THE traveler, crossing
the State on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, & Indianapolis
Railway, passes through but one village in Morrow County, and
that is Cardington. This is a village of 1,362
inhabitants, by the census of the present year; it is situated
in the southeast corner of the township of the same name,
ninety-eight miles southwest of Cleveland and thirty-eight north
of Columbus. Its latitude is 40½°
north, and about 6° west longitude. A line drawn from
Cincinnati, the metropolis of the State, to Cleveland, the
second city, passes through the village; another line, drawn
from the northwest corner of the State to Marietta in the
southeast, the oldest city, will cross the first line in
Cardington; so that, like the city of Duluth, "it is supposed to
be so exactly in the center of the visible universe that the sky
comes down at the same distance all around it." But this
is the village of to-day. Forty years ago, it ranked below
the village of Woodbury, and was called a town only as a matter
of courtesy. A straggling collection of dwellings at the
east end of town, that in 1836 counted only six dwellings, with
the saw and grist mills, and the carding-mill and two cabins at
the west end, marked the site of Cardington. One street
wound along the river bank from the ford at the site of Bunker's
mill to the carding-mill, and then on to the Delaware road.
Where Main crosses Marion street, a "cat-tail swamp" barred the
way, and a single tavern and store represented the hospitality
and commercial enterprise of the place. But little remains
now to point out the changes that have been made since that day.
Here and there about two some old structure is pointed out
beneath its modern disguise as one of he land-marks of that
time. There is the old water-mill, built in 1840 by
Shunk & Wolfe, with the same old building, but containing
such improvements in machinery as would be likely to confound
the early proprietors. The house on the race, back of E.
Winebar's, is another relic of the early times, and about
which cluster the memories of the earliest settlers, while those
owned by John Leutz, and Andrew Great have
witnessed the changes from a time scarcely less early. The
stable of C. P. Nichols has had a varied existence.
Built in 1839 for a stable by Martin Brockway, it stood
on the south side of Second street, opposite John Sanderson's
livery stable. In 1852, Leumas Cook brought it,
and, moving it to where Harvey Bunker's livery stable
stands, converted it into a grist-mill, applying the first steam
power ever used in the town. After serving in this
capacity for eight or ten years, it was sold again and resumed
its character of stable, and is now occupied for livery
purposes. Of those who were actors upon the scene at that
time, there are twelve persons remaining. Leumas Cook
and wife, Mrs. Hannah Brockway, Mrs. Anna Wolfe, Julia
Hartsock, Thomas C. Thompson, Dubois St. John, Sarah A. Bailey,
Mary Badger
[Pages 333
& 334]
E. J. CRANE
[Page 335]
Mary Long, Mrs. Harriet Prophet, and Elihu Bunker.
The Bunker property remained
in the hands of Cook and Shunk two or three years,
when in 1836 they laid out the town. They soon after
dissolved partnership, Cook retaining the village
property and Shunk taking the mills and water privileges.
In 1839, Charles H. Wolfe came here from Maryland with
his wife and child, and purchased an interest in the mills with
Shunk, a partnership that terminated only with the death
of Mr. Shunk in 1864. Three years before the coming
of Wolfe, Thomas C. Thompson came from the same
State, a young unmarried man, and set up a carriage-shop.
A year later, having established himself in his business,
He returned to Maryland and brought back the sister of John
Shunk as his wife. In 1837, Anson St. John came
here, a widower with three children, and established a
cabinet-shop on the bank of the river in the east part of town.
Here he manufactured the first furniture made in the place, and
carried a stock of goods that was the pride of the town. A
lathe run by horse power was one of his conspicuous advantages
over competitors in the surrounding county, giving his work a
superior finish and his shop greater facilities that told on the
customer. But, notwithstanding these additions, the town
made but a very small show for a city. Up to the coming of
the railroad, the place exhibited no particular vitality, and,
in fact, was rather retrograding. Chesterville at that
time was the metropolis of the county, with a lively
struggle between Mount Gilead and Cardington for second place.
The nearest point to secure supplies was at Mansfield, which was
then the terminus of the old Mansfield railroad. Here,
whoever had business to that place, put on what goods they could
haul and brought them back to his neighbors. A small
tin-shop owned and run by Dubois St. John got all of its
supplies here, going over eighteen or twenty miles for the
little stuff he found sale for in the way of his trade. In
1848, came the formation of the county, and with it a "boom" for
Mount Gilead, making it in a short time the most important
village in the county. At this time the Scriptural
injunction, "let him that standeth take heed lest he fall"
would have served the county seat an excellent purpose if it had
been heeded. The building of the new railroad was
projected, and soon took shape, so that the village was asked to
subscribe for the enterprise. Fifty thousand dollars worth
of stock was at once taken and the line surveyed out. At
this juncture the managers, desiring to make sure against any
failure on the part of the subscribers, came to Mount Gilead, as
to other places, to get security for the subscriptions before
the work was begun. The parties there, feeling sure that
the road would go through, temporized and failed to give the
desired guarantees, and the railroad magnates left, in no
amiable mood. Coming to Cardington they stopped with
John Shunk, who was a man of shrewd intellect and kept
hotel. The town had but little means and could not compete
with the county seat in subscription, but Shunk suggested
that if they would follow the line surveyed in 1830, for the
Ohio Canal, which passed about two miles west of Mount Gilead,
they would save nearly as much as they had subscribed.
This suggestion fell upon willing ears, and the line was laid
out in that way. One day, it is said, some Gilead parties
were in Cardington, and, noticing some men working along the
proposed route through town, inquired what was going on.
"That is the line of the new railroad," was the reply. The
astonishment and chagrin of the man from Gilead was all that
their rivals could have asked. Great efforts were made to
counteract the effects of their short-sighted policy, but it was
in vain, and Cardington gained what was far more valuable to her
interests than the seat of justice. During the year 1850,
the work on the road was rapidly pushed and finally completed,
so that the first train passed over the road in January, 1851.
Ira and George Nichols, of this village, contracted for
and built several sections of the road, along where it passes
Levering Station. There was a good deal of hard feeling
expressed over the failure of Mount Gilead, and some of the
farmers did all
[Page 336]
they could against yielding the right of way. When the
Nichols Bros. were ready to break ground about Levering,
a farmer defied them to touch his fence, and threatened to shoot
the first one who molested his property. The men were
ordered to proceed, and several sprang to the fence, tearing it
down in a trice. The irate farmer, finding himself in the
hands of a determined and numerous enemy, took counsel of his
discretion and deserted the field without a shot. In
February, 1851, the trains ran regularly through the village,
and in about a year the first railroad smash-up occurred within
the limits of the town. A freight train, that had got
behind time, was making every effort to make up, when a young
bull was observed on the track, apparently determined to keep
his position. The conductor was on the engine, consulting
with the engineer as to the best course to pursue. The
engine had no "cow-catcher," but it was decided, under the
circumstances, to try conclusions with his bullship. The
result was unexpected and disastrous to both parties. The
collision was announced with a crash that in the still evening
air was heard at Woodbury, a distance of nine miles.
Nineteen freight cars were demolished, the conductor thrown
under the machinery and both legs cut off, and travel stopped
for a number of hours. The conductor afterward died from
his wounds. The company owns twelve acres of land, and one
of the finest depot grounds along their line. Two hundred
and fifty maple trees were set out by the citizens, that have
generally grown into a park that elicits the unbounded
admiration of travelers through the village. The road has
five water-tanks, with a capacity of fifty barrels each, a steam
pump, and good facilities for weighing stock. The
valuation of the road for taxable purposes is, in the township,
$46,628, in the corporation, $25,963, and in the school
district, $16,000, making a total of $88,591.
