History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 27

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 27

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).

Samuel M. Clark built a double log house with a space between called an entry, also with a porch alongside, and a year or two later he built a two-story, hewed-log house, 20 by 3C feet. Both of these were built on the lot on the northeast corner of Main and Washington streets. He also built a one-story frame house, 16 by 24 feet, in which he kept his stock of dry goods. Asa Hipshire, father of Henry Hip- shire, of Ridge township, cut and hewed the

timber (all of it basswood) and rove the clap- boards, shaving them with a drawing knife- these were for the weather-boarding and also for the roof.

Adam Nimon and Thomas R. Mott built a log house on the lot where the J. W. Penn building now stands and started a general store. They were succeeded in 1842 by Walter Buck- ingham, who brought a stock of dry goods, groceries and hardware from Mansfield. Buck- ingham also built a frame store-room on the alley west of the Hotel Marsh, moved his goods into it and occupied it until his death. It then passed into the hands of George S. Crafts.

Robert and James G. Gilliland built a two- story log house on the lot east of the Hum- phreys & Hughes building and put in a stock of dry goods and groceries in 1840.

These stores only carried small stocks and were frequently out of the most active selling goods. This was most noticeable when the stock of tobacco would run short. Clark would send to Piqua for his goods; while Nimon and Buckingham would send to Mansfield. But if the stock of tobacco ran out, then inquiry was made as to who had purchased liberally lately, and a bee line was made for the lucky man. If he had a twist of "dog leg" or a plug of "ca- vendish", it was always divided.

In 1838 Samuel M. Clark built a black- smith shop on the North end of his lot where Kauke's wareroom now is, and employed a young man by the name of John Kesler to run it. Kesler lived to a good old age and died only a few years ago, respected by all that knew him.

James and William A. Clark started the first shoe store in a log building on the south side of Main street opposite the Court House. William A. Clark sold out to his brother in about three months, as the profits were not

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large enough to divide. The Clark shoe store never changed hands from its first organiza- tion and is today (1906) the leading retail shoe store in northwestern Ohio. As his family grew up, Mr. Clark took his sons in with him.

SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF THE EARLY TIME. BY WILLIAM A. CLARK.

In the earliest period of the settlement, there was always more or less difficulty in get- ting flour and meal for bread. On one occa- sicn my brother, John W. Clark, and myself went to Lewis Culver's horse-mill in York township, each with a sack of corn on his horse. It was the custom for each one having grain to be ground to hitch in his horse as soon as the grist was in the hopper and so grind it himself. At another time I went to a hand-mill owned by Robert Miller, the grandfather of James Miller, the telephone man. I had either a peck or a half bushel of corn this time. The hand- mill was an institution in its day. Its burrs, which were made of hard rocks termed "nig- gerheads," were about 16 inches in diameter and 8 inches thick, dressed the same as other mill burrs of a few years ago. The upper one had a hole through the center where the corn was fed in. There was another hole in the top of this burr near the outer rim, an inch deep and perhaps two inches in diameter, in which was fitted loosely a pole two or three inches thick and long enough to reach up to some beam or solid support overhead. As the overhead attachment of the pole was di- rectly over the center of the burrs and the lower one was at the outer rim of the burrs. a leverage was secured by which to run the burrs. A person would take hold of this upright with one hand and start the burrs in motion then with the other hand he would

throw in a few grains of corn at a time. This mill that I have described was on a farm two miles west of Van Wert, now known as the Hook farm. This was about 1840.

The Indians that came to our place were very nice people if sober, but were very ugly when under the influence of whisky. They used to come to our tavern (as hotels were then called) and order their meals, which were al- ways furnished. Two of them, halfbreeds, George and Peter Clark, who were frequently with us, were cousins of father's. The latter Peter Clark, who was a fur buyer, lived at our house for some time. Their father had been stolen by the Indians when a small boy, had been raised by them and had married among them. Half John, John Lake, Spike Ruck and Snake Head were among our old acquaintances.

Town Creek was a very large stream most of the year. The east bank was Jefferson street, with a corduroy bridge from one side to the other, except two places where there were spans of bridges-one a little west of the Cen- tral Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Building, and the longer one about where Edwards' gro- cery is. The corduroy bridge, made of logs laid side by side and covered with earth was frequently covered with water for days.

About 1840 or 1842 Smith Hill organized a class of the members of the Methodist Church. There were six, namely : Samuel M. Clark and wife, Grandmother Daugherty (mother of Mrs. Clark and of Isaac Daugher- ty), F. Jacob Hines and Mr. and Mrs. Smith Hill.

