USA > Ohio > Morgan County > History of Morgan County, Ohio, with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 14
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County ; thence south to the southwest corner of township eight, range ten ; thence west to the center of township fourteen, range fourteen ; thence south to the southern line of said township fourteen, range fourteen ; thence east to the southeast corner of said town- ship; thence south to the place of be- ginning.'
The act provided that the county should be organized "whenever the legislature shall think proper," and that until organized the territory of the pro- posed new county should remain at- tached to the counties from which it was to be taken.
The next legislation in regard to the new county was a resolution adopted January 26, 1818, appointing three commissioners to locate the county seat. By an act passed December 28, 1818, to take effect March 1, 1819, all further provisions necessary to fully organize the county were made, and the first election for county officers was
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CIVIL HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
ordered to be held on the first Monday in April. Justices and constables who liad been elected within those townships forming the new county were author- ized to serve out their terms.
Of the election of April, 1819, there is no record. David Fulton, Sylvanus Piper and Robert MeKee were chosen county commissioners; Nathan Dear- born, coroner, and Timothy Gaylord, recorder. No other officers appear to have been chosen, and only the bonds of Dearborn, dated June 25, 1819, and Gaylord, April 6, 1819, are recorded. The first commissioners' record cannot be found; but the mention of Fulton. Piper and McKee as commissioners in Dearborn's bond proves that they were elected to that office.
In reference to establishing the county there was, as a matter of course, among the scattered population a union of opinion and interest ; all classes, pol- iticians, farmers, office-seekers and me- chanics were fully impressed with the absolute necessity and advantages of a new county. But when this was ac- complished there came up the very in- teresting question : " Where shall be the county seat ?" Besides Malta, which was laid out in 1816, and Me- Connelsville, laid out in 1817, there were other projected cities, rivals for the possession of the courthouse and jail. At the northeast were two con- tignous locations, one the David Stevens farm on section 36, Bristol Township, the other owned by a Mr. Chandler of Muskingum County, on section 14 of the same township (now the farm of J. A. (. Leland), both on the road from Zanesville to Marietta. On the west the Dawes and Shepard Farms, on the road from Harmar to Laneaster, each had advocates.
January 26, 1818, the legislature, by resolution, appointed Ephraim Cutler, of Washington County, Samuel Ly- brand, of Pickaway, and David Robb, of Guernsey, to fix the seat of justice in Morgan County, which duty they proceeded to perform in the following May. After a careful personal ex- amination of each loeality Cutler and Lybrand decided in favor of McCon- nelsville ; Mr. Robb dissented, prefer- ring the location on the Marietta and Zanesville road as being nearer the geographieal center. This idea of geo- graphical eenter had been the control- ling influence in fixing county seats,and was strenuously presented by those of the eastern part of the county, who were not disposed to give up their proj- ect without further effort, being great- ly encouraged by those living west of the river, and additionally by the dis- sent of Mr. Robb. And here was the beginning of the local parties of the county, elsewhere mentioned, with which interesting reminiscences are connected.
The first annual election was held October 18, 1819, when only county officers-a sheriff. coroner and three commissioners-were voted for. The interest in the election centered on the commissioners, as they would have the power of erecting county buildings, in regard to which nothing had yet been done, probably because the first board did not favor MeConnelsville as the seat of justice. Numerous candidates were put in the field, each locality having its favorites. A full vote was polled. The following are the names of the candi- dates, their location and the number of votes each received :
William Montgomery, Bloom Township. 323
Richard Cheadle, Windsor. 303
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HISTORY MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
John Shutt, Deerfield 318
David Fulton, Manchester 200
Sylvanus Piper. Morgan (west side). 252
Robert MeKce, Olive. 257
Enoch S. McIntosh, Centre
William Craig, Union 11
John Sears, Manchester 11
The munber of votes cast at this elec- tion was about six hundred. The first three named, being those in favor of the location at MeConnelsville, were elected : in Morgan Township each of them had sixty-five votes. the others who were voted for having but fifteen each. The entire voce of the east. Noble, Olive, Olive Green," Manchester, Seneca. Centre and Meigsville Town- ships, and a part of Bristol, was opposed to the location at MeConnelsville, and in this was materially aided by the dis- affected of the West. Their defeat was by so small a majority as to encourage them to further efforts. Accordingly a petition was presented at the subsequent session of the legislature, asking the appointment of another board of com- missioners to review the proceedings of the former board. By whom the peti- tion was presented to the house is not known, but it is said that through the influence of a member from Belmont a resolution was passed designating other commissioners with power to review and relocate.
