USA > Ohio > Logan County > The historical review of Logan County, Ohio > Part 28
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them the right to vote in his own case. for the fraud, if it applied to one, applied with equal force to all four of the Cincinnati Sen- ators, and if this new rule were to be per- mitted to remain in force, it would seat these Senators, one by one, so that in the end all four of them would be seated by their own votes.
It was, in fact, applying a new parlia- mentary rule in violation of all precedent and outraging all parliamentary law, and was as though four persons jointly indicted for an offense should be permitted to sit in judgment upon their associates, while their associates in turn did the same favor for them.
The Lieutenant-Governor decided that this rule was not and could not be enforced. That it was in violation of all parliamentary law and that these senators could not vote upon any question, no matter how indirect or immaterial. while their cases were under consideration, for if they could do so in any single instance they could hinder, delay and defeat the hearing of the cases altogether ; and could by their votes on the final hear- ing substantially determine their own cases, a thing that would be a complete overturn- ing of the rules of law and a substantial de- nial of a just and impartial hearing.
The rules so adopted were denied and ignored and the cases proceeded upon their merits without the right being admitted of these contestants voting in their own cases. An attempt was made by threats, force and intimidation to over-ride the presiding of- ficer and to compel a submission to these unfair, unjust and unconstitutional rules ; and threats of violence and the purpose to seize the Senate Chamber were openly made.
Notwithstanding all this, the cases were This would have in fact given each of proceeding to the hearing and determina-
.
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tion, when suddenly the Democratic mem- bers. for the purpose of breaking a quorum and defeating the final hearing of these cases, left the Senate Chamber and fled the state, going to Kentucky and Tennessee. leaving one of their number to challenge a quorum should any business be attempted to be done in their absence, there being only seventeen members beside the one Dem- ocratic member present. while a quorum which consisted of nineteen members, or a majority of thirty-seven could do business.
This one member temporarily absented himself from the chamber when the sen- ators present proceeded to hear and deter- mine the Cincinnati contest, the vote being taken viva voca and without question of challenge, and the four fraudulent senators were unseated and the contestants were duly seated and sworn in, and business proceeded with twenty-one members. being two more than were necessary to count a quorum of all the members. During this controversy, and for the purpose of defeating this proceed- ing, the journal of the Senate was stolen. but the clerk under the direction of the presiding officer, made a new and complete journal, which was reported and approved by the Senate.
. These questions were all carried to the Supreme Court and the action of the Senate upon all points was sustained by that body. The record and proceedings being found in all respects regular and complete.
The fleeing Democratic members came back one by one, but took little or no part in the further proceedings of the Senate dur- ing the session.
Thus a long and bitter contest was ended which at one time threatened to result in bloodshed and to be concluded only after personal encounter and the rougher and States, where he served for eight years.
more dangerous methods of appeal to force rather than to justice and reason.
Thus ended one of the most important and exciting contests ever known in Ohio and the firmness and determination of the Republicans averted a possible calamity or disaster: and at the same time settled for all the time important constitutional and parlimentary questions which were in- volved.
In 1886 Lieutenant-Governor Kennedy, having been elected to the fiftieth Congress. on the 3d day of March following, his res- ignation of the lieutenant-governorship was handed to the Governor and he ceased to occupy that office.
WILLIAM V. MARQUIS.
William V. Marquis was born in Knox county on the 13th of March, 1822, and came to Logan county with his father's fam- ily in 1832.
He was a candidate for lieutenant-gov- ernor on the Democratic ticket in 1889 and was defeated by Elbert T. Lampson. but contested the seat of Governor Lampson and was seated by the Democratic Senate and served out the term of 1889 and '90.
MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
The Honorable Benjamin Stanton was a member of the constitutional convention of 1851. He was at that time the leading member of the bar of Logan county and a man of great force of character.
He was a fine speaker and his addresses were listened to with marked attention.
He afterwards became a member of the Senate of Ohio where he served for two terms, and of the Congress of the United
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
HONORABLE WILLIAM H. WEST.
Was a member of the next constitution- al convention in 1872 .. Judge West had long been the foremost member of the Lo- gan county bar, had served as attorney-gen- eral of Ohio, and as supreme judge of the state and was most admirably qualified for the duties of that convention.
CHAPTER XXII.
CYCLONES-STORM OF 1825 --- QUINCY AND DE GRAFF STORMI-DESTRUCTIVE FILL-BILLIONFAINE LIKE -WEST LIBERTY FIRE ..
On the 24th of June, 1825. there passed through Logan county from the northwest to the southeast, a most destructive storm. It was about one-half mile wide and swept everything before it.
