USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. I > Part 49
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Salem, in Cass township, was founded in 1830. Two churches were built and a store and shops were opened. But the place never succeeded as a town, as the Cleveland & Columbus railroad was soon built through the township, but the road ran too far west of Salem to be of any benefit to the town, but it had the opposite effect and caused a new town to be platted a mile west of the original Salem. The new site was called Salem Station. Later it was decided that the location of Salem Station was too low and swampy, and another site was selected farther south, where a fine village now called Shiloh was soon built up. The Salem of old is a town no more. A church building is still on the old site, and several farmhouses are near. The location being at the cross- ing of the road leading from Planktown to Huron, running north and south, with the section line road running east and west; also a third road which obliques to the northwest.
London, in the south part of Cass township, has an admirable location- but whether the verb should be used in the present or past tense is an open question. The town was platted at the crossing of the Mansfield-Plymouth road with one running east and west. A few houses cluster around the corners of the old village site, but the town plat was vacated years ago.
Richland, locally called Planktown, also in Cass township, did a thriving business in the stage-day period, being situated at the junction of the stage roads leading from Mansfield to Huron and from Wooster to Tiffin. Only a few of the buildings remain. Here is where Return J. M. Ward committed two murders, the baneful influence of which seems to hang over the town.
Newcastle and Millsborough, in Springfield township, were aspiring villages sixty years ago, but have ceased to exist as towns.
Crestline is situated in both Crawford and Richland counties, more largely in the former. Crestline's predecessor was Livingston, nearly a mile north of
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the railroad crossing; but Crestline, in its prosperity, has extended so far to the north that the old site of Livingston is now a northern suburb of Crestline.
When the Ohio & Pennsylvania railroad was being built, the Cincinnati, Cleveland & Chicago road did not want the Pennsylvania road to cross its line and bought land to control the situation. This necessitated a curve to be made in the survey of the Pennsylvania road, and later the town of Crestline was laid out at the junction. The Cleveland road yielded to the inevitable and made Crestline its station also.
It is not the purpose of this sketch to consider causes which led to changes of the towns mentioned but to simply state that conditions work wonders for the prosperity or adversity of a town. Take Kaskaskia, once the capital of the Illinois territory and the metropolis of the West-a town that has been so reduced in population that the government a few years since abolished its post- office, claiming that the place was not of sufficient importance to maintain an office there. The case of Kaskaskia is cited to show that towns elsewhere as well as in Richland county sometimes fall into decay and ruins. The funda- mental maxim in the dynamics of progress is everywhere the same-that the weaker goes to the wall-and the same rules apply to towns.
MANSFIELD'S BANKS.
From the earliest institutions to the present concerns. A strong financial showing. History of the first bank and the subsequent banking institutions. Founders of the Farmers Bank. The banking concerns of the present day. Clearing house association.
The material business and industrial wealth of Mansfield is fairly indi- cated by those great arteries of finance-the banks of the city, whose resources are nearly three millions of dollars, and the clearing house representing four of the six banks shows a business of $4,982,040.02, for the year 1898.
With banks, as in other cases, it is interesting to go back and consider their founding and subsequent history, intertwining the past with the present, and note the growth and development of the city by reviewing her financial institutions.
THE FIRST BANK.
The first bank in Mansfield was opened for business in 1816, and was located where the Purdy building now stands. The Hon. Mordecai Bartley, who then represented Richland county in the general assembly, endeavored to obtain a charter for this bank, but failed to do so by one vote, on account of a rural sentiment inimical to such institutions. John Garrison was presi- dent of this bank and Mr. Elliott cashier.
ANOTHER BANK.
In 1846 another bank was started by James Patterson & Co. A few years later, Mr. Patterson died and his interest was bought by (Judge) Charles T. Sherman and Andrew Conn, and was conducted by the latter until his removal to New York, in 1854, when its business was closed. These were private banks and were convenient in a commercial way in their day.
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FARMERS NATIONAL.
The first really permanent bank was started July 27, 1847, as a branch of the State Bank of Ohio, under the law of 1846. This was called the Farmers Bank, and was reorganized as a national in 1867, and is the oldest bank in the city, having been in existence over fifty years. At the com- paratively early period at which this bank was organized but few men were wealthy and a canvass had to be made of the county to raise the required capital ($30,000) to obtain a charter. The following is a list of the first stockholders :
The Farmers Bank was reorganized in 1864, and a few years ago was again reorganized as The Farmers Savings and Trust Company, with the following officers: Burton Preston, president; E. S. Nail, 1st vice president ; L. Hautzenroeder, 2d vice president; S. S. Bricker, 3d vice president; J. B. Lindley, secretary and treasurer; H. J. W. Smith, assistant secretary and treasurer.
