History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 55

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 55

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THE MAILS .- The following is a list of the Mails to this place, the hour of their arrival and departure : The Tiffin Mail leaves Bucyrus every Friday morning at 7 o'clock A. M., and arrives at this office on Saturday at 5 P. M. The Mount Vernon Mail departs every

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

Friday at 6 A. M., and arrives on Saturday at 7 P. M. The Fredericktown Mail arrives at this office every Wednesday by 6 P. M., and departs on Thursday at 5 P. M. The Perrysburg Mail leaves this office every Monday by 5 A. M., and arrives here on Thursdays at 6 P. M. The Kenton Mail arrives every Wednesday by 12 M., and departs the same day at 1 P. M. The New HIaven Mail arrives every Tuesday by 12 M., and de- parts at 1 P. M. of same day. The Eastern Mail through Mansfield to Pittsburgh, arrives at this office every other day by 6 P. M., and departs the following morning by 4 A. M., closes at 8 P. M. The Northern Mail from Sandusky City arrives at this office every other day between 1 and 4 P. M. (eloses at 1), and de- parts in 20 minutes for Columbus. The Great Southern Mail arrives every other day (same day of the North- ern) between 9 P. M., and 12 M., and departs in about 30 minutes for Sandusky City (closes at 8 P. M.). JOHN FORBES, P. M. POST OFFICE BUCYRUS, August 30, 1837.

The salary paid Forbes in 1840 was $293.47, and the net proceeds of the office for the Gov- ernment were $417,54. Since 1840, the follow- ing persons have held the office; James Mc- Cracken from 1841 to 1845, near the present site of Mader's Block ; Alex Widman, same place for some eighteen months ; R. T. Johnston, for about thirty months, at II. H. Moderwell's pres- ent stand ; Henry Converse from 1849 to 1853, in the frame building located on the present site of Miller's block ; Alex Ruhl, from 1853 to 1857, near the present site of Picking's Block, and then at the northwestern part of public square ; C. D. Ward, from 1857 to 1861, at Ruhl's last room ; J. G. Robinson from 1861 to Novem- ber 1, 1866, in the western part of Rowse's Block ; Isaac Bryant. from November 1866, to about April 1, 1867, at same room; W. C. Lemert from April 1867 to about September 1, 1867, at same room ; James P. Rader, from Sep- tember, 1867, to August 7, 1870. first in Rowse's Block, and then opposite Court House ; J. Hop ley, from August 7, 1870, to February 1, 1879, opposite court house ; C. W. Fisher, present incumbent. from February 1, 1879, at same room.

The first house erected on the present site of Bucyrus was the first round-log cabin of Nor- ton's ; the second was Bucklin's home, which was followed shortly afterward by the habita- tions of the Beadle family. When Lewis Cary came in the spring of 1822, he built the first hewn-log cabin with shingled roof and grooved floor. The Journal, of December 13, 1861, con- tains the following item : " A friend who de- lights in antiquarian researches informs us that the first frame building in town was erected in the year 1823. It stood on the lot now occu- pied by George Raiser's building ; then it was removed to the west end of Mansfield street and from there to the lot of A. M. Jackson (corner Middletown and Galion roads), where, disguised by a new roof and weather-boarding, it makes a very fine looking stable." If this be true, it still remains on this lot, and is now used as a wood-shed. Moderwell says : "The first frame building erected in the town was about fifteen feet square and stood on the ground now occu- pied by Mr. G. Jahn's property, north of the railroad. The first brick on the lot where Blair's and Picking's blocks now stand." This building was used as a blacksmith-shop, and shortly after it was erected the little brick schoolhouse was built on the present Monnett House lot. These first buildings were followed in a few years by more substantial structures. Among the early buildings erected, many of which remain at the present time, are the fol- lowing : Henry St. John built the Kaler corner in 1828; this same building has since been remodeled and improved. Gilmore built the old brick on the northeast corner of Main and Warren streets previous to 1830, and the Ore- gon llouse, one square south, was erected shortly afterward. Hahn built the Sims House in 1830, but this block was enlarged and improved in 1859. Norton erected the Main street Mills Block in 1831, and the same year Col. Zalmon Rowse put up the American House building on the north west corner of Main and Warren streets.

