USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
There is no record as to whom the contract for the build- ing was let, or to whom let, or at what price, when to be
137
Present Court House.
finished, or how constructed. We can only guess at the time of the letting of the contract, and it must have been in the same year, or very early in 1838, as we shall pres- ently see by the record. All agree, however, that the con- tract was let to John McCurdy, and that he was the builder.
At the meeting of the Commissioners in April, 1838, it was "Ordered that William Taylor receive the Surplus Rev- enue Fund from the Treasurer of said fund, and pay over the same to John McCurdy on the contract of the Court House, provided the interest be allowed until the first of June, 1838, for the amount so advanced."
The present Court House-the building of which was contracted for with the said John McCurdy, is of brick- then a wood roof-now metal-and surmounted by a wooden cupola, with spire and lightning rod. In front are four massive wooden columns, one either side of the rotunda or entrance, and one at each corner. The Court Room oc- cupies the entire first floor except the rotunda and stair way, and the Sheriff's office, which are in front. This Court Room was originally finished in the plainest manner, with plain benches, plain platform for Judge's seat, and only benches for Jurors. It is now, however, made much more comfortable and convenient by successive additions, and improvements in furniture and interior arrangement.
The upper story is occupied by the different county offi- cers, whose rooms are arranged on either side of a wide hall running the entire length of the building. The build- ing stands in a park, which occupies an entire square on the west side of Main street, and the location is a command- ing one. This structure answers the purpose for which it was built, but is sadly out of place as a representative of the wealth and public business of the county.
10
138
History of Hancock County.
In December, 1838, the Commissioners "Ordered that Jacob Barnel, Esq., be and he is hereby appointed to re- ceive funds from the fund Commissioners of the county, to pay over the same to John McCurdy, on the contract en- tered into by the County Commissioners with John Mc- Curdy, for building the Court House."
In December, 1839, the Auditor of the county was " Or- dered to procure all the receipts of John McCurdy given for monies received by him, and file the same in his office, and open an account with the said McCurdy in a book to be procured by him for that purpose. Also to ascertain the amount due him, and exhibit the same to the Board at its next session."
At the same meeting it was "Ordered that John Mc- Curdy put, construct, erect and finish a partition wall up stairs, or in the upper story of the said Court House, across the present hall with a door therein, so as to cut off any communication with the Jury room." No tampering with the jury was intended to be possible.
In 1841 the Auditor was ordered to employ some suita- able person to make one dozen chairs for the use of the Court House, and benches for the jury rooms.
It seems that there was some trouble, or at least delay in the completion of the building, for in June, 1841, it was "Ordered that if the Court House in Findley is not finished by the 15th of August next, the Auditor put the bonds in the hands of Edson Goit, Esq., to commence suit thereon." And in July, 1842, it still being unfinished, it was “ Ordered that the Auditor will have suit brought against John Mc- Curdy, by the first of September next, providing the con- tract for finishing the Court House should not be completed by that time."
139
Present Court House.
In June, 1843, the Sheriff was directed to be careful and not have the Court House abused by public gatherings and Justice's Courts. So great were the differences between the Commissioners and McCurdy, and so impossible of amicable adjustment, that the matters in dispute were submitted to arbitration, and at an extra session in July, 1843, we find the Commissioners directing the Auditor to enter upon the journal the amount of arbitration in the case of John Mc- Curdy vs. the Commissioners.
In March, 1846, it was "Ordered by the Commissioners that Frederick Henderson be, and he is hereby authorized to procure for said county, as soon as practicable, a suitable bell for the Court House, the cost of which shall not exceed two hundred and fifty dollars." The bell was procured and put in place.
It is impossible to tell from the records the cost of the buildings, and it is a matter of recollection only fo those who remember the incidents connected with it. Elijah Barnel, Esq., who was Auditor of the county for two terms, and who is perhaps as well informed in the matter as any man now living, says that the building cost about eleven thousand dollars.
Thus, through much contention and many disappoint- ments, and not a few threatenings of law suits, was the building completed, and occupied by the several county officers, with a feeling that we had about as magnificent a county building as could be found anywhere.
JAILS.
Feeling the necessity of a secure place for prisoners the Commissioners in December, 1851, ordered "That the Auditor cause a notice to be published in the two papers. published in Findley, to receive sealed proposals for build-
140
History of Hancock County.
ing a jail in said county. Said jail to be let on the 9th day of January, 1852." At that date the contract was let to Thomas MeCrary for the sum of four thousand seven hun- dred and forty-three dollars.
