COUNTY AFFAIRS - 315

CHAPTER IV.


(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)


COUNTY AFFAIRS.

A LIMITED extent of details pertaining to the start of the County of Lucas, whose birth was attended by such disturbing, if' not tragic events, will be of interest here.

The first session of the Commissioners of the County was held at Toledo, September 14, 1835, at which John Baldwin and Robert Gower were present, the third member (Cyrus Holloway) being absent. Samuel M. Young acted as Clerk of the Board. The following appointments were made : County Auditor, Samuel M. Young, of Maumee ; Treasurer, Eli Hubbard, of Port Lawrence ; Recorder, Frederick Wright, of Port Lawrence.

The first business following these appointments, consisted in the creation of a new Township, to be called Lucas, and to consist of the territory lying North of the " Fulton line," and West of the East line of Range four East, being the territory then in dispute between Ohio and Michigan.

At the second session of the Board, October 12, 1835, " it being deemed expedient and absolutely necessary for the well-being and the enjoyment of the rights of citizens of this State, that part of the County of Lucas known as ` the disputed territory,' and lying North of what is known as the ' Fulton line,' be annexed, for Township purposes, to the Township of Waynesfield," it was resolved, that that part of Lucas County known as Port Lawrence Township, be annexed to the Township of Waynesfield, for all civil purposes, and that the electors of the same have equal rights and privileges at the then ensuing election as did other electors of Waynesfield Township; "-hereupon, it was directed, that notice be given to the electors of Port Lawrence that they should vote at Maumee City, and thus have "the privilege of voting, without the interference of the Michigan authorities." The emergency calling for such action, arose in the apprehension that interference from Michigan would prevent a peaceful election under the laws of Ohio within the disputed territory.

At a session held October 13, " the object for which such annexation was made having been accomplished," Port Lawrence was restored to its former status. The emergency demanding the former action had been removed by the agreement on the part of the Michigan authorities, peaceably to abide the action of Congress upon the boundary question. This latter action by the Commissioners took place on the day of the State election; consequently, Toledo and Port Lawrence Township was for one election within the polling precinct of Maumee City.

December 7, 1835, the Board of Commissioners met, when Samuel Barrett, elected in October, as the successor of Cyrus Holloway, took his seat. Four County roads were established ; the former action, creating the Township of Lucas, was rescinded, the Township not having been organized; several more County roads established. The Viewers appointed for such roads included William Jones, Elisha Trowbridge, Robert Howard, Hiram Clark, Abram Shepler, James Thrasher, Elijah Clark, Samuel Searing, William P. Homer, Alvin Evans, Amasa Bishop, Baxter Bowman, Fred. A. Rew, Matthias S. Van Fleet, Daniel P. Ketcham, David Clute, John Emery, Philo B. Scott, Chandler L. Wing, Aaron H. Doolittle, Jonathan H. Jerome, John Van Fleet, John Pray, James Atchison, and John Taylor. J. Irvine Browne, of Toledo, having resigned the office of County Assessor, Johnson H. Hobart, of Maumee City, was appointed for the vacancy.

June 6, 1836, York Township (now in Fulton County) was established, the first election to be held at the horse of David Doolittle, June 30th. The Township of Providence was created at the same time, the first election to be held June 30th at the house of Peter Manor. June 20, 1836, the Township of Springfield was created, the first election to be held October 8th, at the house of William Ford. Two appropriations for road improvements were rnade-one of $20 between Toledo and Tremainesville; and one of $500, between Toledo and the head of the Rapids. An allowance of $47.66 was made to County Auditor Young in full for his services from September 14, 1835, to June 20, 1836. Tax levies were made as follows: For County purposes, five mills on the dollar; for Road purposes, three mills; for School purposes, one and one-half mills; and for Township purposes in Port Lawrence, one-half mill. December 5th, William P. Daniels became a member of the Board, vice John Baldwin, elected Associate Judge. County Roads 14, 15, 16 and 17 were then established, with Wiley Hamilton, Daniel Strayer, William Allman, Thomas Gleason, James Wolcott and Oscar White as Viewers. An appropriation of $100 was made for the road from Upper Toledo to the State line, to be expended by Sanford L. Collins.

At the March meeting, 1837, petitions were presented for five new Townships, which were


314 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

not acted on. A survey was ordered for a road to extend from the Northern termination of Monroe street, Toledo, to the intersection of the Indiana Road with the Turnpike leading from Maumee to Monroe, with Coleman I. Keeler, Jr., Mareno Fox and John T. Baldwin as Superintendents.

In 1837, the Board resolved to accept this County's portion of the Surplus Revenue of the United States, under the act of Congress passed March 28, 1837. June 4, 1837, Roads Nos. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 34, with Eli Hubbard, Marmaduke Bunting, Jacob Hallett, George Black, Jonathan Hampton, David Hubbard, John Wilsey, Thomas Wood, John Harters, Thomas Berry, William Stair, Noah A. Whitney, Thomas A. Whitney, William Meeker, Nathaniel Leggett, Benjamin G. Lewis, as Viewers.

January, 1838, Wm. P. Daniels and Eli Hubbard were appointed a Committee to purchase a " County Poor Farm."

February 6, 1838, $50 was appropriated toward the erection of a Bridge over Swan Creek at its mouth in Toledo.

March 5, 1838. The Townships of Gorham and Clinton (now in Fulton County) were established. A new Road was established, from Toledo along the North bank of the Maumee River to the West line of the County. Galen B. Abel, County Assessor, having resigned, Cyrus Fisher was appointed to the vacancy, with Wm. Prigyzer of Tremainesville, Fred. E. Kirtland of Waynesfield and Galen B. Abel of Waterville, as Deputies.

April 9, 1838. The new Jail was accepted, and $25 appropriated for furnishing bedding for it. The North half of Section 16, Township No. 3 (now Adams), was accepted for Infirmary purposes, and $1,000 voted for its improvement.

June 16, 1838. John U. Pease, James Wilkinson and Roswell Cheney were appointed as Directors of the County Infirmary.

August 3, 1838. It was resolved to erect a Court-House on the Court-House Square, in Oliver's Division of Toledo, as designated by the Commissioners in locating the County-seat at Toledo, said building to be of the size and arrangements of the Ashtabula County Court-House. For such building the " proprietors of the City of Toledo" had bound themselves to contribute the sum of $20,000. Wm. P. Daniels, of the Board, was appointed Superintendent of the work.



November 2, 1838. S. L. Collins, County Treasurer, having resigned, Daniel McBain of Toledo, was appointed for the vacancy.

March 4, 1839. German Township (now in Fulton county) was created.

June 5, 1839. Sections 33, 34, 27, 23, 24 and half of 13 were taken from Waynesfield and attached to Springfield Township. Benjamin Mallett, Jr., was allowed $53.00 for painting; and A. G. Hibbard & Co. $8.76 for blacksmithing.

December 2, 1839. The Township of Richfield was established, the first election to be held at the house of Willard S. Fuller.

December 30, 1839. Adolphus Kraemer, of Hartford, Sandusky (now Ottawa) County; Platt Card, of Toledo; and Isaac Knapp,of Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), were appointed to establish a State Road from the Maumee River opposite Manhattan to Lower Sandusky, via Hartford (now Oak Harbor). The proposition of Richard Mott, to lease a building for use as a Court-House, was accepted.

January 4, 1840. Horace Waite, John Fitch and J. W. Scott were appinted Fund Commissioners, in charge of the surplus revenue belonging to Lucas County.

March 2, 1840. Road No. 47, in Sylvania, was established, with Andrew Printup, David Harroun and Hiram, Parker as Viewers, and Wm. White as Surveyor. Road No. 46, with Benj. Joy, Townsend Ellis and Lyman Morse as Viewers, and D. L. Westcott as Surveyor; Road 48, with Daniel Strayer, Harvey Kellogg and Samuel Divine as Viewers, and Wm. Martin as Surveyor.

June 1,1840. The Townships of Washington and Manhattan were created ; an election to be held June 24th, at the house of Sylvester Cornell, in Manhattan Village ; and June 27th, at the house of Benj. Mallett in Washington.

June 17,1840. The proposals of John E. Hunt, Horace Waite and Thos. Clark, 2d, for erecting County buildings at Maumee, were accepted.

December 8, 1840. Luther Dodge, R. A. Howard and Lyman Parcher were appointed Viewers, and Chester Briggs Surveyor, for a new Road; as were Benj. Joy, Hiram Parker and John Harroun Viewers for another Road.

March 1, 1841. The new Townships of Fulton, Pike and Franklin (now in Fulton county), were created.

December 6,1841. Richard Mott was allowed $400, for County orders destroyed by the burning of his warehouse in Toledo, November 29, 1840. The Toledo Register was allowed $522.40, for publishing the delinquent land-list for 1841.

June 6, 1843. A bill was presented by J. H. Jerome, for 1,000 rails, at $2.00 per 100. Action was taken for the adjustment of a question of boundary between Lucas and Williams Counties.

In 1843 a law was in force in Ohio, under which County Commissioners were empowered to levy special taxes upon Lawyers and Physicians, '° according to their annual incomes." The Board of Commissioners of Lucas County levied such taxes for the year 1843, as follows

Lawyers. Toledo-Caleb F. Abbott, $3.00; Edson Allen, $2.00 ; John Fitch, $4.00; C. W. Hill, $2.00; L. S. Lownsbury, $2.00; Hiram Clark, $1.00; Daniel


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O. Morton, $3.00; Geo. B. Way, $3.00; Myron H. Tilden, $4.00. Maumee City-S. M. Young, $4.00; M. R. Waite. $4.00; D. F. Cook, $2.00; James M. Coffinbury, $1.00; Thos. Dunlap, Jr., 51.00; Nathan Rathbun, $1.00; Henry Reed, Jr., $1.00; H. C. Stowell, $1.00; Jessup W. Scott, $1.00. Manhattan-Franklin Johnson, $2.00.

Physicians. Toledo-Manly Bostwick, Gustavus Wilde, John Mosher, Geo. R. Perkins, Jacob Clark and Calvin Smith, $2.00 each. Maumee City-Alex. Anderson, $2.00; Justus Dwight, $1.00; C. Matthews, $2.00; C. S. Ramsey, $1.00; Wm. St. Clair, $2.00; John H. Van Avery, $2.00; Oscar White, $2.00. Sylvania-Horace Green, $2.00. Manhattan-James L. Chase and Luther Parker, $1.00 each. WatervilleWelcome Pray, $2.00. Gorham-John Kendall, $1.00. York-Allen White, $1.00. Swan Creek T. B. Colton, $2.00.