Fortunately the country was very thinly populated at that time and the portion of the country through which it passed, was only in the beginning of its settlements and so far as is known no lives were lost.
It passed through the townships of Miami, Union, Harrison, Lake, Rush Creek and Bokes Creck, and extended for a distance of more than thirty miles.
It was a great funnnel-shaped cloud and Bellefontaine was then but a small vil- came with a rumbling noise as if a mighty lage and, fortunately, it passed to the west electric train was passing. of it.
The only house destroyed by it was the house of John Houtz, just west of the town and situated near the point where Sandusky street and Lincoln avenue now come to- gether.
This was the first brick house built in or near Bellefontaine. For many years there was a hard maple standing on Main street just in front of the property now owned by John Plummer which had been blown to pieces by this storm, but remained a broken and blasted witness to its de- structiveness. It passed with a violence that was irresistable and felled the timber as though it was but pipe stems. Not a tree was left standing in its pathway. For many years this country was called "the fallen timber." and it was the headquarters for deer, small game, wild turkey, and wild ber- ries. It has long since been cleared away and is now one of the finest and richest por- tions of Logan county.
THE QUINCY AND DE GRAFF STORM.
On the 7th day of July, 1872, between six and seven o'clock p. m., a most violent and destructive storm visited the western portion of this county, passing from the northwest to the southeast. through the towns of Quincy and DeGraff. Shortly be- fore its arrival the citizens who chanced to be out or doors noticed a gathering of clouds in the west and they became blacker and blacker with a peculiar fringe of electric light passing through and about the whole.
It first struck a small grove of trees, just outside of the town of Quincy, and tore it into kindling wood. Upon its approach to the village the first building it caught on its passage was a small house in which an old couple lived. who were seated at the table quietly eating their evening meal; the
The upper story of Houtz's house was blown off and he put the roof on the one house was carried away to the floor and the story without replacing the upper one. old couple were left unhurt.
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It swept on through the town, destroy- ing in its passage both the Baptist and Meth- odist churches, and leaving behind in its pathway some fifty or sixty houses destroy- ed, or more or less injured.
Fortunately no one was killed in Quin- cy, but the destruction of property was es- timated to be between fifty and sixty thou- sand dollars.
Upon leaving the town of Quincy on its onward flight to DeGraff. it destroyed the barns of Mr. Custenborder : in one case com- pletely carrying the super-tructure away and leaving a horse tied to the manger unhurt. and he was found quietly eating his bay.
Curiously enough a similar circumstance was recorded in DeGraff, where a fine French stallion was found standing at the stall unhurt, while the barn and its con- tents had been scattered to the wind -.
Orchards in its pathway were entirely destroyed and as it swept on towards De Graff it caught one corner of the mill of Shriver, Wolfe and Company, and pushed it several feet from its foundations. In De Graff the Methodist church was entirely car- ried away from its foundations.
The line of the storm was so distinctly marked that outside of the line and within a few feet of it nothing was disturbed. This was especially emphasized in the case of Samuel Frantz. He had a tin and stove store, standing on the same lot with his house, just south of it and fifteen or twenty feet away; the store-room was a brick, two stories in heighth while the residence was a neat frame cottage with considerable extra work in the way of ornamentation.
Mr. Frantz had just left the store a few minutes before and the family were at sup- per in the cottage with the door of the dining
room open and looking out onto the store. They heard a rushing; crushing noise, a dark cloud, as it were, passing over, and saw the air filled with dust and debris. On looking out, the store with all its contents had been completely swept away, and noth- ing but the foundations remained; while the cottage within twenty feet of the store-room was undisturbed, not even a shingle being torn from the roof. Two per- sons were killed in DeGraff and several in- jured. and considering that the storm had swept through the very center of the vil- lage, and in the midst of its residences and stores. it was simply marvelous that there was no greater loss of life.
After passing eastward some three or four miles the storm spent its fury. the cloud lifted and the destruction was over.
It was about one hundred and fifty feet in width, and within that space the destruc- tion was complete.
These two storms are the only serious electrical experiences Logan county has suffered.
The destructions caused by them were repaired and the towns are improving rap- idly and the marks of the cyclones have long since disappeared.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.
On the 26th of November, 1856, a de- structive fire burned some two or three squares of property and caused a loss of fully one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the property-owners of Bellefontaine. It began in a barn on the rear of the lot where Canby's feed store formerly stood and be- hind the Riddle and Rutan buildings.
It was supposed to have been caused by some careless boys or some persons who had been in the barn and accidently set on fire.
