Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 45

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 45

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paper to The Western Journal and issued the first number January 12. 1857. The edi- tors say on the title page. "Independent in tone and character; devoted to literature. science, agriculture, general and local news; open to all parties. Published every Thurs- day morning; Odd Fellows Building, Main street." C. H. and A. C. Brock were broth- ers and were associated together in news- paper work for a year or two, and in 1859 or 1860 the name of the paper was changed to the Middletown Journal and Joseph Brock took the place of A. C. Brock and the paper continued under their management until 1871. when it was sold to E. T. Harkrader. From Harkrader it passed in quick succes- sion to several owners, and in 1879 was bought by James L. Raymond, of Cincin- nati, and by him, in 1879, was leased for a term to W. H. Todhunter and W. H. Tucker. These gentlemen made it a Re- publican paper in politics; during its his- tory it had occupied neutral position in politics. In 1880 the paper and presses were sold to the American Color Printing Com- pany, who after a few years transferred its plant. with the paper, to W. H. Todhunter & Company. which firm controlled the prop- erty for twelve years, and in 1890 they be- gan the publication of the Daily Journal, in addition to the weekly issue. The daily was from the beginning an advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party. These two journals are now published by the Journal Printing Company, and are regularly issued from the company's plant on Canal street, with which is now connected a large job office for general printing of all kinds. W. M. Sullivan is the sole owner.

In 1857 Mr. Charles M. Gould, now of Logan, Ohio, printed a newspaper in Mid-

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dletown known as the Butler County Demo- crat. which lasted but one year and was de- voted largely to the political interests of C. L. Vallandigham. The enterprise was abandoned and the equipment sold to the type foundry.

In 1874 L. F. Bowman, now of Cincin- nati, opened a dry goods store in Middle- town. known everywhere as the "cheap store." He believed in advertising and the better and more cheaply to secure the ad- vantages of thorough advertisement he be- gan, in 1876, the publication of a small paper called The Given Away. This was for some- time issued without cost. as its name would indicate. Soon, to secure the advantage of low postal rates, he secured. nominally at least. a small subscription price and. in 1878. changed the name to The Middletown Sig- nal and a new weekly newspaper was born. In 1880 Mr. Bowman sold his outfit to Thomas G. Word, who enlarged it and published it up to 1887. when it passed to Charles E. Bundy and others, as The Signal Printing Company. In 1888 J. Q. Baker secured the property and began the publi- cation of The Daily Signal. the first daily issued in Middletown. These papers are now the property of The Signal Printing Company, Charles E. Gaumer manager. Mr. Baker having sold out in June. 1901. C. E. Gaumer is the editor and manager. with James Landis as city reporter and editor.

The enterprising papers have a good foundation and bid fair to stand the test of the years and work out profits for their owners and good for the city, unless they are crippled in their sweep by the new paper soon to be launched by the Middletown Printing and News Company.

A few sporadic attempts to establish a third paper in the city have been made since 1882, but they were shortlived, wanting in force and character and were so shortened as to make no noticeable impression.

EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS.

The early fathers were not satisfied with industrial plantings, the employment of the people. and church privileges, but, true to the principles of the great Ordinance of 1787. they began to cast about for some way to educate the young of those stirring times. In 1805 a small pay school was opened in one of the rooms of the Vail mills, situated at the west end of Third street on the bank of the river. These mills were the center of every movement of these early times. This school was conducted by a Mr. Beers, who. a little later. moved to Darke county and became one of the associate judges of the county court. The freshets in the later months of 1805 destroyed some parts of the mill and interrupted this pay-school.

In 1806 another pay-school was opened in a log cabin which stood on what was known as the "Smoothing Iron." a triangu- . lar tract at the junction of the Yankee road and Main street. as it is today. This tract is now owned and occupied by J. K. Thomas, Esq. Here Marsha Wilson taught in 1806: Ephraim Gray occupied the same house as a teacher. as did Joseph Worth: still later Mr. Ward. Mr. Piper and Mr. Perry conducted small schools in a house located on the south side of Third street. just south of the Vail mills.

Ephraim Gray built the brick house on Broadway now owned by Mrs. James Wicofp and there conducted a pay school.

