History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 42

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104


USA > Ohio > Summit County > History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 42


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).


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William O'Brien, of Hudson, was elected County Treasurer, April, 1840, to serve until the next annual election, and re-elected for two vears in October, 1840, dying before the expi- ration of his term, in February, 1842 ; George Y. Wallace, of Northfield, was appointed by the County Commissioners, February 15, 1842, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Treasurer O'Brien ; Milton Arthur, of North- field, elected in October, 1842, re-elected in 1844, and again in 1846; William H. Dewey, of Akron, elected in October, 1848, holding the office for one term only ; Frederick Wadsworth, of Akron, elected in October, 1850, also serv- ing but a single term ; Chester W. Rice, of Cuyahoga Falls, elected in October, 1832, ope term only ; Houston Sisler, of Franklin. elected in October, 1854, and re-elected in 1856 ; Sul- livan S. Wilson, of Northampton, elected in October, 1858, and re-elected in 1860, resign- ing his office in February, 1863 ; Treasurers under the law, not taking possession of their offices until the first Monday in September (nearly a year) after their election ; George W.


Crouse, of Akron, appointed by the Commis- sioners to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Treasurer Wilson, to serve from February 16, 1863, till the first Monday of the following September, a little over seven months; Israel E. Carter, of Akron, elected in October, 1862, and re-elected in 1864 ; Arthur L. Con- ger, of Boston, elected in October, 1866, and re-elected in 1868 ; Schuyler R. Oviatt, of Richfield, elected in October, 1870, and re- elected in 1872; David R. Paige, of Akron, elected in October, 1874, and re-elected in 1876 ; Henry C. Viele, of Akron, elected in October, 1878, and re-elected in 1880.


[NOTE .- Under the present State Constitu- tion, County Treasurers, like Sheriff's, are pro- hibited from serving more than four years in any consecutive six years, a provision for which it is difficult to find a good and valid reason.]


Alexander Johnston, of Green, was elected County Recorder in April, 1840, and again for a full term of three years in October, of the same year ; Nahum Fay, of Akron, was elected in October, 1843, and re-elected in 1846; Jared Jennings, of New Portage, was elected in Oc- tober, 1849, serving one term only ; Henry Purdy, of Springfield, was elected in October. 1852, and re-elected in 1855 ; Philip P. Bock, of Akron, elected in October, 1858, and re- elected in 1861 ; James A. Lantz, of Akron, elected in October, 1864, and re-elected in 1867 ; Grenville Thorp, of Bath. elected in Oc- tober, 1870, and died before the expiration of his first term in February, 1872; Henry C. Viele, of Akron, appointed by the County Com- missioners to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Recorder Thorp, to serve until the next annual election ; George H. Payne, of Akron, elected in October, 1872, and re-elected in 1875 ; Albert A. Bartlett, of Akron, elected in October, 1878.


Russell H. Ashmun, of Tallmadge, was elected County Surveyor, in April, 1840, and again elect- ed for a full term of three years, the following October ; Peter Voris, of Bath, elected in Oc- tober, 1843, serving one term only ; Frederick Seward, of Tallmadge, elected in October, 1846, also holding the office but one term ; Dwight Newton, of Akron. elected in October, 1849, for one term only ; Schuyler R. Oviatt, of Rich- field, elected in October, 1852, for a single term only ; Hosea Paul, of Cuyahoga Falls, elected in October, 1855, and re-elected successively in


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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.


1858. 1861, 1864 and 1867, dying in June, 1870, after continuously holding the office for nearly fifteen years ; Robert S. Paul, of Akron, appointed by the Commissioners to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of his father, Hosea Paul, in June, 1870, and elected to the office in October of the same year; Jacob Mishler, of Springfield, elected in October, 1873, after qualifying, resigned without enter- ing upon the duties of the office ; Robert S. Paul, appointed by the Commissioners, Feh- rnary 3, 1874, to fill the vacancy, until the next annual election ; John W. Seward, of Tallmadge, elected in October, 1874, serving a single term of three years only ; Robert S. Paul, of Akron, elected in October, 1877, and re- elected in 1880.


