History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 70

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 854

USA > Ohio > Coshocton County > History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881 > Part 70

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The first printing press and newspaper in the county of Coshocton was established at Coshocton in 1827. It was a small sheet about twelve by eighteen inches, styled the Coshocton Republican, and issued with considerable irregularity. Dr. William Maxwell was editor and proprietor. After a brief career of little more than a year the proprietor became so muel involved that he was obliged to dispose of the establishment. It passed into the hands of John Frew, who had furnished supplies from his store for some time He continued its publication under the name of the Coshoeton Spy. Washington O'Hara was placed in charge of the paper as foreman, and, notwithstanding the efforts of Mr Frew, it failed to be self-supporting, and he was obliged to stead- ily pay a little for the honor of its publication. It

was Whig in its polities, and remained in Frew's possession until 1844. Borket E. Drone then purchased the press and issued the paper for a few years, calling it the Democratic Whig. At length he also became involved and the press was soll for debt. The paper was then suspended for a year or more, until 1850, when it was again revived under the name of the Coshocton Repub- lican, by Joseph Medill, afterward famed in Cleve- land, and still later and more greatly in Chicago, as editor of the Tribune and mayor of the city. Medill soon after removed from the county, and the paper became the property of H. Guild, who at length suspended publication as most of his predecessors had done. After some time the office became the property of R. W. Burt, now in the Internal Revenue service at Peoria, Illinois. The progress of the paper under his control, as set forth in a letter from him, published in Hunt's Historical Collections, is as follows:

In August, 1853, Mr. HI. Guild, the editor and proprietor of the old Whig newspaper at Cosehoc- ton, called on me, and desired to sell me his in- terest in it. He had ceased the publication, two or three months previously, having lost hope of its success. I told him I was not a Whig; had been a Demoerat, but was now a Free Soiler; that my party in Coshoeton only included about fifty people, and that I saw little or no prospeet of establishing a paper in advocacy of my own principles. I also distrusted my ability to do justice to my own cause, never having had any experience as an editor, nor even as printer. I gave him no encouragement and he went away. But, in truth, he had awakened a desire in my mind to engage in the work of publiely advo- eating my principles, which I believed' would finally triumph. I thought over the matter, talked with my father and some leading Whigs and independent Democrats, and finally em- barked in the enterprise. I was assisted greatly by Hon. James Matthews, and his brother-in-law, Thomas W. Flagg, was taken in as associate editor. I called the paper the Progressive Age. The first number was published in September, 1853, and was outspoken on the subject of slavery extension and the fugitive slave law, and strongly advocated temperance. William A. Johnson was foreman in the printing office. I sent the paper to all the subscribers of the old Whig paper and also to all the Democrats whose names I could get. I soon found plenty of papers re- turned, "not taken out of the postoffice." In two months. however, after my first issue, I had only about 250 subscribers; but I did not get discour-

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HISTORY OF COSIIOCTON COUNTY.

aged. In a few months, by most persistent efforts, my subscription list was greatly enlarged, and at the end of the year it had reached 700. The following year, the Age took part in the forma- tion of the Republican party, and the new party having succeeded in electing nearly all their candidates for county offices, the Age came in for a share of the public printing, which gave it a firmer footing. I continued the publication about three years, and the Republican party was in power in the county, when I sold the paper to A. R. Hillyer, who published it about a year, and then sold it to J. W. Dwyer. I assisted Dwyer about a year and then left the county.

J. W. Dwyer, made very little pecuniary gain out of the paper, and left it to take office in the Treasury Department under S. P. Chase. Asa L. Harris become the proprietor of the paper in 1861. He changed the name from Progressive Age to Coshocton Age, which title it has retained ever since. About the time of the close of the war, Harris received the appointment of postmas- ter at Atlanta, Georgia, and went South. The paper after being for a short time under the management of J. W. Dwyer and W. A. Johnson, became in 1866, the property of Captain T. W. Collier. He retained possession of it until April 1, 1878, when it was purchased and edited by A. W. Search and J. F. Meek. This firm was dis- solved in February, 1881, Mr. Search disposing of his interest to Mr. Meek, who is now sole pro- prietor. The circulation of the Age is considera- bly in advance of any other paper published in the county. It is reported at 2,000 copies.

