USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of Dayton, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneer and prominent citizens Vol. 1 > Part 22
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SECOND WARD-Bounded on the north by the Miami River; on the south by Second Street; on the east by Jefferson Street, and on the west by the Miami River.
THIRD WARD -- Bounded on the north by Second Street; on the south by the south line of Market Street, and a continuance of that line due west to the river; east by Jefferson Street, and west by the river.
FOURTH WARD-Bounded on the north by a line running due east from the river to the south line of Market Street and along that line to Jefferson Street; thence north to Third Street, and along Third Street to the corporation line; on the south by Fifth Street, and on the cast by the corporation line.
FIFTH WARD-Bounded on the north by Fifth Street; south by -; east and west by the corporation line.
The lines made by the river on the north and west, Mill Street and
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the canal on the cast, and Sixth Street on the south included about all the improvements of the town.
In October, 1829, the building committee of the new market-house were authorized by the council to build, in addition to the market-house of two hundred feet, a council house on the west end of the market space fronting on Main Street, to be of brick, 20x16 feet, surmounted by a cupola. On September 14, 1830, the old market-house on Second Street was sold and the new one occupied, and in 1836 this was extended through to Jefferson Street.
In March, 1830, the following city officers were elected: John W. Van Cleve, mayor; E. W. Davies, recorder; Elisha Brabham, First Ward, A. Darst, Second Ward, R. J. Skinner, Third Ward, N. Wilson, Fourth Ward, and Thomas Brown, Fifth Ward, trustees. In March, 1831, Mr. Van Cleve was reelected mayor, and Mr. Davies recorder. The follow- ing were the trustees elected at that time: First Ward, Thomas Clegg; Second Ward, Charles R. Greene; Third Ward, David Hawthorn; Fourth Ward, N. Wilson; and Fifth Ward, Beniah Tharpe. In March, 1832, Mr. Van Cleve was again elected mayor, F. F. Carnell, recorder, and the fol- lowing were the trustees: First Ward, C. G. Swain; Second Ward, John Compton; Third Ward, Dr. John Steele; Fourth Ward, N. Wilson; and Fifth Ward, Beniah Tharpe.
In March, 1833, the following officers were elected; Mayor, Dr. Job. Haines; recorder, Rev. David Winters; trustees, First Ward, Alexander Grimes; Second Ward, Henry A. Pierson; Third Ward, Jacob Leeds; Fourth Ward, David Davis; Fifth Ward, Thomas Brown. In March, 1834, the following: Mayor, Henry Stoddard; recorder, Rev. David Win- ters; trustees, First Ward, Alexander Grimes; Second Ward, H. A. Pier- son; Third Ward, James Stover; Fourth Ward, N. Wilson; and Fifth Ward, David Pruden. March, 1835: Mayor, John Anderson; recorder, Rev. David Winters; trustees, First Ward, Samuel Foley; second Ward, Levi B. Jones; Third Ward, James Stover; Fourth Ward, John Engles; Fifth Ward, Henry Slaght. March, 1836: Mayor, D. W. Wheelock; re- corder, Rev. David Winters; trustees, First Ward, Samuel Foley; Second Ward, Dr. Edwin Smith; Third Ward, Richard Greene; Fourth Ward, David Stone; Fifth Ward, Henry Slaght. March, 1837: Mayor, D. W. Wheelock; recorder, J. M. Mills; trustees, First Ward, John Lehman; Second Ward, Dr. Edwin Smith; Third Ward, Richard Greene; Fourth Ward, John Engles; Fifth Ward, Augustus George. March, 1838: Mayor, D. W. Wheelock; recorder, Joseph Davidson; trustees, First Ward, J. Lehman; Second Ward, R. C. Schenck; Third Ward, J. Boyer; Fourth Ward, John Ingles; Fifth Ward, J. Malambre. March, 1839: Mayor,
:
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William J. Mckinney; recorder, J. Davidson; trustees, First Ward, Samuel Foley; Second Ward, J. M. Mills; Third Ward, George Owen; Fourth Ward, John Engles; Fifth Ward, J. Malambre. March, 1840: Mayor, W. J. Mckinney; recorder, James McDaniel; trustees, First Ward, Henry Kimes; Second Ward, Isaac Demarest; Third Ward, Henry L. Brown; Fourth Ward, E. W. Davies; Fifth Ward, J. Malam- bre. March, 1841: Mayor, Morris Seely; recorder, A. M. Bolton; trus- tees, First Ward, Henry Kimes; Second Ward, John Garner; Third Ward, H. L. Brown; Fourth Ward, E. W. Davies; Fifth Ward, J. Ma- lambre.
