The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908

The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908 - Part 1

Darrell E. Hamilton

The health department released the figures for deaths and births for 1907. According to the numbers deaths were ahead 325-279. However the health department blamed the doctors for not timely reporting the birth of babies. Midwives were also commonly used at the turn of the century. Even if the figures were accurate the immigration of immigrants into Ashtabula would off set any decrease in population because of death.

Mayor Hiram D. Cook took office on January first and one of his first actions was to keep women and girls, as the headline stated, out of all drinking places.

During the shipping season of 1907 Ashtabula lead the nearest competitor by 1,025,061 tons between the receipts of ore at Ashtabula and Cleveland. Conneaut came in third with 5, 875,621 tons of ore.

Mike Potkvich was stabbed in the heart at a dance by another man. He was immediately taken to the Ashtabula General Hospital where his heart was still beating. Remarkably Drs. Burroughs and Aldrich decided to operate on the man in an attempt to save his life. He could not live with a knife in his heart and if they pulled the knife out he would surely die.

The doctors went to work and removed three of man’s ribs from the side so they could get at the heart. They then removed the heart as it was still beating and sewed the heart up. The heart took seven stitches. They then replace the heart and the ribs. They did this feat in an hour and a half. However the man died a few hours later.

The fact that the man lived a few hours is remarkable. Remember this was almost a hundred years ago. It was 1908!

The new West Street building at the corner of West and 47^th Street was not opened in January as was expected. The children were told to go back to the old school at the corner of West and Prospect. This would be where Rite Aid Pharmacy sits now. The workers were not completely done with the school.

The Ashtabula General Hospital annual report came out on February 1, 1908. The report stated that the hospital had 404 patients admitted. Of that total 296 were male and a 108 were female. The average cost for each patient in 1907 was $1.83 per day. Considering the average wage in 1908 Ashtabula was about eighty dollars a month, a day’s stay in the hospital was a bargain.

In 1907 Ashtabula there were 1,752 arrests made. The majority was due to the use of liquor to freely. For the first time that I could find, more people were arrested for automobile theft than horse stealing. There were three automobiles stolen as compared to one horse.

On March 4, 1908 there were five hundred children in the three story grade school at Collinwood. On a Wednesday at ten in the morning the Lake View graded school was wrecked by an explosion of the boilers followed by a fire. The boilers shot up all three floors and through the walls throwing the children together in heaps. The explosion completely destroyed the school. The rear door of the school was locked and the fire blocked the stairways.

The Lake Shore railway passed near the school. It was the same railway that runs through Ashtabula where the old depot sits now.

Grace Fiske age 26, had gotten out of the building then she returned to the building to save the children. Katherine Weiler, a third grade teacher also returned back into the burning building to save the lives of the children. Their mangled bodies were pulled out of the smoking ruins at nightfall. Around them lay the corpses of many of the little ones who called her “teacher” and had looked to her not in vain in the hour of their extremity.

Many of the children were caught in the panic to escape. Many of them became jammed in the doorway leading to the outside. Some of the students actually climbed over the jammed students in the panic. After the fire a man named Dorn recognized his ten year old daughter’s body in the jam and tried to pull her out only to have her little arm tear loose in his hands.

Three children that had jumped from the third floor window all died from the jump.

The school janitor, Mr. Hirter had three children enrolled in the school, two daughters and a son. All three of them perished.

The Lake View Graded School - Collinwood

Miss Anna Moran was the principal of Lake View graded school. She had grown up in Jefferson and was the daughter of Peter Moran, a former well-to-do farmer of Jefferson Township.

In the panic many of the children forgot about the fire escapes. The children that did escape used the fire escapes. Most of the deaths were blamed on panic. One report says there were no fire escapes while another one listed one fire escape. It was also reported that the doors opened in instead of out.

At first it was thought that a hundred children died in the fire alter the number to be estimated as high as two hundred.

There were many accusations on the cause of the fire. In the end Collinwood's Lake View Elementary School became the site of the country's worst school tragedy. Shortly after 9:00 a.m., and while school was in session, overheated steam pipes ignited nearby wood joists. The fire spread quickly, and roughly half of the students were unable to escape. In the end, 172 children, 2 teachers and 1 rescuer perished in the fire.

New laws were enacted concerning fire regulations because of this tragedy. It was too little too late.

Even though the Collinwood fire is not part of Ashtabula history, it is a part of Ohio history. It deserves to be remembered as does the principal of the school that was from Ashtabula County.

The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908 Part 2

Darrell E. Hamilton

In March of 1908 the State Board of Health ordered the City of Ashtabula to have a sewage disposal plant in operation within five years. Even though the city did have some storm sewers, the city did not have sanitary sewers in place.

From February 29, 1908 Beacon Record

Mrs. Juliet Elizabeth Hall who died Saturday noon, March 7, 1908, in Chicago, and was buried in Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Ashtabula, on Tuesday March 10, was a native of Ashtabula.” There were thirteen governors in Mrs. Hall’s family line.

She was born May 23, 1830. Her parents were Roger W. and Juliet Griswold who came to reside in Ashtabula 1818 and lived on the north side of Prospect Street. Her father was the first Mayor of Ashtabula. Her grandfather was the Governor of Connecticut.

Squire Griswold and his wife (second cousin) of Blackhall, Old Lyme, Connecticut was old family of the new world. Two brothers came to Connecticut in 1639. One settled in Windsor, Connecticut and one settled in Salina, Connecticut. Squire Griswold ancestor Matthew Griswold settled in Blackhall and his posterity contains many illustrious names.

Before the Revolutionary War another Matthew Griswold of this line married Ursula, daughter of the famous Governor Wilcott. Matthew himself became Governor and the couple had at least thirteen state governors among their relatives. Their son Roger became governor of Connecticut. Shortly before his death he declined an appointment as Secretary of War under John Adams. Squire Griswold was his son (brother of Roger of Ashtabula) and served many years as a member of the Ohio State Legislature. He died in Ashtabula in 1878.

Mrs. Juliet Elizabeth Hall married Captain Joseph B. Hall, son of Rev. John Hall of Ashtabula, in 1847. They resided in Ashtabula until the winter of 1866-67 when they moved to Chicago. Captain Hall died there in 1898 and was buried in Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Ashtabula. The Halls had seven children survive them.

Fred J. Sikes, Ashtabula Township trustee, died at his home on April 5, 2008. Mr. Sikes was born in Jefferson on March 12, 1852 and had resided in Ashtabula for more than thirty years. He was employed as a messenger by the Ashtabula Company.

