USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 21
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The laying of the corner-stone of these buildings was an occa- sion of excitement, at which Hon. George Bliss made a speech and read some interesting reminiscences of Wooster, which are in the possession of George Core, of Applecreek, a numismatist, who has many remarkable and antique coins.
COUNTY INFIRMARY.
The Wayne County Infirmary, located two miles east of Wooster, was built after the passage of the new Constitution, and the first session of the Board of Directors, as appears from the record, met July 24, 1852. Simon Christine was the original builder. Dr. S. Pixley, of Wooster, was the first physician in in charge. Cyrus Segner was the first Superintendent, and con- tinued until 1858, when Mr. A. R. Sweeney was appointed, and, with the exception of seven months and ten days, when J. P. Har- ris officiated, he has served up to the present time most acceptably in that capacity.
The official report for the year ending March 31, 1876, showed the admission of 49 paupers during that year, and 97 paupers otherwise supported by the county, at a total cost of $8,043, or a cost per day of 17 cents per head. The Infirmary farm consists of 280 acres. The building is three stories high, the basement of stone, the balance brick, and including cellars, bath rooms, etc.,
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
contains 100 rooms, and is heated by hot air. Under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney everything is in capital running order. System, neatness, good taste and cleanliness char- acterize the entire management, and its apartments and general business are conducted with the method and good order of a first class hotel. In this institution the benevolent spirit of the county finds its noblest expression, and in Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney the county has most faithful servants. Superintendent A. R. Sweeney is a native of East Union township, where he was born, March 15, 1829, and was married, September 18, 185 1, to Sarah Humbert, the present matron of the institution.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
The Society was organized in 1849. Its first President was Robert Reed, of Dalton, Sugarcreek township. The first ad- dress delivered to it was by William Turner, then a resident of Wooster, but now of Cleveland. The first fair was held in the grove near the present residence of D. Q. Liggett, where the ex- hibitions were continued until 1854.
On the 24th of January, 1859, the Society contracted with E. Quinby, Jr., for eight acres of land on North Market street, where, until 1869, its exhibitions were held. These grounds, for various reasons, were sold, whereupon the board of managers proceeded to make another selection, After due activity, with a view to procuring the same, they purchased of Henry Myers, twenty-four acres of land, a short distance west of the city of Wooster.
The grounds are pleasantly located, gracefully studded with young shade trees, and enclosed by a tight fence, seven feet in hight. The buildings in the enclosure are permanent and capa- cious, and the track for a "half-mile-go," one of the best in the state.
The present officers of the Society are: Captain G. P. Emrich, ·President ; W. A. Wilson, Vice President ; Thomas Kinney, E. B. Connelly, Philip Troutman and Isaac Daniels, Managers.
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OHIO CANAL.
OLD TURNPIKE ROAD.
At a session of the Ohio Legislature, in 1824, an act was passed, February 2, of that year, for the incorporating of a com- pany for the purpose of making a turnpike road from Wooster to Cleveland, Ohio. In the April numbers of the Wooster Spectator notice is given "that books will be opened at the house of Gaius Boughton, in Cleveland ; at the house of John Hickcox, in Medina; and 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.
OHIO CANAL,
Running from Cleveland to Portsmouth, on the Ohio river, a dis- tance of 307 miles, was begun in 1825, and completed in 1832, at a cost of $5,000,000. On the 4th of July, 1825, the ceremony of breaking ground on the National Road, west of the Ohio, was cel- ebrated. On the same day ground was broken at Licking Sum- mit, for the construction of the Ohio Canal. The immortal De Witt Clinton, of New York, whose colossal mind projected "the great Erie Canal," threw out "the first shovelful of earth " on this occasion.
Surveys were made by General Alfred Kelly and M. T. Wil- liams, the Canal Commissioners, through Wayne county, as early as 1823, from the head of Killbuck, and on south through the county, to Millersburg.
