History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 37

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014

USA > Ohio > Medina County > History of Medina county and Ohio > Part 37

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Barnard Block, by Hickox and Badger, was secured. Here the court held its sessions until the more imposing structure was erected across the street. Of the present townships, five were erected before the date of the organization of the county. Of these, Medina, Wadsworth and Brunswick were erected in the same year, by the Commissioners of Portage County. The balance, save Homer and Spencer, erected by the authorities of Lorain County, were organized under the authority of Medina officials. There has been no occasion to change the boundary lines, though for temporary purposes, the pres- ent township of Sharon was attached to Gran- ger, La Fayette to Westfield, York to Medina, Chatham to Harrisville, Litchfield to Grafton and afterward to Liverpool, Homer to Sullivan and Spencer to Penfield.

The townships as they uow stand, with their villages and post offices, with the dates of origin, will be found in the accompanying table :

TOWNSHIPS.

When Organized

Villages.

When Laid Out.

Post Offices.

When Established.

Brunswick

1818

Brunswick.

March 15, 1820.

Chatham.

1883

Chatham

June 20, 1837.

Granger.

1820

Granger

March 31, 1828.

Guilford

1819

Seville.

1828.

( +Seville

August 6, 1825.

Harrisville

1817

Lodi.

No plat

¿Lodi

January 21, 1829.

Hinckley

1825

Homer

1833

Homerville

October 25, 1844.

[ {Chippewa Lake ... February 13, 1873.

2 Whittlesey

October 4, 1850.

Erhart

March 13, 1873.

Litchfield

1831

Litchfield

March 12, 1832.

Liverpool

1816

Liverpool.

1845

Liverpool

Medina ..

1818

Medina

1818

Medina

April 24, 1819.

Montville

1820

Poe

March 12, 1860.

*Sharon

1830

Sharon Center Spencer

January 22, 1834 .:

Wadsworth

1818

Wadsworth.

T No plat

Wadsworth

February 24, 1823.

Westfield

1820

Le Roy

1826.

Le Roy

April 5, 1825.

York

1882

York

No plat

Mallet Creek

July 20, 1837.

*Organized as Gask. +Formerly Guilford. #Formerly Harrisonville Reserve. corporated 1866.

¿Formerly Marr. |Formerly Coddingville. TIn-

f Remson's Corners.

March 14, 1855.

f River Styx

February 11, 1828.

Pawnee

January 21, 1879.

Bennett's Corners December 31, 1863 Hinckley

April 2, 1825.

La Fayette

1832

f Smith's Road

July 8, 1850.

May 27, 1833.

Spencer ..

1832

Friendsville.

February 7, 1867.

Abbeyville June 25, 1833.

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

224

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

Apropos of this table, it may be said that there are now three money-order offices in this county, Medina, Seville and Wadsworth. The rates of postage that proved so great a burden to the early pioneers, were, according to the aets of March 1825 and 1827, then in force, "on a letter composed of one piece of paper," for any distanee not exceeding 30 miles, 6 eents ; over 30 miles and not exceeding 80 miles, 10 .eents ; over 80 miles and not exceeding 150 miles, 123 eents ; over 150 miles and not ex- eceding 400 miles, 182 eents ; over 400 miles, 25 cents. "A letter composed of two pieces of paper was charged with double these rates; of three pieces, with triple, and of four pieces, with quadruple. One or more pieces of paper, mailed as a letter, and weigh- ing an ounee, shall be charged with quadruple postage ; and at the same rate should the weight be greater." The contrast between that day and this needs no learned homily to set it forth.

The first sessions of the Commissioners were held in the eabin of Mr. Ferris, as that was the only eabin in the corporation at that time. During the next year, two double log houses were ereeted, which were opened to "entertain man and beast." These were the resort of the county officials, until more suitable quarters were provided. For some years the officers did not reside at the seat of justice, but came up at stated periods, as did most of the citizens of the county, to transaet such business as demanded attention. The contraet for the first eourt house was let to Benjamin Lindsley, late in 1818, or early in the following year. It was to be a rectangular brick, two stories high, sur- mounted by the inevitable cupola of that time, and was to be situated on the southwest corner . of Liberty and Court Streets. The briek was burned that year, in the vicinity of the village, but for some reason, the contractor failed, after carrying on the work for a while, to complete it. At any rate, on the 19th of August, 1821, the commissioners, John Bigelow, Ebenezer Harris,

and Stephen Sibley, made a new contract with John Freese and Timothy Doane, to finish the structure. What it was to be, is best set forth in the following article of agreement :