Elisha Hinsdale, of Norton, was elected County Coroner in April, 1840, and again in the following October for a full term of two years, and re-elected in 1842 ; Ithiel Mills, of Akron, elected in October 1844, and re-elected in 1846; Joseph T. Holloway, of Cuyahoga Falls, elected in October, 1848, holding a single term only ; John Nash, of Middlebury, elected in October, 1850, re-elected in 1852, died Sep- tember 7, 1853 ; Oliver E. Gross of Stow, elect- ed in October 1853. serving a single term only; William L. Clarke, of Akron, elected in Octo- ber, 1855, serving but one term ; Noah Inger- soll, of Coventry, elected in October, 1857, and re-elected in 1859; Joseph T. Holloway, of Cuyahoga Falls, elected in October, 1861, hold- ing as before, but a single term; Porter G. Somers, of Cuyahoga Falls, elected in October, 1863. re-elected in 1865, and by reason of a lapse in the election of that officer, in 1867, holding over until the election of his successor in 1868; Oliver E. Gross, of Stow, elected in October, 1868, and re-elected in 1870; Almon Brown, of Middlebury, elected in October, 1872, and suc- cessively re-elected in 1874, 1876, 1878 and 1880.


The following gentlemen have served as County Commissioners-Augustus E. Foote, of Twinsburg, from April, 1840, to December, 1843 ; Jonathan Starr, of Copley, from April, 1840, to December, 1844 ; John Hoy, of Frank- lin, from April, 1840, to December, 1845 ; Mills Thompson, of Hudson, from December, 1843, to December, 1849 ; James W. Weld, of Rich- field, from December, 1844, to December, 1853 ; Henry G. Weaver, of Springfield, from Decem-


ber, 1845, to December, 1851 ; Edwin Wetmore, of Stow, from December, 1849, to December, 1858 ; Hiram Weston, of Middlebury, from De- cember, 1851, to December, 1854; James A. Metlin, of Norton, from December, 1853, to De- cember, 1856 ; Ambrose W. Bliss, of North- field, from December, 1854, to December, 1860 ; John S. Gilcrest, of Springfield, from Decem- ber, 1856, to December, 1862 ; John McFarlin, of Bath, from December, 1858, to December. 1861 : Nelson Upson, of Twinsburg, from De- cember. 1860, to March, 1866. when he resigned ; George Bnel, of Akron, from December, 1861, to May, 1864, when he resigned ; David E. Hill, of Middlebury, from December, 1862, to December, 1868 ; George D. Bates, of Akron, appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Buel, from May, 1864. to December. 1864 ; Sidney P. Conger, of Boston, appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Nelson Upson, from May. 1866, to December, 1866 ; John McFarlin, of Bath, from December, 1864, to December, 1867 ; John C. Johnston, of Northampton, from December, 1866, to December, 1872 ; George Sackett, of Cuyahoga Falls, from December. 1867, to De- cember, 1870 ; Orson M. Oviatt, of Richfieldl. from December, 1868, to December, 1874 ; John Hill, of Norton, from December, 1870, to December, 1879 ; George W. Crouse, of Akron, from December, 1872, to December, 1875 ; Giles L'Hommedien, of Cuyahoga Falls, from De- cember, 1874, to December, 1877 ; William Sis- ler, of Akron, elected in October, 1875, re- elected in October, 1878 ; Moses D. Call, of Stow, elected in October, 1877, and re-elected in October, 1880 ; Hiram Hart, of Richfield, elected in October, 1879.


