USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 41
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DR. HERVEY SCOTT
Fairfield County and it was a work of much merit. A sketch of Dr. Scott will be found in Chapter XII. This history appeared in 1876 and it was much appreciated by the people. He had a most wonderful memory for inci- dents and events of his early life-and having come to Fairfield in 1836, he was well fitted to be the historian of the people. The book is full of interesting reminiscences of the early day, for Dr. Scott was a resident of the county for more than forty years and he was, there- fore, not only an eye witness of many of the events, but was himself a part of them.
A. A. GRAHAM
A. A. Graham wrote a history of Fairfield county in 1886 and this was published in the same volume with a history of Perry county. This history is correct, well composed and is valuable to the citizens.
C. M. L. WISEMAN
C. M. L. Wiseman, a prominent citizen of Lancaster and former postmaster, in 1898 wrote the volume called "Centennial Lancas- ter," in which there are found very excellent biographies of the many noted citizens Lancas- ter has given to the nation. Mr. Wiseman is also the author of a "History of Fairfield
Dr. Hervey Scott wrote the first History of County," written about the same time.
CHAPTER XV
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS
The Court Houses-City Hall-County Infirmary and Poor Farm-Fairfield County Chil- drens' Home-The County Fair-Old City Burial Ground, With List of Names as Re- corded on Gravestones-Telephones and Telegraph.
COURT HOUSES
Fairfield county's first court house was built in 1806, and occupied in 1807. Four years had elapsed since the first courts were held in log cabins. The new temple of justice was a two- story brick and stood in the center of Broad- way, on the north side of Main street. It was one of the first structures of the kind then com- plete in the state. The brick were made by Sosthenus McCabe-it is said at $2.50 per thousand. In the first story was the court room, the seats being arranged in amphithea- ter form. In the second story were two jury rooms, reached by a flight of winding stairs. The roof was conical, and "hipped." and sur- mounted by a balcony and steeple. A fine bell hung in the balcony. The building was used for nearly sixty years, and was condemned by the county commissioners in 1864 on account of its supposed dampness, the floor resting near the ground. Soon after the war it was torn down, and the fears of dampness proved un- founded, by the remarkable dryness of the floor lumbers. For the three year between the demolition of this venerable edifice and the completion of its successor, the commissioners
rented the basement of the German Reformed church, on Chestnut street, for the sitting of the courts.
At a very early day a two-story brick build- ing was built on the south side of Main street, and in the southeast part of the public square. This building contained four rooms, and was used by the county officers, for several years. It was called, for political reasons probably, the "Red Lodge," though the exact origin of this sobriquet is not now known. The post- office was kept in the lower story for a time. After the removal of the county offices, and also a small book store, the "Fairfield Tele- graph," newspaper was published in the up- per story, for about three years in connection with the telegraph office.
After the removal of Judge Irwin to his farm south of the town, the county commis- sioners purchased his large brick dwelling, on the north side of the square and devoted it to county uses. This arrangement was in effect between 1843 and 1850. Soon after the pur- chase of the property, a stone vault was built on the premises, conforming with a statute providing for the safe custody of the books and funds of the county treasurers. In this
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place the offices were continued until the com- pletion of the new court house in 1871. The Irwin house, known for more than twenty years, as the "county building," was used as a high school for some time after its vacation by the county officials, and finally sold by the county for five thousand dollars.
The new court house was completed in 1871, about four years from the time the ground was first broken for the foundation. Immediately after the condemnation of the old court house, the county commissioners began to move in the matter of erecting a suitable court house, large enough to contain all the county officers. The choice of a site was a matter of some difficulty, and, while pending, occasioned much discus- sion. The northeast corner of Main and High streets was finally decided to be the most eli- gible site, and the ground was purchased from John S. Brasee for $5,000. An adjoining lot, on the east, was subsequently bought of John Randolph, and added to the first purchase. The whole was enclosed with a strong stone wall, surmounted by an iron fence. A special act of the legislature was secured, which au- thorized a levy on the county duplicate for $100,000, for building the court house, and the funds were raised by the sale of county bonds. The plan was drawn by Jacob Carman, archi- tect, of Lancaster, who directed the construc- tion from the first. The cornerstone of the new court house was laid with appropriate ceremonies, and a large number of articles de- posited therein. Among them were the names of the county, state and national officials, reli- gious and secular newspapers, religious pam- phlets and books, several bottles of wine, and the names of the teachers and pupils of the Lancaster high school. When the house was finished, its cost was found to have exceeded the original appropriation by more than $50,- 000, but this amount was levied and collected
without trouble, the public being fully satisfied with the quality of the work.
