USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vo. I > Part 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
The death of his wife, in 1808, so overwhelmed Governor Tiffin that he determined to abandon public life, and therefore, at the close of the session in March, 1809. he resigned. On his return to Ohio he settled on his farm and devoted himself to agriculture. But he was not allowed by his fellow citizens to give up his public career entirely, for at the fall election he was elected to the legis- lature; he was unanimously chosen speaker of the house, and so he continued to act for several sessions following. A former citizen of Chillicothe writes of him, that he gave great satisfaction as speaker, by his perfect familiarity with its duties, and the prompt- ness and correctness of his decisions.
In the meanwhile Governor Tiffin had resumed his practice and married again ; his second wife being Miss Mary Porter, from Dela- ware, whose family had recently settled in Ross county. She was a lady of rare personal beauty, quiet manners and exemplary piety.
During the first term of Mr. Madison's administration, con- gress passed the act creating the office of commissioner of the general land office, and Mr. Madison selected Governor Tiffin to take charge of this important department. The appointment was wholly unsolicited and unexpected by him or any of his friends. The first intimation of his appointment was the receipt by mail of his commission, with a friendly letter from the president. and letters from Mr. Worthington and several old colleagues, urging him to accept the position. The gratifying manner in which it was tendered determined him to do so. and in a few days he started on horseback for Washington, a journey which then required two weeks.
The land affairs of the nation were in much confusion; the books, documents, maps, ete., were scattered in various bureaus of the state, war and treasury departments, and it required a great
.
·
358
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
amount of perplexing labor to organize, methodically, the new department. But by the next meeting of congress all was ar- ranged. and Commissioner Tiffin made the first comprehensive and statistical report to congress on the publie lands-their quanti- ty, location. and probable future value to the government. . Ilis labors, in part, are exhibited in the state papers. When the British army approached Washington, in 1814, and orders were given to hurry off the public papers, Mr. Tiffin was the only one who, by prompt action, carried all his department to a place of safety. The other departments lost many valuable papers in the conflagration ordered by the British general.
Nothing could wean Governor Tiffin from his Ohio home. and Mr. Madison gratified the wish of his heart by ordering an ex- change of office with Josiah Meigs, who was then surveyor general of the west. with his office in Cincinnati. Mr. Meigs was appointed commissioner of the general land office, and Governor Tiffin was made surveyor general, with the privilege of locating the office in Chillicothe. There he located, and continued at the head of this office during the remainder of the term of Mr. Madison, through the succeeding administrations of Monroe and Adams, and into that of General Jackson, up to within a few weeks of his death, when General Jackson appointed General Lytle, of Cincinnati, to super- cede him. He received his successor on his death-bed, transferred to him his office, and died a few days thereafter.
The last years of the governor's life were but little diversified by incidents. He withdrew from the regular practice of medi- cine upon his appointment as commissioner in 1812; but after his return to Chillicothe, in 1814, he dispensed advice and medicine from his residence, gratuitously to the poor, and to many of his former patients who still insisted upon consulting him. But his own health began to give way about 1820, and he suffered from a most distressing complaint.
On Sabbath evening. August 9, 1829, he died at his old home in Chillicothe. His faithful old friend, Williams, says that: "He had long been sensible of his approaching end, and contemplated the solemn event. not only with calm complacency, but with a joy- ful anticipation of heavenly rest. He retained his full reason to the last, and gently sank away."
In stature, Dr. Tiffin was about five feet six inches high. His head was large; his face, English in type, was full and florid, with regular, prominent features. His countenance was expressive. especially when in animated conversation. He was particularly remarkable for the activity and quickness of his movements, and the prompt manner in which he discharged his duties.
Erastus Bowe kept the first tavern at Fort Ball. Elisha
一
E
359
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
Smith kept a tavern at that point for some years prior to 1826, and William Montgomery carried on one in 1826.
George Park erected a log house on the south side of East Perry street for purposes of a hotel or tavern, the first in the city. His next building, which stood on the site of the National Hall block, was a two-story frame, in which Eli Norris carried on hotel business. John Staub was also interested for a time in this building as lessee.