The officers under this election served but a short time, another election taking place under the new charter in the following May. This charter was granted March 8th, of that year, but was subject to a vote of the people. The vote, as published by the recorder, was as follows: Three hundred and eighty-two for it, to 378 against it. The mayor, in presence of the council, proclaimed that the act to incorporate the city of Dayton had taken effect and was in full force. It was thereupon resolved that the mayor should issue a proclamation for an election under the charter on Saturday, May 22, from 12 M. to 4 P. M., for a mayor, marshal, treasurer, and two trustees for each ward, all of whom shall hold his office until the first Monday in January, 1842. At the election 902 votes were cast. William J. Mckinney was elected mayor, Epriam Broadwell, marshal, and David Stout, treasurer. The councilmen elected were: First Ward, Henry Kimes and Samuel T. Harker; Second Ward, Peter Odlin and Samuel McPherson; Third Ward, Henry L. Brown and David, Winters; Fourth Ward, David Davis and John Engle; Fifth Ward, Madison Munday and Henry Strickler. In June, Mr. McPherson resigned, and William F. Comly was elected by the council to the vacancy.
On May 24, 1841, the new council assembled for the first time, and elected Peter Odlin president, and A. M. Bolton clerk and recorder. The salary of the mayor was fixed at $200, and that of the clerk and recorder at $400. The salary of the marshal was fixed at $360, and the treasurer was allowed two per cent on all. disbursements.
In December, 1841, an official plum attracted the attention of the city fathers, and the council ordered the publication of a pamphlet with statistics of Dayton to present to the commissions appointed by the president to report on the location of a western armory. Seven hundred copies of this pamphlet were printed, but their publication did not succeed in securing the location of the armory at Dayton.
After a protracted discussion the council this month resolved to fix
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no compensation for themselves, but at a subsequent meeting in the same month, they established their compensation at fifty cents for each meet- ing. At the election held this month there were 616 votes cast, and the following officers were elected: Mayor, William J. Mckinney; marshal, Ephraim Broadwell; constables, Samuel Foley and Ebenezer Henderson; treasurer, David. Stout; trustees-First Ward, D. A. Wareham, one year; J. G. Stutsman, two years. Second Ward, Peter Odlin, one year; William F. Comly, two years. Third Ward, Richard Greene, one year; H. L. Brown, two years. Fourth Ward, Daniel Keifer, one year; John HI. Mitchell, two years. Fifth Ward, Madison Munday, one year; Henry Strickler, two years. The new council organized January 3, 1843, electing Peter Odlin president, and A. M. Bolton clerk.
In December, 1842, the following council was elected: First Ward, George C. Davis; Second Ward, Peter Odlin; Third Ward, William JIuffman; Fourth Ward, Henry Kissinger; Fifth Ward, John Painter. December, 1843, William J. Mckinney was reelected mayor, and the following councilmen were elected: First Ward, J. G. Stutsman; Second Ward, William F. Comly; Third Ward, Henry L. Brown; Fourth Ward, David Davis; Fifth Ward, Henry Strickler. Peter Odlin was reelected president, and A. M. Bolton, clerk. December, 1844, the councilmen elected were as follows: First Ward, George C. Davis; Second Ward, Peter Odlin; Third Ward, Hiram Wyatt; Fourth Ward, Henry Kissin- ger; Fifth Ward, Richard Chambers. The same persons were again elected president and clerk of the council.
