USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 93
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.
Following is a roster by classes of the graduates who have gone from the St. Paris high school:
1879-Frank W. Fromme, Ida Knull-Smith, I. N. McAllister, Emma Northcutt-Talbott.
1880-C. E. Buroker, J. H. Biddle, Forest James, J. T. Hamilton, A. E. B. Helmick, Estella Riker-Fromme, Retta Flowers, Effa Furrow-Fiedler. 1883-Grant V. Fromme, U. F. Pond, John W. Millette.
1884-Claude D. W. Kelley.
1885-George C. Paxton, deceased; E. O. Furrow.
1887-Harvey R. Nixon, J. Truman Nixon, Burt L. French, U. S. G. Mitchell, Iola Batdorf-Kizer, Alice C. Nixon-Robinson, Maggie Klapp-Bull, Mary Spitler-Wood, Emma Zimmer.
1888-A. C. Bolinger, B. E. Thomas, deceased; A. W. Bull, Mary Gor- don-Holleran, Maggie Huddleston-Marsh, Lizzie Neff-Wheeler.
1890-Ella Leathley-Kinsinger, Minnie Hendrickson-Pettigrew, Frank Zimmer.
1891-John E. Baker, Logan Carlo, Nellie Carlo-Greiner, Clara Crom- well-Richeson, William Hockman, John Richeson, Frank Richeson.
1892-Millard Brelsford, Earl French, Cappie McClure-Michaels, Guy
Digitized by Google
939
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
McElwain, Pleasant Powell, Nettie Shidler-Friauf, Laura White, Grace Rhoades-Jones.
1893-Eugene Brown, Daisy Cutler-Kite, Ollie Leathley-Toomire, Daisy Schull-Patrick.
1894-Jennie Verdier-Cook, Millie Gibbs, deceased; Harry Hawk, Emmet Kite, Emma Pond, deceased.
1895-Frank Hanback, Wallace Hunt, Anna Jones-Brown, Otto Largent, Myrtle Musselman-Brubaker, William Runkle, Anna Wilson-Teachout.
1896-Victoria Brown-Raff, Lizzie Bull-Baker, Jackson Frank, Maud Hawk-Cox, deceased: Elma Kizer-Hunt, Jessie Leathley, Nellie Losh.
1897-Winifred Hutchinson-Scott, Minneta . Lippincott-Cretors, Allie Rhynard, Grace Saunders-Miller, Emma Schull, Minnie Showers-Kite, Harry Woods.
1898-Elbert Apple, Mae Clem-Runkle, Eula Graves-Rushaw, Daisy Kite-Apple.
1899-Elizabeth Judy-Lemmon, Katie King, Sallie Pyle-Brown, Ernest Musselman.
1900-James Bollinger, Weber Hunt, Cecil Jones, Del Pond, Della Riche- son-Sise, William Smith.
1901-Fred Black, Freeman Bollinger, Emerson Clem, Iza Everingham- Stevens, Clarence E. Pence, Loren Pence, Claude Rue, Walter Stevens, Blance West-Johnson.
1902-Arthur L. Bollinger, Oasis G. Jones, Marley Leathley, Warren Stevens, Zephyr Deaton-McMorran, Hattie Mahan-Hunter, Mae Norman- Clem, Stella Sturgeon-West.
1903 -- Mary Brubaker, deceased, Bessie Dugan, Louretta Dugan, deceased ; Zola Deaton-Pence, Mary Faulkner-Jones, Mary Huffman-Weimer, Carrie Graves-Ballinger, Alice Judy-Chambers, Leah Riker, deceased; Elsor Heator, Alpha Pence, Harley Scott, Paul Sheidler, Elba Sturgeon, deceased ; Wid Sturgeon, D. A. Mower.
1904-(Four-year course)-Zola Deaton, Carrie Graves, Wid Sturgeon.
1905-Garnard Jones, Bessie Faulkner-Stevens, Lucile Frazier, Alta Haines-Goode, Alma Leedom, Mary G. Leedom-Jones, Hattie Mott, Nellie Magovern-Dovel, Elizabeth McMorran-Black, deceased.