Calvin Bradley's hotel was established as the Central House and purchased by R. Sneath in 1826. In 1832, Mr. Bradley leased the house from Sneath and changed the name to "Washington House."
The Western Exchange Hotel, south of the original town, was erected in 1836 by Calvin Bradley, on South Washington street. This was also used as Bradley's stage station.
Joel Stone's tavern, as it existed in 1835, was a commodious house.
John Goodin, who settled at Tiffin in 1828, erected the first brick hotel building on Lot 86 in 1832. and conducted it until the building was leased to T. J. McCleary. This house stood where Loser's confectionery store later was, and John Kriedler, H. Lease, Orrin Hart and others carried on hotel keeping in it for years. Goodin removed to Hardin county.
Feldnagel's tavern stood near the old Sting Brewery. This was established about the fall of 1832.
In the fall of 1834, the Hoffman tavern was opened, the first German hotel at Tiffin.
John Staub kept a tavern at the northwest corner of Market and Monroe streets for some time.
Eli Norris' tavern was a celebrated hostelry of olden times. Richard Sneath purchased the Central House, in 1826 or 1828, for $400 from Calvin Bradley, and entered hotel life.
The Shawhan House was erected by R. W. Shawhan in 1850, and opened by John Staub in December of that year.
In 1859 there were no less than seven hotels at Tiffin, namely, the American House, Davis House, Franklin House, Holt House, A. R. Van Dorn's and the Shawhan House.
There attaches more or less interest to an old building or any object in the line of an old landmark, and more especially is this true if that landmark is about to be torn down, moved away or destroyed.
Now that Tiffin's new theater is about to become a reality, one naturally thinks of the old building-the old yellow-painted brick structure called the "German Inn," which will be razed to the ground to make room for the front part of the new theater; and it is natural to ask who built it, when was it built and who
360
. HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
lived in the early days,-the cognomen, "German Inn." by the way, being one it has borne only in the last few years, for previous to that it was a dwelling house.
Upon inquiry, the writer learned that Louis C. A. Smith was the first owner of the structure and a visit to his home resulted in the gleaning of some interesting facts. Mr. Smith and his wife are highly respected pioneer residents of Tiffin and live at No. 251 Jefferson street, where the writer was most kindly received by them. Both are possessed of good memories and can tell many interesting things of those early days. Mr. Smith is probably one of the oldest men in Seneca county, having celebrated his mintieth birthday on the 29th of April, last. He came to this country from Germany in 1840, at the age of twenty-four, and
---
GERMAN INN, TIFFIN.
after traveling over different parts of the United States, came to Tiffin. In 1846 he was married to Anna M. Rife, who was born in Germany and who came to this country sixty years ago and settled in Tiffin. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living: Charles, Mrs. Jacob Marquardt, Mrs. George Lesher, Albert and Emma A.
"It was in the summer of 1853 that we built that house-the year of the cholera, " said Mrs. Smith. "It was built for a dwell- ing and we lived in part of it and rented the other part. A Dr. Saunders rented of us at one time and Rev. John Escher, of St. John's church also rented of us."
The structure consisted of the present two-story house and a small shop which stood where Otto Wagner has his place of busi-
361
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
ness and was occupied by Mr. Smith as a gun shop. This part. of course. was in after years, torn down and the present three-story structure erected. The house, which is now called the German Inn. was then just as it is now; containing fourteen rooms and an attic and was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Smith for fourteen years. Here six of their children were born. In the year of 1867 Mr. Smith traded this property for a farm, a few miles south of the city. b longing to a man named MeBride, he taking possession of the town property. Here Mr. Smith and family lived until 1890 when they moved into the city and have lived there unto the present time. The McBrides rented the two parts of the house for some years and from time to time it has exchanged owners. It has now been purchased from the Wagner family by the projectors of the new theater.
"Tiffin wasn't much of a town when you built that house, was it ?"