The Fairfield county court house is entirely of Waverly sandstone, quarried in sight of the structure, and is three stories high. The base- ment story is occupied by the heating appara- tus, rooms for storage, and the living apart- ments for the janitor. The main hall on the second floor is paved with marble, and front- ing it are the offices of the auditor, treasurer, surveyor, probate judge, and recorder of the county. The common pleas court room is on the third floor of the south end. The jury rooms and the county clerk's office are on the right and left of the hall, at the north end. The inside edifice is all of hard wood. From the roof a fine view of the city, the romantic country around it, and a portion of the Hock- ing valley is obtained.
CITY HALL
The older people of Lancaster have a mem- ory of a less pretentious city hall than the one which now graces the southeast corner of the public square. The old city hall was a plain three-story brick building, erected in 1859 "by the practiced city fathers for the sole purpose of housing Lancaster's official family, and that it served its day and generation is evident when we recite that the mayor's office, postoffice, fire department and city prison found space within its walls." The hall proper was on the second floor of the building and besides being used as a council chamber, was used for church and as an assembly room for merry making. The third floor contained the lodge rooms of the Odd Fellows and the German Knights of Pythias.
On February 24, 1896, a bond issue of $75- 000 for a new city building, to occupy the same site as the old one, passed the council, and in that spring election it was carried by a large
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
vote. February 22, 1897, the corner stone of the new building was laid and in April, 1898, it was dedicated.
Lancaster is justly proud of this beautiful building. On the first floor are the offices of the mayor, city council, city clerk, gas trustees, gas office, water works, and, until the new fed- eral building was completed, the postoffice. The basement affords comfortable offices for the police court, which connects with the city prison, also in the basement. On the second floor is a fine auditorium, the public library and offices for the city engineer. The town clock is in the tower room and tells the good Lancaster people the flight of time.
THE COUNTY INFIRMARY AND POOR FARM
The county infirmary is located in Pleasant township, about two miles north of Lancaster. About 1827 the necessity for a county infirm- ary was felt. Previous to that time such per- sons as became county charges were cared for in their respective townships by officers called overseers of the poor, who let out the contract for the keeping of each pauper to the lowest bidder, such contract running one year. The conditions were that the mendicant should re- ceive adequate food, comfortable clothing and competent medical attendance. In 1827 it was realized that this plan might not care for the paupers properly and it was decided to build an infirmary. The infirmary farm consisted of one hundred and seventy acres of land and it furnished a considerable part of the support of the inmates. The first buildings were of frame, but in 1840 they were supplanted by a brick building.
The Fairfield county poor farm, upon which the infirmary is located now, contains two hun- dred and ten acres, valued at $15,000; the buildings are estimated to be worth $35,500. Further equipment including live stock and ma-
chinery increases the total value of the poor farm to $58,050. The total expense of caring for sixty-nine paupers was, for the year 1911, $9.775.54. The net expense, exclusive of per- manent improvements was $5,569.89. The cost per annum for each inmate was $102.21. The board of infirmary directors, January 1, 1912, are Israel Fosnaugh, Lancaster; F. William Becker, Canal Winchester ; J. T. Fricker, Lan- caster. The physician is Dr. F. P. Stukey. The efficient superintendent is John Keiser, and his wife, Mrs. John Keiser, officiates as matron.
CHILDREN'S HOME
Fairfield County Children's Home, lo- cated in Berne Township was founded in 1883. There is a very substantial brick building three stories in height and a two- story frame dwelling connected with it. The location is beautiful, at the foot of a round wooded hill and among the fertile fields of Fairfield. The first tract of land purchased for the Home consisted of 28 acres; later 80 acres were added and in 1911, 23 acres more were purchased, making 131 acres in the farm. It is valued at $18,000 and the buildings are probably worth $50,000. The capacity of the Home is seventy and March I, 1912, there were fifty-eight inmates.
The first superintendent and matron were Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Gillett; they were suc- ceeded by a son, Mr. Ed. M. Gillett and wife; they were followed by the present superintendent, Mr. Otto Groves and wife. In nearly thirty years there have been only three superintendents and this fact speaks volumes for their efficiency.
There are four trustees for this institu- tion, two Democrats and two Republicans ; their terms are four years each, one being appointed each year on the first Monday of March. The board at present is W. Mar-
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tens, president, Lancaster, O .; J. B. Clay- pool, vice president, Lancaster, O .; Samuel Ziegler, Pickerington; Robert Rutter, Lan- caster.