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
From a small blaze it very quickly lit up tween these points the destruction was com- plete.
the barn. filled with hay and straw, and spread to a large two-story frame building on the back of the lot near the barn. From this it was quickly carried to the frame build- ings on Columbus street. These being of wood, and dry as tinder, the flames caught them and swept from one to another until both sides of Columbus street were one great sea of flames.
There being no fire department and no means of protection, it was impossible to do more than attempt to save some of the con- tents of the buildings. The heat was so intense that in a very few moments no one could go near to Columbus street, and the fire, fanned and blown into fury, spread with a rapidity that defied all attempts to save any great amount of the contents of any of the buildings.
The citizens fought nobly to save the structures without the line of flame, and the Metropolitan building was saved and the line of destruction drawn on the north of that buikling, largely through the efforts of John Powers, who with blankets and buckets of water, fought back the fire from this building, although the flames from the oil and paint of the drug store adjoining. went into the air fully fifty feet above, and burned his hands and face to blisters. Mr. Powers is still living at the age of ninety- six, a most remarkably preserved man.
Within an hour one hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of property had gone up in flame and smoke, and the huge chim- neys standing like silent sentinels were evi- dence that the destruction had been com- plete.
Like all such fires, while the loss to in- dividuals was very great, it only gave oppor- tunity for improvement. and instead of the frame structures which had become old and shop-worn, new buildings, entirely of brick. took the places of those destroyed and Belle- fontaine was greatly improved in appearance by the change.
FIRE IN WEST LIBERTY.
On the 13th of May. 1880, a fire de- stroyed much valuable property in West Liberty. It started in a small ont-building in the rear of Doctor Henry Kurfurst's drug store, and was quickly communicated to other buildings in the vicinity. It was sup- posed to have been started by a boy, who had been punished for some offense and took this means of obtaining redress. Within a half hour the fire had crossed the street and was threatening the destruction of the whole town. There were no means of fire protec- tion save the old-fashioned methods of buck- ets, and the extent of the fire was so great that it was impossible for a time to do any- thing towards staying it at any point. The wind fanned the flames and they drove the workers away from the streets and from the front of the burning buildings.
The buildings at that time in Belleion- taine were almost entirely of wood, except- ing the Rutan corner. and they were only fuel for the flames. The fire extended to the Dr. Thomas residence on Main street The citizens, men and women, worked hard and fought the fire with determination and at last got it under control, but not un- where the Williamson house now stands. and from the stable in the rear end of the lot just behind the Lawrence block, and be- til it had destroyed property covering fully
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two squares and valued at eighty or one hundred thousand dollars.
This fire, it was thought. would be the means of crushing out the lie and spirit of West Liberty, and many predicted that it would not be rebuilt. Upon the contrary it was the means of giving it langer and better buildings, more substantially con- structed, and entirely of brick. The town is now more prosperous than ever, and with new buildings replacing the old structures destroyed by the fire, and general improve- ments it presents a neat and handsome ap- pearance and is one of the most prosperous villages in the county.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE OHIO LEGISLATURE-MEMBERS OF SENATE-MEM- BERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
After the organization of the county in 1817. Logan county was entitled to repre- sentation in the legislature. Before that time it was a part of Champaign county and was represented as a part and parcel of that county.
The senatorial districts were changed from time to time by the legislature for the purpose of adjusting the growing population of the state into equal representative dis- triets. The term being for one year.
THIE SENATE.
George Fithian, of Champaign county. represented Logan, Champaign and Clark in the Senate from 1819 to 1821; James Cooley, from Champaign, from '21 to '23,
Wood county having been added to the dis- trict.
George Fithian again from 1823 10 1824.
In 1824 the district was changed to in- clude Marion, Shelby, Logan, Hardin, Han- cock and Wood.
R. Young, of Marion, represented dis- trict from 1824 to 1826: Daniel M. Work- man, of Logan, from 1826 to 1828.
In 1828 the district was again changed to Logan, Shelby and Madison.
William Fielding, of Madison, repre- sented it from 1828 to 1829.
Again it was changed in 1829 to Logan, Shelby, Union and Wood.
William Fielding was again sent from 1829 to IS30.
In 1830 it was again changed to Lo- gan, Shelby, Madison and Union.
John Shelby, of Logan, represented the district from 1830 to 1832.
In 1832 it was again changed to Logan. Madison, Union, Hardin and Hancock.
Philip Lewis represented it from 1832 to 1834; Samuel Newell, of Logan, from 1834 to 1836.
In 1836 it was again changed to Logan. Champaign and Clark.
