USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. I > Part 47
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The pioneers encountered much and accomplished much. They worked hard and left to their descendants, as a rule, unsullied names. And while there was a hospitality then that present conditions would not make desirable, no one should contrast the present unfavorably with the past. A certain so-called equality may have been recognized then that would not now be con- genial. There is a social and mental scale, which, like Banquo's ghost, will not down and can not be ignored. Let the carpist try to qualify himself to fill a higher niche, rather than to drag others down to his own level. Aim higher. "Hitch your wagon to a star."
Friendships may exist between individuals and families; or, taking a more comprehensive scope, may bind a whole neighborhood together in com- mon interests, as was the case with the pioneers.
The early settlers, as a class, were poor, comparatively. But poverty is not only the mother of invention, but the promoter of industry and enterprise. Poverty does some of the greatest and most beautiful things that are done in the world. It cultivates the fields and operates the shops and factories, and carries the commerce of nations upon the high seas. It sees the day break and catches the sun's first smile. It inspires the orator and the essayist and gives pathos to the poet's song. But while poverty places people upon a cer- tain level, perfect equality is impossible. There never has existed a nation without gradations in society ; and it is evident that without grades the business of life could not be carried on. There could be neither leader nor followers, commander nor soldiers, director nor operator. The idea that there should be no gradations in positions in life is about as absurd as to expect that all hills should be of the same heights. Providence created an infinite variety in external nature and a variety as diversified seems to exist naturally among men.
A "pioneer" has been defined as a person who resided in Richland county prior to 1820. Within this octogenary definition, but few pioneers remain.
SUMMIT LAKE
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The majority of the people who were living eighty-three years ago have passed into the land of the leal in their journey to that kingdom where Enoch and Elijah are pioneers.
In the continuation of the history of Shelby the schools deserve especial mention. When it is recalled that it has been but a short time, reckoned by history, since the public school system was inaugurated in Ohio, the rapid advances that have been made in both town and country schools, in the modes of teaching and in the uniformity of text books, is the more marked. No- where is this advancement more noticeable than is illustrated by the schools of both Mansfield and Shelby. The first schoolhouse built in Shelby was in 1821, in that part of the village then called "Texas." It was a log building, as were all the buildings of that day. The seats were rough benches made of hewn slabs, and slabs placed along the walls were used as desks. In such a rude cabin Debbie Moyer taught the first school in Shelby, eighty-two years ago. And as a retrospective look is taken at the schools of that period the fact is recalled that it was in such schools that the most prominent men of the country received their preliminary education, which in time enabled them to successfully take part in the great events of history. Fifty-four years after the school was taught in that log cabin by Debbie Moyer, a union school was opened September 1, 1875, in a large, handsome and convenient brick building that had been erected at a cost of over $26,000, and statistics for that year showed that the running expenses of the several schools aggregated nearly $6,000. The first superintendent of the union schools was W. H. Pritchard, now deceased. Mr. Pritchard was born and reared in the vicinity of Bunker Hill, in Worthington township, this county. He was named for the Rev. William Hughes, a Presbyterian minister, who was much beloved by the people in southern Richland and Ashland counties, among whom he labored for many years. After some years spent in teaching, Mr. Pritchard read law and became a member of the Mansfield bar-the law partner of his brother- in-law, Judge N. M. Wolfe. Later Mr. Pritchard removed to the far North- west, where he became a judge of the court, serving upon the bench there at the same time Judge Wolfe did here.
But great as the Shelby school building was considered in 1875, it has since been enlarged to more than double its original size, and its campus is one of the most beautiful in the state.
The first survey for Shelby was made by John Stewart, June 26, 1834, and the plat contained twenty-three lots. The village was incorporated in 1854. William Hills was the first mayor. He was succeeded by Harrison Mickey, who was afterward a state senator.
