VILLAGE OF FINDLAY - 559

CHAPTER XXIX.

FINDLAY CONTINUED.

PROGRESS OF THE VILLAGE-POSTOFFICE ESTABLISHED-LIST OF POSTMASTERS -INCORPORATION OF FINDLAY, AND ITS SUBSEQUENT MAYORS AND CLERKS -THE OLD GRAVEYARD ON EAGLE CREEK - MAPLE GROVE CEMETERY - CALIFORNIA MOVEMENT OF 1849 - UNDERGROUND RAILROAD-FIRST FIRE ENGINES, AND ORGANIZATION OF THE: FIRST FIRE COMPANY-THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZED-FOSTER OF CHIEF ENGINEERS-DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENT EFFICIENCY OF THE DEPARTMENT-TOWN N BUILDINGS-AD-VENT OF RAILROADS, EXPRESS, TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE LINES -FINDLAY'S SEWERAGE SYSTEM AND ITS BENEFITS-MONUMENTAL PARK -ORGANIZATION OF THE HANCOCK MONUMENTAL ASSOCIATION-BRIEF HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SOLDIER'S MONUMENT-THE OLD FINDLAY GAS LIGHT COMPANY-ERECTION OF THE GAS WORKS AND FIRST LIGHTING OF THE TOWN WITH GAS - THE WORKS CLOSED UPON THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL GAS-GROWTH OF FINDLAY SINCE 1831 - HER PRESENT APPEARANCE AND BUSINESS INTERESTS, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS.

FROM-the time that Wilson Vance laid out the village in the fall of 1821, there was a slow but steady increase in its population, though for years Findlay was an insignificant. forlorn looking hamlet. In the winter of 1822-23 the inhabitants living in the vicinity of the village petitioned the Government for a postoffice, and on the 8th of February, 1823, an office named "Fort Finley" was established, with Wilson Vance as postmaster. For many years the office was a very poorly paying institution. In 1826 it netted Mr. Vance the extraordinary small income of $3.18, and by 1828 this had increased to only $10, and not more than five newspapers

560 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

then came to the office. The name was changed in April, 1828, from "Fort Finley " to "Finley;" in March, 1856, to "Findlay," and in February, 1870, to "Findlay." There never was a particle of authority for any other orthography than the last mentioned, as Col. James Findlay, from whom the town derived its name, always wrote his name "Findlay," as did also his brother, Gov. William Findlay, of Pennsylvania. But the postoffice department adopted the same orthography as used in the petition, and the pioneers who sent it knew little and cared less about such matters. What they wanted was a postoffice in the village, and so long as that wish was complied with they were content. It has been heretofore claimed that an office was established at Findlay in 1821, but the following official letter in answer to our inquiry, definitely settles that point:

WASHINGTON, D. C., February 5, 1886. Sir:

In reply to your letter of the 1st inst., I beg to say that the records of this office do not show that an office was established at Findlay, Ohio, prior to 1823.

Very respectfully, A. E. STEVENSON,

First Asst. P. M. General.

The following citizens have been postmasters of the village, the date of each appointment. as officially copied from the records of the department in Washington, being also given; Wilson Vance, February 8, 1823; John C. Wickham, July 27,1829; Squire Carlin. June 4, 1831; Parlee Carlin, March 1, 1849; Robert Coulter, June 1, 1849; William Taylor, December 26, 1849; Abel F. Parker, April .12. 1853; Oliver Mungen, March 31, 1856; James Robinson, December 31, 1857; Joseph B. Rothchild, March 20, 1861; Cloys B. Wilson, November 9, 1866, but the Senate refused to confirm him, as it was then at war with President Johnson, and Mr. Rothchild filled the office until the appointment of Col. James M. Neibling, as special agent, May 6, 1867; Amanah Ballou, March 20, 1869; Thomas E. Adams, June 5, 1872; Eli G. DeWolfe, March 28, 1876; Winfield S. Hammaker, November 5, 1885. On the 1st of November, 1864, the postal money order system was established in the United States, and in May, 1865, it was introduced into the Findlay office. Since that time the postmastership has been an office of much greater responsibility than in former years, and the recent adoption of the postal note system has also increased its revenues.

The village of Findlay was incorporated by act of the Legislature passed March 17, 1838, and an election ordered to take place the following month. At that time John Adams was elected mayor, and A. H. Hyatt, recorder. Mr. Adams was succeeded by William Porterfield. The charter was repealed March 13, 1843; but two years later (March 4, 1845) the act of incorporation, passed in 1838, was declared in force. There are no official records in existence from which to obtain the names of the mayors of Findlay prior to 1858, but by a careful perusal of odd numbers of the Courier we have been able to compile a complete list of the mayors and recorders of the village since its reincorporation in the spring of 1845. The mayors have been as follows: U. A. Ogden, 1845-47; Abraham Younkin, 1847-52; George W. Galloway, 1852-54; Jacob Carr, 1854-56; N. Y. Mefford, 1856-57; Josiah Powell, 1857-58; Charles C. Pomroy, April, 1858, resigned July 20, 1858, and Ezra Brown appointed to serve the unexpired term; Ezra Brown, 1859-60; Israel Green, 1860-61; G. W. Twining, 1861-64; Jacob Carr, 1864-67; Nathaniel W. Filkin, 1867-68; James A. Bope, 1868-70; George F. Pendleton, 1870-72; Daniel B. Beardsley, 1872-74; William Gribben, 1874

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-76; Jacob Carr, 1876-78; William Vance, 1878-82; W. W. Siddall, 1882-86; W. L. Carlin, 1886-88.

