History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c., Part 47

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968

USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c. > Part 47

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Telegraphy began to awaken the world about the same time railroads appeared. Even before railroads came into the West, several lines, gen- erally short, and often experimental, were occa- sionally used. Not until after the railroad had become a fixed fact. however, did any permanent results appear.

The first telegraph office in Mansfield was opened November 30, 1849. Mr. Samuel Hoyt, now an operator in Crestline, was in charge of the office. There was but one wire, and that, he says, was built along the mud road from Cleveland to Cincinnati. This telegraph line was known as the "Cleveland & Cincinnati Telegraph Company." Mr. J. H. Wade, now a

wealthy citizen of Cleveland, and a man long and intimately associated with the early days of telegraphy, was President of the Company, and was one of its chief originators. The route of the line was from Cleveland through Medina, Wooster, Ashland. Mansfield, Bellville, Mount Vernon, Granville, Newark (a branch went from Newark to Zanesville), Hebron, Columbus, Wash- ington and Wilmington to Cincinnati. These places were the only offices on the line.

In 1851. the same Company built a line along the Cleveland. Columbus, & Cincinnati Railroad, and also along the railroad from Newark through Mansfield to Sandusky City. This last-named line was the second in this county. and was opened, Mr. Wade writes. for business carly in 1852. Mr. Hoyt thinks it was not opened till 1853. Prior to the erection of any of the lines running north and south across the State, a line from Buffalo, N. Y., to Detroit, Mich., had been opened (in 1847) as far as Cleveland, and the next spring extended to Detroit. At Sandusky City a june- tion was made, in 1852, with the line along the Sandusky & Newark Railway, and the citizens of Mansfield could send Eastern dispatches by that line (which soon came to be the important one) instead of the old Cleveland & Cincinnati line, that followed the common highway to Cleveland.

When the first line was built through this county, Mr. Wade came to Mansfield, and, by (int of personal efforts. secured several sub- scribers to the stock of the Company. Each share was valued at $50. Hugh MeFall. Chas. Sherman, and other influential citizens took stock in the enterprise, none of them having very sanguine hopes of realizing anything from the investment. They desired to aid any enter- prise that favored the advancement of the town.

The office in Mansfield was located up-stairs in Mr. James Purdy's building, one door south of the bank corner. Mr. Hoyt was placed in charge of the office, and, on the day mentioned (Novem-

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

ber 30th), the office was opened for business. The receiving and sending of messages was a mystery then to most people, some of whom advanced curious and erude ideas regarding " how the thing was done." Their curiosity was not always gratified by the operators who not often sent them away confident they knew the whole matter, when, in fact, they had lis- tened to some grandly devised scheme, the in- vention of the operator's brain. who immensely enjoyed the joke.

At that date, operators who could read by sound were few. Dispatches were received on an old-fashioned Morse register, and run off on paper by the yard. Mr. Hoyt says, if his mem- ory serves him right, the receipts were $60 or $70 per month for the first months. As the business continued, and men saw the practical value of the telegraph, the revenue increased.

In the spring of 1848, the office was moved to North Main street, and put in an upper room, on the McFall corner. "That spring," writes Mr. Hoyt, "Mr. Wade sent me a list of the stockholders in Mansfield, and enough money to pay a 2 per cent dividend on the stock. Mr. McFall held one share. I handed him $1, and asked him to receipt for it. He replied ' there must be some mistake about it.' I assured him there was not. He took the dol- lar, handed it to his son Gaylord, requesting him to have it framed, and to hang it up in his office, as it was the first cent of dividend he had ever received from any stock he ever held. The. bill, on a Plainfield (N. J.) bank, was framed, and hung in the designated place. The next day, word came that the bank had failed, and the dividend was worth only the paper upon which it was written."

The office remained on the McFall corner during the year 1852 and part of 1853. In the spring of 1853, Mr. Hoyt went to the Cleveland office, and was succeeded by Thomas Beer, of Ashland, now deceased, a cousin of Judge Thomas Beer, of Crawford County. Not long

after, the office was moved from the McFall corner to a room in the Wiler House. near its north end, at the alley. By this time, the lines on the railroads were in operation, and began rapidly to supersede all highway tele- graphs and to do a business commensurate with the times.

The Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad was com- pleted as far as Crestline in April, 1853 ; a year or two after, to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and then on to Chicago. Such a road used the telegraph from its incipiency. Soon after the road was built, Mr. Thomas T. Eckert, then the Superin- tendent of the Wade lines, removed to Mans- field from Wooster. and his brother, W. H. Eekert, was placed in charge of the office. He resided here until 1858. During his resi- denco here the Wade lines were made a part of the present Western Union lines. Mr.

Eckert became, in after years, a widely known man. He was of a positive nature, and well calculated to manage men. He removed to North Carolina in 1859, but on the commence- ment of the war returned North and offered his services to the Federal Government. He was given prominent and responsible positions in the service of the Military Telegraph, and was for a time also Assistant Secretary of War under Edwin M. Stanton. When President Lincoln and Secretary Seward met the emissaries of the Confederaey, in February, 1865, to see if a peaceful solution of the great conflict could not be brought about, Mr. Eckert was one of the party, and was intrusted with an impor- tant mission. His trust was carried out with courteous dignity and delicacy, and to the en- tire satisfaction of the Federal Government. After the war closed, Mr. Eckert moved to New York. and assumed the responsible posi- tion of General Superintendent. of the East- ern division of the Western Union Telegraph Company, a position he occupied several years. He afterward became President of the Atlantie & Pacific Telegraph Company, and is

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now President of the American Union Tele- graph Company.

Mr. Eckert was succeeded in Mansfield, as Superintendent of the Telegraph, by Mr. O. H. Booth, who now holds that position. He came here as an employe of the office, and has risen to the position he now holds. Hle removed the office from the room in the Wiler House to the southwest corner of Fourth and Main streets, in Stocking's building, where it is now located.

It lacks but a little of forty years since the first telegraph office was opened in this county. This lapse of time has brought great changes, none more strikingly exhibited than in the tele- graph business. Now Mr. Booth superintends a telegraph interest extending over nearly three thousand miles of railroads, on many of which are double or triple lines of wire, aggregating over ten thousand miles of line.

The opening of the war gave the telegraph, then languishing, an impetus that soon sent it to the front as one of the leading business in- terests. Every telegraph office in the land was the center of intense interest when a battle occurred. Often crowds would block the streets in front of .an office, waiting for the latest dis- patches. The same scenes were again seen dur- ing the late Franco-German war. The Mans- field office was often crowded all night with eager citizens, hanging over the clicking of the in- struments, waiting news of a pending battle.

Since the war at home, telegraph facilities have greatly increased. Twenty telegraph cir- cuits now traverse the county, connecting Mansfield with all the leading cities of the

country. The new American Union Company, which is now making such an earnest and persistent effort to obtain business, comes through the county on the Baltimore & Oliio Railroad.

There are fourteen telegraph offices in Rich- land County, viz .: five in Mansfield; one in Bellville ; one in Independence; one in Lex- ington ; one in Shelby ; one in Plymouth ; one at Toledo Junction ; one at Lucas; one in Windsor, and one in Ontario.

Another discovery is now awakening a gen- eneral interest in all parts of the country-the telephone. It is largely being used by business firms, and by many private parties, who thus connect, by word of mouth, their dwellings and places of business. Over forty business offices and residences are now connected, in Mansfield, and are enabled to communicate with each other at a moment's call, obviating the necessity of employing a special messenger.

One of the largest churches in the city, the Congregationalist, has adopted its use, and, by means of its aid. several members who are too feeble to leave their residences hear every part of the service, almost as distinctly as if in the church.

Quite a number of persons who graduated in the Mansfield telegraph office have attained po- sitions of influence in the business world. Among these may be mentioned William Hunt- er, now Chief of the Western Union Supply Department in New York City, and James H. Barrett, who is now Superintendent of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR-FIRST NEWS IN MANSFIELD -PUBLIC MEETINGS - MAJ. MCLAUGHLIN AND THIE FIRST COMPANY - DEPARTURE FOR COLUMBUS - MILLER MOODY'S COMPANY -THE FIFTEENTH AND SIX- TEENTH REGIMENTS IN THE FIELD-THEIR RETURN-CAPT. M. R. DICKEY'S COMPANY-CAPT. A. (". CUMMINS' COMPANY-OTHER COMPANIES-RETURN OF THE THREE-MONTHS TROOPS.

THE first gun fired on Fort Sumter sent its reverberations around the world. Not an inland hamlet in the whole United States existed without its influence an hour after it occurred. Telegraph wires flashed the news to all railroad towns ; expresses were sent on foot and on horseback to all interior towns ; neigh- bor hastened to tell it to neighbor, and thus, almost before evening of the same day, all parts of the Union felt the news and prepared to act. The nation was attacked, and it should be defended.