Gamble's grist mill was situated at the southeast corner of Main and Gamble streets, the present site of Peter's drug store. It has been claimed that Gamble's was not the first grist mill in that locality-that there was a water power mill on the Blackfork, just south of Main street. But Hiram R. Smith, of Mansfield, now in the ninety-first year of his age, states that such was not the case, and he transacted business at Gamble's frequently. The Gamble mill was operated by horse power, and it would not seem likely that if a water power plant was in operation on the Blackfork, that a horse power
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concern would be built upon the next corner. The surveyor's notes of a county road refer to McCluer's mill site further up the Blackfork, but it was a "site," not a "mill." The first water power grist mill on the Blackfork was built by John A. Duncan in 1839, where Whitney avenue crosses the stream.
John Gamble, the founder of Gamble's Mills, was the promoter of the business interests of Shelby in many ways, and was the first postmaster of the place. His brother, Hugh Gamble, was distinguished in legislative and judicial affairs. He was a justice of the peace for a number of years and was an associate judge of the court of common pleas, and served two terms in the legislature.
The first newspaper in Shelby was called the Pioneer and was founded in 1858 by C. R. Brown. The next venture in that line was made by the late C. M. Kenton, who had served an apprenticeship in the Banner office at Mt. Vernon. Kenton afterwards succeeded well in the newspaper field, as editor and publisher of the Journal, at Marysville, Union county. Shelby, like other towns, has its newspaper grave-yard, which it is not the purpose of this sketch to disturb. Much as he is attached to his craft, the failure of his paper seldom breaks a printer's heart. He simply puts his rule in his pocket, goes to another town and makes another venture.
In the religious field a number of denominations have congregations and houses for worship in Shelby. The Methodists were the first to organize, and among their ministers were Harry O. Sheldon and Russell Bigelow. The Presbyterians first organized at Taylor's Corners, in Jackson township, in 1822, but later changed their place for meetings to Shelby. Their new church building is of variegated sandstone uniquely constructed. The Christian church was organized in 1858, and the congregation has recently built a new house of worship. The pioneer preacher of this congregation was the late Elder Benjamin Lockhart, who was then a resident of Bellville. The United Brethren people organized in 1859. They erected a new church building a few years ago. In fact, all the Shelby churches are new, or as good as new. The Lutherans organized in 1858, with forty-two members, and the Rev. A. R. Brown as pastor.
The beginning of the history of the Catholic church in Shelby dates back to Indian times. In 1745 Father Armand de la Ruhardie, pastor of the Tionontates or Wyandots at Sandusky, frequently visited the Blackfork, and traveling along its shores preached to the Indians. He was succeeded by Joseph Peter de Bonnecamp. The Reformed church was organized in 1852, with the Rev. J. B. Thompson as pastor. The names of many of Shelby's old-time residents are upon the membership list of this congregation. St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church was organized as a mission in 1892. While the St. Mark building is the smallest church edifice in the town, it is both handsome and convenient.
The late John Meredith-many years a resident of Shelby-was probate judge of Richland county in 1858-64. Judge Meredith purchased the Mans- field Spectator newspaper in 1836, and changed the name to the Ohio Shield, and later to that of the Shield and Banner. He retired from the business in 1841.
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The late Hon. S. S. Bloom, lawyer, statesman and author, was identified with the Shelby press for many years. While the names of a few of the more prominent men who were identified with the history of Shelby can be cited, many who contributed to its growth, prosperity and good name can not be given in this limited chapter. As has been said of war: Every battle has its unnamed heroes. The common soldier enters the stormed fortress and, falling in the breach which his valor has made, sleeps in a nameless grave. The subaltern whose surname is scarcely heard beyond the roll-call on parade, bears the colors of his company where the fight is hottest. And the corporal, who heads his file in the final charge, is forgotten in the earthquake shout of victory which he has helped to win. The victory may be due as much or more to the patriot courage of him who is content to do his duty in the rank and file than to the dashing colonel who heads the regiment, or even to the general who plans the campaign, and yet unobserved, unknown and unre- warded the former passes into oblivion, while the leader's name is on every tongue and goes down in history. So it also is in local history; only a few of the many who deserve mention can be named. Shelby, like the other towns of Richland county, had her noble men who contributed each his share in making the county what it is today.
A notable personage whose business life covered fifty years of Shelby's history was the late Colonel John Dempsey. He was actively engaged in the wholesale and retail trade for a quarter of a century, then sold his business and turned his attention to his farms in that vicinity. He was the proprietor of the Mohican stock farms, and during the latter years of his life occupied the fine suburban residence situated in the center of beautiful grounds.