"No indeed," said Mrs. Smith, "it was nothing but a mud hole. Sometimes we had to go through fields because the streets were so muddy. I lost my rubber in the deep mud once when going to church and a man had to get it for me. It was all wood- land where we live now. Why, even Washington street did not have walks; in some places large stones were placed along the side and we had to step from stone to stone."
There was a deep gully on Washington street about in front of the Stoner property and many a team from Melmore was "stuck in the mud" on its way to the business part of the village. The yard at the Stoner property down below the pavement as it is, will show the depth the gully was at that time.
In talking to other citizens on the subject. the writer was told many interesting things of Tiffin at that time. A lady in speak- ing of this old house said she remembered well the summer it was built and that the walking as far as E. W. Stephenson's hou seemed very far and was called pretty near the country. She said: "I remember after the Smiths left that house that someone had boarders or lodgers there and we school girls were afraid to pass it because we had heard that some man had been sick with the smallpox in the attic, had died and been taken away in the night; and I used to look at the window with awe and would go way out in the street when I passed on that side of the street.
"What school did I go to? Well, it was on Market street near the Loomis foundry and there were four rooms; and when you had gone through the four, you were finished-graduated. as it were. Mr. Rickly, who, while he lived. did so much for the col- lege, was one of my teachers.
"At recess, we girls would cross the old bridge on Market street and walk along the river bank, which used to be lined with
362
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
TIFFIN
THEATRE. 1906
NEW OPERA HOUSE, TIFFIN.
363
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
beautiful old maples. I think there is but one left now; they have gradually disappeared, the ground about them being washed away until they too have finally been washed into the river. Many a time have we strayed so far that we had to run when we heard the old bell. Later I went to a select school, which was conducted in what is known as the old Singer property next to the Pennsylvania station."
George R. Huss also lived in this old house. It was in the year of '65; he and his family lived in one part. the McBride family in the other and a Miss Ladd lived in the little shop part, where she conducted a dress-making business. Mr. Huss, by the way, has the distinction of being the oldest person living, who was born in Tiffin. His father lived in a frame house which stood on the site of the Methodist Protestant church and here he was born. The house later was moved to Jefferson street and was recently torn down to make room for the Yochem flats.
Some inquiries about the cholera, brought forth some interest- ing information, both from the Smiths and other persons with whom the writer talked. In one family, five members died in one week. One of the carpenters while engaged in working on this old building, was seized with cholera and died. He, by the way, was Jesse Kishler. a brother of Fred and George Kishler. promi- nent citizens of Tiffin. Drs. Hovey and MeCollum, both pioneer physicians, now deceased, were indefatigable in their care of the sick. It was a terrible time for the little village, and many families fled to the country and adjoining villages to escape the ravages of the epidemic. Some faithful ones had to stay and care for the dead and dying ; one was Judge Bagby, our well known pioneer resident, and another the late William Holt, father of the Holt brothers and Mrs. A. A. Cunningham. They were untiring in their efforts to relieve the suffering of that never-to-be forgotten time. Mr. IIolt told a friend of his of a German girl who was a domestic in his family and who determined not to leave the vil- lage, but to stay and assist in the care of the sick. One morning she arose apparently perfectly well. prepared the breakfast for those staying in the house and by that night she was dead and buried, the terrible malady taking her off that quickly. And thus one might go on and on with stories of the past, but space forbids more.
The accompanying cuts show pictures of the old structure and the new theater now in the course of construction.
In the fall of 1833 Mr. IIedges contracted with Reuben Wil- liams, one of the leading carpenters at that time, to build a wooden bridge across the river on Washington street. Some of the work was done that fall. but during the following spring, and summer the work progressed very slowly. It was finally completed far
364
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
enough to have a few plank laid over it lengthwise. for the accom- modation of foot passengers. During the spring and summer of 1834, another foot bridge was constructed a little distance further down the river, by boring holes into slabs and putting long sticks into them to raise the slabs above the water. Both of these con- venienees together nearly ruined Mr. Hoagland's ferry.
