USA > Ohio > Darke County > The history of Darke County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; > Part 39
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In the summer of 1854, the road was completed from Dodson to Dayton, and the company continued to operate the entire line from Dayton to Union City until April, 1863, when, in accordance with an agreement on January 19, previously, the joint use of the track of the Dayton & Western Railroad Company, from Day- ton to Dobson (fifteen miles), was secured, between which points each company had a line of road running nearly parallel. By this agreement, the company was enabled
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to take up and dispose of the iron between Dayton and Dobson. January 19, 1863, the company was re-organized, under the name of the Dayton & Union Railroad Company. When the road was opened for business, in 1850, land along its line might have been bought for $5 per acre ; it has since been sold for $100 per acre. The country was wet, and water stood in the woods and clearings along the track for months at a time. This is now drained, arable and valuable. Then, about Arcanum, houses were to be seen at long intervals ; now fine farm houses dot the landscape in all directions. Arrangements are now in progress to relay the old track, and annul the agreement for the joint use of the Dayton & Western rails.
When the road was first opened, a single train-mixed passenger and freight -ran during the day. R. A. Knox was the first conductor on the road. The first engineer was Mr. Johnson. The first freight and passenger agent was Daniel R. Davis, who, on leaving Greenville, took charge of the station at Dayton. The pas- senger receipts for 1879, on the Dayton & Union Railroad, were $7,578.85 ; freight receipts, $13,165.09 ; freight forwarded, $10,882.99. Of officers, James McDaniel is President ; C. C. Gale, Superintendent ; John L. Miller, General Ticket Agent, and Charles E. Miller, General Freight Agent.
The Columbus, Piqua & Indiana Railroad, extending across the county in a direct line from Bradford to Union City, was begun within the limits of Darke County in 1852, and the grading completed, or nearly so, during that and the fol- lowing year. In 1854, the work ceased, the company being much embarrassed in regard to finances. In 1858, the enterprise was again carried forward, and track laying was begun. The completion of the work of laying the iron was effected about the middle of March, 1859. By the last of April, trains were running reg- ularly from Columbus to Union City, making close connections with trains from the west. R. Walkup was Superintendent ; L. Purcell, conductor. Judge Mitch- ell was President until the road was leased to the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway Company, and he was succeeded by Mr. Smith. William Wilson and John C. Potter, of Darke County, with others from Miami, Champaign, Madison and Franklin Counties, were the corporators. The capital stock was $2,000,000. The road, running from Bradford somewhat north of west, crosses Adams Township, the northern part of Greenville, and crosses Jackson to the State Line at Union City. Intermediate stations are Bradford, Horatio, Stelvideo, Pikeville and Woodington.
The Cincinnati & Mackinaw Railroad was graded but never completed ; its history is quite interesting in this connection. In May, 1853. the subject of build- ing this road began to be agitated. A large meeting was held at Van Wert on the 27th of May. An enthusiastic meeting was held in Greenville on June 25, and a committee of fourteen was appointed to attend a meeting to be held at Van Wert July 9. Meetings were also held at New Castine and other points on the line of the proposed road. Survey commenced early in August, and, later in the month, Moses Hart, Esq., had been duly authorized to take subscriptions to the stock of the road, and books were opened at his store in Greenville. Later still, a meeting of incorporators was held at Greenville. and the project so far gained favor that, by October 19, $200,000 had been subscribed, and. an election being held, William Gunkle was chosen President, and the Directors were William Gunkle, C. G. Espich, J. L. Winner, I. W. Riley, I. W. Kirk, P. De Puy and R. Thisbee. The final report of the survey gave the distance from Greenville to the State line, on the route proposed, as 111 miles, with but three-fourths of a mile curved line in the whole distance. No grade exceeded twenty-five feet to the mile. The cost of building was less than $17.500 per mile. The entire line, from the Straits of Mackinaw to Cincinnati, was 500 miles, of which about one-fifth was completed. In 1853, Mr. Taylor became Director, vice Dr. Espich. A year later. the hopes of the company were placed in the prospective grant of land, while pressure in the money market delayed the prosecution of the work. The Directors did not despair, but, from time to time, held meetings to compare notes, view reports of engineer and
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general agent. and to determine npon the location of that portion of the line lying between Greenville and Celina-two lines having been run in Darke County-and encouragement was given by a Congressional grant of above a million acres of land to aid in the construction of the northern part of the line. \ meeting was hell April 21, 1858, at Greenville, to examine bids heretofore received for the work between that city and Celina : distance, thirty-two miles. Alfred Kitchen, of Darke, was appointed to superintend the construction, and J. W. Frizzel was chosen Secretary. On June 2, the Directors heldl a three-days meeting, in the course of which fifteen miles of road were placed under contract, and the tres- tle and culvert work of the entire thirty-two miles. Mr. Pomeroy was chosen engineer, vice Col. Frink, resigned. The remaining seventeen miles were resur- veyed, with a view of important alterations. In the spring of 1859, negotiations were attempted in Europe for the sale of bonds, without snecess, and the enter- prise was abandoned for want of means. after a large portion of the grading liad been done, thus adding in this locality one more to the many failures of the times.
