Coshocton County Ohio

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George Emfield

George Emfield - Bio-Sketch
Even though George was born in Tuscarawas Township, Coshocton County, Ohio on 28 Jan 1850, he moved on out westward (Franklin county in 1856, Hardin County in 1863, Paulding in 1873 and Putnam County in 1880 and then eventually in 1883 out West to Montana and Idaho; it all began in Coshocton. This is a photo of George in 1893, when he was on the Great Falls, Montana Fire Department. (Only known photo of him...) Below is an example of a life timeline.

Sources: (Ages shown are based on the referenced records)
1850 U.S. Census; Tuscarawas Twp. Coshocton Co. OH, pg. 137 B Age 6 months
1860 U.S. Census; Madison Twp, Franklin County, Ohio Age 10
1863-66 Book; "Ohio Records and Pioneer Families-The Crossroad of our Nation". Age 13
1870 U.S. Census; Lynn Twp, Hardin County, Ohio Age 20
1873 Marriage record; Paulding Co, OH, Vol. 3, pg. 27 (Georgiana Foote) Age 23
1880 U.S. Census; Palmer Twp, Putnam County, Ohio (Laborer) Age 30
1883 Marriage record; Henry Co. OH, Film 0423621, Book 5, pg. 90 (marriage to A. Taylor) Age 33
1891 Poll Tax - Cascade County, Great Falls, MT; No. 2737; 31 Jul 1891 Age 40
1892 Poll Tax - Cascade County, Great Falls, MT Age 41
1892 City directory, Great Falls, Montana, (Policeman) Age 41
1893 Poll Tax - Cascade County, Great Falls MT Age 43
1893 Great Falls Fire Dept. Fireman's Ball flyer (Geo. is listed on Hose Co. 5) Age 43
1893 City directory; Great Falls, Montana, pg. 67; Residence: W. Great Falls (Fireman) Age 43
1893 July 7: Court proceeding filed for home mortgage foreclosures (2), Great Falls, MT August 14: Two judgments of $656.60 rendered against George to pay Theodore Gibson, lienholder (Did he have mortgages on both his and his son's homes or a 2nd loan on the 1st?) Age 43
1895 Poll Tax - Cascade County, Great Falls MT, pg. 40 Age 45
1896 City directory; Great Falls, Montana, pg. 62 (Fireman/GNRR) Age 46
1896 City directory; Spokane, WA, Painter, boards at 1020 Washington Age 46
1896 - (about) separation of George and Minnie, she stays in Great Falls, he moves to Spokane, but is also listed occasionally in Great Falls. Age 46
1897-98 City directory; Spokane, WA; pg. 264 Porter Coeur d'Alene Saloon, rooms Howard block Age 47-48
1900 City directory; Great Falls, Montana, pg. 137 (GNRR); res: alley between 1st and Central Ave w s of Central Age 50
1900 U.S. Census; Spokane, Spokane, WA; ED 62, sheet 4 (Engineer) Age 50
1901 City directory; Spokane, WA, Porter, Theatre Comique rms the same Age 51
1902 City directory; Spokane, WA, Engineer, Theatre Comique, rms the same Age 52
1903 City directory; Spokane, WA, Engineer, Theatre Comique, rms the same Age 53
1905 City directory; Spokane, WA Porter, Theatre Comique Age 55
1908 City directory; Spokane, WA Engineer, Theatre Comique, resides the same Age 56
1910 U.S. Census; Spirit Lake, Kootenai, ID (Engineer) Age 60
1911 Coeur d'Alene, ID City Directory (Watchman for the I & W N Railroad) Age 61
1920 U.S. Census; Northport, Stevens Co, WA, Ed. 288, Sh. 7, line 38 Age 72
1922 Walla Walla, WA; Corrections, Department of, Washington State Penitentiary, Commitment Registers, 1887-1945, Inmate #9827, Crime: Attempted Burglary according to the record, he was hungry and attempted to take some food from a local grocer and was made an example of by the court and spent 1 year in the State Penitentiary. (He was listed as unemployed for 6 months prior to this event and had no family living nearby. Sad, but true. A news article at the time stated that up until then he enjoyed a good reputation with all.) est. Age 76
1923 Obituary; Spokane Daily Chronicle, 11/7/1923, 2nd Ed. page 6. est. Abt 65
1923 Death certificate; Spokane, Washington (actual age was 73 at time of death) est. Age 77
Headstone; Riverside Park Cemetery, Spokane, WA, Verbena, sp. 16-lot 38N 19W
Family records of Eric K. Emfield; 4628 Sawtooth Ln. Chubbuck, ID 83202-2637
Family records of grandson, Ray H. Emfield (deceased)

