History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present, Part 74

Author: Hill, N. N. (Norman Newell), comp; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-; Graham, A.A. & Co., Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Mt. Vernon, Ohio : A. A. Graham & Co.
Number of Pages: 1096


USA > Ohio > Knox County > History of Knox County, Ohio, its past and present > Part 74


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391


HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.


The following were initiated at the first meeting: D. A. Robertson, James R. Wallace, Miller Moody, Matthew H. Mitchell, and Thomas Winne. Messrs. Miller Moody, Mitchell, Winne, and Robertson are dead. Mr. Wallace holds membership in Quindaro, No. 316.


Officers, January 1, 1881: Thomas Brown, N. G .; Peter Allen, V. G .; J. C. Levi, secretary; W. R. Hart, P. secretary; R. N. Kindrick, treasurer; Richard Smale, I. G .; Samuel Newby, O. G .; C. A. Merriam, sitting N. G.


This lodge meets in hall No. 1, Kremlin block, every Wednesday evening.


QUINDARO LODGE NO. 316, I. O. O. F.,


of Mt. Vernon, was instituted June 9, 1857, by dispensation from the Right Worthy Grand lodge of Ohio, by Deputy Grand Master A. C. Glenn, acting under a dispensation from Grand Master W. C. Chidsey, assisted by several past grands from Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 20.


Charter members: G. B. Arnold, J. M. Byers, A. C. Elliott, J. Frank Andrews, John Lamb, T. P. Fredrick, sr., and John Jennings, all having re- ceived withdrawal cards from Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 20, for the purpose of forming a new lodge in the city.


First officers installed; Joseph M. Byers, N. G .; T. P. Fredrick, sr., V. G .; G. B. Arnold, sec'y; Alex. C. Elliott, Per. sec'y; J. Frank Andrews, treasurer.


Initiated at first meeting: Israel Underwood and L. Munk.


Officers January 1, 1881: Evan Jones, N. G .; J. O. Bushfield, V. G .; S. W. Graff, Per. sec'y; Ira Phillips, sec'y; George R. Martin, treas .; George Singer, I. G .; S. P. Weaver, O. G .; John McFadden, sitting P. G.


Representatives to the Grand lodge of Ohio: Joseph M. Byers, J. Frank Andrews, T. P. Fred- rick, sr.


Meetings are held in their hall, over the hard- ware store of C. A. Bope, every Tuesday evening.


The career of Quindaro has been, from the start, a brilliant one, and its prosperity has been equal to any lodge within the limits of central Ohio. The hall now occupied has been used by the lodge from its organization, first at a yearly rental from James W. Miller, and then by purchase. A few


years since, not only the lodge room, but the whole building, became the property of the lodge by purchase.


Kokosing Encampment, No. 38, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Mt. Vernon, was insti- tuted March 29, 1849. The encampment branch is the highest rank in the order, and is made up of the fifth degree members of subordinate lodges. The standing of encampment members depends upon their good standing in the subordinate lodges.


Charter members-I. M. Campbell, S. W. Grib- ben, A. Ehle, L. G. Prentis, R. C. Kirk, Henry Phillips, A. P. Mather, and U. Stevens.


Messrs. Gribben, Prentis, Phillips, Mather and Stevens are dead. Mr. Campbell is a citizen of Ashland; Mr. Ehle is a citizen of one of the northwestern counties, and Dr. R. C. Kirk severed his connection with the order some years ago.


First officers-I. M. Campbell, C. P .; A. P. Mather, H. P .; R. C. Kirk, S. W .; A. Ehle, scribe; L. G. Prentis, treasurer.


Initiated at the first meeting-W. M. Bunn, J. A. Shannon, T. T. Tress, John Cooper, Robert B. Wright, and John Eichelberger.


Messrs. Shannon, Tress, and Wright are dead. Mr. Eichelberger is a citizen of Mansfield.


Officers January 1, 1881-R. N. Kindrick, C. P .; W. R. Hart, H. P .; Thomas Trick, S. W .; E. Conkling, S. W .; J. B. Warren, scribe ; T. W. Lin- stead, treasurer ; William People, inside sentinel; Samuel Newby, outside sentinel.


The lodge meets in Hall No. 1, Kremlin block, the second and fourth Friday evenings in each month.


