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 65
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
Someone has said that every great charitable institution is founded on the surplus earnings of active men who did good while earning their money and, having learned philanthropy, closed their lives with a burst of it. However, the initial welfare work in Allen County was done by the county commissioners in 1831, when they instructed Sheriff Henry Lippincott to prepare a place of confinement for Uri Martin, whose ailment was mental, and for whom they thought medical service was futile. A cell was made for him in the log court house. There was frequent need of charity in the earlier history of Allen county, and men and women dispensed it on the plan of "let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doest," but in these days of organized charity all welfare workers know of existing conditions. Thus they do not dupli- cate in relieving needy conditions.
It is related of T. K. Jacobs, who founded a well known Allen County family, that he always cared for widows and orphans who appealed to him. He housed seven children beside his own family at one time, and he is said to have provided a home for a whole family through the adolescent period of the children. He often furnished the money for funeral expenses. The story is told of the pioneer who had no corn for those who had money. They could get corn anywhere, but he would supply those who had no money. He was a real philanthropist.
Was the woman who was moved to charity and who gave some- thing to a beggar in order to insure her own good luck a benevolent woman? Those who endow beds in hospitals are doing welfare work, whether or not they regard it as charity. There is a fellowship of service, and public spirited, benevolent persons soon learn to know each other. Interests in common sometimes cement friendships, and the difference of environment is what makes the difference in humanity. The root word that used to be translated charity has been translated love by later students of the original script, and the county and state act as broadminded, public spirited benefactors in their care of unfor- tunates. Private individuals, in the last analysis, constitute the county and state, and there are some comprehensive citizens at the helm in Allen County and county is part of the organization of the state.
An economic critic exclaims: "Organizations for charity ; they may be found in every community watching over the apparent needs of those who are taught to expect and receive alms," but who would care for
504
505
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
those unable to care for themselves were it not for organized charity? In Lima the civic organizations-Rotary, Kiwanis and Lion clubs- and all the fraternal secret orders have charitable features connected with their organizations. Business men through their fraternal and social organizations have had definite assignments and they have relieved the needs of those less fortunate than themselves, and none but their beneficiaries knew about it.
The Lima Council Community Welfare is the federation of all wel- fare agencies, and members of an executive committee from each welfare agency manage the business affairs. In its 1920 organization Ralph Austin was chairman, and Mrs. Irene Mills Jackson secretary. While the organization was still in its formative stage, the details were left to the secretary. The Lima Council Community Welfare was first organ- ized in 1918 as a war measure. The council now prepares budgets cov- ering its expenditures, being effectually a co-operative organization cor- relating all the demands, thus preventing double dealing and unnecessary expenditures. The Lima Community Fund is thus distributed at a reduced expense for handling and all departments co-operate in raising it.' The Chamber of Commerce always co-operates with all welfare movements. The Lima Council Community Welfare, sometimes desig- nated as the Social Service Bureau, planned to raise $100,000 at Christ- mastide, all contributing to it, and no separate welfare organization soliciting aid alone. Welfare agencies have had competitive existence until the benevolent public is tired of it. Each agency depending on the same few generous persons rendered it a burden, but with a community budget none will be asked to subscribe a second time to charity. The community effort weeds out the unworthy causes. Unless a cause bears investigation nothing is given to it. There have been drives, tag days, markets and bazaars, and people have been importuned time and again. The ways and means committee is composed of representatives of the different welfare organizations, and a judicious handling of the com- munity fund will secure the confidence of those interested in philanthropy.
"Suppose nobody cared," was a slogan used effectively in Allen County. While the Young Men's Christian Association, Young Women's Christian Association and Red Cross had already been financed, the money raised was to be used by the Lima Council Community Welfare in aiding the Social Service Bureau, Lima Day Nursery, Allen County Child Welfare Association, Salvation Army, Hospitals, Boy Scouts of America, Lima Loan Scholarship Fund, Community Recreation Council, East Side Welfare Association, Undesignated and Emergency Relief, Administration and Campaign Expenses and for Foreign Relief Work, including American Relief Association, Devastated France, Fatherless Children of France, Near East Relief, and other worthy relief as may be approved by the executive committee.
