280 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) CHAPTER XX. HISTORY OF THE CITY OF SANDUSKY.* THE SEAT OF JUSTICE OF ERIE COUNTY. T0 attempt the production of an original chronological history of the City of Sandusky would be out of the question. Various historians, both local and non-resident, to the number of nearly a score, have made an effort in this direction, and, in some few instances, with a fair measure of success ; so that for a writer upon the ground to-day, there seems but very little opportunity for enlargement upon things and evenst of the last quarter of a century, and no room whatever for any additional revelations regarding the happenings of an earlier period. At best the modern writer can but revise, classify, and perhaps paraphrase that which has already been made patent through the labors of early historians. And, peradventure, there may be revealed some evenst that have been heretofore overlooked or considered unworthy a place in history, and thus it may be possible that a satisfactory record be made that shall be of some substantial use and benefit to the present and future generations of this county. The writer of modern times finds the most satisfaction in the fact of being able to give to the public something before unknown, or to settle conflicting opinions, or to give a new and satisfactory version of misunderstood things. Yet in the present case there seems no avenue of escape by these subterfuges, and we must look the facts squarely in the face, scan, and if possible, criticise past works, still depend upon them for truth, then sift and separate the good history from the bad, and present the former to the reader, clearly and in the most intelligent manner possible, and finally, ask the most kindly indulgence and forbearance of the reader for not having been able to provide new, startling and wonderful historic revelations. So much by way of explanation—not apology. It has not been deemed advisable for the purposes of this chapter to restate or re-narrate the evenst of the Indian occupation of the lands now comprised by the corporate limits of this city, but to commence this subject at a time within the memory of man, referring the reader to the earlier chapters of this volume for such knowledge as may be sought concerning the savages whose different tribes held jointly and in severalty the country which we now occupy. * The point, Sandusky, first became so named from the beautiful bay on the shore of which it is situate. The hay was known to the Indians as a lake — a small lake of cold water, and from that the name " Lac Sandouske " was applied. This name, however, partakes largely of the French accent, and is believed to be of French origin The Jesuits carried on their labors through this region generally, but of them we have no reliable, ancient record ; and it is quite probable that the Indians adopted, as nearly as possible. the name the French had given. The name was first mentioned, so far as we have knowledge, in 1708, at which time the Iroquois Indians destroyed a village of the Eries on " Conti Lake." PICTURE OF W. A. SIMPSON THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 281 The territory now included within the city limits of Sandusky formed a very small portion of the historic " firelands," which was donated to the inhab itants of certain towns of Connecticut to compensate them for losses sustained at the hands of the British soldiers during the Revolution ; and that donation was made before the Indian claims to the land had been extinguished. No attempt at permanent white settlement could, of course, be made until that title was acquired. And it is a fact that the survey and partition were not performed until after the treaty by which the occupants relinquished their claim of title. After these preliminaries had been satisfactorily settled, the whites came to the region and found on the site of the city a "lone" cabin, presided over and occupied by an Indian named "Ogontz," and from this occupant the town, if such it might be called, received its first name. OGONTZ PLACE. From all authority it appears that this chieftain was the acknowledged ruler of the town, and the Indians who then occupied the locality. The cabin of Ogontz was situate at a point some ten or fifteen rods from the bay shore, between what are now known as Columbus avenue and Wayne street, about in rear of the building standing between the Moss National and the Second National Banks. Authorities differ, however, on the subject of the location of the chief's cabin, but from the best information obtainable, it is thought the spot indicated is about correct. Ogontz, like all rulers of high degree, had a history ; and inasmuch as he was in a manner identified with the past of this city, it will not be considered too much out of place to make some mention of his life and tragic death, as the same was sketched by one of the pioneers of 1810, and now a resident of Perkins township, from which sketch we copy almost literally : Ogontz.—" His life and somewhat romantic death have been written with varying testimony. He was captured near the head of Lake Huron, about the middle of the last century, by some Jesuit Missionaries, and taken to Quebec when he was but a small lad. He was sent to a Missionary school, was baptized in the name of Ogontz, and was taught the English and French languages. He graduated with the highest honors, and was sent back as a Missionary to his own people. During the latter part of the eighteenth century he came to Sandusky and settled with the Ottawa Indians, on the southern shore of the bay, then a beautiful plain, dotted over with Indian wigwams, burr oaks, and clusters of hawthorns. " In the year 1805, John Fleming came from Canada, and settled on the east bank of the Huron, River, three miles from the lake, where he established a small trading post, exchanging ammunition and other commodities for furs. 281 282 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Ogontz and Fleming soon became acquainted and their friendship continued until the death of the former. " In the summer of 1808, a number of Indians, with their chief and Ogontz, assembled at Fleming's for a yearly sacrifice. The chief, with the others, became intoxicated and quarrelsome. The chief had been jealous of Ogontz for some time, on account of his steady and sober habits and the popularity he had gained among other Indians; and fearing he might be chosen their chief over him, soon got into a quarrel with Ogontz. A deadly conflict ensued in which Ogontz slew his antagonist. "The next day he was arrested and tried for murder, Fleming acting as judge. He was honorably acquitted, and the same day he was chosen chief over the tribe. As Ogontz had no children of his own, he adopted the only son of the slain chief, who was but a small boy. He inherited that spirit of revenge that is generally found in the Indian character. As soon as he became a young man he watched his opportunity, and one day, while they were on a hunting excursion, near Perrysburg, he shot his adopted father, assumed the title of chief and ruled the tribe. Thus fell the learned Ogontz, one of the most noble sons of the forest that ever trod the soil of the Sandusky plains. " Young Ogontz's career as chief was short, for he soon became a habitual drunkard and died in the year 1822." " His name," continues the same writer, concerning Ogontz, " will never be forgotten by those at Sandusky. His wigwam was on the bay shore at the foot of Wayne street. His favorite retreat from the piercing sun in midsummer day was in a little cluster of hawthorns near the foot of Columbus avenue. Beneath this shade was a beautiful stone chair formed by the hand of nature. Here the chief reclined for hours, smoking his pipe or watching the breeze ruffled waters of the broad bay as they glistened in the sunlight, or gazing at the foaming and dashing waves of the lake beyond." Such, then, was the location and situation during the early years of the present century ; a situation real as well as fanciful, although the latter lends an additional charm to the scene. Ogontz's Place was the name by which this locality was known and designated until the efforts of Zalmon Wildman changed it to the less romantic, though more appropriate—Portland. The first attempt at settlement by the whites, at what was known as Ogontz's Place, was made in the year 1810, by one John Garrison and family. He was a former resident of New York State, and came to this region in quest of a home. Not many, however, ventured into this locality at that time. There were loud and ominous threatenings of war. The Indian occupants were still friendly to the British, and the latter were continually urging the savages to deeds of violence against all colonists. The storm-cloud of war at length broke, and until after the year 1815 had passed, settlement was dangerous. THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 283 John Garrison came to Ogontz's Place, as has been stated, to make a home. He brought a stock of goods to exchange for furs, and to supply the whites that then chanced to live in the country. He was the intended victim of a murderous Indian named Semo, but the designs of the latter were frustrated by the outbreak of the war, causing Garrison to return to New York State. 'The Indian, however, with an accomplice, murdered Michael Gibbs, a trapper, living on Pipe Creek. This occurred while a party of rangers were at Huron, for defensive purposes, and when the news reached them Semo was tracked and captured and subsequently hanged. His companion in crime was an Indian named Omeek, and he being afterward taken, killed himself. Few of the Connecticut sufferers occupied the lands donated them. Their ,interests were purchased by others. who became known under the style of "Proprietors," and it was by the extensive purchase of sufferers' claims that Zalmon acquired title to the large body of land whereon stands a part of Sandusky. (Zalmon Wildman was born at Danbury, Conn., in the year 1774, and.died December 10, 1835. He, with his brother, Seymour Wildman, were hatters at Danbury. From 1808 until 1835, Zalmon Wildman was postmaster at Danbury, and from 1817 to 1824 he was associate judge of the county court of Fairfield county. He first came to the fireland in 1810, on horseback. Here he had several thousand acres of land which he acquired by purchasing sufferers' certificates. Judge Wildman was never a resident of Ohio, although he frequently visited this locality, looking after his land interests. In 1833 he subscribed $15,000 toward the construction of the Mad River Railroad, and paid it in full. Upon his death his son, Frederick S. Wildman, and his son- in-law, Nathan Starr, were appointed administrators of his estate. They also subscribed a large tract of land to the building of the railroad, taking stook or scrip of the company in payment, but never realized anything from the stock.) Mr. Wildman unquestionably saw that this locality was destined to become a city of some considerable magnitude, and with this belief strongly impressed upon him, in the year 1816 he laid out and caused to be platted the town of PORTLAND. Up to this time the town had been, it is generally conceded, known as Ogontz's Place, and this belief seems to be well founded, taking the declarations of Zalmon Wildman as authority. Mr. Wildman acquired title to a large body of land in this immediate vicinity by the purchase of sufferers' rights. This surveyed township was but a fraction of a whole township lying -north of Perkins, or rather, north of town number six in range twenty-three, and between town six and the bay. It has been generally understood that Mr. Wildman, in the year 1816, laid out and platted his lands here, or at least a part of them, and gave to the place 284 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. the name of " Portland." This may be true, and the belief is in a measure verified by referring to the map itself (on record), which is drawn under the title of Portland. The signification of this name becomes clear by simply dividing the syllables thus, " Portland ;" the first, Port, meaning a harbor, and by adding the suffix land, we have the meaning : land upon a harbor, or, more clearly, land located upon a harbor, or adjoining a harbor. Portland, as a town, had a very brief existence, in fact, even, if it had any. One thing is sure, and that is, that the town was known as Portland for some time, but whether such was its name as a truth, and whether that name was given it by Mr. Wildman, or those acting for him and under his direction, is a question susceptible of argument. Custom, prevailing opinion and tradition, all say that it was named Portland, and so named honestly. This we shall not contradict, nor shall we make an attempt to disprove it, but if we take the county records as a standard authority (and in preparing this work great dependence is placed on the records), it will be found that the name of " Sandusky City" was given the place by Zalmon Wildman, on the 17th day of August, 1816, by his dedication, which was follows: "The within town plat is situated on the south shore of Sandusky Bay, on the ground formerly known by the name of Ogontz Place." " A store is now erected on the southwesterly side of lot number six, on the easterly side of Main street." "The foregoing town plat, by the name of ' Sandusky City,' I allow shall be subject to and governed by the same laws that other town plats are in this State. ZALMON WILDMAN. [Seal.] " HURON, August 17, 1816. " Signed, sealed and acknowledged before Jabez Wright, associate judge." From this instrument it seems clear that, at the above date, Zalmon Wild. man laid out the town of Sandusky City. The article also States that the same is situated on the " ground formerly known by the name of Ogontz Place." Well, Portland or Sandusky City, which ever it may have been, comprised four separate blocks of land, two large and two small, and contained in all sixty lots. The streets were : Commerce on the east, State (in the dedication called Main) in the center, and Mechanic on the west. These run north and south. Water street had an east and west direction and separated the small blocks from the larger. State street separated the larger blocks, and also the smaller. There was but one store at that time on the tract, situated at the corner of State (or Main) and Water streets. There seems to have been at this time, or very soon afterward, a claim interposed to the effect that Zalmon Wildman was not the rightful owner of this whole tract. And just here it may be stated, parenthetically perhaps, that THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 285 conflicting claims of title to the lands of Sandusky City was the greatest obstruction or obstacle in the way of its early growth ; an obstacle that was not finally removed until after the year 1840; and by that time her sister cities, Cleveland on the east, and Toledo on the west, had a decided advantage over her in point of early and substantial settlement and internal improvement. This was one, and but one, of the many causes that seriously retarded Sandusky's growth at a time when enterprise and harmonious action were most needed for her future welfare. But to return. In explanation of this conflict of claims to title is, may be remarked, that Mr. Wildman and Isaac Mills, the latter interposing the claim, made an amicable adjustment of their existing difficulties, which, in the year 1818, resulted in the platting and laying out of the more extensive tract of land whereon, in part, now stands the city of Sandusky. And here another actor appears upon the scene, in the person of George Hoadley, the ancestor of the late Governer of the State of Ohio. As to how he acquired an interest in these lands the record does not show, but it was unquestionably a lawful and valid title, else it had not been made. The dedication made by these three men appears upon the records as follows': "The city of Sandusky is situated on the south shore of Sandusky Bay, about three miles from the entrance into said bay, on the portion lying between town number six in the twenty-third range and the said bay. "The above and within (referring to the map accompanying the instrument) is a true and accurate map or plat of the city of Sandusky. The streets east and west are : Water street, which is four and one-half rods in width ; Market street is five rods ; Washington street is six rods ; Adams street is five rods; Jefferson, Madison and Monroe are four rods ; Wayne and Jackson are each five rods ; and all the other streets running northerly and southerly, together with Poplar and Elm streets, are each four rods in width. Columbus, Huron and Miami avenues are each six rods wide. The two open spaces on Market street, marked B.B., are appropriated as and for public market grounds, and forever to remain for that purpose and for no other. " Washington Square is hereby appropriated as and for a Public Ground, Parade and Walk, and is never to be obstructed, except that part of it included in lines marked A.A., which is hereby appropriated for public building for religious, literary, State, county and city purposes, but no jail or State's prison is ever to be erected thereon. " The Columbus, Miami and Huron Parks are also hereby appropriated as and for public areas as walks ; as are also the three small areas or triangles on the Miami and Huron avenues, which are never to be obstructed in any way whatever. "The city and outlots which are for sale are all numbered by progressive numbers, according to the within map or plat, and each lot, except the water lots and the lots on the Huron and Miami avenues, are five rods in front, on 286 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. the street, and extend back twelve rods, except where the Market place is and the curve of Water street, together with Washington Row, do prevent ; and the water lots are all two rods in front on Water street, and extend northerly into the bay to the channel water thereof. " The open and public slips to the water from Water street are as follows, viz.: On the Columbus avenue, ten rods in width ; on Wayne and Jackson streets, nine rods, and on all other streets eight rods in width, and so to remain forever. " The land on which the city of Sandusky is laid is owned by Zalmon Wildman, three-quarter parts thereof, and by Isaac Mills and George Hoadley, one-quarter part thereof, undivided and in common. " Dated the 5th of June, 1818. ZALMON WILDMAN, " By his attorney, Isaac Mills, " GEORGE H OADLEY, " By his attorney, I. Mills, " ISAAC MILLS." Thus was the city of Sandusky laid out and its streets, areas and public places dedicated to the common use ; and thus have they, with slight alterations, remained to the present day. This was the first really substantial step in the direction of a municipal .organization, although it was some six years after this that Sandusky aspired to any municipal existence independent of the adjoining country of which it until then formed a part. The worthy and generous proprietors seemed, even at that early day, to be possessed of the belief that this was destined to become a city of much importance, and with this end in view made liberal provision of land for the purpose of buildings—State, county and city ; also for religious, literary, educational and other uses. How thoroughly this provision was utilized is attested by the many substantial, and in some cases elegant structures that now adorn the square. To be sure the proprietory control of the city in later years fell into the hands of a few persons who seemed not to be imbued with the same spirit of enterprise, the same progressive disposition, or the same ardent desire to improve, build up and populate, as actuated Messrs. Wildman, Mills and Hoadley, and that lack of energy and thrift, coupled with a desire for speculation and money getting, lost to Sandusky many people and many of the auxiliaries of prosperity. That same spirit, or lack of public spirit, nearly caused a change in the location of the county seat, and were it not for the efforts of certain individuals, other than the controlling element of that day, that change would have been made. There was, however, among the proprietors some who were earnest in the work for the welfare of the town, but their interests were not considered ; their counsel and advice was not followed ; they were a minority, and soon sold out. But this state of affairs did not exist until THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 287 some twelve or fifteen years after the town was laid out by the three proprietprs above mentioned. They made the start, they laid the foundation for a large commercial and manufacturing city, but the afterwork was not well done, and to-day, in a measure, Sandusky feels the effect of it. But it is not the purpose of this chapter to lament the misfortunes of the past, nor to revive unpleasant recollections, nor to speculate upon what might have been, but rather to record the things that were and now are in being. SANDUSKY SEVENTY YEARS AGO. The old pioneers of the town of Sandusky city are all dead and gone. There were among them some who were prominent in its affairs and contributed largely toward its early building up and development. Zalmon Wildman, in his original plat of 1816, refers to a store standing on the southwesterly side of lot number six, and this is believed to have been the building erected by John Garrison, the merchant and Indian trader of 1810, and who left about the time the war of 1812-15 broke out. We have no evidence that Garrison again returned to the place. Title he had none and was but a squatter on the land. This building seems to have been the only one that stood within the limits of Wildman's first town, which has generally been known as Portland, but which he gave the name of Sandusky city. With the platting made by Wildman, Mills and Hoadley, settlement at once commenced ; buildings were erected here and there, and the city of Sandusky appeared to be entering upon an " era of unexampled prosperity." These improvements, together with the names of their projectors, and the dates of their coming, may with propriety be classed under the general heading of The First of Everything Pertaining to the Town. For a great part of the information relating to the pioneer efforts in the direction of early settlement and improvement, the writer is indebted to a directory published by I. F. Macks, esq., of the Register, and compiled by G. G. Nichols, in the year 1873. Zalmon Wildman is said to have built the first frame structure in the town in the year 1817. It was located on Water street, on the ground now in part occupied by Reber's block. It was occupied, for a time, by Moors Farwell, for mercantile purposes, but the first mayor soon discontinued business on account of great competition in trade, but Mr. Farwell afterward became a somewhat central figure in the " village " affairs of the place, and was by no means consigned to permanent retirement as the later pages of this chapter will show. To W. B. Smith is due the credit of having erected the first frame dwelling in the town, in the year 1817, but his first visit to the locality was made prior to the war of 1812. This building stood at the corner of Water and Wayne streets, on the site afterward occupied by Scott's American Hotel. The second dwelling house stood near that just mentioned, and was built during the same year by Cyrus W. Marsh. And it was here a few years later that the 288 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. owner built a front portion to the house and opened the first hotel in the town, known as " Marsh's Steamboat Hotel." This building, with its subsequent modifications, repairs and improvements, made to keep step with the general progress of the place, is still standing, although its original name has been changed several times as well as its management. It has been known as " Porter's Verandah Hotel," "Raymond's Hotel," and lastly as " Scott's American " and the " New Lake House " which latter name it bears to-day. Mr. Marsh was quite a prominent personage in early times, and conducted a lively coach line as well as the hotel. He was a Connecticut Yankee and came to this place in 1817. He lived here about fifteen years and then sold out and moved to Canada, but later went to Michigan. The second hotel in town was presided over by Colonel Root and was known as the " Portland House," taking its name from that by which the town had been called. This was also on Water street, on the ground on which was afterward built Keech's Block. The old Portland House also passed through other hands and was finally put to use as a publishing and book establishment. Then it was burned down. W. B. Smith seem to have been a somewhat enterprising man. In addition to his frame dwelling, he is also credited with having erected the first brick house, manufacturing his own material, and he being architect and builder. It was located in front of his frame building. There came to reside in Sandusky, in the year 1821, Elentheros Cooke. In the many projects looking to the benefit and advantage of the place, that were set in motion at and about this time, no person was more prominent than he. Mr. Cooke was a lawyer by profession, and as such was the pioneer in this locality (for the reader must be mindful of the fact that this was then a part of Huron county), but in his profession and out of it he was a man of decided ability and learning, a magnificent orator, a man whose mind and capacity was held by no narrow environment, whose public-spiritedness was unbounded. After he became a citizen of the town there was made one grand step forward. Not alone in building up the town was Mr. Cooke prominent, but in railroad enterprises and others equally important was he actively engaged. His first work was in the erection of a dwelling on Columbus avenue, of native stone, the pioneer of its kind in the town. Old heads said there was not sufficient material to be obtained here for that purpose, but notwithstanding that the building gradually approached completion, and after it was done there appears to have been a few ( ! ) stones left, judging from the amount of them used subsequently. It may not have been known at the time to these old wiseacres that Sandusky was " founded on a rock," but this was certainly the case. Having devoted some attention to the " first " structures of various kinds in Sandusky town, it will be appropriate here to notice another pioneer venture that was established about the same time by an enterprising individual in the person of David Campbell. He was associated in this venture with Adonijah THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 289 Champlin, and by their joint effort hoped to bring forth the Ohio Illuminator. But this paper, a proposed weekly publication, never shed its light upon the town and surrounding country. The Illuminator project was not a complete cess from a business point of view. The good people of the country wanted "light." but they wanted more than that, so on the 22d of April of the following year, there was heard the first notes of the Sandusky Clarion. But enough of this. Suffice it to say that the Clairon lived and prospered, and though Changed in name and appearance, still lives, and is now recognized as the leading paper of the county. The chapter devoted to the " press " furnishes a complete history of the Illuminator, the Clarion and the other papers of the county as well. The town grew rapidly in point of population, industry and trade during the first few years, and among the many who availed themselves of the grand business opportunities that were offered, the names of a few may be recalled, as follows: Moors Farwell was in mercantile trade representing Zalmon Wildman. There was also Jennings & Darling, who came from Connecticut and opened a dry goods store in 1818, at the corner of Water street and Columbus avenue. William Townsend started in the same line of business in 1819, in a small frame building standing near the corner of Water and Lawrence streets. Mr. Townsend died of cholera in 1849. David McMurray, in the fall of 1817, built a store on the site of the Register office building, in which he started the drug business. One year later William Kelley became a partner of Mr. McMurray. There was in trade here, as early as 1819, a Hebrew named Cohn, who had a small jewelry establishment on Water street. In this same line was John N. Sloane, but the latter did not commence business until some years later. Others of the early tradesmen in various branches of business, but whose location and time of coming cannot, in each case be definitely fixed, were Galin Atkins, 1820, boots and shoes; D. C. Henderson, 189, baker ; Wheeler & Galloway, hotel keepers and merchants (about 1821 or 1822); A. M. Porter, 189 or 1821, tanner and currier ; S, Pennewell and S. H. Stearns, both tanners ; Milton and Jennings, 1819, cabinet makers ; Alexander Clemons, 1820 or 1821, cabinet maker ; J. C. Hurd, 1823 or 1824, hatter ; Colonel A. Root, 1822 or 1823, saddler and harness maker ; Sylvanus A. Cone, 189 or 1821, butcher ; Bush & Hollister, merchants ; O. and L. Cook, dry goods ; Bassett Bethel, tailor; D. H. Tuttle, lumber dealer ; Samuel and Leicester Walker, and Abner Lyman were local carpenters. George Anderson was the pioneer physician. The legal lights of the town at this time were Elentheros Cooke, Francis D. Parish and H. J. Harmon. The first two were prominent men in the city for many years, but of the last mentioned, Mr. Harmon, there appears no record or tradition. 