West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 70 by Charlie Miller

____December 6, 1934 – The West Jefferson Power & Light Company has been purchased by the Dayton Power & Light Company for a price of $64,411.54. The West Jefferson concern served Madison and Union Counties. 

____December 20, 1934 – The State Utilities Commission has authorized the sale of the West Jefferson Power & Light Co. to the Columbus Railroad & Light Co. instead of DP&L. Mayor Putnam and members of the council protested the sale to DP&L asserting that the Columbus firm could give lower rates and more efficient service. 

____West Jefferson Firemen for 1934 were Ed Lamb, Chief, Miller Clark, John Chenos, E. Strain, E. Moore, Gene Compton, and Tommy Neeshan. 

____January 3, 1935 – John W. Kubitschack, veteran hotel keeper and restaurant operator, died this afternoon following a long illness at his home in the Star Hotel, which he had operated for more than 20 years. Mr. Kubitschack, a native of Germany, had been in business in West Jefferson since 1891. (He was born in July of 1863 in Austria but immigrated from Germany in 1885. The Star Hotel was in the building on E. Main St. just east of the Blauser Building) 

____February 14, 1935 – The Kiser & Hoe Cannery of West Jefferson has merged with the Crampton Cannery of Celina, Ohio. William A. Beddle will remain in charge of the local plant. (Kiser and Hoe also had branches in Plain City and Milford Center) 

____February 18, 1935 – Zachery Taylor (do not confuse with Zachery Taylor, the druggist), age 85 years, Veteran of the Indian Wars, died Sunday at the home of his daughter Mrs. Grace Tinkler, Frey Ave. Mr. Taylor was born in West Jefferson in 1849 and spent his early childhood here. He spent seven years fighting in the Indian Wars on the Western Frontier and then returned to this community. He is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Tinkler, Mrs. Laura Gibson, Mrs Helen Baker, and Mrs. Francis Craft. 

(Mr. Taylor served as Pvt. Taylor in Co. G 14th U. S. Infantry. He enlisted on February 21, 1870, at Camp Douglas, Utah, 3 miles west of Salt Lake City. He was 20 years old and stood 6’2”. He was discharged on April 5, 1877. He had been stationed at Ft. Laramie and Ft. Federman. He had fought Indians in Wyoming and the Dakota Territory. The 14th had been founded during the Civil War and had fought at Gettysburg and continues and a battalion is now attached to the 10th Mountain Division. Camp Douglas was closed in 1991 and is now owned by the University of Utah, which has established the Fort Douglas Military Museum. He is buried at the Foster Chapel Cemetery. 

____April 29, 1935 – Jimmy Clark, the “Village Lamplighter” for many years, died Monday.

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 71 by Charlie Miller

____June 5, 1935 – Thomas Corwin Carter, age 91, West Jefferson’s last Civil War Veteran, died Saturday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Berry, Frey Ave. He was born September 27, 1840, in Paint Twp. He enlisted at Camp Dennison on May 2, 1864, and served in Company C, 154th. O.V. I. He was honorably discharged in September of 1864. He is survived by a son Robert of Columbus and two daughters, Mrs. Robert A. Wilson and Mrs. Berry. ( This was just a year before I was born, I almost was able to live the same time that West Jefferson’s Civil War Veteran lived. As a very young man I did get to see a Civil War Veteran at a Summerford Memorial Service.) 

____June 1935 – One hundred and twenty-six members of the West Jefferson Alumni Association met at this year’s Alumni Banquet. The welcome address was given by Mrs. Etta B. Martin, Class of ‘84. The banquet was held in the dining room of the Methodist Church and the dance was held across the street in the Township Hall. Some members present were: Mrs. Martin ‘84, Mrs. L. C. Dick ‘86, Mrs. J. M. Maddux (Edith Headley) ‘07, E. E. Gregg ‘07, and Willard B. Culp Class of ‘07. 

____November 25, 1935 – An unintentional turkey chase and killing was staged today by E. J. Britton and son, operators of the Red & White Store. The turkeys had been purchased from Matt Higgins a Fairfield Township farmer, and as they were being placed in the Britton’s poultry house, escaped. Ben got out his shotgun and his aim was a good one, but the other one got away. The last report stated that Mr. Turk was heading north for the tall and wild! 

