Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 39

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 39

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June 6, 1861, at which date John McElwee and John P. P. Peck became editors and proprietors. Mr. McElwee retired from the paper August 20, 1861, for the reason that his partner refused to publish the famous 3d of August resolutions adopted by the Democratic party in mass convention at Hamilton. On October 24, 1861, Israel Williams and Fred Egry purchased the pa- per, and Valentine Chase, who was driven out of the South for his views on the war, was installed editor, with H. P. Peck asso- ciate editor, both continuing until November 27, 1862, when they were succeeded by W. S. Bush. On March 12, 1863, John C. Lewis purchased a half interest in the Tele- graph, when he became its editor. Captain Lewis retired from the paper November 12, 1865. On the above date James T. Lang- stroth, of Oxford, became editor of the pa- per, in which capacity he continued until October 31, 1867, at which date Frank H. Scobey purchased a half interest and as- sumed editorial control. He sold his inter- est in the paper October 20, 1868, to Fred Egry, but retained editorial charge until December 17, 1879, when the paper was sold to C. M. Campbell, who sold the plant to a stock company July 1, 1888."

The Daily News, which was published in connection with the Telegram, was founded on December 22, 1879, and though from the first failure was predicted as the outcome of the venture, it has proven a most pronounced success. C. M. Campbell first undertook the publication of the paper. and the first city editor of the sheet was Frank H. Scobey. On July 1, 1888, a stock company purchased the plant and T. J. Mc- Murray. of Lynn, Massachusetts, was called to the editorial chair, his connection with

the paper being a brief one. His successor was J. M. Downey, who retired in January, 1896, and Thomas Moore, Jr., was made managing editor, being succeeded on June 15th by Homer Gard. In June, 1897, Mr. Gard resigned to become president and managing editor of the Democrat.

In January, 1829, Rev. David Maedill, of the Associate Reformed church, com- menced in Hamilton the publication of a re- ligious periodical called the Christian In- telligencer. This magazine, which was con- tinued here for fourteen years, was published monthly, contained forty-eight pages, and was ably edited. The periodical is still is- sued in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, as the United Presbyterian.

During the famous political campaign of 1840 a paper entitled the Harrison Demo- crat was issued, but after the twenty-fifth number was discontinued.

Another short-lived existence was that of the Miami Echo, which, started in 1842, ran its course in seven weeks.

The Free Soil Banner, of which nine numbers were issued, was founded August 21, 1848, and was published and edited by the following committee: John W. Erwin. Alfred Thomas, M. C. McMaken. John W. Wilson, John R. Lewis and Henry S. Ear- hart. H. C. Bird, of Rossville, and John C. Elliott, of Hamilton, were the publishers, and John C. Skinner was the treasurer.

The Rose Bud, which was issued in the interest of the Furman Academy and was edited by the students of that institution, was published by Nathaniel Furman from June 9, 1849, to June 13, 1851.

General Winfield Scott, who was the Whig candidate for the presidency in 1852, had an ardent advocate in the Scott Battery.

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which was published at Hamilton from June 13 to September 14, 1852.

J. M. Christy, a practical printer, com- menced the publication of the Butler County Investigator in Rossville, September 20, 1849, but was forced to suspend publication on the 4th of the following month.

The Miami Democrat was published in Rossville by William H. Laymon, from from January 7, 1850, to October 9, 1851. and was edited by L. J. Strong, of Mississ- ippi, an able writer.

The first daily paper published in Ham- ilton or Rossville was the Daily Press, of Rossville, the initial number being issued April 22, 1851, under the management of James G. Green and A. L. Sewell. The life of the enterprise was a short one, however, ceasing by the end of the following month.

The Herald of Education was issued from the press of J. M. Christy, of Rossville, in 1853-4, and was edited by J. P. Ellin- wood, superintendent of the Rosswood pub- lic schools.

On May 10, 1859, Fred E. Humbach and John P. Bruck established the Schildwache, of which John P. Dietz, of Dayton, was made the editor. In November, 1862, Peter Milders purchased Mr. Bruck's interest and August Goering was placed in the editorial chair. The paper was subsequently sold to J. H. Long who changed its name to the Butler County Democrat. In January, 1863, a new Democratic paper was founded by a number of Germans, who organized a stock company, whose officers were as fol- lows: C. Morgenthaler, president; Adolph Schmidt, secretary ; January Getz, treasurer, and L. B. De La Court, editor and business manager. On July 4, 1864, the first num- ber of the National Zeitung was issued and

continued a few years, when it passed into the possession of L. B. De La Court. In 1893 the plant. was purchased by Fred J. Hilker, who changed its name to Volks- Stimme and National Zeitung. The paper is now owned and published by a stock com- pany. and W. C. A. De La Court is editor and business manager.

The Tri-Weekly Advertiser was estab- lished by J. H. Long, the first number being issued on March 14, 1867. The name of the paper was some time later changed to the Independent, having been purchased by Dr. J. R. Brown, Samuel L'Hommedieu and William Beardsley. The paper was ably edited by H. H. Robinson and its publica- tion was continued until May, 1874, at which time the publication of the Hamilton Examiner was commenced from the office of J. H. Long. Its first editor was Thomas A. Corcoran, who was followed by Judge John F. Neilan. On September 14, 1874, the paper was consolidated with the Guidon. The Guidon was begun August 26, 1874, by Dr. John McElwee, who, in November of the same year. sold a half interest in the paper to J. J. McMaken. On May 6, 1875, the Guidon was sold to R. N. Andrews & Company and consolidated with the Demo- crat.

In 1876 Stephen D. Cone conceived the idea that a Sunday paper in Hamilton would acquire a large and profitable circulation, and for this purpose associated himself with P. H. Gallagher, business manager of the Democrat, the initial number of the Sun- day Morning News being issued on July 17, 1876. It was determined to make the pa- per of such merit as would command the support of the public and with this end in view, engagements were made for special

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telegraphic dispatches by the Atlantic and gone." This was the last issue of the Ham- ilton Daily Herald.

Pacific line-the first attempt at newspaper special telegraphing in Hamilton. The News met with a gratifying reception on the part of the public, but about five months later was forced to suspend on account of a receiver being appointed for the Demo- crat.

Mr. Cone again engaged in journalism as a publisher in June, 1878, when he be- gan the publication of the Orcus. He con- tinued its editor and publisher until No- vember 12th of the same year, when he sold it to Lou J. Beauchamp and Robert Carr, who three months later sold it to B. R. Finch and N. E. Warwick, by whom its publication was continued to February 12, 1880, when it suspended.

The Hamilton Daily Herald had its in- ception in a weekly paper which was estab- lished in 1883, with Col. H. H. Robinson as editor, he being subsequently superseded by Ben Harding. In December, 1884, the Herald became a daily publication. In Feb- ruary. 1885. Peter Schwab. S. D. Cone and Jervis Hargitt invested some capital in the enterprise, which gave it new impetus and for about three months it took a prominent hand in local political matters. When the cash was all gone. George Gohen, of Cin- cinnati, was induced to take hold of the en- terprise, investing his personal capital in the plant. He made a live paper of it. but it was a losing financial proposition and the end came in September. 1885. On that day Editor Gohen wrote an editorial, placed it on the hook and told the other boys about the place to get out the paper that day. He went to Cincinnati and never came back. The editorial was his last. The closing sen- tence read "I am not only Gohen, but I am

The Republican Publishing Company was incorporated on the 4th of May. 1892, for the purpose of publishing a daily and weekly newspaper. The first issue of the Daily Republican was put before the public on July 19, 1892, at which time W. S. Os- born was business manager and W. L. To- bey, editor. Mr. Osborn resigned in March, 1893, and was succeeded by A. F. Sloane, of Oxford, who retired on December 18, 1893. At that time the position of business manager was abolished and that of manag- ing editor was created, to which position W. L. Tobey was elected and in which capacity he is still serving. On March 21. 1898, the News and Republican were consolidated and have since been issued under the title. The Republican-News.

The Hamilton Evening Sun is the youngest newspaper in Hamilton or in But- ler county, but by no means is it a weakling. This paper, which is a seven-column eight- page daily, was established in 1902. The Sun Publishing Company was incorporated in February of that year and the first paper was issued on June 19th. From the start the Sun manifested a spirit of progress and vigor that soon gave it a prominent position in the local field. At the very beginning the company purchased two linotype machines, the first ones ever used in Butler county. A . modern. up-to-date perfecting press, that prints colors, was also purchased and in- stalled in the building which the Sun leased at Nos. 322 and 324 High street. Sloane Gordon, who was one of the incorporators of the company and a member of the board of directors, was elected as president of the company and editor of the paper, positions