NOTES:

BIRTH: 28 JAN 1850
Parents were Humphrey Emfield & Mary Severns who married on 8 Mar 1849 in Coshocton Co, OH. The 1850 U.S. Census for Tuscarawas Township, Coshocton County, Ohio, shows him as a 6 month old baby living with his parents and maternal grandparents (Absalom & Mary Severns). This census tells us he was six months old in July of 1850, making his birth month January of 1850. (This is consistent with some census records in which his birth month was listed as January and family knowledge.) Also we were able to extract his birth date (28th of January) from the 1922 record listed above. Combining these, his factual DOB should be 28 Jan 1850. Later in life, he varies on the birth year, but not the month/day.

FATHER DIES IN 1856 ACCORDING TO GEORGE'S OWN NOTES
George's sister, Mary Jane was listed as 4 yrs. old in 1860, which means she would have been born in 1856 (exact DOB confirmed with historical records from Hardin County, OH). This means their parents would have been together as late as 1856. (Mary Severns/Emfield remarries in 1858.) Based on George's 1922 state incarceration record, he (George) stated that his father died when he was six years old, which would have been in 1856. This is consistent with our inability to find him in any post-1856 records, so we will focus on trying to find a death date/place and/or burial location.

1860 CENSUS: FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO
In the 1860 Census, page 81 (from Groveport, Madison Township, Franklin County, Ohio) listed as the head of the household is a MARY DILDINE, age 30. Listed as living in the home (relationships not listed) are; Humphrey Emfield, age 10; and Mary Jane Emfield, age 4. All listed as born in Ohio.

1863-66: MARION TWP. HARDIN COUNTY, OHIO
Book; "Ohio Records and Pioneer Families -The Crossroad of our Nation", Pub. by Ohio Genealogical Society, Mansfield, Ohio, Vol. XL...1999...No. 4. School attendance Records, Sub District No. 3, Marion Twp. Hardin County, Ohio,1863-1866.

For term commencing October 19, 1863 and ending February 6, 1864:

16. MARY DILDINE......age 6...."Mollie P.", after 15 December. (Mollie is another version of Mary and "Mollie Pollie" was a common nickname in that era.)
38. HUMPHREY DILDINE....age 13.
35. SAM SCOTT..........age 12...age 13, after 15 December. (Son of William W. Scott? Mary�s 3rd husband?)

Submitted by teacher, Rachel Phillomena Faught.

For term 1863-1866 (Note: No special date given for the listing below, but the teacher's previous list is dated ending March 14, 1866. Mary, Humphrey and Samuel are not listed on that attendance record commencing Nov. 10, 1865 and ending March 14, 1866):

63. HUMPHREY DILDINE...as noted, no special date given
64. MARY DILDINE...as noted, no special date given
105. SAMUEL SCOTT...as noted, no special date given

Teacher, Isaac Garwood, whose attendance lists appear to be 1865-66.

As can be seen, the Dildine name was given to two children named Mary and Humphrey from October 19, 1863 to a term ending approx. Nov. 1865 to March 1866. The original school attendance records appear to be in the possession of Dana D. Leslie, 721 W. 27th Ave., San Mateo, CA 94403. E-mail: dleslie261@aol.com (OGS article dated: 1999)

1870 CENSUS: HARDIN COUNTY, OHIO
In the 1870 Census for Lynn Township, Hardin County, Ohio, pg. 446 (enumerated on July 16, 1870) we find a MARY SCOTT, age 40, Keeping House, owning $730 of Real Estate, $200 of personal property. Also listed were; MARY J. EMFIELD, age 14, "at home" and "Umphrey" EMFIELD (George Humphrey Emfield), age 20, a Farmer. All were born in Ohio and could read and write.

