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42 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
force of the wind, and when che next morning the commissioners looked
from their hotel windows out upon the waters there stood, safely moored
the brig. Where, then, Avas the objection raised by the Huron people?
The Julia Palmer was one of the largest of the lake vessels, and still she
rode safely. This fact, with a more potent influence, (a rare imported
brand), brought to bear by Mayor Camp, soon settled the question in
favor of Sandusky as the county seat of the county of Erie. But again,
the land proprietors here, during the days in which the subject of erecting
a new county was being discussed, were making provisions for the
same and the consequent county buildings, as will be shown by a promise
in writing made by them in October, 1835, three years before the act
creating the county Avas passed. It read as follows: "The subscribers
do hereby pledge themselves that in case a neAV county be organized
with the seat of justice established at Sandusky, we will furnish all
necessary public buildings for the use of said new county, free of all
expense to the county for five years next following its organization."
Signed by John G. Camp, Thomas Neill, William I. Reece, Isaac Mills,
Z. Wildman; all per J. G. Camp.
One of the first duties that devolved upon the board of commissioners
was to make some provision for a building for the purpose of holding
courts, and for quarters for county officers. The officers were chosen on
the day fixed for the first election, May 7, 1838, and Samuel B. Carpenter,
Nelson Taylor and William B. Craighill were elected commissioners;
Hiram W. Conklin, auditor; William B. Smith, treasurer.
The first Court of Common Pleas of the county was ordered by the
Legislature to be held on the second Monday in December next following
the time of the passage of the act that created the county and against
"this time the commissioners must provide a place for the holding thereof.
The First Courthouse.—There was built just west of the present
high school, some years earlier than the period the events of which we
have been discussing, intended at the time to be put to the uses of education,
a stone building of fair proportions, two stories in height, but in
1838 in an incomplete state.
The stone building referred to was projected in part by the proprietors,
and a part by the enterprising residents of Sandusky, who
desired a commodious schoolhouse or academy in a central location. To
its construction the people largely contributed. At the time of the location
of the county seat this building was unfinished, only the lower floor
being completed, in which school was held. It was this structure, then,
that was proposed to be used for courthouse and county purposes.
The first term of court was held in December, 1838, as provided by
the act of the Legislature organizing the county. ° And while this building
was so used for a period of two years, or perhaps a little less, there
was no move on the part of the proprietors to vest the title to the same
in the county. This led to further discussion and agitation of the question
of removal' of the county seat to some other point; and, moreover,
led to the passage of an "enabling act" authorizing such removal, but
coupled with a condition, as will be seen by the act itself, as follows: