USA > Ohio > Knox County > Past and present of Knox County, Ohio, Vol. I > Part 26
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"In taking leave of this case, which for more than thirty years has occu- pied a conspicuous place on the docket of this court, and in closing the trust, which for more than twenty years has been confided to the undersigned, he takes leave to congratulate the court on the final adjustment of the whole matter, and to express his profound thanks for the confidence so long con- tinued, without which the vexed, complex and protracted labors of the case would have been rendered much more onerous, and the results obtained for less satisfactory.
"To the parties (many of the original of whom have departed this life since the commencement of this suit), and to their heirs, the full record of this case, while it may recall some reminiscences of an unfortunate enterprise, and its calamitous results, will also remind them of many incidents and profit- able lessons in the great school of experience, and be, for all time to come, the veritable history of the Owl Creek Bank of Mount Vernon."
It is related of this bank that its bills and stationery all carried the picture of a fine, large owl, and when the bank was in financial troubles, one of its enemies killed a large owl and bringing it to the desk of the bank, exclaimed, "There d- you, we have killed your president !"
Whatever may have been the outcome, it was not the intention of the founders of this bank to defraud any living being. and had they been treated right by their supposed backers and friends, the bank would not have failed.
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Yet it was presumptuous on their part to not listen to the state authorities, but they went ahead "unchartered" and the reader has seen the result. Again, re- maler banking laws were not then what they are today in the United States. The present is a superior system and but few go wrong, under state and gov- ernment oversight.
KNOX COUNTY NATIONAL BANK.
The Knox County National Bank was originally organized in 1847 as the Knox County Bank, a branch of the State Bank of Ohio, with Henry B. Curtis, J. W. Russell, Columbus Delano, Jesse B. Thomas and Sewall Grey directors; Henry B. Curtis, president. In 1865, soon after the national banking act went into force, this institution changed over to that new and better system, assuming the name of the Knox County National Bank, whose capital in 1880 was one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and was counted as among the best institutions in Knox county. At present it is known as the New Knox County National Bank, owing to the fact that the red tape of the government requires a change of name with the re-issue of a bank charter, this bank now working under its second charter.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
The First National Bank was organized in April, 1862, as the Bank of Mt. Vernon, J. W. Russell, president; Columbus Delano, Matthew Thomp- son, Walter H. Smith, F. D. Sturges, directors. The capital was one hundred thousand dollars. Electing to do business under the provisions of the national bank act, it changed its name to that of the First National Bank. After the retirement of Dr. Russell, Columbus Delano was made president. In 1880 it was working under a fifty thousand dollar capital. It began as a national bank in 1865. Its present capital is $50,000; deposits are $290,000; loans, $135 .- 000; undivided profits, $6,000. Its officers are: H. H. Greer, president ; Ben- jamin Ames, vice-president ; S. W. Alsdorf, cashier.
It should be added that this banking house succeeded the private bank of Russell, Sturgess & Company, established in 1853, by Dr. J. W. Russell and Fred D. Sturgess, who conducted it successfully until it was reorganized.
The statement of the First National Bank of Mt. Vernon for September I, IQII, shows the loans and discounts to be $152,540 ; bonds, securities, etc., $76,600; capital stock, $50,000; national bank notes, $37,500; individual deposits subject to check, $251, 109 ; demand certificates, $53,138. This makes the resources and liabilities, all told, as per statement, $413,083.
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KNOX COUNTY SAVINGS BANK.
The Knox County Savings Bank, at Mt. Vernon, was established in 1873 and now has a capital of $50,000, with S. H. Israel, cashier, and D. B. Herron, assistant cashier. The building, which is on the west side of the public square, is owned by S. H. Israel, individually. This solid financial institution was established by Jared Sperry, O. M. Arnold, John D. Thomp- son, Alexander Cassil, Thomas Oldbert and Samuel Israel, who started on a $25,000 cash capital and now its capital and surplus amounts to $100,000; undivided profits are $30,000. No bank in the county stands higher than does this one. Its original officers, back in 1873, were: Jared Sperry, president ; Samuel Israel, vice-president ; S. H. Israel, cashier.
The June, 191I, statement of this banking concern showed their re- sources and liabilities to amount to $1,011,343.72. Of the resources, $117,- 510 were realty loans : other loans and discounts amounted to $224, 166; bank notes issued, $57,000. Of the liabilities, it may be said that the items include time certificates of deposit, $81,976; deposits, $604,810, showing the confi- dence with which the bank is held by the citizens of Knox county.