At that time there was only a mail every Saturday evening, whereby the doings of the legislature could be gained through the newspapers; but by some means information was obtained that this resolution had been introduced and passed the house, and was pending in the senate. This news, of course. pro- duced much excitement among the
dwellers in the valley, and required prompt measures to counteract its effects. Forthwith a remonstrance was drawn up, and besides the signatures of those in town and vicinity the names on the militia rolls in possession of the captains of the neighborhood were appended. With this Mr. Jacob Adams, who then as subsequently was among the most energetic citizens of the county and town, started, and by way of Lancaster arrived at Colinbus on the afternoon of the second day, and unfolded his "ponderons roll" to Colonel Jackson, the senator from Muskingum, who the next morning had the house resolution called up, and on his motion it was "indefinitely postponed," only one sena- tor voting in the negative. Thus the question was settled. The negative vote was by David Robb, the dissenting commissioner, then a member of the senate from Guernsey, Coshocton and Tuscarawas Counties. The member from Belmont, through whose influence the resolution to appoint other commis- sioners passed the house, was said to be Charles Hammond. He was a personal friend of David Robb, and one of the most prominent lawyers of the State, who had previously represented Bel- mont County in both houses. There- fore he had a corresponding influence in the legislature. But its application in this case entirely frustrated his future political aspirations. In 1822 he was a candidate for congress. Morgan County was then in the district with Belmont, and but for the untiring oppo- sition of some of those in McConnels- ville who had not forgotten his course in this matter in the legislature he would have been elected.
A map drawn for Jacob Adams in 1819 by G. W. Pelham, clerk in the
* This township gave a unanimous vote for Fulton, Piper and MeKee, and what is remarkable continued a unit at elections up to 1828.
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land office at Zanesville, gives the origi- nal boundaries of the county (which have been twice injudiciously changed for partisan purposes).
By this map the boundaries of the county included original townships 6 and 7 of range 8, which, by act of the legislature, December 24, 1819, were attached to Monroe County, doubtless to prevent a further fight on the county seat question by the "east-enders."
In 1845 (March 11), for purposes be- fore alluded to,* the two townships of Marion and Homer, Athens County, and seven sections of Roxbury Town- ship, Washington County, were at- tached to Morgan County ; and after- ward-March, 1851-for a similar ob- ject, Noble County was erected, and the townships of Brookfield, Noble, Olive, Jackson (formerly Olive Green), and one-half of Manchester, were taken from Morgan County to form a part of it.
The map in question reveals but two roads -the road from Marietta to Zanesville, leading through Centre and Bristol Townships, and a road from McConnelsville to Zanesville, along the river on the east side of it. Why the Harmar and Lancaster, or State Road, which had been traveled for some years before, is not laid down, is not readily apparent. The map seems faulty in other particulars ; for instance, Morgan, Meigsville and Centre are the only townships named in it, but there is evi- dence that other townships were in existence in Morgan County before the map was made ( Angust, 1819). " Meigs-
ville postoffice " is marked on the Mari- etta Road at the southeast corner of township 11. range 11. McConnels- ville is also named; but Malta, the older village of the two, is not.
The early records of township or- ganization are incomplete and indefi- nite. There is, however, sufficient evidence to show that the following townships were in existence as civil divisions of Morgan County in 1819: Bloom, Bristol, Brookfield. Centre, Deerfield. Meigsville, Morgan, Noble, Olive, Olive Green, Penn, Windsor and York. Deerfield was organized prior to the erection of Morgan County, as was also Noble. The rest of the above- named townships were organized under the jurisdiction of Morgan County. Brookfield, Noble, Olive and Olive Green (now Jackson) are now in Noble County. Union Township. Morgan County, was organized in 1821; Man- chester in 1822. and Malta in 1839. Homer and Marion were taken from Athens County in 1845.