June 6, 1844, like taxes were again assessed ; but it is noticeable, that the plan of levying the same " according to annual income " (ranging from $1.00 to $4.00 per year), was then changed to a uniform tax of 25 cents-a fact not specially assuring of increasing incomes. The parties then taxed were as follows:

Lawyers. Toledo-Edson Allen, Caleb F. Abbott, Wm. Baker, C. M. Dorr, Henry Bennett, John Fitch, C. W. Hill, L. S. Lownsbury, D. O. Morton, -Van Ness, James M. Whitney, Geo. B. Way. Maumee-S. M. Young, M. R. Waite, H. F. Waite, Henry S. Commager, H. C. Stowell, Wm. McK. Scott, J. M. Coffinbury, Henry Reed, Jr., Thos. Dunlap and Nathan Rathbun. Manhattan-Franklin Johnson.

Physicians. Toledo-Manly Bostwick, Jacob Clark, Calvin Smith, Geo. R. Perkins, Robert H. Timpany, Taylor, John Mosher. Maumee-Alex. Anderson, Justice Dwight, Chauncy Matthews, Wm. St. Clair, Oscar White. Providence-S. B. Woodworth. York-Allen White. Sylvania-Amos Minor, Horace Green. Royalton-Joshua Young. Richfield-Mather M. Mason. Manhattan-James L. Chase, S. D. Jones.

September 4, 1843. A. Ritch was allowed $9.60 for 1,200 feet of oak plank, for bridge over Swan Creek.

December, 1843. A road was established, to run from the Temperance House in Whiteford Township, South past the house of Elder Showers, and to the Maumee Road that passed Benjamin Joy's dwelling-house; Fred. Leonardson, Isaac Lewis and Eli Hubbard being appointed Viewers, and William White, Surveyor for the same. J. Ream & Co., were allowed payment for publishing 407 " squares " of forfeited land-list, and for 520 " squares " of delinquent land-list, at 50 cents per " square."

July 2,1844. The bond of John E. Hunt and others for $10,000, securing the erection of County buildings at Maumee, was cancelled, in consideration of the fulfillment of such agreement. Road No. 128, Viewers, James Thrasher, James Trowbridge and M. H. Butler; Road No. 129, Viewers, George Miller, Elijah Royce and Daniel Murphy; Road 131, Viewers, John Freehart, William Martin and Nehemiah Allen; Road No. 131 1/2, Viewers, Edwin Fuller, Abraham Sheplar, and William Allman, were severally authorized. Road No. 133, since known as the River Road," between Toledo and Maumee, was authorized, with George B. Knaggs, S. B. Comstock and Junius Flagg as Viewers.

The first expenditure by the County for ice, was for the supply of the Supreme Court, for use in drinking, in the Summer of 1844, the amount paid therefor being $1.00.



June 11, 1844. Horace Waite was paid $65.00 for services as Commissioner; Lyman Parcher, $40.00, and G. B. Abell, $38.00 for same. Haskell D. Warren, Townsend Ellis and Andrew Printup were appointed Viewers for a new Road in Sylvania ; Daniel Robbins, Jr., Michael Shields and H. D. Turk, in Providence ; E. D. Potter, Lyman Parcher, S. L. Collins, for Road in Oregon ; and Benjamin Joy, Alvah Evans and Henry Mercereau, for Road in Sylvania.

January 12, 1845. Proposals for building a Jail at Maumee were examined, to wit : Isaac Hull, $4,500; J. Hiller, $5,291 ; Elijah Clark, $3,775; C. Matthews, $3,414; J. Hale and George W. Reynolds, $3,200; Peter H. Shaw, $960 ; S. Johnson, $350; Francis Manor and Samuel Wagner, $86.5. The offer of Isaac Hull was accepted. At the same session, a Road (No. 124) was established, to run from Springfield to Swanton, with Thomas Dobbins, Jacob Gnaggy and Solomon Salisbury, as Viewers, and Hiram Davis, as Surveyor. A new Road (No. 126) was authorized from Bean Creek, in Waterville, to the Henry County line, of which P. B. Scott, Phidias Nearing and David Robbins, were Viewers, and William Martin, Surveyor.

March 17, 1846. The County was divided into four Districts for appraisal of taxable property, and Assessors appointed for the same, as follows: District No. 1-S. B. Comstock ; No. 2-F. E. Kirtland ; No. 3-J. Graham Klinck ; No, 4-Elisha Williams; at the rate of $1.50 per day for time thus" necessarily employed." As Viewers for a proposed Road in Waterville, Welcome Pray, Lorenzo L. Morehouse and Alfred Eldred were appointed ; for like purpose in Richfield, Oristen Holloway, Isaac Washburn and D. L. Westcott.

March 4, 1847. J. Austin Scott was appointed Commissioner of the Maumee and Sylvania Free Turnpike, vice Francis Hollenbeck, whose term had expired.

June 7, 1847. George D. Treat, Gabriel Crane, John Consaul and D. L. Westcott were appointed Viewers for proposed Roads in Oregon Township ; and Benjamin Atkinson, Jacob Fancher and . Shields for Road in Providence ; William W. Wilson, Marcus Bennett and William M. White, for Road in Richfield ; Jacob Fancher, Orson Ballou and John G. Isham, for Road in Providence.

March 9, 1853. The new Township of Monclova was created. It was ordered that the prices to be paid by the County for the use of vehicles for conveyance, be as follows: For


316 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

single open buggy, with horse, $1.50 per day ; for covered do., $2.00 ; for two-horse do., $2.80. Dr. William St. Clair proposed to attend upon the inmates of the Jail, and furnish medicines for $12.5 per year, which offer was accepted.

December, 1854, the County Commissioners authorized Edgar F. Potter to " take charge of the Jail at Maumee City, for the purpose of receiving female prisoners, criminals, insane persons, and perhaps some County paupers." Dr. H. Graham, of Toledo, was appointed Jail Physician, and as such to " visit, attend to, prescribe for and furnish all necessary medicines for all prisoners in the County Jail in Toledo, at the rate of $200 per year," until the next session of the Commissioners.

At the March session, 1855 (Joel W. Kelsey, William F. Dewey and Daniel F. Cook, present), the following plan for the employment of certain convicts within the City of Toledo, was adopted by the County Commissioners, at the request of the authorities of said City, to wit



1st. All able-bodied male persons sentenced to imprisonment and hard labor in the Jail of Lucas County, according to the provisions of an act of the General Assembly of Ohio, passed March 12, 1855, shall be employed in the manner hereinafter specified.

2d. All male persons thus committed to the Jail, by the Mayor of Toledo, for the violation of any of the penal ordinances of said City, shall be employed under the direction of the Sheriff of said County or his Deputy: Provided, the City of Toledo shall bear and pay all Jail and board fees of prisoners thus convicted and sentenced, and shall be entitled to the work and labor of all such convicts.

3d. All male persons convicted and sentenced as aforesaid by the Probate Court of said County, shall be hired out and let to service by the Sheriff of said County ; and the avails of all labor of such convicts shall be collected and received by the said Sheriff, and be by him paid into the treasury of said County, taking a proper receipt therefor, which receipt he shall file with the County Auditor.

4th. The person having charge of such convicts, when performing work or labor as aforesaid, shall adopt such means, by chain and ball or otherwise, for the security and safe-keeping of such convicts as he may deem necessary or proper.

This system was in operation for several years. While under such plan labor was secured which otherwise would have required special outlay, it, nevertheless, was found, that the moral effect, upon both the convicts and the community, was not desirable. The tendency of such public degradation, was to destroy what self-respect remained with the prisoner, and by thus lowering him in his own estimation, depriving him of all ambition and hope for reform. It was seen, that the very quality of surviving manhood which alone could make such service repugnant and induce an after desire to shun it, was being crushed out by hopeless shame, leaving the man lower and more than before abandoned to a vicious life. Subsequently, as a substitute for the Chain Gang, the City Work-House (or the "Stone Yard," as at first called), was established, to which convicts in cases of petty offenses were sentenced and employed at labor. This institution still exists with general favor.

December 1, 1856, that portion of Oregon Township within the City of Toledo (consisting of East Toledo), was annexed to the Township of Port Lawrence, and that portion of Port Lawrence not within Toledo was set off to the Township of Springfield. December 3, 1856, this last named territory, with other, was organized as the Township of Carey, since named Adams.

March, 1857, the names of Drs. W. W. Jones and J. G. Nolen having been presented for appointment as Jail Physicians, the former was selected at a salary of $200, for attendance and medicine.

At the March session, 1858, Sheriff Springer presented to the Commissioners an inventory of counterfeit Bank bills and bogus coin, taken from prisoners during his service as Sheriff and Marshal of Toledo. The bills, with the exception of one sample of each lot, were burned and the bogus coin melted, when it was found that the latter contained proportions of pure metal too small to be of any value. The list, as indicating some of the condition of the currency at that time, will be of interest here. It is as follows:

Pieces. Total.

Half Dollars . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 $11.50

Five-Francs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2.82

Quarter Dollars . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1.00

Dimes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 .90

Gold Dollars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389 389.00

Quarter Eagles . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513 1,282.50

Bank bills

Farmers' Bank of Kentucky. . .. $3 26 $78.00

State Bank of Indiana . . . . . . . . 3 33 99.00

Farmers' Bank of Kentucky. . . . . 3 5 15.00

State Bank of Indiana . . . . . . . .. 3 22 66.00

Bank of Corning, N. Y . . . . . . . 10 5 50.00

Bank of Empire State, N. Y . . . . . 2 6 12.00

Exchange Bank of Lockport .. . . . 5 89 445.00

City Bank of New Haven, Conn . . 5 1 5.00

Oneida Valley Bank, N. Y . . . . . . 3 4 12.00

Danbury Bank of Conn . . . . . . . . 1 6 6.00

State Stock Bank, Jamestown, Ind.,1 1 1.00

Bank of Corning, N. Y . . . . . . . 10 1 10.00

$2,486.72

March, 1858, Dr. J. G. Nolen offered to act as Jail Physician for $150 per year (medicine included), and was appointed.

June, 1858, the old County buildings at Maumee were directed to be sold at public auction. Subsequently they were sold to the City of Maumee, the Jail bringing $250, and the Court House $360-in each case the land being included.

The Gas bills of the County for September, October and November, 1858, were as follows Court-House, $55.65; and for Jail, $28.70.

In March, 1859, the Commissioners visited the County Jail and found it "in tolerable good


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condition." Cyrus D. Hanks having resigned as County Auditor, Chas. R. Dennett was appointed to the vacancy, receiving two votes, to one for Cyrus H. Coy.

At the September session, 1859, the policy of ditching lands under the laws of the State was introduced, in the approval of the plan and survey of "Ditch or Water Course No. 1." It was located in Washington and Port Lawrence Townships, " commencing at the Creek which runs through the E. S. E. 1/4 Sec. 23; thence Southerly across the same on the line between Sees. 25 and 26, so far as the same was necessary." The survey and plan were made by W. H. Harris. County Surveyor. Ditch No. 2 was approved. It ran from the Air Line Railroad, where the same crosses the center line of Section 7, Town 3, U. S. R. South, along such line to Swan Creek. Ditch No. 3 was in Waynesfield Township.

