USA > Ohio > Darke County > A pictorial outline history of Darke County, Ohio with portraits and biography of prominent citizens of the county, county and ex-county officials, attorneys at law, city officials, bankers, capitalists, business men, teachers, ministers, agriculturalists and notable citizens of the county > Part 7
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the teacher "setting the copy," and the pupil trying to imitate the same. The "quill pen" was used by the pupil, and the "master" was expected to make the pen and mend the same when the pupil thought it unfit for use. The custom of "barring out" the teacher and compelling him "to treat" about the holidays was indulged in by the pupils as a general custom. and sanctioned by the parents; but this relic of barbarism has almost entirely disappeared. In IS;1 the first effort was made to grade the Greenville school by Ebenezer Bishop, who had previously
taught a subscription school in the building owned by Dr. Ayers. and in the M. E. church, and who was afterward employed to superintend the schools at a salary of four hundred dollars per year. His effort was only partially successful. The schools were afterward organized into four grades, and for a number of years were successfully conducted by G. H. Martz, A. T. Bodle, F. D. Matchett, L. S. B. Otwell and J. T. Mar .... Mr. Mayo, . of Troy, O., was afterward employed as superintendent, the school graded, and has been so conducted to the present time. The superintendents in their order of service: E. H. Mayo, one year; I. W. Legg, three years; J. T. Martz, three years; W. T, Wallace, one year; Alexander Miller, two years; H. J. Macomber, one year; j. S. Wilson, two years; J. T. Martz, seventeen years; F. G. Cromer, one year.
The High school was organized in 1863. It has a good laboratory, the apparatus of which cost over six hundred dollars, specimens in geology and archeology, and a library. The High- school building was erected in 1844, is two stories high with basement, and contains ten large and commodious school rooms, and one audience-room capable of seating six hundred pupils. The room is arranged for general exercises; is neatly frescoed; contains modern opera-chairs; has stage and furniture with a valuable upright piano, the cost of all being about two thousand dollars. The entire building is heated with the Ruttan heating and ventilating furnace, the fuel now used being natural gas. A regular course of study has been arranged for the High school, and when the students complete the same with the required standing they are graduated, receiving a diploma printed on parchment. One hundred and nine pupils have graduated from! this school .since its organization; then names and respective classes are as follows :
Class of 1873-A. C. Lindermuth. E. L. Matchett, *Florence Landsdowne, Aurelia Rower. Allie Saith, Mary E. Nic. Alpin, Lizzie McAlpin, Mary Lynch, Kate Markwith.
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Class of 1875-Emma Kerlin, Victoria Lindermuth, Mollie Mitchell, (now deceased).
Class of 1876-Charles Roland, Ida Probasco, Sadie Shaffer Allie McNeal, (now deceased).
Class of 1877 -- Ella Ault, Flora Harter, Minnie Garber, A. C. Robeson, Delia Porterfield, Clara Rbotehamel, Anna Lecklider, C. E. Porterfield.
Class of 1878-Rollin F. Crider, Frank D. Meeker, Sadie Smith, Henry T. Miller, Dema Gregg, Estella Dunlop,
Class of 1880 -- Leona Jenks, Ada Helen Squier, Callie Biltimier, Lizzie A. McKennan, Ammon J. Mider, Allie Judy, D. L. Gaskill, J. H. Martz.
Class of 1881-Nettie Wilson, Mamie Miller, Mary Stallman, Belle Bowman, Emma Allread, Tillie McCaughey.
Class of 1882-Walter Meeker, Samuel Hager, George Jobes, John Kerlin, John Lucas, Edward Roland, Sadie Gaskill, Ada Bartling, Besha Garst, Arra Plowman, Alma Walsh, Callie Mayburn. Class of 1883 --- Maggie Mann, Nannie E. Allen.
Class of 1884-Mary L. Auld, Lizzie Garst, Cora J. Klinger, Laura Sorber.
Class of 1885-Sopha Hart, Celia M. Beers, Ella Stull, Gertrude Ditman, Nellie Meeker, Vinora Thompson, Alvin Stephens, Alice Kunkle.
Class of 1886-Ida Dorman, Kitty Matchett, Alice Rothman, Hattie N. Lecklider, Otho E. Lucas, Debbie Hankins, Charles S. Stephenson.
Class of 1837-Olive J. E. Grubbs, Nannie . Eller, Blanche" Bornstein, Millie Chenoweth, George J. Martz, David McNeal, Pearl L. Matchett, Minnie Stallman, Edith Rasor, . Della Winget, Jacob Morrison, Herschel Halderman, Adelbert Martz.