Jn 1920 the Lima Council Boy Scouts of America was financed by the Rotary club, but under the Lima Council Community Welfare the civic clubs will be relieved of such necessity. Lima Council Boy Scouts had become disorganized, when the Rotary Club procured a Scoutmas- ter and put the organization into working condition again. It would hardly come under the head of a charity. The Scouts are husky fellows and they are utilized in so many ways in the community. They come from well-to-do families and the Scout idea appeals to them while pass- ing the critical period of adolescence. Money expended on the Boy. Scouts is in the nature of an investment in future citizenship.
When Will Carlton gave to the world "Over the Hills to the Poor House" he added to the burdens of those grown old who are dependent,
"Suppose Nobody cared!
COMMUNITY FUND CAMPAIGN
507
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
and there is a measure of reproach attaches to life at a county institu- tion because of it. While some who live in the county homes never may have read the poem, many have been deterred from going there because of it. People used to say "poor house," infirmary or county farm, but recently the designation is changed and county home flavors less of charity. While some people proclaim that the world owes them a living, those cared for in county homes usually have some serious physical handicap. The Allen County Home in Bath Township is an attractive site and it was established there in 1857. The contract for the original buildings was let February 5, 1857, and John P. Haller, who was the leading builder of the period, secured it. The building was accepted June 8, 1859, and the county paid $3,975 for it. In 1874 a three-story addition cost the county $12,461 and in 1890 another addition was made to it. The original board of directors was Curtis Baxter, Shelby Taylor and David Bryte. They were appointed but since 1858 those elected infirmary directors are: John B. Reeder, David Bryte, James Chenoweth, James Baxter, John Sprott, Peter S. Metzler, Elias Everett, Richard L. Baker, John Enslen, Gabriel Hefner, Samuel Sanford, Joseph B. Chipman, Martin V. Blair, Samuel Boose, Andrew J. Chapman, S. H. Arnold, Levi Beichelderfer, William Hill, James P. Wilson, W. J. Gra- ham, Samuel Light, J. K. Roush, J. C. Jettinghoff, Ephraim Berryman, E. F. Davis, Peter Leis, Eli Mechling, Isaac B. Steman, David Stepleton, William E. Grubb, Christian H. Mosier, J. E. Eversole, T. B. Bower- sock, G. B. Manahan, and Isaac D. Crider. The control of the county infirmary is now vested in the Board of Allen County Commissioners, and it is called the Allen County Home.
The Home superintendents who are the county's financial representa- tatives have been : John W. Walters, Daniel Stevick, J. N. Shane, M. V. Blair, Joshua L. Dunlevy, Amos Young, David Baxter, Frank Fraun- felter, Delbert McBride, J. C. Baxter, J. M. Yant and L. C. Sigler. The passerby would think of a thrifty Allen County farmstead. The inmates are utilized about the necessary labor. The vagrant class has something to contend with under the Community Welfare plan adopted in Allen County. Wanderlust is discouraged, and there are fewer handouts at back doors than when everybody dispensed charity independently. The Weary Willies do not care to live at the Allen County Home where service is required from them. It is the duty of the Home superin- tendent and matron to see to it that none abuse privileges there. When men and women are unable to perform service, they are cared for by others.
The Allen County Children's Home on the site of the ancient Shaw- nee Village in Shawnee Township, had its inception September 4, 1891, when a fund was established through the sale of eighty bonds at $500 each, the proceeds to be used in securing a children's home in Allen County. The original land purchase was eighty-seven and one-half acres, which was later increased to 1521/2 acres. The State Board of Char- ities co-operated by offering suggestions, more bonds were sold, and by December 10, 1892, the county commissioners appointed a board of directors-Alexander Shenk, William M. Melville and John Berryman. Those taking the initiative in securing the Allen County Children's Home were: William Bice, John Amstutz and John Ackerman, county com- missioners, with C. D. Crites as clerk of the board. Later directors have been : Joseph Tapscott, D. E. Hover, W. L. Mackenzie, Elmer Crossley, Owen Francis, Dr. D. H. Sullivan, W. J. Judkins, S. W. Wright, and the present board-Mr. Hover, Mr. Judkins, Dr. Sullivan and Mrs. Sara Kipps. Mr. Hover has the distinction of having been born in the Pht
508
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
cabin in 1837, has been a star member of the board for twenty-six years. Frank M. Blair served for six years as superintendent and since that time D. W. Higby and his wife have been superintendent and matron of the institution. With them it is missionary service and the county's unfortunate children are thus surrounded by home influence rather than institutional requirements.