The advantages of the railroad were not at once
apparent. There was a slow improvement observable, but it
was not until about the opening of the war that any marked
growth could be seen. A movement was made in 1854 to
incorporate the village, but the petition received such vigorous
opposition that it was defeated. Three years later, F.
E. Phelps and Gen. John Beatty headed a petition
signed by one hundred and eleven other citizens, and the
incorporation of the village was effected. The original
plat of the village included the territory on both sides of Main
street, from the alley at Shur's brick store, east to the
river; also between Second and Walnut streets, from the alley
east of F. R. Cunningham's dwelling, east to the river.
In 1849, John Thompson platted twenty-nine lots;
six on Main street, from Marvin's to Shur's store;
six fronting on Marion street, extending from Second to Walnut
street; eleven on Second street, extending east to Center
street, and six fronting on Walnut street, extending east to the
alley between G. R. Cunningham's house and shop. In
June, 1849, Leumas Cook added nine lots, lying on the
north side of Main street, extending from the Nichols House
west to the American House inclusive. In the following
year, Cook made a second addition of eleven lots, on the
south side of Main street, between Marion and Depot streets, and
south to Second street. In June, 1852, Cook made a
third addition, of fifteen lots, consisting of the territory
bounded north by Second street, east by Marion, south by Walnut,
and west by Depot street. In 1851, James Gregory
added to the town forty-eight lots, including the territory
extending west from the American House on both sides of Main
street to Third street. In the same year, George
Nichols added eleven lots, south of Walnut street, and west
of Center street, the Methodist Episcopal Church standing on the
corner lot.
The petition praying for the
incorporation sets forth the following description of the
proposed boundaries of the village: "Commencing at the southeast
corner of the depot grounds of the C., C. & C. Railroad; thence
west with said grounds to the southwest corner of said grounds;
thence northerly with said line to the southern line of
[Page 337]
Center street, in Gregory's Addition to the village of
Cardington; thence westerly on the south line of said street to
the northwest corner of Lot 191 of said addition; thence
northerly along the west line of lots numbered 154 and 145 to a
point immediately north of said lot numbered 145 to the north
side of the street running parallel with Whetstone reek; thence
easterly with said north line to a point immediately north line
to a point immediately north of the northwest corner of Lot No.
99, Cook's Addition to the village of Cardington; thence
northerly across said creek along the east line of the lands of
James Gregory, Sr., to wit: Lots No. ___, Section
No. 22, Range No. 17, in Township No. 6, to the northeast corner
of said lot to a stone in the road; thence easterly with the
lands of Leumas Cook, to wit: Lot No. ___, Section No. 22,
Range 17, Township No. 6, to a point on the east side of the
railroad line; thence southerly with the east line of said
railroad to the northwest corner of Lot No. 19; thence east to
the northeast corner of said lot; thence southerly with the east
line of said lot to the southeast corner of said lot; thence
easterly with the north line of Lot No. 20 to the northeast
corner of said lot; thence along the east line of Lot No. 20 in
a southerly direction to a point on the north side of the creek;
thence easterly on the north side of Whetstone Creek to the
northwest corner of John Rusley's lot, No. 34; thence
easterly along the north side of Lot No. 34 to the southeast
corner of Lot No. 33 (graveyard); thence northerly to the
northwest corner of said lot; thence easterly on the north line
of Lot 33 to the northeast corner of said lot; thence easterly
parallel with the north line of Lot No. 33 till the line
intersects the east line of Isaac Lee's lot; thence sixty
feet east; thence southeasterly on a line at right angles with
the Mansfield road to a point on the northwest line of said
road; thence southwesterly on the north westerly line of said
road to a point at the southeast corner of Lot No. 35; thence
southerly across said road along the east line of Lot No. 37 to
a stone in the creek, being the southeasterly corner of said
lot; thence southwesterly across the creek in a direct line to
the northwest corner of the junction of the Chesterville road
with Nichols street, in W. C. Nichols' Addition to the
village of Cardington; thence southerly along the east line of
Lot No. 8, Range ___, Township 6, to the southeast corner of
said lot; thence westerly along the south line of aid lot to the
northwest corner of Lot No. 9; thence directly across Marion
street to the west side thereof; thence northerly along the west
side of Marion street to a point immediately west of the
northwest corner of F. E. Phelps' lot, being a part of
said Lot No. 8; thence in a direct line to the southeast corner
of the depot grounds of the C., C. & C. R. R., being the place
of beginning." In the following year, W. C. Nichols
made an addition of twenty-eight lots lying on both sides of
Nichols street, between Center and Water streets. Three
years later, James Gregory's administrator made a second
addition, platting twenty-two lots lettered from A. to V, and
covering the territory extending south from Walnut street to the
boundary line, and west from Hiram Kern's to Depot
street. In 1864, W. C. Nichols added fourteen more
lots lying on both sides of Center street, south of Nichols
street. Two years later, Levi Reichelderfer added
to the town, on the Gregory property north of the river,
twenty-seven lots, and the same year he added sixteen more lots
lying west of the first ones platted. In the same year,
Morgan Payne added sixteen lots between Reichelderfer's
addition and the river. In 1867, there were three
additions to the village: Seventeen lots lying directly west of
the freight house of the railroad, by John Beatty; eight
lots east of the river east of Gilead street, by T. D.
Bradley, and five lots on Marion street, by S. P. Brown.
In 1869, the Gregory heirs added seventy-three lots
to the town, extending west from Third street to the corporation
line, and from the river on the north to the Greenfield treaty
line on the south. In 1872, the Beatty Bros. added
sixteen lots on the south side of Chester street. Lewis
Mulford added eighteen lots between Center and Water
streets, and between Walnut and Boundary streets, but the date
is not
[Page 338]
known. The same is true of five lots on Main street, added
by Shunk, Wolfe & Godman. In August, 1871, the
limits of the village were again extended, taking in the
territory now belonging to the village. The territory thus
included within the limits of the village forms a rectangular
body about a mile east way, containing about seven hundred acres
of land. It will be observed that by various additions,
the village has gradually extended over the Gregory, Grandy
and Nichols farms. The two latter were
originally in Delaware county, and were a part of that county
until 1848, when Morrow was formed. The Greenville treaty
line, which marked the limit of Delaware on the north, passes
through the village from the east, running south eighty degrees
west, passing through Boundary street, between the residences of
Prof. G. O. Brown and W. H. Marion, to the west
line of the corporation at the southwest corner of Gregory's
latest addition to the village.
The first effort at public improvement was a sidewalk
consisting of a single plank in width, laid down on the south
side of Main street, from the railroad to the old Christian
Church, on the corner of Water street. This was the result
of private enterprise, and accomplished at private expense.
This was in 1852. Three years later, the first regular
sidewalk was laid by J. H. Fiedler, in front of the lot
now owned by Charles Lentz, on Main street. This
walk consisted of sawed ties placed closely together, which
formed a substantial, if not an economical walk. The task
of grading the town and making the streets presentable, was not
a light one. The surface sloped from the east and south,
leaving what is now the business center of the town covered with
swamp and water. Where the National Bank building stands,
was in 1852 a pool of water deep enough for the boys in the
village to swim in, and it was situated far enough out in the
suburbs to answer that purpose. No general effort was made
to establish a grade for the streets until about 1868.
Provisions for draining the streets were made, however, as early
as 1861. In that year it was required of lot owners, that
a gutter or sluice should be made in front of each lot.