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In 1815 the first house used solely for school purposes was built. It was of brick and stood on the east end of lot No. 11 on Vail's plat. This lot was dedicated by Stephen Vail for school purposes and it has been so used since its dedication. Lot No. IO, just north of it, was set apart by Mr. Vail for a court house and other county buildings: he expected that Middletown would become a county seat when this ter- ritory was separated from Hamilton county. of which it was then a part. In this he and his children were disappointed, as the county seat was located at Fort Hamilton. This school house was twenty by thirty feet and one story high and when built had a huge

THE FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE.

fire-place in each end for burning wood. In later years one of these fire-places was re- moved and the door was taken from the side to the back end of the house, and a big stove was introduced. In this house school was taught. singing schools con- ducted. spelling bees enjoyed and religious services held. This house was for many years called "The Old Brick." The first teacher to be named with certainty. who taught in the "Old Brick." was Jeremiah Marston, who led the boys and girls from 1821 to 1824. This house was paid for in part by private subscription, with some aid from taxes paid by the people.

In 1827 things educational began to move along a little and we find that school district No. 3 appears on the county records. This district included Middletown and the

adjacent county. During some of the years from 1815 to 1850 the funds raised by taxation were insufficient to meet all the necessary outlays and in these years the schools were in part supported by tuition fees contributed by the patrons of the school in such sums as they could afford. or their liberality suggested.

The first entirely free school in Middle- town was taught by Joseph Gailbreath in 1837. This state of affairs did not last very long for the panic of that year caused by the retirement of the United States Bank and the speculations engendered by the "pet banks," as they were called. and the financial strains of subsequent years, cur- tailed the public revenues so that the schools were, for some time, part free and part pay.

Before 1839 and 1840 the younger pu- pils were taught by Joseph Elliott in the one-story brick house. situated on Third street just west of the Oglesby & Barnitz bank and known as "The Juniata Iron Store." built by William Young and in which he kept an iron store. This building stood almost as it then was until the 'eighties. when it was torn away for new brick business structures. In this house Miss Josephine Anderson (later Mrs. James Mitchell) and Miss May Gibson taught the boys and girls. These classes were subsequently taught in the "Barracks." a two-story frame, built at a very early day. and occupying the site of the present Odd Fellows temple, by Mrs. Mitchell. Miss Gib- son, Miss Alice Ketcham (now Mrs. Lewis Lambright), Miss Virginia Howland and Miss Susan McQuity.

The teachers in the "Old Brick" were having their troubles with the "big boys" during all these years and the men with the

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"birch" were James Pennell, James C. Waldo, Zachariah Brown, John McClel- lan, William S. Young, William Barnaby, Isaac Robison, George Goble and Josiah

Middletown East School Building.

Bridge, who came in 1848 and remained for four years.

Men now in Middletown and who were pupils under Mr. Bridge, speak highly of him and enjoy telling how they pestered him with tricks, even going so far as to tear out the bricks at one corner of the "Old Brick" so as to gain entrance to the house for mischievous purposes. These ends were often rough. meriting and receiving from the hands of Mr. Bridge severe punish- ment. The readers will notice such an open- ing. in the corner of the house shown in the picture given of the "Old Brick" and it will be seen too that the door is in the rear of the house -- an odd thing.

The "Old Brick" was used until 1854. when it was torn away and a substantial brick building of four spacious rooms erected, ample for all the needs of the times in which it was builded. This was a new era in the school days of Middletown.

school became known as a Union school under the "Akron law," as it was then known. The first board under this regime consisted of W. B. Oglesby, S. E. Giffen, Edward Jones, Joseph Sutphin and W. M. Marshall.

About 1864 the board of education was compelled to rent rooms for classes in Ger- man, colored pupils and other classes. These colonies so quartered were not easily man- aged or successfully taught. The matter of a new and larger house began to be talked of and was soon brought to the attention of the people. In a year or two the legis- lature authorized the purchase of a new site and the erection of a new house, provided the people approved it at an election. Twice the appropriation of sixty thousand dollars in bonds was refused by the electors, who stoutly proclaimed that the sum was too great. Finally. the authority came and six acres of land were bought fronting on Main. Yankee road and Seventh street. from the estate of Arthur Lefferson, and a large three-story brick house. of twelve large

South School Building, Middletown. Ohio.

rooms and an assembly room, was builded in 1871. This large house is known as the South building and here were accommo-

Middletown in the later 'fifties was sepa- rated from district No. 3 and as a village . dated all the pupils of the town for a num-

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ber of years, the four-room brick being given up to clubs and the colored pupils, who were for a time taught separately from the white children; but in 1875 they were al- lowed to take their places in the regular graded schools with the white pupils.