1873: FIRST MARRIAGE
On March 26, 1873 George marries Georgiana Foote in Paulding County, Ohio. She is the daughter of Samuel Budd Foote and Catherine Matilda (Fauser) Foote.

1873-1879: BIRTH OF THEIR THREE SONS
SAMUEL WALTER EMFIELD was born 30 Dec 1873 in Brown Twp., Paulding Co, OH. (confirmed) In the birth record for Samuel Walter, his father was listed as "Humphrey" Emfield, (George apparently used his middle name.) Samuel was also known as "Walter" in family & employment records.

LAWRENCE CLIFFORD EMFIELD was born 30 Aug 1876, also allegedly in Brown Twp., Paulding Co, OH. (No birth record was found in Paulding Co. or Putnam Co. for his DOB.) Based on this assumption (and lack of confirming birth record for Lawrence), we presume that they may have been living near or with Georgiana's parents and sometime between 1876 and 1879 (when Charles was born) struck out on their own and got a place in Oakwood, Palmer Township, Putnam County; a short distance from her parents place in Paulding County.

CHARLES CASPER EMFIELD was born 2 Mar 1879 in Palmer Twp. Putnam Co. OH. (confirmed)

JAN. 5, 1880: DEATH OF FIRST WIFE, GEORGIANA FOOTE
Georgiana was 26 years of age when she passed away. The three children were sleeping in the bed with her at the time, according to information received in a personal interview with Lawrence Clifford Emfield by Audra (Eckersell) Emfield. He did not elaborate much on the circumstances other than it was believed due to a "heart ailment". She died in Palmer Twp., Putnam County, Ohio. We found her death record, but no burial site has been located thus far. We are working with both Putnam and Paulding Counties to find out where she might be buried.

1880 CENSUS: PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO
According to the 1880 Census for Putnam County, Ohio, volume 53, edition 151, page 15, line 15, George Emfield was living in the same household as a MARY SCOTT (listed as his mother, a housekeeper; born in Ohio, her parents listed as born in Virginia).

George was listed as born in Ohio, a widower & laborer. His father was born in PA and his mother was born in Virginia. (Before we found the 1850 census confirming his parentage, we thought the mother being born in VA might have been Levina Wallick, Humphrey's first wife. This has since been proven to be one of several errors made by this census enumerator.) Mary's parents were listed as born in VA in other census records. (The panhandle of Virginia [West VA since 1863] is sandwiched between PA and OH. We might check to see if they came from this region.)

George's children were listed as; Georgie A.,[should be "SAMUEL WALTER", Georgiana was the mother and was recently deceased] male age 6; Lawrence C., age 3; Charles, age 1. The three boys were all listed as born in Ohio. Their father, George was listed as born in Ohio, and the boy's mother listed as born in Massachusetts. (Georgiana's family was originally from Mass. although she was born in Ohio, not MA.) The census records from Putnam and Paulding counties disagree on the Foote family member's birthplaces.

Also listed under the same household was an Iva M. Scott, age 10. She is listed as being born in Ohio, both her parents were listed as being born in Ohio. (Mary's daughter from her 3rd marriage, which was to a William W. Scott in Hardin County, OH in 1865.)

NOTE: Another census error found was that the child who is 6 years old in the 1880 Census for Palmer Twp, Putnam Co, OH should be Samuel Walter, yet is listed as "Georgie A.". We believe that the census enumerator did not understand that Georgiana died a few months prior and confused the information being given to them and put Georgiana's name ("Georgie A.") on the record instead of Samuel. Also when the census was being taken, during the same month, (1880 Brown Twp., Paulding Co. OH), Samuel Walter is listed in the house-hold of his grandfather, Samuel Foote. (The boys were enumerated in both households.)

AUGUST 17, 1883: SECOND MARRIAGE
George married a Mrs. Amelia R. "Minnie" Taylor in Henry County, Ohio. The record was recorded as follows:

"PARTIES: George H. Enfield and Amelia R. Taylor license issued the 17th day of August, A.D. 1883 to the above named parties. (Signed: D. Meekism, Probate Judge).