Curbstones were to be put in, and the sluice-way, commencing two
inches from the top of the curb, should extend three feet toward
the center of the street, and have a depth of eight inches below
the curb. This was to be paved with stone. In 1867,
it was required by ordinance that "the several owners of lots
and parts of lots abutting on Main street, commencing at the
west end of the bridge on the north end of Water street, thence
west to the corporation line; and the several owners of
lots and parts of lots abutting on Marion street, commencing at
the south end of the bridge, thence south to the old boundary
line," to grade and pave their sidewalks with good hard-burnt
brick or smooth-cut stone, and to macadamize the street with
fine-pounded sandstone or limestone. This was readily
undertaken by the property holders, for the village was then
experiencing a great "boom" of prosperity. Sandstone was
hauled from the quarries five miles east of the village, and the
work completed that year. Since then, the work has been
pushed until all the streets of the town have been provided with
wooden, stone or brick pavements. The only attempt at
sewerage is on the railroad lot and on Marion street. The
natural advantages for such improvement are excellent, but the
village has never felt the necessity for sewers save in the two
instances. The one leading out from the railroad grounds
was constructed in 1866, is about three feet in diameter, and
empties into the river. The one in Marion street extends
south to the Enterprise Block, and is made of tile about
eighteen inches in diameter. These are properly drains, as
they perform no part of the duty of a sewer proper. In
1866, an effort was made to secure the lighting of the streets,
but the Council did not see fit to adopt such an advanced
position. A compromise, however, was effected, by which
those who desired the lamps, bought them, and the Council kept
them lighted. In this way the village is provided with
[Page 339]
twenty-nine coal-oil lamps, but few of which are now in use.
The public buildings of the village consist of the engine house
and council room combined, and the lock-up. The former was
built in 1874. It is a small brick structure about twenty
by twenty-five feet, and two stories high. The lower room
is devoted to the engine, and the upper to the Council. A
wooden "lean-to" on the north side shelters the hook and ladder
truck. The "lock-up" is a wooden shed with great windows
and doors, the whole presenting the appearance of a
well-regulated calf-pen. The history of this public
edifice is somewhat varied. A "lock-up" was one of the
earliest institutions, but the one best remembered is that
building constructed of plank and driven full of nails, that
stood on the bank of the creek east of town. In 1873, this
was sold and the present calaboose erected.
The fire department was organized in 1874. Fires
were almost unknown during the first years, and, though
considerable apprehension was felt that a time would come which
would more than offset their good fortune, nothing was done by
the village toward protecting property against fire. Seven
thousand dollars would, probably, cover the whole loss by fire
during the first fifty years of the towns history. In
1856, Joseph Whistler had a small house burned; in 1865,
William Cunningham had a blacksmith-shop burned; in the
following year, Louis Mayer had a fire in his dry-goods
store; in 1870, S. W. Gregory and Dr. T. P. Glidden
each lost a house; and in 1871, a millinery store was burned.
After this period, the fires seem to grow more destructive.
In 1874, William Shunk's store, with three other
storehouses, including the Bank Building, were destroyed,
involving a loss of $8,000; in November, 1875, G. R.
Cunningham's establishment was consumed, involving a loss of
about $20,000, and two days later the barns of what is now the
Nichols House were burned. The fires of 1874 made a
valuable impression upon the council and community. Four
of the Babcock extinguishers had been purchased
heretofore, and, the people knowing that everything depended
upon their promptness, most of the fires had been put out before
they got under headway. But the fire of 1874 showed them
that they were completely at the mercy of the flames, if once
they got started, and it seemed altogether likely that they
might pay for their carelessness in not providing for an engine,
by the loss of the whole business part of the town. The
result was, that in December, 1874, a No. 3 Silsby Fire Engine,
with two hose reels and 1,200 feet of rubber hose, was purchased
at a cost of $6,000. A hook and ladder truck was bought,
which, with its belongings, cost of $300. The Fire
Department is composed of the engine company, fifteen men, two
reel companies of fifteen men each, and the hook and ladder
company of thirty men. The officers are J. S. Peck,
Chief of Department; Addison Sharpe, Captain of Engine;
John Kreis, Captain of the Hook and Ladder; Stephen St.
John, Captain Real No. 1; C. D. Lamprecht, Captain
Reel No. 2. The engine is provided with conveniences for
attaching horses, and during the season of heavy roads this
attachment is put on, and arrangements made at the livery stable
to secure a team when needed. For the protection of the
business part of the town, the machine is not moved out of the
building. Beneath the engine is a tank supplied with water
from the race, and it is practically inexhaustible. The
situation of the engine-house near the center of the
business-part of the town renders this plan feasible. It
is a suggestion of the chief of the department, and by this plan
he claims to get the steam up quicker, the hose is laid at the
moment of alarm, and all delay caused by moving the steamer
avoided. Five cisterns or wells supply water for the
purposes of the department. These are bricked or planked
up, and furnish a supply sufficient for all demands thus farm.
There are two places where water may be drawn direct from the
river, on the iron bridge, and in the west part of the village,
where facilities have been provided on
[Page 340 - 341]
the bank of the river. The members of the department
were at one time provided with a uniform, but the frequent
changes in the membership, and the wear and tear of service have
long since spoiled its effect, and it has been abandoned.
The early records of the Common Council have been
partially lost, but enough remains in the recently published
book of ordinances to satisfy one that their labors have not
been arduous, nor especially memorable. There has been no
occasion for great display of statesmanship or financial
ability. No great undertaking has been engaged in, and,
save in the matter of grading the streets and the purchase of
the engine, no considerable expenditure has ever been made, or
bonds negotiated. The village is now nearly out of debt,
and that without excessive taxation. The officers first
elected were the Mayor, Recorder, Treasurer, Marshal and five
Councilmen, until 1870, when the number of the latter was raised
to six. An engineer was appointed, in 1858 a Street
Commissioner was added, and in 1861 the office of engineer
abolished. In 1866 a Health Officer was made a regular
part of the administration, to be abolished in the following
year. In 1878 the offices of Street Commissioner and City
Solicitor were established, thought the former seems to have
been a regular member of each administration since 1858.
The list of officers since the incorporation of the village is
as follows:
1857 -
|
Mayor, John Shur; Recorder,
Robert Johnson; Treasurer, John Beatty; Engineer, Simon
Rosenthal; Marshal, D. B. Peck.
Councilmen - G. W. Stark, J. C. James, James Gregory,
Jr., Jeremiah Shunk, Levi Maxwell. |
1858 - |
Mayor, Daniel Wiedner;
Recorder, A. C. Shur;1 Treasurer, John
Beatty; Engineer, Simon Rosenthal; Marshal, W. T.
Armstrong; Street Commissioners, George Miller.2
Councilmen - G. W. Stark, J. C. Goodman, A. W. Bartlett,
D. L. Swingley, James Gregory, Jr. |
1859 -
|
Mayor, Charles Maxell;3
Recorder, James W. Likens; Treasurer, F. E. Phelps;4
Engineer (record lost); Street Commissioner (record
lost); Marshal (record lost).
Councilmen - G. W. Stark, William Shunk, A. W. Bartlett,
Stephen Brown, Samuel Cook. |
1860 - |
Mayor, Daniel Norris;
Treasurer, W. F. Armstrong. The rest of the record
is lost. |
1861 -
|
Mayor, John Andrews;
Recorder, Harlos Ashley;5 Treasurer, A. H.
Shunk; Engineers (dropped); Street Commissioner, Wm.
Lamprecht; 6 Marshal, J. Hughes.
Councilmen - A. H. Shunk, J. L. Dana, Wm. Lamprecht, J.