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which he still occupies. The other directors a school on the north side of Heaton, be- of the company are William F. Mason. Dr. tween Second and Third streets. About the same time a Mr. Elder taught in Ross- ville. In 1818 the Hamilton Lit- erary Society erected the old Masonic building, at the corner of Third and Day- ton streets, and Rev. Thomas McMechan and Henry Baker were granted the use of the lower story for school purposes. The first female teacher in Hamilton was Miss Ellen A. McMechan, who, in 1819, taught at the corner of Third and Buckeye streets. In 1821 Rev. Francis Monfort taught school in a frame building at the corner of Third and High streets, and from 1825 to 1830 Benjamin F. Raleigh was engaged in educational work here. The Hamilton and Rossville Academy, which was opened in 1835, had Miss Maria Drummond as its first teacher, its last teacher being the well- known Nathan Furman. O. P. McHenry, C. Z. Mikesell and R. L. Kinsey. Mr. Kinsey has charge of the composition department of the paper. The Sun has acquired a wide-spread reputation because of the modern methods which it has pursued. For instance, it has established the hitherto unknown custom in Hamilton of issuing extra editions whenever any news of extraordinary importance happens. Dur- ing the famous Knapp murder excitement of February. 1903, the Sun frequently is- sued as many as five extra editions in one day. The Sun was the first daily newspaper in Butler county to employ union labor. Since its establishment another of the local papers has embraced unionism. The Sun Publishing Company issues the Hamilton Weekly Sun, which appears on Thursdays and which has a very general circulation throughout the county. The Daily Sun at this writing ( 1904) has a circulation of fif- ty-two hundred and the Weekly Sun of about three thousand.

HAMILTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Attention was given to the important subject of education at an early date in the history of Hamilton, the first school being established as early as 1809 on Front street by a Mr. Richie. The following year a school was opened on Court street, opposite the United Presbyterian church, by Rev. M. G. Wallace, the school being continued until 1814. At this school the higher branches of learning were taught, in addition to the rudi- ments of education. In 1815 Benjamin H. Pardee came to Hamilton and taught a school on Second, near Heaton street, and the same year Alexander Proudfit organized

On February 21, 1849, the legislature passed an act "providing that cities and towns may be formed into one district, to be governed by a board of six directors and three examiners." In April, 1851, the schools of Hamilton passed under the con- trol of this law, a special election being held on the question. The members of the board and examiners were elected on May Ist, on June 21st the first school levy was made, it being one and a half mills on the dollar, and in 1852 the work of grading and classifying the school was begun. In the latter year F. N. Slack was appointed principal of the third ward school and J. Jenkins principal of the second ward building.

In 1854 Hamilton and Rossville were consolidated, and by the articles of annexa- tion it was stipulated that a high school building should be erected, at an early date,

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in the first ward, and that the high school should perpetually remain on the West side. In accordance with this arrangement, Thomas L. Rhea offered to donate a two-acre site for the building on Prospect Hill. This proposition was not accepted, nor has the building above referred to as specified in the contract between the two villages ever been erected.

The following is a list of the superin- tendents of the Hamilton public schools since 1857: D. W. McClung. 1857-58; George E. Howe, 1858-59; F. W. Hurtt, 1859-60; J. R. Chamberlain, 1860-62; H. T. Wheeler, 1862-3 ; John A. Shank, 1863-4; John Edwards, 1864-7; E. B. Bishop, 1867- 71 ; Alston Ellis, 1871-9; L. D. Brown, 1879-84; L. R. Klemm, 1884-7 ; Alston El- lis, 1887-92; C. C. Miller, 1892-5; S. L. Rose, 1895-1903; Darrel Joyce, 1903.

The present school system of Hamilton is recognized as one of the best in the state of Ohio-the leader in educational lines. Superintendent Joyce is a recent graduate of Miami University and, although a young man, he has infused new life and vigor into the schools. His scholarly attainments, his genial social nature and his practical meth- ods have won for him a fond place in the es- timation of patrons of the public schools.

A faithful and conscientious corps of teachers, ready and willing to carry out the plans of the able superintendent, has charge of the school youth of the city of Hamilton.

The various public-spirited men who are serving as members of the board of ed- ucation have always been broad-minded and liberal in their attitude toward educa- tional matters. The present board of ed- ucation is composed of the following able and proficient men : Dr. Dan Millikin, presi-

dent; John R. Keller, clerk; Fred Bender, A. W. Margedant, William C. Ritchie, Dr. George C. Skinner and James S. Frailey.

HAMILTON CHURCHES.

