USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 34
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Dr. Hiram M. Shaffer was a son of Dr. Moses Shaffer, and under the tuition and example of his father and with the breeding of the Shaffers and the McClures, he became, after his services as a soldier in the Civil war, in a very brief time, one of the most noted surgeons and physicians in Wayne county. His death from pneumonia, in August, 1889, at the age of fifty-two years, induced by exposure in treating a patient, was very widely regretted.
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He had a wonderful genius for his profession. He followed it with ardor and gave frequent and careful attention to his patients, and deservedly had the reputation of almost infallible diagnosis and the cure of dangerous diseases. To detect disease, accurately and quickly, seemed an intuition ; and his knowledge of modern practice was large. In surgery his nerves were like iron and he was fearless in the most delicate operations. He was brave, generous, a fast friend, powerful as a lion, and was esteemed by everyone that knew him.
It is a sad commentary on human life that an early death is the obituary of genius.
PRESENT-DAY PHYSICIANS.
The following is the list of physicians now engaged in the practice of the profession in Wayne county, the record giving the name, college from which graduated, year of graduation, and present location.
Bashford, T. A., Ohio Medical University, 1897, Wooster.
Braden, D. H., Cleveland Homeopathic College, 1895, Wooster.
Beer, J. D., Starling Medical College, 1889, Wooster.
Elder. T. A., Rush Medical College, 1868, Wooster.
Graven, T. A .. Jefferson Medical College, 1900. Wooster.
Hart, H. A., University of City of New York, 1867, Wooster.
Johnson, Kate M., University of Michigan, 1900, Wooster.
Knestrick, A. C., Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, 1887, Wooster.
Kinney, J. J., University of Wooster Medical Department, 1889, Wooster. Lerch. C. A., Cincinnati College of Medicine, 1877, Wooster.
Lehr, J. W., University of Wooster, Medical Department, 1883, Wooster.
Mowery, M. E., University of Wooster, Medical Department, 1896, Wooster.
Mateer. H. N., University of Pennsylvania, 1883, Wooster.
Ryall, G. W., Medical College of Cincinnati, 1888, Wooster.
Stoll, J. H., Jefferson Medical College, 1871, Wooster.
Stoll, Harry J., Rush Medical College, 1900, Wooster.
Todd, J. H., Bellevue Hospital Medical College, 1865, Wooster. Welch, W. A., Western Reserve, 1884, Wooster.
Warren, R. N., Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, 1868, Wooster.
Yates, G. A., Omaha Medical College, 1889, Wooster.
Yocum, L. A., Marion Sims Medical College, 1895, Wooster.
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Blankenhorn, H., Western Reserve University, 1890, Orrville.
Brooks, A. H., Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, 1882, Orrville.
Campbell, A. B., University of Michigan, 1871, Orrville.
Irvin, Geo., Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, 1903, Orrville.
Shie, D. P., Kentucky School of Medicine, 1892, Orrville.
Grady, O. G., Starling Medical College, 1909, Orrville.
Haney, J. C., Ohio Medical University, 1895, Dalton.
Roebuck, D. Y., University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, 1867, Dalton.
Jamison, J. R., Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, 1894. Apple Creek.
King, J. K., Wooster University, Medical Department, 1874, Apple Creek. Winkler, W. H., Wooster University, Medical Department, 1872, Apple Creek.
Bertolette, H. B., University of Philadelphia, 1892, Shreve.
Funk, E. N., Starling Medical College, -- , Shreve.
Paul, R. C., Wooster University Medical Department, 1892, Shreve.
Rhodes, O. A., College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, 1882, Rittman.
Sheldon, J. E., Ohio Medical University, 1902, Marshallville.
Pfouts, T. M., Ohio Medical University, 1898, Marshallville.
Long, L. F., Wooster University, Medical Department, 1893, Fredericks- burg.
Essick, G. C., College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, 1893, Con- gress, W. Salem R. D.
Hanna, Chas. M., Kentucky School of Medicine, 1897, Canaan Center, Creston R. D.
Weaver, Thos. A., Toledo Medical College, 1898, Blachleyville, Wooster R. D.
Baird, Robert J., Western Reserve, 1896, Creston.
Irvin, J. W., Jefferson Medical College, 1886, Creston.
Allen, V. I., Eclectic Medical Institute, 1907, Creston.
Schollenberger, H. A., National Normal University, 1892, Smithville.