Summit County has been represented in the State Legislature by the following gentlemen : Rufus P. Spalding and Ephraim B. Hubbard, in office at time of erection of Summit County, winter of 1839-40 ; Henry G. Weaver, of Spring- field, elected October, 1840, term, one year ; Rufus P. Spalding and Simon Perkins, of Ak- ron, elected in October, 1841, for one year ; Amos Seward, of Tallmadge, elected in Octo- ber, 1842, for one year ; John H. McMillen, of Middlebury, and Augustus E. Foote, of Twins- burg. cleeted in October, 1843, for one year ; George Kirkum, of Akron, elected in October, 1844, for one year ; Hiram Bowen, of Akron. elected in October, 1845, for one year ; Alex-


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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.


ander Johnston, of Green, elected in October, 1846, for one year ; Peter Voris, of Bath, and Amos Seward of Tallmadge, elected in October, 1847, for one year, Mr. Seward being elected as a " float," jointly by Summit and Portage Counties ; Samuel W. McClure, of Cuyahoga Falls, elected in October, 1848, for one year ; Harvey B. Spelman, of Akron, elected in Octo- ber, 1849, for one year; Nathaniel Finch, of Akron, elected in October, 1850, for one year. The new Constitution of Ohio, adopted in 1851, made the term of office for Representative two years instead of one year, as under the old Con- stitution. Noah M. Humphrey, of Richfield, elected in October, 1851, for two years ; Porter G. Somers, of Cuyahoga Falls, elected in October, 1853, for two years ; Mendall Jewett, of Mog- adore, elected in October, 1855, for two years ; Ira P. Sperry, of Tallmadge, elected in October, 1857, for two years ; Sylvester H. Thompson, of Hudson, and Alvin C. Voris, of Akron, elected in 1859, for two years ; John Johnston of Middlebury, elected in October, 1861, and re-elected in 1863, four years ; John Encell, of Copley, elected in October, 1865, for two years ; William Sisler, of Franklin, elected in October, 1867, for two years ; Alfred Wolcott, of Boston, elected in October, 1869. for two years ; Sanford M. Burnham, of Akron, elected in October, 1871, for two years ; Hiram H. Mack, of Bath, elected in October, 1873, for two years; Orrin P. Nichols, of Twinsburg, elected in October, 1875, but died before the expiration of his term, in 1877 ; Hiram H. Mack, of Bath, again elected in October, 1877, for two years ; John Hill, of Norton, and Leonidas S. Ebright, of Akron, elected in October, 1879, for two years.


The following have been State Senators from Summit and Portage Counties : Simon Per- kins, Jr., in office at time of erection of Summit County, in the winter of 1839-40 ; Elisha N. Sill, of Cuyahoga Falls, elected in October, 1840, for two years ; John E. Jackson, of Port- age County, clected in October, 1842. for two years ; William Wetmore, of Stow, elected in October, 1844, for two years ; Asahel H. Lewis, of Portage County, elected in October, 1846, for two years ; Lucian Swift, of Akron, elected in October, 1848, for two years ; Darius Lyman, of Portage County, elected in October, 1850, for two years, but cut off at the end of one year by new constitution ; Ransom A. Gillette, of Portage County, elected in October, 1831, for


two years ; William H. Upson, of Akron, elect- ed in October, 1853, for two years ; Oliver P. Brown, of Portage County, elected in October, 1855, for two years ; George P. Ashmun, of Hudson, elected in October, 1857, for two years ; James A. Garfield, of Portage County, elected in October, 1859, for two years; Lucius V. Bierce, of Akron, elected in October, 1861, for two years ; Luther Day, of Portage County, elected in October, 1863, but, being placed in nomination as a Judge of the Supreme Court, in 1864, resigned his position as State Senator ; Alphonso Hart, of Portage County, elected in October, 1864, for one year, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Senator Day ; Newell D. Tibbals, of Akron, elected in October, 1865, for two years ; Philo B. Conant, of Portage County, elected in October, 1867, for two years, but resigned after serving one year ; William Stedman, of Portage County, elected in Octo- ber, 1868, for one year, to fill vacancy ; Henry McKinney, of Akron, elected in October, 1869, for two years ; Alphonso Hart, of Portage County, elected in October, 1871, for two years ; Nathaniel W. Goodhue, of Akron, elected in October, 1873, for two years ; Marvin Kent, of Portage County, elected in October, 1875. for two years ; David Duncan Beebe, of Hudson, elected in October, 1877, and re-elected in Oc- tober, 1879-the first successive re-election of an incumbent of that office in the district.