Representatives to the Grand encampment, since the adoption of the new constitution in 1855 -W. M. Bunn, John W. White, J. Frank An- drews, Henry Phillips, W. R. Hadt, A. C. Elliott, T. P. Frederick, sr.


Messrs. Andrews, Phillip, and Elliott are dead. W. R. Hart is the present representative.


Officers Grand encampment-William R. Hart, R. W. junior warden 1874-5; William R. Hart, most worthy chief patriarch, 1877-8.


KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.


Timon Lodge, No. 45, Mt. Vernon, was instituted on the eighteenth day of April, 1872, by Dr. L.


392


HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.


Firestone, G. C., assisted by brethren from Wooster and Mansfield.


First officers and charter members: W. A. Crouch, C. C .; J. Monroe Hill, V. C .; Richard F. West, prelate; Edward Vincent, K. of R. and S .; John M. Armstrong, M. of E .; William T. Elwell, M. of F .; Henry H. King, M. at A .; William B. Norton, I. G.


Those first initiated were J. H. Trimble, Hon. A. J. Beach, William M. Haper, Samuel H. Peter- man, J. Allen Mitchell.


Officers, January 1, 1881 : Charles W. Pyle, P. C .; Henry C. Smith, C. C .; Clarence B. Harper, V. C .; William C. McFadden, prelate; Frank Harper, K. of R. S .; John H. Stevens, M. of E .; V. J. Pealer, M. of F .; Ira Buckley, M. of A .; C. C. Buckingham, J. G. ; E. J. Walton, O. G.


The lodge meets every Thursday evening in their Castle hall, Raymond block, southwest cor- ner of High street and public square.


The following are the past chancellors since or- ganization: W. A. Crouch, Richard F. West, J. Monroe Hill, Henry H. King, John H. Stevens, J. D. Haymes, R. B. Bingham, Samuel H. Peterman, S. C. Thompson, William Appleton, LeRoy G. Hunt, H. C. Parker, J. W. H. Tiffiny, Frank N. Bunn, Jacob M. Tompkins, William M. Harper, John B. Waight, Charles W. Pyle.


Representatives to the Grand lodge-W. A. Crouch, 1873-4; John H. Stevens, 1875-6; Sam- uel H. Peterman, 1877-8-9 ; Dr. Samuel C. Thomp- son, 1880-I.


Present number of members-one hundred and sixty.


Section No. 180 of the Endowment Rank, K. of P., was instituted May 31, 1878, by Colonel J. S. Crall, of Mansfield, Ohio. Its first president was J. M. Tompkins, and its first secretary and treasurer Samuel H. Peterman. The membership in the first class is eighteen, and in the second twenty-eight. The former pays an endowment of one thousand dollars, and the latter two thousand, on the death of a member. The regular meeting night is the last Monday of each month.


KNIGHTS OF HONOR.


Knox Lodge No. 31 K. of H., of Mt. Vernon, was organized October 1, 1874. Its first officers were:


S. C. Thompson, past dictator; Hezekiah Graff, dictator; S. S. Baker, vice-dictator; W. Sanderson, assistant dictator; J. F. Myers, guide; W. W. Mckay, reporter; W. Cochran, financial reporter; A. Vance, treasurer, S. Wright, sentinel.


The lodge meets every Wednesday evening at their hall, third floor Sperry's block, southwest side of the public square.


Officers, January 1, 1881: J. J. Tultz, past di- rector; J. H. Branyan, director; H. S. Weirick, vice director; E. S. Kingston, assistant dictator ; R. C. Hunt, chaplain; D. F. Ewing, guide; Wil- liam H. Spencer, reporter; F. A. Davis, financial reporter; William Jamison, guardian; S. L. Baker, treasurer; George Wythe, sentinel; W. F. Gantt, C. G. Smith, D. F. Ewing, W. J. Horner and R. G. White, trustees. Representatives to Grand lodge-C. G. Smith; alternate, D. F. Ewing.


Deaths since organization: Thomas McBride, Isaac W. Russell, M. D., James Farrar, David Sewalt.


Present number of members, one hundred and two.


ROYAL ARCANUM.


Mt. Vernon Council, No. 11, was instituted in Mt. Vernon August 21, 1877.