A sale of town 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 a single vote.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
A TRANSITION PERIOD.
One thing is indisputably certain, 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 in the early history of Wayne county.
WAYNE COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.
This religious society was organized May 14, 1821, in the Court House, Wooster. At a meeting called to take into consid- eration the project of a Bible Society for Wayne county, A. Hanna, an elder of the Presbyterian church, was chosen to act as Chairman, and E. O. Jones, Baptist, to act as Secretary.
A constitution was then adopted. The object and spirit of the meeting was presented as follows :
We, the subscribers, inhabitants of Wayne county, Ohio, deeply impressed with a sense of the great importance of a general circulation of the Holy Scriptures, as the grand means of promoting both the present and the future welfare of men ; convinced, also, that in our vicinity there are many individuals and families desti- tute of the inestimable treasure, and, comparatively, but few families so well sup- plied as they ought. In order that this deficiency may be supplied to the extent of our means and influence we do hereby form ourselves into a society, etc.
The following persons were chosen Directors: Rev. Joseph Harper, Presbyterian, Rev. H. Sonnedecker, German Reformed, Rev. James Adams, Presbyterian, Rev. T. J. Jones, Baptist, Wil- liam Goodfellow, Matthew Johnson and Alex. Hanna.
The first meeting of the Directors was held June 9, 1821, at the house of Thomas Robison. The second meeting was held July 16, 1821, at the Baptist meeting house, where it was resolved that $300 worth of books be ordered, and that twenty-five Bibles of one class and thirty-five Bibles of another class be ordered. It was likewise resolved to present a copy of the Union Type Bible to the editor of the Spectator for services rendered to the Society, and one to the Sheriff of the county for the use of prisoners. From the beginning the history of the Society was one of har-
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MARRIAGE STATISTICS.
mony, prosperity and uniform development. In its earlier stages it annually dispensed about 450 bibles.
Rev. Samuel Irvine served as President from its inception to 1830; Joseph Stibbs, from 1830 to 1840; Rev. Orin Miller, from 1841 to his removal from the county ; David Robison, Sen., from 1844 to 1849; William Henry, from 1849 to 1852; David Robi- son, from 1852 to 1857; John Cunningham, from 1857 to 1863; John McClelland, from 1863 to 1865 ; J. H. Downing, from 1865 to 1866; John Brinkerhoff, from October 27, 1867, to April 9, 1873 ; George B. Smith, from 1873 to 1876; J. H. Downing was elected June 1, 1877.
"How GREAT A MATTER A SPARK KINDLETH."
Less than twenty-five years ago the three daughters of Lean- der Smith, now deceased, gave Rev. C. S. Martindale three dol- lars, with the request that it be used to send Bibles to India. He sent it to New York with these directions. The society to which it was forwarded sent it to Dr. Scudder, missionary at Calcutta. Dr. Scudder purchased with these three dollars six Mahratta Bibles, and sent them up to the foot of the Koord mountains. This was the beginning, the nucleus, which in six years after re- sulted in the establishment of a Union Station, which in 1870 had six out-stations and one hundred and fifty communicants.
MARRIAGE STATISTICS.
The first marriage that occurred in Wayne county was that of Thomas Butler to Rebecca Morgan, April 12, 1809, both inhabi- tants of Franklin township, Robert McClarran, a justice of the peace in Wooster, performing the ceremony. The entire popula- tion of the county was present at this wedding.
The first marriage on record in the Probate office is that of Daniel Noggle to Lydia Warner, both of Wayne county, Novem- ber 5, 1812, and was solemnized by Esquire Vatchel Metcalf.
The second marriage on record is that of Thomas Oram and
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Elizabeth Logue, September 6, 1813, the ceremony being per- formed by Robert McClarran, J. P.
The fourth marriage on record is that of Robert Davidson and Olivia Priest, June 17, 1813, by Nathan G. Odell, J. P.
From the 5th of November, 1812, to the 13th of December, 1813, there are six marriages recorded.