In 1831, John Meredith began the publication of a paper at East Union, which gloried in the warlike cognomen of the Castle of Liberty and the Battle Axe of Freedom. It was removed the fol- lowing year to Coshocton, and was published un- til after the presidential election in that year, when it was discontinued. It advocated demo- cratic principles and the re-election of General Jackson to the presidency. James Matthews as- sisted in the editorial department for a time.

In 1835 the publication of a democratic paper called the Western Horizon was begun at Coshoc- ton by William G. Williams. Mr. Williams was at this time county treasurer and he was assisted in the editing of this paper by Russell C. Bryan. He was succeeded in the editorial chair by Joseph F. Oliver. In no great length of time he in turn

was succeeded by T. W. Flagg and Chauncey Bas- sett. They were the publishers in 1840 when the paper was about one-half the size of the present Democrat, and by them the name of the paper was changed to the Coshocton Democrat. They were succeeded by Messrs. Avery and Johnson, who af- ter a year or two disposed of it to James F. Weeks. From his hands it went back again into the possession of Chauncey Bassett, one of its former editors. After him it was edited and published by Dr. A. T. Walling, since congress- man from the Columbus district. In 1853 Rich and Wheaton were publishing it. In the spring of 1856, Asa G. Dimmock, who had edited the Cadiz Sentinel and the Cosmopolite at Millersburg and had just finished his service as warden of the Ohio penitentiary, became editor and publisher. When nominated for prosecuting attorney in 1862, he disposed of the paper to A. McNeal, a young man from Bethlehem township, who had just served as county recorder. He was drowned while fishing in the Tuscarawas river, a few miles abore Coshocton in August 1862. Wash. C. Wolfe ran the paper from MeNeal's death until after the election, when Dimmock resumed, and soon thereafter (November, 1861), J. McGonagle, formerly of the Cadiz Sentinel, became a partner with Dimmock, and continued for some two years. He removed to Shelby, Ohio. In the spring of 1866 the present publisher, John C. Fisher, of Licking county, became a partner with Dimmock. The health of the latter was at that time seriously broken. He spent the most of the summer in visiting among friends, and died that fall at the home of his brother in Montrose, Penn- sylvania, and Mr. Fisher became the proprietor and editor of the paper, continuing as such unto this writing, except that during Mr. Fisher's ab- sence in the State senate it was edited by W. R. Gault and other temporary editors and that dur- ing the summer of 1875 for a few months W. C. Brownlee was associated with him. It is under- stood that in its earlier history the paper fre- quently required the help of its party friends, and none of its numerous publishers have been able to retire with a large fortune. Its appliances are better now than in any past period of its history. Its circulation is reported at 1,175 copies.

The Practical Preacher was the name of a three-

S. T. FURGESON.

W. M. FURGESON.

OFFICE OF THE "COSHOCTON COUNTY COMMONWEALTHI," COSHOCTON.

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

427

column, sixteen page, semi-monthly paper, the publication of which was begun at Coshocton in the fall of 1849. Each number contained "an original sermon by a living minister," in addition to other religious reading. It also contained much miscellaneous matter, including some local news. A series of historical sketches of Coshoc- ton and vicinity, written by Rev. H. Calhoun, ran through the first volume and a few numbers of the second, forming one of its leading features. It was edited by Rev. C. E. Weirich, a Methodist minister, stationed at Plainfield, and Rev. II. Cal- houn, the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Coshocton. At the end of the first year, Mr. Weirich removed to Washington, Guernsey county, and the paper was published at Coshoc- ton and Washington co-jointly. With the close of the second volume, Mr. Calhoun withdrew from the paper and its publication was conducted for several years at Washington only, all connec- tion with Coshocton county being severed by the withdrawal of Mr. Calhoun.