1906-Howard Becks, Ralph Garrette, Earl Zerkle, Nelle Culley, Regina McMorran, deceased.
1907-Vera Ballinger-Armour, Frances-Black, Nellie Brown-Sturgeon, Mamie Bolinger, Jessie Fuson. Verda Klapp. Nellie Nixon, Nora Poorman-
Digitized by Google
940
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
Casebolt, Mary Richeson, Myrtle Urban-Remer, Orra Buroker, Roy Magor- ern, Ralph Guthridge, Sam McMorran, Herman Nixon, Benj. H. Riker.
1908-Fay Corey, Anna Gabriel, Mollie King, Augusta Leedom, Charles Putnam, Walter Jenkins, Thurman Huling, Leon Goldberg, Rex Furrow, Verda Pence.
1909-Zetta Beatty, Fannie Cowan, Mary Dye-Sykes, Grace Goode, Flossie Hancock, Dessie Huffman, Lucinda Leedom, Mary Poorman, Harry Hunter, Tracey Jones, Harry Manning.
1910-Fannie Bolinger. Helen Fry. Fay Harvey, Asenath Kizer-Hanson, Jessie Nixon, Earl Guthridge, Lloyd Huffman, Carey Kite, Byron Snyder, Luther Snyder.
1911-Ruth Brown, Cecile Buroker, Flossie Cowan, Anita Jones, Bes- sie Walborn-Bruner. Cary Bowers. Walter Faulkner, Byron Jenkins, Scott Mowan.
1912-Flossie Bull, Adelaide Fromme-Faulkner, Marie Harmon, Tillie Kizer, Mary Mathews, Marie Neal, Grace Reed, Naomi Shiedler, Georgia Tappy-Furrow, Olive Toomire, Leona Weaver, Ray Allison, Raymond Kemp, Harvey Loudenback.
1913-Mabel Jenkins, Agnes King, Lucile Kite, Alta Kizer, William Lad- kin, Earle Martz, Charles Spence, Bertha McBeth.
1914-Walter Bolinger, Beulah Carmin, Catherine Mohler-Huffman, Martha Mohler, Mabel Spence, Grace Walborn.
1915-Gladys Anderson, Ruth Berry, Marie Cory, Mary Mitchell, Oda Rhynard, Herbert Brown, Donald Bollinger, Lowell Jones, Ralph Klapp.
1916-Olive Kizer, Kathleen Kite, Thelma Kite, Ruth McMorran, Lucile Pence, Gladys Tomlin, Ray Apple, Laurel Gibbs, Harold Lewis, Allen Taylor.
MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The citizens of St. Paris have ever been wideawake to municipal and civic improvement. After many delays and much discussion pro and con, a municipal electric lighting plant was installed in 1899, at a cost of approxi- mately eighteen thousand dollars. St. Paris thus became the first town in Champaign county to own her own electric lighting system, and among the few of her size in this section of the state. The plant has given excellent service and has always been self-supporting until within the last few months, when causes arose for which the management is not responsible.
An urgent need for better improved streets caused the leading citizens to agitate a movement to pave Springfield street. This movement started as
Digitized by Gor U
1
94!
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
early as 1910, but little was accomplished until the summer of 1912. After going through with the usual formalities the city entered into a contract with a street-paving company on December 11 of the same year. However, there were many opponents, as is usually the case, and through their tireless efforts the contract was annulled by litigation. But the issue was not long to remain dormant. The advocates of improvement were soon at work and as a result of their efforts on February 18, 1914. the city entered into a contract with Brewer, Thompson & Brewer, of Chillicothe, Ohio, for the paving of Spring- field street. The contract was for one dollar and fifty-nine cents a square yard, which was one cent less than the former contract: but figuring the excavation, sewer and curb construction the total cost was about the same as it would have been under the terms of the first contract, which was lost through litigation. The street was formally accepted by the city council on August 17, 1914.
The feeling existing between the citizens of the township and those of the town has always been very friendly. One of the most distinct evidences of this was the erection of the town hall, which was built by the township and town jointly. The hall is a substantial brick structure and was built in 1885. It contains the township offices, town offices, fire department and opera house.
