The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-05-26
[By a Special Standard Reporter ]
CHILIICOTUE.
Items From the Past History of the City and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of Pun
ishment-PersonaI Mention, Etc.

Items From the Past History of the City and
unds-Omcers-NIodes of Pun
ishment-PersonaI Mention, Etc.
On Wednesday of last week I went to ChilIcothe,
| by way of Hamden, the VI. & C. r. r. ChilIcothe
is the county seat of Ross county and is of the
Oldest towns in Ohio. 1t is situated on the Scioto
| river, which stream runs through the county from
north to south. leaving two-thirds the area
of the county west of the river The City of Chilli
cothe is the west side of the and
Paint valleys the most important surface
of the county. This county was inhabited in ages
long past by what is called mound builders Many
mounds were built in Ross county. mound in Chill
licothe that was RACED at early day found to
have been built by setting fiat stones edge and
laying others them. 1t is claimed that mounds
used for signal stations, there are mounds all
along the valley on the highest points, that have the
appearance of having had fires burning them ages
ago. Probably at early day news could be trans
mitted from the Ohio river to what is Columbus
in short time by signals. which could be given from
these high points and seen for many miles. BY trans
mittng news from high point to another, it could
be sent a long distance in short space of time.
Many changes have been made in the manners. Gus
toms and habits of the people the first white
man to this old Scioto valley the following
written by Rev. David JONES' on Friday January p.
17s demonstrates the truth of the saying that histo-
| ry repeats ITSELF:
refused to work at his trade for the Indians the
neatedY they learned When saatb rne res9n er
few applcati4ns IL I'VE were en- made They were very tronb-
them the reason why he would work, they became
the traders unanimously to refuse trading
ee but a is S BE-
some OF the traders are not concerned about con-
complished except they are unanimously agreed"
So it appears effort made one hundred and
eight to bring the heathens into better
ulattons in regard to the observance of the Lords
Day. At that time some of the traders not
cerned about conscience and nothing could be
plished. And what do find to-day? A Mayor was
elected this Spring who avOrs certain reforms one
of which is to keep the saloons closed Sunday and
thereby bring the heathens into better regulations
in regard to the observance of the Lords Day. But
of the traders not yet concerned about
science in this matter" and it is difficult to make
much progress; but still hopes entertained that
good may be accomplished by agitation.
Chillicothe was laid out in 1885, and the ninth
territorial town laid out in Ohio One hundred in
lots and the same number of out-lots given to
first settlers, after which they sold, the first be-
ing disposed of at ten dollars each.
The eight towns first laid out in Ohio laid
in the following order Marietta, Columbia, Cincin-
natl, Gallipois, Manchester, Hamilton, Dayton and
Franklin.
The first legislature of the northwestern territory
of which Ohio part was composed of twenty
seven members, twenty-five in the lower house, and
five in the legislative council. This council was tc
that legislature what the Ohio Senate is to the Ohio
legislature. Ohio then had sixteen members in the
lower house. and three of the five in the Legislative
council, which shows that the Ohio patriots i'm
porant and prominent personages in conducting gov
errmental affairs, well in early days at present.
EdwGrd Tiffn of Ross county elected Speaker o
the House of this first territorial Legislature and this
body met in Cincinnati September 16, 1879. and wa:
prorogued by Gov. Arthur st. Clair December 10
1799 until the first Monday in November 1900, when il
reassembled for the second session at Chlicothe
which had been made the seat of government by al
act of Congress passed May 18th of same year. This
session lasted only until December 0, 1900.
On November 30, 1901, legislature met in Chill
licothe and Edward Tifin again elected Speaker
John Smith was member from Hamilton county il
this body.
Constitutional Convention met i'll Chillcothe OF
November l, 1902, and framed Constitution Novem-
Der 49, 1902 which ratified by Congress, but
submitted to the people,
The State Government of Ohio was organized a
Chillicothe, March 8, 1903. Edward TifIn the
first Governor.
Chillcothe remained the seat of the State Govern.
ment until 1910, when it was removed to GAINESVILLE
where two sessions of the legislature were held A
the session of 1S11-12 Chlicothe made the Capt.
tai until lSl6-1T, when it to be removed to Column
bus which had been selected for permanent capital.