Its first officers were: Dr. S. C. Thompson, past regent; W. F. Baldwin, regent; D. P. Wooton, vice regent; Thomas H. Eustace, orator; W. B. Dunbar, secretary; H. Y. Rowley, collector; S. L. Baker, treasurer; W. F. Gantt, chaplain ; C. G. Smith, guide; W. T. Critchfield, warden; D. Z. Grubb, sentry.


Officers for 1881: H. Y. Rowley, past regent; John H. Stevens, regent; Charles H. Chapin, vice regent ; S. L. Baker, orator; W. B. Dunbar, secre- tary; W. F. Gantt, collector; J. C. Scott, treasurer ; John B. Castner, chaplain ; John B. Warren, guide; Ezra Hunt, warden; W. P. Helms, sentry; John H. Stevens, H. Y. Rowley, E. Sharpnack, Isaac Rosenthall, and W. F. Baldwin, trustees. Repre- sentative to Grand lodge, Leroy G. Hunt.


Present number of members, fifty-eight.


This council, on the death of a member, pays to the family of the deceased three thousand dollars.


St. Vincent De Paul's Benevolent society was organized August, 1873.


The first officers were: John Henegan, presi-


393


HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.


dent; C. O'Boyle, vice-president; John Lawler, secretary ; Dennis Corcoron, treasurer.


The officers for 1881 are: James Britt, presi- dent; Matthias Kelly, vice-president; Thomas Hays, secretary; Michael Shehan, treasurer; James W. Logsden, marshal.


The society meets semi-monthly in St. Vincent hall, corner Main and Vine streets.


KNIGHTS OF THE RED CROSS.


This order has just been instituted in Mt. Ver- non by the members of St. Vincent De Paul's Catholic church. The origin of the order dates back to the eleventh century (1069) when Pope Urban II., at the council of Clermont, invested the nobles about to take part in the crusade against the Saracens, with the Red Cross. The Knights of the Red Cross of the present day are not called upon to wage physical warfare, but a spiritual war- fare against the evils of the day-against intemper- ance, impurity, irreligion, and all manner of vice, by their example and admonition. The Mt. Ver- non chapter have engaged, through their pastor and spiritual director, a suitable hall in which to hold their meetings and drill. In order to make the institution attractive, to the young men of the congregation, particularly, military drill forms a marked feature of the exercises of the chapter. In course of time the members are duly knighted and receive, at the hands of the grand commander of the order, their uniforms, which are usually very handsome. Regular meeting nights occur on every alternate Sunday night. Drill night every Friday, at St. Vincent hall. The chapter starts out here with a membership of over forty.


First officers - Samuel J. Brent, president; Thomas Hayes, vice-president; M. M. Kelly, treas- urer; J. F. Stoeckle, secretary; William Hunt and Thomas Brannigan, guardians; and Rev. T. J. Lane, chaplain.


PENNSYLVANIANS IN KNOX COUNTY,


is the present theme of conversation throughout the county. The object sought is an organization of native Pennsylvanians and their descendants, residents of the county. A preliminary meeting was held on the nineteenth of January, 1881, and a committee of five appointed to draw up and pre- sent at a future meeting a programme for consid-


eration, to perfect as far as possible arrangements for a reunion of all natives of Pennsylvania, now residents of the county. That committee con- sisted of Messrs. G. W. Morgan, John F. Gay, W. C. Culbertson, John Welsh, and David C. Lewis. The adjourned meeting met at the court house, Saturday afternoon, February 5, 1881. The re- port of the meeting was adopted. It proposed an organization, with a president and vice-presidents. one from each township in the county, a secretary, treasurer, and an executive committee of five per- sons. A committee of arrangements was appointed to make arrangements for a reunion and picnic to take place on the fair-grounds, sometime during the coming summer or fall, on a date to be fixed by the president and executive committee. Ad- dresses, orations, etc., are to be delivered on sub- jects pertaining to the object for which the meeting is convened.