The only member of the family that survives him is the widow who was already in grief over the loss of their only son, Jay Sikes. Jay was killed on the railway ten months before. Two brothers (H. V. Sikes and A. F. Sikes, both of Jefferson) and a sister (Mrs. Alice Bennett) survive him. He was buried in Edgewood Cemetery.

All but two of the property owners on Lake Street, Division Street and North Main Street presented a petition to pave their streets paved with brick instead of asphalt. The only reason the two property owners that didn’t sign the petition was that they were out of town. However even with the petition, the council voted 4-2 in favor of the asphalt. Boy doesn’t this sound familiar. Even though the asphalt cost the city $2.82 per square yard and brick was only $1.99 per square yard, the council still ignored the citizens. The streets however would be torn up in a few years and a brick surface would be put in. Apparently the residents were right.

On April 22, 1908 the City Board of Public Service decided that the Ashtabula General Hospital would have to pay for its electricity. The hospital did not pay for its water or gas either. This was when the city owned the electric company.

The board also decided to meter the electricity in the city building including the fire departments and police stations. They were to be charged for the electricity at four cents a kilowatt.

The board also decided to discontinue the reduced rates to livery stables where fire apparatuses are stored. The livery stables were allowed up to six lights each in their stables however some of the livery men had taken advantage of the privilege and had attached a good many more lights than the number allowed for free. Electricity was almost exclusively used the lighting in 1908. One livery stable man was quoted that he go to gas lighting as he would not be able to pay the electric bill.

On April 21, 1908 the County Commissioners ratified the annexation of lands on Bunker Hill and south of there to the City of Ashtabula by a unanimous vote.

The number of gentlemen tramps, hobos, weary willes and persons of usual good habits but who are out of work and in desperate straits, who applied for and been given lodging for the night at the Lake Street police station has now increased to over 800 for the winter. Remember boys and girls. This was before there was welfare, food stamps and any kind of public assistance. This was also before Social Security. The City also fed these men.

In May of 1908 a bill was passed for the registration of motor cars. The fee for the registration was to be three dollars for electric cars and five dollars for all other kinds. All professional chauffeurs would have to pay two dollars for a license. Owners operating their own machines were exempt from having to obtain a license. Actually chauffeurs did not have license as we know today. They wore metal badges with a number on them which were to be worn in a conspicuous place. The law went into effect June 11, 1908.

Some municipalities already had a law on their books that required automobiles to have license. These automobiles were exempt from the act until January 1, 1909.

The law provided that each automobile shall carry three lamps, two in the front and one in the rear. The law also stated that a white light shall shine on the machine license plate. All automobiles were to have a front and rear license plate.

From the May 2, 1908 Beacon Record

On June 12, C. J. King of Ashtabula received from Columbus his automobile license plate. He was the first one to receive a license in Ashtabula County. He had made application for the license the morning following the passage of the law. His license number was number nine. There were only eight in the state who had applied before him. W. W. Scott of Ashtabula license plate arrived on the same day however his plate number was 459. It makes me wonder. Are there any of theses plates still around????

The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908 Part 3

Darrell E. Hamilton

A manual training (vocational school) was started at Ashtabula High School for the first time at the city schools in May of 1908 for the 1908-09 school year. The old wooden frame school building (Academy) that sat at the rear of Park Street School would be fitted for the manual training school. Wood working would be the first courses offered.

Father John Tracy of the St. Joseph Church of Ashtabula died Friday, May 8, 1908 at his home on Lake Street. Father John Tracy was credited with the building of the St. Joseph Church in Ashtabula.

Father Tracy was born in Ireland on November 20, 1838. He came to the United States when he was ten years old. When he was a youth he was sent to St. Vincent College at Latrobe, Pennsylvania. After completing his classical studies there, he was received at St. Mary’s Theological Seminary at Cleveland in 1859 and on June 28, 1863 he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cleveland by Bishop Rappe.

Father Tracy’s first mission was at St. Joseph’s at Ashtabula. During his pastorate of seven years he built the church, school and rectory. In 1865 he built the first church in Conneaut and the first school in Conneaut for the church. In 1869 he built the Mission Church in Madison. In 1870 he was transferred to Painesville and remained there until 1887 where he made many improvements. He was then appointed to the Holy Angels Church in Sandusky.

The St. Joseph Church - Ashtabula

In December of 1893 Father John Tracy was transferred to his first parish at Ashtabula after an absence of twenty-three years. Father Tracy retired from active labor in June 1902. Right before that date Father Tracy sustained a fall from a street car in Cleveland dislocating his left arm and fracturing his collar bone. The injury was soon followed by a stroke which he never fully recovered.

In all his faithful work for the church over the years, he left no debts wherever he ministered. He made education free to all and in all of his faithful years to the church; he never missed one Sunday up until his accident. He never took a vacation.

Rev. Father Tracy was survived by his sister Mary who lived with him. He was also survived by a brother James in East Liverpool.

Funeral services were held at Our Mother of Sorrows Church in Ashtabula. His casket was then placed on the funeral car to Painesville where he was buried.

On Sunday May 17, 1908 Mayor Hiram D. Cook officiated his first marriage since being elected Mayor of Ashtabula. Back when Ashtabula had mayors, the mayor had the same powers that a minister or justice of the peace would have to solemnize a marriage. The ceremony was planned and took place in the Mayor’s office at city hall. The groom was Frederick Konder of Ashtabula and the bride was Miss May Kraus.

The thirteenth annual field day for Ashtabula County high schools was held on May 30, 1908. Ashtabula High school displaced Geneva (last year’s winner) and all the other six high schools in the county by a wide margin.

F. W. Stone, President of the Board of Education compiled statistics in 1908 showing investment in each student who goes through grade school and high school in Ashtabula. Well, you better sit down for this one. The total investment for each student until graduation was in 1908 $257. 68!

The Ashtabula High School Senior class of 1908 published their first yearbook for Ashtabula High School. The name of Ashtabula High School’s first yearbook was called the “Lakota”. I had suggested to the yearbook advisor at the Ashtabula High School right after the school was supposed to have voted on the name change that the new yearbook be for the school be named the “Lakota”. I think she looked at me as if I was crazy. Well, I might be crazy however I am not stupid. I suppose they didn’t want anything to do with the old schools. Anyway the “students", superintendent and school board killed the oldest continuing high in the State of Ohio and quite possibly the United States of America. Oh, can you tell I am still a little ticked off?

Anyway boys and girls “Lakota” was an Indian word. It means in English, “Friends”.