A big freshet, in the fall of 1834, brought immense quantities of drift down the river-whole trees, straw stacks, fence rails, saw logs, etc.,-and made a lodgement at the bents of the bridge. Several men ventured to get on the top of the drift pile with their axes, and commenced chopping the long trees into pieces, in order to start them on their way. They made considerable headway ; but when they saw large pieces of the Tymochtee bridge approach- ing, they got away just in time to save their lives. When these pieces of the Tymochtee bridge struck the gathered drift the whole mass went together, taking the new bridge along.
In the summer following Mr. Hedges built a better bridge at the same place, and when it was done he employed a colored man to collect toll. This was the first and only toll bridge that Tiffin ever had. Early in the spring of 1836. James W. Hill published a notice to the effect that he had rented the toll bridge from Mr. Hedges for the term of three months, commencing on the 1st day of April. 1836. and called upon those who had bargains with Mr. Hedges to cross the bridge, to call on him, in order to renew their contracts, etc.
The bridge was a great convenience, but the idea of paving toll became annoying to farmers, as well as to the merchants in Tiffin, and a plan was put on foot to have a free bridge constructed over the river at the west end of Market street. A subscription list was circulated. and when the requisite amount was subscribed the contract was let. It was a wooden, truss bridge with a roof over it. Guy Stevens, Benjamin Biggs. John Park and Dr. James Fisher were the building committee; Andrew Lugenbeel was treasurer.
There was great rejoicing in Tiffin when. on the 18th day of February, 1837. it was announced that the free bridge was opened to the public. It cost $2,200. Hedges' toll bridge became a free bridge also, as a matter of course.
This covered, free bridge was a fearfully dark place after night, and the women on either side of the river refused to cross it without protection, after dark. Some time after, lanterns were put up at each end during dark nights. Peter Vaness established a large carriage shop where Loomis & Nyman's foundry now is. near the bridge, and when the carriage factory burned down, the bridge caught fire and burned.
The old toll bridge lasted for ten years after that, when, on
365
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
New Year's night of 1847, it was swept away by a freshet. Then the county commissioners put up in its place one of the most wonderful contrivances for a bridge that was ever seen. The plan of it was simple enough, but the great quantity of material · used in its construction surprised everybody but the commis- sioners. The stringers that were laid from one bent to the other. and on which the plank were laid cross-wise, were of such ponder- ous size and weight that they absolutely broke the whole fabric down, very soon after it was finished.
When the people saw the danger of an accident, some one nailed boards across the ends of the bridge to keep teams from go- ing on it, and in less than a week from that time, down it went. Then was constructed the wire suspension bridge. in 1853. which answered a gocd purpose for some time, and which also in its order gave way to the present beautiful iron structure, being the fifth bridge built at that place since 1833.
The free bridge on Market street burned away in the night following the 26th day of January, 1854. and was succeeded by the present bridge, which was built by the county commissioners. The fire in Vanness' carriage factory was discovered at two o'clock in the morning, and the roof of the bridge took fire from it within twenty minutes thereafter.
The first street cars in Tiffin were run by horse power. A line two miles and a quarter in length was built and equipped by Mr. M. Frost 'in 1888. Some difficulty was experienced in getting a franchise for the road. When the council finally granted the fran- chise. it gave but thirty-seven days as a time limit for the laying of the track and running of the cars, but Mr. Frost. with his well- known executive ability. completed the work and had cars running in thirty-four days. These horse cars served their day and generation. and when the trolley line system came in vogue, Mr. Frost changed his horse cars into the electric line system. This was in 1892.
Later an opposition line was started. which after a few years was consolidated with the original line.
Mr. Frost also founded the Highland line, which affords facilities for the workmen in the shops there going to and from their employment. Under Mr. Frost's management the street cars ran every ten minutes. with the regularity of clock work. He has not been connected with the line for a number of years.
The line has recently again changed hands, and under the new management it is to be hoped better service will be rendered than at the present time.
Prior to the establishing of the present paid fire department. there were a number of volunteer companies, which did good ser-
366
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
RIVERVIEW PARK, TIFFIN.
1
367
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
vice in the earlier days of Tiffin. The first fire department organ- ized in Tiffin was a volunteer company in 1849. William H. Gibson was the foreman.
