1859; Jeremiah Hahn, 1846; Jacob Myers, 1849; J. M. Diller, 1853; Samuel Riddle, 1853; Paul W. Sampsell, 1851; P. M. Miller, 1849; George W. Hill, 1861; Thomas S. Hunter, 1867; Samuel Glass, 1867; William S. Allen, 1869; Benjamin Myers, 1870; Robert Kinnaman, 1872; David S. Sampsell, Jr., 1873; G. B. Cole, 1874; J. C. Campbell, 1874; Lamartine Greenwald, 1872; Frank Cowan, 1874; Joseph Sheets, 1862; John P. Cowan, 1874; W. K. Foltz, 1868; Dr. Gascia, 1872; J. E. Roop, 1875 ; J. H. Stoll, E. N. Dunham, H. P. Nelson, E. V. Cobb, A. L. Sherrick.
XII. MISCELLANEOUS.
There is much of interest concerning events which have left their impress upon the annals of the county that has been presented in the meetings of the Historical Society, the Pioneer Society and on other occasions of similar nature. From these we have culled various items.
MEETING OF ASHLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The seventh annual meeting of the Ashland County Pioneer Society was held at the courthouse in Ashland, August 18, 1881, President Hugh Burns, presiding. Colonel B. Burns, of Mansfield, made the address of the occasion, from which the following notes were taken : He gave a succinct account of the poverty and trials of the early settlers, their habits and customs, their toils and amusements, and concluded by summing up their great achievements. He said sixty-one years ago last June, a hatless, shoeless, little boy passed up the streets of Ashland (then Uniontown) with his father and family and went on to the place since known as the Kelly farm. We were then an unbroken family of seven, but now all the links are broken save your president, the oldest, and myself, the youngest of the family. We came on to the Kelly place in 1820 and moved on to the Hazlett farm in 1821. After several removals finally settled on the place known as the Burns farm, which my father occupied until he died.
Among the earliest history of events, pioneers were spoken of and the very first was Cain, who pioneered into the land of Nod, and found a wife. Noah was the pioneer ship builder. Abraham was a pioneer, going out not knowing whither he went. Jacob was also a pioneer. He came to a well, met his cousin Rachel, kissed her, and lifted up his voice and wept. John the Baptist, preceding the Messiah, was a pioneer in the wilderness. Christopher Columbus conceived the idea that there was a western continent and he became a pioneer.
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
Washington was a pioneer. Benjamin Franklin was also a pioneer in drawing lightning from the clouds. Thomas Paine was a pioneer. Robert Fulton, the man who first applied the power of steam as a propelling power to vessels was a pioneer. Morse was a pioneer in utilizing electricity and giving to it the capacity of speech. The speaker here gave an anecdote, to wit, when Morse visited Wash- ington to obtain an appropriation to assist in putting up the wire for his tele- graph he consulted John Spencer, then one of the members of Tyler's cabinet, who inquired how much it would cost the government to send a "package" by telegraph to New York? Like the Irishman who kissed the telegraph pole be- cause he wanted to send a kiss to his wife.
The speaker said that the village of Ashland was laid out in 1815, and then called Uniontown, but was changed to Ashland at the request of Francis Graham, who was obliged to have another name for the postoffice. He then gave a tribute to the memory of Father Graham who has recently died.
PROMINENT PERSONS AND FAMILIES.
Of the many prominent men who have lived in Ashland county the late Senator William B. Allison should be first mentioned. He was born in Perry township Ashland county, in 1829. After receiving a common school and other preparatory training, he entered Western Reserve College, and after gradua- tion commenced the study of law. In 1857 he removed to the state of Iowa and took up his residence in Dubuque. After a short residence there, he was elected to congress and after serving a term or two in the house of repesentatives, he was elected to the United States senate in 1873, where he served for over thirty years and until his death. His public record is unblemished, and bears unequivocal evidence of conscientious devotion to his work as a United States senator.
Another distinguished former citizen of Ashland county is Judge P. S. Grosscup of Chicago. He is a native of Milton township, Ashland county, and graduated from Wittenberg College in 1872, and from the law department of the Boston University in 1873. Upon his return to Ashland, he entered the practice of law as a partner of Judge William Osborn. Later he removed to Chicago and is now a United States judge.