J. G. Hill was a resident of Shelby from the close of the Civil War until a few years since, when he sold his newspaper plant and retired to a farm, and, for a time at least, has put "thirty" on the hook. Mansfield and Shelby are sister cities, bound together by rails of steel, with amiable relations and reciprocal interests.
The old barn which stands back of the Sutter-Higgins block has a history. Under its roof one of the greatest men in American history was first nominated for congress. It was then the city hall. It has since been used as a livery stable. Few people who notice the dilapidated structure know that it marks the starting point of Sherman's career.
The Hon. John Sherman was nominated the first time for congress in the summer of 1854, in what was then called Wilson's hall, in Shelby, Ohio. The building was of frame, two stories high, with its side to the street ; various kinds of shops occupied the lower story, and the entire upper part was thrown into a hall, with a platform at one end. In this hall he was nominated as against Thomas Ford and Jacob Brinkerhoff, of Richland county, Ohio, and Hon. James M. Root, of Sandusky City, who had already occupied a seat in congress. His competitor was Hon. Mr. Lindsey, from Erie county, then a member of congress who was a wealthy and very respectable farmer, but whose early education had been neglected. This he manifested by his writing to one of his constituents that he had a new kind of "cede korne" that he wished to send to him to try. The letter was
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published and created merriment as campaign humor, but the democrats came back on the whigs by saying that Lindsey would show them how to plant corn, if he couldn't spell it. This was the year of the know nothing party's first success. It was a secret oath-bound party. Nobody seemed to know any- thing about how the election was going. The vest pocket votes prevailed ; Lindsey was defeated by over two thousand three hundred majority by John Sherman. The latter even carried Richland county for the first time by three hundred majority. He really did not expect it, though he hoped so. "Old Sam Kirkwood," of Mansfield, who was then a democrat, told Sherman he guessed the democrats had beaten him badly, but in a few days the vote showed up differently. Every county in the old Thirteenth district had gone for Sherman and he had gained about three thousand from the previous election.
The Hon. S. S. Bloom, of this city, although a democrat was a personal friend of Mr. Sherman. He relates an incident which transpired when he was a member of legislature. Mr. Bloom saw Mr. Sherman standing at the bar of the house almost unnoticed. He rose to a question of privilege and when recognized by the speaker said: "I see standing at the bar of the house one of the most distinguished citizens of the United States, of Ohio and of my own county, the Hon. John Sherman, secretary of the treasury. I move the house take a recess of fifteen minutes to pay its respects to the honorable gentleman." Mr. Bloom was thanked very courteously for the marked atten- tion shown the senator.
Another interesting story is told of the senator regarding his introduction to Joseph Neal who was then a resident of Shelby. Mr. Bloom and Mr. Neal were engaged in conversation relating to business when Senator Sherman came walking along West Main street in front of the building now occupied by Anderson's clothing store. Mr. Bloom spoke to the senator, and Neal. who had never seen Sherman, was anxious to meet him. Mr. Bloom volunteered to introduce him and together they walked across Main street and stopped Mr. Sherman. The senator was told that Mr. Neal had always admired him and, having heard so much about him, was anxious to meet him and shake his hand. The senator was pleased and, as he extended his hand, he said, "Well, Mr. Neal, I am glad to meet you. Judging from all you have heard of me, I suppose you thought I had about seven heads and ten horns, but you see I am very much the same as other men."
Robert Kellogg, of Norwalk, as near as can be learned, was chairman of the convention which nominated Mr. Sherman in this city. After being nomi- nated Sherman of course was called upon for a speech. His first declaration was "I am an American citizen." Prominent politicians who took part in the convention were : Messrs. Downing H. Young, George W. Moore, J. Smiley, Eli Wilson, John Kerr, Robert Kerr, S. M. Rockwell, Steven Marvin, Samuel Wiggins, Charles Gamble, Hiram and Edgar Wilson and Amos Leyman.
SHELBY OF TODAY. By Hon. S. F. Stambaugh.
