USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 6
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State are making an effort to restock it with black bass and other fine, edible fish and at no distant period it is expected that fish in abundance will once more be found in the lake.
In the winter season, it furnishes as fine a field of ice for packing pur- poses as can be found anywhere. The frozen surface of the lake also invites those who delight to indulge in the sports of skating and ice-boating.
In the spring and autumn of each year, wild ducks and geese gather here in large and almost incredible numbers, furnishing excellent sport for the hunters who come from far and near.
For many years boating on Lake Mercer has been a popular pasttime and many fine pleasure boats float on its placid waters. As early as 1850-51, a Mr. Doyle, of Dayton, owned a steamboat, which ran between Celina and St. Marys on the Grand Reservoir.
Since the completion of the Lake Erie & Western, the Cincinnati, Hamil- ton & Dayton and the Cincinnati Northern railroads through Celina, to- gether with the Western Ohio traction line, Lake Mercer has attracted great numbers of hunters and fishermen from all parts of Ohio and Indiana and is becoming better known with each succeeding year. Aside from this, large parties, constituting excursions, from all parts of the country, visit here dur- ing the summer season simply as a place of recreation, as it offers induce- ments to those desiring excellent boating, hunting and fishing.
THE CELINA CHAUTAUQUA ASSEMBLY.
In the summer of 1905, in the beautiful grove or park of the old Fair Grounds, located on the north bank of Lake Mercer, the Celina Chautauqua Assembly held its first session, which was attended by thousands of people from all sections of the country, great numbers camping in tents on the grounds during the entire session. The assembly met with such an unpar- alleled success the first season, that a large auditorium was erected for the accommodation of its patrons. The assembly has secured the best talent in the land and its attractions are recognized as equaling those of the best Chautauquas in the country. It is under the management of Milton I. Brown of Cincinnati, manager; John E. Hamburger, of Celina, superintendent of grounds; and Ira Crampton, of Celina, secretary. The officers, as well as the citizens of Celina generally, are very generously supporting it, believing that it will prove to be a great education, both moral and intellectual, to the entire community.
MERCER COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION.
The first meeting of the Mercer County Pioneer Association was held in- Moore's Grove at Mendon in the fall of 1882, at which meeting an organiza-
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tion was effected, Dr. David F. Parrott being chosen president and James Shepherd, secretary. The officers for 1883 and 1884 were Thomas Upton and James Shepherd, president and secretary, respectively. J. W. Presho was president and T. W. Murlin, secretary, in 1885. Smith H. Clark and T. W. Murlin served respectively as president and secretary in 1886 and 1887. The officers for 1888 and 1889 were: J. W. Presho, president; T. W. Mur- lin, secretary; and J. M. Hussey, treasurer. In 1890 Moses Townsend be- came president; A. H. Roebuck, secretary; and Alexander Partner, treas- urer. The following year the president was Thomas J. Godfrey ; secretary, A. H. Roebuck; and treasurer, G. D. Dunathan. The officers for the years 1892, 1893 and 1894 were: Thomas J. Godfrey, president ; W. F. McDaniel, secretary ; and G. D. Dunathan, treasurer. The following officers served for the years 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898: Thomas J. Godfrey, president ; Henry Lennartz, secretary; and G. D. Dunathan, treasurer. The officers in 1899 were W. F. McDaniel, president; Henry Lennartz, secretary; and Calvin E. Riley, treasurer. Mr. Riley has continued in office as treasurer from that time to this. In 1900 J. S. Rhodes became president, Mr. Lennartz continu- ing to act as secretary. In 1901 J. F. Timmons was elected president and R. H. Chapman, secretary ; the latter has ever since contiued to fill the office of secretary. In 1902 S. A. Nickerson succeeded Mr. Timmons as president and continued in office until 1906 when A. H. Roebuck became president. The present officers are as follows: A. H. Roebuck, president; R. H. Chapman, secretary ; and Calvin E. Riley, treasurer.
