History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 9

Author: Scranton, S. S
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 786

USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 9

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The present officers of Jefferson township are as follows: Trustees- Christian Fanger, Harry A. Jewett and Joseph A. Kuhn; clerk, J. M. Winter ; treasurer, Andrew Schunck; justices of the peace-Frank V. Short and John M. Schlosser.

OLD-TOWN UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

This church society was organized in the Old-town schoolhouse March 29, 1857, by Revs. William McKee and C. B. Whitley with 13 members, viz. : Wesley and Mary Copeland, John Emmerson and wife and their two daughters-Mary and Clara, Margaret Kumpf, Caroline Kumpf, Aquilla Allen, Sarah E. Allen, Jane Bushnell, John Taylor and Calvin Simmons. The first officers of the church were Wesley Copeland, leader and John Emmerson, steward.

In 1906 the church received various alterations and improvements at a cost of about $365. It was given a new foundation of cement blocks, a new belfry, a new roof, was painted without and within, the windows were papered to represent stained glass and the floor was carpeted. The church was re- opened on Saturday evening, December 8, 1906, when Rev. William McKee, of Dayton, Ohio, who assisted in organizing the church in 1867, related the story of the events that led 13 sturdy pioneers to unite in Christian service. Rev. D. W. Abbott, of Bluffton, Indiana, who followed Mr. McKee 22 years later, spoke of the success that had come to the church and Rev. J. F. Miller, of Hicksville, Ohio, told of his pleasant relations with the church six years ago and the present. On Sunday, December 9th, the Sunday-school, old-people's and young people's meetings brought large audiences. The Sunday-school was opened by the superintendent, Zura Springer; instead of class work Rev. D. W. Abbott gave an inspiring address on the lesson teach- ing. The old people's meeting was addressed by Rev. William McKee; Wesley and Mary Copeland were the only charter members present. Rev.

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY

J. F. Miller addressed the young people's meeting. The present pastor of the church is Rev. J. P. Hight.

CELINA, THE COUNTY SEAT,

Is situated in Jefferson township on the northwest bank of the Grand Reservoir-or Lake Mercer, as it has come to be called-said to be the largest artificial body of water in the world. The name was given by James Watson Riley, one of the proprietors of the original town, because of the resemblance of its location to that of Salina, New York, a town with which Mr. Riley was acquainted, and which was situated at the head of Onondaga Lake. The orthography of the name was changed to avoid any confusion which might arise by virtue of different towns bearing the same postoffice name.

Celina is blessed with all the trades and business that go to make a good town. All of the three steam railroads, which pass through the county, enter the county seat. An electric interurban line connects Celina and Lima, Ohio, which gives the town an outlet to Toledo on the north and to Cincinnati on the south. There are good prospects for the extension of the line further west in the coming summer, which will place Celina in direct communication by rail with all the principal cities of the State of Indiana and other cities to the west and northwest.

In the past 10 years Celina has made many great and lasting improve- ments. Large and commodious store-rooms have been built. Streets have been paved and sewers laid, thus securing good surface drainage. The town has also increased in commercial importance and in population. The census of 1900 gave Celina a population of 2,815, but this does not now fairly repre- sent the town, as the past seven years have been most prosperous ones.

THE TOWN LAID OUT. .

The original town of Celina was laid out by Rufus Wilson Stearnes, Robert Linzee, 2nd, Peter Aughenbaugh and James Watson Riley, acting in partnership, who entered into the following agreement.

This article of agreement, made and entered into by and between the undersigned as parceners in common, witnesseth: That for the purpose of mutual benefit we have each of us paid in the sum of one hundred dollars to be laid out in the purchase of lands at the centre of Mercer County, for the purpose of laying out a town, to be called by the name of Celina, and for the purpose of convenience in making sales of said town property, making deeds, ctc., we hereby empower one of our number, to-wit, Rufus Wilson Stearnes, to make, if possible, the entries of the land in his own name, to make sales, keep the books of the company, make all deeds, etc., etc., during the continuance of this article, and to make all necessary and proper arrangements for furthering the interests of the company

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in this matter. It is moreover agreed between the contracting parties that, as such tenants in common, each shall bear an equal proportion in expenses and share equal profit in divi- dends, and that when so much money shall be made as to pay the expense and purchase, each shall be entitled to take out his purchase money; and all moneys arising afterwards may either be taken out, or laid out in other speculations for the company's benefit, as may to the county seem proper; and that this contract shall be as good in law, and to all intents and purposes as binding and valid, as if these presents had been in more ample and better form.