From March 1, 1875, to March 1, 1876, there were 313 mar- riages in the county.
PITTSBURG, FT. WAYNE & CHICAGO RAILROAD.
The first railroad agitation of any importance manifesting itself in Wayne county, was with reference to the Cleveland & Columbus line, in the year 1845. A meeting was called on Thursday, Octo- ber 16th, of this year, agreeably to previous notice published by John P. Jeffries, Esq., and others, to take into consideration prompt and energetic measures for the securing of this most vital link of communication. .
This meeting was presided over by the Hon. Cyrus Spink, E. Quinby, Jr., acting as Secretary. It was resolved and determined upon this occasion to convene a county meeting on the first day of the then approaching November.
This call was promptly obeyed, and measures were immedi- ately inaugurated to raise sufficient funds for a thorough and com- plete survey of the road. This survey was made, but excitement and considerable interest arose in regard to a proposed route from Pittsburg, Pa., to Chicago, Ill., which augmented and intensified, and which ultimately culminated in the construction of said chain of railway.
Hon. John Larwill, Dr. S. F. Day, John McSweeney, Esq., Da- vid Robison, Sr., J. P. Jeffries, Jesse R. Straughan, E. Quinby, Jr., Eugene Pardee, Esq., etc., immediately went to work, making speeches, canvassing town and county, and making every conceiv- able endeavor to procure the indorsements and subscriptions. Ev- erybody went to work, and, shoulder to shoulder, the enterprise
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PITTSBURG, FT. WAYNE & CHICAGO RAILROAD.
was pressed forward, until the great project was grandly and suc- cessfully consummated.
The Republican and Democrat were jealous of each other's argu- ments in its behalf, and every week their columns were ladened with details and statistics of the advantages of the railroad system, while every other consideration, through this medium, was pre- sented to induce its speedy construction.
A series of forcible, practical and statistical articles are found in old files of the county papers, upon railroads, and especially upon the advantages of the one then in contemplation. Some of these letters, it appears, came from the industrious pen of J. P. Jeffries, Esq., of this city, from one of which we quote :
That the stock will be profitable, there is not the possibility of a doubt-that it will net to the stockholders over ten per cent. per annum, is in our opinion just as certain. Nearly every man in the county is able to take one share, and this he should do, particularly the owner of real estate, because he will be benefited just in proportion to his business, be it great or small. Should every man in the county who subscribes a share of $50 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 be greatly enhanced; and the business of the merchant and me- chanic will increase in proportion to that of the farmer, and thus the benefit of the road will be reaped.
This railroad project was the cardinal, capital and emphatic en- terprise of the citizens of Wayne county. The solution and con- summation of it is witnessed in the continuous and majestic line of iron threads, known as the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Rail- road.
It must be recorded, to the enduring credit and honor of Hon. John Larwill, that he was chiefly instrumental in procuring its charter, to which systematically and powerfully organized opposi- tion was made by the friends of the Cleveland and Pittsburg, and the Steubenville and Indianapolis Railroads. The charter being obtained, it was necessary for somebody to follow up the work of soliciting subscriptions, completing the organization, and conduct- ing its affairs to a successful issue.
Except what was doing at Salem, in Columbiana county, no
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
general convention was had in behalf of the road until June, 1848, when a meeting convened in Canton, and Directors were elected, consisting .of Messrs. Robinson and Bakewell, of Pitts- burg ; Pinney, of Beaver; Street, of Salem ; Wellman, of Massi- lon ; J. Larwill, of Wooster ; and C. T. Sherman, of Mansfield. At this stage the possibility of making the ascent from the Ohio river up to the table lands in 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 provide the means to pay for them.
The first chain ever stretched upon the line of the present Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad was at Bowls' Point, at the mouth of Big Beaver, July 4, 1848, by Jesse R. Straughan, engineer, in pursuance of the orders of this board.