The following is a list of those who have filled the office of recorder or clerk of the borough since April, 1845: Mark Delaney, 1845-49; P. D. Bigelow, 1849 to October, 1854; Alonzo L. Kimber, October, 1854, to April, 1856; S. H. Darst, 1856-57; Elijah Barnd, 1857-58; S. F. Gray, 1858-60; William Klamroth, 1860-62; Jule P. Dennis, 1862-63; Samuel Huber, 1863-64; B. F. Kimmons, 1864-67; John C. Martin, 1867-69; D. H. Pugh, April, 1869, resigned the following month, and Eli G. DeWolfe appointed May 17 to serve until April, 1870; Lemuel McMannus, 1870, resigned in April, 1873, and W. Davidson appointed to serve until April, 1874; Jesse Wheeler, Jr., 1874, resigned in August, 1875, and Paul J. Sours, appointed to serve until April, 1876; John A. Meeks, 1876-78; William T. Platt, 1878-84; Jacob H. Bogey, 1884-88.

One of the first necessities of every village is a place of public burial, and when Findlay was laid out such a ground was selected on the east bank of Eagle Creek. A tradition exists that this old graveyard was started by the garrison of Fort Findlay during the war of 1812. Mrs. Matthew Reighly was interred in this ground in 1822, she being the first white per son who died in Hancock County. Philip Strohl, brother-in-law of John Bashore, was also buried there about 1830, and, until the opening of Maple Grove Cemetery, nearly all who died in the village or vicinity found a resting place on this small gravel knoll overlooking Eagle Creek. With the opening of Maple Grove the old cemetery was gradually abandoned and also neglected. In February, 1871, the town council passed an ordinance ordering the removal, by their friends, of all the bodies then remaining in the old ground to Maple Grove Cemetery by the 15th of March following, and if not done by that date the town authorities would have them re-interred. There was some opposition to this measure, and though the great majority of the bodies were removed to Maple Grove, a great many neglected the work or refused to allow the bodies of their friends to be disturbed. So the old cemetery partly remains, and several headstones on `' the point " mark the resting places of those outs well known in the busy scenes of life.

Maple Grove Cemetery had its inception December 25, 1854, when under an act of the Legislature passed February 24, 1848, "making provisions for the incorporation of cemetery associations," the following gentlemen effected such an organization: D. J. Cory, William Taylor, Hugh Newell, Jesse Wheeler, Aaron H. Bigelow, Benjamin Huber, John B. Hull, Parlee Carlin, George H. Crook, David Goucher, William H. Baldwin, Hanks P. Gage, James H. Wilson, John Ewing, Frederick Henderson, George W. Galloway, M. C. Whiteley and Henry Porch. On the 22d of January, 1855, the organization Was completed by the election of John Ewing, Hanks P. Gage and Parlee Carlin, trustees, and W William Taylor, clerk; and " Maple Grove Cemetery Association " was adopted as the name of the organization. The association purchased of George Biggs twenty acres of land lying in the northwest quarter of Section 13 and the northeast quarter of Section 14, Findlay Township, immediately west of town for the sum of $2, 200, which they at once laid out as a cemetery. On the 3d of August, 1860, the association turned over its title in the cemetery to the town and township of Findlay, said town and township assuming an indebtedness of $982, then owing to George Biggs. Twenty-two acres lying

562 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY. .

south of the cemetery were purchased of Jasper N. Lytle November 16, 1872, at a cost of $2, 200. A roadway belonging to Frederick Duduit originally divided the two tracts, but in April, 1875, the trustees of the cemetery exchanged with Mr. Duduit 4.45 acres off the southwest corner of the last purchase for the roadway, which contained the same amount of land, and thus the tracts were united. In July, 1878, the authorities resolved to authorize the cemetery trustees to erect a "mortuary chapel" for the reception of the dead before burial, at a cost not to exceed $2,000. The chapel was commenced in the fall of 1878, and the building was completed and accepted by the trustees in May, 1879. Ryland & Wykoff were the contractors, and it is a very substantial, handsome stone structure, with mass ive iron doors, and adds considerably to the beauty of the grounds. The cemetery occupies an elevated, well-drained level site on the west bank of the Blanchard, along which a winding driveway leads from the village to the main entrance. The newer portion of the grounds surrounding the chapel are handsomely laid out, and the whole cemetery has a profusion of flowers, evergreens and shade trees which furnish an inviting place of rest to the casual visitor. Many artistic and costly monuments attest the devotion of the living, and prove at least a fleeting reverence for those silently sleeping 'neath the grass-covered mounds dotting this beautiful city of the dead.