The very first Ashtabula High School Year Book - 1908

The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908 Part 4

Darrell E. Hamilton

A new principal was chosen for Ashtabula High School. Miss Lillian E. Kurtz did not reapply for the position when her contract was up. The new principal chosen was H. C. Dieterich who was the present principal of Toledo High School. Mr. Dieterich would be the principal of the new high school when it opened in 1916.

After receiving numerous petitions property owners on numerous streets to have their streets paved with brick instead of asphalt, the council agreed to pave it with brick but to use asphalt instead of cement for a filler. Needless to say, using asphalt instead of cement would also be a mistake.

The largest class to ever graduate Ashtabula high school or any county high school graduated forty classmates on June 11, 1908 at the Lyceum Theater. The class contained twenty-eight girls and twelve boys. On of the classmates, Miss Audrey Glenn had married earlier that year to Archie Showman in Ripley. New York. She did not allow marriage to stand in her way from completing high school.

What is kind of amazing is that a female teacher could not be married in Ashtabula in 1908 and teach but a student could be married!

Since the time, 144 years ago (from 2006) when thirty-three brave volunteers from Windsor and Orwell left their homes to enter the service of Uncle Sam and fight to maintain the Union, there never had been a day so eventful in Windsor as was on June 13, 1908 when a longed hoped-for accomplishment was realized in the unveiling and formal dedication of the new soldiers and sailors monument in Windsor.

Over two thousand people assembled in Windsor along with Congressman W. Aubrey Thomas for the dedication. The Honorable E. L. Lampson was the speaker of the day. It was an all day event with speakers, displays and a dinner.

Mrs. Martha Gohegan died on June 16, 1908. She was reported to be one hundred and five years old. According to members of her family she was born Carroll County, Kentucky as a slave. According to members of the family, they had no papers to prove the claim as their home burned and all the papers were destroyed two years previously. She had been given all of her papers on her birth and her children, which she had nine in all, by her master when she was emancipated. However, one lady in Conneaut stated that Mrs. Gohegan was a servant in her house thirty-five years ago when she was seventy years old.

She was survived by five children. They were Christina Clemens, Covington, Ky.; Charlie Clemens, Madison, Indiana; Martin Clemens, Memphis, Tennessee; Hezekiah Clemens, New Orleans and Anna Terrill with whom the aged mother had lived with twenty-three years in Ashtabula.

I could not find a follow up to the story or a brief story on the funeral. I will do my best to verify Mrs. Gohegan’s age. If she was indeed one hundred and five years old, she would be the second oldest living person in Ashtabula County that ever lived. The funeral was held at her daughters place, 7 Morrison Street (West 43^rd Street). If there is anyone out there who has information or pictures on this lady, please get in contact with me.

In June of 1908 Ashtabula City Solicitor F. R. Hogue stated that he did not believe that the council could appropriate money to pay the Municipal Light plant for public Illumination according to code. Several years before City Solicitor R. W. Calvin stated that the city had no right to tax itself for the lighting of its own streets by its own plant. Believe it or not boys and girls, the city owned the electric company up until the 1920’s, up until the city acquired a city manager.

City Solicitor maintained the council might issue bonds to maintain the plant and could tax the people to pay for the bonds, but that was the only way the money could be legally expended. I will keep you posted on the outcome. However, I believe you may already know the outcome.

The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908 Part 5

Darrell E. Hamilton

As of July 1, 1908 Ashtabula County had ninety-six saloons. Of that total the City of Ashtabula had seventy-one, Conneaut had twenty-one and Geneva had four. It is hard to believe that there were no other saloons in any other part of the county. The Dow Tax that was collected for the City of Ashtabula was $36,327.43; for Conneaut the total was $11,139.52 and for Geneva it was $2,000.00.

A new banking law passed by the State Legislature in 1908 which regulated state banks, safety deposits, and trust companies. The law was known as the “Thomas Law”. Yes there is a good reason that I am talking about a new state law that passed instead of something local. You see the new agency there had to be an office of state superintendent of banks.

About thirty wanted the job. A few of them were very strongly endorsed including Stacy B. Rankin of South Charleston, Ohio who was the most endorsed of all the candidates. However Governor Andrew L. Harris surprised everyone and picked Burritt B. Seymour of Ashtabula to head the department.

Burritt B. Seymour had been associated with the National Bank of Ashtabula continuously for twenty-six years since 1882 with the exception of three years he spent in the west. He had worked up from the bottom rung of the ladder starting as an errand boy. For eleven years prior to his appointment as state superintendent of banks he had been cashier at the Ashtabula National Bank.

In July of 1908 a headline in the local newspaper read “Prominent Citizens Charged with Breaking Speed Law on Station Street”. The six that were charged were: Mrs. J. M. Amsden, Edna. R. Pierce, whom I believe was the first women to get a speeding ticket in Ashtabula, Fred H. Burnett, Fred R. Morrison, Frederick J. Wood and John Moran. First of all the headline was a little bit redundant. First of all almost all or all the people who owned automobiles in Ashtabula in 1908 were prominent citizens simply because almost no one else could afford to own an automobile.

All except three pleaded guilty. The guilty were fined ten dollars and cost even though it was their first offence. It was quite a bit of money in 1908. The judge also reminded the guilty that a second offense would result in a fine of twenty-five to thirty dollars. The fine for a third offense was from fifty dollars to a hundred dollars and imprisonment for up to thirty days.

The three that pleaded not guilty were Messrs, Pierce and Morrison. This really confused me as the newspaper never said anything about Messrs being charged but listed him as pleading not guilty. I suppose the newspapers even made mistakes in 1908.

Anyway, boys and girls, the three contended that the law specified that the eight mile speed limit for business thoroughfare did not apply to Station Street as it was not a business thoroughfare or a closely built up street. In 1908 there were very few houses on Station Street (Avenue). The speed limit for streets not a business thoroughfare in a municipality was fifteen miles an hour. The top speed on a road outside a municipality was twenty miles an hour.

The hearing was set for July 8. However the newspaper never said anything about Messrs. The newspaper stated that Morrison and Pierce changed their plea to guilty. Like the rest before them they were fined ten dollars and costs.

In July of 1908 the Cleveland Auto Cab Company bought the old Geneva Automobile factory. They intended to start manufacturing automobiles there in the near future. A company spokesman stated that the name will probably be changed to the Geneva Auto Cab Company.

Joseph Addison Giddings, the only surviving child of the great abolitionist Joshua R. Giddings, died at his home in Jefferson on July 11, 1908. Joseph was born in Wayne Township on February 17, 1822 but his family moved to Jefferson when he was two years old.

Joseph was admitted to the bar to practice law at the age of nineteen. In 1852 he was the first probate judge in Ashtabula County. Joseph married Mary Curtis of Sheffield and they were blessed with six children. Three daughters survive him. They are Mrs. Clara Marvin and Miss Kate Giddings of Jefferson and Mrs. Elizabeth Williams of Ashtabula. A son, A. J Giddings of Jefferson survives him along with the widow.

The funeral was held at his home. Burial was made in Oakdale Cemetery in Jefferson at the side of his famous father.

The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908 Part 6

Darrell E. Hamilton

Edward A. Westcott of Waterloo, New York made the unfortunate act of stopping in Ashtabula on July 16, 1908. I suppose his unfortunate accident could happen almost anywhere but he would remember Ashtabula for as long as he lived.

On that day earlier he had came on a train from Buffalo. He tried to board a train to the west. He missed his hold and being he was already missing his left arm in a mishap many years ago, he could not catch hold with that hand. He fell underneath the moving train and his right arm was crushed above the elbow.

Gregory-Zaback’s ambulance conveyed Mr. Westcott to the hospital where Dr. S. H. Burroughs amputated his arm. The doctor stated that he believed that the man would recover.

Now if you are missing an arm, a leg, a finger or only feel that you only have a half a brain as I do sometimes, just think how lucky you are to have at least half of one of these members.

The newspaper never told what ever happen to the man. I suppose he was put on a train back to his home in Waterloo, New York.

In July of 1908 a contract for a filtration plant to be installed at the water plant would be started in fifteen days. Up until this point of time the city water had been cleaned but the water had not been through a filtration system that would remove at least ninety percent of the bacteria. The filtration system used in the city was with sand. With state regulations being passed on city water supplies and sanitary sewer systems cities would have to comply.

Norwood Engineering Company of Florence, Massachusetts would build the filtration plant. The plant would have the capacity to filter 6,000,000 gallons of water daily. The city in 1908 consumed a maximum of 4,000,000 gallons a day. The Norwood Company was also installing filtration plants in Toledo, Marietta and Cincinnati.

In Part Five of this series I wrote about where Messrs, Pierce and Morrison all pleaded guilty to speeding even though that had originally pleaded not guilty. There reason for pleading not guilty was that the law specified that the eight mile speed limit for business thoroughfare did not apply to Station Street as it was not a business thoroughfare or a closely built up street. Well, I suppose the three decided they couldn’t fight City Hall and decided to plea guilty.

Well boys and girls, guess what the city council did less than three weeks after six people received speeding tickets on Station Avenue? You guessed it! The council named the streets that were to be designated as a business thoroughfare. The streets were included were as follows; Main Street, Center Street, Spring Street and Bridge Street.

You guessed it. Station Street was not on the list. Do you think that there were six people who had flash of an image of their hands going around the councilmen’s neck?

On July 22, 1908 the Prospect Presbyterian Church had their annual church picnic at Woodland Beach Park with much success and enjoyment. There were about a hundred present. They went to the park by special trolley car with well filled baskets. After dinner there was a baseball game between two teams picked from the Sunday school. Then there was boating, bathing and the other facilities of the park came in for attention. Supper was served as the closing feature.

Charles Williams aged eighty, respected resident of South Ridge, Saybrook was instantly killed on July 20, 1908 while at work on his farm where his entire life was spent.

Mr. Williams had insisted upon mowing the field and started mowing early Monday morning. He had been working all morning and was almost done and about ready to stop for lunch when his mowing machine sank into to a rut. Mr. Williams fell from the machine and struck the ground where he sustained a broken neck killing him instantly.

Charles Williams was born January 5, 1828 in the same house that he lived in all of his life. His father had purchased the farm from the Connecticut Land Company and was an early settler in Saybrook.

Charles was a charter member of the Ashtabula Grange. For fourteen years he served as a justice-of –the-peace and was at times a real estate assessor. He was married to Angeline Strong for fifty-four years who preceded him in death on August 20, 1906. Charles E. Williams was buried in Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Ashtabula.

In the July heat in Ashtabula most everyone’s lawn was burned up and dead. However the newspaper stated that the best looking lawn in the city was at the Lake Shore Depot. It was very green, lush and well manicured. It is very difficult to believe looking at the old Depot today.

At the turn of the century the Prospect Presbyterian Church had one of the best baseball teams in the county. For many years they would go undefeated or lose very few games mostly due to the pitching of Alfred Humphrey. On August 3, 1908 an all Ashtabula team challenged the Presbyterians to a duel. The Presbyterians accepted and the purse was two hundred dollars. That was quite a bit of money in 1908. The Presbyterians had won the previous year’s battle by a score of 2-1.

The Presbyterians played the Ashtabula All Stars which took the name of the Knight’s of Columbus. The Presbyterians tried to have the game called in the sixth inning and again in the seventh but the Knights of Columbus insisted the game be played out. At the time the score was 23-1 in favor of the Presbyterians. The final score was 24-6. The five runs scored were scored after Humphrey quit pitching. Alfred Humphrey was the grandfather of Ralph Humphrey of Humphrey Insurance fame.

The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908 Part 7

Darrell E. Hamilton

E. P. Broden resigned as Councilman at Large of the City of Ashtabula to be effective August 1, 1908. Mr. Broden lived in Swedetown but had purchased a farm in Kingsville. He was replaced by Judge C. J. Starkey.

Well, hold on to your seats for this one boys and girls. The Ashtabula City Board of Public Service reduced the rates to the patrons of the Municipal Lighting Plant. The new rate to be charged was ten cents per kilowatt for the first fifty kilowatts, eight cents for the second fifty, seven cents for the third fifty and six cents for the fourth while for all over two hundred kilowatts the rate will be five cents. When is the last time you saw the electric company lower its rates?

In part five of this series I wrote about the Cleveland Auto Cab Company that bought the old Geneva Automobile Company in July 1908. The Cleveland Auto Cab Company received an order for fifty of their cabs. At the present there were only fifty auto cabs in Chicago. The auto cabs were to stand at the Auditorium Hotel in Chicago.

In August of 1908 Division Street (West 44^th Street) was being paved for the first time with brick. The street has been paved many times since with asphalt but much of the original brick still lies underneath the asphalt. The brick is probably still in a lot better shape than the asphalt that sits upon it.

Dogs without muzzles were still being shot in Ashtabula by the dozens. Most of them were being shot in Swedetown. Seventeen were shot in one day in Swedetown. A dozen or more dogs were shot and killed the day before.

