History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 45

Author: R. Sutton & Co.
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 427

USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 45

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We the undersigned bind ourselves to the county commissioners of Shelby County, to pay the several sums annexed to our names, provided the seat of justice for the county of Shelby is established on the above tract of land as described, and the conditions as above are complied with :-

D. Henry $20 00

Arch. Defrees .

$30 00

Wm. Richardson

20 00

Thomas W. Ruckman, in

50 00

plank . 50 00

Isaac Parks 50 00

George Chiles, in plank . 20 00

Benj. Brandon

50 00

Wm. Robinson 10 00

Alex. McClintock . 100 00

Samuel Marrs, in carpen-

Edward Jackson

50 00

ter work

20 00

Wm. Marrs subscribes his big bull, price un-

rel of whiskey

told

Otho White

10 00

Rodham Talbott 20 00

Charles Johnson 25 00

George Pool .

10 00

John Johnston

20 00

Wm. Johnston 50 00

John Gilbert .

10 00

John Lenox . 75 00

I certify the above to be a true copy of the original now on file in my office.

Dec. 14, 1819. H. B. FOOTE, Clerk.

State of Ohio, Shelby County, ss. December Term, 1819.

The court appoints David Henry Director of the town of Sidney, to be laid off upon the ground selected by the commissioners, for the seat of justice of Shelby County, who gave bond with Rodham Talbott, Edward Jackson, and Thomas W. Ruckman, his sureties, in the sum of six thousand dollars. The court further order that the director proceed to lay off a town upon the premises aforesaid in lots of five rods by ten, in blocks of eight lots each, with alleys one rod in width, running through the centre of each block at right angles with each other and with the streets; the alleys to divide the blocks into four equal parts. The streets be laid out six rods in width, and that a public square be laid out in said town by striking out the centre block of lots.

That the director, as soon as the said town shall be laid out, shall, after giving one month's notice thereof, in six of the most public places in this county, and in the Gazette, printed in Dayton, shall proceed to sell at public sale one-third of said lots upon the following terms, to wit :-

One-fourth in ninety days; one-fourth in nine months; and one-fourth in fifteen months, and the residue in two years; to be secured by a lien upon the lots, until the whole shall be paid; reserving one lot upon or

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Peter Musselman, in

sawing

Francis Rorack, one bar-

143

HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

adjacent to the public square, to be selected by the commissioners, for the purpose of erecting temporary buildings for the county.

I certify that the above is a true copy of the minutes of the court. HARVEY B. FOOTE, Clerk.

In accordance with the instructions of the court, the director of the town procured the survey of the plat by Benjamin S. Cox, who, after making the survey, submitted the following report :-

Survey of Sidney.

I do hereby certify that, being called on by David Henry, Esq., Director of the town of Sidney, to survey said town plat, I executed the same under his directions, by running the exterior boundaries agreeably to the following courses and distances, viz .:-

Beginning at a stake-the northwest corner of said town-standing four rods due south of the northern boundary line of the fraction wit- nessed by a small white oak standing north 7º east, 7 links distant ; then south 5° east, 27 poles, to a stake in the cornfield ; then south 85º west, 26g poles, to a stake witnessed by two small buckeyes; one bear- ing due north, at 6 links distance; the other south 472° west, 6 links also; thence south 5° east, 108 poles, to a stake-the southwest corner of said town plat-witnessed by a large blue ash tree standing north 64° west, 8 poles and 16g links distant ; thence north 85° east, 80 poles, passing Abraham Cannon's house and cornering at a stake, the south- east corner of said town; said stake standing a few rods south of a run, and witnessed by a large blue ash standing south 58}º east, 18} links distant; thence north 5° west, 81 poles, to a stake at the upper end of the cornfield; thence north 85° east, 14} poles, to a stake standing 22 links north of a large beech, and 34 links east of a smaller one ; thence north 5° west, 27 poles, to a stake having for witnesses a blue ash, standing north 68° east, 21 links and a small buckeye, south 55° west, 12 links distant ; thence north 85° east, 13} poles, to a stake witnessed by a large white oak standing south 75° cast, 4 links and a blue ash north 82° west, 17 links distant ; thence north 5° west, 27 poles, to a stake-the northeast corner of said town-witnessed by a beech stand- ing south 400 west, 27g links distant ;' thence south 85° west, 81} poles, to the beginning : containing by calculation 70 acres and 25} poles. The above courses were run for a supposed true meridian, and at right angles to the same; believing the true meridian, when running north, to be five degrees west of the magnetic one.