At the same session allowances were made for assessing real property, as follows : Maumee City-Samuel M. Young, $98.00; Oregon Township -Peter B. Porter, $86.00; Toledo Declan Allen, $392.55; Wm. Carew, $280.00; Michael Callaghan, $260.00; Patrick Gavin, $252.00; Patrick Horan, $64.00; Joseph Delaney, $54.00. Total for Toledo, $1,102.55.

At the December session, 1859, the Commissioners visited the Jail, which they found "in as good condition as the unsound physical qualities of the building and moral state of the inmates would permit."

At the March session, 1860, the Commissioners accepted the proposition of the Maumee City Plank Road Company to relinquish and transfer to the County its Plank Road, extending from Maumee City to Swanton. The President of the Company was Wm. P. Homer, and its Secretary Edward Mitchell. A former order of the Board, authorizing the County Auditor to hire persons "to bring in wood and pay for the same out of the County funds," was revoked. The proposition of the Toledo and Woodville Plank Road Company to turn over its Road to the County, was accepted.

At June session, 1860, Ditch No. 5, in Monclova; No. 9, in Oregon; and No. 10, in Sylvania, were authorized.

At the December session, 1860, a petition was presented from a majority of the voters in the Township of Carey, setting forth that the name of the same had been " conferred without consulting the wishes of' the people, and that it was repugnant to their feelings and wishes ; and that the same was and had been very unsatisfactory; and they therefore asked to have it revoked." The Commissioners being satisfied with the reasons assigned, made an order accordingly, giving the Township the name of Adams, which it yet bears.

At the March session, 1861, the salary of the Probate Judge was fixed at $400 per year. George W. Reynolds was awarded a contract for building a bridge over the Canal at Manhattan, at $120. The first definite provision for the incurably insane in the County was made at this session. For the reason that it was " inhuman and brutal, to continue to keep such where they were" (in the County Jail), it was decided " to erect a suitable building at the Infirmary Farm," the same to be 30x40 feet in size, and 12 feet high. The contract was subsequently awarded to J. Farrell and George Wilson, at $1,058.

At the June session, 1861, the Board, having levied a tax for the support of the families of those that volunteered to fight for the maintenance of the Constitution and Government," directed that the sum of $2,000 be transferred to the Volunteer Relief Fund, the same to be paid to needy families of Soldiers under direction of the Board. The result of a vote in the County on the question of erecting a new Jail had been a majority of 1,099 in the affirmative ; but in consideration of the War then in progress, steps in that connection were deferred.

In October, S. A. Raymond was authorized to go to Columbus, to procure the requisite permits and information for a member of the Board to visit the different Regiments having Volunteers from Lucas County, for the purpose of securing assignments of portions of their wages, for the benefit of their families.



At the June session, 1863, bids for the building of a new Jail and Dwelling-house, were considered, and the contract was awarded to William C. Hoffman, at $31,500, and C. C. Miller was appointed Superintending Architect, with compensation at the rate of 4 per cent. on the expenditure for the work. Subsequently the contractor concluded not to proceed with the work, when proposals were again invited, the lowest bid being that of David J. Silver, at $58,000; whereupon, it was resolved not then to proceed with the work. On application therefor by residents of the North half of Section 25, Town 2, U. S. R., that territory was set off from Waynesfield, and attached to Adams Township. At this time there had been constructed 335 County Roads, and 44 Ditches, under direction of the Commissioners.

At December session, 1863, application was made to the 'Board by M. R. Waite and others, a Committee of citizens of the County, for the passage of a resolution agreeing to levy a tax and reimburse to individuals moneys that should by them be contributed to pay bounties to Volunteers enlisting under the President's call for troops, the bounty not to exceed $50 in each case. Such action was declined, for lack of authority by the Board ; but it was resolved to do so when so authorized by the Legislature.

At March session, 1864, several Townships having deposited in the County Treasury sums of money for payment of Volunteers in the Army, the Commissioners authorized the Treas-


318 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

urer to pay out not exceeding $3,000, in amounts of not more than $100 each, to such Volunteers.

In June, 1864, the Board authorized the payment of claims of citizens of the several Townships for money advanced as bounty to Volunteers, as follows : In Providence Township, 63 different claims ; in Adams, 46; Oregon, 46; Manhattan, 62; Swanton, 30; Waterville, 121; Sylvania, 116; Monclova, 28. Toledo-1st Ward, 190; 2d Ward, 291; 3d Ward, 220; 4th Ward, 105; 5th Ward, 141 ; 6th Ward, 60. These claims, in amounts, ranged from $5.00 to $280, the average being about $20.

At the August session, 1865, new bids for the construction of a Jail and Dwelling house were considered, and the contract assigned to Luther Whitney, for the sum of $40,098, he furnishing everything but the block-stone. This job being completed, was accepted by the Commissioners at their April session, 1867.

At the September session, 1865, on application, permission was granted the Manhattan Iron Company to lay a Railroad track for the transportation of fuel for the works of the Company, located on the Maumee River, opposite Manhattan. The line extended for a portion of the distance along that of the old Ohio Railroad, and to the Easterly line of Section 35, Town 9 South.

At the June session, 1866, the Commissioners decided to issue to each re-enlisted Veteran Volunteer, who received no local bounty, a bond for $100.

BOUNDARIES OF TOWNSHIPS.

The following were the boundaries of the several Townships of Lucas County in 1837, those marked with a star (*) having since become portions of Fulton County

PORT LAWRENCE.



On the South by the Fulton line ; on the East by the Maumee River and Bay ; on the North by the arris line ; on the West by the line between the surveyed Towns Nos. 6 and 7 East; thence West on the North line of the United States 12-miles Reserve to the line between Towns 2 and 3 in said 12-miles Reservation ; thence South to the Fulton line.

WAYNESFIELD.

On the South and East by the North line of Sections 18, 17 and 16, in Town 1, 12-mile Reserve; thence South on the Fast line of Section 16 to the Maumee River ; thence down the Maumee River on the South line of said County to the Fulton line, from the Maumee River to the West of the East line of Section 14 in Town 2, 12-mile Reserve, and South line of Sections 22, 28, 32 and 31, in said Town 2, 12mile Reserve ; on the West by the West line of said 12-mile Reserve and the East line of Sections 32, 28, 22 and 14 in Town 2 of said 12-mile Reserve.

WATERVILLE.

On the South by the North line of Providence Township and Maumee River; on the East by the East line of Section 16, Town 1, United States 12-mile; on the North by the North line of Sections 16, 17 and 18, in surveyed Town No. 1, in said 12-mile Reserve, and by the South line of Wing Township ; and on the West by surveyed line between Townships 5 and 6.

SYLVANIA.

On the South by the North line of said 12-mile Reserve ; on the East on the line between survey Towns 6 and 7 ; on the North by the Harris line ; on the West by the line between surveyed Townships 5 and 6 East.

WING. *

On the South by East and West line between Sections 19 and 30 in Towns 7 North and 9 and 10 East on the East by the West line of 12-mile Reserve and line between surveyed Towns 5 and 6 ; and North by the Fulton line ; on the West by the lines between Ranges 5 and 6 East ; and North of Fulton line between Ranges 8 and 9 South of Fulton line.

SWAN CREEK. *

On the South by the South line of the County ; on the East by the line between Ranges 8 and 9 ; on the North by the Fulton line ; and West by a line between Ranges 7 and 8.

SPRINGFIELD.

On the South by the North line of Waynesfield; on the East by the East line of Town 2 in 12-mile Reserve ; on the North by the North line of 12-mile Reserve ; on the West by the West line of 12-mile Reserve.

PROVIDENCE.

On the South by the Southern line of the County ; on the East by the line of Section 26 in Towns 6 North and 9 East; on the North by the North line of said surveyed Town No. 9 ; on the West by the West line of the County.

YORK.*

On the South by the South line of the County ; on the East by the line between Ranges 7 and 8 East; on the North by the Fulton line ; on the West by the West line of the County.



ROYALTON. *

On the South by the Fulton line ; on the East by the line between Ranges 3 and 4 East ; on the North by the Harris line; on the West by line Ranges 2 and 3 East.

CHESTERFIELD. *

On the South by the Fulton line ; on the East by the line between Ranges 2 and 2 East; on the North by the Harris line ; and on the West by the West line of the County.

OREGON.

On the South by the Fulton line ; and on the East, North and West by Lake Erie, the Maumee Bay and the Maumee River.

CLINTON.*

This Township was organized by the County Commissioners at their March session, 1838, with the following boundaries : On the East by Section 31 in Town 8 North, between Ranges 6 and 7 East, and Sections 18, 19, 30 and 31 ; South by the South line of the County ; and West by the West line of the County ; and North by the Fulton line.

GERMAN. *

This Township was organized at the March session of the County Commissioners, 1839, and bounded as follows : On the East by Section 31, in fractional


COUNTY AFFAIRS. - 319

Township No. 8 North, between Ranges 5 and 6 East, and Sections 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31 ; and South by the South line of the County; West by the West line of the County; and North by the Fulton line.

GORHAM. *

Incorporated December, 1839, with the following boundaries : East by Sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36 in Town 9 South, between Ranges 5 and 6 East; also on the East by Sections 6 and 7 in 12-mile Reserve ; on the South by the Fulton line; on the West by the line of original surveyed Town between Ranges 4 and 5 East ; and North by the Harris line.

WASHINGTON.

Incorporated June, 1840, and bounded on the North by the Harris line; on the East by the line between Ranges 8 and 7 East, and Town 9 South to the City limits of Toledo ; thence by the City line to the Southwest corner of said limits ; thence South to the Fulton line ; thence along the Fulton line to Springfield Township ; and on the West by Springfield and Sylvania.

MANHATTAN.

Incorporated June, 1840, and bounded as follows On the East by the West line of Sections 19 and 30 in Town 9 South, Range 9 East ; South by the South line of Sections 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 in Town 9 South, Range 8 East ; West by the Easterly line of the City limits of Toledo and the West line of Sections 6, 7, 18 and 19, in Town 9 South, between Ranges 7 and 8 ; and North by the Harris line.



FULTON. *

Incorporated March, 1841, with the following boundaries: On the North by the South line of Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, in Town 9 South of Range 4 East ; on the East by the West line of Richfield and Wing Townships ; on the South by the North line of Sections 7, 8. 9, 10, 11 and 12, in Township 2 North of Range 8 East ; and West by the West lines of Section 6 in Town 7 North, and Section 31 in Town 8 North, Range 8 East, and by West lines of Sections 6 and 7 in fractional Township 10 South, Range 4 East.

PIKE. *

Incorporated by the Commissioners, March, 1841, with the following boundaries: On the North by the South line of Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 in Town 9 South of Range 3 East ; on the East by the West line of Sections 31 in Town 9 South, and 6 and 7 in Town 10 South, Range 4 East, and by Section 31 in fractional Township 8 North, Range 8 East, and Section 6 in Town 7 North, 8 East; South by the North line of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 in Town 7 'North of Range 7 East ; and on the West by the West line of Section 6 in Town 7 North, Range 7 East, and Section 31 in fractional Township 8 North, Range 7 East, and West line of Sections 6 and 7 in fractional Township 10 South, Range 3 East, and Section 31 in Town Mouth, Range 3 East.

FRANKLIN. *

Incorporated March, 1841, and bounded as follows On the North by the South line of Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, in Town 9 South, Range 1 East ; on the East by the West line of 6 and 7 in fractional Town 10 South, Range 2 East, and \Vest line of Section 31, in fractional Town 8 North, Range 6 East, and West line of Section 2, Town 7 North, Range 6 East ; on the South by the North line of Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12; and on the West by the West line of the County.

DOVER. *

Incorporated June, 1843, and constituted as follows : All of fractional Township 10 South of Range 2 East ; all of fractional Township 8, Range 6 East, and Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 from Township 7 North, Range 6 East.

SPENCER.

Incorporated March, 1845, and consisted of Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, in Town 9, Range 5 East ; Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, in Town 10 South, Range 5 East ; and Sections 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 Town 8 North, Range 9 East.

PROCEEDINGS OF COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

As elsewhere stated, the action of the first session of the Court of Common Pleas in and for Lucas County, held September 7, 1835, under very peculiar circumstances, consisted of the appointment of Dr. Horatio Conant as Clerk of the Court, and of John Baldwin, Robert Gower and Cyrus Holloway as County Commissioners, after which the Court adjourned.

The second term of the same Court began April 27,1836, when David Higgins, President; and J. H. Jerome, Baxter Bowman and William Wilson, Associate Judges, were present, with Horatio Conant as Clerk. The first Grand Jury of the County was there organized, consisting of Jacob Gnaggy, Henry Dilgart, Allison DeMott, Samuel Searing, Oscar White, Alonzo Noble, James John, Cornelius Wiltse, Silas Barns, Darius Mills, James M. Whitney, Calvin Comstock, Coleman I. Keeler, Willard J. Daniels, and Luke Draper. Samuel Searing was appointed Foreman of the Jury.

At this term an Auctioneer's license was granted to Munson H. Daniels of Toledo, for $5.00 and fees ; Samuel Searing of Maumee was appointed Inspector of Fish for the County ; William Sibley was appointed Guardian of William and Julia Ann Mills, of Washington ; a license was granted to Mortimer H. Williams to keep a Tavern, for $15 and fees ; the same to Benj. D. Coffin, of Maumee, for $12 and fees; the same to James John and John C. Allen, of Maumee, for $15 and fees ; the same to John Burdo of Maumee, for $10 and fees. License was granted to Alva D. Wilkison, to keep a Ferry across the Maumee River, opposite the Toledo House, in Toledo. Jonathan Wood was licensed to keep a Ferry across the Maumee River, at his residence in Maumee, for $7.50. C. P. Johnson was licensed to keep a Ferry across the same, at his residence in Manhattan, for $5.00 and fees. The rates of ferriage were the same in all cases. Cornelius G. Shaw, the pioneer Auctioneer at Toledo, was licensed, paying therefor $5.00.

At this term declarations of their intention to become citizens of the United States by naturalization, were filed by George Bevens, Thomas Corlett, Thomas Southard, James Southard, Richard Greenwood and Alexander


320 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

Bowman, all natives of Great Britain, and all but Mr. Greenwood living in what is now Washington Township.

The first civil action in a Lucas County Court, was the case of Richard Stiles ex dem. of David Ladd, vs. Richard Roe, alias R. A. Forsyth and Smith Daggett.

The first Petit Jury consisted of John Pettinger, Edward Corser, Jarvis Gilbert, William Martin, Willard Gunn, Ralph Farnsworth, Selab Divine, Henry A. Cooper, Amos Stow, Job n Baldwin, Hopkins S. Mills, and Samuel R. Jennings.

Under appointment by the Court, Andrew Coffinbury acted as Prosecuting Attorney at this term, for which he was allowed $15. The Sheriff and Clerk were each allowed $40 for services in cases where the State should fail.

The term continued for two days and tried two criminal cases and one civil case.

The third term of this Court commenced November 5, 1836, with Judges Higgins, Bowman and Baldwin, present. The following persons constituted the Grand Jury : Paris Pray, John Wiltse, John Webb, Henry Reed, Sen., Bishop Suydam, Christian Swartz, Wm. DeMott, John Walters, Peter Strayer, James Egnew, James Knaggs, William Richards, Abner Moulton, Richard Foster and L. S. Lownsbury; Paris Pray acting as Foreman.

In consideration of the fact, that Attorneys of Ohio were admitted to practice in the Courts of Michigan, without formal admission to the Bar of that State, Warner Wing and Robert McClelland of Monroe, Michigan, were granted like privilege at this Court. This is understood to have been the first act of comity and good neighborhood occurring between the parties to the " Toledo War," after the close of that contest. At the same time and for the reason named in the foregoing case, Joseph R. Williams, a member of the Bar of Massachusetts, was admitted to practice in Ohio.

At this term the first clergyman, Rev. Orin Mitchell, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was authorized to solemnize marriages within the County, "so long as he should continue such regular Minister in said Church."



John Fitch was appointed by the Court as Prosecuting Attorney, and Andrew Coffinbury as Assistant, for the term. Such action had been made necessary from the fact that E. D. Potter, who was elected Prosecuting Attorney in October previous (being the first election after the erection of the County), declined to accept the position, for the reason that the Court had fixed the pay at the low rate of $50 per year. Such action, in a pecuniary sense, was justified by the fact that he earned during the year several times $50, by defending parties on trial. Mr. Potter was the Democratic candidate at the election, his Whig opponent being Tappan Wright, a brother of the late Judge John C. Wright. The Whigs had a majority in the County, and Mr. Potter was elected by running ahead of his ticket in Waterville Township, for which he was indebted to the support of the Pray family, who had known him in the State of New York.

The first native of Ireland declaring in a Lucas County Court his intention to become a citizen of the United States, was Patrick Donar, the same having been done at this term. He was the leader of the long line of his fellow countrymen, who since have here in the same way assumed the privileges and responsibilities of American citizenship.

Eli Hubbard and Julia Wilson were appointed Administrators on the estate of Wm. Wilson, deceased ; and Frederick A. Rew, Administrator on the estate of Peter Lombar, deceased.

Tavern licenses were granted to Peter Minor, of Providence; L. S. Lownsbury, of Sylvania; and D. C. Middleton, Charles Patterson, Hezekiah Hubbell and Wm. Ford.

The will of Wm. Sibley of Port Lawrence Township, was probated, with Horace Thacher as Executor, and Rebecca Sibley as Executrix.

Rev. John W. Alvord, a Minister of the Congregational Church, was authorized to solemnize marriages.

The first criminal proceeding for illegal voting in the County was the case of Matthew Byrnes, who pleaded guilty to the charge of voting in two Townships at the preceding election, and was fined $50 and costs.

The first person to whom naturalization papers were issued in the County, was John Leybourne, of Washington Township, who had filed his preliminary declaration with the Court of Monroe County, in 1831.

The third term of this Court convened April 24, 1837, John Baldwin appearing as Associate Judge, vice Wm. Wilson, deceased

The Grand Jurors were Mason Dobbins, Granville Jones, James Wolcott, Chester Walbridge, Roswell Cheney, Alvin Evans, Coleman I. Keeler, Henry Phillips, Hiram Humphrey, Hiram Steele, Augustus Andrews, Nathan Rathbun, Ralph Farnsworth, Orlando Brown and M. W. West; James Wolcott, Foreman.

Tavern licenses were then granted to Collins Ward, at Port Lawrence ; Philip I. Phillips, Tremainesville ; Joel Marsh, Port Lawrence; Sylvester Cornell, Manhattan; John Burlin, Providence; James W. Converse, Maumee; Catharine Mead and Philip C. Mosher, Providence; John Allen & Co., Maumee; Thomas King, Port Lawrence ; Robert H. Blue, Manhattan ; Geo. Hale, Providence ; Wm. A. McClelland, Erick M. and Daniel Segur, and Beniah W. Merrill, Toledo ; and Miles Randall, Port Lawrence.

At this term John B. Cory, "a native of Great Britain, appeared in open Court, and being duly sworn, said it was bona fide his intention to become a citizen of the United States


COUNTY AFFAIRS. - 321

of America, and forever to renounce all allegiance to all foreign powers, princes, potentates or sovereigns whatsoever, and particularly to William the Fourth, King of Great Britain." Like declaration was made by Bryan O'Farrell, Michael Menter, Daniel Blohm, John Bohan, Wm. Burns, Thos. Barigin, James Elder and James Greenman, natives of Ireland, and John Brock, a native of England. Mr. Cory lived on a farm in Sylvania Township, and died many years since. He was an uncle of Samuel Andrews, now of Toledo. Mr. Brock died in 1883, on the Indiana Road, in Washington Township.

Ferry licenses were granted Jona. Wood, at Maumee ; Harmon Crane, at Toledo.

Samuel Searing, of Maumee, was appointed Inspector of Pork, Beef, etc.

At this term, three residents of the County were indicted for having counterfeiting tools in their possession.

Wm. Mitchell was appointed County Surveyor, vice Samuel Divine, resigned.

Rev. P. Carabin, of the Catholic Church, was authorized to solemnize marriages within Lucas County, being the first resident Priest of that Church. He came from Cincinnati, here like authority had been granted him in 1831.

The fourth term of Common Pleas Court convened July 10, 1837.

Tavern licenses were then granted to Benj. D. Coffin, at La Point Place, Waterville Township. He afterwards lived at Maumee, where he was Deputy under Sheriff Shaw, and where he died.

At this term 13 different parties were indicted for selling liquors without license, including one of the Judges of the Court. In that case (says the record), " came the Prosecuting Attorney and said he would not further prosecute the suit; therefore, it was ordered that the said defendant go acquit and be released from his recognizance." Several convictions were had under these indictments, in which cases, upon pleas of guilty, the parties were each fined from $5.00 to $10.00 and costs, the latter being about $5.00. The fine of $10.00 was in cases of second offenses.

John Mack was appointed Deputy Clerk, on request of Horatio Conant, Clerk.

July 27, 1837, a special term of the Court convened, when James Myers acted as Clerk.

The April term for 1838, began April 30th, when the Court consisted of Ozias Bowen, President, and J. H. Jerome, James Wolcott, and John Berdan, Associate Judges. The Grand Jury consisted of Samuel DeMott, Wiley Hamilton, Samuel Barrett, A. W. Boynton, Solomon Johnson, John Knaggs, Coleman I. Keeler, Joseph Roop, Thomas Clark, Josiah Baker, James W. Converse, Avery Lamb, Geo. Knaggs, Henry W. Goettell, Coleman I. Keeler, Jr.; Coleman I. Keeler acting as Foreman.

This term was chiefly distinguished for the then unprecedented number of collection suits, and applications for " benefit of the insolvent laws." In several instances debtors were committed to the custody of the Sheriff and so held, awaiting action by the Court. This class included parties who subsequently became both prominent in business and successful in the acquisition of property. At that time the collection laws were far more stringent than they now are, imprisonment for lack of property to pay a debt being a feature of the system.