The Cincinnati, Columbus & Indiana Central Railroad .- The Pittsburgh, Cin- cinnati & St. Louis Railroad Company operates two lines through Darke County- the old Columbus, Piqua & Indianapolis, and the first division of the Columbus & Indianapolis Central. In 1861, what was called the Richmond & Covington Rail- road Company was organized for the purpose of making a road through Bradford, on Columbus, Piqua and Indianapolis Railroad, to Richmond. Ind., to connect with the Indiana Central Railroad. It was built during the years 1862-63, and trains began to run in the fall of the latter year. An advantage in construction of the
road was the grand ridges abounding in the best of material for ballasting the road. Money was liberally subscribed to pay for necessary surveys. The estimate for building the road and placing it in running order was placed at $7,000 per mile. To construct the entire route would cost about $210,000, and Darke County was asked for $25,000. A. Price, contractor, began work June 9. In February, 1863. the Greenville Journal, says : "The work upon the Richmond & Covington Railroad is progressing very rapidly. In the hands of such men as E. Baker. the Careys, P. Pomeroy and Tom Waring, there is no such thing as failure." Evan Baker, of Greenville, was President of the road from the time of its organization. until near its completion, when E. B. Smith, of Columbus, was elected President of this road and also of the Columbus, Piqua & Indianapolis Railroad, at which time he perfected a running arrangement with the Indiana Central. The owners of that line subsequently bought the stock of the Richmond & Covington Railroad, got control of the stock of the Indiana Central Railroad, which embraced the entire line. Subsequently, this company purchased the Chicago Air Line, and the name " Cincinnati, Columbus & Indiana Central Railroad," was adopted. This company is now the owner of the road, including the branch from Bradford to Richmond. In January, 1869, the Cincinnati. Columbus & Indiana Central Rail- way, made a permanent lease of its line to the Pittsburgh. Cincinnati & St. Louis Rail- road. by which it is now being operated. The following is an exhibit of the passengerreceipts at the Greenville station, for the year 1879, $9.188. Total for the year of freight was $17.923.67 ; total receipts. $27.011.67.
An adjunct of the railroad, and a convenience especially to the business man, is the telegraph, which is in nse here as elsewhere. About 1870, the Pacific & Atlantic Telegraph Company owned the line on the Dayton & Union road, and the Western Union had charge of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis line ; the latter had its office at the lower depot. Postmaster Stevenson was at that time Manager of the Pacifie & Atlantic, although not an operator. The two companies were consolidated, and the up-town office was established. This consolidation was perfected in December, 1873. when Jacob F. Martin was appointed manager of the Western Union, which had absorbed the Pacific & Atlantic line. He continued manager until July 2. 1876. Then L. Smith. of Urbana, Ohio, was appointed
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David Putinan.
GERMAN TP.
Sarah Putman
GERMAN TP.
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local manager, and held this position. until May 20, 1879, at which time John L. Garber, took charge, and is still in office. There are two lines on the road from Bradford to Richmond-one wire is exclusively used in the transaction of railroad business, the other transaets both railroad and commercial business. One line in the up-town office is for commercial transactions alone ; the other is used for the work of both business and railroad. The Dayton & Union Railroad has only one wire, which is used for both purposes. The line between Dayton and Union commenced working at 3 o'clock, June 28, 1854, and the office was in charge of Mr. Swayne.
BANKS AND BANKERS.
A full history of banking in Ohio is not expected, yet, prefatory to the record of these indispensable institutions in Darke County. it will prove of interest to learn of the initiatory steps toward bank organization in the State.
