The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2, Part 7

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1410

USA > Ohio > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2 > Part 7

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This reading-room club continued as above stated until July 10, 1868, when all the furniture of the room and the papers and magazines on file were sold out at public sale.

Wilmington Library Association .- This association was organized early in the year 1880. The present officers are as follows: President, J. M. Kirk; Vice President, Dr. A. T. Quinn; Secretary, J. B. Unthank; Treasurer, D. A. Lamb; Librarian, A. E. Clovenger. The library consists of miscellaneous works numbering 452 volumes.

WILMINGTON PUBLIC HALL.

On the 17th day of March, 1876, the Council authorized an election to decide the question of levying a tax for the purpose of erecting a public hall and engine house. The election was held April 3, 1876, and resulted in a vote of 383 to 146 in favor of the enterprise. A special act of the Legislature was passed March 17, 1877, authorizing the Council to issue bonds not exceeding in amount $15,000, and to levy a tax not to exceed 2} mills on the dollar val- uation of the taxable property of the village. The first stone in the hall was laid on Friday, May 25, 1877, by Robert McMillan, and the building was com- pleted in the spring of 1878. It is an imposing structure two stories high, with a mansard slate roof. The front is formed of three towers extending to the roof. The middle tower is surmounted with a small belfry, beautiful in. design and finish, and in each roof of the other towers are two dormer win- dows. The front presents a number of ornaments of freestone and galvanized iron. On the outside walls on either side, are five buttresses extending from the ground to near the top of the building, four of which culminate, after mak- ing two offsets, in as many chimneys. On the first floor of the building are eight rooms as follows: East half, front room, Mayor's office; middle room, for township purposes; rear room, Council chamber, west half occupied by the Fire Department; large room in front, engine room; three rooms in the rear occupied as a residence by the engineer. The second story entire com-

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prises the auditorium. Across the rear end of the auditorium is a gallery. The building is lighted by gas and heated by hot air.

The contract for building the hall was awarded to Messrs. Fisher & Hughes for $16,980, and they sublet the brick and stone work to McMillan Bros .; the galvanized iron and slating to Farquhar & Sparks, and the paint- ing to Griffin & Gustin. The plastering was done by P. J. Murphy, under employment of the contractors. The plans and specifications were drawn up by William M. Cleveland, architect; but in the course of the construction of the building, some changes were rendered necessary, and the cost of the build- ing was increased to $18,399.49. The scenery, chandeliers, etc., increased the above sum, and the total cost of the building as it stood at its completion was $20,006.52. There are chairs in the auditorium for over six hundred persons, and sufficient seats in the gallery for 250 more; but 1,200 persons can be ac- commodated without much crowding. The stage scenery is attractive, the chandeliers of a new and beautiful pattern, and the whole audience room is commodious and beautiful. Taking it all in all, the hall is a model one. For outside show, the building is an imposing one, not overdone in the way of dec- orations, but tasteful and attractive. The hall was formally opened and dedi- cated under the direction of the Town Council on the evening of Thursday, April 18, 1878, with the following programme:

Music, by Wilmington orchestra.

Anthem, by choir.

Music, by orchestra.

Address. Presentation of the hall by Mayor Hayes.

Address. Reception of hall by W. B. Telfair, Esq.

Music by orchestra.

In consideration of $2,000 paid by the Trustees of Union Township to the village of Wilmington, the latter granted them a perpetual lease on the room horotoforo described as occupied by them for township purposes.

BANKS.

The first bank in Wilmington was established February 22, 1853, by W. C. Fife and T. L. Carothers. It was a private bank, and was opened in the building on the east side of South street second door north of Main, and did business under the name of the Clinton County Bank. In 1855, Mr. Caro- thers retired, and Albert Hockett became a partner; in 1862, C. M. Bosworth becarse a partner. Mr. Fife died in 1863, and left the firm Bosworth & Hock- ett, who continued a successful business until 1864, when the Clinton County Bank merged into a National bank, with C. M. Bosworth, President, and Al- bert Hockett, Cashier. The first Board of Directors of this, the First National . Bank of Wilmington, was C. M. Bosworth, Albert Hockett, James Fife, E. L. Lacy and D. Sanders, and the capital stock $50,000. In 1865, Mr. Hockett died, and William Lang was elected Cashier. A year later, C. C. Nichols be- came the Cashier, filling the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Lang. In September, 1871, the capital was increased $50,000, making the total $100,000, at which it has remained, having now a surplus of $31,000.