COMMERCIAL AND SAVINGS BANK CO.
The First National Bank of Buckeye City was organized March 8, 1905, with a capital of $25,000. Its officers were: E. B. Rice, president; L. F. Colopy, vice-president ; H. G. Hammond, cashier.
May 13, 1906, it was changed into a state bank, called the Commercial and Savings Bank Company, its present title. It retained its old capital and its present officers are : E. B. Rice, president; N. H. Hunter, vice-president ; H. S. Workman, cashier. Its record of growth is as follows: From 1905 to 19II its deposits increased from $18,000 to $62,000 and its total resources in- creased from $46,000 in 1905 to $87,000 in 1911.
This bank owns its own neat, spacious brick building, which with furni- ture and fixtures, is valued at $8,000 ; it is located on Bank and Ross streets. The stockholders now number over thirty. The directors are: E. B. Rice, N. H. Hunter, D. S. Workman, John Gardner, Joseph H. Colopy, Joseph L. Hammond and Stephen Blugaugh.
DANVILLE BANK.
At Danville the banking interests are in the hands of a private banking house of unquestioned solidity, the Danville Bank, with Albert J. Wolfe as
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proprietor and A. G. Watson as cashier, established in 1884. The banking of the place is in safe, conservative hands and meets every requirement of the business men of Danville.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK, CENTERBURG.
The First National Bank of Centerburg was organized in 1906 and has a capital of $25,000. Its deposits are about $65,000 and its loans about $60,000. T. D. Updike is president and L. M. Dolly, vice-president.
ITOWARD SAVINGS BANK.
The Howard Savings Bank, located at the village of Howard, was estab- lished in 1907 as a state bank, with a capital of $25,000 and it is the same amount at this date. The first as well as the present officers are E. A. Wolfe, president ; John F. Gardner, vice-president ; C. D. Horn, cashier. This bank leased the building it occupies. It has the confidence of the people who have banking transactions in Howard township and village and is steadily increasing its business.
CENTERBURG SAVINGS BANK.
The Centerburg Savings Bank was organized as a private banking house in August, 1892, with M. Burlalinger, president ; M. Cook, cashier. In March, 1906, it was organized into a stock bank known by its present name, the Centerburg Savings Bank, with a capital of $40,000, the same as now carried. The 1911 officers are: C. H. Bishop, president; C. W. Coe, vice-president : Harry Bell, cashier; Ralph Ramey, assistant. The beautiful bank building was erected in 1904. The present capital is $40,000; surplus and undivided profits, $8,000 ; deposits about $145,000 ; loans, $135,000. There are about fifty stockholders in this bank. The following are the directors: Mark Cook, C. H. Bishop, M. Burr Talmage, C. W. Coe, William M. Carlisle, J. D. Vail, George M. Shaffer, Harry Bell.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF FREDERICKTOWN.
First National Bank of Fredericktown was established February 7, 1901. The organizers were: William Irvine, William Wyker, J. N. Braddock, R. G. McClelland, C. D. Swetland, J. H. Dickey. The first and present capital is $25,000. The present ( 1911) officers are: J. N. Braddock, president; R. G. McClelland, vice-president ; M. P. Howes, cashier.
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This bank owns the building formerly known as the Wagner Hotel and was thoroughly remodeled and a part of the building is used for the Bank Hotel, a first-class house. The bank is on the first floor, in the corner of the block. The last statement shows the institution to have had $160,000 in de- posits, and $90,000 in loans.
The private bank of Dan Struble & Son of Fredericktown was estab- lished in 1870, by Dan Struble, on a $25,000 capital and the same is carried today. This is a safe, conservative banking concern and has the confidence of all the community.
At Brinkhaven there was a bank of a few years duration, but in about 1910 it went down, to the disgust of the entire community, many of whom innocently lost large amounts considering the size of the bank.
At Gambier also the banking business became a sad failure, after operat- ing from 1898 to 1911, on a capital of $25,000. Its president was C. N. W. Yank and vice-president, H. W. Jones. The pretty concrete building is all that remains as a monument to loose methods and poor management upon the part of those in charge there. Many lost much money, as the amount paid back to depositors thus far, October 7, 1911, was only twenty per cent. Widows and poor Civil war veterans, with well-to-do farmers, lost eighty per cent. of all deposited there. The feeling was bitter against the management of this concern.
