USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, from the close of the revolutionary war to July, 1880 > Part 33
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A DESPERATE FIGHT.
We arrived at Sneath's warehouse, Kanp's planing factory and depot. Here the desperate fight of the day was made. The fire was making fearful ravages and rapidly approaching these buildings which are divided from the burnt district by the railroad. Had the fire got into these large buildings, the Ohio Stove works, over forty residences, and Cunningham's mill would have been burnt, and the fire would have crossed the river and the business portion of the town would have been doomed. The two steamers were put to work at this point, and a large number of citizens took hold and worked with the firemen. Benner's house and barn and Bartell's saloon, directly opposite Sneath's warehouse, were burning fiercely. The water house and sheds of the railroad, with large piles of wood opposite the planing factory and the depot, were burning terribly.
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THE GREAT FIRE.
In the warehouse, Smoyer & Bro. had 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 20,000 bushels of oats. The oats were in the upper story under the roof, and the precaution of bringing in pails there, had been taken. Six men were on the oats to watch the sparks which were blown under the shingles. As these sparks fell, they would throw water on them and extinguish them.
On the outside, men were on the roof with pails, and the fire company threw water onto the front, together with fighting the Benner and Bartell fire. The same work was done on the planing factory and depot, both of * which were on fire inside and out several times. At one time the depot was in flames, and it was thought that it was doomed ; the freight was partially removed. However, hose was got onto the roof, and the building was delnged and saved.
No conception of this can be pictured on paper. It was a dead fight between seething flames on one side and desperate men intent on saving hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of property on the other. The latter prevailed.
Another very important key to the safety of the city was the saving of the honse of Mrs. Glick, at the corner of Miami and Monroe. That, with the Holt house, was the only property saved on that square. A number of young men took hold there, and, with buckets of water, kept the fire away from it, or rather extinguished it whenever it burst ont. The heat was so intense that those working had to cover their faces with wet cloths. It was saved after a determined fight, and after it was on fire several times ..
We say this was another key to the safety of other property from the fact that directly opposite was an old dwelling that would have gone : next to that a frame, and so on, building after building, until the Cunningham warehouse was reached ; all of which would have burnt, and the end would have been the destruction of all the factories and business portion of Tiffin.
It was a fearful time, and one we do not wish to witness but once in a life time. * * * *
The fire companies, as companies, and individually, did all it was possible for them to do. They were promptly on hand. and when the labor of the citizens was done, they kept at work, worn out as they were,, till late ou Sunday. They hung to their work faithfully and well.
About forty-five minutes after the fire started the entire property destroyed was in flames. The fire from Singer's house passed intervening buildings and ignited the pump-shop of Fishbingh and two houses, all of which were burnt. In the meantime fighting fire was done ou all the buildings in that section.
The fire crossed the river and started Smith's brewery to burning, and the woods, trees and fences beyond for one and one-half miles from the starting place of the conflagration, but no damage was done.
On the square first burnt, the furniture, bedding, etc., in many cases were removed to streets adjoining and left, as was supposed, in safety, but when looked for were found burnt up or on fire. *
The city council telegraphed to Sandusky for help, but receiving no answer. did so again, and finally informed Sandusky that the fire was approaching the railroad bridge. Then the track was cleared by telegraph, and the engine reached Tiffin in forty minutes from the time she started, and
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
threw water in less than one hour from the time she left Sandusky. After working one half hour she collapsed a thie. She was well handled up to that time. and Sandusky deserved Tiflin's compliments.
THE SUFFERERS AND THEIR LOSSES.
The larger portion of these losses are sustained by men in moderate cir- cumstances, who cannot well bear the blow. Some are laboring men who have secured a home by hard knocks. and were thus left homeless.
Sandusky street-West side:
MeNeal, goods in store. $ 2.000
Mrs. Rawson's buildings 3.500
Sandusky street-East side:
A. & F. Ogle, two-story brick building, and dwelling adjoining. one and one-half story, and two one-story frames. 9,000
T. Collins, loss on goods. 1.900
D. C. Baughman, two-story brick and frame barn. etc. 2,000
A. Meehan, two-story frame 2,000
Miami street-North side:
A. & F. Ogle, two frames, one brick and two barns 3,000
A. MeNeal, two-story frame house, barn and wood 3,000
Mrs. Glick, frame barn and smoke-house. 500
Franklin street-West side:
John Knott, house and barn. 600
W. Shugan, two-story frame house. 1,500
P. Hartner, frame barn
Adams street-South side:
P. Hartner, double house and two-story brick. 3,800
N. Nubel, large barn. 500
Franklin street-East side:
Mrs. Bresnin, frame house 500
Adams street-South side:
D. Arndt, brick house and barn 4,000
D. Bartell's brick, etc. 4.000
George Benner's house and barn 1,000
Adams street-North side:
Jacob Kulmi's frame house. 1,000
B. Troxell's house and barn. 1.500
Railroad company. two-story frame, etc. 2,000
Railroad company, loss on freight removed and whisky destroyed. 500
Franklin street-East side:
M. Kuhn, two dwellings and one barn 2,500
Mr. Quinn, dwelling house.
