USA > Ohio > Allen County > A standard history of Allen county, Ohio : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, educational, civic and social development > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
The schools of today have some new things in their curriculum, a newspaper clipping saying: "Hume School carried off high honors in the annual contest among the nine schools of Shawnee. The contest was held in the Shawnee Township house; overflow crowds were taken care of in the nearby church; the contests were in farm products, stock judging, penmanship and baking; there were more than 1,000 entries," and the rivalry always causes increased effort. The different townships hold such events. The whole community enjoys the school contest and all attend it. Older persons gain suggestions there.
HIGH SCHOOL-While the high school in Delphos is in Van Wert County, it is controlled by the Delphos school corporation. There are two high schools in Lima-Central and South. Delphos has its school superintendent and Lima has its superintendent, the two schools being independent of the county school superintendent. A description of one high school will serve for all. The superintendent of public instruction in Lima is Prof. J. E. Collins. He reports the 1920 school enumeration
Vol. 1-20
AUDITORIUM-CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
CAFETERIA-CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
307
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
at 9,582, including those who attend parochial schools-all between the years of six and twenty-one being eligible to public school. The 1920 fall enrollment in Lima is 6,983, leaving almost 2,600 to the parochial schools, and including those who do not attend school; not many who are past eighteen years of age are found in public school. There have been parochial schools in Lima since 1865, and the high school dates back to about the same period. The combined enrollment in Central and South High schools is 2,285, showing that about 25 per cent of those enumerated remain for the high school course, and a goodly per- centage of the enrolled pupils pursue high school studies. Through the workings of the Smith-Hughes Vocational Educational law the attend- ance at the night schools has brought the attendance in Lima to 10,000, not including the business college and Y. M. C. A. night school, show- ing that there are many students in Lima today.
There is a different course of study pursued in the two Lima high schools because of the different conditions. The Central has more
-
NIGHT SCHOOL -- CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
pupils who pursue the higher studies and more stress is given to the academic instruction, while South is in an industrial section and the pupils major in vocational subjects. On September 20, 1918, the fol- lowing industrial firms of Lima agreed to meet half the cost of a com- plete machine shop equipment for South High School; the Ohio Steel Foundry, the Gramm-Bernstein Motor Truck Company, the Lima Steel Casting Company, the Solar Refining Company, Lima Locomotive Works, Inc., East Iron and Machine Company, Chalmers Manufacturing Company, the Buckeye Machine Company, and Steiner Brothers. The necessary installation amounted to $26,000 and this factory co-operation and support, together with the State-Federal aid for instruction, guar- antees to the Lima schools vocational courses equal to any within the State. Some pupils attending Central High School have had to get cer- tain metal work in South High School because of the special industrial equipment there. While there is academic instruction there, South High gives special attention to vocational education. The hand and the head- the skilled hand is essential in the industrial community.
308
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
The time was when children made their own playthings and the pocket-knife was sometimes the only tool available. The whirligig of time changed things and they bought their toys. The wheel turned again and manual training and domestic science were included in the public school course of study. This is a practical age and the crafts are emphasized. Some who are teachers today came through school in the unproductive period when their toys were bought for them. They are helpless when it comes to handiwork, knowledge of which is gained in public school under the new order of things. Vocational education takes into the account the physical adaptability of the child. The Cen- tral High School attracts students inclined to professional or business life, while South fits them for the industrial world. The elective system allows the child to choose for itself, and a technical study of the adapt- ability of each child helps to decide for it. Some boys are capable of craftsmanship who cannot master the intellectual requirements, while some with strong mentality are not inclined to industrial education.
$
NEWSPAPER WORK-CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Beside the two high schools there are thirteen elementary public schools in Lima-Franklin, Faurot, Irving, Garfield, Mckinley, Whittier, Washington, Lincoln, Lowell, Horace Mann, Richardson, Emerson and Longfellow. There are 230 grade teachers and all are college graduates. All city teachers must give evidence of professional interest and special capability. There are almost 100 department heads and teachers in the two high schools. It used to be eight years in common and four years in high school, but the system is changed and, including junior high, there are now six years in each-so many always dropping out when they had finished common school, but under the changed system more pupils are inclined to complete the high school course of study. After completing eight years' work the course is elective, the two years of high school training helping pupils to arrive at their own plans for future study. Those inclined to industrial pursuits may choose vocational training.