There are two notable circumstances so closely interwoven with the history of Findlay's progress as to deserve mention in this chapter-the California movement of 1849, and the peculiar workings of the "Under ground Railroad." We are indebted for our information on those subjects to Willis H. Whiteley, Esq., of Findlay, who obtained the facts from active participants therein, which we ourselves have verified through the same sources.

"The excitement," says Mr. Whiteley," caused by the closing scenes of the war between the United States and Mexico was renewed early in the spring of 1848 by the report of the discovery of gold, on the American Fork of the Sacramento River, in California. The news of the finding of the precious metal spread as if borne on the wings of the wind. The intelligence went flying through the States to the Atlantic and then to the ends of the earth. Adventurers flocked from every quarter to the new El Dorado. Thousands of men were almost crazed with the excitement. Workshops were closed, business abandoned, farms left tenantless, and offices deserted, while moving across the great plains companies of adventurous spirits traveled westward with hungry hearts, like Jason, and his Argonauts of old in search of the Golden Fleece. Nor did the excitement and the eager desire to explore the new fields of wealth leave the people of Hancock County unscathed. Early in the year 1849 a company was organized in Findlay for the purpose of crossing the plains and exploring the gold bearing regions of California. The names of the men from Hancock County who were in the company are as follows: Squire Carlin, Dr. W. D. and Elliott Carlin (sons of Squire Carlin), William J. Durham, George W. Myers, Frederick Duduit, Alonzo D.. Wing, Hanks P. Gage, S. B. Harrington, James Predmore, James Porterfield, Samuel Porterfield, James Teatsorth, Garrett Teatsorth, Gid. Nightengale, A. Nightengale, Charles Coffinberry, - Shultz, James Smith, Michael Deopler, William Byal, Pearson Beardsley, Aaron Crowley, Isaac Vail, Elijah Ash, D. Austin, Isaac Miller, Isaac Johnson, - Krauss, George West, John Riddle, William Smith, Daniel

PAGE 563 - PICTURE OF WILLIAM M. MARSHALL

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VILLAGE OF FINDLAY. - 565

Tremaine, Isaac Sharon, Henry Moffitt, Charles Moffitt. William Moffitt, William Downing, George Downing, John Stagmier, William Worden, Peter Messamore, Jacob Beam, Wagner, Dr. Haggerty (Mt. Blanchard) and Dr. Jesse Beacon (Van Buren). There were also in the company Dr. Stanley and C. W. Butterfield (afterward the author of "Crawford's Campaign Against Sandusky"), from Seneca County, Peter Parks and Lathrop, from Sandusky City, and Messrs. Bagley, Blodget and Hubbard, and two brothers named Allen, from Putnam County.

The party left Findlay on the 3d of March, 1849, going by the way of Carey to Cincinnati, and from there by steamboat to St. Joseph, Mo. From there the company went to Independence, Mo., then the great outfitting point for emigrants crossing the plains. Here they remained until May 3, 1849, when they started westward with eight wagons. While en route William Byal died and was buried on Bear River. He was a brother of Hon. A. P. Byal, of Findlay. In September of the same year, six months after leaving Findlay, the Argonauts reached Weaverville, Cal. , where the company disbanded. While at this point Pearson Beardsley, a brother of D. B. Beardsley, Esq., also died, being the second after leaving home. The next year D. Austin died with cholera near Sacramento, Cal. After separating at Weaverville, the members of the company scattered in all directions, some to engage in mining, others to work at their trades, and many to pursue such employment as offered itself. Within two or three years the most of the company had returned, but a few remained on the Pacific slope and made for themselves permanent homes. More than half of the original company that left here for California in March, 1849, with light hearts and bright hopes of wealth, are dead, and of those who are alive a very few are now living in the county. Some are old and fast nearing the "golden shore," and all are far past middle life. Yet, withal, they speak with pleasure and recall with fervent interest the scenes and incidents and adventures of the long, long journey, when they Were a part of the Argonauts of "49."