In December, 1845, William J. Mckinney was reelected mayor. The following councilmen were also elected: First Ward, J. G. Stutsman; Second Ward, William F. Comly; Third Ward, Adam Speice; Fourth Ward, Jacob Malambre; Fifth Ward, Samuel Marshall. The offices of president and clerk again fell to Peter Odlin and A. M. Bolton. In December, 1846, the councilmen elected were: First Ward, J. H. Achey; Second Ward, John Howard; Third Ward, J. M. Sullivan; Fourth Ward, Henry Kissinger; Fifth Ward, D. S. Raymond. John Howard was chosen president, and A. M. Bolton, clerk.
In December, 1847, G. W. Bomberger was elected mayor for two years, but died June 21, 1848, and John Howard was appointed his suc- cessor by the council. E. Fowler was appointed to the vacancy thus made in the Second Ward. The councilmen elected in December, 1847, were as follows: First Ward, J. G. Stutsman; Second Ward, William F. Comly; Third Ward, B. Gilbert; Fourth Ward, Jonathan Kinney; Fifth Ward, A. E. MeClure. December, 1848, the councilmen elected were: First Ward, Adam Pritz; Second Ward, Henry Herrman; Third Ward,
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R. A. Kerfoot; Fourth Ward, Jacob Richmond; Fifth Ward, Wesley Boren, and from the newly created Sixth Ward, W. N. Love, one year, and William John. Mr. John resigned and D. S. Raymond was elected May 25, 1849. William F. Comly was elected president of the council, and William C. Bartlett, clerk.
In December, 1849, John Howard was elected mayor, and the follow- ing councilmen were elected: First Ward, Samuel Taylor; Second Ward, William F. Comly; Third Ward, Mark Reed; Fourth Ward, Jonathan Kinney; Fifth Ward, F. C. Baker; Sixth Ward, W. N. Love. William F. Comly was elected president of the council, and William C. Bartlett, clerk. In June, 1850, Henry Beichler was elected to represent the Fifth Ward in the place of F. C. Baker, resigned. August 9th Andrew Gump took the place of R. A. Kerfoot, resigned. In December, 1850, the councilmen elected were: First Ward, A. Decker; Second Ward, I. B. Chapman; Third Ward, Jonathan Harshman; Fourth Ward, Methusaleh Worman; Fifth Ward, Wesley Boren; Sixth Ward, A. E. McClure.
In July, 1842, the council agreed to make the annual salary of the mayor $150, that of the clerk $250, that of the marshal $400, and of the members of council one dollar each for each meeting held after June 1, 1843.
In the fall of 1843, John Quincy Adams passed through Dayton on his way to Cincinnati to dedicate the observatory, and the hospitality of the city was tendered him by the following resolution of the council, passed November 6th :
"Information having been received that John Quincy Adams will reach Dayton this evening:
"Resolved, That the members of the council proceed to the cor- poration line, and escort Mr. Adams to the city, when the president is instructed to welcome him to the hospitality of the city."
A committee, consisting of Messrs. Davis, Stutsman, and Comly, was appointed to arrange with Mrs. Blair, the landlady, for the entertainment of the distinguished guest, and Mr. Comly was directed to strike off handbills, to notify the citizens. Mr. Adams made a brief response from the balcony of the hotel to the address of welcome, and the next morning resumed his journey.