The Smith-Hughes Vocational Education law enables Lima to have excellent night schools and many avail themselves of its privileges. Both technical and academic studies are pursued, some coming for review
309
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
work who are college graduates. Some of the teachers pursue further studies in night school. Since Lima is the tenth city in population in Ohio, it has some educational advantages not possible in smaller com- munities. Any group of twelve or more persons may secure instruction on special subjects and such classes are in existence. While there are gymnasium rooms, the recreational features are not emphasized in the Lima public schools, that being a strong feature in the Lima Y. M. C. A. in its effort to reach the young manhood of the community. Some atten- tion is given to out-of-door sports, and there are coaches for the foot- ball teams. Basketball is a specialty.
There are four subnormal school departments conducted in the inter- est of those unable to make their grades. Motor-minded children accom- plish much with their hands who are unable to master mental studies. Such girls are given sufficient mathematical training to enable them to do household marketing and thus vocational training may enable other- wise dependent children to care for themselves. The co-operation of parents is sought and the needs of the individual are considered. Pro- fessor Collins has a chart showing the capabilities of each child, and he consults it in advising them. This co-operative welfare department was installed October 1, 1920, with Miss Artha Nichols as field worker. She is a practical, trained nurse and she co-operates with the Lima Depart- ment of Public Health. She visits the school and, when necessary, the home. She secures the co-operation of parents in order that they may understand what is needed in particular instances. The nurse discovers all physical hindrances and makes an effort to remove them.
The visiting nurse makes the necessary cultures to determine the nature of disease, and when she finds impaired physical conditions she offers helpful suggestions. She frequently finds under-nourished children and dietic suggestions are offered them. Some mothers understand the need of balanced rations in providing family menus while others are ignorant on the subject. There is a diet kitchen at the Whittier School, where special study is given to menus. The frequent needs of medical attention caused the matter to be brought before the Allen County Med- ical Association, but inasmuch as 50 per cent of the children in public school are considered abnormal, the physicians did not feel inclined to establish and conduct free clinics for them. Health Commissioner Poling finds it impossible for him to handle so big a thing alone. Many fam- ilies provide their own medical assistance.
There is a nationwide effort to arouse an interest in public health, and 8,000,000 school children in different parts of the country are now in quest of health. Some of them have been crusading for two years, and cleanliness as well as regular habits are bringing results. It is related that the famous Order of the Bath originated when a youth who presented himself before the King for knighthood was ordered to scrub himself in preparation. The visiting nurse offers sanitary and hygienic suggestions when visiting in homes where families are ignorant of such things. Educators have been provided with mental ratings for years, and now there are physical and health ratings to enable them to determine the right course in individual cases. The cafeteria has become a feature in public schools and it is operated at cost for the benefit of proper dietic instruction and as a convenience for those who live at a distance. The cafeteria enables each child to have a warm lunch of properly pre- pared food, and it is another provision under the vocational education law.
Traveling educators frequently say Lima has the best vocational edu- cation equipment in the State, and with its high school auditoriums it
GYMNASIUM -- SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
T
REST ROOM-SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
MACHINE SHOP-SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
311
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
has excellent community centers. Meetings are frequently held in the Central High School auditorium. Lima is fortunate in having an aggressive school superintendent and a progressive board of education. The school auditoriums offer educational advantages and films are shown there that enable pupils to understand many things. A film showing the circulation of the blood was witnessed by all who were studying physiology. All the sciences are illustrated by the use of films. Both high schools have the same film service. There are lectures and plays given in the high school auditoriums. The Lima school board has provided ample housing facilities. The South High School with its industrial equipment has few equals in the world.