Yoder, Anna Blattenberg, Cleveland College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1906, Smithville.
Yoder, H. M., Cleveland College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1906. Smithville.
McKinney, E. H., Ohio Medical University, 1905, Doylestown.
Spencer, E. R., University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, 1870, Doyles- town.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Fergeson, J. W., Wooster University, Medical Department, 1876, West Salem.
Raudebaugh, E. C., Starling Medical College, 1896, West Salem.
Smith, G. C., Western Medical College, London, Canada, 1907, West Salem.
Brinkerhoff, J. H., Wooster University Medical Department, 1873, Burbank.
Boor, H. C., Cleveland College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1899, Bur- bank.
Dawson, N. B., Cincinnati Medical College. 1878, Sterling.
Toland, L. L., Cleveland College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1899, Sterling.
May, R. J., College of Physicians and Surgeons, Cleveland, 1906, Lattas- burg, West Salem R. D.
Mowery, A. F., Wooster University Medical Department, 1886, Reeds- burg, Wooster R. D.
Clark, C. N., College of Physicians and Surgeons, Cleveland, 1904, Mt. Eaton.
Snively, J. H., Cincinnati Medical College, 1891, West Lebanon.
Snively, Geo., Cincinnati Medical College, 1900, West Lebanon, Justus R. D.
CHAPTER XVIII.
RAILROADS, CANALS AND TURNPIKES OF WAYNE COUNTY.
At a session of the Ohio Legislature, in 1824, an act was passed on February 2d of that year providing for the incorporation of a company for the purpose of constructing a turnpike road from Wooster to Cleveland, Ohio. In the April numbers of the Wooster Spectator notice was given that "books will be opened at the house of Gaius Boughton, in Cleveland; at the house of John Hickcox, in Medina; at the house of John Hemperly, in Wooster, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions of stock" for the same. Rufus Ferris was president of the board of commissioners and John Freese was secretary.
In a short time thereafter the "pike" was completed. Hon. Benjamin Jones was one of the directors. This turnpike served the people along its route very well, and carried out the notion that had been uppermost in the minds of the people regarding some better manner of transporting the com- modities of their farms to the larger market centers of the state. A toll fee was charged, yet, the teamster being able to draw so much greater loads and in so much less time, the fee seemed but trivial.
THE OHIO CANAL.
As the state settled up and civilization advanced in its methods, the people clamored for still further internal improvements, and as the age of canals in the United States was then dawning, the subject of their construc- tion agitated the minds of the more progressive portion of the settlements in the Buckeye state, as well as in Indiana and Illinois. In 1825 was com- menced the construction of a canal from Cleveland to Portsmouth, on the Ohio river, a distance of three hundred and seven miles. It was completed in 1832, at a cost of five hundred thousand dollars. July 4, 1825, the cere- mony of breaking the first ground on the National road, west of the Ohio, was celebrated. On the same day ground was broken at Licking Summit for the construction of the Ohio canal. The immortal De Witt Clinton, of New
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
York, whose colossal mind projected the great Erie canal, threw out the first shovelful of earth on this occasion.
Surveys were made by Gen. Alfred Kelly and M. T. Williams, the canal commissioners, through Wayne county as early as 1823, from the head of the Killbuck and on south through the county to Millersburg.
A sale of lots was offered in May, 1824, in Millersburg, which read : "The situation is high, pleasant and healthy, on the navigable water and on the Killbuck line of the Ohio canal."
It is said the route through Wayne county was defeated by a single vote. It is certain, however, that the Ohio canal furnished the farmers the old Fulton and Massillon markets,-gave them cash for their produce,- and the date of its completion defines the transition period of the early history of Wayne county.
THE RAILROAD ERA.
The first railroad agitation of much importance in Wayne county was with reference to the Cleveland & Columbus line in 1845. A meeting was held October 16, 1845, in pursuance to a call published by John P. Jeffries, Esq., and others, to take into consideration prompt action regarding secur- ing this most vital link of rail communication between the East and West.
This railroad mass-meeting was presided over by Hon. Cyrus Spink, E. Quinby, Jr., acting as secretary. It was resolved and determined upon this occasion to convene a county meeting November Ist of the same year.
This call was responded to with promptness and general public inter- est, and measures were set on foot to raise sufficient funds for the execution of a complete survey of the proposed road. The survey was made, but excitement and interest arose in regard to a proposed road from Pittsburg to Chicago, Illinois, and which finally culminated in the building of the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago railroad.