Class of 1888-B. M. Allen, Ambrose Rasor, James Rehling, Alvin North. Gertic Henne, Nannie Meeker, Ora Porter, Inez Ditman, Carrie Creager, Virgie Meeker. Laura De Laplain, Lollie Ditman, Junie Hall.
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Class of 1889-Charles Herr, Birdie Haldermann, Frederick Cassatt, Nellie Garst.
There are in the county one hundred and seventy-eight sub- divisions, nine separate districts, and nine sab-divisions included in separate districts. The average wages of gentlemen in primary township schools the past year was thirty-nine dollars per month ladies, twenty-six dollars. In separate districts, gentlemen forty- eight dollars; ladies, thirty-eight dollars, for primary teaching. In High school, gentlemen, seventy-five dollars; ladies, thirty dollars.
As nearly as can be now. ascertained the first school in Patterson township was taught in 1841. The township contains eight sub-districts, each with commodious school house. There are six such districts in Wabash township, and as many brick school-houses The first school-house was built in 1844 and Elijah Raines was the first teacher. In 1840 the first school house was built in Allen
township. It contains nine sub-districts, and, we are informed, six brick and three frame school-houses. Missis inawa township has nine school-houses, and it is believed the first house was built in 1851. The first school-house 'in Jackson township was built in 1835 and Amos Barrier taught the first subscription school the same year, and Michael Spayd the first . Public school in the year following. The township has ten school-districts in a flourishing condition, with eight brick and two frame school-houses, John Hufman taught the first school in Brown township in 1827. There are nine sub-districts in the township, beside the Graded school of Ansonia, of which P. C. Zemer is the efficient principal, and he is also one of the County-school Examiners. York townslup contains six school-districts; the first school-house was built in 1837, and the first school was taught by J. P. Hafer in 1836. It is supposed that the first school-house was built in Richland township in 1825; the first teacher was John Wilkins, and his successor was Thomas Cranson. The township contains seven districts with as many convenient, substantial school-houses. Wayne is one of the oldest townships in the county, having been organized in July, 1817, and the first school-house was erected in 1821. It contains
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ten sub-districts and the graded schools in Versailles, which are well organized, and there is a large three-story brick school-building which is an ornament to the town and a credit to its citizens. The first school-house was built in Adams township in 1830. Samuel Homer was the first teacher of the Public school and Jacob Hershey taught the first subscription school. The township contains twelve sub-districts in addition to the graded schools at Bradford, under the efficient management of Prof. P. E. Cromer and that at Gettysburgh with J. S. Royer as principal. Greenville township has eighteen sub-districts in addition to the graded-school in the city of Greenville, which furnishes employment to twenty-five
teachers, including F. G. Cromer, the superintendent. The first school was taught in the township in 1818, mention already having been made of the teachers. Samuel Cole taught the first school in Washington township in the winter of 1818-19 and the pioneer school house was built in 1821. The township contains eleven school districts with a convenient and substantial school- house in each district. William R. Jones taught the first school in German township in 1820, in which year the first school-house was built. The township contains eleven districts, besides the one in Palestine, which gives employment to two teachers. Neave township has five school-districts with as many substantial brick school-houses, containing all the modern conveniences. In 1820 the first school-house was built, and Mr. Hart taught the first school in the winter of the same year. Van Buren township con- tains eight substantial brick school-buildings, the first house being erected in the township about half a century ago, and Mordeica Ford was one of the first or earlier teachers. John Hess built the first school-house in Franklin township, in 1838, though private schools had been taught in the township prior to this date, and the first teacher was David Clevine. The township contains eight districts and school houses well arranged. There are now seven school-houses in Monroe township. Asa Jones taught the first school in the township in 1836. Twin township has nine school districts, besides the school at Arcanum under the excellent man- agement of Dr. Minnich as principal, and the schools at Ithaca
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and Gordon. The first school-house was built in Butler township in 1824. Samuel Satterly taught the first school in the township, followed by James I .. Hunt and P. V. Banta in 1833. There are nine school-districts in the township, each with a good school-house. The first school-house in Harrison township was built at Yankee- town, in IS19, and Moses Woods was the first teacher. The township has six district schools, besides the school- at Hollansburg which includes two districts, and the school at New Madison, which has a large and commodious school-building with all the modern conveniences. It is located in the south-west part of the town on a lot which contains seven-eights of an acre. The school is graded, and for the past few years has made proper advance- ment under the excellent management of Prof. Disher. the principal, who is energetic and efficient in his work, a good disciplinarian, and thorough in his methods of instruction. The first school-house (built of logs,) is still standing, has been used for religious and other meetings, but is now used as a stable. The second school- house (brick,) is located on Main street, near the brewery. It was built in 1830 and is still standing, but we have not learned the use to which it is applied.