The present officers are as follows: C. M. Bosworth, President; C. A. Bosworth, Vice President; C. C. Nichols, Cashier; T. Q. March, Teller. Direc- tors: C. M. Bosworth, C. A. Bosworth, C. C. Nichols, T. S. Lang and A. J. Wilson.

The building occupied by this bank is located on the northeast corner of Main and South streets, and is one of the finest in Wilmington; but it is not the property of the bank. . It was built in 1872, by the President of the bank, in connection with James Fife, and cost $30,000, and, with the basement, is

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four stories high. In size it is about 24x72 feet, and is built of brick, with the entire front of froestone, ornamentod.

In the fall of 1859, a private bank was opened and carried on in the build- ing still standing on the southeast corner of South and Locust streets. The parties interested were Thomas W. McMillan, Abel Walker, Isaac C. McMillan, R. E. Doan, Jedediah McMillan and William Harlan, of which Jedediah McMil- lan was the Cashier. The capital stock of the bank was $50,000. This bank was operated under the name of the Clinton County Bank, and existed until the year 1872.

Another private bank had its beginning about the same year as the Clin- ton County Bank, and, in September, 1859, the proprietors, Blaser & Masters, carried on the business of the bank, which was called the Farmers' Bank, on South street, one door north of the court house. This continued in operation until sometime after the close of the war of the rebellion.

The Clinton County National Bank was organized in 1872; chartered June 11 of that year. The first President was R. E. Doan, and the Cashier J. H. McMillan. Directors: R. E. Doan, J. H. McMillan, Thomas W. McMillan, Abel Walker and Isaac McMillan. On the 2d of August, of the following year, Mr. Doan retired from the Presidency of the bank, and F. M. Moore be- came his successor, and has since continued in that position. The same year, Mr. McMillan resigned on account of ill health, and Madison Betts was elected to succeed him as Cashier, in March, 1873, which position he has since occu- pied. The bank opened with a capital of $100,000. This is the amount of the capital stock now, with a surplus of $12,000. Present Directors are F. M. Moore, T. M. McMillan, M. Rombach, Abel Walker and Madison Betts. The business of the bank was transacted in the corner referred to as occupied by the Clinton County Bank, until their removal to the building they now occupy, located on the east side of South, between Main and Locust streets, in the spring of 1873. The building was erected in 1872. It is built of brick, with freestone front, and is two stories high. The banking room, with the office of the Directors, are furnished up in a style creditable to all concerned. The ceiling is high and beautifully adorned, the counters of fine woodwork, covered with beautiful white marble, and the. business desks of excellent workman- ship. The entire edifice, which, with the furnishings, cost in the neighborhood of $20,000, is a credit to Wilmington, and the officers of the bank are to be congratulated on the handsome addition they have made to the appearance of South street.

GAS.

In 1872, the question of erecting gas works in the village was agitated by the citizens who had received propositions from R. T. Coverdale, of Cincin- nati. By the authority of its Council, an election was held on the 4th of November, 1872, to decide whether the citizens were willing to be taxed for the purpose of supplying the village with gas, and resulted in a vote of 245 yeas and 46 nays. The proposition accepted was that the village should not take less than forty lamps at a cost of $3.50 per thousand cubic feet, and other consumers to pay $4 per thousand cubic feet. Ground was purchased adjoin- ing the railroad, of H. W. Hale, by Mr. Coverdale, and gas works erected. On the 10th of April, 1873, the Wilmington Gas Light & Coke Company was organized and the following officers elected: D. Sanders, President; T. Q. Hildebrant, Secretary; Dr. L. B. Welch, Treasurer; D. Sanders, T. Q. Hilde- brant, Dr. Welch, J. S. Foster and Joseph Kirkup, Directors. The capital stock of the company was $30,000, and the contracted price with Mr. Coverdale for the erection of the works was $22,600. The organization of the above company was a mere matter of form, inasmuch as none of the men were stock-

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holders, and had no pecuniary interest in the enterprise, it belonging solely to Mr. Coverdale. Later in the spring, fifty-three lamps were located as fol- lows: Ten on Columbus street, extending from Prairie avenue to South street; fourteen on Locust street, extending from High street to Mulberry; thirteen on Main street, extending from Wood to Walnut; nine on Sugartree street, extending from Walnut to R. Way's property; one at the alley on Mulberry, between Main and Locust; one on South street, at Owen's grocery; one at each of the following places on South: alleys between Sugartree and Main; Main and Locust, and Locust and Columbus, and one at Webster Carroll's saw- mill alley; one on Walnut, at the bridge near D. Sanders' residence.

