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 |
Laurine Cochran has kindly permitted this writer to use a
small booklet to be inserted into this column entitled, "The Constitution
and Rules of the Turtlecreek Township Horse Rangers Association."
The formation of this organization reads as such:
"These Articles of Incorporation of the Turtlecreek Township Horse Rangers'
Association, witnessed, that we, the undersigned, all of whom are citizens of
the State of Ohio, desiring to form a corporation, not for profit, under the
general corporation laws of said State, do hereby certify,
"First, the name of said corporation shall be the Turtlecreek Township
Horse Rangers Association.
"Second, Said corporation shall be located and its principal business transacted
at Lebanon, in Warren County, Ohio.
"Third, The purpose for which said corporation is formed is to apprehend
and convict horse thieves and other felons, under and in accordance with an
act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio.
"In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this second day of June,
A.D., 1888.
"W.C. Thompson, James A. Thompson, A.G.
McBurney, Frank Hutchinson, Frank Gallaher,
Frank Drake, W.H. Bone, James A. Sellers,
and J. Smith Mulford.
"John V.H. Lewis, Isaac H. Antrim, Lot
Wright, Joseph Perrine, W.L. Dechant,
D.E. Dunham, Frank M. Jack, Martin
A. Jameson, W.O. Keever, and T.E.
Ivins.
The General Council consisted of elective officers that were: a President, Vice
President, Secretary and Treasurer, four Captains, and four Lieutenants.
Each officer was to be elected by ballot at the annual meeting of the association.
They were to serve for one year from and after the first day of January next
following their election, or until their successors are elected or appointed
and qualified. Members were to be residents of Turtlecreek Township or within
certain boundaries of Union Township.
The boundaries were set up as: "Commencing where Turtle Creek crosses the
line between Turtlecreek and Union Townships; running thence in a southerly
direction to the bridge where the Hamilton and Deerfield road crossed Muddy
Creek near Samuel Bowyer's; thence with said road easterly,
through Deerfield, to the Deerfield and Morrow road; thence with said pike to
the Turtlecreek Township line; thence with said line to the beginning."
Members were to be admitted at any meeting when accompanied with a written application,
the form being chosen by the Council. This form was to coincide with an initiation
fee of $2.00.
Each member was to be duty-bound when appropriately called upon, or pay a fine
of $1.00 for the first offense or refusal, or $2.00 for the second. For any
other offense, they were to be expelled, unless they could show a good and reasonable
cause.
Different routes were assigned to each company.
On the first day of January and July of each year, the Captains detailed from
their respective companies an adequate number of men, not less than four, who
would serve for six months, or until they were relieved by another detail.
The minute men, guards, riders or search men were to be in readiness at a moments
notice to take the road in search of stolen property or of felons.
If a member becomes satisfied that his or her property has been stolen, immediate
notice was to be given to the Captain of the company.
If the Captain was not available, notice must be given to the Lieutenant, and,
in his absence, the President must be notified.
If an act of thievery has resulted, the authoritative figure has such jurisdiction
to send out the minute men over the routes under his charge, as he may consider
necessary. An adequate number was always sent to cover the routes in both directions.
In every regard the minute men were to obey the President, Captain or Lieutenant,
respectively. The President always had the last say-so.
NOTICE: All documents and electronic images placed on the Warren County OHGenWeb site remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. These documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the submitter, or their legal representative, and contact the listed Warren County OHGenWeb coordinator with proof of this consent.
This page created 14 September 2004 and last updated
28 September, 2008
© 2004 Arne H Trelvik
All rights reserved