350 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY ville Township and they did not have root enough in the barn of Mr. Sever to put awa their chests and trunks and some were store, in the barn of Mr. Amos E. Wood. The Maumee Pike was not then made. These set tlers lived there in the dense woods. Som children sickened and died and were buries without coffins. The parents longed for a minis ter to come among them. Some of the husband and fathers went to work on the Maumee Canal from Toledo to Defiance, to get money to buy provisions for their families. In 1834 some were unable to buy flour in Fremont. The: got such supplies as they could and carries them on their shoulders to Woodville. The, bought their land at $1.25 per acre. On widow traveled on foot in wooden shoes to the land office at Bucyrus to buy her land. It 1835 they raised a crop of corn and ground it With their coffee mills to make bread. "In 1841 I was sent as a missionary from Ann Arbor, Mich., to visit the Germans a Toledo, Perrysburg and the Black Swamp I preached at Woodville but hesitated to accept a call from them until they came after me tc Michigan with teams. I had at first very pool lodging. It was a sort of porch on one side of a wagon shop, another family occupying the opposite porch. We had a stove and two beds in one small room. When it rained we had to place an umbrella oyer us when sleeping. The roads through the woods were very bad and often hard to find. I often missed my way in going to preach to the settlers at a distance. going I had to follow marks blazed on the trees through the woods." The United Brethern was organized by Rev. John Long in the latter part of the sixties and services were held in the Union Church building until 1874, when the society purchased the old German Methodist Church Building. There is no resident pastor, but services are kept up by ministers from the circuit to which the church belongs. The Methodist Episcopal was organized in 1844 in the old schoolhouse by Rev. William Norton, the first pastor. The first stewards were Stephen Brown and Ephraim Wood. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse until the "Union Church" was built. In 1859 the Methodists, Presbyterians and Evangelicals combined and erected an edifice called the Union Church, each society having a representative in the official board. The Presbyterians and Evangelicals became extinct, after which it passed into the possession of the Methodist Episcopal congregation, which finally also becoming extinct, the property, by judicial authority, was in 1909 transferred to the Solomon's Lutheran Church for contemplated educational purposes. Catholic. As early as 1843 Father Rappe held services in Woodville and in 1851 he effected an organization. A dwelling house was purchased and converted into a house of worship. In 1862 the brick edifice was built and dedicated. The church was supplied in ministerial work from Elmore. In 1882 Father Reiken was pastor. There have been no services maintained here by this faith for a good many years. The German Methodist organized a society in 1843 with about twenty members ; Rev. E. Reinschneider was the first pastor. The first trustees were Henry Seabert, Fred Miller, Fred Gerke, Andrew Nuhfer and Fred Steirkamp. There is now no resident pastor, but services are maintained. BELLEVUE VILLAGE AND YORK TOWNSHIP. BELLEVUE. Bellevue being in part within Sandusky County, is 'therefore considered in our history. Tax duplicate, in Sandusky County, $626,300. Voters, in Sandusky County, 475. The first post-office was known as York Cross Roads, and the village was called Amsden's Corners, for T. G. Amsden its first merchant. In 1839, upon the completion of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad to this place, the present name was adopted. which means "beautiful view," a name appropriate when its elevation and surroundings are considered. The highest sea level in the county, 751 feet, is in Bellevue. According to the best authority Mark Hopkins was the first settler. coming in 1815, and Elnathan George the next, settling in 1816; then in 1817 Return Burlingson ; in the year 1819 John C. Kinney, Thomas G. Amsden and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 351 Frederick Chapman. They were the first merchants and had their store on the spot where the 'city hall now stands. They were men of fine ability, energetic, and did a highly prosper- ous business. In 1822 Charles F. Drake came and purchased land in Section 25 in York Township, embracing 'the greater part of the village on the Sandusky County side ; in 1823 Dr. James Strong purchased lands adjoining Drake on the west. Nathaniel Chapman and Bourdette Wood were early prominent and prosperous dealers in real estate and in live stock, and did much to promote the growth and welfare of the rising town. The town was incorporated by act of the Legislature January. 25, 1851. At the first election in February following, Abraham Leiter was elected mayor; S. Z. Culver, recorder ; Thomas G. Amsden, E. D. Follett, B. F. McKim, D. Armstrong and J. M. Lawrence. trustees. The village now contains about five 'thousand in population, and is traversed by five railroads, four steam lines and one electric line. While the greater number of factories, business concerns, churches and schools are over the county line on the Huron County side, yet it is thought not out of place, in this history briefly refer, to some of these. Among them are: The Ohio Cultivator Company. manufacturing agricultural implements and hay presses; The Conway Steel Range Company, steel ranges and cook, stoves; The Bellevue Pipe and Foundry Company, soil pipe and plumbers' fittings ; The Jeschke Manufacturing Company, corn cutters and ditching machines ; The J. L. Moore Manufacturing Company, steel couches and bed springs ; The W. H. Gardner Grain & Mill Company, grain dealers, flour and mill products ; The Bellevue Stone Company, crushed limestone, sand and gravel ; The Bellevue Kraut c Pickling Company, sauer-kraut and pickles; Spence Brothers Stone Company, crushed limestone; Garrigan Brothers Stone Company, crushed limestone ; Joseph Mitchell & Son, furniture and tables; The A. H. Jackson Manufacturing Company. muslin underwear ; The Zehner Brothers Packing Company, meats and meat products ; The G. W. Knox Monumental Works, marble and granite monuments ; The Handy Tool Corn- pany, kraut knives and specialties, and The Mt. Pleasant Mills, flour, feed and mill products. RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. First Congregational. This society was formed in 1836, under the auspices of the Huron Presbytery as a society of the Presbyterian Church, and so remained until 1846, when it became a regular Congregational church. The present beautiful church edifice was erected in 1878, at a cost of $40,000, by the magnificence of Daniel M. Harkness in memory of his deceased wife, Isabel Harkness; it is now known as the Harkness Memorial. In 1906 the building was improved to the extent of $3,000. The church possesses a fine parsonage. There have been, preceding the present pastor, seventeen, with an average pastorate of about four years each. The present pastor is Rev. George L. Smith. Methodist Episcopal was formed in 1839, the first class being composed of James Anderson, his wife Betsy, and daughter Melessa ; Alvin Anderson, his wife Harriet, and daughter Adaline, and a Mr. Mann and his daughter Mrs. Ferris. Meetings were held for some years in a stone schoolhouse near the present site of the Episcopal Church. Later a brick building was erected at a cost of $5,000, which was finally sold to the Lutheran Society. The present edifice was completed in 1868 and dedicated by Bishop Simpson, August 17th of that year. Among the largest contributors 'toward its erection and that of the parsonage, costing in all about 'thirty thousand dollars, were Alvin Anderson, J. B. Higbee, H. R. Adams, David Williams, Orrin Dole and Mr. Huffman. It became a station in 1852. with the following board of stewards.: Alvin Anderson, H. R. Adams, Jesse Haskell, W. W. Stilson, J. B. Higbee, Orrin Dole and Barney Campbell. Rev. Samuel Beatty was then the pastor. The present pastor is Rev. H. P. Richards. The church now has the largest membership in its history. 325 members. It has had a solid and steady growth and has fulfilled the promise of the past and the hope of its founders. St. Paul's Reformed Church is located on Kilbourne Street. The present church build- 352 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY. COUNTY ing was erected in the years 1864 and 1865. There were eighty-five charter members. On the night of July 3, 1867, the building was seriously damaged by a storm, making it necessary to replace a part of it and make other extensive repairs. It was then re-dedicated November 26, 1876. In the year 1890 extensive repairs which very much beautified the building were made. The continued growth and prosperity of the congregation made it necessary to enlarge and rebuild the church in 1905. This was done at a cost of about ten thousand dollars. The building is now large and commodious, fully equipped for the present demands, having a Sunday school room with its various departments and a pastor's study. The Mission Band was organized in 188.9 ; the Ladies' Aid Society in 1890; the Missionary Society in 1891; the Y. P. S. C. E. in 1897. During the forty-two years of its history this congregation has had six pastors. The beautiful two-story brick parsonage and barn was erected during the summer of 1907, at a cost of over thirty-five hundred dollars. This church is at present one of the best equipped for modern and progressive church work. The present pastor is Rev. D. W. Loucks. The First Baptist Church was organized the 14th of May, 1836. The first pastor was Elder J. Kelley. Other pastors were Elders Brown, Angell, Dimick, Eaton, Royce, Abbott, Kelly. Griswold, Morse and Bailey. The society held its meetings in the second story of the brick schoolhouse now owned by the Catholic Church, until April 7, 1849. when their house of worship was completed. The old record contains the names of many who. materially aided in the growth and prosperity of Bellevue. For a number of years the church enjoyed a remarkable degree of prosperity, but various causes contributed to the diminution of its membership. Many families moved to the western frontier a number of the members were caught in the wave of spiritualism that swept over the country about the middle of the nineteenth century, while death claimed many. For these and other causes the doors of the church were closed for a time. Rev. L. Bailey preached August 31, 1862, the last sermon of which the old records give any account. On the 15th of January, 1867, the church was again opened for worship. In 1875 the society became discouraged and sold their property to the Evangelical Association. In 1883 a new church was organized with Rev. Jesse Boswell, pastor, who remained one year. The new society held its meetings in the old Opera and Washington halls until February 3, 1886, when the present house of worship was first occupied. Of the hundreds of names upon the old records but one appears upon the new and but one of the old families is represented in the present membership. The church at the present day is remarkable for the harmony existing among the members, and all departments of the work of the society are conducted with the utmost good fellowship. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Eastman. St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized on the loth of July, 1864. The following were the first church council : Adam Zehner, Frederick Stapf, Jacob Biebricher, Wm. Bauer, Frederick Richard. Jacob Beiler, Philip Rosswurm, Philip. Biebricher, Frederick Guenther. The first place of worship was the building now used for the Catholic school, the second was the old church on Center Street. The present beautiful church was erected in 1894-5 under the pastorate of Rev. W. E. Schuette. The pastors serving this church were Revs. H. Lang, J. Dornbirer. C. Buechler, J. J. Sutter. Rev. H. G. Sutter began work in 1885 ; Rev. W. E.. Schuette took charge in 1893, and W. H. Lehman. whose pastorate began in 1901 and who is now in charge. Under the last three pastorates the services, which had hitherto been conducted entirely in the German language or nearly so, became more and more English, now being equally divided on Sunday mornings, and all evening services being in English. The Sunday school is almost entirely English and within the last five years the confirmations have been entirely so. The church is connected with the St. Paul's Church on the Columbus Pike in one parish. St. Paul's Episcopal Church is located on West Main Street, and is 120x200 feet in dimensions. The church has a seating capacity of about three hundred. In the early days services were held in the old hall over AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 353 what is now Ruffing's dry goods store and in the old stone schoolhouse where now stands the Pike School. At a meeting of the residents of Bellevue, June 14, 1849, in the office of Amsden, Dimick & Co., the organization was partially completed. The first vestrymen elected were Gurdeon Woodward, Amos Woodward, Abishai Woodward, T. G. Amsden, Judge Frederick Chapman, G. W. Sheffield and John Grimes. The church was consecrated January 14, 1861, by the then Bishop of Ohio, Gregory Thurston Bedell. Among the early wardens and vestrymen were W. Ford, H. P. Bramwell, Bourdette Wood, C. C. Cook, Jesse Haskell and Roger Greenslade, Sr. The Rev. Mr. Punderson conducted the first services in the old stone schoolhouse on the Pike adjoining the church, about 1846. The Rev. R. K. Nash was the first rector to preach in the present building. He was succeeded by the Rev. Moses Hamilton, who remained in charge of the parish for thirty-three years. In the history of St. Paul's Parish four diocesans of national fame have shepherded the flock : Bishop Philander Chase. Bishop Charles McIlvaine, Bishop Gregory Thurston Bedell, and the present bishop the Rt. Rev. William Andrew Leonard, D. D. Among some of the former members who have achieved distinction is the Rev. Chas. D. Williams. D. D.. Bishop of Detroit. The present rector is the Rev. George Morris Wylie, Jr. Bishop Seybert Memorial Evangelical. The origin of this church dates hack to the year 1875. when it was organized by Rey. G. W. Miesse. The first regularly appointed pastor of this church was Rev. S. P. Spreng (now Bishop S. P. Sprang. D. D., who was recently elected to that high office). During Rev. Spreng's brief pastorate this church was blessed with a great revival which resulted in the conversion of many souls, adding greatly to the strength of the church. The first church building occupied by this congregation was purchased from the Baptist friends formerly used by them as a place of worship. This church was occupied by the Evangelical people until in the year 1895, un der the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Brightmire, when this congregation experienced a marvelous work of grace; the old church not being large enough to meet the demands of this growing congregation, the present splendid church building was erected and dedicated to God as Bishop Seybert Memorial Evangelical Church of the Evangelical Association. Memorial Church has a prosperous Sunday school, a senior and junior Young People's Alliance, a Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, a Ladies' Aid Society, a Pansy Circle, all of which are doing good work in their different spheres. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Beery. Church. of the Immaculate Conception. About 1852 Rev. James Vincent Conlin, stationed at Sandusky, established a mission in Bellevue, and held services some three or four years, when Rev. Punshell, of Norwalk, came, and then for a short time Father Boff officiated. Father Tighe, of Sandusky, net came, and bought the old warehouse, on Center Street. This building was remodeled and used for a church and the first church organization was effected. This place of worship was used until 1883. Later a schoolhouse was built upon the lot, a two-room frame building. The first resident priest was Rev. James Monaghan, who remained some seven or eight years. While he was in charge Ile bought a house of Rev. Mr. Flagler for the use of the priest. The house bought was the present parish house, but it stood on Monroe Street on the present Wheeling right of way. When the Wheeling was built the house was moved to its present location. Father Mears came next. He remained about three years and was succeeded by Father Bowles, who also remained three years. The church was then attended by Father Rudolph, of Clyde, for about three months and then Father Malloy was called to the pastorate and remained about three years. After Father Malloy came Father Gibbons who during his pastorate spent a year in Italy seeking to regain his health. Father Cahill was the pastor of the church for the year during that time and laid the foundation for the present church. On the return of Father Gibbons and during the next three years the present church was erected at 354 - HISTORY OF SAN DUSKY COUNTY a cost of $20,000. Father Gibbons died April, 1884. Father Ruppert succeeded him and with a year's intermission remained for five years. Father J. A. Michenfelder, the present pastor, succeeded him. The congreg4tion comprised about one hundred and fifty families and is well provided with church property. Altogether the church is in a flourishing condition. BELLEVUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The records of the, schools of Bellevue prior to 1830 are almost entirely wanting. Here and there are found brief entries of contracts, fragmentary reports, scraps of letters, etc., which, pieced out by oral testimony, give a fairly good idea of conditions from 1830 to 1870. From 1870 to the present the minutes, journals and other documents of the board of education have been in a measure preserved. These supplemented by the recollection of many men and women in active life furnish a basis for our record of the years since 1870. It is probable that the earliest schools of this community were largely the result of individual or community initiative, supplemented in some small measure by public aid. The tuition fund was contributed by the patrons, generally in proportion to the number of pupils attending from each family. By the law of 1825 the State organized a system of district schools, each district a separate and distinct unit. This accounts for the existence at an early date of a schoolhouse on the Sandusky County side, and another on the Huron County side of Bellevue. Under the provisions of the Akron law of 1849 the schools of the town began to be graded and unified but this was not fully accomplished until about 1860. Since 186o the organization of the schools has conformed to the changing requirements of the state laws. Buildings. As early as 1827, and probably for some time before, log schoolhouses were located, one on the site of the present Pike Building, another where the Wright Bank stands. In 1832 the log building on the Pike was supplemented by a one-room stone structure, which was in use until about 18.45 or 1846, when it was closed for a time to be repaired and reopened in 185o. This building gave place in 1871 to a two-roomed, one-story brick building. The walls of this structure were made heavy so that a second story might be added when occasion demanded. In 1875 the building assumed the appearance it has today. On the Huron County side there was first the log building on the site of the Wright Bank. The next building of which we have knowledge was the two-story brick building now the Catholic Parochial School, which was erected in 1845. This contained three rooms. The inference is that after the erection of this building the stone schoolhouse on the Pike was unused, until the growth of the town required its repair and reopening in 185o. A new seven-room building was erected on the site of the present east central building. For forty years this building served the community. In 1885 the four rooms now constituting the front of the east central building were erected at a cost of $5,000. In 1906 the old building was removed and four rooms took its place, which with the four erected in 1885, make a substantial eight-room schoolhouse. The McKim Street Building containing two rooms was erected in 1893. to accommodate the primary pupils living east of the Nickel Plate Railroad. It was so planned as to readily admit of the erection of two additional rooms on the North Side if conditions should demand them. Its cost, together with the grounds, was in the neighborhood of $4,000. The Central High School Building, containing ten school rooms, four recitation rooms. laboratory, office and auditorium, was erected in 1900, and "dedicated to the best interests of loth century education" The architect was H. H. Wurmzer, of Lorain ; the builders, H. Kimmell & Son. of Bellevue. The cost of site, building furnishings was approximately $37,000. Teachers and Superintendents. One of the early teachers was Miss Clemence A. Follett, afterward Mrs. Frederick Chapman, who taught in 1828. Mr. Geo. Wickwire, Mr. J. B. Higbee, long time resident of the village taught in the stone schoolhouse in the early thirties. Mrs. Eliza Cook, mother of C. C. Cook, taught in the same building in 1855-57. Miss Celestia Gould, now Mrs. building W. Boise, taught about the same time. The schools entered upon their career as graded union schools. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 355 under the provisions of the Akron law, in 1851, at which time the head teacher was spoken of as the superintendent, although performing the duties now belonging to the principal. The first corps consisted of Rev. Mr. Waldo, Miss Gardner, assistant in grammar grades, with Mrs. Covil and Miss Wilkinson in charge of the primaries. The line of superintendents is as follows, commencing in 1851 : Rev. Mr. Waldo, Harvey Holton, Jerome Drury, Edward Bradley, Dwight Hubbard, Henry Bramnell, Dr. Cornell, John S. Ellis, Edward Bradley, —Highland, J. B. Loveland, W. H. H. Avery, L. C. Laylin, E. E. Philips, J. M. Greenslade, A. E. Gladding, E. F. Warner who has since 1886 been superintendent, a period of twenty-three years. POST-OFFICE. This is in Huron County, but there are five rural delivery routes extending into Sandusky. County, with 227 mail boxes serving 700 patrons, and covering an area of fifty square miles. Fred O. Bates is postmaster. YORK TOWNSHIP. The topographical features of the township have been given in Chapter III. The township was formed in 1842. Tax duplicate, $1,315,160. Voters, 380. SETTLEMENT. The settlement of York began in the year 1822, but before then as early as 1819 squatters came and located in some parts of its territory, built small cabins, cleared off small fields of the undergrowth, planted a few acres of corn, which the wives cultivated while their husbands hunted game. These people never aspired to ownership of property. Property would have been an incumbrance to them. The permanent pioneer settlers were Jeremiah Smith, A. D. Fallett, Rollin Benson, John Davenport, the Utley family, Hiram Baker, Elder John Mugg, Joseph, George Elanthan, George John Riddell, Isaac Slocum, H. R. Adams and James Chapman. Later came Isaac and Levi Porter, Ephraim and Randall Sparks, Jacob Harpster, Samuel Shutts, John Mook, William Dymond, James F. Smith, J. P. Roush, Gideon and George Bill-man, Frederick Smith and Adam Jordan. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. The True-will Baptist Church was the pioneer church of the township, and in its early history collected into its membership nearly all the neighborhood. Christian Church. The next church was the Christian Church the first members of which were James Haynes and wife, Moses George and wife, John Riddell and wife; Elder Mallery was the first preacher. He was succeeded by Elder Vail, under whose ministry the Free Chapel was built in 1842. He died in 1878 and Elder Manville became pastor. Emanuel Evangelical Church was organized about 185o and Rev. Mr. Nevil was the first preacher. In 186o the frame work on the pike was built. Mount Carmel United Brethren was built in 1863. SCHOOLS. The first schools were doubtless in a large measure formed and supported by private aid, supplemented in some small way by public aid. Owing to the absence of records of these schools particular mention of them must necessarily be omitted. Good public schools, however, under the provisions of the various school laws have been maintained. According to the last official report there are ten sub-districts, requiring ten teachers, thirty-six weeks. Amount paid for tuition, $3,885; supervision, $125. Enrollment, boys 147, girls 136 ; total 283. There were 15 Boxwell graduates who attended a high school. BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, ETC. There are now in the township about one hundred and fifty acres of cherry orchards. The principal and most noted orchard is that of Heffner & Pickett, known as the "Highland Cherry Farm," containing 5,600 trees just coming into profitable bearing. Many others, ranging from a small number to Boo trees are planted throughout the township, the soil and situation of portions of which seem well adopted to cherry culture. The Richards Brick and Tile Yards, of York Township, were established as early as 1857 by George Carleton and George Taylor, and the business is thus one of the pioneer industries of this township. After the retirement of Mr. Taylor the late William C. Richards became the 356 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY partner of Mr. Carleton. In 1885 he became sole proprietor and so remained until his son, Charles R. Richards, took charge of the concern. The enterprise is one of the prosperous ones of this part of the county and gives employment to seven men the year around. Gerhardstein Brothers' Brick and Tile Yards are located about one mile southwest of Bellevue, York Township, the partners owning a tract of sixty acres at this point, and another of twenty acres in York Township. Their yearly output of brick averages between 500,000 and 600,000, and they also manufacture a large amount of tiling of different sizes, the concern giving employment to seven or eight men continuously. The business was originally established by Edward Kern, who sold the yards in 1891 to Anthony Gerhardstein, father of the present proprietors, Robert and Thomas Gerhardstein. The Bellevue Stone Company, mentioned in a former chapter, is a prosperous concern. Colby in the southern part of the township is a station on the Nickel Plate Railroad. The post-office has been discontinued since the inauguration of the rural delivery system. CHAPTER XXIV. FREMONT, THE COUNTY SEAT. Early History—Croghansville and Sandusky—Town Plats—Names of Mayors—City Hall—Water Works and Fire Department—Parks—Schools, Churches and Their Buildings—Prominent Magazine Writers and Authors—Industries—Benevolent and Patriotic Societies—Improvements. Tax Duplicate, $3,512,680. Population, 12,000. Voters, 2,700. FREMONT, County Seat of Sandusky County, Ohio The JUNQUINDUNDEH of the Indians, and the LOWER SANDUSKY of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. An old NEUTRAL TOWN of the ERIES used as a refuge on the destruction of the HURON Confederacy by the IROQUOIS in 1650. Westermost point reached by the BRITISH and COLONIAL TROOPS from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut under ISRAEL PUTNAM in BRADSTREET'S Expedition against Pontiac in 1764. A BRITISH POST established here during the REVOLUTIONARY WAR. DANIEL BOONE, SIMON KENTON, the Moravians HECKEWELDER and ZEISBERGER, and over 1000 whites held here as PRISONERS by the Indians. FORT STEPHENSON built in 1812, and gallantly defended by Major GEORGE CROGHAN, 17th U. S. Infantry, with 160 men, against 2000 British and Indians under PROCTOR and TECUMSEH, Aug. 1st and 2d, 1813. SPIEGEL GROVE, the home of RUTHERFORD B. HAYES, 19th President of the United States. (From the historical table placed by the city at the request of the Local Chapter of the D. A. R. at each station of the steam railroads in the city.) It has been seen that Lower Sandusky, which included the original villages of Croghansville on the east side and Sandusky on the west side of the river was named Fremont in 1849. There is a township named Fremont, but it is, in fact, territorially the city of Fremont, and its civil administration, except as to justices of the peace and constables are identical with the city. Hence it is not here separately described. EARLY SURVEYS. On the east side of the river the town of Croghansville was laid out in 1816 by the United States Surveyor, Mr. Wormsley. At the suggestion of the United States land commissioner it was named Croghansville, in honor of Major Croghan. The location was evidently deemed one of importance, as Congress reserved one large lot for a shipyard, and the great width of the streets would indicate the same expectation. The first town plat of Sandusky, the west side, was made by the "Kentucky Company," composed of Thomas L. Hawkins, Thomas E. Boswell, Morris A. Newman, William Oliver, Israel Harrington, Josiah Rumery, Ephraim Johnson, William Andrews, David Gallagher, Aaron Forgerson, Randall Jerome, John - 357 - 358 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Drury, Joseph Mominne, John La Cost, John Mominne and John Anderson, all of whom became residents, except Boswell and Anderson. The plat was signed by Thomas L. Hawkins for self and Boswell; Morris A. Newman; William Oliver for self and company ; Israel Harrington for self and L. E. P., and Josiah Rumery, and is found recorded at Norwalk, December, 1817. It is also upon the Sandusky County records, (Plat record Vol. 4, p. 75) The original survey of the whole reservation contained lots forty rods wide facing upon the river, and numbered from north to south. Lots eight and nine, purchased by this company, were carved into town lots and equitably divided among the shareholders. We are speaking only of the first surveys. These were subsequently greatly modified and changed, and it is not practicable here to go into further details in regard to them. As we have seen, Lower Sandusky, incorporated in 1829, embraced all the Two-mile Square Reservation, and Thus Croghansville passed out of existence. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. Upon the incorporation of Lower Sandusky, village municipal government began. John Bell was the first mayor, elected in 183o. Previous to this date there are no village records to be found. The following persons have served as mayors of Lower Sandusky and Fremont Village and City : 1843, R. P. Buckland ; 1844, John Bell ; 1845-46, Cornelius Letscher ; 1847, Chester Edgerton ; 1848, L. C. Ball; 1849, J. B. G. Downs ; 185o; B. J. Bartlett ; 1853 ; A. B. Taylor ; 1854, A. J. Hale; 1855, B. J. Bartlett ; 1857, John R. Pease ; 1858, John L. Green, Sr. ; 1859, Stephen Buckland ; 1860, James Justice ; 1861 Daniel L. June ; 1862 ; John L. Kline ; 1864, L. Q, Rawson; 1865, Homer Everett ; 1866, John Bell. who was the first mayor after the village of Fremont passed to the stage of a city, which was July 18, 1866. It will be observed that he was the first mayor of the incorporated village of Lower Sandusky. On December 17, 1866, at a council meeting an ordinance to perfect the organization of the city in respect to wards and election dis tricts, dividing the city into wards was introduced by Col. Haynes and passed. The following division was made : First Ward—All west of the Sandusky River and south of the center line of Croghan Street. Second Ward—All west of the river and north of the center line of Croghan Street. Third Ward—All east of the Sandusky River. On April 8, 1867, the first meeting of the council as the city council of Fremont was held. The venerable John Bell was mayor, and it is an interesting fact that he was the first mayor of the village of Lower Sandusky, which was organized in 1829. The present efficient city auditor is a grandson of his. The members of the first city council were called trustees, and were David Belts and Plate Brush from the First Ward; Ambrose Ochs and T. M. Quilter from the Second Ward, and J. D. Botefur and Thomas Kelley from the Third Ward. The council organized by the election of J. D. Botefur, president, and Dr. F. Wilmer, clerk. In 1869 J. S. Van Ness was mayor; 1871, E. F. Dickinson ; 1877, J. S. Van Ness ; 1879, C. H. Bell ; 1881, J. S. Van Ness and E. Loudenslager ; 1882, John L. Green ; 1883, M. E. Tyler ; 1884, Stephen Buckland ; 1887, H. B. Smith, served four years, and the following named persons have occupied the office of mayor in the order named : John P. Dickinson (died in office) ; W. I. Redfield, was appointed to serve the unexpired term of Dickinson and was elected and re-elected, serving two full terms thereafter. He was followed by L. Dick, one term, then A. H. Jackson, two terms; George Engler, two terms, and next the present mayor, C. C. Tunnington, now serving his second term. FREMONT'S MUNICIPAL OFFICERS, 1909. Mayor C. C. Tunnington ; President of Council, Christian Stausmyer ; Auditor, C. F. Bell ; Treasurer, Henry G. Ochs ; Solicitor, Harry E. Gam ; Members of Council, Clayton Steirwalt, Byron A. Fouche, Daniel Roony, Henry Scherf, P. J. Rock, George Baehr, W. A. Atkinson ; Board of Public Service, L. A. Dickinson, Dr. C. F. Reiff, Charles Thompson; AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 359 Chief of Police, George W. Hess; Chief of Fire Department, C. F. Reiff ; City Engineer, George Lesher. CITY HALL. The first steps toward the erection of a city hall was June 7, 1877, when the city council, then composed of William E. Haynes, W. B. Sheldon, C. R. McCulloch, James Park, Jr., J. B. B. Dickinson and A. Young, passed a resolution. "That the city of Fremont build the first story of a city hall building and that it be ready for the fire department as soon as practicable." Work was at once begun and by September 14th the foundation was ready for the corner stone, the laying of which on that day was an occasion among the most memorable in the history of the place. The same day was held the reunion of the 23d 0. V. I. and a home visit of its Colonel, R. B. Hayes, then President of the United States. It was estimated that fully twenty thousand people thronged the streets. The ceremonies of the laying the corner stone were under the auspices of the Masonic order and conducted by the Grand Master of Ohio, in accordance with the rituals of the order. The following articles were deposited in the corner stone : Silver coins of 1877; copies of the Fremont Messenger, Journal and Courier ; school report for 1877; photograph of Colonel Croghan; list of notables present ; population of the city ; list of churches and pastors; copy of premium list of agricultural society for 1877; date of the organization of the Masonic Lodges, Chapter and Council and address of Isaac M. Keeler before Brainard Lodge, February 22, 1876. On the speakers' stand were President and Mrs. Hayes, Secretary McCreary and wife, Chief Justice Waite, Generals Sheridan, Cox, Rosecrans, Carroll. Duvall, Scammon. Barnett, Kenedy, Swayne, Buckland, Gibson, Hon. Stanley Matthews and Major William McKinley; the latter being the orator of the day, and later President of the United States. The building was completed in 1879, and dedicated February 21st. Prof. W. W. Ross delivered the address of the occasion. The cost of the building, with steam heating apparatus, furniture, and including city stables was $16,000. STREET IMPROVEMENTS. Croghan Street was the first to be paved, which was done in 1874-75. The material used was New York Medina stone. This improvement cost the city $25,000.00. The second street to be improved, by paving, was the main business part of Front Street, in 1885-86. The material used was also Medina stone. Since then from year to year the principal streets, running from east to west, west from the river, as Birchard and Hayes Avenues, Garrison, Court, Napoleon and West State Streets, and State Street, east from the river, have been paved. Park Avenue, South Tiffin, Washington, Franklin and Arch Streets and White Avenue and McPherson Boulevard have also been paved, the material used in all these improvements being fire-brick. There are now in the city about twelve miles of paved street, all of them are also well sewered. WATER-WORKS. In 1881 a petition was presented to the council asking that the services of an engineer be secured to devise a method of supplying the city with water. Mr. J. T. Cook, of Toledo, was employed and submitted his report to the council July 25, 1881. In March, 1882, the council passed a resolution submitting the question of issuing bonds of the city to the amount of $150,000 for water-works purposes, to a vote of the electors; and on March 14, 1882, an election was held at which two-thirds of the votes cast were in favor of issuing the bonds, and elected as trustees, Col. W. E. Haynes, F. Fabing, and C. F. Reiff. The trustees purchased about eleven acres of land with a frontage on the Sandusky River of more than one half mile, on 'the west bank. The council having completed the financial arrangements on the loth of July, 1882, sealed proposals were received by the trustees for the material and labor to construct the waterworks, and the contracts were awarded and work was at once begun. In less than one year from the letting of the contracts, the plant was completed and in successful operation, and at much less than the estimated cost, mainly due to the careful management of those in charge. The total cost was $136,936.99. More than ten thousand dollars of the money appropriated 360 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY remained unexpended and no city in Ohio ever managed the construction of its water-works more advantageously for the interests of the citizens and tax-payers. The water-works plant, exclusively of the stand pipe, is located on the east side of South Front Street. The reservoir has a capacity of 3,000,00o gallons and is excavated several feet in the rock. It is supplied with water through three inlet pipes from the Sandusky River through the embankment. The engine and boiler houses are of modern construction, of brick with stone trimmings and slate roof. The engine room is 40x40 feet; boiler room 40x40 feet. The pumping machinery consists of two compound condensing engines with a pumping capacity of 2 ½ million gallons each, during twenty-four hours. The Stand Pipe, constructed of Otis steel, is located in Court Park. It is To0 feet high and 25 feet in diameter, with a capacity of 365,000 gallons. The engines are capable of pumping against a head of 225 feet. The performance of one of these, a Knowles pumping engine, for the past twenty-six years is certainly sufficient proof of its great endurance and efficiency. There are two steel tubular boilers 16 feet long and 64 inches in diameter, and one 16 feet long and 72 inches in diameter. There are about 22 miles of water main laid throughout the city, varying from 4 inches to 16 inches, and 184 fire hydrants. FIRE DEPARTMENT. Fremont has a well equipped and trained fire department, one equal to battle with a pretty good size conflagration. It is quite different from the volunteer company of "fire laddies" organized back in 1843 in Lower Sandusky, when a common bucket brigade was all the town had. In 1844 a hook and ladder company was organized and did good service. In 1853 a Hook and Ladder Company No. T and Engine Company No. I were organized and did service with a hand engine and limited fire apparatus, including the steam fire engine, McPherson, of Amoskeag manufacture. In 1874 a Clapp & Jones fire steamer was added to the department. Also a new organization was established with E. H. Underhill the chief. The present organization consists of one chief, two teamsters, eight firemen, and two fire horses ; three of the firemen are full paid men. Two of the call men stay at headquarters at night, making five men at hand during the night in case of fire. The present equipment consists of one Clapp & Jones steam fire engine; one Amoskeag steamer ; one nearly new chemical and hose wagon ; two 32-gallon chemical tanks; two 3-gallon extinguishers; 1,200 feet of 2Y2 inch cotton rubber lined jacket hose; three roof ladders, 200 feet chemical hose, also other equipments required. One 2-wheel hose-cart for steamer carrying. boo feet of hose and 3,500 feet of hose in service. One i-horse hook and ladder wagon, one 50-foot extension ladder, one 24-foot ladder and two roof ladders. The city is divided into ten fire districts, eight on the west side, and two on the east side of the river. Chiefs of Department, from 1843 to 1909: Stephen Buckland, A. Young, F. Fabing, Henry Ochs, Peter Stein, Ed. Underhill, and C. F. Reiff, present chief. PARKS. Birchard Park is a grove of splendid native forest trees, and contains about ten acres of land, the gift to the city by its public benefactor, Sardis Birchard, in whose honor it is named. It contains the whole square, bounded by Birchard Avenue, Croghan, Washington and Jefferson Streets. It is not improved further than by the removal of all sightless decay and surplus trees ; draining, leveling, and cultivating the ground to grass, and placing therein seats and other accommodations. The Ladies' Civic Federation, in connection with Col. Webb C. Hayes, have had general charge of the work for some years, and on July 4, 1906,, the ground was in a somewhat informal manner dedicated to public use as a park, by them. Mrs. George Zimmerman, president of the Federation, presided ; M. G. Thraves read the Declaration of Independence ; Basil Meek made a brief historical address; Major I. H. Burgoon delivered a short talk AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 361 eulogistic of Mr. Birchard, the donor an Colonel Hayes furnished the "noise," which was ample for the occasion, by dynamiting the stumps of trees remaining in the grove, in stead of by the firing of cannon. Parties from many of the neighboring towns come hither to enjoy its shade, seats, swings, etc:, as do also the people of the city, more and more a sthe years go by. Diamond Park is a pretty little triangular park at the junction of Buckland Avenue, with Birchard Avenue, bounded west by Monroe Street. This is kept in good condition with seats, flower beds and walks. It also is the gift of Mr. Birchard. Lesher Park is a triangular parcel, containing one third of an acre, in Flower Valley, where Tiffin and Whittlesey Streets converge, which is open to the public, beautifully shaded with evergreens and deciduous trees, the gift to the city by Mrs. Susan Lesher for park purposes. Fort Stephenson Park. Historically and from a municipal standpoint, Fort Stephenson Park, with its City Hall and offices, Soldiers' Monument, grave of Colonel Croghan, the historic cannon, "Old Betsy," Birchard Library, and being the site of the old fort, ranks first in importance. The park contains two acres and is situated on high ground, within the four streets, Croghan, Arch, High and Garrison, bounding the same. It is terraced to a stone wall on all sides, and is studded with beautiful shade trees, flower beds, and a well cared for lawn, with excellent cement walks. It is a favorite and delightful resort for young and old of the city on summer days and even- ings. It commands a charming view of the city eastward on both sides of the river and far away to the hills of old Croghansville: Court Park, while used by the people of the city, belongs to the county at large. Part of it was purchased by the county from the Brush family, June 7, 1845, for public park purposes,so mentioned in the deed of that date, and the remainder was purchased from J. S. A. Gavitt, December 5, 1849. This park is also surrounded by four streets, Park Avenue (formerly known as Main Street), Croghan, Court and Justice Streets, and is finelly shaded 1 and traversed by walks. It is really a part of the court house campus, though unfortunately separated from the main court house square, by the deep canal-like cut, where was located Main Street, before the injurious grading was 3 done, now known as Park Avenue. This park is further despoiled by the erection therein of the water-works stand pipe, which it is hoped will some day be removed ; and the further hope is indulged that the former graceful contour of this park may be restored by the filling of the avenue to its former natural level, vacating Park Avenue as a public thoroughfare along these grounds, and substituting a driveway through them. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The first schoolhouse in Fremont was erected about the year 1816, on the site of the present high-school building, a few rods west of Fort Stephenson, then standing, and within three years after the heroic defense of that fort by Colonel Croghan. It was constructed of rough, unhewn logs, cut from the surrounding trees and hastily put together by the joint efforts of the early settlers. Oiled paper took the place of glass in the windows, and the seats were of the most primitive construction. It was replaced, in 1817, by a more substantial structure, erected on the same site, fronting east, and built of hewn logs, with some such improvements as glass windows, a row of desks around the walls, and a blazing fireplace at the eastern extremity. Among the earlier teachers were Mr. Jocelyn, Dr. Gooding, Miss Beebe, Mr. Bradley, Dr. Brainard, Ezra and Justice Williams. Mrs. L. C. Ball also taught a small select school in the winter of 1818-19, in one of the barrack rooms of the old fort. The old log schoolhouse stood until the fall of 1834, when it was burned down, as it was considered unsafe for school purposes, a cholera patient having died in it the previous August. In its stead a rough stone building was erected, containing at first one room, and eventually two. This remained until after the organization of the schools on the grade or union-school plan, and the erection of the new brick building in 1852-53. The same year a 362 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY of the river, on Howland Street, which continued to be used for school purposes for nearly thirty. years, when it was sold to the city council for an engine-house. The stone schoolhouse on the west side of the river and the brick on the east side supplied the school want for many years, although before r850 additional buildings were rented on both sides of the river. Horace E. Clark taught for several years in the public schools. GRADED SCHOOLS. In January, 1850, a public meeting of the citizens of Fremont was held at the court house, for the purpose of taking preliminary Steps toward the organization of the schools on the graded or union-school plan, under the State law of 1849. Akron had led the way in the establishment of graded schools, under a special law passed at the instance of that town. Fremont was not slow to improve the opportunity afforded by the general law of 1849, whose passage by 'the Legislature had been induced by the favorable reception of the Akron experiment. Among the active supporters of such reorganization of the schools were Dr. L. Q. Rawson, Rev. H. Lang, General Buckland, Hon. Homer Everett, Judge James Justice, Sardis Birchard and Horace E. Clark. The question was submitted to a vote of the people February 2, 1850. The measure of reorganization on the graded school plan was carried by a majority of 44 in a total poll of 218 votes. On the 14th of February, 185o, the following gentlemen were elected members of the first board of education : Jesse Olmstead, Rev. H. Lang, Homer Everett, J. B. G. Downs, D. Capper and J. H. Hafford. The first board of education proceeded to take measures for the erection of a new building for the better accommodation of the schools. There were, at this time, five schools, two in the stone schoolhouse, one in the brick on the east side, one in the frame building, still standing just east of the bridge, known in the records as the Bridge Schoolhouse, and another in the basement of the old Methodist Episcopal Crurch, the latter two being rented for school purposes. The new school building, containing four rooms, and costing between six and eight thousand dollars, was ready for the schools in the fall of 1853. GRADING OF THE SCHOOLS. The schools were first graded when the new school building was occupied in the fall of 1853. COST OF THE SCHOOLS. The following amounts were paid for tuition for the fall term of three months in 1851 : Rev. F. S. White, $120; Horace E. Clark, $9o; Miss R. P. Mitchener, Sarah G. Downs and Elizabeth Ryder, $45 each. The following year, 1854-5, J. W. Hiett acted as principal of 'the high school, and superintendent. The report of this year, the first general report ever made, shows a total enumeration of 864, a total enrollment of 592, and an average daily attendance of 312, or 53 per cent. of the entire enrollment. The salaries paid were $40 per month for the high school, $35 in the grammar schools, and $20 per month for the lady teachers in the primary and secondary grades. In the fall of 1855 Geo. A. Starkweather was employed as superintendent and his wife a grammar-school teacher, at a joint salary of $1,000. G. C. Woolard succeeded Mr. Starkweather as superintendent in the fall of 1857, holding the position two years, at a salary of $800 per year. Don A. Pease was superintendent for the year 1859-6o, at a salary of $700. In 1860 the Rev. Dr. Bushnell, resident pastor of 'the Presbyterian Church, was elected to the position of superintendent of schools, at a salary of $300 per year. His work was exclusively of a supervisory character. He did not teach, and, in connection with his school work, continued to discharge his ministerial duties. He held the position of superintendent for the period of three years. During the first year of Mr. Bushnell's administration, J. B. Loveland taught in the high school, Mr. Sowers in the west side grammar school, and J. Burgner in the east side gram- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 363 mar or mixed school. In. the following year J. Burgner taught in the high school, J. B. Loveland in the grammar school, and F. M. Ginn was employed on the east side. The following year, 1863-4, Mr. Woolard was first elected principal of the high school, and then clothed with the powers of superintendent. Two new school buildings were erected this year, one on John Street and one on Hickory Street. It seems to have been the policy of the board, after the erection of the Central building, to build one-story structures. with a view, almost solely, to local accommodations. This year terminated Mr. Woolard's connec- tion with the schools of Fremont. In 1864, W. W. Ross was elected superin- tendent, his brother, Zachary Ross, being employed in the grammar school, both at a joint salary of $1,1oo, which was increased to $1,200 at the close of the first term. At this time there were ten schools, respectively styled high, grammar, intermediate, sec- ondary and primary. Two of these schools occupied rented rooms entirely unsuited to school purposes. There was no printed course of study, and in fact no definite course of study of any kind, especially in the high school, that was considered of binding character. A course of study was marked out during the first term, covering a period of eleven or twelve vears, four years being given to the high school. The new course of study embraced in addi- tion to the common branches. algebra, ge- ometry, trigonometry, physiology, physical ge- ography, Philosophy. history, bookkeeping, botany, chemistry, rhetoric, science of govern- ment, natural history. astronomy, geology, logic, mental and moral philosophy and Latin, the latter being optional. During the first year the superintendent's time was wholly occupied in teaching, the work of supervision being effected chiefly through teachers' meetings which were held weekly. During the second and third year about one hour each day was given to the work of super- vision. The last term of the year 1864-5, Mr. Ginn was transferred to the West Side. as principal of the grammar school, and the East Side school became one of secondary and intermediate grade. At the beginning of the school year 1865-6, Miss E. L. Otis, an intermediate teacher, was transferred to the high school, a position she continued to fill, either as assistant or principal, with marked fidelity and success until 1899, when she of her own wish resigned. THE FIRST GRADUATE. In June, 1867, Eliza Bushnell graduated from the high school. She was the first graduate. In May, 1866, the question of appropriating. $16,000 for the erection of new school buildings, one on the east and one on the west side of the river, vas submitted to a vote of the people. It was caried by a vote of 207 to 121. These buildings, one a two-story and the other a three-story structure, were built the following year, and first occupied about January 1, 1868. In 1873 a new and beautiful two-story primary school building was erected on John Street, at a cost of $5,000, and a one-story schoolhouse on John Street and another on Hickory Street were sold by the board. This was a move in the direction of 'centralization of the schools rather than their isolation. The high school building, which will be superseded by the elegant structure now in progress of erection, was built in 1891 at a cost of $16.000. The school management continued without material change, and with satisfaction to the public, until 1894, when a new hoard was organized, which was elected under the special act of March 13, 1894, composed of Dr. M. Stamm, president ; Basil Meek. clerk ; J. V. Beery, D. B. Love. Dr. O. E. Phillips, E. S. J. Bingman, A. Moos and H. C. Grund. This board inaugurated some forward movements in regard to the conduct and management of the schools. The duties of superintendent were more specifically defined, the office of principal of the high school was. created and the duties of the office definitely stated ; the position of superintendent of buildings was created and combined with that of truant officer, and the 364 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY duties of the position defined. New courses of study were adopted, which were designed gradually to supercede the former courses. Previously anounced examinations relating to the promotion of pupils was abolished, and the daily work of the pupil was required to be the basis for promotion. KINDERGARTENS. The work of this board in establishing free kindergartens as a part of the city public schools, was probably the most important of its progressive acts. At a special meeting of all the members held at the law office of Meek & Dudrow, May 30, 1895, it was decided by a unanimous vote to establish kindergartens in connection with the public schools. A special committee composed of Dr. M. Stamm, chairman ; Basil Meek, secretary ; D. B. Love, A. Moos and E. S. P. Bingman was appointed to make proper arangements for carrying into effect the action of the board. This committee, on August 12, 1895, made its report, which was unanimously adopted. Among other details the committee recommended the appointment of a Standing committee of three from the board, and a temporary advisory and visiting committee, to be composed of twelve representative ladies, to aid in correcting any erroneous ideas which might prevail in regard to kindergartens, and to cause it to be acceptable to the public; and recommending two kindergartens, one on the east side (Croghansville) and one on the west side (Central) of the river. Basil Meek, D. B. Love and J. V. Berry were appointed the standing committee. The ladies' advisory committee appointed were : Mesdames Charles Thompson, chairman ; H. G. Edgerton. secretary ; William B. Kridler, N. W. Snyder. S. J. Ryan, M. E. Martin, A. V. Baumann, J. F. Gottron, W. E. Lang and Misses Lucy E. Keeler, Fanny Pease and Susie Billau. Their aid was cheerfully given and was efficient in. accomplishing the objects for which they were appointed. The kindergarten teachers first employed were, Mrs. Emma Garvin in the west, or central, and Miss Maude E. -Wilbur in the east or Croghansville schools. As the attendance increased and the public interest in the work grew, it was found expedient to locate a kindergarten in the west State building, which was accordingly done and Miss Flora Greene chosen its teacher. Later as the attendance continued to increase assistant teachers were employed and Mrs. Garvin was given a supervisory position over all, with the principalship of the Central. Misses Wilbur and Greene were made principals of their respective kindergartens, and assistants were employed. Lack of space will not allow mention of the changes in teachers, nor progress of the work further than that, under the efficient supervision of Mrs. Garvin, who Still holds her position and the cordial support of the school board, the kindergarten has long since passed the experimental stage, and is a recognized important factor in the preparatory training of the children for the first grade of the public schools. The expectations of its founders have been realized, and their art fully justified. In 1896 additions were built to the Croghansville and West State Street buildings, and the buildings 'themselves were remodeled and heating and ventilating appliances supplied at a cost in all of about ten thousand dollars. The original buildings were erected in 1891. Jacob Hilt was the first superintendent of buildings, serving from 1894 to 1900. William Wallace Ross, as has been stated. became superintendent in 1864, and has had the remarkable distinction of a continuous service from the date of his election until his death, which occurred March 4, 1906—a period of forty-two years. He had the honor of signing the first diploma issued from the high school and 578 pupils have been graduated under his administration and gone out to fill important places in society with the impress of his earnest and faithful instructions upon their young lives. Will D. Ross, son of the deceased superintendent. was elected to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the school year, 1906. caused by his father's death. On account of ill health he was not an applicant for re-election, and from among many applicants for the position, John Edgar Collins, of Batavia, Ohio. public schools was elected superintendent in 1906. The Fremont schools like the city itself have AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 365 always shown a normal growth. In recent years the buildings have been crowded and large classes, too large in fact, have been the rule. The material equipment was no longer adequate to the needs of the schools. There had been some talk of enlarging the grade schools, but no concerted action was taken until 1907. The high school has always been well attended and the pride of the city. Although it was recognized by the Ohio State University and many other colleges, the board of education and Superintendent Collins desired to have it accredited by the entire College Association, as many students enter college after graduation. In 1906 the classification of studies was somewhat changed and four courses organized to meet the requirements of this association and the needs of the various pupils. They are as follows : College Preparatory (requiring Latin), German-English, English-Scientific and English-Commercial. Soon after this adjustment was made the superintendent invited Prof. W. W. Boyd, the representative of the North Central Association of Colleges and High Schools, an association of the colleges and universities of fourteen states, to visit the high school and examine the work. After a thorough examination. Representative Boyd approved the courses of Study, commended the work and spirit and placed the high school upon the accredited list of the association for the full term of three years, which accords the graduates college entrance rank in any of the institutions of the association without examination. He stated, however, that this recognition could be only temporary unless more room and better equipment should be provided. He wrote in part as follows : "It seems to us very necessary that the people of Fremont shall understand the opportunity before them for assisting in the work of the education of their children by supplying a better building for your high school. The present building is not well arranged for high school purposes and certainly is not commodious enough to meet the present demands. With a fine body of 200 young men and women, such as you have in your high school, there is absolutely no sum of money too great to expend upon them for their future welfare. I feel very sure that when the people once come to a full knowledge of affairs they will not hesitate to provide the means which you need." The crowded condition of the schools was further emphasized the next year when the State inspector of buildings condemned the old Hayes Avenue and Central buildings and reported almost all the grade schools as well as the high school crowded beyond the legal capacity of 250 cubic feet per pupil. It was even more apparent now than ever before that the proper course would be to erect a modern high school building, when the present high school building could be used for elementary grades, as its plan is ideal for such work, and to build wherever necessary or enlarge the ward schools. This became the one thought and hope of the board of education, the superintendent and the 'teachers and a plan which received the hearty support. of the citizens generally. Data relative to the conditions of 'the schools in all the smaller Ohio cities showed that the valuation of school property in Fremont was below that of most cities with a like population. The board decided to ask 366 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY for school bonds to 'the amount of $100,000, to run from one to twenty years. To the gratification of all interested in the welfare of the schools the citizenship of Fremont responded to the call on April 14, 1908, by the remarkable vote of 998 in favor of the proposition; only 290 dissenting. Two grade buildings were erected in 1908. The old two-room Hayes Avenue building was removed and a modern four-room press brick building erected on the site at a cost, including equipment, of $15,000. The other was a two-room addition to the West State Street School, costing about nine thousand dollars. In the meantime plans were being formulated for a new high school. What was known as the Wilson property was purchased, at a cost of $10,500, for a high school site with money previously collected to the credit of the building fund. Bids were opened April 28, 1909, and in the following month contracts were let for a high school building which, with the equipment, will cost over eighty thousand dollars. This building is now under construction and is between Park Avenue and High Street, facing on Croghan Street. After some discussion it was agreed to erect a fire-proof building with a capacity for 500 pupils and with all the departments and appointments to be found in any city high school of the country. It is thought that it will be sufficient for all the high school needs of the city for the next half century. The structure is being built on the strictest lines of classical architecture. Its foundation is of stone and the impressive entrance will be of the same heavy material. It will have a 150 foot front and will extend back 115 feet. The materials used are brown pressed brick and Ohio sand stone. There will be 'two stories in the main part with the central part extending up three stories with coping walls 54 feet above the grade. The cost of 'the handsome building will be $8o,000. There were over 200 bids received and it is thought that the price was a very reasonable one. Parents may send their children to the new building feeling no anxiety about their protection from fire as every precaution has been taken in this regard. The whole building is entirely of masonry, concrete and steel. The stairs will be of iron and the floors of concrete. There will be no wood construction for partitions, floors or roof. Wood will be very sparingly used; only for doors, baseboards and so forth. The maple floors in the rooms are applied directly to the concrete, serving as a covering only. On the ground floor has been planned a large semi-circular auditorium with the gallery on the first floor. The seating capacity will be about six hundred and fifty. The stage will be large and will accommodate many persons. Athletics have been encouraged and much interest will undoubtedly be inspired in basket ball. In the basement there will be a roomy gymnasium and seats for the spectators. The heating plant and rooms for manual training and the study of domestic science will also be located in the basement. On the first floor are the rooms for the superintendent and the school board, also supply rooms and so forth. In another spacious room the commercial and typewriting department will be located. The recitation rooms will be roomy and airy. There will be four of them about 24x32 —two of them which can be thrown together. The second floor has a large central study room about 58x64, and four recitation rooms about 24x3o, also principal's office and teachers' rest room. The third floor has a large art room and recitation room, which can be thrown together. The front part of the third floor is occupied by the physical and chemical laboratories with a lecture room between. In connection with these are the art rooms, drug rooms, apparatus, closets, etc. Special attention has been paid to the heat and ventilation, the best fan system steam heat. The system of ventilation will be one of the most sanitary and hygienic known. The ventilation will be perfect without opening a window. The sanitary conditions all through have been paid very strict attention to. There will be toilets on each floor, which is a new innovation. The sanitary drinking fountain is in accordance with the newest ideas of hygiene and will he appreciated by the students. Many hours of thought and work have been expended by both Superintendent Collins, the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 367 members of the board, the architects and the contractors in trying to make the new high school building one which would best serve the purpose for which it was built. Outwardly it will be a dignified and beautiful piece of architecture and on the interior its rooms will be a great inspiration for the students who inside its walls will pore over their books in the years that are to come. It has all the departments of any modern high school and will prove a great inspiration to secondary education in Fremont and Sandusky County. Manual training and domestic science will be installed as soon as the building is completed and the work already planned along broad lines to meet the pupils' needs—whether they be collegiate, scientific, commercial or for a general culture—will be such as will appeal more strongly to the youth than ever before. Although the schools have been and are crowded they Stand high among the city schools of the State. Above the kindergarten there is an elementary course covering eight years and the high school covering four. In addition to the old time regular studies, manual work in the lower grades in the form of paper cutting, weaving, basketry, etc., has been recently emphasized, as has the work in English, including story telling, art, and organic history, and with a moder pnhysical equipment we believe no school will rank above the system in our own little city. Last year a teachers' normal training department, election for seniors, was organized. In 1908-9 the schools enrolled 1,517 pupils. The high school enrollment is now 225, over fifty of whom are Box-well graduatees whose tution, $27 per pupil, is paid by the townships represented. The enumeration in 1909 was 2,439. There are forty-one teachers, seven of whom are in the high school. There are three kindergartens. The first high school commencement was held in 1867 and there have been in all 671 young men and women to graduate from the high school, of whom 239 were young men and 432 368 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY young women. These have gone out into the world as representatives of the value of effort in education, many having become prominent leaders in various vocations of life. Many have gone into professional lines after taking higher courses of learning and in recent years in Fremont, as elsewhere, a very large percentage of the graduates have entered the universities. At present more than fifty graduates are attending higher institutions of learning and all have been accorded full freshmen recognition without examination, due to the high grade of their high school work and the standing of the North Central Association of Colleges and High Schools of which the Fremont school is a member. MEMBERS OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. 1851—H. Lang, Homer Everett. 1852—Samuel Wilson, Jacob Kridler. 1853—Dr. L. Q. Rawson, H. E. Clark, C. Doncyson. 1854 to 1864—Dr. L. Q. Rawson, Dr. Brainard, James Justice, John Bell, R. W. B. McClellan, Dr. Thomas Stilwell, Col. Nat. Haynes, Ami Williams, John Flaugher, Isaac Glyck, Thomas Kelley, D. L. June, Homer Everett, John Yonkman, Aaron Loveland, Jesse S. Van Ness, Horace E. Clark, Rev. H. Lang. 1864 to 1874—Homer Everett, Jesse Van Ness, James Justice, H. R. Shomo. Charles Thompson, C. Doncyson, Henry Lesher, Rev. H. Lang, J. M. Smith, John McArdle, J. P. Elderkin, W. W. Stine, J. Elwell, A. J. Hale. 1874 to 1884—Jesse Van Ness, William Stine, A. J. Hale, J. Elwell, Rev. Henry Lang, C. Doncyson, H. R. Finefrock, J. P. Thompson. E. A. Bristol, Jonathan Stierwalt, John Treat, J. M. Smith, Joseph Zimmermann, H. C. Grund, Dr. F. S. Hilbish, C. F. Bell, F. J. Giebel, H. Flagman. 1884 to 1894—Joseph Zimmermann, H. C. Grund, J. P. Thompson, Dr. F. S. Hilbish, George Kinney, F. J. Giebel, H. Flagman, Wm. E. Lang. Dr. M. Stamm, Dr. J. T. Petty, A. Moos, E. S. P. Bingman. 