In the spring of 1853, S. M. Rich and J. V. Wheaton began the publication of Young America, Mr. Rich as editor, Mr. Wheaton as printer. It was a large five-column paper, neutral in politics, unsectarian, and devoted to the beautiful in litera- ture, the elegant in art and the useful in science. No advertisements were inserted, the space being wholly filled with choice selections. Like many another worthy enterprise, its career was brief. Lack of support caused it to suspend publication indefinitely within a year of its first issue.

In the fall of 1869, the Saturday Visitor was ush- ered into being by H. D. Beach, who soon after associated with him in its publication L. L. Cant- well. It was purely a literary and local paper, letting polities severely alone. In 1871, the pub- lishers sold the paper to W. A. Johns, who re- moved to Newcomerstown and continued its pub- lication under the name of the Newcomerstoun Argus.

In 1874 H. D. Beach began the publication of an independent newspaper at Coshocton called the Coshocton People. After a brief and fitful ca- reer of between one and two years it expired.

The first number of the Coshocton County Com- monwealth was issued January 1, 1880. Its pub- lishers are the Ferguson Brothers; its editor, W.

M. Ferguson. The paper is a weekly publication, independent in politics, and devoted to the news and interests of the county. Though at this writing it has barely begun its second year, it has already secured a paying subscription list of seven hundred, and bids fair to obtain a perma- nent position of rank in the press of Coshocton county and vicinity.

The Farmers' Home Journal, a monthly publica- tion of sixteen pages, devoted to the interests of the agricultural population, was started in Octo- ber, 1880, by L. L. Cantwell.

The Coshocton Wochenblatt is a weekly newspa- per published in the German language, by L. L. Cantwell and Henry Mining. Its first number was issued October 2, 1880. It is still in its in- fancy, but the publishers report a constantly in- creasing circulation.

Coshocton Lodge, No. 96, of the Masonic Fra- ternity, was instituted in 1846. There had pre- viously been a lodge of this Order at Coshocton, Clinton Lodge, No. 42, which had suspended in 1836. The Coshocton Lodge was organized at Ricketts' Hall, northeast corner of Chestnut and Second streets, and was composed of the follow- ing charter members: David Spangler, Master ; Joseph W. Rue, Senior Warden; William Mc- Farlin, Junior Warden; Josiah Harris, R. M. Lamb, William B. Decker, Thomas C. Ricketts, Samuel Lee, R. C. Bryan, M. Ferguson, T. P. Jones and William Carhart. At this writing, the lodge is officered as follows: George Shrigley, Master; William H. Robinson, Senior Warden ; Fulton Sears, Junior Warden; Henry Davis, Treasurer; Calvin Skinner, Secretary; Willard Sears, Senior Deacon; H. Cramlet, Junior Dea- con, and R. B. Black, Tyler. The lodge hall is lo- cated in the MeLain building, on Chestnut street, and the membership considerably exceeds one hundred.

Samaritan Chapter, No. 50, of Royal Arch Ma- sons, was chartered October 22, 1852, with the following membership: Josiah Harris, High Priest; Samuel Hutchinson, King; Smiley Har- baugh, Seribe; Jacob Nichols, Thomas P. Jones, John Taylor, David Spangler, Thomas Harrison, and Benjamin Bonnett. There are now about fifty members. For the term beginning with

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

1881, the 'officers are: W. W. Bostwick, H. P., Lewis Demoss, King; Dr. Josiah Harris, Seribe ; William Hughes, C. of H .; Theodore Agnew, P. S .; C. F. Burns, R. A. C .; George Agnew, First V .; Thomas McConnell, Second V .; M. G. Hack, Third V .; J. G. Magaw, Secretary ; E. MeDonnakl; Treasurer ; Samuel Taylor, Guard.