After the disastrous fire of November, 1883, when the whole village was practically destroyed, the citizens began to realize the necessity of an organized fire department. This led to the final organization of a volun- teer fire department, September 19, 1884. The first men to volunteer their services were E. V. Rhodes, William H. Rnyard, T. D. Mitchell, John McMor- ran, David W. Sayler, Samuel D. Richeson, Lee Evernham, A. B. Strad- ling, C. N. Barley, L. W. Gibbs, John Poorman, Ira McClure, H. C. Gibbs, W. S. Jenkins, W. S. Wirick, Emmett Mott, A. Musselman and E. G. Jones. In a short time an organization was perfected and included the following : E. V. Rhodes, president : Ira McClure, vice-president ; W. K. Walbarn, secre- tary: T. D. Mitchell, treasurer : T. Mitchell. captain; E. V. Rhoades, first lieutenant : A. Musselman, first hose director: W. G. Wirick, second hose director : E. G. Jones, first engineer : John McMorran, first assistant engi- neer: Ira McClure, second assistant engineer. A fire engine was purchased by the village in December, 1884, and was given its first trial in January, 1885. A fire bell weighing one thousand pounds was procured to warn the citizens of impending danger. In March of the same year a hook-and-ladder truck was purchased. In the meantime cisterns were dug in various parts
Digitized by Google
942
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
of the village to provide ample water in time of need. Nine wells and cisterns are now scattered about over the village. With a few additions the town has practically the same equipment as was purchased in the beginning. The present organization of the department is made up of the following: D. E. Brown, president; L. Deal, vice-president ; Fred Beckwith, secretary ; Frank Hawback, lieutenant; W. Showers, treasurer : D. E. Brown, engineer ; C. B. Brown, first assistant engineer; A. L. Apple, second assistant engineer; C. B. Brown, A. L. Apple, Perry Evernham, stokers; Frank Baldorf, first hose director ; Frank Hoak, second hose director : L. Deal, Ben Jenkins. A. Wiant, J. J. Lewis, police ; M. Merica, W. G. Grubbs, axemen ; AAsa Nitchman, Asa Jenkins, messenger: C. C. Humphreys, captain hook and ladder; Walter Pence, assistant hook and ladder. The department at the present time is composed of sixty men. most of whom have been in the service for years. Fred Beckwith, the present secretary, has held this position for the past fifteen years and is one of the oldest men in point of service in the department.
ST. PARIS SIXTY YEARS AGO.
If the historian were able to present a picture of St. Paris as it appeared sixty years ago, the residents of the now prosperous city would hardly con- ceive of such wonderful changes having taken place. There were only two or three houses on Springfield street, most of the business at that time being on Main street. One can judge of the size of the village only by the char- acter and number of the business interests represented at that time. They were as follow : Rev. David Scott, merchant ; J. H. Clapp, merchant : Larger & Maurer, merchants; John J. Musson, physician and druggist : Thomas Hamilton, physician and druggist ; J. Walters, tailor ; Joseph Stover, National Hotel; Jeremiah Dippery, carpenter and joiner ; Jacob Trout, carpenter and joiner; T. W. Flowers, daguerreotypist; E. Runkle, rectifier and liquor dealer ; Joseph W. Heterick, painter : John C. Clem, baker and grocer; Wells & Huffman, saw- and grist-mill: F. F. Stovers, "tobacconist"; Snapp. Buroker & Batdorf. saw-mill, grist-mill and distillery ; Francis West, postmaster.
At one time in the history of St. Paris three distilleries were in opera- tion within what are now the limits of the corporation. One of these was run by Samuel Bowersock and was located on the site of the elevator along the Pennsylvania tracks. Bowersock also operated a store in connection with the distillery. Another was located on the site now occupied by the Flaig lumber yard. In connection with this latter distillery was a saw- and grist-mill, both of which burned after a few years of operation. The distiller
1
943
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
of the pioneer days paid very little tax upon his product. In the first place the tax was not nearly so high as at the present time; and secondly, the amount taxed was very small, in comparison to the amount manufactured. It was no uncommon sight in St. Paris, just a few days before the assessor was to appear, to see men scurrying in all directions with whiskey jugs, which were not taken to their homes, but hidden in the bushes and weeds until after the tax assessor had passed on.