Following the county officers and Representa- tives, it is not inappropriate to mention the names of those who have been called to repre- sent our county in still higher stations of the public service. Of these higher dignitaries, we will notice, first, our Representatives in Con- gress.


Summit County has been represented in the Lower House of the National Legislature, in common with other counties associated with her in Congressional Districts, as follows : In 1840, Fifteenth District, composed of Cuya- hoga, Portage, Summit, Medina and Lorain- Hon. Sherlock J. Andrews, of Cuyahoga, Whig, one term. In 1842-44, Nineteenth District, com- posed of Trumbull, part of Mahoning, Portage and Summit-Hon. Daniel R. Tilden, of Portage. Whig, two terms. In 1846-48. Nineteenth Dis- trict, same counties as above-Hon. John Crow- ell, of Trumbull, Whig, two terms. In 1850. Nineteenth District, same as above-Hon. Eben Newton. of Mahoning, Whig, one term. In


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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.


1852, Eighteenth District, composed of Port- age, Summit and Stark-Hon. George Bliss, of Summit, Democrat, one term. In 1854-56, Eighteenth District, same as above-Hon. Ben- jamin F. Leiter, of Stark, Republican, two terms. In 1858-60, Eighteenth District, same as above-Hon. Sidney Edgerton, of Summit, Republican, two terms. In 1862-64-66, Eight- eenth District, composed of Lake, Cuyahoga and Summit-Hon. Rufus P. Spalding, of Cuy- ahoga, Republican, three terms. In 1868-70, Eighteenth District, same as above-Hon. Will- iam H. Upson, of Summit, Republican, two terms. In 1872-74-76-78, Eighteenth District, composed of Lorain, Medina, Wayne and Sum- mit-Hon. James Monroe. of Lorain, Repub- lican, four terms. In 1880, Eighteenth Dis- trict, same as above-Hon. Addison S. Mc- Clure, of Wayne, Republican.


Since the organization, in April, 1840, Sum- mit County has been associated, Congression- ally, in various combinations, with Cuyahoga, Lake, Portage, Trumbull, part of Mahoning, Stark, Wayne, Medina and Lorain Counties, and in Districts Fifteen, Eighteen and Nine- teen. In each of the twelve Presidential elec- tions which have been held, the district to which Summit County was for the time being attached, was represented in the Electoral Col- lege by the following-named gentlemen, the po- litical party by which they were elected, and the candidates for President and Vice President for whom they severally voted, also being des- ! ignated : In 1840, Fifteenth District, composed of Cuyahoga, Portage, Summit, Medina and Lorain. Hon. David King, of Medina, Whig- voted for William Henry Harrison, of Ohio, for President, and John Tyler, of Virginia, for Vice President. In 1844, Nineteenth District, com- posed of Trumbull, part of Mahoning, Portage and Summit Counties, Hon. Jacob H. Baldwin, of Trumbull, Whig -- voted for Henry Clay, of Ken- tucky, forPresident, and Theodore Frelinghuy- sen, of New York, for Vice President. In 1848, Nineteenth District, same counties as above, Hon. John Caldwell, of Trumbull, Democrat-voted for Lewis Cass, of Michigan, for President, and William O. Butler, of Kentucky, for Vice Pres- ident. In 1852, Eighteenth District, composed of Portage, Summit and Stark Counties, Hon. Samuel D. Harris, of Portage, Democrat- voted for Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, for President, and William R. King, of Ala-