The contract was entered into January 15th, 1852, and the building completed the same year. It was built on Lot No. 58, on the west side of the Park. The structure was of brick and stone, so put together, that it was thought to be impossible for any one to escape, and yet, in later years especially, it seemed no trouble for those inside to make their escape.
But this, too, has been superseded by the present magnifi- cent building on corner Main, Cross street and the Park. This edifice includes Sheriff's residence, a two story brick, with basement, finely ornamented with stone, and tastefully finished on the interior, in the rear of which are the cells, entirely of stone and iron, and constructed in the most secure manner. The whole premises are a credit to the county, and were erected at a cost of something over twenty- five thousand dollars. The lot on which the building stands cost $5,000, the contract for the building was let for $17,264, and to this must be added the cost of grading, fencing, etc.
The necessity of the county making some provision for the care of the poor, other than letting each township look after its own, and have them distributed throughout the county at a great expense, had long been acknowledged, and the propriety of purchasing lands and erecting thereon suitable buildings for an Infirmary, had been pretty gener- ally discussed, especially in those townships in which the care of the poor had become burdensome. Accordingly the Commissioners ordered that the question of building an Infirmary should be submitted to the voters of the county
141
County Infirmary.
at the April election in 1867. This was done and the fol- lowing is the vote for and against, in each township:
Washington Township, For 151. Against, 26.
Big Lick
51.
41.
Amanda
66
66
21.
66
95.
Delaware
66
86.
43.
Jackson
126.
66
16.
Marion
66
66
164.
0.
Cass
66
78.
66
90.
Portage
147.
66
7.
Liberty
66
712.
5.
Eagle
66
66
104.
2.
Van Buren
66
1.
72.
Orange
66
66
156.
66
6.
Union
66
139.
S.
Blanchard
91.
66
16.
Pleasant
202.
66
4.
33.
S1.
Findley
19.
119.
Madison
15.
Allen
20.
The proposition having carried by a large majority, the Commissioners thereupon caused the following notice to be published in both the county papers for one week. “Citi- zens living from three to eight miles from the county-seat, and wishing to sell their lands for this purpose, will send their proposals to the Auditor within due time."
In May, 1867, they purchased the present farm of Geo. Heck, paying therefor the sum of seventeen thousand, one hundred dollars. The farm is in Liberty township, border- ing on the east line of the township, and on the south side of the river, about two and a half miles from Findley as the road goes. It is a most beautiful location, being on
142
History of Hancock County.
quite an eminence, overlooking the river and the splendid farms on the opposite side. The land is very fertile and yields most abundant crops.
In March, 1868, the Commissioners contracted with John Shull, a builder and contractor, for the erection of a suit- able building. The building is of brick, four stories high, including basement, which is eight feet in heighth, the first story eleven feet in the clear, and the other stories ten feet each. All covered with a metal roof. The contract price for the building was $12,393.
Our county has an Infirmary which will favorably com- pare with any in the State, and its management has always been in the interests of the county, and the comfort of the unfortunate inmates.
143
Corn Huskings.
CHAPTER XXI.
EARLY SPORTS - CORN HUSKINGS - HOUSE RAISINGS -GRAIN THRESHING AND CLEANING.
E' VERY pioneer was of necessity a hunter. Not that he followed the business for amusement alone, but for the reason that much of his subsistence, and his safety, and that of his property depended upon his skill and vigi- dance with the rifle. Hence it was, that almost every man and boy, and a great many women and girls were accom- plished shots, and many a leisure hour did they while away in friendly competition with their trusty rifles, and proud was the champion of his laurels thus honorably won.
Not the least pleasant of the gatherings of these early settlers, were the corn huskings. Sometimes the corn was husked just as it had been cut and shocked in the field. At other times it was all gathered at one place, either on a fine grass plot, or on the barn floor. It was usually divided into equal parts, and the husking party was also divided under captains. The company who first completed the task was declared the victor.
If these busking bees were in the barn, the women and children would frequently assist. These husking bees were usually held when the moon was at its full, so that there would be sufficient light.
In the mean time the women-folk of the party were en- gaged in cooking and preparing supper for all. And such
144
History of Hancock County.
suppers ! None of your ice cream-strawberry-jelly cake -weak tea affairs, but instead, the yellow corn cake, juicy venison, luscious turkey, and occasionally a slice or two of bear steak.
So popular was this sport-for in that light was it re- garded-that not unfrequently an entire crop of corn was. husked in one night, and without any expense to the owner, other than the furnishing supper for the workmen, for which he considered himself amply repaid in the amount. of fun which he would have.
Another source of pleasure, although mixed with hard work, was the house-raisings. In this, as in log rollings. and corn huskings, the participants were divided into com- panies, each under the lead of a captain. To each was as- signed the raising of one side and one end of the cabin. Each of these parties chose two of the most active and ex- pert ax-men to carry up the corners, as the logs were raised to the proper place.
A good deal of skill, and a mechanical eye was required by these corner men, as a very slight mistake in making a notch too shallow, or too deep, or out of a straight line, might loose the whole corner. So expert became many of these men-and they were found in every settlement-that they were enabled to notch and place the logs almost as rapidly as they could be raised to their place on the build- ing.
The grain was not threshed by machinery driven by steam, as now, but was either beaten out by the old fash- ioned swingle or flail, or tramped out by horses or oxen. When threshed it was separated from the chaff by a fanning mill made of two men and a linen sheet, the grain being slowly poured from a measure at an elevation, passed in
145
Social Meetings.
front of this mill, which was kept constantly in motion ; the chaff was blown away, the grain falling to the floor. A rather slow, but sure way of getting clean grain, and re- sorted to by the early settlers for the reason that modern fanning mills were then unknown.
The men did not have all the sport, no more than they did all the work. Quilting bees were no less a source of pleasure and enjoyment to their wives. All the good dames in a neighborhood would assemble around the patch-work quilt, and with stitch and gossip while away the time pleas- antly, and around the well-laden tea table rehearse the scenes of their girl-hood days.
Strong, active, athletic sports had a great charm for these backwoodsmen. Running foot races, jumping, wrestling, pitching quoits or horse shoes, lifting weights, and like manly exercise best pleased them. Some of their feats of jumping and racing would do credit to a troup of modern athletes. And the ease with which they could "ring the meg " with a horse shoe at twenty-five or thirty yards was astonishing. With such exercises as these, their muscles became hardened, their limbs were developed, and their en- durance put to the test.
Horse racing was also a favorite amusement with some. The swiftness of a race was not regarded as of much mo- ment, the simple fact that two horses would make a race, no matter how slow it was, would be sufficient to draw a crowd, and the pleasure in the amusement seemed to be just as keen, as if they had been witnessing some of the feats of modern high-flyers.
Because of the isolated condition of the settlements, and the almost unceasing toil of all, any social gathering was hailed with pleasure, and enjoyed to the fullest extent.
146
History of Hancock County.
CHAPTER XXII.
OUR JUDICIAL ASSOCIATE COUNTIES AN JUDDGES.
IN 1830, the Judicial Circuit to which we belonged, was 1 composed of the counties of Huron, Richland, Delaware, Sandusky, Seneca, Crawford, Wood, Marion, Hancock Henry, Williams, Putnam, Paulding and Van Wert. Eben- ezer Lane was the Circuit Judge, but having just been elected to the Supreme Bench of the State, was succeeded by David Higgins.
Knapp, in his " History of the Maumee Valley," says that Judge Higgins, in his " Memoirs of the Maumee Valley," relates the incident of a voyage from Findley to Perrys- burg. by way of Defiance, in the good " Piroque Jurispru- dence." " A countryman," says the Judge, " agreed to take our horses to Perrysburg by land. We purchased a canoe, and taking with us our saddles, bridles and baggage, pro- posed to descend the Blanchard Fork, and the Auglaize Rivers to Defiance, and then to Perrysburg. Our company consisted of Rudolphus Dickenson, J. C. Spink, Count Cof- finberry, myself and a country man, whose name I forget. The voyage was a dismal one to Defiance, through an unset- tled wilderness of some sixty miles. Its loneliness was only broken by the intervening Indian settlements at Otta- wa, where we were cheered lustily by the Tohwa Indians, as would be a foreign ship at New York."
117
Judiciary and Judges.
The General Assembly of Ohio, in 1838-39, by enact- ment, created the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. This em- braced ten counties, but out of that territory the counties of Defiance, Auglaize and Fulton, have since been erected. These ten counties were Seneca, Wood, Henry, Williams, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Allen, Hardin and Hancock.
Judge Higgins was succeeded in the old Circuit by Ozias Bowen. But Emery D. Potter was elected Presiding Judge, and held the office until 1844, when he resigned to take his seat in Congress, He was succeeded as Judge by Myron H. Tilden.