BUSINESS INTERESTS IN 1872.
The business interests of forty-five years ago bear little relation to the business of today. At that time there were two carriage factories in opera- tion, one by H. Saylor, and the other by Kemp, Beck & Fry. Competition between them seems to have been keen, as both were very liberal advertisers. Saylor in one of his advertisements disclosed that he wished to call special attention to his new patent fifth wheel, made of cast steel, and also to a most complete arrangement for raising and lowering of a buggy top. He also says that his prices are lower than at any other place in the state. The advertise- ments of Kemp, Beck & Fry declare that they were taking great pains to secure the most competent workmen, to select the best materials, and conse- quently were turning out some of the best work in the state. Especial atten- tion was called to the Eureka carriage, which could be transformed from a single to a double-seated vehicle in a moment.
Other business interests at that time included the following: Brubaker & McMorran, bankers and brokers; John Baker, physician; J. M. Band, hardware; Jeremiah Bau, blacksmith; J. K. Furrow, groceries; W. T. Ells- ton, flour-mill : S. Gibbs & Company, boots and shoes; J. M. French, furni- ture dealer ; Thomas A. Hoburn, blacksmith ; Levi Hockman, carpenter ; David S. Helmick, store; Samuel Johnson, blacksmith; Kiser & Long, lumber dealers; William Marshall, livery; J. W. Millett, harness shop; J. F. Riker & Company, lumber manufacturers ; David Strock, grain dealer ; J. J. Young, proprietor United States Hotel; G. W. Verdier, livery and feed stable.
Sixty years ago St. Paris was considered little more than a crossroads hamlet. There was only one brick building in the village and it stood on the corner of Springfield and Plum streets. At that time all of the land south of the home of Mrs. Harriett Brubaker was in cultivation, and there in the summer were raised bountiful crops of corn and oats. Opposite her home in Springfield street was a mud hole that in wet weather seemed to have no bottom. Many an unsuspecting traveler found himself in the mire and
Digitized by Google
944
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
required the assistance of men and teams to extricate him from his predica- ment. Across the little stream that now flows under Springfield street was an old wooden bridge. During the early days an omnibus carried transients from the railroad station to the hotel. On one occasion when the 'bus was making a hurried drive to the station, it struck the old wooden bridge and the structure collapsed, dumping the horses, 'bus and occupants into the stream.
Springfield street fifty or sixty years ago was little better than a frog pond. For about nine months out of the year the street was almost impass- able, a condition which caused numerous accidents. During the summer months the street grew up in weeds and grass.
CURRENT BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
The business and professional interests of St. Paris during the summer of 1917 were in the hands of the following: B. T. Apple, grocer ; Charles Arbogust, blacksmith; George Armbrust, tinner: Auto Sales and Garage Company ; Baker & Van Culin, insurance ; George Baldwin and Son, millers ; B. F. Baker, druggist; Batdorf and Berry, general store: Ira A. Beaty, pianos and real estate: Beckwith & Wank, pool room; Alva C. Bolinger, attorney ; E. F. Brown, grocery ; D. E. Brown, grocery ; Brown & Wiant, News-Dispatch ; William Briggs, grocery; Charles E. Buroker, attorney ; J. F. Calvin, insurance; Central National Bank; Clark's Variety Store; Mrs. Costenborder & Son, grocery: J. B. Creators, manufacturer of rubber goods ; James A. Curry, grocery ; John H. Domigan, livery and sales stable : Duncan Seed Company ; Redding Everett, concrete blocks ; Farmers' Poultry Company ; S. H. Faulkner, insurance ; J. P. Feaster, drayman; First National Bank; W. Flaig, lumber; J. W. Flinn, dentist : C. S. French, veterinary ; Fromme & Nixon, furniture and undertaking; Furnas-Brown Grain Com- pany : D. L. Goldberg, jeweler: M. H. Guthridge, dentist; T. L. Hahn, pumps