290 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Having passed the " settlement " stage of its life and taken upon itself the more dignified name of town, the enterprising inhabitants began to look a little to the world outside this place and cast about for the most convenient and approved means of ingress and egress. Upon this subject we quote from the publication of W. D. Root, for the year 1855: " As early as 1821 the project of a canal across the center of the State began to be agitated. In the outset no other line than the Sandusky and Scioto route was thought of. The monstrous, suicidal policy of constructing two canals aCross the State, to unite the same waters, was wholly an after-thought —the offspring of a corrupt bargain and sale between interested sections. In the legislative session of 1821 the first law was passed authorizing a survey. During the season following Judge Geddes, an eminent engineer from New York, was employed to make the examination of several routes. Finding an abundant water supply on the Central, or Sandusky and Scioto route, he was prepared to report in favor of its location for the canal, but was prevented from doing so by a portion of the commissioners interested in other routes, and thereupon immediately resigned his position, declaring that he could not consent to retain an office while denied the exercise of what he deemed its undoubted prerogatives. "The next year a certain Judge Bates, whose best recommendation was his suppleness in the hands of interested commissioners, was employed as chief engineer, upon whose report the two lines of canal were finally located. No single line had the power to carry the measure ; it could only be done by the corrupt process of bargain and sale. Cuyahoga had first to conciliate the Muskingum ally by a sop of some two millions for the river improvement, and then buy up the Scioto Valley by encountering a second summit of ascending and descending locks, and still, not having votes enough, Cincinnati and the Miamis' had to be subsidized." It was by this resort to corrupt methods that the plan to construct the canal by the most convenient, natural and direct route was defeated ; and thus Sandusky lost what would given her at least her present population fifty years ago. In order in some measure to compensate Sandusky for the great wrong done her in depriving her of this valuable water-way communication with the country to the south, the project of a railroad to connect with the canal from Dayton to Cincinnati was suggested, but it was not until some years later that the same was consummated. Although Sandusky was for a time defeated in every attempt to open communication with the outside world by a canal, and was long delayed in the railroad project she, nevertheless, held open communication with the east and west by way of the lake, and reached Columbus by stage. The steamer, Walk-in-the-Water, made regular trips up and down the lake until the year 1821, when she was lost. The Superior next visited this place in 1822, making tri- THE CITY OF SANDUSKY- 291 monthly trips between Detroit and Buffalo, touching a Sandusky both going and coming. The Town of Sandusky Incorporated. —From the time of its original platting in 1816, until the latter part of the year 1823, the town of Sandusky had acquired a population of something like three hundred souls, and it became a matter of necessity that some provision should be made for local government and improvement, independent of the township organization of which it had hitherto formed a part. Many things were needful, many improvements could be made and many substantial benefits derived if the inhabitants of the town could be allowed to act independently. The Legislature of the State, on the 14th of February, 1824, passed an act providing for the incorporation of the town of Sandusky, and providing for the election of officers thereof. The limits of the town as provided by the act were as follows : Commencing at a point in Sandusky bay, eighty rods from low water mark, directly opposite the north end of McDonough street; thence running a direct line to the said north end of McDonough street, and along said street to Washington street ; thence east along said Washington street to Decatur street ; thence south along said Decatur street to Jefferson street ; thence east along said Jefferson street to Hancock street ; thence north along said Hancock street to Washington street; thence east along said Washington street to Warren street; thence north along said Warren street to the shore of Sandusky bay ; thence to a point in said Sandusky bay eighty rods from low water mark, directly opposite the north end of Warren street ; thence running directly to the place of beginning, shall be, and the same is hereby erected into a town corporate, henceforth to be known and distinguished by the name of Sandusky ; subject, however, to such alterations as the Legislature may from time to time think proper to make ; and the remaining part of said town, as shOWn by the plat thereof on record, shall be, and the same is hereby vacated, excepting the streets and public grounds thereof. On the first record book of proceedings of the authorities of the town there appears the following entry " Be it remembered that in pursuance of an act of the Legislature of the State of Ohio, passed February 14, 1824, entitled An act to incorporate the town of Sandusky, in the county of Huron,' the qualified electors who had been residents of the said town of Sandusky six months then immediately preceding, convened at the school-house in said town on the first Monday of May, 1824, and then and there, according to the direction of the said act, proceeded to the election of nine suitable persons, being citizens, house-holders or free-holders, and inhabitants of said town, to serve as mayor, recorder and common council of said town, by ballot ; at which meeting John Weeden and Benjamin Gregg were chosen and qualified as judges, and Frederick Devoe as clerk. 292 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. " Whereupon, after closing the polls and canvassing the votes which had been duly given by the qualified electors aforesaid, according to law, it appeared that George Anderson, Aaron C. Corbett, William Townsend, William Kelley, Cyrus W. Marsh, Alexander Clemons, Elentheros Cook, John Wheeler and M. Farwell were duly elected to serve in the capacity aforesaid ; and the said judges thereupon declared and in due form certified the said persons duly elected, as will more fully appear by their certificate and return on file." In pursuance of the act of the common council met at the office of Elentheros Cook, in the town of Sasdusky, on the 10th day of May, being within ten days from the aforesaid day of election, and then and there proceeded to elect, by ballot, from their own body, three persons to serve as mayor, recorder and treasurer, with the follOWing result: Mayor, M. Farwell ; recorder, William Townsend ; treasurer, William Kelley. Thus organized the council proceeded to elect a town marshal, Wesley Anderson being the fortunate candidate. He, however, resigned on the 12th of February following, and Daniel Newton was appointed in his stead. The next work of the newly created board was to determine the term of office of the several members, with this result :.For one year, Cyrus W. Marsh, William Townsend and John Wheeler ; for two years, Elentheros Cooke, Aaron C. Corbett and M. Farwell; for three years, William Kelley, Alexander Clemons and George Anderson. On July 30 following John K. Campbell was appointed as town assessor. About the first business transacted by these doughty old councilmen after their organization had been complete, was the passage of ordinances for local government, which were not of importance sufficient to warrant their publication in these pages. One thing, hOWever, seems worthy of mention. They provided that the non-attendance at meetings of the council should be punishable by a fine of one dollar, and judging from the frequency with which this penalty was imposed, as shown by the proceedings, the treasury must have been in good condition, that is, if the fine was collected, which fact does not appear. There ought not to have been any trouble in securing a full attendance at meetings, for many of them, before a suitable room was provided, were held at the " house" of Abner Root, and he was noted as being one of the most genial and hospitable landlords of that day. Many a glorious meeting these worthy city fathers must have had under the treatment of " mine host " Root. M. Farwell continued in the office of mayor for five years and was, in 1829, succeeded by George Anderson, and the latter, after two years, by J. M. Root. Thus were passed the first years of the life of Sandusky as an incorporated town; and a smart, bustling little place it was. Water street seems to have contained the business houses of various kinds, and in this same locality was THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 293 also situate a majority of its dwellings, although they were scattered over the tract generally as the owner was best able to afford. The town had a newspaper, the Clarion, a school, the building being situate at the corner of Columbus avenue and Washington row ; but another was built in 1828, on the ground whereon, in later years, was erected the Episcopal Church edifice. A school was established in town as early as 1818 near the Steam Boat Hotel, but was succeeded by that on Columbus avenue. Nor were the people unmindful of their spiritual comfort and welfare, as a church society was organized as early as 1819, but no church home for this struggling band was provided before 1836. This was a Missionary station under the charge of the Connecticut Missionary Society. Revs. John Seward and Joseph Treat conducted the services for some years. The first regular minister came in 1826, the Rev. W. M. Adams. That the reader may have an idea as to who were the residents of this locality at or soon after the incorporation of the town, we give the names of the residents of Portland township for the year 189. The list includes The names of those who lived in the town as well as those within the township and outside the town. This enrollment was made in May of the year named, by the trustees of the township for the purpose of dividing the same into school districts, and to be numbered one and two, respectively. All that part of the town and township lying east of Columbus avenue and a line drawn south in continuation thereof to constitute school district number one, while the land to the west of Columbus avenue and the line above mentioned, should form district number two. The resident householders of district number one were as follows : Thomas Galaway, Isaac Darling, William Cogswell, — McGovern, Jesse Withington, John Turk, Jerome Hardenbrook, Conrad Rhodes, Charles F. Drake, David B. Smith, Thomas T. White, David Campbell, Chauncey Terry, Presley Thompson, Erastus Cooke, John Hamer, Leicester Walker, George Anderson, William Chapman, Samuel Walker, Cyrus W. Marsh, James Foreman, Richard Hill, Judah W. Ransom, James Wright, Daniel R. Ellsworth, Darwin H. Tuttle, Michael Green, Lewis C. Ellsworth, Jacob Goodrich, Marble Tatie, Abner Lyman, Martin Eldis, Gurdon C. Burnham, Aaron C. Corbett, Adolphus Woodbridge, Davis Dougherty, Winslow Corbett, Thomas McGee, William Lisle, Abner Root, Hezekiah Bigford, Joseph Darling, Roswell J. Jennings, Widow Hurd, Widow Amsden, Widow Cook, Widow Hancock, Alexander Clemons. 