History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 59

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio > Part 59

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This system was in operation for several years. While under such plan labor was se- cured which otherwise would have required special outlay, it, nevertheless, was found, that the moral effeet, upon both the convicts and the community, was not desirable. The tendeney of such public degradation, was to destroy what self-respect remained with the prisoner, and by thus lowering him in his own estimation, de- priving him of all ambition and hope for reform. It was seen, that the very quality of surviving manhood which alone could make such service repugnant and induce an after desire to shun it, was being crushed out by hopeless shame, leaving the man lower and more than before abandoned to a vicious life. Subsequently, as a substitute for the Chain- Gang, the City Work-House (or the " Stone-

Yard," as at first called), was established, to which convicts in cases of petty offenses were sentenced and employed at labor. This insti- tution still exists with general favor.

December 1, 1856, that portion of Oregon Township within the City of Toledo (consist- ing of East Toledo), was annexed to the Town- ship of Port Lawrence, and that portion of Port Lawrence not within Toledo was set off to the Township of Springfield. December 3, 1856, this last named territory, with other, was or- ganized as the Township of Carey, since named Adams.

March, 1857, the names of Drs. W. W. Jones and J. G. Nolen having been presented for ap- pointment as Jail Physicians, the former was selected at a salary of $200, for attendance and medicine.

At the March session, 1858, Sheriff Springer presented to the Commissioners an inventory of counterfeit Bank bills and bogus coin, taken from prisoners during his service as Sheriff and Marshal of Toledo. The bills, with the excep- tion of one sample of each lot, were burned : and the bogus coin melted, when it was found that the latter contained proportions of pure metal too small to be of any value. The list, as indicating some of the condition of the cur- rency at that time, will be of interest here. It is as follows :

Pieces.

Total.

Half Dollars

$ 11.50

Five-Franes

2.82

Quarter Dollars

1.00

Dimes

.90

Gold Dollars

389

389.00

Quarter Eagles

513

1,282.50

Bank bills-

Farmers' Bank of Kentucky

$ 78.00

State Bank of Indiana

99.00

Farmers' Bank of Kentucky

15.00

State Bank of Indiana

66.00

Bank of Corning, N. Y.

5 50.00

Bank of Empire State, N. Y

12.00

Exchange Bank of Lockport

445.00

City Bank of New Haven, Conn

5.00

Oneida Valley Bank, N. Y

1 12.00

Danbury Bank of Conn.

G 6.00

State Stock Bank, Jamestown, Ind.,

1 1.00

Bank of Corning, N. Y

1 10.00

$2,486.72

March, 1858, Dr. J. G. Nolen offered to act. as Jail Physician for $150 per year (medicine included), and was appointed.

June, 1858, the old County buildings at Man- mee were directed to be sold at public auction. Subsequently they were sold to the City of Maumee, the Jail bringing 8250, and the Court- House $360-in each case the land being in- clnded.

The Gas bills of the County for September, October and November, 1858, were as follows : Court-House, $55.65; and for Jail, 828.70.

In March, 1859, the Commissioners visited the County Jail and found it " in tolerable good

317

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

condition." Cyrus D. Hanks having resigned as County Auditor, Chas. R. Dennett was ap- pointed to the vacancy, receiving two votes, to one for Cyrus H. Coy.

At the September session, 1859, the policy of ditching lands under the laws of the State was introduced, in the approval of the plan and survey of " Ditch or Water Course No. 1." It was located in Washington and Port Lawrence Townships, " commeneing at the Creek which runs through the E. & S. E. { Sec. 23; thence Southerly across the same on the line between Sees. 25 and 26, so far as the same was neces- sary." The survey and plan were made by W. II. Harris, County Surveyor. Ditch No. 2 was approved. It ran from the Air Line Railroad, where the same crosses the center line of Sec- tion 7, Town 3, U. S. R. South, along such line . paid to needy families of Soldiers under direc- to Swan Creek. Ditch No. 3 was in Waynes- field Township.