and repairing ; Dr. J. H. Hampshire, physician; W. H. Heater, jeweler : Harry Hole, poultry dealer; W. C. Humphreys, pool room; Dr. H. B. Hunt, physician; E. D. Hutchinson, granite works; J. M. Ingells, grocery; W. J. Jenkins, dray and transfer ; Jones & Son, drugs; S. E. Kite, implements; Frank Knull, pool room; Hiram Knull, meat market and gro- cery ; William Lee, garage; L. W. Lindsley, Kline Hotel; Lock Two Grain and Milling Company : W. F. Losh, hardware; Harry Luxon, grocery ; Joseph Malmberry, livery and feed stable: Charles Maxon, green house; Grant McMorran, grain dealer; Martha Mohler, millinery; E. Musselman, drugs;
Digitized by Google
945
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
Amiceto Napoli, confectionery ; W. F. E. Offenbacher, bakery ; Morris Pow- ers, clothing and furniture; George Price & Son, coal dealers; John Prinz, bakery ; Proctor & Sturgeon, hardware and harness; Reuler & Leonard, dry goods; Isadore Reamer, women's clothing; Dale Runkle, barber, Frank Rushaw, barber; Rushaw and Jenks, millinery; E. T. Schooler, drayman ; Wesley Showers, blacksmith; John Shucraft, barber; C. E. Smith, painting and repairing; Sam Stone, hardware; St. Paris Grain Company; Mrs. Hat- tie Taylor, milliner; C. O. Tomlin, plumber; I. Urban, clothing; Asa Wiant, grocery.
The oldest men in point of business experience now living at St. Paris are I. P. Kizer and G. P. Shidler, both of whom were in business for approxi- mately forty-five years. J. H. Biddle, the present postmaster, up to the time he received the appointment as postmaster was in the grocery business for nearly thirty years. Until March, 1914, there had been a Biddle grocery in St. Paris for fifty-three years. In 1864, John Biddle, the father of J. H. Biddle, moved from Addison, now Christiansburg, to St. Paris and opened a grocery store.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
A Young Men's Christian Association was organized at St. Paris on November 7, 1876, with forty-three members and the following officers: E. S. Faucett, president; G. W. Kelley, vice-president; John McMorran, secretary ; William Henderson, treasurer. Rooms were rented, regular meet- ings held and for many years the association was one of the greatest agen- cies for good in the community. However, by July, 1880, interest in the work had become so listless that the organization had to be abandoned. The last officers included the following: W. N. Reinhard, president; James Brokaw, vice-president; J. N. McAllister, secretary ; Augustus Leedom, treasurer. Since 1880 the association has not been rejuvenated.
ST. PARIS ROLLER MILLS.
The St. Paris roller mills were established in 1890, by W. J. Jenkins and John Dudleston. These men operated the mill until 1893, when Jenkins purchased the interests of his partner and continued in the business until April 17, 1899. At that time he sold to the firm of Printz & Baldwin. The present owners are George Baldwin & Son. The mill is a three-story struc-
(65)
Digitized by Google
946
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
ture and has a daily capacity of eighty barrels. The special brand of flour manufactured is "White Star" which is widely known and used in this sec- tion of the state.
The St. Paris roller mill is the only flour-mill within a radius of eleven miles and consequently there is a large demand for its product. The wheat raised around St. Paris is as good as any raised in Ohio, a fact which enables the mill to turn out excellent flour.
COMMUNITY BOOSTERS CLUB.
At a mass meeting held on February 9, 1914, at the mayor's office, the Community Boosters Club of St. Paris was organized. As the name implies it was the intention of the club to reach beyond the operation of a business men's club. At the first meeting the following organization was perfected: Albert Fromme, president; Guy W. Reuter, secretary ; F. C. Batdorf, first vice-president ; B. A. Taylor, second vice-president ; Wallace Hunt, treasurer ; C. M. Duncan, Harry Luxon, L. E. Brown, Henry Flaig, J. B. Cretors and P. H. Berry, board of directors. Thirty-two business men and citizens joined the club at the first meeting.