It looks like to me if the police could of shot a few of the dog owners then they wouldn’t have to worry about shooting any more dogs after that.

Chief Bridge Engineer/Tender Charles Scoville resigned his position after nineteen years as tender of the Swing Bridge due to retirement effective September first. He would be replaced by John Bowler.

A large eight room house on Station Street near Prospect was advertised for $4,500. This was an expensive house in 1908. I am old enough to remember when Station Avenue was nice looking street with beautiful homes. At one time two of Ashtabula’s Mayors lived on Station Street.

In comparison a house on Samuel was advertised for $1,200. A farm two miles from Kingsville with a good barn and fairly good house and seventy-five acres could be had for $2,500. A sixty acre farm two and a half miles east of Ashtabula on Lake Road with nearly a thousand feet frontage on the lake was advertised for $4,500. Don’t you wish you could go back in time?

The old Ashtabula Township School which was located behind the old Edgewood Junior High was increased to twice its size in the summer of 1908. The rear portion of the building was new. The School would now contain eight classrooms instead of four. The only thing left of this school today is the belfry which sits in front of Wallace Braden Junior High (Edgewood Junior High).

Professor George W. Wait died at a Cleveland hospital in September of 1908 after an operation. He was a former businessman and Superintendent of Ashtabula Schools. He first came to Ashtabula in 1860 or ’61 as superintendent of schools and was superintendent of schools for a number of years. He then went east for a number of years and came back and engaged in the clothing business with a Mr. Bruce. He was also re-engaged as Superintendent of Ashtabula Schools.

Professor George W. Wait was survived by two sons, George of Cleveland and Morton of New York and a daughter Mrs. Jay who lives in a southern state. These children were from his first marriage whose mother died many years ago. He had two daughters from his second marriage. The newspaper does not mention the names of the two daughters. He was buried in Chardon.

Superintendent E. A. Hotchkiss of the Ashtabula Schools made the announcement that all children that would be six years of age before February could start first grade.

Superintendent of the Harbor Special School announced the enrollment for Harbor high school for the year was seventy-four students up twenty from the previous year. In the grade schools the Washington building had 410 pupils. The Jackson Building had 266 while the Catherine Street Building had 161.

For the city schools Ashtabula High School had an enrollment of 265. There were almost 2,400 enrolled in the city schools. Of the elementary schools Prospect and West Street schools had the most with 476 students. It was followed by Division Street 447, Chestnut 336, Pacific Street 333, Columbus 322, Station 171 and Bunker Hill with forty.

The Ashtabula Township Schools showed an enrollment of 165 students.

St. Joseph had an enrollment of 160 and the Mother of Sorrows’ has an enrollment of 108.

Clerk C. E. Peck of the Ashtabula City Board of Education announced that board had receipts of $120,000. The school board spent $107,000 to educate the city students. Isn’t that close to what the school board paid the Superintendent of Schools last year, 2006?

From the Beacon-Record, September 3, 1908

The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908 Part 8

Darrell E. Hamilton

In September of 1908 the Jefferson schools had an enrollment of 327 students. Of that total one hundred were enrolled in the high school. Most of the teachers taught two grades and had as many as fifty-four students.

Lots were being sold on Poplar Street in Ashtabula from $200-$250 each.

Ashtabula County was the first county in Ohio to commence a petition for the Rose Law. The Rose law was a local option election that stated that counties could choose if they wanted to be dry or wet. It went into affect on September 1, 1908, the same day Ashtabula started their petition.

When I moved to Morehead, Kentucky and I attended the university there, someone told me the county was dry. I looked around and said, “Everything looks pretty green to me”. To my amazement he meant no one could sell alcohol in the county, at least legally. What amazed me the most was that this was a university town of eight thousand students. A lot of southern towns in the southern states are still dry till this day.

Getting back to Ashtabula, there was a lot of opposition to the petition especially from the bar owners in Ashtabula City. However in just four days the Rose law petitioners had 5.655 signatures. That was twice as many that was needed to get the petition on the ballot. What more was amazing that was without the petitions from Ashtabula City. When all the petitions had been turned in, 6,303 signatures were counted. All those signatures had been obtained in just seven days. When the election was held in October, the drys won by a majority of 2,136. The Rose Law passed in Ashtabula, where most of the saloons were, passed by just twenty-three votes. Trumbull Township was the only township that gave the wets a plurality with seven votes, 94-87. Geneva went dry by198, Jefferson by 140, Andover by 124 and Rock Creek went dry by 23.

With the passage of the Rose Law, 87 drinking establishments had to close their doors after November 2 at 10:30 p. m. in Ashtabula County. The Rose law would be in effect for three years unless another vote was passed. More than 12,000 votes were cast in the county which was a lot of votes in 1908.

Of the thirty counties that voted for the option, only Defiance County remained wet. Of the counties that went dry, Ashtabula had more than double the saloons than any other county with the exception of Wood County which had fifty saloons.

So you see boys and girls, Ashtabula County had went dry even before Prohibition had became Federal Law.

On September 19, 1908 Earl White, aged seventeen, and his younger brother Carl were coming home from the downtown business section of Ashtabula when they decided to take the Nickel Plate Trestle home as they had often done before. Earl always had the habit of jumping out upon the little platforms which are built at frequent intervals across the bridge as he came to them.

Carl was just behind his brother and the first thing he knew Earl stepped towards one of the platforms and disappeared over the edge of the bridge. Earl had evidently mistaken the location of the platform in the dark, probably being confused by the shadows from the electric light on Main Street. Earl plunged one hundred feet from the bridge to the roadway in the Ashtabula River Gulf. His body was badly crushed by the terrific impact of the fall.

Carl realized that his brother was probably dead and he ran at once home and told his father. Carl’s father descended the slope and found him crushed to death.

The surviving family includes the parents and five brothers and sisters. They were Frank Anderson, Carl, Blanche, Ethel and Ralph White. The funeral was held at the deceased’s home with the Rev. J. W. Underwood officiating. Interment was held in Jefferson.

From the Beacon-Record September 19, 1908

This story of Earl White brings me to mind about my late brother, Charles. Back in the late 1950’s when my brother was about sixteen he used to take a short cut to his girlfriend’s house across the Nickel Plate Bridge. His girlfriend’s (Jean) house backed up to the same railroad tracks on East 49^th street so it was a natural short cut. One evening Charles was crossing the bridge when he was near the middle of the bridge. To his shock and amazement a train was coming. He did not have time to get to the other side so he ran to one of the platforms and stood on it while the train passed. While the train roared by the platform it shook franticly. My brother thought for sure the platform was going to fall into the gulf with him on it. When the train passed my brother had to almost crawl to the other side. I never heard whether my brother wet his pants that night. If he didn’t he might have done something else in them. I don’t think my brother ever crossed that bridge again. Then again knowing my brother, he waited a few days then crossed it again and again.

On September 23, 1908 ground was broken for the Y.M.C.A. at the corner of Park Street and Tombes Alley (Progress).

The Ashtabula Water Company for the first time in exactly twenty years had a filtration system. On September 26, 1888 the water company had its first test of the new waterworks system. Trust me; there was no filtration system or purification system with water supply in 1888. What you got from the river or lake is what you got from your spigot. At times you could often get fresh fish from your spigot. It was a known fact in the beginning of the water company that you had to boil your water if you expected to consume it.

From the Beacon-Record September 25, 1908

The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908 Part 9

Darrell E. Hamilton

On October 10, 1908 Ashtabula High School beat Willoughby in football by the score of 26-0. Ashtabula only had to punt the ball once while Willoughby ended up punting the ball every time the ball was in their possession.

Judge William Howard Taft stopped at the Ashtabula Depot on his campaign trail to address the people of Ashtabula on November 2, 1908. It was estimated that as high as 6,000 people were in attendance. Stores and factories shut their doors to enable those who work with their hands to listen to a man who has done much to promote their welfare. The high schools were also dismissed. Quite a contrast to his grandson, wouldn’t you say?

Andrew Dalin official retired on November 2, 1908. Andrew Dalin was a pioneer businessman at the Harbor. Andrew came to the Harbor in 1873 when the harbor was a struggling port. When he first came to the Harbor coal was loaded into the ships with wheelbarrows and ore was loaded with tubs.

Andrew was a struggling young man then with nothing but grit and determination as his capital so the upshot of it was that he worked as common laborer but very ambitious. He kept plugging along and at one time saved enough money to buy a team of horses and worked as a teamster in Cleveland for four years. He then returned to the Harbor, the place he loved the best.

Andrew Dalin was president of the Ashtabula Worsted Mills and also had various real estate holing in the city and county. He would retain his holding in the Ashtabula Worsted Mills and his real estate holding. He would spend his winters near Los Angeles where he owns two orange ranches. His two sons, Carl and Frank, are attending school there.

Pioneer ship builder Perry white died at his home on Walnut Street. Death was due to a fall down his stairway. He was eighty-two years of age.

Young Perry White did his first shipbuilding of importance for Marshall Capron at Conneaut. He turned out several crack schooners. The Capron, Conneaut and the Valentine were just among the few.

The first boat he ever constructed was built at Cherry Valley and ported overland to the Mississippi. The boat was to be used by the North during the Civil War.

The last boat he ever built was the tug, Oliver Perry. Perry retired at the age of seventy-five to spend his remaining days were spent in the peaceful quiet of his old home.

His funeral was conducted by Rev. Travis, pastor of the Second Congregational Church. Perry White was buried in Edgewood Cemetery.

The proposed Lake Street subway went to a vote before the people on October 22, 1908. The people were reminded of the grade crossing on Christmas day 1907 when two people were killed and many maimed. The subway issue could not win by a simple vote. Then issues such as this had to win by a two thirds majority. Of the total cost of the construction and claims filed for property damage was $167,700.By the time the railroad and the A.R.T. (Ashtabula Rapid Transit) paid their share, the city had a balance to pay of only $49,243.00.

Well boys and girls, this is Ashtabula, then as it is now. The subway was defeated by four votes. That’s right, four votes. Even though the subway issue received more votes, it lost 721-1,431. The only ward in the city where the subway issue didn’t carry a majority of the votes was ward 3-A. The issue needed 1,435 votes to pass.

Well naturally there was a recount. In the recount the issue fell behind by nineteen votes.

Well boys and girls a failed vote never stopped the politicians of Ashtabula from going a head with a planned project. How do you think we got the city hall in the Key Bank building? However, I must admit that the Lake Street subway was a lot better decision than the Key Bank building. Years before the city bought the Key Bank building I wrote in a letter to the editor that the Key Bank building was the ugliest Building on Main Avenue. Then they buy it! Oh well, that is another story.

Somehow the city officials were able to bring the cost of subway down from $167,700 to $138,000 by working with the railroad and A.R.T. or so it was said. Anyway the city issued bonds in the denominations of $2,000 and would be payable once each year for twenty years being dated October 1, 1908 and bearing interest at four percent payable semi-annually. The Lake Shore Railroad paid for over half the construction paying $78,000.

The work on the subway was to begin in the spring and completed by December 1, 1909.

The Honorable William S. McKinnon died at his home on Walnut Street on November 17, 1908.

William S. McKinnon was born in Owen Sound, Ontario on December 19, 1852. He was still in his teens when he came to the United States and located in Cleveland. He had learned the machinist trade in his native city where he rapidly became an expert in his trade and soon became chief engineer in the plant of Briton Iron and Steel Company. Later he a responsible position with Globe Iron Works Company from which he came to Ashtabula Harbor in April 1880. He then established in company of another man the McKinnon Iron Works. It was not long that he was able to purchase his partners interest. Later for a few years his brother D. J. McKinnon was associated with him until William McKinnon became sole owner and conducted the business until last spring when the McKinnon Iron Works was incorporated and he became president and general manager. It was positions he held up to the time of his death.

William McKinnon was also president of the Ashtabula Water Works, the Marine National Bank and a director of the Ashtabula Rapid Transit and held several other concerns. He also served the City of Ashtabula as councilman, president of council and mayor for two terms. He was also a member of the Harbor Special School District board of education. He was also superintendent of the Sunday school at the Second Congregational Church. He belonged to the B. P. O. E. and the Masonic orders of Ashtabula. He was also State Representative, Speaker of the House and Treasure of the State. His term office was set to expire on January 11, 1909. If you don’t know who William S. McKinnon was, go outside to one of the storm drains on your street. Chances are from the McKinnon Iron Works.

He was survived by wife, Jane Octavia Porter McKinnon whom he married on April 2, 1878 in Brampton, Ontario, four sons, Herbert A., Harland S., William H., and Leslie T., and one daughter, Lorna, all at home except for Harland who is employed in a eastern city.

The funeral was held at his home. The Rev. W. H. Woodring of Columbus, the former pastor of the Second Congregational conducted the service. The funeral was attended by Governor Andrew L. Harris, Lieutenant Governor Francis W. Treadway, Secretary of State Carml I. Thompson, State Auditor-elect Edward M. M. Fullington, State Treasure Charles C. Green and Attorney General-elect Ulyssus G. Denman and about every member of the cabinet and former members. All the state offices and local businesses were closed on the day of the funeral. The pall bearers were all the names mentioned above plus others members of the Governors cabinet.