At the same session allowances were made for assessing real property, as follows : Man- mee City-Samuel M. Young, 898.00; Oregon Township -Peter B. Porter, $86.00; Toledo- Deelan Allen, 8392.55; Wm. Carew, $280.00 ; Michael Callaghan, 8260.00; Patrick Gavin, 8252.00; Patrick Horan, 864.00; Joseph De- laney, $54.00. Total for Toledo, 81,102.55.

At the December session, 1859, the Commis- sioners visited the Jail, which they found "in as good condition as the unsound physical qual- ities of the building and moral state of the in- mates would permit."

At the March session, 1860, the Commission- ers accepted the proposition of the Maumee City Plank Road Company to relinquish and transfer to the County its Plank Road, extend- ing from Maumee City to Swanton. The Pres- ident of the Company was Wm. P. Homer, and its Secretary Edward Mitchell. A former order of the Board, authorizing the County Auditor to hire persons " to bring in wood and pay for the same out of the County funds," was revoked. The proposition of the Toledo and Woodville Plank Road Company to turn over its Road to the County, was accepted.

At June session, 1860, Ditch No. 5, in Mon- clova; No. 9, in Oregon; and No. 10, in Syl- vania, were authorized.

At the December session, 1860, a petition was presented from a majority of the voters in the Township of Carey, setting forth that the name of the same had been " conferred without con- sulting the wishes of the people, and that it was repugnant to their feelings and wishes ; and that the same was and had been very un- satisfactory ; and they therefore asked to have it revoked." The Commissioners being satis- fied with the reasons assigned, made an order accordingly, giving the Township the name of Adams, which it yet bears.

At the March session, 1861, the salary of the Probate Judge was fixed at $400 per year. George W. Reynolds was awarded a contract

for building a bridge over the Canal at Man- hattan, at $120. The first definite provision for the ineurably insane in the County was made at this session. For the reason that it was " inhuman and brutal, to continue to keep sneh where they were " (in the County Jail), it was decided " to erect a suitable building at the Infirmary Farm," the same to be 30x40 feet in size, and 12 feet high. The contract was subsequently awarded to J. Farrell and George Wilson, at $1,058.

At the June session, 1861, the Board, having " levied a tax for the support of the families of those that volunteered to fight for the main- tenance of the Constitution and Government," directed that the sum of $2,000 be transferred to the Volunteer Relief Fund, the same to be tion of the Board. The result of a vote in the County on the question of erecting a new Jail had been a majority of 1,099 in the affirma- tive; but in consideration of the War then in progress, steps in that connection were deferred.

In October, S. A. Raymond was authorized to go to Columbus, to procure the requisite permits and information for a member of the Board to visit the different Regiments having Volunteers from Lucas County, for the purpose of securing assignments of portions of their wages, for the benefit of their families.

At the June session, 1863, bids for the build- ing of a new Jail and Dwelling-house, were considered, and the contract was awarded to William C. Hoffman, at $31,500, and C. C. Miller was appointed Superintending Archi- tect, with compensation at the rate of 4 per cent. on the expenditure for the work. Subse- quently the contractor coneluded not to pro- ceed with the work, when proposals were again invited, the lowest bid being that of David .I. Silver, at $58,000; whereupon, it was resolved not then to proceed with the work. On appli- cation therefor by residents of the North half of Section 25, Town 2, U. S. R., that territory was set off from Waynesfield, and attached to Adams Township. At this time there had been constructed 335 County Roads, and 44 Ditches, under direction of the Commissioners.

At December session, 1863, application was made to the Board by M. R. Waite and others, a Committee of citizens of the County, for the passage of a resolution agreeing to levy a tax and reimburse to individuals moneys that should by them be contributed to pay bounties to Volunteers enlisting under the President's call for troops, the bounty not to exceed $50 in cach case. Such action was declined, for lack of authority by the Board ; but it was resolved to do so when so authorized by the Legisla- ture.