The works were completed in the summer of 1873, and Wilmington for the first time appeared under gas light on the evening of Saturday, August 8, 1873, when the citizens turned out en masse to see the village under the new regime. Monday evening was the point of culmination, and, during the day, there arrived gentlemen and ladies from Cincinnati, Circleville and Washing- ton Court House to be present at the inauguration. The citizens generally entered into the spirit of preparation, and South and Main streets never looked more pleasing than they did after that day's cleaning. As the shades of evening drew on, those of the citizens who had gas fixtures put into their residences and business houses began lighting up, and by nightfall the streets made a beautiful appearance. Several of the business houses attracted gen- ' eral attention, and, without desiring to discriminate, we would mention the Clinton County National Bank, R. M. Wickersham's dry goods store, Irons & Crane, and Peter's hardware stores, Sanders' drug store, Marble's jewelry store, and the Gates House. In front of Sanders' drug store, and in front of the Gates House ornamental arches had been arranged with large numbers of burners, and underneath the arch in front of the drug store were S and F, and in front of the Gates House were R. T. C. in letters of fire, the first signi- fying Sanders & Fulton, dealers in gas fixtures and fittings, and the second the initials of Mr. Coverdale, the builder of the works. On the posts in front of the two banks, the two lamps had been removed, and temporary fixtures in the form of stars had been arranged, which added much to the beauty and brill- iancy of the street. At 8 o'clock in the evening, a delegation of the Town Council of Washington Court House, accompanied by the Wilmington Coun- cil, and the officers of the company, visited the gas works, and, under the guid- ance of Mr. Coverdale, the visitors were shown the works and the method of gas making. But the principal point of attraction for the evening was the banquet at the Gates House, given by Mr. Coverdale to the officers of the com- pany, the Council of Wilmington, and that of Washington Court House, with some invited guests from Cincinnati, Circleville and Wilmington. Mr. Stagg ("mine host" of the Gates House), had prepared supper for about fifty guests; and about 9 o'clock the doors to the dining-hall were thrown open and the guests were ushered in, where was spread a table loaded with the luxuries of life. After ample justice had been done to the delicious viands, T. Q. Hilde- brant, Esq., acting as Master of Ceremonies, called for speeches, which was responded to by a number of different persons, all congratulating Wilmington on the successful completion of a long-cherished object. All who were so for- tunate as to be present at this part of the entertainment, testified that it was highly enjoyable.

In the earlier part of the evening, Clark's Cornet Band was on the streets adding interest to the occasion by their fine music; and later, the Wilmington String Band made their appearance in front of the Gates House, and enter- tained the company with some excellent music, after which the band was

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shown the way to the dining-hall, where they, with a few belated guests, had an excellent supper served to them.

The gas works passed from the hands of Mr. Coverdale to Samuel Coving- ton, and from him to E. W. Hamlin, the present proprietor, all Cincinnati mon. They were several times leased to other parties. P. J. Wood is the pres- ent Superintendent. There are now about six miles of main pipe, and seventy- six public lamps in the village.

CEMETERIES.

The burial-place long known as the old Methodist Graveyard, located in the northeastern part of the village, had its origin in the family burying- ground of Isaiah Morris. Mr. Morris, prior to 1820, set apart a small lot for burial purposes. Ellis Pugh, Levi Sheppard and James Fife, owned land ad- joining this, and each made additions to it. On the 23d of April, 1832, Levi Sheppard conveyed one-half acre of ground adjoining the lots already men- tionod, to Amos T. Sowell, Charles Russell, E. Kelly, Israel Jobns, James . Christy, Daniel Jones and Thomas Gaskill, as Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilmington, in consideration of $25, and the several lots were thrown together and the graveyard in question formed. Interments were here made as early as the year 1820, and it is quite likely that were the facts known, earlier burials took place, inasmuch as it is the oldest graveyard in Wilmington. The remains of many of the old citizens were interred here, but long since have been removed to Sugar Grove Cemetery. Among the removals we mention the following well-known families of Clinton County: Morris, White, Holland, Gustin, Curtis, Treusdell, Sheppard, Hughes and Barrett.

The first burial of which we were able to find any record, was Rachel Morris, whose remains were interred on the 22d of January, 1820. As a place of burial it was abandoned years ago, and the grounds have since been sadly neglected, and now present to the passer-by a thicket where weeds and briers have been permitted to grow, until even the marble slabs themselves are buried and hidden from viow.

