USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 12
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COUNTY CORONERS.
1820-26. Joseph Kennedy: 1826-28, David Kingery: 1828-33, William Parkison : 1833-34. David Kingery : 1834-36. James Riddle ; 1836-39, James WV. Steele: 1839-41, James L. Ward : 1841-43, Thomas F. Wood : 1843-44, William H. Frank : 1844-45. James Riddle: 1846-47, William H. Frank; 1848-50, Henry Wolford: 1850-51, Cyprian Lee; 1852-54, B. F. Kelsey; 1854-58, Joshua S. Gill: 1858-62, Charles Rathburn; 1866. William Cart- mell ; 1866-67, Jacob S. Newcomb; 1867-68, Robert Sharp; 1868-70, Andrew Keyes; 1870-72, Thomas Martin : 1872-74, Adam Wolford; 1874-76, I. N. Hamilton : 1876-79, H. McFadden: 1879-80. Hays Speakman: 1880-81, Elmer P. Blinn : 1881-86, Henry W. Morey; 1886-90, Robert H. Graham;
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1890-02, A. B. Swisher; 1902-04, J. C. Kennedy; 1904-08, D. J. Jenkins; 1908-10, P. D. Longbrake; 1910-12, S. J. Bown; 1912-14, S. J. Bown. He was re-elected in the fall of 1914.
COUNTY ASSESSORS.
Ohio has had various systems of assessing its property. At first Union county was assessed by one man, and those filling such office were: 1827-31, John Jolley; 1831-33, Oliver C. Kennedy; 1833-35, Joseph K. Richey ; 1835-37, J. January ; 1837-39, Thomas F. Woods.
Then came in the system of township assessors, which usually, of later years, has had connected with it a land appraiser. Each voting precinct had one such official, as a rule. This gave the county in 1912-13 forty-nine as- sessors, counting the land appraiser assistants. But Ohio saw the error of so much clumsy and expensive machinery and, after a ten years' agitation, the present system finally was installed. This consists of an assessor from each township and one from each incorporated place, making only seventeen in all in the entire county. These are under the county assessor, or district assessor, a new office created. He has an office at the court house and all assessors send in their reports and lists to him for actual compiling and assessing. This is an appointive office under the governor and he works under direction of a tax commission of three experts at Columbus. The term of office is to run as long as the governor or tax commissioners of the state see fit. The first person in Union county to be appointed by the governor to such position was M. T. Cody, appointed by Governor Cox in the fall of 1913.
PROBATE JUDGES.
The office of probate judge has been filled in Union county since the creation of the office under the code of 1850-51, by the following persons : Thomas Brown and James Smith served until 1869; John B. Coats, eighteen years; Judge L. Piper, six years ; Judge James McCampbell, six years ; Judge John M. Brodrick, six years; Judge Dudley E. Thornton, six years; Judge Edward W. Porter, who took his seat February 9, 1913.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
This office was created in Ohio in 1914 and Prof. D. H. Sellers is the first to hold the office. He is highly qualified for such work, and is rapidly
JUDGE EDWARD W. PORTER
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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.
getting the machinery of the office in good working order. He is expected to visit all schools in the county once or more each year, and make such sug- gestions as he sees fit.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
May 15, 1820. James Townsend; July 10, 1820, Levi Phelps was ap- pointed for five years, but nothing appears on the record to show that he did not serve continuously until 1845; he held the office by election from 1836 to 1845, and in the latter year there is no record of an election. William B. Irwin served from 1848 to 1854: A. F. Wilkins, 1854-1860; B. A. Fay, 1860-66: A. S. Mowry, 1866-1875: Frederick J. Sager, 1875-1883 : Charles F. Lee, 1884-88; R. L. Plotner, 1888-98; WV. P. Beighitler, 1898-1908: J. C. Kennedy, 1908-10: Alvah Graham, William P. Beightler, 1910-14. Charles E. Blaney was elected in the fall of 1914.
INFIRMARY DIRECTORS.
