USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 3
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Productions of the County. 87
The productions of the county are varied, not con- fined to any one product, but adapted to all. The prin- cipal crops are wheat -- and in this cereal we are num- bered the fourth county in the State. Indian corn is produced in all parts of the county and has always been regarded as a standard crop. Oats of a good quality are produced in great quantities. Barley and rye are culti- vated to some extent, but not being so readily mar- keted as wheat, not much attention is paid to their raising. Flax has become an article of great demand, and much attention is being paid to its cultivation, both for the value of the fiber as well as of the seed, there being both a flax mill and linseed oil mill in the county. Buckwheat of course commands some attention from the farmer, as people could not very well do without their "Buckwheat cakes" for breakfast. Irish and sweet po- tatoes are easily cultivated, and yield most abundantly. Indeed all kinds of vegetables yield a most bountiful harvest. Fruits of almost all kinds can be found in all parts of the county. Apples are the surest crop. Peaches, although a never failing crop in the early days of the county, may now be considered an almost entire failure. Small fruits are usually a good crop, but oc- casionally complete failures happen.
In some parts of the county farmers meet with diffi- culty in tilling the soil, in consequence of the cropping out of the limestone formation. But the perfect adapta- tion of such lands to wheat raising, and the enormous crops produced fully compensate for the extra trouble.
Tables of Agricultural Statistics found elsewhere in this work, will exhibit the wealth and prosperity of the county, as a farming and stock raising locality.
1
38
History of Hancock County.
CHAPTER V:
RELATING TO A FEW FIRST THINGS IN THE COUNTY.
A N examination of the Poll Book of that first election, held in April, 1828, discloses the fact that Squire Carlin is the only man now living in Findley, of all those who then voted. The names of Judges Huff, Hammond, McKinnis and Wilson, George Shaw, Josiah Elder, Wilson Vance, Jacob Poe, Joshua Hedges, Asa M. Lake, Nathan Frakes and many others appear, all of whom, after having provided a goodly inheritance for their children, have passed away. Squire Carlin, Joseph Johnson, Peter George and perhaps a few others of that old 74 still live in our county, a link connecting the past with the present of our history. They have lived to see the wilderness disappear before the march of civiliza- tion, and beautiful farms, commodius buildings and thriving villages spring into life all over the county. To see railroads and telegraph lines, and all the modern improvements introduced amongst us. And others still, such men as James McKinnis, John Fishel, Edmund S. Jones and Joseph De Witt after a residence of many years in the county, again took up the line of march westward, and became the pioneers of other states.
The first church edifice erected in the county was the "Dukes' Meeting House," in Blanchard township. It was built and owned by the Methodist Episcopal Church.
39
First House of Worship.
The building was of hewed logs, and its dimensions were thirty-two feet long and twenty-eight feet wide. The roof was of clap-boards, a kind of roofing very much in use at that time, and were kept in their places by poles laid on each course of boards. The openings between the logs were chinked with wood, and daubed with mortar, the then prevailing style. The pulpit and seats were of rude construction. The seats were simply benches without backs, and the pulpit of unpainted boards. The building still stands, and although not. now used as a house of worship, still to many who are now living it is surrounded with cherished memories. Many, very many, who in that early day met in that house for worship, have passed away. The pulpit in that old church has been occupied by such ministers as Bigelow, Finley, Thompson, Wilson, Gurley, Allen, Heustiss, Conway, Hill, Runnells, Breckenridge, Delany, Biggs and a host of other pioneer Methodists, whose names are familiar, not only in our own county, but all over Western Ohio. But they have nearly all gone to their reward, and their works do follow them.
Humanity, civilization, good society, and all that goes to make us a great people, owe to these self-sacrificing, earnest, unselfish, devoted servants of their Master, a debt which can never be repaid, except by a practice of the precepts they taught, and in a defense of their mem- ories.
As early as the year 1822, the Rev. James Gilruth, a Methodist minister, and who died but a few years ago, preached in Findley. In an interview with him but a short time before his death, and whilst he was here on a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Frederick Didway, he stated
·
40
History of Hancock County.
that in 1822 he left his home in the east and came west for the purpose of entering lands. He first visited the land office at Bucyrus, Ohio, and there obtained a plat of Government lands not taken up in the District. He made his way into Hardin County, passing through old Ft. McArthur. But not being able to suit himself in that region, he turned north towards Findley. After leaving Ft. McArthur, he did not see a dwelling house until his arrival in Findley, which was in the month of April.