Tavern license was granted to Nicholas Demorest, at East Marengo; James Wilson, at Manhattan; Gabriel O. Kinney, at Maumee; Peter Minor, at Providence; Wm. Kingsbury, at Maumee ; Elijah Clark, at Maumee ; and Samuel Fox, at Manhattan.

At this term occurred the second case in Lucas County of naturalization. It was that of Wm. Tavernor. The next case, at the same term, was that of Gershom Crabb. Both of them had made preliminary declarations in other Courts. Both were Englishmen, Mr. Tavernor being a bachelor and the uncle of Mr. Crabb, who lived with him, and still resides on the farm originally taken. Mr. Tavernor was very fond of hunting, especially of birds, and kept dogs trained for that purpose.

Tavern license was granted to Philip I. Phillips, at Treinainesville; Samuel Moore, Toledo ; George Weir, Waterville; John J. Voglesang, Toledo ; and Smith Daggett, Waterville.

Ferry license was granted to Marmaduke Bunting, at Maumee;

Rev. Uriel Spencer, of the Methodist Church, was authorized to solemnize marriages. Like authority was granted to Rev. Nathaniel S. Smith, of the Presbyterian Church.

John Lord, from the Isle of Man; Patrick McCarty, from Ireland ; and Henry Clark, from the Isle of Wight, declared their intentions to become citizens. Philip Adolph Hagenburgh, from the County of Mecklenburg, Germany, who arrived in the United States in 1834, when 18 years of age, and who renounced all foreign allegiance, and especially to Frederick William, was admitted to full citizenship, being probably the first German naturalized in Lucas County. He, too,was followed by numbers of countrymen, far beyond anything then conceived. Patrick Donar, at the head of the Irish, and Mr. Hagenburg, at that of the German nationality of citizens, are pioneers of many thousands, the numbers of the two peoples in the County, in 1880, being-Irish, 3,284; German, 8,267; making 11,551, out of 17,354 foreign, and a total population of 67,377.

Peter Brown, the first native of Scotland, made application for naturalization at this term (April, 1838). He was followed by Alex. Bruce Brownlee, also a Scotchman, and subsequently a prominent citizen of' Maumee and Toledo, having been Mayor of the latter City.


322 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

John Laushe, John Kiemple, John Gontine and Gerard Kernine, all natives of Switzerland, made like application.

Marcus Baldwin was appointed administrator on the estate of John Baldwin, deceased.

David Higgins (Ex-President Judge), and Andrew Coffinbury, were each allowed $15, for services in defending criminals at this term.

The Court was occupied chiefly with collection cases, together with applications by insolvents for relief from pecuniary liabilities.

At the October term, 1838, William W. Wilson was granted a Tavern license for Sylvania, the first under Ohio authority in that Township; the same was granted to Thomas Wing, of Port Lawrence, and to Beriah W. Merrill of the same place.

John R. Osborn and J. Baron Davis, young Attorneys of Toledo, were appointed School Examiners, the first appointments of the kind in Lucas County.



At the March term, 1839, Emery D. Potter was the President Judge, with John Berdan, J. H. Jerome and James Wolcott as Associate Judges. The Grand Jurors were Joseph Chambers, Benjamin Joy, William Smith, Hezekiah D. Mason, Andrew Palmer, Abraham Wilcox, Peter Strayer, Jr., C. E. Brintnall, Horace Green, Ezra S. Dodd, Luke Draper, Lyman Wheeler, Joseph Prentice and Jairus T Andrews; H. D. Mason acting as Foreman.

Tavern license was granted to Abram Lewis, at Sylvania ; Stephen Marsh, at Toledo, and Porter Kelsey, at Sylvania.

Daniel Strayer was appointed Administrator on the estate of Joseph Gnaggy, deceased.

Samuel Southard, from England, declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States; as did Matthias Boos of Baden, and Heinrich Leiser of Bavaria.

Thomas Corlett, a native of England and resident in Toledo, was admitted to citizenship, as was Timothy O'Connell, of Maumee, a native of Ireland.

Daniel O. Morton was appointed a Master Commissioner in Chancery.

Thomas T. Tuttle was licensed to keep a Ferry at Manhattan.

At the June term, 1839, Thomas Wood, of Springfield, was granted a Tavern license, and the same to Patrick McCarty, Richard Townsend and William Knox, Toledo.

Frederick A. Rew, Horatio Conant and Samuel Eddy were appointed School Examiners for Lucas County.

Wm. Hill Woodward, of Maumee, was licensed as Auctioneer.

At the October term, 1839, Harvey Kellogg, now of Adams Township, was appointed Administrator of the estate of Joseph Edward Kellogg, deceased.

Oliver P. Stevens, John R. Osborn and J. Baron Davis were appointed School Examiners for Lucas County.

A Tavern license was granted to Oliver Pray, at Waterville.

Jerome Myers was appointed Deputy Clerk, vice Daniel McBain, resigned.

At this term 32 indictments were returned by the Grand Jury, of which 25 were for selling liquor without license ; one for burglary ; one for grand larceny; one for keeping ferry without license ; one for petit larceny ; and one for robbery. Several of those indicted for selling liquors pleaded guilty, and were fined from $5 to $25 each and costs.

At the March term, 1840, Abram Lewis, of Sylvania, was granted Tavern license; as was Daniel E. Elliott, at Toledo.

Valentine Wall, of Toledo and from Ireland, declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States; as did Robert Talbot.

R. C. Denman was licensed to keep a Ferry at Manhattan.

FINANCE AND TAXATION.



The first annual statement of the finances of Lucas County, consisted of the report of Sanford L. Collins, Treasurer, made January 2, 1837, and covering the year 1836. It contained the following showing of receipts, to wit

RECEIPTS.

1836.

Jan. 26.- To cash from Horatio Conant, on fines . . . . . . . $5 00

Apr.28 - " " John Van Fleet, horse license. . . . . . . . 5 00

May 26.- " " R. A. Forsyth, " " . . . . . . . . . . 5 00

May 26.- " " John Marshall, " " . . . . . . . . . . . 4 00

June 30. " " Willard Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 00

July 15.- " " C. G. Shaw, auctione'r's license . . . . . . . 5 00

July 18,- " " Henry County, amount due. . . . . . . . . . . 4 87 1/2

July 29.- " " John Allen & Co. tavern license . . . . . . 15 00

July 29.- " " Mortimer H. Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 00

July 29- " " Jona. Wood, ferry license . .. . . . . . . . . . 7 50

July 29.- " " Jona. Wood, auct'neer's license . . . . . . . . 5 00

Sept. 13.- " " S. B. June, caravan license . . . . . . . . . . . 20 00

Dec 6.- " " Wm. Ford, tavern license . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 00

Dec. 6,. " " M. H. Daniels, Sheriff, jury fees . . . . . . . 6 00

Nov. 9. " " D. C. Middleton, tavern license . . . . . . . 10 00

Dec. 26.- " " H. Hubbell, tavern license. . . . . . . . . . . . 5 00

Dec. 26.- " " Peter Minor, " " . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 00

1837. Jan. 2.-Amt. from taxes for County purposes, '36. $2,088 19

$2,219 56

The amount of State and Canal taxes paid in Lucas County, 1836, was $940.05; and that for School purposes, $626.45.

The total receipts for 1837 were $4,001.35. This sum included payments for Tavern licenses from Joel Marsh, Daniel Segur, Collins Ward, S. Cornell, E. B. Dodd, John Booth, Philip I. Phillips, Smith Daggett, Hiram Steele, J. W. Converse, David Mills, Catharine Mead, John J. Voglesang, Jesse Blue, George Hall, David Johnson, B. W. Merrill, Wm. Wilson, Joseph Hartwell, Allen D. Gibbons ; for Ferry licenses, from Jonathan Wood and Harmon Crane; and Caravan license from Latham Hoadley.



The collections for Road purposes, were as follows: Port Lawrence, $1,313.75; Waynesfield, $656.20; Waterville, $128.91; Sylvania, $52.89; Wing, $2.08; Swan Creek, $7.71; Springfield, $15.30; Providence, $24.28 ; York, $17.30. Total, $2 269.08.

The collections for Township and Poor purposes in 1837, were: For Port Lawrence, $402.78; for Waynesfield, $214.99; Waterville, $41.15; Sylvania, $17.63; Wing, $0.68; Swan Creek, $2.57; Springfield, $5.10 ; Providence, $8.09 ; York, $5.77. Total, $699.79.


COUNTY AFFAIR, - 323

The following persons paid for Tavern licenses in 1842: Oliver Pray, Abram Lewis, Patrick McCarthy, Thomas Wood, A. J. Majors, S. G. Roach, Robert A. Howard, Henry C. Jordan, Wm. D. Herrick, Amy Adams, Catharine Mead, Philip I. Phillips, L. Radway, Wm. Stair, P. C. Mosier, R. Hastings, E. Clark, E. B. Dodd, Joseph W. Converse, G. W. Foote, Wm. Kingsbury. Antoine Murk, Jonathan Neeley, Jairus Manning, J. M. Warner, George Williams, James Carr, Charles Gruber, S. F. Howard, M. Schonacker.

The first order for the payment of money by the County Treasurer was issued to Abraham Sarber for services on State Road, and bore date of November 4, 1836. The eight succeeding orders were for like service, and to John Patrick, F. C. Fitch, George Miller, George Phillips, Peter Fox, Fred'k Lord, Wm. DeGroff and Richard Leonard-the whole amounting to $27.52. The 26 orders following were to as many persons for services on County Roads such service consisting in viewing and locating new Roads-the 26 orders amounting to $99.06.

The next class of orders was for expenses of the first term of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, held in April, 1836. Of these 29 were issued to Jurors (Grand and Petit), to wit : John Pettinger, Edward Courser, Jarvis Gilbert, Wm. Martin, Willard Gunn, Ralph Farnsworth, Selah Divine, Henry A. Cooper, Samuel Searing, George W. Hill, John Baldwin, Hopkins J. Mills, Samuel R. Jennings, Jared Van Fleet, Jacob Gnaggy, Henry Dilgart, Ellison DeMott, Alonzo Nobles, James John, Cornelius Wiltse, Silas Barnes, David Mills, Oscar White, James M. Whitney, Calvin Comstock, Coleman I. Keeler, Willard J. Daniels. Luke Draper, Amos Stow. The pay to these was $1.00 per day, and the average received by them was $2.00. The Grand Jury was in session but one day, the Jurors being paid $1.00 each.