364

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

Dr. Willis Merriman erected the two-story frame north of Shaeffer's block, about 1833. Thomas Shawke put up the Trimble House on the south- east corner of Mansfield and Walnut streets in 1836. The Drackert House, on Main street, south of the Square, was built by Jacob Bright for Mrs. Martha I. Hetich, about the year 1838, and used by her as a private residence for many years. Merriman's brick corner was erected by Robert Johnson for Dr. Willis Merriman dur- ing the year 1840. J. P. Bowman's former residence, now owned by the Gormlys, was built shortly afterward. The buildings now occupied by the Crawford County Bank, R. I. Johnson & Son's drug store and Correll's shoe store, were put up after the big fire of August 30, 1848; the Anderson Block, now the resi- dence of Messrs. Ward and George Gormly, previous to 1850, and the brick now occupied by Scott & Adams, after 1850. Among the more imposing structures of later years are : The Raiser Block, north of the railroad, in 1857 ; Stoll's planing mills, in the fall of 1858 ; Wool- en Mills building, on East Perry street, in 1858 and 1839 ; Rowse's Block in 1858; Ritz, now Gormly, Block in 1859; Bowman Block in 1861 ; Picking's Block in 1861 ; Burkhart's Block, now one-half of Mader's. about 1861, and the north half by Mader, about 1870; Blair's Block, commenced in 1864. finished in 1865 ; Birk's Block, about 1872; the Converse and Weber Blocks in 1873 ; Jerry Niman's Block, rear in 1873, front in 1874; Fisher Block in 1876 ; Picking Block, now occupied by Al Lewis, in 1877 ; Deal Block in 1878; Miller Block in 1877 ; the largest block ever erected in Bucy- rus commenced by George Quinby in 1858 and completed in 1859, the five eastern business rooms being finished in the former year, and the three western rooms in the latter. The Journal, of January 14, 1860, said of this build- ing : "It is the largest and best block on the line of the railroad between Pittsburgh and Chi- cago ; having a frontage on the square of 166

feet. It is now occupied by the following firms : Room on the corner by Exchange Bank ; No. 2, Ilall & Juilliard, dry goods ; No. 3, Graham & Tranger. dry goods ; No. 4, Fulton & Clark, drugs ; No. 5, Zwisler & Howbert, dry goods ; No. 6, Jones & Co., stoves and tinware ; No. 7, Cuykendall & Weber, groceries ; No. 8, Potter & Craig, hardware."

Within a short time after Bucyrus was laid out, Norton and Kilbourne interested them- selves in making their new town a county seat. The village was then located in the southeast- ern corner of the territory named Crawford County, and, in those days, stood in great dan- ger of having a successful rival for county-seat honors. Crawford County was then unorgan- ized. and the inhabitants were temporarily attached to Delaware County for judicial pur- poses. Possibly the first attempt made to secure the county seat at Bucyrus was in the fall of 1823. when the citizens were active in securing the formation of a new county, to be styled Bucyrus. The proprietor of the land was very anxious that the proposed scheme should be successful, and he made the follow- ing agreement with a committee of citizens :

To all whom it may concern : Know ye that I, Sam- uel Norton, of Bucyrus, in Crawford County and State of Ohio, have agreed, and do agree, as this in- strument witnesseth, that, in case the county of Bucy- rus should be established by law at the approaching session of the Legislature, for which petitions will be presented, and the seat of justice of said county per- manently established in the town of Bueyrus, then, and in that case, I will give, and, by a warranty deed free and clear of all incumbrances, convey unto such agent or agents as may be appointed to the trust, for the use of said new county in defraying the expenses of erecting a court house and offices in said town of Bucyrus, one equal third part in number and value of all the numbered inlots and outlots of said town, or that may be numbered within the present year, which remain to me as original proprietor thereof; that is to say, one-third of all the lots numbered on the recorded plat of said town, or that may be numbered as afore- said, excepting those which have been bargained and