This article of agreement, entered into this 19th day of August, 1821, between John Bigelow, Ebenezer Har- ris and Stephen Sibley, as Commissioners of Medina County, on the first part, and John Freese and Timothy Doane on the second part-witnesseth: That the party of the first part have contracted with the party of the second part, to complete for said county of Medina, the court house now building, agreeably to the following plan, viz .: In the southwest corner, a room is to be done off by lathing and plastering ; the plastering is to be put on with one good, substantial scratch coat, one good and handsome overcoat, the whole to be white- washed; the windows to be cased, and supplied with window springs; wash-board around the room ; a door to be made, and cased with one and one-half inch board or plank. In the northeast corner of said building, there is a room to be done off in a similar manner. The northwest corner room to be done in a similar manner, and a ceiling of two-inch boards, well planed and grooved, run seven feet from the northeast corner of the room seven feet west, then to angle behind the stairs, until it comes to the wall. The two halls on the lower floor to be lathed and plastered in like manner with the northeast and southwest rooms, and a seat joining on the division of each room. The windows in the southeast room to be cased with double architraves, which are to extend from the top of the windows to the ground floor. There arc to be panels under each wiudow; the room to be lathed and plastered like the other. There is to be one panel door in each apartment, the whole to be made of one and one-half inch black wal- nut, or butternut, and well cased. There is to be a good, decent, substantial railing on the outside of the stairs, and the whole of the windows in the building are to be well cased and supplied with springs. The whole of the upper story of said building is to be lathed and plastered, and have wash-boards as below. There is to be a handsome circular molding struck in the wall over the center of the court room, three fcet in diameter, the center of which is to project and contain a hook of suitable strength to support a large chandelier, when deemed expedient ; there are also to be additional hooks to support the requisite number of stove-pipes. There are to be two rooms partitioned off from a wall which is to be run across the landiug cast and west, near the head of the stairs ; there is to be a double panel door

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

227

in this partition. The two rooms are to be partitioned off east of the stairs, and the east room is to contain two-thirds of the space. These division walls arc to be lathed and plastered on both sides, and there is to be a row of seats around each of these rooms. The lathing of these divisions must be on good and substantial ads. There is to be a hatchway left over one of these small rooms as an accommodation in case of fire. There is to be a good latch, catch, etc., on each door, of brass or wrought iron, and also a bolt of the same material. For other work to be done in the upper or court room, reference is had to the plan hercunto annexed, with this understanding, that said circular table is to be made of black walnut, butternut or cherry, supported on lege, the leaf to be covered with green baize, to cover er the edge of the table, and secured by a molding gether with small brass nails in sufficient quantity for durability and ornament. The circle in front of the bar and back of the jury seats to be of long panels, two feet and eight inches high, and capped with a decent and substantial molding. The front of the Judge's seat and Clerk's seat to be of panel work in a similar manner; the molding on the top, however, to be broad and answer as a kind of table for writing, etc. The Sheriff and prisoner's box also to be of pancl. The other work in the upper story to be done in a plain, good and substantial manner. All the doors are to be supplied with locks and keys, to be well hung and com- pleted ; and finally, the whole building is to be com- pleted in the above manner and style, so that the build- ing, when complete, shall not be wanting in any of those small conveniences or ornaments so necessary in

public building. For, and in consideration of the above, the party of the first part agree to pay unto the party of the second part, the sum of $1,500 on the 1st day of December, 1822, provided, the said house is completed in manner and form as above written, by the party of the second part, by said 1st day of Decem- ber, 1822. The above-mentioned sum of $1,500 to bc paid from notes in the hands of the Director of Public Lands against the proprietors of the public lands ; and for the faithful performance of the foregoing agreements, we do hereby bind ourselves, heirs and assigns. In testimony whereof we hcreunto set our hands and scals the day and year first above written.

JOHN BIGELOW. [SEAL ].

In presence of

EBENEZER HARRIS. [SEAL ].

