The Quinby Brothers and their Impact on Wooster

Ephraim Quinby, Sr. was born May 11, 1766 in Hunterton County, New Jersey. He married Amma Blackmore in 1795. They relocated to Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1795. In 1799 they found their permanent home in the Connecticut Western Reserve, purchasing 400 acres at the future location of Trumbull County, Ohio. Trumbull County was established in 1800 when Wayne County was sectioned off, but didn't attain it's current geography until 1848. Quinby's land was situated
on both the east and west side of the Mahoning River. Quinby successfully farmed his land, and became a prominent citizen. He is recognized as the founder of Warren, Ohio, county seat of Trumbull County.

Ephraim and Amma Quinby had eleven children, four girls and 7 boys. Two of the boys would go on to be very influential in the development of Wayne County and Wooster, Ohio, Samuel and Ephraim Quinby, Jr.

In The History of Wayne County, written by Benjamin Douglass in 1878, Mr. Douglass writes:

"Samuel Quinby was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1794, and died February 4, 1874, at Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio. His father, Judge Ephraim Quinby, removed with his family to the site of Warren as early as 1795, two years before the county of Trumbull was organized, and five years before the State was admitted into the Union."

In 1819, Samuel Quinby was appointed by President James Monroe Receiver of Public Monies of the United States Land Office, a seat vacated by John Sloane who had been elected to Congress from the 6th District, State of Ohio. Since the location for the U.S. Land Office was in Wooster, Samuel moved to Wooster that same year. He held the office until 1835. And although he had supported John Quincy Adams for President of the United States, he

survived losing that position when Adams lost his presidency after just one term to Andrew Jackson, following a scandal laden term. This is a measure of his personal integrity and high esteem others, even political advisories, held him.

During his tenure with the U.S. Land Office, he was also Wayne County's treasurer, holding that position form 1822 to 1838.

Samuel Quinby was a successful citizen, and wanted everyone to be successful. To those ends he provided financial assistance to those struggling to get started in Wooster. From Benjamin Douglass' History of Wayne County:

"The surviving pioneers of the county bring united testimony to his noble impulses and generous disposition. He appeared at a crisis in their midst when they sorely needed a counselor and when substantial assistance became one of the unforgotten boons. As Treasurer of the county for many years he had opportunity of knowing the financial distresses of the toiling, moneyless settlers. They had entered, or purchased their lands, had brought on their families and were bravely fighting the battle of life amid untold hardship and suffering. They could produce corn and wheat, oats, etc., it is true, but they brought little or no money. The home market was a fable ; its moral was disappointment. The inevitable tax-day came around, and many a struggling, industrious, frugal

land-owner was found penniless. Some could sell the one or two hogs they had fattened for the winter's meat ; some, more fortunate, could meet the collector's demand ; others could send to friends in the East and procure the scant remittance, and others again beheld the grim tax-gatherer coming with sick and aching hearts.

With this latter class is where Mr. Quinby rose to the dignity of the pioneer's true friend. We have it from the lips of old men yet living in Wayne county that upon a candid and truthful representation of their financial condition, he voluntarily paid their taxes for years, never exacting a cent of interest, and only asking back what he paid, and affording any reasonable time to pay it in. To those who spoke regretfully of leaving comfortable homes in other States, and talked of selling out and returning, he addressed words of encouragement, saying, "This is a great country, let us make it ours and our children's." A decided affirmative answer to the question, " Will you stay with us and help fight our battles ?" relieved the heavy heart of many a penniless tax-payer.

His name is to-day laden with a fragrance in the memory of the pioneers, and they revert to his manifold kindnesses with sighs and sadness.

Such a man, in such times of trial rises to the majesty of a benefactor, and such a life leaves more than a transient impression upon the age and period where its activities are displayed."

In 1840, Samuel Quinby returned to his home town, Warren, Ohio, where he lived out the rest of his life. While there, he served two terms in the Ohio State House (1844 and 1861) and was Director of the Western Reserve Bank.

Here is what Benjamin Douglass concluded:

"It is emphatically evident that the Quinby family was an enviably prominent one. In their successful operations for the development of the resources of the country, they have demonstrated a high order of business ability and commercial integrity. Their personal example and laudable endeavors to elevate the moral and religious tone of the communities in which they moved, celebrate their virtues and the excellencies of their lives. The unstained and unimpeachable characters they maintained in the various positions of responsibility and honor entrusted to them by the people constitute an enduring monument."