At March session, 1864, several Townships having deposited in the County Treasury sums of money for payment of Volunteers in the Army, the Commissioners authorized the Treas-

318

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

urer to pay ont not exceeding $3,000, in amounts of not more than $100 each, to such Volunteers.

In June, 1864, the Board authorized the pay- ment of claims of citizens of the several Town- ships for money advanced as bounty to Volun- teers, as follows : In Providence Township, 63 different claims; in Adams, 46; Oregon, 46 ; Manhattan, 62; Swanton, 30; Waterville, 121; Sylvania, 116; Monclova, 28. Toledo-1st Ward, 190; 2d Ward, 291; 3d Ward, 220; 4th Ward, 105; 5th Ward, 141; 6th Ward, 60. These claims, in amounts, ranged from $5.00 to $280, the average being about $20.

At the August session, 1865, new bids for the construction of a Jail and Dwelling house were considered, and the contract assigned to Luther Whitney, for the sum of $40,098, he furnishing everything but the block-stone. This job being completed, was accepted by the Commis- sioners at their April session, 1867.

At the September session, 1865, on applica- tion, permission was granted the Manhattan Iron Company to lay a Railroad track for the transportation of fuel for the works of the Company, located on the Manmee River, oppo- site Manhattan. The line extended for a por- tion of the distance along that of the old Ohio Railroad, and to the Easterly line of Section 35, Town 9 South.

At the June session, 1866, the Commissioners decided to issue to each re-enlisted Veteran Volunteer, who received no local bounty, a bond for $100.

BOUNDARIES OF TOWNSHIPS.

The following were the boundaries of the several Townships of Lucas County in 1837, those marked with a star (*) having since be- come portions of Fulton County :

PORT LAWRENCE.

On the South by the Fulton line ; on the East by the Maumee River and Bay ; on the North by the Ilarris line ; on the West by the line between the surveyed Towns Nos. 6 and 7 East; thence West on the North line of the United States 12-miles Reserve to the line between Towns 2 and 3 in said 12-miles Reservation ; thence South to the Fulton line.

WAYNESFIELD.

On the Sonth and East by the North line of Sec- tions 18, 17 and 16, in Town 1, 12-mile Reserve ; thence South on the East line of Section 16 to the Maumee River; thence down the Maumee River on the South line of said County to the Fulton line, from the Maumee River to the West of the East line of Section 14 in Town 2, 12-mile Reserve, and Sontli line of Sections 22, 28, 32 and 31, in said Town 2, 12- mile Reserve ; on the West by the West line of said 12-mile Reserve and the East line of Fections 32, 28, 22 and 14 in Town 2 of said 12-mile Reserve.

WATERVILLE.

On the South by the North line of Providence Township and Maumee River; on the East by the East line of Section 16, Town 1, United States 12-mile ; on the North by the North line of Sections 16, 17 and

18, in surveyed Town No. 1, in said 12-mile Reserve, and by the South line of Wing Township ; and on the West by surveyed line between Townships 5 and 6.

SYLVANIA.

On the South by the North line of said 12-mile Reserve; on the East on the line between survey Towns 6 and 7 ; on the North by the Harris line ; on the West by the line between surveyed Townships 5 and 6 East.

WING .*

On the South by East and West line between See- tions 19 and 30 in Towns 7 North and 9 and 10 East ; on the East by the West line of 12-mile Reserve and line between surveyed Towns 5 and 6; and North by the Fulton line ; on the West by the lines between Ranges 5 and 6 East ; and North of Fulton line be- ween Ranges S and 9 South of Fulton line.

SWAN CREEK."

On the South by the South line of the County ; on the East by the line between Ranges 8 and 9; on the North by the Fulton line ; and West by a line be- tween Ranges 7 and S.

SPRINGFIELD.

On the South by the North line of Waynesfickl; on the East by the East line of Town 2 in 12-mile Reserve ; on the North by the North line of 12-mile Reserve; on the West by the West line of 12-mile Reserve.

PROVIDENCE.