A prominent family in Ashland county was that of Thomas Beer, who located there in 1859. He was at one time pastor of the Presbyterian church at Jeromeville. He was the father of thirteen children, two of whom died in childhood. One of his sons was the late Senator Beer of Ashland county, another is Judge Thomas Beer, of Bucyrus. His children, upon arriving at the age of maturity, entered upon the business of life with energy, and attracted the good opinion of the public because of their ability and integrity.
Prior to 1845, farmers grew but little clover on account of the difficulty they experienced in getting the seed hulled, as no machinery for that purpose had prior been invented. But, as with other things, an invention came at last, and the inventor's name, in this case, was Martin Henry Mansfield, a native of the city of New York. At the time of his invention of the clover huller, he
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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY
was a resident of Juniata county, Pennsylvania. He later came to Ohio, where his huller seemed to be more appreciated. Still later he became a resident of Ashland and erected shops in which he manufactured his hullers. The success of his machine caused clover to be generally raised by farmers. It was Mr. Mansfield's pride, not only to be a successful inventor but to aid the farmer in producing a valuable crop, as "He that causes one blade of grass to grow, where it had not previously grown," he is surely a benefactor of his race. After having accomplished much, Mr. Mansfield died April 4, 1880. Mrs. S. G. Weist, a daughter of Mr. Mansfield's, and a gifted lady, is now engaged in writ- ing a history of the town of Ashland, in which undertaking she has the best wishes of the author of this volume.
John H. McCombs was the first resident lawyer in. Ashland. He was a prominent lawyer and a highly esteemed citizen.
Among others prominent in the business interests of Ashland in former years are: Sheets, Markley, Croft, Montgomery, Kuykendall, Doty, Urie, Smith, Clark, Nelson, Graham, Davis, Jones, Burns, Riddle, Miller, McNulty, Gates, Shaffer, Gamble, Smith, Hull, Croft, Antibus, Knapp, Winbigler, Sprengle, Brubaker, Skillings, Slocum, Swineford, Maize, Andrews, Clarke, Cowan, Freer, Kenny, Crall, Jennings, and others not now recalled.
THE COPUS-ZEIMER MONUMENTS.
At a meeting of the Ashland County Historical Society held Saturday September 10, 1881, a movement was inaugurated to erect monuments to Martin Ruffner, James Copus and the Zeimers, killed by the Indians, September 15, 1812. A committee was appointed to solicit funds for that purpose and suc- ceeded in getting a sum sufficient to purchase two monuments, one of which was placed at the graves of Martin Ruffner and the Zeimers, the other at the burial place of James Copus and the soldiers who were killed defending his home. At the suggestion of the late Rosella Rice a cenotaph was inscribed on the latter monument to Johnny Appleseed.
These monuments were unveiled with appropriate ceremony on Friday, September 15, 1882, in the presence of over six thousand people. The day of the unveiling was pleasant and everything passed as pleasantly as the com- mittee could have desired. All present seemed satisfied with the ceremonies and appreciated the purpose of the meeting-that of doing honor to those who had suffered death at the hands of the cruel savages. The exercises were held on the Copus hill and were opened with music by the Mt. Zion band, prior to the unveiling. After the announcement of the program by Dr. S. Riddle, the following resolution was offered by A. J. Baughman, of Mansfield, and unani- mously adopted :
Resolved, That a vote of thanks be tendered on the part of the citizens of Ashland and Richland counties, to Dr. Riddle, who first offered the resolution to erect these monuments ; also to Daniel Kauffman, Benjamin Croninger, Solomon Vail and Major G. W. Urie who have taken such an active part in carrying out this noble enterprise.
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The following address was delivered by the Hon. Henry C. Hedges, of Mansfield at the unveilng of the Ruffner-Zeimer monument, September 15, 1882.
ADDRESS BY HENRY C. HEDGES.
The exercises held this forenoon at the Copus farm as well as the program for this afternoon, remind us that an essential quality of the remarks by any one person must needs be brevity-even at the expense of sentiment.
Martin Ruffner over whose dust and in whose memory we here and now un- veil this monument at the distance of seventy years from the date of his tragic death in his heroic, but hopeless defense of the Zeimer family, was no common man, no ordinary personage. It is said to contemplate what possibilities of good to and for all the settlers of the valleys of the Mohican in the early days of perplexity, distress and danger were forever lost by his death.
We have no authentic account of his ancestors, but he was of a German-saxon blood and this strain of blood coursing his veins gave assurance of tireless energy, calm courage and unquestioned fortitude.
"That true fortitude which is seen in great exploits That justice warrants and wisdom guides."
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