MANSFIELD SAVINGS.
The Mansfield Savings Bank was organized in 1873 and after the erec- tion of its banking house on the corner of Fourth and Main streets, opened its doors for business on the 15th of October of that year.
Its officers were Barnabas Burns, president; Michael D. Harter, vice president, and R. Brinkerhoff, cashier. Its present officers are: R. Brinker- hoff, president; J. E. Brown, vice president ; C. F. Ackerman, cashier; F. M. Marquis, assistant cashier; R. S. Gibson, teller. The Savings Bank owns its own building, with safety vaults and other modern equipments.
CITIZENS NATIONAL.
The Citizens National Bank organized November 1, 1881, with G. F. Carpenter as president and S. A. Jennings as cashier. W. H. Rebuck was the first depositor. G. F. Carpenter. H. P. Davis, E. J. Forney, A. Scatter- good, R. Smith and J. W. Wagner constitute the board of directors. Capital stock paid in $100,000; surplus fund, $40,000; resources, $364,454.48.
BANK OF MANSFIELD.
The Bank of Mansfield was incorporated January 3, 1893, under the act of March 21, 1851, and commenced business January 1, 1893. Capital stock paid in, $100,000; surplus fund, $30,000; resources, $379,126.24.
The directors were: E. D. Baxter, S. S. Balliet, J. W. Brown, Lewis ยท Brucker, William Dow, John Krause, C. N. Gaumer, W. M. Hahn, J. P. Seward. W. M. Hahn, president : John Krause, vice president; M. D. Ward cashier; W. G. Patterson, teller; M. Dale Ward. bookkeeper; Albert Krause, collector.
RICHLAND SAVINGS.
The Richland Savings Bank company was incorporated April 8, 1898, and commenced business July 16 of that year. Capital stock, $50,000; re- sources, $180,914.80. A comparative statement of the business of this bank shows an increase of deposits that must be satisfactory to the management. having increased from July 16 to January 1 from $2,094.69 to $82,278.56 and its loans during the same period from $6.113 to $107.807.35. Its officers
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are W. W. Stark, president; J. Anderson Barton, cashier, and Fred M. Bush- nell, treasurer.
Banks are indicators of the business of a city and when the "Farmers" was organized, in 1847, it was sufficient for that period. Mansfield was then a village, but in the half century that has intervened between then and now it has become a city and in compliance with the law of demand and supply, other banks were required and came to meet the needs of trade and the bank- ing facilities of Mansfield show the growth and prosperity of the city.
RICHLAND STATISTICS.
Gathered from the Agricultural Districts by the Various Assessors.
The agricultural statistics have been made up for Richland county for 1908 at the county auditor's office, the same being based on the returns made by the assessors and the following is taken from the report:
Wheat-Number of acres sown, 32,984; bushels produced in 1907, 582,535; acres sown for 1908, 32,090.
Rye-Acres sown for 1907, 263; bushels produced in 1907, 4,149; acres sown for 1908, 381.
Buckwheat-Acres sown in 1907, 24; bushels produced in 1907, 283.
Oats-Acres sown in 1907, 25, 633 ; bushels produced in 1907, 576,229; acres (estimated) for 1908, 23,715.
Winter Barley-Acres sown in 1907, 51; bushels produced in 1907, 1,446; acres (estimated) for 1908, 62.
Spring Barley-Acres sown in 1907, 5; bushels produced in 1907, 50; acres sown in 1908, 2.
Corn-Acres planted in 1907, 28,713; bushels (shelled) produced in 1907, 780,285 ; acres planted (estimated) for 1907, 29,553.
Ensilage Corn-Acres planted in 1907, 188; acres planted (estimated) for 1908, 157.
Sugar Corn-Acres planted in 1907, 11; tons produced in 1907, 7.
Tomatoes-Acres planted in 1907, 4; bushels produced in 1907, 460.
Peas-Acres planted in 1907, 11; pounds produced in 1907, 14,000.
Trish Potatoes-Acres planted in 1907, 2,076; bushels produced in 1907, 199,095; acres (estimated) for 1908, 2,181.