As soon as it became known that a preacher had ar- rived, he was waited upon by some of the citizens, and requested to preach for them. This he readily consented to do, and an appointment was made and circulated to the different settlements. Father Gilruth said he had a very attentive congregation, and as large an one as he could expect, and indeed it was said at the time, by those in attendance, that almost every man and woman in the county was present. This sermon was undoubt- edly the first ever preached in the county.
The late Rev. Adam Poe, also of the Methodist Church, was led to suppose that he preached the first sermon in the county, and related the following incident connected with it. He and another young minister on their way from the Maumee River to the South, stopped at Findley over night, and as a matter of course were solicited to preach. Poe consented to do so. They had put up at the tavern kept by Wilson Vance, had their horses cared for and ate their suppers, after which they went to the place of meeting, which was in a log school house near where the depot of the C. S. & C. Railroad is now located. The two Missionaries had but a single
41
First School House.
dollar between them, and as it would require all that to pay for their suppers and the care of their horses, and no one inviting them home with them, they slept in the school house that night, and the next morning, after pay- ing their bill at the tavern, they rode to the next settle- ment, a distance of several miles, before getting break- fast. It is not at all strange, after such an experience, that Poe and his companion should conclude that they were the first to bring good tidings to this benighted people.
The first school house in the county was built in Find- ley, and the first school was taught by John C. Wick- ham, who was long a resident of the county. As there has been very decided improvement in the architecture and conveniences of this class of buildings, it will not be uninteresting, perhaps, to the young people, at least, to describe one of these ancient seats of learning, and as a specimen " brick," I will briefly describe one with which I was most familiar, but which fairly represents a majority of the primitive school houses of the county,
It stood some rods from the public highway -- did the one I refer to-built so perhaps, that the attention of the scholars might not be attracted to passers-by, but more, I suspect, for the reason that its location was at a place less liable to be inundated by the floods. It was built of round logs, and was chinked and daubed in the most approved style. Its dimensions were certainly not more than fifteen feet square. It was covered with clap- boards, nailed on with weight-poles. The height be- tween the floors was about six feet. Nearly the entire north side was occupied by a huge fire-place-stoves were not then invented -- with an outside chimney built 4
.
42
History of Hancock County.
of sticks and mortar. On the south side was a door -- and the only one in the building -- made of unplaned boards, which creaked on its massive wooden hinges, and by the way they were the only massive things about the build- ing. The older boys said that the door and fire-place were placed opposite to each other for convenience in bringing in the logs of wood for the fire, which they protested were drawn in through the fire-place by a yoke of oxen, and the oxen were then unyoked and driven out at the door. But I think this could not have been true, for no little boy or girl ever saw such a per- formance. The lower floor was of split logs, or punch- cons, a kind of lumber much in use at that time, as it was manufactured without the assistance of saw-mills, and the upper floor was of clap boards, laid loosely on the round joists. Windows almost the entire length of the two ends of the building, admitted the light. These windows were just ten inches in height, and the writing- desks were placed immediately beneath them, In lieu of window-glass, these windows were filled with paper .well oiled to protect it from the weather. The writing- desks were long boards supported by wooden pins in- serted in the walls at proper angles, for that purpose. The seats were slabs procured at the saw mill, supported by wooden legs, and always elevated high enough from the floor to prevent the feet of the smaller scholars from touching, thus making it impossible for them to be noisy with their feet, an arrangement satisfactory to the teacher no doubt, but dreadfully uncomfortable for the little boys and girls. We were perched upon these seats of torture eight hours each day, with nothing at our backs, and the same under our feet.
43
A Primitive School House.
The external surroundings of this primitive academy were not so disagreeable. True, in the winter season, when not frozen, we had an over abundance of water, but when frozen we had an almost boundless skating rink. In the summer season it was a very pleasant place. Just in the rear of the house and used as a play- ground, was a most beautiful grove, cool, shady and in- viting. Only a few rods from the house ran the river, with its cool waters, and the old mill, with its huge wooden wheel, splashing and battling in the flood, seemed to laugh at us little prisoners shut up in the hot school room, and bid us run away from teacher, and school and books, and join it in its sport.
The boys and girls of that day knew nothing of the modern improvements in school houses, school books, and school conveniences. The school year consisted of three months of school in the winter for the larger pu- pils, and a three months term in the summer for the smaller ones. No blackboards, no geographical or as- tronomical apparatus, no changing text books every
term. Orthography was taught from the old American and United States spelling books. The Introduction to the English Reader, the English Reader, and the Sequel to the English Reader, the New Testament and the Life of Washington were the principal readers. Pike and Daball furnished the Mathematics and Olney and Kirk- ham the Grammar and Geography.
