Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-12-02
DELAW WARITs ORIGIN AND
PROGRESS.
EY G sloRrIMER IANEs.

]
(From the DeIaware Basiness Directory. re
Gently published by Afessrs- Jsay-sies Bros}
DELAWARE, the county seat of tbs
county Of Delaware, is beautifully sit
uated in the central part of Ohio, only
IS miles from the Capital of the State
on the banks of the OIentangy river
The city and county derive their name
from the Delaware Indians. Where the
former stands, this tribe cultivated q
corn-6eld of far HzEEarez acres. Della
ware was laid out IN February or March
1903, by Col. Moses Byxbee ard Hon.
Henry Baldwin The first cabin was
built year earlier by Joseph Barber. In
II he kept tavern. The same year in
/ which the county seat was located, the
county was organized and its officers
elected They were:
C0zf1ztSSioHezs-Avery Powers, Ezekiel
Brown. John Welch Treasurer Rev.
! Jacob Drake; Rec0raeY-Dr Reuben
/ Lamb .Sagyey0g- Root. The
officers of the Court were President
| Judge Belt, Chillicothe; associate
| fzsageS-Josiah Mckinney Thomas
Brown, Moses Byxbee; .SkszZf-S Solo
mon Smith CZerk-Moses Byxbee, Jr.
The first session of the court was held
in Barriers Pole Zaz'e1H. near the White
Sulphur Spring The grand jury sd
zazae7- a tree, and the petit jury brought
in its verdicts from another part Of the
lot. The constable guarded them.
Among the first settlers were Byxbee,
Lamb, Little, Drake, Smith, Butler, and
Carpenter. The first mentioned built
the first frame H0zkSe in the spring of
1908. Drake baptist Preacher) built
the E1-St brick house, the ensuing fall
His zOzte laid tie inside zVaZ5. The first
Jail was built Of logs 1t stood on Tam
many street (now Hill at the head of
Franklin. A bank was opened in 1872.
Delaware was incorporated, and the
Oka Court House built in 1873. The lat
ter was used a number of years by diff
ferent denominations for religious pur-
poses. In 1916 the Post Office was kept
by Moses Byxbee, Sen, at his residence
on William street. The jail was kept at
Agard's house, on the west side of
Washington street, between Winter and |
North.
Where Judge Williams now resides, |
was a hotel, and large stable in therear. |
President Monroe visited Delaware and |
stopped at this hotel in 1916.
A blacksmith shop stood on the cor
ner now occupied by Hyatt's store. On
the block on which the Episcopal and |
Presbyterian churches stand, there was
not single 61tiKdizg in 1916.
In 1913 the -I1st ba6e1 was published /
by Revs. Jacob Drake and John S.
Hughes. About this time the Metho-
dists commenced the erection of the yf1st
meeting k0zEse. The same building is
now used as a market house, and for
other purposes. The Presbyterians and
erected church edifces in
1925. Their present structures we're
built 25 years ago. In 1925 there were
original z5laAzz Ezzckeks a little north east
of the new Court House, and north of
the grist mill on the river. At this date
there were good hunting grounds on
Franklin street and in East Delaware
As late as 1890, land on the east side of
the river. and south Of Hill street. could
be purchased at from S. to So per acre.
The population Of Delaware at this time
was but $50. The Lutheran church was
built in 1855. The population of Della
ware in 1870 was about goo. The Sec
1nd Presbyterian church was built in
1874, and the Methodist church on VIII
lam street in 1916. St Paul's, German
Methodist and Reform, the Baptist and
,Velch churches are all of more recent
ERECTION. Delaware contained in 1880 ]
| population of 700, and in 1860 near
y 1000. According to the 9th Census
t numbers nearly 5000.
Delaware is the seat of the Ohio Wes-
cyan University and Ohio Wesleyan ]
Female College. These are among the
most fiourishing literary institutions of
he West
It has also an unrivalled system of
Union Schools, which enumerate over ]
700 pupils.
Its manufacturing interests and facili-
les are of constantly Increasing i'm 9
,ortance. Il IS accessible by railroad !
rom all parts of the State, and new con
lections Of the most important nature 7
re in progress. c
The new Court House was commenced
n 1868 and completed in 1870, at a cost I
# nearly $780,
Delaware is justly celebrated for its
lealthy climate, and its moral and intel S
ectual community. Perhaps no town !
n the State offers equal advantages of
very description. c