For many years prior to the Rebellion, there existed in this vicinity two "stations" on the. "Underground Railroad," where runaway negroes were harbored, cared for and assisted on their journey toward Canada-then the slave's goal of liberty. The business of this institution was to aid the fugitives in their escape to that land of refuge. A line of "stations" existed at intervals of twenty-five or thirty miles, and the travel over the line was entirely at night. "Conductors" were engaged to pilot the runaways in safety, while agents and sympathizers through the South enticed negroes from their masters, and furnished them with means to escape to the North, where they would be cared for and sent out of the country. The people who aided and abetted this work were called "Abolitionists," and were sincerely hated by the slave owners of the South. The two "stations" in this locality are said to have sheltered and furnished means of further flight to over forty fleeing blacks during the ten years preceding the Rebellion. These were worth to their masters at least $40,000. Notice of a runaway's coming was generally sent in advance, so that the sympathizers and prompt ers of the scheme world be prepared to receive them. The slaves invariably reached Hancock County at night, were kept carefully concealed, and always sent away in the night time. Some of the runaways remained in the county from a week to ten days, so as to throw their pursuers off the

566 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

track, and none of those who came here were captured by their owners. Late in 1858 one of the parties engaged in the "Oberlin Rescue " the taking of an escaped negro named John from his captors-came to Findlay to avoid arrest by the United States authorities of the Oberlin District, and remained here concealed for several weeks. But the war put an end to slavery, and the services of the Underground Railroad were no longer needed. Many of the persons who took part in its workings in this county are dead. It is not known that any of those who participated in that scheme of giving liberty to human beings ever regretted their action. Those who are dead did not, those who are living need not. It was not ambitious desire nor malicious intent that brought them into the work, but their deep sympathy for enslaved humanity and their earnest zeal for the liberty of the despised race.

The fire department is one of the most important and practical institutions of every town, yet Findlay was quite a good-sized village before she possessed a fire engine of any kind. In June, 1850, the ``Tom Thumb," a small square box engine on four wheels, and operated by a hand crank, was purchased. As a fire extinguisher it was a failure, and in the fall of 1851 a second-hand engine, the "Jenny Lind," was purchased in Cincinnati, where it had been previously used by "Washington Engine Company, No. 2. "The Tom Thumb was then thrown aside, and in 1859 its running gear was sold to Ernest Bacher, who now uses it in the business of his bottling works. Prior to the purchase of the Jenny Lind no Effort had ever been made to organize a fire company, but the preliminary steps were now taken in that direction. On the 3d of December, 1851, a meeting was held at the court house for the purpose of effecting such an organization. Judge D. J. Cory was called to the chair, and P. D. Bigelow appointed secretary. After the object of the meeting was explained, and the necessity of a fire company fully set forth, a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws and report at a meeting to be held at the same place on the following evening. December 4. On that date the "Findlay Relief Fire Company" was organized to man the Jenny Lind engine, with Eli Detwiler, captain; William C. Cox, first lieutenant; Henry Guntner, second lieutenant; P. D. Bigelow, secretary; James II. Wilson, treasurer; Jacob Carr, first engineer. This old engine, though almost useless, was a part of the fire apparatus of Findlay until the spring of 1866, when the mayor and chief engineer were ordered to sell the brass and copper on the engine and remodel the running gear into a hook and ladder truck, which was completed in July. The Dreadnought Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, was then organized, and the truck has since been manned by this company.

In October, 1855, the "Citizens' Gift Fire Engine No. 2" was purchased by Jacob Carr, then mayor of the village, from L. Button & Co., of Waterford, N. Y. The engine cost about $850, largely raised by subscription among the citizens of the town; hence the name adopted: A company was organized to take charge of the Citizens' Gift, and this engine is yet doing good service, having been removed to East Findlay, in June, 1873.

The fire department was regularly organized under an ordinance passed April 27, 1856, and Robert S. Mungen elected chief engineer. He served until April, 1859, and his successors have been as follows: Joseph B. Rothchild, 1859-60; G. C. Barnd. 1860-62; Joel Markle, 1862-63; Charles B. Hall, 1863-64; William L. Davis. 1864-65; Mahlon Barnd, 1865-66; Jo-

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seph B, Rothchild, 1866-68; Philip B, Morrison, 1868-70; Thomas W. Taylor, 1870-71; Charles B. Hall, 1871-72; N. M. Adams, 1872-73; Will iam S. Post, 1873-75; James Wilson, 1875-77; N. M. Adams. 1877-79; Peter J. Stoffel, 1879-83; Henry Glick. 1883-85; Charles Neumann, 1885-87,

The L, Button Fire Engine No. 1, was contracted for in the fall of 1858, to take the place of the Jenny Lind, and was also manufactured by L. Button & Co. of Waterford, N, Y. In the Courier of January 21, 1850, the following notice of this engine appears : " The new fire engine L, Button No. 1, for the No, 1 Fire Company, arrived last :Monday, It is a beautiful machine, and no doubt will do good service in quenching the devouring element. The company had it out practicing on Wednesday, and it performed to their satisfaction generally, In size and capacity it is very near the same as the Citizens' Gift Engine." The L. Button cost about $825, which was principally raised by subscription, In June, 1877, this engine was removed to North Findlay, where the company was reorganized, to consist mainly of members residing in that part of the village.