BENJAMIN LINDSLEY,

STEPHEN SIBLEY. [SEAL].

EELA B. CLARK. JOHN FREESE. [SEAL].

TIMOTHY DOANE.

[SEAL ].

It may be well to add that the building fronted to the east, and that the plan shows the location of the stairs in the northwest corner of the building. A partition running east and west cut off the court-room from the stairway and left space east of the stairway that was de- voted to counsel and jury rooms, as noted above. The Judge's bench was in the south part of the room, immediately in front of which was the Clerk's desk, and in front of this was the circular counsel table referred to above. Back of this and in the line of the railing which divided the bar from the audience, were the sheriff and criminal boxes side by side. On either side of the counsel table, were long benches for the grand and petit juries. The rest of the space was furnished with seats for the accommodation of spectators. In the lower floor, the main entrance was on Court street, from which, a large hall led back through the center of the building between the offices de- scribed above. The northwest corner was thrown into the hall and formed a sort of an ante-room, which opened on to Liberty street by a side door near the foot of the stairs. When this building was fully completed, it is impossible to discover. As late as 1826, the records show that the Commissioners ordered a purchase of 100 feet of 10x12 glass, some iron scrapers for the steps, and some fire fenders for the offices, and at the same time ordered the laying of some stone door-steps for the court house. This was probably the finishing stroke, and were things not contemplated in the con- tract. Before the court house was completed, however, the Commissioners had caused a log jail to be erected on a site about midway of the block that faces the public square on the west. But little can be ascertaincd in regard to this pioneer institution. It was built of hiewed logs, the corners being dovetailed to- gether. Who had the contract, or what the further character of the building was, cannot now be ascertained ; though one of the work-

228

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

men, Mr. Badger, is still living, lie does not re- member any of its characteristics. In 1829, the public square, which was nearly all that re- mained to the county of its "public lands " at that time, was inclosed by a fence. The "Di- rector of Public Lands " had contracted with Austin Badger to clear it, and it had subse- quently been sowed to oats and seeded down, and, the year mentioned, the Commissioners contracted with Benjamin Lindsley to construct a fence about it at $2.50 per rod, the fence to be completed by the 25th of May. The contractor seems to have been one of those unfortunate people who are always "behind- hand" in life, and the date set for the comple- tion of the contract was extended to the 16th of July, and it was finished then only through the Commissioners threatening to have it done at the contractor's expense. In later years, the fence was taken away, and the square made a public common. A picture of the village in 1840, which is pronounced by old citizens to be accurate, shows but two trees and a flagstaff standing on this ground. Since then, the pres- ent grove has been added, and proves a useful as well as ornamental feature of the county seat.

On March 15, 1830, an advertisement was inserted in the Cleveland Herald, then the only paper in this vicinity, calling for scaled propo- sals for the erection of a fire-proof building, 18x40 feet, one story high, suitable for the pub- lic offices. In the following December, the Commissioners entered into a contract with Messrs. Oviatt & Bronson, for $690, to erect this cdifice. It was eventually built two stories higli, with four offices. Two were entered from the front street, and, in the middle, an entrance and hall led to the two situated in the rear part of the building. Two windows furnished the light for the offices, and an arched brick ceiling encouraged the belief that they were fire- proof. The upper rooms, save the southwest onc, were rented for offices to the various law-

yers, Judge Samuel McClure having an office there at one time. On January 3, 1833, a con- tract was entered into by the Commissioners with Stephen N. Sargent and Uriah H. Peak, for the construction of a brick jail on the rear of Lot No. 1. The conditions of the contract are not fully set forth in the records, but, from other evidence, it is understood that the con- sideration was Lot No. 2, valued at $425, and $1,500 in cash. This sufficed the purposes of justice until 1851, though not without some risk of the escape of prisoners, which now and then occurred. On July 19 of this year, the Commissioners bought of George Anson 102} feet from the east side of Lot No. 75, for $358.75, and at once invited proposals for the building of a new jail, to be placed upon this site. Six proposals, varying from $6,400 to $10,075 were received, and, on the 2d of December, , 1851, a contract was entered into with Harris & Varnim to build the jail for $7,000. The cells were eonstrueted of stone, all "grouted," and the balance of the structure of brick, and is still serving the county. The old jail was sold a little later, to Barton Green, for $900.

