Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 33

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149

USA > Ohio > Butler County > Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio > Part 33

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).

The selections were well made, although it is to be regretted that such handsome school floats as that of the fifth ward. Mos- ler and central high schools could not re- ceive prizes as well as the other two. The second, third, fourth wards and Columbia

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schools also had handsome floats and all were considered before the awards were made.

ATHLETIC EVENTS AT THE FAIR GROUNDS.

The athletic events in connection with the centennial celebration were held at the fair grounds Thursday afternoon and at- tracted a large crowd, which enjoyed the sport. The contests were under the direc- tion of Professor Richards, of the Young Men's Christian Association.

The first event was a one-mile bicycle race. This was won by Herbert Bender ; Frank Limerick, second; time, 3:21.

The fifty-yard sack race was won by W. B. Giessman, in thirteen and one-half sec- onds.

The eight hundred and eighty-yard run was won by Malcolm Bronson; C. K. Van Ausdall, second; time, 2:16.

The wheelbarrow race, blindfolded, won by L. White.

The obstacle race, four-fifths mile, won by W. L. Stephenson, of Oxford.

The eight hundred and eighty-yard run versus one-mile bicycle, won by M. Bron- son, runner, in 2:24 1-2 seconds; Herbert Bender. bicycle. 2:40 1-2.

The one hundred-yard dash was won by M. Bronson; time, II I-2.

The one-mile bicycle race for the cham- . pionship of Butler county was taken by Herbert Bender in 2:57 2-5. The finish of this race was exciting, Bender winning by only a few inches.

Five out of the six medals were won by Young Men's Christian Association ath- letes.

There were thousands of visitors from all over the county at the fair grounds and the bright and pretty costumes of beautiful

women, banked in tiers on the big grand- stand, formed a scene not soon forgotten.

SECOND DAY-FINAL EXERCISES.

One hundred guns from the hilltops ushered in the second and final day of the county's centennial. The weather was not so fine as on Thursday. A rain fell during the night and the day was cloudy, but up to noon no rain had fallen and considerable crowds again thronged the city, growing much denser in the afternoon.

At a meeting of the committee, held in Judge Belden's office at eleven o'clock, it was decided to defer the morning program until one P. M. The speaking was set for that hour at the court house and the indus- trial parade was deferred until the speaking was concluded.

Judge Edward H. Jones presided at the public speaking. Walter S. Harlan, the city solicitor of Middletown, was the first speaker. He gave a vigorous and eloquent address on "The Century and its Lessons," tracing the wonderful progress of the past one hundred years and its pledge for the future.

THE ORDINANCE OF 1787.

Edward Rosencrans, of Union town- ship, spoke on "The Ordinance of 1787." Mr. Rosencrans said in part :

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: We are pleased to meet and greet you here today in grateful remembrance, in patriotic celebration and commemoration of the one hundredth natal day of our beloved county. The subject assigned to me is indeed an interesting one, a broad one, one to which I can hardly hope to do justice.

The document deals first with the proposed boundary lines of the new states or districts to be formed in the Northwest territory, with the laws of inheritance, of descent and conveyance, with the manner of electing or appointing officers in

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that territory and defines their duties. These things, while important, are not fraught with so much interest to mankind as is the latter part of the document, to which I shall devote my time.

The Northwest territory, comprising a vast realm northwest of the Ohio, a realm now in- cluding the great states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, was on March 1, 1784, ceded to the United States by the state of Vir- ginia. One year before this a number of army officers, prominent among whom was General Rufus Putnam, presented a memorial to congress asking for a grant of land in the new territory, where they proposed to form a state.

Many, or perhaps we should say most, of those officers were the owners of slaves, and if that grant of land had been given without any special provision as to its government Ohio would prob- ably have been a slave state and against the Union in the Rebellion. But it was not to be so. The lovers of liberty, led by Nathan Dane, whom Daniel Webster claimed was the author of the article prohibiting slavery, by Thomas Jeffer- son, Rufus King, William Grayson, Richard Henry Lee and the Rev. Manasseh Cutler, seeming to foresee such a dire national calamity, threw around this virgin territory "a sacred circle of liberty, over which the demon of slavery has never dared to cross." They did this on July 13th, by adopting in the continental congress, then in ses- sion in New York city, the celebrated Ordinance of 1787.

