USA > Ohio > Knox County > Past and present of Knox County, Ohio, Vol. I > Part 38
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The schools and churches, as well as lodges, are treated in the general chapters, under their proper headings.
Fredericktown was incorporated about 1850, and among its mayors have been, in about the order here named, the following gentlemen: George IV. Woodcock, A. Greenlee, W. B. Cox, C. R. Hooker, Morgan LaFever, Gideon Elliott, who was in office in 1881. Since the date last named there have been, Gideon Elliott, 1880; L. B. Ackerman, 1882; F. B. Owens, 1884; William Irvin, 1888; C. W. Lyons, 1890; L. C. Stillwell, 1892 ; B. W. Owens, 1894; William A. Ackerman, 1898; C. W. Lyons, 1900; James B. Johnson, 1902 ; C. L. Bermont, 1903 ; Walter L. Ball, 1906; L. J. Duke, 1908; Morris Hegerty, 1910. The present officers of the village are: Mayor, Morris Hegerty ; clerk, Henry L. Ralston; treasurer, H. E. Castle; marshal, T. E. Burke ; councilmen, R. K. Smith, J. C. Rauber, B. F. Parmentar, C. E. Mc- Cutchin, H. D. Weaver.
A system of water works was installed in 1905, costing twenty thou- sand dollars, for which bonds were issued. The excellent water supply comes from a never-failing well down to gravel. The stand-pipe is about one hundred and fifty feet high, with a tank holding fifty thousand gallons. There is a paid fire company of about thirteen men; the present chief is George Cook.
389
KNOX COUNTY, UHIO.
Fredericktown has a city building and jail and fire engine house, all in one. This is a two-story brick building. The village is lighted with natural gas.
The lodges are the Odd Fellows, Masons and Knights of Pythias, all mentioned at length in the chapter on lodges.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF I9II.
General dealers, F. F. Hosack; dry goods, J. H. Denman, L. W. Wagner; groceries, H. E. Castle, Clark Bros., Davis & Dague, F. C. Wag- ner, H. S. Taylor & Son; hardware, F. F. Hosack, Hull & Brown, F. J. Harris, M. Haggerty; implements, Hull & Brown, Lucas & Lewis; cloth- ing, C. C. Lucas, L. B. Wagner ; shoes (exclusive), F. B. Levering, H. E. Brown ; drugs, F. F. Hosack, C. F. Fink ; hotel, The Bank Hotel, E. Myers, proprietor ; restaurants, J. W. Anders, George Robb; furniture, Huddle & Denman; photography, Frank Morrow; physicians, E. V. Ackerman, J. H. Norrick, W. H. Eastman, W. L. Ely; attorney, H. D. Weaver; cream- ery, Licking County Creamery Company ; cement blocks, L. H. Brentlinger; lumber, Paul Cummings; grain, Northwestern Elevator Company, J. D. Smoots, manager, Farmers' Elevator, Levering Bros .; jewelry, Joseph Carr; harness, J. F. Amos; blacksmiths, Kein & Henderson, Clayton Foulk, John Roberts, J. Trickle; public hall, the Odd Fellows' Block ; banks, Dan Struble & Son, First National Bank; millinery, Miss Anna Castner, P. M. Witherow; barber shops, Miller Bros., C. C. Walter, Thomas Huggins; marble works, William Duke & Son; insurance, L. B. Ackerman; livery, J. F. Jones; Buckmaster & Lewis; newspaper, Free Press, F. A. Day, proprietor; butter and eggs and poultry dealers, D. M. Brumbock, Levering Bros .; foundry work, J. B. Foote, F. B. Zieg Manufacturing Company; novelty goods, H. B. Reynolds, agents' supplies as a specialty; sealing wax factory, F. F. Hosack ; gates, Earl Hicks.
THE POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
An office was established at this point in the fall of 1828 and the postmasters in charge during these eighty-three years have been as follows:
Abner Ayers, appointed October 21, 1828, served twenty years, six months.