Of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' there are two lodges and one encampment in Coshocton -Coshocton Lodge, No. 44; Sarah Lodge (Daughters of Rebekeh), No. 25, and Co- shocton Encampment No. 191. The first was in- stituted by Thomas Spooner, Special Deputy, August 2, 1845, with the following charter mem- bers: John Lamb, Francis Fritchey, E. L. Stevens, James Relf, John Arentrue, James S. Clark, James K. Walker and F. Kirk. The first meetings were held in the Ricketts Hall, corner Chestnut and Second streets, then in the MeClain block, a little farther east. Their hall is now in the Sheik building, on Main street. The mem- bership is 135, and the officers at this writing are : Conrad Mayer, Noble Grand; John Tish, Vice . Grand; Joseph Wilson, Recording Secretary ; Josiah Harris, Permanent Secretary; E. MeDon- nald, Treasurer; Thomas Campbell, John Cas- singham, Lewis Demoss, John Carhart and Joseph Stanford, Trustees. Frank Kane is Deputy Grand Master:

The dispensation of Sarah Lodge was granted January 10, 1870, to E. II. Lynde, Mrs. E. Lynde, E. MeDonnald, Mrs. E. MeDonnald, Mrs. P. Hack, John H. Lowrie, Seth McClain, Mrs Seth Mc- Clain, Mrs. D. Harris, Mrs. Thomas Love, Thomas Campbell, Frederick Schnide, E. Collrado, Mrs. L. Demoss, and one other Its membership is now about fifty, and its officers, Mrs Mary Fritz, Noble Grand; Mrs. John Carhart, Vice Grand ; Mrs. Joseph Wilson, Recording Secretary ; Charles Kane, Permanent Secretary.

Thomas Campbell is Deputy Grand Chief Patri- arch. The membership is twenty-eight.

Ouargo Tribe No. 87, of the Improved Or- der of Red Men, was chartered October 29, 1874. The original members comprised W. W. Bostwick. Herman Mueller, James B Manner, W. H. McCabe, Theodore Agnew, Luther L. Cantwell, C. F. Burns, John E. Tingle, T. H. Bur- rell, W. S. Wood, F. S. Faulkner, D. Laffer, P. H. Moore and George Palm. The officers at this writing are: W. S. Wood, Sachem; David Laffer, Senior Sagamore; W. H. MeCabe, Junior Saga- more; R. D. Waite, Chief of Records; H. S. Faulkner, Keeper of Wampum. The chief ex- ecutive office has been filled from the organiza- tion of the tribe to the present by the following members successively: W. W. Bostwick, W. H. McCabe, Judson Bunn, G. B. Manner, George C. MeNeil, William McNaughton, J. N. Collier, D. S. Wagner, Joseph Wilson, Henry Max, Irwin Mil- ler and W. S. Wood, W. W. Bostwick is Deputy Sachem of the State. The membership is thirty- two. The hall on the second floor of the Rick- etts building, Main street, was first used as the place of meeting, but the hall in the Morris · block is now occupied by the tribe.

Guiding Star Lodge, No. 1742, of the Knights of Honor, was organized August 27, 1879, with the following charter members: W. W. Bostwick, W. H. McCabe, F. A. Wernett, A. W. Search, G. M. Mortley, G. C. McNeal, G. W. Seward, W. H. Robinson, J. H. Hay, John B. Crowley, William Ward, W. H. Barcroft, G. J. Bock, A L. Ayres, G. H. Howe, J. W. Cullison, A. D. Howe, Harri- son Hawn, L W. Robinson and Joseph Burrell. It is now officered by the following: A. D. Howe, Past Dictator ; W. H. Robinson, Dictator; Rich- ard Walker, Vice Dictator; G. G. Ridgely, Re- porter; W. H. Coe, Finance Reporter ; Thomas Page, Treasurer ; William Ward, Chaplain ; John M. Connel, Guardian; Albert Ayres, Guide ; James Moore, Sentinel. The lodge was organ- ized in the Morris block, but now meets in the Ricketts building.