Since September 1, 1920, all Ohio school teachers have contributed toward a mandatory school teachers' retirement fund, each teacher pay- ing $4 on the $100 toward it. The teacher receiving $100 collects $96, and thus the fees are never delinquent in the fund that may serve a very definite purpose later. Teachers who are past sixty years old may retire on approximately half their annual salary. When they have taught for thirty-six years they are eligible to a pension and they must retire when they reach seventy years. A number of Allen County teach- ers may retire after September 1, 1921, under provisions of this fund- pensioned the remainder of their lives because of their efforts toward the betterment of the rising generations. There has been a shortage of school teachers, and increased salaries has been the result of it. Many who are eligible to retire with an assured income would prefer to continue teaching. Sometimes teachers who are retired because of the age limit in one community continue their activities somewhere else and perform satisfactory service.
The Home Makers' course in the Whittier School is directly due to the special effort on the part of Mrs. Kent W. Hughes, local member of the State Board of Education. It is designed for girls past fourteen years old who have not made passing grades in their studies. Seventeen girls volunteered to enter the class in the beginning, none of whom felt that they could pursue the course of study through high school. It serves the need of many girls who have ability, but who are needed at home, and of others who have lost time in moving from one town to another. A five-hour-day program is offered and girls have some time at home who enter the Home Makers' course of study. Under the course in household arts or housewifery comes a study of sanitation, house decoration and family budgets-the economical side of existence.
It seems an impossibility today, but an old account says that a col- lege once flourished at Hartford near the site of Fort Amanda. There is no trace of its activities-nothing is known of its course of study. The fact of its existence shows that the settlers were interested in edu- cation. In 1855 Lima had the Allen County Institute with a three- year course of study. Many of the foremost families patronized it. Private schools were more popular than public schools prior to the Civil war. After the war those antebellum schools never flourished again. The first parochial school was organized in 1865 within the lim- its of St. Rose Catholic Church. There was a frame school building with three teachers in it. In 1868 it passed to the control of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Then came the Franciscan Sisters, the Dominican Sisters and the Sisters of Charity. There are now paro- chial schools in Lima and Delphos.
On May 24, 1890, Lima College was incorporated by the Lima Luth- eran Educational Association, and two years later Judge John E. Richie donated ten acres of ground for the campus. The buildings were
312
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
erected in 1892-3, and that year it was opened to students. For a num- ber of years it was operated as a Lutheran denominational school, but in January, 1905, the control of it passed from the Lima Lutheran Edu- cational Association to Lima citizens. It is still spoken of as the college. The Students' Army Training Corps was of short duration because of the Armistice, but for a time it was a reality.
BLUFFTON COLLEGE-The history of Bluffton College begins with its organization, June 19, 1900, the cornerstone of the building being laid October 31st, and the institution is supported by the Middle District Conference of the Mennonites of North America. The Bluffton College Bulletin of June, 1920, contains the code of regulations and bylaws as revised at the annual meeting of the board of trustees, and the statement that the college is not conducted for profit. The name shall be Bluffton College. It had been called Bluffton College and Mennonite Seminary.
HOME MAKERS CENTER-WHITTIER SCHOOL
Bluffton is a strong Mennonite community, and the college has capacity for 350 students. It is known from coast to coast and from the Lakes to the Gulf. There are not many similar schools in the United States. Bluffton College attracts students from all Mennonite communities. Its students are given a liberal education and they are trained for the min- istry. The General Conference of the Mennonites of North America has always believed in an educated ministry. There are four different Mennonite Conferences contributing to the Bluffton College faculty.
Since 1910 Dr. S. K. Mosiman has been president of Bluffton Col- lege. There are strong men in the faculty. There is a great deal of wealth in the Mennonite church, and it is becoming more and more lib- eral in its views on educational matters. The annual Bible lectures con- ducted for one week always bring many visitors to Bluffton. Dean Noah E. Byers is active in the work of the Allen County Sunday School Association, and he is a student of community problems. There are forty-five acres in the campus of Bluffton College. Riley Creek mean- ders through it, and, with the numerous foot bridges and the beautiful
313
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
slopes, it is an attractive campus. The buildings are : College Hall, Sci- ence Hall, Music Hall and Gymnasium-the latter built by the students themselves. There is a fine college spirit and Bluffton College is one of the attractive spots in Allen County. Catalogues are mailed to Men- nonite communities all over the country.