The sessions of the Legislature and CONSTITUTIONS
Convention were held in the old stone State House
built in 1900, which stood upon the ground occu
pied by the Ross county court house.
The first court of common pleas was begun at Chill
licothe on the 4th Tuesday of December, 1897. Tht
first suit was Bedford Sc Mowry William Wylie
Damage, $50. Sherif-s return howed that defend
ant could not be found within his bailiwick'' Dis
continued.
The first Indictment was against Philip Wolfe, fo
selling liquor. Found guilty. Fined $40 and to re
main in hands of Sheriff until paid
Court at that time held in a hewed log house
built in 1888, that stood at the of Second
Walnut streets. In 1872 this building was used as
barracks for United States troops, and when it
torn down. in 1910, the roof, which had been made
blue ash shingles, was without a leak.
The present court house. finished in 1858. abou
100000.
Ross county has furnished four Governors for Ohio
as follows: Edward Tifin, 1903 to 1907; Thoma
Worthington, 1914 to 1878; Duncan Macarthur, 1880
1892; William Allen, 1874 to 1876.
United States Senators from Ross county a
follows: 1903 to 1907, Thomas Worthington 1907 t
1911, Edward Tifn; 1909 to 1915, Thomas Worthington
1913 to 1885, Joseph Kerr 1887 to 1919, William Allen
The latter served two terms Representative in Con
gress >
McClintick served Prosecuting Attorneys for Ros
county.
The whipping-p post was used means of punish
ment at an early day. as the records show that in 1S
John Cummins convicted of horse stealing an
sentenced to receive fifty lashes well laid on hi
bare back pay a fine of hundred dollars to tn
State of Ohio restore to Israel Jennings the propert
stolen, and also eighty dollars the value thereof
pay the costs of prosecution. Justices of the Peac
had power to sentence to the whipping for pet
offences, which they had final Jurisdiction.
Branding with hot iron also resorted to as
means of punishment. In 1904 John Brandy wa
tried for murder and found guilty of manslaughter
He was sentenced Ito be burned in the palm of the lei
hand, with hot iron, that the letters NJ shall b
plainly marked thereon, and pay the costs fprosecu
In December 1915, Henry Thomas was tried an
convicted of murder. This trial in the Suprem
Court for Ross county Persons might choose at tha
time which court they would be tried by, the Com
mon Pleas or Supreme, and Thomas chose the su
| Nathaniel HitchcOc
the judges. Joseph Miller. the Prosecuting At
torney was assisted by Hon. Thomas Ewing and Joh
L. Green, and defense conducted by Henry Stan
berry and Hooking II. Hunter.
Charles E. Brown practiced law in 1859 in Ross
ty. he enlisted in 1861 in the 22nd Ohio regiment
This regiment consolidated with the G3d Ohio
He was commissioned captain in October, 1861: wa
promoted to Major in March, 1863 and in May to Lien
tenantColonel. On July o. 1864, at Atlanta, he los
his left leg, and was commissioned Colonel in June
1865. In 1866 he was appointed postmaster at Chilli
cothe, and re-appointed in 1870. In 1872 he ap
pointed United States Pension Agent in Cincinnati
which position he held until june 1877, when the Co
lumbus and Cincinnati offices consolidated, ant
the Cincinnati Office abolished. Mr.. Brown is nov
practicing law in Cincinnati.
William E. Gilmore, who was Colonel of the 22nd o
V. L. and afterward LieutCol of the esd is practis
ing law in Chillicothe in partnership with Geo
w. Holland, who was soldier in the lS1st o. VI.
The first postotiice in Chicothe opened in 1893
The first newspaper published in Ross county was
the Scioto Gazette, which established in 1900
Nathaniel Willis, father of the poet n. p. Willis The
paper was four-page, four-coumn paper, the sub.
scription price $3.50 per year. half in advance
and balance in six months. John t. Raper and Geo
L. Wolfe the present proprietors, and have a fine
newspaper and job office. with all the modern i'm
proyements.
On October p, 1881, the opening7of the canal con-
at Chillicothe. Work commenced this cana
on July 4, 1925, Licking Summit by Dewitt Clin-