The only orders issued during the first six months of the County's existence, were for services in laying out Roads. and amounted to $99.06. The first payment to a County officer, was made May 21, 1836, being $20 to Horatio Conant, as Clerk. That officer's pay was then $20 per term of Court. The next payment was June 28, 1836, to Robert Gower, County Commissioner, $35.25. The bill of S. M. Young, County Auditor, from September 7, 1835, to July 11, 1836, amounted to $47.66. Junius Flagg, Sheriff, for the fractional year 1835, was paid $13.25. Up to November 1, 1836 (14 months), the Prosecuting Attorney (Andrew Coffinbury) was paid $15. The first bill for printing, was paid November 24, 1836-$10-to George M. Schipper, for printing the list of delinquent taxes. The first pauper was buried at the expense of the County, in November, 1836, for which Samuel L. Brown was paid $9.00. The first Coroner's Inquest was held May 8, 1836, which cost $12.00 for 12 Jurors; $1.00 for two witnesses ; $1.20 for summoning the Jury ; $2.00 for taking the Jury to make view of the body ; and $3.83, Coroner's fees. The aggregate of the first year's expenditures, was $830.74, and number of orders, 117.

The first Coroner's Jury in the County, consisted of Daniel Hubbell, Horace Waite, Luther Hutchinson, William P. Homer, Elisha Mack, Stephen L. Gilbert, Jona. D. Peckham, Robert Gower, Amos Adkins, and Fred. E. Kirtland.

Judges of elections were then paid 75 cents, and Clerks 50 cents per day.



The first payments for services of Associate Judges were made August 5, 1837, consisting of $25 each to J. H. Jerome, Baxter Bowman and John Baldwin.

August 11, 1837, J. Chappell, Sheriff of Wood County, was paid $169.40, for subsisting criminals, &c., from Lucas County to that time, there having been no jail for the keeping of criminals in Lucas County. At the same time Peter Cranker, Jailor of Wood County, was paid $35.90.

The first Auditor's exhibit of County affairs, was that of Auditor Samuel M. Young, made June 9, 1837. It covered the period extending from the time of his taking the office, September 14, 1835, to June 9, 1837, being nearly 21 months of time. The showing was as follows:

RECEIPTS.

County tax for 1836 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . $2,164 70

Three Per Cent Fund- 1835, $230; 1836 $773.50 . . . . 1,003 50

Tavern and Ferry licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 50

Fines and recognizances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 00

Stud-horse licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 00

Jurors' fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 42 00

Auctioneers' licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 00

Caravan licenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 00

Tax for Swan Creek Tp. paid by Henry County . . . . . . . . . . 4 87

Total receipts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,512 57



EXPENDITURES.

Treasurer's fees on $2,194.70 County tax . . . . . . . . . . . $105 68

" " 1,003.50 Three Per Cent Fund . .. . 50 17

" " 407.37 money collected . . . . . . . 15 70

Paid on County orders

Jonathan H. Jerome, Associate Judge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 00

Baxter Bowman, Associate Judge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 50

Samuel Barrett, County Commissioner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 00

Robert Gower, County Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 25

John Baldwin, County Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 12

William P. Daniels, County Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 00

Andrew Coffinbury, Prosecuting Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 40 00

Horatio Conant, Clerk of Common Pleas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 00

Sheriff. for advertising elections in 1833 and 1836 . . . . . . . . 28 72

Sheriff's allowance, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 00

Grand and Petit Jurors' fees, and witnesses' fees in State cases 151 05

Justices' and Constables' fees in criminal cases . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 10

Coroner's and Jurors on inquests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 03

Judges and Clerks of elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 00

C. Comstock, attending Court as Constable . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6 50

Averill & Way, for printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 00

Schipper, publishing delinquent list (in Blade) 1836 . . . . . . . . 10 00

S M. Young, County Auditor's fees, &c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361 63

Prosecutions of Grocers and passers of counterf't money . . . . 42 50

Office rent, stationery, books, &c . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 37

Making of records, &c.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 00

Expenses for a Court room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 37

John H.Hobart, Assessor for 1836 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 94

Stow, Deputy Assessor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 33

John B. Abell, Assessor for 1837 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 50

D. Newell. County Seat Locating Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . 45 00

J. M. Gray, County-Seat Locating Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . 63 00

McDonald, County-Seat Locating Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . 48 00

Recorder's blank books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 50

H. Conant, for Clerk Common Pleas blank books. . . . . . .. . . . . 82 40

J. W. Comstock, for advertising election, 1835. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 90

J. H. McBride, printing blanks for Clerk of Court . . .. . . . . . . . . 86 00

County Treasurer's receipt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 00

Morse & Brother, books for Auditor's office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 25

Murfee & Darlington, books for Auditor's office . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 75

N. Jones, amt. due Swan Creek Treasurer from Henry County . . . 4 87

Viewers, Surveyors, &c., (of Roads) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244 04

Appropriated for Delaware Creek Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350 00

Appropriated for Swan Creek Bridge, Wing Township . . . . . . . . 82 00

Appropriated for Road from Toledo to Providence . . . . . . . . . . .150 00

Thomas Wing on Road, Toledo to Tremainesville . . . . . . . . . . . 50 00

Michael H West, on Monroe Turnpike, in Port Law-

rence Township . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 00

Total expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,008 47

Balance in Treasury, for County and Road purposes. . . . . . . . 504 10

Treasurer, for Township tax for 1836, Dr . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .$168 63

Treasurer, percentage, Cr . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . $7.81.3

Order from Port Lawrence Township . .. . . . . . . . .160 88.7- 168 63

School Fund.

Tax for 1836, Dr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $657 15.8

Treasurer's per cent., Cr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 630 45.1

Amount paid on orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 598 96.1- 629 41.5

Balance in Treasury for School purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $27 74.3

SAMUEL M. YOUNG,

July 10, 1837.

County Auditor.

An incident in Mr. Young's experience while Auditor of the County, will illustrate something of the condition of the roads and the means of travel at that early date. In the Winter of 1836-7, that gentleman found it necessary to visit Toledo (then the County-Seat), for the


324 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

purpose of making the annual settlement with the County Treasurer (Sanford L. Collins). The only direct road from Maumee City (Mr. Young's residence) to Toledo, was a bridlepath, lying along the West bank of the Maumee River. On the way Delaware Creek had to be crossed, and as result of rains and a thaw, that stream was full to its banks, with a strong current. It was too deep for wading, and the only recourse left was for Mr. Young to dismount and employ his faithful horse in towing him across. To this end, lie obtained a log large enough for a float. Driving his horse into the stream ahead, he placed himself on the log and took hold of the animal's tail, when he was ton ed in safety to the other side. The extreme chilliness of the water made the trip anything but agreeable, but as no injury was caused thereby, lie regarded the transit an entire success. The contrast of the situation at that time, with the River Road, and the Wabash and the Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railways, which now eon nect Toledo and the Maumee City of former days, can be duly appreciated by those who were compelled to employ the early facilities.

From the organization of the State Government until the adoption of the Constitution of 1851, it was the practice of the County Treasurer to give public notice of the rates of taxes annually levied, and of the tinges and places, within the several Townships, when and where he would be present to receive the same. The latter regulation was a matter of' much convenience to a large portion of the taxpayers, who lived at points distant front the County-seat, without good roads, and largely without any. The following notice of Treasurer Collins will show the form of these annual announcements

TAXES FOR 1837.

The proprietors of taxable property in Lucas County, Ohio, are hereby notified that the amount levied for the present year on each Hundred dollars valuation, is

For State and Canal purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 1/2 cents.

For County and School purposes . . . . . . . . . .50 "

For Road purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 "

For Township purposes . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . 10 "

For the purpose of receiving taxes, I will attend myself or by Deputy in the several Townships, at the usual places of holding elections therein, on the following days, to wit:

Sylvania, September 4th Waynesfield, September 9th.

Springfield. September 5th. Port Lawrence, September 11th.

Wing, September 6th. Swan Creek, September 12th.

Waterville, September 7th. York, September 13th.

Providence, September 8th. Chesterfield. September 14th.

At Phillip's Corners, in Royalton, September 15th; at the house of S. I Keeler, in Amboy. September 16th: and at my office in Toledo, during the months of October and November. A penalty of 10 per cent. accrues on all taxes which remain due and unpaid from and after the first day of December next.

S. L. COLLINS, County Treasurer.

Toledo, August 15, 1837.

A somewhat remarkable showing was made of the condition of the Lucas County finances, covering the time between June 9, 1837, and October 27, 1838. It appeared, that with $3,051.12, as total collections from taxes for County purposes for 1837, the expenses for prosecutions in State cases alone, had reached $4,667.67, during the 16 months above stated, being $1,616.58 more than the entire collections for County purposes in 1837. Of the amount expended, $1,440.95 was for subsisting prisoners; $1,68.5.70 for jurors and witnesses; $628.30 for Justices' and Constables' fees; $227.03 for County Treasurer's fees for redeeming orders. The entire amount received for fines and recognizances, was $99.94. It seems that no small portion of these expenses were incurred in the conviction and support of parties who committed petty cringes for the purpose of securing comfortable Winter quarters at the public expense. Thus, one of the County boarders was confined for the fourth tinge, his offense consisting of stealing au old razor-strop, worth not more than six cents; whereas, the cost of boarding him was between $200 and $300. That was a period of extreme financial depression throughout the country, and especially at the West.

The following is a recapitulation of taxable valuations for Lucas County, in the year 1837:

(Chart not shown)


COUNTY AFFAIRS. - 325

As shown in the foregoing table, the average valuation of lands was $7.33 per acre ; the valuation of horses, $40; and that of cattle $8. Pleasure carriages, then by no means common, and possessed chiefly by those having for them other use than that of" pleasure," ranged from $30 upward. Of these there were then but 25 in what now constitutes the Counties of Lucas and Fulton-nine in Port Lawrence, eight in Waynesfield, five in Waterville, one in Sylvania, one in Providence, and one in Oregon; the average value of the same having been $112. Of the persons charged with taxes on personal property in 1837, not to be found by the Treasurer, there were 46 in Port Lawrence, 16 in Waynesfield, five in Wing, three in Providence, and 20 in York-a total of 100. This fact indicates something of the unsettled condition of the population in that early and formative period. And yet, the aggregate delinquencies in payments at the close of that year, amounted to only $863.16, in a total duplicate of $17,485.28, or less than 5 per cent. delinquent. The total taxable valuation of the Townships now constituting Lucas County, was $894,825.

Lucas County in account with the Townships of the same. Amounts of taxes collected for the Townships in 1837:



Township Road Tax Township Tax School

From Tax

School

Surplus Revenue

Port Lawrence $1,313 75 $402 78 $656 87 $130 99
Waynesfield 656 20 214 99 328 10 90 48
Waterville 128 91 41 15 64 45 45 69
Sylvania 52 89 17 64 26 44 29 60
Wing 2 06 00 68 1 03 6 25
Swan Creek 7 71 2 56 3 83
Springfield 15 30 7 65 5 10 21 42
Providence 24 28 8 09 12 14 3 85
York 17 30 5 77 8 65 22 24

The annual report of County Auditor Young, made June 20, 1838, showed the total receipts to have been $4,131.23, with a total expenditure of $6,559.95. Auditor's fees amounted to $600-for Mr. Young, $475, and for L. S. Lownsbury, his successor, $125; for printing $117.50; Prosecuting Attorney (John Fitch), $135; for defense of criminals, David Higgins arid Andrew Coffin bury, each $15. The Treasurer, S. L. Collins, received as fees, $396.02.