1851, John Johnson, David Watins, Samuel Ballinger; 1852, Levi Longbrake; 1853, Aquilla Turner : 1854, John W. Cherry; 1855, Levi Long- brake: 1856, Aquilla Turner : 1857. Thomas Brown: 1858, Levi Longbrake ; 1859. Lemuel Myers : 1860. D. G. Cross : 1861, S. F. Kinney: 1862, Samuel Marsh; 1863. D. C. Cross: 1864. S. F. Finney ; 1865. John F. Sabine: 1866, D. G. Cross; 1867, John Guthrie : 1868, John F. Sabine; 1869, D. G. Cross ; 1870, John Guthrie: 1871, J. F. Sabine; 1872, D. G. Cross: 1873. O. B. Williams: 1874, George Wilber; 1875. John F. Sabins. E. L. Price: 1876, Levi Longbrake: 1877. George P. Cross: 1878, J. F. Sabine; 1879. Levi Longbrake: 1880. George P. Cross: 1881. John F. Sabine: 1882, Thomas M. Brannon ; * 1886, David White; 1888, W. M. Winget ; 1890, A. J. Whitney; 1892, Elias Kyle: 1894. C. F. Haines: 1806. John Ryan: 1898, C. S. Cheeney: 1900. George Moder: 1902, John R. Taylor : 1904, Orville Marriott : 1906, Orville Marriott : 1908, William Long- brake. David E. Danforth. The office was abolished and on January I. 1913. the institution was placed under the charge of the county commis- sioners.
CHAPTER VII.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
ROADS.
The early settlers of the county had no roads other than the Indian trails or the bridle paths through the heavy forest. and even when they be- gan the work of road-making it was in a crude manner, not to be compared with present methods. The first highway of any importance constructed in the county was what is still known as the "Post road," laid out in 1812, across the southern portion of the county. The continuation of Main street north from Marysville, now called the old Sandusky road, was formerly known as the Portland road. An old plat, bearing date of June 10, 1829, made at Marysville for Josiah Westlake, by Silas G. Strong, shows this road, which crossed the southeast corner of lot No. 4, north of Mill creek. Mr. Strong at that time was agent for the sale of "fifteen thousand acres of good land in Union county."
In the early spring of 1844 an act was passed by the Legislature, au- thorizing the construction of a free turnpike road from Columbus, in the county of Franklin, to Bellefontaine, in the county of Logan, to pass via Marysville, Union county. The commissioners appointed from Union, to act with those from the other counties in laying out the road, were John Cassil and Norman Chipman. The commissioners were to form a corporation known as the "Trustees of the Columbus, Marysville and Bellefontaine Free Turnpike Road." The first annual report of said trustees, dated January 20, 1845, showed that donations and taxes had been received to the amount of one million three hundred seventy-one thousand five hundred and seventy- eight dollars, which had been expended in implements and labor; the costs and expenses of laying and establishing the road were two hundred thirty thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars.
February 24, 1853, the Marysville and Essex Plank Road Company was organized to build a plank road between the two points named, by way of Pharisburg. The capital stock was thirty thousand dollars, in shares of twenty-five dollars each, and the incorporators were J. S. Alexander, J. W.
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Evans, P. Snider, C. S. Hamilton, G. A. Cassil, W. T. Brophy. Joseph Sax- ton, W. W. Woods, J. Marshall, Samuel McBratney and J. G. Sprague. Books were open for subscriptions of stock on the 2d of April following, at Marysville, Pharisburg, Richmond and Essex. All the incorporators resided at or near Marysville. Considerable stock was subscribed, but no immediate steps were taken toward the construction of the road, May 7, 1853, the com- pany was fully organized at Pharisburg by the election of the following directors: G. A. Cassil, W. T. Brophy, S. McBratney, C. S. Hamilton, of Marysville : O. Jewet, S. G. Kirk, of Leesburg township; Daniel Kinney, of Claibourne township. Although the project was set on foot in a spirit of earnestness, the road was never constructed, nor was a plank road ever laid in the county of Union, though the swampy places were sometimes cor- duroyed.
The total number of miles of gravel roads in the county in 1883 as shown by the records, was 475 and total cost $1,069,770.74. Since that date 230 miles have been built. During the past four years 31 miles have been completed at a cost of $97,000.00 and since 1907 the amount expended for building and repairing gravel and stone roads is $670,000.00. The county has no doubt a greater number of miles of improved roads than any county in the state with a like amount of territory and commenced the building of these roads in 1867.
At the present time there are 705 miles of excellent pikes and gravel roads within the county. The people of the county are entitled to credit in recent years, for the condition the roads are found today. Taxpayers have been liberal in this respect.
PROPOSED ELECTRIC LINES.
Union county has had her full quota of proposed electric lines, only one of which has yet materialized-the one running from Delaware through Magnetic Springs to Richwood.
A franchise was granted by the county commissioners of Union county at the March session of the board, 1901, for three lines of electric roads. The proposed company was styled the "Union Electric Railway Company." The rate of fare was fixed in the franchise as two cents per mile. One line was to run from Marysville to Mt. Victory. via Broadway, Somerville and York; one from Marysville to Richwood, via Pharisburg and Magnetic Springs ; the third route from Marysville to Columbus, via New California, Jerome and Dublin.
