History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions, Part 33

Author: Curry, W. L. (William Leontes), b. 1839
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind., B. F. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1322

USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 33

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).

The losses in killed, wounded and missing in the two divisions was

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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

three hundred and twenty-six, of which two hundred and sixteen were in the brigades of Minty and Long, Second Division, and one hundred and ten of the Third Division. Among the officers killed were Capt. W. H. Scott, of the First Ohio Cavalry, inspector-general on the staff of Colonel Long; Capt. James G. Taylor, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry; Lieut. C. C. Hermans, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. The Confederate losses were heavy, but could not be ascertained definitely, but they were, no doubt, as heavy as our own.

A dispatch sent from Atlanta to the Memphis Appeal, and published a few days after the fight, gives the Confederate side, and is herewith pub- lished ·

"The newspapers have lately been full of accounts of how Martin's division of cavalry was run over by the Yankees at Lovejoy on the 20th · ultimio. The writer was on the field on that occasion, and in justice to the much-abused cavalry states the facts in the matter.

"Martin's division, supporting the battery, was formed on the McDon- oughi road. Ross' and Ferguson's commands on foot were in front and on each side of the battery, behind rail breastworks. A brigade of Clebourne's infantry was on the left of the road in three lines, the last one in a piece of woods. About one hundred yards in rear of the position of the battery, on the right of the road ( east side) the State troops were formed in line. When the Yankees charged they came in a solid column, ten or twelve lines deep, running their horses and yelling like devils. They didn't stop to fight or at- tempt to keep any kind of order or formation, but each fellow for himself rushed on, swinging his saber over his head.

"They rode over Ross' and Ferguson's men in the center, and over and through Clebourne's lines, one after another. on the left. Clebourne's first line. they say, tried to use their bayonets, but the Yankees cut them to pieces. After the Yankees had cut through all the other forces and captured the bat- tery. Martin. seeing the field was lost, retreated in good order to the east and joined Clebourne's main body, and aided in the final defeat of the enemy on the McDonough road that evening, and pursued them to and through Mc- Donough that night, recapturing nearly five hundred of our men, which they took in the charge. The effort to arouse the people against Martin and his brave division is more disgraceful and demoralizing than the Yankees' charge itselt. and should be frowned upon by all who wish well to our cause."

The distance marched hy Kilpatrick's command was about one hundred and twenty miles, and the route can be traced on the accompanying official map.

CHAPTER XVII.

MISCELLANEOUS.

THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

This was the first great sorrow this county met in the way of a na- tional calamity caused by the death of a President. It was at first be- lieved that Mr. Lincoln was assassinated as a conspiracy on the part of the southern Confederacy, then in the last throes of a rebellion, and it was so looked upon here in Union county, as will be seen by reference to the first announcement made in the Marysville Tribune of that date, in which editor John H. Shearer said :

"The murder of our chief magistrate has cast a pall of gloom over our land such as no other event has ever done. But out of the midst of that gloom arises also a firin determination that henceforth no quarters shall be shown the prime movers of the Rebellion. If they had not before for- feited all right to live in this land they have disgraced, this last act, which was no doubt the deep laid conspiracy between them, should bring them everyone to the gibbet. Our voice is to retain and hang every leader of the Rebellion, who may henceforth fall within our hands. It is the only lesson that will pacify the country and avail against danger in the future.

"The life of Abraham Lincoln is worth more to this nation than the lives of all the traitors and their sympathizers and abettors. They are a pest and a disgrace to this nation and no government official's life will be secure as long as they are suffered to remain in the country. Unless strong measures are taken against that class of scoundrels, one may expect the crime of assassination to be of frequent occurrence."

At the request of the secretary of state of Ohio, a call was made for memorial meetings throughout the commonwealth. In Marysville, a pre- liminary meeting was held on Tuesday, April 18. 1865. for the purpose of arranging for such memorial. Captain W. H. Robinson was chairman : John B. Coats was secretary and a committee consisting of J. W. Robinson. Rev. Walter Mitchell and M. C. Lawrence drafted resolutions. While

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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

they were at this duty speeches were made by Rev. E. H. Pilcher and F. Wood. After the committee reported, speeches were made by J. W. Rob- inson, Rev. A. E. Thompson, J. B. Coats and P. B. Cole. There were five resolutions passed, the last of which read as follows:

"Resolved, That we recommend to all citizens that the places of busi- ness all be closed between the hours of eleven a. m. and two p. m., on Wed- nesday, next : that the American flag be in each pulpit in the churches of the town, and that they be draped in heavy mourning; that the several churches are requested to meet at their respective places of worship at twelve o'clock and that all attend the places of worship."