The first record at hand refers to the Independent Fire Com- pany No. 4, an organization which existed prior to 1859, for on April 12th of that year it was re-organized under state law, with John E. McCormack president, A. T. Barnes vice president. P. Nyman treasurer, and F. P. Bloom clerk. Leonard Adams was clerk of the meeting. The men named. together with J. S. Yerk, C. M. Yerk, H. A. Spayth and John D. Arndt, were the incorpora- tors. The older companies, too, changed their organic form. In April, 1867, the Young America Hose Company No. 1 was re-or- ganized. William Kisinger was elected foreman January 6, 1868. and in September of that year received a new four-wheeled hose cart.
The dedication of the Firemen's Headquarters took place August 21, 1884. It was one of those reunions such as firemen alone can give. The welcome to the guests on behalf of the "Union Hooks" and the "Rescues" was delivered by Charles J. M. Sullivan, and responded to by J. A. Norton.
The present department is up-to-date and is well equipped. They have a chemical and hose wagon combined. and lay 1,200 feet of two and a half inch hose and 250 feet of inch chemical hose. An old steamer is kept in reserve which was brought there the day Richmond was taken. The department has direct pressure of water from the Holly system. No. 2 engine house was established in 1907, when four more men were added to the force then em-' ployed. Now the department has thirteen men in its employ. Twenty years ago the Gamewell fire alarm system was installed. Albert D. Harris is the chief of the department.
The new switch board made by the Gamewell Fire Alarm Company has been installed at Station No. 1 and connections with the forty outside boxes have been made. giving to Tiffin one of the most complete and up-to-date fire alarm systems in the country. The switch board is encased in a handsome quarter-sawed oak case, which fully protects the intricate board itself and it is further adequately protected from injury by lightning (coming in over outside wires) by two lightning arrestors, one where the wires enter the building and the other at their connection with the board itself. Instead of the old two-circuit system, a four circuit system has been installed which gives especial advantage, enabling the fire alarm superintendent to locate a break down and its exact location with much greater facility than formerly. This is done by means of a testing apparatus on the board which tries out one circuit at a time. Should occasion demand the four circuits can also be thrown into one circuit.
£
368
HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY
One of the greatest improvements of the present board over the old is the automatie device to prevent over charging or the throwing out of the board, should there be an opposite current. In case the board is being charged and the amount of electricity goes above the amount required, the automatic device throws out the connection between the charging batteries and the board, thus preventing any injury to the board from this cause. Another device on the board makes it possible to charge from one of two sets of batteries merely by throwing off a lever and this admits of re- pairs or renewal of batteries in one set while at the same time the board can be charged from the other set.
In 1872 occurred the biggest fire ever known in the history of Tiffin. About $95,000 worth of property was destroyed. It occurred on Saturday April 13th. and the flames were first dis- covered about two o'clock. The alarm was sent in from the Second ward and the fire bell was rung. announcing the danger. During the day the wind had been blowing a gale from a northwesterly direction, and when the alarm was given it was seemingly at its height. The different fire companies hastened to the Second ward. Upon reaching the ground it was discovered that fire was burning on the roof of Mrs. A. Rawson's house, on Miami street, and the roof of the store occupied by A. MeNeal. on Sandusky street, all connected with each other.
The engines were immediately put to work, one at a cistern near the engine house. and the other nearly opposite MeNeal's store. In a few minutes the engine in front of the store had to move from the cistern. after working hard, as the heat was unen- durable. The other engine got to work immediately. and was do- ing good execution, when the water in the cistern gave out. This necessitated a change in these engines, with their hose, and gave the fire a free field, with but one engine to work on it. The wind seemed to gain in fierceness. and the building was one mass of flames. In the meantime a large number of citizens had been carrying out and saving all that was possible of the furniture in the house, and goods from the store.
On the opposite side of Sandusky street, directly in the face of the wind and the fire, the hook and ladder companies and citi- zens were on the roof of Ogle's store and the dwellings in the rear. busy with buckets of water to save them. The fire raged higher and fiercer, and these buildings had to be deserted, as the heat was too intense to be endured.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.