The bombardment of Sumter began April 12, 1861. January 9 preceding, the insurgents had attacked a vessel-"Star of the West"- when on its way to the fort, and even then the surrender of the fort was demanded. By the 12th of April, the rebellion had assumed a more formidable organization, and then the war was considered fairly opened. It awakened the nation. The attack was known in all parts of the North before the dawning of the next day, and steps for organizing troops to defend the country began to be made.

April 14, President Lincoln issued his proc- lamation for 75,000 troops to serve three months. Then the magnitude of the rebellion was not comprehended, else the call would have been very much larger, and for a longer term of serv- ice. Ohio's quota was 10,153 men ; more than thirty regiments were offered ; 12,357 men were accepted, and the State provided quarters for the remainder, mainly at her own expense.

In this county, the foremost man was Gen. William MeLaughlin, an old tried veteran of the Mexican war. Tall, erect, and manly in his bearing, the very personification of the soldier, with flowing white hair and beard (he was then nearly seventy years of age) giving a venerable, commanding presence-no man was better pre- pared than he. and no man more ready. Hle had been a gallant officer in the Mexican war. fifteen years before, and there learned some- thing of the privations and requirements of a soldier's life. Patriotic to the heart's core, he had long scented the danger to which the nation was exposed, and prepared himself, as a " min- ute man" of the Revolution. ready at a mo- ment's notice.

Fort Sumter surrendered Saturday at 1:30 o'clock. Telegraphie news conveyed the word to all parts of the Union that evening. But that was all that was known. The next day was Sabbath. and no one in remote towns could get accurate and full details till the issue of the Monday morning papers. That day was a bo- nanza to those dailies which contained a full report. Early Monday morning, Gen. R. Brink- erhoff went to the railroad where it entered the city, and procuring an Ohio State Journal from the train boy, brought the sheet up to the court house, where many of the lawyers had assem- bled prior to the opening of court. He went into the court room, where the majority of them were, and soon the account and the call for troops as they were printed in that paper were

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known to all. A short silence ensued at its close. Mr. William Johnston was the first to speak. " I suppose some of you will be volun- teering now," said he. "Very likely we will," replied some one. The conversation soon became general. The situation of national affairs was surely serious. When the news became gener- ally known over the city, groups of talkers could be seen earnestly engaged in conversation. Trade was in the background just then. Farm- ers came in from the country to learn the latest word, and remained to discuss the situation, or hurried home to inform their neighbors. At dinner that day, the subject engrossed the entire family conversation. In the afternoon, posters were seen all over the city, bearing the follow- ing patriotic appeal :

CITIZENS

AND LOVERS OF THE COUNTRY and

THE UNION, Come together at the COURT HOUSE THIS EVENING.

Gen. Mclaughlin and other speakers will ad- dress the meeting.

" About dark." says the Herald, "a large crowd assembled, and soon the old court house was filled to overflowing. The crowd continued pouring in until the stairs were filled, and two or three hundred more collected on the outside.

" The meeting was called to order by appoint- ing James Purdy, Esq., President. This gen- tleman, on taking his seat, stated the object of the meeting in a short speech. The organiza- tion was completed by appointing Gen. John Meredith and Joel Myers Vice Presidents, and R. Brinkerhoff, and Eckles McCoy, Secretaries. A committee on resolutions was appointed, con- sisting of the following gentlemen : R. C. Smith, M. R. Dickey, Z. S. Stocking, N. L. Jeff- ries and B. S. Runyan. The crowd became so dense by this time, that it was moved that

the meeting adjourn to Miller's Hall, and a gentleman was dispatched to see if it could be procured. He returned in a short time, and stated that the hall was lighted, and already half full of people. In the mean time, Gen. Mclaughlin had been called upon to make a speech. The meeting adjourned to the hall, which was soon filled, and there the General resumed his speech. It breathed that patriotic fire and devotion to the country. for which the old veteran has always been noted. He was frequently loudly applauded.

" After he had concluded, the committee on resolutions reported the following :

" WHEREAS, The Government of the United States, when peaceably attempting to provision her starving troops in Fort Sumter, has been wantonly assailed by traitors to our flag and Government, and Fort Sumter compelled to surrender unconditionally ; and,

" WHEREAS, The United States authorities have called upon her loyal citizens to furnish men to enable her to maintain her authority and protect the common property of the people.