Central School House, Middletown, Ohio.

Soon the four rooms of the building of 1854 were filled with the pupils and the de- mand for a new house came and the board of education moved forward and secured grounds, with the endorsement of the elec- tors. from Gardner Phipps and in 1885 erected a handsome modern brick house of eight beautiful. well lighted, efficiently equipped rooms known as the Central build- ing. To this splendid building have been added four other rooms on the same general plan. thus securing a house of twelve rooms.

But Middletown grew, and then came the tearing away of the house of 1853-4, the purchase of additional grounds south of lot No. 11, and in 1892 a striking brick house of eight rooms, with the most mod- ern appliances, was furnished and made ready for the young folks of Middletown.

This was not enough. and a frame of four rooms were soon supplied in the Fourth ward. known as the East building. This served for a few years, when, in 1904. a

splendid brick of eight rooms took its place on a beautiful lot on Sherman street. This house was opened and dedicated in No- vember. 1904, and is now full of bright boys and girls under talented teachers.

, From a school enumeration in 1843 of three hundred and fifty-two pupils in the district. the schools have come to have two thousand seven hundred pupils of school age. and from a revenue of six hundred dollars in 1850, the schools now receive from the people a revenue of forty-nine thousand dollars for salaries and contingent expenses. From a teaching corps of three or four teachers in 1854, the schools have come to be conducted by a corps of forty-seven teachers and principals, who are supervised and encouraged by Superintendent Arthur Powell. The daily attendance is one thou- sand four hundred and fifty, with an en- rollment of one thousand six hundred and thirty-two. These teachers and pupils are splendidly accommodated in four beautiful and well equipped houses, excelled by few in Ohio. The contrast between the "Old

North School House, Middletown, Ohio.

Brick," used until 1853, and these four houses is marked indeed and emphasize the evolution of things educational.

The high school enrolls one hundred and

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twenty pupils this year who are taught by six efficient teachers, who are paid from sixty-five to one hundred and ten dollars per month for their services. The grade teachers receive from thirty-five to sixty dollars per month. The schools provide training in music, German, ornamental and industrial drawing, and a good commercial course is furnished. The sum of twenty- eight thousand dollars in paid out each year for the services of the teachers and proper supervision. This is in striking contrast with the past.

THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

A history of the educational develop- ment of Middletown would be incomplete without some reference to the private schools and their teachers. This feature of the edu- cational work was a very important matter during the earlier years of the last cen- tury, when the public schools were part pay and part free.

The private school conducted by Prof. Nathaniel Furman was the most important. He came at the earnest solicitation of the citizens in 1833 and held his school in the house now occupied by Dr. O. M. Corson, at the southwest corner of Fourth and Main streets. Here he was assisted by his wife and Miss Lucretia Williamson (since Mrs. Gard).

Mr. Furman subsequently moved his school to the two-story frame building on lot No. 78, now used as a hotel and known as the Trontvine property: here he taught the youth of the vicinity and many from other states. Some of the men and women taught by him are now living in this city. He was one of the most prominent educators

of his day. He was a man austere in his administration and sometimes severe in his methods and punishments. Boys with soiled hands, when so found in school, were treated to a cleaning by the Professor, who used water and soap, and corn-cob for a scrub- brush ; oftentimes the blood came with the dirt, but the lad came with clean hands thereafter. Mr. Furman went to Hamilton in 1848. The boys at the "Old Brick" and those in the Furman school had it "nip and tuck" very often, and tales are told of these "mix-ups" that are rare and racy.

Rev. Mr. Pentzer taught a private school in the "Old Brick" meeting house of the Methodists, on Second street. in 1849; he was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Morton, who moved from this house to the old Pres- byterian church : then to his own home just across the street from this church. He was a ripe scholar, and much in love with his work as an educator and a preacher : his in- fluence was very marked. The feeling ex- isting between the boys in the "Old Brick" and those in Mr. Morton's school is clearly indicated by the names exchanged. as "Mor- ton's cats" and "Bridge's rats."

