Warren County
Local History by Dallas Bogan |
Contributor: |
Dallas Bogan on 14 September 2004 |
Source: |
original article by Dallas Bogan |
Return to Index to see a list of other articles by Dallas Bogan |
Ichabod Corwin planted the first corn grown in Lebanon in the spring of 1796, yielding 100 bushels to the acre. This corn was planted on 12 acres near his cabin, which was located on the ridge between the cemetery and the Dayton Pike.
Located on the land now occupied by the Lebanon Citizens National Bank was
a small three-story brick structure of colonial structure. On the ground floor
of this building was the pharmacy of W.A. Hardy and Son. In
the fall of 1893, a young pharmacist, C. Wilbur Ivins, purchased
the stock and fixtures of Hardy's Pharmacy and began to operate under the new
name of Ivins' Pharmacy. Ivins was the son of T. Elwood Ivins,
distinguished Warren county farmer and former director of the old Citizens National
Bank. He was also the brother of Howard W. Ivins, local attorney.
Frank Carey, a watchmaker and jeweler, also operated his business
out of the same room as Ivins. Clarence Jameson, another farm
boy, in 1905, moved to Lebanon and was given a job with Mr. Ivins. Jameson was
a student at National Normal University, studying
chemistry. In 1907 Mr. Ivins moved across the street to the southeast corner
of Mulberry and Broadway. In 1919 a partnership was formed between the two men,
namely the Ivins-Jameson Drug Company.
John Oswald, founder of the Oswald Funeral Home, immigrated
from southern Germany when he was 16 years of age. He first moved to Foster,
where his older brother had settled about three years previous. Both men were
cabinetmakers and were self-employed in Foster.
John came to Lebanon in 1859, where he started a hardware store,
but continued his cabinet making. The following year, he began the undertaking
business, primarily because he was a cabinetmaker and could make his own caskets.
He later moved his business to the southeast corner of Broadway and Mulberry.
Maurice, his son, was born here in 1866. Within a few months
the family and business moved to a four-story wooden building which was torn
down in May 1927 to make way for the present funeral home which was completed
in November of the same year.
Josiah Morrow wrote that the first white child born in Lebanon
was believed to have been Eliza Corwin, daughter of Ichabod
Corwin. She was born at the family home August 27, 1797.
Lebanon was laid out in 1802 and at that time the Corwin home was located outside
the town limits and stood on the location of the school building on North Brodway
now occupied by the Junior High School building.
Within the confines of early Lebanon the first white child born was Katherine
Hurin, daughter of Silas Hurin. She was born November
27, 1800, at the Hurin home on Cherry Street, just south of Main.
Harry Hill, historian for the Lebanon fire department, wrote an article on the subject in the June 1952 edition of The Western Star. At this time I will relate it as it appeared. He writes:
"Lebanon is celebrating its Sesquicentennial this year, during which
time you will see and hear of many of the old-time ways and means with which
Lebanon always tried to keep in step with things modern.
"For the first 13 years there was no means of fighting fires. After a bad
fire, the Village Fathers had everyone to provide himself with a fire bucket
to use in case of fire. Later on, as fire apparatus builders produced better
equipment, the Village Fathers bought a crude hand pump to throw water on the
fires. "Later on they bought another one in 1835, and again in 1849 a larger
and better hand pump was purchased, and this one was sold to Franklin. It burned
up in the Town Hall fire in Franklin.
"Another hand engine was bought in 1861 and is the hand pumper we still
have as a relic. When new it cost $920.
"Steam fire engines now began to appear, and after a lot of argument a
Silsby Rotary Steamer was purchased for $6800 on terms of $850 cash and $1,200
per year for five years. This steamer was called 'the Belle of the West.' "This
outfit arrived Monday evening, Feb. 19, 1872. Its first real workout on a fire
was the old town Hall and Congregational Church, when it was in operation pumping
water for 10 hours.
"Later on, in the 90's, another steamer was purchased which we of today
remember. What became of the Silsby Rotary no one knows.
"Then came the water works, and the steamer was not needed much. It was
stored in the rear of the Washington Hall and later (much to my regret) it was
sold for the pitiful sum of $150.
"We still used the old hose reels for our hose. Then onward with the times,
we got a team of horses (Frank and Tom) which was used on the streets to collect
ashes and upon an alarm of fire would be driven to the firehouse, where we would
unhitch and re- hitch to the hose wagon and rush to the fire. (No weeds grew
under our feet.)
"Later on, two motorized outfits were purchased. One was a chemical outfit,
and the other a pumper outfit. Then, as the demand grew with more houses being
built and more inhabitants, a more up to date Ahrens-Fox pumper was purchased.
"In 1947 the Lebanon Council, knowing our needs, purchased a new high-pressure
fog outfit for us. This is one of the latest in fire fighting equipment and
has reduced the water loss at fires 500 per cent.
"We bought a resuscitator and inhalor (between $300 and $400) which is
subject to call anywhere in the county. This used Oxygen which we have been
using our money to buy. We also have a Scott Air Pack, a tank holding 1600 pounds
of air. We can go into smoke or under water for 30 minutes. This we also bought
with our small savings account.
"In conclusion, Lebanon is very well equipped with fire equipment and a
loyal crew of fire fighters, and needs the wholehearted cooperation of every
citizen in Lebanon."
Did you know that in 1818 Lebanon had two sets of town trustees? That's right
- two! In the spring of that year two sets of town trustees claimed to have
been elected. Both sets executed the duty of government and both passed an ordinance
"regulating the markets." J.F. Moore, William
Ferguson, Samuel Minton, Samuel Sering,
John Hart and Benjamin Rue composed one board.
The members of the other board were not identified. The above-mentioned men
passed an ordinance stating that the power of municipal government was almost
absolute. The ordinance appointed market days and places where markets should
be held, and prohibited the holding of them on any other day or at any other
place. Wednesdays and Saturdays were made market days by this ordinance.
On Saturday the market was to be held at the upper market house on Silver and
Mechanic Street (the location of old Memorial Hall) on Wednesday at the lower
market house on Broadway south of Main Street.
It was made unlawful for any person to sell or purchase at any other place on
those days the articles exposed for sale in the markets under penalty of forfeiting
four times the value of the article bought of sold - the buyer and seller to
pay each half the penalty. The opposition board passed an ordinance in direct
conflict as to times and places. No direct results of the matter have ever been
determined.
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This page created 14 September 2004 and last updated
28 September, 2008
© 2004 Arne H Trelvik
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