We now turn the clock back to 1873, where we left off at Series #50 

____March 26, 1873 – Madison County Democrat – On Wednesday last, Charles Gassel, a boy of 12 years, son of Mr. Fred Grassel, a cigar maker of West Jefferson, took up a musket which had been loaded to shoot pigeons, and in a playful mood, pointed it at his little brother Freddy, age five years, and telling him he would shoot him, pulled the trigger and the whole load of the gun caught the young boy full in the chest killing him immediately. 

____April 16, 1873 – A boy while fishing under the Little Darby bridge at West Jefferson, a day or two ago, caught an eel some two feet in length. It is quite unusual to catch one of these slippery fellows in the water hereabouts. 

____June 4, 1873 – John Heath of West Jefferson now has 2,700 to 2,800 head of sheep partly clipped. (John Heath built the beautiful house at the end of Chester St. around 1844. Heath Lane is named after him.)

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 72 by Charlie Miller

____June 24, 1973 – The committee of councilmen which has been examining complaints made against T. D. Brown, Mayor. Have in their words, found the Mayor guilty of violating his duties in several different ways and recommend that a committee of three be appointed to prepare articles of impeachment at once. Signed, Andrew Miller, J. C. Olney, A. L. Martin. M. W. Stutson was appointed Mayor Pro Tem. The Marshal also resigned at this meeting. 

July 8, 1873 – To the Honorable Council of the Incorporated Village of Jefferson, 

Sirs, I hereby resign the Office of Mayor of said Village, hoping same will be accepted. I remain yours, T. D. Brown. 

The Marshal then went to T. D. Brown, ex-Mayor, and demanded books and papers and seals, but he refused to give them up! 

At this time, flues were inspected by the fire committee of the council and if the flues did not meet requirements, they were instructed to either get them repaired or pulled down. 

____An Ordinance - An ordinance to provide for the better observation of the Sabbath Day. 

SECTION I. Be it ordained by the Council of the incorporated Village of Jefferson, of the County of Madison, State of Ohio, that it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to open any house, room arbor, shop, booth, or cellar on the Sabbath Day for the purpose of selling goods, or otherwise doing business. 

SECTION II. And it be further ordained that for any violations of this ordinance, the person, or persons so offending, shall upon conviction there of, be fined not less than $3.00 or more than $20.00. 

SECTION III. Be it further ordained that all prosecutions under this ordinance shall be in the name of the Incorporated Village of Jefferson, and upon a complaint before the Mayor of said Village shall be, and is hereby made his duty to have the Marshal arrest the accused and bring him or them before him forthwith when he shall proceed as provided by law. 

SECTION IV. This ordinance shall take effect on and after the lawful passage. 

Passed, June 10, 1873. 

January 27, 1874 – A petition was presented by the West Jefferson Temperance Union, asking the council to use all the authority invested in them to rid the town and vicinity, of the beverage and use of all intoxicating liquor, Signed by Matthew J. Stutson and many others. 

Council was quick to answer by saying “We the Council of Jefferson do hereby receive and consider your petition, and promise to assist you in all and every way we can.” 

*Prohibition came to Jefferson long before the 1920’s as we see from the following ordinances passed by Council on February 10, 1974. (contd next series)

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 73 by Charlie Miller

_____February 10, 1874 - An Ordinance to restrain Ale, Beer and Porter Houses, and Shops and Places of Habitual Resort for Tippling and Intemperance - 

SECTION 1. Be it ordained by the council of the Incorporated Village of Jefferson, in the County of Madison, State of Ohio, that it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to keep within the said Corporation any house, room, shop, booth, cellar, arbor or any place of habitual resort for tippling or intoxication. 

SECTION II. Be it further ordained that it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to keep within the said Corporation a house, shop, room, booth, arbor or cellar or place where ale, porter, or beer is habitually sold or furnished to drink, in, upon, or about the house, shop, room, booth, arbor, cellar or place where sold or furnished. 

SECTION III. And it be further ordained that for any violation of the first sections of this ordinance that, the person or persons so offending, shall, upon conviction, forfeit and pay a fine of not less than $10 or more than $50 and shall also be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not exceeding 20 days. 