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

sold, or that may be sold to individuals, by deeds or title bonds prior to the acceptance of this offer, and excepting also the fractional parts of said town origi- nally belonging to Abel Cary and Daniel McMichael. On a plat of said town accompanying this obligation are distinctly marked the lots by their numbers and situations composing the said third part intended to be given for the public nses aforesaid, and the foregoing agreement and the just fulfillment thereof I bind myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by these presents. In witness whereof, I have here- unto set my hand and seal at said Bucyrus this 20tlı day of November, 1823. SAMUEL NORTON.

In presence of A. I. Shover.

This project to secure a county named Bucy- rus was not successful, but, December 15, 1823, the General Assembly of Ohio passed an act organizing Marion County, and, for two years, from April, 1824, to April, 1826, the southern portion of Crawford was attached to Marion. The population in the vicinity of Bucyrus increased rapidly, and, after considerable agita- tion and petitioning, the Legislature, on Janu- ary 31, 1826, passed another act, organizing Crawford County, which "authorized the Com- missioners elected in accordance with the third section of the act" to "meet on the first Mon- day in May next, at the town of Bucyrus, and then and there determine at what place in said county of Crawford the judicial courts shall be held till the permanent seat of justice shall be established in said county." This duty of these commissioners, to be elected in April, 1826, was the great issue discussed at the first election for county offices. The people in the southern part of the county were in favor of Bucyrus as the county seat, and those living in the western part insisted upon its being located at a town called Crawford, laid out by Joseph Newell, on the Broken Sword Creek, in Holmes Township. The friends of Bucyrus were suc- cessful, and Thomas MeClure, John Magers and George Poe, their candidates, were suc- cessful, and the county seat was temporarily established in the village. The first court was

held in Lewis Cary's front room, and, after the brick schoolhouse was erected, occupied tem- porary quarters in that building. For several years, the new county was without a court house. In the meantime, the Auditor, Clerk of the Court and Recorder occupied quarters in the north end of Bucyrus. A man named Fleck was convicted for some crime, and, about the year 1831, his friends set fire to the build- ings in which the records were kept, and the early papers of the new county were all de- stroyed. The county seat was not permanent- ly located at Bucyrus until 1830, when the Legislature appointed a commission, consisting of Judge Williams, of Delaware; R. S. Dick- enson, of Fremont, and J. S. Glassgo, of Holmes County, to visit Crawford County and decide the troublesome question. The report made by these gentlemen was favorable to Bucyrus, and this was accepted by the Legisla- ture. Samuel Norton then donated a large number of town lots, and other citizens made liberal contributions for the erection of public buildings. The first jail was erected about the year 1827, on the site now occupied by the Monnett House, which lot was donated by Samuel Norton. Zalmon Rowse was the con- tractor, and the building was made of squared timber, and contained two apartments. This jail was destroyed by fire, and when the next one was built it occupied the lot immediately south. The present jail was erected in 1859. The first court house was commenced and fin- ished in 1832. Col. Kilbourne was the archi- tect, and Nicholas Cronehaugh, Abraham Holm, Sr., and William Early were contractors. While this building was being erected, a serious acci- dent occurred, which resulted in the death of Eli Cronebaugh and a Mr. Seigler. The present court house was commenced in 1855, by Will- iam Miller, J. Jennings and David Auld, con- tractors. The building was finished by April 30. 1857, at which time a " court house warm- ing " was held.