Hon. John Larwill, Dr. S. F. Day, John McSweeney, Esq., David Robison, Sr., J. P. Jeffries, Jesse R. Straughan, E. Quinby, Jr., Eugene Par- dee, Esq., and several others whose names are now forgotten, having long since died, immediately went to work, making speeches, canvassing town and county, and making every conceivable endeavor to procure subscriptions. Everybody went to work, unitedly, shoulder to shoulder, and the enterprise was pressed forward, until the great project was grandly and successfully consummated.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
The two Wooster newspapers rivaled each other in setting forth the best of arguments possible to put in type for the people to read. The col- umns of these papers-the Republican and Democrat-contained page upon page of articles concerning the proposed highway from Pittsburg to the lake at Chicago. From a letter written by J. P. Jeffries, Esq., of Wooster, we quote the following :
"That the stock will be profitable, there is not the possibility of a doubt -that it will net the stockholders over ten per cent per annum is in our opinion just as certain.
"Nearly every man in this county is able to take one share, and this he should do, particularly the owner of real estate, because he will be bene- fited just in proportion to his business, be it great or small. Should every man in this county, who subscribes a share of fifty dollars, lose it entirely, he will still be the gainer, from the fact that the value of his land, his labor, and the price of his produce will greatly enhance; and the business of the merchant and mechanic will increase in proportion to that of the farmer, and thus the benefit of the road will be repaid."
This road was the capital and emphatic enterprise of Wayne county. The solution and consummation of it is witnessed in the majestic line of steel rail that threads the country from Pittsburg to Chicago, now popularly styled the "Pennsylvania System."
Let it be forever remembered that to Hon. John Larwill must be the honor of procuring this road's charter, as against wonderful opposition made at Pittsburg and Cleveland, as well as Steubenville and the roads centering in Indianapolis. The charter having finally been obtained, it became necessary for some one to follow up the work of soliciting subscriptions, completing the organization, and conducting the affairs to a successful issue.
Except what was done at Salem, in Columbiana county, no general con- vention was had in behalf of the road until June, 1848, when a meeting was convened at Canton, and directors were elected, consisting of Messrs. Rob- inson and Bakewell, of Pittsburg; Pinney, of Beaver; Street, of Salem; Well- man, of Massillon; J. Larwill, of Wooster, and C. T. Sherman, of Mans- field. At this stage the possibility of making the ascent from the Ohio river up to the table lands of Columbiana county was doubted by the friends and stoutly denied by the enemies of the route. Nothing was done but to order surveys and explorations in that region, and to provide means to pay the expenses of the surveys.
The first chain ever stretched over the line of the present Pittsburgh.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad was at Bowls Point, at the mouth of the Big Beaver, July 4, 1848, by Jesse R. Straughan, engineer, in pursuance of the orders of this board.
By the next winter, lines had been run by all possible routes from the mouth of Big Beaver river, and that of the Little Beaver, and from the mouth of the Yellow creek, and from all this extended and exhaustive data the selection of the route was submitted to the decision of Col. W. Roberts, chief engineer, of Philadelphia, who was endorsed and recommended by the officers of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad Company, as possessing the confidence of themselves and the eastern capitalists.
As the friends of the other routes considered that only one road west- ward from Pittsburg could ever be expected, their efforts were proportion- ately vigorous and unceasing.
The condition of affairs and the opinions held by men of wisdom ( ?) at that day may best be inferred by quoting from a railroad pamphlet directed to the Board of Trade of Pittsburg, dated October, 1848, and signed, among many others, by him whom we now know as Lincoln's able secretary of war, Hon. Edward M. Stanton. It reads as follows :
"Obstructions of Snow .- This is a consideration which you can not overlook. The point fixed in their charter, which they must reach before they assume their westward course, is North Georgetown, in Columbiana county. This point is but a few miles south of the south boundary of the Western Reserve. And no one who has paid the least attention to the subject will estimate the average duration of snow, one year with another, at a depth of from six inches to two feet, at less than thirty days longer in each year than you have at Pittsburg, or we at Steubenville. It traverses the state on very nearly the same parallel of latitude. It was with an air of triumph that Colonel Roberts exclaimed, 'and to Mansfield, one hundred and fifty-eight miles, without the obstruction of the Ohio!' But may we not add. one hundred and fifty-eight miles, through frequent snowdrifts? What trav- eler on the route in the wintertime would not exclaim, with us, 'What folly! "
But upon this line the road was finally constructed. And as a basis upon which to establish a credit to warrant the beginning of the work, five thousand dollars a mile was to be subscribed in each of the counties in Ohio, and six hundred thousand dollars in Pittsburg and Allegheny City.