In testimony of which, and for the truth of the above certificate, I hereunto affix my signature, this 24th day of February, 1820. BENJAMIN S. Cox, Surveyor.

State of Ohio, Shelby County, 88. :

Personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace for said county, the above named Benjamin S. Cox, who qualified the above town plat of the town of Sidney to be a true survey made to the best of his ability.

Given under my hand and seal the 24th day of February, 1820. [Seal.]

D. HENRY, J. P.

The next action was an order of sale directed by the court to David Henry, Director of Sidney, and providing as follows :-

State of Ohio, Shelby County, ss. Court of Common Pleas, April Term, 1820 :-

It is ordered by the court that the Director of Sidney offer for sale at public vendue, giving one month's previous notice in six public places in the county and in the newspapers published at Troy, one-third of the lots now remaining unsold in Sidney, on the following terms, viz .: One- fourth of the purchase-money in hand ; one-fourth in nine months; one- fourth in fifteen months; and the remaining fourth in two years ; the purchaser giving bond and approved security for the payment of the last three instalments, and to receive from the director a certificate for the lot or lots purchased, stipulating that a deed shall be executed on the completion of the payments; and the director is further authorized to dispose of at private sale any lots remaining unsold at the public sale hereby ordered in the terms prescribed by this order.

I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy from the minutes of the court. April 24, 1820. HARVEY B. FOOTE, Clerk C. C. P. S. C.

The State of Ohio, Shelby County, ss. September Term, 1820.

The Director of Sidney having represented to the court that certain lots in said town, ordered to be sold in December term last, have re- verted to the county, in consequence of the failure of the purchasers to comply with the terms of sale, it is, therefore, ordered by the court that the director sell the said lots which have so reverted on the follow- ing terms, viz. : One-fourth of the purchase-money in hand ; one-fourth thereof in nine months; one-fourth in fifteen months ; and the remain- ing fourth part in two years from the day of sale. The purchaser giving bond and approved security for the payment of the last three instal- ments, and to receive from the director a certificate for the lot or lots purchased, stipulating that a deed shall be executed to the purchaser, his heirs, or assigns, on the completion of the payments. The said sale to take place on the 6th instant, public notice having been given thereof heretofore in the newspapers printed at Piqua; and the director is further authorized to dispose of at private sale any of the said lots re- maining unsold at the public sale hereby ordered in the terms prescribed by this order.

I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the minutes in my office this sixth day of September, 1820.

H. B. FOOTE, Clerk C. C. P. S. C.

To the Director of the town of Sidney.

In pursuance of these instructions, the director offered the designated lots for sale; after which he submitted the subjoined statement in ac- count with the county :-

David Henry, Director of Sidney, in Account with Shelby County : 1820. DR. CR.

March, June, and September sales :

No. 1

$2437 69

To his receipts for moneys received for lots sold at

By lots 13, 88, and 91, forfeited

185 064

different times, and to

By notes due,

538 961

To lot No. 57

25 00

Wm. Felding,

60 00

66 98

23 694

E. Evens,

137 50

50 00

Daniel Hopkins,

36 50

100 00

T. W. Ruckman, .

37 50

By orders, .

101 85}

93 .

37 50

$3551 944

Balance,

$3560 07 $8 12}

Conditions of a Supplemental Sale of Lots in the Town of Sidney.

The conditions of the sale of lots to be sold this day in Sidney, agree- able to an order of the Court of Common Pleas for Shelby County, last term :-

Article Ist. The highest bidder is to be the buyer.

Article 2d. The purchaser agrees to pay one-third of the purchase- money in hand ; one other third part in six months; and the residue in one year from this date.

Article 3d. On payment of the first third part, the purchaser will be entitled to a certificate, conditioned to make a deed, on completing the above payments, at the end of one year, as aforesaid ; still it is fairly understood and agreed that if the purchaser, or his assigns, fails to make payment at the end of one year, as aforesaid, then the lots thus sold is to revert back to the county, and money paid to forfeit.