The financial report of Lucas County for the year ended June 20, 1840, showed the aggregate receipts to have been $5,585.94; and the expenditures, $7,945.18; showing the excess of the latter to have been, $2,359.23. The chief items of expenses were-Infirmary Farm and support of the poor, $1,784; witnesses' fees in State cases and jurors, $903.62; Justices', Constables' and witnesses' fees in criminal cases, $420.22; Prosecuting Attorneys', $599; printing, $288.53; boarding prisoners, $122.75.

The total expenditure by the County for the year ended June 30, 1841, was $8,112, of which $1,311, or 16 per cent. was paid for advertising and printing-chiefly for advertising lands delinquent for taxes. This sum was more than the total expenses of the Poor House harm and the support of the poor.

As the result of the financial policy of the Government under Jackson's Administration, whereby the currency of the country was enormously inflated by excessive Bank issues, speculation was rife and heavy investments made in Government lands throughout the West. From this source, largely, the public resources became much greater than was the demand of the service. Consequently, a large surplus was accumulated, the disposal of which came to be a leading question in National politics. The Whigs demanded the distribution of the surplus money among the States, while the party of' the Administration (the Democrats) were disposed to hold it in the Treasury, for an emergency that might arise. At the session of 18:36-7, Congress passed a law providing for the distribution of' this surplus, according to the representation of the several States in Congress. The amount coining to Ohio, was $2,686,347.12. By act of March 28, 1837, the State Legislature apportioned this sum among the several Counties, according to their population, where the money was to be loaned by the County Commissioners at the rate of 6 per cent. interest, on good real estate security. The amounts assigned tot he several Counties named were as follows: Huron, $61,144.07; Seneca, $31,755.73; Sandusky, $21,270.70; Wood, $14,497.15, Lucas, $11.229.39; Williams, 85,614.69; Paulding, $5,384.41 ; Henry, $5,615.69 ; Hamilton, $119,042.86; Franklin, $46,164.05; Cuyahoga, 866,489.27. The ratio was $11.22 per voter. At the time, this distribution of money was generally regarded a great benefit to the country, and especially to the borrowers-so much so, that there was no little contention among applicants, and jealousy awakened by alleged " favoritism " on the part of the Commissioners. But when the loan had terminated and the money was to be paid-as much of it was upon suit and foreclosure of mortgages-there arose serious doubt as to benefit derived from the use of the money. In fact, the common judgment was, that more harm than good came of the transaction. Many a suffering farmer then wished the money had remained a surplus in the National Treasury.

DELINQUENT TAXES.

In no other way were as clearly shown the effects and the extent of the memorable era of land speculation, beginning in 1834, and ending with the financial collapse of 1837, as in the extended lists of lands delinquent in payment of taxes. This was more specially notice-


326 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.



able in the case of lots in the great number of Towns projected by speculators throughout the West, of which the Maumee Valley furnished its fall quota.

The first levy of taxes made in Lucas County, was in 1836, and was about 12 mills on the dollar of valuation, aside from Town taxes. The first list of delinquent taxes published, appeared in the Blade, November 1, 1837. The parcels of land numbered 26, of which 21 were in Port Lawrence and 5 in Waterville Townships. The owners in Port Lawrence, with the number of' acres, were as follows: Port Lawrence Company, River Tracts 1 and 2, 360 acres; Wm. Oliver, parts of Tracts 3, 4,86 and 87, and 182 acres in Section 12, Town 10, Range 10-in all, 661 acres, valued at $7,612, or $11.53 per acre. Elisha Whittlesey owned 512 acres in Sections 2 and 3, U. S. Reserve, and in River Tract 3. The other owners were Wm. Andrews and Starr, W. J. Daniels and J. N. Stebbins, C. S. Patterson, Isaac Street & Co. (125 acres), ' and 5 parcels (400 acres), -unknown. The Waterville lands belonged to John F. Cobeau, James G. Hounot, Alexander Howard, and Mary Johnson, the whole amounting to 640 acres, and valued at $1,428, with taxes of $35.12, or 54 cents per acre.

The list of 1837, was chiefly devoted to Town property in Port Lawrence and Vistula plats (Toledo). Of the former, Wm. Oliver represented 85 lots, with 125 divided between " Unknown " other owners. The valuation of lots ranged from $10 to $800, the average being about $140. The taxes were about 27 mills on the dollar. Among the owners were Fred. Bissell, Baxter Bowman, Joseph English, C. I. Keeler, Wm. Oliver, Converse Porter, Raymond D. Lynde and Volney Spaulding. Mr. Oliver owned 75 lots. Some 60 were " unknown." About 100 Vistula lots were given, belonging to Edward and Fred. Bissell, Frederick Belknap, W. H. Chapman, Samuel Eddy, Merceno Fox, Gilman & Wright, P. M. Irving, W. H. Lathrop, C. J. McKnight, Elijah Porter, Theophilus Pitcher, Geo. Redding, Peter H. Shaw, Albert Swift, B. F. Stickney and Amos Stow. The valuation of Vistula lots ranged from $15 to $350. About 20 lots were in Maumee and Miami City, belonging to R. A. Forsyth, Hunt, Beebe & Beaugrand, Wm. Oliver, Norman C. Baldwin, Bronson & Crocker, Wm. Hanford and James Shepard. The highest valuation was $670, and the lowest $12. Waterville had 4 lots, in the names of Lyman Dudley, John Pray, Wm. Schenck and Hiram C. Smith, the valuations being $20 to $25.

At the time of this sale, S. M. Young was the County Auditor, and Daniel McBain the County Treasurer, both of whom are still living.

The full measure of tax delinquency did not appear until 1840, the unparalleled lists of which year yet stand as " high-water mark " in that department of financial conditions.

First, we have the list of lands and lots of Toledo, as returned by Edson Allen, City Clerk, and advertised for sale on the last Monday of December, 1840. This list occupied one and a halt' pages of the Blade, and contained 1,000 pieces of property. Of these, 30 were tracts of lands within the City of Toledo, ranging in quantity from 7 to 160 acres, and charged with taxes of from 55 cents to $23.33. The taxable valuation ranged from $5.00 to $20.00 per acre.

The County delinquent list occupied no less than 10 pages of the Blade. It embraced about 200 parcels of lands, in the several Townships, of which 55 were in Port Lawrence, 40 in Waynesville, 20 in Waterville, 20 in Sylvania, 28 in Wing, 22 in Swan Creek, 2 in Providence, 3 in York, 9 in Royalton, and 11 in Oregon. The list consisted mainly of Town lots, located in Toledo (Port Lawrence and Vistula), Manhattan, Maumee City, Miami City, Waterville, Sylvania, Whiteford and Lucas City.

Of the Toledo lots (2,200 in number), 90 belonged to Sidney Bissell, 40 to Charles Butler (of New York), 70 to S. B. and A. J. Comstock, 80 to the Erie & Kalamazoo R. R. Co., 300 to Henry W. Hicks, 40 to C. W. Lynde, 400 to William Oliver, 130 to Pratt & Taylor of Buffalo, 180 to B. F. Stickney, 80 to American Land Company, 560 to " unknown " owners, 70 to Micajah T. Williams. The valuation of these lots ranged from $10 to $1,500, the latter being lot 9, Port Lawrence, the property of William P. Daniels (Northeast corner of Summit and Perry), on which stood the Indiana Hotel and Daniels's Store. The range of taxes due was from 52 cents and 5 mills, to $94.38; the rate being about 5 percent. of valuation. The larger portion of the Toledo lots stood at $60 and less, and a large part at and below $20. Lots, 30 in number, bounded by Huron and Erie and Lafayette and Monroe Streets, were valued in a lump at $600, or $20 each, the tax on which for 1839 was 42 cents per lot.

The following lots were advertised for sale as "forfeited " for non-payment of taxes, previous to 1840: Port Lawrence-Lot 1, corner of Summit and Monroe, now occupied by Commercial National Bank building, belonging to Wm. Oliver, was appraised at $1,500, the highest in the plat, and was taxed $11.79 for City purposes in 1839. Lot 2 (East half), property of Baldwin & Co., valued at $100, and taxed 78.6 cents. Lot 14, North side Summit Street, next to Monroe West, valued at $140 and taxed $1. Lots 9 and 10, Northwest corner Summit and Perry, aggregate tax $44.28. Lot 8, corner Summit and Perry (Burnett Hotel), value $420, tax $3.30. Lot 12, Baldwin, Keeler, et at, Southwest corner of Monroe and Summit, tax $8.17. Lot 19, Morris Sleight, North side Summit Street, next to Jefferson, tax $26.80. Lot 20, Daniels & Goettell, Northwest corner Summit and Jefferson, tax $26.80. Lot 101, Summit, between Adams and Madison (1st National


COUNTY AFFAIRS. - 327

Bank building), value $140, tax $857.64. Lots on the South side of Summit then ran through to the River, and were taxed heavily for the opening and filling of Water Street, which gave them three frontages, instead of the one originally possessed. This tax was from $20 to $26 per foot front. The site of the present Hall Block, corner Superior and Jefferson (lots 177 and 178) was delinquent in $1.10 taxes. The Union Hotel Company owned lots 109, 110 and 111, South side, and lots 119 and 120, North side Summit Street, next to Adams, extending from Trinity Church to the River. The valuation of these was $700, and the amount of City tax $40.23. Lot 122, Northwest corner of Summit and Adams, belonging to the same Company, was taxed $17.86. Trinity Church lot (163) corner St. Clair and Adams, was taxed $18.96, of which $17.86 was for Summit Street grade tax. Lot 95, the property of Ira Smith, South side Summit and next to Madison West (site of Store of C. L. Luce & Co.), was valued at $140, with a general tax of $1.10, and a Water Street improvement charge of $770.28. Lots 105, 106 and 107, owned by Edward Bissell, South side Summit, between Adams and Madison (including the present Toledo Commercial building, 178 Summit), were charged $5,288.64, or $22.03 per foot front as Water Street tax. Lot 108, on the Southwest corner of Adams, paid or was taxed $1,043.60, of which $1,040.14 was for Water Street.