By the winter, lines had been run by all the possible routes from the mouth of Big Beaver, and that of the Little Beaver, and from the mouth of Yellow creek, and from all this extended and ex- haustive data the selection of the route was submitted to the decision of Colonel W. Roberts, Chief Engineer, of Philadelphia, who was endorsed and recommended by the officers of the Penn- sylvania Central Railroad, as possessing the confidence of them- selves and of the eastern capitalists. Amid all the criticisms from persons living within the wide range influenced by this road, there were none to dispute the wisdom of the Board as to the selection of their Chief Engineer.
As the friends of other routes considered that only one road westward from Pittsburg could ever be expected, their efforts were proportionally vigorous and unceasing.
We are furnished with a pamphlet entitled, " A letter to Thomas Bakewell, President of the Board of Trade of Pittsburg," dated October, 1848, and signed, among others, by the distinguished Edwin M. Stanton, containing the following, as one of the argu- ments against the route selected by Colonel Roberts :
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
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PITTSBURG, FT. WAYNE & CHICAGO RAILROAD.
westward course, is North Georgetown, in Columbiana county. *
This point is but a few miles south of the south boundary of the Western Re- serve. 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, 158 miles, without the ob- struction of the Ohio!" but may we not add, 158 miles, through frequent snow- drifts. What traveler on the route in the winter time would not exclaim, with Horatius Flaccus, of old,
" Jam satis nivls Grandinisque dirae."
But upon this line the road was built, the snow-drifts and Hora- tius Flaccus to the contrary notwithstanding, and this pamphlet in the hands of Mr. Larwill was made to assist in arousing the peo- ple to realize the value of a road so anxiously desired by the peo- ple along other proposed routes.
As a basis upon which to establish sufficient credit to warrant the beginning of the work, five thousand dollars per mile was to be subscribed in each of the counties in Ohio, and $600,000 in Pittsburg and Allegheny.
This from Wayne county was allotted to Mr. Larwill, who had the untiring assistance of James Jacobs, Dr. S. F. Day, Samuel Knepper, John K. McBride, Smith Orr, John P. Jeffries, and the occasional assistance of J. R. Straughan and many others, but it re- quired meetings, speeches and private effort in every school dis- trict within the county. The whole of the winter of 1848 -- 49 was thus occupied, for the gross sum of $150,000 looked as large then as $500,000 at this day, and the last few thousand exhausted the patience and the hopes of the most sanguine. Logic, entreaty, persuasion, the argumentum ad crumenam, everything, was em- ployed, and finally with 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 Allegheny had been begun. They were waiting
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
a more propitious time, and listening to the snow-drift arguments of enemies. And certainly there were danger and doubt as to this subscription which could not be concealed from the masses. Friends wore anxious faces, enemies and croakers again came forth exultant, with their opposition.
The Board was called to meet at Pittsburg, April 23, 1849, which was attended by the Ohio members with the avowed deter- mination to have those cities come up to their subscriptions now, or to return home, and give up all further effort. To some of the Pittsburg people this seemed like a rash determination, but the circumstances demanded it, while the result vindicated the wisdom of it.
But vast enterprises like this have their tempests and cyclones, and that meeting soon showed signs of storm. The Pittsburg directors argued the inauspicious time, the collapse of the city scrip, the dull trade from down the river, etc., and many of the prominent citizens were induced to confirm their arguments, they finally refusing their co-operations in an effort so useless, in their judgment.
It was the fate of this company to have many narrow escapes from destruction. On either side Scylla and Charybdis were ever appearing, and the period now referred to was the first, and in every way, the most important escape. Men like General Moore- head, Joshua Hanna and others, who were not friendly to Colonel Robinson, President of the company, becoming acquainted, through Mr. Larwill, with the views of 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 and influential 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 Jessie R. Straughan from Ohio, this plan of operations was de- vised :
To get the City Council of Pittsburgh to vote $200,000, pro- vided Allegheny City would subscribe a like amount.