The constitution and by-laws of the association were adopted at the meeting held at Mendon in 1892. Colonel Mott and Hon. F. C. LeBlond were the orators at the meeting of 1893. The association held its annual meetings at Mendon up to 1894 in which year the change was made to Celina, where they have ever since been held. The 1894 meeting was addressed by Hon. Caleb H. Norris, of Marion, Ohio, on the topic-"Early History of North- western Ohio." In 1895 the association was addressed by Hon. G. M. Saltz- gaber, of Van Wert, Ohio; topic-"The Wilderness of Northwestern Ohio." In 1896 the meeting was held in a large tent on the old Fair Grounds; the orator of the day was Rev. O. S. Green. At this meeting a committee was appointed to erect an old-fashioned pioneer cabin on the Fair Grounds, of which committee Smith H. Clark was chairman. John Betz, Jacob Leininger, Stephen Howick and other pioneers assisted in the work. The cabin, a view of which appears elsewhere in this work, was built and furniture of the old times placed therein. At the meeting of the association held in 1897 David Money, a pioneer of Jay County, Indiana, and J. R. Oliver, a native of Eng- land, but a pioneer of Mercer County, entertained the people with remini- scences of former days. Prizes of $5 each were awarded to James Morrissey,
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99 years old, a native of Ireland, who was reported to be the oldest man pres- ent at the meeting, and to Sophronia Nuss, 96 years old, a native of Germany, the oldest woman present. At the meeting held in 1898, Fred Smith, 92 years old, and Margaret Hiles, 84 years old, were the oldest pioneers present. Hon. C. M. Anderson, of Darke County, addressed the association in 1899 on the acquisition of more territory by the United States. A. M. Tracy, aged 90 years, was the oldest man present, and Catharine Beam, aged 87 years, the oldest woman. In 1900 Hon. H. C. Glenn, of Van Wert, and Hon. F. C. LeBlond addressed the meeting and reviewed old times. M. M. New- comb was awarded the prize offered to that pioneer who was the longest married in the county and present at the meeting, his record being 52 years. In 1901 Prof. J. F. Lumb, the blind orator, made the address.
The association meets in the new Fair Grounds at Celina on the first or second Thursday of August each year. The executive committee, composed of six members, has the program of events for each meeting in charge. Every person who has lived in the county for 50 years is a pioneer.
AGRICULTURE.
The earliest farmers of Mercer County had to contend with innumerable obstacles ; with the wildness of Nature, the attacks of Indians and wild beasts upon their stock, the difficulty of obtaining farming implements and seeds, and with conditions of climate and soil, very different from those of the old countries whence they derived all their methods. The pioneer farmer was compelled to use the crudest methods. He cut down, heaped and burned the small trees and undergrowth, and belted the large ones. He scratched the surface a little with a home-made plow, and cultivated his corn and to- bacco with a wooden hoe. He harvested the crop that Nature gave him in a careless manner and used it wastefully. He cultivated the same field until it was worn out, when he cleared another and moved his family near to it. So long as land was so abundant, no attention was paid to the conservation of the fertility of the soil. This country was so large and fertile that it took the people a long time to find out that there was any limit to its productive- ness. These conditions were quite sufficient to explain the slow progress made in agriculture in the early development of the county.
DRAINING THE LAND.
The land of the county is generally level. In an early day, swamps and marshes were found in many parts of the county, rendering the land unfit . for cultivation. A study of how to bring about the profitable cultivation of the wet land was a question that sorely puzzled the progressive farmer, but
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the problem was solved by the drainage of the land. The first system of drainage was a rude affair, but it was the best that could be done. Plenty of material was found near at hand, the ditch was made and then the drain- made of planks in the form of boxes without ends-was laid. This wooden drain proved but a temporary makeshift, however, and soon became useless as the wood decayed and the ditch became filled with dirt. As the county be- came older associations were organized, which took up the discussion of subjects pertaining to the interests of the farmers, the tile mill was built for manufacturing drain tile. This solved the question of how to remove the surplus water and the farmer, aided also by wise legislation on the drainage question, was no longer bothered by having his crops drowned out by an overflow of heavy rainfall, the soil became more productive, and the result was that abundant crops were raised. With all this progress came in due time the improved machinery for planting and harvesting the crop. 1
FARMERS' INSTITUTES AND COUNTY FAIRS
Have been great help-mates in the progress made in farming during the past 35 years. In the beginning they were rather small and but slimly at- tended and the attractions were not such as to draw the public generally, but it was found that by having attractions in which people were interested there was a material increase in attendance, which swelled the receipts. By having good speakers at the Farmers' Institutes, and such attractions at the county fairs as the times demand, they have grown to be places of amusement and profit. In a measure, the county fair has been the means of bringing about the raising of better grades of stock, and the using of better and more im- proved farming implements and machinery, which has resulted in the secur- ing of better prices for all the products raised on the farm. The Grange, an institution of not many years ago, was for the benefit of the farmer and was run by and for this class of people, but it had its day and in its place a system of Farmers' Institutes was organized. These are held in different localities in the county as stated times and are well officered by a president, secretary and treasurer. At the institute meetings lectures are given on subjects that pertain to the welfare of those interesed in agriculture and stock-raising.
