History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 81

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 798

USA > Ohio > Logan County > History of Logan County and Ohio > Part 81

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

inadvertently omitting to repeal the old one, and the proposition met with a Waterloo. The old law required a petition to extend to be signed by three-fourths of the owners of property sought to be annexed; now it only requires a majority of the adult free-holders residing on such territory. The latest efforts at annexing the territory desired. is very liable to result successfully, the Council having employed R. N. Jordan, Esq., an able, cautious, vigilant attorney, to conduct the case. It is safe to predict a purchase of a steamer at an early day.

Has West Liberty risen " from its ashes? " To answer this question, it is only neces- sary to point to the monuments of enterprise that now stand where the buildings stood on the 12th day of May, that on the day follow- ing crumbled beneath the power of the fiery fiend. For these magnificent evidences of enterprise that adorn the business portion of the town, there will cluster around the hearts of the rising generation bright memo- ries of the names of Oliver P. Taylor and Henry Couchman, H. S. and F. P. Taylor, Dr. H. F. Kurfurst, William Fishbough, James Henderson, R. & T. Forsyth, James Cook. George F. Bailey, William Gill, Dr. John Ordway and J. W. Woodward, and the members of the lodge of I. O. O. F. It was these gentlemen who settled the question.

The secret societies of this town comprise the Masonic and Odd Fellows' Lodges. The Masonic Order is known as Mad River Lodge No. 161. The charter was issued anI dated September 28, 1848, being originally peti- tioned for by Joel Funk, Z. B. Tennery, Seneca Lapham, William B. MeHvaine. John Wader, William Lapham, James C. Turner, and H. M. White.

A second charter was issued, dated Octo- ber 22, 1873, wherein Joel Funk was appoint- ed Master ; T. B. Tennery, Senior Warden ; and Seneca Lapham, Junior Warden. It

was signed by Asa II. Battin, M. W. G. M. ; Chas. A. Woodward, R. W. G. M. ; Sam'l Wardle. R. W. S. G. W., and S. Moore, R. W. J. G. W. It was attested by John D. Caldwell, R. W. G. Secretary. Before the charter was granted, the first meeting was held March 13, 1848, under dispensation, Joel Funk being Master ; Z. B. Tennery, S. W .; S. Lapham, J. W., these having been appointed by the Grand Master of Ohio.

The following brethren were appointed by the Chair : W. Lapham, Sec'y; II. M. Black, Treasurer ; A. D. Frazell, S. D. ; and W. B. Mellvaine, Junior Deacon. The char- ter members were: D. D. Ogden, James Stafford, Jacob C. Kizer, Zachary Provotty, A. B. Turner, Geo. W. Kizer, Z. B. Tennery, John Wade, Wm. B. Mellvaine, Nathan Hammond, W. R. Stafford, David Underwood, John M. Scott. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, and has a membership of fifty. The present officers are: Joseph Miller, W. V .: D. B. Hale, S. W .: Frank P. Taylor, J. W .; M. G. Rover, S. D .; John F. Kizer, J. D .; Volney Thomas, Tyler; Job Sald- keld, Treasurer ; Henry F. Kurfurst, Secre- tarv.

The I. O. O. Fellows also have a good lodge. It is styled Liberty Lodge, No. 96.

The charter was granted William Hamil- ton. Joseph C. Brown, John Maps, William Elliott. James Broadwell, Jerome M. White and Benjamin Ginn, November 20, 1846, and was signed by Thomas Spooner, MI. W. G. MI .; Albert G. Day (pro ton.). R. W. D. G. M .; Joseph Roth (proton.). R. W. G. W .; Isaac Hefley, R. W. G. Rec. Sec'y: II. N. Clark, R. W. G. Cor. Sec'y; David T. Suelbaker, R. W. G. T .; William Chedsey, R. W. G. G .: W. D. Neilson, R. W. G. C .; Samuel L. Adams, R. R. G. C. The lodge has a mem- bership now of eighty-one members, and is officered as follows: William J. Rule, N. G .;

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

John Kirkwood, V. G .: George Feather, R. S. N. G .; John Fulwider. L. S. N. G .; Ira Kirkwood, R. S. V. G .: William Petty. Seey; W. R. Fisher, Treas .: W. K. Ruland, I. G., and John Maxwell, O. G.

This society is now erecting a handsome building on the corner of Baird and Detroit streets, in which they are arranging a beauti- ful hall to be finished in the highest style of art.

Among our veteran physicians we must notice Dr. 1. C. Taylor, who has been prac- ticing medicine in this town since January, tice in this place, and next to the oldest in! the county. He is a skillful surgeon.

1844. He is the oldest physician in the prac- : anagh. Mayor: James Ewing, Clerk: Dr. H.

Then there is Dr. D. B. Allen, who has been practicing medicine here since 1851. The doctor is blessed with a wide range of practice, and is a well-read physician.

Leonard & Jones are enjoying a large prac- tice. Dr. Leonard commenced about twenty- five years ago. Dr. Jones' partnership practice dates back from INGS. These gentlemen are well versed in their profession, and make a specialty of surgery.

Dr. D. B. Hale practices allopathy very successfully.

Dr. Ben S. Leonard has just launched out into the practice of medicine, with bright hopes and happy anticipations. Ben is a graduate of the Ohio Medical College, from which institution he emerged with flattering honors in the spring of ISS0.

The business of West Liberty is represented by one printing oflies, two dry goods stores, six groceries, two drug stores, two boot and show stores, two clothing stores, two tin stores, three stove stores, one large wholesale action establishment, one provision market, three ment markets, two harness shops, one retail notion store, two hotels, two millinery stores, two saloons, one jewelry store, one large ware- house where grain is purchased, one grist mill, que furniture store, one undertaking es-

tablishment, one marble shop and two black- smith shops.

There is one Presbyterian church, one Methodist, one Christian, one Lutheran, and one Catholic church.

The corporation united with the Trustees of Liberty Township in the erection of a handsome town-hall in IS6s. expending there- on $1.000. It is a substantial structure, and is a credit to the town. The corporation and township officers are in the first story.

The corporation officers are: Dr. W. C. Kav- Garwood. Treasurer: D. B. Allen, Enos Bald- win, F. N. Draper, W. R. Fisher. W. M. Fish- bough, Stephen Jackson.

In 18:1, the West Liberty Wheel Company was organized, with a capital stock of $32,000; F. N. Draper, President.

It conducted the business of manufacturing carriage wheels and carriage material; Mr. Draper continued in office one year, after which. W. R. Fisher served as President until the company closed up its business in 1826.

At the beginning, the prospects of the company were excellent, and their business a fair one, but owing to the pressure of hard times later on and mismanagement, it met the fate of thousands of other enterprises of a similar character.

The post-office is ably and carefully pro- sided over by Mr. Charles E. Darlinton, and his estimable wife, both of whom make many sacrifices to please the public, and their efforts in this direction have won for them en- viable popularity. There is no hne and cry for a "change" in their department of Gor- ernment service, and well it is that there isn't. They demonstrate that they are public ser- vants in furt.

NOTE .- The writer of this history of West Liberty js in- debed to R. N. Jordan, Esq. F. S. braper, Dr. John Ordway. J. W Woodward. Dr. I. F. Kurfur-t, Dr. 1. J. Drake, Kev. E. K. Bell and many others, for valued Information.

PART III.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Biographies Too Late For Alphabetical Insertion.

DONN PIATT. This noted journalist and author is a native of Ohio, and makes the beautiful Mackachack Valley, in Logan Co., his home.

lle is, as his name indicates, of French origin, and retains more than any other mem- ber of this influential family the character- isties popularly attributed to that nation.

All the Piatts of the United States origi- nated from two brothers, Jacobins, who fled religions persecution in France, first to Hol- land and subsequently to the United States.

Olie, the progenitor of the Ohio, Pennsyl- vania and linois Piatts, settled in Now Jersey, while the other went to South Caro- Ina and thence to the West Indies.

Jacob Piatt, grandfather of Wykoff, Donn and H. Sanders Piatt, was a noted officer of the Revolution, having enlisted as a private and fought his way up to a position by as- s gument at one time on the staff of Gen. Washington.

John H. Piatt, son of Jacob, was a success- ful merchant and banker at Cincinnati, and to his energy and enterprise that city owes much of its carly prosperity.

Donn studied law. He says he was put upon the bench shortly after his admission to the bar, by kind friends, that he might learn something of his profession.

From the bench he was transferred to the Diplomatie Corps hy President Pierce, and served as Secretary of Legation at Paris, and for a year, during the illness of the Minister, was Charge d' Affaires.

This promotion got the Secretary into serious trouble. As Secretary, he was paid at the rate of $2,000 a year, and accommo-

dated his expenses to his pay. As Chargé he was expected to take the place of Mlnis- ter with the understanding based on custom, that Congress would allow, subsequently, ex- tra compensation. Confiding in this, the Chargé phinged into an indebtedness that Congress met so long after, that he was stig- matized and abused in a manner that was extremely unjust.