PETER AUGHENBAUGH. (Seal). R. W. STEARNES. (Seal). J. W. RILEY. (Seal). ROBERT LINZEE, 2d. (Seal).

ST. MARYS, MERCER COUNTY, OHIO, August 25, 1834.

This agreement was acknowledged for record before Hon. Stacey Taylor, one of the associate judges of the county, on the 8th of September, together with a supplemental contract, entered into on August 28th, the whole being entered for record September 8th, and recorded on the same day by James Watson Riley, county recorder.

The supplemental contract, which put on record the lands bought by the members of the company, their cost, etc., reads as follows :

"The lands bought by virtue of the within contract are the S. W. qr. of N. W. qr. and N. W. qr. of S. W. qr. of section 6, Town 6, S. Range 3, E., in the name of J. W. Riley ; the E. half of S. E. qr. and S. E. qr. of N. E. qr. of section I, Town 6 S., Range 2 E., in the name of Robert Linzee, 2d .; the N. W. qr. of N. W. qr. of section 6, Town 6 S., Range 3 E .; the N. E. qr. of the N. E. qr. of section I, Range 2 E., Town 6 S .; the S. E. qr. of S. E. qr. of section 36, Town 5 S., Range 2 E .; and the S. W. qr. of the S. W. qr. of section 31, Town 5 S., Range 3 E., in the name of Rufus W. Stearnes ; and are to be held in common for the benefit of all parties, in the same man- ner as if entered in each person's name, in equal proportions or in all jointly.

"Extra costs, $69.60, making the whole sum paid $469.16, and each share actually paid in, $117.29."

James Watson Riley, as deputy surveyor, laid out the town for the pro- prietors upon the west part of section 6, township 6 south, range 3 east, and the east part of section 1, township 6 south, range 2 east, with a variation of four degrees to the west of magnetic north. Main and Logan streets were each made six rods wide and all others four rods wide, except Center, which was three. Each alley was laid out one rod, wide. The lots, numbered from I to 156, inclusive, were made 10 rods long by five wide. The block called the Public Square, 21 rods long by eight wide, was set apart for public pur- poses ; lots 23 and 119 were donated for the use of schools; and lots 44, 100 and 149 were donated for the use of the Methodist Episcopal, Baptist and Presbyterian churches, respectively, "to be used for no other purposes."

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY

On the 8th of September, 1834, the four proprietors went before Asso- ciate Judge Stacey Taylor "and severally acknowledged that they had caused to be laid out within said (Mercer) county a town, which they have given the name of Celina; that the within plat and description are accurate; and that in addition thereto they will give three acres of land near said town for a burial ground, on some eligible situation, free to all denominations." The plat was recorded the same day by James Watson Riley, county recorder.

The out-lots north of Celina, laid out on the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 31, township 5 south, range 3 east, and the southeast quarter of section 36, township 5 south, range 2 east, not having been correctly surveyed, a new plat of the outlots was prepared by John S. Houston, county surveyor, to correct the error in the survey of December 4, 1839, and the same was acknowledged for record on September 5, 1840, by James Watson Riley for himself and as agent for Robert Rogers and Rufus W. Stearnes, entered for record on October 8, 1840, and recorded October 15th, by James Watson Riley, county recorder.

THE TOWN AND ITS FOUNDERS.

(From Manuscript Memoirs of W. Willshire Riley, of Concord, Connecticut.)

The seat of justice of Mercer County, Ohio, was surveyed by James Wat- son Riley, for himself and on behalf of Aughenbaugh, Stearnes and Linzee, joint proprietors of the land. The name given the town was originated by Mr. Riley while on his way to New York to have the map of the town litho- graphed. While on this journey he paused at Salina, Onondaga County, New York, and was impressed by the similarity of location to that of the town he had just platted. The surface in each case was level, the one town at the head of a natural lake, the other at the head of an artificial lake. Still, to name his new town Salina might give rise to confusion of postoffices, and Mr. Riley resolved to avoid this, and yet secure the name. Both objects were secured by changing the orthography.

