The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-05-12
THE OLDEN TIMES.
Events About Somerset FOrty-TwO
Years Ago.
No. S.-IS35.

No. S.-IS35.
Politicians of the present day-Or |
should rather say, candidates for Office
seldom become 80 intensely interested
in their own success as they did forty
years ago. Then, as the saying il, no
stone was left unturned to insure success.
Not only the candidate, but his friends
made it a specially to work earnestly
and increasingly for his election; and
the man who could drink the most
whisky and "stand" the most treats"
for two or three months before the cleo
ton, usually proved the successful can
date. But then whisky was only %
cents per gallon, and ten dollars would
purchase forty gallon barrel. But
am digressing from the thread Of my
historical narrative.
Tn the Spring Of 1885, George Ziegler,
Felix Gull, James Brown, Adam BiDck-
lev, John Middagh and Benjamin
Younger we're candidates for Justice of
Peace, for Reading township. Ziegler
and Middagh were elected.
At the same election Andrew Arndt,
John Wright and David Foy were elect
ed constables. Many of your readers
will recollect Andrew Arndt, sr. lie
had been a standing candidate for con-
stable so far back that it wonld stagRer
the recollection of the oldest inhabitant.
When he moved away from Somerset,
some seven or eight years after this, his
mantle of Inspiration for,this Office was con-
veyed to the shoulders of Jake Thomas,
who, for more than quarter of century,
could not divest himself of the idea that
he was born climber for natural con-
stable" Arndt is still living at TifTin,
Ohio, but is quite aged and feeble.
1t was in the year 1885, now over
forty-two years ago, that the difficulty
occurred between the State of Ohio and
the Territory of Michigan, upon the
subject of the boundary line dividing
the States. The Territorial Legislature
of Michigan passed an act to fine and
should attempt to exercise official func-
tions over any territory claimed by them.
The Legislature of Ohio likewise passed
law in accordance with the recommen-
Lucas, to extend State jurisdiction over
the territory in contest. Both States
were in furore of excitement, and be-
gan to call out the militia to enforce
their demands. The militia throughout
the Territory of Michigan were appealed
to, to hold themselves in readiness to
move at an hours notice to sustain the
Executive and authorities of the Terri
tory, while the excitement in Ohio was
not far behind, and the Ohio militia
were in daily expectation of being called
out to enforce the States claim. The
territory in dispute, will say for the
benefit OF your young readers, was 20
miles long, east and west, IL miles wide
at it's eastern extremity, and Z at its
western. On the east it commanded the
mouth of the Maumee river, on which
were two villages, Toledo, with one or
two hundred inhabitants being one OF
them. The Michigan Legislative Coun-
ell made an appropriation of S315, 900,
and issued orders for volunteers TO rem
devious in the county of Monroe. The
difficulty was finally settled, however,
by the Supreme Court of the United
ha
my recollection is right, up to what was
known as the "Ifarris Line"
/ will narrate an event which occurred
in Somerset in the height of this wal
excitement. The Somerset Guards" a
company then commanded by Capt. John
Law (he was afterward dubbed Colonel
stalk militia) was on duty for drill, and
the Captain, to try his men whether
they had the right kind of pluck in
them, told them they might be called
upon by the Governor at any moment to
go to the border war" After arranging
them all in straight row by the words
''right dress" he requested all who were
willing to volunteer to defend Ohio's
rights, to advance two steps to the front
The whole company promptly stepped
forward, with the exception of one man
This was young fellow by the name Of
Enos Strawn, the worst stammerer in his
conversation, [ think, ever heard. The
entire company set up the laugh upon
their weak -kneed comrade, and yelled
to him, most of them derisively, to steI
out like man with the balance Of them
Enos could not bring his mind to the
fearful task of shedding his brother,
blood, or think Of running the risk o.
having his own shed; so after withstand
ing the jeers of the entire company for =
few moments, he broke out as follows
''M m m -en, Him f-f-f-fr- -frait
t-t-t-th there's s-s-s-some XXX -ketch ir
this thing!" 1t is needless to say tha
as long as poor Enos remained in the
neighborhood he never heard the las
about there being "s-s-s-some XXX -ketcf
in this thing"
Edmund c. Cusack was on the Sth o
April Of this year admitted TO the bal
as an attorney, at a session of the Su
preme Court, held in Jackson county
Ohio.
George Ziegler was elected Mayor o
the town in April Of this year, but dice
on Tuesday, August 4th, in the 6OtI
year of his age. He was one of the frs
settlers of this vicinity, was for lonl
time Justice of the Peace of Reading
township, and was highly respected TO
his uprightness and integrity.
John E. Linn was appointed Mayo
in the place of Mr.. Ziegler.
Reading township collected taxes thi
year, aR follows:
For State and Canal purposes, Is cts
on the hundred dollars; for county anc