Returning to the United States, he resumed the practice of the law until the war broke ont, and he volunteered as a private to fight for the government. Promoted to a Cap- tainey, he soon after accepted the position of Adjutant General on the staff of Gen. Rob- ert C. Schenck, and under that gallant and able officer, continued in the service until the end of the war. He took part, with the praise of his superior officers, in the battles of the first and second Bull Run, Cross Keys and Bill Pasture Mountains. After the wounding of his general, at the second Bull Rnn, he was assigned to duty as Judge Ad- vocate, and as such conducted the investiga- tion of Gen. Don Carlos Buell, that was so protracted that it came near surviving the war. It was, as Inspector General of the Middle District, with headquarters at Balti- more, . that Col. Piatt with Gen. William Birney, and aided by Henry Winter Davis and Judge Bond, inaugurated the enlistment of slaves in the military service, against the wishes of the administration, that made Mary- land a free State in thirty days.

For this act of insubordination he lost favor with the gorvernment, and when the Union men of Maryland and Delaware waited on the President, asking, on the retirement of

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

General Schenck. he being returned to Con- gress, that Col. Piatt be promoted to the posi- tion of Brigadier General, and given command of the Middle Distriet, Mr. Lincoln said, in his quaint way: " Schenck and Piatt are good fellows. If there's any rotton apples in the barrel, they can be counted on to hook em ont: but, gentlemen, they run their machine on too high a level for me. I don't have much obedience, but a little is necessary, you know."

Twice subsequent to this, when a list of names was sent in for promotion to Brigadier General, from the War Department, Mr. Lin- colu sering that of Col. Piatt, drew his pen across it, saying : " Knows too much."

After the war, in 1865, Col. Piatt sought and secured a return to the Ohio Legisla- ture for Logan Co., that he might aid in send- ing his General, Robert C. Schenck, to the United States Senate. He failed in this, but succeeded in making it very disagrecable to his brother members, by introducing various measures of reform, and advocating them with the wit and sarcasm, for which he is as remarkable in oratory as he is with the pen. Among other proposed reforms was a measure tending to take the police of cities From the political arena, so that it might serve as a con- servator of the peace, in protection of society, instread of being a political machine of the most degraded sort.

Of course he failed, and became, in conse- quener of this and other like measures of ro- form. extremely unpopular. It is to d of him that a member came one day and asked his assistance for a bill then pending.

"Give me the papersand I will do my best in its support," said the member from Logan.

"Oh! I don't mean that." responded the honest member. " I want you to pitch into it in one of your devilish speeches. Then all these fellows who can't get even with you any other way will vote for it."

Donn Pratt sickoned as much of his legis- lative career, as did his constituents, and there was an unanimous consent given to his re- maining at home.

It was after this that Col. Piatt turned his attention exclusively to journalism, with which he had been trifling from time to time as an annunci 01. Employed by the Cincinnati Commercial, as its Washington correspon- dent, he began and continued for three years,

giving a letter a day during the sessions of Congress. These letters were remarkably sur- cessful. While awakening a sensation at the National Capitol among officials never before so criticised and commented upon, they were copied more or less by every journal in the country. The secret of his success is told by the correspondent himself, in a letter published not long since. He says: "1 founded a new school. I discovered that the American people longed for personalities, and I catered to that taste. At Washington I found official agents who had to be treated with ridiculous tender- ness, for they owned the city and all the pen- drivers therein, and hid their imbecility and wickedness under the cover of exalted position. I found the House a Cave of the Winds, and the Senate a preposterous fog-bank. 1 pried into both, creating the same astonishment and disgust felt by a convocation of carrion crows in a dead oak when a sportsman disturbs them with bird-shot. To hold a solemn old pump of a Senator up to ridicule was as startling as it was delicious to the public."

The school founded by Col. Piatt consisted of a crowd of correspondents, who imitated all his faults, without a ray of the merit found in selecting for attack only charlatans, rogues and imbeciles, and garnishing these attacks with wit, to make them acceptable. Col. Piatt sought to bring the evil effects of our government into disfavor. His followers have succeeded in fetching the government itself into contempt.

At the end of the three years correspond- ence, Col. Piatt and George Alfred Town- send started the Washington Capitol, a weekly journal that is to this country what Punch has been to England, and the Figaro to France. George Alfred Townsend retired at the end of three months from the editor- ship of this independent and amusing journal, that has since been conducted by Col. Piatt alone.