LIMA BUSINESS COLLEGE-This private enterprise dates back to 1890, although its present organization was effected six years later. The Lima Business College now numbers more than 5,000 graduates. It is a school of accounting, shorthand, typewriting, salesmanship, Eng- lish and pen art. The vertical writing system demoralized handwriting and in the Lima Business College the natural slant is used again. The college occupies the fourth and fifth floors of its own business property. It draws its patronage from twelve counties. It succeeded the old Far- num Business College. Its president is C. J. Gruenbaum. There were heavy wartime demands upon the college for efficient stenographers and bookkeepers. The Lima Business College sends out a great deal of excellent advertising matter, calling attention to Lima advantages. It is a good asset to the business community.
CHAPTER XXIX
THE NEWSPAPER IN ALLEN COUNTY
While metropolitan papers are read in Allen County, the people care most for the home news and a well-edited, clean newspaper is among the best assets of any community. Among the factors of civilization-the forces that make for righteousness-none is more potent than the great American daily newspaper. It is true that the press controls the des- tiny of the Republic-has made presidents, senators, representatives, judges ; has inaugurated national policies and has solved many problems of finance and international law. Indeed, it was fortunate for one Ohio printer that his birthday came on the first Tuesday after the first Mon- day in November, A. D. 1920, because on that day, regardless of prece- dent, Allen County reversed the records and joined with the outlying portions of the United States of America in a birthday offering of the highest gift within the power of the nation-the United States presi- dency. Aye, Allen County had its part in giving Warren Gamaliel Harding, publisher of an Ohio newspaper, this signal honor. His com- petitor, Governor James M. Cox, was also a newspaper publisher. It seemed like the American newspaper was destined to come into its own in national politics.
In the "Louisville Courier-Journal" Henry Watterson, dean of American publishers, says: "The daily newspaper is a necessity which isn't necessary unless you are intelligent enough to know that it is a necessity." It has been remarked locally, that many early publishers were politicians-that politicians would acquire the ownership of a news- paper long enough to accomplish some purpose with it and dispose of it again. It is also a truism in every community that when a news- paper becomes trading stock the reading public shuts its eyes and longs for better conditions. Men have owned newspapers long enough to promote a political campaign, and have had no further interest in the publishing business, and the paper was then on the market. Some have elected themselves to Congress, as Mr. Harding did to the United States presidency. Those old fellows had method in their madness-car- ried God into politics the same as into religion, and they just retained an influence exchange long enough to serve their purpose with it, but The Marion Star is said to be the one Harding possession that is not on the market. Narrowing down to Allen County, there is reason for pride in some of the local newspapers.
An old account says: "No community in these days can be said to have reached the progressive state until that infallible index of pros- perous condition-a newspaper-makes its appearance-pays its peri- odical visits to an intelligent constituency. In the beginning of local history, journalists were not so plentiful that one could shake them from bushes, and the appetite for printed news was not sufficiently keen to cause anyone to endure martyrdom in attempting to 'fill a long-felt want' by publishing a community newspaper." Illustrating the difficulties of publishing a newspaper under pioneer conditions is the story of Mathias H. Nichols, who divested himself of his vest-his only garment with market value-in order that he might buy white stock paper for the first issue of his newspaper-The Argus. It is said that Mr. Nichols was one of the most brilliant lawyers ever in Allen County. He came to Lima in 1845, working for a time as a printer, and he soon bought
314
315
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
The Argus. It is related that he rose from obscure poverty to a fore- most position in the community. However, he was not the earliest Lima publisher.
Robert Bower, an early rhymester, who had the laudible ambition to some time write the history of Allen County, penned the lines :
"For Lima was a handy place, The people all like brothers- When one had a bit of news He'd hand it round to others,"
and it is an old saying that one who lives at the cross-roads does not need a newspaper. The newspaper is an agency to meet the demand for general information. The public wants the n-e-w-s-knowledge from the north, east, west and south-and it is the mission of the news- paper to supply that want, and that is why it is called a newspaper.