L. A. Baron, stave factory .. 15.000
T .. T. & E. railroad company. ties burnt 500
Washington street-West side:
E. U'msted, house and barn. 2,500
F. J. Wagner, house and barn. 3,000
HI. L. Kendall, brick house and barn, 3,500
A. Brandebury, brick house 3.000
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Washington street-East side:
Samuel Shade, barn, etc. 1,000
F. Singer, brick house and barn 3,200
Minerva street:
George Fishbaugh, pump factory and barn, etc. 1.500
Paul Miller, house and barn. 1.500
L. Bang, house. 1.000
There were also a number of smaller losses, amounting to several thousand in the aggregate. The total loss reached $95,000.
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CHAPTER XX ..
SURPLUS REVENUE-POLITICS-FIRST POLITICAL JOLLIFICATION-TIFFIN IN THE WOODS-TIFFIN INCORPORATED-FIRST ELECTION-INCORPORATION OF FORT BALL-ITS FIRST ELECTION-INCORPORATION OF THE CITY- FIRST CORPS OF CITY OFFICERS-HARRISON NOBLE-PLANK ROADS- PIKES-TELEGRAPHS-THE SCHOOLS OF TIFFIN.
W HEN the revolutionary war ended the general government and the colonies were badly in debt; the former was com- pelled to repudiate, and those of the colonies that were lucky enough to have surplus lands under their old charters, were enabled to pay a large part of their debts by land scrips. Virginia and Connecticut, owning the entire northwestern territory, paid nearly all their colonial debts by these scrips, which secured the first titles to land northwest of the Ohio river. The general government struggled along with an empty treasury for many years, until finally the duties on imports and the proceeds from the sale of the public lands made her exchequer flush, and the statesmen of those days were troubled with the surplus revenue. There was no national debt, and the money accumulated in the United States treasury until it became a burden. The recom- mendation of General Jackson, to distribute it among the states, was approved by some and opposed by others. Some of the eastern states had no particular use for their shares, but it was a God-send to some of the states in the west, where the people suffered greatly for want of money, which was especially true of Ohio. The gross amount to be distributed was $20,000,000. The portion to Ohio was $1,423,000; and the amount that came to Seneca county was $31,756.73.03. The act passed congress and was approved by the President on the 26th day of March, 1837.
By an act of the general assembly of the state of Ohio, the county commissioners of each county were made fund commissioners of this surplus revenue for their respective counties. On the 2d day of May, 1837, these commissioners distributed the sum of $15.877.62.5, being the remainder of the amount coming to this county, to one hundred
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POLITICS.
and fifty-eight persons, in sums of $100.00 each, secured by bond and mortgage on unencumbered real estate.
This was a great relief to Seneca county, as well as to Ohio gener- ally. Mr. Read, the editor of the Tiffin Gazette, in concluding an editorial on this subject, May 13, 1837, said:
The amount thus loaned we hope may relieve, to some extent, the pressure felt in our community, and enable many to meet their little responsibilities under which they have been laboring. The loan has had a salutary influ- ence in establishing confidence in our institutions and relieving the pressure. which, though perhaps not as bad as it might be, is sufficiently disastrous.
This testimony is here added to show the great want of money spoken of heretofore, when writing on the Ohio canals.
The general government is not troubled with a surplus of revenues in her treasury now. The interest on the national debt runs high up into the millions. Generations unborn will come and pass away, and this humble little book will be lost and forgotten, before the treasurer of the United States shall again be put to the inconvenience of dis- tributing, among the states, moneys that have accumulated, and for which the general government has no use.
POLITICS.
A historian has no right to be partial, either in religion or in politics. When he has stated facts and events truthfully and honestly, as they occurred, he is done, and should leave others to form conclusions for themselves. Conscious of this rule, men and parties are spoken of, and the histories of churches given without favoritism or prejudice. Tolerant in all things, it is a very easy matter for a man to concede to another his right to judge for himself what is best for him in both poli- tics and religion. Men often differ, and very honestly too, on almost every subject.