W. Marvin, G. R. Cunningham. |
1862 -
|
Mayor, J. C. Godman;
Recorder, O. W. Cadwallader; Treasurer, David Armstrong,
Jr.; Street Commissioner, W. C. Nichols; Marshal, W. A.
Cunningham.7
Councilmen - J. C. Ward, W. C. Nichols, S. Brown, David
Armstrong, Jr., I. N. Burt. |
1863 -
|
Mayor, John Andrews;8
Recorder, David Wagner; Treasurer, A. C. Shur; Street
Commissioner, W. C. Nichols; Marshal, C. R. Morehouse.
Councilmen - M. L. Mooney, A. H. Grant, A. C. Shur, A.
H. Green. |
1864 - |
Mayor, W. C. Nichols;
Recorder, F. L. Wallace; 9 Treasurer, A. J.
Blake; Marshal, W. H. Conklin; Street Commissioner, S.
Brown;
Councilmen - A. J. Blake, D. Wagner, A. H. Green, T. H.
Ensign, Arthur Taylor 10 |
1865 - |
Mayor, W. C. Nichols;
Recorder, H. H. Sterner; Treasurer, A. J. Blake; Street
Commissioner, G. W. Bell; Marshal, W. A. Conklin.
Councilmen - A. J. Blake, F. E. Phelps, A. K. Earl, D.
Wagner, 11 J. Richards.12 |
1866 - |
Mayor, W. C. Nichols;
Recorder, Charles B. Lindsay;13 Treasurer, M.
L. Mooney; Street Commissioner, G. W. Bell; Marshal, F.
M. Sargean;14 Health Officer, Dr. A. S.
Weatherby;
Councilmen - F. E. Phelps, M. L. Mooney; J. S. Peck,15
T. H. Ensign, A. H. Grant.16. |
1867 -
|
Mayor, G. P. Stiles;
Recorder, H. S. Green; Treasurer, Z. L. White; Street
Commissioner, G. W. Bell; Marshal, Samuel Shoemaker.
Councilmen - Z. L. White, T. E. Duncan, G. R.
Cunningham, S. W. Gregory, J. W. Marvin. |
1868 - |
Mayor, J. B. Clark;
Recorder, R. M. Underwood; Treasurer, S. W. Gregory;
Street Commissioner, G. W. Bell;17 Marshal,
J. R. Brown 18
Councilmen - S. W. Gregory, E. Weatherby, D. St. John,
W. Shunk,19 E. Burt. |
1869 -
|
Mayor, W. C. Nichols;
Recorder, H. H. Pollock; Treasurer, J. S. Peck; Street
Commissioner, A. H. Green; Marshal, W. H. VanHorn.
Councilmen - J. S. Peck, T. H. Ensign, C. W. Case, L. F.
Hager, A. H. Grant. |
1870 -
|
Mayor, A. K. Earl;
Recorder, G. H. Wright; Treasurer, D. St. John; Street
Commissioner, G. W. Bell; Marshal, A. J. Shoemaker.
Councilmen - C. W. Case, E. Bart, S. W. Gregory, John
Sanderson, B. B. Crane, R. F. Chase. |
1871 -
|
Mayor, A. K. Earl;20
Recorder, G. H. Wright; Treasurer, D. St. John; Street
Commissioner, D. C. Peck; Marshal, John Irvin.21
Councilmen - D. C. Peck,22 B. B. Crane, John
Bayer, John Sanderson, G. R. Cunningham, E. Winebar.
|
1872 -
|
Mayor, S. Brown; Recorder,
G. M. Brown;23 Treasurer, D. St. John; Street
Commissioner,24 D. C. Peck; Marshal, A. Van
Horn.
Councilmen - M. Lewis, E. Bart, John Bayer, E. Winebar,
E. S. Badger, G. R. Cunningham. |
1873 -
|
Mayor, S. Brown;25
Recorder, J. Sanderson, Jr.; Treasurer, D. St. John;
Street Commissioner, Lester Bartlett;26
Marshal, H. Van Horn.
Councilmen - E. S. Badger, A. J.
Pittenger, E. Winebar, C. W. Case, G. R.
Cunningham,27 J. H. Benson. |
1874 -
|
Mayor, William G. Betty;28
Recorder, W. H. Fiedler; Treasurer, D. St. John;
Street Commissioner, H. Van Horn; Marshal, H. Van Horn.
Councilmen - J. H. Benson, T. Duncan, Jacob Demuth, A. J. Pittenger, E. Winebar,
G. W. Bell. |
1875 -
|
Mayor, J. C. Bump; 29
Recorder, W. H. Fiedler; Treasurer, D. St. John; Street
Commissioner, H. Van Horn; Marshal, H. Van Horn.
Councilmen - Jacob Demuth, Asa McCrary, L. R. Miller, J.
S. Peck, A. J. Pittenger,
E. Winebar. |
1876 -
|
Mayor, Seth Cook; Recorder,
Z. B. Taylor; Treasurer, E. Winebar; Street
Commissioner, H. Van Horn; Marshal, H. Van Horn.
Councilmen - L. R. Miller, J. W. Ryan, Thad, Worthlin,
John Weist, Asa McCreany, A. J.
Pittenger. |
1877 - |
Mayor, Seth Cook; Recorder,
Z. B. Taylor; Treasurer, E. Winebar; Street
Commissioner, H. Van Horn; Marshal, H. Van Horn.
Councilmen - A. J. Pittenger,
J. W. Ryan, John Weist, J. W. Shaw, Thad. Worthlin, Asa
McCreary. |
1878 -
|
Mayor, C. W. Case;
Recorder, Z. B.Taylor; Treasurer, T. W. Long; Street
Commissioner, H. Van Horn; Marshal, H. Van Horn.
Councilmen - John Weist, J. W. Ryan, Asa McCreary, J. W.
Shaw, George Dawson, A. J. Pittenger. |
1879 -
|
Mayor, C. W. Case;
Recorder, Z. B. Taylor; Treasurer T. W. Long; City
Solicitor, T. S. White; Street Commissioner, H. Van
Horn; Marhsal, H. Van Horn.
Councilmen - A. J. Pittenger,
John Weist, C. Vanbrimmer, L. H. Pennock, Henry Bailey,
G. B. Gray. |
1880 -
|
Mayor, J. B. Waring;
Recorder, J. P. Scott; Treasurer, E. Winebar; City
Solicitor, T. S. White; Street Commissioner, C. E.
Terry; Marshal, C. E. Terry.
Councilmen - R. F. Bartlett, G. B. Gray, Henry Bailey,
Thad. Worthlin, R. M. Underwood, James Cavert |
NOTES:
1. Resigned, and Jeremiah Shunk appointed to fill the vacancy.
2. Resigned, and C. P. Shur appointed to fill the vacancy.
3. Resigned, and T. W. McCoy appointed to fill vacancy.
4. Resigned and Jeremiah Shunk appointed to fill vacancy.
5. Resigned, and O. W. Cadwallader appointed to fill vacancy
6. Resigned, and G. W. Stark appointed to fill vacancy. Stark
also resigned, and A. H. Green appointed to fill vacancy
7. Resigned, and Daniel Benson appointed to fill vacancy.
8. Resigned, and S. Brown appointed to fill vacancy.
9. Resigned, and H. H. Sterner appointed to fill vacancy.
10. Resigned, and F. E. Phelps appointed to fill vacancy.
11. Resigned, and J. S. Peck appointed to fill vacancy.
12. Resigned, and Jacob Demuth appointed to fill vacancy.
13. Resigned, and H. S. Green appointed to fill vacancy.
14. Resigned, and W. A. Conklin appointed to fill vacancy
15. Resigned, and Thos. E. Duncan appointed to fill vacancy
16. Resigned, and Z. L. White appointed to fill vacancy
17. Resigned and Sam'l Benson appointed to fill vacancy.
Benson resigned and Bell appointed to fill vacancy.