At Mt. Vernon in 1906 was established a banking concern known as the Guarantee Savings Bank and Trust Company, operating under a $25,000 capital, with Frank W. Owens, president, and William Walsh, vice-president. This bank, with a large name in way of "guarantee" and "trust." only sur- vived until in 1911, when it failed and was closed up.
BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS.
At the thriving town of Centerburg there is one of the largest building and loan associations in Ohio. It is the Centerburg Building & Loan Associa- tion, established in 1894, and its dividends have never been less than six per cent. It is prompt, conservative and safe. Its present capital is one million five hundred thousand dollars. Its officers are : C. W. Coe, president ; H. C. Smith, vice-president ; C. H. Bishop, secretary ; Harry Bell, treasurer. The directors are : C. H. Bishop, J. B. Wilson, Homer C. Smith, C. W. Coe, R. B. Bishop, Harry Bell, J. C. Coe.
It has grown from $11,000 assets in 1895 to $772,869 in 1911. This in- stitution is known and patronized all over Ohio and stands as a wonder in the line of building and loan institutions in the central West.
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The city of Mt. Vernon has three well managed building and loan con- cerns, the Knox Building and Loan Company, the Home Building and Loan Company and the Citizens Building, Loan and Savings Association.
The Knox Building and Loan Company was organized December II. 1897, with W. P. Bogardus, president, and C. F. Colville, secretary. The com- pany has a capital of $500,000 and is doing a fine business. Its officers are : W. P. Bogardus, president ; A. F. Stauffer, vice-president ; C. F. Colville, sec- retary ; Miss Jean Starr, assistant secretary.
The Home Building and Loan Company was organized in April, 1883, by John D. Thompson, Frank L. Fairchild, William Banning, Lucian P. Hol- brook and C. A. Merriman, as incorporators. The present ( 1911) officers are : John W. Ewalt, president ; A. R. Sipe, vice-president; S. H. Israel, treasurer ; B. M. Allen, secretary ; R. M. Greer, attorney. Of the original board of directors, only F. L. Fairchild and William Banning survive on the board. This institution has helped along and provided means with which to erect more than a thousand residences in Mt. Vernon, a record to be proud of.
The Citizens Building, Loan & Savings Association of Mt. Vernon was organized in July, 1907, with a capital of $300,000, same as now carried on with. Their offices are over the First National Bank and the present officers are: William H. Smith, president; W. A. Hosack, secretary ; William Welsh, treasurer ; Thomas Canning, vice-president.
CHAPTER XX.
CITY OF MOUNT VERNON.
There were three towns "having a local habitation" in Knox county prior to its organization, Clinton, Mt. Vernon and Fredericktown, none of which had advanced very far towards being places of importance. Clinton was laid out by Samuel H. Smith, in 1804; Mt. Vernon in 1805 by Messrs. Benjamin Butler, Thomas B. Patterson and Joseph Walker, and Fredericktown in 1807, by John Kerr, who named the place "Frederick," after his old home in Mary- land.
Mt. Vernon, as has been observed in previous chapters, became the county seat. first by the organizing act of the Legislature as a "temporary seat of justice" and February 9. 1908, commissioners were appointed to locate a permanent county seat, and, as has been shown, Mt. Vernon won out as against Clinton, the only real competitor.
One of the early settlers having emigrated from Virginia and loved the name of Mount Vernon, where the remains of George Washington were en- tombed, at his suggestion this place in the wilds of Ohio received the same name, and that without much opposition, for who in all broad America could object to it or furnish a more appropriate name for the county seat town of Knox county ?
The present beautiful scenes in and about Mt. Vernon are, indeed, in marked contrast to the scenes of 1805, when the entire tract of land was cov- ered with a dense forest, with the waters of Owl creek flowing peacefully on toward the far-off sea, through the channel of the majestic Kokosing river, with which it forms junction within the limits of the city. All was wild and wilderness-like to the eyes of the few pioneers. Today there are but few, if any, cities within the borders of Ohio that surpass Mt. Vernon for its beauty and the enchanting panorama of its environments, viewing the scenes from any given direction.
The forests have all disappeared; the streets, which are paved, are broad and beautified by shade trees; the residences are of the most modern, imposing style of architecture and its people are prosperous and happy.
After the question of Mt. Vernon being the permanent county seat was settled, Clinton began to wane. Mt. Vernon went ahead, while Clinton con-
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tinued but a few years longer as a place of business, and after the departure of its chief worker to other parts its people moved to Mt. Vernon, Fredericktown and elsewhere, and not one of the old inhabitants remained in 1876 to tell the story how nobly the first settlers there had fought, but failed, to win the prize, and were it not now for historic pages and old musty, dusty newspaper files, its history would be forever lost.