Any person buying a lot, and not making the first payment on this day, shall forfeit ten per cent. for disappointment, and lose their bid.

June 1, 1820. DAVID HENRY, Director.

For our present purpose less could not be written, and more need not be written, touching this subject. Before leaving it, however, for other

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46 68

50 00

B. Mapes,

25 00

110 00

= 53

36 50

By receipts in bundle

different persons . $3094 25

By accounts not due,

" 104

25 00

144

HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

subjects, it may be well and proper to observe that the seat of justice has been maintained at Sidney since its establishment here in 1820; that the town site was judiciously chosen ; that the growth of the town has been a matter of pride; and that its present standing reflects great credit upon its own citizens, and those of the entire county. More than this will be left unwritten until the town is approached for detailed consideration.

PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.

Among the first steps usually taken by the authorities of a new county are those looking to the location and establishment of public high- ways. Their necessity at the outset is apparent; but, aside from this view of necessity, is the consideration of an early settlement of a ques- tion which sometimes gives rise to difficulties in the form of opposition on the part of land holders, who usually form very decided preferences as to location. The mode of procedure was usually action by the com- missioners upon petitions presented by residents along the proposed road line. Upon a hearing of such petitions the commissioners, in taking favorable action, would appoint viewers, who, accompanied by a civil engineer, would view and survey the proposed line, and make due report to the Board of Commissioners. In this section the lines first viewed and declared " public highways" were the most important and available routes between the centres of early settlements. Thus among the early roads in this section will be found those leading from Piqua to Wapa- koneta ; from Troy to Dingmansburg ; from Dingmansburg to Wapa- koneta; and from Piqua, or from the Piqua and Wapakoneta road to Hardin and St. Marys. After the establishment of these leading lines, other roads diverging in all directions usually took the roads first estab- lished as a starting-point, from which they traced to another main road, or to some township line or natural stream. The pike system, now so complete, was undreamed of by the viewers and surveyors, who, from 1816 forward, trailed their way through the forest in search of a prac- ticable route by which to connect two given points, or afford access to a new settlement or a prospective town. But many things have developed since those routes were traced, equally unknown to the dreams of the men of 1815 and '20. A few references to some of the early roads will show the foundation of the system of public highways in this county.

TROY, OHIO, May 26, 1817.

It is ordered by the Board of Commissioners of Miami County that William Marrs, George Chiles, and William Robinson, viewers, together with James Cregan, surveyor, taking with him two chainmen and one blazer, proceed on Monday, the ninth day of June next, to view and survey a road beginning on the east line of Miami County, between sec- tion 31, township 3, and section 1, township 2, range 13; thence to the northwest corner of section 21 of said township 2; thence the best way to Dingmansburg ; and make a return to the Board of Commissioners on the first Monday of September next.

HENRY GARRARD, ALEX. TELFORD.

Attest : CORNELIUS WESTFALL, Clerk.

TROY, OHIO, October 13, 1817.

Ordered that William Berry, Gardner Bobe, and David Henry, viewers, together with James Cregan, surveyor, taking with him two chainmen and one marker, proceed on the third day of November next, to view and survey a road beginning on the State road, on the east bank of Miami River, section 31, range 1; thence the best way to the top of the high bank, where the road from John Francis to the sawmill turns down said bank ; thence with said road to the river; thence up the river bank to Dinginansburg, through the main street, continued on up to D. V. Dingman's ford across the river; thence up the west side of the river to James Dingman's, Jr., section 20, township 1, range 7; thence to the township line at any point that will embrace the best way to Waugh- paugliquannatta ; and make a return to the Board of Commissioners on the first Monday of December next.

HENRY GARRARD, JAMES FURGUS, ALEX. TELFORD.

Attest : CORNELIUS WESTFALL, Clerk.