The county seat having been estab- lished, the commissioners turned their attention to the arragement of the ma- chinery for the administration of justice. and the first requisite then, as now, was to fix a locality for those who were un- willing to await its dispensation.
The first edifice for this purpose was built of the large popfars from near by. hewed on one side so as to make a smooth surface for the interior, the bark re- moved and the logs notched down at the corners, "log-cabin" fashion, with " puncheon " floor and ceiling. The door at the end was well spiked, and furnished with heavy hinges and fock ; but either from its peculiar construction or other canses the building was never used as a prison, and was sold, together with the
* Although Dr Robertson very justly criticises the motives which led to the varions changes in the com- ty's boundaries, the fact yet remains that Morgan County is now much more shapely than it was origi- nally, besides having its county seat much nearer the " geographical center." - En.
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
lot on which it was built, to aid in building a courthouse.
In 1820 jail No. 2 was erected in the rear of the present courthouse, of the same material, poplar logs, hewed square, twelve by eighteen inches, fitting closely, and dovetailed at the corners, and built to the height of twelve feet. An exterior wall of the same construc- tion was erected, with an intervening space of twelve inches, which was filled with stone, thus making a wall three feet thick. The floor and ceiling were of oak plank. The building was di- vided to make two rooms fifteen feet square, and a hall of five or six feet, with a strongly nailed door to each room, and one on the outside. The front of each room had a small window ornamented by the usual lattice work. In either partition was a small aperture through which refreshments were fur- nished to the temporary occupants. Retention being the primary object little attention was paid to the prisoners' comfort, and ventilation was entirely ignored. Thomas Byers built the jail for $530. The contract was signed December 3, 1819. Although it was built for strength yet from some defect in the ceiling or upper floor, jail deliv- eries were not infrequent.
The present jail, with several subse- quent modifications is, with the sheriff's residence, in length and width eighty by thirty-one feet. It was built in 1840 on the square immediately east of the courthouse. The sheriff's residence, occupying one-half of the building in front, has two rooms in the first and others in the second story. The build- ing is of brick, except thirty by thirty- one feet of the lower story of the prison proper. This part is of dressed stone. There is a hall ten feet wide between
the sheriff's rooms and the prison, which is a square room, having three large windows on each side, and two on the north end. all secured with wrought-iron lattices. In the center of the room, about four feet from the wall, is a square of lattice of wronght iron, containing six compartments, each about four by ten feet. The door to each can be se- cured by an arrangement from the hall without entering the main room. Over the hall, on the side next to the court- house, is a room ten feet square, fitted up, probably, for special prisoners. The exterior of the building is like that of an ordinary dwelling, while the interior is unobjectionable, except that there is no proper provision for ventilation.
The first courthouse was built of brick in 1820 by James Young,* of Morgan Township, and stood nearly on the same ground occupied by the pres- ent. It was about forty feet square and two stories high. The court room was below, and the four rooms above were probably intended for jury rooms-one, being the largest, was called the grand jury room-and for the county officials, though for the latter purpose they were never used, each official furnishing his own office wherever most convenient in town. The building stood alone, un- adorned by paint or palings, only re- lieved by the old jail in the background, and with its seldom-closed door was the omnium gatherum, besides its legitimate purpose for any or all of the religious denominations on Sundays, and on other days and nights for political mass meetings, amateur theatricals, or Fourth
* The contract for doing the frame work of the courthouse was awarded to William Fouts, December 3, 1819. His compensation was $619. It is not known exactly how much Mr. Young received for doing the stone and brick work ; but as his bond was for $2,000, probably he received not far from $1,000.
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CIVIL HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
of July eloquence. Similar to the other buildings on the square it fronted directly on the cut-off of the angle.
The present courthouse occupies nearly the same place on the square as the old building, except that the front is on Center street. It was built in 1858, is fifty-six feet wide, and including the portico, ten feet, is seventy-eight feet in length. In front of the portico are four Doric columns. The stories are sixteen feet each, with basement of six feet.