Absalom Deuth. Miss Susan McQuilty, Mrs. Blackleach and others had private schools in Middletown prior to 1855. Since that period the most notable private schools were the Mercantile School. taught by Prof. S. S. Robinson from 1865 to 1870, and the Middletown Seminary, conducted by Mrs. E. B. Nason from 1865 to 1870. This was a school for young ladies and was quite popular. Since 1874. when Rev. G. E. Bercholtz conducted a German school, no attempt has been made to carry on any private classes.

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THE TEACHERS.

Some of the teachers in the "Old Brick" will be recalled. Among them were Josiah Bridge, from 1848 to 1852; then came C. R. Galloway, John McClellan, William Ballard and our fellow townsman, N. B. Cooley, who was the last instructor in the "Old Brick." Mr. Cooley is still living here at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The teachers who led the educational forces in the four-room house of 1853-4 were Thomas Wallace, L. B. Hatch, Lyman J. Fisher, J. B. Finch and W. H. Wynn. N. T. Curran, the first teacher to be given supervision and known as the superintend- ent, G. C. Woolard, T. C. Mendenhall. D. W. Hanna and William Witkins.

In 1872 the schools were moved to the South building and A. G. Wilson was the first superintendent: in turn came A. C. Tyler, F. J. Barnard. B. B. Harlan, James L. Orr, J. H. Rowland. J. W. Mackinnon, J. E. McKean, C. H. Minnich and the pres- ent superintendent. Arthur Powell.

THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.

Holy Trinity and St. John's Catholic churches maintain parochial schools that are housed in large, comfortable brick buildings. These are carefully and efficiently supervised by the pastors of the several churches and are taught by the wise and well-educated Sisters. The elementary studies are care- fully regarded by these schools and special instruction is given in music. stenography and drawing. Some four hundred boys and girls receive splendid instruction in these well-managed schools. These are a feature in the educational work of the city.

MORALS AND RELIGION.

The men who planned in the early times at Middletown were not only thoughtful and active along industrial lines, but they re- alized that unless the morals of the people were guarded and the religious life of the settlers promoted, no permanent advance could be made, and just as soon as the cabins were up they sought for those who could preach and teach the people in moral and re- ligious things.

It is said that Daniel Doty was instru- mental in bringing Rev. Daniel Clark, a Baptist preacher of the "old school," to this part of the Miami country as early as 1791-2. From this early visitation doubtless came little groups of worshipers, who soon builded small brick churches at Trenton, Posttown and at "Little Prairie," just north of Middletown, where a small frame house of worship was builded in 1808.

The voice of the earnest and fiery Metho- dist exhorter was heard in this part of the valley several years before the nineteenth century opened on the world. At a very early day Rev. James Grimes and others began to organize "class-meetings," which were always the first pioneer services of this aggressive church. Mr. Grimes was soon followed by Rev. J. B. Finley, Arthur Elliott and others.

The Presbyterian element of this grow- ing community began to make its influence felt at a date but little later than did the promoters of the two societies just named. This body of workers has been a very po- tential moral factor in this part of the Miami valley since 1815. These three communions were first on the ground to care for the

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morals and promote the religious life of the began at once, as was the habit of the early pioneer people. Methodist local preachers, to call the peo- ple to worship with himself and wife in their log cabin.

The Methodist church was the first to pass from the log cabin to the brick era, and the first to enjoy a stone house of worship; then came the Presbyterians with a hand- some stone structure, then Holy Trinity Catholic church, and the Baptists will soon. move to an elegant stone house. To these primitive churches have been added, as the years have moved by, the German Catholics, the United Presbyterians, the United Breth- ren, the Lutherans, the Evangelical Presby- terians, the Methodist Protestants and two churches for the colored brethren. With some twelve or more churches, the morals of the community should be well cared for.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The first Methodist society in this com- munity held its sessions and class meetings in the log cabin of James Grimes, who laid the foundation of his home on a tract of land, school section 16, just east of Middle- town and now owned by Mrs. L. D. Doty.