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In Marysville much trouble was experienced in getting property owners along Fifth street (the main street of the city) to permit the line on that thoroughfare, but finally the required number signed up. First one set of capitalists, then another tried to build the road, and years went by. Some material was placed along the proposed line, but finally all was abandoned and no road has ever been built.
RAILROADS.
Without going into details as to the many changes wrought out on paper by various corporations, who have sought to construct steam railways through Union county, it will suffice to state that the present railroads of the county are the Pennsylvania Lines, the Big Four, the Toledo & Ohio Cen- tral and the Erie line.
These roads have the following mileage: Toledo & Ohio Central, main line of 26.48; sidings, 1.36 miles. The Pennsylvania Lines, main line, 13.06, sidings, 4.23 miles. ( This means double track of twice these figures.) The Erie (Nypano), main line, 23.90; sidings, 4.4 miles. The Big Four, main line, 17.45; sidings, 4.6 miles. St. Mary's Branch of the Toledo & Ohio Central, main line, 4.87 miles. The Columbus, Magnetic Springs & North- ern Electric line, from Delaware to Richwood, main line, 6.25; sidings, .23 miles.
The county's first railroad was constructed in 1850-54, from Spring- field to Delaware, via Irwin, Milford Center, Marysville and Dover. It was finished and an excursion ran on March 29, 1854. It carried a large number of passengers on its initial trip. The next day a young man was badly hurt at Delaware, having both legs cut off by the engine while he was attempting to jump on the pilot as it was coming from the engine house. Between Springfield and Delaware, the locomotive jumped the track several times. The flanges of the forward wheels of the locomotive, which was called the "Olentangy," were defective and the aid of "The Goshen" was necessary to pull the train back to Springfield, the passengers being delayed over night on the way. The business of this road has grown in very large proportions and its equipment is usually in keeping with the demands of the times. It is a part of the Big Four system, and belongs to the New York Central Lines. The original charter of this road was granted by the state in March, 1836, the object being to construct a railway between Cleveland and Cincinnati, via Columbus. The act was revived in 1845, and subsequently the road was constructed within the next nine years. The road, now styled the Erie,
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runs through this county from northeast to southwest, having station points at Woodland, Richwood, Claibourne, Broadway, Peoria and Pottersburg. It was originally styled the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio, or for short- the "Nypano." It was chartered in March, 1851. The system was formerly broad gauge, but more than forty years ago was made standard gauge.
The line known as the Columbus & Bellefountaine railway was incor- porated April, 1878, "beginning at Columbus, running thence in a northwest- erly direction through Union county, with station points at Dublin and Marysville, then on through northwest to Bellefountaine, Logan county." This road was never built as designed, but another went near its survey through the county.
The Pennsylvania Company operates the line from Columbus to Ur- bana, via Plain City, Unionville Center and Milford Center on west to Ur- bana. A combination of railway corporations leased it in 1869 for ninety- nine years, renewable forever, to the Pittsburg, Cleveland & St. Louis company. But it now belongs to the Pennsylvania system.
What is now styled as the Toledo & Ohio Central railroad extends from Columbus northwest through Union county, having station points at Arnold, Dipple, Marysville, Peoria and Raymond, and extends on through to Toledo. To obtain this road there was much labor and excitement, and years passed by before it was finally accomplished. The citizens of the county donated the right of way in full. This affords a direct outlet through Colum- bus and also connects the county with the commerce of the great lakes. It was completed through to Columbus in Jnuary, 1894, having reached as far as Marysville in 1893.
The St. Marys branch of the Toledo & Ohio Central runs from Peoria on west to Bellefontaine. Logan county.
TELEGRAPH LINES.
The first telegraph line in the county was put up in the winter of 1858- 59. extending from Springfield to Delaware, via Marysville. The poles were distributed along the line early in October. 1858, and it was completed to Marysville in the latter part of February, 1859. Since that time the county seat has had telegraphic communication with the outer world.
Telegraph lines are found now along each railway line passing through the county, with offices from which messages are daily sent to all parts of the world.
CHAPTER VIII.
AGRICULTURE.
Union has always been known as a purely agricultural section. Its great wealth has come directly from the fertile soil, less than a million pounds of fertilizer having been used in the entire county in 1912.