Those yet residing in the narrow cells of this yard awaiting the final summons, who were born in the preceeding century, are given in the following list, which was obtained by the writer from the tombstones:

Ellis Pugh, died in 1823, aged thirty-eight years; Mary Burr, died in 1833, aged thirty-five; John Shewalter, died in 1850, aged sixty-one; Eliza- beth Shewalter, died in 1858, aged sixty-seven; Mary Ashcroft, died in 1842, aged thirty-one; Benjamin Jennings, died in 1843, aged seventy-three; Sarah Jennings, died in 1831, aged fifty-three; Mary Skumming, died in 1855, aged sixty; Hannah Groen, diod in 1847, aged sixty-nine; Sarah Halliday, died in 1853, aged eighty two; Letiche Jennings, died in 1853, aged seventy-four; Thomas Riddell, died in 1840, aged seventy; Thomas Darbyshire, died in 1831, aged eighty-one; Ann Darbyshire, died in 1847, aged sixty-one; Jane A. Harlan, died in 1840, aged forty-three; Bargoon Parsell, died in 1833, aged fifty; Isaac Dewitt, died in 1835, aged forty; Francina Dowdell, died in 1852, agod sixty-four; James Fleming, died in 1836, aged fifty-two; Mary Hinman, died in 1833, aged fifty-six.

The old graveyard at the western end of Sugartree street, adjoining the Hicksite Friends' Church, was deeded by Mark Thatcher and wife to William Adams, Azel Walker and Jesse Doan, Trustees of the Society of Friends, for burial purposes, in the year 1830. The grounds have been abandoned as a place of burial for a number of years, and sadly neglected. There is no fence around portions of the yard, which has been allowed to grow up with weeds, and re- main open to the mercy of stock that may be at large. The lot has recently been given to the corporation, who are to extend the street stopping at the

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yard, and remove the remains to other graveyards. Many bodies wore removed to other places some years ago. Among the carly gravos still remain- ing, and marked by marble slabs, are the following:

Henry Whitson, born 10th month 10th day, 1773, and died 12th month, 1852; Elizabeth Fallis, died February 11, 1836; M. M. Livey, M. D., diod March 15, 1850, aged fifty-seven years eleven months and twelve days; Joseph Smith, died 27th of 8th month, 1832, aged seventy nine years; Lydia Smith. died 10th of 6th month, 1845; Sarah Stout died 19th of 3d month, 1813, aged seventy-three years ten months and eighteen days; Elizabeth Harlan, die Op tober 15, 1836; Joshua Antrim, born 12th month, 30th day, 1802, and died 7th month, 18th day, 1836; Daniel Kolly, died August 17, 1838, agod twenty. nine years four months and eight days; Olive, wife of George W. Morey, died August 18, 1844, in her fifty-second year; Martha J., daughter of John and Sarah Hendrick, died December 21, 1827; Pricilla, consort of Thomas Bird- . sall, died January 13, 1826, aged seventy-three years; Mary E. Birdsall, died May 6, 1825; Lydia, consort of James Birdsall, died December 27, 1838, agod fifty-three years; James Birdsall, diod August 30, 1834, aged fifty- five years six months and ten days; Cynthia Jane, wife of R. P. Finley, died January 30, 1837, aged twenty-four years nine months and twenty-eight days; Mary E. Smart, died January 16, 1842, aged eighteen years eleven months and sixteen days.

Pursuant to an act of the General Assembly of Ohio, passed February 24, 1848, providing for the incorporation of Cemetery Associations, a number of the citizens of Clinton County met at the court house in Wilmington on the 11th of April, 1857, and organized Sugar Grove Cemetery Association. The first officers were E. L. Lacy, President; Matthew Romback, W. C. Fife, J. E. Hibben, A. E. Strickle, J. W. Chaffin, L. B. Welch and E. L. Lacy, Trust- ees; Albert Hockett, Clerk and Treasurer. Nearly twenty-three acres of ground, situated southwest of the village, were purchased of William Hibben for $100 an acre, which were tastefully and beautifully laid out by Leo Weltz. Additions have since been made to the grounds, until they now contain nearly fifty acres. The first interment made in the cemetery was that of Catharine Kline, who was buried on the 4th of July, 1858. On the 20th of the same month and year was buried the pioneer, Isaiah Morris, and the marble shaft marking his grave was the first erected in the cemetery.

November 6, 1851, Mr. Lacy resigned the Presidency of the Association, and A. E. Strickle became his successor, and served in that capacity until 1869, when he was succeeded by Leo Weltz. In 1882, Mr. Weltz was suc- ceeded by Dr. L. B. Welch. Other officers of the Association elected in 1882 are: L. B. Welch, J. W. Farren, A. J. Wilson, Obediah Stephens and Joshua Lacy, Trustees; D. B. Van Pelt, Clerk. Up to July 2, 1882, there have been here interred 2,090 bodies, of which 171 were the remains of persons removed from the older burying-grounds. During the year ending June 5, 1882, there were buried in the cemetery fifty white and seventeen colored persons, and four re- movals made, making a total of seventy-one.