294 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. The householders of district number two were as follows : Benjamin Gregg, Kelley Smith, A. M. Porter, Francis D. Parish, Knowlton Youngs, William Louther, Daniel Newton, Hewitt Hastings, Lucus Hoskins, Erastus S. Gregg, Augustus Cook, John Poorman, Ezra Wells, Elias Hand, William Townsend, George Lantes, Andrew Grimes, John Morgan, Benjamin Withington, Isaac Rice, John Wheeler, Elijah Belknap, Richard Martin, Henry Victor, Isaac Tupper, Amos McLouth, Russell Woodruff, Jacob Bouck, Samuel Pennewell, John Weeden, Rufus G. Carter, Widow Henderson, Widow Costello, Widow Martin, Widow Bishop, Widow Falley, Daniel Wisopp, H. H. Wilcoxen, A. M. Moore, George Dorrell, E. E. Clemons, George S. Reynolds, Joshua Fairchild, Michael Gill,  . Henry I. Slater, W. D. Colvin, John M. Sloane, Perry Darby. The question has frequently been asked : Why was it that Sandusky town,. possessed, as it was, of every natural facility for trade, commerce, and manufacture, was so seriously retarded in its early growth, after the original proprietors had made such generous provision for a large city ? This might be explained clearly and every contributing cause set forth, but it is hardly within the province of this chapter to discuss these misfortunes further than they become a part of the city's history. But there was one leading reason that it may be well enough to present at some length at this time. This injurious. cause, stripped of an explanation of its detail of facts and circumstances, was the uncertain title to the lands on which a part of the town plat was laid, and the conflicting claims to ownership which resulted in the famous litigation of Lockwood and others against Wildman and others. People looking for a place of residence in the then new country could hardly be expected to invest in lands the pureness of the title to which was in doubt. Then, again, soon after the year 1830, there was an investment made in the purchase of a large tract of land in the town, which the purchasers hoped to develop and build up, but unfortunately, the control of the tract fell into the hands of a person who was, to say the very least, exceedingly careless of his own and his associates' interests. It was soon after the year 1830 that Major John G. Camp visited the town of Sandusky with a view of making an extensive purchase of its lands, but it seems that he was not sufficiently possessed of ready funds to obtain all that he desired ; so he at once cast about for associates in the enterprise, and succeeding in enlisting the support of Thomas Neill, who is well remembered as having lived in this locality, a part of the time in Margaretta township, and THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 295 afterward in Sandusky ; and who was, moreover, an honest, true, and conscientious man. Also Oran Follett, who at the time was a prominent resident and business man of Buffalo, N. Y., and Isaac A. Mills, the son of Isaac Mills, one of the original proprietors of the town as laid out in the year 1818. These gentlemen became the associates of Major Camp, and purchased from the owners, Wildman, Mills, and Hoadley, all that part of the surveyed fractional township that lay east of Wayne street ; taking a contract therefor at a consideration less than fourteen thousand dollars. This was late in 1833, or early in the succeeding year. Major Camp and Isaac Mills lived in the town; Thomas Neill, in Margaretta, and Mr. Follett in Buffalo, so that for the ready transaction of business the management of affairs was entrusted to Major Camp and Mr. Mills, the former being the leading spirit. Matters progressed satisfactorily for some months ; lots sold freely, and cash appeared to be steadily filling the joint treasury, but there also was approaching the day of reckoning, the payment on the contract of purchase at last fell due. Major Camp, unfortunately, was addicted to excesses, and indulgences of various kinds he had spent the proceeds of the sales, and the exchequer proved to be in a depleted condition. The condition of affairs steadily became worse, but something must be done and that very soon. This brought Oran Follett to Sandusky in May, 1834. He called upon Major Camp for an explanation and payment on the contract, but received no satisfaction whatever. Becoming disgusted with such management, he sold his interest to William J. Reece, of Philadelphia. In the hands of the new proprietors matters were delayed for some time and until the contract had run to its conclusion. About this time Zalmon Wildman died, and in due time thereafter the proprietors came to close the matter and take back the lands ; but numerous salts had been made to purchasers in good faith, and the re-taking of the lands meant eviction to them. After a season of argument and negotiation, an extension for time of payment of the contract was made, and the proprietors executed a deed of their interests in the lands to Mr. Follett, in trust, to make the sale of lots, pay the purchase price, and, after accomplishing this, to turn the balance of the lands over to his former grantors. This, in the course of time, was done. The original proprietors were paid in full, the purchasers of lots were protected, the taxes were paid, and all needful things accomplished to the entire satisfaction of all parties. And after having faithfully executed his trust, Mr. Follett deeded back to Messrs. Mills, Neill, Camp and Reece, lands fully worth twenty-five thousand dollars to each of them. When all these matters had been fully and properly adjusted, it was near the year 1840. Then Erie county had been in existence for some two years. The lands on the west of Wayne street were, after the sale to Neill, Follett, 296 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Camp and Mills, still held and retained by Zalmon Wildman and others, and they, as proprietors, were selling and developing the same, though not without hardships and trials ; but it is not the purpose of this chapter to pursue them in detail. But while narrating the eventsof these years it will not be deemed out of place to make some reference to the action of Lockwood and others versus Wildman and others, involving the title to a large part of the land on which now stands the city, and which was, furthermore, one of the obstacles that retarded the city's early growth. This action grew out of an error in the original survey of the firelands tract, by which the land in this fractional township was underestimated by something more than a thousand acres, and the difficulty arose in making or attempting to make an apportionment or annexation thereof to adjoining sections. A subsequent survey was made, upon which the directors of the firelands acted in making their apportionment, while the parties in possession and defendants in the suit relied, apparently, on the first survey in which the error occurred. The case is digested as follows : " The township of Portland, containing four thousand five hundred acres, was estimated, in making the partition, to contain but 2,783 acres, and was all disposed of in three annexations, each having a portion of the base line, in the proportion that its quantity of acres bore to the whole supposed quantity of the entire tract." It is not proposed to go into this case further than to explain that it involved the tract whereon stands the city ; and that because of the uncertainty of the result no extensive operations for development of the lands could reasonably be made. The case was finally settled and disposed of about the time that Sandusky became a city. Notwithstanding these early misfortunes there was a steady gain in population, and from the natural attractions and advantages of the location it could not well be otherwise. The loss of the canal, through treachery and fraud, was the first serious blow against the prospects of the town, when by every consideration its northern terminus should have been here. This was the nearest point to the navigable waters of the south part of the State, and a thoroughfare for boat travel would have not only been of inestimable value to this location, but its construction, by way of the Sandusky and Scioto route, would have been completed at a far less expense than by the route finally adopted. This, also, was the most convenient route for the transportation of merchandise and passengers across the country to Cincinnati, and almost daily there could be seen in this little town a large number of teams awaiting the arrival of goods by boat from the east. One prominent gentleman of the city remembers having seen encamped on the public square, at one time, one hun- THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 297 dred and fifty teams by actual count, ready to load and start upon the coming of the boat from Buffalo. This kept the little town in a constant state of activity ; it kept business in an enlivened condition, and impressed all new comers with its importance as a commercial center. So it will be seen that the rly life of the town was not one of unexceptional adversity and calamity, and there came an occasional ray of sunlight between the clouds of misfortune. In 1830 the population of the town was not far from four hundred souls. The year 1835 was an eventful one in the annals of Sandusky, for during that year was commenced the construction of the old pioneer Mad River Railroad, connecting this point by direct and rapid transit with Dayton, and the country to the south of that place. And although it was some few years before the road was completed, an impetus was given to the town growth that made it at once an important point in the then western country. The Mad River road was projected as early as the year 1822 or 1823, and that project was the outgrowth of a bitter feeling created by the defeated canal building project from this place south. A meeting was held at the famous hostelry of Colonel Abner Root, at which attended some of the leading men of the town, and although the plan was thoroughly discussed and commented upon by the worthies present, the work of completing not only the discussion, but of carrying out the plan and constructing the road became the lot of another set of enterprising citizens. In after years this became known as the Cincinnati, Sandusky and Cleveland road. The construction of the above road, the pioneer not alone of Sandusky in its kind, but of the State of Ohio as well, was soon followed by another in 1837, in the commencement of the Lake Erie Division of the Baltimore and Ohio road, and it is difficult to determine which was, in fact, first completed, as both were during the same year ; still, the distinction of being the pioneer enterprise is generally and properly accorded the first mentioned. These railroads are elsewhere made the subjects of special chapters and need no further mention at this time. The year 1838 witnessed an event in the life of Sandusky that was of far greater importance than any of previous or after occurrence, in the erection and civil organization of Erie county by which these lands became separated from the mother county—Huron, to which the people of this locality had formerly paid allegiance,—likewise tribute. The framers of the act seem to have assumed beyond the possibility of a question that the city of Sandusky was the only appropriate location for the county seat of the new erection, as, in the act itself, it is declared that the county buildings shall be located there, without resort to the usual proceeding of appointment of three comMissioners to view the several suggested localities of the county, hear arguments, and then decide upon the most eligible site for such buildings. This proceeding, however, was afterward resorted to and com- 298 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. missioners were appointed in pursuance of an act of the Legislature, by which it was proposed to change the county seat, and this act was passed on account of the neglect of the proprietors of the lands here in providing suitable buildings for court and county purposes, as they had pledged themselves to do in case Sandusky should be selected for the county seat. And had it not been for the prompt action of the citizens of the town in guaranteeing the necessary buildings to the county commissioners, Huron would have been, unquestionably, the county seat of Erie county to-day. The final determination of this matter in favor of the city of Sandusky was of the greatest importance to her, and from that day her future prospects became far brighter, her population rapidly increased, and that increase was steady, healthful and permanent. With the building of its railroads, the location of the county seat, and the assurance that the people would be undisturbed in their possession of lots, notwithstanding the action still pending and undetermined, the town had acquired a population in 1840 of fifteen hundred persons. Thus favorably conditioned the subject of la city charter began to be discussed, and as such transformations were not the work of a day, some time was required to bring about this organization, and it was not until the year 1844 that it was finally consummated. By that time the population of the town numbered some three thousand or more persons. But before entering upon that branch of the city's history it will be well to present to the reader the names of those who were identified with the control of its governmental affairs up to that time. The first board of city fathers comprised the following persons: 1824.—Moors Farwell, mayor; William Kelley, treasurer; William Townsend, recorder; and Cyrus W. Marsh, John Wheeler, Elenetheros Cook, Aaron C. Corbett, Alexander Clemons and George Anderson, councilmen. 1825.—Moors Farwell, mayor; Francis D. Parish, recorder; Matthew McKelvey, John Wheeler ; Lemuel Robinson, marshal. 1826.—Moors Farwell, re-elected mayor; Henry H. Wilcoxson, Henry Victor ; Lemuel S. Robinson, marshal. 1827.—Moors. Farwell, mayor ; councilmen elected, George Anderson William Kelley, David Campbell ; Charles F. Drake, marshal. 1828.—Moors Farwell, mayor ; councilmen elected, John Wheeler, Elias Hand, Benjamin Gregg. Elias Hand, recorder ; David Campbell, treasurer. 1829.—George Anderson, mayor ; councilmen elected, Henry Victor, Elijah E. Clemens, Charles F. Drake. L. S. Beecher elected in place of Elias Hand resigned ; Solomon C. Moore elected in place of William Kelley ; Abner Root elected treasurer, and Augustus Cooke, marshal. 1830.—John Wheeler elected mayor ; Solomon C. Moore, Elias Hand, George Anderson, councilmen ; Burr Higgins, treasurer, and Augustus Cooke, marshal. THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 299 1831.—John Turk, mayor; George R. Peck, Joseph M. Root, councilmen; D. H. Tuttle, recorder, and Elijah E. Clemons, marshal. 1832.—Joseph M. Root, mayor ; Michael Gill, Thomas White, James S. Blaine, councilmen ; James Hollister, appointed recorder in place of George R. Peck, resigned. 1833.—Joseph M. Root, mayor ; John Wider, Solomon C. Moore, George Anderson, councilmen elected ; Thomas T. White, recorder. 1834 —John Beatty, mayor ; James Hollister, Austin Allen, John Beatty, elected councilmen; R. J. Jennings, marShal. 1835.—John Beatty, mayor; Zachariah Brown, Thomas T. White, William B. Smith, councilmen elected ; John Wheeler, treasurer ; William B. Smith, recorder ; R. J. Jennings, marshal. 1836.—John Beatty, mayor ; Solomon C. Moore, James Hollister, William Maraen, councilmen elected ; Hollister refused to serve and William M. Hunter was appointed but found ineligible, whereupon Charles F. Drake was appointed ; William Maraen was appointed recorder. 1837.—Samuel B. Caldwell, mayor ; S. B. Caldwell, John Wheeler, Roderick Williston, councilmen elected. 1838.—Samuel B. Caldwell, mayor ; A. H. Barber, Zachariah G. Brown, John H. Williams, councilmen elected ; R. J. Jennings, marshal. 1839.—Samuel B. Caldwell, mayor ; Josiah W. Hollister, Erastus S. Gregg, William Kelley, councilmen elected ; F. M. Follett, recorder. 1840.—John N. Sloane, mayor; John Wheeler, John G. Camp, Daniel Dibble, councilmen elected; William Kelley, recorder. 1841.—John N. Sloane, mayor ; A. H. Barber, Jno. M. Sloane, Henry P. Radcliff; councilmen elected ; De Witt C. Henderson appointed to council vice William Kelley resigned. D. C. Henderson, recorder; A. H. Barber, treasurer; Roswell J. Jennings, marshal. 1842.