The following resume of expenses for the year ending August 31, 1911, is interesting :
Total amount of money expended for cur- rent expenses $9134.88
Expended for furnishing improve- ments and repairs II47-73
Total amount of all orders issued on the county auditor during the year . 10,282.61
Total amount of receipts paid over to the county treasurer during the year 1,076.64
Net cost to county 9205.97
Average daily attendance 55 4/73
Per capita cost
$167.21
THE COUNTY FAIR
[This interesting sketch of the early his- tory of the County Fair is taken from Scott's History of Fairfield County.]
The Fairfield County Agricultural Society was first organized in 1851, and held its first Fair in October of that year. John Reeber was president, and John S. Brasee, secre- tary. The first fair ground was on the west side of Columbus street, on lands belonging to John Reeber, lying a little south of the reservoir. The Fair was a flattering success ; but. owing to the disordered and lost state of the papers, it has been impossible to ob- tain statistics of that, or several of the subse- quent years. Nevertheless, the society has held its annual fairs in the month of October for 61 years, and the institution has grown into one of the best county fairs in the State.
In 1852 Mr. Reeber, as president, was vested by the board with power to purchase
permanent fair grounds, which he accom- plished by buying a part of the farm of Thomas Wright (deceased) at the foot of Mount Pleasant, on its western side. The purchase was made from John A. Fetters, administrator of Thomas Wright, and on very advantageous terms to the society. The first purchase was twelve or fifteen acres, perhaps less. Subsequently the Widner place was purchased and added to the west of the grounds and two or three acres from Mrs. Van Pence on the north, thus making the aggregate of twenty-two acres, which constitute the present fair grounds.
The trotting park, amphitheaters, exhibi- tion halls, music stand and all other appoint- ments of the grounds are of the best, and have been engineered and executed by skill- ful and competent men. From the first the citizens of Fairfield County have taken the matter of their Fair in hand with a pride and zeal, nowhere surpassed; nor has the inter- est at any time seemed to flag in the least.
During recent years a systematic course of bookkeeping has been kept up, from the pages of which some extracts are here in- troduced. Mr. Reber, first president, served in that capacity for several years, then was out, and subsequently again elected.
In 1868 which begins the regular records, John S. Brasee was president, and John G. Reeves, secretary.
In 1869, John Reeber was elected presi- dent, and John G. Reeves continued secre- tary ; John C. Weaver, treasurer.
In 1870, John Reeber was president ; John G. Reeves, secretary ; and John C. Weaver, treasurer.
In 1871 B. W. Carlisle was president ; John G. Reeves, secretary ; John C. Weaver, treasurer.
In 1872 Andrew J. Musser was president ;
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
John G. Reeves, secretary; and William Noble, treasurer.
In 1873 Andrew J. Musser was president ; John G. Reeves, secretary ; and William Noble, treasurer.
In 1874 Joseph C. Kinkead was president ; John G. Reeves, secretary; and William Noble, treasurer.
In 1875 Joseph C. Kinkead was president ; William Davidson, secretary; and William Noble, treasurer.
In 1876 T. W. Busby was president ; Wil- liam Davidson, secretary; and S. J. Wolf, treasurer.
In 1876-80 Isaac Claypool was president ; William Davidson, secretary; and S. J. Wolfe, treasurer.
In 1880-81, A. B. Gillet was president.
The first financial showing on the avail- able records is the total cost of the erection of two amphitheaters in the year 1873, which was $2, 115.57.
In 1874, the Art and Horticultural Hall was erected at a total cost as shown by the report of the building committee of $3,- III.50. Other improvements and expendi- tures for the same year, not including pre- miums awarded, amounted to $927.39.
For the year 1874, the total receipts of the society from all sources were .... $10,369.15 Total expenditures for the same
year 10,631.15
Showing a deficit of 262.00
Then due the society from various
sources
262.69
Deduct the deficit
262.00
Balance in Treasury .69
This was the settlement on the first of De- cember, 1874, which shows the financial con- dition at the beginning of the year 1875.
The total amount paid by the society in the items of premiums, as shown by the treasurer's report, was $2,800.50.
The receipts of the society for the year 1876 from all sources, as furnished by the treasurer, S. J. Wolf, was $6,001.31, and the expenditures for all purposes, for the same year $5,888.42, leaving a balance in the treasury of $112.89.
The Fairfield County Agricultural Society is one of the most successful organizations of its kind in the United States. Always keep- ing abreast of the times, each succeeding year sees many additions and improvements.