When the "Jenny Lind" was purchased a room was rented from Ewing & Wheeler, which also served as an engine horse for the Citizens' Gift, when that engine was bought. In August, 1854, a lot Was purchased on the north side of West Crawford Street; and in the fall of 1857 a brick engine house erected thereon, Here all the fire department apparatus Was kept until after the purchase of the first steam engine, More room then became necessary, and in May, 1872, the adjoining lot was bought, and an addition erected to the old building. It is now occupied by the apparatus of the Hook and Ladder Company, and also utilized as a village lock-up. In June, 1872, a site for an engine horse was donated in East Findlay, by William W. McConnell and Parish W. Rockwell; and a year afterward a room was rented on East Sandusky Street, to which the Citizens' Gift engine was removed, The present brick building east of Eagle Creek was erected the same year, and dedicated by a supper given by the Citizens' Gift Fire Company, December 26, 1873, to celebrate the occupancy of their new quarters.

In the meantime the steam fire engine "Findlay," with two hose carts, hose, etc. , had been purchased. On the 3d of August, 1871, Parlee Carlin, J, T, Adams, Peter Kunz and W, H, Wheeler were appointed by the council, a committee, to negotiate for the purchase of a steam fire engine, and on the 7th they reported the purchase of an engine, two hose carts, and 1,000 feet of hose, etc. , from the Silsby Manufacturing Company, of Seneca Falls, N, Y., for the sum of $7,300, A company to man the steamer was organized the following year. By authority of an act of the Legislature, passed May 7, 1877, the "Centennial," another Silsby steamer, with hose reels, hose, etc., was purchased, on the 15th of June following, for $ 3,740, and a second company organized to take charge of the new engine,

Upon the purchase of the last steamer the L, Button Engine was removed to North Findlay, where a room was rented for an engine house, In October, 1877, a lot was bought of David A, Elliott, on Main Street, north of the railroad crossing; and in the fall of 1879 the present two-story brick engine house was completed and occupied by the L, Button Fire Company.

568 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

The apparatus of the fire department has cost about $15,000, and is kept in excellent condition. Good cisterns have been constructed, convenient to every part of the town, but the supply has sometimes proved insufficient, and the lack of hose to reach the more distant cisterns has often been a great drawback in fighting the fiery element. Water-works are now talked of, and, if built, will be a wonderful improvement over the present system. Except the chief engineer, the engineers and firemen of the steamers, and the three messengers, the entire department, which averages abort 325 men, is composed of volunteers whose efficiency has often been fully demonstrated.

The village authorities had been trying for some years to purchase a suitable location for a town building, but no final arrangement was arrived at until June 13, 1881, on which date the present two-story brick, on the southwest corner of the public square, was bought of James C. Gannett for the sum of $4,500. It was then a livery stable, but was at once remodeled and fitted up for town uses. In the second story are located the council room, and mayor's and marshal's offices, etc., while the lower story is occupied by the two steam fire engines, hose carts and other necessary apparatus of the department. A fire-alarm bell has recently been put up over the building, which is a plain substantial structure in keeping with the wise economy that has heretofore characterized the successive governments of the village. Findlay now owns a good town property, extending from the public square to Crawford Street, and whenever its growth justifies the erection of more elaborate buildings than now occupy the ground there is plenty of room upon which to erect them.

Railroads, express, telegraph and telephone lines came into Findlay in the order named, and furnished conveniences not previously enjoyed by its inhabitants. The branch railroad from Findlay to Çarey was opened for business in the fall of 1849, and abort eleven years afterward the Lake Erie & Western reached the village in its westward course. The Toledo, Columbus & Southern came in the spring of 1883, and thus have grown up the present railroad facilities of the town. With the advent of the branch railroad, express matter began to be delivered regularly, the conductor of the road also attending to that branch of business.

In August, 1857, Cunningham Hazlett opened a private express office at the Exchange Bank, which he was then operating. But the first regular office was established in April, 1858, by the United States Express Company, with A. R. Belden as agent. The office was at the depot of the branch railroad, and though the Merchants Union had an office in Findlay several years ago, the United States soon absorbed it and has since held the field.

The Western Union Telegraph Company built a line along the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, from Fremont to Findlay, in 1863, the money being furnished by the people living upon its route, to be paid back out of the earnings of the line. It was completed to Findlay late in 1863, and January 4, 1864, the first experimental dispatch was sent over the line by the operator at Fremont, to V. D. Green, the operator in charge of the Findlay office. The first business dispatch was sent from Findlay by Col. William Mungen, and the first one was received by Frederick Henderson, both January 4, 1864. The line was extended no farther until 1878-79, when it was completed to Lima. The successive operators of the Findlay office have been V. D. Green, Hiram S. Shannon, E. J. Totter, Theodore Totten and P. C. Sours, who at present holds the position.

VILLAGE OF FINDLAY. - 569

The Findlay Telephone Exchange Company was chartered January 27, 1880, and a telephone line built in Findlay by Samuel D. Houpt, which was opened for business in the summer of that year. Mr. Houpt put in eighty-two "phones," and conducted the business until August, 1882, when he sold out to the Midland Telephone Company of Chicago, Ill. Early in 1884 the latter company took out the instruments and abandoned the field. Another telephone company has recently been chartered and a franchise granted, and a new line will probably be constructed in the village in the near future.

The greater part of Findlay was originally very flat, wet and muddy, and the lack of proper drainage rendered it impossible to construct cellars of any utility within the village: Ponds and mud-holes were numerous; streets and lots had to be filled up, and surface drainage proved insufficient to throw off the surplus water during the wet seasons. The streets were, therefore, often in a deplorable condition, and though considerable macadamizing had been done through the passing years, yet very little improvement was discernible in many of them. The town authorities at last resolved to put in sewers, and July 5, 1869, the council appointed James A. Bope, E. P. Jones and B. F. Kimmons, a board of improvement to prepare plans for general system of sewerage. Two weeks afterward the board submitted their report, which was adopted and the work ordered to be commenced at once. The present sewerage system of the village dates from that time, and a wonderful improvement has been effected in overt' way.. From year to year new sewers were put in and old ones extended, until Findlay now possesses very good sewerage facilities, while her streets are much superior to the average town of the State. The health and comfort of the people have accordingly increased, and that much dreaded malarial atmosphere once infesting the village has almost disappeared.

Monumental Park is a small, well shaded plat of ground west of Main Street, between Main Cross and Front Streets, and was originally laid out as Broadway. It has been said that the proprietors intended it for a marketplace, but there is nothing on record to sustain such a tradition, and it is laid down on the original plat as a street and so designated in the surveyor's notes attached thereto. The subject of converting this short street. into a park first began to be agitated by the local press in the spring of 1864, but no definite action was taken on the matter for five years afterward. In compliance with a petition of the citizens, the board of improvement, on the 19th of July, 1869, recommended that Broadway be graded, fenced and planted in trees, and on the same date the council ordered the improvement to be made. The work was soon after commenced and carried to completion, a narrow roadway being left on each side of the park, extending from Main Cross to Front Street; but it has not yet been much used as a public resort and it is very doubtful that it ever will be. The park received its present name upon the erection of the base and pedestal of the soldiers' monument in the fall of 18'71..

The Hancock Monumental Association had its inception on the 14th of April, 1865 - the date of President Lincoln's assassination. On that day a large concourse of people were in town celebrating the fall of Richmond and the-capture of Lee's army, and a meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church for the purpose of taking steps toward the erection of a monument in Findlay to the memory of the brave men from Hancock County who laid down their lives in defense of the Union. C. A. Croninger was called to

570 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

the chair, and D. R. Lucke appointed secretary. After a free interchange of opinion, Messrs. C. A. Croninger, W.H. Wheeler. J. S. Patterson, Milton Gray. D. W. Clark and D. R. Lucke were appointed a committee to devise a plan for raising the necessary funds to build a monument, and re port at a meeting to be held April 20. The committee submitted their report at that meeting, recommending "Hancock Monumental Association" as the name of the society, and that the officers consist of an executive board embracing a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and five directors. also an advisory board of eighteen members, one from each township of the county. They also recommended that the sum of $10,000 be raised, each township to pay in proportion to its taxable property. The report was adopted and the following officers elected: C. A. Croninger, president; Milton Gray, vice-president; D. R. Locke, secretary ; Hanks Y. Gage, treasurer; W. H. Wheeler, George W. Galloway, J. S. Patterson: Aaron Blackford and John Ruthrauff, directors; also one member of the advisory board in each township. This mode of raising the money failed, and a lottery scheme was then got up, and an advertising sheet called the Soldiers Memorial, started to help along the enterprise. On the 4th of January, 1870, after about $2,000 had been raised, `'The Soldiers' Monument Association of Hancock County" was incorporated, with the following board of directors: Stewart Sprague, president; Albert Langworthy, vice-president; Charles E. Niles, treasurer; E. T. Dunn, secretary; H. B. Green, William L. Davis and William McKinnis. It is confidently claimed that about $6,000 were raised by this lottery scheme. During this period considerable trouble came to the surface, and much wrangling was indulged in and bad feelings engendered between some of the parties engaged in raising and handling the funds. Several sites for the monument were advocated, but in May, 1870, the members of the association decided by vote to locate it in the park. In August, 1870, the building committee consisting of George W. Galloway, Milton Gray and William L. Davis, were instructed to contract for the erection of a monument on the site selected the previous spring. They did nut find sufficient funds in the treasurer's hands to carry out in fall the proposed work, and therefore built a foundation, and contracted with W. D. McKean, of Cincinnati, to eruct the Quinsy granite bases and pedestal, which were completed in the fall of 1871, at a coat of $1,900., The building committee soon afterward built an iron fence around the monument (which was subsequently taken down and sold), and thus it remained in an unfinished state for nearly five years.