The bank is a help to commerce. Managed with fidelity, its notes are more convenient than specie, and its vaults are more secure than the receptacles of private dwellings. As it facilitates exchange, renders possible great undertakings and accomodates the necessities of business men. it has met a patronage that has repeatedly been used to defraud the people by dishonesty and by excessive circulation.
The State endeavors to protect the people, and her Legislature, from time to time, frames acts regulating the conduct of banking. Several times, prior to the civil war, specie payments had been suspended in Ohio, but the interval from 1861 to 1879 has been a period so protracted that the recent disbursements of gold and silver are a novelty to the generation accustomed to fractional currency, greenbacks and national bank notes.
" Wild-cat" banks were long a feature in the Western country. and bank issues were held at more or less a discount, which increased in geometric propor- tion as the distance increased from the location of the institution that issued them. Bank-note reporters lay upon the counters, each bill was duly examined, and the fluctuations of value were noted and enforced with each new report.
This was all changed by the war. The exigencies of the times created the national system, still in vogue, by which bonds of the Government, purchased by an association, are deposited with the Treasurer of the United States for security. and 90 per cent of their face value in national currency issued to the bank for circulation. The system has been very popular from the uniform equality in value, freedom from counterfeiting and from their absolute security ; yet there are many people who are opposed to the plan, and opinions as to their continu- ance are conflicting. Whatever may be done, they tided the Government over a critical period and have been of incalculable good to the country.
The earliest bank chartered in Ohio was the Miami Exporting Company, of Cincinnati. the bill for whose incorporation passed the Legislature in April, 1803. The primary object of this association was more with a view of stimulating and aiding business, then languishing, than to do regular banking work, and it was not until 1808 that the first bank devoted to commercial interests was established. It was located at Marietta, and bore the name of the place. At the same session during which this charter was given, Mr. Worthington reported upon a proposition to found a State bank, and, as a result of this legislation, the " Bank of Chillicothe " was subsequently established.
Charters were severally granted to similar institutions till 1816, when a bank- ing law was passed which incorporated twelve new banks, continued existing char- ters, and made the State, without outlay, a party to the profits and capital thus created and continued. The plan was as follows : "Each new bank was, at the ontset, to set apart one share in twenty-five for the State, without payment, and each bank whose charter was renewed was to create for the State stock in the same proportion ; each bank. new and old, was yearly to set apart out of its profits
H
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a sum which would make, at the time the charter expired. a sum equal to one- twenty-fifth of the whole stoek, which was to belong to the State; and the divi- dends coming to the State were to be invested and re-invested until one-sixth of the stock was State property." This last provision was made subject to change, if found desirable. The State's interest in her banks continued until 1825. when an amendment changed the stock into a 2 per cent tax upon all dividends up to that date, and 4 per cent upon those made afterward. No further change was made till March, 1831, when the tax was augmented to 5 per cent. In 1839, a law was enaeted by which Bank Commissioners were appointed to make regular examina- tions of the various banks and to report upon their condition. This was unpopu- lar with bankers, and was opposed by some of them, and the result was consider- able discussion, both within and without the Legislature. A new system of banking was adopted in 1845, which included the State Bank, its branches and independent banks. It was not until 1853, that Darke County began to realize the benefits accruing from the establishment of a local banking office. Prior to this date, loans were frequently negotiated between persons, amounting, in the aggregate, to considerable sums. Two or three citizens of Greenville, whose names have ever since been locally prominent in financial transactions, were engaged in private brokerage in a limited degree, but, with the development of the country and the growth of the town, there was a growing demand, if not an urgent necessity, for regular accommodations in the interests of trade.
The Farmers' Bank, a personal or partnership institution, was organized in October, 1853, by Messrs. J. W. Frizzel and J. L. Winner, with what, at that time, was a very respectable capital of $30,000. The bank was honored by the popular confidence, and was considered reliable ; and the fact that it passed easily and tri- umphantly through the crucial period culminating in the disasters of 1857 and 1861, proved that the high estimation in which it was held was merited. In May. 1865, the bank was re-organized, by the original proprietors, into a national bank. It may be remarked, at this time, that, previous to going into banking, Mr. Frizzel was clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, had practiced law, and had taught school. He had at one period been the preceptor of a military school, and his partner. Mr. Winner, had for several years. subsequent to 1836, engaged in hotel-keeping, in a building which stood on the present site of the Kipp drug store.