Although known widely for his wit, Donn Piatt cannot be considered a humorist, by which is meant one who has this quality only. His wit or humor, as it is popularly called, is but an aid to more serious aims, This graver writings, marred by a cynical torn and much ercentricity, have had so much inthionce that one regrets the wit that gives a flavor of in- sincerity to all he does.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM BOGGS, retired farmer; Mi- ami Tp .. P. O., DeGraff, O. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born Sept. 11, 1801. At that early day, the country was known as Ohio Terri- tory, he being born in that portion now included in Pickaway Co., where he lived for twenty-five years. His father was a farmer, and he was brought up to the same pursuit, and like others in those early days, had few facilities for obtaining an education. While living with his parents he did some flat- boating, making three trips to New Orleans with flour. He also spent some time teaming to Portsmouth, Cincinnati, etc. March 16, 1824, he was married to Miss Jane Britton, a native of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. Mr. Boggs came with his wife and child to Logan Co., O., in 1826, and settled on the banks of the Big Miami, near the mouth of the Buckongahelas creek; at first they lived in their wagon, until he could build a house, which was made of round logs. cut down in- side, forming one room, with stick chimney, oiled paper windows, one door, clap-board roof, puncheon floor, ete .; this served as a home for some fifteen or sixteen years, and though vacated and dilapidated, is yet stand- ing. Upon his settlement here, Mr. Boggs began to clear a farm, and to enjoy the comforts of a pioneer generally, and in 1837 he built a saw-mill on the Buckongahelas Creek, near his residence; and in 1840 he built a flour mill in the same locality; this mill is doing service to-day, and is regarded as one of the best in the county. In August, 1850, Mr. Boggs had the town of DeGraff surveyed on his land, an account of which, together with other matters pertaining to our subject, will be found elsewhere. Sept. 6, 1868, Mr. Boggs was called to mourn the death of his wife. They had four children, of whom two are living-Mrs. Lydia Strayer, living on the old homestead, and Mrs. Ann Henderson, living in Illinois. Mr. Boggs' present wife was Miss Leonia Whitzel; she was born in Ross Co., O. They were married Oct. 12, 1812, and live on the oldI Homestead. In 1868, short- ly after the death of his first wife, Mr. Boggs became paralyzed, and has been an invalid since, having been confined to the house the past eighteen months. Daring his residence here, "Uncle Billy " as he is fam liarly called,

has witnessed many changes. The town that in 1850 was mere pencil marks on paper, has now risen to the rank of second in the county, and the wild forests have turned to fertile farms. The iron-horse now speeds in sight of the old cabin, and in every direction a great transformation appears.

O. S. MILLER, Liberty Tp .; was born in Fredricksburg, Wayne Co., O., on the 31st day of October, 1838. Ile was the eldest son of John M. and Agnes (Sereles) Miller. Mr. Miller's school-days were very few. He had only the district school to attend, and obtained but a meagre education. The union schools were unknown in that day. At the early age of 15 he ceased going to school, at which period he came with his parents to West Liber- ty, where he has lived ever since. Mr. Miller's father being engaged in the manufacture and sale of patent medicines, with .I. Olinger & Co., young Shep, as he is familiarly called, secured a position with this firm, receiving as a com- pensation for his services, for the first year, $100. The second year of his connection with this firm, being but a mere lad of 12, having developed a fine business tact, he was " put upon the road," in commercial travel- ers' parlance, and was entrusted with the im- portant work of establishing agencies through- out Ohio and Eastern Indiana. Mr. Miller continued in the employ of this firm, trusted and honored, for six years continuously, the two last years purchasing all their stock. January 1, 1859, he purchased the entire es- tablishment, conducting the business on his own responsibility for about five years, at which time he associated with him his brother, Theodore F. Miller, and the firm then prose- cuted business under the firm name of O. S. Miller & Co., and it gradually changed into the business of selling notions. The firm does a heavy business, exclusively wholesale, mak- ing a specialty of their " Nonesuch " overalls, coats, jackets, waists, shirts and underwear. They have three commercial travelers con- stantly "on the road," and they employ about 200 sewing women, many of whom make their entire living from the proceeds of work fur- nished them by this enterprising firm. Mr. Miller, in judgment, is very practical and in- dependent. He looks after details sharply. As a business man, although he has salesmen, he likes to be in the midst of his business.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

As a manufacturer of his specialties, he is very discriminating, and probably knows how to make an article with much less expense than most men, similarly situated. lle has, what might properly be denominated, common sense. His memory is good for a man So overflowing with business. Every fact which he acquires himself becomes a part of himself. lle talks to the point-is quite a critie-full of dry humor, and he moves among men as though he understood them. He is firm in his convictions, strong in his opposition; is tech- nical in his ideas; ready to compromise nnim- portant differences, but he urges unfl nching- ty what he believes to be right. He is an active, enterprising citizen, and a popular " man among men," and a liberal friend of the poor. Mr. Miller was married to Miss Laura Phillips at West Liberty, March 6, 1861, and they have a family of four daugh- ters and two sons all living.