bama, for Vice President. In 1856, Eighteenth District, same as above, Hon. John S. Herrick, of Portage, Republican-voted for John C. Fremont, of California, for President, and Will- iam L. Dayton, of New Jersey, for Vice Presi- dent. In 1860, Eighteenth District, same as above, Hon. William K. Upham, of Stark, Re- publican-voted for Abraham Lincoln, of Illi- nois, for President, and Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, for Vice President. In 1864, Eight- eenth District, composed of Cuyahoga, Lake and Summit Counties, Hon. Seth Marshall, of Lake, Republican-voted for Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, for President, and Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, for Vice President. In 1868, Eigh- teenth District, same as above, Hon. Stephen H. Pitkin, of Summit, Republican-voted for Ulys- ses S. Grant, of Illinois, for President, and Schuyler Colfax, of Indiana, for Vice President. In 1872, Eighteenth District, composed of Sum- mit, Wayne, Medina and Lorain Counties, Hon. John R. Buchtel, of Summit, Republican- voted for Ulysses S. Grant for President, and Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, for Vice Pres- ident. In 1876. Eighteenth District, same as above, Hon. Samuel G. Barnard, of Medina, Re- publican-voted for Rutherford B. Hayes, of Ohio, for President, and William A. Wheeler, of New York, for Vice President. In 1880, Eighteenth District, same as above, Hon. Na- thaniel W. Goodhne, of Summit, Republican- voted for James A. Garfield, of Ohio, for Pres- ident, and Chester A. Arthur, of New York, for Vice President.


William S. C. Otis, Esq., of Akron, was Summit County's representative to the State Constitu- tional Convention of 1850. The convention met on the 6th day of May, 1850, in Columbus. July 9, adjourned to meet in Cincinnati on the first Monday in December. The convention completed its labors and adjourned sine die March 10, 1851. The constitution was adopted for twenty years at a special election held on the 21st day of June, 1851, the vote of Sum- mit County standing 2,025 "for" and 2,013 " against," being a majority of twelve only in its favor. Gen. Alvin C. Voris, of Akron, was the Summit County member of the Ohio Consti- stitutional Convention of 1873. The convention met in the House of Representatives, in Colum- bus, May 13, 1873. On the 8th day of August, the convention adjourned to meet in Cincinnati on the 2d day of December. On concluding its


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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.


business, the convention adjourned on the 3d day of February, 1874. The new constitution, as presented by the convention, though re- garded by many of the most intelligent people of the State as a great improvement upon the constitution of 1850, was rejected by the peo- ple of Ohio at a special election held August 18, 1874, the vote of Summit County standing 2,112 " for " and 2,774 " against," being a neg- ative majority of 662.


In this chapter, devoted as it is to matters pertaining to the county at large, we should not omit an extended mention of the Summit County Infirmary. Up to 1849, the poor of the county had been provided for in the temporary quarters leased for the purpose, but altogether inadequate for the proper accommodation and care of that unfortunate portion of our popula- tion. On the 12th day of January, 1849, the County Commissioners, Messrs. Mills Thomp- son, of Hudson, James W. Weld, of Richfield, and Henry G. Weaver, of Springfield, purchased the McCune farm, one mile west of the corpor- ate limits of Akron, consisting of 147 49-100 acres of land, for the sum of $3,953.33, pay- ments to be made as follows : $400 April 1, 1849; $800 February 1, 1850; $1,000 February 1, 1851; $1,000 February 1, 1852; $753.33 Feb- ruary 1, 1853 ; interest at the rate of 6 per cent to be paid annually.


On the 21st day of January, 1849, the County Commissioners contracted with Mr. Leander Starr, of Hudson, for the erection of the necessary buildings for the accommodation of the poor of the county for the sum of $1,- 958, the work to be completed by the 1st day of July of the same year, the dwelling-house already upon the premises being devoted to the use of the Superintendent of the Infirmary and his assistants. Mr. Starr's job was finished on time, and formally accepted July 10, 1849, with an allowance, in addition to the contract price, of $8 for extra labor.


On the 11th day of July, 1849, the Commis- sioners appointed Messrs. Roswell Kent. of Middlebury, Avery Spicer, of Coventry, and Lucius V. Bierce, of Akron, as the first regu- larly constituted Board of Directors for the management of the farm and the care of the poor of the county, to hold their offices until the next ensuing October election. The board organized by electing Roswell Kent, President, and L. V. Bierce, Clerk, and by the appoint-


ment of Abraham Sichley as Superintendent. Under the fostering care of these four gentle- men, aided by the County Commissioners, the foundation was laid firm and broad for the sys- tematic and liberal care of our poor, which, steadily growing and improving from year to year, has made the Summit County Infirmary one of the very best local charitable institu- tions in the State.