According to the constitution that was adopted the object of the club was to create and maintain a civic spirit, to promote community ethics, to discover and correct such abuses as outside patronage, conserve local capi- tal in home enterprises, and to advance commercial, educational, manufac- turing and municipal interests. One of the chief things that has been accom- plished by the club was making the way possible for the "Great White Way," consisting of eighteen five-light standards of cluster lights. The total cost of this improvement was $1,037.40, one-half of which was met by the club and popular subscription. The remainder of the expense was met by the town council. The lights at the exterme north were paid for by G. Lear Smith, Dr. B. F. Baker and John Duncan. The activities of the club have become limited and it is now practically dormant.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
Doubtless the greatest disaster that has ever befallen St. Paris was a fire that occurred on Thanksgiving morning. 1883. The fire started in a tinshop and spread with such fury that the entire business district was wiped out. In the summer of the following year the fire-swept district was mostly built up with modern and substantial brick buildings.
1
947
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
A few years ago the town was stirred from center to circumference by the greatest religious revival ever known in these parts. A tabernacle was erected and six weeks of services were conducted by Evangelist Wilson under whose exhortations nearly three hundred and fifty persons professed conversion.
The first annual chautauqua at St. Paris was held on August 19-23, 1914, and so well pleased were the people that the chautauqua has become a permanent institution.
The experience of St. Paris in securing various manufacturing plants has not been altogether successful. During the past two decades a number of industrial plants have been started in the city, but today there is only one of these many establishments which is in successful operation. Most of these industries have been financed by local capital, but since their man- agement was in the hands of outside persons, they have proven uniformly unsuccessful. There have been many reasons assigned for the failure of these several establishments, but whatever the cause may have been the fact rmains that they have not been a good investment for local capitalists.
A resume of this series of unfortunate manufacturing enterprises shows that no fewer than seven industries have been established in the city only to operate for a time and then close down, leaving the local investor wonder- ing where he is going to get any return for the money he invested in the' plant. It is said that practically every man with a few hundred dollars to invest has been at one time or another interested in one of these enterprises. And the story of each has been the same-an initial appearance of success, followed in due course of time with the announcement that the plant was In the hands of a receiver.
Digitized by Google
CHAPTER XXXVII.
URBANA.
The history of Urbana is an integral part of the history of the county of which it is the county seat. In other chapters frequent reference has been made to the county seat. In this chapter an effort will be made to trace the growth of the city from its beginning in 1805 down to the present time-a period of one hundred and twelve years.
The name "Urbana" is of classical origin and suggests that its author must have had a knowledge of Latin. The word is indirectly derived from the Latin word urbs, meaning city, and, directly, from "urban," the English derivative of the Latin word. It was a happy thought of Joseph C. Vance in selecting the name he did, for the name is unique, musical and a distinctly appropriate name to be applied to a city. The location of the city, as has been told in the chapter on the organization of the county, was directly due to Colonel Ward. Just why the commissioners appointed to locate the county seat should have left the selection of the site to a resident of the county, and a land speculator, is difficult to see, but the fact of the matter is that Colonel Ward was delegated by the locating commissioners to select the site. The law provided that the county seat should be as near the center of the county as possible and it must be agreed that the site finally selected was about as near the center as could have been chosen.
The legal status of the city, the agreement entered into between Colonel Ward and Joseph Vance and the provision whereby Colonel Ward agreed to give half of the lots into which the one hundred and sixty-acre town plat might be divided-these facts have all been set forth in detail in the chapter on the organization of the county.
The first white settler on the site of the town, Thomas Pearce, was here with his family as early as 1803. Pearce built a log house on what afterward became Fast Market street, near the site of the present city building. He did not enter land here at first. but was only a "squatter." It appears that after Ward laid out the town in the fall of 1805 Pearce vacated the site of his first residence and located just north of the town as it was first laid out, building a log cabin there and living in it the remainder of his days. He
Digitized by Google
949
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
was a Revolutionary soldier and the grandfather of R. S. Pearce, now secre- tary of the Central Gas Company.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.