In 1840, the Commissioners began to feel that a new court house was demanded. At this time the stone of the foundation, which was got out of Champion Creek, had begun to erum- ble and the brick to fall out of place, and the Commissioners began to look about for a new site for the court house which should succeed it. Lot No. 80 was bought in March of this year for $1,200, and, in the following Septem- ber, the following entry was made upon their records : "The Commissioners, after examining the different proposals presented to them, and, after mature deliberation, have agreed to ac- cept the proposal of D. H. Weed, which said proposal is in substance as follows, to wit: Said Weed agrees to build a new court house for the old court house and public offices and the ground on which said buildings stand, and the land adjoining belonging to the county, ex-

229

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

cept the ground reserved by the county for the jail, which said ground so reserved by the eounty for the jail, commences at a stake stuck by the said county commissioners, west from the northwest corner of the public offices, and to run north and west from said stake, parallel with the lines of said lot or lots, hereby intend- ing to reserve all the ground on which the jail now stands, and southeast of the jail to the lines running north and west from said stake ; and, also, said Weed is to have the additional sum of $3,100. Said Weed is not to have pos- session of the court house and public offices until the new court house is finished." The contractor went to work in the following year, and, by August, had completed the foundation. The building was placed on the site where it still stands, and was completed that year. It was surmounted by a cupola which was fin- nished with a “ gilt ball sixteen inches in diam- eter." Later, the Commissioners directed that the building should be painted with "red lead and Spanish brown, for which Weed shall be allowed $50, but," the record naively adds, "if he won't paint it for that, the Auditor may make the best bargain possible." The natural growth of business soon made the court house too small to accommodate it, and an agitation was begun with a view to secure greater facili- ties. The object was generally approved, but, upon the means to accomplish this end, there was not the same unanimity. It was finally decided by the Commissioners to make addi- tions to the old structure, and the result has been, while the general appearance of the out- side has been greatly improved, an examina- tion exhibits the old-time folly of " putting new eloth into old garments." After considerable deliberation, the nature of the work not de- manding a vote of approval from the people, the Commissioners gave notice of their inten- tion to make additions to the court house on March 30, 1872. In the following July, the contract was let to W. G. Tilley, for $17,300.

The improvements added two large rooms on the first and on the second floors, that were greatly needed. These are situated one on either side, the intervening spaee serving be- low as a re-entrant vestibule, and above as a covered balcony. The whole is surmounted by an ornamental belfry, provided with a dial for the purpose of a tower clock. A bell of about 1,000 pounds' weight has been hung in the tower, and a fine vault constructed for the records and moneys of the county. The whole cost is set forth in the following final statement of the contractor :

To amount due under contract .. .$ 17,300 00

To extra stone work for foundation. 491 75

To extra galvanized iron, work and mate-

rial ordered. 950 15

To extra plastering, work and material or- dered. 558 60

To extra brickwork, work and material or- dered 296 54

To extra framing, finishing and carpenter

work, court room, halls, and material ... 1,320 80

To extra painting and graining. 310 00

To extra lumber for framing, sheathing old roof, etc. 908 23

To extra labor on same. 800 00

To drafting details of work 100 00

Total $ 23,086,07

To this there was an addition of $72.60 for furniture for the various offices by the contract- or, besides the expense of superintending the building, which formed something of an item.

The subject of an infirmary was broached as early as 1836, but the project was not favorably received, and it lay dormant until 1854. In this year, a farm was bought in La Fayette Township, of John S. Jones, which, together with more recent additions, now reaches to 273 acres. In June, the Board of County Commis- sioners, consisting of Carr G. Rounds, J. M. Henderson and James S. Redfield, contracted with William Hickox & Brother to build a brick County Infirmary building, 29x59 fcet, for the sum of $2,200. The work was com- pleted in the following December, and accepted and paid for by the Commissioners in January. Early in 1864, this building was destroyed by

230

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

fire, caused, it is supposed, by the act of some of the insane inmates ; the building proved a complete loss, save an insurance of some $1,700. On May 18, 1364, the Board of Commissioners contracted with William Hickox for the crection of the present structure for $8,900. In 1861, a two-story brick building, 30x41 feet, was erect- ed by William Hickox, just southeast of the old Infirmary building. The contract was let by the Commissioners on the 5th of February, at a cost of $1,800. The farm is supplied with good outbuildings, including a brick wash- house, laundry and bakery combined, 20x33 feet, an ice-house and milk-room, a smoke- house, coal-house, etc. The farm is nearly all nnder cultivation ; a portion of it which was swamp land has been thoroughly drained, and has been cultivated for some years. A large part of the support of the institution is raised on the farm, but there is an average draft on the county of about $4,000.