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EARLY IMPROVEMENTS AT MT. VERNON.
In 1813 there were in the village but few houses on what is now busy Main street. The greater part of the place was on West Gambier street, be- tween Main street and the railroad. Here the business of the town was car- ried on, and way down near the street's end lived Joseph Walker, in a large two-story, yellow painted frame house, the finest in town. The school house was the first. brick building in Mt. Vernon. It stood on Mulberry street, southeast of the present high school. N. N. Hill related about how he made sugar one spring in the lower part of town, there being then quite a sugar grove in the lower part of what is now Mt. Vernon city.
The first tavern, Benjamin Butler's, stood near the corner of Gambier and Main streets and during the war of 1812 this building was turned into a block-house and made a place of safety from invasions of Indians, should any appear on the scene. After the war ended it was resumed as a hotel and was known as "the war office," for there had been so many fights there between townsmen and strangers.
The old Indian chief, Armstrong, from Greentown, frequently came here and as frequently imbibed too freely and became beastly drunk on not a few occasions. Once while Abe Emmett was drilling his company of militia, Arm- strong greatly annoyed them, and after telling him many times to keep out of the way of the men, Emmett finally knocked the chief down. It had its de- sired effect, but the Indian never forgot it. Sometime afterwards, Armstrong, accompanied by three other Indians, met Emmett and Riverius Newell in the woods, when Armstrong asked, "Is your name Emmis?" "Yes, sir, my name is Emmett." "What for you fight Indian?" said the old chief. "Because you kept getting in my way." "You fight Indian now?" said the chief, making a motion to draw his tomahawk. "Yes!" replied Emmett, with an oath, and immediately drew his tomahawk, while Newell cocked his gun and brought it to bear upon one of the other Indians. This determined attitude not being relished by the Indians, a truce was called and the parties separated.
When Butler moved to his farm his tavern passed to other hands, and among the landlords who succeeded him are now recalled David Ash and John
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Davidson, both Marylanders. Ash was very much of a gentleman and con- tinued to conduct the hotel for a number of years.
The second tavern in town was a log house on Main street near where in later years stood the N. N. Hill brick business house. John Haron was pro- prietor. He turned his hotel over to his son-in-law, Gottlieb Zimmerman. The sign boards of these pioneer inns, or taverns, as generally styled, were ex- tremely large and sought to contain some flashy, attractive name. This one carried the full-sized portrait of Gen. Anthony Wayne.
The third tavern was a frame building on Main street where Warner Mil- ler kept a store many years. It was two stories high and painted white and was called the Green Tree Tavern, having a green tree painted on its huge sign which swung in front, creaking in the wind. This hotel was kept by Mordecai Vore, who sold it to Judge Eli Miller, who sold to Charles Tim- berlake. Constance Barney came next to conduct this inn, and also ran the first stage line from Mt. Vernon to Sandusky. Others were landlords there, but all have long since gone from earth.
The first brick.hotel in Mt. Vernon was built by T. W. Rogers, who occu- pied it some years as a private residence. then changed it to a hotel. It be- came very popular. Its first landlord was Killin Winne. It had been pre- ceded by a frame building. This hotel stood on the southwest corner of Main street and the public square .. Later A. Wolfe erected his large business block on this lot.
In 1840 the "Lybrand House" was erected on the west side of Main, between Front and Gambier streets ; in 1880 this was owned by Jerome Row- ley, but changed hands often.
The Curtis House, on the southeast corner of the square, was erected in 1876 by Henry B. Curtis and it is now ( 1911) still the leading commercial hotel of Mt. Vernon.
Mt. Vernon was provided with its first illuminating gas by the organizing of a company in 1857. the incorporators being John Ramsey, Judge Eli Miller, Henry B. Curtis and others. The capital stock was thirty-five thou- sand dollars. About 18=8. N. H. Hill and Columbus Delano purchased a controlling interest and eight miles of piping was laid for the use of the city. This was artificial gas, and was done away with when natural gas was piped into the city.