In 1911 there were sown for harvest of wheat, 15,000 acres, yielding 246,487 bushels; rye, 1,900 acres, yielding 21,625 bushels ; oats, 19,000 acres, yielding 475,000 bushels; corn, 50,420 acres, yielding 1,903,987 bushels ; broom corn, 3 acres, yielding 1,800 pounds; Irish potatoes, 182 acres, yield- ing 9,597 bushels; acres in meadow, 31,329, 33,507 tons; clover, 11,563 acres, yielding 12,167 tons : alfalfa, 685 acres yielding 1,488 tons ; milk sold for family use, 2,183,000. The number pounds of butter made in home dairies, 379,000; eggs, 1,147,000 dozen; number of trees from which sugar was made in 1912, 16,567; pounds of maple sugar, 644; gallons of syrup made, 2,990 ; honey produced, 3,720 pounds ; acres in orchards, 1.989; bushels of apples, 183,432 : peaches, 32 acres, produced 1,362 bushels ; pears, 14 acres, produced 2,852 bushels.
Number acres cultivated in county in 1911, 86.529: in pasture, 85,437; in woodland, 18.321 acres; land in waste state, 1, 168; total acres owned, 271,000 ; horses, 9,355 ; milk cows, 8, 110; all cattle owned, 14,000. Number sheep. 43.727 : sheep killed by dogs, 115: hogs, 32,000; hogs for summer markets in 1912, 10,432 ; wool produced, 312,000 pounds ; hogs lost by disease, 4,955.
As one drives over this goodly agricultural section today, and views the hundreds of beautiful farm homes, surrounded with all that goes to make up modern farm life, with well painted 'farm-houses, barns, silos. shedding for cattle, sheep and swine, he must be impressed with the thrift and frugality of the owners and renters of these magnificent farm holdings. It may be stated that during the last quarter of a century there has come to obtain a better and higher standard of farm life in Union county. The fathers and grandfathers of the present farm owners laid well the foundations, and the enterprise and scientific application of the means at-hand have brought about this wonderful transformation.
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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.
UNION COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
At the time the agricultural society was organized in 1847, Union county was thinly populated, and one of the most backward counties in the state. There was very little tillable land, but little cultivated, not enough of grain products or stock raised to supply the home demand, no thoroughbred stock of any kind, but on the contrary, very inferior horses, cattle, sheep and hogs of every kind, and the farming implements used were very few and primitive in kind. The county was settled with men of strong moral convictions, in- dustrious and enterprising, and at an early date advocated the importance of organizing an agricultural society. The first meeting to organize was held in the old court house during the summer of 1847, at which time the society was organized and officers elected. The second week of the following Octo- ber was chosen for holding the first fair in the county.
The first fair was held in the public square of Marysville, using the old court house for the display of fabrics. There were less than one hundred exhibits entered for the first fair. The second year the ground for exhibit- ing was about two squares south on Main street and continued in that vicinity until the year 1852, using the court house for the fine art hall. Afterward the fair was held on the grounds now owned and occupied by the society for that purpose.
A committee in 1854 was appointed to make a purchase of fair ground and report plan for payment. The committee made a purchase of John Cassil of thirteen acres of land on the Marion road, about three-fourths mile from the public square in Marysville, for which they agreed to pay fifty dollars per acre, one-half January 1, 1855, balance in one year, with interest, and executed a written contract to that effect.
The plan reported by the committee to procure funds for the purchase was that the ground be purchased by a joint stock company in which each share should be ten dollars. The deed of conveyance to be made to such stockholders. subject to the use of the Union County Agricultural Society, so long as it should use the same for a fair ground, but to pass absolutely and unconditionally with the improvements to the stockholders, when the society shall disband or cease to occupy it for its annual fairs. In accordance to the plan reported, a warranty deed conveying the thirteen acres of land in survey No. 3,353 was made by John Cassil. November 26, 1860, to the fol- lowing named persons, stating the number of shares taken by each :
John F. Sabine, one share: J. C. Miller, two; James A. Henderson, one :
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Richey & Buxton, one; P. Manchester, one; R. L. Broome, one; Solomon Cook, one: John Barbour, one; Jesse Mearis, one; J. R. Galloway, one; Moses Coe, one : A. S. Chapman & Company, one; W. H. Robb, one; Joseph Newlove, one; John E. Cahill, one : William M. Robinson, one: John Cassil, four; Samuel Woods, one; D. D. Welsh, one; E. Biglow, one; Luther Win- get, one: Ray G. Morse, one; Benjamin Gordon, one; James Smith (Darby Plains), one ; John Reed, 3d, one; R. D. Reed, one; A. A. Woodworth, one; William Bigger, one; Jesse Gill, one: A. F. Wilkins, one; John W. Thomp- son, one; S. A. Cherry, one; Thomas W. Miller, one; John Johnson, one; John T. Lenox, one: James Finley, one; W. W. Woods, one; C. S. Hamil- ton, one: P. B. Cole, one: William C. Malin, one: Joshua Marshall, one : Tabor Randall, one: N. Raymond, one; S. R. Reed, one: F. Hemingway, one; Hiram Stokes, one: William Gabriel, one: George B. Barnham, one ; J. E. Burnham, three: James Riddle, one and one-half ; James Fullington, three ; Charles Fullington, three; George W. Stamates. one; J. C. Sidle, one; James Kinkade, one; Philip Snider, one; James W. Robinson, two; Samuel C. Lee, one ; C. Houston, one : William T. Brophy, one ; Phelps & McWright, one; Thomas Turner, one; J. Sexton & Company, one: James Martin, one; William R. Webb, one; James M. Welsh, one.