Samuel's brother, Ephraim, was 16 years his junior. Ephraim was born April 14, 1880 in Trumbull County. By the time he was about 13 years old, he came to Wooster to live with his older brother, Samuel. He would occasionally help out at the US Land Office. All that time he was receiving an education at Wooster city schools.

In July of 1828, Ephraim went to work for John Larwill as a clerk in one of his stores. He earned $100 per year, plus board. It is said he was able to save 1/3 of his wages. One year later Joseph Larwill was appointed Receiver of Public Monies of the United States Land Office for the Tiffin (now, Bucyrus) area. He asked young Ephraim to join him as a clerk there. He accepted the offer and worked there for one year. Following his assignment in Tiffin, he returned home to work at his brother's office. Among his duties was to make the deposits of money collected for the sale of public lands. This required periodic trips to the Branch Bank of the United States in Pittsburgh, a seven day journey.

Much of the money was in the form of silver coin. The weight of these coins were great, requiring a stout wagon and two strong horses. Occasionally, it was so heavy an extra team of horses were required. When he would stop to lodge for the night he had to take special care not to disclose the nature of his journey. This is how Douglass describes the perils,

"In cases like these, Mr. Quinby-then but twenty years old would drive his team pretty close to the tavern door and request that it might remain there until morning. Having, generally, a friend along with him-often his old companion, a boy, then, as well as himself, the Rev. M. E. Strieby-they would arrange to have a bed spread on the floor of the tavern sitting-room, vigilantly keeping an eye on the wagon containing the coin-the banknotes being kept about his person. After supper, and when other travelers and the family had retired, Mr. Quinby and his friend would quickly remove the boxes, each containing from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars, from the wagon to the sitting-room, and closing the doors securely, they would sleep, turn about, until quite early in the morning and before there was any stir upon the premises, when they would stealthily replace the boxes containing the coin in the wagon. After breakfast they would renew their journey, not even the landlord or any one else about the premises knowing the value of their cargo or the amount of money they controlled, such a state of profound ignorance, no doubt, being a source of comfort to Mr. Quinby. These special precautions, it is true, were only practiced in suspicious localities and strange places, yet precaution, prudence and watchfulness was the rule at all times and under all circumstances. And, strange as it may appear, he never, in all these perilous adventures, carried weapons of defense, though often, indeed, apprehensive of molestation and robbery."

In the fall of 1834, Ephraim Quinby embarked on a mercantile career, renting a store room from General Cyrus Spink, across from the American Hotel. Through 1936 he moved his business around, looking for the right location. For a short time, he had the store located in Millersburg. In 1836 he signed a five year lease from Reasin Beall for a building on the southwest corner of public square, and partnered with James Grant.

On October 12, 1837 Quinby married Catharine E. McConahay, the daughter of Judge D. McConahay.

From 1836 to 1842, Quinby focused on investing in Wooster real estate, where most of his fortunes originated. He purchased 14 acres south of Liberty and east of Bever, which he formed city lots which sold rapidly. These lots were 60 feet wide by 180 feet deep and sold for about $250 (about $5000 today). By 1841, similar lots were selling for upwards of $6000 (about $132,000 today), such was the real estate boom in Wooster.

In 1848 the Wayne County branch of the State Bank of Ohio was formed, of which Quinby was a shareholder. He was elected Cashier, a position he held until the end of the charter in 1865. That same year the Wayne County National Bank was chartered and once again, Quinby was elected Cashier.

The Mercantile and Wayne County Branch of the State Bank of Ohio and how it would look if it stood today

In the period from 1848 to 1876, Quinby dabbled in real estate, buying, selling and improving property all over the city of Wooster. He also increased his fortunes by buying, improving and selling property in the Cleveland area.

Secure in his fortunes, he built a mansion in Wooster for his family. It was located on the west side of South Market Street, between West South Street and Henry Street. The property was a half block wide and the house had 32 rooms. Ephraim Quinby's descendents lived in it until it was razed in 1931.