SECTION IV. Be it further ordained that all prosecutions under this ordinance shall be in the name of the Incorporated Village of Jefferson and shall be commenced upon a written complaint before the Mayor of said Village; and upon the filing of such complaint, the Mayor shall issue a warrant directing the Marshal of said Village, to arrest the accused. The Marshal shall forthwith arrest the person that’s charged and bring the accused before the Mayor, who shall proceed as provided by law, and the Mayor, upon the conviction of any person for the violation of any of the provisions of this ordinance may make it part of the sentence, that the accused shall stand committed to the jail of the county until the fine and costs assessed against such person shall be secured or paid, or otherwise discharged according to law. 

SECTION V. It shall be the duty of the Marshal and Asst. Marshal of the said village to make a complaint against all persons found violating any of the provisions of this ordinance. 

SECTION VI. That an ordinance entitled “An ordinance to restrain and prohibit places of habitual resort for tippling and intemperance” passed January 27, 1874, be and hereby is repealed. This ordinance shall take effect after the expiration of the period of 10 days after the date of its first publication. 

Passed February 10, 1874. 

George W. Lewis, Mayor, William Putnam, Clerk. 

____March 11, 1874 - The Madison County Democrat - The last of the saloonists of West Jefferson, three in number, caved in on Wednesday last and threw in the sponge. Jeff is now regenerated and reconstructed on a cold water basis. So elated were the temperance folks of the downfall of the last of the enemy’s fortifications that they sent the victorious female crusaders into the carriages, which were drawn by men and boys about the streets with shouts of triumph and songs of victory---Hurrah for Jeff!

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 74 by Charlie Miller

____1874 - West Jefferson Livery and Feed Stable, John Gregg. Prop. Located in the rear of the Mantle House. (The building that housed the stable is still standing on Water Street and was the former Williams Repair Shop.) 

____In searching for old newspapers and items, I ran across what I believe to be the only existing copy of the West Jefferson Clipper, which was printed for a short time in the early 1870s. This particular copy is dated March 7, 1874. The paper consisted of one sheet of paper folded into four printed pages. On the first page was local advertising in the left-hand column with national news on the rest of the front page. On the second page was more advertising. The ads consisted of local establishments and ads for books, medicines, and such items that came from New York and other various cities in the East which were usually placed in many of the small papers throughout the country. 

____The following is from the West Jefferson Clipper: The West Jefferson Clipper, $1.50 per annum, E. Mettles editor and proprietor, published every Saturday. The office is in the Gregg Building Main St. in the front rooms over T. B. Fellow’s store. (This would be in the building on the northwest corner of Main and Walnut Streets that currently holds an antique shop.) 

Advertisements: 

R. S. Leake, Atty at Law, Gregg Building upstairs 

Mrs. C. Gerhardt, bakery and confectionery 

J. S. LaFerre, Merchant and Tailor 

Mrs. Mary Stoner, Millinery and fancy goods. Post Office Building. 

Dr. J. N. Beach, Physician, and surgeon, over the drug store. (This building is at 11 W. Main St.) 

Dr. J. T. Colliver, in the building formerly the Haig Drug Store 

Dr. Chas. Snyder, Physician, and Surgeon on Main St. Opposite Ben Hoe’s Store 

West Jefferson Drug Store, Z. R. Taylor Brown & Sons, Harness Shop, in Swanston Building. (The former Red & White grocery store.)

1874 Directory Township Officials

Mayor- George W. Lewis 

Justice of the Peace – Rufus Ingalls, Ezekiel Arnett 

Marshal - Patrick Doggett 

Constables – John T. Gregg, William Fleming 

Clerk – William Putnam Clerk – Jophier S. Brown 

Council – William Jones 

Treasurer – Samuel S. Stickley William A. Boyd 

Trustees-  David R. Lucas Matthew W. Stutson Charles C. High J. C. Olney C. C. Roberts T. McDonald A. L, Martin

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 75 by Charlie Miller

____1874 TRAVELERS GUIDE -Trains leave the West Jefferson Depot as follows: 

WEST 

Night Express 1:53 AM

Fast Line 11:02 AM

Pacific Express 7:04 PM

Freight 7:35 AM

EAST

Cincinnati Express 11:02 AM

Southern Express 5:38 PM

Night Express 2:16 AM

Freight 4:20 PM 

Cols. Accommodations 9:13 PM 

____March 7, 1874 – West Jefferson Clipper – The boys took a coal oil barrel of Zack Taylor’s and used it at the bonfire Wednesday night. We think it would have been more fitting upon the occasion to have taken the “whiskey barrel” that was alongside it. 