With all these inconveniences and want of what would now be deemed indispensable necessities, quite a passable education was obtained at these schools. No scholar was then allowed to idle away his time, if it were possible to prevent it. The substance, the real business
44
History of Hancock County.
of imparting and obtaining an education, actuated both teacher and pupil. But little attention was paid to forms ; provided a pupil got a fair understanding of that which he was studying, the way, the formula, was not of so much anxiety to the teacher. Good wholesome in- structions in deportment as well as the sciences were made a part of the duty of the teacher. Pupils were under their care not only in the school room, but on the way to and from school as well, and woe! to the urchin who was guilty of passing a man or woman on the road, without a bow or courtesy. No brawling on the road, no impertinence to strangers, no profane language, no tale-bearing. The conduct of the pupils was as much the concern of the teacher as was their studies. I fear, with all our present boasted superiority in school appli- ances, that we have gone backwards in this matter of "good manners," and that the youth of to-day would suffer by comparison with those of that early day.
45
Appraisement and Assessement of Property.
CHAPTER VI.
EARLY APPRAISEMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY.
T HE proceedings of the County Commissioners on the 1st day of June, 1829, show the following entry :
" Don Alonzo Hamlin made his return of assessment of chattle property, and land property subject to taxation in Hancock County, which was examined and accepted, and the said Assessor presented his account for his labor in assessing the property of the county, which was accepted, and which was nineteen dollars and seventy-five cents."
There was but one Assessor in the county, and his duty appears to have been to value both real and personal prop- erty. In December of the same year we find this entry : " The Auditor presented his account, and was qualified to the same, ordered that the said Auditor be allowed twelve dollars and twenty-five cents for his services, and that said Auditor be paid the sum of ten dollars for extra services up to and including this day."
In June, 1831, the Commissioners and Auditor, as a Board of Equalization, ordered that the valuation of lot No. 16 be reduced from eighty-five dollars, to forty dollars ; and lot No. ] was then, as now, occupied by Squire Carlin, as a residence, to be valued at five hundred dollars, including buildings.
A search of the records of Wood County failed to show a tax duplicate of this county, prior to 1826, but upon
46
History of Hancock County.
information received from Judge Whitely, I learned that Chief Justice Waite had in his possession a copy of the tax list for 1824. I thereupon addressed a letter to the Judge to which I received the following reply :
TOLEDO, OHIO, July 11, 1881.
DEAR SIR :- I take pleasure in sending you a copy of the . paper to which JJudge Whitely refers. The original is in the office of the Auditor of Wood County.
Truly yours, M. R. WAITE.
I give a copy of that list, as sent by the Judge.
List of all the Taxable Property in the Township of Findley :
Proprietors Names.
Horses above 3 years old.
Neat cattle above 3 years old.
L LAsa Lake,
2
11
MI Charles McKinnis,
M Henry MeWhorter.
10
P James Patterson,
7
P Jacob Poe,
5
W Joseph White,
2
HI John P. Hamilton,
221
4
H John Hunter,
C Job Chamberlin,
S John Simpson,
G John Gardner. jr.
M Jacob Moreland,
B Michael Beck, taken in from lady,
2
MI Philip McKinnis,
1
6
S Thomas Slight,
1
4
T Thomas Thompson, taken in from lady.
1
5
M William Moreland,
1
1
3
V Wilson Vance,
(' Elnathan Cory, given in by Wilson Vance,
1
4
:
15
G John Gardner,
47
Real and Personal Property.
I certify the above to be a correct list.
WILSON VANCE,
Lister of Findley Township, Wood County, Ohio. Endorsed Taxable property, Findley Township, 1824.
The Amount of tax on each animal was fixed by the Auditor, the tax being a specified sum on each, and not a per cent., as at the present day. No animals under three years of age were taxable. The Township of Findley, it will be recollected, embraced the whole county, at this date.
In 1826, as the Records of Wood County -- to which we were then attached-comprising one township-shows that the tax in this county was Fifty-six dollars and seren- teen cents. In 1829, the earliest tax list found, after the independent organization of the county, the value of the taxable property of the county, as returned, was sixteen thousand six hundred and one dollars, and included in the then townships of Findley, Delaware and Amonda, the only organized townships in the county, and the assess- ment included both real and personal property. The tax assessed upon the valuation was one hundred and seventy- two dollars and forty-four cents.