In August, 1840, I went out from New York to visit my brother, who was prostrated by congestive fever. He soon recovered, however, and as the political campaign of "Tippecanoe and Hard Cider" was opened he en- tered the campaign with great enthusiasm. His home was as yet at St. Marys, although the court officers had already been removed to Celina, and so he rode back and forth between these towns, as he held the offices of clerk and recorder. Being a personal friend of General Harrison, and an ardent Whig, he went to Dayton, I accompanying him, to attend the "great gather- ing," which assembled to hear the General speak. This was among the larg- est concourses of that memorable campaign. As glee clubs were singing

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patriotic sons, my brother hurriedly composed the following panegyric, dedi- cated to the "Hero of Tippecanoe," and which was sung to the air of "The Star-Spangled Banner :"

No sound broke the stillness, no breeze stirred the air, And the moon on our white tents shone wan as in sorrow ; The worn soldier slept, but his chieftain stood there, And watched by his war steed, and thought of the morrow.

His soul-lighted eye was upraised to the sky; "In the dread hour of battle, O God, be thou nigh, And teach us to thee and our flag to be true, -- To conquer, or perish, at Tippecanoe."

But hush, there's a footstep falls faint on the ear ! 'Tis the sentinel's tread, for he only is waking. Hark! another! a shot! Ah, the Indians are here! Up! up! and to arms, boys ; the war-cloud is breaking !

From summit and dell the night-startling yell,

Like the howling of fiends, on the sleepers' ears fell;

Rose the voice of Tecumseh, the Prophet's voice, too,

Their hosts had surrounded brave "Tippecanoe."

Upstarting, they sprang at their leader's commands, And grasped their tried weapons in true patriot hands ; But the foremost in battle to dare and to do, The bravest, the noblest, was "Tippecanoe."

Our shot fell like rain; Tecumseh was slain; The Indians defeated, their dead strewed the plain. The voice of the patriot will ever revere The heroes who rescued our Western frontier.

Now freemen are rallying, north, south, east and west ; Have chosen for leader the bravest and best; Their country they'll save from the Democrat crew, And elect for .our President, "Tippecanoe."

But let us return to Celina. There had been a steam saw-mill erected near the reservoir on out-lot No. I, for the purpose of sawing lumber for the centre of the embankment which was there constructing, and also for the Court House then building by the town proprietors. This building was already under roof. The clerk's office was in a one-story frame building, about 30 by 25 feet in dimensions, and in the north end of which was a store. It stood on the west side of Main street, just south of the Public Square. The store was owned by Mr. Riley, and was the only one in the town. Mr. Rood was deputy clerk, and lived in a log cabin, built of round timber, on the south side of Fayette, near Ash street. Franklin Linzee kept a hotel on the corner of Main and Warren streets. It was a two-story frame, with an L kitchen. Another hotel was kept by a Mr. Simmons, on the southeast corner of Sugar

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY

and Warren streets. It was a long, hewed-log house of two stories. Benja- min Maurer lived in a log cabin on the southwest corner of Sugar and Logan streets, and Christian Maurer in a small frame house on Market near Mill street. Mr. Smith lived in a two-story frame house on Main street opposite Linzee's. Sheriff Stedman lived in a small log cabin next the clerk's office, and Mr. Magoon in a cabin near Rood's, on Ash street. I think all these men had families. A German doctor lived in a little cabin between the office and Linzee's, and Dr. John W. Fulton moved from St. Marys and had his office in a two-story log house on the northwest corner of Fayette and Ash. There was a cabin on the southeast corner of Logan and Sugar, but it was vacant, as were several others built by Giddings & Bickell, contractors, on the reservoir embankment. Esquire Trenary lived on a farm adjoining the town. He was a blacksmith by trade, and had a family. There were several men boarding at the hotels who were engaged on the Court House. Among them were Henry L. Johnson and his brother, who were carpenters, and a Mr. Jacobs, who was a brick-mason and plasterer. The latter were employed by my brother to build a brick hotel on lots 259 and 260, being the northeast corner of Market and Main streets. An amusing incident is here inserted as illustrative of the prejudice against the negroes then recently located at Montezuma, this county, by the executor of the will of the Hon. John Ran- dolph, of Virginia. My brother had tried for some time without success to get some person to take a contract for making brick. This contract was finally given some negroes, and they at once set about preparing the ground and moulding brick. At this juncture the very white men who had refused to do the work, either for cash or in payment of debts, made pretense of being anxious to work, and then determined to drive the negroes off by warn- ing them out of town as paupers. I had bought the cabins already alluded to as vacant and rented them to the negroes, so that when the malcontents came to warn them out of town they were found to be householders, carrying out a valuable contract to the satisfaction of my brother. The charge of pauperism miscarried, and the negroes completed their work, unmolested. The house was completed by fall, and my brother and family then occupied it.