On November 18, 1848, the following ordinance was adopted, estab- lishing landmarks:
" WHEREAS, The face of the eastern wall of the courthouse, and the original face of the eastern wall of the old tavern on in-lot Number 13, has been determined by general agreement of surveyors and by judicial proceedings to be on the true western line of Main Street; therefore,
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"Resolved, That three stones be set by the surveyor of Montgomery County and the city engineer, the stones to be four feet long, eighteen inches on one face, and nine inches on the other. One of said stones to be set in Main Street, the top level with the curbstone, sixteen and one half feet from the perpendicular line of the face of the brick work of the east wall of the courthouse; one in Main Street, facing east, which face shall be sixteen and one half feet from the perpendicular line of the cast face of the original log wall of the old tavern, on the corner of Main and Water streets, and the northern face in range with the north face of said tavern; one of said stones to be set -in Water Street, the northern face sixteen and one half feet from the Water Street front of the dwelling, corner of Water and Mill streets, and the eastern edge in exact range with the Mill Street front of the same house."
These stones were set as reported to the council April, 1846, by Wil- liam G. George, county surveyor, and James H. Mitchell, city engineer, in presence of J. W. Van Cleve and sixteen other witnesses.
In September, 1844, the following polling places were established: For the First Ward, at Swaynic's Hotel, First Street, just east of the canal; Second Ward, at Independent Engine House, on Second Street, between Main and Jefferson; Third Ward, at Safety Engine House, on Ludlow Street, between Second and Third; Fourth Ward, at Jimmy Elliott's cabinet shop, northwest corner of Fourth and Main streets; Fifth Ward, at Eastern School House, on Brown Street.
That portion of the city called Oregon, lying south of Frenchtown and east of the canal, was platted in 1845, and about the same time the plat of West Dayton, from the river west on Third to Williams streets, was made, and that of Mexico, lying immediately west of West Dayton. All that part of the city lying west of the river, between Wolf Creek and the Germantown pike, was subsequently called Miami City, and now West Dayton.
In the summer of 1849, Dayton had a severe visitation of the cholera, about two hundred and twenty-five deaths occurring during the summer. A board of health was appointed, of which George B. Holt was president. A cholera hospital was established, with Dr. Edwin Smith in charge. Liberal appropriations were made by the council; citizens' relief com- mittees were appointed; the streets and alleys were white and redolent with chloride of lime. Business was almost suspended, but few people left town. The officers of the city, the physicians and the citizens united to remain at their posts and help those in need.
The polling places in 1855 were as follows: First Ward, Neptune Engine House; Second Ward, Independent Engine House; Third Ward,
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council chamber; Fourth Ward, Deluge Engine House; Fifth Ward, Oregon Engine House; Sixth Ward, Eastern School House.
Having heretofore given an account of the result of the city elec- tions, including that of 1850, the record is now continued to the present date, 1889. In December, 1851, John Howard was elected mayor, and the following councilmen: First Ward, Louis Heintz; Second Ward, Joseph T. Reed; Third Ward, John II. Achey; Fourth Ward, Jonathan Kenney; Fifth Ward, James Turner; Sixth Ward, W. N. Love. In December, 1852, an ordinance was adopted, changing the time of the city election from December to the first Monday in April, and the officers, whose terms expired in January, 1853, held over until April following. In April, 1853, the following officers were elected: Mayor, John Howard; councilmen, First Ward, B. M. Ayres; Second, J. B. Chapman; Third, Nicholas Ohmer; Fourth, Jacob Richmond; Fifth, Samuel Marshall; Sixth, A. E. McClure; president of the council, Jonathan Kenney; clerk, George W. Malambre; city solicitor, F. Collins; treas- urer, D. Stout.
Following are lists of the various city officers since 1853:
MAYORS-1854, George M. Young; 1855, D. W. Iddinigs; 1860, W. H. Gillespie; 1864, E. C. Ellis; 1866, Jonathan Kenney; 1868, C. L. Bauman; 1870, James D. Morrison; 1872, W. H. Sigman; 1874, L. Butz, Jr; 1876, W. H. Rouzer; 1878, L. Butz, Jr .; 1880, F. M. Hosier; 1882, John L. Miller; 1884, John Bettelon; 1886, Ira Crawford.