The first person admitted to the infirmary, was Charles Olcott, of Medina Village, who was admitted February 5, 1855, at the age of sixty- one years. Mr. Oleott had a fine education, was a member of the bar, and had served as Prosecuting Attorney of the county ; he had filled various offices of trust, and, for many years before his misfortunes, had been a promi- inent citizen. At his death the conrt adjourned and the bar passed the nsual resolutions and attended the funeral. There were forty-three applicants for admission on the first day that the institution was fairly opened, and during the year the total number of applicants was sixty-five. The average each year since has not varied materially from that number ; usu- ally varying at each annual report somewhere between fifty and sixty inmates. William F. Nye, appointed from Westfield in 1874, is still in charge of the institution, and is remarkably successful in his management.

Politically, Medina Connty is not conspicu- ons, Like eddies in a stream, it circles about

its own center, receiving an impulse from the national political current, but is situated just beyond the broad sweep of its power. Political preferment during the first twenty-five years of the history of the county was looked npon as an expensive honor of doubtful value. The great majority of the people had come from the middle class of society in the " Land of Steady Habits," whose ambition had never soared to a loftier flight than to the time-honored position of Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, etc. The change of residence to a new country, where the necessities of the situation tasked their en- ergies to the ntmost simply to gain a snbsis- tence, had not shown a tendency to stimulate their aspirations for public honors. In fact, the office songht the man, frequently "going a begging," and it was not an infrequent thing for a man to decline a proffered nomination simply because he could not afford to give his time. Nominations were made through the nearest newspaper, the Cleveland Herald act- ing for years in that capacity for Medina, or by personal announcements and solicitation of friends of the candidate. Up to 1830, the party lines of the two great political organizations had not been very rigidly drawn, in fact, had been scarcely drawn at all, and a candidate trusted for his election far more to his personal popularity than to the allegiance of his party adherents.

The abduction of Morgan in 1827, which formed so powerful a weapon in the politics of New York and in many parts of Ohio, had its effect upon society in Medina, but it cannot properly be said to have effected the political situation here. A paper published at Ravenna in the anti-Masonic interest, fonnd a very large support here, but this sentiment was not hedged in by any party lines. Democrats and their opponents, whether by the name of Federalist or Whig, subscribed to both sides of the ques- tion, and it was never brought forward publicly as a text, In 1833, wlien Gen. Duthan North-

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HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

231

rup was a candidate for Representative to the General Assembly, his friends who urged his cause, described him to the opponents of the order as " not a Mason," and to its friends as "not an Anti-Mason," and he was elected.

At this time, the old parties had become dis- integrated in this county, and had not as yet become fixed in the party crystallization which succeeded. The question of internal improve- ments by the General Government, introduced by Henry Clay, awakened a lively interest at that time among the people living in a half- subdued wilderness. Prosperous growth in Medina County had long been delayed by the lack of ways and means of transportation, and this question impressed the average mind as a practical issue, and it proved the entering- wedge which has since wrought such a marked division of political sentiment. The great tariff agitation which succeeded, changed the places of some who had taken the Whig side of the first issue, so that, while it strengthened the line of separation, it made a nearly equal division of the political forces in the county. In 1834, John Newton, of Richfield, then in Medina County, was the first candidate elected in the county, distinctively as a Whig. He was succeeded in the following year, as Repre- sentative to the General Assembly, by Philo Welton, a Democrat, who, in turn, gave way in 1836 to Mr. Newton, who was re-elected. In 1835, James S. Carpenter, a young unmarried man from New York, established a Whig paper in Medina, and through his efforts gave the preponderance of power to the party with which he was affiliated, so that the successful candidates for the succeeding seven years were chosen from the Whig party.

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History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 37

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1014

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014