Few and scattered as the settlers were in Seneca county in the fall of 1828, and removed far away from the real theatre of action, one would scarcely have supposed that then and here, under the then surround- ings, party spirit would run up to fever-heat; but it did. It took a newspaper two and three weeks to reach Tiffin from the Atlantic coast. But when they came and developed new steps taken by the parties, they were discussed, and sides taken by our people, with as much vehemence as anywhere, and the Adams men, the Clay men, the Jackson men and the Crawford men, in 1828, were no more decided in their respective choice of candidates and their attachment to party, in New York or Baltimore, than they were in Seneca county. Jackson was elected
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
president, and the fight on the United States bank culminated in the removal of deposits, the vetoes of the re-charters, which agitated the whole country. Party spirit ran high in 1832, when Jackson was the Democratic candidate for re-election. Clay was the candidate and the embodiment of the Whig party. Clay and Jackson were both Masons. Great prejudices were entertained against both, and the Morgan affair was in everybody's mouth. The Masons were very much abused, and a new party was called into existence, called " anti-Mason," under the leadership of William Wirt, of Maryland, who was the candidate for president, and Amos Ellmaker, of Pennsylvania, for vice-president. The ides of November came on and Jackson was re-elected. Now the Democrats hadjto have a jubilee, and the first political jollification in Seneca county came off at the house of Colonel John Goodin, in Tiffin, on Thursday, the 6th day of December, 1832. Hon. David E. Owen was appointed president, and Andrew Lugenbeel vice-president.
In writing up the proceedings of this meeting, Mr. E. Brown, the editor of the Patriot, the pioneer newspaper of the county, and whose columns were open to the three parties alike (for he published " Clay politics," " Jackson politics," and " Wirt politics,") said: .
Although many of our friends were unavoidably absent, viewing the lands in the " Seneca Reservation." previous to the sale of them, which commences on Monday next, yet the concourse was unusually large.
Thirteen regular toasts (one for each of the original states.) were offered, besides a number of volunteer toasts-some witty, some less so. Amongst those who participated were Henry Cronise, George Flack, Nathan L. Wright, Joseph Graff, Colonel R. Jaqua, Uriah P. Coonrad, Gabriel J. Keen, E. Brown, Jacob Kroh, Colonel John Goodin, A. Eaton, Samuel S. Martin, J. H. Brown, E. Locke, Frederick Kishler, P. J. Price, William Anderson, John Campbell, William H. Kessler, Joshua Seney, Andrew Mainz.
The Seneca Patriot will be noticed in the chapter on the " Press."
The following will show how Seneca county voted for fourteen years of its early history:
In 1828-Adams, (Whig.) received one hundred and eleven majority.
In 1830-Lucas, {Democrat.) received three majority.
In 1832-Clay. ( Whig.) received twenty-nine majority.
In 1:34-Lucas. (Democrat.) received five majority.
In 1836-Van Buren, (Democrat.) received one hundred and eighty-one majority.
In 1935-Shannon, (Democrat.) received one hundred and thirteen majority.
In 1840-Shannon, (Democrat.) received one hundred and sixty-one ma- jority.
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TIFFIN AND FORT BALL.
In 1542-Shannon, (Democrat.) received five hundred and sixty-three ma- jority.
·
As a general thing the county remained Democratic ever since, with the success of an occasional opposition candidate, except in 1854 and 1855, when the Know. Nothings swept the county in a storm, electing their candidates by majorities over 1,400.
The following table shows the vote of Ohio, from the years of 1828 to 1842, both inclusive:
1825-Jackson, 67,597
Adams, 63,396
Maj. for Jackson, 4,201
1×30-Lucas, 49.186
McArthur, 49,668 ..
66 McArthur, 482
1532-Jackson, 81.246
Clay, 77.539
.. Jackson, 4,707
1834-Lucas,
70.738 Findley, 67.414 ..
.. Lucas, 3,324
1:36-Van Buren, 96.948 Harrison, 105.405
.. Harrison,
8,457
1838-Shannon, 107.884
Vance,
102,156
Shannon,
5.738
1540-Shannon,
129,312
Corwin.
145.442 ..
Corwin,
16,130
1542-Shannon,
129.064
Corwin, 125,621
.. Shannon, 3.443
TIFFIN AND FORT BALL.