____West Jefferson retail market: Flour $8.00 Beans per qt. .10 Rio Coffee .35 Wheat 1.40 Cheese per lb. .16 Butter .25 Corn .60 White Fish .10 Eggs .16 Oats .50 Herring .08 Lard .08 Potatoes 1.40 Sugar, Coffee .12 Hams sugar cured .16 Java Coffee .37 ½ Shoulder .10 Bacon .12 ½ 

N. B. Blair, Undertaker, and cabinet maker. James Gillivan, Hardware, Martin Kuehner, Manufacturer and dealer in boots, shoes, and hosiery. West Jefferson Livery and Feed Stable, A. A. Gregg, Proprietor. 

____April 6, 1874 - Elections results Mayor- G. W. Lewis - 64, M. W. Stutson - 69, Clerk- Wm. Putnam – 169 Treasurer – J. R. Roberts- 135, W. R. Fickey – 1 Council – J. J. Booth – 74, W. H. Brown – 64, Thomas Cartmill -58, A. L. Martin – 24, W. J. Burns – 51, A. Miller -75, George Britton – 61.Marshal – Pat Dogget – 56, J. T. Gregg – 78. 

____April 10, 1874 – At the Hambleton School House on Georgesville, Rd. Darby Grange No. 779 was formed. This was due largely to the efforts of George Durflinger of Jefferson. The original members were A. J. Dickerson and wife, George Durflinger and wife, Maurice Bradfield and wife, I. H. Hambleton and wife, S. H. Summers, and wife, Thos. Goodson, Joshua Truitt, J. W. Durflinger, Jacob Beers, E. W. Stoner, Charles Slagle, B.F. Roberts and George Kellar. After a few years at the school house, they used the old Township Hall and then at the homes of the members. From 1882-97, the Grange was dormant. In 1897 it was reorganized, it was made up of eleven old members and twelve new ones, including Leona Hambleton, D. R. Edwards, D. W. Dunn, H. C. Wilson, Kate Wilson, J. H. Johnson, Mary Johnson, F. B. Biggert, Martha High, and S. E. Baber. (The Grange organization was founded in 1867 to advance the method of agriculture and promote the social and economic needs of farmers. The Future Farmers of America grew out of the Grange. There are currently 2,000 members in 41 states. The West Jefferson Grange was known as Darby Grange, The Grange Hall is now long gone, it sat on the vacant lot on the east side of Twin Street. At one time, there were numerous granges in Madison Co. They would all have displays at the Madison County Fair. Most, if not all, Madison County Granges are gone.)

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 76 by Charlie Miller

____From West Jefferson correspondents in the Madison County Democrat: 

____May 20, 1874 - William Putnam is opening a new drug store in West Jefferson. 

____June 17, 1874 – A petition is being circulated and numerically signed for extending the incorporation limits of the village. This is undoubtedly done with a view to getting Mrs. Riourdon (owner of the Railroad House) under the control of the council when the question of beer will be at once settled! (*At this particular time, the question of selling alcoholic beverages within West Jefferson was hotly contested. The town was “dry.” The Railroad House was in the Railroad Addition, not the village limits. This building still sits on the North West corner of Depot Street and Pennsylvania Ave. just as you go through the viaduct. The railroad was not elevated, and evidently, many persons were crossing the railroad tracks and consuming all of the alcohol that they fancied as the Railroad House was not only a hotel but a saloon. Many rallies had been held by the temperance people and the taverns in town had closed in March of 1874, but it was to be just like the prohibition of later years people still drank and later the taverns opened again.) 

____Mr. James Peene is putting up a large frame dwelling in the west end of town, costing, $2,500.00. (This is the current site of Hampton Court Nursing Home.) 