Governor Andrew Harris and other honorable state officials occupied seats in the parlor of William McKinnon’s home along with Mayor Hiram D. Cook and members of the council. The Honorable William S. McKinnon was buried at Chestnut Grove Cemetery.

The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908 Part 10

Darrell E. Hamilton

On November 21, 1908 Ashtabula High School won the county football championship for 1908 with a tie with Conneaut. Because there was not that many football teams in Ashtabula County in 1908, many teams played each other twice in one season. Ashtabula had beaten Conneaut previously in the season. Had Conneaut won, the two schools would have had to share the title. The score was 5-5.

However these two teams would meet for the third time on Thanksgiving Day. This was before Harbor High School sported a football team. Any member of Harbor High School who wanted to play football in 1908 played football at Ashtabula High School. On Thanksgiving Day Ashtabula beat Conneaut by the score of 8-0. Ashtabula finished 6-1-1 for the season with their only loss coming at the hands of Erie. Conneaut finished with a 5-3-2 season. Geneva finished with a 2-6 season in case you were wondering.

In November of 1908 the Ashtabula Board of Education purchased large lots of land for playgrounds and for additional construction. The lots that were purchased were large lots of land adjoining the old Bunker Hill School and the land to the rear of the West Street School that became later known as the “little building”. The land purchased behind West Street School contained seventeen lots and would someday contain the West Junior High building.

On November 29, 1908 the first church services for “colored people” was held at the G.A.R. hall in Ashtabula. It was believed to be the largest gathering of “colored people” in Ashtabula County. Rev. R. W. Christian and his father-in-law, Rev. A. D. Crockett of Sharon, Pennsylvania preached.

The plan was to have permanent and regular Sunday services and it was outlined with the object of eventually obtaining a permanent building. Next week’s sermon will be entitled “Crowding Out the Living Christ”.

In October 0f 1908 Mrs. Charles Benton was seeking to recover half interest in the lot in which the library sits on. The action was started by her husband but he had since died.

The issue had been a hot debate ever since before the library was built on it.

Mrs. Benton’s attorney, Mr. Cox, explained to the jury that about 1817 Hall Smith received a deed the lands on which Ashtabula now stands including the land in controversy. He made later a conveyance of the lands to Simon Perkins. Later Perkins conveyed the property to John Kinsman and in turn conveyed the until 1849 and while he was in possession in about 1832, he made a plat of the town of Ashtabula which set out North Park and also the land at issue, as a burying ground. The tract was occupied as a burying ground for many years and was finally abandoned for burial purposes and afterward a library building was erected on it.

Going back again Mr. Cox stated that in 1849 Kinsman conveyed all the remaining land to Carso Craine which included the tract at issue. In 1863 Alfred Henry obtained a conveyance of what reversionary interest there was in the burying ground lot, and some years later Benton, the plaintiff, bought half interest in it and the Board of Education of Ashtabula secured the other half.

Many witnesses were called for the plaintiff and the defendant (the City of Ashtabula). One witness in particular was eighty-two year old Dr. P. E. Hall. He testified that he knew many people that were buried including his father. The burial lots in the cemetery were free. Originally Chestnut Grove was a private cemetery. The cemetery was abandoned as a burial place not long after Chestnut Grove opened up. Right before the library was built many of the headstones and bodies were moved to Chestnut Grove Cemetery. In many cases only the headstone was removed and the bodies left there. People that had died from the 1840’s on back were left in the ground and only their headstone was removed to Chestnut Grove Cemetery. The last person to be buried at the old cemetery grave and headstone was left alone at the public library. For many years in the public library’s lawn, this lone headstone stood in the library’s lawn. It makes me wonder what ever happened to the grave and headstone. How did the people feel going to the library with a headstone in the lawn?

On December 5, 1908 the judgment came back from Judge W. S. Metcalf in Jefferson. Judgment was awarded against the executrix of Charles W. Benton. In doing so Judge Metcalfe stated that the deeds did not contain forfeiture provision. I personally thought the deed did contain a forfeiture clause and so didn’t the plaintiff. They asked for a new trail in the case against the city.

Did the judge award judgment to the city because the library had already been built there and he didn’t want to upset the majority? You would think also when a person donates property to an entity it would remain so. Or, does a donation expire like a copyright? It is something to think about. Isn’t it?

Accidents continue to be a problem at the railroad yards. For the month a November 1908, seven legs were amputated plus two men had no feet and three but one each.

Nancy Pamela Morrison, wife of Henry L. Morrison died on December 9, 1908. Mrs. Morrison was born on October 9, 1821 to Daniel and Mary Watrous Castle on the Fobes farm in Plymouth Township. She attended the old Ashtabula Academy where as an advanced pupil she taught school. She also taught school in and around Ashtabula for several years. On October 7, 1846 Nancy and Henry Lawton Morrison were untied in matrimony.

Four children survive Mrs. Morrison. They are Mrs. A. H. Chaplin, Miss Mary Morrison, Willard H. Morrison and Fred R. Morrison. There were also three grandchildren.

Nancy Morrison was a member of the First Baptist Church. Mrs. Morrison was possessed of a noble Christian character which directed her every move. Many poor persons have had reason to bless her for giving them succor in time of need but her charity was dispensed quietly and without thought of reward or commendation. From the time she was a young girl she had been a faithful member and supporter of the First Baptist Church and an energetic worker for its interest. Mrs. Morrison was also a noted local historian.

Mrs. Morrison was preceded in Death by her husband on December 11, 1903. The funeral was held at her home and was conducted by Rev. Walter A. King. She was buried in the family plot beside her husband at Chestnut Grove Cemetery.

A lot of people and even some policemen seem to believe that the first time the Ashtabula Police department ever had a police dog was in our modern day. Well, I’m here to set you straight. Badge “No. 13” was worn on his collar by “Stranger”. Stranger was a broad-chested beast of all dogs. He was a Great Dane.

Stranger did not start out as Policeman or should I say a “Police dog? Stranger started out when he was purchased by Dr. Bottorf for a considerable sum as a puppy. Stranger was born an aristocrat with generations of high breeding. However growing up with Dr. Bottorf, the dog seemed to want to wander. It is a wonder the police didn’t shoot the dog in 1908 Ashtabula but they probably thought Stranger was a small horse. The dog kept wondering until one day the dog didn’t come home.