18. Resigned and George W. Reed appointed to fill vacancy
19. Resigned and John Andrews appointed to fill vacancy
20. Resigned and S. Brown appointed to fill vacancy
21. Resigned and A. C. Galpin appointed to fill vacancy
22. Resigned and Morgan Lewis appointed to fill vacancy
23. Resigned and W. H. Cordrey appointed to fill vacancy
24. Resigned and Lester Bartlett appointed to fill vacancy
25. Resigned and D. C. Peck appointed to fill vacancy
26. Resigned and D. C. Peck appointed to fill vacancy
27. Resigned and D. H. Hindman appointed to fill vacancy
28. Resigned and J. C. Bump appointed to fill vacancy
29. Resigned and A. M. Earl appointed. Earl resigned and
R. T. Mills appointed to fill vacancy.
[Page 342]
The rise and
early growth of the business of Cardington has been referred to
elsewhere. The progress from Bunker's single little store,
followed by Peter Doty, Robert Jeffries, John Shunk, Shunk &
Wolfe, Martin Brockway, David Armstrong and John Shur,
covers the growth in business for some thirty years. The
advantages offered by the river and railroad were largely
counter-balanced by the strong competition offered by
Chesterville and Mount Gilead. But time gradually told in
favor of this village, and at the beginning of the war a class
of enterprising men had become established in business, and made
Cardington, during that period, one of the most active little
towns in Central Ohio. About 1863-64, there were nine or
ten business houses doing an annual business varying from
$20,000 to $50,000, whose daily sales on special occasions
reached from $300 to $800 per day. The result of this
prosperity was the erection of the fine business blocks that
adorn the main streets of the village. In 1867, the
"Enterprise Block" was put up. During the previous year,
parties had given encouragement to a man from Delaware, that if
he would come to the village and make the brick they would use
them in buildings. For some reason these parties failed to
take the brick, and the man of mud found himself in a
predicament which threatened to swamp him financially.
Through his efforts and those of Hon. T. E. Duncan, who
owned the land on which the building stands, the block was put
up at a cost of about $12,000. To facilitate the project,
the land was divided to suit those desiring storerooms, and all
put up together. The parties joining in the enterprise
were Dubois St. John, a Mr. Crane, White & Chase, Duncan
and Shunk & Wagner. This block stands on the west
side of Marion street. The next business block was that of
Marvin & Shaw on the opposite side of the street, built
at a probable cost of some $7,000. In 1876 the stone bank
building and the St. John Block, and in the following year the
Beatty & Chase Block were put up on Main street, the
whole costing some $25,000. The Brooks & Parvis Bros.
Block was erected on Main street in 1878. These buildings
afford ample room for all the important business houses in the
village. Since the close of the war and the depression of
business, the unwonted activity of 1863 has given place to a
much more quiet life in business circles, and quite a number of
the old wooden buildings are now standing empty. In the
matter of manufactures, though not reaching the development in
this branch as in the mercantile trade, the village has had a
steadier and more permanent growth. The Bunker
enterprise gradually died out after the bankruptcy of the
originator of the project, and was succeeded some years later by
a saw and grist mill, built on the site of the old Bunker
mills. In 1856 John Gregory and Mrs. Israel Hite
built a steam mill on the bank of the river, just where the
railroad now passes. This was run about a year when it
changed owners. It did not prove valuable property for
some reason and changed hands frequently until 1867, when
John Cline bought it and transformed it into a woolen mill.
It ran for several years in the business, when the proprietor
failed, and the mill, after lying still for some two years,
Matthias Lowyer bought it and continued the business.
The mill now manufactures knitting yarn and some common grades
of cloth, but there is no means of ascertaining its business, as
no complete books are kept and the only interest seems to be
that the establishment does not lose money. It is
supported by a local trade that keeps the mill running most of
the year. The machinery of the old carding-mill, its
predecessor, which has been idle here for years has just been
sold and is to be moved East. In 1840, the old water-mill,
standing on the bank of the river, near Marion street, was built
by Wolfe & Shunk. In 1877, it passed into
[Page 343]
the hands of Mills & Dawson. Up to this time it has
depended upon the water brought from the dam by the mill-race,
but R. T. Mills having erected a steam saw-mill just west
of the old mill, arrangements were made to make the engine of
that establishment serve the grist-mill by means of a wire rope.
Since the new proprietors have come into possession of thismill,
new machinery has been introduced until it is now in every
respect prepared to do first-class work. It is the only
mill now doing custom work and has a capacity of twenty barrels
in the day and night. In 1870, the Cardington Flouring
Mill Company was formed, with a capital of $15,000. The
company consisted of I. H. Pennock, John Beatty, W. G.
Beatty, D. St. John, T. E. Duncan, J. H. Benson, and the
Dawson Brothers. They bought the Andrews' warehouse
and fitted up a steam mill that did for some years an extensive
business. The business failed, however, in 1877, and the mill
lay idle for two years, when it was bought by Dawson & Taylor.
It has been furnished with every modern improvement, has four
run on buhrs stones with a capacity of turning out sixty barrels
of flour in twenty-four hours. Power is furnished by a
sixty-horse-power engine situated in a brick inclosure built on
the south part of the main building. This is situated on
the west side of the railroad track near the depot, and is run
exclusively on commercial work.
Another prominent enterprise of the village is the
furniture factory of J. S. Peck. This industry had
an early origin in Cardington. In 1844, Anson St. John
supplied the village and the surrounding country. In 1851,
Edbert Payne established a shop for the prosecution of this
business, but, after continuing it for a few years, sold out and
went West. In 1863, Mr. Peck, with his brother,
opened a small store in a frame building, where his retail store
now stands. Asa McCreary at that time had a small
furniture store in a building where the St. John Block
now stands. Soon after his coming here, Mr. Peck
bought out McCreary, and a little later bought his
brother's interest. He early began manufacturing and
building up a wholesale business, occupying a frame building on
Second street, opposite his present establishment, and using
horse power to run his lathe and other machinery. He
afterward put in an engine, but the business was expanding, and
feeling the danger in case of a fire, he erected, in the fall of
1876, a three-story brick building, on the corner of Second and
Depot streets, 42x75 feet, which is devoted entirely to certain
lines of furniture. The most of the machinery is on the
first floor, and is of the most improved patterns.
Fire-proof doors close the entrance to the engine-room, and
throughout the building in the upper stories, between the
various rooms, the doors are sued to guard against fire.
The building and dryhouse are heated by exhaust steam, and the
latter provided with an elevator. In manufacturing, Mr.
Peck makes a specialty of bedsteads, employing some $30,000.
Adjoining this establishment is the planing-mill and lumber-yard
of Levi Maxwell. Something over thirty-five years
ago, he came from Clarksburg, W. Va., and, engaging in the
business of carpenter and joiner, has probably put up more
buildings than any other mechanic in the village. His
first dwelling was for Dr. White in 1848, now owned by
Mrs. Mosher. In 1874, he bought the lumber-yard of
Levi Reichelderfer. After purchasing this property, he
used the machinery of Peck, but as business increased, he
bought machinery of his own, and on the erection of the Peck
Block, he rented the north end of the building for his
machinery, renting the motor power of Mr. Peck.
Since 1873, Mr. Maxwell has built up a business that
reaches in extent of its sales to $25,000 annually.