CITY SOLICITORS -- 1854, E. J. Forsyth; 1857, J. Ackerman; 1859, L. B. Bruen; 1861, Josiah Lovell; 1865, William Craighead; 1867, D. B. Cor- win; 1871, J. C. Baggott; 1872, A. A. Thomas; 1875, O. M. Gottschall; 1877, W. Belleville; 1879; A. W. Kumler; 1883, John Hanitch; 1889, D. B. Corwin.
CITY CLERKS-1854, G. W. Malambre; 1855, D. A. Houk; Novem- ber, 1855, Fielding Loury, elected upon the resignation of D. A. Houk; 1859, A. A. Butterfield; 1860, A. Stephens; 1865, John U. Kreidler; October, 1867, J. A. Leonard; January, 1869, D. HI. Dryden; April, 1869, A. Stephens; 1872, A. A. Butterfield; 1875, N. Metz; 1876, A. Il. Whytte; 1878, N. Metz; 1879, George M. Lane; 1883, C. HI. Herbig; 1887, Eugene Shinn.
CITY TREASURERS-1854, David Stout; 1856, A. V. Stansifer; June, 1857, Smith Davisson; 1859, C. C. Kiefer; 1861, James Anderton; 1862, D. W. Reese. Since the expiration of Mr. Reese's term the county treasurer has also served as city treasurer.
PRESIDENTS OF COUNCIL-1854, John II. Achey; 1855, James Turner; 1856, B. M. Ayres; 1859, William Bomberger; 1861, A. Decker; 1862, 15
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WV. N. Love; 1863, Amos Decker; 1864, I. HI. Kiersted; 1865, D. W. Iddings; 1871, W. M. Mills; 1872, D. W. Iddings; 1874, E. M. Wood; 1875, D. C. Taft; 1876, E. M. Wood; 1878, John R. Fletcher; 1879, C. E. Pease; 1880, S. T. Bryce; 1883, John R. Fletcher; 1884, Jacob Weinrich; 1886, Galen C. Wise; 1887, Samuel A. Ambrose; 1888, J. W. Allison; 1889, E. P. Mathews.
Following is a list of the councilmen elected from year to year from 1854 to 1889, both years inclusive:
1854-J. H. Achey, Thomas HI. Phillips, William Dickey, Richard Lane; James Turner, J. HI. Thomas, for unexpired term of A. E. McClure, and W. N. Love.
1855-B. M. Ayres, J. H. Chapman, II. Gebhart, Jonathan Kenney, George Owen, and A. E. McClure.
1856-William Dickey, Thomas II. Phillips, J. H. Achey, Richard Lane, B. N. Beaver, and W. N. Love.
1857-B. M. Ayres, William Trebein, H. Gebhart, John Stephens, George Owen, and A. E. McClure.
1858-Amos Decker, Thomas H .: Phillips, E. A. More, L. L. Gilli- land, Ezra Thomas, and Peter Lutz.
1859-Hugh Wiggim, Ezra Bimm, Isaac HI. Kiersted, James Boyer, Lawrence Butz, and William Bomberger.
1860-Amos Decker, Thomas H. Phillips, John II. Shank, L. L. Gil- liland, George Lehman, and Peter Lutz.
1861 -- Hugh Wiggim, Ezra Bimm, I. II. Kiersted, I. A. Minnick, William Patton, and W. N. Love.
1862-Amos Decker, Hiram Strong, George W. Rogers, L. L. Gilli- land, George Lehman, and Jacob Decker.
1863-William Dickey, Ezra Bimm, I. II. Kiersted, I. A. Minnick, Ezra Thomas, and W. N. Love.
1864 -- A. Kuhns, D: W. Iddings, John HI. Shank, II. H. Hilgefort, George Lehman, and W. R. Bennet.
1865-J. S Geary, II. W. R. Brunner, D. Kiefer, John Clingman, John W. Butt, W. N. Love, John Colhauer, and Lawrence Butz, Jr.