—John N. Sloane, mayor; Ebenezer B. Sadler, De Witt C. Hender son, Abner Root, councilmen elected ; Abner Root, recorder ; C. F. Drake, marshal ; Roswell J. Jennings, clerk of market. 1843.—John N. Sloane, mayor ; David Campbell, W. W. Witherell, John Wheeler, councilmen elected; George W. Smith, marshal and clerk of market. 1844.—Ebenezer B. Sadler, mayor ; A. H. Barber, Henry P. Radcliff, R. B. Hubbard, councilmen elected ; W. W. Witherell, treasurer ; Earl Bill appointed to council and recorder vice Abner Root resigned ; George W. Smith, marshal and clerk of the market house. In the above record of town officials there has not been noted the name of every incumbent appointed to fill vacancies that frequently occurred. The board in every case appointed all officers except councilmen, three of whom were elected annually by the people; but still, the council had power to fill any vacancy in their body. Resignations were of frequent occurrence, and it some- 300 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. times happened that more than one member would resign in the course of a year. This it is believed will explain the presence of some names not found among those regularly elected at the annual meeting at the polls. This was the last board chosen under the town incorporation. During the legislative session of the winter of 1844-45 an act was passed incorporating the City of Sandusky, and by that act the city became a municipality of a higher grade. On the 28th of March, 1845, the council met and read act entitled "an act to incorporate the city of Sandusky, and for other purposes," after which it proceeded to appoint places for holding elections in the wards, as follows : For the first ward, at the mayor's office, and appointed David Campbell, Henry P. Radcliff and John G. Pool, as inspectors. For the second ward, the West Market House, and appointed Alexander H. Barber, William W. Witherell and John Wheeler as inspectors. For the third ward the office of the West Slaughter House, and appointed DeWitt C. Henderson, James M. Davidson and Samuel Eastman as inspectors. The last meeting of the " town" common council was held on the 31st of March, 1845, at which Earl Bill was paid the sum of $11.20 for services, and this was the last official act of the board under the old administration. SANDUSKY CITY INCORPORATED. On the 6th day of March, 1845, by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, was incorporated "Sandusky City," and thus did it remain in name until the Legislature, by a subsequent enactment, made it necessary that the "city," should be dropped. From the time of this last mentioned act this city has been known and called "Sandusky." Of the act of 1845 there is not believed to be more than one or tw0 copies in the city to-day, so that the reader may have a complete knowledge of the various provisions of the act (so far as they appear to be important). They are fully set forth as follows : "Section I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That so much of the township of Portland, in the county of Erie, as is contained within the following bounds, to-wit : beginning in the center of Sandusky Bay at a point half a mile east of the northern corner of the east boundary of the town plat of Sandusky (as now recorded among the records of Huron county), running thence in a direct line parallel with the eastern boundary of said town plat, until said line strikes the shore of Sandusky Bay, thence in a direct line at right angles with the eastern boundary of said town, until a line so drawn shall intersect said eastern boundary, thence along said eastern boundary in a direct line to the southeast corner of the annexati0n to Sandusky plat, called Southwark, thence westerly along the south line of Southwark, and on a line in the same direction with said line to a point opposite to the south end of ,Shelby THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 301 street, thence in a direct line to the southeast corner of the recorded plat of the Western Liberties, so called, and from thence westerly along the southern boundary of said Western Liberties to the western boundary thereof, thence northerly along said western boundary to the shore of Sandusky Bay, thence on a line parallel with the eastern boundary of the recorded plat of the town of Sandusky to the center of said bay, and from thence easterly along the center of said bay to the place of beginning, shall be, and the same is, hereby declared to be a town corporate, and the inhabitants thereof are hereby created a body politic and corporate, with perpetual succession, by the name and style of Sandusky City, and shall, in all respects, be governed by the provisions of an act entitled an act for the regulation of incorporated towns,' passed February sixteenth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine, except as hereinafter provided." " Section 2. The said Sandusky city shall be and is hereby divided into three wards or election districts as follows : the first ward or district shall consist of all that part of said Sandusky city which lies east of Columbus avenue ; the second ward or district shall consist of all that part of said Sandusky city which lies west of Columbus avenue and east of Lawrence street ; and the third ward or district, shall consist of all that part of said Sandusky city which lies west of Lawrence street, including the Western Liberties." "Section 3. The government of said Sandusky city shall be vested in a mayor, recorder and nine councilmen, any seven of whom, exclusive of the recorder, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, each ward to elect three councilmen, who shall be electors, and reside in the wards in which they shall be elected. The said mayor, recorder and councilmen shall be elected annually, on the first Tuesday of April in each and every year, and they shall hold their respective offices until their successors are elected and qualified, and the said mayor, recorder and council shall exercise all the powers and be invested with all the privileges of the mayor, recorder and trustees of incorporated towns, under the general law, in addition to those herein granted and shall be subject to the same duties and liabilities, provided that the mayor shall only be entitled to a casting vote when the council is equally divided, and the recorder shall not be entitled to a vote except to give the casting vote when acting as mayor." " Section 4. The first election of mayor, recorder and councilmen, under this act, shall be held at such place in the several wards as the present mayor and council of the town of Sandusky may direct, who shall also appoint judges of said election for the several wards, and the judges of said election, so appointed, shall appoint their own clerks, and in case such appointments shall not be made, then, and in that case, the said election shall be held on the day aforesaid, in the several wards, as nearly in conformity as may be to the provisions of the general law in relation to incorporated towns. And annually 302 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. thereafter, the said election shall be held in the several wards at such places as the mayor, recorder and councilmen may appoint ; and the said councilmen shall be judges of election in their respective wards, and shall appoint clerks of the election. The said several clerks of election, so to be appointed as above, shall forthwith, at the first election, and at every subsequent election to be held under this act, certify the true returns of said election in their respective wards, to the mayor and recorder of said Sandusky city, which said certificate shall be verified by the judges of election under their seals. And the said mayor and recorder shall forthwith canvass the votes given for mayor and recorder and notify, in Writing, immediately after such canvass, the persons elected to said offices ; said returns, so to be made as above, shall, at the first election, be made to the present mayor and recorder of Sandusky, who shall have power to act in the premises." Of the other sections of the act number five defines the powers of the common council relating to the streets of the city ; number six relates to real estate, buildings, markets and other places ; number seven to tax sales for nonpayment of taxes and assessments ; number eight vests in the city all property acquired through the sales, and section number nine relates to acts already passed, and further provides that this act shall take effect on the first day of April next (1845). In pursuance of the provisions of the above recited act an election of municipal officers was held at the places designated by the old council, on the first Tuesday of April, 1845, at which time the following officers were chosen for the year next ensuing : Mayor, William W. Witherell ; recorder, William R. Chapman ; councilmen, First ward, Lester S. Hubbard, John J. Schock, John W. Beatty ; Second ward, John Weeden, Erastus S. Gregg, John M. Boalt ; Third ward, M. G. Woodbury, Charles Cross, George W. Keller. These officers were sworn to the faithful discharge of their duties by the retiring mayor, Hon. Ebenezer B. Sadler, and having been duly organized, on the 7th of April, proceeded to elect the subordinate city officers as follows : Marshal and clerk of the markets, Alonzo Wade ; treasurer, John Weeden, After transacting some unimportant business the council passed an ordinance for the protection of the streets and public grounds of the city ; also appointed John Weeden, Lester S. Hubbard and John W. Beatty a committee to prepare a set of by-laws and ordinances for the government of the city. On the 17th of May, Alonzo Wade resigned his office of marshal and clerk of the markets, and Francis W. Pomeroy was appointed in his stead. Thus commenced the municipal history of Sandusky city. Its affairs progressed favorably and were embarrassed by no untoward event until the year 1849, at which time the country suffered greatly from the ravages of the cholera epidemic. Especially severe was this visitation felt in the little city of Sandusky where no opportunity was had for the improvement of its sanitary con- THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 303 dition. Prior to this and about 1834, this dread disease threatened the town, but, fortunately, it did not manifest its presence at that time, but upon the occasion mentioned its ravages were terrible in this locality and many persons were stricken and died. Three years later, in 1852, there came a similar visitation upon thy people, and again were its medical men taxed to their utmost to stem the tide of disease and death. This subject will be found noticed at greater length in the chapter devoted to the medical profession, in an earlier chapter of this volume. The year 1852 witnessed a complete revolution in the municipal government, by reason of an act of the Legislature of the State, passed on the 3d day of May. The new State constitution had then been recently adopted and this enactment was, in a great measure brought about by the provisions of that constitution. But before setting forth the effect of this act upon the municipality of Sandusky city, let us look to the record and see who, up to that time, had been in charge and control of city affairs. The officers of the year 1845' are given on an earlier page, and need no repetition here. From that time, until the radical change of 1852 took place, the officers were as follows 1846.—Mayor, Zenas W. Barker ; recorder, Henry D. Ward ; councilmen, first ward, John M. Boalt, Lester S. Hubbard and William P. Chapman ; second ward, John Weeden, William H. Caswell and Page M. Ring ; third ward, Manley G. Woodbury, Charles Cross and David Souter ; council appointments, Charles Rice, clerk of markets; Lester S. Hubbard, treasurer. This year the council elected the following officers under the city ordinances : city attorney, Alonzo W. Hendry ; city surveyor, William Durbin, jr. ; chief engineer, Foster M. Follett ; assistant engineer, Henry P. Radcliff; fire wardens, S. E. Hitchcock and R. Lathrop for first ward; Charles Barney, and Philander Gregg for second ward and Samuel Eastman and William Spaulding for third ward. 1847.—Mayor, Ebenezer Warner; recorder, Sylvester Ross; councilmen— first ward, Foster M. Follett, David Campbell and Rice Harper ; second ward, John H. Ballard, Erastus Cooke and Smith Peck ; third ward, David Souter, George Morris and Jacob Hertel ; council appointments, William Benschoter, marshal, clerk of the markets, and collector ; David Souter, treasurer ; George Reber, city attorney ; Foster M. Follett, chief engineer ; Henry P. Radcliff, assistant engineer. 1848.—Mayor, Ebenezer Warner ; recorder, Zenas W. Barker ; councilmen—first ward, Samuel E. Hitchcock, Charles Cassiday and John G. Pool ; second ward, Smith Peck, Freeland T. Barney and William W. Witherell ; third ward, Jacob Hartel, John Carr and David Souter ; council appointments, William Benschoter, marshal, clerk of the markets, and collector ; David Sou- ter, treasurer ; George Reber, city attorney ; Freeland T. Barney, chief engineer ; John G. Pool, assistant engineer ; William Durbin, city surveyor.- 304 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. During this year the mayor, Ebenezer Warner, and the recorder, Zenas W. Barker, both resigned. Zenas W. Barker was thereupon elected mayor, and William P. Chapman was elected recorder. 1849.—Mayor, John M. Brown ; recorder, Charles Barney ; councilmen— first ward, Henry C. Williams, Daniel Dibble and Rollin B. Hubbard ; second ward, Freeland T. Barney, Solomon C. Moore and Erastus Cooke ; third ward, David Souter, John H. Buck and Thomas Comstock ; council appointments, William Spaulding, marshal ; I. W. Upp, collector ; David Souter, treasurer; Walter F. Stone, city attorney ; I. W. Upp, clerk of the markets; E. S. Flint, chief engineer ; William H. Clark, assistant engineer ; William Durbin, jr., city surveyor. 1850.—Mayor, John M. Brown ; recorder, Charles Cochran ; councilmen —first ward, C. C. Keech, Cuyler Leonard and John A. Wright ; second ward, Freeland F. Barney, Solomon C. Moore and Christian Engel ; third ward, Charles Cross, George C. King and George Homegardner; council appoint ments, O. Rice, clerk of the markets, collector, and marshal ; Charles Cross, treasurer ; Walter F. Stone, city attorney ; W. H. Clark, chief engineer ; Henry P. Radcliff, assistant engineer ; William Durbin, jr., city surveyor. 1851.—Mayor, Horatio Wildman ; recorder, George J. Anderson ; councilmen—first ward, William P. Chapman, William B. Smith and William W. Witherell ; second ward, L. S. Beecher, Elias H. Haines and Conrad Weigand ; third ward, Solomon C. Moore, Charles Cross and George Homegardner ; council appointments, O. Rice, marshal, clerk of the markets, and collector ; Charles Cross, treasurer ; Homer Goodwin, city attorney ; Henry P. Radcliff, chief engineer ; W. M. Pierce, assistant engineer ; William Durbin, jr., city surveyor. 1852.—Mayor, Foster M. Follett ; recorder, Samuel Lewis ; councilmen— first ward, Earl Bill, Jacob A, Camp and William Marshall ; second ward, Frederick S. Thorpe, Michael Lipsett and John Chapman ; third ward, George Homegardner, Charles Cross and William S. King ; council appointments, O. Rice, marshal, collector, and clerk of the markets ; L. S. Beecher, city attorney ; Charles Cross, treasurer ; Foster M. Follett, chief engineer ; I. S. Thayer, assistant engineer ; William Durbin, jr., city surveyor. The act of the State Legislature, passed on the 3d of May, 1852, was brought about by the new constitution then just gone into effect, and its provisions materially affected this and several other cities of the State. Regarding the classification of municipal corporations the language of the act is : " In respect to the exercise of certain corporate powers, and to the number, character, powers and duties of certain officers, municipal corporations are, and shall be, divided into the classes following : Cities of the first, and cities of the second class ; incorporated villages, and incorporated villages for special purposes. THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 305 " All cities which, at the last federal census, had or nOW have a population exceeding twenty thousand inhabitants, shall be deemed cities of the first class, and all other cities shall be deemed cities of the second class." A further provision declares that " any incorporated village which, at any future federal census, or at any census taken under the authority of the State, as aforesaid, shall have a population exceeding five thousand and less than twenty thousand inhabitants, shall be deemed a city of the second class." It will be seen from the above extracts that Sandusky was, at the time the act was passed, a city of the second class, as by the census of 1850 within the corporate limits was a population of five thousand persons. A further section of the act provided that " the corporate authority of citizens, organized or to be organized under this act, shall be vested in one principal officer, to be styled the Mayor, in one board of trustees, to be denominated the Common Counoil, together with such other officers as are in this act mentioned, or as may be created under its authority. " It is also provided that in cities of the second class the mayor shall be elected annually, on the first Monday in April, by the qualified voters of the city ; and that he shall serve until his successor is elected and qualified." Section fifty-nine provides " that the qualified voters of each ward within the several cities shall, on the first Monday of April, 1853, elect, by a plurality of votes, two trustees, who shall be residents of the wards in which they shall be elected, and who shall at the time be qualified voters therein ; and when the city council, elected under this act, shall have been organized, as hereinafter provided, they shall proceed and determine by lot the term of service of each trustee, so that one of the trustees from each ward shall serve for two years, and the other for the term of one year ; and at every succeeding annual city election, one trustee shall be elected by the qualified voters of each ward, who shall possess the qualification hereinbefore required, and whose term of service shall be two years, so that the terms of the two trustees of each ward shall always expire in different years." The same section also provides that the council shall elect, from their own body, a president ; they shall also appoint, from the qualified voters of the city, a city clerk. A further section provides for the election, by the qualified voters of the city, of all such city officers as shall be necessary for the good government of said city, and for the due exercise of its corporate powers, etc. It became necessary under this act to substantially reorganize the city government. The discussion of it occupied the minds of the council for some time, and at their request called forth a long and able opinion from the city attorney, L. S. Beecher. In the course of his observations this officer expressed the belief that certain provisions of the act would have to be interpreted by the courts before an intelligent understanding of their meaning could be had. 306 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. The first city election under the above described act was held on the first Monday in April, 1853, at which the foll0wing named persons were chosen to fill the respective city 0ffices : Mayor, Charles Cross ; city solicitor, John G. Miller, jr. ; city treasurer, Nicholas Buyer ; city marshal, James E. Mygatt ; assessors—first ward, John A. Wright ; second ward, George A. Wheeler ; third ward, Vincent Kerler ; trustees—first ward, Lester S. Hubbard, David Campbell ; second ward, L. S. Beecher, Henry H. White ; third ward, Charles Cross, Jacob Hertel. On the 16th of April of this same year the council passed and adopted an ordinance by which the city was divided and two additional wards created, increasing the number to five. A special election was thereupon ordered for the selection of trustees for the first, third and fifth wards, with the following result : First ward, William St. John and I. H. Robinson ; third ward, L. S. Hubbard ; fifth ward, John Carr and George Homegardner. By this sub-division of the municipal territory the ward boundaries were as follows : First ward.—All that portion of the city lying east or eastwardly of the center of Franklin street. Second ward.—All that portion of the city lying west or westwardly of the center of Franklin street, and east or eastwardly of the center of Columbus avenue. Third ward.—All that part of the city lying west or westwardly of the center of Columbus avenue, and east or eastwardly of Fulton street. Fourth ward.—All that part of the city lying west or westwardly of the center of Fulton street, and east or eastwardly of the center of Camp and Shelby streets. Fifth ward.—All that part of the city which lies west or westwardly of the center of Camp and Shelby streets. In 1855 Sandusky had acquired a population variously estimated at from six thousand to six thousand five hundred souls ; and from 1850 to 1860 its growth was three thousand. It had, at the time first mentioned, three lines of rail communication with points east, west and south. These were the Mad River and Lake Erie road, running to Dayton ; the Sandusky, Mansfield and Newark road, and the Cleveland and Toledo road. These were sufficient for the exportation and importation of goods and material for trade and manufacture at that time. Added to this was the harbor and lake traffic, which, of itself, was of large extent, the year 1850 showing imports to the value of $13,644,670, while the exports were valued at $4,656,641. During the next year these figures were nearly doubled. At this time the population was decidedly mixed in characteristics and nationalities, the German and Celtic combined nearly equaling the American residents in point of numbers. THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 307 The mercantile business of the city, which, in early years, was substantially confined to the vicinity of Water street, was constantly reaching to other points, up Columbus avenue to the square, and largely on Market street, both east and west of Columbus. Manufacturing industries were then, and always have been, kept as near the bay shore as possible, for here was the railroad center as well as the harbor. Turning briefly to the mercantile, manufacturing and other business institutions as shown by the compendium of 1855, the following appears : Produce and ComMission Merchants.—C. H. Williams, S. W. Butler, S. E. Hitchcock, on Columbus avenue ; Boalt & Smith, George Thornton, A. Cheeseborough, on the Mad River Railroad dock ; James D. Whitney, on the S. and C. Railroad wharf ; Marshall Burton, A. H. Barber, James A. Riley, Peck & Norris, Upp Brothers, on Water street ; Lockwood & Smith at Bay City Mills dock. Dry Goods Merchants.—Charles Converse, Monroe & Peck, J. W. Stevenson, Everett, Drake & Co., John N. Sloane, Hubbard, Shepard & Wilcox, on Water street ; W. T. & A. K. West, T. D. West, on Columbus avenue. Tailors and Clothiers.—W. V. Latham, Lytle & Walter, J. Kneale, J. Kronthall, L. Monat, Lewis Dietz, L. Bowman, C. Prediger, Wm. Guiterman & Co., G. Hart, Cooke & Bloomfield, Adolph Cohen, on Water street; S. Kneen, on Market street. Milliners and Dress Makers.—Mrs. Thomas Quick, Mrs. E. P. Smith, Miss Humphrey, 0n Columbus avenue ; Mrs. C. R. Souter, Miss E. McGraves, on Market street ; Mrs. Kramer, Wayne street. Hardware, Iron and Stove Merchants.—F. T. Barney & Co., W. V. Moss, Gibbs & Sanborn, Joseph Flood, Gale & Gibbs, Water street ; J. H. Williams, Washington Dewey, John M. Bailey, Columbus avenue ; John B. Rickhart, Market street. Upholsterers and Furniture Dealers.—Thorpe, Norcross & Thorpe, J. B. Mayer, Jacob Steitz, Market street ; J. H. Guild, Jackson street ; Charles W. Zollinger, W. H. Zurhorst, Wayne street. Jewelers.—Hiram T. Dewey, William Simpson, Robert Holverscheid, Water street ; V. Neesley, Wayne street. Grocers (wholesale).—S. S. Hosmer, J. W. Witherell & Co., Porter & Lytle, Smith & Parsons, Jacob Engel, all on Water street. Grocers (retail).—F. Rosenbaum,. C. Wigand, R. Hathaway, C. Hadley, H. Aplin, W. A. Simpson, H. P. Radcliff, Lamb & Eck, John Irvine & Co., Straub & Lezer, J. Lammers, M. Hexter, Water street ; H. Richenbach, Carroll & Gagen, Thomas Laden, Homegardner & Vogt, William Fox, Market street ; Parsons & Derr, Nathan Bear, Jackson street ; Henry Lutz, Washington street ; Ricker & Hubbard, Ira T. Davis, William Thompson, N. L. Brown, Robertson, Brown & Co., Columbus avenue. 308 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Drug Stores.—Adams & Fay, A. R. Belden, F. R. Lange, W. G. Brain & Co. Book and Stati0nery Stores.—George J. Anderson, William L. Co0ke & Co., Ruemonele & Ruess. Hats and Caps.—C. C. Keech, Austin Ferry. Boots and Shoes.—Gray & Son, J. P. Bean, L. B. Schrum, H. Walter, A. Moos, Joseph Fiedler, L Olrick, J. Ruprecht, Schneider & Bright, E. Otto, John Lehr, B. Esch, John Brandle, John Kuhn, C. Wigand. Crockery Dealers.—L. H. Kilbourne, H. P. Merrill. Manufacturing, in its several branches, seems to have been well represented by N. G. Olds, D. C. Henderson & Co., C. J. Messer, G. V. Griffith, the Fulton Car Works, and the machine and repair shops connected with the various railroad companies. Those above mentioned were engaged in the machine shop and foundry business. There were engaged at the same time in wood working and lumber enterprises, J. D. Lea & Co., Hubbard & Pierce, R. B. Hubbard, Peter Gilcher, P. Sprague. No less than twelve hotels were doing businesS in the city in 1855, and this will be a no more surprising statement than the fact of there being twenty resident physicians and twenty-six lawyers, all in active practice. The names of the former will be found in the chapter devoted to the medical profession, while the latter are enumerated in that relating to the bench and bar. Of architects, there were four ; of dentists two ; painters and glaziers four ; carriage manufacturers two ; liverymen four; confectioners three ; photographers three ; soap and candle makers two, and other branches of trade and manufacture were equally well represented. But not these alone made up the enterprising municipality of Sandusky, for there must be mentioned the other institutions, the schools, the churches, the public buildings, the attractive business blocks and residences. Then, again, were its societies, secret, social, literary and benevolent ; the fire and police departments, and other necessary adjuncts of a prosperous city. Such was Sandusky thirty-five and more years ago, with a population of less than seven thousand persons. That the city's growth has been steady and healthful, and not influenced by the later day creation, called " booms," is attested by the fact that in 1860 the federal census showed a population of 8,000; 1870, 13,000 ; 1880, 15,838, and at the present time, according to the estimate of careful observers, the population cannot vary much fr0m 20,000. Business, trade, manufacture and commerce were never so great as now. Nothing seems overdone, but ail branches of industry have kept even step with the general progress. The natural advantages of situation, the excellent sanitary condition, added to which are the local improvements for various purposes, all combine to THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 309 make the city of Sandusky one of the most inviting and desirable localities for business and residence to be found in the Buckeye State. It will not be necessary to trace here in chronological order, the history of the institutions with which the city is supplied, nor its trade and commerce, nor its societies, nor the several branches of its government, as each is made the subject of special notice in this chapter. Recurring again to the subject of the political history of the city, at the time of re-districting the same and the creation of five wards out of the original three, and the special meeting for the election of additional ward officers. For all time of the life of the town and subsequent city, it was a part of the township of Portland ; and it so continued to remain until, by a proceeding of the common council, and a proper application to the comMissioners of the county, the whole of the township was included within the city's boundaries. Thereafter Portland, as a sub-division of Erie county, passed out of existence; and from that time forth its history was that of Sandusky. The truth is, that Portland never had much of a history save that given it by having contained within its boundaries the shire town of the county. It possessed much good farming land and a number of substantial citizens, some of them pioneers upon the soil. But with the gradual increase in population, business and enterprise of the county seat, it became necessary that the township should surrender its name and identity and become a part and parcel of the municipality of Sandusky. The proposition for the annexation was not readily accepted by the whole people of the township, many of whom had no special anxiety to be brought within the range of a city assessment and taxation ; therefore they raised good and valid objections to the annexation, but without avail ; the project was a necessity ; the comMissioners so viewed it and their action carried it into effect. The ordinance of the council under which the proceedings were instituted was passed on the 18th of November, 1871, but the matter was not fully consummated until the following year. Ordinances were passed and adopted providing for the annexation of the newly acquired territory to the several wards as they then existed, without an increased number, nor was any increase made in the number of wards until the adoption of an ordinance December 15, 1884, by which there was made an increase of five. During the year succeeding that in which the limits were extended over the whole of Portland township, there began, and was thereafter carried out and accomplished in due time, some of the most substantial and worthy local improvements. Besides the water-works, provision was made for a proper system of sewerage. This was a substantial reform movement as well as an original effort. Its necessity was painfully apparent. Upon this question we quote the words 0f a leading physician of San- 310 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. dusky " From the first settlement of the city to the time the water-works and sewerage system were completed, its sanitary condition was, of course, very imperfect. This, in part, was attributable to the fact that the water is near the earth's surface. There was very little other than surface drainage to carry rapidly away the accummulated filthy and stagnant waters, and thus to keep the soil and air dry and healthful. The city, however, had this natural advantage. Instead of being flat and level, the ground over much of its area has a decided declination toward the bay, which, with its inlets, or arms, surround the city largely 0n three sides, and at the same time furnishes the very best natural fall and receptacle for all surface drainings. By this means the movements of the surface water were, in many parts of the city, rapid. In the level portions of the city, on the other hand, the lack of proper drainage bore, as it always does in every thickly populated district, the inevitable result—a greater or less decomposition of animal and vegetable matter which influences health and promotes the development of intermittent, remittent, bilious, typhoid and scarlet fevers. Diphtheria, diarrhoea and dysentery also prevailed in some seasons to a considerable extent. Then, again, the rock being so near the surface, it was difficult and expensive to obtain sufficient drainage for factory refuse, stagnant pools, and to effectually get rid of dirty house waters. In gutters and low spots of ground in many places, the gases showed themselves on the surface 0f polluted waters in the form of bubbles, and when they burst and showed their noxious contents in the immediate vicinity of or under dwellings in those lower, flat districts of the city, especially after a rainfall in the summer season, they would remain until evaporated, pregnating the air and seriously affecting the health of the people. In many parts of the city were superficial and deep wells, which were always suspicious sources of water supply, and particularly so when water is obtained by boring in lime rock till a crevice is struck in which it is found, for in such rock it is, practically impossible to secure a supply free from surface overflows and disease breeding seepage. During the terrible cholera scourge of 1849, and again in 1852, it was found that in every district in the city, and also in the outlying villages where the disease was most wide spread and fatal, the people were depending upon wells cut in the rock for their water supply. Several of these were public wells, and in the immediate communities about them the cholera swept. with the most terrible and death-dealing force. One well, especially, in a thickly populated part of the city, from which water was obtained for culinary and drinking purposes by a large number of citizens, was noted for its fatal power, and the use of its water was prohibited, These are but few of the many reasons why it became absolutely necessary that there should be inaugurated and carried out a complete sewer system THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 311 for the city. And it may be said in addition to what is already stated that the mercantile streets and localities were being rapidly built up with large three, four and five story business blocks and hotels, and none had any commendable sewer connection prior to the year 1872, except that extending through Columbus avenue as far south as Market street. On the 3d of June, of the year 1872, the council passed an ordinance to "establish Central Sewer District No. 1, in order to form a plan for the drainage of a small portion of the city." This was followed by another ordinance in May, 1873, for the establishment of Sewer District No. 2 ; and in August of the same year by the Whiskey Run Sewer District, No. 3 ; and in January, 1874, for the construction of sewers connecting with the public sewers ; and further, in the year last named, an ordinance was passed providing for the protection of the sewers of the city. This was but the beginning, but thanks to the enterprise of the council and the people who were burdened with the tax for the improvement, it was carried forward until to-day Sandusky is as well provided with trunk and lateral sewers as a means of preventing, so far as may be possible, the spread of contagious or epidemic germ diseases. Accompanying the establishment of the sewer system was the adoption of a city water works, the work for which was commenced in the year 1872. The water is taken from a crib well out in the bay away from the possibility of contact with sewerage discharge. The water supply system of the city needs no extended notice in this place as that is made the subject of special mention elsewhere in this chapter. These two great improvements, the sewerage and water supply systems, being accomplished, next came the paving or macadamizing of the principal streets with mainly, if not wholly, native stone, and this last enterprise was accomplished in due time, satisfactorily and well. The performance of these, expensive improvements was the longest stride ever taken by the city of Sandusky in the direction of a complete, metropolitan appearance; and it certainly was such, and it is, furthermore, very doubtful if any city within the State of Ohio, having no greater population than this, can present to the attention of a visitor as many substantial and permanent improvements as can Sandusky. And all this work has been accomplished since the year 1872. Its benefit is readily apparent; manufacture has doubled, and the mercantile business nearly so, in this time; and the city's population has increased from thirteen thousand in 1870, to at least twenty thousand at the present day. If this does not speak well for Sandusky, then certainly nothing does. The attention of the reader is directed to the department relating to the manufacturing industries, later in this chapter, for evidences of growth and the present well-being of the city. This desirable condition of things has not been brought about without much effort, and it does seem a fact that a people are better able to appreciate the 312 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. value of such work when accomplished in the face of some opposition. Fortunately for Sandusky, she has had in the control of her affairs men of energy, determination, and sense ; men who possessed the firmness to argue and the courage to carry out a proposition ; men of honesty, integrity, and worth. To these, and to the electors and taxpayers for their generous and willing support of these several measures, is due the honor and credit of having beautified, adorned, and benefited the whole city. Of course the burden fell upon the taxpayer, but the municipality has not been plunged hopelessly in debt, and there hangs over it now a no greater burden than can be easily borne. Sandusky became a city of the second class under the provisions of the law passed by the Legislature in the year 1852, and had there been no modification, amendment or revision of that law, it would now be ranked with the cities of the first class, for it is reasonably certain that the present population is in excess of twenty thousand persons. But the act was subsequently modified—materially and radically modified —and not a year had elapsed before the Legislature repealed and amended many sections, but nothing that then materially affected Sandusky other than the term of the office of mayor was extended from one to two years. The representatives of the wards were called " trustees," but when assembled for the transaction of business of the city they constituted the " common council." By the name of trustees they were designated for a number of years, when, under proper authority, they became in name as well as in fact "common councilmen," or " members of the common council." Again, it is found at certain times the office of city clerk was elective by the people, and again by the council, but this was due to legislative acts. The first occasion upon which a clerk was elected by the people was in the spring of 1859. The law authorizing this passed but a very short time before the election, and its provisions were unknown and unexpected to the great mass of the voters. But in some manner an enterprising young Democrat, named William Everingham, became cognizant of the fact, and managed to secure six votes for himself for the office of clerk and thus displaced Mr. Cogswell for a single year. The latter, nevertheless, resumed his old position in the succeeding year, and this was the only breach in his long and faithful term of service. Commencing with the first election held after the passage of the act above mentioned, it is proposed to furnish a civil list of the officers in the leading positions of the city government. There are cases in which members have resigned, and their successors have been appointed by the council, but these are exceptional, and are not intended to be generally mentioned ; rather, only those who were elected at the polls, together with the leading officers appointed by the council after that body became organized for the conduct of official business. It will be noticed that many of the city officers that were appointive prior to the act of 1852, were, by that act, made elective ; "and as this list, fr0m THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 313 year to year, is perused, other changes in the method of selecting officials are made. CITY OFFICERS SINCE 1852. 1853.—Mayor, Charles Cross ; city solicitor, John G. Miller, jun.; city treasurer, Nicholas Buyer ; city marshal, James E. Mygatt. Trustees, first ward, Lester S. Hubbard and David Campbell; second ward, L. S. Beecher and Henry H. White; third ward, Charles Cross and Jacob Hertel. Assessors, first ward, John A. Wright ; second ward, George A. Wheeler ; third ward, Vincent Kerber. Council appointments, David Campbell, president of council; Frederick W. Cogswell, city clerk ; Thomas Hogg, chief engineer fire department; Hiram A. Lyman, assistant engineer. Additional trustees subsequently elected to represent divisions or wards created by resubdivision of the city. First ward, William A. St. John and. I. H. Robinson ; third ward, L. S. Hubbard ; fifth ward, John Carr and George Homegardner. 1854.—City treasurer, Nicholas J. Buyer ; marshal, Oliver Rice. Trustees, first ward, J. H. Guild ; second ward, William P. Chapman ; third ward, Charles F. Drake ; fourth ward, William G. Melville ; fifth ward, John Carr. Assessors, first ward, William St. John ; second ward, William B. Smith ; third ward, Christian Keating ; fourth ward, Jonas J. Perry ; fifth ward, Jacob Hertel. Council appointments, chief engineer, Foster M. Follett ; Hiram A. Lyman, assistant engineer ; Joseph B. Darling, city civil engineer. 1855.—Mayor, Charles Cross ; city solicitor, A. C. McLouth; treasurer, Nicholas J. Buyer ; marshal, Oliver Rice. Trustees, first ward, William C. Deely ; second ward, Earl Bill ; third Ward, Casper J. Parsons ; fourth ward, Solomon C. Moore (long term), Lawrence Cable, (short term) ; fifth ward, Jacob Hertel. Assessors, first ward, John Kreup ; second ward, Samuel M. White ; third ward, Theron Goodwin ; fourth ward, Joseph Flood ; fifth ward, Patrick Gagan. President of council, Earl Bill ; city clerk, Frederick W. Cogswell. 1856.—Marshal, Andrew Casey ; treasurer, James Alder. Trustees, first ward, Obadiah C. McLouth ; second, William P. Chapman ; third, William Farwell ; fourth, John J. Finch ; fifth, George Lochyer. Assessors, first, John A. Wright ; second, John W. Holland, jr. ; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, William H. Clark, jr. ; fifth, Patrick Herr. President of council, Earl Bill ; clerk, Frederick W. Cogswell ; chief engineer, Thomas Hogg ; assistant engineer, Frederick Kelsey. 1857.—Mayor, George W. Smith ; treasurer, George J. Anderson ; solicitor, L. S. Beecher ; marshal, Enoch Weller. Trustees, first ward, Martin Clarkson ; second, Frederick S. Thorpe ; third, George S. Patterson ; fourth, John Carr ; fifth. John Homegardner. Assessors, first ward, William Boer ; second, John Holland ; third, Edward Farrell; fourth, Ezra Wells ; fifth, Peter Benn. President of the council, George S. Patterson ; clerk, Frederick W. Cogswell. 314 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 1858.—Marshal, Enoch Weller ; treasurer, Casper J. Parsons. Trustees, first ward, Rice Harper ; second, Henry Canan ; third, John M. Bailey; fourth, George Ramsey ; fifth, Vincent Fox. Assessors, first ward, William Boer ; second, Christian Degensfield ; third, Thomas Larch ; fourth, William W. Cooke ; fifth, Teter Benn. President of council, Martin Clarkson ; clerk, Frederick W. Cogswell. This year began the election of chief engineer by the fire department. 