There were others who subscribed and paid part, but by conditions of the association, the same were forfeited because not paid in full. Part of the amount subscribed was paid toward the improvements, and the sum of six hundred and fifty dollars and interest paid for the said land ; the total amount of land owned by the society is forty-seven acres and ninety-nine poles. The amount of purchase money paid, six thousand ninety-two dollars and fifty cents.
The receipts the first year were less than one hundred dollars. The attendance the first year was estimated about two hundred and fifty.
The first money paid to any officer of the society was to John Johnson. secretary, who received five dollars for his services from the organization of the society until the year 1852. C. S. Hamilton did all the printing for the society for the year 1851 for two years' membership, being the first com- pensation for printing. The first building was erected by Thomas Snodgrass, for the accommodation of the ticket master and board of directors, twenty feet long and twelve feet wide, at the cost of twenty-two dollars for the entire building. The first imported horse was brought to the county by Charles Fullington in 1851 and was known as "Louis Napoleon." weighing sixteen hundred and fifty pounds. In 1850 James Fullington brought from Kentucky the first thoroughbred cattle to the county. In 1853 Charles and
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James Fullington imported to the county some very fine thoroughbred cattle, and the same year and by the same parties were imported to the county the first fine wool sheep. W. M. Winget brought to the county the first thorough- bred Jersey in 1880. Our county might be regarded better adapted to grass than any other product. Great improvement has been made in the last few years in the raising of wheat, by the means of fertilizing, which has proved to be of great profit, and quite a number of our farmers are using the same with great success.
The Agricultural Society has been of great benefit to the county, inspir- ing a zeal of enterprise among the people that is commendable. One remark- able feature of our society has been the unanimity with which the officers and managers have worked together from its organization, with but one ob- ject in view, its success.
Year after year the county exhibits have been held and tens of thou- sands of people from this and adjoining counties have met on the beautiful grounds at Marysville. They have greeted one another and exchanged ideas concerning the great industry of the county-farming and stock-raising. They have listened to good speeches, viewed the best grades of stock, with fine trotting and pacing races, seen the fine exhibits of fruits and flowers, the handiwork of the ladies of the county. The annual fair is an event looked forward to by every one. The success of these county fairs is due to the hundreds of thrifty farmers from the fourteen townships. The present farmer is really a progressive man and grasps at new and improved features when convinced that a new and better method may be successfully installed.
The present officers of the society are as follows: J. K. Langstaff, president ; L. H. Elliott, vice-president ; E. C. Cody, treasurer ; W. C. Moore, secretary. The members of the board of directors are as follows :
Allen township-W. M. Staley, Marysville.
Claibourne township-J. W. Langstaff, Richwood.
Darby township-W. J. Rausch, Marysville.
Dover township-E. C. Cody. New Dover. Jackson township-George Hall. Richwood. Jerome township-C. F. Bishop, Hilliards. Leesburg township-H. E. Moore, Marysville.
Liberty township-T. F. Lockwood, Raymond.
Mill Creek township-F. D. Henderson. Marysville.
Paris township-H. I. Huffman, Marysville. (10)
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Taylor township-Jacob Blue, Marysville. Union township-L. H. Elliott, Milford Center. Washington township-L. J. Temple, Mt Victory. York township-Homer Cahill. Peoria.
THE TRI-COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION.
This association was formed at Richwood as a stock company in 1891, and embraces Union, Madison and Delaware counties. These annual fairs have been highly successful. Racing and horse exhibits have taken the lead, rather than grains and fruits and vegetables. As a horse fair it draws im- mense crowds every year. The society owns over thirty-four acres of land on the southwest line of Richwood and have good improvements thereon. The president is Carl Allgower. Paul B. Van Winkle is the efficient secre- tary. The association is controlled by twelve directors.
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