1866-A. Kuhos, D. W. Iddings, J. H. Shank, Alexander Gebhart, George Lehman, W. N. Love, George Braunsweiger, and Lawrence Butz, Jr. .
1867-John Wiggim, H. W. R. Brunner, D. Kiefer, John Clingman, James Turner, John Aman, John Colhauer, and James Boyle.
1868-John R. Brownell, D. W. Iddings, A. Pruden, A. Gebhart, John C. Baird, D. V. Pottle, George Braunsweiger, D. C. Taft, and George Lehman:
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1869-George Miller, C. Herchelrode, D. Kiefer, John Clingman, George Lehman, Henry Guckes, T. J. Welty, G. W. Murray, A. C. Fehring, and H. Barnhart.
1870 -- J. B. Gilbert, D. W. Iddings, J. IT. Shank, A. Gebhart, T. N. Sowers, James Hammond, W. Wassenich, D. C. Taft, W. R. Tomlinson, A. C. Fehring, and HI. Barnhart.
1871 -- George Miller, John Breene, D. Kiefer, John Clingman, J. Kratochwill, John Weaver, George Neiland, John Roher, George W. Murray, W. M. Mills, William Huffman, and Charles E. Smith.
1872-A. Kuhns, D. W. Iddings, John II. Shank, Ashley Brown, Andrew Slentz, Samuel A. Ambrose, Joseph Hammond, W. Wassenich, D. C. Taft, Henry Webbert, John Kemp, and Hermann Gerdes.
1873-George Miller, John Breene, J. J. Rossell, E. M. Wood, John Clingman, James Turner, Charles G. Meyers, Joseph Herhold, M. Cain, Charles E. Smith, J. W. Sollenberger, and N. Metz.
1874-J. B. Gilbert, S. F. Woodsum, Joseph Comer, William Kiefer, John W. Butt, Joseph L. Hammond, W. Wassenich, D. C. Taft, Henry Webbert, Joseph Pfoutz, and John F. Gerber.
1875 -- George Miller, J. B. Smith, John H. Shank, E. M. Wood, James Turner, W. J. Oblinger, Joseph Herhold, Julius Wehner, Charles E. Smith, Thomas ITill, and William Huffman.
1876 -- A. C. Nixon, Henry Theobald, Joseph Comer, Washington Silzell, John H. Waymire, Jolmson Snyder, John Schoen, Thomas Gavin, John G. Feight, L. D. Baer, and John F. Gerber.
1877 -- J. R. Fletcher, William H. Pritz, P. JoHantgen, E. M. Wood, S. T. Bryce, John W. Knaub, Joseph Desch, Simon Goodman, David Cosad, Adam Schantz, and A. E. Jenner.
1878-John Bohlender, C. E. Pease, Joseph Comer, F. J. MeCormick, H. Soehner, Samuel F. Estabrook, James Turner, J. R. Meyer, Joseph Hammond, George W. MeDargh, Jacob Sortman, John Carney, W. II. Gillespie, John G. Feight, Ferdinand S. Unger, James Carberry, and Charles Canary.
1879-George Butterworth, James Campbell, William II. Pritz, W. Silzell, II. Soehner, Charles E. Clark, John Meyer, Otto Guenther, J. W. Sortman, George C. Davies, John Breene, T. C. Kidd, John C. Cline, John Griesmeier, and E. B. Lyon.
1880-Henry Tietze, C. E. Pease, A. C. Fenner, II. S. Gordon, W. E. Crume, Joseph Hammond, John Griesmeier, F. J. McCormick, John G. Feight, S. T. Bryce, and George W. Scherer.
1881-John R. Brownell, First Ward, long term; A. Beebe, First Ward, short term; James Campbell, John II. Shank, George Butterworth ,
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HISTORY OF DAYTON.