On the first floor is a hall twelve feet wide, and on the sides are the offices of the sheriff, recorder, probate court, auditor, treasurer and clerk. From this the stairs-four feet wide-lead to the vestibule of the court hall, which is about fifty-three by fifty-four feet, well arranged for judge, jury, clerk, sheriff, attorneys, witnesses and spectators. On either side of this vestibule are the three jury rooms and the room for the prosecuting attorney, and the stairs to the belfry.
Each compartment is well arranged for light and ventillation, each room having two windows and the court hall six.
At the base of the west column is deposited a tin box, in which are copies of the papers then published in town, a mannseript list of all the county officials and prominent men, of the mechanics engaged in the building, silver and gold coins of that date, $1 of 1800, and a specimen of mineral teeth, made in McConnelsville by George F. Robertson (second son of the writer), The box was apparently well-protected from disintegration.
The adjoining lot on Main street, which was sold in 1820, was ro-pil- chased, the alley vacated- forming the
original square-and now presents quite a different appearance to that of the first. A neat green sward inclosed on Main and Center streets, with an iron fence on a stone base, with the elms and maple trees. which possibly occupy the places of those of "long ago," will commend the arrangement of the com- missioners who ordered the erection of the house, and of those who have added to its appearance.
In 1835 the commissioners came to the conclusion that the archives of the county were becoming valuable, and in order to secure their preservation they erected on that part of the square in front of the present residence of the sheriff a one-story "fire-proof" stone building, about twenty by forty feet, with two rooms, two small windows to each in front and one each in the rear. a front door to each room, stone floors and stone arched ceilings. One room was occupied by the clerk of the court and the county recorder, the other by the auditor and treasurer. But the im- munity from fire was the only valuable feature. It was dark and damp below and above, and in every respect emi- nently prejudicial to the health of its occupants; nor did the massive stone walls and iron doors and window shut- ters prevent the burglarious removal of the deposits from that part of the build- ing occupied by the county treasurer. "No arrests were made," and thereby hangs a tale which has never yet been unfolded.
On the west bank of the river, two miles above Malta, is a manifestation of the munificence of the county, which has provided for the comfort and hap- piness, and the guidance in the paths of virtue, of those who otherwise wonk have been cast on the cold charities of
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
the world, subjected to want and ex- posed to all the vices incident to poverty, idleness and ignorance. A sight of the healthy. happy faces of the juveniles, from nine months to three years of age, in the nursery, and the equally pleasing contentment of the older, in the school- room, or at play on the lawn, would afford a thrill of pleasure and proud satisfaction of mind, in having aided in placing them in a happy though tem- porary home. But to enhance the pleasure of having participated in the completion of so noble an institution all the apartments of the structure should be seen "at any time," or as seen by the writer on the " female busy day." Thus seen by one who voted " No " when the proposition to build was submitted to the voters of the county he would be disposed to follow the example of some legislators and change his vote.
In 1879, after the examination of several desirable localities on both sides of the river, which were offered on ad- vantageons terms, the commissioners purchased the location, with fifty-six acres of land, for $3,500.
In July, 1880, the contract for the building was awarded to Geo. B. Fouts and Il. MeGrath, for $7,302.75, to be completed by the 1st of July, 1881.
The building is of brick, fifty by sixty feet. two stories high, exclusive of the attie and basement. In the latter is the kitchen, with the attendant dumb- waiter, laundry, two cellar rooms, schoolroom, hall, and a room for the morning ablutions of the children. The outside entrances are from the north or river front, and east and west to a like number of halls, the reception-room and office, sitting-room, nursery, dining- room, closets, etc. On the second floor are the two sleeping-rooms, each with
ten or twelve beds, and bath-rooms at- tached, matron's and assistant matron's rooms, bath-rooms, sewing-room and halls. The attic is neatly fitted up for other assistants and arrangements for separate places for the baths of boys.
The honse was opened for the recep- tion of children on the 31st of October, 1881, when thirty-seven were brought from the infirmary. Since that time the average number has been about forty : the present number (September, 1883) is thirty-seven-the oldest sixteen years and the youngest nine months. Thirty of these are of school age, and their attendance in the school room is as regular as in other schools as to time and study, with an observance of all of the holidays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, etc. At other times those physically competent are engaged in the legitimate labor of the house and farm.