The Farmers' National Bank, originating from the Farmers, was organized April 3, 1865, with a capital of $84,000. Washington A. Weston was its first President, and John L. Winner its first Cashier. The first Directors were W. A. Weston, J. L. Winner. H. W. Emerson, G. W. Studabaker and J. W. Frizzel. The following are the changes that have taken place in its officers: On the 9th of January, 1866, J. Pitsenberger and J. C. MeKerney were elected Directors. in place of G. W. Studabaker and J. W. Frizzel; J. L. Winner was Cashier, and T. N. Waring was Teller. On the 29th of May. 1866, Elisha Dawes was appointed Director, in the place of J. C. MeKerney, and. January 8. 1867, G. W. Studabaker was chosen to succeed E. Dawes. T. S. Waring was made Assistant Cashier Jan- uary 10, 1871, and was elected Cashier April 7. 1873. and T. E. Clark. Teller. at the same time. Mr. Waring superseded Mr. Winner as Director. On January 13. 1875. George D. Farrar was appointed to succeed Mr. Clark as Teller. May 11. 1876, J. L. Weston was chosen Director, vice W. A. Weston, deceased, and H. W. Emerson was elected President. On the 8th of January, 1878, C. M. Anderson took position as Director. in place of H. W. Emerson. deceased. and G. W. Studa- baker was elected President. January 14, 1879. F. MeWhinney and Noah Arnold were chosen Directors, in place of J. Pitsenberger, deceased. and J. L. Weston. This old, well-known and firmly established bank has earned and receives a hearty. heavy support from farmers and business men. and sustains a first-class reputation for sterling business capacity. The office is located at No. 66. near the public square. on Broadway. in Greenville.
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The Exchange Bank was the next one organized in Greenville, and held a meeting for the purpose of starting a financial institution, on the 11th of January, 1869. Frank McWhinney was the originator and proprietor. J. M. Landsdowne was appointed Cashier, and business begun. April 1, 1873, Mr. McWhinney sold to John L. Winner, who is the present owner. From the opening of the bank, the same building has been occupied-the one which stands on the southeast cor- ner of Broadway and the public square. Previous to entering upon banking, Mr. McWhinney had been a merchant at El Dorado, Ohio. From that place he had gone to Madison, and engaged in merchandising and dealing in grain, while acting, also, as railroad agent.
The Bank of Greenville was organized February 22, 1876, by Messrs. Allen & Co., proprietors, with a capital stock of $200,000, the stockholders being held individually liable. The officers chosen were John Hufnagle, President : Judge William Allen, Vice President, and L. L. Bell, Cashier. The Directors are John Hufnagle, Judge James J. Meeker, John Devor, Esq., and L. L. Bell. This bank always made good all its promises, and issued exchange every day, as called for, through the stringent times of 1877. There have been no changes in the officiary. Messrs. Hufnagle, Bell and Meeker are among the largest owners of real estate in Darke County. Mr. Hufnagle had been discounting for about forty years previous to the organization of the Greenville Bank, and L. L. Bell had been a broker and insurance agent for some years. Judge Allen was a practicing attorney, and had been a member of Congress four years. All the officers of the bank are old residents of Greenville, except Mr. Bell, and he has been here twelve years. The bank was first organized for three years, at the expiration of which time the charter was renewed, and has been continued until the present time. The bank building is one of the best in the city, having been built for banking purposes expressly. It stands on the northwest corner of Broadway and Fourth streets.
THE PRESS OF DARKE COUNTY.
The publication of newspapers from insignificant beginnings has become a most formidable and powerful agency in forming the people. molding publie opin- ion and exposing wrong-doing. The press has shown constant growth in the number of papers issued, in their character, size and composition. Allied with the telegraph, it has become the myriad-tongued voice of all peoples. It has enlarged the field of thought. imparted intelligence and stimulated enterprise, whether national in the construction of mountain tunnel. isthmus canal and over- land railway, or local in the building of turnpikes, the drainage of land and improvement of towns. Preliminary to a brief history of the press of Darke County, a few facts of earlier record will be perused with general interest. The first press, we are told, was but a news bulletin. The first English newspaper was published in 1558, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. and was in manuscript.