Judge Potter still resides in Toledo, and but a few years ago represented the District of which we are a part, in the Ohio state Senate.
On the 19th of February, 1845, the 16th Judicial Circuit was formed, embracing the counties of Shelby, Mercer, Al- len, Hardin, Hancock, Putnam, Paulding, Van Wert and Williams, and Patrick G. Goode, of Sidney, was elected Presiding Judge. This was the last of the Circuit Judges.
Under the Constitution of 1851, the counties of Wood, Seneca, Hancock, Wyandotte and Crawford formed a sub- division of the Second District, and Lawrence W. Hall, of Bucyrus, was elected Common Pleas Judge. After one term of five years, he was succeeded by Machias C. White- ly, of Findley. Judge Whitely was re-elected in 1861, the sub-division then being the counties of Wood, Hancock and Putnam. In 1856, Seneca having been placed in the sub- division, George E. Seeney, of Tiffin, was elected an addi- tional Judge.
In December, 1866, Hancock, Seneca and Wood being joined in one sub-division, Chester R. Mott, of Upper San- dusky, was elected Judge, and served one term. In 1868,
-
148
History of Hancock County.
James Pillars, of Tiffin. was elected, and in 1871, Crawford and Marion Counties having been added to the District, Abner M. Jackson, of Bucyrus, was elected an additional Judge, but after serving a short time, he resigned, and Thomas Beer, also of Bucyrus, was elected to fill vacancy.' At the expiration of Judge Pillars' term, Henry H. Dodge, of Perrysburg, (present incumbent,) succeeded him, and in 1879, Hardin County having been attached to this District, John McCauley, of Tiffin, was elected an additional Judge.
A brief sketch of these men, or some of them at least, although not residents of the county, will perhaps be appro- priate here, as they were actors in the early history of our county.
Hon. Emery D. Potter is said to have been the first law- yer who opened an office in Toledo, and that he is the last of his early professional contemporaries, and is yet a citizen of Toledo.
He was born in Providence County, Rhode Island, the son of a farmer in limited circumstances. At the age of two years, Judge Potter was taken by his parents to Otsego County, New York, then a wilderness. Mr. Potter entered the office of Hon. John A. Dix and Abner Cook, jr., at Cooperstown. After having completed an academic educa- tion, and there diligently pursued the study of the law, un- til he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State.
In the fall of 1855, he emigrated to Toledo, a place as he then thought, opening a good field for a young practitioner. After a successful practice of four years, he was, in Feb- ruary, 1839, elected Presiding Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit.
149
Judge Goode.
In 1843 he was nominated and elected to Congress by a handsome majority. In 1847 he was elected to a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. In 1848 he was again elected to Congress. In 1875, Mr. Potter was elected to the Ohio Senate from the Thirty-third Senatorial District.
In 1845, Patrick G. Goode, of Sidney, was elected Pre- siding Judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit. Judge Goode was an honest, upright man, an impartial Judge and a christian gentleman. He was very punctilious in the preservation of the dignity of the court, and the courtesies of the bar. Pettifogging and undignified conduct, and vul- gar language were his horrors. After holding court all day, he would not unfrequently preach at night, as he was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
It is told of Judge Goode, that while holding court in Mercer County, in 1847, he met a juryman who was rather too smart for him. A case had been tried, and just a few minutes before the regular dinner time, had been given to the jury, and the court had adjourned until after dinner. Within a few minutes, one of the jurymen, Cyrenius Elliott by name, entered the room at the hotel, where the Judge was seated. The Judge was surprised, and exclaimed : " What are you doing here ? Have the jury agreed ?" "Jury agreed," hissed Elliott, " you must be a simpleton to ask the question. You must understand, Pat Goode, that I don't believe much in the divine right of Kings, or in the infallibility of courts, when run by such men as yourself. Your right way would have been to let us have our dinner before sending us to the jury-room, knowing as you must, if you have good sense, that jurors have stomachs and bowels as well as judges and lawyers."
At another time, the Judge was holding court in Findley,
150
History of Hancock County.
when the late John H. Morrison opened an address to the jury, with this declaration : "May it please the court, by the perjury of witnesses, the ignorance of the jury, and the corruption of the court, I expect to be beaten in this case." The Judge turned to the counsel and inquired: "What is that you say, Mr. Morrison ?" The latter replied : " That is all I have to say on that point," and proceeded with his argument.