John H. James, of Champaign, repre- sented it from 1836 to 1839: Joseph Vance, of Champaign, from 1839 to 1841.
In 1841 it was again changed to Logan, Champaign and Miami.
Benjamin Stanton, of Logan, represent- ed it from 1841 to 1843: John Grabill, of Logan, from 1843 to 1845.
Hardin county was added to the dis- trict in 1845, and Ira Bean, of Hardin, represented it from 1845 to 1847; Joshua Judy from 1847 to 1849.
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
In 1849 it was changed to Logan, Union. Hardin and Marion.
William Lawrence, of Logan, represent- ed it from 1849 to 1851.
In 1852, after the adoption of the new constitution. Logan, Hardin, Marion and Union were formed into the thirteenth sen- atorial district, and so remain until this day. The following persons have repre- sented the people of this district in the Sen- ate of Ohio :
John J. Williams, Marion county, from 1852 to 1854: William Lawrence, Lugan county, from 1854 to 1856; Cornelius Ham- ilton, Union county, 1856 to 1858; C. IT. Gatch, Hardin county, 1858 to 1860; T. B. Fisher, Marion county, from 1860 to 1802; John Hord. Marion county, from 1862 to 1864: W. II. West. Logan county, from 1864 to 1806: P. B. Cole, Union county. from 1866 to 1868; Solomon Craner, Har- din county, from 1868 to 1870: John Bart- ram, Marion county, from 1870 to 1872; Isaac S. Gardner, Logan county, from 1872 to 1874: W. C. Lawrence, Union county. from 1874 to 1876: W. W. Beaty, Logan county, 1876 to 1878: Hylas Sabin. Union county, from 1878 to 1880; L. M. Strong. Hardin county, from ISSo to 1884: J. J. Hane. Marion county, from 1884 to 1886: Duncan Dow, Logan county, 1886 to 1888: James Cutler. Union county, 1888 to 1800; Joseph B. Pumphrey, Hardin county, from 1890 to 1892: John Bain. Marion county, from 1892 to 1894; W. S. Phim, Logan county, from 1804 to 1896; George B. Hamilton, Union county, 1896 to 1898: W. T. S. May, Hardin county, from 1868 to 1900: G. W. Harding. Marion county, from 1900 to 1904.
TIJE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
For many years the population of Logan county, did not entitle it to a representative and it was joined with other counties and from time to time changed as the increase of population required new adjustments for the purpose of making equal representation in the legislature.
In 1810 Logan, Champaign and Clark were entitled to one representative, and Reuben Wallace represented these counties from 1819 to 1820. John Shelby represent- ed Logan and Wood from 1820 to 1828. In 1828 Logan, Madison, Union and Har- dm were thrown together and Reuben P. Mann represented it from 1828 to 1829; Lanson Curtis, of Logan county, from 1829 to 1830: John T. Chenowith, 1830 to 1831 : Samuel Newell. Logan county. 1831 to 1834: Nicholas Hathaway, 1834 to 1836; Samuel Newell represented Logan and Champaign from 1836 to 1837; Doetor James Crew, Logan and Champaign, from 1837 to 1839: Anthony Casad, Logan and Champaign, from 1839 to 1840; William C. Lawrence, Logan, Champaign and Union, frem 1840 to 1841 : William C. Law- rence. Logan and Union, from 1841 to 1842: Otway Curry, Logan and Union, 1842 to 1843: William McBeth. Logan and Union, from 1843 to 1844: John F. IIenkle, Logan and Hardin, from 1844 to 1845: Richard S. Canby. Logan and Hardin. from 1845 to 1846: William Lawrence, Lo- gan and Hardin, 1846 to 1848: Samuel Watt. Logan and Hardin, from 1848 to 1850: Oden Hayes, Logan and Hardin. 1850 to IS51.
After the adoption of the new constitu- tion in 1851. Logan county was entitled to one representative and has so continued to
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
this day, and the following representatives have been sent from Logan county :
Anthony Casad. 1852 to 1854: Joseph Newell, 1854 to 1856; Samuel L. Allen. 1856 to 1858: William IT. West. 1858 to IS60: J. W. Hamilton, 1800 to 1802: W. H. West. 1862 to ISO4: C. W. B. Allison. 1864 to 1866: Donn Piatt. 1866 to 1868; Marvin Warren, 1808 to 1870: John .1. Price, 1870 to 1872: T. Miltenberger, 1872 to 1874; W. W. Beatty, 1874 to 1876: Dun- can Dow. 1876 to 188o: James Walker, 1880 to 1886; W. W. Beatty. 1886 to 1890: C. M. Wanzer, 1890 to 1804: Spain J. Southard 1804 to 1808: J. W. Bowers. 1898 to 1900: Luther Pool, 1900 to 1904.