For accounts of the German Protestant and Catholic churches see pages 170 aud 180 respectively.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Among the early ministers were Revs. James Kemper, M. G. Wallace and John Thompson, of the Presbyterian church. These preached in private houses, in the Sycamore grove and in the old mess room of Fort Hamilton. In 1805, Rev. Matthew G. Wallace, who resided on a farm eight miles south of Hamilton, began to preach on alternate Sabbaths. In 1810 he took up his residence in this city and a Presbyterian church was formally organized with himself as pastor. The Union Presbyterian church was built in the years of 1817 and 1818, jointly by the Presbyterian and the Associate Reform Presbyterian congregations. They purchased lot No. 103 of the original town plat situate the east side of Third street, between High and Court streets. This property was sold. and the Presbyterians, acting for themselves, purchased from John Reily lot No. 22, on south Front street, in 1829. In January, 1837, this structure was sold to the German and English United Lu- theran and Reformed church, and the Pres- byterians purchased lot No. 253. Here in 1838 they erected a third place of worship. In 1854, under the pastorate of Rev. Charles Sturdevant, the congregation, being pressed for room, took the first steps toward the erection of a fourth house of worship. The building was finished in 1855, and is still used and occupied by the congregation. Its

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interior was recently remodeled. The audi- torium has a seating capacity of over five hundred. The present membership num- bers over five hundred. Since its organiza- tion in 1810 it has had twenty pastors : Mat- thew G. Wallace, 1810-1821 ; Francis Mon- fort, 1821-1837; Joseph J. Monfort, 1837- 1838; Thomas Wallace, 1838-1840; Adrian Aten, 1841-1842; Augustus Pomeroy, 1832-1836; Charles Packard, 1837-1839; Thomas E. Thomas, 1839-1849; George Darling, 1849-1851 : Charles Sturtevant, 1852-1854; Levi Christian, -; Hugh L. Ustic, 1857; William McMillan, 1858-1864; C. B. Martin, 1865-1866; Edward J. Ham- ilton, 1866-1868; S. M. C. Anderson, 1870- 1879: Edward W. Abbey, 1880-1900; J. P. Green, 1900-1902; Charles A. Austin, 1902.

The original subscription for the erec- tion of the first church in Hamilton in 1817 is still in existence. Hamilton at that time had only eight hundred inhabitants, and nearly every head of a family who was able to contribute anything had some share in the erection of that church. Through the care and foresight of James McBride, the orig- inal subscription list was preserved. It was cared for by him until his death in 1859, forty years after the completion of the church. It then passed into the hands of the late Dr. Cyrus Falconer, who preserved it for a third of a century longer, and it is now in possession of a member of his family. Those who subscribed to the fund for build- ing the first church in Hamilton were : Wil- liam Murry, $100; John Reily, $100; James Boal, $40; James McBride, $50; John Sutherland, $320; Thomas Blair, $50; James P. Ramsay. $50; John Hall, $10; Isaac Falconer, $10; William Taylor, $10; Thomas Stephens, $5; William Moore, $15;

John Caldwell, $12; James Lister, $12; John Smiley, $12; John Hall, $25; William Wallace, $26; John Daniel, $15; Robert Fleming, $50; John Brown, $15; Daniel Latham, $20; William Potter, $30; Alex. Delorac, $15; Joseph Henderson, $5; John Holmes, $5; Margaret Ewing, $5; John E. Scott, $10; John Alexander, $5; Andrew Wilson, $30; James Reed, $50; Isaac Hawley, $5: Samuel McClure, $5; Hesekiah Broadbury, $10; Thomas Smiley, $5; James Clark, $5; Isaac Paxton, $12; David Latham, $20; Isaac Hawley, $5; Thomas Mitchell, $20; Daniel Keyle, $50; D. Bigham, $40; O. M. Muetton, $20; J. M. Caldwell, $20; Isaac Anderson, $20; Daniel Millikin, $25; John Hall, $10; E. G. McConnell, $15; A. P. Andrews, $10; Joseph J. Burham, $10; Thomas Hunter, $8; Sam Davis, Jr., $10; John McClure, Jr., $15; Alexander Proudfit, $5; Benjamin Col- lett, $20; Jonathan Pierson, $15; Burket Thayer, $5; Robert Irwin, $40; John R. Crane, $12.50; Caleb Seward, $8; Daniel Seward (x his mark), $5; James Wilson, $60; Hugh Wilson, $50; Richard Scott, $5; A. C. Andrews, $10; John R. Crane, $12.50; Josiah Wilson, $10; Henry Taylor, $30; Edward Corntharde, $5; John Nelson, $10; Robert Scott, $10: Wm. Lewis, $40; John Schooly, $1: Joseph Hahn, $2; Uzal Ed- wards, $2 ; John Wilson, $10; Jacob Rickart, $5 : James Blackburn, $40; Joseph G. Elliott, $4: D. K. Este. $15; Robert Gray, $12; John Winton, $15 ; James Bell, $10; Thomas Stone, $7: William Stuart, $25; William Malone, $2; Thomas Hueston, $5; Joseph Garniger, $5; James Johnston, $10; Mar- garet Beaty. $10: John Jones, $10; John- athan Line. $10; Abraham Pratt, $5;