At another time, a man of bad repute, made application to the court for license. The court considered the proposi- tion, and Judge Goode announced that the application was refused. Mr. Morrison, much excited, arose and addressed one of the Associate Judges : "Judge Ewing, is that your decision ?" An affirmative answer was given. "Judge Price do you concur in this decision ?" "Yes." Morrison was about to put the same question to the other associate, when Judge Goode inquired : "Mr. Morrison, what are you doing ?" Morrison replied, " Why, I am polling the court, your honor."
I have these reminiscences from H. S. Knapp's History of the Maumee Valley, a very valuable work.
151
War Record.
CHAPTER XXIII.
HANCOCK COUNTY IN THE WAR.
T HE part which the gallant volunteers of Hancock County took in the war for the suppression of the Re- bellion, deserves a much more extensive notice than I am able to write, or for which there would be sufficient space in this work. I shall, therefore, have to content myself by giving a brief account of the brave boys, assuring my readers that no better soldiers were found, than the boys from Hancock. They went cheerfully wherever duty called them. They never flinched under fire. They never re- treated unless ordered to do so. They endured all the hard- ships of marching, fighting, and of rebel prisons, and more than five hundred of them laid down their lives without a murmur, that the country might live. Loyal, patriotic, they left father, mother, wife, children, all that was dear to them on earth, all that makes life pleasant, and went forth at the call of danger, and for four long weary years, endured the hardships of one of the most stupendous wars on record : went forth, some to die in battle, some to die in hospitals, some to die in rebel prisons, others to come home, with a leg or an arm missing, maimed for life, others with wounds rendering them almost helpless, others with ruined health, broken constitutions, to linger on for a few years, and at last sink into a premature grave. Such is the fate of those who engage in war. Such was the fate of many of the
152
History of Hancock County.
gallant boys who went from Hancock, and whose memory is enshrined in the hearts of the people.
A whole volume might be written commemorative of their many deeds. Such a volume should be written. In this work, however, I can only speak of organizations and aggregates. And even in this brief sketch I will no doubt overlook some, for many of our boys went elsewhere and enlisted, or being temporarily absent from the county at the breaking out of the rebellion, enlisted at the first opportun- ity, without first returning home. Of such of course I can not speak only in general terms.
21ST OHIO VOLUNTEERS.
In the three months service, this county furnished three full companies of men, under Capt. Jome Wilson, Capt. Geo. F. Walker, and Capt. K. Henry Lovell. The company under command of Capt. Wilson was further officered by Ist Lieut. D. M. Stoughton, and 2d Lieut. Geo. Foreman. That under command of Capt. Walker had as Ist and 2d Lieuts., M. D. Shafer and J. E. Stearns. And that under Capt. Lovell had as Lieuts., Joshua S. Preble and J. J. Thrap. The late Col. J. M. Neibling was Lieut. Col. This regiment was organized at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, on the 27th day of April, 1861.
The service of the regiment was in West Virginia, under Gen. J. D. Cox. They were engaged in the fight at Ripley, and also at Scary Creek. The companies from this county did not loose a man in any of the engagements. On the way home to be mustered out, Eli S. Reed, Quarter Master of the Regiment, died at Cincinnati. The Regiment was mustered out August 12, 1861, at Columbus, Ohio.
On the 19th of September it was again re-organized for
153
21st O. V. I ..
three years, and went into camp at Findley, Ohio, where it was mustered into service. In this service J. M. Neibling was again appointed Lieut. Col., but in December, 1862, he was promoted to the Colonelcy, which position he held until his discharge, by reason of losing his right arm at New Hope Church, on the 28th of May, 1864. In the three years service, Hancock County had four Companies. Co. A, Capt. D. M. Stoughton, who was promoted to Major, and in December, 1863, was promoted to Lieut. Col., which position he held at the time of his death, in November, 1864, from wounds received at the battle of Chickamauga. Co. B, Capt. Geo. F. Walker, who was afterwards promoted to Major. Co. E, Capt. Isaac Cusae, who was promoted to Major, and mustered out with the Regiment at the close of the war. Co. F, Capt. H. H. Alban, who was honorably discharged at the close of the war. The Lieutenants of Co. A were J. A. Williams and Geo. Foreman; of Co. B, Wm. Vance and Joseph E. Sternes; of Co. E, James Porter and Simon B. Webber, and of Co. F. John C. Martin and Alex. A. Monroe.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.