At that time we did not have regular preaching. Oliver Stacy, William Priddy, John Summersett, John Hill, Thomas W. Bow- dell. and W. H. Ramsey, of Ridge township, and Jesse Tomlinson, of York township. preached occasionally. They were called ex-

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CITY HALL, VAN WERT

GAL FERIE

WHOLESALE RETAIL GROCERY STORE

THE THIRD COURT HOUSE, VAN WERT Subsequently Used as a Store by Humphreys & Hughes; Since Demolished

PUMPING STATION, VAN WERT

COUNTY JAIL, VAN WERT

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horters. They went from house to house and preached without pay. These are some of the recollections of the happenings when I was a boy in Van Wert.

EARLY TAVERNS.

When Daniel Cook came to Van Wert, he moved into what was known as the Court House, a two-room building that was erected by William Priddy on the lots where Wis- man's grocery is located. He started a tavern and later built a hewed-log house 18 by 24 feet, one and a half stories high. It stood where Hall's dry goods store now stands. This was named the "Eagle Tavern." Thus it flourished for a number of years and passed in turn under the management of Daniel Cook, James Q. Graves, Thomas R. Mott and Joseph Gleason. Under Mr. Gleason's management it was changed to the "American House." The pro- prietors after Mr. Gleason were John W. Conn, Hiram Campbell, S. Stake, Joseph Slater, O. WV. Rose, N. D. McMullen, Samuel Holmes, Samuel Saltzgaber, Creighton McCoy, Ezekiel Cole, William Underhill, J. Close, John M. Davis and Henry Saltzgaber. In 1870 this was torn down and a brick hotel in its place erected by Mr. Davis which was known as the "Commercial House." This building has sinco been divided into business rooms.

In the meantime Samuel M. Clark was con- ducting a tavern in his building on the Kauke corner. The sign-post was a hickory tree cut off and the sign put up read, "The Other Tav- ern, kept by Samuel M. Clark." This did a flourishing business for its size, which was 18 by 20 feet, with several additions. In 1840 Mr. Clark built an additional building, a good. hewed-log house, two stories high, adjacent to his other buildings. Soon after this the tav- ern was occupied by various parties, among

whom were Thomas Thorn, Morgan Savage and Benjamin Fisher. Later it was converted into a dry goods store and in 1861 was torn down to make room for the Kauke brick block.

FIRST SAWMILL.

The first sawmill was erected by Samuel M. Clark for James Watson Riley, on a contract he made with the commissioners when the county seat was located. The mill was erected west of where the Cincinnati Northern shops are located. The next one was erected by a man by the name of Stage and was located on the Samuel Murphy farm north of town. There was also a grist-mill in connection, at which corn was ground when there was water enough to run the mill. The first steam sawmill was erected by William Parkinson west of the old cemetery on the ground where Dr. William. Smith, Jr., now lives. The next one was built by Jerry and Washington Zeigler, north of the old cemetery. While it was still in oper- ation, the lumber was here sawed for a mill that was erected by Joseph Gleason and Thomas R. Kear on the ground now occupied by William A. Clark as a residence. This saw- mill was followed by one built by Joseph Glea- son on the site now occupied by the Gleason Lumber Company.

These were all originally of the upright or muley saw kind, although some of them later substituted the circular saw for the muley. At the present day a muley saw would be as much of a curiosity as a Virginia schooner.

FIRST TANNERIES.

John F. Gabby erected the first tannery on the lots where the Anderson piano factory now stands, but as it did not prove a financial suc- cess he took the movable parts farther west.

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The next one was built by John Uncapher and was situated where Hankammer's resi- dence now is, at the fork of the Willshire and Shanesvile roads.

The next one was built by D. H. Clip' inger and was situated where Hertel's poultry es- tablishment is now located, at the corner of Walnut and Crawford streets.

The next and last tannery was operated by John Malick in the brick building now occu- pied by Rice Brothers as a stable, on the alley running north from East Crawford street.

A new process of tanning hides in 90 days that formerly took 12 months made the old- fashioned tanneries unprofitable and concen- trated the business in the hands of a few large concerns.

OTHER EARLY INDUSTRIES.