Louis Kossuth, in his tour of Ohio in 1851, passed through Shelby on the Cleveland & Columbus railroad. The train made a short stop at the junction
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and Kossuth gave a talk to the people who had assembled there to see him. The country was not then cleared and improved as it is now, and instead of the cultivated fields and fine homes that now line the road on either side, there were then stretches of woods, and log-cabins were seen on many farms. There was a strip of timber between the Junction and the village, almost hiding the town from the railroad station. William T. Coggeshall, of Colum- bus, accompanied the party as prompter, but Kossuth understood the name of the place as "Shallbe" instead of Shelby. Looking around and seeing no town, he exclaimed, "Shallbe !" Here are railroads and forests and lands, but in the future a town will spring up, and in time it 'shall be' a city." Prophetic words.
What changes fifty years have brought! But back of all these lies the pioneer history of the county, in which all should feel a grateful pride, and as we recount the story of the past let us determine to do the work and per- form the duties that devolve upon us as our fathers and mothers did in their day and generation.
Shelby of today has a nom de plume or misnomer of Tubetown, inasmuch as Shelby was the first place in the United States where cold steel tubing was drawn and made use of by the government for boiler flues in building their mammoth men-of-war, torpedo boats, etc., gun barrels, shrapnell. A little city of less than ten thousand souls, not capricious at all, its churches, schools, factories in connection, with its skilled labor, being four most essential para- mount factors. Shelby could likewise be called the "city of churches," as most of its church edifices have been recently constructed of the latest archi- tecture; each congregation seemed to vie with the others in seeing who could erect the most beautiful structure. The following congregations are repre- sented: Baptist, Rev. I. E. Moody, pastor; Catholic, Father A. A. Crehan; Christian, Rev. Charles C. Wilson, pastor; Episcopalian, John Oldham, pastor ; English Lutheran, H. C. Funk, pastor; Methodist, O. J. Coby, pastor; Re- formed, H. C. Blosser, pastor; Presbyterian, W. C. Munson, pastor; United Brethren, P. O. Rhodes, pastor. Were we to attempt to eulogize and bring out the many good qualities of the profession of the frock, of Shelby, who go forth preaching the death of the Christ, it would make a volume of itself. hence we refrain. The church-going people of Shelby aggregate over three thousand souls. As to Shelby's educational institutions, suffice it to say that Shelby pays today the highest rate of taxation, namely 15 mills, for promoting and supporting its schools, than any municipality in the great commonwealth of Ohio. Its school buildings, four in number, far excell most college build- ings in modern construction, from a standpoint of architecture, with an eye single to its heating and ventilating facilities. Its board of education employ a faultless, disciplined corps of teachers in this realm of intellectuality, hard to excell anywhere.
The factories of Shelby of today are a legion and will receive special attention later. The indoor skilled mechanics of Shelby of today receive annually over $1,000,000 for its labor, and, it being one of Shelby's essential factors, it is opportune to add that labor is the source of all wealth. The blessings of government, like the dews of heaven, should be dispensed alike
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upon the rich and the poor, the high and the low. Neither should the gov- ernment, by legislation, take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. It must be indelibly impressed on our minds that all men were created equal. Labor is prior to capital, capital being the fruits of labor. Hence labor is superior to capital.
The citizens of Shelby of today are imbued with indomitable will, per- severance and energy; no task too great, no problem too deep to fathom. In the year of grace 1908, with a financial crisis affecting all commercial indus- tries, Shelby of today forged ahead and built three new factories ; namely, the Shelby Canning Company, the Tungston Lamp Company and the Ohio Seam- less Tube Company. The Shelby Steel Tube Works, owned by the United States Steel Company, located in Shelby, a corporation in the trust, burned June 18, 1908, and by September 1 of the same year its citizens capitalized a stock company of $500,000 and commenced rebuilding an independent tube works. The main building was one hundred and fifty by four hundred and fifty feet, of brick material, interior steel structural, with powerful cranes attached on tracks, dispensing with much of the former heavy lifting on the former tube plant site.
The writer, only a few years ago, made a truthful comparison relative to Shelby of today, as follows: "In ancient days all roads led to Rome; in the present day and age all piked roads, in Richland county, lead to Shelby.