Both the Allen County Home in Bath Township and the Allen County Children's Home in Shawnee Township are provided for by taxation. They are not included in the Lima Commuity Welfare budget at all. They are open to needy persons from all over Allen County. In November, 1920, the Lima newspapers said: "Inmates of state and county institutions will enjoy turkey, chicken and pork dinners along with the rest of the world on Thanksgiving Day. Chefs and cooks are preparing special menus for employes, inmates and patients. Approx- imately 1,500 persons-inmates, patients and prisoners in Allen County- will enjoy all the 'fixin's' that make up a regular. Thanksgiving menu,
ALLEN COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME
including pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. The hearts of 100 children at the Allen County Children's Home will be made glad when they sur- round a table loaded with turkey and other good things. Turkey dinner will be served to eighty-seven inmates at the county home," and the prisoners at the county jail were also guaranteed a Thanksgiving feast. The hospitals always observe Thanksgiving and Christmas with special dinners.
The 1920 report of the County Board of Institution Visitors shows flourishing conditions. The cellars were bursting with foodstuffs and the bins were filled with coal. At the county home the visitors found two barrels of cider, one barrel of dried apples, 2,450 pounds of lard, 560 cans of tomatoes, thirty gallons of catsup, fifty-six gallons of pitted cherries, forty-five gallon cans of plums, fifty-six gallon cans of peaches, seventy-four gallons of apple butter, thirty-eight gallons miscellaneous kinds of butter, and 200 glasses of jelly. On the county farm were eighty-five hogs, three of them weighing 2,000 pounds. Beside the milch cows there were fifteen yearling heifers and five spring calves, six horses, twenty-one sheep and seventeen lambs. There were 100 bushels of wheat, 1,850 bushels of oats, eighty bushels of barley, fifty tons of hay,
509
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
350 bushels of potatoes and quantities of beans. Everything in the county home was in good condition.
The visitors found sanitary conditions prevailing at the Allen County Children's Home, with plenty in basket and store. They found 200 gal- lon cans of pitted cherries, 400 glasses of jelly, twenty-five gallons of mince meat, sixty-two quarts of catsup, fifty-seven quarts of beets, 300 quarts of pickles, two cans of lard, and many other cans of fruit. There were eighteen tons of clover hay, thirty acres of corn, 1,200 bushels of oats, 1,000 heads of cabbage, ten bushels of beans, ten bushels of peas, and a variety of other garden products. The board of visitors are : Cal- vin Osborne, Mrs. Ida Breese, Rosa M. Lindemann, and Anna M. Vicary. It is a good thing for people to visit institutions and understand condi- tions there for themselves. The official visitors found satisfactory con- ditions. Sometimes their visits are anticipated and things are in readiness for them. Sometimes those in charge of public institutions have the real missionary spirit and are interested in the welfare of the county's unfortunates. When the taxpayer visits such institutions he usually pays his taxes more cheerfully afterward. People are cared for in the insti- tutions that he would not want to welcome into his own home, and yet they are dependent upon others. There is a difference between institu- tions and home life, and children are placed in homes as rapidly as opportunity presents itself.