The school-houses in the county are generally large and commodious brick or frame structures, arranged with all the con- veniences for modern teaching, and are generally supplied with maps, charts and apparatus for the illustration of science and the various subjects to be taught, and we find that the country schools generally are in as fair a way for intellectual progress as are the city or village schools of the county.
For the influence that brought about these results we must look to the Darke County Teachers' association, which was organized in 1859, and at first consisted of four members: ]. T. Martz, A. T. Bodle and L. S. B. Otwell, then the County School- Examiners, and John W. Spayd. To these members were added. Jacob Baker and J. W. Giffin. But little progress was made by the astociation during and for several years after the war, though special efforts were made, and the first Teachers' Institute was held in the "old court house," then occupying the site of our present
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city-hall, in the summer of 1860, The instructors were: A. J. Rickoff, then superintendent of the Cincinnati schools; Prof. Lang, of Kenyon college at Gambier, Ohio; A. L. Mckinney, of Troy, O, and J. T. Martz, who taught mental arithmetic and who was also president of the association. At the institute held January 1, 1869, and presided over by Geo. H. Martz, Ezra Post (who was secretary,) and J. T. Martz were appointed to revise the constitu- tion of the association. The committee reported a constitution which was on motion adopted by the institute, and persons affixing their names to the same became members of the associa- tion. Thirty-three persons signed the same, and thus it may be seen that after ten years of hard labor the original six members had succeeded in increasing the membership to thirty-three. The opposition to Teachers' Institutes by certain townchin clerks and teachers was such that at the above meeting the following resolution was adopted :
" Resolved, That in the opinion of this association any person who is not in favor of County Teachers' Institutes, is not worthy of the privilege conferred by the school system of the State of Ohio."
At this meeting the introduction of singing in school was ably advocated, but it also met with strong opposition. How to develop moral character in pupils was discussed as institute work in the first one held in the county. In fact, nearly all of the main principles of education now taught in our schools were first introduced in our institutes: fought for there by our most intelli- gent and experienced teachers, and after being thus introduced, were then taught by the different teachers in the schools of which they had charge. But such was the opposition of certain local directors to these meetings that they refused to employ teachers who belonged to the association or who attended the meetings of the same. At the institute held in August, 1869, the president called upon the teachers who attended the preceding session, but only ten responded, which showed the indifference and lack of interest manifested by the teachers in general, though at this
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institute Prof. Crosby. of Lima, O., was paid sixty dollars for one week's instruction. J. S. Wilson, of Greenville, was paid one hundred and twenty dollars for two weeks' instruction; Henry Gunder, of Greenville, was paid sixty dollars for two weeks' work, and a donation of twenty dollars was made to the secretary for keeping the minutes of the institute while it was in session. . The constitution was then amended so as to pay the secretary not more than three dollars per day for services actually rendered while the institute was in session. This clause is still in force, and the secretary is annually paid twenty dollars for two weeks' services while the institute is in session. The secretary is required to keep a correct history of the proceedings each day, and these minutes are to be preserved, as well as the minutes of the association, so that any transaction may be referred to as a matter of record.
At the session of the institute held in December, 1869, the "Old School" building in Greenville, O., was dedicated, and addresses* were delivered by Superintendent E. E. White, of Cincinnati, and F. Merich, D. D., President of the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio. These addresses were well received and did much to strengthen the cause of education among the teachers and citizens attending the same. The Greenville High- school building has never been publicly dedicated, except by local exercises of the teachers and pupils of the Greenville school. For the past ten years the meetings of our Teachers' association have been held in all the principal places in the county, and much interest has thus been elicited. The meetings have been largely attended by teachers, patrons and officers of the country schools, and they are made profitable to all who attend. As with the meetings of the association, so with the attendance at the sessions of the institute, the enrollment of which is over three hundred ; and if its interests are protected by all those who should be its friends, its influence will yet increase until the name of every teacher in the county will be emolled upon its records
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Judge D. L. Meeker.
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COUNTY OFFICERS.