The buildings originally provided, as above stated, with sundry additions which had been made from time to time as necessity required, becoming considerably dilapidated and, as our population increased, altogether too straitened for the accommodation of the inmates, the County Commissioners and Infirmary Direct- ors, in 1863, determined on the erection of a more commodious and substantial structure. To this end, legislative authority was invoked, resulting in the passage, on the 23d day of March, 1864, of


AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY OF SUMMIT TO BUILD A COUNTY INFIRMARY, MAKE CON- TRACTS AND INCREASE THE TAX LEVY UPON THE TAXABLE PROPERTY OF SAID COUNTY:


SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio: That the County Commission- ers of Summit County be, and they are hereby, authorized to build a County Infirmary for the use of said county, at a cost not exceeding $16,000, upon such plan and in such manner as, in their opinion, will be conducive to the best interests of the county, and make all contracts necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.


SEC. 2. To anticipate the receipts which may come into the County Treasury by virtue of the tax levied under the authority of this act, said Com- missioners are hereby authorized to temporarily transfer from moneys in the treasury of said county belonging to the railroad fund, not exceeding $5,000, and may also use, in the construction of said build- ing, any unexpended money heretofore levied for building purposes in said county.


SEC. 3. That for the purpose of providing money to defray the expenses of building said infirmary, and to re-imburse the money transferred from the railroad fund, so provided in Section 2 of this act, said Commissioners are hereby authorized to in- crease the tax levy upon the taxable property of said county one half mill on the dollar in each of the years 1864 and 1865.


SEC. 4. This act shall be in force from and after its passage.


The making of the brick was done upon the infirmary farm-most excellent clay for the purpose being found thereon-under the super- intendence of Mr. Elijah C. Briggs, of Akron. The farm help, and, so far as practicable, pauper


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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.


labor, was employed in the manufacture of brick, not only for the buildings in question, but to a considerable extent for market, several hundred thousand having been sold in and hauled to the city during the progress of the work, thus bringing the material for the work within com- paratively low figures. The stone for the found- ations, of a most durable quality, were quarried in the neighborhood, and bought by the perch, delivered upon the ground. The mechanical labor upon the foundation and walls was done by the day, under the superintendence of Mr. George Allison, of Tallmadge, a practical brick- mason.


The wood-work was done on contraet by Mr. George Thomas, of Akron, the architect being Col. S. C. Porter. of Cleveland, the entire job being completed under the direct supervision of Infirmary Director, Avery Spicer, and County Commissioner David E. Hill, the latter gentleman being constituted general superin- tendent of the work by a vote of the board, January 4, 1865. The building, being con- structed upon the economical plan indicated, was nominally brought within the provisions of the act anthorizing its construction, though, by the application of home labor and material, the actual cost was in reality several thousand dol- lars more. It is of the following general de- scription and dimensions : The main or central building. two stories high, exclusive of base- ment and attic. is 26x40 feet. in size, fronting end to the north ; two wings on either side, same height as main building, are each 25x32 feet, with a rear wing 30x32 feet, and a still further rear extension 30x36 feet, for the use of insane patients, and connected with the main rear wing by a covered hall, or archway, eight feet in width. The style of architecture is of a mixed order, approximating to Gothic, with brackets and five large dormer windows in the roof to light the capacious garret. The main building is entered from the north by a flight of cut-stone steps, surmounted by a handsome porch. The front hall is seven feet in width, with stairs leading to the second story and basement. On the right of the hall, on the ground floor, is the parlor, 15x20 feet, with bed- room, 10x12 feet, and store-room, 8x12 feet. On the left of the hall is the sitting-room, 15x20 feet, with bed-room, 12x12 feet, and two closets, each about six feet square. Each side wing has its separate entrance, east and west, with




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