MERCER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This society was organized many years ago. For the first few years of its existence, the attempt was made to keep it up by means of the gate re- ceipts at the annual county fairs held under its auspices, but these receipts fell far short of paying the premiums and the running expenses. The county fairs for the past 10 years have been self-sustaining. In the dark days of the
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society, the county came to its aid and to pay the society's debt and keep the institution alive raised money by issuing bonds, which were met by a tax levy.
The exact date of the first fair cannot be obtained, but it was probably about 1857 or 1858. It was held on the east side of the town of Celina, on the north bank of the Grand Reservoir, on a plot of ground owned at that time by the State of Ohio, containing about 17 or 18 acres, which is the pres- ent location of the Celina Chautauqua Assembly. It is a beautiful tract of land overlooking the Grand Reservoir-Lake Mercer-and the native oak and elm trees furnish an abundance of shade. The deed records show that the society in February, 1872, purchased this tract of land from the State of Ohio, and upon this the annual fairs were held until recently. In June, 1878, the society, foreseeing the necessity of more ample grounds for the yearly meetings, bought 21.32 acres of land for $1,900 from the Brandon heirs, on the west side and adjoining the town, which tract constitutes the present Fair Grounds, where the society holds its annual meetings. On November 2, 1893, the society purchased from John W. De Ford a tract of 180 acres ad- joining the ground already owned by it, paying therefor the sum of $2,700. The size of the Fair Grounds is therefore in excess of 39 acres. Here a first- class, regulation track for speeding horses has been built. A large amphi- theatre, located on the south side of the race track, will seat from 3,000 to 4,000 people. The other buildings on the grounds for the accommodation of the visitors are modern and well adapted to the purposes for which they were built. The society has been to great expense in erecting buildings and in otherwise improving the grounds for the accommodation and convenience of the people. It is to-day in a prosperous condition. The fairs of to-day throughout the State are divided into circuits and a time fixed for each one to hold its yearly meeting, that of Mercer County being in August. The fair in 1906 was held from August 2Ist to August 24th, inclusive.
We would like very much to give the officers of the society from the first to the present time, but are unable to do so as the old records can not be found. We have been informed that a Mr. Browning was the first president. The present officers (1906) are as follows: President, C. F. Kruger; vice- president, Sol. Shock; secretary, Samuel J. Vining; treasurer, J. C. Brook- hart; directors-John Birkmeir, John Chivington, Irvin Hole, B. B. Wilson, Henry Beckman, Levi Young, W. B. Doner, Barney Albers, T. W. Clark, W. R. Severn, Noah Denney and the four officers named.
The constitution of the society among other things provides as follows :
Article I .- This organization shall be known as Mercer County Agricultural Society. Article 2 .- The object of this society will be the improvement of agricultural and horticultural productions, educational science, useful domesticated animals, domestic manu- factures and the mechanical arts.
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Article 3 .- Every citizen of the county of the age of 21 years or over, who shall pay annually $1.00 to the treasurer of the society, on or prior to the last day of the fair, shall be a member of the society.
Article 4 .- The affairs of the society shall be managed and directed by a board of fifteen directors, whose terms of service shall be two years and whose compensation shall not exceed $2.00 per day of actual service. Seven of said board shall constitute a quorum to do business. Candidates for members of said board must be members of the society.