366

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

The town of Bucyrus was incorporated by the Legislature February 21, 1833. It is not certain who the first Mayor of the town was, as the records have all been destroyed, but it is generally supposed to be James MeCracken. Since the year 1837, however, the following persons have been elected to this office : 1837, John Moderwell; 1840, Peter Worst; 1841, Nicholas Failor; 1842 and 1843, David R. Lightner; 1844 and 1845, James Marshal; 18-46, James McCracken ; 1847 and 1848, James H. Hutchinson ; 1850 and 1851, William M. Seroggs, who resigned in November, 1851, and Stephen R. Harris was elected to fill the va- cancy ; Mr. Harris was also re-elected in 1852 and 1854. In 1853, George P. Seal was chosen ; 1855, 1856, 1857, Jacob Seroggs ; 1858, S. J. Elliott, who resigned in November, and Jacob Seroggs was appointed by the council. and re- elected in 1859; in 1860, Henry C. Rowse ; 1861, S. R. Harris ; 1862, William M. Seroggs ; 1863 and 1864, E. B. Finley ; 1865, C. D. Ward ; 1866 and 1867. Wilson Stewart; 1868 and 1869, George Donnenwirth, Sr .; 1870, William M. Reid was elected, but counted out, and Donnenwirth sworn in (Gen. Samuel Myers, C. G. Malic and William Rowland, three mem- bers of the Council elected at the same time denounced the proceeding, refused to serve and resigned. The case was tried and carried before the Supreme Court of Ohio, who decided in favor of Reid, when the term of office had nearly expired) ; 1872 and 1874. James Van Voorhis ; 1876 and 1878. Chapman D. Ward ; 1880, Allen Campbell, the present incumbent. The population of the village since 1830, was as follows: 1830, 500 estimated; 1840, 704; 1850, 1,100 estimated; 1860, by United States census, 2,207; 1870, by census, 3,066 ; 1880, by census, 3,848.

Among the many interesting historical events which have occurred in Bucyrus was the dis- covery, by Abraham Hahn. of the perfect skele- ton of a mastodon, during the year 1838. Mr.

Hahn, having erected a saw-mill just north of the site now occupied by G. W. Hull's barn, on West Warren street, conceived the idea of con- structing a mill-race which would furnish suffi- cient water-power to run the establishment, and this water-course was finished by a considera- ble outlay of time and money. The source of this race was the swamps in Col. Zalmon Rowse's fields, now owned by William Monnett, and the line it followed to the mill would have, at the present time, about the following route : It crossed the Galion Road near the southwest- ern corner of the fair ground ; then extended nearly due north along the east side of the Ohio Central, making a slight bend, and pass- ing east of the roundhouse and machine shops ; then nearly due west to S. R. Harris' land ; then northwest through the northeastern corner of the schoolhouse yard, and, after con- tinuing in the same direction for a short dis- tance, changed to nearly due west, crossing Walnut street, near Dr. Cuykendall's office, Main street, near Mrs. Thomas Johnson's, and Poplar street, near the German Lutheran Church. While making the excavations for this mill-race, the skeleton was found in the swamp just cast of the present site of the Ohio Central shops. This land for many years afterward was very low and swampy ; a consid- erable portion in this immediate vicinity was covered by Mr. Hahn's mill-pond. A full ac- count of this discovery was printed in the Crawford Republican extra, of August 14, 1838, and reprinted in the Forum, January 9, 1880, from which the following is taken :

BUCYRUS, August 14, 1838. Mr. Abraham Hahn, while engaged with his work hands in excavating a mill-race, about three-fourths of a mile east of Bucyrus, ou yesterday, at the distance of from five to seven feet below the surface of the ground, discovered the skeleton of a mastodon, in a reclined position. The history of this genus of animals is in- volved in mystery. No tradition or human record fur- uishes evidences of its existence at any period. But that it once lived and walked upon the earth, the prince

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

of the quadruped kingdom, is abundantly proven by the numerous and almost entire specimens of its or- ganic remains, that have been discovered in various parts of North America; and which have excited the wonder and astonishment of the naturalist and anti- quarian. From the peculiar structure, and the im- mense size of its bones, it must have been an animal far exceeding in size and strength any species of the quadruped races now in existence. The place where this skeleton was found is very near the dividing ridge between the northern and southern waters of the State, in a wet, spongy soil. The bones, so far as dis- covered, are in a fine state of preservation. The upper jaw and skull bones are perfect in all their parts, as formed by nature. The under jaw was accidentally divided in removing it from the earth. 'This is the only instance in which the skull of the mastodon has been found in a state of preservation ; and it furnishes the only specimen from which correct ideas can be ob- tained respecting that massive, and singularly shaped organ.