This from Wayne county was allotted to Mr. Larwill, who was assisted by James Jacobs, Dr. S. F. Day, Samuel Knepper, Jolin K. McBride, Smith
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Orr, John P. Jeffries and J. R. Straughan. The whole of the winter of 1848-49 was occupied in making speeches and rousing the people to a sense of their duty, for the gross sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars looked as large as a half million dollars would to people today. Logic, en- treaty and all else were employed to raise this sum of money in pledges, but with final success.
Great as was the labor and consumption of time required in Ohio to secure this subscription, it was accomplished before that in Pittsburg and Al- legheny City had begun. They were waiting for a better time in money mat- ters, and listening to the snow-drift arguments of enemies. And certainly there were danger and doubt as to the subscription which could not be can- celled from the masses. Friends wore anxious faces, enemies and croakers again came forth exultant, with their opposition.
The board was called again to meet at Pittsburg, April 23, 1849, which was attended by the Ohio members with the avowed determination to have these cities come up to their subscription at once or they would return home and give up all further effort. To some of the Pittsburg people this seemed rash, but the circumstances demanded it, while the result vindicated the wis- dom of it.
But this, like all vast projects, had to be overcome by the greater minds and more strenuous labor. . The Pittsburg directors argued the inauspicious times, the collapse of their city scrip, the dull trade from down the rivers, and many of the prominent citizens were induced to confirm their arguments, they finally refusing their co-operation in an effort so useless, in their own judgment.
Many narrow escapes did this company encounter. Men like General Moorehead, Joshua Hanna and the like, who were not .friendly to Colonel Robinson, president of the company, becoming acquainted, through Mr. Lar- will, with the views of the Ohio members and the opposition of Robinson and his friends warmly seconded Ohio and offered to assist in canvassing the city for stock, thus securing a large addition to the friends of the road.
At an informal meeting in the parlors of Mr. Hanna, with Moorehead to represent Pittsburg, and only John Larwill and Jesse R. Straughan from Ohio, this plan was devised. To get the city council of Pittsburg to vote two hundred thousand dollars, provided Allegheny City would subscribe a like amount. Then to get the latter city to subscribe two hundred thousand dollars, provided the citizens of the place would subscribe two hundred thou- sand dollars.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
To the first of these arose the united opposition of Steubenville and the Pittsburg and Cleveland lines, both before the Board of Trade and the two chambers of the council; but the efforts of Mr. Larwill and his newly-found allies-Moorehead and others-not only surprised but defeated their well- drilled forces; the subscription carried. It also carried in Allegheny City. The most doubtful part was yet to come,-that coming from individuals.
The Ohio delegation had returned home, leaving only Mr. Larwill and Mr. Straughan to remain in fulfillment of the promise-or threat-not to return home until Pittsburg had made up its subscription. This was con- ducted as it had been in Ohio. The citizens of Pittsburg called a meeting of the Board of Trade, to hear the reports of a number of men from Ohio as to the progress of the undertaking. Among those present was the dis- tinguished senator from Missouri, Col. Thomas H. Benton, who delivered, as the Pittsburg Chronicle said, "a beautiful address." Mr. Larwill from Wayne county took the lead and spoke in part as follows :
"They had already gotten subscriptions and stock sufficient taken to justify them in going immediately to work. They of Ohio did not wish Pennsylvania to subscribe their money for the purpose of building the road in Ohio -- all they asked was to build the road which passed through their own state, and that being done, Ohio was ready to complete the whole of her share. Unless this was done, Ohio would be under the necessity of seeking some other outlet for her products and investments for her capital. In Wayne county alone they had gotten an individual subscription of over one hundred thousand dollars, and with these facts they were anxious to return home and tell their stockholders and subscribers that Pittsburg was ready. In Ohio the people were perfectly convinced, not only of the feasibility of this route, but also of its superior advantages over all other roads of conveyance, as well as its profitableness as an investment of capital. It was for Pittsburg to look to her own interests now. Ohio must move on, in one way or another, and if Pittsburg did not meet them, they would in all probability join with the Baltimore & Ohio line."