Vistula Division : Lots 1,423, 1,424, 1,425, 1,434, 1,435, 1,436, 1,437, and 1,438 (8 in number, and 100x128.4 feet in size), comprising the present site of the Court House, were valued at $40 each, with a total tax of $2.51, or 31.4 cents per lot. That was some 13 years before the property was selected for its present use. Lot 489, corner of Cherry and Superior, on which then stood the First Presbyterian Church, and now the site of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, was valued (with building) at $1,620, and was charged $12.73 taxes. It stood in the name of John Berdan & Co. It never belonged to the Church. Lot 480, owned by M. H. Tilden, Northeast corner of Superior and Walnut, now the site of M. D. Carrington's residence, was valued at $20, and taxed $1.04. Lots 601 and 602, Northwest corner of Huron and Locust, then owned by J. R. Williams, and now the residence of Fred. Eaton, were valued at $240, and taxed $1.73. Lot 1,077, the site of St. Mary's Catholic Church, corner Cherry and Michigan Streets, was valued at $80, with a tax of 62 cents-being owned by the American Land Company. Lot 1,103, the property of'. Sidney Bissell, was valued at $20, and taxed $1.04. It is now the site of the Moulding Works, corner of Chestnut and Champlain Streets. One-half of lots 743 and 744, Northeast corner Cherry and Erie Streets, then belonging to Pierre M. Irving, was valued at $89, and taxed at 78 cents. The property was never improved and has thus lain since platted in 1832. In 1836 it was held at $500. Calculating the interest as doubling every ten years it has done that oftener in Toledo-and the value of 51 years ago, now (1887) amounts to $24,000. Calling the average of taxes $10 per year (and it has probably been more than that), these with interest, now stand at 83,850, making a grand total of $27,850, as the investment made in property which is worth about one-third that amount. It is now owned by Maro Wheeler. A like arithmetical calculation as to all other City property which has lain for the half-century without use, would present a startling aggregate And yet, the proportion of such in Toledo has been far below the average of Cities of its age. In very few of these, has investment in real estate been attended with equal return. Lots 310, 311 and 313, North side of Summit, between Lagrange and Elm, owned by Edward Bissell, were taxed $14.74 each for Summit Street improvement. The block bounded by Madison and Jefferson and 13th and 14th Streets, containing 10 lots, and now the residence of S. M. Young, was valued at $15 per lot, and taxed 11.7 cents each. It was then considered too far from the settled portions of the City to have actual market value. And yet, it was only 13 years later, that James Johnson erected the dwelling now occupied by Mr. Young. Lots 801, 802, 806, 807 and 808, North side Ontario, between Chestnut and Mulberry, belonging to Sidney Bissell, were offered for sale for taxes in 1839, without purchaser, at $1.14 each ; and again offered in 1840 at the same price, without sale. The block now occupied by the Central School and Manual Training School building, were offered for sale in 1840, at 52j cents each, the taxable valuation being $10. These lots were 10 in number and were 100x100 feet in size, and might all have been purchased for $5.25, with the liabilities to redemption tinder the law. There were 520 lots in a body in Vistula Division, the aggregate valuation of which was $5,200, and the tax levy under which they all were offered for sale only 8273. They comprised nearly all lots in Vistula Division between Nos. 1180 and 1656-an aggregate of 450, largely in the Third Ward and constituting much of the best improved property in the City. Some 80 lots in Port Lawrence, owned by the Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad Company, were valued at $20 each, and taxed $1.04, or $83.92 in all. Oliver's Addition pretty much entire - from No. 1 to 311was included in the sale of 1840. From No. 1 to 200, the valuation was $60, and the balance $20-all standing in the name of Wm. Oliver. B. F. Stickney had in the Vistula list, 180 lots, of values of $20 to $140, and scattered as to numbers between 239 and 1,133. The American Land Company had 80 lots in Vistula, while of 600 lots in the same, the owners were "unknown."


328 - HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

By all odds, the Manhattan Land and Railroad Company represented in this list the largest quantity of property. It embraced very nearly the entire plat of Manhattan, consisting of 5,250 lots, constituting 211 blocks, of from 4 to 32 lots each. The values of the lots were $10, $15, $20, and $30; the larger portion being $10. The taxes (for 1839 and 1840) were 21 mills on the dollar per year, to which were added penalty and interest on those for 1839. Thus, on a valuation of $10, the tax was 21 cents per year, and the penalty and interest for 1839, 10 cents and 4 mills, making 31 cents and 4 mills for that year and 21 cents for 1840, and a total of 52 cents 4 mills for the 2 years. The larger valuations were in the same proportion. Of' the 5,250 lots, but 11 were valued above $30. This list occupied 25 columns of the Blade, and seems to have severely taxed the typographical resources of the office, from the extent to which -using the Printer's term-it "ran on sorts." This, after exhausting the stock of figures, it was found necessary to use the word " ten," instead of the unit and cipher, and to fill up columns with " do," as abbreviation of " ditto." This is not surprising, in view of the fact that the office was a small one, and was called to provide for a job, which, of its kind, has since never been equaled in extent. It contained 325 columns, of 210 lines each, making a total of 68,250 descriptions and amounts in figures. The average valuation was about $25 per lot, making the aggregate, say $58,750



Next to Manhattan, in this list, came Miami City, Waynesfield Township, of which the Miami City Company was the proprietor, and in whose name some 350 lots were taxed. The valuation of unimproved lots ranged from $15 to $80. Of' those in the name of the Company, but 2 seem to have been improved. Lot 4, block 4, was placed at $3,820, with a tax of $178.67. Lot 6, block 21, had a valuation of $380, and was taxed $18.17. Scott's Addition contributed 150 ; and Wolcott's Addition about the same number of lots. Individual owners were Nathan Rathbun, Geo. A. Sackett, S. A. Sargent, Wolcott Stebbins, Daniel Strayer, Andrew Trapp, John Trapp and Marcus Wilcox, with many " unknown."

Maumee City had about 75 lots, scattered among Hunt's, Hunt & Beaugrand's, and Mrs. Gibbs's Additions, the names of owners being Anthony Ambrose, heirs of Levi Beebe, John Brandage, B. M. Burtiss, Chas. M. Briggs, Bronson, Crocker& Fitzhugh (Oswego, N. Y.), N. C. Baldwin, H. N. Converse, David Coles, A. H. Ewing, James H. Forsyth, R. A. Forsyth, Chloe Gibbs, John E. Hunt, C. C. P. Hunt, C. L. Henderson, Edward Hallen, J. B. McBride,

* Soon after the Town was platted, residence lots, distant from the business center, were sold at $600 each, and sales were suspended by the owners, on the ground that prices were too low ; and contracts made were denied execution.

Luke Mason, John McNees, Wm. Mumford, Madison Reynolds, Wm. Richardson, Atwood & St. John, Waite & White, Oscar White, Wagner & Horn, Brittain Wolsey, Horace Waite, S. M. Young, Eli Kitts, and "unknown."

Waterville was represented by about 50 Town lots, about one-half of which belonged to Ira White and associates. The other owners were Galen B. Abell, Jacob Courson, James H. Forsyth, D. P. Farmer, -- Cole, J. Hall, Burton H. Hickock, John Pettinger, Welcome Pray, Pray & Abell, Wm. Schenck, Hiram Smith, and Theophilus Short. The valuations ranged from $8.00 to $300.

Sylvania held a prominent place in the list, having therein about 800 lots, of which 300 stood in the name of Heman Walbridge, 100 in that of Win. Wilson's heirs, and 35 in that of John U. Pease (the same being in the Whiteford plat). Besides these the names of Elkanah Briggs, Beebe Comstock, Charlotte Decker, D. Greenvault, Delavan D. Hawes, Abram Jessup, Coleman I. Keeler, Jr., E. & S. Morse, Geo. Parker, Joseph Roop, Samuel Smith, H. H. Smith, Wm. L. Smith, Dwight F. Stone, Joseph Titsworth, Thos. Townsend, W. H. Townsend, John Wall, Thos. Jefferson Cromwall, Joseph Clark, Jedediah Jessup, John Fitch, David White, and heirs of David White, with 100 down to " Unknown "

Lucas City had its place in the list, contributing 450 lots. Of all these, the owners were "Unknown." The valuation ranged from $3.00 to $20 00 per lot; the tax being 5.11 per cent. There seems to have been no improvement on any of the lots named. About 60 lots were in Platt Card's Addition, of which 4 had been transferred to Z. Prescott. Ironville now occupies a portion of the site of Lucas City.

The Town plat of Oregon was represented by 2 lots in " Water Block," the property of George Powesland-the one (No. 11) being valued at $280, and the other (No. 12) at $25. The other Oregon lot, was No. 2, " Upland Block," belonging to Luther Whitmore, Jr., and valued at $330. The tax was about 3 per cent. on the valuation. Mr. Whitmore still resides within the plat of Oregon.

The list of lands delinquent for payment of taxes in 1841, occupied six pages of the Toledo Register. Among the Town property thus advertised, was the entire plat of Amsterdam, German Township (now in Fulton County), consisting of 282 lots, belonging to Albert Helfenstein ; which were valued at the uniform price of $5.00, on which taxes were delinquent to the amount of 12 cents and 9 1/2 mills each Of this amount 4-7 cents was for the year 184 (interest and penalty included), and 8 cent and 2J mills for 1841. The Maumee Land an Railroad Company was represented in 12 Manhattan lots, varying in values from $5.00 t $17.00 each, with taxes thereon ranging from 37 1/2 to 75 cents each. The largest single levy


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in the list was that on the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad depot and machine shop, $203.12, the valuation thereof being $3,451. The next highest tax was $30.00. Vinton, Waynesfield Township, furnished lots from 1 to 54 inclusive, in the name of Daniel Hubbell, valued at the uniform rate of $5.00, with taxes varying from 17J to 37 cents.

The list of lands advertised in September, 1842, as delinquent for taxes, embraced 1,300 lots, of which 380 belonged to William Oliver, and were in Oliver's Addition ; and 160 were those of B. F. Stickney, in Vistula Division. The amounts of taxes due ranged from $31.44 to 19 cents and 6 mills per lot. The valuation was from $2,300 to $5.00 per lot-the former consisting of the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad Depot.

The location of the several Towns projected along the Maumee River in early times, and more or less prominent in delinquent tax-lists, will better be shown by the map herewith of that stream from Maumee and above to Maumee Bay and the Lake. Commencing up the River, we have, in succession, on the West side, Maumee, Miami, Marengo, Toledo and Manhattan ; and on the East side, Perrysburg, Oregon and Lucas City. Of these, Marengo, Oregon and Lucas City soon ceased to exist-conceding that either of them ever had real existence; while Manhattan has been lost in Toledo, as has Ironville, largely a successor of Lucas City. This map bears no date, but was made about 1836.

Lucas City was laid out in the Spring of 1836. The first announcement of its existence consisted of the following advertisement, which appeared in the Toledo Gazette:

LUCAS CITY LOTS.

The undersigned offer for sale about 1,500 lots on this important site. It stands at the mouth of the Maumee River, near its junction with Lake Erie. The back country is wide and rich, and the channel which passes has been acknowledged by experienced navigators to be deep and broad enough for vessels of the largest tonnage. The establishment of Roads and Canals, as well as other public works, which are projected within its neighborhood, gives it extraordinary and marked advantages. The public attention seems to be directed to this important point, as the great outlet of the West; and this fact tends to render it an important object to the speculator or actual settler.

The City lots may be secured upon the most advantageous terms, upon application to

WILLARD SMITH,

E. C. HART,

GEO. HUMPHREY,

Trustees.

Lucas, May 6, 1836.

N. B.-The local advantages of the place may be ascertained by applying to the Masters of Vessels and Steamboats, who ply upon this track.

LIKEWISE

500 CITY LOTS,

By WILLARD SMITH.


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