The officers are among Fairfield County's most substantial citizens. This society is strictly a mutual one and any resident of the county who purchases tickets to the amount of $1.00 and signs the society's constitution may become a member and be entitled to vote at its next annual election. The contests in every department are singularly fair and clean and never has a premium been awarded that was not justly and fairly earned. The rules and regulations of the society have been carefully drawn to meet the demands of a particular public and have been enforced in botlı their letter and their spirit. Contests in the various departments are often close and extremely difficult for the judges to award decisions but the people of Fairfield are broadminded and intelligent and realizing these difficulties have rarely ever taken ex- ceptions to the decisions of the awarding judges.
The prospects for the Fairfield County Agricultural Society are very bright. The policy of the society is to have a late fair, al- ways in October. In 1911, the Fair was held on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th of October. The Agricultural Society is organized under the State Laws for County Fairs and the title
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for the 70 acres in the heart of Lancaster valued at $100,000 rests in the county.
Notwithstanding a fire loss of $15,000 in 1910, in 1912 there is a balance in the treas- ury of $2,978.75. In 1911 the premiums amounted to $7,132.41.
The entire receipts that year were $17,- 360.65-from the following sources. Gate receipts, $10,308.00; privileges, $3.348.20; entry fees, $2,281.35; rents, $336.70; and the remainder from miscellaneous sources. After paying $1,500 on the debt, the year was closed with a balance of $2,978.75. These figures show the prosperity of this organiza- tion.
The officers of 1912 are as follows: Pres- ident, George L. Trimmer, Lancaster; vice president, E. L. Ashbrook, Amanda; secre- tary, W. T. McClenihan, Lancaster ; assistant secretary, T. T. Courtright, Lancaster; and treasurer, C. B. Whiley, Lancaster. The di- rectors are: Allen J. Friesner, Lancaster, R. F. D .; Herman Becker, Carroll; Charles H. Creed, Lancaster; J. M. Glick, Canal Win- chester, W. E. Armstrong, Stoutsville; D. W. Alt, Baltimore; Charles Embich, Lancaster, R. F. D .; Robert Rutter, Lancaster, R. F. D .; Mr. Trout, Cedar Hill; Fred Kuhl, Amanda ; Cyrus Mechling, Lancaster; Fred Ruff, Lan- caster, R. F. D .; and Grant Griffith, Hooker.
TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS
The following excellent article from Mr. William F. O'Gara, general manager, gives the origin and history of the telephone and telegraph in Fairfield county. The account also serves in part as a sketch of Mr. O'Gara's life and work. He is one of the most ex- pert telegraph operators in the country and has long held a leading place among high grade telegraphers .- (Editor.)
"You will find in going over the history of
the telephone business in Ohio, that Fairfield county is the best developed county in the state, and the only county which gives free service between all of the exchanges in the county. All of these exchanges are connected up with the Bell long-distance lines, so it does not make any difference in what remote part of the county you are, you can be connected with any point that these lines reach and get good and satisfactory service, as all of the farmer lines are constructed up to the Bell standard of construction. In the organiza- tion of these companies I made an effort to demonstrate by local ownership what bene- fits could be derived, I therefore succeeded in getting the farmers to subscribe for the stock to furnish the money with which I constructed these various plants and put them in opera- tion.
Before organizing the local exchanges, I constructed lines running into the country, first connecting Amanda, Pleasantville, Rush- ville and Sugar Grove. It took some little time to get the farmers to take hold and try the use of a telephone, but in a short time after they commenced to put them in their homes, as I was compelled to put them all on one circuit, the lines became too crowded, I was forced to adopt some other means by which telephone service could be furnished to farmers and sold the stock to local peo- ple with which to do the work.
The Companies
The Carroll Telephone Company with capi- tal stock of $5,000.00, Carroll, Ohio. Board of Directors : O. B. Brandt, pres., John Gih- boney, Dr. Brown, Jos. P. Gundy, P. J. O. Kemerer, J. C. Bowman, Wm. F. O'Gara, secy. and genl. m'gr. Number of subscribers, 190.
The next company organized was The
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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Amanda Bell Telephone Co., August, 1904. Winchester farmers did not give the move- Capital stock $20,000.00. · Board of Direct- ment the encouragement which was met with in other localities and the stock was all taken up by the Bell Company. ors,-Wm. F. O'Gara, genl. mi'gr., Fred L. Mauger, Theo. Lape, pres., Emmett Defen- baugh, secy., John Meyers, Thos. J. Barr, treasr., Sam'l. Simons. This company has A COMPLETE LIST OF GRAVES AS RECORDED ON THE TOMBSTONES IN 400 subscribers.