JUDGE DAVID L. MEEKER,
OMMON Pleas Judge and attorney at law, was born in Darke county, Ohio, in 1827. His boyhood was spent on a farm and he received a common-school education, and took a course in academic instruction; taught school several terms, and read law with the late Judge Ebenezer Parsons, of Miami county, and was admitted to the bar in 1851. In May, 1853, he opened a law office in Greenville, and in 1856 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Darke county, and re-elected in 1858.
In 1861 he was elected Common Pleas Judge in the first sub-division of the Second Judicial district, but resigned in 1866; in 1872 he was appointed by Governor Noyes to fill a vacancy on the same bench, occasioned by a resignation, and in 1873 he was elected to the same position without opposition; again. in 1878, upon the recommendation of all parties, he was unanimously elected, his term expiring in 1883; in 1887 he was elected to the same position, which he is now filling. He has been married twice: in 1857 he was married to Miss Mary A. Deardorff, from which union eight children were born; she died in 1876, and in 1378 he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie D. Crisler, of Eaton, Ohio. Politically he is a Democrat, but has no enmity to any party and thereby draws friendship from all political sources. It is needless to add that he is one of the most highly respected citizens in Darke county. His long career as an attorney and jurist has- enabled him to accumulate a handsome fortune, and a cut of his elegant and substantial residence, which is equaled by few if any in the county, is found elsewhere in this volume. His repeated calls to the highest office in the gift of the people of this county, is an index of the universal esteem in which Judge Meeker is held in this section of Ohio.
Residence of Judge David L. Meeker, Greenville, Ohio.
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Representative A. C. Robeson.
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HON. HARVEY C. GARBER.
HE subject of this sketch was born at Hill Grove, Darke county, Ohio, July 6, 1865. His parents moved to Green- ville two years later. He entered the Public school and attended regularly until 1878, when he became messenger boy for the" Western Union Telegraph company; he readily acquired the art of telegraphy and at fourteen years of age was capable of taking charge of an office. but was not permitted to do so until he was sixteen years old, when he was employed by the "Pan Handle" railway, working at some of their most important stations. He resigned in 1884, and was appointed manager of the Western Union Telegraph office at Greenville, Ohio, which position he still holds. September 16, 1889, he went before the Democratic con- vention and was nominated for Representative to the Ohio General Assembly, and was elected at the November election in 1889. Mr. Garber, although a young man, is well up on the ladder of fame, and high honors doubtless await him. It is needless to add that he is very popular and highly respected. He is the youngest member of the Sixty-ninth General Assembly, but his record as a legislator shows that he truly represents the best interests of his people.
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Hon. H. C. Garber.
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Hon. David Baker.
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HON. DAVID BAKER
VALY AS born in Danke County, Chiv, March 3, 1650. He began teaching school in 1867, and entered Earlham college the following year; he then taught school for nine suc- cessive years; was elected Justice of the Peace in Darke county in 1878; was nominated and elected as Representative of Darke county on the Democratic ticket in 1883, and served in that office four years. For a period of about seven years he was engaged in the manufacture of diain tile. He now resides in Greenville and is engaged in the life insurance business. Mr. Baker is one of the brightest and most respected young men of Darke county, and although an ex-official, he is by no means beyond the point wherein he can serve the people of his city and county in business and official circles.
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Louis C. Klipstine.
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LOUIS C. KLIPSTINE,
UDITOR of Darke county, was born on a farm in Wayne township, of the same county, May 6, 1854. His educa- tion was secured in the common schools of his native township, and by close application he had fitted himself for teaching at the early age of sixteen.
Mr. Klipstine followed his profession of teaching winter terms of school for seventeen years, and associated with it agricultural pursuits during the summer months. His high standing in the county induced his party to place him in nomin- ation for County Auditor, and he was elected by a handsome majority. His splendid administration of the affairs of that important office more than sustains his previous popularity. Mr. Klipstine was married to Rosa Belle Kinney, September 26, 1878, and his family consisted of himself, wife and two sons, Percival W and Artemus R., until death robbed them of wife and mother in January, 1886.
Henry M. Bickel.
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HENRY M. BICKEL.
