USA > Ohio > Miami County > Troy > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 24
USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > Centennial history. Troy, Piqua and Miami county, Ohio > Part 24
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The Young Men's Christian Association of Piqua is another prominent institution which has already accomplished a great work. Since its founding a few years ago it has advanced along the lines of moral improvement until it has reached the posi- tion it occupies today. It is the only insti- tution of the kind in the county. Others which have been suggested have not ma- terialized, so that Piqua may be called the pioneer in this direction. This excellent Y. M. C. A. has the following officers : President, J. H. Clark ; vice-president, H. K. Wood; secretary, J. F. Stewart; treas- urer, E. M. Bell; general secretary, Ed- mund McDonald, Jr .; musical director, Christ F. Kunz, Jr .; office secretary, Ray Besanceney ; board of trustees, Charles H. Brown, H. H. Gravett; D. O .; E. W. Lape, D. F. Licklider, L. W. Pool, A. G. Rundle, C. F. Wilder, J. B. Williamson.
Woman's Christian Temperance Union -The county has been thoroughly organ- ized by the Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union. There are branches of this noble institution in every township and the workers are indefatigable in the good cause. The W. C. T. U. of Miami County is of comparatively recent growth. A few years ago there were few within the county but through the earnest effort of the Chris- tian women the work has received a stim- ulus which has not been allowed to lag. Following are the presidents of the vari- ous unions now in the county, with the name of the president of each organiza- tion: West Milton, Mrs. Rev. Maxwell; Laura, Mrs. Mattie Brandon; Potsdam, Mrs. E. P. Stauffer; Phoneton, Mrs. Ollie Bell; Brandt, Mrs. Emma Heffner ; Tippe- canoe City, Mrs. Mary Ross; Piqua, Mrs. John Miller, Bradford; Mrs. Margaret Winters; Lena, Mrs. Ida Duer; Coving- ton, Mrs. Amanda Kendig; Pleasant Hill, Mrs. Martha Shaffer; Troy, Mrs. Mary Westlake; Casstown, Mrs. Callie Webb.
Young Women's Christian Temperance Union-There are five Young Women's Christian Temperance Unions in the county in addition to the foregoing. They are as follows: Fletcher, president, Mrs. J. E. Eichelbarger; Pleasant Hill, Mrs. Bertha Troas ; Piqua, Mrs. Ida Bayes; Covington, Miss Lova Williams ; Troy, Miss Sue Stat- ler. There are also two Young Men's Christian Temperance Unions. The Troy Y. M. C. T. U. was organized three years ago and is now in a flourishing condition with a membership of over sixty. This society las rooms on Water Street in the Mccullough Building, where a Bible class is conducted. Another Y. M. T. C. U. is conducted at Ludlow Falls.
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A Colored People's Temperance Union is conducted in Troy, of which Mrs. Eliza- beth Fletcher, wife of Rev. Fletcher, is president. Summing up, Miami County has over 600 members of the various tem- perance unions operated today within its borders and these societies have worked untiringly to secure local option within the county and as Miami last fall voted dry, they feel that they have achieved a great victory.
Apropos of temperance in 1873 an at- tempt was made to rid the county of its saloons in a decidedly unique manner. This is called the Woman's Crusade. Bands of women appeared in front of saloons and held religious services on the sidewalk. The excitement extended to the remotest borders of the county and continued till the end of the crusade. Despite the earnest efforts of the women but little was effected. The Crusaders were, as a rule, treated re- spectfully by the vendors of liquor and in some instances were permitted to hold services in the bar-rooms. Very few men took part in the Crusade of 1873, the whole work devolving upon the women. After awhile the Crusaders discovered that their efforts were unavailing and the effort was abandoned. In 1908 the second crusade against the liquor interests was inaugu- rated under the provisions of the Rose Law recently passed by the Legislature. The requisite number of signatures to call an election were secured and this event took place November 24th. . Prior to the election an exciting campaign was inaugu- rated by the opposing parties known as the "wets" and the "drys," temperance or local option meetings were held in every section of the county and great demonstra- tions were held in the larger towns. Speak-
ers from other states were introduced into the county and the campaign was not en- tirely free from personal "amenities." The liquor men whose headquarters were in Piqua held no public meetings. One of the largest votes ever polled in the county was had on the 24th. It resulted in a ma- jority of 1,309 for the "drys." On De- cember 24th the saloons and breweries in the county closed their doors and Miami joined the other "dry" districts of the State.