In 1829, there was but four thousand seven hundred and seventy-five acres of land subject to taxation in the county, and this was valued at eight thousand one hundred and eighty-six dollars, not more than an average farm is now worth. Of this taxable land, two thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine acres was in Findley ; thirteen hundred and seventy-four in Delaware, and two hundred and fifty-two in Amonda Township. Our Amonda Township friends will perhaps be mortified to know that their lands were valued nuch lower than were the lands in the other townships, and yet it was no doubt some consolation to know that
4S
History of Hancock County.
they paid but four dollars and thirty cents tax on land.
In 1829, there was returned by the Assessor ninty-three horses, valued at three thousand seven hundred and twenty dollars. Two hundred and seventy-nine cattle, valued at three thousand one hundred and sixteen dollars.
From these few illustrations, we may see from what small beginnings the early settlers began life in this new country.
In the year 1830, the salary of the County Assessor was fixed at twenty-three dollars and thirty-seven and a half cents, and that of the Auditor at forty dollars.
On the 3d day of April, 1834, William L. Henderson was appointed appraiser of real estate for Hancock County.
The tax levy for 1829 for county purposes, was seven and one half mills on the dollar. For 1830, it was seven mills. For 1831, it was seven mills. For 1832, it was five mills. In 1833, for county purposes, seven and one-quarter mills, and for road purposes, two mills.
In June, 1831, we find a Record of the County Board of Equalization. Present, John P. Hamilton and Charles McKinnis, Commissioners ; Don Alonzo Hamblin, Assessor, and Thos. F. Johnston, Auditor. It was ordered "That Lot 16 (Patterson's Corner), appraised at eighty-five dollars, shall be reduced to forty dollars. That L. & B. Rawson, Physicians income, be two hundred and fifty dollars. That Lot 15, (Newell's Main st.) be entered on the duplicate at forty dollars. That Lot S5, (Commercial House) be entered on the duplicate at one hundred dollars. The capital of S & P. Carlin, merchants, be entered on the duplicate at one thousand dollars."
At the session of the Board of Equalization in 1834, it was " Ordered that the south part of north-east fraction, in
49
Equalization of Porperty.
name of John Cambell, with a grist and saw-mill thereon, appraised at twelve hundred dollars, be, by this Board, ap- praised at nine hundred dollars." (Now Carlin's Mills.)
"Also, that the east half of south-west quarter of Section eleven; Township two South Range eleven, with grist mill, (G. S. Fohl's Mill,) be appraised at five hundred dollars."
" Also, the east half of north-west quarter, Section 12, in the name of S. & P. Carlin, (now a part of the town of Findley,) be appraised at six hundred dollars."
" Also, that the east part of south-east quarter of frac- tional Section thirteen, Township one north, Range ten east, in the name of James Gilruth, (now Didway farm,) be appraised at four hundred dollars."
" Also, that Lot No. 3, in Findley, in the name of Wm. Taylor, (now Davis Opera House) be appraised at three hundred dollars."
For the present condition of the county as to amount, valuation, assessment and taxation of the property of the county, the reader is referred to the statistical tables in another part of this work. By a comparison of those tables, with the statements made in this chapter, the reader will find that whilst our wealth has increased at a wonder- ful and gratifying rate, that our taxes have not in the least been slow to accumulate in the same wonderful ratio. Busi- ness, wealth, prosperity, security in person and property, cannot be enjoyed in this or any other county without pay. A study of these tables will engage the attention of every tax payer, and very likely more than one will exclaim: " Where does all the money go to." Look around you ; see your public buildings ; your bridges ; your roads, all costing money, for your answer.
50
History of Hancock County.
Table showing the value of Real and Personal Property, with rates of taxes thereon, and amount of taxes assessed, from 1829 to 1879, inclusive, as prepared by Elijah Barnd, Esq., Deputy Auditor :
Year.
Value lands.
Town lots.
Personal.
Total.
Amount tax.
Rate per ៛1000.
1829
$8186
$4116
$12302
$172.44 $14.01
1830
S836
$6867
4940
20643
290.52
14.22
1831
10252
7622
6560
24434
371.74
15,22
1832
13150
9698
7350
30198
451.20
14.95
1833
18210
11210
9400
38320
720.50
18.56
1834
25115
14169
43102
82386
1028.39
12.48
1835
6400S
27788
56798
148594
1854.07
12.47
1836
76305
36035
71526
183521
1588.73
8.64
1837
99140
12127
80351
221618
3110.42
14.48
1838
129464
43781
83404
257850
3480.62
13.49
1839
289085
57656
102990
448733
5967.56
13.29
1840
435366
58041
115032
608439
9797.08
16.10
184]
564904
21537
131649
724990
10206.53
14.00
1842
710861
29645
143102
879708
12950.77
14,72
1843
718462
30722
157004
906188
14010.10
15.46
1844
726553
34299
167384
928236
15141.86
16.31
1845
683118
34942
179302
897362
13597.55
15.15
1846
989475
38747
169636
898158
14164.27
15.77
1847 1702775
126286
373450
2196511
18452.43
8.40
1348 1714415
128262
422952
2265629
21470.63
9.32
1849 1725879
146479
480720
2553078
23650.00
10.05
18501742281
166749
495715
2404745
29266.48
12.17
1851 1761815
178719
564015
2504549
23754.37
9.49
1852 1781169
190186
660915
2832237
27458.07
10.05
1853 1815798
205144 1183108
3201050
27575.10
8.39
1854 3130089
331642 1290453
5164184
31881.29
6.17
1855 3262391
388075 1800.09
5511175
36386.51
6.60
1856 3332921
417837 1626651
5347424
37163.18
6.74
1857 3371183
431588 1633350
5466127
44131.00
S.73
1858 3414565
155805 1645772
5516142
51059.63
9.25
1859.34570131
469056.1558198 5485167
53251.81
9.70
51
Taxes of Hancock County.
1860 1479230
429769|1670258
6579257
60534.38 9.20
1861 4485720
458400 1805635
6779785
86554.84 12.76
1862 4501953
460668
1620532
6583153
74023.23 11.24
1863 1517907
465055
1844167
6827186
80007.43 11.71
1864 4535434
481480 2130700
7147674 121464.29 16.90
1865 4547977
491899 2168838
7208754 148218.46 20.56
1866 4560746
512990 2520937
7594673 134258.37 17.66
1867
4605265
540368 2352421
7493054 141193.94 18.68
1868 4634728
551285 2442677
7628790 135588.90 17.77
18694670313
581623 2585511
7832447 143282.18 18.29
1870 4991422
595788 2478659
7765869 158055.52 20.35
1871 8044485
832940 2516893 11394318 131715.29 11.55
1872 8068679
873122 2880963 11822764 153906.15 13.01
1873 8201120
902163 3177257 12180432 182701.51 14.90
1874 819226S
907029 3146215
12245512
172510.64 14.08
1875 8235058 944851 3149012 12328921 188406.22 15.28 1876 8255709 1006684 3269956 12532349 194153.35 15.49 1877 8295426 1029185 3232652 12557263 195389.15 15.56 1878 8330166 1053334 3086815 12470915 205449.17 16.47
1879 8369655 1062210 2906973 12338838 189494.47 15.35
52
History of Hancock County.
CHAPTER VII.
FIRST JAIL AND FIRST COURT HOUSE.
A S shown by the records in July, 1830, the Commis- sioners of the county determined to build a Jail. for the safe keeping of criminals, and ordered that said jail should be "Sixteen feet wide, and twenty-four feet long, with a partition in the center. The timber to be white oak, twelve inches square, with two doors and three windows." The jail was built on the Public Square, and situate about midway between the present Court House and "old white corner Store." With this location it seems that some of the citizens of the county were not well pleased, for in December of the same year, it is re- corded that a petition was presented by sundry citizens of Hancock County, praying for the removal of the jail from the public square in the town of Findley. But the Commissioners rejected the petition, thinking no doubt that the sight of such an institution would have a restraining effect upon the somewhat wild community. Many of the readers of this history will remember the old log jail on the Public Square. They will doubtless remember, too, that as a place of safe-keeping for prison- ers, it was but a trifle better than the open street. I quite well remember that it was not a formidable look- ing structure, and that it had neither beauty or strength to adorn it. The prisoners used to amuse themselves by
53
Contract for the First Court House.
burning down the door, or removing the iron bars from the windows, and after escaping, report themselves to the Sheriff, who would conduct them back to the place from whence they came. But the old log jail, like many other things of its day, has long since passed away, giving place to a structure, more in keeping with the wants of the county, and affording the better security of the prisoners, and this in its turn has been replaced by a structure magnificent in its proportion, and secure in its construction,
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