Benjamin J. Lewis, appointed April 11, 1849, served three years.
Thomas A. Reed, appointed April 29, 1852, served eleven months.
David Brown, appointed March 20, 1853, served one year, three months.
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KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
Levi S. McCoy, appointed July 18, 1854, served six years, eight months.
George W. Ball, appointed March 25, 1861, served three years, two months.
Cyrus Hosack, appointed June 20, 1864, served sixteen days.
Milford Lewis, appointed July 6, 1864, served two years, one month
Alexander Love, appointed August 26, 1866, served two years, six months.
Columbus D. Hyler, appointed March 25, 1869, served four years, ten months.
Issacher Rowley, appointed February 2, 1874, served seven years, five months.
Clayton A. Royce, appointed July 14, 1881, served one year, five months.
Benjamin F. Moore, appointed December 26, 1882, served one year, eleven months.
Lewis B. Ackerman, appointed December 9, 1884, served ten months.
Henry N. Vance, appointed November 5, 1885, served three years, ten months.
Charles M. Hildreth, appointed September 11, 1889, served three years, eleven months.
David W. Struble, appointed September 7, 1893, served four years, one month.
Walter B. Johnson, appointed October 1I, 1897, and is still the in- cumbent.
This was made a third-class postoffice in 1899. It has the distinction of having more rural routes than any office in the United States in towns no larger than this. It has seven rural free delivery routes, the first being established in 1900. The business of the office for the last year was $5,035.16. This is an increase of a large sum in the last five years. There are six mails each way daily and the office has been quartered in the same business house for just fifty years, known as the Cox building. The present postmaster-general, Frank Hitchcock, is a grandson of a pioneer Hitch- cock whose son, Chapman Hitchcock, was born in Fredericktown, and he was the Postmaster-General's father.
The present postoffice force is as follows: Postmaster, Walter B. Johnson, since November 15, 1897; H. L. Ralston, deputy ; Miss Mabel A. Fawcett, clerk. The seven rural delivery carriers are William H. Spry. P. WV. Plummer, Daniel B. Purdy, Walter Willets, George W. Gregg, Charles E. Spry, Ortho B. James. The patrons of this office were about six thousand in the fall of 191I.
CHAPTER XLIII.
MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.
In this chapter appear a number of interesting and valuable articles which of themselves were not of sufficient length to form a complete chapter, hence have been placed in this chapter of miscellaneous items :
POPULATION.
The following is the population of Knox county in detail, as well as a general table showing the population of Ohio, at different United States census periods :
POPULATION OF OHIO.
1800
45,365
1860
2,339,5II
18IO
230.760
1870
2,665,260
1820
581,295
1880
3,198,062
1830
937,903
1890
3,672,317
1840
1,519,467
1900
4,157,545
1850
1,980,329
1910
4,767,12I
KNOX COUNTY'S POPULATION FROM 1800.
1800
None
1860
27,735
1810
2,149
1870
26,333
1820
8,326 .
1880
27,43I
1830
17,085
1890
27,600
1840
29,579
1900
27.768
1850
28,872
1910
30,18I
DETAILED U. S. CENSUS REPORT OF KNOX COUNTY.
I9IO
1900
1890
Berlin township.
700
75I
84I
Brown township.
886
1,042
1,062
392
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
Butler township.
590
694
775
Clay twp., including Martinsburg village
838
893
980
Martinsburg village.
252
238
257
Clinton twp. including Mt. Vernon city Mount Vernon City.
9,087
6,633
6,027
Ward I.
2,139
Ward 2.
2,07I
Ward 3.
2,466
.
... . .
Ward 4.
2,41 I
.
. ..
College twp., including Gambier village Gambier village
769
983
955
537
751
660
Harrison township.
575
588
622
Hilliar twp., including Centerburg village Centerburg village
1,359
1,34I
1,296
Howard township
875
847
989
Jackson township
693
798
841
Jefferson township
802
1,018
I,OII
Liberty township.