The natural beauty of Sugar Grove Cemetery is rarely excelled by the cemeteries of any locality. The name is suggestive to the reader of the tim- ber once covering the grounds, and from this fact it was so styled. Many of these stately representatives of the forest were spared by the woodman, which gives to the Wilmington Cemetery that majestic appearance not possessed by many of the most pretentious places of burial in the United States. The pres- ence of these trees and the broken and rolling ground, presenting knolls and valleys, and a quiet stream meandering through its narrow channel, make a picturesque and lovely resting-place for the dead.

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The grounds contain many beautiful and costly monuments, which, with the evergreens and flowers, present a scene most pleasing to the senses, and soothing to the feelings of the lover of art and nature.

LITERARY SOCIETY.

The Literary Association of Wilmington, known as the T. & T. Literary Society, was organized January 21, 1879. Twelve members composed the body whose names were as follows: Eva Mckenzie, Fannie Marble, Jennie Harlan, Lydia Linton, Lydia Greer and Ella Greer, and S. S. Smith, M. J. Grady, E. E. Moon, C. W. Swaim, F. B. Mills, and O. J. Thatcher. The offi- cers chosen were: M. J. Grady, President; Lydia Linton, Vice President; O. J. Thatcher, Critic; S. G. Smith, Treasurer; and Ella Greer, Secretary. The present officers of the society are: Lydia Linton, President; Allan Rannells, Vice President; Frank Martin, Critic; Frank Mills, Treasurer; and Elvie L. Aikin, Secretary, with the following members: Eva McKinzie, Estelle Cleve- land, Jennie Harlan, Belle Walker, Rebecca Daniel, Frankie Shrieves, Reynold Janney, Edwin Perfect and C. W. Swaim. This society, which is the chief literary association of Wilmington, is composed of a number of the principal society ladies and gentlemen of the city. The object of the society is to derive mutual benefit in choice literature, and in composition. It has used a number of works by eminent authors, and thus far the society has proved highly profit- able in social culture and literary advancement.

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LOCATION, TOPOGRAPHY, SOIL, TIMBER, STREAMS, ETC.

THIS, the central township of Clinton County, and one of the earliest settled, is bounded as follows: On the west it joins Chester and Adams; on the north, Liberty; on the northeast, Wilson; on the east, Richland; on the southeast, Green; on the south, Washington, while Vernon and Wayne corner it on the southwest and east respectively. From Wilmington to the east town- ship line, the lands are level, and in its primeval state this portion of the town- ship was covered by a thick growth of ash, hickory, elm, oak; also some maple, beech and other woods. The soil is generally a dark loam, extending to some depth, very rich and productive and well adapted to the culture of the cereals and the grasses.

The southeast portion of the township is somewhat undulating. Cowan's Creek passes across this corner and following its meanderings from Burton- ville southwest the surface is rather rough and broken. Along this stream the timber growth was very large, consisting principally of walnut, poplar, ash, elm, oak, beech and sugar tree. The soil here is a mixture of dark and yel- low loam, and is much prized for wheat-growing. Between Cowan's Creek and Wilmington, the country is more level, and here, on Wilson's Branch, set- tled one of the pioneers after whom that stream is named.

Lytle's Creek flows in a westerly direction, near the center of the town- ship, immediately south of Wilmington, which is located on its branches. The soil is about the same as along Cowan's Creek, the yellow loam, however, predominating. In passing from the center to the southwest line of Union, there are many hills with small bottom lands along the creek, all of which are very rich and productive. The timber growths are the same as those on Cow- an's Creek.

Todd's Fork is the largest stream in Union Township, and is its principal water-course. It runs through the north part of the township, from east to west, with many small rivulets emptying into it along its entire distance. Its head-waters are located mostly in the eastern and northeastern parts of Union, although the sources of some are still farther north and east. The lands along this stream, north and west of Wilmington, are undulating and well drained. The bottoms and hills were originally covered with fine large, thrifty oak, walnut, cherry, linn, hickory, ash, sugar, hackberry and buckeye, with a great variety of undergrowth, presenting to the eye an almost impenetrable forest. The soil on the undulating lands is a mixture of loam and clay, while along the streams the yellow loam is on the surface. The bottoms, although small, are highly valued by leading agriculturists, and, in fact, the soil all over this township ranks among the best in the county.

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The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2, Part 7

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1410

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1410