Perhaps the first Allen County newspaper was The Herald, which made its appearance in Lima in 1836, published by Hollister and Ben- nett. The country was new and the enterprise did not receive the nec- essary support. It was while Martin Van Buren was president of the United States and perhaps he had not popularized the newspaper by owning one himself. The Herald and its publishers soon dropped out of the local field.
The second Lima newspaper was The Porcupine, but why recoil from it, since it was issued in 1841, and served the immediate purpose. "Names is names" and quills were used in writing that long ago. Thomas Smith was the publisher and Abelard Guthrie was editor of The Por- cupine. He is mentioned as an able man, although eccentric. He wore his hair long and his mannerism was that of the gentry-and does his shadow still exist in Allen County ? Look up the word "gentry."
In 1843 G. W. Andrews purchased The Porcupine-perhaps its good will and subscription list, and he considerately changed the name of the publication, The Lima Argus becoming the leading exponent of Democ- racy in Allen County. Two years later he sold the paper to Mathias H. Nichols, and that was the time that some perfectly good wearing apparel was exchanged for stock paper. By this time there was competition in the local newspaper field. In 1843 Edward Barrett and Hamilton Davis established The Lima Reporter. It was a Whig paper but after three years The Argus was again the only Lima news- paper. Mr. Nichols did a good thing for the community when he divested himself of his vest. It seems that he retained the paper for nine years.
In 1854 Sydenham Shaffer began publishing The Lima Gazette. For a year or two it was trading stock, Parmenter Brothers purchasing it the next year from Mr. Shaffer, and Cornelius Parmenter becoming business manager. In 1860 Parmenters sold The Gazette to J. N. Cunningham. A year later Cornelius Parmenter acquired it alone. When he came from Toledo to Delphos enroute to Fort Wayne, seeking a place to launch a newspaper. enterprise, he heard of the possibilities in Lima and deflected his course, and thus Lima instead of Fort Wayne is the home of the Parmenters today. Somebody in Delphos told Mr. Parmenter about Lima as a coming town, and he investigated the situa- tion for himself-he never went to Fort Wayne. He was connected with the newspaper business in Lima for many years.
In 1872 Calvin Edmiston became part owner of The Gazette; in 1885 W. A. Campbell became interested in it and in 1887 H. D. Camp- bell became a partner in publishing it. The Daily Gazette appeared
316
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
March 12, 1887, under the management of F. T., W. A. and H. D. Campbell, and in order to call attention to its enterprise the first 2,000 copies issued were scattered broadcast in the community. While in time of the Civil war Cornelius Parmenter issued hand bills for about fifty days as daily bulletins on war conditions, it did not supplant his weekly newspaper.
The Lima Gazette was the first Allen County newspaper to introduce telegraph news service over a special wire, and in 1891 it consolidated with The Republican-the result, The Republican Gazette. In 1920 there were rumors of ownership changes but the editorial page did not show it. When the daily newspaper put in its appearance, March 12, 1887, Lima was still a cross-roads village, but newspapers are always on the firing line-they are always boosting the community. In the wake of the daily press came the new courthouse, waterworks, electric lights, artificial and natural gas, and the Lima of today is the handmaiden of the daily newspaper, the community always having its affairs given the necessary publicity.
In 1854 M. H. Nichols sold his "vest investment"-The Lima Argus -to T. E. Cunningham and W. E. Thompson. Mr. Cunningham at once sold his interest to Thomas M. Robb, and a year later Mr. Thompson sold out and it was Cunningham again-Cunningham and Poland. Under this management The Lima Argus became The People's Press- an advocate of Jacksonian principles-and from that time it changed ownership frequently. In the succession were: J. P. Haller, J. H. Berry, James Mackenzie, D. S. Fisher, and, in 1874, H. B. Kelley acquired it, continuing the publication until his death when - Timmons acquired it.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.