The State of Ohio, Henry County, ss: George H. Enfield having made application for a license for himself and Amelia R. Taylor, and being duly sworn says he is of the age (at least) of 21 years and has no wife living, and that Amelia R. Taylor is of the age (at least) 18 years and a resident of said county and has no husband living; and that said parties are not nearer kin than second cousins and are both of the same color. (Signed: G. H. Emfield)

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th day of August A.D. 1883. (Signed: D. Meekism, Probate Judge)

RETURN: The State of Ohio, Henry County ss: On the 17th day of August A.D. 1883, I solemnized the marriage of Mr. Geo. H. Enfield with Mrs. Amelia R. Taylor. (Signed James Donovan, J.P.)"

(Amelia "Minnie" was married previously to a Charles S. Taylor. Her maiden name was "Gay". A later census does indicate that Minnie had 8 children, one of whom was living with her (Pearl Taylor) after her separation from George. We find a later reference in a marriage record in Michigan that "Pearl Emfield" was listed as the mother to the bride in 1924, so the daughter may have assumed that her mom (Pearl Taylor) was an Emfield, but she was really just the step-daughter of George, not his own off-spring, unless she was adopted. We haven't found any adoption records to refute this yet.

BETWEEN 1883-1891: MOVED FROM OHIO TO MONTANA
For reasons unknown (probably due to job opportunities and economic reasons), George, his second wife Minnie, and their combined children (his three sons and an unknown number of her children, but at least one, Pearl Taylor) relocated from Putnam County, Ohio to Great Falls, Montana. More research is required. The 1890 Census was destroyed, so other sources will have to be checked to determine where they were during this 8 year span.

1891-92: GREAT FALLS, MONTANA
George is listed as a Policeman in the Great Falls City Directory. His oldest son, Samuel "Walter" was listed as a Fireman for the GNRR (Great Northern Railroad). George is also a member of the Great Falls I.O.O.F and is elected as Noble Grand Officer in the Lodge.

1893: GREAT FALLS, MONTANA
According to the Great Falls, Montana 1893 City Directory, George ENfield was listed as residing on the west side (near the Railroad Yards) of Great Falls and his occupation was "Bdghouse". In this same directory, also listed are: Walter ENfield, fireman, GNRR, residence West Great Falls; Lawrence ENfield, Call Boy, GNRR; Charles ENfield, Call Boy, GNRR.

A flyer for the Great Falls Fire Dept. 6th Annual Ball (held on Dec. 29, 1893) shows a George ENfield as being a member of Hose Company #5. This corresponds with the only photograph we have of him, showing him in a Fireman's uniform with the number "5" on the belt buckle. This corroborates the family stories with the photo and the actual records from that Dept.

In 1893, there was a financial panic and run on the Banks. Don't know if this was a contributory cause, but in July, a suit was filed in District Court in Great Falls by the lienholder, Theodore Gibson (son of Paris Gibson, founder of Great Falls) and in August, a judgment was rendered by the court requiring George to pay $656.60 to Mr. Gibson. We also presume he had to vacant the premises of the home since the total due for the lien was $2,000. In future censuses, he is listed as a boarder and renter, never owning a home again.

1896-97: GREAT FALLS, MONTANA AND SPOKANE, WASHINGTON
No record is found of a "George" Emfield (or ENfield) in the 1896-97 City Directory of Great Falls, but we find:

EMFIELD, Chas Jr., GNRR, res west side.
EMFIELD, Chas Sr., Fireman, GNRR, res west side. *
EMFIELD, Lawrence, Brakeman, GNRR, res west side.
EMFIELD, Walter, Engineer, GNRR, res west side.

* At first we could not figure out who "Charles Sr." was, Charles Jr. was only 17 years of age at the time and could not have any offspring of his own working there. Then it became apparent that the directory erroneously lists George as "Chas Sr." We know he was a fireman and believe that Charles (the son) may have been called "Junior", thereby they listed his father as "Chas Sr." in the directory.