The Lima Day Nursery, of which Mrs. Evelyn B. Baughn is matron, was established in 1914, and it is maintained as a charity. It is for the benefit of working mothers who must maintain their families. Women who had worked before their marriage and want to return to work are not accommodated at the day nursery. Widows who must support their children or separate them avail themselves of the day nursery. They have their children with them at night, on Sundays and holidays. The children are at the nursery while the mothers are at work. They are cared for and entertained and they seem happy there. They have games, toys and all are given their dinners and put to bed in the afternoon. They are taught table manners and in turn they teach many things to
their mothers. It is often said that children receive better training in institutions than in their own homes. When a mother complained that child's stocking had been torn, Mrs. Baughn said: "Blame it on the stockings and not on the child," showing that patience is necessary in dealing with children. While the mothers pay a small sum for the care of their children, the community adds to the amount and the Day Nursery is included in the budget of the Lima Council Community Welfare Organization. The Allen County Child Welfare Association is a direct outgrowth of the better babies agitation begun in 1915, and while Dr. Josephine Peirce is president, the association is included in the com- munity budget; it has two branches of service; the Lima branch is included in the budget, while the rural work is taken care of by outside contributions. Miss Anna Moore is the field worker in Lima, and the rural feature is mentioned in the chapter of rural schools; the field worker in the country reports to the county superintendent of schools. Miss Moore had her training in welfare work in Hull House in Chicago; she co-operates with Captain Wilcox of the East End Fire Station in wel- fare work in that community. Mothers are advised as to nutrition and playgrounds come under the supervision of the Child Welfare Associa- tion. In an unkind criticism some welfare worker said: "If the parents sold their children by the pound as a farmer does his hogs, there would be fewer underweight children; it is ridiculous to say a child takes after its parent and is thin because the parent is thin ; imagine a farmer saying that
510
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
about his pigs," and it is within the province of the Child Welfare Asso- ciation to educate mothers in the matter of proper diet. Statistics show that the Jews have always given attention to child welfare, and that under nourished children are not found among them. It is not from want of money, but from lack of knowledge in many instances that chil- dren are in weakened physical condition, and consequently unable to resist the encroachments of disease. The community fund in Lima is more than an expression of good will; it is the conspicuous performance of a duty. You should give to the best of your ability.
The Lima hospitals have submitted a per diem cost plan whereby char- ity patients may be entered and cared for from the community fund ; the patients have their choice of hospital, and the service is rendered at actual cost ; the Red Cross budget is provided through membership dues and the Young Men and Young Women's Christian Associations have the same plan-membership drives for funds; they are separate from the community drive planned for Christmas week. The churches are co-oper- ating in the Lima council for community welfare, and the Christmas season has become the time for community drives because people are inclined to be liberal at such times, it is the strategical, psychological method. The church has ever cared for the poor and the unfortunate; the early church administered to them directly; all charity has had its genesis in the church; from it has been born the spirit of mercy, brother- hood and justice-the motive force of all charity and social service. Spe- cial agencies with trained workers have been established to co-operate with the church; while the church as an organization does not finance all such relief agencies, any Lima subscription list reveals the fact that the great majority of those who give are members of the church; they have been inspired by the church and represent it in this great welfare service ; these agencies are the right arm of the church in serving the needs of humanity. King Solomon said: "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."
CHAPTER XLVIII LIBRARIES, CLUBS-INTELLECTUAL LIFE OF ALLEN COUNTY
There is no place where personality or individuality may manifest itself more than in the library; there are chosen friends, and there are chosen books; the library is a sanctum sanctorum where none but chosen friends presume to enter, although some families in the world fill up their shelves without thought of mental development or culture.
The Allen County Law Library elsewhere mentioned, was incor- porated by the Allen County bar under the laws of Ohio, January 12, 1897 ; the first officers of the association were : president, Frank E. Mead; vice-president, Cloyd J. Brotherton ; secretary, Thomas R. Hamilton, and treasurer, William Klinger. The law library is not maintained for any revenue that may arise from it; the object is a collection of law books and kindred matter for the encouragement, culture and advantage-for the education and use of the members of the bar of Allen County ; it is for the use of county officers, and for the judges of the several courts, the county furnishing the library room in the courthouse; the funds for the maintenance and purchase of books are from the annual dues, and from an annual contribution authorized by law from Allen County.