____July 14, 1874 – Post Office Master, McCollough, pulled up stakes on Tuesday week and established this office in the Mantle House. 

____July 22, 1874 – A Big Fire — At an early hour on Tuesday morning, the town was startled by the fearful cry of Fire, and it was soon discovered that the large woodshed at the depot belonging to the Little Miami R.R. was in flames, caused no doubt by the sparks from an early morning train. The shed contained between 400 and 500 cords of wood, which was soon being licked up at a rapid rate by the fire. About 250 cords of wood were burned. The shed which was old and rickety and not much loss to the company was entirely destroyed, as well as the roof of the water tank building. The station and offices remained uninjured. 

____August 19, 1874 – We are glad to note that the old dentist, Dr. J. J. Winthers, has established his office here. 

____October 28, 1874 – The American House is almost daily supplied with fine bass from the waters of Big Darby Creek. (The American House Hotel stood on the current site of the bank parking lot.) 

____Ordinances that were passed in 1874 were posted at the following places: The Hotel of Wm. Fickey, E. R. Hill Restaurant, Gearheart’s Bakery, and The William Stutsoon.

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 77 by Charlie Miller

____March 5, 1875 – A Resolution was passed to drain the large pond north of town along the railroad with a sawmill at the end. The pond is to be drained of the stagnate water, Thomas Cartmill is the owner. Also, an ordinance to fill up a certain pond in the corporation of the Village, Lot No. 17 on the town plat of the Mortimore Addition to the town. The owners of the pond are J. T. Gregg, John Fry, and Patrick Murphy. Also to drain or fill up a pond of stagnate water north of the Little Miami Division of the P.C.C.& St. L. R.R., and on both sides of the Middle Pike. (Lot No. 17 is the vacant lot on the north side of W. Main St. just before the railroad viaduct. This is where Pond Street got its name, The Cartmill Pond is currently the site of the Village Street Department.) 

____March 23, 1875 – Madison County Democrat – At last, we are rid of our big nuisance the old Cartmill reservoir on the eastern edge of town, which for many years has produced chill and fevers in sufficient quantity to supply every family in Jeff, was last week drained by the order of the council. There will consequently be an immense falloff in the demand for quine around dog days. 

____May 19, 1875 – The American House is now run by Messrs. Gregg and Ingalls. (The American House sat on the current site of the west side of the Huntington Bank parking lot) 

____June 16, 1875 – The Railroad Company has commenced filling up the two ponds north of the depot. They also have been prohibited from running trains through town faster than 4 MPH. 

____July 27, 1875 – An ordinance passed April 6, 1853, restricting railroad trains to 4 MPH, was repealed. 

____August 25, 1875 – A. D. Burnham has replaced J. N. McCullough as Post Office Master. 

____September 22, 1875 – Wilson Olney has purchased the grocery of W. Fickey. 

____October 6, 1875 – Henry Miller has purchased the dry goods store of Matt Stutson. 

____December 8, 1875 – It is reported that a ghost was seen last night near the old Hampton Cemetery. 

____January 1, 1876 – The temperature in Jefferson on New Year’s Day reached 79 degrees! 

____January 12, 1876 – The West Jefferson Literary and Debating Society was formed. 

____February 16, 1876 – A new jail is to be built in the back of the Town Hall. Mrs. Thomas Fellows

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 78 by Charlie Miller

____February 16, 1876 - Mrs. Thomas Fellows, a resident here in an early day, is visiting her brother-in-law W. W. Fellows. When Miss Fellows resided in this place the heart of the village was where the Old Hampton Cemetery burial ground is located. 

____March 22, 1876 – When R. D. Thomas was cutting a big tree for cordwood he found a rifle ball. The tree was found to be 89 years old and located on the site of the Old Sandusky Road, the route believed to have been taken by Gen. Harrison, and presumed the ball found, was one fired by one of his party. 

