KNOX COUNTY OHIO - Norton's History of Knox County [Chapter XLVI] ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Dave Ketterer Ketterer@empireone.net September 1, 2002 ************************************************ A History of Knox County, Ohio, From 1779 to 1862 Inclusive: Comprising Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes and incidents of men connected with the county from its first settlement: Together with complete lists of the senators, representatives, sherriffs, auditors, commissioners, treasurers, judges, justices of the peace, and other officers of the county, also of those who have served in a military capacity from its first organization to the present time, and also a sketch of Kenyon College, and other institutions of learning and religion within the county. By A. Banning Norton. Columbus: Richard Nevins, Printer. 1862 Entered according to the act of Congress in the year 1862 by A. Banning Norton, In the Clerk’s office of the Southern District of Ohio. ____________________________________________ CHAPTER XLVI. COLLEGE TOWNSHIP. COLLEGE was organized December 21, 1838, and so named in consequence of its being the seat of Kenyon College, and all the land belonging to that institution. The first election was held at the public house in Gambier kept by M. W. Vore. The ofticers then elected were Trustees, O. Lane, J. McMahon, M. W. Vore ; Clerk, D. L. Fobes ; Constables, O. Welchymer, and N. Head ; Overseers of the Poor. J. Kendrick and W. Claytor ; Treasurer, M. T. C. Wing; Fence Viewers, T. G. Odiorne, G. C. Johnson. N. Weaver; Supervisors, W. M. Lane and A.K. Fobes. The voters in the early elections numbered from 20 to 30, and almost all of these Were connected with the institution as professors, a gents, keepers of boarding— houses, or other establishments dependant upon the College for a sustenance. At the spring election, 1839 J. McMahon, T. G. Odiorne and M. W. Vore were elected Trustees A G. Scott, Clerk ; and M. T. C. Wing, Treasurer. Mr. Odiorne, the only Trustee living, is now President of an Insurance Company in Cincinnati, and is an efficient business man. M. T. C. Wing was re-elected again and again, until he declined serving in 1842, when G. W. Meyers was chosen Treasurer. Mr. Meyers was one of the earliest BEXLEY HALL Settlers of this township; a good practical printer and bookbinder, the first in these two trades on "the hill;" he has contributed much to the preservation of works in the libraries of the institution For many years he "ran the machine" of the Ac land Press, and now resides at Mt. Vernon. The printing office was the gift of liberal-minded English Protestants to Bishop Chase in 1825, and received its name in honor of Lady Acland, the fair donor who started the subscription. Upon this has been published various literary and religious articles calculated to advance the cause of learning and religion. The students of the College have at several periods projected publications of a literary character ; the last, the "Kenyon Collegian," a very creditable magazine, was continued for several years, The first store was called the Bishop's store, from having been commenced by Bishop Chase for the purpose of furnishing work hands with necessary articles, and to supply the boys, so that no excuse could exist for going "to town." This was carried on until in the fall of 1833 an arragement was made with Mr. White. of New York, by which that business was to be entirely Under his control, and M. and G. B. White thereupon located at Gambier. The former remains there, and the latter at this writing is one of the most valued citizens of Mt. ernon. The Whites are natives of Derby, Ct. The "Bishop's store" was managed for many years by Robert Burnside, until a short time before its discontinuance N. W. Putnam had it in charge. The Whites continued in partnership until 1838, when D. Topping and N. W. Putnam opened a store, and Daniel S. Norton and A. G. Scott established another. Topping & Co., with A. J. Douglass. kept for a few years, when it was closed. and Mr. T. moved to Illinois ; Mr. P. is yet living on the hill ; Mr. Scott has uninterruptedly resided there, and by his close attention to business, in which for many years has been alone, has acquired a compe- MILNOR HALL tency. A. B. Norton for several years was engaged in the merchandizing and milling business at Gambier. At this time there are the two stores of A. G. Scott & Co.. M. White & Co., and a drug and book establishment of Mr. French. Other branches of business have been carried on here; E. Pearce, Witt & Mulford, and G. J. W. Pearce in the boot and shoe line ; Russel Clark, Mr. Clements, A. K. Fobes and J. Waugh have carried on the tailoring. Mr. Sharp in early times was the brewer and baker, in a large stone house in the rear of the main College building now obliterated by time's effacing finger. J. S. Sawer since 1837 has supplied the students and liberal disposed with ice cream and varieties, and many of the boys fed under the Dotheby regime gratefully remember the good cookery and pies of Mrs. Sawer. The hotel and boarding-houses have been kept by Douglass, Vore. Johnson, Bell, Witt, Sims. Riley, and Wright, the latter now holding forth in fine style. The old College mill erected by Bp.. Chase many years ago went into decay and at that seat Daniel S. Norton put up one of the finest mills on the river. The '' Kenyon Mills" flour acquired a good reputation. The post-office, upon Bp. Chase's application, established in 1826, has been the greater part of its existence managed by that excellent public officer M. T. C. Wing. About 1846, partisan violence, through the machinery of a county convention and central committee, brought about the appointment of Benoni Elliott, a student from the District of Columbia. In 1849., M. T. C. Wing was again appointed ; in 1853, James Young ; in 1857, E. G. Riley ; and in 1861, Joseph Leonard. The principal church is Rosse Chapel, bearing the name of its founder, Lady Rosse, eminent for piety and good works. It is a very neat amid chaste stone edifice, situated in Harcourt Parish, named for like cause, and in the rear of the church is the beautiful cemetery where rest the dead of Gambier. The ROSS CHAPLE parish officers elected Easter Monday, 1862, on the Union ticket, are A. G. Scott, H. L. Smith, Wardens ; B. L. Lang, A. Buttles, M. White, J. Leonard, J. S. Sawer, S. T. Bourne, N. W. Putnam, E. S. Balcom. Delegates to the Convention, B. L. Lang, A. G. Scott, S. T. Bourne, The M. E. church is a neat frame, erected in 1854 by subscription of liberal citizens. The present minister is Chilton Craven. The Trustees are d. L. Fobes,. J. T. L. Jacobs, F. Clippinger, F. Penh orwood, G.J.W. Pearce. The Cumberland Presbyterians have preaching regularly at their church. One-half mile north of the Public Well. The Rev. Larrimore is the present minister ; J. Bennet and T. Minard, trustees. The various College buildings and matters of interest Connected with them will appear under the appropiate head. Gambier is a beautiful little village, where those who desire to withdraw from the noise and bustle, the cares and vexations of the active world, can have a safe retreat. A more quiet and secluded spot cannot be found on this continent; of the old residents on the hill, it may with truth be said: "Along the cool sequestered hill of life, They kept the noisless tenor of their way" scarcely realizing that the great busy world is all around them. To them we commend Lord Kenyon's motto: "Magnanimiter erueem sustine." ." SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. in 1839 John Powell and C. S. Johnson were elected, but the latter, being a student, up on protest of the Bishop against his acting, resigned, and A. G. Scott was chosen in May, 1840 ; re-elected in 1843 and in 1845 ; in 1846 resigned. 1845 G. C. Johnson ; re-elected 1848. 1842-A K. Fobes. 18 44 —E. M. Gwin ; re-elected 1847. 1817-B. Elliott. 1850-N. W. Putnam ; reelected in 1853 and 1836. 1833— P. L. Fobes. 1855-J. H. C. Bonte. 1856-Norman Badger. 1857-John Cunningham ; re-elected 1860. 1859-George J. W. Pearce.