The Woman's Christian Association of Troy is a strong charitable organization which is given rooms in the City Building by the City Council. Here every Satur- day afternoon the members of the society conduct a sewing-school, teaching the chil- dren of the poor how to sew. As soon as a child completes a garment it is given her to wear, and thus many of the poorer chil- dren are taught how to become neat seam- stresses and so grow up able to earn a good living. This society also takes special pride in looking after the comfort of the poor of the city and many families are kept by them through the rigors of the winter. Annually the Knights of Pythias of Troy give a Charity Ball, the proceeds of which are turned over to the Woman's Christian Association for expenditure among the needy as is also the annual Thanksgiving offering at the Union Thanksgiving services.
Ball Memorial Hospital-The only pub- lic hospital in the county is the Ball Me- morial Hospital at Piqua. This hospital was opened a few years ago and is con- dueted on advanced lines. It employs a corps of competent surgeons and nurses and so far has been very successful, treat- ing all kinds of cases. It was erected large-
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ly through the instrumentality of a Mr. Ball, who was once a prominent resident of the city. A few years ago a hospital was opened at Troy, but it was not op- erated very long and now no longer exists.
The beginning of the Memorial Hospital was had in 1904 when Mrs. Edward C. .Thayer, of Keene, N. H., proposed to erect and give to the city a hospital to cost $20,- 000, to be known as the Memorial Hospi- tal, in memory of the late De Los C. Ball, her brother, and at one time a respected resident of Piqua. The generous offer was accepted and five acres on Park Avenue were secured. The hospital is conven- iently situated and is one of the most com- plete hospitals in the country. All depart- ments are well equipped. The operating room, sterilizing and anæsthetizing rooms are on the third floor, also a pathological laboratory for the accommodation of phy- sicians. The hospital was dedicated and formally presented to the public with im- pressive ceremonies, November 30th, 1905, but was not opened till the following December. It was founded and maintained for the benefit of all classes, and is man- aged by a Board of Trustees, composed of twelve citizens of Piqua, assisted by a Board of Lady Managers. At present it is officered as follows: President, W. P. Orr; vice-president, John H. Young; treasurer, Henry Flesh ; secretary, George M. Peffer; superintendent, Elabeath L. Hatfield. Board of Trustees: Gen. W. P. Orr, John H. Young, Henry Flesh, George H. Rundle, Robert H. Patterson, James R. Duncan. (Life Members) : Term ex- pires 1913-Charles L. Wood, Samnel K. Statler; Terms expire 1911-Daniel Spen- cer. George A. Brooks; Term expires 1909-Samuel Zollinger, Frank Lange.
Trustee ex-Officio-The Mayor of the City of Piqua.
School Libraries-About forty years ago nearly every school had a circulating library, but these were discontinued and now few rural schools possess anything of the kind. The smaller towns of the county depend somewhat for their reading mat- ter on the inadequate bookshelves of the high schools, but outside of Troy and Piqua no regularly officered libraries are in existence. The two exceptions are the outgrowth of earnest work on the part of citizens, especially the ladies, and with lit- tle effort similar institutions could be es- tablished and kept up in the lesser towns.
Social Clubs-Within the county a large number of social clubs exist. The mem- bership is almost exclusively feminine. The Altrurian Club of Troy is probably the best known of these literary and social or- ganizations. Most of these women's clubs belong to a State Federation which is un- der the jurisdiction of the National Fed- eration. The members of these clubs hold weekly meetings, at which literary papers are read and discussed. Some of the pa- pers describe personal travel by the au- thors, while others discuss a certain era, giving a pen picture of past events and celebrated personages. Of late years the club has become quite popular in the coun- ty and there are few progressive women who are not connected with one or more of these organizations. In another chap- ter will be found some of the organizations conducted by the women of the county.
The Civic League-An attempt was made during 1908 to establish what was called a Civic League which was to benefit the colored race. The league appeared to meet with some success and its prospects
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were favorably commented upon, but in a short time the leaven of politics was in- jected into the organization and disrupted it. Since that time nothing has been heard of the Civic League. It passed out of ex- istence and in all probability will not be revived. There are numerous local socie- ties in the county which do not come within the scope of a work of this kind. These exist within certain neighborhoods and families and comprise in part social or- ganizations which culminate annually in family reunions. All these clubs are offi- cered and the membership of some is large. Almost every well known family now has an organized club and in some cases family histories have been published. Each of the clubs has a historian whose duty it is to gather family data and present the same at the annual gatherings. In this way traditions are collected and preserved and relationship extended. Several of the largest family clubs meet annually at the Miami County Fair grounds.