Article 5. (As amended)-On the last day of the fair, annually, an election shall be held to elect one-half the members of the board of directors mentioned in Article four, the polls opening at 12 M. standard time, and closing at 4 P. M. Voting will be by ballots, which will be furnished by the Society and contain the names of the persons to be voted for. Only bona fide members of the society will be entitled to vote. The board shall elect two clerks and two judges from its membership. Candidates for membership on the board may have their names placed on the official ballots by handing to the secretary by 6 o'clock P. M., on the second day of the fair, a written request, signed by five members of the society. Official ballots only will be counted.
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NATURAL GAS AND OIL.
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In the past 20 years natural gas has been a source of revenue as well as a great convenience to the citizens of nearly every town in the county, and to a great many farmers who use it for fuel and light. The first gas-wells were drilled on town lots in Celina about 1888, and not long after this a great gas field was opened in Franklin township. A gas company was formed by a syndicate of Celina citizens, known as the Celina Gas Company, who installed a gas plant in Celina and furnished the town with fuel and light for a num- ber of years. Later a second plant was formed by home people and gas piped to the town. Finally the day came when the gas failed, and both plants were sold at a great sacrifice. The Indiana & Ohio Gas Company now furnish all the natural gas for Celina, bringing it from the vicinity of Columbus, about 140 miles distant.
The oil industry of the county followed the finding of gas. The first wells were drilled northeast of Mendon and about the same time others were drilled some miles west of Celina. The first wells ever drilled in the county were under the supervision of George H. Houser, of Celina, who has made and lost a fortune in the oil business, but who still believes there is a fortune in drilling for oil in Mercer County. At first oil sold at 15 cents a barrel; when the best wells were drilled, about 1890 to 1893, the price was 78 cents per barrel. It may be stated that oil has been discovered in every part of the county. In the northwest part of the county a great oil field has been opened up and a great many good wells drilled; in the northeast part of the county, drilling has been going on for a number of years and several companies have good and paying plants. Southwest from Celina a new territory has been developed with a number of paying wells, and no doubt is entertained but that the entire part of that section of the county is underlaid with gas and oil.
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COLONIZATION OF COLORED PEOPLE-EMLEN INSTITUTE.
In the late '30's, Augustus Wattles, a native of Connecticut, founded a colony of colored people, amounting to several hundred, scattered through the townships of Marion, Granville and Franklin, who lived principally by agriculture, owning extensive lands. We quote his own language in regard to the settlement of these people :
"My early education, as you well know, would naturally lead me to look upon learning and good morals as of infinite importance in a land of liberty. In the winter of 1833-34, I providentially became acquainted with the colored population of Cincinnati, and found about 4,000 totally ignorant of every- thing calculated to make good citizens. Most of them had been slaves, shut out from every avenue of moral and mental improvement. I started a school for them and kept it up with two hundred pupils for two years. I then pro- posed to the colored people to move into the country and purchase land, and remove from those contaminating influences which had so long crushed them in our cities and villages. They promised to do so, provided I would accom- pany them and teach school. Istravelled through Canada, Michigan and In- diana looking for a suitable location, and finally settled here, thinking this place contained more natural advantages than any other unoccupied country within my knowledge. In 1835 I made the first purchase for colored people in this (Mercer) county. In about three years they owned not far from 30,000 acres. I had travelled into almost every colored neighborhood in the State and laid before them the benefits of a permanent home for themselves and of education for their children. In my first journey through the State I established by the assistance and co-operation of abolitionists, twenty-five schools for colored children. I collected of the colored people such money as they had to spare, and entered land for them. Many, who had no money, afterwards succeeded in raising some, and brought it to me. With this I bought land for them.
"I purchased for myself 190 acres of land to establish a manual labor school for colored boys. I had sustained a school on it, at my own expense, till the IIth of November, 1842. Being in Philadelphia the winter before, I became acquainted with the trustees of the late Samuel Emlen, of New Jersey, a Friend. He left by his will $20,000 for the 'support and education in school learning and the mechanical arts and agriculture, of such boys of African and Indian descent, whose parents would give them up to the in- stitute.' We united our means, and they purchased my farm and appointed me the superintendent of the establishment, which they called the Emlen Institute."