Cutler at this time was not a member of con- gress, but he was invited by the committee hav- ing the ordinance in charge to appear before them, give the benefit of his advice and lend his in- fluence toward its passage. This he did. That in- fluence was great and Cutler has been justly termed "The Father of the Ordinance of 1787."

That ordinance was adopted for the purpose (and I quote now verbatim from it) of extending the fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty which form the basis whereon these re- publics, their laws and constitutions are erected. To fix and establish those principles as the basis of all laws, constitutions and governments which forever hereafter shall be formed in said territory.

What lofty sentiments are enunciated in those immortal words. The fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty spoken of in the or- dinance or in the Declaration of Independence, held as self-evident truths. The ordinance is sec- ond only to that immortal declaration which it supplants.

Article first of the ordinance, reading "No person demeaning himself in a peaceable and or- derly manner shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments in said territory," will not allow the feelings of any pious soul seeking the higher life, peaceably and orderly seeking the uplifting influence of some particular creed, to be outraged by law.

That article is one of the entering wedges which has forever separated church and state to the lasting good of America. The records of other nations have been too often stained with tears and human bloodshed and the religious thoughts of their rulers have risen up in persecution, op- pression, ostracism, cruelty, warfare, the fruitage of human ambition which zealots have mistaken for obedience to God.

Under the wonderful influence of this civil and religious freedom in America such old errors have departed from the lives of men, and truths have been born and ancient tyrranies prejudiced and terrors have given place to new hopes and charities, and here no man, whatever his authority may be, will boldly dare to say his Maker in- tended him to be his brother's censor.

In order to protect the innocent as well as to prosecute the guilty, article second declares that the inhabitants of said territory shall always be entitled to the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus and of the trial by jury. No matter of what heinous crime a man may be accused, a legal inquiry must be made as to his guilt and that guilt proven before the punishment which his crime deserves may be inflicted on him.

How proud we are that the citizens of Butler county have always adhered so conscientiously to the principles of this article. * * *

Passing to article third, we read that "re- ligion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government, schools and the means of edu- cation shall forever be encouraged."

That article has indeed been well observed. At the time the ordinance was adopted and for many years afterward. there was not a free school in the Northwest territory.

By the subscription of the patrons of the schools the current expenses were paid, and those who were so unfortunate as to be unable to con- tribute were denied the benefit of education. It has been so well observed that those benefits are today freer to the poor than to the rich.

Article fourth decrees that "the said ter- ritory and the states which may be found therein shall forever remain a part of this confederacy of

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the United States of America." The brains of prophets and of seers must have conceived those sentiments, as, looking far into the future for a quarter of a century, they sought to prevent and did prevent upon the free soil of the northwest territory such a tragedy as was enacted in the erring southern states; where, upon the bleak Golgothan rocks of secession, the martyr's cross upon which was crucified the flower of the na- tion's manhood, by whose blood the seceding states were forever redeemed from the curse of slavery and state sovereignty and reinstated as integral parts of this nation, never to be dissolved:

In article fifth, which deals first with the boundary lines of the proposed states to be formed in the new territory, we read that when- ever any of the said states shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, such state shall be admitted by its delegates into the congress of the United States on an equal footing with the original states in all respects whatever, and shall be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and state government; provided, the constitution and government so to be formed shall be repub- lican and in conformity to the principles contained in these articles.

Here again we find that the ordinance was written in dedication to freedom, and for the up- building and maintenance of republican institu- tions.

Coming now to the sixth and last most im- portant article, a bold declaration of universal freedom is conveyed in the words "There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory otherwise than in the punish- ment of crimes."

The love of universal liberty and a knowledge of the advantages of a union of all the states which were thus early taught to the people of the North grew so strong that in our great Civil war they culminated in a righteous and successful contest for the preservation of the Union and the abolition of African slavery.