People came in from distant parts of Union county to take part in these solemn services, and each pastor preached a sermon appropriate to the sad occasion. Little did the people think that within forty years from that date, they would be called upon to attend memorial services over the death of two more Presidents taken by the assassin's hands.

THE DEATHI OF PRESIDENT JAMES A. GARFIELD.

The next time the nation was called upon to mourn the loss of a Presi- dent at the hand of an assassin was when Ohio's son, James A. Garfield, was shot. Upon the receipt of the sad intelligence in Marysville, of his death after weeks of suffering, a hush came upon the populace. While not unlooked for, the blow was indeed crushing. Regardless of politics, the dead general and newly-made President was greatly beloved by all Ohio. On Monday, September 26, 1881, a week after the spirit of the noble man had taken its flight, a memorial service was held at two o'clock in the city hall. Addresses were made by J. W. Robinson, P. B. Cole, J. L. Cameron, M1. C. Lawrence, D. W. Ayers and T. B. Fulton.

The Sunday following there were no regular church services held at the English-speaking churches in the city, but all congregations assembled at the Congregational church in the forenoon, when a memorial service was held, and in the evening of the same day a like service was had at the Presbyterian church. In the morning, at the Congregational church, on the left of the pulpit, was a large cross, beautifully wreathed in evergreen and flowers. Behind the altar was a life-sized portrait of President Gar- field. The decorations were well planned and attracted great attention and were admired by those fortunate enough to gain entrance to the build- ing. Prof. Cole began the services by reading the Scriptures. The music of the combined choirs of the city was indeed appropriate and very impres-

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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

sive. Rev. Thrall then proceeded to make an address full of sentiment and good sense. It was printed in full in the Tribune of that week. In the evening service at the Presbyterian church, Rev. Ferguson discoursed on the same sad theme. The same week appropriate resolutions were framed and passed by the members of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Soi- diers' and Sailors' Association. These were spread on record, and also pub- lished in the Marysville newspapers.

THE DEATHI OF EX-PRESIDENT U. S. GRANT.

After many weary months of pain and patient suffering, that grand old hero of so many battles, General U. S. Grant, then an ex-President, final- ly ended his career on July 23, 1885.

On Saturday, August 8, 1885, the day of his funeral in New York City, a memorial service was held at the city hall in Marysville, as well as at other points in Union county. In Marysville the Ransom Reed Post of the Grand Army of the Republic had charge of the services and, as soldier-citizens, paid a fine tribute to their dead chieftain. Many old soldiers were present who had fought and camped and marched many a weary mile with their grand leader in the sixties. The music was furnished by a large number of singers from the several Marysville church choirs under the direction of L. G. Church. The formal ceremonies of the Post were followed by ad- dresses by Col. A. B. Robinson, T. B. Fulton and Judge P. B. Cole. The hall was well filled, and all business houses in the city were closed during the hour. Many of the houses in the city were draped in heavy mourning.

THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM M'KINLEY.

At the time of the assassination of President William Mckinley, in September, 1901, at the Pan-American Exposition, there was grief on the streets of every Ohio town and city; sadder, if possible, than when Lincoln and Garfield were taken by the hands of assassins. The mayor of Marys- ville called a meeting and committees were appointed preparatory to the holding of regular memorial services in the Methodist Episcopal church. There were over one thousand present. The church was appropriately dec- orated with the emblems of mourning, and the music was befitting the sad occasion. These services were held on Thursday afternoon, September 20, 1901. The invocation was offered by Rev. D. Bowers, after which was beautifully rendered the lamented President's favorite hymn. "Lead Kindly

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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

Light". Then came other parts of the well planned program, including the able address by Hon. J. L. Cameron in eulogy of "Mckinley, the States- man." This was followed by an address by F. T. Arthur on "Mckinley the Soldier." followed by "Crossing the Bar," by the choir, directed by Prof. H. O. Evans. Rev. E. A. King spoke on "Mckinley as a Citizen," Hon. J. H. Kinkade read the "memorial paper," signed by J. L. Cameron, J. H. Kinkaid, George M. McPeck, A. J. Hare, R. L. Woodburn and J. G. Venne- man. Rev. Hugh Scott pronounced the benediction.