About one hundred persons interested in the call, attended the meeting of the fifth of February, and completed the organization by electing the fol- lowing officers: General G. W. Morgan, presi- dent ; Hon. R. C. Kirk, vice-president; C. S. Pyle, secretary; Joseph M. Byers, treasurer; Jackson, James P. Ross ; Butler, Jacob Lepley; Union, Wil- son Buffington; Jefferson, James Withrow; Brown, A. M. Vincent; Howard, Robert Cassil; Harrison, Martin J. Horn; Clay, E. O. Bebout; Morgan, Benjamin Smith; Pleasant, Joseph V. Park; Col- lege, Frank Scoles; Monroe, John McElroy; Pike, W. W. Walkey; Berlin, Michael Hess; Morris, H. C. Wilson; Clinton, John Welsh; Miller, J. F. Barnhard ; Milford, W. T. Turner; Liberty, T. F. Cole; Wayne, Joseph Duncan; Middlebury, John C. Levering ; Hilliar, Demas Bucker; Mt. Vernon -First ward, Dr. J. Hess; Second ward, Thomas McCreary ; Third ward, W. C. Culbertson; Fourth ward, David C. Lewis; Fifth ward, David C. Mont- gomery, township vice-presidents; W. C. Culbert- son, G. A. Jones, J. F. Gay, Thomas Odbert and William B. Banning, executive committee.


394


HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.


CHAPTER XLII. MOUNT VERNON-CONTINUED.


THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY-THE OWL CREEK BANK-THE KNOX COUNTY BANK-FIRST NATIONAL AND SAVINGS BANKS-THE KNOX COUNTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COM- PANY-THE EAGLE MUTUAL-THE MUTUAL AID ASSOCIA- TION-THE BUSINESS MEN OF 1850 THE MANUFACTUR- ING BUSINESS OF THE CITY-LIST OF AGED MEN.


T THE history of Knox county would be incom- plete without a brief account of the Owl Creek bank of Mt. Vernon. The notes issued by this in- stitution were of every denomination, from six and one-fourth cents up to ten dollars. The paper, en- graving and finish of the notes, although not so perfect as those issued by the banks of the present day, were fair specimens in the art of engraving. From the journals of the bank and from the files of the Ohio Register, the only paper then published in the county, the following account is compiled :


There being great complaint of the scarcity of money after the war, large numbers of people in various cities and towns in the United States, and more particularly in the west and Ohio, conceived the idea of multiplying the quantity of paper in lieu of money, by manufacturing what is called "currency." As early as December, 1814, a meet- ing was held, and articles of association for the organization of a bank, to be called the Owl Creek bank of Mt. Vernon," were entered into, fixing the capital stock at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, divided into shares of fifty dollars each, payable in installments of not exceeding five dol- lars each, and appointing certain commissioners to open stock books, etc. Petitions were then pre- sented to the legislature, praying for a charter; and after having petitioned the legislature for an act authorizing such an association, and been denied, the people determined to go ahead without State authority.


On the tenth day of April, 1816, the first meet- ing on record of those who inaugurated the Owl Creek bank was held at the court house in Mt. Vernon, and as this is one of the most important events in the early history of Knox county, the pro- ceedings of this meeting, and also of the first meet- ing of the board of managers are noted.


"Agreeably to previous notice, there was a meet- ing at the court house on April roth. Jonathan


Miller was called to the chair, and Joseph Brown was appointed secretary. The following indepen- dent sentiments were set forth:"


Resolved, That we have by the constitution of this State a fuld and fair right and privilege to have charters granted when we shall petition the legislative body of this State for that purpose. We, the undersigned, have complied with the requisitions of the constitution, and will continue to do so, without waiving our rights and privileges.


Therefore be it resolved, that we do form ourselves into a company for the purpose of establishing a bank in the town of Mt. Vernon, Knox county.


2. Resolved, That the following named gentlemen be ap- pointed managers of said bank, and to draft articles of associa- tion and by-laws for the future government of the company, viz: James Smith, William Mitchell, M. Merritt, Abraham Darling, Hosmer Curtis, John Warden, Gilman Bryant, Jona- than Miller, L. S. Silliman, Benjamin Martin, Joseph Brown, John Green, and Jacob Young.


A committee appointed for that purpose, drafted articles of association, by which the bank was to be governed, embracing twenty-three distinct proposi- tions. Article I, reads: "The capital stock of the company shall be two hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars, current money of the United States, with the privilege of extending it to five hundred thousand dollars." The bank was to commence business as soon as twenty-five thousand dollars were subscribed. The stock was divided into shares of fifty dollars each. Jonathan Miller, James Smith, Gilman Bryant, John Warden, Benjamin Martin, Hosmer Curtis, W. Mitchell, M. Merritt, A. Darling, Jacob Young, John Green, L. S. Silli- man, and Joseph Brown, were appointed commis- sioners to open books and receive subscriptions for stock. Article VI, provides: "The affairs of the company shall be conducted by thirteen direc- tors, a president and a cashier." James Smith was elected president, and L. S. Silliman cashier.


The legislature refusing to grant a charter to the institution, the stockholders elected to proceed without it, and do business, depending upon the honesty of the borrowers, they pledging themselves to waive all rights the laws of the State might give them not to withhold payment from an institution not recognized by the laws of the land. Every borrower was required to make the following dec- laration under oath before some justice of the peace: "Before me (A. B.) a justice of the peace for the county of- aforesaid, came C. D., who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that,


395


HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.


whereas, he has thrown a note into the Owl Creek bank of Mt. Vernon for discount; saith, that, if discounted, he will take no advantage of any stat- ute law of this State; and farther this deponent saith not." Under those conditions the bank com- menced doing business.


On the sixth of March, 1871, a dividend of six per cent. was declared, and the stockholders were sanguine of reaping a harvest. So long as the bank had money to loan its unchartered condition was no detriment to its usefulness. Its funds ran out-some of its stockholders neglected or refused to pay up their shares-notes became due, and an effort was made to collect them-then came hard times. People were suddenly convinced of the deep sin, if not crime, of fostering an "unchar- tered" monster in their midst. Samuel Williams, a tavern keeper of Mansfield, had borrowed five hundred dollars, and after taking an oath that "he would take no advantage of any statute law of the State," refused its notes when tendered him for hotel bills, and also refused to redeem his notes discounted, and freely used the columns of the newspapers of the day to destroy the institution that had aided him when in need. A Dr. Moore B. Bradly arrayed himself on the side of Williams in the work of destruction, and others followed suit. With a depleted treasury, the institution attempted to stem the torrent, but in vain. In these times of evil talk, and while the public were busy crying down the institution, a few whole souled persons were found who came to its aid.


The stockholders to the bank were never fully known by reason of the mutilation or alteration of the books, which took place pending a suit be- tween Luke Walpole and some of the stockhold- ers. The bank was entered one night and a large box that contained the books and papers carried off. Subsequently the box was found in a thicket of hazel, east of town, broken open, and the books and papers scattered about, with several of the names of stockholders obliterated. The


testimony in this case, the proceedings of the court, and reports of the receiver, exceptions to his report and final decree, make one of the largest volumes of record in the clerk's office of Knox county, duly labelled "The Owl Creek Pank Case." From this official and authoritative record the names of parties and shares of stock .. "aged 1 .. have been connected with the "Owl Creek Bank are taken, as follows:


KNOX COUNTY.


Shares.


Paid.


Hosmer Curtis.


50


$500 00


Jonathan Agnew


20


30 00


William Scritchfield.


5


Insley D. Johnson


5


Joseph Critchfield.


IO


133 00


James Barkhurst.


5


66 00


Robert Dalrymple


12


380 00


James McGibeny.


15


725 00


Allen Scott


IC


250 00


Joseph Mann.


IO


Gilman Bryant.


50


900 00


John Green.


IO


John Hawn.


15


150 00


Philip Melker


50


510 00


John Stilley


25


200 00


John Shaw


IO


316 00


William Darling, of Richland county.


IO


James Bolton.


20


160 00


George Davis.


20


John J. Tulloss


10


50 00


Jonathan Hunt.


24


150 00


Abel A. Webster, of Richland.


50


Eli Miller.


60


250 00


Benjamin Rush


IO


266 00


Henry Markley


25


375 00


Nicholas Riley.


25


500 00


Henry Davis.


20


625 00


Jacob M. Banning.


50


130 00


Gotlieb Zimmerman


20


345 75


W. Y. Farquhar.


20


125 00


Nathaniel Scritchfield.


IO


333 00


Francis Wilkins


25


100 00


Eli Gregg.


IO


58 00


Jacob Lepley


20


Samuel Mott.


30


125 00


Aaron Hill.


IO


Thomas Irvine.


20


Jonathan Miller


50


350 00


John Trimble


15


316 00


James Smith.


50


Isaac Richardson.


5


66 00


John Hibbitts


IO


200 00


Jacob Draper


IO


200 00


Henry B. Carter.


IO


100 00


William Robeson


20


James Severe.


8


Rebecca Harris


25


Jonathan Rapp


IO


The bank building was located where James Rogers' hardware store now is. The building was about twenty feet square, and contained two rooms, a front and a back room. It was a log building, weather-boarded. Its doors and window shutters were protected with large headed nails.


396


HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.


Shares.


Paid.


William Bevans.


20


Willaim W. Farquhar.


15


265 00


Elijah Newcomb, of Coshocton county. 17


350 00


Thomas Butler, of Coshocton county. 50


350 00


LICKING COUNTY.


Shares.


James M. Taylor


.IO


John Cully. .


.IO


A. H. Caffee


Noble Landon


IO


A. Warthen. . IO


Silas Mead.


.IO


Joseph Fulton


Jonathan Conard


.IO


William Robinson


.70


William W. Gault


.50


John Houston


.67


Benjamin Warner


. IO


RICHLAND AND OTHER COUNTIES.


Shares.


Jacob Been


ro


Hiram Ball.


9


Benjamin Mochaber 8


John Badger. 6


Matthew Kelly .IO


Henry Vaught. . IO


Buckingham, Sherwood, and Eben P. Sturges, traders, under the name and style of Sherwood & Sturges. .20 John Beckwith, of Perry county 8


Jacob Morris, of Perry county 5


Samuel B. Carpenter, of Huron county 15


John Leyland, of Huron county IO


Enoch Harris, colored man, of Marion county 15


Jolin Morris, of Wayne county .20


John Shrimplin. . 20


Adam Johnson, of Coshocton county. .50


Isaac Dillon, of Muskingum county. .50


George Reeve, of Muskingum county .30


Robert Dalrymple .50


James Barcus .50


William Critchfield, sr . 50


William Darling .50


James Rightmire 50


Insley D. Johnson .50


Jacob Cook .50


The above named were claimed to have been interested in the concern; and having been duly subpoenaed and brought into court, their own answers and voluminous testimony were taken. While some few plead the statute of limitations. in addition to other testimony, the greater number -- to their credit be it said-confessed their con- nection with the bank, and expressed themselves ready to stand the consequences.


Henry B. Curtis was appointed master commis- sioner, and, after a thorough and searching exami- nation, he made, on the eighteenth of September,


1837, a very elaborate and able report. Having, upon his appointment, caused publication to be made by newspaper to all interested, either as creditors or partners, of his appointment to close, and finally settle, as far as practicable, the concerns of the bank; and having before him all the testi- mony, he determined the relative position of the parties, and discharged from liability as stock- holders of that number Jacob M. Banning, Wil- liam Bevans, Isaac Dillon, George Reeve, Sturges & Sherwood, Francis Wilkins, and Matthew Wil- liams, for insufficiency of proof.


At the September term of the supreme court, 1837, Judges Reuben Wood and Peter Hitchcock approved the report, by which it appeared that the sum of twenty-six thousand seven hundred and ninety-six dollars and twenty cents was required to be raised to meet and discharge the present unpaid debts of the company in Owl Creek bank bills; and the liabilities of the parties defendant, being established equal, it was further ordered that said sums, as assessed by said master commissioner's re- port, be paid by said parties to him, and the cause was continued for further report.


Several of the parties defendant, by their attor- neys, filed exceptions to said report and as to their rights, and for further examination the papers in the cause were referred to H. H. Hunter, esq., of Lancaster, as special master, who, at the Septein- ber term, 1838, submited a partial report as to cer- tain parties referred to him, and still further re- ported, as by testimony, the following additional stockholders equally liable, viz: Solomon Geller, owner of twenty shares; John Hawn, sr., fifteen shares; Nathaniel Johnson, sixty shares (fifty of which being transfers from Jonathan and Eli Mil- ler); William Blackburn, twenty shares; Matthew Merritt, four shares; G. B. Maxfield, John Trout- man, and N. M. Young, ten shares each. At the same time the special master concludes with this statement :


It is believed that no man can, at this time, possess himself of the facts necessary to do exact justice in the case. Though it is believed that much additional evidence, with proper exer- tions, may be collected, to render the case more perfect. All of which is respectfully suggested.


At the September term, 1839, Judges Peter Hitchcock and Frederick Grimke allowed the com- plainants leave to amend their bill, and make the




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