Regimental Organizations-Apart from the clubs mentioned stand the regimental organizations which embrace the old vet- erans and their families. These reunions are separate and apart from the depart- ment encampments of the Grand Army
and Woman's Relief Corps. These regi- mental reunions are held every year by the several regiments from this county that served in the War of the Rebellion, and the gatherings are most interesting in character. At these reunions the fast disappearing wearers of the Blue live over the camp, the march and the battle. Camp- fires form a noted feature of these gath- erings which will be kept up till the last veteran has answered the roll call and passed beyond to rest "in the shade of the trees."
The Maryland Association of Ohio was organized in Miami County in 1897. It is composed of Marylanders and their de- scendants residents of Ohio. From a small affair the society has reached state- wide proportions and meets annually, though not always within the limits of the county. It has now a membership of 3,000. The present officers of the association are Albert Kerns, president; T. C. Harbaugh, secretary, and S. T. Fout, treasurer. This completes the list of public institutions, societies, etc., which properly come under the head of the present chapter. All men- tioned are flourishing and well conducted and there is not one that is not a credit to the county in which it exists.
CHAPTER XVI.
BANKS AND BANKING
Early Currency; Its Instability-The Old State Banks-The First National Bank of Troy Organized-The Miami County Bank and Troy National Bank-The Piqua National Bank-The Citizens' National Bank of Piqua-The Piqua Savings Bank Company-The Tippecanoe National Bank-The Citizens' National Bank of Tip- pecanoe City-Banks of West Milton, Covington, Pleasant Hill, Bradford, Etc .- Stability of Miami County's Financial Institutions.
The history of banking in Miami County may be briefly told. The banks now in operation and successfully so are the suc- cessors of the old State banks which were the first mediums of financial exchange. Prior to the establishment of the State banks the meager currency of the country was poor indeed. Before the War of 1812 the circulating medium was the almost worthless sharp-skins or cut-money, a de- scription of which has already been given. There were no banks operating in this lo- cality at that time, for the State banks did not come into existence till after the War. While they were a great advance in the way of monetary affairs they were, to some extent, looked upon with distrust. Before the coming of the banking institu- tions which flourish today, the excellent national banks and those chartered under the present banking laws of the State, in- cluding the savings banks, the country went through the "wild-cat" regime,
which is well remembered by our older citizens.
This period of poor and depreciated cur- rency was the nightmare of every business man and those who handled money. Every merchant was compelled to keep in his desk a "detector" which, to a certain ex- tent, kept him informed as to the value of the bills which passed over his counter. A person going from one state into another often found that his money carried him no further than the state line. There was really nothing behind the "wild-cat" banks. Half the time their issue was "up in the air" so to speak. They were fairly good today and tomorrow their currency was not worth the paper upon which it was printed. Banks failed everywhere and the holders of the bills had no recourse what- ever. If a light-fingered gentleman picked a traveler's pocket he got nothing for his pains but a lot of bills whose value as stated on their face was a prevarication.
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· IHISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
Some of the State and wild-cat bank- notes were beautifully engraved and well printed. In fact, they were marvels of the engraver's skill. Counterfeits were abun- dant, and in many instances were as good as the genuine, owing to the instability of the prevailing banks. A merchant sending bank bills, say to the East or even into an adjoining state, in payment of goods, was apt to have his money returned with the information that the banks of issue had "gone out of business." This period was one of financial uncertainty. It kept every handler of money suspicious and conse- quently exercised a deleterious influence on trade.
The State banks were much better than the others, but in time the need of a better banking system than they afforded called for improvement. In 1863 the First Na- tional Bank of Troy was established as a successor to the Miami County Branch of the State Bank, which was founded in 1847. The first officers were: President, Asa Coleman; cashier, John C. Culbert- son; teller and book-keeper, Daniel W. Smith. Directors-Jacob Knoop, Sr., Dan- iel Brown, George Smith, Asa Coleman, Lewis Hayner and H. W. Allen. In 1865 H. W. Allen was elected president and ). W. Smith cashier, positions which hold to this day. The First National in 1908 The present Piqua National Bank was incorporated as the Piqua Branch of the State Bank of Ohio in 1847 with a capital stock of $100,000, by William Scott, Jos. G. Young, H. W. Hughes, J. D. Holtzer- man, Stephen Winans, Robert Young, L. R. Brownell, and J. A. Schmidlapp. Will- iam Scott was its first president and Jos. G. Young its first cashier. On March 13, 1865, it was reorganized as the Piqua Na- erected a new fire-proof banking house and its present officers follow: President, Henry W. Allen; vice-president, Cyrus T. Brown; cashier, D. W. Smith; assistant cashier, John H. Drury ; teller, C. E. Sny- der; Savings Department-Walter G. Wells; book-keeper, Roy Fish; Directors -H. W. Allen, C. T. Brown, S. K. Statler, H. M. Allen, C. J. Harr, John McClain, J. S. Coombs, A. B. Thackera, C. U. tional Bank, with William Scott, presi-
Briggs. It was the fifty-ninth National Bank to be started in the United States. Its capital is $200,000. The First National is considered one of the safest banks in the country.