1894 to 1904-5—Basil Meek, J. V. Beery, D. B. Love, Dr. M.. Stamm, Dr. O. E. Phillips, E. S. P. Bingman, H. C. Grund, C. P. Bliss, George Baehr, J. A. Rafferty, Dr. F. L. Kinsey, Dr. O. C. Vermilya, Dr. W. R. Deemer, W. H. Moellman, Ralph P. Buckland, L. G. Hamilton, A. Moos, Dr. O. C. Vermilya, C. P. Haas. 1905 to 1909 Dr. O. C. Vermilya, H. C. Grund, C. J. Christy, E. S. P. Bingman, W. H. Moellman, C. P. Haas, Ralph P. Buckland, and Dr. Geo. B. Smith. SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS SINCE 1864. William Wallace Ross, 1864 to 1906 (deceased) ; Will D. Ross, 1906 (vacancy filled) ; John Edgar Collins, 1906 (present incumbent). HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS SINCE 1864. Miss Kate Patrick, Miss E. L. Otis, Miss Eliza Bushnell, Miss Martha Smith (Kridler), Miss Rossiter, Miss Belle Whittaker, Miss Alden, Miss Elsie Fennimore, Miss Estelle A. Sharp, Miss Estelle Rawson (Russell), Miss Belle Smith, Miss Amelia Lutz, Miss Fannie Day, Mrs. M. L. Shackelford, Wm. Pope, Richard Brown, J. B. Maul, Rev. C. R. Havighorst, Rev. A. M. Hyde, Clarence Wilbur, M. L. Shackelford, W. D. Ross, Seth Hayes, M. M. Elliott, Harry Hazel, F. E. Elliott, E. A. Seibert, E. A. Barnes, W. . Smith, Harvey Brugger, Miss Lucy Price, H. M. Lowe, J. H. Lawson, Rea McCain. Karl D. Figley, Miss Ethel A. Fisher, Emerso Mn. Parks, Miss Nelle D. Greener. SUPERINTENDENTS OF BUILDINGS AND TRUANT OFFICERS. Jacob Hilt, 1894 to 1900; Charles Everett, 1901 ; A. J. Karbler, 1902 (present incumbent). BUSINESS COLLEGES. The Actual Business University and Normal Training School, was founded by Mr. Burt German, in 1896. Later Mr. German removed the school to Fostoria, Ohio. returning from that place in 1903, to establish the school in commodious quarters in the Hochanedel Building (now the Elks' Block) on Croghan Street, Two years later the old Simple Account File Building on Whittlesey Street was leased for this purpose. On the night of December 3, 1908, this building was destroyed by fire. In January, 1909, Mr. German sold the school to Mr. Thomas F. Chester, of Cincinnati, who had been acting as manager of the institution since the preceding November, and Miss Minnie Eisenhard, who had been teach- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 369 ing in the "A. B. U." for several years. Mr. Chester was made president of the new firm, and Miss Eisenhard secretary. The school was removed to the Burroughs Block, on South Front Street. Here is has entered upon a new career of usefulness. Nominally a business college, the "A. B. U." as it is familiarly called, does not confine its instruction to what are technically known as the commercial branches. A large percentage of the teachers of Sandusky County have received their professional training at the college. Numbers of young people have prepared for the classical colleges here. CHAUTAUQUA CIRCLES. Fremont has given much attention to the C. L. S. C. work, and a number of local circles have been organized, and the place has the credit for as many graduates as any other city of its size. Mrs. J. B. Van Doren was a pioneer in the work and the circle founded by her, known as Croghan Circle, is still doing work. Other circles were, the Hayes, McPherson, Birchard, Grant and Sparks, some of which have accomplished their work, and disbanded ; others are still carrying on the work. WOMEN'S EDUCATIONAL CLUBS. The Coterie—the ladies' literary club by this name was organized in 1895. Federated (State) 1899, and federated (National) 1902. Active members at present, twenty-one ; honorary members, six. Fifteenth year—Mrs. C. L. Halter, president; Mrs. Wilson Hamilton, vice-president Mrs. Thomas J. Maxwell, recording secretary ; Mrs. Otis Davis. corresponding secretary Mrs. Lester Wilson, treasurer and librarian. The Cosmopolitan, was organized in January, 1895 ; federated with Ohio federation of women's clubs in 1895, with the general federation in 1902, and is a charter member of the Fremont federation of the women's organizations in 1903. The active membership of the cosmopolitan is twenty-one, and the honorary membership, eight. The officers are : Miss Gusdorf, president ; Mrs. Robert A. Hudson, vice-president ; Mrs. Albert V. Bauman, recording secretary ; Mrs. Charles J. Greene. corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Wilson Womersley, treasurer; Mrs. George Zimmerman, auditor. The Sorosis, was organized in 1894, and is federated with the Lakeside federation of women's clubs. The Sorosis has an active membership of twenty-one, and an honorary membership of seven women. Its officers are : Mrs. O. L. Miller, president; Mrs. George B. Smith, vice-president ; Mrs. W. D. Ross, secretary and treasurer. The Matinee Musical Club, of Fremont, was organized in 1895 by Miss Ellouise Waters, who was the first president. At its organization there were twenty charter members. The object of the club is the improvement of its members in the various departments of music and to advance the interests of music in Fremont. There are now forty-five active members, and about 'three hundred and fifty associate and student members. The present officers, for the season of 1909 to 1910, are : President, Miss Frances Pease; first vice president, Mrs. F. H. Dorr ; second vice president, Mrs. H. L. Reynolds ; recording secretary, Mrs. Edward Church Smith ; corresponding secretary, Mrs. W. W. Esch ; treasurer, Miss Ada T. Millious ; accompanist, Miss Lucy B. Garvin ; clerk, Miss Anna Marie Kelly. The Fremont Circulating Book Club, was organized by Mrs. George Buckland in 1896 and is now in its fourteenth year, with a large membership. It has no president and the following are its officers and committees : Secretary, Mrs. Byron Dudrow ; assistant secretary, Mrs. 0. H. Thomas ; purchasing committee, Mrs. H. S. Buckland, Mrs. John Gottron, Mrs. W. H. Barnum, Mrs. Louis Schloenbach ; auditing committee, Mrs. M. Holderman, Mrs. Charles Dillon ; distributer, \Vilbur Miller. The Booklovers' Reading Club, was organized by Mrs. George Buckland, April 1, 1899. This club has seventeen members. The managing officer is the secretary, the club having no other officers. Mrs. Buckland was the first secretary. Miss E. L. Otis succeeded Mrs. Buckland. Miss M. Fouke has been secretary since February 1, 1904. 370 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY The Monday Afternoon, was organized in 1894 by Mrs. W. A. Cox and Mrs. O. R. Smith under the name of the "Mutual Improvement," and was federated in 1895. It now has fifteen members, and is named as above. Mrs. S. E. Kleckner is president ; Mrs. Albert Moore secretary and Mrs. Henry Robinson treasurer. THE FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS. "Rise, woman, rise, to thy peculiar and best altitudes of doing good and of enduring ill—of comforting for ill, and teaching good unto the patience of a constant hope." Among the forces in Fremont, engaged in social betterment, few have been more potent than the Federation of Women's Organizations. Becoming convinced that in co-operation lies the secret of efficient social service, ten organizations of women, numbering about two hundred members, federated in 1903, "for the purpose of working as opportunity offers for the betterment of public schools, public health, public highways, and other matters which affect the beauty and general attractiveness of Fremont, and the welfare of its inhabitants." The following officers were elected : President, Mrs. George Zimmerman ; vice presidents, Miss Lucy Keeler and Mrs. Thomas McSheehy ; secretaries, Mrs. Harry Birkmier and Miss E. A. Sharpe ; treasurer, Miss Julia Haynes. The present officers are : President, Mrs. George Zimmerman ; vice presidents, Mrs. D. B. Love and Miss Hattie Gusdorf ; secretaries. Mrs. J. Youngman and Mrs. C. L. Halter ; treasurer, Mrs. Frank Michaels ; auditor, Mrs. Dilenschneider. Through the federation, which includes in its membership many individual members, the women of the community confer on public questions, decide what movements to promote, and voice their collective opinions and desires. It constitutes a center through which enterprises for the upbuilding of Fremont and the uplifting of its citizens are conducted. The policy of 'the federation is to create public sentiment in favor of the movement desired, and then to persuade the proper authorities to carry on the work. In this way the federation has labored for the cleaning of the streets, for the repair and renovation of the city hall and city prison, for the beautification of the city, etc. It annually conducts seed distribution through the schools and often offers prizes for .handsome planting. The schools receive attention in regard to sanitation and ventilation, industrial training, improved courses of study, etc. It combats the cigarette evil, looks after delinquent and defective children, and labors for moral betterment. It has cordially cooperated with other organizations and with individuals, engaged in altruistic work. While engaged, for the present, in securing a park for the east side, the civic problems of good milk supply, pure water, abolition of house-flies, etc., are not forgotten. CHURCHES. Trinity Evangelical—This congregation was organized under the pastorate of Rev. John Mech, in 1861, with four charter members, viz : George Michael, Catharine Michael, George Joseph and Mary Joseph. It was served as a mission for several years, and afterward in connection with Fremont Circuit. As a mission it was served by the following, pastors ; J. G. Zinser. L. Scheurman, C. Erhardt, J. G. Theur, F. Frech, D. H. Wonder, S. E. Rife and N. Shupp. The first church edifice was erected in 1862 under the pastorate of Rev. L. Scheurman. In 1870 the society was made a mission and Rev. A. Vandersall was appointed as pastor. This year was marked by the change in language of worship from German to English. The following men served as missionaries and pastors in the later years : A. C. Stull, H. Longbrake, G. W. Blazer, W. Whittington, A. Evans, W. L. McMillen, O. Spreng, C. Dreisbach, A. N. McCauley, W. W. Sherick, N. Shupp, E. M. Spreng, W. Whittington, E. B. Shumaker, W. P. Schott, A. N. McCauley, L. H. Seager, L. B. Myers, A. F. Totheroh, J. A. Hensel, E. Radebaugh, and the present pastor, W. S. Mills, who has just been returned to the church for the second year's pastorate. The old church building was replaced by the present beautiful and commodious sanctuary in 1894 under the pastorate of Rev. W. P. Schott (now deceased) at a cost of $10,000, and the Sunday school room was enlarged to meet the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 371 growing needs, under the pastorate of Rev. A. F. Totheroh in 1902, at a cost of about three thousand dollars. The church has grown in all these years from a charter membership of four to a strong congregation of 317, with a Sunday school of 600. The First Reformed—Among the early settlers of Sandusky County were many of the Reformed faith, and congregations were organized and churches built in various parts of the county. It seems to have been the custom, in those days, for the Lutheran and Reformed people in a community to join forces in the erection of a church building, and to worship together, or to have separate services on alternate Sabbaths. Thus it happens that the history of the Reformed Church of Fremont begins in connection with the St. John's Lutheran Church. In 1842 a congregation was incorporated, under the name of the Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed St. John's congregation. In 1843 this congregation purchased the old court house property. At first, a Lutheran minister was on the field holding regular services, but the Reformed, as yet, had no pastor. Accordingly, on January I, 1853, it was decided to change the name to that of the Evangelical-Lutheran St. John's congregation, and with the change of name St. John's conrrega- tion also acquired the title to the church property. in 1856. About the year 1857, through the influence of Henry \V. Imler, the Rev. Jeremiah Heller. a German Reformed minister, organized a distinct congregation. The earliest record of their proceedings is dated November 5, 1857. The following persons were elected elders : E. B. Buchman, Michael Binkley and Alexander Neamann deacons : Frederick Tschumy, John Melhaupt and H. Zweler. They were inducted into office on November 9, 1857, when preparations were begun for the erection of a church edifice, and a lot was purchased on South Front Street. In 1858 a church was built on the same. The corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies on June 5. 1858, and the church was finally completed and dedicated on January 1859. On February I, 1862, at a joint meeting, the Salem congregation of the Four-Mile House, and the Fremont congregation were united as one charge. The following were elected trustees ; Fremont congregation : Daniel Karshner, D. Koons and Peter Bauman; Salem congregation : A. Hensel, Peter King and William Rearick. J. J. Seibert was elected treasurer, and George B. Heller, clerk. With the congregation thus organized and equipped the pastorate of Rev. Heller came to a close. The next pastor was the Rev. J. B. Thompson who began his labors in 1863. He served five years and then resigned. Rev. James Leibert entered upon his duties as pastor April 9, 1868. In the fall of 1870 he contracted a severe type of typhoid fever from which he died November 13, 1870. After the death of Rev. Leibert the congregation was supplied for over a year by professors and students from Heidelberg Theological Seminary, at Tiffin, Rev. Reuben Good and C. G. A. Hullhorst preaching the most of that time. At the meeting of General Synod in 1869, the name of the denomination was changed to that of the Reformed Church in the United States. Since that time this congregation has been known as the First Reformed Church of Fremont, the word "German" being omitted. In 1872 Theodore J. Bacher, a theological student at Heidelberg, took charge of the congregation and upon his graduation from the seminary was ordained and installed as pastor. He served until 1875, when failing health obliged him to resign. Rev. Jesse Richards succeeded Rev. Bacher. After a pastorate of about five years, he resigned June 1, 1881. September 13, 1881, Fremont and Salem congregations were divided. The Salem congregation and the congregation at Lindsey were constituted a charge known as the Lindsey charge, and the Fremont congregation was constituted a separate charge, though the congregation southeast of Fremont was served for some time by the pastor from Fremont. Rev. J. I. Swander, of Tiffin, was next called. He began his labors in September of 1881, and continued until April, 1893. Rev. James S. Keppel succeeded Dr. Swander April 1, 1894. He served the congregation for 372 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY nearly four years, closing his pastorate January I, 1898. The eighth regular pastor of the congregation was Rev. J. C. Smith, his labors extending from May 1, 1898, to the spring of 1904. On April 24, 1904, the congregation extended a call to George W. Good, a senior in Heidelberg Theological Seminary, and after his graduation and licensure, he entered upon his work May 8th. He was ordained and installed May 22, 1904. The membership and attendance of church and Sunday school becoming largely increased, the need of a Sunday school room was seriously felt, but on account of the rather unfortunate location of the church, which was liable to be visited by possible floods, it was deemed best to re-locate the same. After casting about by the consistory, a meeting of the congregation was held April 29, 1906, to consider the question of purchasing the old Buckland homestead, corner of Birchard and Park Avenues. The congregation voted to purchase the property for $7,400 and to remodel it for church purposes. At this meeting $2,475 was pledged to this end. The first floor of this historic old home was converted into a main auditorium, a main Sunday school room and a primary room. The church was dedicated September 9, 1906. The second floor was transformed into an eight-room parsonage, and was first occupied as such by Rev. G. W. Good, who on June Jo, 1908, was married to Hazel Adeline Bowlus, a member of the congregation. The total cost of the new location and renovating of the same, including interest, was about ten thousand dollars. St. John's Lutheran.—From 1820 to 1830 Lutherans from Pennsylvania and Germany began to locate in Lower Sandusky, and were served by missionaries from western Pennsylvania and from Somerset, Ohio. Rev. A. Conrad, of Tiffin, served this people from that place from 1836 to 1841. Rev. J. J. Beilharz also from Tiffin, succeeded Mr. Conrad and served from 1841 to 1843, when Rev. Henry Lang commenced to serve this congregation. The congregation in 1843 purchased from the county the old court house, as has already been related in this volume. Here Mr. Lang lived until his death ; here he held services for many years and here in this house all his children, save one, were born and reared. The erection of the present edifice was begun in 1858 and completed and dedicated in 1861. Here as in the old court house, Mr. Lang continued his faithful services, preaching in both the English and German languages. He was pastor of the congregation for forty-six years; he died in 189o. After Mr. Lang's death, Rev. E. Pfeiffer was called to the charge. Part of the time Rev. Carl Ackerman was associated with Mr. Pfeiffer on the charge. During Mr. Pfeiffer's pastorate, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized, and called Mr. Pfeiffer as pastor, which call was accepted by him, causing a vacancy in the pastorate of St. John's. Rev. George Mochel in 1893 was called to St. John's and served until 1906, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. W. F. Rose. Grace Evangelical Lutheran.—For many years the need of an English Lutheran Church in Fremont had been felt. A very large proportion of the young people was being instructed and confirmed in the English language, and forasmuch as the regular English services, until January, 1891, were few and far between, many stayed away and were lost to the St. John's congregation. Little by little the necessity of a division of the congregation into separate German and English congregations dawned upon many who had heretofore regarded the idea with disfavor. After much preparatory work had been done, a resolution to effect the proposed dissolution was carried without a dissenting vote. Those who were interested in the formation of an English congregation met on Sunday afternoon, March 20, 1892, and organized as the Grace Evangelical Lutheran congregation. A charter was applied for and secured by the following : H. C. Grund, W. E. Lang, Peter Harris, T. A. Lang, and L. P. Zimmerman. The newly organized congregation held a meeting on March 27th, and extended a call to Rev. E. Pfeiffer, the pastor of St. John's congregation. This call was accepted, and on May 1st. Rev. Pfeiffer was installed as pastor of Grace congregation. The following comprised the first church AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 373 council: Rev. E. Pfeiffer, chairman ex officio; William Hintz and C. W. Martin, elders; Peter Harris and John Longanbach, deacons; H. J. Kramb, C. Jacobs, C. Seward, T. A. Lang, and Chas. E. Giebel, trustees; E. S. P. Bingman, recording secretary ; L. P. Zimmerman, financial secretary ; H. C. Grund, treasurer. A lot at the corner of Garrison and Clover Streets was purchased, and a commodious modern church building was erected. The corner stone was laid Sunday, August 14, 1892, and the dedication took place April 9, 1893. The congregation prospered and grew, and, at the expiration of Rev. Pfeiffer's pastorate (1899) numbered more than 500 members. The congregation had also, in a comparatively short period, paid for its property, and erected a parsonage besides. The first pastor deserves much praise for his able administration of the affairs of Grace congregation. In March, 1899, Rev. Pfeiffer accepted a call to the fourth theological professorship at Capitol University, Columbus, Ohio. The congregation extended a call to Rev. Walter E. Tressel, of Baltimore, Maryland. This call was accepted, and the new pastor entered upon his duties as pastor of Grace congregation on the first Sunday of September, 1899. During, the ten years of the present pastorate the congregation has continued to grow and now numbers 1,032 communicant members and 1,700 souls. The congregation has no indebtedness of any kind, is harmonious and active, well organized and progressive; has a large graded Sunday school ; its various societies are doing a noble work, and pastor and people pray for a continuance of the divine blessing upon themselves and their labors. Methodist Episcopal Church.—The first preliminary organization, known as a "class," of this church, at Lower Sandusky, was formed by Rev. James Montgomery in 1820. The members were himself, his wife and daughter, who was afterwards Sallie Ingham, and a local minister from Springfield. In 1822 Jacob Bowlus, father of our present venerable citizen, Jacob A. Bowlus, with his wife, his four sisters, Joel Strahn and his wife, Sarah, Thomas White, Thomas L. Hawkins and Nancy Hallo- way joined the class. Shortly after, Edmund O. Cooley, Rebecca Prior, a Mrs. Tyler, and a Mrs. Wilson united with the same. This early Methodist society was supplied by ministers from Huron circuit until in 1823, when Lower Sandusky circuit was formed as a part of the Lancaster district, with Rev. William Swazy presiding elder, and Rev. Benaja Boardman, preacher, in charge of `the society, and circuit to which it belonged. There were ninety-seven members, in all, in the circuit, which embraced the region up and down the Sandusky River, where there were any settlements. Rev. E. H. Fields was the next minister. He was succeeded in 1825 by Rev. J. W. Clarke, who was followed in 1826 by Rev. Arza Brown. In 1828 J. Hill and A. Bellings came and served one year, when they were succeeded by B. Cooper and William Sprague. The distinguished Russell Bigelow was presiding elder of the district. In 1830 E. Day and E. C. Gavitt were appointed to the circuit. In 1832 Elmer Yocum and J. Martin had charge of the circuit. They were followed by C. Goddard and J. B. Austin, and they in turn, by William Sullivan and J. T. Kellum, in 1834. This year the cholera prevailed to an alarming extent. Mr. Kellum in a letter writes : "On my way to Lower Sandusky I was stopped by a kind friend, some three miles above the town, and informed that there were but three living persons in the place. I staid with him over night and the next morning rode to town and found Mr. Birchard, Judge Hulburd and Dr. Rawson. All others had fled from the cholera." Lack of space prevents mentioning all the ministers who have had charge of this church. Prior to 1834 the society met in the historic log schoolhouse where the new high school building ( 1909) stands. The first public house of worship was erected in 1834, on the lot now owned by Mrs. Hilbish, corner of Garrison and Arch Streets, a large frame, which was occupied until 1851 during the pastorate of Rev. S. M. Beatty, when a brick edifice on the site of the present one at corner of Birchard and Park Avenues was completed and dedicated. The corner stone was laid in 1850, and is preserved in the present church at the side entrance. 