On the South by the Southern line of the County ; on the East by the line of Section 26 in Towns 6 North and 9 East ; on the North by the North line of said surveyed Town No. 9; on the West by the West line of the County.

YORK .*

On the South by the South line of the County ; on the East by the line between Ranges 7 and 8 East ; on the North by the Fulton line ; on the West by the West line of the County.

ROYALTON .*

On the South by the Fulton line; on the East by the line between Ranges 3 and 4 East ; on the North by the Harris line; on the West by line Ranges 2 and 3 East.

CHESTERFIELD .*

On the South by the Fulton line; on the East by the line between Ranges 2 and 2 East ; on the North by the Harris liue; and on the West by the West line of the County.

OREGON.

On the South by the Fulton line ; and on the East, North and West by Lake Erie, the Maumee Bay and the Manmee River.

CLINTON .*

This Township was organized by the County Com- missioners at their March session, 1838, with the fol- lowing boundaries: On the East by Section 31 in Town S North, between Ranges 6 and 7 East, and Sections 18, 19, 30 and 31 ; South by the South line of the County; and West by the West line of the County ; and North by the Fulton line.

GERMAN .*

This Township was organized at the March session of the County Commissioners, 1839, and bounded as follows : On the East by Section 31, in fractional

$19

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Township No. 8 North, between Ranges 5 and 6 East, and Sections 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31 ; and South by the South line of the County; West by the West line of the County ; and North by the Fulton line.

GORHAM .*

Incorporated December, 1839, with the following boundaries: East by Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36 in Town 9 South, between Ranges 5 and 6 East ; also on the East by Sections 6 and 7 in 12-mile Reserve ; on the South by the Fulton line ; on the West by the line of original surveyed Town between Ranges + and 5 East ; and North by the Harris line.

WASHINGTON.

Incorporated June, 1840, and bounded on the North by the ffarris line; on the East by the line between Ranges S and 7 East, and Town 9 South to the City limits of Toledo ; thence by the City line to the Southwest corner of said limits ; thence South to the Fulton line ; thence along the Fulton line to Spring- field Township ; and on the West by Springfield and Sylvania.

MANHATTAN.

Incorporated June, 1840, and bounded as follows: On the East by the West line of Seetions 19 and 30 in Town 9 South, Range 9 East ; South by the South line of Sections 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 in Town 9 South, Range & East ; West by the Easterly line of the City limits of Toledo and the West line of Sections 6, 7, 18 and 19, in Town 9 South, between Ranges 7 and 8; and North by the Harris line.

FULTON .*

Incorporated March, 1841, with the following boundaries: On the North by the South line of Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, in Town 9 South of Range 4 East ; on the East by the West line of Rich- field and Wing Townships; on the South by the North line of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, in Town- ship 2 North of Range 8 East ; and West by the West lines of Section 6 in Town 7 North, and Section 31 in Town S North, Range 8 East, and by West lines of Sections 6 and 7 in fractional Township 10 South, Range 4 East.

PIKE .*

Incorporated by the Commissioners, March, 1841, with the following boundaries : On the North by the South line of Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 in Town 9 South of Range 3 East ; on the East by the West line of Sections 31 in Town 9 South, and 6 and 7 in Town 10 South, Range + East, and by Seetion 31 in fractional Township 8 North, Range & East, and See- tion 6 in Town 7 North, 8 East; South by the North line of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 in Town 7 North of Range 7 East ; and on the West by the West line of Section 6 in Town 7 North, Range 7 East, and Sec- tion 31 in fractional Township 8 North, Range 7 East, and West line of Sections 6 and 7 in fractional Township 10 South, Range 3 East, and Section 31 in Town 9 South, Range 3 East.

FRANKLIN .*

Incorporated March, 1841, and bounded as follows : On the North by the South line of Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, in Town 9 South, Range 1 East ; on the East by the West line of 6 and 7 in fractional Town 10 South, Range 2 East, and West line of Seetion 31, in fractional Town S North, Range 6 East, and West line of Section 2, Town 7 North, Range 6 East ; on the South by the North line of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12; and on the West by the West line of the County.