The Sugar Grove Telephone Company was organized in December, 1904. Capital stock, $5,000.00. Board of Directors,-Dr. Mason, WVm. F. O'Gara, genl. m'gr, Harry Anderson, Wm. Blum, Chas. Carr, secy. Number of subscribers, 182.
The Rushville Bell Telephone Company was organized in January, 1905. Capital stock, $10,000.00. Board of Directors,-B. A. Thomas, pres., R. W. Hyde, secy., McC. Brinckley, John Morrow, Colson Linville, Wm. F. O'Gara, genl. m'gr. Number of subscribers, 220.
The Buckeye Lake Home Telephone Com- pany was organized in March, 1906. Capi- tal stock, $25,000.00. Board of Directors,- L. H. Soliday, pres., W. T. Kemp, H. E. Clark, G. W. Reincheld, M. H. Hamilton, Wm. F. O'Gara, genl. m'gr, Lewis P. Hoff- man, E. N. Heston, W. H. Lamb, Clarence Lamb, John Culp, Geo. Haver, Levi Hite, Michael Soliday. This company takes in the northern portion of Fairfield County-Pleas- antville, Baltimore, Basil, New Salem, Mil- lersport and Reservoir. Number of sub- scribers, 861.
In order to be able to give every farmer his trading point it was necessary for me to or- ganize The Farmers Independent Company of Canal Winchester, capital stock $25,000.00, and also The Pataskala Farmers Independent Telephone Company, capital stock $10,- 000.00. Both of these companies are in suc- cessful operation, the Pataskala farmers re- taining stock in their plant, but the Canal
OLD CITY BURIAL GROUND ADJOINING THE OLD M. E. CHURCH
Sturgeon.
I. Margaret, wife of Timothy Sturgeon; died May 15, 1853. aged 75 years, 5 months, 21 days.
2. Timothy Sturgeon; died January 3, 1827, aged 48 years, 10 days.
3. James Wilson, son of Timothy and Margaret Sturgeon : died January 12, 1815, aged 8 years, I month, 10 days.
4. Mary, daughter of Timothy and Mar- garet Sturgeon ; died January 11, 1815, aged 3 years,
5. Joseph, son of Timothy and Margaret Sturgeon ; died February 12, 181 -.
6. Timothy, son of Timothy and Margaret Sturgeon ; died -, aged 7 weeks.
7. Jane, daughter of Timothy and Margaret Sturgeon ; died October II, 1828.
Sifford.
8. Ellen, daughter of Daniel and Effie Sif- ford; died May 1, 1835, aged 2 years, 4 months, 18 days.
IO. F. S. (no other inscription).
Wright.
II. Edward, son of John and Jane Wright, died August 2, 1822, aged 4 years, 8 months, II days.
12. Margaret, daughter of John and Jane Wright, died August 2, 1822, aged 4 years, 8 months and 3 days.
13. Erected by John W. Wright of Lo- gansport, Ind., A. D. 1862.
14. Effie, daughter of James and H.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY INFIRMARY, LANCASTER
ENTRANCE TO BUCKEYE LAKE PARK, LANCASTER
FOUNTAIN SQUARE, LANCASTER
CHILDREN'S HOME, LANCASTER
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Wright; died March 25, 1823, aged 17 years.
McFarland.
15. Elizabeth McFarland ; died December 21, 1818, aged 58 years.
Maccrachen.
16. Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Samuel F. and Sarah A. Maccrachen; died June 19, 1833, aged I year, 20 days.
17. Samuel Finley, son of Samuel and Sarah A. Maccrachen; died -, aged 7 weeks.
18. Infant son of Samuel and Sarah A.
19. William, son of S. and S. Maccrachen ; died February 24, 1824, aged 3 months.
Hettich.
20. John Hettich, died August 6, 1831. Wood.
21. Daniel B. Wood, born June 1807, died November 12, 1833.
Myers.
22. Mrs. R. M. Myers, consort of George Myers ; born June 26, 1810, died February 2, 1834.
23. Infant son of George and R. M. My- ers ; died March 11, 1831.
24. John M., son of George and R. M. Myers, died September 26, 1833, aged I year, 3 months.
25. "Flora" (broken stone).
Rice.
26. Rachael, daughter of James and Alace Rice; born 1823; died -( ?)
27. Rachael, daughter of James and Alace Rice ; died June 9, 1823, aged I year.
28. Alace, daughter of James and Alace Rice ; born -(?) ; died July 8, 1831.
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