"Resolved, That we have a Government, and for the support of that Government against enemies without. and traitors within, we hereby pledge our lives and fortunes, and our sacred honor.

"Resolved, That we, as loyal citizens, hereby pledge our quota of men, and call upon the Legislature to fur- nish means to equip the same for service under the time-honored stars and stripes.

" Mr. R. C. Davis sung the . Star Spangled Banner' with great effect, the audience joining in the chorus. Hon. B. Burns, being called upon, made a strong Union speech. He was followed by N. L. Jeffries, Hon. Jacob Brinker- hoff. Judge Geddis, M. R. Dickey and W. W. Smith. The meeting kept until a late hour, and the utmost enthusiasm and excitement were manifested.

"One thing," concludes the Herald, "was demonstrated by the meeting, and that was that all party feeling was obliterated-the politician was sunk in the patriot-and each vied with the other in expressions of devotion and loyalty to the Union."

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

The President's proclamation was made the next day after Fort Sumter had surrendered, and the paper obtained by Gen. Brinkerhoff Monday morning contained that in addition to the full account of the surrender. The Gov- ernor's proclamation was issued the next day- Monday, April 15-calling for the organization of companies, and requiring them to notify him. Thirteen regiments were called for im- mediate service. The next day-Tuesday- Gen. Mclaughlin telegraphed to the Govern- ment, tendering a company of 100 men, when he, in fact, had not yet enlisted a man. The Governor replied in the affirmative. That evening, he opened his muster-roll in the court house, and, in one hour and a half, sixty-three men were enrolled .* "The scene," says the Herald, "as each man came forward, was in- tensely exciting. The entire number could easily have been filled that night, had not Gen. MeLaughlin declared his intention to wait until morning to enlist the balance."

The next morning, those who had enlisted the night before met at Miller's Hall. Others had joined. The roll was now seventy-eight, three more than the required number. A meet- ing of the citizens was also announced to meet at the same place. When they had assembled, Mr. H. Colby was called to the chair, who stated the object of this meeting to be for the purpose of making suitable provision for the families of those who enlisted, and announced the names of nineteen prominent gentlemen as a committee to take this matter in charge. The committee appointed five of their number as those to whom application should be made for such aid.

After this was done, the company proceeded to elect their officers, and organize for active military life. The election resulted in the choice

* There has been a little friendly controversy regarding who the first man was to enroll his name in this company. The facts in the case are these : When the first call for volunteers was made by Gen. Mclaughlin, Joseph Hedges, R. H. Bentley, H. Shelenbarger and T. E. Douglas went forward together. Their names appear as above mentioned. Hence it is probable they enrolled their names in the order given.

of Gen. Mclaughlin, Captain ;, Alexander Mc- Ilvaine, First Lieutenant ; Thomas E. Douglas, Second Lieutenant ; and S. E. McFarland, Third Lieutenant .* While the election progressed, and even after, more applications for enlistment were made and accepted. When this was done, the men were dismissed for dinner till 1 o'clock. After dinner they assembled, and, preceded by the brass band, marched to the public square, where a handsome silk flag was presented to them in an energetic and patriotic speech, by William Johnston. It was received by the Captain, on behalf of the company, and given to T. G. Bristor, Ensign of the company. That done, Mrs. C. R. Taft sang, with excellent effect, the " Star Spangled Banner." Each man was presented with a copy of the New Testa- ment, by Mr. H. Colby, on behalf of the Rich- land County Bible Society. They then marched back to the hall, where they were dismissed, to be on hand at 7 o'clock in the morning, ready to embark for the seat of war. During the after- noon more enlistments followed, and, by night, over one hundred names were enrolled.

"During all this time," says the Herald, "the excitement on the street was most intense. Drums were beating in every direction, flags flying from the roof's and windows of houses, excited men walking to and fro-all presenting a scene of animation and bustle, reminding us of the dreadful scenes of the battle-field. and impressing upon all the reality of the scene."