The Encampment of Patriarchs was instituted July 7, 1875, with the following membership: Peter Ilack, Lewis DeMoss, Joseph Hosleton, James C. Harrison, L. E Karnes, John Burt and Herman Mueller. Conrad Mver is Chief Patri- Besides these a number of orders have been represented by lodges in Coshocton, which are now dead. Among them was Coshocton Lodge arch; David Jones, Senior Warden; Benjamin Richards. Junior Warden; George Lorenz, High Priest; W. H. Coe, Scribe; John Burt, Treasurer. | of the Knights of Pythias. Crescent Camp of the

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

Independent Order of Knighthood was organized a few years ago, but survived a few years only. It was originally Council 7, but afterward became Council 5. The order is now extinet in this State, and the Coshoeton lodge was the last to expire. Equitable Council, No. 310, of the the Royal Ar- eanum, was chartered April 17, 1879. It met in the Norris block, and after a brief career of a year or two gave up the ghost.

Coshoeton Grange, No. 1313, of the Patrons of Husbandry, was organized May 31, 1879, by Joseph Love, County Deputy, with a member- ship of thirty. The number has now reached fifty. D. F. Denman is the present Master.

CHAPTER XLVII.

MERCANTILE AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.

Early Taverns-Present Hotels-First Store-Early Merchants -James Calder-Hedge and Hammond-James Renfrew- Benjamin Ricketts-Robert Hay-Present Business Direc- tory-Banking-The Johnson Brothers-Ricketts Bank- First National Bank-Commercial Bank -- Savings and Build- ing and Loan Association-Ferries-Coshocton Iron and Steel Works-Paper Mill-Various Other Industries-Past and Present.

ITAVVERN-KEEPING is one of the first oceu-

pations in a new country. Houses of publie entertainment were plentifully seattered through- out this eounty while it was yet very thinly settled. They were often the precursors of hamlets and villages, and always among the earliest features of a locality that aspired to something more than rural environments. Charles Williams, the earliest settler of Coshocton, engaged at onee in this pur- suit, and for a number of years was without a rival in providing for the public wants. His tavern stood near the northeast corner of Water and Chestnut streets. An invariable attendant During these early years there was quite a strife between the denizens of Water street and those of Second street. Water street was first settled, and for a long time embraced the main portion of the town. Colonel Williams, who re- sided here, was at first a Federalist in politics, but afterward became a Democrat, and was the acknowledged local leader and champion of that party. His tavern became the rendezvous for of the early tavern was the bar, which doubtless was a source of greater income than the tavern proper. The journal of Colonel Williams was written upon a few leaves of an old ledger, and from them are obtained the names of several of his early customers between 1810 and 1820. The principal charges are for whiskey or ferriages, and, if the accounts speak truly, many of them have never been paid. One of the earliest ac- | those of like political faith, while the tavern on

counts is that of James L. Priest, who is eredited with twenty-eight days' work, per son William, at nine dollars per month, nine dollars and sixty- nine eents. In 1811, Joseph Mulvain, Israel H. Buker, Benjamin Burrell, Solomon Vail, Chrisley Wise, Allen Moore and Jarret Moore each have a running account. The other charges were made from 1816 to I820. The names are John Maholm, Samuel Clark, Jesse Cunningham, Peter Darne, John Barto, Elisha Elliott, Levi Rodruek, James Davis, William Carr, Thomas Ilarkum, John Miehacls, William King, Ephraim Thayer and Strong Thomas.

In 1816, Wright Warner was keeping tavern at the northwest corner of Main and Second streets, now the Central House. Some time before this, Asa Hart was running a tavern on the east side of Second street, a few rods north of Chestnut. He died here in IS15, of cold plague, Warner was a lawyer and had been the first prosecuting attorney of the county. He had come here from one of the New England States, and in a few years removed to Steubenville. Thence he went to New Philadelphia, where he was inn- keeper for some time. He was succeeded by William Whitten, a blacksmith, and first county treasurer, who is described as a short, stoutly built man, of excellent judgment and great nat- ural abilities, though somwhat addieted, as was nearly every one at that time, to the flowing bowl. Wilson McGowan followed Whitten, as proprietor of this hotel. He was a zealous Bap- tist and often had preaching at the tavern while it was in his charge. IIe was a quiet gentle- man, with winning, persuasive manners,and pos- sessed the elements of leadership. He was af- terwards clerk of the court, for a few years; then engaged in mercantile pursuits, at Coshoc- ton, with his son-in-law, Rufus Eldridge.