The manufacture of wagons and carriages was one of the
earliest industries of the place. Bunker, the early
founder of the village, was a successful wagon-maker in Vermont,
and notwithstanding the numerous projects that divided his
attention, he found time to devote to his old business in the
new country. Succeeding him came Thomas C. Thompson,
[Page 344]
who established a carriage-shop in 1836 on the property now
owned by J. M. White. In 1847, J. H. Fluckey
commenced the blacksmith business, doing custom work until 1873,
when he began the manufacture of carriages, which he is still
carrying on. In 1851, G. R. Cunningham began
business, and since 1853, save two years, he has made a
specialty of the manufacture of carriges. From 1862 to
1870, his sales amounted to some $30,000 per year, giving
employment to from twenty to twenty-five hands. In 1875,
he met with a loss of some $20,000 by fire, and the financial
depression which followed close upon the heels of this
misfortune, force him into bankruptcy. He went immediately
to work again, and is fast regaining his old trade. He now
employs some ten hands, and is doing a business of some $10,000
or $15,000 per annum. In 1874, the Hook Brothers
started a cooper shop in the village, finishing their work, save
hooping, at the saw-mill of Joseph Smith, a little
northeast of the village. After a year or so, the whole
business was moved to the village, where the hooping had been
done from the first, putting up a shop just west of the depot.
In November, 1877, the business was sold to Lee & Utter,
and two weeks later S. Atwood was taken into the firm,
the name changing ot Lee, Utter & Co In February,
1878, two of the buildings west of the depot were totally
destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of some $700 above the
amount received from insurance. In September of this year,
Utter sold out to E. G. Morey, and the firm name
was changed to Wood, Lee & Co. Last year, the firm
lost a dryhouse by fire. Their establishment is now
located just east of the depot building on Depot street, and is
admirably arranged for the convenience and safety of the
business. The engine is inclosed in a fireproof room and
is run with the refuse of the business. Sometimes as high
as $50 worth of the refuse wood is sold for kindling in a year.
Their specialty is butter-tubs and pails, which they sell in all
parts of the State. Last year they turned out some 31,000
tubs and their business is still increasing. The capital
invested is about $4000 which they succeed in turning two or
three times each year.
With such business activity, it would be natural to
find the banking business prominently represented. The
first bank was organized as early as 1854, by R. J. House,
John Beatty and Richard House, under the name of the
Banking Company of House, Beatty & Co. They
occupied the room in the Benson House now occupied by the
drug store. In 1856, there was a change in the
stock-holders, R. J. House and Richard House
with-drawing and J. S. Trumble and Jabez Wood
taking their place. The bank was then known for two years
as Trimble, Beatty & Wood Banking Company. At the
end of that time, the bank changed to Beatty Brothers'
Banking Company, the institution being managed by John and
William G. Beatty for five years. In 1863, the First
National Bank was organized and the Beatty Bank merged
into it, with I. H. Pennock, John Beatty, W. H. Marvin, Jacob
Kreis, W. G. Beatty, J. W. Marvin, John Andrews, and D.
St. John as stockholders; Dr. I. H. Pennock,
President, and W. G. Beatty, Cashier. The bank at
that time occupied the room now occupied by Drs. Green
and Williams. After the fire of 1875, which nearly
destroyed this building, they moved into a room in the
Enterprise lock until they completed their new building on the
south side of Main street. This was finished in the spring
of 1876 at a cost of about $8,000. It is a one-story
building with an ornamental front of finely cut sandstone.
The interior is finished in the finest style, the counter
figuring in the general cost at $1,400. The stockholders
are the same, with the exception of John Beatty and
John Andrews, who withdrew, A. Mayer purchasing a
part of their stock. The present officers are, Dr. I.
H. Pennock, President, and J. I. Lamprecht, Cashier.
The Cardington Banking Company organized and commenced business
on Sept. 1, 1874, with John Beatty, Jacob
Kreis, W. G. Beatty, R. F. Chase, W.
Beatty, T. E. Duncan,
[Page 345]
and T. M. Rees as stockholders. The stockholders
have remained unchanged save by the death of Mr. Rees,
whose stock is now held by his heirs. They occupy a room
in the Enterprise Block and do a general banking business, not
being a bank of issue; Jacob Kreis is President, and
W. G. Beatty, Cashier.
The latest enterprise is the organization of the
"Mutual Endowment and Relief Association of Ohio," with its
office at Cardington. This association was originated
largely by Mr. Hindman, an old insurance agent and
resident of the county, and was incorporated Feb. 25, 1879.
The officers are John Beatty, President; R. F. Chase,
Vice President; W. H. Marvin, Treasurer; W. G. Beatty,
Secretary; Dr. I. H. Pennock, Medical Director; Hon.
Thomas E. Duncan, Attorney; M. Hindman,
Superintendent of Agencies.
The community that settled at Cardington - originating
principally in the Quaker settlement of Peru - naturally brought
with them their old-time regard for that faith, and found their
way frequently to the services held in that settlement.
The inconvenience of this arrangement, and the coming of others
of different faith, suggested the holding for services of their
own. About 1822 or 1823, the neighbors desiring to have
preaching, Jonas Foust went to Waldo and brought
Samuel Wyatt, a Free-Will Baptist Minister, to preach in his
cabin. This arrangement was kept up for some time until
something more permanent could be secured. A little later,
the United Brethren were represented, and among the early
preachers of that church and others, were Francis Clymer,
Loraine, Cadwallader, Moore and Dewitt. The
first building erected for church purposes in this secion was a
log cabin on the land that Johnson Oliver now owns.
This was put up by he United Brethren society, about that year
1828. In the eastern part of the township, the Quaker
settlement of Gilead had services early; but as early as 1824
the Methodists had begun their pioneer work. At this time,
Rev. J. Gilburth preached in the cabins about, and in the
same year the building, put up for the double purpose of
schoolhouse and church building, was thrown open to any
denomination that chose to use it. The Rev. Mr.
Oldfield was an early preacher; but little more is
remembered of him. Of the later organizations, it has been
difficult to ascertain as complete a record as would be
desirable, and for what follows on the different church
organizations we are indebted to the pen of Rev. A. K. Earl.
The order in which the Methodist and Christian Churches were
established is difficult to determine, but it is believed that
the Methodist Episcopal Church was the pioneer organization with
the Christian Church, coming close after it, and then the
Methodist Protestant Church in 1837-38.
The writer's labors commenced here as an itinerant
minister of the Methodist Protestant Church, Pittsburgh
Conference, in September, 1841. At that time Cardington
was a small village, composed of about twenty-five or thirty
families, and a population of from one hundred and twenty-five
to-one hundred and fifty persons. There was no church
edifice in the place, but a frame schoolhouse, situated a little
south of Main street, on what is now called Center street,
served as a preaching place and place of meeting for all
denominations.
From the best information obtainable, the Methodist
Protestant Church was organized during the winter of 1837-38, by
Rev. David Howell. In the organization, John
Shunk and wife, Leumas Cook and wife, Robert
Cochran and wife, Jacob Bovey and wife, and probably
their three daughters, Elizabeth, Sarah and Mary;
also, J. D. Glisson and his mother and sister, Mrs.
Hartsock, were included. At the close of that
conference year, Rev. Moses Scott was appointed to the
circuit. It was called the Mount Vernon Circuit, and
included parts of the three counties of Knox, Licking and
Marion. Mr. Scott remained two years, and was
succeeded by Revs. J. B. Roberts and Charles Caddy,
who remained but one year, which brings the history of the
church to the fall of 1841. The conference was held in
Allegheny City. Mount Vernon was made a station, and
Mr. Earl
[Page 346]
was appointed to the circuit, which now contained eight
appointments, Fredericktown and Cardington being the Sabbath
appointments. When Mr. Earl took charge, the
society was composed of twenty-six members - Mother Bovey
had died, and the Cochran family had withdrawn.