Meadow-Acres in grass (other than clover) 1907, 33,172; tons of hay pro- duced 1907, 41,683.
Clover-Acres grown 1907, 11,276; tons of hay produced 1907, 14,639; bushels of seed produced 1907, 2,793; acres ploughed under for manure, 108.
Alfalfa-Acres grown in 1907, 5; tons of hay in 1907, 8.
Milk-Gallons sold for family use in 1907, 553,458.
Butter -- Pounds made in home dairies in 1907, 755,403; pounds made in creameries in 1907, 9,500.
Cheese-Pounds made in home dairies in 1907, 3,900.
Eggs-Number dozens produced 1907, 861,259.
Maple Products-Number of trees from which sugar was made in 1908.
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76,513; pounds of sugar in 1908, 4,281; gallons of syrup in 1908, 22,843. Honey-Pounds of honey in 1907, 448.
Bees-Number of hives in 1907, 137.
THE MANSFIELD WATER WORKS AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
About the year 1829 the matter of organizing a fire department began to be discussed in Mansfield, but there was no way of raising funds for such purpose at that time, and Dr. William Bushnell carried around a paper and obtained subscriptions to the amount of $150, with which a small hand engine was purchased. A fire company was then organized composed of Dr. Bushnell, Dr. Miller, Jacob Lindley, Hugh McFall, James Smart, and others. Mr. Lindley was the foreman of the company, and the engine was kept in his cabinet shop, on the site of the present Baptist church.
In 1848 the council authorized P. P. Hull to purchase a fire engine of a more recent make and six hundred feet of hose. At the same time the council authorized the following persons, and such others as they chose to associate with them to organize a fire company, viz .: Levi Zimmerman, A. L. Grimes, R. C. Smith, S. J. Kirkwood, H. L. Baker, Peter Arbaugh, Samuel Au, Michael Linder, Thomas McEwen, John Rickets, Adam Heldman, Abraham Emminger, P. P. Hull, Alexander McIlvain, David Bushey and James A. Cook. They were to have the use of this new engine, "Ohio," hose, etc. The same date a committee was appointed to procure a hose cart and a proper place to keep the engine, and P. P. Hull was appointed the first engineer by the council.
In July, 1852, a second fire company was organized, called Torrent No. 2. Its engine was purchased by subscription. The charter members of this com- pany were: George F. Carpenter, Echels McCoy, Barnabas Burns, M. L. Miller, E. McFall, T. B. Dodd, J. H. Cook, H. R. Smith, G. McFall, John U. Wiler, I. C. Fair, J. Christofel, James Dickson. John Y. Glessner, John C. Ritter, D. C. Connell, James Hoy and S. B. Sturges. The engine was pur- chased at Seneca Falls, N. Y.
Subsequently other companies were organized from time to time, much machinery and apparatus purchased, and the fire department became an in- stitution of much importance.
In 1854 an assistant engineer was appointed by the council for each organization; the old engine and apparatus of No. 1 was turned over to "Young America Fire Company No. 3," and a new engine was purchased for No. 1, called "Deluge."
In 1867 a steam engine was purchased by the fire department at a cost of $5,500.
The subject of building water works for the city was first discussed in 1848, but did not materialize until 1871. when the people decided by a decisive vote at the spring election of that year that the long-felt want should be supplied, and H. R. Smith, A. C. Cummins and S. B. Sturges were appointed trustees with plenary power to proceed with the work of installing a water work plant and ground was broken for the same May 15, 1871. The
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council voted a bond issue of $175,000, and E. McCoy was appointed fore- man of the work. The Holly system was decided upon and the water was taken out of the Rockyfork creek, four hundred and fifty feet above the works, six acres of ground having been purchased for the works.
The work was pushed with such energy that on the 20th of August, 1872, the works were in operation. After a few years' experience, much complaint having been made about the quality of the Rockyfork water, it was decided to take water from the Laird and the Johns springs, within easy reach of the works, thus giving the city pure spring water.
The present fire department was organized in June, 1884, and is con- sidered one of the most proficient of the kind in the state, and is equipped with the Gamewell fire alarm system. There are three fire stations, one in the central part of the city, one in the northern part and one in the southern part. The department is equipped with everything that is modern in the fire department line. The number of fire alarms run from seventy-five to a hundred a year.
The firemen's "helpers," as the horses of the fire department are called, are appreciated and given much consideration by the firemen. Numerous in- cidents might be cited showing the intelligence of a horse, its conception of its duties and his willingness to perform them.
The Arab recognizes the intelligence of the horse, talks to him and treats him almost like a companion. The better knowledge a man has of a horse the more he recognizes his mental capability and gets better service from him. The intelligence of animals is too little known and too lightly treated. The thoughts and feelings of the boy whose guinea pig had died are worthy of consideration. One night his mother heard him sobbing and inquired : "What's the matter, Sammy?"
"Oh, mamma, has a great big elephant a soul?"
"No, child," the mother replied.
"Have horses souls, mamma?"
"No, Sammy."
The child's sobs increased as he came down the scale to smaller animals without getting a comforting reply. The mother saw the trend of the ques- tioning and pitying the poor boy who was so heart-broken over the loss of his pet, that she concluded to comfort him somewhat, and to the question :
"Mamma, hadn't my nice, dear little guinea pig a soul?" the mother replied, "Perhaps it had, my child."
The pets that answer our call, look intelligently into our eyes, under- stand our words, and obey our bidding, who shall gainsay that they shall live again.
The firemen have their horses; Cowper had his hares; Luther his dogs, and a sentimental belief in their immortality, that in the illimitable beyond we shall have our own again, may not be creditable to the head but it is commendable to the heart.
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THE MANSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The enrollment of the Mansfield public schools for the year 1908 is 4,966. Males, 2,499; females, 2,487. There are 116 teachers employed. Mansfield has a fine high school building which cost $150,000, and there are eight ward school buildings. In the foregoing enumerations the pupils of the parochial schools are not included.
The first graduating class was in 1862, and consisted of four girls. The total number of graduates to the present time is 560-426 girls and 134 boys. The largest class numbered 28, but the class of the present year, it is thought, will be larger.
In addition to the advantages of the graded schools in acquiring an edu- cation there is the public library, free for all.
Another important auxiliary in the educational line is the Mansfield museum.
The first school house in Mansfield was paid for by subscription and cost $200.
In no other way has the growth of the city been better shown than in the progress of her schools, in the increased number of her scholars and in the addition of school buildings. The village of the past quietly and hopefully plodded along and without the misfortune of a boom passed through the transition stages that intervened between the past and the present, until we now have a city whose healthful growth will continue and increase, and our population reach 50,000, the number the league aims to secure ere Mansfield celebrates its centennial.
The American school is a product of carly planting. In the pioneer times, when a few families settled near each other, it was not long until a school was started. Even in that carly day the settlers believed that educa- tion was the bulwark of liberty. Subscription schools were taught long before school houses were built, or public money could be obtained for educational purposes.
The present school system was organized under the law of 1852, soon after its passage, and the late J. H. Cook, A. L. Grimes and Isaac Gass were the members of the first school board in Mansfield. Alexander Bartlett was appointed principal of the high school and superintendent of instruction.
In 1859 the enrollment of scholars was 925.
Among the men who, as boys, attended the public schools of Mansfield. the Days and Woods have become distinguished in the army and navy, and Frank G. Carpenter in the field of literature. In the newspaper line, Peter Trumpler and Henry G. McKnight have won success in other states. Many others might be mentioned who have been successful in life at home and abroad.
And there are those who had not the advantages of the graded system, but who, as country lads, had to attend the often-sneered-at "deestrict" school, and among that number was Judge Geddes, who served fifteen years on the bench, eight years in congress and as a lawyer was the peer of the best men of
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his time. Judge Geddes received his early education in Monroe township, as did also Congressman Kerr, Judge Douglass and Judge Wolfe at a later period.
Many of America's greatest statesmen, most brilliant lawyers, profound thinkers and popular orators have been reared on farms. While some were self-taught, others worked their ways from the country school to academies and colleges, where they learned the beauties of poetic imagery from the lliad and the Aeneid, the strong declamatory invective from Cicero's orations against Catiline, and the spirit and genius of the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations from the standard classical authors.
In the development of schools, in the growth of systems of teaching, two ideas have hitherto pervailed in reference to education. One side claiming it should be a "crowding" process, or, at best, a nourishing one. Under this system the pupil is made to amass particulars "ad infinitum." The second lays stress upon the word "discipline"-that man is a muscle generally, and that the mind grows by gymnastic training.