Not all the mistaken religious zeal of the Mrs. St. Clairs who fancies the curse of slavery a divine institution; not all the long-drawn, sancti- monious prayers of Davis and of Stonewall Jack- son, kneeling in rank bigotry on the neck of a slave; not all the perverted states rights ideas of Calhoun and his dupes could prevail against the plain, practical, unpretentious Christianity in- culcated by that immortal document "done by the United States in congress assembled the 13th

day of July in the year of our Lord 1787, and of their sovereignty and independence the twelfth."

The ordinance has indeed borne for it to the good of mankind.

The venerable Senator Hoar, in commenting on it, says: "Here was the first human govern- ment where absolute civil and religious liberty has always prevailed. Here no witch was ever found or hanged. Here no heretic was ever mo- lested. Here no slave was ever born or dwelt. When older states and nations, where the chains of human bondage have been broken, shall utter the proud boast, 'With a great sum obtained I this freedom,' each sister of the imperial group. Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, may lift her queenly head with the yet prouder answer, 'But I was free born.'"

With such a document as this for our guid- ance it is but natural that we should have made for ourselves a glorious history, a history which we meet today to celebrate. We meet not in self- praise, not in boastfulness, but rather to do honor to the pioneer heroes who laid so deep and strong the sure foundations of our prosperity and to in- spire the present and future generations to emu- late those heroic deeds and carry on the work be- gun by them.

While doing this we should not be unmindful of the great natural advantages which we pos- sess. As I look over the beautiful and produc- tive valleys of Butler county and reflect that they are but typical of thousands and hundreds of thousands of acres of equal fertility elsewhere in the United States, the thought is forcibly im- pressed upon my mind that we are too prone to boast of our greatness or our country's greatness, forgetting whence that greatness comes.

In our national pride we arrogate to our- selves greatness and glory which belongs to God alone. He it was who mapped out within the boundaries of the United States the most fertile fields that the sun ever kissed, the most majestic rivers that ever rolled to ocean, bearing upon their broad bosoms the commerce of a world, gave us the most salubrious climate that ever matured vegetation and placed us in a position geographi- cally to defy the world. And because of these advantages we have been enabled to attain to the high position, to secure the many riches we en- joy today.

Yes, by the help of the Lord we enjoy those riches, for we have been truly told that the Lord helps those who help themselves; and Ohio and es-

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pecially Butler county people are not slow in doing that. When they see a good thing they go right after it, and they usually get it.

This is no place for drones. A laggard in the Miami valley is a curiosity. We live here "the strenuous life," in touch with the magnetic influence of a chief magistrate who is the worthy successor of that glorious product of the north- west territory, a man who was in life the earnest advocate of the principles of the Ordinance of 1787-the lamented and patriotic Mr. Mckinley.

We are the descendants of the most ambitious, industrious, enterprising, shrewd people the world has ever known.

We are proud of Ohio, as in the council of nations she sits, a jeweled queen among her sister states. We are especially proud of Butler county, as she shines like a polished gem in the diadem of that queen. That gem was dug from the wilder- ness one hundred years ago and has been polished ever since. By its reflected, dazzling light we see a type of the highest civilization known to man.

We see a progress in all that makes life worth living. Looking backward, we see the early set- tlers of our country battling with the obstacles of the pioneer's life.

The rude cabin has been reared, its walls of unhewn logs a shelter from the weather and pro- tection from the arrows of the skulking red man.

The axe and rifle first were needed. Then came the hoe and the rude plow, and, like the rifle and the axe, right well they did their work. So well they did it that the little patch of ground that first was cleared beside the cabin door grew larger year by year until 'twas called a field. And there, beneath the magic touch of labor's willing hands, another and another field were cleared be- side the first, and they all became a farm, a farm here in the Miami valley, a farm upon which has grown not only the richest harvests of the world, but also the sturdiest sons and comeliest daugh- ters that ever rose up to call their parents blessed.

Beneath the burdens of their unremitting toil those blessed parents finally became so tired they needed rest; and loving hands then laid them side by side in their last long sleep in the "quiet valley" and took up their unfinished work. Year after year the grasses have grown green and died upon their honored graves, yet here we reaped the harvests from the perennial seed they sowed, and now we meet in this glad centennial celebration to render unto them the honor which is their due.

That honor and the work which they and

their posterity have done in the development of our state and county will no doubt be ably extolled by other speakers here today upon whose themes I will not obtrude.

I speak of those earliest settlers because they were the first recipients of the benefits of the Ordinance of 1787.

They were the first-we are, but will not be in the fruitful years to come, the last.

In that bright future which nature decreed shall be better than either the present or the past; when those great civic governmental prob- lems which now vex mankind shall have been solved in the interest of all humanity; when the brotherhood of man, as taught by the Golden Rule, shall, like a "pillar of fire by night," cast over all the world a glow like that by which Ben Adhens read the angel message that those who love their God; when, for aught we know, one hun- dred years from now our posterity will meet in this metropolis of our country to celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of her birth, and to rejoice as we rejoice over the glorious op- portunities of an American citizen, the rights of man, the blessings of liberty, and the opportunity for the pursuit of happiness will have been by no future laws vouchsafed to them more explicitly or completely than is done by the Declaration of Independence and the Ordinance of 1787.

REMARKS OF DR. DAN MILLIKIN.

At the centennial exercises at the court house in the afternoon, the speaking was from the north court house steps, fronting High street but above and in the rear of the grand stand upon the plaza or esplan- ade. Judge Ed. H. Jones, as chairman, pre- sided with dignity and honor. The speak- ing was under adverse circumstances, but the address were of much interest.

In introducing Dr. Dan Millikin, the first speaker of the afternoon, Judge Jones said that it had occurred to him in the open- ing exercises on Thursday, that the exer- cises of Friday could be most fittingly and best introduced through the presentation of a descendant of one of the earliest settlers and pioneers of this county and who was an honored sire. He thereupon presented Dr.

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Dan Millikin, who was received with sin- crowning feature of the centennial celebra- cere applause.

Dr. Millikin said that he was not only surprised at the subject which had been as- signed to him, "The Educational Lessons of the Hour," but that he was gratified to speak upon the subject and that an oppor- tunity was afforded him to talk upon what- ever other subject he pleased. Dr. Milli- kin then pictured in fine contrast the coun- try of which this county is part, its destitu- tion of prairies and pasture and its luxuri- ousness of forest, wild vines and herbage and the abounding plenitude of game and fish which then swarmed through forest and stream at the formative period of the county. He spoke of the hardships of those early days, of the sturdiness and hardihood of their characters and traced in fine and intelligent progression the agricultural, in- dustrial and scientific growth of the county up to the present time. From the primeval forests and streams of pioneer days she came to the mighty avenues and arteries of trade, commerce and transportation which characterize the civilization and advance- ment of today and, with a memory for the past, he was thankful for the present and trusted that the errors of the past in so far as possible might be remedied in the future, and that the future would make an ample atonement in a better sense, a broader hu- manity, a truer realization of the responsi- bilities of life in all capacities and vocations and that as taught by our fathers all would make for the common good, the common weal and the common worth and welfare.

INDUSTRIAL PARADE.

The industrial parade on Friday after- noon was, in the opinion of many, the 16

tion. While none of the floats equaled in elaborateness or beauty the imposing pieces of some of the schools in the floral parade, the greater variety and number of the dis- plays made the pageant a notable one. It was typical of the development of Butler county in the arts and was most creditable to "Old Butler" and to all the participants.

On account of the delay in the speaking program, the start was deferred and it was almost two P. M. before the parade ap- peared in High street. It formed on West Main street and moved over the following line of march: East on Main and High to Second : south to Central avenue and Third; north to Dayton, east to Seventh, south to the court house in review and disband north and south on Water street. The weather at this time was bright and warm and the greatest crowds of the centennial thronged the line of march. Each side of High street was banked with masses of people.

The judges voted the first prize to St. Clair township, which did herself very proud indeed. Forty horsemen, representing Gen- eral St. Clair's army, under the command of the General himself, led the way. They were splendidly costumed and many car- ried old-time rifles and powder horns. In the rear was a float crowded with pretty girls from the township. It was a most brave exhibition and good words for St. Clair were heard from every quarter.

The afternoon was principally devoted to the big industrial parade, which furnished a splendid exemplification of the industrial growth of Butler county. All that has been done in this community in the arts and sci- ences was beautifully typified.

The parade was divided into three divi-

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sions. The first division consisted of floats, illustrating the progress of art and science during the nineteenth century, which was furnished by the manufacturers of the county. The second division consisted of floats, showing the progress of agriculture, etc., which were furnished by the different townships of the county. The third division was designated as the civic and military di- vision.

The parade assembled at 12:30 o'clock, sharp, at the head of Main street. The first division formed on Millville avenue, right resting on Main and extending south on Millville avenue. The second division formed on Eaton road, right resting on Main and extending north on Eaton road. The third division formed on F street, right resting on Main and extending south on F. The line of march was east on Main and High to Second; south to Central avenue and Third: north to Dayton, east to Sev- enth, south to court house, in review and dis- band north and south on Water street. The following was the formation of the parade :

Police escort.

Commander of Parade, A. W. Margedant.

Chief of Staff, J. Harding; Adjutants, C. E. Margedant, Joseph Clair; Aides, George T. Reiss, Frank Trowbridge, Joseph Long, William L. Hu- ber, Robert Rentschler, Alexander Thomson, George Bramlage, Eugene Griffis, Don Hooven, Sam Mayer, Harry Elwood, Mayor E. M. Sullivan, Oscar Ritchie. Fred Woodruff and Peter Thom- son. Jr.

FIRST DIVISION.

Miami Band. Commander, S. M. Goodman.

Adjutant, Charles Mather; Aides, Ed. Frecht- ling, James Tully, Philip Rothenbush, Walter Ben- tel, R. Brosius. A. B. Shetter, George Verity, Dr. Eicher, W. C. Margedant, Ray Keiser, Charles Mil- likin, Clifford Bickmore, Fred Schwenn, George Holbrock, James Belden, W. N. Snow, Ralph Bee- ler. George Bowers.

Company L, Ohio National Guard. Floats and Decorated Wagons.

SECOND DIVISION.

City Band. Commander, J. A. Slade.

Adjutant, L. M. Larsh; Aides, A. E. William- son, Dr. William Huston, Rudolph Thiem, Dr. Graft (Trenton), Dr. J. B. Owsley, John F. Mee, William Schwab, Arthur Sohngen, Arthur Heiser, Reily Garver, William Minton.

Floats from the various township villages. THIRD DIVISION.

Apollo Band. Commander, U. F. Bickley. Adjutant, Thad Straub; Aides, Dr. Graft, C. W. Gath, Charles Heiser, O. M. Bake, E. G. Ruder, Charles F. Mason, Ed Sohngen. Knights of Pythias, Middletown.

Knights of Pythias of Hamilton.

Knights of Golden Eagle. Knights of St. John. Knights of St. George. Canton Sanders, Independent Order of Odd

Fellows.

Wetzel Compton Post, Grand Army of the Re- public.

Sons of Veterans. Spanish-American War Veterans. County and City Officials in Carriages. Citizens in Carriages. Fire Departments.

The grand pyrotechnical display of fire- works was to have taken place Friday night, but rain prevented. It took place on Wednesday night, June 3, 1903. Before the display was one-fourth finished a drench -- ing down-pour of rain began and the fine set piece had to be fired at once. But de- spite the rain, at least ten thousand people remained to the last.

Captain A. W. Margedant labored for months to make his part of the program a success. His efforts were crowned with suc- cess. Hon. Bert S. Bartlow labored with the secretary to make the literary part of the programme come up to the standard. In the solicitation of funds he was first. Mr.

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Bartlow deserves great credit. The fol- lowing excerpt from an editorial in the Hamilton Evening Democrat is timely and requires no additional comment :

BUTLER COUNTY'S CENTENNIAL.

The rush of business and society makes it proper to stop now and then and indulge in the memories of the days of long ago and mingle the past with the present.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 33

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1149

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149