It was about that time that Stranger took up residence with Asa Lucas, an eccentric “colored” man who lived alone in a dilapidated shanty on Harbor Avenue. “Old Lucas” as he was called was a successful barber a quarter of a century ago. When Stranger discovered Lucas he was an aged crippled old man making a precarious living raising chickens. Each day he made the rounds to the hotels and boarding houses with a cart gathering up the waste foodstuffs to feed his chickens and maybe himself. Remember boys and girls, there was no Social Security, welfare or any kind of assistance in 1908 unless you went to jail or the infirmary. Old Lucas made a harness and trained Stranger to draw the cart day after day. Stranger lost the fastidiousness which characterized his former life and he quickly settled down with Old Lucas. Old Lucas was kind to Stranger and he looked after the dog’s welfare. The love of a lonely old man went out to the noble beast and was returned ten fold by the dog.

Faithful to a fault, Stranger was ever ready to fight for his owner and heaven help any evil-minded or malicious person that attempted to lay hands on Lucas. Stranger was generally quiet and inoffensive however he was a fury incarnate when aroused. He was also a very large Great Dane.

But at last there comes a fateful day in Stranger’s life, a turning point in Stranger’s life, a turning point in his career that comes to humans as well as beasts. The poor old “darkey” had finally grown too old and feeble to provide for his few wants. He was then taken “over the hills to the poor house” (the infirmary later known as the Ashtabula County Nursing Home). Stranger was four years old now.

Old Lucas mourned for days after being separated from his trusted friend. Within days Old Lucas was dead. For days Stranger roamed around the desolate shanty and at night time he pointed his nose towards the stars and howled his loud notes of sorrow and regret. It was plain he knew as well as any human could that his old friend and companion was gone. There was no one to claim him and his wanderings were renewed until he was befriended by Officer Beckman and became attached to the Harbor police station.

Stranger was not the first police dog for the city if you have been reading my articles. However he was considered to have been the best. Stranger caught many criminals and would obey someone only if they were wearing a police uniform. Stranger caught three burglars at once. One of them got away but at the officer’s command Stranger ran down the burglar and he actually dragged the burglar back to the officer.

Stranger was really “Man’s” best friend.

The Twentieth Century of Ashtabula 1908 Part 11

Darrell E. Hamilton

In December of 1908 six people of Ashtabula were seeking naturalization. They ranged in age from twenty-five to thirty-four years of age. Their names were C. J. Carlson, William Narhi, Wilho Lehtinen, Nestor Taikkanen, Otto Roos and Antti Sneck. They were all of Russian descent. They are a lot more people of Russian descent in Ashtabula than you might realize.

Ashtabula High School had no gym in 1908. So wherever the high school could rent a hall or building, would determine if the high school had a basketball team or not. In certain years basketball games were placed outside weather permitting. For the 1908-09 season the school would rent the Harris-King Fence Company warehouse on Cleveland Street.

In December of 1908 the president and general manager of the Beacon-Record was W. W. Scott. The managing editor was W. W. Totheroh and the city editor was Ed E. Large.

In case you are wondering, it was ten cents a week to have your paper delivered to you by carrier or by mail inside the county it would cost you two dollars a year. That was just in case you wanted to know.

Isaac Runkle died on December 14, 1908. He was eighty-four years of age. Who is Isaac Runkle? Well if you live on Runkle Avenue in Ashtabula you need to know!

Mr. Runkle was born in Schenectady, New York, where as a young man he was employed in the car shops, constructing passenger coaches. He also learned the carriage maker’s trade prior to his coming to Ashtabula in about 1848.

In Ashtabula he established a business and erected a building next and north of the old trolley car barns on South Main Avenue where he conducted a carriage building and repair shop for many years.

In Ashtabula he purchased the property known as the Strong house on North Main Street and erected a brick residence. After disposing of that property Mr. Runkle bought a farm south of the city which, as a result of a long effort on his part, was cut up into small parts and platted into city lots. Mr. Runkle offered to allow the county commissioners the necessary property to construct a highway through his farm if they would build a bridge across the gulf and thereby make a short-cut from the city to a section of Plymouth Township. The rest is history.

The widow survives him along with two daughters, Mrs. D. E. (Edith) Tracy and Mrs. Joseph (Alice) Louth, both of Ashtabula.

The funeral was held at the family home on Center Street. The newspaper never made any mention of the place of burial but I imagine it was in Chestnut Grove Cemetery as I believe I have seen his headstone coming from my many walks through the cemetery.

The Ashtabula Township trustees at a meeting held on December 28, 1908 completed a deal by which they purchased a tract of land consisting of 7.03 acres belonging to the Charlie Sweet estate with the object to which the land will be devoted being for additional cemetery purposes. The land in question lies just north of the old Moses Stop ‘n Stop.

Charles Tinker died on December 27, 1908 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. O. B. Clark on Park Street in Ashtabula. Mr. Tinker was eighty-seven years old being born in Kingsville on September 7, 1821. Mr. Tinker was one of the founders of the Fork & Hoe Company now known as True Temper.

Mr. Tinker married Mary Webster of Kingsville at Penn Line, Pa. She died on April 22, 1898.

When a young man the gold excitement in California found a response in him and he became one of the forty niners traveling across the continent with ox-teams, walking most of the way. In 1843 he built a saw mill in Conneaut. The following year he constructed an oil mill, the first of its kind in this vicinity. In 1854 at Mantua, Ohio he built a foundry and machine shops and began the manufacturing of farming implements. In 1864 he engaged in the same business at Garretsville. In 1868 he formed a partnership with N. S. Caswell of Geneva who made the wood handles and other parts of the machine for which Mr. Tinker constructed the metal portions and in 1870 they formed a stock company locating in Geneva where they started what became the Geneva plant of the Fork n& Hoe trust. Mr. Tinker was its first president.

About ten years after this Mr. Tinker came to Ashtabula where he assisted in forming the Ashtabula Tool Company of which he became the first president. Afterwards he disposed of his holdings to Harris & Cowdery. Ashtabula had since been Mr. Tinker’s and his family’s home.

Charles Tinker was survived by four children: Dr. George Tinker of New Philadelphia, Ohio; Mrs. O. B. Clark, Mrs. Frank Gregory and C. O. Tinker all of Ashtabula. He is also survived by one brother, Horace Tinker, of Mantua Station, Ohio. He is also survived by two half-brothers and two half sisters all of Michigan.

The funeral was held at his daughter’s home. He is buried in Edgewood Cemetery.

Next week: 1909 Part 1