JOIN HLLIGAN MILLER: Liberty Tp .; father of O. S. and Theo. F. Miller, leading business men of West Liberty; was born in Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, in August. 1808. His parents moved to Fredricksburg. (). in the year 181, where Mr. Miller was reared and educated. He learned the milling In-iness, but did not pursue the trade for a livelihood. He entered the mercantile busi- ness upon his own responsibility soon after becoming of ag ,, conducting a gen ral mer- cantile and produce trade. His business grew to be the largest in that section of country having places of business in Cleveland, Mas- sillon, Fredericksburg, Edinburg and La- fayette, Ohio. Over this immense business he had imperious control. Few men had more comprehensive views of business mat- tors, quicker insight into difficult problems, or were better posted in all the details of busi- ness operations. In 1849, Mr. Miller met with a heavy financial disaster, and he was forced

to succumb to the great pressure. The prime cause of the failure was the memorable blow- ing up of the Reservoir at Massillon in 1848. It was undermined, and a magazine of powder placed under it by enraged citizens, on account of the deleterious effect of the stagnant water; after a series of efforts to induce the Legisla- ture to dispense with it. The result was disastrous to many people, the flood of water destroying everything before it, Mr. Miller being among the unfortunate sufferers, his mill and warehouse having been swept away with their valuable contents. His loss in this instance, was about $60.000. The second trouble that visited Mr. Miller, was a heavy decline in the price of pork-of which. he was at that time holding about $56,000 worth in Cleveland and Buffalo, The loss suffered in this instance, amounted to abont $15,000- this, together with further troubles of a like nature, caused the plucky man to yield. In the month of March, 1851, he removed with his family to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements with M. C. Furlong, remain ng there one year, removing in 1852 to Independ- ence, Ohio, where he took an interest with Robinson. Jones & Co., in the produce bu-i- ness, staving there one year, removing thence to West Liberty, in the month of April, 1853, where he engaged in the manufacture and sale of patent medicines with J. Olinger, the style of the firm being J. Olinger & Co., in which business he continued until 1859, the business having been sold to Mr. O. S. Mil- ler at that time. Mr. Miller's family con- sisted of six sons and four daughters, of whom but two sons. O. S. and Theo. F. Miller, and two daughters, Mrs. L. A. Pratt and Miss Margaret Miller are now living. He was killed in a railroad accident at Ausonia, Ohio, November 19, 1822. His wife soon followed him, never having recovered from the shock.

587

LAKE TOWNSHIP.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

LAKE TOWNSHIP.

SAMUEL E. ALLMON, postmaster; Belle- fontaine; was born in Portage Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 1832, and is the son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Ellison) Allmon; the mother was born in Virginia, and the father in Ohio, his people. being early settlers of Stark Co., O. Our subject from his native county moved to Stark t'ounty, from thence to Logan, and first located at East Liberty, where he was engaged in the manufacturing business; in 18GI he moved to Bellefontaine, and in 1862 enlisted as private in Co. C., 45th O. V. I., and was soon after made | of cultivation. Sergeant-Major, then Adjutant, serving until the expiration of his time, and participating in all the battles and marches with the regiment from 1862 to 1865; at the close of the war Mr. Allmon returned home to Bellefontaine, and was engaged in traveling for the Wheeler & Wilson Mfg. Co .; in 1876 he was ap- pointed postmaster of Bellefontaine under President Hayes, which office he is now filling with entire satisfaction to all. Mr. Allmon had three brothers in the late war; one killed at the siege of Vicksburg.

I. AKEY, farmer; P. O., Bellefontaine; was born in Washington Co., Pa., Sept. IS, 1815, and is the son of James and Sarah (M)c- Call) Akey. In about 1827 he, with his par- ents, moved to Stark Co., where he remained for a number of years; in 1837, Mr. Akey first came to Logan . Co., working by the day on the farm; he was married Feb. 2, 1843, to Miss Vesta Hubbard, of Portage Co., O., daughter of Rev. Stephen Hubbard, a Methodist preacher for fifty years, now living in Portage Co., O. After marriage, Mr. Akey moved to Logan Co., and located in Rush Creek Tp., but on account of his health, he returned to

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History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 81

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; O.L. Baskin & Co Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin Number of Pages: 798

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 798