Committees now began to canvass every ward in both cities and worked with a right good will for several days, reporting at headquarters every evening. The two hundred thousand dollars was reached, but the canvass- ing was continued until two hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars was obtained. This news was telegraphed to all points in Ohio, and general joy prevailed.
It was the birthday of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago railway.
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WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
In both city and country the meed of praise was awarded Mr. Larwill. Col- onel Sloane, Samuel Hemphill, Thomas Robinson, Doctor Day, James Jacobs, David Robinson, Judge Orr and many others energetically identified with the undertaking have long since gone the way of all the earth, but their united efforts in behalf of this great railway building enterprise through Wayne county and Ohio will not soon be forgotten by the men who live and move in the busy marts of trade and commerce, as well as the tens of thousands of farmers whom it has benefited.
The arrival of the first passenger train at Wooster, Tuesday afternoon, August 10, 1852, was an event not soon to pass from the minds of those who witnessed the scene. Wooster was all aglow and bestirred itself. A national salute was fired at sunrise. Four o'clock in the afternoon was the hour set for the arrival of the train. At two P. M. the surging multitude began to pour in and gather at the depot, and by three o'clock it was esti- mated that from fifteen thousand to twenty thousand persons were lined up along the grounds and track. At three o'clock a dispatch was received from Massillon assuring us that two trains were coming with six hundred passen- gers, five hundred of whom were invited guests from Pittsburg and Alle- gheny City. At ten minutes past four o'clock the train arrived. The scene was magnificent; the people shouted, cannons boomed thunderingly, whirl- winds of gladness swept over acres of clapping hands, and on faces young and aged-it was the pentecost of gayety. The fire companies never looked or behaved better; the martial music was inspiring and heroic, and the guests were happy, both by choice and compulsion.
Processions were formed under direction of Col. R. K. Porter and J. H. Kauke, marshals of the day, and proceeded to the grove northeast of the depot, where a table had been spread by H. Howard, Esq., of the American House. The festal arrangements exhibited taste to perfection. The guests being seated, Judge Dean called for order, when they were welcomed by him, in an appropriate speech. General Robinson, president of the road, delivered an address, when they all sat down to a sumptuous dinner.
The guests being entertained and supplied, the cloth was removed, and S. Hemphill, Esq., read a series of toasts, to which response was made.
The fourth toast read as follows: "Hon. John Larwill, resident director of the Ohio & Pennsylvania railroad. The celebration today, and the re- peated election to his present post, as director, are the best tributes that can be offered to his merits as an officer and a man."
Mr. Larwill returned his thanks for the flattering expression of appro-
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bation by his fellow-townsmen and the gentlemen present. The opening of the road was to him a most gratifying event in his life. He had known Wooster from the day the first stick of timber was cut to that very hour. That had been to him a proud day and he was most happy to enjoy it and to meet his friends which he numbered by the one word-legion.
At night the fire companies made a splendid parade, the engines drawn by evenly-matched horses, with flowers, plumes and floating banners. Dur- ing that evening there was a gorgeous display of fireworks. . George W. Kauffman sent up a balloon. The firemen of Pittsburg were the invited guests of the Wooster companies at an elegant repast, served in their honor at the United States Hall. The fact that Wooster had won and secured a railroad had been accomplished.
OTHER RAILROADS OF WAYNE COUNTY.
By 1878 the county had secured the following railroads: The Colum- bus, Mt. Vernon & Cleveland line; the Atlantic & Great Western line and the Tuscarawas Valley line. In 1909 the names (as now known) of the various railways that cross some part of Wayne county are as follows: The Pennsylvania (old Pittsburg & Ft. Wayne route), the Wheeling & Lake Erie route; the Baltimore & Ohio line; the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus line, and the one running from Ashland southeast, through the southeastern town- ship of Wayne county.
The interurban line, known as the Cleveland & Southwestern line, an electric railway running direct from Wooster to Cleveland, through Creston, in Canaan township, was built in 1901-02.
With these various roads and systems of great transportation companies, the populace have but little to complain of in way of being able to get to and from almost any desired point. Passenger and freight rates are indeed reasonable. Train service is most excellent and the people have much to thank the founders of these various railways for. Still the croakers are not all dead yet !
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