The Miami County Bank was estab- lished in 1871 by W. H. H. Dye and Son and in 1879 passed into the hands of an- other corporation headed by H. H. Weak- ly. It has a capital of $50,000. Later on, in 1888, it became the Troy National Bank, with a capital of $100,000. Its first officers were: President, N. H. Albaugh; vice- president, John M. Campbell; cashier, Noalı Yount ; assistant cashier, Charles E. Wilson. Noah Yount was cashier of the Miami County Bank under the Weakley management. The present officers of the Troy National are: President, John M. Campbell; vice-president, D. M. McCul- lough; cashier, Walter E. Bowyer; assist- ant cashiers, Noah Yount, John K. De- frees ; teller, H. E. Scott; book-keeper, V. C. Levre. Directors-John M. Campbell, D. M. Mccullough, W. H. Francis, A. G. Stouder, Jacob Henne, E. F. Sayers, R. W. Saunders, W. P. Martin, A. M. Heywood. The Troy National, with the First Na- tional, pays interest on time deposits, has safety deposit boxes and does a safe bank- ing business.
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dent, J. G. Young, cashier, and Henry B. Greenham, assistant cashier. Its capital stock was increased to $200,000. During the forty-three years of its existence its net profits have been over one million dol- lars, from which dividends have been paid to the amount of $855,565. A balance of more than $200,000 is still carried as un- divided profits. The present official force of the Piqua National is: George H. Run- dle, president; H. K. Wood, vice-presi- dent ; John H. Young, cashier; George M. Peffer, assistant cashier; August S.
Clonse, teller; G. E. Folk and F. H. King, book-keepers. Directors-G. H. Rundle, H. K. Wood, Jas. R. Duncan, J. W. Brown, J. H. Clark, C. N. Adlard, J. B. Sheridan, Daniel Spencer, J. W. Daniels, Joe F. Cop- pock and John H. Young. This bank has the confidence of the entire community and is listed as one of the best institutions of the kind in the banking business.
The Citizens' National, also of Piqua, was organized in 1866 by William and M. N. MeGrew. It started business with a capital of $100,000. In 1867 the MeGrews sold out to G. Volney Dorsey and Robert B. Moores. Dr. Dorsey became president and his partner cashier. The present per- sonnel of the Citizens' National is as fol- lows: President, W. P. Orr; vice-presi- dent, Samnel Zollinger; cashier, Henry Flesh; assistant cashier, Frank B. Zoe; teller, F. P. Irvin. Directors-W. P. Orr, S. K. Statler, Samuel Zollinger, W. MeC. Dorsey, W. A. Snyder, L. M. Flesh, A. M. Orr, Joseph Wolcott and Henry Flesh. This banking house has enjoyed prosper- ity from its inception and is accounted a safe and sound institution. Among its older officers were C. S. Parker, vice-presi- dent, and H. C. Landis, cashier. Its pres-
ent capital is $150,000 and its volume of business done in a year is approximately $5,000,000.
The Piqna Savings Bank Company is one of the best financial institutions in the county. It was organized in October, 1901, and ever since has been successfully con- dneted. Its present corps of officers is as follows: President, W. P. Orr; first vice- president, L. M. Flesh; second vice-presi- dent, George Benkert; cashier, Jolın L. Prugh; assistant cashier, W. B. Dubois ; Directors-W. P. Orr, L. M. Flesh, George Genkert, Henry Flesh, S. K. Statler, John W. Yenney, John W. Brown, L. E. Cham- berlin, W. B. Snyder, John L. Boyer, A. M. Orr. This bank is capitalized at $100,000 and does a very large banking business, having the confidence of all.
The Tippecanoe National Bank was organized March 5, 1883, and commenced business August 27, of that year. Its first officers were : Samuel Sullivan, president ; Jacob Rohrer, vice-president ; A. W. Miles, cashier; Directors-Samuel Sullivan, Ja- cob Rohrer, G. W. Weakley, W. W. Crane, J. W. Bowman, William Ashworth, John Brown. It has a capital of $60,000 and its deposits and loans have increased from $42,000 to $250,000 during the last twenty- five years. The present officers of the Tip- pecanoe National Bank are: President, T. C. Leonard; vice-president, E. L. Crane; cashier, A. W. Miles; assistant cashier, E. L. Crane; Directors-T. C. Leonard, William Ashworth, J. W. Bow- man, A. W. Miles, E. L. Crane, W. E. Crane, A. L. Harshbarger. Always reli- able and careful, the Tippecanoe National has the entire confidence of a large and in- creasing clientele.