In 1896, we also find George listed as a Porter at the Coeur d'Alene Saloon and rooming at the Howard block in Spokane (Age 47-48). Looks like he was maintaining dual residences in both Spokane and Great Falls from the late 1890s to early 1900.

In 1899, 1901, 1902 and up through 1904 we find only Samuel "Walter" his oldest son and Minnie, George's estranged wife still living in Great Falls, but in 1900 George makes a short return, listed as working for the GNRR briefly. He apparently returns to Spokane where we find him in other city directories there around that time frame. In 1905, Walter has moved on to Williston, N.D., leaving his step-mother Minnie in Great Falls until her death in 1909.

1900 CENSUS: SPOKANE, WA & GREAT FALLS, MT
George H. ENfield is listed as being the head of his household in Spokane, WA. A white male, born in Jan. 1848, 52 years old (at the time of census enumeration), a widower, born in Ohio, father born - unknown where, mother born in Ohio. He was an engineer and could read, write and speak English. Listed as renting a home. (We know from other records that his birth year was off by two years...)

There is no mention of his second marriage or separation in the 1900 census records (the separation from Minnie he confirmed in his 1922 court record). Both he and Minnie were maintaining separate households by 1896. Minnie Emfield was found still living in Watson Township, Great Falls, Cascade Co. Montana in the 1900 Census. This may give explanation to why George lists himself as a "widower" (from his first marriage) in that census. Both 1900 census' clearly asks "Single, Married, Widowed, Divorced?" Both George and Minnie are listed as "Widowed". She is listed as head of household, white, female, born in June of 1854, 45 yrs. of age (at time of census enumeration), widow, married 23 years (with a slash through it), mother of 8 children, with only 1 of those eight still living. She was born in OH, father born in PA, her mother born in New York. Occupation was wash woman, she could read, write & speak English, owned her own home (free, not mortgaged). Address was 3rd St. S.W. in Great Falls. Her daughter was living with her at the time, whose name is "Pearl" Taylor (The "l" appears to be faint or missing on the 1900 census form); listed as daughter, white, female, born in March 1879 in Michigan, 21 years old, single, father born in OH, mother born in OH. Pearl's occupation was a housekeeper. Could read, write & speak English.

1909 - 2nd Wife Minnie Dies
Minnie dies from uterine cancer is buried in the Old Highland Cemetery, Cascade County, Montana.

1910 CENSUS: SPIRIT LAKE, KOOTENAI, ID
George H. Emfield is listed as a boarder, age 60, an Engineer working at the "Station". Not much additional information can be gleaned from this record.

1911 Coeur d'Alene, ID City Directory
George H. Emfield is listed as living in Coeur d'Alene and his occupation was a Watchman for the I & W N Railroad.

1920 CENSUS: NORTHPORT, STEVENS CO. WA
George Emfield is listed as a boarder (enumerated with George Clark, person he was renting from), male, white, 72 years old, widower, born in OH, father born in OH (This is different than other census' records that state his father was born in PA or "unknown".), mother born in OH. He was able to read, write & speak English. Occupation: Chore-man at a Restaurant (wage worker).

1922 Washington State Archives Record
George Emfield was listed as an inmate (#9827) in the Walla Walla, WA Penitentiary for the crime of attempted burglary (according to the transcripts and information obtained from the Stevens County Courthouse, he was caught attempting to take groceries from the "R.G. Field Mercantile Store" in Northport, WA where he resided at the time). His admissions record is very telling in which he indicated he had been unemployed for six months, so without the resources we have nowadays, he made a desperate attempt to take some food without paying and was caught. While a lot of the record cannot be read on the scanned version due to the faded writing, the Court Clerk stated that it was for 50 cents of groceries; probably the equivalent of 5 or 10 dollars today. Instead of petty theft, it was classified as second degree burglary since he was apparently attempting to break and enter to get food. While we may attempt to judge his actions from our modern perspective, he did not have state or church welfare, aid for friends or other resources and apparently hunger drove him to make a choice for which he paid steep price, but he also took full ownership and paid his debt to society. (He was convicted in Stevens County, WA and sentenced to 1 to 7 1/2 years, but was released after 1 year incarceration due to good behavior. His age was listed as 76. Unfortunately, he died just 2 1/2 months after his parole in September, passing away in early November of that year (1923). Source: Corrections, Department of, Washington State Penitentiary, Commitment Registers, 1887-1945. Reference number AR129-5-4-010104.