Father Grimes, as he was always known, was born in Virginia in 1760, and moved to this locality in 1805. He came here bear- ing license from the quarterly conference of his home church as a local preacher, and as soon as his home was builded he began to assemble the people of the settlement to- gether for class meetings and preaching services. In those pioneer days these classes, as assembled, were not known as churches but as "Methodist societies" and the build- ings where they met as "meeting houses."

He was a man gifted with far more than ordinary intellectual powers, rare common sense, and executive force; these were all backed by great firmness and courage, all of which qualities were necessary in the ex- periences of pioneer life. He was a devout, earnest Christian, as was his wife, and, filled with a burning desire to help men to a better life, began both to teach in his cabin as early as 1805 and 1806.

Mr. Grimes was of medium height, ro- bust and muscular, and a carpenter by trade he erected a number of substantial build- ings in this neighborhood. Mr. Grimes and other Methodist ministers in their wide and earnest sweep over these western lands, con- tinued to hold divine services in his cabin. in those of the neighbors, and in the little one-story school house at the corner of Sec- ond and Third streets, for a number of years. In 1815 Mr. Grimes was ordained and licensed as a local deacon by Bishop Asbury, at Lebanon, Ohio, where the session of the Ohio conference was then held. The original certificate, signed by the bishop, is now in the possession of the writer. Under the leadership of Father Grimes and other devout preachers, Mrs. John Sutphin, Joseph Lummis, John Lummis, George Grimes, Benjamin King, Rebecca Bridge, Sarah Lummis, Mary Green, Susan Grimes, Mrs. James Heaton, Sarah Bowman, J. W. Leadman, Vina Pete, Israel and J. T. Gib- son, James Heath and Hugh McTigert be- came members of the church at the great religious awakenings that took place under

Mr. Grimes was possessed of a good education. for those times, and had a high and just appreciation of the advantages of education and Christian teaching, and he the leadership of the preachers of that day.

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In 1829 the society bought a piece of ley, George W. Maley, Alfred Lorain, ground on Second street, being a part of Charles Swayne, Samuel Brown, James Mc- Dowell, Dr. Latta, George Whitcome, Arthur Eliott, John Collins, Asa B. Stroud, John Sale, William Herr, Russell Bigelow, Moses Crume. William Raper, Joseph Hill, Thomas Collett and other fervent ministers were pastors and preachers in this brick church. lot 71, in this city, and in May of that year a deed was made by John Wiley to James Grimes, Benjamin King, Eli Green, George Grimes and John Lummis, trustees, in con- sideration of fifty dollars ; hereon the society erected a small brick meeting house of which the following is a correct picture.

This was the first brick meeting house in Middletown, and was dedicated by Bishop Soule, while Rev. T. A. Morris, afterward

This little church served the people from 1829 to 1849, when the society built a new two-story church on Broadway, on part of

LAV

James Grimes' Log Cabin, Middletown, Ohio.

a bishop, was a preacher on the circuit. then known as the Franklin circuit. To the above names of the log cabin era we add those of Samuel McQuity, Stephen Vail and wife. Joseph Barrett and Jonathan Pettit, who figured with those of earlier days in this, the Miram Jewell, Mary Vail. George and Charles Starr, David and George Pittman. Dr. Waldo, Nancy Ketcham, David and George Leebee, John Sutphin, Mary Dear- dorff. Joseph Barrett and Jonathan Pettit, who figured with those of early days in this, the brick era of the society.

Revs. Thomas A. Morris, James B. Fin-

lot 74, which building is still standing, as is the first brick church on Second street. This two-story church was dedicated by Rev. George W. Walker, a man of great elo- quence and power. In this house the con- gregation grew and was ministered to by Rev. A. Meharry. J. B. Ellsworth, M. G. Baker, M. Dustin, J. W. Weakly, T. S. Cowden, W. L. Hypes, D. C. Ridgeway, Michael Kauffman, F. M. Clemens, D. J. Starr, George H. Dart, W. H. Sutherland, J. R. Shannon, D. C. Vance and other good men.

Here the work grew. the congregation

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and Sunday school became too large and plans began to be made for a new house of worship. The new project was made cer- tain by a generous proposal from C. F.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 45

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