The first trustees were J. R. Foulke, J. M. Rogers and Absalom Clancy.
J. H. Barker was the first superinten- dent and Mrs. JJ. HI. Barker first matron, and are yet continued ; Miss M. G. Smiley, assistant matron and school teacher, and at the present, in military parlance, the roster is unexceptionable .:
For many years after the county was organized paupers were cared for by the authorities of the several townships. It was the custom for the township officials to make annual contracts with the "lowest bidder " to feed and elothe the township charges. The compen- sation was generally low, the contractor being expected to recompense himself in part for his trouble by the labor of the pauper.
Until the year 1845, in accordance with the State laws, each township an- nually elected a board of two " over-
THE CHILDREN'S HOME
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CIVIL HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
seers of the poor," to whose guardian- ship the poor were confided. To avoid an increase of taxes and "pauper im- migration" the overseers were required, wnen persons who were deemed liable to become township charges moved into the township, to order such persons to depart. The warning might or might not be obeyed, but when given it pre- cluded support by the township. Un- der the workings of this law many in- justices were committed, some of those who received warning becoming in after years very prominent citizens.
In 1849 the county commissioners purchased a county farm, or a poor farm, as it was then styled. The tract contains 314 acres, and is situated upon the river two and a half miles below McConnelsville. The price paid for it was $6,600. Work was at once begun. new buildings erected and old ones repaired, and the paupers removed to their new home. From March 6, 1849, to January 1, 1852, the county paid for farm, buildings, improvements and su- perintendence the sum of $20,600. The paupers are properly cared for by the proceeds of the farm, aided when neces- sary by a county tax.
The infirmary building is of brick and stone, two stories high, eighty feet front and thirty feet wide, with a wing of the same size. It is well arranged, prop- erly ventilated, and the building and its surroundings kept in good order. Among the earliest superintendents of the farm were George Campbell, 1849, Win. Thompson, 1850- 53, Enoch Parker and Eden Updike. James Mc- Adoo became superintendent in the year 1885.
With the insane charges of the county a course similar to that formerly adopted with respect to panpers was pursued.
In the commissioners' records, under the date June 7, 1830, we read :
" This day the commissioners put up John Smith, an insane person, to sale to the lowest bidder; whereupon it ap- pears that John Shriver was the lowest bidder, for which said Shriver agrees to keep said Smith for the time of one year in clothes and good, wholesome food, etc., for the sum of $49.25."
In 1885 it was decided to erect an ad- ditional building at the farm in which to keep the incurable insane, and in May, plans, specifications, etc .. were presented by H. McGrath, architect, which were adopted at the July session of the board of commissioners. The contract for the building was let for the sum of $5,724.
CIVIL LIST.
President Judges .- At the organiza tion of the county, Morgan was included in the fourth judicial district, but on the 20th of February, 1820, it became a part of the eighth district, in which it still continues. The judges of the court of common pleas in this county have been as follows: Ezra Osborn. of Scioto County, 1819-26: Thomas Irvin, of Gallia, 1826-39; John E. Hanna, of Morgan, 1840-47; Arius Nye, of Wash- ington, 1847-50; A. G. Brown, of Ath- ens, 1850-51. Under the new constitu- tion, Muskingum, Morgan, Guernsey and Noble became the eighth judicial district, and thenceforth the judges wore elected. Richard Stillwell, of Muskingum, was the first elected under this regulation, and held the office in 1852-54; succeeded by Charles C. Con- vers, of Muskingum. 1851; Corrington W. Searle, of Muskingum. 1855 56; Lucius P. Marsh. 1857-61: Ezra E. Evans, 1862-66; Moses M. Granger.
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
1867 -69; Frederick W. Wood, 1869-74: W. Il. Frazier, 1871-72: Lucius P. Marsh, 1875-79; William II. Ball, 1879- 54: George L. Phillips, 1884. There have been several changes in the extent of the district, the sub-districts and the number of judges. The names given are those of the judges who held court in Morgan County in the years men- tioned.
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