374 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY During the pastorate of Rev. D. D. Mather the erection of a beautiful and large edifice was begun, the corner stone of which was laid August 23rd, 1883. The building committee was John Stierwalt, R. B. Hayes, E. H. Bristol, H. R. Finefrock, B. Meek, D. June, C. B. White, T. F. Siegfried and B. R. Dudrow. This building was completed in 1885 and dedicated March 1. The cost was $21,000. At the dedication $9,323 was raised, of which, one fourth was pledged by ex-President R. B. Hayes. He contributed one-fourth of the entire cost of the building. It was occupied till February 6, 1888, when it was almost totally destroyed by fire, the foundation and some parts of the walls only remaining uninjured. On the same evening of the fire, the pastor Rev. J. M. Mills and the official board met and unanimously resolved to rebuild. The work was immediately commenced, and before the close of the year, 1888, the present fine edifice, almost phoenix-like arose from the ashes ; and was dedicated by Dr. J. W. Hamilton, who had, in 1885, dedicated 'the former building. The building cost more than the one destroyed, but with the insurance money paid on the burnt edifice and liberality of the membership and friends, the entire cost was soon paid. A commodious brick parsonage has been built since its completion. Since its erection the society has been served by the following pastors : J. L. Albritton, J. W. Holland, D. H. Bailey and J. A. Hoffman, the latter having just completed four years' service ; and Dr. E. D. Whitlock having been appointed to succeed him. The exact cost of this splendid structure cannot now be given for lack of information, which the editor has been unable to procure. The names of all the Sunday school superintendents cannot here be given. W. W. Ross, superintendent of the public schools had been superintendent of this Sunday School at the time of his death in 1906 for more than twenty-five years. He was succeeded by Mr. Seeley, W. 0. Smith and H. M. Lowe, present superintendent. The First Presbyterian Church, was organized November 3o, 1833, in the then court house, which is now occupied as a parsonage by the St. John's Lutheran Church in this city. There were present, Revs. Enoch Conger, Xenophen Betts and Ellory Bascom of Huron Presbytery ; and David Camp and his wife Elizabeth, Jacques Hulburd and Sophia, his wife, Alexander Ross and Hannah, his wife, Joseph Cookson and Mary, his wife, Samuel Crowell and Mary, his wife, James Ross and his wife, Nancy Cookson, Margaret Nyce, Eunice Everett, wife of Jeremiah Everett, Samuel Moore, W. C. Otis, Henry Spohn, John Magee and Ruth Magee. The ruling elders chosen were David Camp, and W. C. Otis. John Magee was elected Jerk of the church. The first minister to serve the congregation was Rev. Ellory Bascom. The society was incorporated by act of the State legislature in March, 1837, by the name of The First Presbyterian Church of Lower Sandusky. The first trustees were Jacques Hulburd, Samuel Crowell and W. C. Otis. The church's first settled place of meeting, about 1840, to 1847, was a two-story frame, on the south side of East State Street, east side of the river, near the bridge. In 1847 a house, 45 by 60 feet was completed and dedicated, on the site of the present building, and in 1852 a brick lecture and Sunday school room was added on the west side of the church. In March, 1869, this building was demolished, for the erection of a better one, and by April 27, 1873, the present edifice at a cost of about $40,000, was finished and dedicated free of debt. Sardis Birchard and F. S. White each contributed $7,000 toward the cost of its erection. While this edifice was in process of erection, the congregation met in Birchard Hall until in January, 1870, when the basement was in proper condition for services to be held therein. In 1891 the present Manse was built at a cost of $4,000. In 1894 and 1906 improvements were made upon the church building. mostly in the interior thereof, costing about $8, 500. East Side Chapel.—Realizing the religious needs of about 3,000 of people, residing East AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 377 of the river, in the early spring of 1907, a definite move was made by the First Presbyterian Church toward the erection and maintenance of a chapel. The late J. B. Van Doren donated the lot at the corner of Fifth and Howland Streets, and about $4,000 were expended upon the present beautiful building. The Sunday school was organized in November, 1906, and has grown to a membership of 250. Mr. Walter T. Childs has been the superintendent from the start. A regular prayer meeting, missionary society and preaching services are maintained. The ministers serving the church before the installation of a regular pastor with date of commencement of such services were : Ellory Bascom, 1833 ; Enoch Conger, May, 1835 John McCutchin, May, 1837 ; H. A. Reed, October, 1837. The first pastor installed was Ferris Fitch, May 16, 1839. Mr. Fitch was a very earnest and effective. temperance advocate. During the winter of 1840-41 he prepared and caused to be signed the following temperance pledge, which for its historic value is deemed worthy to be given in the history of this church : "We agree not to use intoxicating drinks as a beverage, nor traffic in them, nor provide them at our entertainments, nor for persons in our employ ; but in all suitable ways to discountenance their use." Gentlemen's Names. Ferris Fitch, Ezra Williams, C. J. Pettibone, Charles M. Calkins, J. A. Johnson, Alex. Henderson, Clark Waggoner, C. G. McCulloch, N. Bedortha, Len. B. Dorrison, Daniel Chamberlin, Hubbard Foster, Geo. Wall, Lewis E. Marsh, N. B. Eddy, Milton Gould, R. Bidwell, Wm. C. Otis, Chauncy H. Roberts, Arthur C. Fitch, James Ferris Fitch, Edwin Wall, Casper Smith, Erastus C. Bush, Alvin Coles, Wm. T. Harrington, Samuel B. Hafford, Henry Newman, Alfred Pettibone, John Huss, Edwin Bement, Orson B. Bement, Hiram Kelley, Thomas Stilwell, Landon Camp, J. B. G. Downs, R. K. Fitzgerald, Henry Burdick, Isaac M. Keeler, J. W. Stevenson, Wm. C. Pettibone, Ami Williams, James Patterson. Ladies' Names. Almira Raiford, Jane A. Pettibone, Louisa Hafford, Harriet Pettibone, Rachel Camp, Sylvia B. Roberts, Harriet Hafford, Maria Vallette, Roxy K. Dorr, Martha A. Foster, Susan Meeker, Rhoda Fitch, S. S. Fitch, Catharine Fitch, Almina Hafford, Elsina McCormick, M. Louisa Bement, Angelina M. Williams, Philena Otis, Lucy Coles, Eliza Sigley, Laura Gould, Elizabeth C. Marsh, Sabia Russell, Margaret Hampshire, Susan Entsberger, Anna Hampshire, Anna Bearss, Sarah Pettibone, Isabella Nyce, Sarah Coles, Mary Ann Tracy, Ann Wall, Elizabeth Camp, Mariett Fraber, Mary Ann Bowers, Sarah Gaines, Deborah Webster, Angelina Calkins, E. E. Downs, Harriet Burdick, Nancy A. Stark, Delia M. Stark, Sarah Weston, Caroline E. Peabody, Esther A. Hafford. Mr. Fitch was succeeded by W. W. Backus who was called September, 1844 ; but served for a short time only. The second pastor installed was F. S. White, October 20, 1847; Henry A. Rossiter came in November, 1852, and remained two years and was followed by Francis Hendricks, July, 1855. The third pastor installed was Ebenezer Bushnell, May, 1857. He remained twenty-five years. Charles E. Barnes was installed the fourth pastor, November, 1882. The fifth pastor installed was A. G. Lane, in the fall of 1892, and the sixth and present pastor installed was Clarence G. Miller, April, 1906. A Sunday school was commenced in 1831, of which the present is the evolution. Among the superintendents were, J. A. Johnson, C. J. Pettibone, C. G. McCulloch, Dr. Frank Williams, J. B. G. Downs, C. R. McCulloch, Mr. Severance, Dr. Geo. E. Smith, Mr. Finley, John G. Fitch, E. A. Seibert and Dr. A. G. Thatcher, the present superintendent. C. R. McCulloch was superintendent continuously from 1851 to 1884, when he was succeeded by Mr. Severance. After an interval of a few years he was again called to this position and continued for three more years, when he was succeeded by E. A. Seibert and was chosen superintendent emeritus, which position he now occupies in the school. Mr. McCulloch has been a ruling elder for forty 378 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY years, having served from 1869 till the present time. The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of this church was appropriately celebrated November 30, 1883, as was also the seventy-fifth anniversary, November 30, 1908. The following ruling elders have served the congregation from 1833 to the present 'time, in the order named : David Camp, William C. Otis, Ezra Williams, John Tindall, Samuel Hafford, Samuel Clark, Franklin Williams, C. J. Pettibone, George Wall, J. B. G. Downs, Joseph T. Moss, Thomas Gilmore, R. W. B. McLellan, Thomas Stilwell, C. R. McCulloch (present), Isaac M. Keeler, John G. Fitch, E. Loudensiager (present), William G. Walters, Monroe W. Seibert, John Day (present), David B. Love (present), William H. Barnum (present), Dr. A. G. Thatcher (present), Edward A. Seibert, R. W. Sherrard (present), and Basil Meek (present). St. Paul's Church.—This parish was organized in the year 1842. The articles of association were signed January 12th, by twenty-eight citizens. On January 25th, D. E. Fields and W. C. Otis were chosen wardens. John P. Haynes, A. Coles, John R. Pease, A. B. Taylor and N. B. Eddy were elected vestrymen. A few of the earlier services were held in the Methodist house, corner of Garrison and Arch Streets. Rev. Mr. O'Kill was the first minister, but he served only a short time. Rev. William Fagg was pastor for one year, 1842-43, and he was paid four hundred dollars. Meetings were held about this time in the old stone schoolhouse, and subsequently in the court house, until 1843-44, when a brick church edifice was erected on the site of the present beautiful building corner Park Avenue and Court Street, and consecrated November 14, 1845. In 1844 Rev. Humphrey Hollis was chosen rector at a salary of $500 per year. He continued in charge until August, 1846, when he was succeeded by Rev. Oliver Taylor who resigned July 1, 1847. From 1847 to the rectorship of Rev. Roadenbush, who has just resigned, the parish has been served by the following rectors : Revs. H. P. Powers, H. T. Hiester, R. L. Chittenden, William Fulton, Alanson Phelps, Charles H. Young, R. L. Chittenden, 1870-79, D. W. Coxe, Rev. Mr. Colloque, Rev. Mr. Raikes, J. G. Shackelford, H. G. Limerick, C. Adams, J. H. Fairlie and Frank Roudenbush. In 1872-73 the church building was enlarged, the interior reconstructed and newly furnished with carpets and other improvements, costing in all about $8,000. The wardens have been from the organization of the church, D. E. Fields, W. C. Otis, Alvin Coles, A. J. Dickinson, Dr. J. W. Wilson, R. P. Buckland, Daniel Capper, Charles Trowbridge, John Flaugher, H. S. Buckland and E. J. McElroy. In 1907 the church building was again remodeled and improved and re-furnished at an expenditure of about $10,000. The present vestrymen are : C. Hatfield, M. Holderman, C. P. Bliss, G. W. Haynes, E. H. Burgoon, M. H. Wrigley, V. D. Butman, Frank Lee, A. 0. Bauman, J. W. Rice. The First Brethren Church was organized by Rev. H. M. Loose, in 1900, with twelve members. The first trustees were H. D. Shafer, J. L. Speck and D. Sellers. In 1901-02 this society did mission work from a rented room on Croghan Street. In 1903 a neat frame church edifice was built, located on South Street in Flower Valley, Fremont, the cost of which was $2,500, and in 1905 a parsonage was erected at a cost of $2,500. The present membership is sixty. The present trustees are J. L. Speck, Calvin Loose and David Sellers. Rev. H. M. Loose is pastor, and being so fortunate in his own worldly possessions as not to need a salary, he generously serves his congregation without a money consideration. This society, denominationally considered, is of the German Baptist or Dunkard faith. First Church of Christ, Scientist —First Church of Christ, Scientist, Fremont, Ohio, was organized October 4, 1900, with nine members. The reading room was opened to the public June 5, 1901, where Christian Science Literature is read. The first Wednesday evening, testimonial meeting was held, July 17, 1901. The church obtained its charter February 3, 1902. The Sunday services are conducted by two readers known as the First Reader and the Second Reader. The AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 379 First Reader conducts the Wednesday evening meetings. African M. E. Church, was organized about 1868, and a church building was then erected on the east side. Among its founders were, Thomas V. Curtiss, Charles Curtiss, A. Re-yells, and T. G. Reese. This congregation has a membership of about thirty-five, and maintains regular Sunday services morning and evening. It also maintains a Sunday-school. The church building has recently been improved and is in good condition. The preacher in charge is Rev. Mr. Artis, who lives in Toledo, Ohio. FREMONT'S PROMINENT AUTHORS AND MAGAZINE EDITORS. THOMAS L. HAWKINS and ELISHA W. HOWLAND.-At the close of the War of 1812. Thomas L. Hawkins, one of the most original of characters and best of citizens, was placed in charge of the government property at Fort Stephenson. He and his great crony, Elisha W. Howland, had served together in the War of 1812, both being in the engagement at Lundy's Lane, near Niagara, in July, 1814. After the battle of the Thames in Canada, the spoils of the victory were brought by Harrison to Fort Stephenson. Among these was General Proctor's carriage which he had brought with him from England. Hawkins used to hitch oxen to it and take carriage rides. Scraping away the paint with his jack-knife he concluded there had been at least a dozen coats. One was a peach-blow color. The carriage was probably very old. Hawkins was keeper of the magazine at Fort Meigs during the siege. Howe says : "A large number of cannon balls were thrown into the fort from the batteries on the opposite side of the river. Being short of a supply, Harrison offered a gill of whisky for every cannon ball delivered over to Hawkins, the magazine keeper. Over i,000 gills of whisky were thus earned by the soldiers." In 1817 Hawkins was one of the fifteen men who formed the Kentucky company for the purchase and sale of land in Lower Sandusky, and was appointed their land agent to attend the government land sales at Delaware and purchase lots 8 and 9, which included all that part of our present Fremont between parallels intersecting the river near the State Street bridge, and the L. S. & M. S. bridge. This tract was made into town lots and divided among the fifteen share holders. At the village election the preceding year, 1816, Hawkins's name is among the thirty-three voters. In 1818 Hawkins, embued with the earnest spirits of the early pioneers, joined with Thomas Boswell in digging the mill race which for so many years ran the river flouring-mill ; built the dam ; and erected near the foot of Birchard Avenue, a diminutive, well ventilated grist-mill, which in every way merited the appellation of a primitive "corn cracker." Here came the settlers for miles around and patiently waited from sunrise till twilight for the slowly moving millstones to grind out their meal. Boswell soon sold out to Howland, and the two old friends went together again on their diverting way. Mr. Hawkins was a devout Methodist, frequently preaching in later years ; while Howland, large in frame and hand and voice, used to relieve his mind by swearing like a pirate. Hawkins was a perpetual tinker, and used to say he could do anything with putty and ten-penny nails. Howland also was a carpenter, and in 1819 the two constructed the Pegasus, classic for horseboat, the most remarkable craft that ever plied the Sandusky River. It consisted of two large canoes, side by side, separated by a platform large enough to carry a superstructure of machinery, a large amount ,of freight and several passengers. The machinery was worked by four horses which in turn worked paddles on each side of the boat. The Pegasus aimed to make three trips a week from this place to Portland as Sandusky was then called. The passage of forty miles constituted a good day's work under the most faorable circumstances. She continued to run until June 29, 1824, when a severe storm damaged her beyond repair. The Pegasus was not the only boat that testified to Hawkins's inventive genius. Before a bridge had been provided here, he constructed a ferryboat propelled by paddle wheels driven by dog-power after the style of a dog churn. 380 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Persons living here in 1879 had used both the horse boat and the dog ferry. In the year 1819, the young men of Lower Sandusky gave Goldsmith's play, "She Stoops to Conquer." The prologue was written and delivered by Mr. Hawkins and the title as printed in his volume of verse is as follows : "A prologue to the play 'She Stoops to Conquer,' acted by the young men of Lower Sandusky in 1819, in which railroads, steamboats and telegraphs were predicted by the Author." It opens : "Sandusky theatre, of tender age, Now makes its first appearance on the stage. Lord ! what a crowd ! I blush, for what ? these are but men, And fellow mortals every soul within : Then first my friends—for friends you surely are, As foes and critics have no business here ; Yet should they come, their astonished sense shall burn To find how youths in Lower Sandusky learn !" etc. The prologue closes : "Goodnight, I won't intrude. But soon return in woman's attitude." Mr. Hawkins not only wrote the prologue, but he painted the scenery and acted the principal parts, as the closing line of the prologue suggests. The play was given in the historic old tavern, on the site of the present Wheeling & Lake Erie station. In 1853 Mr. Hawkins published through a Columbus house a volume of "Poetic Miscellany and World's Wonder," the latter part being "an exposition of the Wiles of the Devil, more especially in the manifestations of clairvoyance, demonology, mesmerism or what is more fashionably called the Science of Animal Magnetism." One of the most popular of his poems was "Betsy Croghan." Mr. Hawkins it was who identified "Old Betsy" in the Pittsburg arsenal, recognizing it by a scar on its breech. As commissary a't Fort Stephenson in his earlier years he had known the gun thoroughly. His descendants are well known in Fremont, Mr. Edward Russell being the son of Mr. Hawkins' daughter. "OLD BETSY." by THOMAS L. HAWKINS, Aug. 2, 1852. Hail ! thou old friend, of Fort McGee Little did I expect again to see, And hear thy voice of victory, Thou defender of Ohio! . I wonder who it was that sought thee, To victory's ground again hath brought thee He is a friend to great Ohio! He is surely worthy of applause, To undertake so good a cause, Although a pleader of her laws And statutes of Ohio. What shame thy blockhouse is not standing, Thy pickets as at first commanding, Protecting Sandusky's noble landing. The frontier of Ohio! Thy pickets alas! are all unreared, No faithful sentinel on guard, Nor band of soldiers well prepared, Defending great Ohio. Where have the upthrown ditches gone, By British cannon rudely torn? Alas! with grass they are o'er grown, Neglected by Ohio. O tell me where thy chieftains all- Croghan, Dudley, Miller, Ball, Some of whom I know did fall In defending of Ohio. Canst thou not tell how Proctor swore, When up yon matted turf he tore, Which shielded us from guns a score, He poured upon Ohio. And how Tecumseh lay behind you ; With vain attempts he tried to blind you, And unprepared. he'd find you, And lead you from -Ohio? Perhaps like Hamlet's ghost, you've come, This day to celebrate the fame Of Croghan's honored, worthy name, The hero of Ohio. I greet thee! Thou are just in time To tell of victory most sublime, Though told in unconnected rhyme ; Thou art welcome in Ohio. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 381 But since thou canst thyself speak well, Now let thy thundering voice tell What bloody carnage then befell The foes of great Ohio. ELISHA W. HOWLAND served a term as associate judge commencing in 1827. He built the first jail in the county. In the matter of the change of name of the county seat from Lower Sandusky to Fremont, he entered a vigorous protest in rhyme, which appears in a former chapter of this work. LUCY ELLIOT KEELER, daughter of Isaac M. and Jeanette Elliot Keeler, was born in Fremont and received her education in the local public schools, and at Wells College, Aurora, New York. Miss Keeler is endowed with superior qualities of mind, to which have been added the culture and refinement incident to Study, reading and travel. She is, by inheritance and experience, gifted as a writer ; and for a good many years has been an editorial writer for the Youth's Companion. Many contributions from her pen have appeared, from time to time, in the leading magazines of the country. Miss Keeler is the author of the following books for young people : "If I Were A Girl Again." (1904) Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. and "If I Were A Boy." ( 1908) Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. The first of these is now in its third edition. Miss Keeler is also the author of the following interesting Monographs on Local History : "The Sandusky River." (1904.) Ohio Arch. & Hist. Society. "A Guide to the Local History of Fremont, Ohio, prior to 1860." (1905) Fred J. Heer, Columbus, Ohio. "93d Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Stephenson, and the Reinterment of the Remains of Major George Croghan." (1907) Ohio Arch. & Hist. Society. "Old Fort Sandoski of 1745, and the Sandusky Country." (1908) Ohio Arch. & Hist. Society. "Spiegel Grove." (1909) Ohio Arch. & Hist. Society. Miss Keeler prepared for the Editor, the article in this history on Spiegel Grove, the home of President Hayes. Her kinship to Mr. Hayes and intimate acquaintance with his family and home-life, especially qualified her for the task accomplished. ESTELLE AVERY SHARPE, was born in Fremont, the youngest child of Isaac and Elizabeth Sharpe, who came to Fremont in 1832. She was graduated from the public schools in 1876. Later, she was graduated from Oberlin College. Miss Sharpe taught for a number of years in the high schools of Fremont, Bellevue and Napoleon, also writing for the educational journals and occasionally instructing at county institutes. Miss Sharpe was early interested in history, literature and science, but with the growth of years, her interest shifted to politics, sociology and economics. Her study made her a profound believer in democracy, which, in its perfect form, she believes is 'the organization of opportunity for all ; the governmental embodiment of the second of Christ's two commandments, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." Out of her hatred of trusts and monopolies, which are, to her 'thought, the denial of the basic principle of democracy, viz., "special privileges to none," sprang her "Rubaiyat of John Rockefeller," which purports to voice, through the verse of Omar Khayam, the feelings and purposes of the founder of the best known of the trusts. Believing that no reforms can be lasting until true social character is formed, until society is trained "to think and act justice," until it is habituated to act upon the Golden Rule and not merely repeat it on Sunday, Miss Sharpe, under the auspices of the Col. Croghan Chapter of the D. A. R., prepared an outline of social ethics for the use of parents and teachers. From this small beginning the work grew into a book of three volumes, entitled : "Foundation Stones of a Successful Career : Conversational Lessons on Social Ethics for Home and School." The work is a storehouse of ethical material,—dissertation, explanations, poems, quotations, illustrative stories, anecdotes, fables, etc. Justice - to each his own, his due, his right—is made the fundamental virtue. The third volume is devoted to civics, which 382 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY is simply, the author holds, the governmental application of social principles—of justice, equality and co-operation. Miss Sharpe resigned her position in the Fremont public schools to go abroad in 1901. She expects to spend her remaining years in traveling, devoting her attention to the economic problems of the various countries visited. FLORENCE CHANCE HUNTLEY, was born in Fremont, the daughter of the late Henry Chance, widely known as a temperance reformer and a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of three brothers older than Florence, one, Hon. Mahlon Chance, entered political life, and two were regular army officers, one being Capt. Josiah Chance, and the other, General Jesse C. Chance, retired, the only survivor, late of Fremont, now about to make his residence in Florida. After her course in the public schools, Chance was sent to Wesleyan Universitv, at Delaware, Ohio, with more the hope of correcting her religious views, which were regarded by her father as heretical, than for the educational advantages of that institution, but she graduated from there, retaining her heretical views, as before. The climax of a girl of free thinking tendencies was her marriage to Stanley Huntley, wit and humorist, then editor of the "Tribune," at Bismarck, North Dakota, and afterwards famous as the author of the Spoopendyke sketches, done on the Brooklyn "Eagle." With the death of Mr. Huntley, in 1885, began his wife's independent literary life, first as a political news writer from North Dakota to the St. Paul and Minneapolis dailies, next as editor and humorous paragrapher on the Minneapolis "Tribune," which was resigned for a similar position on the Washington "Post," in 1890. This, in turn, was abandoned for independent work, which included a Congressional news bureau for the "Kansas News ;" short stories for the "National Tribune" at Washington, D. C., and Capitol gossip for New York and Chicago papers. Mrs. Huntley is editor of the series of publications of the Indo-American Book Co., of Chicago, and author of the following books, among others, published by this Company : "Harmonics of Evolution : The Philosophy of Individual Life as Taught by Modern Masters of the Law," and "Dream Child; A Romance of Two Worlds." These and the other books by Mrs. Huntley, and her editorial management mentioned are the result of her researches in the realm of the occult philosophy, embraced by her some years ago, which she terms the School of Natural Science, and which researches caused her to abandon her early materialistic heresies, and to adopt the belief in life, after physical death, which she holds, her philosophy demonstrates scientifically. WILBUR G. ZEIGLER, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Zeigler, was born and educated in Fremont, graduating from the high school in the class of 1876. He studied law, first with Judge Henry McKinney at Cleveland, and afterwards completing his law course with R. P. and H. S. Buckland in Fremont. He was admitted to the bar by the Ohio Supreme Court in March, 1881, and became a member of the law firm, with Gen. R. P. and H. S. Buckland. He at once displayed ability, not only in the practice of law, but also in literature, in writing for newspapers and magazines. He assisted Hon. Homer Everett in the editorial work of the history of Sandusky County by Mr. Everett in 1882. Mr. Zeigler was joint author with Mr. B. S. Grosscup in the work entitled "The Heart of the Alleghanies," published in 1883, before he left Fremont for San Francisco, where he now resides. This book ran through two editions. He has since written "It was Marlowe; A Story of the Secret of Three Centuries," published in 1898. This is a historical novel of the Elizabethan era with the author's original theory maintained in it that, at least, the stronger of the so-called Shakespeare plays, were written by Christopher Marlowe. After the late destruction of San Francisco by earthquake and fire he wrote the book entitled "The Story of the Great Disaster," published in 1906. Thirty-five thousand copies of this book have been issued by the press. Mr. Zeigler is still engaged in the active and successful practice of law, in San Francisco, notwithstanding 'Luis work in the field of literature, which to him, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 383 with his talent for such work, seems more a recreation than otherwise. HIRAM MOE GREENE, son of Judge John L. Greene and Emma S. Greene, was born in Fremont, Ohio, and received his education in the city public schools. He studied law with Garver & Garver, and afterwards completed his law course at the University of Virginia; and after being admitted to the bar located in his native city, and there opened an office and entered upon the practice. But his inclinations. were more toward literature than the law and he began writing for the newspapers, at first over the nom de plume "Timothy Hay." His efforts then were short poems, some of which were published in the Cleveland "Leader." He soon abandoned his nom de plume and wrote over his own name. His contributions were published in the newspapers and publications with a rural appeal, "Ohio State Journal," "Ohio Farmer, Home and Flowers," and others. He also contributed in verse for "Life" and for "Types" a humorous series entitled, "Ancient Myths in Modern Version," and also a number of humorous poems for that publication. During the gubernatorial campaign in Ohio, that resulted in the election of Nash, he went to Toledo, on the Toledo "Times" staff as political editor. After the campaign he returned to Fremont, and for a short time worked on the Fremont "Journal" for B. F. Jackson, then its publisher. Next he became city editor of the Fremont "Daily Messenger," and then closed up his law office and adopted literature as his life work. From the "Messenger" he went to Columbus to write for the American Press Association, as day editor, then as night editor, at the same time writing in humorous vein, mostly in prose and verse, regularly for the magazine section of the Pittsburgh "Sunday Gazette." In 1904 he became assistant business manager of the "Pilgrim Magazine," published at Battle Creek, and in 1905 general manager and editorial writer. In 1906 he was with the Bobbs-Merrell Company, book publishers at Indianapolis, as editor of the "Home Magazine," remaining with them until in 1908, when the company sold the magazine to south- ern publishers and he then severed his connection with that company. In March, 1909, he went to Boston to edit `Ideal Homes," a monthly magazine devoted to the beautifying and practical improvement of the home and the profitable betterment of the home interest, in town and in country life, in which capacity he is now serving. He has also written some short fiction, which has appeared in the "Saturday Evening Post" and "Everybody's Magazine," and other magazines. HOMER EVERETT is the author of a "History of Sandusky County," published by H. Z. Williams & Bro., in 1882, and also of numerous historical sketches and addresses published in the local papers of his day. FRANK C. CULLY, whose boyhood days were spent in Lower Sandusky, wrote a book in 1901, entitled, "Barbara : A Romance of the Lower Sandusky Valley." It is a tale of the War of 1812-1813, founded upon facts connected with the region named. Mr. Cully wrote under the pseudonym of "Major Clinton." He dedicates Barbara to his mother in the following words : "Who in my boyhood days dispelled many a gloomy hour with her stories of the early times in Ohio and the Lower Sandusky Valley * * *, to her memory through the love of her oldest son, this volume is dedicated with the hope that in her spirit life, she may hear the echoings of this story now told." He is also author of other hooks, and of short stories. REV. J. I. SWANDER, D. D., while pastor of the First Reformed Church in Fremont wrote and published two books, one entitled "The Substantial Philosophy," the other "The Reformed Church." PROF. W. \V. Ross wrote a number of able pamphlets and magazine articles on educational and economic problems. MISS JULIA HAYNES is theauthor of an interesting and instructive "Monograph," published by the Ohio Archeological and Historical Society, entitled "Fremont in History." JACOB BURGHER, Fremont, Ohio, graduate of Otterbein University, Ohio, is the author of numerous pamphlets on local pioneer history; 384 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY historical sketches of churches, together with biographies of early ministers and early prominent members; reports in pamphlet form of soldiers' reunions and the Pioneer and Historical Society proceedings; reports of important court trials; and is the author of a book entitled, "History and Genealogy of the Burgner Family in America," copyrighted and published by him at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1890. Gen. R. B. Hayes in a letter to Mr. Burgner dated July 13, 1891, writes : "It is a painstaking account of a 'Swiss family who came to America before the old French war. It is especially valuable, as the books about German families in the Colonial period are very rare. I congratulate you on your book." INDUSTRIES. The Continental Sugar Company. When the company located at Fremont in 1900 it was expected that Sandusky County farmers would rally to the protection and development of the requirements of the factory in the matter of the cultivation of the sugar beet, and during the early years of its operation a reasonably satisfactory tonnage was secured. In later years, however, the local interest seems to have fallen off, and the company has gone into wider territory for the necessary material for conducting the plant. During 1908 considerably less than i,000 acres were contracted in Sandusky County, and for 1909 that mark was not reached. The usual limit of production is from eight to twelve tons per acre, Sandusky County barely reaching the fair average. Individual instances of over twenty tons per acre of this crop have been reached in some sections. The Fremont plant was originally constructed for slicing 350 tons of beets per day, but during its operation has been improved and enlarged in minor details, so that it now handles over 450 tons during every day of the campaign. Since the factory was built in 1900 it has produced nearly fifty-three million pounds of sugar at this plant. It may be of interest in this connection to give a paragraph from the "Lower Sandusky Whig," dated June 22, 1839: "We were much pleased this morning with a visit to the garden of Isaac Norton in this place and a view of his sugar beets, a beautiful specimen of this plant; being from 5 to 6 feet in height. He informs us that he set out about 200 plants and thinks he shall have a bushel of seed. We would urge upon the farmers of our county a trial of this crop." The Clauss Shear Company. In 1878 a company for the manufacture of shears was formed at Elyria, Ohio, with Hon. T. L. Nelson as president, and John H. Clauss, secretary and treasurer. At that time the industry was a new one, being the first manufactory of the kind west of New Jersey and Connecticut, and the problem of success or failure in the unknown field was enigmatical. What was then the Elyria Shear Company has grown to the mammoth establishment known as the Clauss Shear Company of Fremont, having removed to this city October 1, 1887. Employing but six men at the outset, for two years the goods manufactured were entirely of iron, but John H. Clauss, the secretary, foresaw that the trade would demand a better article, and in 1880 the manufacture of Solid Steel Shears was commenced. It is now the largest factory of the kind in the country, having an extensive plant, thoroughly equipped and has 400 employees. Its capital stock is $700,000.00. The Christy Knife Company was incorporated in August, 1891, with a capital stock of $I0,000.00. The company manufactures kitchen specialties and employs 75 people. J. R. Christy is president and manager ; and C. J. Christy, secretary and treasurer. The R. J. Christy Company was incorporated February 11, 1905, with a capital stock of $10,000. This company manufactures safety razors and employs 140 people. J. R. Christy is president. The A. H. Jackson Manufacturing Company now having factories at Fremont, Sandusky, Clyde, Bellevue and Tiffin, and also four retail stores, one each at Fremont, Sandusky, Tiffin and Clyde, was started seventeen years ago by A. H. Jackson and F. H. Anderson, with twenty sewing machines, and today is the largest manufactory of muslin and flannelette undergarments in the United States. This corn- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 385 pany made and put on the market the first ladies' flannelette gown, and is the pioneer of the flannelette underwear business, and manufactures more than all the rest of its competitors put together. Its capital is $400,000.00. The home factory employs 35o persons, men and women, the latter of whom number on the average 275. The officers of the company are A. H. Jackson, president and treasurer, and F. H. Anderson, vice-president, secretary and general manager. The Star Mills are a land mark familiar to old residents of this community. The mill was built in 1860 by D. L. June. It was known in early clays as the "Seagle Mills" and afterwards owned by Demon Camfield, William Curtice, Camfield & Geesman, Royce & Koons Bros., Bowlus & Berry, Quale & Berry, Van Epps & Cox and finally was bought by William A. Cox. who still retains the property. In 1883 Van Epps & Cox built a 25,000 bushel grain elevator in the rear of the mill. This plant turns out thousands of barrels of flour, and handles thousands of bushels of grain and food-stuff each year. The Fremont Kraut Company is among the largest single concerns of the kind in the country, and was organized in 1906, with a capital stock of $25,000. The capacity of its factory is 150 tons of cabbage daily, and it gives employment to 7o persons. The officers are E. B. Smith, president; A. E. Slessman, vice-president and manager ; W. E. Proctor, secretary and treasurer. The Trommer Company. This company is the successor of the firm formed in 1874 for the manufacture of malt extract, known as the Trommer Extract of Malt Company. Dr. John B. Rice, a member of the firm, having, while an army surgeon in the Civil War. witnessed the beneficial effects of the use, in surgical cases and in persons convalescing from disease, of an article known as the Trommer Malt Extract, and been favorably impressed with its remedial value, acquired for his firm from Prof. Trommer, who was an eminent German chemist, his formula for its manufacture, together with the privilege to manufacture and sell the article generally, except in Germany. The firm thereupon com menced its manufacture according to the formula thus obtained, but after two or three years' experience, discovered that by this process a very valuable element known as diastase, which was contained in malt, was destroyed, and the extract thereby rendered much less valuable than it would be if this element were preserved. After experimentation, the chemist of the firm discovered a process by which the diastase could be preserved in the extract ; and the firm then commenced the manufacture of the article according to the new process, on a large scale, and for the next few years, the sales were enormous and the profits correspondingly large. In 1889 the business was sold to the present owners for $88,000, upon a guaranteed statement that the annual sales for the three previous years had amounted to a certain sum. During the year 1890 the sales including samples, amounted to $64,063.40; in 1891, to $102,739.50; in 1902, to $102,469.57.57; in 1903, to $1I2,183.57; in 1904, to $112,945.57, and in 1905, to $152,580.53, and sales have continued large. In 1894 a branch office was established in London, England, which after about eight years, was sold to an English Syndicate. In 1900 a new and• valuable product known as palmiacol was added to the business. The company employs thirty persons in and about the factory and business. The officers of the company are Ed H. Zurhorst, president ; W. S. Lewis. secretary. and N. C. Sherwood, treasurer and general manager. The Fremont Furniture Company was originally The Rogers Furniture Company. The Fremont Furniture Company have occupied their present plant since 1892. Its plant covers two acres of ground, and the company is capitalized for $100,000, $50,000 of which has been paid in. The average number of employes is sixty. The present officers are 0. L. Miller, president and treasurer; T. P. McGahan, vice-president and secretary, and A. H. Downing, general manager. The concern manufactures furniture specialties and wood novelties. The Simple Account Salesbook Company was originally organized as a partnership be- 386 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY tween Jonathan Stierwalt, contractor and builder at Fremont, and E. J. Carter, who in 1889 came from Akron, Ohio. These two gentlemen originally purchased the account file business conducted by J. B. Van Doren Company, who were conducting the business under the Stull Bros.' patents in territory west of the Mississippi River. In December, 1892, they purchased the interest and complete patents of Stull Bros., who were conducting their business in a small business room on West State Street. The following year the company moved to a building on Whittlesey Street, which had been especially put up for their purpose and which they occupied until their new factory was built and completed in 1892, at the corner of Napoleon and Jackson Streets. Two years after the partnership was organized, they reorganized into a stock company under the name of the Simple Account File Company, with capital stock of $40,000. A few years later this was increased to $75,000 and later on to $100,000. In 1904 the company was reorganized with an increased capital of $250,00o, $125,000 of which was common stock and $125,000 was six per cent preferred stock, all of which has been issued with the exception of $50,000 preferred stock. For the first few years the company was engaged only in the manufacture and sale of account files under Stull Bros.' patents. A few years later they went into the manufacture of duplicating sales books, and a year or two after that further increased their business by engaging in the manufacture of credit systems. In 1905 they purchased the business of the Keith Credit Register Company, at Mansfield, who were engaged in the manufacture of sales books and credit systems. Jonathan Stierwalt was the president of the Company from its organization to the time of his death in 1896. since which time E. J. Carter has been president. At the present time the officers are E. J. Carter, president and treasurer: John F. Gottron, vice-president, and C. W. Stierwalt, secretary. Since their new factory was built in 1902 they have been continually adding to it to meet their increasing business. The factory is a model one, being a saw-tooth roof construc tion, heated with hot water pumped in from central station and protected by automatic sprinkler system throughout. The company is regarded as one of the very substantial institutions of Fremont. The Lehr Agricultural Company was incorporated in 1890 with a capital stock of $70,000 and is the successor of the firm of Lehr Brothers in the machine and foundry business. G. F. Buchman is president, J. W. Lehr vice-president, Will J. Rich secretary, and N. P. Lehr treasurer. Its foundry and machine shop are located on the corner of Napoleon and Jackson Streets. The company manufactures various lines of sulkey cultivators, land rollers, disk and tooth-harrows and other agricultural implements on a large scale. It employs from fifty to eighty men and is one of Fremont's important manufacturing plants. M. Holderman Machinery Company. This company deals in engines, boilers, saw-mills, machinery and machinery supplies, and is located at 207-209 Garrison Street. M. Holder-man is sole owner, and the company is the successor to the old June Engine Works. In 1853, at its present location at the foot of Garrison Street, Fremont, Ohio, there was put into operation the June Engine Works, a manufacturing business which was only terminated at the death of Mr. David June, in November, 1905. This business was carried on successfully as June & Curtis, June & June, June & Gilpin, June & Curtis, D. June & Co., French & Holderman and at present as the M. Holderman Machinery Company. At the beginning the firm did a general machine-shop and foundry business and manufactured plows, stationary engines and saw-mills. As the business developed they later took contract for the building and complete installation of the machinery for the operation of various kinds of factories, etc. In 1875 they put on the market the famous Champion Vertical Boiler Portable engine with its patent spark arrester, which, two years later, was developed into the traction engine. Coming, as it did, in the infancy of the traction engine. and because of its safety from fire through the spark arrester, the firm for many years did a flourish- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 387 ing business in traction engines, devoting their entire time to them. Later the firm again took up the manufacture of stationary engines, boilers and sawmills in conjunction with the traction engines, which form of business was carried on until the death of Mr. June, as above stated. The firm started a branch house at Waco, Texas, where much of the product of the June Engine Works has been sold of late years. This branch house was incorporated just prior to Mr. David June's death, and now does a flourishing business under the name of The D. June Machinery Company, of which firm M. Holderman is president. For years the June Engine Works were the largest and almost the sole manufactory of note in this vicinity. The persons who from time to time have been associated with the business in various ways number into the thousands. Those who have been associated with the firm as part owners are David June, Samuel Curtis, Lyman Gelpin, O. S. French, Robert Brayton, S. A. June and Daniel L. June, all now deceased ; and A. M. June, P. J. June and M. Holderman. The Moore Carriage and Wagon Factory. One of the oldest manufacturing concerns in the city is the Moore Carriage and Wagon Works, corner of Garrison and Water Streets. In 1848 John P. Moore, its founder, worked at the trade of blacksmithing. In 1850 he went to Woodville where he established a small business in that line. In 1851 he returned to Fremont and in connection with his brothers, founded the business of manufacturing carriages and wagons on the site of the present factory. Since 1857 until about four years ago, a period of nearly half a century, he conducted the business alone, except as assisted by his sons Theodore and Albert. He manufactured high-grade vehicles of all kinds ranging from the lightest buggy through all the varieties of road and delivers wagons to the heaviest trucks. The Moore vehicles had a high reputation throughout the country, and he did a large business for many years. About four years ago. owing to advancing age he retired, and the business is now conducted by his son, Theo- dore Moore, but not on such an extensive scale as formerly by his father. The Herbrand Company was organized in 1881 by Jacob Herbrand, Charles Thompson and J. B. Van Doren. It took its name from Mr. Herbrand, who was the inventor and patentee of the Herbrand Fifth Wheel and Gear Iron. Mr. Herbrand died in 1884. The company began the manufacture of these Fifth Wheels and Gear Irons in a small way, gradually increasing the line, until the Herbrand Carriage Forgings are known by the carriage trade over the entire country. They now employ over 100 men, and have a large and finely equipped plant, turning out a diversified product that is recognized as the best of its kind. Their line now includes a variety of high-grade Carriage Forgings, Bicycle and Automobile Wrenches and Herbrand Safety Razors. Charles Thompson is the president and general manager, and Gilbert E. Hall secretary and treasurer. The Jackson Shear and Razor Company. This organization has a history. It was formerly brought to Fremont from Buchanan, Michigan, and known there as The Michigan Cutlery Company. After being purchased and machinery and tools brought to Fremont, a handsome three-story building was erected on West State Street, and a company organized under the name of The Jackson Knife and Shear Company. This company continued in business until December, 1906, when it was re-organized and new officers and directors were elected, the name of the new and present company being the Jackson Shear and Razor Company. The officers of the company are as follows : President and treasurer, A. H. Jackson ; vice-president, A. V. Baumann; secretary and manager, J. J. Anderson. This company occupies a three-story brick building covering a floor space of 37,426 feet. They employ from to0 to 150 people and are at the present time enjoying a very successful business. The Lincoln Stove and Range Company was founded seven years ago, by several local capitalists. A small, one-story frame building was erected for a plant, which soon proved inadequate for the business that was developed. 388 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY With increased capital a larger acreage was obtained and a modern, brick plant, covering approximately four acres of ground, has replaced the first quarters. This company now ranks as one of the prominent business enterprises of this section and as one of the largest stove manufacturing concerns in the country. A high grade line of ranges and heating stoves are manufactured and the products are distributed to almost every section of the United States. The company selected the name of Lincoln as a trade mark for their product, which typifies the high quality and superior construction of the stoves manufactured. The plant gives employment to about 350 skilled mechanics, and each year the volume of sales is largely increasing. The company maintains its own pattern shops, foundries, mounting floors, and warehouses, and has a capacity of 100 stoves of various types, daily. The present officers of the company are as follows : Mozart Gallup, president ; P. L. Van Alstyne, vice president and treasurer ; J. E. McMinn, general manager ; H. D. Glenn, secretary; and the following directors : F. J. Swint, Jas. E. Mellville, N. E. Marshall, G. E. Collings, Thos. H. Conway. The Jackson Cement Industry. In 1900 Elmer E. Jackson undertook to demonstrate the value of cement as a substitute for stone in sidewalks, and built one at his residence. Attention was thus attracted, and others patronized him for walks, and the business grew. In 1903 he constructed two immense cisterns for the Cqntinental Sugar Company, which proved satisfactory. and in 1905 another was built for this company. with a capacity of 6,000 barrels, the largest in the country, which is giving good satisfaction. He has since constructed culverts and large bridges and has added to his industry that of manufacturing concrete blocks for building purposes, which are being extensively used. He is the inventor of a concrete mixer, for which he has obtained letters patent. The Unsinger Razor Blade Company commenced business in a small way in Julv, 19o5. under a partnership basis, the firm consisting of Peter Unsinger and Philip H. Unsinger. On January 17, 1908, the business was incorporated under the name of The Unsinger Razor Blade Company, with an authorized capital stock of $1o,000, which was, on the 15th day of September, 1908, increased to $35,000, its present capital stock. The company was incorporated by Peter Unsinger, Philip H. Unsinger, M. F. Engler, J. E. Druckenmiller and B. 0. Kreilick for the purpose of the manufacture and sale of razor blades, razors, cutlery, razor blade machinery and screw machine products incidental thereto. The business is substantial and growing and the company employs about thirty five people. The Fremont Yaryan Company was organized in 19432 for the purpose of furnishing electric light and power service, and hot water heating service from a central station. The original capital of the company was $100,- 000.00, which has since been increased to $200,000.00. Its plant is a very complete and modern one in every respect, and covers the territory fully. Its equipment and service are both much superior to that found in similar cities of the size of Fremont. Its officers are, T. H. Jungk, president E. S. Thomas, vice-president ; J. W. Forsythe, secretary ; B. J. Shockley, superintendent. The capacity of the plant is ample to take care of any increase in business for some years to come. Its service is satisfactory, its financial condition is good, and its facilities ample to meet all demands upon it. The company employs an average of twenty-two persons the year around. The Fremont Metal & Manufacturing Com pany, manufacturers of metal specialties, flat kitchen cutlery, safety razors, razor blades and other blades. stroppers, bread, paring and cooking knives, forks, cake turners, spatulas, scrapers, can openers, stitch rippers, desk knives, corn razors, etc. It has a fine plant with special automatic machinery of their own design, adapted to the manufacture of articles in large quantities. It has been in existence many years and has extensive domestic and foreign export business, employing thirty or more people constantlv. Among the articles manufactured are the "Witch," "Wizard" and "Magic" safety razors and known as the "Crescent" goods. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 389 The Thomson-Houston Electrical Company, of Lynn, Massachusetts, acquired the land and business known as the old Harvester Works in 1887 and immediately installed it with machinery for making carbons for electric lighting. Mr. Philo Moses was the first superintendent; Mr. W. R. Caulkins was the first manager, who was later succeeded by Mr. C. T. Richmond as president and manager up to 1893. In 1890 the capacity of the works was more than doubled. In November, 1891, the plant was almost entirely destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt and running again by the beginning of 1893. In 1905 a large addition was made by the erection of a four-story, fire-proof, modern building for making electric batteries, and since then the work at this factory has been largely devoted to that branch of the industry. The Lake Shore Electric Railway Power Plant. The Fremont Power Plant furnishes power to operate the West End, from Norwalk to Toledo of the Lake Shore Electric Railway, also furnishes power to operate the Sandusky, Norwalk and Mansfield Railway out of Norwalk, and power for operating the Toledo, Fostoria and Findlay Railway. Number of employes in Fremont Power Plant, 17; daily output, 30,000 K. W.; total capacity, 40,000 K. W. ; 2700 horse power in the boilers in use in the plant. Number of employes in the shop and Storeroom. 40: number of men employed by the transportation department on the Toledo division, 6o; acreage of the power house plant, 16. FREMONT BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF 1850. Among the advertisers in the Fremont Freeman in 1850 were the following: Attorneys—Ralph P. Buckland, John L. Greene, Wm. Annesley, Chester Edgerton, E. F. Dickinson, Brice J. Bartlett. Physicians—Dr. La Q. Rawson, Dr. Peter Beaugrand, Dr. M. Dana, Dr. J. Chamberlain. Drs. Bell & Sheets. Fox & Beaugrand. Tinware, Stoves, &c.—Roberts, Hubbard & Co.. O. H. Fusselman. Boots and Shoes—Geo. Wegstein, Topping & Wegstein. Tailoring—P. Maxwell. Drugs and Medicines—C. R. McCulloch, Bell & Sheets. Stephen Buckland & Co. Clothing—J. S. Weeks. Merchants—C. J. Pettibone, A. B. Taylor, L. V. D. Cooke, David Betts, Kendall & Nims, J. S. Olmstead, J. P. Haynes & Son. Cabinet Makers—F. H. Caldwell, Hawkins, Caldwell & Co. Select School—J. Roberts. Hotels—Fremont House, Wm. Kessler ; Toledo House, Lester Vandercook. Groceries—J. F. R. Sebring, Geo. M. Tillotson. Lumber and Shingles—C. O. Tillotson. Dentist—Dr. L. D. Parker. Produce Dealers—A. F. & F. Vandercook. Livery Stable—Smith & Williams. Wool Dealers—Pease & Roberts, P. C. Dean. Watches, &c.—E. Leppelman. Postoffice—Wilson M. Stark, P. M. Farms for Sale—Samuel Crowell. Furniture—J. W. Stevenson. School Notice—F. S. White, district clerk. Hardware—Canfield & Mitchell. Daguerreotyper—Crobaugh. SOME OLD BUILDINGS IN LOWER SANDUSKY The first frame building in Lower Sandusky was near t the corner of Front and Croghan Streets, on the site of Dorr's and Hamilton's store rooms. It was built by Israel Harrington and used as a tavern. It was erected in 1815. Col. R. M. Johnson and other Kentucky soldiers stopped here on their way home from the Battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813. It was kept for a time by Gen. Otho Hinton, the stage line proprietor. The second frame building in the village was the store of Olmstead Brothers, erected in 1817 near the present Price Lumber Company office. It was two stories high, with 60 feet front on the river. Dormer windows jutted out above, with pulleys and tackle for raising goods. After the store was built quite a pile of lumber was left, which Judge Olmstead gave away from time to time to make coffins. The first brick building in town was the old Beaugrand residence, between the present Wheeling station and the bridge. In 1820 when the county was organized there were some ten or twelve brick or frame, 390 - HISTORY OF SAN DUSKY COUNTY and about thirty log cabins in the village. The early Presbyterian services were held on the east side of the river, where the Her-brand works now stand, in a house built by the Prior brothers, and by them contributed for church purposes. The residence of Christopher Smith on North Justice Street was built by J. S. Olmstead, the first merchant; on the present site of Buchman's store. It was moved when the old Opera House Block was erected. In 1815 Jeremiah Everett, one of the earliest settlers, built a log house at the northeast corner of Arch and Ewing Streets. One of the first frame houses on South Arch Street was built in ,1839 by Andrew Morehouse, where the Wm. B. Sheldon residence now stands. The original part of Dr. Robert Rice's residence was built by Elder Skinner, minister of the Baptist congregation, whose church stood about where the Jackson Underwear Factory is now. The site was long occupied by the residence of Theo. Clapp. In 1837 three brick residences were begun, those of Dr. D. Brainard, where now stands the Croghan Bank ; the Rawson house on State Street; and the Macklin house (American House) opposite. Dr. Brainard's house, finished in 1840, was opened with a housewarming, one of the society events of the early clays. The whole town was invited, and a great collation served. This house was the finest in the place, four stories high, with beautiful walnut furnishings. colonial stairways and mantels. A building. erected in 1818 north of State Street was moved in 1831 to the northeast corner of Front and Croghan Streets, by Thomas Ogle, and converted into a tavern kept by Isaac Knapp. In 1839 the front parlor was fitted up as a storeroom by J. P. Haynes. In 1854 0. L. Nims wished to build a brick block on that. corner, and gave the old building to Thos. L. Hawkins. who moved it to Water Street south of Garrison, where it stood till 190o as part of J. P. Moore's carriage shop. In 1820 William Andrews built a tavern on a little wharf at the foot of Garrison Street. In its third story was the first Masonic Lodge in this town. This building and one built by Nicholas Whitinger about the same time, were the only two listed in 182o, as worth one thousand dollars. Whitinger's house was the original part of the famous corner tavern, known as the Ohio Mansion House, later as Kessler's, where the Wheeling station now stands. As early as 1822, Thos. L. Hawkins converted the upper story into a theatre. In the early 40's, board and lodging at this tavern were $2.50 per week. The Western House, built in 1830 on the site of the old Buckland Block, was in its day the leading hotel of Northwestern Ohio. It was a frame building with a great two-story piazza with large pillars. Its old barn long remained, being demolished for the building of the Christy Knife Works. The present Hotel Fremont. long the Croghan House, was erected as a store by an Englishman named Weiler, who lived in the big brick house on Croghansville hill. On the east side of the river, Morris A. Newman kept a tavern in very early times. On the site of the late Tell House was Harpster's tavern, famous as Democratic headquarters. The Goose House, with a wild goose sign. was the big frame building still standing on the north side of East State Street. Capt. Samuel Thompson kept a famous hostelry on the present Thompson property where was held the notable Democratic meeting during the campaign of 18.1.o. The old Dickinson House. corner Arch and State Streets, now the site of the Opera House. was built by Morris A. Newman on the hill east of the river, and about 1828 it was moved 1w yokes of oxen as teams. It got stuck on the bridge, then an open one, and a hole had to be cut through the house to allow teams and passengers to cross. It was in this house where the first court was held in Croghansville. THE FORT STEPHENSON CELEBRATION. The celebration of 1839 was the first formal recognition made of the anniversary of the battle. and was entered into by all classes of citizens with a spirit and an energy which indicated the deepest interest in the chief local event of the town. Action looking thereto was inaugurated 1w a preliminary meeting of citizens, held at the Court House on the even- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 391 ing of July 6th, when Thomas L. Hawkins was called to the chair and Ralph P. Buckland appointed secretary. On the motion of Dr. Frank Williams it was resolved to take measures for the celebration of the then approaching anniversary, when a committee of arrangements therefor was appointed, to consist of the following named citizens, towit : Gen. John Bell, James Justice, N. B. Eddy, John R. Pease, Ralph P. Buckland, Dr. Frank Williams, Isaac Knapp, Andrew Morehouse, James Vallette, Dr. La 0. Rawson, Wm. Fields, Dr. Daniel Brainard, Rodolphus Dickinson, Gen. Samuel Treat, Gen. John Patterson, Capt. Samuel Thompson, Maj. James A. Scranton, Jesse S. Olmstead, Gen. Robert S. Rice, Thomas L. Hawkins and Jeremiah Everett. The exercises were duly held on August 2, 1839. according to a programme, which had been prepared by the committee of arrangements ; and as mentioned in the newspapers of the day the occasion was one of great interest. After dinner the company adjourned to the old fort, a few relics of which still remained, where Hon. Eleutheros Cooke, of Sandusky, from the steps of the residence of Gen. John Patterson, (which was the wooden building, lately removed from the center of Fort Stephenson) delivered an able, eloquent and appropriate address, which was published at the time. Letters were received from a large number of persons invited, including Colonel Croghan, Gen. W. H. Harrison, Henry Clay, Col. R. M. Johnson (then vice president) , Gov. Shannon, Hon. Thomas Ewing, Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, John A. Bryan (auditor of state), Hon. John W. Allen, Gen. Jas. Allen and Dr. John G. Miller of Columbus. Besides the "regulars" volunteer toasts were offered by Gen. John Patterson, B. J. Bartlett. William B. Craighill, Josiah Roop, Dr. Niles, Henry Spohn, Sidney Smith (subsequently by special legislative act Sidney Sea), Col. E. D. Bradley, Dr. A. H. Brown, Clark Waggoner. Capt. Samuel Thompson, Pitt Cooke and John N. Sloan of Sandusky. SOCIETIES. MASONIC. Fort Stephenson Lodge, No. 225, F. and A M. (Works in German Language). Dispensa tion granted May 12, 1852. Charter granted October 19, 1852. Fees for degrees, $2. Admission on dimit, $1. Annual dues, $2, payable on or before the first meeting in September, each year. Brainard Lodge, No. 336, F. and A. M. Instituted under dispensation February 16, 1861. Fees for degrees, (Entered Apprentice, $io; Fellow Craft, $10; Master Mason, $10) $30. Annual dues, $3. Admission on dimit, $2. Fremont Chapter, No. 64, R. A. M. Charter granted October 20, 1855. Fees for degrees, $3o. Dimit admission $1. Annual dues $2. Fremont Council No. 64, Royal S. M. Instituted March 7, 1876. Fees for degrees, $143. Annual dues, $1. Fremont Commandery, No. 56. Knights Templar. Dispensation granted May 24, 1897. Charter issued September 8. 1897. Orders, $40. Admission on dimit, $1. Annual dues, $3. Fremont Chapter, No. 133, 0. E. S Instituted December 10, 1900. Initiation fee, $2. Annual dues, $1. Payable in advance on or before October I. ODD FELLOWS. Croghan Lodge, No. 77, I. O. O. F., instituted February 5, 1847. McPherson Lodge, I. O. O. F., chartered May 4, 1876. Fremont Encampment, chartered May, 1855. Lincoln Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah, chartered May 21, 1880. Eugene Rawson Post, No. 32, G. A. R. A mong the first G. A. R. posts, "Eugene Rawson" organized in Ohio was known as Post No. 2 organized in 1866. In 1879 a change was made in the constitution permitting the use of the name of some one of their deceased comrades who had performed some act or deed worthy of commemoration and the name of Eugene Rawson was selected. Post No. 2 was organized with seventeen members. Eugene Rawson Post No. 32, originally known as Post No. 2 was organized May 24, 188o, with 51 members and the following officers were elected : Commander, R. P. Buckland Senior Vice 392 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Commander, Wm. E. Haynes ; Junior Vice Commander, M. E. Tyler ; Adjutant, John Shuman ; Quartermaster, George J. Krebs ; Surgeon, George E. Smith ; Chaplain, John G. Fitch ; Officer of the Day, J. P. Elderkin ; Officer of the Guard, Chauncey Reynolds ; Sergeant Major, E. Loudensleger ; Q. M. Sergeant, L. Q. Fletcher ; Aid de Camp, John L. Greene; Assistant Inspector, Rudolphus Dickinson. The Post was reorganized April 20, 1881, and the following officers elected : Commander, A. F. Price ; Senior Vice Commander, T. F. Hessner ; Junior Vice Commander; John Schoedler ; Adjutant, B. F. Evans ; Surgeon, J. B. Rice ; Chaplain, George E. Smith ; Officer of the Day, James A. Dickinson ; Officer of the Guard, J. R. Rollins ; Sergeant Major, Henry Hunsinger ; Guard, M. E. Tyler. The following are the officers for the year 1909: Commander. Peter Winters ; Senior Vice Commander, C. A. Hampsher ; Junior Vice Commander, Israel Walburn ; Adjutant, George W. Beery ; Quartermaster, Joseph Schwartz ; Surgeon, I. H. Burgoon ; Chaplain, Daniel S. Moses ; Officer of the Day, R. B. Hineline ; Officer of the Guard, Isaac N. Fisher ; Sergeant Major. James W. Short ; Q. M. Sergeant, John W. Palmer ; Guard, Jos. Hem-singer ; Patriotic Instructor, I. H. Burgoon. Past Commanders—R. P. Buckland, A. F. Price, T. F. Heffner, Anthony Young, John L. Greene, John Schoedler, Lorenzo Dick, Francis Howell, S. B. Rathbun, Andrew Hauck, I. H. Burgoon, R. B. Hineline. Daniel I. Garn, James W. Short. It had a membership of 222 in 1888. Its membership now is 119. Eugene Rawson Post has had many comrades of prominence and influence in its ranks, among whom were such men as General R. B. Hayes, General R. P. Buckland, Judge E. F. Dickinson, Dr. J. B. Rice, Judge John L. Greene, Captain A. F. Price, Captain Anthony Young, Captain Lorenzo Dick, Captain Josiah Chance, Captain M. E. Tyler, and many others living and dead. Eugene Rawson Woman's Relief Corps, No. 129, auxiliary to Eugene Rawson Post No. 32, G. A. R., was organized September 4, 1890, by Mrs. Lovina Welch of Bellevue, instituting and installing officer for the Sixth District Ohio, W. R. C., with thirty charter members. The first officers were president, Mrs. Zoe A. F. Long; senior vice president, Anna M. Hineline; junior vice president, Emelie Dillenschneider ; secretary, Anna Rose Green Baumann ; treasurer, Ella Hauck ; chaplain, Emma Hampsher ; guard, Amelia Schoedler ; conductor, Jennie Doniher. To the original number of members have been added, by initiation and transfer 155, lost by death 12, by withdrawal and removal 75, leaving a membership of 98. The objects of the Woman's Relief Corps are to assist the post in caring for aged and infirm comrades and their families, to find homes for the orphans and widows of deceased soldiers, to inculcate lessons of patriotism and love of country, and to assist in the sacred observance of memorial day. Each year, this corps sends a donation of cash to the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home at Xenia, to be used by a committee of G. A. R. comrades and W. R. C. ladies, purchase gifts at Christmas time for each of the 900 children who are cared for in that institution. Also a donation to the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Sandusky, Ohio, of canned fruits, jellies and other delicacies, not provided by the State, to be used in the hospitals. This corps meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at G. A. R. hall. The officers of this corps for this year, 1909, are : President, Mrs. Julia Hunsinger, who succeeds Mrs. Ella Webster (removed to New Mexico) ; senior vice president, Florence Williams; junior vice president, MI s. Serena Marvin ; secretary, Mrs. Catherine F. Ryan ; treasurer, Mrs. Zoe A. Long; chaplain, Isabel Rich ; guard, Lovina Shawl ; conductor, Estella Carnicon ; assistant guard, Nettie Melching ; assistant conductor, Olive Eisenhour ; color bearers, Gertrude Clark, Anna Truman, Mary Freeh, Pauline Baxter. Colonel George Croghan Chapter, No. 523, D. A. I?., was organized November 17, 1900, by Miss Julia M. Haynes. a member of the National Society, and organizing Regent for Fremont. The charter is dated February 2, 1901. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 393 Miss Julia M. Haynes was the first regent. Charter members : Mesdames Fanny Hayes Smith, Elsie Moe Shaw, Harriet Amsden Gast, Maude Edgerton Garvin, Harriet Edgerton Kinney, Mary Colby Norton, May Harris Dorr, Jeanette Amsden Lang, Mary Miller Brinkerhoff, Anzaletta 'Willard Hoot, Anna Rose Greene Baumann, Misses Julia M. Haynes, Minnie Louise Failing, Lucy Elliot Keeler, Estella Avery Sharpe. The present officers are : Mrs. Louis A. Dickinson, Regent; Miss Julia M. Haynes, Vice Regent; Miss Charlotte E. Dillon, Secretary; Miss Minnie L. Failing, Treasurer; Miss Elizabeth Rule, Registrar ; Miss Esther L. Otis, Historian ; Mrs. Alvina H. Little, Chaplain. Ex-Regents : Miss Julia M. Haynes, Mrs. A. V. Bauman, Mrs. H. G. Edgerton and Mrs. C. R. Truesdall. Mrs. Truesdall is now State Regent. Present membership ninety-two. The tablet suspended from the gun carriage of "Old Betsy," is of iron, to match the gun, was put in place in 1902, by the Col. George Croghan chapter, D. A. R., and reads as follows : Cannon used by Major George Croghan Against the British and Indians in The Defense of Fort Stephenson August 1st and 2d, 1813. In 1903, on the 90th anniversary of the battle, the Col. George Croghan chapter of the D. A. R. unveiled a bronze tablet, faced in a boulder, on the northwest angle of the fort. Mrs. Fairbanks, National Regent of the D. A. R., was present, as were Senator Fairbanks, Charles R. Williams, of Indianapolis and other distinguished guests. This inscription is as follows: Fort Stephenson Most gallantly defended by Major George Croghan with but 160 men Against 1,300 British and Indians Under General Proctor and Tecumseh. August 2d. 1813. This tablet was erected by Col. George Croghan Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Also the following benevolent orders and societies : The B. P. 0. Elks; Maccabees, the Dickinson Tent and Michigan Hive; Home Guards of America; Eagles; Modern Woodmen of America; Woodmen of the World; Protected Home Circle; Catholic Mutual Benefit Association; Catholic Knights of America; Catholic Knights of Ohio; Knights of Columbus; German Mutual Aid Society; Knights of Pythias; National Protective Legion; Pathfinders; Red Men; Knights of Honor ; Royal Arcanum ; Royal Neighbors of America ; Protected Home Circle; Fraternal Mystic Circle. THE CIRCLE OF MERCY. In the autumn of 1895 about a dozen of Fremont's charitable women, seeing the need of systematic charitable work, not covered by other benevolent societies, organized a society for the assistance of worthy and needy families, regardless of creed or nationality. This society is regularly chartered and is called "The Circle of Mercy." These women found many families, who, by reason of illness, lack of employment or other misfortune, were unable to furnish proper food and clothing necessary to keep the children in school or comfortably provide, in some instances, for aged parents who were members of their households ; and who, owning, as some of them did, their little homes, did not like to appeal to the authorized channels of city or county charity. These families they helped by distributing clothing, shoes, school books, etc., (donated by friends to the circle,) and delicacies for the sick and comforts for the aged ones, purchased by cash donations. Charging no membership fees, the circle was entirely without funds except what came to them as a result of entertainments, and donations by kind friends. The first officers were, president, Mrs. J. L. Rawson ; vice-presidents, Mrs. J. L. Winters, Mrs. V. Kelly, Mrs. William Baker ; treasurer, Mrs. Mary Mowry; secretary, Mrs. Zoe A. Long. Mrs. Rawson held the office of president for several years, until failing health compelled her to give up the work entirely. The present officers are, president, Mrs. J. J. Keefe; vice-president, Mrs. Ed Schwartz ; secretary, Mrs. S. J. Ryan ; treasurer, Mrs. Zoe A. Long. 394 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY The Ladies' Relief Society was organized in 1855. Its first president was Mrs. James Vallette; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. John M. Smith; relief committee, Mesdames D. W. Gould, George Grant, O. L. Nims, J. Krider, B. Amsden and J. Quinn. Mrs. L. Q. Rawson, Mrs. Amsden, Mrs. Grant and Mrs. W. E. Haynes subsequently filled the "presidential chair," with Mrs. A. B. Taylor and Mrs. Lydia Mitchner as vice-presidents and Mrs. F. I. Norton and Mrs. R. W. B. McLellan secretaries, who also took charge of the finances. All of these ladies have passed away, but this work remains and has been kept up by others. Mrs. A. H. Miller, who is living, also served as president for several years. The society had a large list of members ; the only requirement for eligibility being the payment of an annual membership fee of one dollar. As the population of the city increased, the calls for aid became frequent, and the ladies began giving, each year, an entertainment in the way of a supper which was called "The Poor Supper" and which was liberally patronized. At the death of Mr. Sardis Birchard in 1874, the society received by his will a liberal bequest, the interest of which, together with the interest of a fund bequeathed by Mr. Robert Brayton and a lesser amount by the Misses M. J. and I. Stevenson, makes a pretty good-sized bank account to draw on in time of need. In the fall of 1894, the Wrigley Brothers, proprietors of the Fremont Daily News, gave the ladies of this society the use of their office and the gross amount of all receipts from the sale of papers and advertising ''for one day only," stipulating that the paper be edited and managed in all its departments by such committee of women as the officers of the society might select. The ladies accepted this offer, and with Mrs. Zoe Long as editor in chief, and a corps of able assistants, the venture proved a success and netted the sum of over three hundred and fifty dollars. The society is still in existence and is doing much good. Its present officers are, president, Miss Sarah J. Grant ; vice-president, Mrs. J. L. Winters ; secretary, Miss Rose Ames ; treasurer, Mrs. E. A. Bristol ; with committees of three for each ward of the city. CHAPTER XXV. MISCELLANEA. Dates of Principal Events-Tax Duplicate for 1909-Income Tax on Lawyers and Physicians- Agricultural-Iron Bridges-Saloons Abolished-The Whtitakers Again-British Account of Battle of Ft. Stephenson-Floods-Col. Mills Stephenson---Sleet Storm. of 1909--Fremont -Fostoria -Electric Railway-River Distances-Gateway to Spiegel Grove Dedicated -Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society' of Clyde-Pioneer Reunion-The River of Time. In 1806 the first sermon was preached at Lower Sandusky; i8o8, land for Maumee road was ceded by Indians; 1811, Lower Sandusky region was attached to Radnor Township, Delaware County; 1813, Croghan's Victory; 1815, Lower Sandusky Region was attached to Huron County; 1815, Lower Sandusky Township was organized, and first village election held; 1816, first school house was built; Croghansville was platted; 1817, Lower Sandusky was platted; 1819, first sermon by a Methodist minister at Lower Sandusky; 1820, County was organized and first county election; population 852; first term of court held May 8, and the first marriage license was issued October 24, 1820; 1822, Rutherford B. Hayes was born in Delaware; 1823, Maumee pike surveyed; building of first court house begun; first will probated, October 23, 1844, building of Maumee and Western Reserve Pike; 1828, first bridge at Lower Sandusky; 1829, first newspaper established; Lower Sandusky incorporated; 1830, population of county, 2,851; county Bible society formed; 1833 great flood, February 3rd; bridge carried away; frame court house completed; 1840, population of county, 10,182; taxable property in county, $843,000; tax, $14,772; 1844, brick court house completed; 1849, poor house erected; name changed from Lower Sandusky to Fremont ; 1850, population of county, 14,305; 1852, Agricultural Society organized; firSt railroad passenger train through the county, via. train through Fremont, over the T. N. & C.; 1860, population of county, 21,429; 1870, population of county, 25,566; 1874, Pioneer and Historical Society organized; 1880, population of county, 33,511; 1883, great flood February 3; i80, population of county, 34,311. r The county tax duplicate for 1909 amounts to $19,080,000.00. Estimated population, 40,- 000. The Fremont Journal of June 5, 1857 says: PIONEER LAWYERS AND PHYSICIANS. In connection with our report of the pioneer reunion, the following item may be of interest: In the County Treasurer's office are preserved the tax duplicates of Sandusky County since the year 1837. In looking over the duplicates of 1845 this week, we noticed that lawyers and physicians were charged with an income tax amounting to 42 cents on every $100 of their annual income. The lawyers' names on the duplicate were as follows: J. L. Greene, B. J. Bartlett, Cooper K. Watson, J. A. Johnson, R. P. Buckland, L. B. Otis, Homer Everett, R. B. Hayes and Wm. W. Culver. Their annual income as returned for taxation was from $50 up to $500 per year. The doctors were: J. W. Wilson, L. Q. Rawson, Samuel Ryder, Louis Gessner, Franklin Williams, J. D. G. Stevenson, Edwin Lathan, A. R. Ferguson, Isaac S. Ross, Richard L. Seeley, P. Beaugrand, Stephen Finch, Wm. G. Harkness, Joseph Kelly, John M. Fletcher, John C. Thomson. The doctors' incomes ran from $50 up to $600 per year. 396 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY AGRICULTURAL. From the annual report of the county auditor for 1909, the following facts appear : Acres of land cultivated, 107,076; acres of pasture, 47,561; acres of wood land, 16,261; acres, lying waste, 4,268; acres of wheat for harvest, 547,575; rye, 532; oats, 28,600; corn, 40,860; Irish potatoes, 2,498; meadow, in 1908, other than clover, 18,487; clover, 10,937; alfalfa, 87; apple orchards, 2,232. The number of horses and other live stock owned is as follows: Horses, 6,932; beef cattle, 485 ; milch cows, 6,891; all other cattle, 3,832 ; sheep, 12,525 ; hogs, 16,151. Among agricultural products for the preceding year may be mentioned the following : Wheat, 547,575 bushels; rye, 8,605 bushels; oats, 887,738 bushels; corn (shelled), 1,635,509 bushels ; Irish potatoes, 237,653; hay other than clover, 21,571 tons; clover, 12,954 tons; clover seed, 9,212 bushels; alfalfa, 236 tons; milk sold for family use, 261,370 gallons; butter, made in home dairies, 605,625 pounds; eggs, 791,263 dozen, and honey, 3,259 pounds. IRON BRIDGES. The first iron bridge in the county was built over Mud Creek, near the Village of Millersville, in 1870, on the Greensburg Road. It cost $1,270. The county commissioners were Benjamin Inman, S. E. Walters and Henry Reiling. The next was over Wolf Creek, near Bettsville, on the county line, in 1872, and was jointly built by Seneca and Sandusky Counties. The cost (equally divided) was for the iron work $840. The third was built in 1874 over Mud Creek in Washington Township, costing for the superstructure $790; and the same year another iron bridge was built over this same creek in Scott Township, the superstructure of which cost $775. In the fall of the year 1876 an iron bridge was built over this creek where it is crossed by the Fremont and Oak Harbor Road. The superstructure cost $863. Another iron bridge was built over Sugar Creek in Woodville Township, in 1876, at a cost of $850, and still another that year over Tousaint Creek in that township at a cost of $780. In 1877 three more were built over Mud Creek, one near Frank Fought's; one near the Noah Snyder residence in Washington Township, and one near Luther Winchell's in Scott Township, at an average cost of $610 for iron superstructure. The Portage river bridge on the pike in Woodville Township was finished in November, 1878, and was built jointly by the state and county. The county paid $2,000 of the cost. The bridge over Green Creek near Huler's residence in Green Creek Township was built in 1879 and cost for the superstructure alone $816. The bridge over Muscallonge Creek on the Port Clinton Road was built in 1879, the exact cost of which is not ascertained. The present bridge over the Sandusky River in Fremont at State Street, was erected in 1877, and formally opened for travel on Christmas day of that year. The total cost including engineering and all incidental expenses was $23,357.76, of which the county paid $10,457.76 and the state the balance. The bridge is 320 1-2 feet in length, resting on two abutments and three piers. When the present Lake Shore Electric Railroad was established, to cross the river at this point the railroad company made improvements in the way of strengthening and preparing the structure for their tracks on the same, the tracks over the bridge being double, following the driveway. The bridge is fifty-seven feet wide, having a footway with railings on each side. The driveways are eighteen feet each in width. Since the building of the bridges mentioned, improvements in that line have been made, until over nearly all the streams at the principal road crossings in the county substantial bridges with- stone foundations and iron superstructures have been placed. SALOONS ABOLISHED. At the election held in Sandusky County, on Monday, November 23, 1908, under the so-called Rose local option law, to decide whether the saloons in the county should be abolished or AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 397 retained, the majority in favor of their abolition was 515. The law took effect under this election and vote, December 23, 1908. The "Daily News" of December 24th says : "The saloons in Sandusky County ceased to exist at midnight Wednesday, suspending business under the operation of the Rose local option law. The closing of the saloons in Fremont and Sandusky County as far as the sale of intoxicating liquor is concerned, marks an epoch in local history and is the first time in the history of Sandusky County and Fremont that people could not get all the alcoholic drinks they desired, and the first time that wine, beer and whisky could not be legally sold here. In the memory of the oldest inhabitant this has never happened in Fremont before. "The closing of the twenty-five saloons in Fremont Wednesday night was not marked with any great demonstration. For the past week or more the saloons have been doing a rushing business, disposing of their stocks of liquors and none of the dealers had much left early Wednesday night. * * * * * "There was no particular excitement down town Wednesday night, the last night of the saloons. It had been expected that things would be lively, but such was not the case, and there were but few drunken individuals around who desired to celebrate and take advantage of the last night when they could line up to the bar and order what they wanted." THE WHITAKERS AGAIN. Hon. Homer Everett relates in his History of Sandusky County an interview with Mrs. Rachel Scranton, the seventh child of James Whitaker, as follows : "About the year 1780 two brothers, Quill and James Whitaker, in company with another young man, left Fort Pitt one morning on a hunting expedition. They wandered a considerable distance from the fort, intent upon securing game with which to gratify their friends, but at an unexpected moment a volley of rifle balls rattled among the trees. One took mortal effect in the body of the young man, another passed through the hat of Quill Whitaker, who saved himself by flight ; a third ball shattered the arm of James, the younger brother, and in a few minutes he was the prisoner of a band of painted Wyandot warriors. After several days' hard traveling, the Indians with their captive reached a village within the present boundaries of Richland County, Ohio. Here the lines were formed and Whitaker's bravery and activity tested on the gauntlet course. The boy, wounded as he was, deported himself with true heroism. The first half of the course was passed without a single scratch, but as he was speeding on toward the painted goal an old squaw who cherished a feeling of deep revenge, mortified by the captive's successful progress, sprang forward and caught his arm near the shoulder, hoping to detain him long enough for the weapon of the next savage to take effect. The prisoner instantly halted and with a violent kick sent the vicious squaw and the next Indian tumbling from the line. His bold gallantry received wild shouts of applause along the line. Attention being thus diverted, he sprang forward with quickened speed and reached the post without material injury. Ndt satisfied that this favorite amusement should be so quickly ended, it was decided that the prisoner should run again. The lines for the second trial were already formed. when an elderly and dignified squaw walked forward and took from her own shoulders a blanket which she cast over the panting young prisoner, saying, 'This is my son. He is one of us. You must not kill him.' Thus adopted, he was treated with all that kindness and affection which the savage heart is capable of cher ishing. "About two years after the capture of Whitaker, another party of warriors made an incursion into Pennsylvania and captured at Cross Roads, Elizabeth Foulks, a girl eleven years old, whom they carried into captivity and adopted into a family of the tribe. Both captives lived contentedly and happily, having adopted the manners and customs of their hosts. "A few years after—probably here on the Sandusky River, at a general council of their tribe, these two adopted children of the forest made each other's acquaintance. A marriage according to the customs of civilized life was at once arranged and the couple, ardent in their love and happy in their expectations, set off for 398 - HISTORY OF SANDUSKY COUNTY Detroit, where the Christian ritual was pronounced which made them man and wife. (They were married at Lower Sandusky, not Detroit.—Editor). "The Indians seemed well pleased by this conduct of 'their pale-faced children. They gave them a choice tract of farming land in the river bottom. Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker reared a large family for whose education they expended considerable sums of money. "Mr. Whitaker entered into mercantile business, for which he was well fitted. He established a store at his residence, one at Tymochtee and one at Upper Sandusky. He accumulated wealth rapidly, having at the time of his death his goods all paid for and 2,000 pounds on deposit with the Canada house where he made his purchases. At Upper Sandusky he had a partner, Hugh Patterson with whom in the year 1804 he drank a glass of wine and died a short time afterwards, his death being attributed to poison in the wine. Mrs. Whitaker, to whom a reservation was granted in the treaty of 1817, survived her husband many years." Hildreth in his Pioneer History, gives an account of the capture of Daniel Conyers in April, 1791, who on May 9 following was taken to "Lower Sandusky where there was a large Indian village, and his captors moved down the river and stopped a short time at Mr. Whitaker's, an Indian trader. He had a white wife who, like himself, was taken prisoner in childhood from western Virginia and adopted into the tribe (Wyandots). The trader made them a present of a loaf of maple sugar. Whitaker said but little to the prisoner lest he should excite the jealousy of the warriors." BRITISH ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF FORT STEPHENSON. "The Military Occurrences of the War of 1812," by William James, an English publication of the time, contains the following story of General Proctor's campaign against Fort Stephenson on the Sandusky: "The American headquarters were at Seneca-town. near to Sandusky Bay on Lake Erie. Fort Meigs, already so strong, had its works placed in a still .more vigorous state of defence; and a fort had since been constructed on the west side of Sandusky River, about forty miles from its mouth, and ten from the general's headquarters. It stood on a rising ground, commanding the river to the east ; having a plain to 'the north and south, and a wood to the west. The body of the fort was about 100 yards in length and fifty in breadth, surrounded outside of all by a row of strong pickets, twelve feet over ground; each picket armed at top with a bayonet. Next to and against this formidable picket was an embankment, forming the side of a dry ditch, twelve feet wide by seven feet deep ; then a second embankment of glacis. A strong bastion and two blockhouses completely enfiladed the ditch. Within 'the fort were the hospital. military and commissary store-houses, magazines, etc. As far as we can collect from the American accounts, the fort mounted but one six-pounder ; and that in a masked battery at the northwestern angle. The number of troops composing the garrison cannot exactly be ascertained. One American account states that the 'effective' force did not amount to 160 men, or rank and file. "Major General Proctor when he landed near the mouth of Sandusky River, on the first of August, had, it is admitted, no other white troops with him than the Forty-first regiment. An American editor says that the major-general, previous to his appearance on the Sandusky, had detached 'Tecumseh with 2,000 warriors, and a few regulars, to make a diversion favorable to the attack upon Fort Stephenson ; and vet the same editor states Major-General Proctor's force before the fort on the evening of the first, at 5o regulars and 700 Indians.' Of the latter there were but 200 and they, as was generally their custom when the object of the assault was a fortified place, withdrew to a ravine out of gun-shot. almost immediately that the action commenced. Of regulars there were two lieutenant-colonels, four captains, seven subalterns, (one a lieutenant of artillery) eight staff, twenty-two sergeants, seven drummers, and 241 rank and file, including twenty-three artillerymen ; making a total of 391 officers, non-commissioned officers and privates. "In the morning of the second the British opened their artillery consisting of two light six-pounders and two five and one-half howit- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 399 zers upon the fort, but without .producing the slightest impression; and the different American accounts, as we are glad to see, concur in stating, that the fort 'was not at all injured' by the fire directed against it. Under an impression that the garrison did not exceed fifty or sixty men, the fort was ordered to be stormed. Lieut.-Col. Shortt at the head of 18o rank and file, immediately advanced toward the northwest angle; while about 160 rank and file, under Lieut.-Col. Warburton, passed around through the woods skirting the western side of the fort, to its south side. After sustaining a heavy fire of musketry from the American troops, Lieut.-Col. Shortt approached to the Stockade ; and with some difficulty succeeded in getting over the pickets. The instant this gallant officer reached the ditch he ordered his men to follow and assault the works with the utmost vigor. The masked six-pounder, which had been previously pointed to rake the ditch, and loaded with a double charge of 'leaden slugs', was now fired at the British column, 'the front of which was only thirty feet distant from the piece.' A volley of musketry was fired at the same instant and repeated in quick succession. This dreadful and, as to the battery, unexpected discharge killed Lieut.-Col. Shortt, and several of his brave followers, and wounded a great many more. Still undaunted, the men of the Forty-first, headed by another officer, advanced again to carry the masked six-pounder, from which another discharge of 'leaden slugs' aided by other volleys of musketry, was directed against them, and cleared the 'fatal ditch' a second time. It was in vain to contend further ; and the British retired, with as many of their wounded as they could carry away." Col— MILLS STEPHENSON was born in the state of Delaware in 1774, and located in Mason County, Kentucky, in 1792. In 1794 he crossed to the Ohio side, and here, for a time, engaged in the Indian wars. In 1800 he was married to Miss Jane Kilpatrick, who was a daughter of Frank Kilpatrick, a native of Ireland. After emigrating to America. Mr. Kilpatrick, in 1791 came down the Ohio River in a flat boat with his two daughters, Isabelle and Jane, aged ten and twelve years respectively. When just above Limestone, now Maysville, Ky., the Indians endeavored to decoy them ashore but failed in their attempt. They fired two shots. Both took effect, one entering his head and the other his heart, killing him instantly. The boat drifted into Limestone, where he was buried. His daughters were taken by Richard Applegate, of Mason County, Kentucky, and reared to womanhood. Mills Stephenson was the father of five children, three sons and two daughters. Mrs. Jane Kilpatrick Stephenson died June 30, 1815. He afterwards married Mary Kiles, to which union three children were born. He served through the War of 1812 as colonel under General Harrison. He built Fort Stephenson at Lower Sandusky, and it was given his name. After the War of 1812 he bought a farm and engaged in farming and boat building, loading and floating boats from Ripley to New Orleans, each trip disposing of his boat and returning home on foot. He died of swamp fever, at Shreveport, Louisiana, June 16, 1822, and was buried there. FLOODS. Flood of 1833. In February, 1833, occurred the greatest flood ever before known on the Sandusky River. The ground was frozen and covered with deep snow, when several successive days of heavy rain set in and melted the snow. The combined waters from the rain and snow, no part of which could be absorbed by the frozen earth, was suddenly precipitated into the ice-covered river. The large bodies of ice up stream, were soon thereby loosened and raised and brought against the still firm ice below the village of Lower Sandusky, thus forming an ice-gorge, damming back the waters, which being thus turned from their channel, flowed over the valley, and formed a strong current several feet in depth down Front Street, so that canoes and skiffs were used to go from one part of the town to another for a period of about ten days. All the flats of the village. were overflowed and the homes filled with water and ice, thereby causing great suffering among the people of those parts of the village. The bridge across the river at State Street, which was built in 1828, was lifted from its