But whether teaching should be merely a training of the sensuous ele- ment of the mind-a presentation of thought through the senses; or whether it should seize the whole matter formally or abstractedly and discipline the mind by developing the muscles and by studying things not valuable in them- selves; whether we should have the object lesson or the discipline sys- tem, it is not the purpose of this article to discuss or to consider, but to infer that in the public schools of Mansfield there is that judicious blending of the twain that best promotes and enhances the education of the pupils of today.
COMPANY I, FIRST REGIMENT, O. V. I.
Special mention should be made of the first military company that left Mansfield for the Civil war. It was Company I, First Regiment, O. V. I., and William McLaughlin was its captain. The regiment was organized at Colum- bus, April 18, 1861, and was ordered to Washington City at once, leaving Columbus on the morning of April 19. It was mustered into service at Lan- caster, Pa., April 29, and upon its arrival at Washington was assigned to General Schenck's brigade of General Tyler's division, then a part of the force in defense of the capital. It was engaged in the battle of Bull Run and was mustered out of service ten days later.
BANQUET TO COMPANY M.
Upon the return of Company M, Eighth Regiment, O. N. G., from the Cuban war a reception and banquet was given the "boys" by the citizens of Mansfield on Tuesday afternoon, November 30th, 1898, followed by a benefit entertainment at the Opera House that evening.
The festivities began at Purdy's hall at 3 o'clock. The beautiful suite of rooms on the third floor consisting of reception room, dancing hall, banquet room, smoking room and cloak rooms were all thrown open at the hour men-
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tioned above. The floor of the dancing hall was covered with canvas. All the rooms and doorways were beautifully decorated with flags and bunting. The opera house orchestra, which was stationed overhead in the box in the dancing hall rendered a number of inspiring selections between the hours of 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock. A reception committee of ladies and gentlemen was on duty to make the boys feel at home. Apparently nothing had been over- looked to make this feature of the day a success. In addition to the com- mittee there was present quite a number of people, special friends of the boys. Some of them were old soldiers of the war of the rebellion and the latter talked over war experiences with the later day heroes. Outside of the building the weather was stormy, but this did not deter the friends of the boys from being present to extend the glad hand of welcome. The young soldiers showed their appreciation of the efforts put forth in their behalf by being there with few exceptions. It was through no fault of their own that some of the members of the company were absent.
The musical entertainment given at the opera house as a benefit for Company M was a success in every particular except from a financial stand- point. The lower part of the auditorium was fairly well filled, but the enter- tainment on the whole was not as well patronized as it was hoped it would be. It is stated that but little, if anything, was realized over and above expenses. The programme was carried out as heretofore published in this paper with the exception that Master Hoppe sang a selection.
The closing feature of the performance, "Company M Mascotte" was the appearance of thirty-five young ladies displaying the national colors who sang the "Star Spangled Banner" and the audience joining in the closing chorus. Every performance was encored and the entertainment was an artistic success.
RICHLAND COUNTY BIOGRAPHICAL
Rocliff Brinkenhoff
BIOGRAPHICAL
GENERAL ROELIFF BRINKERHOFF.
The name of General Roeliff Brinkerhoff is indelibly impressed upon the pages of Ohio's history. A strongly marked personality, clearly defined purpose, keen insight, high ideals and a recognition of life's obligations and responsibilities have so combined as to make General Brinkerhoff one of the most honorable and honored residents of the state. The record of few men in public life has been so varied in service, so constant in honor and so stain- less in reputation, and it is therefore imperative that definite consideration be paid him in this connection.
He was born in Owasco, Cayuga county, New York, June 28, 1828, and is a representative in the seventh generation of the descendants of Joris Der- icksen Brinkerhoff, the founder of the family in America, who came from Drentland, Holland, in 1638, accompanied by his wife Susannah, and settled at Brooklyn, New York, then New Netherlands. Many representatives of the family are now living on Long Island and in the Hudson valley, while others can be found in almost every western state. Most of these are descended from Hendrick, son of Joris Dericksen Brinkerhoff, who settled in New Jersey in 1685. The grandfather, Roeliff Brinkerhoff, removed from Hacken- sack, New Jersey, to the vicinity of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. where George R. Brinkerhoff, the father, was born. In the maternal line General Brinker- hoff is descended from French Huguenots, who, fleeing from religious perse- cution, found safety and a home among the tolerant Dutch settlers of New Netherlands. Both the Bouviers, his mother's people, and the Demarests, to which family his grandmother belonged, were French Huguenots.
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