A postoffice was established in 1810 and Gilman Bryant was appointed postmaster. Gilman Bryant, the postmaster just mentioned. also conducted the first store here. It was located on Main and Gambier streets. on lots later occupied by the Mead store building. Bryant and Dr. Burr were the two earliest merchants and were prominent citizens in the laying of the founda-
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tion stones to Mt. Vernon's future prosperity. At that day the larger portion of the eastern part of the city was in thick hazel brush and timber. There were not to exceed a dozen houses on Main street, north from the public square. About this time the merchants here were summed up as follows: Burr & Bryant, John Moody, Daniel S. Norton, Eli Miller, Samuel Mott, J. B. Rogers and Anthony Banning. All did an excellent business, but nearly all was carried on by an exchange plan, there being but little money in the country. Gilman Bryant was later opposite the Knox County Bank's old stand, under the Curtis house, and below Bryant were three or four stores.
In the spring of 1814 Dr. Burge offered his services as physician and had a flaming notice in the Ohio Register, the pioneer newspaper here.
The newspaper in 1814 carried this notice: "Two hundred bushels of wheat, to be delivered at William Douglas' mill, during the month of August next."
August, 1814, James Selby and Samuel Selby advertise themselves as the first hatters in the new town.
Robert Irvine opened a drug store in Mt. Vernon in June, 1815.
Miss Fulton started the first millinery shop here in May, 1816, at H. Curtis', second door from the old court house.
The "Traveler's Rest," a hotel, was opened in 1816 and flourished sev- eral years.
In July, 1816, there was an attempt to incorporate Mt. Vernon through petitioning the Legislature at its next session. Nothing ever came of this effort to put on city style.
In 1817 there were but twenty-two chartered banks in Ohio and the Owl Creek Bank of Mt. Vernon (unchartered) was running at that date.
July 4, 1814, at the ending months of the war of 1812-14, the war spirit was high. The flag of our country ("Old Glory") was raised near pioneer Zebulon Ashley's residence, on a liberty pole sixty-eight feet in height. A grand Fourth of July celebration was held and twenty toasts were drank. all of which partook of the military spirit of those days.
Mt. Vernon was originally platted and filed for record July 16, 1805, by Messrs. Butler, Patterson and Bell. Fifty-five years later (1860) the reports show the city had sixty-one industrial institutions established and the value of products for that year amounted to $704,500. Its equalized assessed valuation was then (according to the state board) $723.329, which only in- cluded its town lot property. The population had grown from a mere handful in 1805, to 4,147 in 1860. It was at that date divided into four wards. The number of colored people was then forty-six. It is now three hundred.
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The Clinton faction, who had lost out in the county-seat contest in 1808, undertook to have the seat of justice relocated and took the matter to the Legislature, but all to no purpose-the work of the locating commissioners was counted valid, notwithstanding some questionable things connected there- with, as some of the community believed.
One of the Mt. Vernon townsite proprietors, or promulgators, as well as a county-seat contest fighter, also had the distinction of being the father of the first white child born on the plat ; it was his son, Joseph Butler, born Octo- ber 26, 1806. The father, Benjamin Butler, died at New Castle, Ohio, in 1887, aged ninety-six years, while the son, it is believed, died at the same place in the eighties.
Of the many changes in the streets and the surface of the same, with the passing of the years, let it be known that in an early day the public square was sadly turned up toward the setting sun. On the east side of Main street it had been taken off about twenty feet. On the west side, where the town cistern was constructed in 1880, it was filled up fully fifteen feet. About 1879 when workmen were digging a pit for coal, they cut through no less than three distinct sidewalks. the first one being met with no less than three feet below the surface. When Gilman Bryant built the old market house, in 1832, his contract was to fill in twelve feet before he laid the pavement. This only gives the present generation an idea that the changes have been great since Mt. Vernon was first platted and the contrast is marked between the old city and that of today, with its beautified streets and paved alleys and parked public square, with its ever-flowing fountain of sparkling water, its two drinking fountains and the imposing soldiers' monument in the center of the square.
In 1832 a market house was built for the town by Gilman Bryant. Tt stood near the old court house at the square and served many years.
POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
A postoffice was established at Mt. Vernon and Gilman Bryant appointed postmaster December 9, 1809. The office was kept in the original store of the town, that of Mr. Bryant's. His store stood at the southwest corner of Gambier and Main streets, on the lots for many years occupied by the Mead store. At that day it was very swampy and muddy at that point. hence the building stood on piling many years and these stilts or piling timbers were about six feet above the common level of the streets. Bryant kept the office until 1818. The next location for the office was at the corner of Main and Vine streets, or rather one door to the north of that number, the national bank now being on the corner lot, just to the south of where the office stood.
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