898
998
1,044
Middlebury township
777
788
811
Milford township
706
762
792
Miller township.
700
755
750
Monroe township
812
807
874
Morgan township.
622
650
645
Morris township, including part of Fredericktown village.
962
953
843
Fredericktown village (part of )
92
95
85
Total for Fredericktown village in Morris and Wayne townships .
1,02I
890
847
Pike township
1,063
1,163
1,172
Pleasant township
784
818
865
Union township, including Brink Haven,
Buckeye City and Danville villages .. .
1,967
1,756
1,874
Brink Haven village
34I
250
Buckeye City village
269
247
215
Danville village.
373
298
292
Wayne township, including part of Fred-
ericktown village
1,6II
1,512
1,437
Fredericktown village (part of) .
.
929
795
762
Totals
30, 18I
27,768
27,600
.
.
723
706
588
11,192
7,85I
7,12I
393
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
VILLAGE PLATS IN KNOX COUNTY.
There have been many villages platted in Knox county with the passing of more than a century of time in its history. The records show a fairly well preserved account of these towns and villages, some in existence and many defunct or merely hamlets without a place on the regular maps of the county today. The following is supposed to cover the majority of such plattings :
Amity-Platted March 23, 1832.
Aaronsburg-March 8, 1827, on section 8, township 6, range 15.
Bladensburg-April 18, 1833.
Buckeye City-June 29, 1880, by J. R. Tilton.
Butlertown-In Union township, section 20, township 7, range Io, in 1837
Brownsville-In Brown township, section -, township 8, range II.
Bloomfield-Platted October 4, 1845, by Alexander Marvin and Elijah Loveland on section 16, township 6, range 15.
Cornish-In Monroe township.
Clinton-On section 4, township 7, range 13, December 8, 1804, by Samuel Smith of New England.
Centerburg-In township 5, range 15. December 18, 1834, by Jacob Houck and Stephen Sutton.
Carvallo-In Union township; long since forgotten.
Danville-July 4, 1816.
Emmettsburg-Pike township, later legally vacated.
Front Royal-November 30, 1831, on section 4, township 5, range 10.
Fredericktown-In township 7, range 14, by John Kerr, November II, 1807.
Florida-October 21, 1817, on section 5, township 17, range 20. The men who platted this were George-Vanneman, P. Sutliff and Samuel Harden- brook.
Gambier-Recorded June 12, 1850, platted by the college owners.
Gann-(Now known as Brinkhaven though not legally) Platted as Gann.
Greerville-November 30, 1836, on section 1, township 8, range 10, by Robert Greer.
Green Valley-June 14, 1834, by Cromwell Newcomb, in township 7, range 14.
Harrison-February 16, 1816, on section 17, township 6, range 10, by Jacob Leply.
394
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
Hanover-(Now Martinsburg and once Williamsburg) February 2, 1816, in Morgan township, by William McWilliams.
Harlem-March II, 1837, by T. Purdy in township 4, range 7.
Howard-March 8, 1837.
Hilliar-August II, 1852, by Aaron D. Rinehart.
James Town-( Platted as two words, not Jamestown) May 11, 1824, by James Bailey, on section 6, township 17, range 20.
Knoxport.
Lockport-(Now Lockville) November 1, 1838, by I. F. Abbott, in Mil- ford township.
Melrose-By John Miller, August 12, 1852, section 2, township 5, range 15.
Mount Vernon-Original plat-July 16, 1805, by Thomas B. Patterson, Joseph Walker and Benjamin Butler.
Mount Holly-Now Brinkhaven, or Gann as incorporated.
Mount Liberty-October 8, 1835.
Maysville-March 29, 1849, by David Gorsuch, Sr., on the southeast of section 8.
Martinsburg-Same as Hanover and Williamsburg.
North Liberty-February 19, 1851, by Philip E. Frederick, in Pike town- ship.
New Lexington-March 9, 1816, by Robert Giffin, on section 24, town- ship 6, range 10.
Port Jackson-April 18, 1828, on section 21, township 8, range 10, by John Hibbits.
Palmyra-This is in Berlin township, platted November 17, 1835.
Rossville-Section 4, township 7, range 10, September, 1871, by Jacob Ross.
Sparta-Platted December 23, 1836.
Winchester-Platted in Morgan township.
Westville-In Brown township, June 14. 1828, by Jacob Peiffer.
Waterford-In Middleberry township, platted April 13, 1843, by Josiah Fawcett.
THE OHIO SANATORIUM.
This, one of the new state institutions in Ohio, is located a short distance out from Mt. Vernon. The entire expense thus far has been about three- quarters of a million dollars. The Ohio Society for the Prevention of Tuber- culosis was organized at the office of the board of health in November, 1901. The General Assembly in April, 1902, appointed a commission to investigate
395
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
the feasibility of erecting a sanatorium for incipient stages of consumption. The commission reported to the governor in April, 1903, that such an institu- tion should be established.
April 24, 1904, the General Assembly passed an act providing for a com- mission to select and purchase lands and erect thereon suitable buildings and structures for a sanatorium. This committee was organized June 30, 1904, and was as follows: Governor M. T. Herrick, president ; Auditor of State W. D. Guilbert, vice-president; Dr. C. O Probst, secretary ; Attorney-General Wade H. Ellis, Judge J. B. Briggs.
After considering more than one hundred sites proposed, the commission selected the site of three hundred and fifty-five acres near Mt. Vernon, on which the brick buildings have been erected. The site was selected January 2, 1906, and work of plan-making begun. To Dr. C. O. Probst must be given more credit than to any other person for the founding of this institution. The site is nestled in the semicircle of a beautiful wooded tract, with plenty of sun- shine, a high elevation and every natural advantage.
Any citizen of Ohio, who pays in advance five dollars per week, and passes the examination for the incipient stage of consumption, may enter this institution, but no others will be received. It is in no sense a hospital, but simply a training school where those afflicted with lung trouble, in a mild form, may be taught how to cure themselves, before it is too late to effect a cure. Pulmonary tuberculosis in incipient or early stages is all that will be treated here.
The institution was opened for the suffering public in November, 1909, and thus far three hundred have been treated and at present there are only ninety inmates, about equally divided between men and women. The present officers include Dr. Stephen A. Douglass, acting superintendent ; C. P. Franks, chief clerk ; Mrs. S. A. Douglass, matron ; Mrs. C. P. Franks, assistant matron.
The fine buildings include one each for male and female for reception cottages; four each, male and female, convalescent cottages; administration building ; power-house and laundry ; barn and poultry house.
FIRST MILL IN KNOX COUNTY.
Mills were indeed a necessity to the first comers in this, as well as to any, new country. Perhaps the best authority on mills and milling at an early date, is Mr. Norton, who wrote of these in 1862, and from a thorough research of the historical facts concerning them :
The first mill in Knox county was a primitive one. It was in the Haines, or Ten-Mile, settlement, and was constructed without the sound of a hammer
396
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
on iron. It was the joint work of Abner and Ebenezer Brown, assisted by the mechanical skill of the whole neighborhood, and was built on what was called by early settlers "Big run," but later known as a small lake through which the Granville road has long since been laid. It was made entirely of wood, so to speak. A sugar trough made its meal trough, a little box its hopper, the stones were about two feet through and fastened together with bark, in the absence of any hoop-iron. It cracked corn pretty well, with a full head of water in the floom, but the stream was generally low or dry, and the mill was only able to run when there came a heavy shower and in springtime. The building was ten feet square, made of logs, and not a nail or bit of iron could be found about the premises. The stones of this old mill were indeed a cur- iosity, and were kept many years ( may now be in existence) as relics of "ye olden times."
Robert Richards at one time took a grist to this original mill and had it ground. He was then about seventeen years old and not much acquainted with the milling business, but he was greatly impressed with its mechanism, and ready to exclaim, with our old friend Hadley: "The works of God are wonderful, but the works of man are wonderfuller!" He thought it worked first rate, but Henry Haines at that same time had a hand mill which he claimed was a great improvement on the little wooden mill.
In 1804 William Douglass, of Morris township, built a flouring mill and saw mill combined, and a few years later added a carding machine. Here wool was carded and goods fulled after the best fashion then known. By this useful thing the farmers were enabled to work up their home-grown wool into fabrics and finally make their own clothing.
In 1807 John Kerr built a grist and saw mill at Fredericktown. About the same time Jacob Young built mills four miles west of that town, and Samuel Gregg another, one and a half miles south.
In the eastern part of the county Hibbitt's Mills, on the banks of the Mohican, and Shrimplin's and Dial's, on Owl creek, made their appearance about the same time.
In 1816 Henry Davis purchased a flouring and saw mill in the southern suburbs of Mount Vernon, which had been erected in 1810, it was then claimed. It had a saw mill attached. From then on mills were in evidence everywhere in Knox county, and it had the just name of being the best mill- ing section in all Ohio. Its streams were many and usually they all afforded a good supply of water. But by 1880 it was recorded in local historical accounts that the business of milling had all changed. The settling up and draining off of the country, and the drying up of once good mill power streamlets, drove the mills mostly out of commission, and where one was to be found doing
397
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
good work at flour-making, it was usually propelled by steam. The farmer has long since quit going to mill in this section of the country. He sells his grain and goes to the near-by town or city and there purchases his flour manu- factured in some city rolling mill. The grade seems better, but the healthful qualities are lacking, many claim. It is white and handsome, but will not digest like the darker, less closely bolted brands of the early milling process.
Corn meal, too, was a popular, almost daily, breadstuff used with much relish in the county up to about Civil-war days. It was, indeed, a blessing in disguise to the pioneer and his family of growing children. But cake and pie have crowded it out and caused it to be less of a staple for everyday whole- some diet.
POSTOFFICES OF KNOX COUNTY, 19II.
Ankenytown, Buckeye City, Brinkhaven, Bladensburg, Bangs, Center- burg, Danville, Fredericktown, Greer, Gambier, Howard, Jelloway, Millwood, Martinsburg, Mt. Liberty, Mt. Vernon.
In the autumn of 1911 the county had eight postoffices from which ex- tended out over the country rural free delivery mail service.
The marriages in Knox county for the year ending March 1, 1910, num- bered 260 white couples and 264 colored couples, making a total of 524 mar- riages.
OLD STYLE APPRENTICESHIP.
There are now filed away in the records of Knox county several queer relics of the old-fashioned manner of binding out a youth to master a given trade. Among such legal documents is to be seen the following, entitled, "Samuel Geddes' Indenture to William Smith." Samuel Geddes desired to learn the hatter's trade, or at least his father thought Samuel would make a good hatter, so forthwith the following indenture was drawn up and signed by the respective parties : -
"This indenture made this fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eighteen hundred and twenty-eight, witnesseth: That Samuel Geddes, aged eighteen years against the twenty-first day of November next, by and with the consent of said John Geddes, of Knox county and the State of Ohio, his father, hath of his free will placed and bound himself apprentice to William Smith, of the town of Mt. Vernon, county and state aforenamed, to learn the trade, mystery or occupation of a hatter, which he, the said Smith, in company with Adam Glaze, Jr., now useth, and with who as an ap- prentice to dwell, continue and serve from the day of the date hereof, until the end of the term of three years, three months and sixteen days from thence next ensuing, and to be complete and ended during all of which term the said ap-
398
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
prentice his master shall well and faithfully serve, his secrets keep, his lawful commands obey ; hurt to his said master he shall not do, nor wilfully suffer to be done by others : but of the same shall to the utmost of his power forthwith give notice to his master ; the goods of the said Smith he shall not embezzle or waste nor them lend without his consent. At cards, dice, or any other games he shall not play ; taverns and ale houses he shall not frequent ; fornication he shall not commit; matrimony he shall not contract; from the service of the said Smith he shall not at any time depart or absent himself without consent of said Smith, but in all things as a good and faithful apprentice, shall and will demean himself towards the said Smith and all his, during the said term. And the said Smith his said apprentice in the trade, mystery and occupation of a hatter with all things thereunto belonging shall and will cause to be well and sufficiently taught and instructed after the best way and manner he can; and shall and will also find and allow his said apprentice meat, drink, washing, lodging and apparel (both linen and woolen), and all other necessaries fit and convenient for such an apprentice, during the term of aforesaid. And also, at the expiration of said term, the said William Smith shall give the said apprentice a good freedom suit worth thirty dollars. As witness our hands and seals the year and day last above written.
(Seal) "SAMUEL GEDDES, "JOHN GEDDES. "WILLIAM SMITH.
"Witnesses present : G. Browning, Adam Glaze, Jr.
"Entered of record by H. B. Curtis, recorder."
Such were the practices and common customs of four score years ago in Knox county. In 1848 there were two hatter's shops in Mt. Vernon, one by Samuel F. Voorhis and one by William L. King. Nothing of this sort exists here today, the business having gone to larger cities, and the apprentice practice has all changed, possibly for the better and maybe for the worse.
VIOLENT STORMS.
On Wednesday, May 18, 1825, between one and two o'clock in the af- ternoon, occurred one of the fiercest wind storms that ever swept over Knox county. It devastated the southern portion of this county to a great extent. It prostrated all within its pathway, which was almost one mile in width and traveled to the northeast. Heavy hail, as large as large hen's eggs, fell at the same time.
Another great storm, taking tornado characteristics, swept the county again September 2, 1845, crossing the southern part of Harrison township, causing great loss of property and some lives.
399
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
In November, 1857, another very violent storm, a regular whirlwind, swept over the south part of Harrison township. This storm threw flat the house of Jacob Ellett, some of the family being covered by the wreckage and severely injured. It uprooted trees, blew down fences, and, passing into But- ler township, tore down a house in which a corpse was awaiting burial. There have been a few lesser storms in the county, since the above dates, but not what could well be termed a cyclone.
JUDGE WILLIAM H. WEST, "BLIND MAN ELOQUENT."
This sketch is concerning a man reared in Knox county and who won fame in the state and nation. It was he who nominated Hon. James G. Blaine for the Presidency. Indeed, Judge West was a many-sided and really great man.
He was born February 9, 1834, in Millsboro, Washington county, Penn- sylvania. When six years of age he accompanied his parents to Knox county, Ohio, and here amid the scenes of frontier life he was reared to young man- hood, sharing with his parents the hardships and trials incident to residence in a new country a hundred years ago. His early educational advantages were supplemented by study in Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, from which institution he graduated in 1846, sharing the honors of the class with Gen. A. B. Sharpe. Following this he taught school in Kentucky two years, subsequent to which time he became a tutor in his alma mater. He was made professor in Hampden-Sidney College, of Prince Edward, Virginia. He finally left the South for Bellefontaine, Ohio, where he became a law student of Judge Will- iam Lawrence, with whom later he was associated as a partner in law business.
He gradually advanced. In 1860 he was a delegate to the Republican national convention and cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln. In 1884 he pre- sented the name of Hon. James G. Blaine as a candidate for President before the Republican national convention. He was twice elected representative, twice as prosecuting attorney, twice as attorney-general, twice as state senator and once as supreme judge, declining a second term because of his failing eye- sight, which later made him totally blind. President U. S. Grant appointed him consul to Rio Janerio, which office he declined in order that he might give all of his time to the practice of law. In 1877 he was nominated for governor, but went down to defeat with the opposition to President Hayes.
Judge West was one of the foremost thinkers and speakers in the entire land. As a campaign orator he was in demand from New England to the banks of the Mississippi. He possessed a wonderful memory and was a great historian of politics and parties. He became a leader of men and led the
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