____ June 14, 1876 – Fred Grassel has opened a saloon in the room lately used by him to make cigars. 

____July 9, 1876 – William Putnam has sold out to Quinn Bradley. (This was a drugstore) 

____August 9, 1876 – A man by the name of Murphy was killed in a saloon here 16 years ago (1860) by Abraham Garabrant. Garabrant was caught this week in Columbus. (Garabrant was born in 1837 in New Jersey. He was living in West Jefferson in 1860 and was listed as a Teamster. It sounds like he must have left town after the murder, nothing could be found about him after that except for this article in the Madison County Democrat) 

____October 1, 1876 – West Jefferson has a street sprinkler. “The street sprinkler made its appearance again on the streets Monday evening. Everything was covered with dust until the sprinkler was put into operation. To step out of doors was almost certain suffocation.” 

____May 8, 1877 – Tom and Sam Jones have opened a dry goods store on the corner of Main and Center Streets. (This would be the current site of the Veterans Park. These were the sons of Isaac Jones founder of Jefferson.) 

December 9, 1877 – S. J. Hubbard has opened his bank here at last. (This was Sterling J. Hubbard and in 1845 he married Elizabeth Mantle the daughter of Balzer Mantle the owner of the Mantle House. Mr. Hubbard had attended the Theological Seminary at Kenyon College in 1837. He died in 1887 and Elizabeth died in 1898, both are buried in Green Lawn Cemetery.) 

____ The former jail was located underground and caused much controversy. 

____1878 – The West Jefferson Bible Society was formed in 1878. 

____April 15, 1878 - Dr. Charley Snyder has purchased the Wilson property on the corner of Main and Walnut Streets. He is talking of building an elegant three-story brick this season. (Dr. Snyder was born in 1848, he came to West Jefferson in 1867 and studied medicine under Dr. John N. Beach. He attended the Ohio Medical College, graduated in 1870, and was appointed Physician at the Ohio State Prison.)

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 79 by Charlie Miller

____October 1878 – A. A. Gregg is to build a brick residence opposite W. W. Fellows. (Ashton A. Gregg established the Commercial Bank. Fellows had built the large brick which still stands on the south corner of Fellows and Frey Avenues. It appears that Gregg never built the house.) 

____November 1878 – Ned Jones will begin the publishing of a local newspaper. 

____1879- The local Opera House is known as Gregg’s Opera House. (This building still stands on the northwest corner of Main and Walnut Streets. This building was built by Capt. Alex Swanston in 1869. It has held numerous businesses, the West Jefferson Building & Loan, a 5&10 store, Edwards Locker and grocery Store, and currently (2023) an antique shop.) 

____January 5, 1879 – Harry Lamb had a telephone connecting his residence and Store. 

____February 19, 1879 – The West Jefferson Shakespearean Club met at Mayor Fellows Monday evening last week and elected officers. President, Prof. Hutchenson, V. P., Miss Linda Mason, Treasurer, Miss Belle Fellows, Critic, Eugene Fellows. 

____June 25, 1879 – Two young men were arrested last night for fast and reckless driving on our streets, and they appeared before Mayor Booth and were fined $26.00. (They must have been driving buggies.) 

____July 11, 1879 – Jimmy Garrabrant was drowned last week while bathing in Little Darby Creek. (Jimmy was 7 years old and is buried in Hampton Cemetery.) 

_____July 30, 1879 – George Miller will burn 300,000 bricks this season. George makes good bricks and sells them at a low figure. 

____August 13, 1879 – The south end of Jefferson is erecting 6 brick houses this spring. (These would be the brick houses on Center and Chester Streets.) 

____September 3, 1879 – The iron bridge on Blair Pike will be completed today. ( I have seen Little Darby flood and almost come up to the bottom of that bridge. In 2012 the county erected a covered bridge over the Creek. It was at this location that Nehemiah Gates erected a grist mill in 1814. At that time the Blair Road was part of the State Road that ran from Franklinton to Springfield. In 1817 the mill was bought by John Mills who added a saw mill and sawed the first lumber in Jefferson Township. The mill pond is still visible today.) 

____September 24, 1879 – The steeple on the Catholic Church will be completed in two or three weeks. (In 1866 Ed Buck donated land for an edifice to be built. In 1867 the foundation was laid and the cornerstone was laid on May 19, 1867. In 1879 a tower and belfry were added at a height of 91’. The bell weighed 1,234 pounds.)