CHAPTER XXI.
JUDGES OF COMMON PLEAS COURT-PROBATE JUDGES- CLERKS OF COURT-SHIRITES OF LOGAN COUNTY- PROSECUTING ATIONNEYS- COUNTY AUDITORS -- COUNTY TREASURERS - COUNTY RECORDLES - COUNTY SURVEYORS-COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
From the organization of the county in 1818. up to the adoption of the new con- stitution in 1851. the courts of common pleas had jurisdiction of all probate busi- ness, including guardianships and the settle- ments of estates, the court consisted of one representative citizens. distinguished for their wisdom and judgment in the conduct presiding judge, duly elected by the people and three associate judges, chosen from the of public affairs.
The first presiding judge of Logan coun- ty was the Honorable Oris Parrish.
It was under his jurisdiction and guid- ance that the county seat was located at Bellefontaine, and the terms and conditions were adjusted and provided for. The fol- lowing shows the judges and associate judges from 1818 up to the new constitu- tion in 1851:
1818: Oris Parrish, presiding judge.
1820: Joseph Il. Crane, presiding judge: James Mellvain, Levi Garwood. John Shelby, associates.
1821: Joseph H. Crane. presiding judge: Levi Garwood, William McBeth, James McPherson, associates.
1822: Joseph Il. Crane, presiding judge: Levi Garwood. James McPherson. Robert Smith, associates.
1829: Hon. Judge B. Holt, presiding judge: Levi Garwood. James McPherson. Robert Smith, associates.
1835: Hon. Joseph R. Swan, presiding judge: Levi Garwood. Abner Snoddy, Abraham Elder, associates.
1839: Hon. Joseph R. Swan, presiding judge: Abram Elder, Abner Snoddy, Joshua Robb, associates,
1840: Hon. Joseph R. Swan. presiding judge: Abram Elder, Joshua Robb. Gabriel Slaugliter, associates.
1842: Hon. Joseph R. Swan, presiding judge: Joshua Robb, Gabriel Slaughter. William Hoge, associates.
1846: Hon. James L. Torbert, presid- ing judge: Gabriel Slaughter, William Hoge, Noah Z. McColloch, associates.
1847: James L. Torbert, presiding judge : William Hoge, Noah Z. McColloch. W. H. Mckinnon. associates.
1848 : Hon. James L. Torbert, presiding judge; N. Z. McColloch, W. H. Mckinnon, Peter Kelly, associates.
1849: Hon. James L. Torbert. presid-
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
ing judge: N. Z. McColloch. W. II. Mc- Kinnon. Peter Kelly, associates.
In 1851 the new constitution was adopt- ed and the associate judges were done away with, and the probate business was trans- ferred to a separate court called the probate court.
The judges elected and serving under the new constitution, beginning in the year 1852. are as follows :
Benjamin F. Metcalf. of Allen county. 1852 to 1857: William Lawrence, of Lo- gan county, 1857 to 1864.
In 1864 Judge Lawrence, having been elected to Congress, resigned his seat on the bench, and Honorable Jacob S. Conklin. of Shelby county, was appointed to the va- cancy, and was duly elected at the following elcetion.
Jacob S. Conklin, of Shelby county, 1864 to 1872: P. B. Cole, of Union county, 1872 to 1877: John L. Porter. of Union county. 1877 to 1882: John .A. Price, of Logan county. 1882 to 1897: Duncan Dow. of Logan county, 1897 to 1907.
PROBATE JUDGES.
The probate court was first organized under the new constitution of Ohio in 1852. and was given jurisdiction of guardian- ships and the settlement of estates, the con- demnation of private property for public use, and in some counties criminal juris- diction. The following are the names of those having filled the office in Logan county since 1852 :
Ezra Bennett, 1852 to 1856: Anthony Casad. 1856 to 1861.
vacancy caused by the death of Judge Tay- lor.
R. E. Pettit. 1879 to 1885: T. Milten- berger. 1885 to 1891: L. E. Pettit, 1891 to 1807: J. D. MeLaughlin, 1897 to 1903: W. S. Plum, 1903 to 1906.
CLERKS OF THE COURT.
Upon the organization of Logan county in 1818. Samuel Newell was appointed clerk of the court, and served as such from 1818 to 1831. The following persons have served as clerk of the court in Logan coun- ty since 1818.
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