The policy of the Law Library Association is to place books in the library not otherwise accessible to the members; the association first purchased the complete publication of the Western Reporter System, and the Western Reports have been kept up-to-date since the organiza- tion of the Law Library; it has also purchased the reports of the differ- ent states ; the Law Library thus contains complete reports from every state in the Union, dating from the beginning of the Western Reporter System; it has many reports purchased prior to the beginning of such system. The Law Library also contains complete reports from the beginning of government of all States in the Union. It contains the Century Digest of many text books on the leading branches of law; Allen County attorneys may thus familiarize themselves with statutes in other states where they may have reason for investigation; when a lawyer removes a book he must leave the necessary information about it.
Lima is a city of civic and social clubs and club houses, and in many of these centers there are well selected libraries; in Lima's social Four Hundred there are intellectuals who "wear horn rimmed glasses," and recognize the need of the library as a community center ; they are "posi- tive in their statements that civilization is predominantly Aryan," and there was a sentiment for a library many years ago. In reminiscent mood, Mrs. Nannie W. Hughes, who was a leading musician in the early days, wrote: "When I think of the changes in Lima since the '60s I feel as if I had lived 100 years, and not many today want to return to those conditions," and she enumerated the absence of many social and business advantages; people had not learned their value, and among such things they had not yet learned the advantages of a public library. There were no florists, no cabs or taxis, no street lights or improved streets, and hand in hand with all other advances in civiliza- tion came the Carnegie libraries in Lima and in Dephos.
In some newspaper accounts written by Mrs. M. J. Ballard and Miss Medora Freeman relative to the development of library sentiment, it seems that the Lima Reading Club for men and women, organized
511
512
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
for social intercourse and mutual improvement, meeting frequently and reading together, discussed books and the "classics" in literature, and preparing papers on vital topics, and they felt the need of a reference library ; the public library movement nation wide was then in its infancy. When Andrew Carnegie began dotting the whole country with library buildings, at the suggestion of Herbert L. Brice of the local library board, Miss Helen Brice of New York interceded for the Carnegie gift ; Miss Brice had personal acquaintance with Andrew Carnegie, and her appeal at once met with consideration. Mr. Carnegie donated $30,000 on condition that the City of Lima furnish the building site, and finance the maintenance of the library.
In November, 1902, the first step was taken through the purchase of a site 100 feet square at the northeast corner of West Market and McDonel streets; the castles in the air for several years were to become a reality ; for fifty years said someone in Lima, there had been a library movement on in the community; early Lima realized the need, and as the years went by the idea had been adding momentum-gathering strength ; the people used the church and Sunday school libraries, and there were some good private library collections. There was a nucleus of a public library finally, before the grant of the Carnegie fund to enable the community to properly house it.
Definite plans for starting a library were formed at a meeting of the Lima Reading Club at the home of Judge Thomas M. Robb; the mem- bers argued for and against it, and the matter of "an attempt to establish. a library in Lima" was put to a vote with the result that it was launched, and a library committee was named: Judge James Mackenzie, Olivia Meily and Martha Richardson; this committee was authorized to "pro- ceed in the matter as it saw fit and proper." Books and magazines were solicited from all interested parties-gifts to the association, and the books were assembled in Judge Mackenzie's office for distribution; the demand for reading matter increased and there is still a library senti- ment ; there always have been book lovers in the community. However, public library enthusiasm waned as Judge Mackenzie had no time to look after the distribution of the books, and there were no funds accruing for the purchase of more books.
When Judge Mackenzie discontinued handling the books, the library was transferred to the "Rosicrucians" Club, made up from the young men of Lima, and for a time they assumed the responsiblity. This "Rosicrucians" Club was both social and literary, and its membership included the foremost young men, among them : H. A. Holdridge, James Irvine, Dr. Cloyd Jacobs, Dr. S. A. Baxter, Capt. Mart Armstrong, Judge C. M. Hughes, Gen. L. M. Meily, James Anderson and Calvin S. Brice; tributes are paid to all of them because of their attitude and willingness to serve the community; while this library management was of brief existence, it was one of the stepping stones in library history. While they were young men with poise of character, they were young and there. was responsibility connected with distributing library books in the community. .
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.