1859.—Mayor, John G. Miller ; city clerk, William Everingham ; treasurer, Casper J. Parsons ; solicitor, Abraham H. Stryker ; marshal, Patrick Herr. Trustees, first ward, Martin Clarkson ; second, John H. Hudson ; third, Henry J. Donahue; fourth, Calvin Carr ; fifth, John Homegardner. Assessors, first ward, D. Davis ; second, Henry Y. Upp ; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, Nicholas Buyer ; fifth, Peter Benn. President of council, Martin Clarkson. 1860.—City clerk, Frederick W. Cogswell ; marshal, George Littleton ; treasurer, Andrew Zerbe. Trustees, first ward, Enoch Wells ; second, John Mackey; third, James H. Stead ; fourth, George Ramsey ; fifth, George W. Barker. Assessors, first ward, David Davis ; second, Charles C. McGee ; third, William Cooke ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Peter Benn. President of council, John H. Hudson. During this year the office of mayor became vacant by the resignation of John G. Miller, jr., whereupon, in December, Rice Harper was elected to fill the vacancy. 1861.—Mayor, William S. Pierson ; clerk, Frederick W. Cogswell ; treasurer, John H. Williams ; solicitor, Abraham H. Stryker ; marshal, William K. Chapman. Trustees, first ward, George Barney ; second, Chauncey C. Bill ; third, Henry J. Donahue ; fourth, William Hudson ; fifth, Vincent Fox. Assessors, first ward, David Davis ; second, Charles C. McGee ; third, William Cooke ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Phillip Ruppert. President of council, Henry J. Donahue. 1862.— Mayor (to fill vacancy), Obadiah C. McLouth ; treasurer, Gottlieb Hart ; marshal, William R. Chapman ; trustees—first ward, Jabez G. Bigelow ; second, John Mackey ; third, Adam Bauer ; fourth, Farrell Mulvey ; fifth, John Homegardner ; Assessors—first ward, David Davis ; second, John W. Holland ; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, Henry Roos ; fifth, Phillip Ruppert. President of the council, John Mackey. 1863.— Mayor, Ferdinand Geiersdorf; solicitor, Obadiah C. McLouth ; marshal, Samuel C. Wheeler ; trustees—first ward, James H. Steward (full term), Rudolph Rummels (short term); second, Edward Cassady ; third; Ebenezer B. Sadler ; fourth, Philip Graeffe; fifth, Peter Benn. Assessors—first ward, James S. Rice ; second, John W. Walters ; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Phillip Ruppert ; president 0f council, John Mackey ; clerk, Frederick W. Cogswell. 1864.— Marshal, Samuel C. Wheeler ; trustees—first ward, Rudolph Rum- THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 315 mels ; second, John Mackey ; third, James W. Cooke ; fourth, George Daniels ; fifth, Vincent Fox ; assessors—first ward, James S. Rice ; second, John W. Walters ; third, Thomas J. Drake ; fourth, Philip Weil ; fifth, Philip, Ruppert ; president of council, John Mackey ; clerk, Frederick W. Cogswell. 1865.—Mayor, Ferdinand Geiersdorf ; solicitor, Elisha M. Colver; marshal, Samuel Currie ; trustees—first ward, William G. Land (long term), Timothy Ingle (short term) ; second, William P. Chapman ; third, Peter Gilcher (long term), Jared Keyes (short term) ; fourth, T. W. Torrey ; fifth, Charles Cross ; assessors—first ward, John A. Wright ; second, L. C. Loomis ; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, Daniel Rohrbacher ; fifth, Philip Rupert ; president of council, John Mackey ; clerk, Frederick W. Cogswell. 1866.—Marshal, Frank L. Myers ; trustees—first ward, Timothy Ingle ; second, Charles N. Ryan ; third, Jacob Maul ; fourth, George Daniels ; fifth, William Hoch ; assessors—first ward, Henry Reutsch ; second, L. C. Loomis ; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Philip Ruppert ; president of council, John Mackey ; clerk, Frederick W. Cogswell. 1867.—Mayor, Ferdinand Geiersdorf ; solicitor, Elisha M. Colver ; marshal, Thomas Muldowrey; trustees—first ward, Christian F. Schaffle; second, Wm. B. Hudson; third, Gottlieb Hart; fourth, William H. Wilson; fifth, Jacob Hertel; assessors—first ward, George Waterfield; second, William B. Smith; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Philip Ruppert. Zenas W. Barker, justice of the peace, was appointed mayor pro tern., to act only in case of absence or disability of the regular officer. President of the council, George Daniels ; clerk, Charles Cross. 1868.— Marshal, Thomas Muldowrey ; trustees — first ward, Ira F. Davis ; second, John H. Williams ; third, Adam Bauer ; fourth, George Daniel ; fifth, Jacob Ulmer; assessors—first ward, Henry Reutch ; second, William B. Smith ; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Charles Betzler ; president of council, George Daniel ; clerk, Charles Cross. 1869.— Mayor, Philander Gregg; marshal, Thomas Muldowrey ; clerk, Charles Cross ; city civil engineer, George Morton ; solicitor, Sebastian F. Taylor ; street comMissioner, Nicholas Buyer ; trustees — first ward, Elisha M. Colver ; second, Frank E. Foster ; third, Clark Cewter ; fourth, William H. Wilson ; fifth, John Homegardner ; assessors — first ward, John M. Ernst ; second, Gottlieb Stroebel; third, Edward Farrell; fourth, August Seeger; fifth, Charles Betzler ; president, of council, George Daniel ; clerk, Charles Cross. 1870.— City solicitor, Horatio Wildman ; treasurer, Andrew W. Prout, jr.; chief engineer, John H. Williams ; trustees--first ward, Ira F. Davis ; second, James D. Chamberlin ; third, S. W. Dorsey (long term), Christian Keating (short term) ; fourth, George Daniel (long term), Bernard Tierney (short term); fifth, Jacob Ulmer ; assessors — first ward, John C. Ernst ; second, John W. Walter ; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Philip Ruppert; president of council, Frank E. Foster ; clerk, Charles Cross. 316 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 1871.—Mayor, George Daniel ; marshal, H. G. Robinson ; chief engineer, David Myers ; solicitor, Horatio Wildman ; city commissioner, Nicholas Buyer; councilmen—first ward, I. B. Massey ; second, Frank E. Foster ; third, Gottlieb Hart (long term), John R. Miner, (short term) ; fourth, W. J. Haverly ; fifth, John Homegardner ; assessors—first ward, E. B. Schafer ; second, L. C. Loomis; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Phillip Ruppert; president of the council, Dr. I. B. Massey ; clerk, Charles Cross. 1872.—Councilmen—first ward, Elmer Atwood ; second, Charles V. Olds; third, Ebenezer B. Sadler ; fourth, N. H. Moore, George Whitney (short term) ; fifth, Jacob Ulmer ; assessors —first ward, E. B. Schafer; second, L. C. Loomis; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Philip Ruppert ; chief engineer, Richard C. Cuthbert ; civil engineer, George Morton ; president of council, Dr. I. B. Massey ; clerk, Charles Cross. 1873—Mayor, George Daniel ; marshal, William Berrigan ; solicitor Horatio Wildman ; city comMissioner, Lee Chambers ; justices of the peace, Zenas W. Barker, Gottlieb Stroebel and Thomas Drake ; councilmen—first ward, A. H. Barber ; second, Frank E. Foster ; third, William H. Wilson, William Zimmerman (short term) ; fourth, Patrick Quinn ; fifth, John Homegardner ; assessors —first ward, E. B. Schafer ; second, Clifton Hadley ; third, Edward, Farrell ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Philip Rupert ; president of council, William H. Wilson. 1874.—Councilmen —first ward, Jacob A. Barker ; second, B. F. Ferris ; third, William Zimmerman ; fourth, Constantine Zipfle ; fifth, Henry Zimmerman ; assessors—first ward, E. B. Schafer; second, Clifton Hadley ; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Philip Ruppert ; constables, Henry Eichler and Charles Bang ; president of council, William H. Wilson ; clerk, Charles Cross. At the polls, also during this year were elected cemetery trustees and a board of education. The former were E. Alvord and Christian C. Keech for long term, Adam Stoll and Neil H. Moore, for short term. Board of education, H. J. Donahue, George J. Anderson and Winsen Fox, for two years, Isaiah B. Massey, James D. Lea and William Hudson for one year. 1875 — Mayor, George Daniel; marshal, William Berrigan ; solicitor, Horatio Wildman ; street comMissioner, Nicholas Buyer ; cemetery trustee, John J. Finch ; trustees of water works, James D. Lea for three years, C. C. Keech for two years, and Peter Gilcher for one year. Councilmen — first ward, Lewis F. Taubert , second, John C, Zillinger ; third, W. Scott Sanford ; fourth, Patrick Quinn ; fifth, John Homegardner ; assessors — first ward, E. B. Schafer ; second, Clifton Hadley ; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Henry Mall ; president of council, Jacob A. Barker ; clerk, Wm. W. Witherell. 1876.—Councilmen— first ward, W. T. West ; second, Perry G. Walker ; third, Henry Jordon ; fourth, Philip Graeffe; fifth, Christian Miller ; assessors —first ward, E. B. Schafer; second, Gottlieb Schleichrum; third, Edward Farrell; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Henry Moll ; president of council, John C. THE CITY OF SANDUSKY - 317 Zollinger ; clerk, William W. Witherell. Mayor's appointments : Edwin Graves, civil engineer ; A. Y. Stoll, chief of fire department ; James Farrell, assistant fire engineer ; Andrew Brown, captain of police. 1877,— Mayor, William H. Wilson ; marshal, William Berrigan ; solicitor, Horatio Wildman ; street comMissioner, Jacob Schwab ; cemetery trustee, M. F. Cowdry ; trustee of water works, C. C. Keech ; chief engineer, J. B. Kaeferle ; councilmen—first ward, A. Motry ; second, John C. Zollinger ; third, Charles Keyes ; fourth, R. Schenck ; fifth, John Homegardner ; assessors— first ward, J. J. Kepley; second, G. Schleichrum; third, Edward Farrell; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Philip Ruppert ; president of council, John C. Zollinger; clerk, William W. Witherell. 1878.-- Councilmen — first ward, Dr. Elwood Stanley ; second, Perry G Walker; third, Lyman A. Spencer; fourth, W. B. H. Hunt; fifth, James Flynn; assessors--first ward, Joseph J. Kepley ; second, Gottlieb Schleichrum ; third, Edward Farrell ; fourth, John Augst ; fifth, Philip Ruppert ; president of council, John C. Zollinger ; clerk of council, William W. Witherell. 1879.—Mayor, Rush R. Sloane ; marshal, John Gleason ; solicitor, Jan T. Beecher ; city commissioner, L. A. Lyman; councilmen—first ward, Henry Dehul (long term), Elwood Stanley (short term); second, Simon Schacht ; third, John Krupp ; fourth, John Quinn ; fifth, Charles Cross ; assessors—first ward, James B. Sanderson ; second, Gottlieb Schleichrum ; third, Sylvester Brengartner; fourth, August Seeger ; fifth, Philip Deitrich ; president of council, Charles Cross ; clerk, William W. Witherell. 1880.— Councilmen—first ward, F. W. Alvord ; second, Perry G. Walker ; third, Lyman A. Spencer ; fourth, William B. H. Hunt ; fifth, James Flynn ; assessors — first ward, James B. Sanderson ; second, Gottlieb Schleichrum ; third, Sylvester Brengartner ; fourth, Nicholas Buyer ; fifth, Philip Deitrich ; president of council, Perry G. Walker ; clerk, William W. Witherell. This year the people voted to build a city hall and prison. 1881.— Mayor, William B. H. Hunt ; marshal, John Gleason ; solicitor, Walter W. Bowen ; street commissioner, Charles Schoeffle ; councilmen --first ward, Henry Deuhl; second, Edmund B. King ; third, Byron Gager ; fourth, Samuel Irvine ; fifth, Frank Stang ; assessors —first ward, George J. Roegre second, Gottlieb Schleichrum ; third, Sylvester Brengartner ; fourth, J. M, Deibold ; fifth, Philip Deitrick ; president of council, Perry G. Walker ; clerk, William W. Witherell 1882.—Councilmen—first ward, Samuel C. Wheeler ; second, August Kuntzman; third, William Zimmerman ; fourth, Robert Haylor ; fifth, John B. Kafferly ; assessors—first ward, George J. Koegle ; second, F. Dahm ; third, Sylvester Brengartner.; fourth, John M. Deibold ; fifth, Philip Dietrich ; president of council, Edmund B. King ; clerk, William W. Witherell. 1883.—Mayor, James L. De Witt ; marshal, Andrew Bowen ; solicitor, Walter W. Bowen ; street commissioner, Charles Schoeffle; councilmen—first 318 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. ward, John H. Smith ; second, Edmund B. King ; third, Thomas N. Sloane ; fourth, Patrick Glancy ; fifth, Charles Wildenthaler ; assessors—first ward, George J. Koegle ; second, Jacob Schnell ; third, Sylvester Brengartner ; fourth, John M. Deibold ; fifth, Charles Reider ; president of council, Thomas N. Sloane ; clerk, William W. Witherell. 1884.—Councilmen—first ward, H. H. Knight ; second, Daniel Kunz (long term), Paul Miller (short term); third, G. Hart ; fourth, Albert Bernmoser ; fifth, J. B. Kafferle ; assessors—first ward, Lewis Metzgar ; second, G. Schleicher; third, Sylvester Brengartner; fourth, F. Heberlein; fifth, Charles Kessler; president of council, Thomas N. Sloane; clerk, William W. Witherell. 1885.—Mayor, James L. De Witt ; marshal, Andrew Bowen ; solicitor, George C. Beis ; street comMissioner, George J. Koegle ; councilmen—first ward, Thomas L. McEwen ; second, George B. Hodgman ; third, John R. Lea ; fourth, Patrick Glancy ; fifth, Charles Wildenthaler ; sixth, Michael Hommel ; seventh, George Gosser and Chris. Berner ; eighth, William C. Smith and Adam Bauer ; ninth, John H. Biehl and J. F. McCrystal ; tenth, James R. Davies and Barney Callan ; assessors—first ward, John Metzgar ; second, J. D. Chamberlain ; third, S. Brengartner ; fourth, F. Haberlein ; fifth, Charles Kessler; sixth, John Diehr, seventh, George A. Free ; eighth, Lewis Abele ; ninth, G. Schleichrum ; tenth, Lewis Metzgar ; president of council, J. B. Kafferle ; clerk, Albert W. Miller. 1886.—Councilmen—first ward, H. B. Breining; second, Daniel Kunz ; third, M. Fischer ; fourth, M. M. Doyle ; fifth, J. B. Kafferle ; sixth, A. G. O'Donnell ; seventh, Jacob Schmid ; eighth, Henry Graefe ; ninth, John Strickland ; tenth, Christian Zimmerman ; assessors—first ward, Lewis Metzgar ; second, C. Hadley ; third, S. Brengartner ; fourth, F. Haberlein ; fifth, Charles Kessler ; sixth, John Diehr ; seventh, George A. Free ; eighth, J. B. Keyes; ninth, G. Schleichrum ; tenth, William Clark; president of council, John B Kafferle ; clerk, Albert W. Miller. 1887.—Mayor, William B. H. Hunt ; marshal, Andrew Bowen ; city solicitor, George C. Beis ; street comMissioner, George J. Koegle.