Early in the fall of 1874 the subject of completing the monument began to be talked of among the People of the town, and on the 14th of November a meeting was held is the court house for the purpose of effecting an organization, also to make such arrangements as world be deemed necessary to finish the work commenced more than nine years before. Judge S. B. Huffman was chosen chairman, and after a few explanatory remarks and suggestions, Col. James A. Bops, William H. Schuler and William Welsh were appointed a committee to further the objects of the meeting. On the 20th of November another meeting was held, and Col. James A. Bops, Gen. Moses B. Walker, William Welsh, James M. Byal and John W. Davis appointed an executive committee, and empowered to appoint a sub-committee of one citizen from each township. Col. Bope was directed to ascertain the cost of a statue and get full information on the subject for the

VILLAGE OF FINDLAY. - 571

association. Another object of this meeting was to organize a military company of old soldiers to assist in the production of a military drama. The following permanent officers of the association were elected November 27: Capt. James Wilson, president; Judge S. B. Huffman, vice-president; John Adams, treasurer; Willis H. Whiteley, secretary. The military company effected an organization December 17, with James Wilson, captain; James M. Byal, first lieutenant; William H. Schuler, second lieutenant. On Monday evening, December 28, 1874, a military drama called the "Union Spy" was produced in Wheeler's Hall before a large audience, and repeated six times during the week, realizing the handsome sum of $600 toward the enterprise. A small paper called the Monumental Era was issued during this period, to advocate the completion of the monument. Another series of entertainments were given in January, 1875, and in this manner and by such means the association raised the money necessary to finish the work in hand.

On the 23d of April, 1875, the contract for the marble statue now surmounting the pedestal was let to Thomas O'Hare & Co., of Cincinnati, for the sum of $1,200, the statue to be completed and ready to unveil by the 4th of July following. The work was completed according to contract, and on Tuesday, July 6, 1875, more than ten years after the project was first mooted, the monument was unveiled in the presence of one of the largest assemblies ever seen in Findlay. The day was one of rejoicing, yet mixed with a certain sadness which the memory of the fallen called forth from the depths of every honest heart. The town was crowded; flags were in profusion on every hand; magnificent floral decorations and appropriate mottoes embellished Main Street, and a grand parade preceded the unveiling ceremonies. Addresses were delivered in the court house yard by ex-Gov. R. B. Hayes and Gov. William Allen, followed by Hon. Samuel F. Hunt, of Cincinnati, the orator of the day, who pronounced an eloquent eulogium on the patriotism and noble deeds of the gallant men who fell in the cause of liberty. At the conclusion of the oration the distinguished guests and officers of the association proceeded to the. base of the monument, around which the military had formed a hollow square. Here an appropriate song, composed for the occasion by Col. William Mungen, was sung, and as the last note died away the drapery was quickly removed from the statue by Martin L. Detwiler, the audience standing with heads uncovered. The band then broke forth in patriotic strains, the benediction was pronounced, and with cheers for the sculptor, Thomas O' Hare, the large assemblage dispersed.

The monument, as completed, stands on an elevated foundation, formed into a grass-covered knoll, and is seventeen feet three inches in height, consisting of three bases and a pedestal of Quincy granite ten feet high; a plinth or base for the statue of pure Italian marble fifteen inches high, surmounted by an Italian marble statue six feet in height. The statue represents an infantry soldier standing at `' parade-rest," and is a very handsome and lifelike piece of sculpture. On the pedestal, surrounded by a beautifully-carved wreath, is the following sentiment:

572 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.

OUR

HONORED

DEAD.

And on the third base-stone the following inscription is engraved:

IN MEMORY OP' THE SOLDIERS OF

HANCOCK COUNTY,

WHO FOUGHT TO SUPPRESS THE

GREAT REBELLION.

1861-1865.

The four cannon placed around the monument are condemned ordnance obtained from the United States Government through a resolution introduced in the Senate by Hon. John Sherman. They lend to the whole a military aspect in harmony with. the statue of the soldier surmounting the pedestal.

The question of lighting Findlay with gas first took definite shape on the 15th of August. 1858, when the council granted a franchise to certain citizens to erect gas works in the village. In May, 1860, this franchise was renewed by request of William Mungen and associates, but nothing further came of it. In 1867 Robert S. Mungen and associates were granted a franchise to build works and light the town with gas, but this effort also fell through, and the village continued to be lighted with coal-oil lamps for more than seven years afterward. On the 24th of May, 1871, "An ordinance to provide for lighting the incorporated village of Findlay with gas " was passed 1)t' the council, and the following July "The Findlay Gas Light Company" was incorporated, with a capital stock of $35,000. Samuel D. Frey, James J. Wheeler, William Anderson, Charles E. Niles and William L. Davis were chosen directors of the company, with Mr. Frey president. of the board, and Mr. Niles, secretary. Some attention was given at this time to the probable existence of natural gas in this locality, and Messrs. Fret' and Anderson visited the gas regions of New York and Pennsylvania to investigate the subject. On their return they reported, from what they had learned, that sufficient natural gas might be obtained to light the town. In August, 1871, the company leased of George S. Mosher Lot 75, on Hardin Street, east of the Presbyterian Church, with the intention of sinking an experimental gas-well; but, as the State geologists were pronounced in their views against the existence here of natural gas in paying quantities, the enterprise was abandoned, and the company subsequently turned its attention toward the construction of artificial works.