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PITTSBURG, FT. WAYNE & CHICAGO RAILROAD.
Then get the latter city to subscribe $200,000, provided the citizens would subscribe $200,000.
To the first of these arose the united opposition from Steuben- ville and the Cleveland and Pittsburg 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 sub- scription carried. In Allegheny it also carried, the proviso help- ing it much, as many voted for it thinking, as well as hoping, that the $200,000 individual subscriptions was impossible. The most doubtful part and the most laborious was yet to come-that from individuals.
The Ohio delegation had returned home, leaving only Mr. Lar- will 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 conducted as it had been in Ohio. The Pittsburg Chronicle, of April 26, 1849, announced a meeting of the citizens of Pittsburg, on the evening previous, in the rooms of the Board of Trade, to hear the reports of a number of gentle- men from Ohio, as to the progress of the undertaking. Among the honorable gentlemen present on this occasion was the dis- tinguished Senator from Missouri-Colonel Thomas H. Benton- who delivered, as the above paper says, "a beautiful address." Among the Ohio members Mr. Larwill conspicuously took the lead. He said :
They had already got 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 them to do was to build that 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 got an individual subscription of over $100,000, 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
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
own interests now. Ohio must move in one way or other, and if Pittsburg did not meet them, they would in all probability join with the Baltimore and Ohio line.
Committees now began to canvass every ward in both cities and worked industriously for several days, reporting at headquar- ters every evening. The $200,000 was reached, but the canvass- ing was continued until $235,000 was obtained. This news was telegraphed to all points in Ohio, and general joy prevailed.
It was the birth-day of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway. In both city and country the meed of praise was awarded Mr. Larwill. Colonel Sloane, Samuel Hemphill, Thomas Robinson, Doctor Day, James Jacobs, David Robison, Judge Orr, and many others energetically identified with this stupendous pro- ject, have died-mounted the narrow stairway of the grave, which leads from the illusions of life to the presence of the "Assayer of souls, who proves men." Their united efforts in behalf of the great enterprise, however, will not soon be forgotten, but will ap- pear as fit pictures in the frame-work of their lives.
The arrival of the first passenger train in Wooster, Tuesday afternoon, August 10, 1852, was an event not soon to be forgot- ten, and in the future will be reverted to as such, not merely for the satisfaction a knowledge of the date will afford, but as a circum- stance and occasion by which other occurrences and incidents may be identified. On that day Wooster was in a paroxysm of bustle and excitement. A national salute was fired at sunrise. Four P. M. was the hour announced for the arrival of the train. At 2 P. M. the surging multitude began to gather at the depot, and by 3 o'clock it was estimated that from 15,000 to 20,000 persons were on the grounds. At 3 P. M. a dispatch was received from Masil- lon assuring us that two trains were coming with 600 passengers, 500 of whom were invited guests from Pittsburg and Allegheny. At ten minutes past 4 P. M. the train arrived. The scene was mag- nificent; the people shouted, cannons boomed thunderingly, whirl- winds of gladness swept over acres of clapping hands, and on faces young and aged, a "grand Homeric jubilation was radiant." It was the Pentecost of gayety. The fire companies never looked or
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PITTSBURG, FT. WAYNE & CHICAGO RAILROAD.
behaved better ; the martial music was inspiring and heroic, and the guests were happy and hilarious, both by choice and compul- sion. It seemed, indeed, to many, like "Curiosity's Benefit Day."
Processions were formed under direction of Colonel R. K. Por- ter and J. H. Kauke, Marshals of the day, and proceeded to the grove north-east of the depot, where a table had been spread by H. Howard, Esq., of the American House. The festal arrange- ment exhibited the uniqueness and taste of perfection. The guests being seated, Judge Dean called for order, when they were wel- comed by him, in an appropriate speech. General Robinson, President of the road, delivered an address, when the company sat down to a sumptuous dinner.
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