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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
The Citizens' National Bank of Tippe- canoe City was organized January 2, 1908. It has a capital of $50,000 with $12,500 of an undivided surplus. It is officered as follows: S. R. Fergus, president; S. D. Hartman, vice-president; C. O. Davis, cashier ; Directors-S. R. Fergus, Jacob Coppock, S. D. Hartman, C. O. Davis, T. J. Dinsmore, A. R. Garver, J. H. Pollman, R. M. Evans, W. E. Prill, L. C. Gissman, John Singer, George J. Smith, Henry Studebaker, Abe Studebaker, J. S. Stude- baker and L. N. Agenbroad. There is a bright future before this, one of the latest, banks to be established in this county, and its reliability is vouched for in its present efficient personnel.
The town of West Milton contains two banks. The first of these in point of or- ganization is the West Milton Bank, estab- lished in December, 1882. In 1908 it was succeeded by the First National Bank of West Milton, with a capital of $30,000. The first officers were Robert M. Douglass, president ; C. B. Douglass, vice-president ; D. F. Douglass, cashier. For twenty-five years this banking house has had the same corps of officers, with the addition of Gif- ford Donglass, who is the assistant cash- ier. The deposits of the First National now amount to $175,000, an excellent show- ing for a bank in an interior town.
The Citizens' National Bank of West Milton was organized in 1907. It has a paid-up capital of $18,000 and an anthor- ized one of $30,000 and its annual volume of business foots up more than half a mil- lion. The first and present elective officers are C. E. Emerick, president ; Adam Pfeif- er, first vice-president ; A. J. Iddings, sec- ond vice-president ; Noble B. Hunt, cash- ier; Ada M. Guagey, book-keeper. Direct-
ors-C. E. Emerick, Adam Pfeifer, A. J. Iddings, J. C. Henderson, Dr. W. H. Kess- ler, J. C. Minnich, B. J. Ford, L. A. Pear- son, G. N. Falkner. Though young in years the Citizens' National has its share of the banking business of the Stillwater region and gives good satisfaction.
The Stillwater Valley Bank of Coving- ton commenced business in 1871, and was incorporated as a state bank in 1908. It has a capital of $50,000 and does an an- nual banking business of over $200,000. It is officered at present as follows: J. Ken- dell, president; S. W. Ullery, vice-presi- dent ; J. Kendell, cashier ; and A. J. Maier, assistant cashier. The Stillwater Valley Bank is regarded as a sound banking house and enjoys a large and increasing patronage.
On May 31st, 1900, the Citizens' Na- tional Bank of Covington was incorporated with a capital of $25,000. Its first officers were Henry Flesh, president; J. W. Ruhl, vice-president; J. L. Goodnight, cashier ; J. G. Bartness and S. B. Freshour. At present its official force is Henry Flesh, president; J. W. Ruhl, vice-president; A. WV. Landis, cashier; Directors-J. W. Dowler, C. M. Patty, D. E. P. Faul and A. W. Landis. The average deposits amount to $100,000, showing a good finan- cial condition, which has gained much by careful management.
Of the lesser banking institutions of the county are the Fletcher Banking Com- pany, which has but one officer, P. L. Car- ter, cashier; the Pleasant Hill Banking Company, managed by Charles F. Perkins ; the Commercial Savings Bank of Troy, es- tablished within the year, and the First Na- tional Bank of Bradford, of which William Vermillion is cashier. The Building &
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Loan Associations will be found mentioned in Chapter XXIII.
The Pleasant Hill Banking Company, above referred to, one of the stable finan- cial institutions on the West Side, was in- corporated under the laws of Ohio. Its authorized capital is $25,000, average de- posits, $100,000, average loans, $80,000. Officers : David M. Coppack, president ; C. E. Perkins, cashier.
All the banking institutions of the county are conducted on a sound monetary basis and are carefully and intelligently man- aged by those in charge. Never to my knowledge has a single defalcation oc- curred. From the earliest dawn of Miami County banking our financial institutions have had the entire confidence of the com- munity ; they have passed through a num- ber of panics with their attendant depres- sions of business, but have emerged with their confidence unimpaired, which speaks well for their management and stability.
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