The first brick kiln was burned by Will- iam Groscost. The writer thinks it was burned for Samuel M. Clark; he recollects that Clark employed and paid the hands that worked in the brick yard among whom were John W. Clark, James Conn and Charles Gilliland. La- ter Jacob Parkinson manufactured brick and still later Thomas L. Lehew engaged in the business, burning the brick for nearly all the brick buildings in the town up to 1880 and 1890. Lehew was followed by Rupright Brothers.

The first shoemaker was Isaac Daugherty; the next was John Roach or "Jack," as he was called. Roach went from house to house in the fall of the year and made up the family shoes. William Cayton started the first tailor shop, which was located on the Dr. Hugh Mc- Gavren lot.

Peter Wills was the first carpenter, being followed by Abraham Zimmerman. In 1842 George Dress opened a shop and worked at his

trade for five or six years. Jacob Thorn and Daniel Evers came next. In 1841 W. H. Brown started a cabinet-shop on the lot where the Van Wert House now stands. In 1840 Isaiah and Joshua Shaffer started a wheel- wright-shop on the corner of Washington and Jackson streets, but soon gave it up, bought land and went to farming. Abel R. Strother had the first wagon-shop in the town, in 1842.

FIRST SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES.

The first school taught in Van Wert was by Mrs. Alderman in a log house built for John F. Gabby on the lot now occupied by G. M. Saltzgaber as a residence. The next was taught by Clarissa Gleason and the succeed- ing one by E. R. Wells, in the Court House on the corner of South Washington street and Central avenue. Then Relief Morse taught school in the building formerly occupied by the Shaffer brothers as a wheelwright shop. Then came Jacob Parkinson.

The first schoolhouse was a hewed-log house built on the lot on which the Wayne Ho- tel stands on Jackson street. It was occupied as such until 1855, when two frame houses, two stories high, were built-one in the east and the other in the west part of town. These were occupied until 1868, when the present Third Ward school building was erected. Since then there have been four additional ward school buildings erected-one in the First ward, one in the Second ward, and two in the Fourth ward.

SOME PIONEER INCIDENTS AND STORIES.

When C. W. Goss's father came to Van WVert, he bought a house where Mrs. Conn's millinery store is. Part of the house was not plastered and there were no lath to be had

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except as they were split out of oak timber. He made arrangements with the Workman boys, living on what is now known as the Kauke farm, to help saw the timber, and started his son, C. W. Goss, out with a crosscut saw on his shoulder. As C. W. Goss was passing Jim Longs' new house on South Cherry street into which he had just moved, the Longs were at breakfast and there were two cub bears kill- ing the chickens near the house. Goss told Long what was up, and he came out with an oath at every jump, and grabbing a handspike killed the two cubs. Goss then went on and after passing William Parents' home (the Jo- seph Johnson place) came upon an old she bear and a cub. Goss says he dropped the saw in the middle of the road, took to his heels through the mud and made good time back to Parents', where he arrived covered with mud from head to foot. He told Parent what he had seen. Goss and Parent with his gun went back to where the former had seen the bears. Finding the tracks, Parent followed af- ter, but soon missed the cubs' track. He followed the old one, which passed close to Smith Hill's and Hill went along; they fol- lowed her until night and then gave it up. The next day Goss saw Parent, who said that they were so close on the bear when it crossed the Little Auglaize, south of where is now Middlepoint, that they could see the water running into the bear's tracks. Goss was a little skeptical and seeing Smith Hill a short time afterward told him what Parent had said. Hill said, "It is true there was water in the bear's tracks, but I did not see it running in."

When Van Wert was in its natural state- that is, the mud was about a foot deep-Jo- seph Shilling, Barney Klet and Casper Von Walt decided to play a trick on Mike Hoff- man, a man that was fond of his dram. They

agreed to furnish him a pint of whisky if he would ride a horse belonging to Shilling. The whisky was furnished and for fear of some mishap Mike drank the whisky while they were getting the horse ready. They put him on fac- ing the horse's tail. When the horse started Mike caught around its flanks with both arms, which caused the horse to kick and run, Mike slipped off into the mud without damage but the horse didn't stop and it was three days be- fore he was found. Then they had to pay $3 for having him brought back.

At an early day a trial of some interest was being heard in Willshire and a number of men from Van Wert were drawn there either by subpoenas or curiosity, among them being Robert Conn, James Weoster and quite a num- ber of other. On the way over some of them had noticed a large hornets' nest. On the way back they were divided into two squads. The squad in front thought to have some fun by firing into the hornets' nest and have them thoroughly aroused by the time the second squad came up; but not being well acquainted with the hornets they did not know how long it took to rouse them. They fired into the nest and for the next half mile there was as lively a race along that trail as if there had been a whole tribe of Indians after them, and thei- wounds were as sore as if caused by the scalp- ing knife. They didn't even ask the second party if they had seen the hornets' nest.