DOVER."

Incorporated June, 1843, and constituted as fol- lows : All of fractional Township 10 South of Range 2 East ; all of fractional Township 8, Range 6 East, and Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 from Township 7 North, Range 6 East.

SPENCER.

Incorporated March, 1845, and consisted of Ser- tions 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, in Town 9, Range 5 Fast ; Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, in Town 10 South, Range 5 East ; and Sections 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 Town 8 North, Range 9 East.

PROCEEDINGS OF COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

As elsewhere stated, the action of the first session of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Encas County, held September 7, 1835, un- der very peculiar circumstances, consisted of the appointment of Dr. Horatio Conant as Clerk of the Court, and of John Baldwin, Rob- ert Gower and Cyrus Holloway as County Commissioners, after which the Court ad- journed.

The second term of the same Court began April 27, 1836, when David Higgins, President ; and J. H. Jerome, Baxter Bowman and William Wilson, Associate Judges, were present, with Horatio Conant as Clerk. The first Grand Jnry of the County was there organized, con- sisting of Jacob Gnaggy, Henry Dilgart, Allison DeMott, Samuel Searing, Oscar White, Alonzo Noble, James John, Cornelius Wiltse, Silas Barns, Darius Mills, James M. Whitney, Calvin Comstock, Coleman I. Keeler, Willard J. Dan- iels, and Luke Draper. Samuel Scaring was appointed Foreman of the Jury.

At this term an Auctioneer's license was granted to Munson HI. Daniels of Toledo, for $5.00 and fees ; Samnel Searing of Maumee was appointed Inspector of Fish for the County ; William Sibley was appointed Guardian of William and Julia Ann Mills, of Washington ; a license was granted to Mortimer H. Williams to keep a Tavern, for $15 and fees; the same to Benj. D. Coffin, of Manmee, for $12 and fees ; the same to James John and John C. Allen, of Manmee, for $15 and fees; the same to John Burdo of Maumee, for $10 and fees. License was granted to Alva D. Wilkison, to keep a Ferry across the Maumee River, opposite the Toledo House, in Toledo. Jonathan Wood was licensed to keep a Ferry across the Maumee River, at his residence in Maumee, for 87 50. C. P. Johnson was licensed to keep a Ferry across the same, at his residence in Manhattan, for $5.00 and fees. The rates of ferriage were the same in all cases. Cornelius G. Shaw, tho pioneer Auctioneer at Toledo, was licensed, pay- ing therefor $5.00.

At this term declarations of their intention to become citizens of the United States by nat- uralization, were filed by George Bevens, Thomas Corlett, Thomas Southard, James Southard, Richard Greenwood and Alexander

320

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

Bowman, all natives of Great Britain, and all but Mr. Greenwood living in what is now Washington Township.

The first eivil action in a Lucas County Court, was the case of Richard Stiles ex dem. of David Ladd, vs. Richard Roc, alias R. A. Forsyth and Smith Daggett.

The first Petit Jury consisted of John Pet- tinger, Edward Corser, Jarvis Gilbert, William Martin, Willard Gunn, Ralph Farnsworth, Se- lah Divine, Henry A. Cooper, Amos Stow, John Baldwin, Hopkins S. Mills, and Samuel R. Jen- nings.

Under appointment by the Court, Andrew Coffinbury acted as Prosecuting Attorney at this term, for which he was allowed $15. The Sheriff and Clerk were each allowed $40 for services in cases where the State should fail.

The term continued for two days and tried two criminal cases and one civil case.

The third term of this Court commenced No- vember 5, 1836, with Judges Higgins, Bow- man and Baldwin, present. The following persons constituted the Grand Jury : Paris Pray, John Wiltse, John Webb, Henry Reed, Sen., Bishop Snydam, Christian Swartz, Wm. DeMott, John Walters, Peter Straver, James Egnew, James Knaggs, William Richards, Ab- ner Moulton, Richard Foster and L. S. Lowns- bury; Paris Pray acting as Foreman.