Some idea may be formed of the rank this monster held among the beasts of the forest, when clothed with skin and flesh, and nerved with life, from the following dimensions of some portions of it, which have been rescued from oblivion :

THE SKULL AND UPPER JAW.

Horizontal length. inches.

Length following curvature of skull. 424

Breadth across the eyes

263

Breadth at back of heat. 25}

Vertical height. 22

Height occipital bone. 16

Diameter of both nostrils .11}

Diameter of each measuring the other way .. 5 66

Diameter of tusk sockets.

5% to 6

Depth of tusk sockets

Diameter of eye sockets.

Weight of skull and upper jaw. 160 pounds.

THIE UNDER JAW.

Horizontal length following outside curva-

ture .31} inches.

Height to junction with upper jaw.

16} "

Weight.

.69 pounds.

Front molars 6} inches apart. Back 53 16

Length back molar. 7} inches.

Breadth back molar. 1

Length front molar.

FEMUR OR THIGII BONE.

Length

inches.

Largest circumference. ,30

Smallest circumference. 15}

TIBIA ¡ LARGEST BONE BETWEEN TIIIGH AND HOOF).

Length

223 inches.

Largest circumference. 24}

Smallest circumference. 11

FIBULA (SMALLER BONE BETWEEN THIGH AND HOOF).

Length

203 inches.

Largest circumference.

124

Smallest circumference.

HUMERUS (BONE FROM SHOULDER TO KNEE).

Length

30 inches.

Largest circumference

343

Smallest circumference. 14%

RIB.

Length outer curve ..

13}

Smallest circumference.

The following is a design of the skeleton of this monster, as drawn by the description given above, and engraved by Daniel Kanzleiter, of Bucyrus :

Hahn soon found the enterprise in which he had become involved would not be a financial success, and after several years the business was abandoned. When the town was extended and improved toward the southeast. the mill- pond was drained and the water-course gradu- ally filled up with earth, but during the past twenty years, in making excavations for sewers

368

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

and cellars, the remains of this race have fre- quently been found. At first, Mr. Hahn exhib- ited the bones of this mastodon, but finally sold them, and the proceeds derived from the sale served to repay him for the immense finan- cial outlay he had made in building the race. He died at Mount Gilead, Ohio, January 19, 1867, and in his obituary notice the following was published in regard to the latter history of the skeleton : " He afterward sold the skeleton to a man in Columbus for $1,800, and it was again resold to a Cincinnati man for $2,800 ; was afterward taken to New York and put in Barnum's Museum, and probably consumed by the fire there a few years since."

For many years the village was without any regularly organized fire department, and the only protection in case of fire was the volun- teer bucket-brigade temporarily formed at each successive conflagration. The propriety of organizing a regular fire company was dis- cussed during the summer of 1848, and Friday evening. August 4, a large and respectable meeting of citizens assembled at the court house for this purpose ; J. H. Hutchinson was Chairman, and J. Seroggs, Secretary. J. E. Jewett, N. C. McFarland and J. Simms were appointed to prepare a constitution, and the meeting adjourned until August 11, 1848, at which time, or shortly afterward, the organiza- tion of the company was perfected. J. E. Jewett was Captain of the organization. Within a short time the members had a fine opportunity to show their mettle, for at mid- night on October 26, Howenstein & Sheckler's cabinet-shop was discovered to be on fire, and, before the conflagration was quenched, several other buildings in the immediate vicinity were destroyed. The People's Forum, published the next day, said : “ Much credit is due the firemen and other citizens for their exertions to stop the progress of the flames." The first fire engine purchased, " Resene No. 1," was of a very rude design. It was necessary to pour the water