The places of business and all schools in the city were closed during the afternoon. The fact that Mckinley was a native of Ohio, had served in an Ohio regiment in his young manhood, had been governor two terms, a member of Congress from the state, and finally selected as the Republican standard bearer of the successful party twice in succession; contributed to make such a memorial of unusual interest.

OLD DYSERT ROAD-HOUSE.

In October, 1903. there was removed a famous road-house stage sta- tion and landmark of this county. It was on the old Dysert homestead, on the Delaware pike, between Marysville and New Dover, on the west bank of Mill Creek. It was erected by pioneer John Dysert in 1830, and in it he conducted a stage station up to the date of his death. About 1853, J. H. Wood and William Alexander were present there when Dysert had to have his leg amputated. During the Civil War the house was conducted by Mr. Williams. Before the Civil War it was an "underground railway station," where slaves were secreted while they were being rested up on their flight from bondage in the South to freedom in the North. Soon after the close of the war, John Gibson purchased the property of the Dysert heirs and resided therein until about 1892. He then sold it to John B. Weller, who razed it and erected a modern residence on the ground. Could its old tim- bers but speak. what a wonderful tale they would have to relate to by-gone years, anti-bellum days, when the negro was held in slavery, and when the mails were carried by stage coach in place of modern mail trains.

MINERAL DEPOSITS OF UNION COUNTY.

While Union county is known as a purely agricultural county, it should be understood that beneath its surface have been found some of the rich and precious metals. In 1904 gold, silver and copper were discovered in

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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

Allen township, and samples of the sand in which these metals were dis- covered were sent to Washington, D. C., where they were carefully assayed and found to contain mixtures of metals. The total value per ton of these sands was $3.03, divided as follows: Gold, $.85, silver, $.50, copper, $1.68. The land where these deposits were found was leased by the Six Eagle Min- ing Company, of Wooster, Ohio, who had the tests made at Washington. Further investigation showed that a pocket of these valuable minerals had probably been washed hither during the glacial period and that they were not really native to this county. Nothing ever developed in these "mines," which at the time created considerable excitement, especially among the old "forty-niners," who had washed gold in California.

TIIE OHIO CENTENNIAL OF 1888.

When the ordinance of 1787 was formally put into operation on July 17, 1788, the capital was established at Marietta, on the Ohio river. This town had just been started and had been given the name of Marietta on the second of that month. Marietta remained the capital of the Northwest Territory until 1800. In 1888 Ohio celebrated the centennial anniversary of the founding of Marietta and the establishment of a definite government in the Northwest Territory. Union county joined in the state-wide celebra- tion and had its full share of interesting objects on exhibition on the grounds. Early that summer, plans were made at Marysville to erect a genuine old- fashioned log cabin, such as was erected and used by the pioneer settlers in Union county. It was built under the direction of pioneer hands who knew just how to "carry up a corner." When finished it stood east of the Tribune office until after the Fourth of July celebration, when it was taken down and shipped to Columbus and again erected on the Exposition grounds. Its interior was filled with all sorts of curious things in use a century before, and the unique building and its interesting contents attracted great admira- tion and universal attention. The cabin was composed of buckeye logs cut along Mill creek.

The exhibits of this county at that Centennial were described in an item found in the Zanesville Record of that year: "Union county has a display of grains and all kinds of vegetables. The arrangement of exhibits shows the taste and handiwork of the ladies of Union county, who had such work in charge. It was done under the direction of Mrs. Chapman. All grades of wool are shown ; a model of the Magnetic Springs, and two minia- ture specimen grain houses. The relics deposited there from Union county

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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

are of rare interest and great value. They contain letters from Gen. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, etc., written to the grandfather of Dr. Shields, who was superintendent of the Union county exhibits. There is also a map of the county exhibiting its five hundred and fifteen miles of free turnpike roads. There was also on exhibition the bark canoe made by John Curry, aged seventy-five years. This attracted universal attention from all the old pioneer band. There was also a butter bust of Governor Foraker."

GOVERNOR FORAKER'S UNIQUE BUST.

Miss Ella Dolbear, aged seventeen, of Union county, executed a life- like bust of Governor J. B. Foraker, which attracted fully as much attention as did the butter model of the Greek slave at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876. This bust was all worked out by the use of two little wooden paddles. The managers announced that young men wishing to cor- respond with this little sculptor should enclose stamps for reply.