Early Thursday morning, people were astir and thronging the streets. Volunteers could be seen on every hand, bidding friends good-bye and preparing for a hasty departure. At half- past 7 o'clock, the company formed into line. and marched to the depot with Gen. MeLaugh- lin at its head. The " old war horse " marched with the tread of a soldier. As the company came opposite his residence. they were drawn up in front of it, and the General parted from his family with a military salute, and a hearty

* This office was afterward abolished.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

"God bless you all," that touched many a heart and brought tears to many an eye. The com- pany then re-formed and proceeded. As they came opposite the foundry of Hall & Allen, the workmen came out in procession and escorted them to the depot. It was indeed a proud moment. At the depot the scene was quite thrilling. Friends parted from friends, brothers from brothers and sisters, husbands from wives, fathers and mothers from sons. lovers from lovers. "Many a manly fellow," says one who saw it all, " felt the tear rush unbidden from his eye." Many a "God bless and preserve you " was heard as the train came in and left, while hearty cheers went up from the bystanders as this, the first company from Richland County, started on its mission of patriotism.

On the way to Columbus, but little happened. Mr. George W. Grubb,* now a resident of Lex- ington, in a letter describes the trip as one full of fun, yet not unmixed with sadness. They had left homes and dear ones behind, not know- ing they would see them again. Yet they were determined to be brave, and mirth ruled the hour. He narrates an incident well worth pre- serving, which shows the ideas then held by new recruits regarding the discipline in an army.

Mr. Thomas E. Douglas was the Second Lieu- tenant, and had been assigned charge of part of the men. While on the way, on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indian- apolis Railroad, he had occasion to reprove a soldier for some boisterous conduct. The sol- dier, not knowing his rank, and not relishing the reproof, looked in Lieut. Douglas' face and very blandly and coolly remarked, "And who the devil are you, sir?" The joke was pretty good, and was relished by the rest of the boys, if not by the Lieutenant.

Arriving at Columbus, the company reported to the Governor. That official and his Adju-

* Mr. Grubb was the first man to enlist from Troy Township, and, he thinks, the fifth in the county. He was afterward a member of the Sixth Ohio Battery.

tant found themselves suddenly with two or three regiments on hand, and no place to keep them. Hotels were utilized until a camp could be selected, and better means provided. The company, whose history is now being written, was assigned to the First Ohio Volunteers. While here, Joseph Hedges was appointed First Sergeant ; R. H. Bentley, Second ; T. G. Bris- tor,* Third, and James D. McBride, Fourth ; thus completing the organization of the com- pany, which was known in the regiment as " Company I."

Owing to the chaotic state of military mat- ters at Camp Jackson, the men, in common with many other companies, did not get any supper until late at night, and found a place to sleep as best they could about the camp. At 2 o'clock in the morning, they were marched to the depot, and, with a few other companies, were soon on the way to the front. At Harris- burg, the company remained over Sunday, and then went on to Lancaster, where it went into camp on the fair grounds, about a mile from the city. Both Ohio regiments, the First and Second, numbering about one thousand six hundred men, were there. Regimental officers had been elected while at Harrisburg, and, Sunday afternoon, April 29. the Colonel, Alex- ander McCook, arrived, and mustered the regi-

* There is rather an amusing anecdote connected with the appointment of some of these officers that is worth preserving : When the election for company officers was held in Mansfield, T. G. Bristor and T. E. Douglas were both candidates for a Lieuten- ant's place. As it happened, however, neither of them knew the difference between the positions of Lieutenant and Sergeant, each thinking they were about the same. It was agreed that Bristor should support Douglas for Lieutenant, and he, Bristor for Sergeant. Douglas was elected, and, not long after, Bristor learned that his office depended on the Captain, who appointed Sergeants. He nat- urally felt a little chagrined at his easy defeat. After the com- pany got to Columbus, Mr. B., wanted to go to the city, but found a guard around camp. None of them knowing much about the requirements of war, Mr. B., when confronted by the guard, deliber- ately snatched the musket out of his hands and went on his way. He knew Gen. Mclaughlin had a weakness for whisky, and, after imbibing a quantity himself, returned to camp, where he was informed that the Captain would "see to his case at the proper time." Looking around for that official, he found him sound asleep on a board. B. sat down by him aud patiently awaited his waking. When that occurred, the first object that confronted the Captain was Private B., who, without giving him a chance to say anything, invited him to "take something." The Captain could not resist, and, retiring to an obscure corner, was treated to a choice drink. Smacking his lips, the old veteran patted Private Bristor on the shoulder, and very kindly called him "Sergeant Bristor, Sergeant Bristor, sir!" Private Bristor had gained his point.

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Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 968

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968