The trees yet stood in native grandeur, and consisted chiefly of stately white ash, walnut, hickory, sugar and elm, the latter in the depression along the line of Walnut street. The mud was tramped knee deep by the teams engaged upon the embankment, the only walk being a slab one extending between the office, the taverns, and Simmons'. I assisted my brother every way I could, attending to his store, recording deeds and selling lots and lands. Sometimes riding through the woods to show land to purchasers-I had even to go with some to find the land they had already purchased. My father and brother having surveyed the lands, they were constantly sought for informa-

JAMES WATSON RILEY

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tion, and when I could assist the inquirer I did so. Having so recently left the paved streets of New York city, the mud and water did not agree with my patent leather boots, but the mud could not be avoided and the water was everywhere.

After the election, which had occupied so much of our thought and time, I proposed to my brother to have a chopping frolic or "bee," and just cut down the timber promiscuously and give the sun an opportunity to dry up the mud for once. I further suggested that the lumber be given to anyone who would remove it, or else have it sawed into rail timber or firewood suit- able for the mill. It was then intended to sow the whole plat in grass and so get rid of the mud. My brother was pleased with the idea, but was too busily engaged on the St. Marys locks to give the matter his attention, but told me that if I would take the whole matter in my hands he would pay all the bills. I accordingly fixed a day in November and issued nearly 100 invitations to a chopping "bee." Those at a great distance came on the day preceding the "bee," and were provided for as well as our accommodations would warrant. On the day of the "bee" all were to be provided with refreshments, consisting of eggnog, sandwiches and doughnuts, and a grand supper in the new brick building, then floored and roofed, but yet unfinished. After supper a dance was to be given. As part of the preparations I sent to Fort Recovery for musicians, and to Piqua for two barrels of whiskey, six dozen tin cups, and the same number of plates, knives and forks, spoons and tin pails. Venison, turkeys, pigs and chickens were procured, and all the ladies engaged to do the cooking. Arrangements were made at the hotels for those who came the day before. The day arrived-a beautiful Indian summer day-and with it came about 70 experienced choppers to Celina, with axes sharp and glisten- ing, reminding one of the descriptions of the axes of the ancient headsmen. These modern axes, however, were for better, holier use; they meant the welfare, not the misery of man, for they produced smiles and not tears. The woodsmen divided into companies of from 15 to 20, under a leader who selected trees in rows, so that by cutting them off and moving in this manner to the east side, the last row was allowed to fall against the others, causing them all to fall with a thunder-crash, at intervals of about an hour. Eggnog was served in tin pails, with all the sandwiches and doughnuts desired. A barrel of whiskey was used, although a few of those present used coffee alone. Isaac Hanley commanded one of the companies ; the other leaders were from a distance, and I have forgotten their names. The men commenced on the corner of Buckeye and Market streets, and felled all timber south of Market to the west line of the town plat.

Near the corner of Warren and Sugar streets stood a white-oak giant eight and a half feet in diameter and towering to a lofty height. It was a

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY

grand old "monarch of the forest," and I tried hard to have the woodmen "spare that tree," but they craved the glory of slaying that giant, and I re- luctantly yielded assent. It was attacked by eight men, working on four sides, and the whole company assembled near by to witness its fall. It stood in such erect majesty that there was doubt in which direction it would fall, and it was almost cut clear off before it finally yielded to the ruthless axe and came toppling toward the south with a crash which was said to have been heard at St. Marys. It was 60 feet to the first limb, and in order to saw the trunk into timber it was necessary to split it into quarters. But the frolic ended, supper was served and everything cleared away to give place to the dance. This was kept up by many until morning, when all partook of a hearty breakfast and returned to their homes. There was neither accident nor disturbance occurred to mar the pleasure of the occasion, and all departed with pleasant thoughts of the memorable chopping frolic.