There is very little about Tiffin that attracted the attention of people and answered as an inducement for new-comers to settle down here. There was nothing inviting to the immigrant. Mr. Hedges offered his lots very cheap, indeed; caused the county seat to be located here, se- cured the removal of the land offices here, invested money to improve the town, built houses and mills and bridges, assisted in securing the post-office on this side, and all that, but the thing dragged and exhib- ited very little vitality for a long time. Simeon B. Howard bought in- lots, numbers 19, 20 and 21, for $60 on credit. Lots could be bought on almost any terms.
After the few first cabins were put up in the woods, and a few trees cut away to let the sun shine down upon them. the principal streets were opened, and thus the little settlement lingered along for many years, struggling against numerous adversities. The locality was sickly. Mechanics found no employment. The few settlers already here had no money to build with. Those that brought money with them preferred to invest in land, and there was no chance for specula- tion with a view of immediate profit. Fort Ball seemed to have the best of it for a great while. The elite and the rich gathered there and' looked down upon a Tiffinite in contempt. They had the best store over there and the post-office, and McNeil's corner was the hub of civilization.
It seemed as if they would never forgive Mr. Hedges and those that acted with him, for the location of the county seat on this side. They called the commissioners, that located the county seat, very hard
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
names; charged them with having been bribed, and predicted that all , sorts of evils would follow. Even the purchase of Fort Ball by Mr. Hedges, failed, for a time, to allay this bitter feeling. It grew into fever-heat when the post-office was removed from Fort Ball to Tiffin, and Jacob Plane was appointed postmaster on this side, in the spring of 1829, under Jackson. Even Mr. Hoagland, the ferryman, became so incensed against Mr. Hedges that at every session of the court he would come into the court house on the second or third day of the term, take off his big stove-pipe hat at the door, walk up to the judges' desk with measured step, in his long brown overcoat reaching down to his shoes, holding in his hand a large role of manuscript, which he would lay before one of the judges, turn round and walk out again with an air of triumph, snapping one eye at the bystanders. In this manu- script he complained of Mr. Hedges for refusing to let Hoagland take stones out of the river, and many other things.
But the little town, thus languishing, did live (as the lawyers say); slowly and gradually increasing in numbers, until about the year 1833 it numbered probably 400 souls. For fourteen years, from the time of its platting, it was under the government of Clinton township, having no government of its own until the 7th day of March, 1835, the legisla- ture of Ohio passed an act incorporating the town of Tiffin. The act contained twenty-one long sections. It provided, amongst other things, for the limit of taxation; for the use by the town of the county jail; for the election and appointment of officers; for building of sidewalks and improving the streets; for providing fire apparatus; for punishing the sale of intoxicating liquors, etc. The town embraced the first plat and first southern addition.
There was no election held under the law in April, 1835, nor in April, 1836. Nobody seemed to care for a town government, but in June, 1836, the following notice was published in the Tiffin Gazette, viz:
CORPORATION ELECTION.
Notice is hereby given that an election will be held at the house of Eli Norris. on Wednesday, the 29th inst .. for the purpose of electing officers in conformity to the provisions of the act incorporating the town of Tiflin. GEORGE W. GIST. GEORGE PARK.
NICHOLAS GEOTHIU'S. M. D. CADWALLAADER.
M. M. MASON. JOEL STONE.
CHARLES LEWIS.
J. W. MILLER.
JOHN BAUGHER.
DAVID BECK.
June 18. 1536.
At this election Dr. H. Kuhn was elected the first mayor of the town.
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TIFFIN AND FORT BALL.
The population of Tiffin proper, in 1840, was 728; 1850, 2,718; 1860, 3,992; 1870, 5,648, and in 1880, 7,882.
Tiffin outstripped Fort Ball in population and improvements. Business clustered around the public square and along Washington street, where it is yet holding sway with a most wonderful tenacity. Tiffin is unlike many other towns in the west in this respect, where business extends into various streets; but here it must be confined in a square or two and stick there.
No reason can be given for this singular freak, because there is no reason nor sense in it.
Fort Ball had no organization as a municipal corporation until the legislature, on the 13th day of March, 1849, passed an act authorizing an election for town officers to be held, fixing the boundary, giving cor- porate powers to the new town, etc.
Jacob Flaugher was elected the first mayor, James P. Pillars recorder, and J. H. Kisinger was appointed the first marshal. It was a short- lived affair, and no other election was ever held under the charter, for the organization of Tiffin, as a city of the second class, embraced both towns and allayed the old rival jealousy that had annoyed both sides so many years, and both had a right to say with Shakespeare:
" Now shall the winter of our discontent Become glorious summer, etc."
The act, incorporating the city of Tiffin as a city of the second class was passed March 23d, 1850. It took effect from and after its passage.
