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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 217
sen as chief fireman; James Hollister as fire warden number one of
Ward No. 1; William Kelley as fire warden number two of Ward No. 1;
Erastus Gregg as fire warden number one of Ward No. 2; and Ezra
Wells as fire warden number two of Ward No. 2; Isaac Carling and Moors
Farwell as the committee of safety of Ward No. 2. Also Cyrus W.
Marsh as captain of the fire company of Ward No. 1, and Elias Hand
as captain of the fire company in Ward No. 2. Josiah W. Hollister
Avas appointed first engineer, and Amos Patterson as second engineer
in Ward No. 1, while John Chestnut and John Mumford Avere to perform
the same duties respectively in Ward No. 2.
A further provision Avas made that men be enlisted for each company,
and that each man should provide himself with one substantial
bucket, and in case of fire to appear "equipt" with his bucket. This
was the original fire and bucket brigade of the Town of Sandusky, and
from the number of men appointed to positions of rank therein, it
would seem that every man in the place Avas in some manner connected
Avith the department. One bucket and one hook Avas aftenvard provided
for each company, and to be paid for out of the funds of the town.
From this outlay it is not surprising that Sandusky has a large bonded
indebtedness.
During the latter part of the year 1834 the subject of the purchase of
a more approved and suitable means of fighting fire Avas under discussion,
but it was not until February of the folloAving year that the
desire was consummated. The council then appointed Thomas T. White
and John Wheeler a select committee to make the purchase. They
entered into negotiations with James Smith of New York City, and that
person oifered to sell the town a hand engine of such pattern as Avas
then in use in his city for the sum of $750. The finances of the town
were then in a someAvhat reduced condition, and voluntary subscriptions
by the citizens of the toAvn Avere received, and this, with the funds
in the treasury, was used and the purchase made. This engine Avas
named Ogontz, and the company that manned it Avas called Ogontz
Fire Company No. 1.
In 1839, with the groAvth of the town it Avas thought desirable to
make some further provision for this branch of municipal service; so
the council, on the 7th of February, passed an ordinance providing for
more efficient means of safety and security of the citizens against fire,
and elected officers for the department as folloAVS: Foster M. Follett,
chief engineer; Ebenezer B. Sadler, assistant engineer; and William
W. Witherell, William B. Smith, Page M. Ring, A. II. Barber, Abner
Root and Isaiah W. Hollister as Are wardens.
In the year 1848 there Avas organized a neAV company vvliich was
provided by.the council to contain not less than forty, nor more than
sixty men, to be designated as "Buckeye Company Number 2" and for
this company Avas purchased the engine that AA'as named "Buckeye."
Not long after this a hook and ladder company Avas organized. In
1853 Hornet Company Number 3 was formed.
Thus well equipped and organized for business the city seemed