Ephraim Quinby's mansion which stood on the northwest corner of Market and Henry. It was razed in 1931

Ephraim Quinby desired to bring the culture of larger cities to Wooster, so in the mid 1870s he chaired a committee of like-minded gentlement to commission a design for an opera house. Architects C.M. Amsden and D. Graham submitted the design that was approved. On February 1, 1877, the opera house opened. In spite of his protests, it was called the Quinby Opera House. It was located on the southeast corner of North Buckeye Street and East Larwill Street. It had a seating capacity of 1000. Plays were put on by both local troupes of amateur thespians as well as traveling troupes of professionals. Typical ticket prices were 25₵ for children and 50₵ for adults. It stood for 33 years until being supplanted by an improved venue at City Hall.

The Quinby Opera House stood on the southeast corner of Buckeye and Larwill. It was razed in 1900

Quinby was instrumental in bringing College of Wooster to this town. In 1866, the Presbyterian Synods of Ohio were searching for a town suitable for a college. They required a subscription of $100,000, which included the value of land for the college building. Knowing the value of having a university located in town, an effort was immediately started to raise the required funds. At the outset, Ephraim Quinby donated $10,000. But as the last pledges came in, the effort fell $32,000 short of their goal. The Presbyterian Synods gathered to meet in Wooster to review the site and the fund raising effort. They agreed to accept the 20 acre site as a donation of $25,000 from Ephraim Quinby and a $75,000 subscription from the city. They further agreed to accept the shortfall of funds as a guaranty from Quinby and other citizens in Wooster, and the university was born. From the day that it opened, and throughout the rest of his life, Ephraim Quinby supported the college both financially, and with his matured sphere of influence. Wooster would not be same had it not been for him.

Ephraim Quinby was also a pivotal person in bringing the first railroad to Wooster. On October 16, 1845 the first meeting was held to discuss the need to bring rail traffic to Wooster. The meeting was presided over by Cyrus Spink, with Quinby acting as secretary. This meeting resulted in another public meeting to gain support from all citizens of the county. The team of advocates, including John Larwill, Dr. S.F. Day, John Mc Sweeney, J.P. Jeffries, Jesse Straugham and Ephraim Quinby went to work making speeches throughout the county to drive public support.

J.P. Jeffries issued an open letter to the public:

"That the stock will be profitable, there is not the possibility of a doubt that it will net to the stockholders over ten per cent, per annum, is in our opinion just as certain. Nearly every man in the county is able to take one share, and this he should do, particularly the owner of real estate, because he will be benefited just in proportion to his business, be it great or small. Should every man in the county who subscribes a share of $50 lose it entirely, he will still be the gainer, from the fact that the value of his land, his labor, and the price of his produce will be greatly enhanced; and the business of the merchant and mechanic will increase in proportion to that of the farmer, and thus the benefit of

the road will be reaped."

Their campaign was successful in raising the funds necessary and on August 10, 1852, the first passenger train rolled into Wooster. It was a great achievement for Quinby and the rest of the committee who had fought so hard to make it happen. The celebration of that first train was epic. Here is what Douglass wrote:

"The arrival of the first passenger train in Wooster, Tuesday afternoon, August 10, 1852, was an event not soon to be forgotten, and in the future will be reverted to as such, not merely for the satisfaction a knowledge of the date will afford, but as a circumstance and occasion by which other occurrences and incidents may be identified. On that day Wooster was in a paroxysm of bustle and excitement. A national salute was fired at sunrise. Four P. M. was the hour announced for the arrival of the train. At 2 P. M. the surging multitude began to gather at the depot, and by 3 o'clock it was estimated that from 15,000 to 20,000 persons were on the grounds. At 3 P. M. a dispatch was received from Massillon assuring us that two trains were coming with 600 passengers, 500 of whom were invited guests from Pittsburg and Allegheny. At ten minutes past 4 P. M. the train arrived. The scene was magnificent; the people shouted, cannons boomed thunderingly, whirlwinds of gladness swept over acres of clapping hands, and on faces young and aged, a " grand Homeric jubilation was radiant." It was the Pentecost of gayety. The fire companies never looked or behaved better; the martial music was inspiring and heroic, and the guests were happy and hilarious, both by choice and compulsion. It seemed, indeed, to many, like '' Curiosity's Benefit Day."

Such was the absolute importance of this event for Wooster. It meant the town could now grow and prosper, secure in the knowledge that it was connected to the outside world and corporations could safely do business here.

And without the efforts of two brothers from Warren, Ohio, one of which made his permanent home in Wooster, these things may not have come to pass. But they did, and Wooster owes them both a debt of gratitude.