At a session of the Commissioners of Shelby County, held at Hardin on the 13th day of December, 1819, it was "Ordered that Abraham Cannon, John Lenox, and Daniel Dingman, together with Benjamin S. Cox, taking to their assistance two chainmen and one blazer, proceed on the 22d inst. to view and lay out a road, as follows: Beginning on the State road from Piqua to Wapakoneta where it crosses Mill Creek in Turtle Creek Township, running northwesterly to Abraham Cannon's, and make report of their proceedings to the next Board of Commission- ers." December 14, 1819, a road was ordered to be viewed from the Five Mile Tree on the Musquito Creek road "to the county line on the east side of section 5, town. 2, range 13, at the most proper point for a road to the seat of justice of Logan County." On March 6, 1820, a road was ordered to be viewed and laid out from Dingmansburg, through Sidney and Hardin, to Cynthiana. It was further ordered that a road be laid out from the State road at or near Wm. Morrow's, by Steinberg- er's mill, to an intersection with the Mill Creek and Sidney road.

Also a road from Hardin to the State road at or near the Nine Mile Creek in Loramie Township. Also a part of the road leading from Honey Creek to Musquito Creek.

On April 24, 1820, it was ordered that a road be viewed and laid out from Cynthiana to the Darke County line, there to intersect the Green- ville road.

September 5, 1820, a road was ordered to be laid out from at or near the southwest corner of section 2, town. 2, range 13, to the east line of the county.

Also a road from the north end of Main Street, Sidney, up the river to the Dingmansburg and Wapakoneta road near Rodham Talbott's; thence to the hill near Elisha Kirkland's; thence by Wm. Hathaway's to the Miami ford above George Morrison's; thence by nearest and best way to Logan County line to intersect the Bellefontaine road.

Also a road from the south end of Ohio Street, Sidney, to Muddy Run, and down the run to Ruckman's mill.

Such was the infancy of the road system, which has become such a credit to the county.

EDUCATION.

It has been well said that "ignorance and neglect are the mainsprings of misrule," and it is the pride of Ohio that her civilization never outran her schools. Had it been otherwise, civilization must have suffered too greatly to attain the heights it has reached to-day. The school sys- tem, with its added strength of years, may still be imperfect, but with all its imperfections who will measure its potency for good! Education was recognized by the constitution itself as the very strength and hope of the State, and it is even more than these. It is the very corner-stone, the chief support, as well as the main defence of civilization. The school house, like the home of the United States, must be a temple of that divine trinity, liberty, justice, and equality. The man or woman who teaches "the young idea how to shoot," must move in sympathy and harmony with that " hand which rocks the cradle," and is the mover of the world. It is to the mothers and teachers of America that a whole race looks with mingled pride and hope. There is undoubtedly room for improvement in the school system, for progress invites enlargement of the school idea, because that idea is to give character to education. The schools must become more and more the guardians of liberty as they are now its foundation, for it is to be their peculiar province to teach political as well as social economy, and so produce intelligent electors as well as moral citizens.

In a government like our own, where each individual is a king, the schools must rise to their highest level, and educate that sovereign power of the individual, so that it will be directed toward the security of the public welfare. In a free land of free schools the day must come when no apology dare be offered for ignorance of governmental affairs, and in that day the ballot will be guided by intelligence and not by preju- dice. Political vagaries, heresies, and passions must then vanish before the consuming light which is to radiate from the schools of the future. Posterity will not march up to the cannon's mouth to learn in death that slavery is a crime; neither will any future generation rush upon the bayonet to learn that an "indissoluble union of indestructible states" was formed when "we, the people, in order to form a more perfect union"

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145

HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

of already confederated States, did "establish and ordain" a constitu- tion.

The schools of the future will produce voters who will resent all ap- peals to prejudice. They will teach that the panacea for a panic consists more in honesty and economy than in the unlimited issue of promises to pay. They will produce voters who will know that money must be earned through an equivalent, and not secured by a government printing and distributing machine. They will teach the difference between promise and payment-between metallic and paper currencies. In those schools it will be learned that a promise is not payment, and that paper has never yet been money. They will teach that in the matter of liberty and happiness the greatest extravagance is the greatest economy, for the more you give of these the more you still retain. They will teach the difference between liberty and license and between happiness and selfish- ness. They will teach that liberty is the freedom to do good, and that to do good is the highest form of happiness. So much for the system of to-day and to-morrow; and now glance for a moment at the system of yesterday. The advent of the pioneer in this county antedates the school system of the State, but schools of some class have ever been contemporaneous with settlement throughout the whole Northwest. The settlers came from the older communities, and carried with them a rever- ence for education which was only strengthened by their contact with the wildness and rudeness of nature. Whenever we find a little band of settlers, such as came here, we find "the school master is abroad." The plan adopted, that of subscription, was the only available one, and each settler voluntarily contributed of his means to provide something of an education for his children.

These pioneers were in earnest about the settlement of this country, and well knew where to lay the foundation of that society they were about to rear. True, the schools were rude and feeble, but it was a rude and feeble period, and as proud. a tribute as these pioneers would have asked was won. That tribute is the declaration that they gave up their very homes for school purposes before they could afford to erect even a log school-house, and actually engaged teachers when all their little means was necessary to provide the physical comforts of life.

The first buildings they erected for school purposes were rude and rudely furnished, while the curriculum was simple; but perhaps after all the schools of that day sustained about the same relation to those of to- day as these latter will to the schools of the next half century. The terms were short and wages low; everything was incomplete; but after all they represented a distinctively physical era, and so must not be measured too closely by the standard of this more clearly intellectual era. They served as a solid foundation for these, and if they had served no other purpose, this alone would entitle them to our grateful consider- ation. Aside from this they served the immediate needs of their day, and so directly fulfilled their mission. Education was then a luxury as it is now a necessity, and it mattered little if the teacher did "board around," or if the seats were made of "slabs." The range of that edu- cation was limited, it is true, and it will ever be so, for the capacity of the human mind under favorable conditions neither has been nor can be measured. That it consisted largely in memorizing need not be denied, for even to-day it is too largely the same. Education should be the stimulation of thought, and not the parrot act of imitation. Too long the mind has been compared to such inanimate objects as the vessel, the marble, and the clay. It is now time to recognize it as a living, acting being, acted upon by its own activities, and not a dead passive object which, like the vessel, the marble, or the clay, may be filled, or chiselled, or moulded at will. It is thought which constitutes the man, and this is the force by which the world is moved.

Education, however comprehensive, can only aspire to two objects. Its first object is to arouse the activities of the mind; and the second is the stimulation of these activities after they are once aroused. This constitutes the all in all of education, and that process which attempts to develop the mind without recognizing its inherent forces, must not only fail, but will also do incalculable harm. Original effort is the cry- ing demand of the times, and this presupposes mental activity. This better and completer education is developing year by year. The pioneer schools could not overreach the rudiments, for neither time nor money was at command. Still a broad and firm foundation was laid, and the

structure is rearing in greater strength and beauty as time fulfils its purposes.

The log school-house gave way to the rude frame buildings, and these in turn yielded to the neatness of the modern buildings of frame and brick. The teacher no longer " boards around," the wages are better, the terms longer, and the curriculum more comprehensive. The build- ings are neatly constructed and comfortably furnished. The school is becoming an adjunct to the home, and sometimes provides a more whole- some moral and social atmosphere. The old idea that the teacher is the enemy of the pupil has died away, and confidence and sympathy are sup- planting physical force. From this time forward the school will be the object of deepest solicitude to parent, teacher, and pupil alike, and under this condition all will be found laboring shoulder to shoulder in the great cause of education. With such an interest manifested the influence of the schools of to-day will extend from generation to generation as the recognized force of progress, development, and happiness.

Travel the highways throughout the county to-day, and the school- house is constantly in view. Go away from the village, and just as the graded school building is losing itself behind the timber or buildings, you find yourself confronted by the rural school-house. You cannot escape them if you would, and if you are a man or woman the fact will cause you joy. Neither can you elude their influence. It is about you, and you feel it, wherever you go in the county. Those little brick or frame buildings are the mileposts along the avenues of education. The villages have independent schools, generally based on the graded system, and divided into separate and distinct departments, but all united under one superintendent. So it is that each child within the county has the privileges of the school furnished almost at the door of the home, until the most valuable of all acquisitions is rendered the very cheapest.

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History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 45

Author: R. Sutton & Co. Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Number of Pages: 427

Author: R. Sutton & Co.
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 427