into the engine with buckets ; then shut down the lid of the tank, and the liquid was forced into the hose by turning a erank. For nearly ten years this was the only fire engine used in the community. In March, 1858, the Town Council purchased the present " Water Cloud," at a cost of $1,282.50, and the fire department was re-organized. The officers of " Water Cloud No. 2," were F. W. Butterfield, Foreman ; D. M. Lindsay, Assistant Foreman ; M. Buch- man, Secretary, and John G. Birk, Treasurer. D. Shanks was Foreman of Mazeppa Hose Company. The first engine, "Rescue No. 1," was placed in charge of a junior company composed of many young men residing in the village, who elected Gains C. Worst as their Foreman, and for several years " Let 'er Rip No. 1," ably managed by these young men, performed etti- cient work when needed. Possibly the first Chief Engineer of the Fire Department was E. R. Kearsley, who occupied that position July 2, 1859. The Buckeye Hook and Ladder Com- pany was first organized during 1859 with the following officers : Foreman, A. E. Walker ; First Assistant. G. B. Terwileger ; Second Assistant, D. R. Locke (now proprietor of the Toledo Blade) ; Secretary, J. W. Keller; and Treasurer, P. E. Bush. During the winter of 1859-60, the Town Council erected the pres- ent engine house ; it was to be " 32x40 feet, two stories high, with a hall above fitted up for the use of the fire companies and Town Coun- cil." This building was dedicated Monday evening, April 30, 1860, with appropriate exer- eises. In July, 1869, the Steam Fire Engine was purchased by the Council from Sibley & Co., of Seneca Falls, N. Y. The price paid for the engine was $5,100, and an addition, $2,400, was given for brakes, seats, two hose carts and 1,000 feet of rubber hose. The engine was received in Bucyrus, Tuesday September 7, and the next day threw water the following distances : With 1,000 feet of hose and 1g-inch nozzle, 147 feet; with 1,000 feet

Elizabeth forces

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

of hose and 1-inch nozzle, 181 feet ; with 100 feet of hose and 1-inch nozzle, 236 feet. The engine weighs 3,600 pounds and will dis- charge from 400 to 450 gallons of water per minute. The first officers elected for the Steamer Fire Engine Company, were : Foreman, B. F. Lauck ; Engineer, Wilson Stewart ; As- sistant Engineer and Fireman, William P. Rowland ; Foreman Hose Company, John Couts ; Secretary, M. Fulton ; Treasurer, J. G. Birk.

During the fall of 1859, a company was formed, composed of many public-spirited bus- iness men of Bucyrus, for the purpose of build- ing and operating the Bucyras Gas Works. The stockholders met at C. Elliott's office, Tues- day evening, November 22, and elected George Quinby, S. R. Harris, Horace Rowse, J. J. Boe- man and J. H. Keller, Trustees, until the works were completed. The Trustees perfected the organization of the company by electing Hor- ace Rowse President ; S. R. Harris, Secretary ; and George Quinby, Treasurer. The building was commenced during the fall of 1859, and completed in 1860, by B. B. McDonald & Co. After many annoying delays, the works were started, and the town was first lighted by gas Tuesday evening, October 23, 1860. The Bu- cyrus Journal, during that year, published the following description of the works: "The buildings are 32x68 feet in size, slate-roofed, and are well and substantially built. The gas- ometer contains 9,000 cubic feet. There are two benches of retorts, capable of generating 20,000 cubic feet of gas per day, with extra benches to provide against accidents." Satur- day evening, November 3. the stockholders elected the following Directors to conduct the business : Horace Rowse. George Quinby, John Keller, John H. Hofman and B. B. McDonald ; Rowse was then re-elected President, and J. II. Hofman, Secretary. The stock was finally pur- chased by a few members, and Messrs. Quinby and McDonald became owners of the works.

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 55

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034