The first paper printed, was entitled the Politicus Mercurius or Political Mercury, and was started during the reign of Charles I. in 1631. and continued through Cromwell's time. In 1775, there were in the United States 37 papers published. In 1810, the number was 358. In 1840. 2.000. and in 1850, 2.500. The latter inerease has kept pace with the progress of events, and the problem of the greatest amount of news within the shortest time. with the minimum cost. seems to have reached a solution. The history of the press of Darke County is not unlike that of a thousand others. Short-lived ventures have sprung up like mushrooms and as suddenly expired. The stanch. well-known journals of the present. edited by experienced journalists, are a moral. educational and political power to which. perhaps unconsciously. the county owes much of its reputation for enterprise and intelligence.
The first paper in the county of Darke. was printed and published by E. Donnellan. and was entitled. the Western Statesman and Granville Courier. The
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initial number was issued on June 25, 1832. Its terms in brief, were as follows : " The Western Statesman and Greenville Courier is printed weekly on a super-royal sheet. The price is $3 per year, but may be discharged by payment of $2 in advance, or $2.50 within the year." Copies of the pioneer paper are rarities, yet No. 16, Vol. 1. owned by M. L. Hamilton, of Greenville, furnishes an opportu- nity of making known the contents of a paper of half a century ago. Extracts are made from the Detroit Journal. New Hampshire Gazette, National Intelligencer and the Boston Patriot. The war with the Sacs and Foxes, led by Black llawk, was near its close. An overwhelming force under Gen. Dodge, following the Indians, gave them no rest, and dead bodies found on the trail were emaciated by starvation. Cures for cholera are given. A. Stober, tailor, advertises his place of business one door south of the jail, and John Briggs desires payment on the principle, "frequent settlements make lasting friendships." and such as do not respond are threatened with the law. Announcements as candidates for the offices of Auditor, Assessor, Representative and Clerk, were made by Hiram Bell, Esq., Col. M. J. Purviance. M. P. Baskersville and Dennis Hart. respectively. William Brady calls attention to blacksmithing, John Curtis is silversmith and jeweler, and H. Bell is real-estate agent.
The Greenville Journal may be regarded as a continuation of the paper above noted. later changed in name to Journal, since which time it has enjoyed an uninter- rupted publication, although changing owners and publishers many times during the first twenty years of its existence. The paper began to be published on April 19, 1850, under the management of E. B. Taylor and J. G. Reese. The proprie- tors advocated Whig principles, and had for their motto: "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable." The strength of political parties in the county at this time is shown by the result of the fall elections of 1849 and 1850. In the former year, the Whig vote for Representative was 1,670, while the vote of the Loco-focos was 1.519. Both parties did not come out in full strength in 1850. but the Whigs were the dominant party in the county by a small majority. On June 1, 1851, partnership was dissolved and Mr. Taylor for the time retired. hav- ing been connected with the paper under other names for seven years, and begin- ning with a list of 150 subscribers in 1844. M. B. Reese became a partner April 29, 1852, and the Journal was edited and published by J. G. & M. B. Recse. Much space was taken by the publication of laws of Ohio in many numbers. In politics, the Whigs were stated to be "willing to stand by the compromise meas- ure, but no steps further." Unwilling to keep up the agitation about slavery, the fugitive-slave law was obeyed but disliked as unjust. The North did not want an influx of negroes, and acquiesced in the act, while its moral infinence South was immense. July 1, 1853. the Journal changed its name temporarily to The Mad Anthony. with frontier scene for heading, and taking as its motto. " Devoted to the propagation of truth and the elevation of the masses."
In the early part of 1860, the Journal was purchased from E. B. Taylor. to whom it had passed from the hands of Messrs. Reese, by Messrs. E. W. Otwell and James M. Craig, who took possession of the same on the 14th day of March, 1860, and published it under the firm name of E. W. Otwell & Co. When these gentlemen acquired the paper, they found a meager list of subscribers : its cireu- lation of bona fide subscribers did not exceed one hundred and fifty. It was then a seven-column folio. Under the new management numerous subscriptions were received, rapidly extending its influence, and the columns became much more readable and the paper increased in value as a family newspaper. The Presiden- tial campaign which resulted in the election of Abraham Lincoln occurred in the summer and fall of 1860. In this political contest, which resulted in the triumph of the Republican party, the Journal was a stanch party organ, and has always stood firm and unshaken in its advocacy of the principles of its party. In April, 1861, when the war of the rebellion was commenced. and during the few years following, the times were trying for the existence of the paper. In due time,
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