Henry Howe, in his "Historical Collections of Ohio," says: "In 1846
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Judge Leigh, of Virginia, purchased 3,200 acres of land in this settlement for the freed slaves of John Randolph, of Roanoke. These arrived in the sum- mer of 1846, to the number of about 400, but were forcibly prevented from making a settlement by a portion of the inhabitants of the county. Since then acts of hostility have been commenced against the people of this settlement, and threats of greater held out, if they do not abandon their lands and homes."
In Van Buren township, Shelby County, about 400 colored persons set- tled. An attempt was made in July, 1846, to colonize with them 385 of the emancipated slaves of John Randolph, of Virginia, after they were driven from Mercer County, and scattered in Miami and Shelby counties.
In Brown County two large settlements of colored persons, amounting to about 500 each, were made. One was three miles north of Georgetown, and the other was in the northeast part of the county, 16 miles distant. They emigrated from Virginia, and were the slaves of Samuel Gest, who manu- mitted and settled them upon two large surveys of land.
In the office of the clerk of the courts of Mercer County is a manuscript docket, entitled "Record of Free Blacks," in which are the following entries :
"State of Kentucky, Mason County, June 21, 1842. John James Key, clerk of said Court, certifies that at the April Court, 1832, Thomas Bowles produced his certificate of his being a free man from the corporation of Lynchburg, Virginia, which was ordered to be recorded, he being thirty-five years of age, of black complexion, five feet nine and a half inches high, which certificate bears date March 29, 1826.
"On December 21, 1842, Thomas Bowles registered his son, aged twenty years, five feet six and a half inches high, bushy head, and heavy made, mu- latto color, with a scar in the upper edge of the right eyebrow .- FRANKLIN LINZEE, Clerk."
"North Carolina, Northampton County, March 4, 1834. Richard H. Weaver, clerk of the Court, certifies that David Mitchell is thirty-six years of age, five feet six inches high, light complexion, and a scar on the left side of the left leg, and a blacksmith.
"Also, that Jenny Mitchell, his wife, is free born, thirty-three years of age, four feet five inches high, light complexion, and dark hair.
"Mrs. Elizabeth Moore, on August 25, 1826, of the county of Harrison, Kentucky, but now resident in Clermont County, Ohio, emancipated a negro woman named Dorcas, and eight children, viz., Mintee, Henry, Charles, Den- ison, Rachel, George, Alfred, and William, which deed is recorded December 30, 1830, in the clerk's office of Mercer County, Ohio .- JAMES W. RILEY, Clerk.
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"May 21, 1833. Israel Alexander Thomas, of Hardy County, Virginia, registered himself as 24 years of age, five feet, nine and one-half inches high, in that Court, and afterwards at Mercer County, Ohio, December 21, 1850 .- JAS. W. RILEY, Clerk."
"Burrell Archer and Martha, his wife, December 25, 1850.
"Benjamin King, Esq., formerly of Iredell, North Carolina, but now of Washington County, Indiana, manumitted. his negro man, Squire Knox, forty years of age, entered of record December 30, 1850, and at the same time Squire Knox entered his wife, Rachel Jane Knox, thirty-six years of age, four feet six inches high, light color, with straight hair, and well made. Also Thomas Delaney, aged fourteen years, and Solomon Delaney, aged eight years, with brown skin and curly hair. Squire Knox also registered his own children, born of Rachel Jane Knox, viz., George and Sarah, with brown skin and curly hair .- JAMES WATSON RILEY, Clerk.
"State of Alabama, August 15, 1847. Guilliam Nicholson petitioned the Court presided over by Hon. H. M. McElnan, to emancipate a negro man named Thomas, and his wife, Sydney, and their children, Harry, Allen, Pris- cilla, Clarissa, Thomas and Franklin, which the Court decided, notice thereof having been given in the newspapers published in the town of Tuskegee, in the county of Macon, Alabama, in consideration of the long and faithful and meritorious services performed by said slaves, have emancipated and set free.
"Entered of record 1854 .- H. F. JUNEMAN, Clerk."
"John Harper, of Randolph County, North Carolina, made his will December 2, 1850, admitted to probate May, 1851, manumitting his faithful and obedient servants, Francis, Julie, Sylvanie, Sandy and little Harry, and such issue as may be born of either of them, and to go to some of the free States : requiring some of his nephews, J. H. and R. G. Lindsay, to see that the slaves be permitted to have and use the following property devised for them :-
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