Another essential factor for Shelby of today is its miles of asphalt pave- ments (noiseless) and artificial curbing; with its fine high school campus, all of which assist in beautifying our little city. The fraternal and social clubs of Shelby are well sustained. The Colonial is the leading club, having com- modious quarters. The secret and beneficial societies are well represented : Masonic Order, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Maccabees, Modern Wood- men, Foresters, Eagles, Owls, Knights and Ladies of Security, Ben Hur, Junior Order of American Mechanics, Daughters of America, Eastern Star, Rathbone Sisters. This city takes great pride in Harker Post of the G. A. R. and its Sons of Veterans.
Shelby is well connected with the outside world. The main line of the Big Four, or New York Central, and the Baltimore & Ohio systems cross at this point and give an outlet in every direction. These two systems of rail- roads, recognized as among the best in the country, give this city splendid passenger service and ample shipping facilities. Shelby has two interurban electric lines. The Sandusky, Norwalk & Mansfield, one of the arteries of the northern Ohio system, gives ample outlet to the north. By means of this line a person can reach almost any city of importance in the northern part of the state. The Mansfield & Shelby Interurban is one of the links which will soon connect us with the network of lines to the south. These lines have been of great service to Shelby of today in a business way. Farmers, finding the electric lines very convenient, visit the city much more frequently than before their construction. There is not a city, far or wide, large or small, in the state which has a finer agricultural country surrounding it than Shelby. The soil is very rich and fertile, and the farmers are intelligent and prosperous. Go in any direction you please from this little city and you will find fine farms.
GESHHOLM-BRO . MANSFIELD.O.
PARK AVENUE WEST, MANSFIELD
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good substantial buildings and highly productive land. Shelby affords an excellent market and for that reason is a great trading center, farmers coming even from adjoining counties.
The municipality owns and operates the electric light plant. The Logan Natural Gas Company furnishes gas for fuel and light at a moderate price, giving all the modern conveniences. The waterworks not only furnishes the purest water in the state, but the mammoth standpipe towering high gives ample pressure in the event of fire. The hotel accommodations are of the best. A visitor is guaranteed courteous treatment, a good table, clean beds and comfortable furnishings at both the Hotel Sherman, George W. Scott, proprietor, and the New Shelby House, owned by Selby Cole. The Citizens' Telephone Company and the Bell Telephone Company give excellent service, not only in the city, but also in the suburban and long distance calls. The city is well governed by an intelligent, conscientious set of officers. C. H. Huber is our mayor; W. D. Hanna, city clerk; Orville Mott, city treasurer ; B. F. Long, city solicitor ; Melville Simon, marshal; John N. Miller and Jacob Gates, night police. The city council consists of L. A. Portner, William Imhoff, William Wise, George Koch, Joseph W. Smith and Leo McGaw. Public service board, W. A. Shaw, Victor O. Peter and L. E. Scott.
Go where you please in the United States and you will not find a better class of business men than you find right here in Shelby of today. They are not only accommodating and courteous to a high degree, but are also thrifty and alive to every opportunity, and desirous of giving their patrons the best the market affords at a price commensurate with the quality of goods. In no better way can the thrift and prosperity of a community be measured than in the deposits in its banks. In this feature the banks of Shelby show up well in comparison with those in other cities of its size. Shelby has three strong financial institutions: the First National Bank, the Citizens' Bank and the Shelby Building & Loan Company. The First National Bank was organized April 1, 1872. The capital of the bank is $50,000 and it carries a surplus fund of $15,000. The growth in deposits has been very marked in the last few years. At the present time the bank deposits will amount to and its loans and discounts to $ The bank is a member of the Ohio and American Bankers' Association, is insured against burglary, has safety deposit boxes for rent, pays interest in its savings department at the rate of three per cent per annum and issues drafts on all the leading centers of the world. It is well managed and ably officered. B. J. Williams is president; J. L. Pittenger, vice president; James W. Williams, cashier, and W. 1. Close, assistant cashier. Its board of directors, B. J. Williams, James W. Williams, J. L. Pittenger, Danforth Brown, W. A. Shaw, H. W. Steele and J. L. Seltzer.
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