James G. Gilliland owned 10 lots north of Sycamore street, between Washington and Market streets that Dr. Lenox wanted to buy. Mr. Gilliland asked him $100 for the lots. Lenox offered to doctor Mr. Gilliland's fam- ily 10 years for the lots, which offer was ac- cepted. The Doctor lived eight years after the deal and during this period was called but once to treat any of the family. When he died,

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he left but little property and there was no claim made for the remainder of the unearned price. So it was $100 for one visit.

At one time a number of men were out duck hunting along the creek south of town, Dr. Hines on one side of the creek and Rob- ert Gilliland on the other. Gilliland shot at a duck and the shot glanced off the water. Hines cried out that he was shot. Gilliland waded the creek up to his arms, notwithstand- ing he was suffering with rheumatism, and found the doctor apparently suffering inten- sely. When they made an examination, they found one shot had lodged in the abdomen and had only partly buried itself in the flesh. Hines recovered immediately and said that in his case imagination was as severe as reality could possibly be. But Robert Gilliland suf- fered the reality in a severe spell of rheuma- tism and could never be convinced that his was imagination.

SOME NOTORIOUS CHARACTERS.

Among the early residents of the town were several characters that became of some note in an unenviable role.

Bash Howard was a laborer and never owned anything but what he had on his back or had in his pocket. He owed a bill for his poll tax and refused either to do the two days' work on the highway required or to pay the judgment the supervisor obtained against him. He only laughed at the constable when the lat- ter tried to collect the judgment. The con- stable told him that he would collect it. How- ard replied, "When you get it, let me know." Howard was a powerful man and enjoyed a fight as well as he did his breakfast. A short time after this talk of the constable, a con- troversy arose in which Howard took a prom- inent part. Some words passed that Howard

thoughit reflected on him and he threw off his cont to whip his traducer, when the constable picked up the coat and walked off with the laugh on Howard, as the whole thing had been arranged. Howard paid the judgment, as that was cheaper than to buy a new coat.

Another one was Ratlif, who was a petty thief. He lay in jail five months waiting for his trial for stealing a calf skin, valued at $2.50. At one time he went to harvest for a man. When the reapers after the first through were resting, Ratlif took off his hat and a pair of socks fell out of his hat. He tried to get them out of sight under the bosom of his shirt; when he saw that his actions were noticed, he said that he had started from home in such a hurry that he had not taken time to put on his socks, but the reapers saw that he already had on a pair. He had stolen the socks off the clothes-line of one of his neighbors. He spent a large part of his time in jail but never stole enough to get more than a jail sentence. His last offense was the theft of a couple of hams; it was then intimated to him that it would be healthier for him to move and he did.

Another notorious character was William Stanford, better known as Bill Myers; a thief by occupation, he would steal anything from a chicken to a horse. At one time he stole some- thing, I believe it was a heifer, and was ar- rested and convicted. He asked the constable, Isaac Daugherty, to go with him to his foster brother, John Myers, who lived south of town, to get security for the fine; but John Myers refused to bail him and they set out on the return journey. There was no bridge at that time across the creek-only a foot log in front of where is now the Bulletin office. In crossing the creek the constable went ahead; when he was about half way over the creek Bill Myers knocked him off the log and broke

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for the woods. Myers was not heard from for several months. When he finally returned, rid- ing a fine gray horse, he was arrested and word sent in every direction, but no owner to the animal was found. He sold the horse to the sheriff, Samuel M. Clark. He afterward said that he stole it in Pennsylvania and rode two nights and a day without sleep or feed for the horse. Toward morning of the second night he turned the horse into a field of oats and lay down in a fence cor- ner with his head on the saddle. He awoke at the sound of a bell ringing for breakfast to find the sun was shining. On looking about for his horse, he saw men leading his horse into a barn. Waiting until they went in to breakfast. he secured the horse without difficulty and hurried away.

He stole a very fine mare from a doctor in Fort Wayne in daylight. The doctor rode up in front of a store where there were half a (lozen men sitting around, hitched his mare and went in. Myers got on the mare and rode off. The doctor came out and missed his mare. The bystanders recollected that a man had unhitch- ed the mare and rode away. Pursuit was start- ed inside of 10 minutes but Myers, having the best animal, made his escape. There was a reward of $50 offered for information that would lead to the recovery of the mare. Myers was arrested and lay in jail a long time but could not be identified. After having been in jail for some time in Lima for some crime, J. G. Gilliland brought him back to Van Wert for trial. On the way Gilliland said to Myers, "You know there is a reward of $50 for that mare you stole in Fort Wayne. Tell me where she is and I will divide the reward with you." Myers rode along for some time without speak- ing and then said, "I would like to have the $25. but there must be honor among thieves."

Once Myers came into the Gilliland lane,

riding a large gray horse in a lather of sweat, and John Mark close behind on another gray horse shouting "horse thief." Myers turned into the woods west of the house and the next day was in town. He was watched for weeks until the citizens were satisfied that he had an accomplice that had taken the horse. But as there was not a house for 40 miles north, it was useless to look for it. The horse was stolen in Allen County, and the owner was in sight of Myers when they came to Marks' home, where Marks took up the chase. The horse was never found or heard of.

Myers was never convicted of any but petty crimes and finally died from hard drink, leav- ing a family that followed in his footsteps- all except his oldest son who when he returned from the army commenced railroading and was a passenger conductor when he died, being well " respected where he lived.

Sam Maddox was another petty thief and he and Myers spent a portion of their time in jail together. The ceiling of the jail had dried out to such an extent that they could pry the logs apart so that they could climb up between them and get out at a hole in the gable end. They would get out at night, steal chickens and cther eatables, go to Myers' home and have ? feast and be back in the jail in the morning. One night they took their night vessel and threw it through J. M. Barr's window. Barr was prosecuting attorney.

Of at least a dozen horses stolen from a dis- tance and brought here, no owners were ever found.

THE TOWN INCORPORATED.

In 1848 the General Assembly passed an act incorporating the town of Van Wert and defining its boundaries. John W. Conn, P. Jacob Hines and Robert Gilliland were au-

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thorized to put up in three public places in said town a notice to the electors thereof that an election for one mayor, one recorder and five trustees would be held at the Court House on Saturday the 13th day of May, 1848.

At the election held on the 13th of May. 1848, James M. Barr and Isaac Daugherty acted as judges and E. G. Jones as clerk. Rich- ard C. Spears was elected mayor; E. G. Jones. recorder; and J. G. VanValkenberg, Reuben Frisbie, William R. Kear, Walter Bucking- ham and Hiram Campbell, trustees.

MAYORS.

The following have been elected mayor of Van Wert, from 1848 to the present time: R. C. Spears, 1848-50; C. P. Edson, 1850-51 ; John W. Conn, 1851-54; W. C. Gallaher, 1854- 56; George L. Jacobs, 1856-57; Davis John- son, 1857-62; Joseph Slater, 1862-66; James M. Barr, 1866-67; I. N. Alexander, 1867-69: G. M. Saltzgaber, 1869-70; H. C. Glenn, 1870- 72; George E. Wells, 1872-74; Thaddeus S. Gilliland, 1874-78; Andrew J. Porter, 1878- 1880; George E. Wells, 1880-82 (appointed in 1880 and elected in 1881) ; Ira P. Shisler, 1882-84; S. B. Austin, 1884-85; W. H. Mo- zier, 1885-86; J. O. Browder, 1886-90; O. A. Balyeat, 1890-94; James F. Higgins, 1894- 96; C. N. Sutphen, 1896-98; M. H. Osborn, 1898-1900; James B. Smith, 1900-02; E. C. Stitz, 1902-1903; G. W. Newton, 1903-1906; C. E. Lawhead, 1906 -.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Van Wert has now a paid fire department, one of the most efficient in Northwestern Ohio. The department, which only in recent years has been a paid one, has been well conducted and with one or two exceptions has been suc-

cessful in putting out fires in an incredibly short time.

The Van Wert Fire Company was organ- ized in January, 1872. A hand engine and two trucks, reels and hose were purchased by the Council. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and officers elected on the 30th of January, 1872. The following were the of- ficers chosen at the first election : J. H. Foster, foreman ; George H. Mowry, Ist assistant fore- man, C. F. Bickford, 2nd assistant foreman; D. A. Clark, secretary, and George W. Clark, treasurer. In 1877 the council purchased one of the Ahrens steam fire engines, which has been in service ever since, but is not often used now since the installation of the water-works. J. H. Foster was foreman of the company from its organization in 1872 until 1890.

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History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 27

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 870

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870