NOV 6, 1923: DIES OF A HEART ATTACK
The Spokane Daily Chronicle, Second Edition, Nov. 7, 1923, page 6, had an article on his death: "Carrying Wood, Dies Suddenly. George H. Emfield, age about 65, laborer, died suddenly while carrying in wood at the Seattle Hotel, W 515 Trent Ave. yesterday afternoon. He is a transient. Death apparently was due to heart disease. Under order of Coroner A. C. Baker the body was removed to Smith & Co. Parlors."

His death certificate stated that George lived at West 515 Trent Ave. Spokane for 3 months. The informant was his son, L. C. (Lawrence Clifford) Emfield. Primary cause of death was broncho-pneumonia, secondary cause was angina pectoris. An autopsy was performed.

He was buried at the Riverside Park Cemetery in Spokane, WA in the "pauper section", with a temporary marker that says, "GEO. EMFIELD". The "Seattle Hotel" at W 515 Trent in Spokane, WA no longer exists. There is a parking lot located there now.

Other Research notes:

From Paulding County, Ohio history:

Paulding is the county seat of Paulding County, Ohio. Residents incorporated Paulding in 1872, although numerous people lived in the community prior to that date. Residents named the town in honor of John Paulding, a hero of the American Revolution. Paulding helped capture Benedict Arnold, the most notorious traitor in American history.

Paulding County and its county seat grew slowly. In 1840, Paulding County was Ohio's least populous county. The town of Paulding contained only two families. The principal reason for this small population was water from the Great Black Swamp and from a water reservoir for the Miami and Erie Canal and the Wabash and Erie Canal covered much of the county. It was not until 1887 that residents were able to drain most of the Great Black Swamp and the reservoir, opening the land to farming and further settlement. In 1880, only 454 people resided in the village of Paulding. In 1890, thanks to the draining of the reservoir and the Great Black Swamp, the county seats population increased to 1,879 people.

In 1886, Paulding had two newspaper offices, three churches, and two banks. Most manufacturing businesses produced items from the abundant forests surrounding the town. Two wooden hoop and barrel stave factories, two sawmills, one hub and buggy spoke factory, and two wagon and buggy manufacturers existed in the community. One of the wooden hoop and barrel stave factories paid its workers thirty cents for every one hundred hoops that a worker completed. An average worker could complete five hundred hoops per day.

History of Groveport, Ohio:

Groveport is located about 8 miles southeast of Columbus. How Groveport got its name is a fascinating story about 2 men with different ideas that worked out a compromise that worked.

In 1812, Adam Rarey, an original settler in the area, built a log tavern here. Later, his son William, donated land for the Methodist Church and continued doing things to develop the community.

By the mid-1830s, the Ohio and Erie Canal had already come to the little area we know today as Groveport. Back in the 1800s, that was an important factor in whether a community survived or not. It wasn't long after the canal came that a railroad line came through and connected the community with Columbus. Having a rail line would become even more important in the coming years for any community.

The canal opened in the un platted village in September, 1831 and it had one lock and later a canal boatyard and dry dock was operated in what is now Blacklick Park. Canal boats were built and repaired here and this was considered the first such operation on the canal below Baltimore, Ohio. It was the canal that really brought things in the village to a head. The community was growing. New businesses were arriving, there already was a post office and the railroads weren't that far away. The problem was, the village had two different names and they were divided by an imaginary line that ran north and south right through the village. To the west of that line was Wert's Grove and to the east, it was called Rarey's Port.

The village was growing, people were beginning to notice the area, but which area: Wert's Grove or Rarey's Port? The village needed to make a decision, work out some sort of compromise.