The following disposition was made of the dainty butter bust of the popular Ohio governor :

COLUMBUS, OHIO, October 19, 1888.

Mrs. J. B. Foraker :

MY DEAR MADAM-We desire to contribute somewhat to the instruc- tion and enjoyment of the thousands who should visit the Exposition com- memorating Ohio's first completed century. Miss Dolbear, of Marysville, fashioned a model of butter, of our honored governor and placed it in the Union county exhibit, where it was universally admired. The Exposition is now about to close and as you possess the original, on behalf of Miss Dol- bear, and the people of Union county. I beg leave to present you with the model.

Yours very respectfully, THOMAS P. SINIELDS.

The acknowledgment returned by the good governor's wife read as follows :

Hon. Thomas P. Shields :

DEAR SIR-The model which you so kindly presented on behalf of Miss Dolbear and the good people of Union- county, has been received in good condition. It is greatly admired by all who see it. The universal opinion is that Miss Dolbear possesses talent that should be cultivated. My husband

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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

joins me in returning thanks for your thoughtful kindness in the matter. Be assured we appreciate it.

Yours very truly,

MRS. J. B. FORAKER.

OLD-TIME RECORDS.

Concerning the bounties paid for killing wolves in Union county away back in the twenties and thirties, there are still old documents in the court- house at Marysville bearing on the subject. It should be added that as late as the early forties, the state of Ohio paid bounties from its treasury on wolf scalps. The bounty at first was four dollars each, but about 1837 it was increased to four dollars and a quarter per scalp. According to these scalp records the last bounty on a wolf scalp in Union county was paid on May 22, 1849, to James Thompson. The following is a true copy of a cer- tificate that had to be sworn to before a justice of the peace :

"State of Ohio, Union County: Personally appeared before me a jus- tice of the peace for the said county, Daniel Harris, of the county aforesaid, and produced one old wolf scalp, according to the law, for which he is en- titled to four dollars.

"Certified by me June 15, 1820.

"RICHARD GRAVELEY."

The affidavit before the county clerk was drawn up in regular style, one of which such instruments reads as follows :

"State of Ohio, Union County, ss :

"I, George Cowgill, do solemnly swear in the presence of Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, that the wolf scalp now produced by me is the scalp of a wolf taken and killed by me in the county of Union, and that within the last twenty days, last past. I verily believe the same to have been over the age of six months and that I have not spared the life of any she wolf with a view of increasing the brood for which I shall answer to God at the Great day. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 17th day of March, 1834.

"SILAS G. STRONG, J. of P." (23)

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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

WEATHER COMMENTS.

The great flood of 1912 occurred March 12, and caused a loss of more than $250,000 in Union county. At the same time $500,000,000 was lost in the state. At Columbus the distress was fearful, and the first relief train that entered that city was from Marysville. Company E, National Guard, was sent there to aid in keeping order during the calamity.

A great cyclone passed over Union county in June, 1912, causing a loss of $200,000.

The recent heavy snowy winters have been as follows: 1886-87, 32 inches ; 1892-93, 37 inches : 1894-95, 34 inches ; 1903-04, 28 inches ; 1905-06, 37 inches ; 1910-11, 59 inches, the greatest of all within recent years in this county.

POPULATION.

The first census of Union county was taken in the summer of 1820 after its organization on April Ist of that year and showed a total popula- tion of 1,996. In the census of 1820 the population was divided among three townships, Darby, Mill Creek and Union. In the census of 1830 all of the fourteen townships were represented with the exception of Claibourne, Dover, Taylor, Washington and York. The 1840 census was divided among all of the townships now existing in the county with the one exception of Taylor. This township was created in 1849 and the 1850 census is the first one which includes all of the present townships.

The following table shows the population of Union county by town- ships from 1830 to 1910 with the exception of 1840:

TOWNSHIP.