The sun looked down approvingly and dried the mud, "a consummation so devoutly to be wished." The timber was first cut and rolled from the road, the brush was piled and burned and fencing and fire timber were procured by all who needed either. Hanley was employed to cut wood for the mill at 3114 cents per cord, and piled up regularly each day five cords of firewood. By spring a large quantity of the timber had disappeared, and grass came "creeping, creeping everywhere."

During the fall and winter several new settlers arrived. Vincent Bee- bout. a merchant tailor, came from Fort Recovery. My brother-in-law, John Jay Beach, brought his wife Phebe and their three children here about this time.

Being anxious to complete the Court House, my brother moved here, as already intimated, about the Ist of December. A severe winter ensued, and most of the timber calculated for firewood was used from that already fallen. The Public Square was heavily timbered, and the ground wet. Upon it grew a number of large elm, ash and beach trees. The plat contained five acres, and was yet rather unsightly.

We Whigs concluded to celebrate the inauguration of General Harrison by clearing off these grounds. Accordingly, Messrs. Beach, Beebout, Rood, Christian and Benjamin Maurer, Magoon, Henry L. Johnson and myself, concluded to :-

Lay the giant forest low, chose the giants in a row; Cut them down, nor spared a single tree ; As they struck the ground below upward our glad shout would go, And the sunbeams kissed the square in soft but rapturous glee.

A few days later, without solicitation, my brother received, through the mail, the appointment as register of the United States Land Office at Lima,

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Ohio, and to that town he moved in June. I accompanied him as deputy. The canal lands were now offiered for sale at $2.50 per acre, and during the summer and winter nearly all the lands were sold. It is a well authenticated fact, that the signature to my brother's commission was the last official act of President Harrison.

When John Tyler succeeded to the presidency, he re-appointed my brother, but when the President joined the Democracy, James resigned the position of register. I removed to Mansfield, and my brother to Celina. This latter had then commenced to improve. Mr. Beach built a two-story brick dwelling on lots 238 and 255, fronting on Ash street and adjoining the alley.

Benjamin Linzee built a two-story brick on the northwest corner of Main and Anthony streets. Several frame buildings were erected that spring (1841). In order to hasten the completion of the Court House, situated on the northeast corner of Main and Livingston streets, I glazed the windows as my contributions to the county. It was finished in time to be occupied at the spring term of the court, at which Judge Holt presided.

My brother was elected to represent the district in the Legislature, and took the same seat in the old State House, which our father filled in 1823-24. He accordingly moved to Columbus in 1843, where he resided about three years, when he returned to Celina, and devoted his energies to the develop- ment of the county. Afterwards he was nominated and made a gallant con- test for Congress in a district hopelessly Democratic. His opponent was Hon. William Sawyer. James stumped the district, and reduced the Demo- cratic majority from 2,500 to about 1,000.

Not long after, his horse took fright, and he was thrown from his buggy and received spinal injuries from which he never recovered.

To the foregoing account of the life of Mr. Riley by his brother, we add the following observations :-

Mr. Riley was born at Middletown, Connecticut, February 20, 1804, and died at Celina, January 1, 1870. In September, 1827, at Alexander, New York, he married Susan Ellis and to them were born six children- three sons and three daughters-all of whom survived him. The eldest son, Dr. William Willshire Riley, is located at Judsonia, Arkansas, where he is engaged in the practice of medicine. He has served in the Arkansas State Senate. Calvin Erastus Riley is a well-known resident of Celina, president of the Commercial Bank Company. James Watson Riley, Jr., the youngest son, who is a resident of Celina, distinguished himself in the Civil War. Amelia Ann, the eldest daughter, who is now deceased, was twice married; her first husband, Capt. William McMurray, was starved to death at Ander- sonville Prison, in the Civil War; she married as her second husband Clark

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Williamson. Susan, the second daughter, is the wife of Hon. E. M. Ashley, of Denver, Colorado; she was the first president of the Colorado Federation of Women's Clubs. Mahala, the third daughter, is the wife of Judge A. J. Hodder, a prominent resident of Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. James W. Riley also reared six orphan children. Mrs. James W. Riley sur- vived her husband many years, spending most of the period of her widow- hood with her daughter, Mrs. Ashley.

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History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 9

Author: Scranton, S. S Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 786

Author: Scranton, S. S
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 786