The first section provides for the boundary line of the new city, em- bracing both towns-Tiffin and Fort Ball-and additional territory. In the description of this boundary line is that " big sycamore tree" (men. tioned before) and the little brook-both now passed away.
Section two provides for the election of not less than three nor more than five councilmen, from each ward, who, together with the mayor. constituted the "city council."
Section three provides for the division of the city into two wards; all east of the river to be the first ward, and all west to be the second ward.
Section four fixes the term of the officers to be one year, etc.
Section twenty-four provides for an election to be held in the month of April, 1850, and the place of voting to be designated by the mayors and council of Fort Ball and Tiffin jointly, and the returns to be delivered to the mayor of Tiffin. 21
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Section twenty-five repeals the acts of incorporation of Tiffin and Fort Ball.
The act contains twenty-six sections; was prepared by the writer at the request of the councils of both towns, and was passed by the legis- lature without any change.
The first election was held on the 20th of April, 1850, and the fol- lowing named persons were elected, viz:
. Mayor-William Lang.
Treasurer-Robert Crum.
Marshal-Samuel H. Kisinger.
Councilmen, First Ward-William H. Gibson, William H. Keilhotz, Andrew Denzer.
Councilmen, Second Ward-Jacob Flaugher, W. M. Johnson, George C. Small.
J. W. Patterson, the last mayor of the town of Tiffin, certified the election returns.
On the 16th day of January, 1871, the city council, by ordinance, di- vided the city into five wards, as now. They are as follows:
First ward is all north of Market street, to the river; extending from Market street east to Circular; thence south to Rebecca; thence east along Rebecca to an alley lying east of lot 647; thence south along said alley to Main; thence east to the corporation line.
Second ward-All north of Miami to corporation line, on the left bank of the river.
Third ward-All south of Miami to corporation line, on the left bank of the river.
Fourth ward-All south of Market and west of Washington, and west of Melmore streets to the corporation line.
Fifth ward-All east of Washington and Melmore, and south of Mar - ket and the south and west line of the first ward.
The valuation of the taxable property in the city proper for 1879 was $2,403,593. The city tax for the same year was $83,087.83. For a number of years past the annual tax of the city has averaged three per cent. on the dollar valuation.
The following is a list of the
OFFICERS OF THE CITY
at this time (1880):
Mayor-Harrison Noble.
President of Council-Dr. J. F. E. Fanning.
Vice-President of Council-Dr. J. P. Kinnaman.
Clerk-C. J. M. Sullivan.
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Harrison Noble
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HARRISON NOBLE.
The treasurer of Seneca county is the treasurer of the city ex officio. City Solicitor-Perry M. Adams.
Marshal-James F. George.
Street Commissioner-Scudder Chamberlain.
COUNCILMEN.
First ward-James Love, J. P. Kinnaman.
Second ward-John Marsony, Josiah P. Baker.
Third ward-J. F. E. Fanning, Charles Sting.
Fourth ward-John B. Ehrenfried, Ronaldo A. Gray.
Fifth ward-Peter Grammes, Benjamin Shinners.
HARRISON NOBLE.
The subject of this sketch was born in Salt Creek township, Wayne county, Ohio, where his father's family lived on a farm, on the 28th day of January, 1826. When the family moved to Seneca county he was about ten years old. He attended the first school at a log school house that his father and the neighbors put up on the northeast corner of section 19, in Jackson township. It was a school house of the kind they had in those days; a clap-board roof, pungeon floor, pungeon seats and pungeon desks. Bass-wood logs were split and hewed as smooth as possible, holes bored into the logs in the sides of the house, sticks driven tightly into the holes and the hewed pungeon, laid on the sticks, made a writing desk. Holes bored into another piece of pungeon and legs, about eighteen inches long, driven into them, made benches. An older brother of Harrison, Washington Noble, the oldest son of the family, taught the first school here. He had forty scholars the first winter. The house was warmed from a large fire-place put into one end of the school house that took a four foot back log. The end of the cabin was cut out and a sort of pen built on the outside. On the inside of this pen, having three sides, stones and clay were put up some five feet high for the back and sides of the fire-place. Upon this bank the chimney was raised with sticks and clay mortar. The wet clay was mixed with straw to keep it in its place and hold it together. Some of the children had to come three miles to school through the woods by paths and trails. It was a great hardship for some of the smaller ones when the snow was deep and the underbrush full of icicles. Water under the snow was often knee-deep. This may well be called getting an education under difficulties. Children attending the beautiful school houses in Seneca county now, can scarcely appre- ciate the condition of the first schools here. The large airy rooms in
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