OUNTY Treasurer, was born January 2, 1831, in Montgomery county, Ohio. He removed to this county with his parents
in March, of the same year. locating in Washington township, where he received a common-school education. After finishing school he followed the construction of road beds for railroads for about two years and then began farming, having followed that calling ever since. He also taught school during the winter months in his early life. In his early manhood he was quite an expert with the axe, and the first dollar he ever earned was one he received for cutting and racking eight cords of four-foot wood, and he still posseses the identical coin, which is a Mexican dollar. He was married June 12. 1856, to Miss Mary Crumrine, of this county. They have had born to them six children, four of whom are living; Lucy Jane and Dora D. died in infancy, and the surviving ones are John C .. Mary Adaline, Harrison C. and Henry Irvine. "In 1886 he was elected Treasurer of Darke county. and was re-elected in 1888. It is needless to say that Mr. Bickel is one of the most highly respected citizens in the county and he has been highly successful as a financier, having accumulated quite a fortune.
Judge Lewis C. Anderson.
JUDGE LEWIS C. ANDERSON
AS born on a farm in Montgomery county, January 15, 1850, where he was reared, removing to . Ansonia, Danke county, in 1867. His education was obtained in the district school and at the National Normal University of Tahanon Cihin Like many of our public men who have reached the highest round on the ladder of fame, Mr. Anderson laid the foundation of a useful life by teaching school in the winters of 1869-70-71. He took up the study of medicine at the close of his last term and graduated with honor from the Miami Medical college in the spring of 1874, and pursued the practice of medicine at his home, in Ansonia, for fourteen years. Judge Anderson has served his party as Central committeeman and on the County Executive committee for four campaigns, being its chairman during the Cleveland cam- paign. He was elected Probate Judge of Darke county in 1887. He was married to Miss Olive Tullis, April 29, 1875, and has one son. John Milton, who was born in 1876, and is now attending the Ohio Military academy at Portsmouth. While Mr. Anderson is a Democrat in politics, he is a broad-minded citizen whose many good qualities shine beyond party lines.
Judge George W. Perry.
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GEORGE W. PERRY,
DEPUTY PROBATE CLERK.
NE. of Darke county's sons. was born in Washington township, April 3, 1842. He has filled various township and cor- poration offices ; was Postmaster in Greenville during Andrew Johnson's administration ; was Deputy Postmaster for two years during Cleveland's administration; was appointed Deputy Probate Clerk, July 1, 1889.
When treason threatened the destruction of our Government, Mr. Perry was prompt to answer his country's call; he was the first soldier to enlist from Darke county. On the morning after Fort Sumter was fired upon, Mr. Perry came to Greenville, and just at sunrise signed the enrollment prepared by Captain Newkirk, it being the first one presented in the county. Mr. Perry served three months in the 1Ith Reg't, O. V. I., and three years in the 94th Reg't, O. V. I., and received an honor- able discharge. He was married to Miss Fannie McGinnis, October 22, 1868, and to them have been born four children : James, Howard, Pearl and Robert E. Mr. Perry is an active Democrat whose party service is appreciated as is shown by his official record.
James Calvin Elliott.
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JAMES CALVIN ELLIOTT ,
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
DORN September 13, 1847, in Preble county, Ohio. His
1 ancestors emigrated to South Carolina (Chester District), before the revolutionary war, and fought for independence under General Francis Marion, his great-grandfather being killed by the Tories while defending his home. His grandfather. Ebenezer Elliott, came to Israel township, Preble county, in 1806, and settled near Morning Sun, Ohio, and died in 1849; his grandmother, Esther Gaston, dying in 1814. His father's name was John Elliott and his mother's maiden name was Margaret McMillan . the former died in 1875 and the latter in. 1858. The Elliott family on both sides were United Presbyterians and Covenanters, and left the South on account of opposition to slavery. The nationality of the family is somewhat shrouded in uncertainty, but is supposed to be Scotch- Irish on the grandfather's side and Norman on the grandmother's. Mr. Elliott has living five brothers and two sisters. In 1864 he
was a member of the 34th Ohio Battalion, under the call for one hundred day men; was in May, 1864, mustered into the United State's service as a private of company A. 156th Reg't. O. V. I., and served as such until September, 1864, at expiration of service. His company was stationed at Cincinnati, O., and Cumberland, Md. He was a student of Morning Sun Academy in 1866 -- 7, and of Miami University, class of 1868: studied law with Hon. J. H. Foos, of Eaton. O., and was admitted to the practice of law in May, 1870; taught school two winters; went West intending to locate in Washington Territory, but becoming dissatisfied with the country returned and located in Darke county, O., in 1874, where he has been engaged in the practice of his profession ever since; was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Darke county in 1885. and re-elected in 1888. He intermarried with S.
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