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County History as reported
in The Free Press Standard in 1933, page 3
County History Records First Regular Election
(Reprinted from issue of January 2, 1884)
January 11, 1934
The first term of court was held in David J. Levy's tavern, at which place the commissioners also held their first session.
The first election in Carroll-co was a special election held on the 22nd of February, 1833, and it resulted in the choice of the following officers: Sheriff, John Beatty; coroner, Thomas McGavern; treasurer, David Workman; auditor, George Beatty; recorder, Aquilla Jones; assessor, William Brown; surveyor, Van Brown; commissioners, John Shober, William Davis and James Ferrell.
The certificate declaring the above named gentlemen duly elected is attested by Daniel McCook, clerk pro tem.
The first entry on the commissioner's journal was at their March session, 1833.
"Commissioners' office, Carroll County, Ohio, Carrollton, March 4, 1833.
This day the commissioners met for the first time in the county of Carroll; present James Ferrell, John Shober and William Davis.
George Beatty presented his certificate of his election as County Auditor, and bond for the performance of his duty as such, which was accepted by the board.
Ordered that Daniel McCook, Esq., be authorized to purchase the necessary books for the different county offices in and for the county of Carroll roll.
Adjourned until tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock.
JAMES FERRALL
JOHN SHOBER
WILLIAM DAVIS
Commissioners."
At the next meeting of the board to which they stood adjourned, the surveyor presented his report, defining the boundaries of the county, by townships.
On the second Tuesday of October following this special election, provided for in the law creating the county, the regular election was held, when these officers were re-elected, excepting Messrs. William Davis and James Ferrell, commissioners, who were succeeded by John W. Russell and James Forbes. At this time Robert McClave was also chosen prosecuting attorney. The certificate of election was duly signed on the 10th day of October, 1833, by George Reynolds, Charles Fawcett and Isaac Atkinson, judges and justices of the peace.
Carroll County Formed
The territory comprising the county was pretty well populated, when in the winter of 1832-3 the legislature of the state passed an act for the erection of a new county of Carroll. Prior to this time the people from the center of the present county had to go twenty-four miles to reach the nearest county seat. To Stark we are indebted for Brown and Harrison townships as they now stand, together with a portion of Center, which originally belonged to Harrison. Columbiana contributed East, Fox, Augusta, Washington and that part of Center which came from Washington Township. Harrison county gave to Carroll that large tract of country which was embraced in the original Rock township of that county, which has been subdivided into parts of Lee, Loudon and we believe the whole of Union and Perry. Jefferson county gave us a part of its most western township, which is parts of Lee and Loudon. Orange and Monroe were the contribution of territory from Tuscawaras county.
At their session of March 25, the commissioners met in conference with the trustees of the German Reformed "meeting house" for the purpose of renting the same, in which to hold court. They concluded a lease of the meeting house for one year at $35. An old log school house, standing near was used for the jury room.
After the first election, the county being without county buildings; the officers-elect made their own houses their places of business. The auditor kept his books at the tanyard, east of town; the treasurer, in the house now occupied by Mrs. S. A. Atkinson, opposite Geo. J. Butler's store.
First Public Building
The first public building erected in the county was the jail. On the 8th day of June, 1833, the contract for its erection was let to Kendall Jackson, and on the 13th of January 1834, it was accepted from him by the commissioners. The county now having a building of its own, the court sat in the jail until the court house was near enough completed to be used for that purpose.
The first suit determined in the court of common pleas was that of Jacob Oswalt, plaintiff, vs John W. Russell, in which a judgment was rendered for the plaintiff for $357.90 and costs.
The first criminal case was that of the State of Ohio vs William Criss, resulting in the acquittal of the defendant -- July term, 1833.
In the winter of 1833-4 it was thought necessary to have a suitable building for the county offices and for court purposes; but it being a new county and no money yet in the treasury for any purpose, aside for a small amount for the current expenses, citizens of the county raised a private fund of three thousand dollars by subscription and deposited the same in Kendall Jackson's sheet-iron "safe," which at that day was considered amply secure. A German architect and builder, named Peter Herold -- the paternal grandfather of the writer -- had recently moved to the town from Strausburg, Pa., and to him was stated the amount subscribed and collected; who, together with William Johnson, drafted the plans and specifications for a brick building in conformity with the amount subscribed. The contract was let to John M. Lacy of Cadiz, who commenced building the court house on a lot donated for that purpose by Hon. Isaac Atkinson -- the first representative from Carroll-co to the Thirty-Fifth General Assembly of Ohio -- who owned the land from which Atkinson's additions to Carrollton have been made. The brick for the court house were made upon the vacant lot opposite the present site of John Shepherd's residence on Canal street.
The Pioneer Foundry
Alfred Dobbins ∓ Sons started the pioneer foundry of the county at the rear of his lot (now owned by M. Stockon) and was succeeded in the business by Mr. Atkinson, who built a strap-iron tramway from the brickyard above mentioned to the public square, for the purpose of conveying brick to where the masons were building the new court house. The laying down of this tramway caused a great deal of talk in the neighborhood, and the news spread that there was a "railroad" being built at Carrollton. People came into town by the hundreds "just to see how they go about building a railroad" -- supposing all the while that a railroad was constructed of fence-rails, as was afterwards demonstrated by an old gentleman subscribing 1,000 rails toward building a projected road through this county. S. G. Perry, who is still living at New Harrisburg, hauled the sand and mixed mortar for the brick work of the court house. The contractor having taken the job too low, threw up the work after the outside walls were completed and the roof on.
Those who headed the subscription list for building the courthouse were the following persons, together with the amounts placed opposite their names:
James Sinclair . . . . . . $500
Isaac Atkinson . . . . . . $500
Kendall Jackson . . . . . .$500
W. D. Jenkins . . . . . . .$500
Daniel McCook . . . . . . .$300
Robert McEldery . . . . . $150
Alex McDowell . . . . . . .$150
H. A. Sider . . . . . . . .$100
The remainder was raised from farmers in sums of one hundred dollars and less.
Thus matters rested until the 8th day of June, 1837, when we find from the original manuscript (prescribed in the form of a scroll, in a tin tube, at the auditor's office) that the commissioners of the county contracted with George Y. Hampton for its completion.
When the work was completed the following acceptance was written upon the contract:
"April 11, 1838. I have this day examined the work performed by George Y. Hampton, under this contract, and accepted it as a full and entire performance.
William Johnson
Agent for the Commissioners."
(This newspaper article was extracted from Carroll Co. Historical Society microfilm, and submitted by Susan Mann King, NLowry@aol.com)