On the 26th of August, 1874, the council passed "An Ordinance to pro-vide for the erection and construction of gas-works in the incorporated village of Findlay," granting the Findlay Gas Light Company the right and privilege of laying gas pipes in any part of the town, also to erect works for the manufacture of gas, the same to be completed and in operation before the close of the year. On the 15th of September the company transferred this franchise to Robert T. Coverdale, who began active operations on the 27th, and vigorously pushed the work forward to completion. Buildings were erected on East Sandusky Street, and the laying of mains progressed rapidly. On the evening of December 24, 1874, between fifty and sixty citizens of Findlay met at the Joy House, by invitation of Mr. Coverdale, where a "grand spread" had been prepared, to celebrate the first lighting of the town on that night with the gas manufactured at the

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VILLAGE OF FINDLAY. - 575

new works. The town then contained fifty-two lamp posts, and two and three-fourth miles of mains, which were increased with the passing years.

In 1875 Mr. Coverdale sold the works to the Findlay Gas Light Company, in which he was a stockholder and director, but continued to manage the business until January 23, 1877, when the works were purchased by Y. Bickham, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who subsequently disposed of stock in the company to J. G. Hull, Charles E. Niles, Samuel D. Frey, William Anderson and George W. Myers. The works, however, were principally owned by Mr. Hull, who continued to manufacture gas until the development of natural gas, and were closed down February 1, 1885. Nature's gas-works and gasometers were opened up to take their place, and in comparison those of men appear small indeed.

Though the growth of Findlay has not been rapid, its history has been characterized by no backward movement. In 1831 the village possessed about fifty inhabitants; in 1840, 560; 1850, 1,256; 1860, 2,467; 18'70, 3,315; 1880, 4,633; and its best informed citizens now claim a population of about 6,000. Comparing Findlay with the average town of Ohio under 10,000 inhabitants she stands pre-eminent. Main, the principal business street of the town, is especially attractive. It is broad, level and well paved, lined and faced upon either side with good buildings, solid and substantial business blocks and modern fronts, and since the development of natural gas it is the most brilliantly illuminated street in Ohio, as the town is also the best heated. The richness and prosperity of the surrounding country are shown in the large and handsome stores, a few of them being as fine as any in the State outside of Cincinnati and Cleveland. In this respect the town is indeed remarkable, as her merchants carry larger stocks and du a larger business than is usually done in country towns. The business interests of Findlay are embraced in two foundry and machine shops, three flouring-mills and another large one now building, a linseed oil mill, a rake factory, a stave and handle factory, four carriage and wagon shops, a woolen-mill, two planing-mills, and sash, door and blind factories, two saw-mills, one saw sad planing-mill, one furniture manufactory, a novelty works, a hoop factory, a handle and. fanning-mill factory, the only mask factory in the United States, an extensive edge-tool works just completed, a factory for working in metals, a glass factory in process of construction, two marble works, one pottery, five cigar factories, two grain elevators, five hotels, an opera house and a good hall, two national banks, one daily and three weekly newspapers, several stone quarries, limekilns and brickyards, quite a number of blacksmith and repair shops, together with about 125 wholesale and retail firms, embracing dry goods, groceries, clothing, notions, stoves and tinware, hardware, saddlery. drugs, books and stationery, queensware, jewelry, farming machinery, musical instruments, furniture, lumber, boots and shoes, commission business, livery stables, liquor stores and saloons, bottling works, undertakers, meat markets, gas fitters, bakeries, restaurants, photographers, fruit stands, barber shops, dress-makers and mil-liners, and several other kinds of establishments, which, with the members of the well filled agencies and professions, go to make up the material interests of a live, progressive town. Away from the business center the streets are lined on either side with handsome shade trees, and the private residences are generally neat and substantial, a few of them bearing a

576 - HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTS .

favorable comparison with the better class of homes to be found in the larger cities. While Findlay has quite a goodly number of manufacturing establishments there is ample room for many more, and her citizens are ever ready to encourage and assist any legitimate enterprise in that line that desires to take advantage of her wonderful resources. Findlay is comparatively free of debt, while her schools, churches and other public buildings are generally large and solidly built structures, fully in harmony with the progressive spirit of the age. The great natural gas discoveries have given to Findlay an inestimable advantage over every other town in the State, so that even her enemies mast concede that while secure in her present business prosperity, her future is fall of the brightest promise.