The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-06-24
Written for The Spirit of Democracy
LETTER FROM SHELBY COUNTY.
SIDNEY, OHIO, June Is, 1879.

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SIDNEY, OHIO, June Is, 1879.
ED. SPIRIT: In remembrance of nv
many old friends, ever since l have res :
ded in this place, ! have had it in my
mind to write letter to the SPIRIT; but
you know the man who edits paper,
does his own locating and attends to the
business of his office and job department,
has no time for outside work. l having
been confined to my house for a few days
with an atfliction that prevents me from
getting to my office, gives me an oppo,-
tunlIy of carrying out my intentions.
This county being located on the sum
NIT between the Lake and o Oaio R Yer,
gives it an elevation nearly as high as
any other in tue State. 1t is drained bv
the Miami r yer, which enters it on the
tnorth and passes out on the south. So
near do the waters of the Miami and Au-
glaize approach each other, that in the
construction of the Miami and Erie Co.
nal, the summit level was made along The
waters of the Laramie River in this
county. Situated as this county is, it
partakes of the fertility of the Miami
Valley, as well as the rich, black swamp
lands OF the northwest part of the State.
Its population at the last census was 20.
600, with valuation of Sll 100000
The valuation and population, when COM
pared with Monroe County, is as about
Two and one-halt to one. The land is
level and slightly rolling except along
the river and streams, where there are
bluffs. There is not foot of land in
he county that cannot be plowed, and
tbe quality of the soil is as good as any
in the State. Gravel beds are found in
all parts of the county and are used for
road making. There is over 400 miles
of turnpike road in The county, built un-
der the two mile law, and they are now
paid for. These roads are smoother and
better than any broken stone road have
ever seen. Nine pixies center on Sidney,
the county seat.
The products of the county are wheat,
corn, oats and FAX. Cattle and hogs are
raised in great abundance. and the pork
trade of Sidney last year exceeded S100-
600. The timber is beech, oak, hickory,
ash, elm and sugar, and is Of good quail
ity, but will not last as long as timber
growing in Monroe County. Land sells
at from Sl5 to $l00 per acre, according
to location. Much the largest portion
of the land in the county can be bought
at $50 and $40 per acre. The improve
ments in the county, on the farms in the
east, south and northwest, are good; in
the other and newer portions they are
not so good. 1t is as good fruit coun-
try SIS Monroe County, except grapes !;
and the farmer can expect a good, remit
nerating crop in everything he plants
The first settlements were made on the
highest ground, which is clay land. The
result of this is, that the timber land,
and what is yet to be brought under cul-
tis@sion, is Of better quality than the
cleared land, most of 1t being deep,
black soil.
The inhabitants of the county are
made OF settlers from the older counties
in this State and other States, with a
large German population in the west
part of the county. There are also a
number of French and Irish in the coun-
ty. Society is as good in this county as
in any other in the State.
The town of Sidney is the county seat,
and is place of about 4, 500 population.
Its population has increased 500 since
came here three years ago. 1t has good
buildings, and is situated at the crossing
Of the Cleveland and Indianapolis and
Dayton and Michigan Railroads. Within
another year it will have railroad to
Springfield, connecting direct to the
Jackson County coal fields. Sidney has
good schools, and is good place for
trade. 1t has gas work and water works
run by water. 1t is a manufacturing
town, and water from the canal or river
is used in several of our factories 1t
has three Touring mills, two elevators
for grain, two spoke and hub factories,
two planning mills, school desk n anu
factory, scraper factory, brewery, sew
eral lime klns, two plow factories, a
steam tannery, bent wood msnufacto-
ry, foundry and machine shops,a reaper
factory and foundry, and parties have
Just commenced building large factory
for making fork and shovel handles.
| On my arrival here l thought mine
was the first Monroe County family in
this county. In this | soon found my
mistake. l found here J. I. Strickling
and Perry Strickling, formerly of Woods
6eld-the latter has since died; also, DR.
G. W. Fulkinson, who has been in the
county number of years, and formerly
lived in Wayne township.
This county, in my opinion, is as
healthy as Monroe, except it be in the
fall of the year in wet seasons like las
year; then there are some cases of ague
and miasmalic fevers. With the proper
care these may be avoided.
| notice some Of the citizens of Mon.
roe County have the greenback party af
Fiction, as if the Democratic party il
Ohio was not liberal Greenback party
Some of our fellows here had ii bad las
fall. Their leaders we're those who bad
held Office as long as their party wanted
them or could not get nomination fol
Office. These, together with few who
wanted to blackmail candidates with tn,
encouragement the republicans couf
give them, were what constituted th'
backbone OF the Greenback party las
fall. They have scarcely been heard o
since. Those who have not got hac!
into their old party, have crept into
bola and takan tho hnla in with tham