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Everson Sayre. $25: Samuel McClure. $4; Nicholas Davis. $8: John Sheerer. $4; Joseph Wickard. $4: William Blair, $10; W. Gaunther. $10: Abner Torbert. $40; H. D. Cramer. $5: George Burnap, $5; Hesekiah Woodbury, -: Robert Ander- son, $10; Jacob Rickart, $5 : Solomon Line, $4: Johnston E. Duffield. $30: D. K. Este, $15; William McClellan, $50; William Cor- nell, $5; Willard M. Smith, $25, and Thomas Alston, $12.

The first Sunday school in Hamilton was organized by the Presbyterians and was taught by Dr. Woolsey, a physician from New York.

During the Civil war fifty-two volun- teers went out from this congregation to defend their country, many of whom never returned.

In 1869 a parsonage was purchased on Ross street at a cost of seven thousand dol- lars, which is still owned by the congrega- tion. It was remodeled in 1902.

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

In 1895 about a hundred members se- ceded from the First Presbyterian church, claiming that this church was too liberal in its Christian views, and organized the West- minster Presbyterian church. Rev. J. S. Edenburn was called to the pastorate, and services were held regularly in the assembly room of the court house during the first year. In 1895 a fine church edifice was erected at the northeast corner of High and Seventh streets, and the congregation has prospered from the beginning. The Rev. J. S. Edenburn served the congregation until 1900 and was succeeded by Rev. George E. Thompson. The present pastor

is Rev. James A. Liggitt and the church has a membership of about four hundred.

THIE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In 1818 Rev. Samuel West, a circuit minister, organized in Hamilton the first society of this denomination in the city. It was composed of the following members : Thomas Sinnard and wife. Aaron Jewell and wife, Mrs. John Caldwell and Miss Lydia Jones. In 1819 Hamilton and Ross- ville were made a station, and Rev. West preached alternately in the Academy build- ing. at Third and Dayton streets, in the Delorac's warehouse in Rossville. In the same year the first Methodist meeting house was built. It was erected on Lud- low street, between Second and Third streets, on the site of the present church. The land on which it was erected was a gift by Hon. John Woods. The building cost $1,300. At the end of the year 1821 the membership had increased to sixty-five. In 1833 an- other adjacent lot to the former lot was do- nated to the society and a new church build- ing was erected at a cost of four thousand eight hundred dollars and the old building was occupied by Peter Myers as a carpenter shop. In March, 1839, both the carpenter shop and the church building were destroyed by fire. In 1840 a new church building was erected and was thereafter occupied until 1868 when the same was remodeled and re- constructed at an outlay of eleven thousand dollars. In 1893 the present beautiful and costly church edifice was built. The mem- bership is upwards of seven hundred and the society is in a prosperous condition.

The first parsonage was built in 1859. The present parsonage was built in connec- tion with the new church in 1893. The en-

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tire church property is valued at forty thou- sand dollars. The growth of Methodism in Hamilton has not been phenomenal, but a substantial gain has been made during the years. The gain for the first forty years of the church's history was two hundred per cent. For the next twenty-five years one hundred and seventy-five per cent. and for the last twenty years nearly ninety per cent. The six members of the first Methodist class here became the First Methodist Episcopal church of seven hundred members. In these eighty-five years perhaps two thousand five hundred souls have been converted at the altar of the First church and more than eight hundred adults and more than seven hundred children have received baptism.

Pastoral support has increased from two hundred dollars to one thousand eight hun- dred dollars, benevolent gifts from sixty-six dollars of the first record to one thousand five hundred annually; current expenses from the donated janitor service to one thousand three hundred dollars for all pur- poses of heat, light and care of the church. All in all, the church has contributed more than forty thousand dollars in charity; seventy-three thousand dollars for pastoral support; thirty-nine thousand for current expenses and one hundred thousand dollars for church buildings and repairs.

The ministers who have officiated as pas- tors of the church are : Samuel West, Henry Baker, John P. Durbin, Henry Hilt, John P. Taylor, Augustus Eddy, A. S. McClain, John P. Taylor, A. M. Loring, William Simmons, D. D. Davisson, John A. Baugh- man, Robert O. Spencer, G. R. Jones, Wil- liam Simmons, E. Zimmerman. J. J. Hill. Daniel Poe, S. A. Latta, W. D. Barnett, David Reed, O. W. Swain, David Whit- 19

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 39

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