S. A. Ambrose, Charles II. Geary, W. Wasseinich, Jacob Weinrich, E. O. Thomas, Jr., Adam Schantz, and George. W. Sherer.
1882-John M. McKee, C. Haltman, Adam Pritz, H. S. Gordon, John R. Fletcher, George D. Hanitch, G. C. Wise, J. H. Stoppelman, John Vance, S. T. Bryce, and F. Hacffleman.
1883-J. Gross, Thomas Wyatt, C. P. Sweetman, W. Silzell, J. K. . Webster, D. C. Taft, Adolph Menke, Jacob Weinrich, C. F. Corns, S. E. Kemp, and James McEntee.
1884-John F. Canfield, Adam Pritz, J. B. Bright, S. E. Kemp, II. W. Meyer, J. A. Miller, Galen C. Wise, John . A. Stoppelman, and C. A. Amend.
1885-C. J. Gerdes, Charles D. Iddings, J. A. Weed, C. F. Corns, Herman Rogge, D. C. Taft, John Huesman, Jacob Weinrich, and James McEntee ..
1886 -- C. L. Reber, S. A. Ambrose, D. L. Rike, Joseph W. Allison, H. W. Meyer, James H. Miller, Galen C. Wise, J. E. D. Ward, and William McGee.
1887-C. J. Gerdes, Albert F. Steinmetz, Charles F. Corns, Wilbur Heathman, Charles F. Beckler, James R. Mercer, John Huesman, and John A. Hahne.
1888-E. P. Matthews, S. A. Ambrose, S. E. McClure, Joseph W. Allison, Charles H. Shellabarger, David M. Martin, Fred Moehlman, and J. E. D. Ward.
1889-C. J. Gerdes, Albert F. Steinmetz, Charles F. Corns, Phillip Bossard, John Rock, John R. Rhea, and John Weismantel.
On March 10, 1827, was organized the first volunteer fire company of Dayton. Some months before an engine had been brought to Dayton from Philadelphia. Previous to this time the only protection for the town from fire was a bucket brigade and ladders. By ordinance every householder was required to provide himself with two leather buckets, to have his name painted on them, and to keep them hanging in some place easily accessible in case of fire. The town council provided ladders, which hung on the outside wall of the market-house, and were carried to fires on the shoulders of the first volunteers.
A hook and ladder company was organized at the same time. George C. Davis was captain of the first company, and Joseph Hollinsworth of, the hook and ladder company. The engine had to be filled by hand, and the council bought eighty-eight leather buckets, one half of them to be kept with the engine, and one half to be taken by the members to their homes. The first board of fire wardens was appointed by the council in the spring of 1827, and it was a part of their duty to examine periodically
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the buckets and other fire apparatus, and to see that everything was in working order. Soon afterward a board of fire guards was appointed, whose duty it was to isolate and control the burning district during and immediately after the fire. The church bells were relied upon for com- municating the alarm of fire, and the council paid fifty cents to each sexton for every alarm rung after nine o'clock at night, and one dollar to the one whose bell was first heard. John W. Van Cleve was appointed chief engineer of this modest fire department.
In November, 1833, a hand engine, called the "Safety," of more ad- vanced type, having suction hose and gallery brakes, was bought by the council, and at the same time five hundred feet of hose; and the Safety Fire Engine and Hose Company Number 1 was organized, and its services .. were accepted by the council. The first officers were: James Perrine, foreman; Valentine Winters, assistant foreman; J. D. Loomis, secretary; T. R. Black, treasurer; Thomas Brown, leader of hose company; Henry Diehl, assistant leader; William P. Huffman, Jacob Wilt, Peter Baer, Henry Beichler, Abraham Overlease, directors. During this same year, and soon thereafter, fire cisterns were built under the streets, at First and Main, at. Third and Main, at Fifth and Main, and at two or three other points in the city, which were filled by pumping from adjacent wells, and sometimes by the engines with hose from the canal or river, and used as reservoirs to draw upon in time of fire.
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