1830

1850

1860

I870, I,198

1880

1890

1900

1910

Allen

741

979

1,043

1,333

1,148

957

783

Claibourne

497

919

1,44I

1,947

2,758

2,903 3,041 3,033

Darby

736

881

1,260

1,142

1,17I 1,006

1,176 1,239 893 1,000 1,136

817

Jackson

352

436

719

935 1,462

1,454

1,388 1,485 1,586

1,73I

1,788

Leesburg

720

701

1,232

1,410

1,503 1,552 1,398 867 3,718

1,43I

1,447

1,488

Mill Creek

524

726

1,43I 844

1,414 798

800

688

644

Paris

1,15I

1,587

2,055

2,838

4,052

4,266

1,220

Dover

459

700

1,066

929

Jerome

868

1,249

1,398

1,364

1,245

Liberty

992

1,257

4,688

957

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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

Taylor

400

764

1,14I

1,367

1,309

1,150

1,088

Union

894

1,205

1,098

1,336

1,535

1,799

1,80I

1.757

Washington

154

333

601

819

1,164

1,285

1,186

1,032

York

831

1,323

1.369

1,549

1,498

1,437

1,3II

Total

-3.192 12,204 16,507 18.730 22.375 22,860 22,342 21,87I

MURDERS.

The records of this county, like most counties as old as it is, have been stained by the marks of bloody murders, but not nearly as many as most coun- ties within the Buckeye state.

In 1890 Ellis Miller was hung for the murder of his sister-in-law. He was tried before Judge Price, and executed in the penitentiary at Columbus in December of that year.

In October, 1900, Rosslyn H. Ferrell was tried for the murder of Charles Lane. The trial lasted sixteen days, and he was found guilty and electro- cuted at Columbus, March 1, 1901. The trial cost the county over five thou- sand dollars.

SOME PROMINENT MEN WHO SERVED AS STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICERS AND WOMEN FROM UNION COUNTY.

Otway Curry was a member of the Constitutional Convention of Ohio in 1850-51. C. S. Hamilton served as a member from this county and was a member of Congress. James Curry, a member of the House from Madison county, introduced the bill for the formation of Union county in 1820. James W. Robinson was a member of Congress.

John B. Coats was member of the Constitutional Convention of 1872-73.

William Leontes Curry served as assistant adjutant general of Ohio during the two terms of Governor William Mckinley, 1892 to 1896. He was commissioner of soldiers' claims of Ohio under the administrations of Governors Nash, Herrick, Pattison, Harris and Harmon, from April 12, 1900, to March 1, 1910. He served as United States pension agent for the state of Ohio by appointment of President William H. Taft, from March I. 1910, to January 31, 1913, when all of the pension agencies were consoli- dated at Washington. At present he is the Civil War historian for the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society.

Charles W. Fairbanks was a native of Union county. He now resides at

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UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

Indianapolis, Indiana. He was United States senator from Indiana from 1897 to March 4, 1905; vice-president of the United States from March 4, 1905, to March 4, 1909.

Mrs. Fairbanks, wife of C. W. Fairbanks, a daughter of Judge P. B. Cole, and a native of Union county, was elected president of the Daughters of the Revolution in 1901.

James Fullington, of Union township, was born in Union county in 1828. He was the son of Moses and Harriet (Guy) Fullington, natives of Vermont. The family removed to Ohio in 1816. James Fullington was reared on his father's farm in this county and attended the common schools. In February, 1844, he went to Kansas in the interest of his father who was in the stock business, and remained in that state for nine years. In 1852, he married Eliza H. McMullen, of Illinois, after which he located on his farm in Union township and there ever afterwards lived. He was elected county commissioner in 1878, and was an early advocate of gravel pike roads free for the public. He served ten years on the state board of equali- zation, and in the eighties was a member of the state board of public works. He owned at one time thirteen hundred acres of fine land in this county.

Preston Plum, once a resident of Union county, removed to Kansas, from which state he was elected to a seat in the United States Senate.

General Norton Chipman, a native of Union county, removed to Iowa and served in the Civil War as a general. He later removed to Sacramento, California, where he was elected judge.

Hon. Hylas Sabine was born in 1829, a son of John F. Sabine, of Ver- mont. The father located in Union township and was a successful farmer. Hylas Sabine attended Delaware College; taught in Kentucky; succeeded his father as county auditor ; in 1858 established the Union Press at Marys- ville : took a law course at Harvard University. In 1877 he was elected state senator for this district. He was an ardent Republican, and was ap- pointed by Governor Foster in 1880 as state commissioner of railroads and telegraphs. He was a successful man at whatever he undertook.

Hon. Samuel A. Hoskins, now president of the state civil service com- mission, was reared in Union county. He has made a good reputation for himself and is an honor to his native county.

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History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions, Part 33

Author: Curry, W. L. (William Leontes), b. 1839 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind., B. F. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1322

Author: Curry, W. L. (William Leontes), b. 1839
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind., B. F. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1322