In consideration of the faet, that Attorneys of Ohio were admitted to practice in the Courts of Michigan, withont formal admission to the Bar of that State, Warner Wing and Robert McClelland of Monroe, Mich an, were granted like privilege at this Court This is under- stood to have been the first act of comity and good neighborhood occurring between the par- ties to the " Toledo War," after the close of that contest. At the same time a d for the reason named in the foregoing car 'Joseph R. Wil- liams, a member of the Bar . Massachusetts, was admitted to practice in (

At this term the first cler man, Rev. Orin Mitchell, of the Methodist I .. scopal Church, was authorized to solemnize s. ,orriages within the County, "so long as her, ould continue such regular Minister in said hoturch."

John Fitch was appointed by the Court as Prosecuting Attorney, and Anv 'ew Coffinbury as Assistant, for the term. Ich action had been made necessary from the fact that E. D. Potter, who was elected Prose atting Attorney in October previous (being the first election after the erection of the County), declined to aceopt the position, for the reason that the Court had fixed the pay at the low rate of $50 per year. Such action, in a pecuniary sense, was justified by the fact that he earned during the year several times $50, by defending parties on trial. Mr, Potter was the Democratic can- didate at the election, his Whig opponent being Tappan Wright, a brother of the late Judge John C. Wright. The Whigs had a majority

in the County, and Mr. Potter was elected by running ahead of his ticket in Water- ville Township, for which he was indebted to the support of the Pray family, who had known him in the State of New York.

The first native of Ireland declaring in a Lucas County Court his intention to become a citizen of the United States, was Patrick Donar, the same having been done at this term. He was the leader of the long line of his fellow- countrymen, who since have here in the same way assumed the privileges and responsibilities of American citizenship.

Eli Hubbard and Julia Wilson were ap- pointed Administrators on the estate of Wmn. Wilson, deceased ; and Frederick A. Rew, Ad- ministrator on the estate of Peter Lombar, de- ceased.

Tavern licenses were granted to Peter Minor, of Providence ; L. S. Lownsbury, of Sylvania ; and D. C. Middleton, Charles Patterson, Heze- kiah Inbbell and Win. Ford.

The will of Wm. Sibley of Port Lawrence Township, was probated, with Horace Thacher as Executor, and Rebecca Sibley as Executrix,

Rev. John W. Alvord, a Minister of the Con- gregational Church, was authorized to solem- nize marriages.

The first criminal proceeding for illegal vot. ing in the County was the case of Matthew Byrnes, who pleaded guilty to the charge of voting in two Townships at the preceding elec- tion, and was fined 850 and costs.

The first person to whom naturalization papers were issued in the County, was John Leybourne, of Washington Township, who had tiled his preliminary declaration with the Court of Monroe County, in 1831.

The third term of this Court convened April 24, 1837, John Baldwin appearing as Associate Judge, vice Win. Wilson, deceased

The Grand Jurors were Mason Dobbins, Granville Jones, James Wolcott, Chester Wal- bridge, Roswell Cheney, Alvin Evans, Coleman 1. Keeler, Henry Phillips, Iliram Humphrey, Hiram Steele, Augustus Andrews, Nathan Rathbun, Ralph Farnsworth, Orlando Brown and M. W. West; James Wolcott, Foreman .. .

Tavern licenses were then granted to Collins Ward, at Port Lawrence; Philip ]. Phillips, Tremainesville ; Joel Marsh, Port Lawrence; Sylvester Cornell, Manhattan; John Burlin, Providence; James W. Converse, Maumee ; Catharine Mead and Philip C. Mosher, Provi- dence; John Allen & Co., Maumee; Thomas King, Port Lawrence ; Robert H. Blue, Man- hattan ; Geo. Ilale, Providence; Wm. A. Mc- Clelland, Erick M, and Daniel Segur, and Be- niah W. Merrill, Toledo ; and Miles Randall, Port Lawrence.

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 59

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408