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

Second street developed strong Whig tendencies, and in its proprietor was recognized the leader- ship of that party. The political warfare which was engendered did not flow and ebb with the coming and departure of elections as at present, but was maintained with rancor throughout the entire year. To such an extent was this carried that separate Fourth of July celebrations would be held by the two factions. Each would pre- pare a big dinner, and the respective adherents of the two parties were accustomed to arrive early in the morning, and spend the day in rough out-door sports and games. An oration would sometimes be prepared and delivered-oftener in the Whig assembly than the Democratic. Colonel Williams usually held his meetings in a sugar grove on the river bank, just below the bridge, and would terminate the festivities of the day with a grand dance. Abundant and excellent music was always provided, and under its en- trancing strains and the mirthful sport which ac- companied it, the night would glide swiftly away, and the peep of another day ushered in much too soon for the wakeful seions of liberty. The youthful Whigs, who had spent the day in the opposite camp, and come at night to enjoy the dance, were invariably hooted and driven away.

grocery, stood a frame building in which Samuel Morrison, Mr. Bowers and others kept public house. Thomas B. Lewis for a few years pro- vided entertainment in a rough log building whichi stood on a lot on Chestnut street, now oc- cupied by the Spangler residence. A number of fugitive slaves were passing northward through this county at one time, under the guidance of a Quaker, and were concealed in a cornfield in Bethlehem township. Their hiding place was discovered by several rowdies in that vicinity, and, hoping to receive a reward for their capture, the ruffians pounced upon the negroes and beat them severely, then brought them mangled and bleeding 'to Lewis' tavern. Public indignation was aroused at the shameful treatment the slaves had received, and the rowdies were obliged to flee the town without their prey. The slaves made good their escape, but were subsequently recaptured in Knox county.

The Central House, at the corner of Main and Second streets, is the oldest tavern in Coshocton. Except during a few years, when it was rented as a tenement house, it has been used as a tavern for nearly seventy years. Seward & McCabe have been its proprietors for several years, and it has recently passed into the hands of Willian Shaw.

Colonel Williams' house was afterwards kept for a while by his son-in-law, Adam Johnson and The large briek standing on lot 215, Second street, was occupied as a hotel for about twenty years. It was built by John, Joseph K., and William K. Johnson, in 1840, but not used for hotel purposes until 1856, at which time William Tidball took possession of it. He was succeeded by Thomas McBride, and Mr. McBride, in 1865, by W. H. H. Price, who remained its proprietor until 1876, when he left it to take charge of the new Price House. It has since been used for other purposes. then by Thomas H. Miller, another son-in-law. A Mr. Johnson also was proprietor here for a while. A number of buidings on Second street have been used for this purpose. A brick house, built in 1816, occupying the northeast corner of Chestnut and Second streets, was for a long time one of the principal taverns. Ellis D. Jones was among the earliest proprietors. He subsequently removed to Roscoe, where he remained but a short time, then returned and took charge of the Central House. After Mr. Jones' removal to The hotel at the northeast corner of Main and Fifth streets was built in 1854. The addition fronting the railroad was erected two years later. Roscoe, Oliver Barrett took possession of the house he had vacated and remained there several years, then returned to Zanesville, whence he Until 1867, it was the railroad eating house. Its first owner and proprietor was "Aunt Letty Thomas," a colored woman, who was brought to this county when sixteen years old, from Wash- ington City, by Colonel William Simmons. In 1860 or 1861, the property was sold to Mr. Sauer- had come. Judge B. R. Shaw was proprietor here for about five years, beginning about 1838. Alexander McGowan, Alexander Hay and Mr. Pees, from Tuscarawas county, at different times kept tavern here. On the southwest corner of the same streets, now occupied by Buchanan's | beck, of Alliance; and his son-in-law, Robinson,

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History of Coshocton County, Ohio, its past and present, 1740-1881, Part 70

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 854

Author: Hill, Norman Newell, jr., [from old catalog] comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A. A., & co., Newark, O., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Newark, Ohio, A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 854