The two main characters that were forcing this compromise were Jacob B. Wert and William H. Rarey. Both men had had the same vision: creating a village along the canal that would become prosperous and attract new businesses. Rarey thought he had the upper hand since it was his father that built the first tavern there. Wert thought he was in the right, since he was the post master and he had done all the work laying out the town in such a way as to make it very attractive for the Ohio & Erie Canal to come through there.

In 1846, the townspeople decided it was time to make a decision and put all the bickering behind them. After all it was almost the middle of the 19th Century and Ohio was growing by leaps and bounds. They needed a name that everyone could use. The first meeting didn't go so well. Neither of the two gentlemen wanted to give up their naming rights, and of course, all that fame that would be associated with their names 100s of years in the future. It was at the second town meeting held early the next year that Dr. Abel Clark suggested the name Groveport. This was a good solution to a bad situation. Neither man would have his name associated with the new village, but both would share in its creation. The name was readily adopted in April of 1847 and the village of Groveport was incorporated.

On the "Panic of 1893" that financially impacted George and his family:

The Panic of 1893 was a true and severe financial panic lasting from May of 1893 to November, 1893, with a run on currency, and banks closing, and businesses and manufacturers not being able to open because they had not cash to pay workers or buy materials. The panic included precipitous declines in the stock market, the failure of Wall Street brokerage houses, and the failure of 158 national banks in 1893, mostly in the South and West. Other bank failures included 172 state banks, and 177 private banks, as well as 47 savings banks and 13 loan and trust companies and 16 mortgage companies. The panic started in New York and spread to the rest of the country. Over fifteen thousand businesses closed during the Panic of 1893. Unemployment rates soared to twenty to twenty-five percent in the United States during the Panic of 1893. Homelessness skyrocketed, as workers were laid off and could not pay their rent or mortgages. The unemployed also had difficulty buying food due to the lack of income.

The Panic of 1893 was followed by an economic depression in employment and prices which lasted until 1897. Had the United States Federal Reserve Bank system existed, the panic probably would have been averted.

During the summer of 1893 commercial, industrial and manufacturing depression accompanied financial panic. Businesses failed and several major railroads, with Chicago as their transportation hub, went into receivership, and control of �unprecedented mileage� was handed over to the state and federal courts in bankruptcy. For the year ending in June, 1894 over 125 railroads went into receivership.

The year also saw prosecutions under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, aimed at curbing the abuses of monopolies, described in the powerful journalistic accounts of Henry Demarest Lloyd and others. By July and August of 1893 unemployment in factories was severe, and wage reductions widespread. Many banks were reporting declines in their gold reserves; the United States debt increased and money and gold flowed out of the country. The depression reached its low point in July of 1894.

The economic misery was exacerbated by an extraordinarily harsh winter in 1893, Coxey�s army of unemployed marched to Washington, D.C. in 1894, and in April of 1894 more than 40,000 workers were reported to be involved in over thirty national strikes. The most dramatic and important of all of these strikes was the Pullman Strike which started in May of 1894 which tied up 50,000 miles of rail on July 26. At one point 5,000 federal troops, called in by Grover Cleveland over the objection of Governor John Peter Altgeld, were camped alongside the Lake in downtown Chicago.

As with many former and subsequent financial crises, there were international roots and ramifications. The United States tariff policy played a role, as did the political stalemate over taxes, and whether United States currency should be backed by gold alone, or gold and silver. These issues remained central to the hotly contested presidential campaign of 1896 when the Democrat William Jennings Bryan was defeated.

As would be repeated a century later, the financial crisis was precipitated by an unexpected event, when Baring Brothers, a financial house in London, defaulted on 21 million English pounds of debt which had been collateralized by its heavy investment in Argentina. To cover the default the Bank of England borrowed from the Bank of France which borrowed from the Bank of Imperial Russia, and in November of 1890 there were numerous bank failures and run on currency in Europe.

The financial crash of 1893 would have come sooner to America had there not been a bumper crop of wheat in the face of European famine, and thus gold temporarily poured into the coffers of United States banks. Then there was a political revolution in Brazil, followed by a banking crisis in Australia. And the economic depression in France and Germany depressed the price of silver. This further increased the immigration to the United States.

Contributed by
Contributed by:Eric Emfield