During the winter of 1842, quite a revival took place, which was
the result of a union protracted meeting between the Methodist
Protestant and Christian Church, was Rev. Mr. Marvin, of
Knox County, and Mr. Earl, of the Methodist Protestant
Church. It was a genuine old-fashioned revival. I
think I am safe in saying over a hundred professed conversion,
and among the number was Rev. T. C. Thomson and wife.
The Methodist Protestant Church obtained fifty as an addition,
which, with the twenty-six old members, made a pretty strong
church, for that early period, and gave the church the
vantage-ground, as they were now the leading denomination of the
place. The Christian Church received quite an addition,
and the Methodist Episcopal some. The next step was to
provide a house of worship. A meeting was called , a Board
of Trustees appointed, a site selected, a subscription started,
and in a short time sufficient funds obtained to justify the
Trustees in giving Leumas Cook the contract for building
a house 30x40 feet, at a cost of $650. In due time the
house was finished, and set apart for divine worship.
After a period of several years of varying success, the church
concluded to build a new house, of larger dimensions and greater
cost. The old house was sold to Mr. Cook, who moved
it a few lots south and fitted it for a dwelling. They
then proceeded to build the new house at a cost of some $3,000.
It was dedicated at the session of conference in 1856, and, for
two years following, Rev. Lemuel Yarnell served as
Pastor. The present Pastor is a young minister - Rev.
Mr. Tyree. He had some prosperity in a protracted
meeting in the early part of this winter. The church,
however, is not strong, either in numbers or finances. The
present number of members, as reported to me, is from sixty to
seventy.
Prior to 1842, there was no Sabbath school in
Cardington. Some time during that year an agent of the
American Sunday-School Union, by the name of Jones, paid
us a visit, lectured on the subject, and organized a Sabbath
school auxiliary to the American Sunday-School Union, and
supplied it with a library of books. In the organization,
Rev. T. C. Thomson, of the Methodist Protestant Church,
was made Superintendent, and G. W. Purvis, Assistant
Superintendent. It was to all intents and purposes a union
school, and remained so until the other churches felt themselves
strong enough to go alone, when they withdrew their stock, and
organized schools of their own. The present Superintendent
is Charles Wesley Hartsock. The number of
scholars enrolled is sixty-five; the average number in
attendance, fifty; the number of classes, seven; number of
teachers, seven; value of library, $20; number of Sabbath
schools, six; papers taken, seventy. The general condition
of the school is good.
For want of proper and reliable records, it is
difficult to get a correct starting-point in reference to the
organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Cardington and
Bethel. After considerable effort among the old members of
the church, I have come to the conclusion, that, to say, at an
early period Cardington and Bethel were found to be appointments
on the Mount Gilead Circuit, is as near as we can get at it.
To undertake to say who were the first preachers is equally
difficult. Rev. Zephaniah Bell, Rev. Silas Ensign
and Rev. Samuel Shaw are all known to be among them, but
to fix the order of time when their labor was performed, as the
difficult task. The knowledge of the writer goes back to
September, 1841; Rev. Samuel Allen was preacher in
charge, and I think Rev. John Orr assisted, and John
H. Power was Presiding Elder. At that date, there was
a small organization at Cardington; Anson St. John, William
Hill, John Richards and James Hazelton, with their
families, were members, and, from the result of a protracted
meeting, they received some additions. They then fitted up
an unfinished
[Page 347]
frame building that stood on the lot now owned by M. L.
Mooney. About this time they had a few more
accessions, Rev. Richard Sims and Lewis Mulford,
with their wifes, uniting with them; also Andrew Grant
and wife, having moved from Sunbury to Cardington, joined by
letter. They did not retain possession of their church
edifice very long, however, but sold it, when it was used as a
storeroom. They were then without a house of worship,
sometimes holding their meetings in private houses, sometimes in
the schoolhouse, and sometimes in one of the other churches.
The Methodist Protestant Church generously let them occupy their
house, which they used for a long time. Thus matters
continued for several years, until 1854, when Rev. Lemuel
Herbert was, by the conference, appointed to this Circuit,
which, at that time, contained three appointments, viz.,
Cardington, Bethel and Boundary. Mr. Herbert, being an
energetic and persevering man, undertook the task of building a
church building, which, in addition to his ministerial and
pastoral labors, he successfully accomplished. The house
then built is the one now occupied by the Presbyterian Church,
and was finished and duly dedicated to the service of God by
Professor Merrick, of Delaware.
About this time, or perhaps a little subsequent,
several men of means and prominence, of the Methodist faith,
bought property and moved to Cardington. Among them were
John Shur, and George Rose and their families,
with some others, and from this time the Methodist Episcopal
Church became a power in the place. A protracted meeting
followed the dedication, resulting in a number of conversions,
and additions to the church. From this time, it may be
said with propriety that the Methodist Episcopal Church became
the leading denomination of Cardington. After using the
church edifice some fifteen or more years, and the membership
becoming strong in numbers and finances, and the church building
beginning to need repairs, the subject of erecting a new house
of worship began to be agitated. Some parties outside of
the church, men of means, were reported to have said that we
needed a handsome edifice, and that they would give $500 each,
making $2,000, to the church that would build a handsome brick
edifice, costing $8,000 or $10,000. In view of the
circumstances, the Trustees of the parsonage called a meeting of
the Trustees of both parsonage and church, and made a
proposition to sell the parsonage and purchase a property on the
corner of Marion and Walnut streets, for $4,500. The
proposition was accepted, and the property purchased, thus
creating a debt of $2,000 or more, which hung heavily on the
hands of the society for several years, but was finally paid.
In 1872, the late lamented L. B. Gurley was appointed to
this charge, and, being a "new church man," thought it would
never do to lose the $2,000 subscription, and was successful in
obtaining the disciplinary amount, in order to let the contract.
He remained three years, and superintended the building of the
edifice. It is a beautiful structure, and said to be
inferior to none in the North Ohio Conference. Its cost
was $12,000. The parsonage adjoining is valued at $3,000,
making the whole worth $15,000, and a not less important
consideration is, that it is all paid for. The completion
of this enterprise appears to have been the closing up of a long
and useful life, on the part of Mr. Gurley, who has since
gone from this labor to his reward. At the dedication of
this edifice, by Bishop Foster, it was named Gurley
Chapel, in honor of the one who took such an active part in
securing it to the society. Mr. Gurley was
succeeded by a young man, Rev. James Henry, who also
remained three years. He was a young man of fine
appearance, of undoubted piety, of sound judgment, and strong
magnetic powers, and his three years were years of continued
prosperity and success. Persons were converted through his
labors, and added to the church by hundreds. During his
administration a new brick church at Bethel was built.
This is a fine edifice for the amount of money it cost.
The value of church
[Page 348]
property at Bethel was reported at Quarterly Conference to be
$5,200, and all paid for. The value of the church property
at both points is $20,200. The number of members at the
two appointments is 410. This, it is said, is the largest
membership, with the exception of Mansfield, of any work in this
conference. Rev. R. McCaskey is the present Pastor.
The Superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church at
Cardington, J. B. Waring, reports the average attendance
at seventy-five, the number of teachers at nine. The
former Superintendent of Sabbath school at Bethel, Dr. Benson,
gives the following statement: Present Superintendent
H. Cecil; number of scholars enrolled, 130; average
attendance, 100. A goodly number of Sabbath school papers
are taken, and the school seems decidedly prosperous.
The Christian Church was a very early organization in
Cardington; but there is now no authentic information as to its
history. As early as 1841, this society had an
organization, and held regular meetings. In the winter of
1842, this society held a union protracted meeting with the
Protestant Methodist Church, was resulted in considerable
accessions to their membership. The church had hitherto
been without a regular place of worship; but, under the impulse
of the revival, the society set about securing this desideratum.
In the following year, aided by several of the Universalist
belief, the society erected a comfortable building on the corner
of Main and Water streets. At one time, this church had
quite a numerous membership in the county, and this village
seemed to be the rallying-point of the denomination. At
this time, the church seemed to be in a flourishing condition,
promising to grow into the first importance among the churches.
In addition to Benjamin Grandy and wife, Parley Cady
and wife, Adin Tucker, wife and daughters, Dorasmus
Chandler and wife, and some others, Peter Doty, Joseph
Sellars, and other prominent citizens united with this
church. One of their ministers, and T. L. Saulsbury,
a prominent man among this denomination, moved here. Since
then, however, the change has been complete. Of the old
organization, only Mr. Cady is left, and the old
building, moved a short distance from its original location, is
used as a dwelling.
A Presbyterian Church was organized, according to the
record in this village, July 4, 1851, under the name and title
of the First Presbyterian Church of Cardington, with seven
members, viz., James Harrison and wife, James Gregory
and wife, Israel Hite and wife and J. G. Arbuckle.
Harrison, Gregory and Hite were elected Elders.
The organization was accomplished by Rev. Henry Van Deman,
of Delaware, Ohio. By death and removal their numbers were
so reduced that, in 1860, Mrs. Sarah Gregory only
remained to represent the church. In September,
1860, the organization was "perpetuated," as the records term
it, under the supervision of the organizer, Rev. Mr. Van
Deman. William Faris and wife, William
Cunningham and wife, united, making, with Mrs. Gregory,
five members in all. William Faris was elected
Elder. Additions have been made from time to time, and
there are now some twenty-eight members. James B.
Clark, George R. Cunningham. T. W. Long and John Campbell
are Elders. Subsequently, after the Methodist Episcopal
Church commenced worship in their new house, their old church
building was sold to the Presbyterians andand by them enlarged,
reconstructed and made beautiful, inside and out. A
protracted meeting was held, and a goodly number united, so that
they now number fifty-two members. At present, they have
no pastor, but are supplied by Rev. Mr. March, of
Marysville. Their church property is valued at $2,000.
The Sunday school was organized in 1874, after the
repair of the church. The number of scholars enrolled is
100; average attendance, 75; value of library, $50; number of
classes, 11; teachers, same number. The school is in a
very prosperous condition. The Sabbath school of this
church makes a little better showing than either of the others,
although it probably is the weakest of the three churches.
[Page 349]
In 1867, Rev. S. Altman, a minister of the
United Brethren Church, held a protracted meeting in the
Methodist Protestant Church of this place, and to all appearance
was successful in getting up a genuine and sweeping revival of
religion. The meeting was of several weeks' continuance.
The best ministers of the connection were brought into
requisition, among them Bishop Weaver, and the altar for
many nights was crowded with penitents. Many professed
saving faith. A class of persons were professedly
converted that had never before been reached; I mean our
business men, and for a time it seemed that the citadel of Satan
must be taken. It was said a $10,000 church must be built,
and the best minister in the Conference must minister at the
altar. The meeting closed; a church of nar half a hundred
members was organized, and officers appointed, but, for some
cause the society was not formed here.
The German Lutheran is a small organization in the west
end of the town. It was organized in 1868 by F. G.
Edward Knauth. They have a neat place of worship,
valued at $1,100. They have twenty-eight members, over
whom the Rev. S. Hunsicher presides as Pastor. They
have services on alternate Sundays. The statistics of the
Sunday school are as follows: Scholars enrolled, 20;
average attendance, 15; number of classes, 5; number of
teachers, 5.
The Catholic Church formed an organization here about
1870. They have a small brick edifice, 24x30 feet.
They have no regular service, but are supplied by Father
Pilgrim, of Delaware, at irregular periods. They
congregation and denomination is composed of sixteen families,
and numbers about eighty persons.
The Cardington Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 194, was
instituted Mar. 9, 1852, by W. G. Williams, M. G. M.,
with John Andrews, J. J. Richards, J. W. Likens, J. R. West,
Adam Wolfe, J. W. Place, L. Carpenter, David Smith and
George Granger as charter members. The first officers
were George Granger, N. G.; F. E. Phelps, Sec.;
Ruben Bunker, Per. Sec.; C. T. White, Treas.
Their first hall was in the building that stood on the northeast
corner of Main and Marion streets. They occupied this hall
until 1860, when the Starr building was moved on to the
southeast corner of these streets, on to a lot owned by the
society, and the second story was fitted up for their reception.
They moved into it at once and made their home here until the
destructive five of 1875 swept that corner, destroying the hall
with all its contents, occasioning a loss to the order of
$1,200. In the following year, when the Chase and Beatty
Block was built, the society put on the third story at an
expense of $7,000, including the furniture of the hall, a sum of
money which they had in the treasury of the order save perhaps,
$100. The lodge room is 42x72 feet, with commodious
committee and paraphernalia rooms on one side, opening out of
the main hall. The whole is finely fitted up and is
claimed to be the finest of its kind in Central Ohio. This
lodge has about 122 members, has paid out $14,000 for the relief
of the members, besides some $2,500 for charitable purposes,
independent of the order. In addition to their hall, the
lodge owns a lot with 53 feet front, on the southeast corner of
Main and Marion streets, which is valued at $5,000.
The Whetstone Encampment, No. 95, was instituted June
3, 1867, by William Slater, M . W. G. Patriarch, with
John Andrews, Levi Reichelderfer, A. H. Grant, A. W. Bartlett,
S. Brown, J. H. Fiedler, David Smith, Lewis Openheimer, W. F.
Armstrong, A. V. Conklin and D. B. Kinsell as charter
members. It numbers about sixty-two members.
Cardington Lodge, No. 384, Free and Accepted Masons,
was organized Feb. 5, 1867, with C. H. McElroy, W. S. Paul,
H. S. Green, J. W. Marvin, M. L. Mooney, M. Burns, G. W. Bell,
A. Weathersby, Andrew Caton, W. A. Hance, A. H. Shunk, as
charter members. Their first hall was in the north end of
the Enterprise Block, but they have recently moved into the
Brooks & Parvis Brothers' Block. The first officers
were: C. H. McElroy, W. M.; W. S. Paul, S. W.; A. H.
[Page 350]
Shunk, Sec.; G. W. Bell, Treas.; M. L. Mooney,
S. D.; H. S. Green, J. D.; Andrw Grant, Tiler.
The lodge has labored under some financial difficulties, but
they have a neat and commodious hall, and some ninety members in
all. The present officers are: D. N. Wherry, W.
M.; T. W. Long, S. W.; Jesse Rinehart, J. W.;
Judd Sherman, S. W.; R. H. Hirth, J. D.; T. H.
Ensign, Treas.; B. B. Crane, Sec.; S. Brown,
Tiler.
In 1835,
Cook and Shunk donated to the township one hundred
rods of land, in a square piece for the cemetery. This was
situated just northeast of the end in the river, and is now the
southeast corner of the new cemetery. In April, 1863,
Leumas Cook set apart fifteen and a half acres of land, west
of the old cemetery, and adjoining it on the north and west,
lying along the north bank of the river. This was surveyed
out into 163 lots, and forms a pleasant place for the purpose
for which it was designed.
<
CLICK
HERE TO RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS > |