Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 23

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 23

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).

3,000.00

Total $564.002.21

LIABILITIES.

Capital Stock

$100 000.00

Surplus and Profits

23.494.50

Circulation

100,000.00

Deposits

340,507.71

Total $564,002.21

This bank has been justly distinguished for its conservative management. It has never passed its dividend, and in all the financial panics which have disturbed the country it has never failed to meet, on demand, all claims upon it. Depositors have felt that their money was as safe in the keeping of this bank as it would be in the vaults of the government.

THIE DEPOSIT BANKING COMPANY. In.

1867, as a result of the efforts of Henry A. Welch, a co-partnership was formed for con- (lucting a banking business in Delaware, un- der the name of the Deposit Banking Com- pany. The following men were members of the company: H. W. Pumphrey, William G. Williams, H. M. Carper, Hon. John D. Van Deman, E. R. Thompson, William Warren, Sr., Archibald Lybrand, John Brundige, S. P. Shur, J. J. Shur and Henry A. Welch. The bank opened for business in December, 1869. The business was continued as a co-partner- ship until May 14, 1890, when it was incor- porated under the State Banking Law. The following are the names of the incorporators : S. P. Shur, Prof. W. G. Williams, H. A. Welch, R. G. Lybrand and Samuel Lybrand. At the first election after the incorporation, the following officers were elected : S. P. Shur. president : H. A. Welch, vice-president ; N. P. Ferguson, cashier; R. R. Welch, assistant cashier. The following named gentlemen have filled the various offices of the bank down to the present time: Presidents, H. W. Pum- phrey, John Mendenhall, Archibald Lybrand and S. P. Shur, who now fills the office. Cash- iers, H. A. Welch until 1896; N. P. Ferguson, Fred T. Jones, and from 1898 to April 1, 1908, R. M. Avery was cashier. The latter was suc- ceeded by A. S. Conklin. H. W. Jones is the present assistant cashier. The present board of Directors comprises the following gentle- men : S. P. Shur, president : Christian Riddle, vice-president ; R. M. Avery, cashier; R. G. Lybrand. E. J. Healy. W. M. Heseltine and A. S. Conklin. Since its incorporation, the bank has been paying interest on time deposits. The bank has a capital. $50,000: surplus and un- divided profits, $37,300: deposits, $414,600; cash and due from banks, $138,700; loans. $316,400; Delaware County and City bonds. $32.858.

THE DELAWARE SAVINGS BANK COMPANY which is the oldest savings bank in the county. is patterned after The Fremont Savings Bank, in which President Hayes was largely inter- ested. He recommended something of the kind for his native city, and with this in view, the following gentlemen, Chauncy Hills. H. J.

THREE

/ BANK Of DELAWARE. ....... -per ret. Une Dollars on demand. ~

... .........

Hices Begre Presto

THREE DOLLAR BILL (Issued by the Bank of Delaware in 1818)

THE OLD BARNES HOMESTEAD (Now the Residence of Prof. W. W. Davies, Delaware)

RESIDENCE OF V. T. IHILLS, DELAWARE

....

MASONIC TEMPLE. ASHLEY

OHR.

HIGH SCHOOL, ASHLEY

159

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Mccullough, V. D. Stayman and J. L. Wolfley, incorporated The Delaware Savings Bank Company, on February 19, 1890.

The bank opened for business on July 27, 1891, with the following directors and officers : C. Hills, H. J. McCullough, John Powell, B. W. Brown. F. P. Hills, H. M. Perkins, J. H. Grove, Charles Brundige and R. K. Willis. H. M. Perkins, president; B. W. Brown, vice- president : C. O. Little, cashier. A new field seemed to have been opened up. and the bank immidiately started on a prosperous career. The opportunity to make large or small de- posits that could be withdrawn at any time. was immediately taken advantage of by a great number of Delaware County's thrifty people. Many of the thousands of accounts which have been opened with the bank are in the names of children, some of whom, today, have reached the age when they can realize what foresight their parents displayed years ago.

This bank has paid to its depositors over $130,000 in interest since its organization, and its deposits have steadily grown, until now they are larger than the deposits of any bank in the county. The present officers and direc- tors of the bank are: Dr. . A. J. Lyon, presi- lent : Prof. C. B. Austin, vice-president ; F. P. Hills, cashier since January 1, 1892; W. H. Bodurtha, assistant cashier. Besides the presi- clent, vice-president and cashier, the following men are members of the Board of Directors : Charles Brundige, Hon. B. F. Freshwater, Colonel J. M. Crawford. W. Shawaker, T. C. Jones and J. E. Mccullough. The following is the statement of the bank's assets and liabili- ties on February 29, 1908 :

RESOURCES.

L'oans and Discounts .$441.770.19

Bonds

08,127.25

Cash

32,509.33

Due from Banks 75,697.18

Furniture, Fixtures and Real Estate 4,450.00

Total

$652.553.95

LIABILITIES.

Capital Stock

$ 50.000.00

Surplus and Profits

34,705.16

Deposits

567.848.79

Total

$652,553.95

THE FARMERS BANK, Sunbury, Ohio. This bank was organized in October, 1872, with a capital of $50,000. The original stockholders were E. Kimball, John Hall, Alanson Knox, George Armstrong, George Grist, E. R. Thompson, O. D. Hough and B. Moore. The first officers were: Elias Kimball, president ; W. A. Thompson, cashier. The directors were Elias Kimball, E. R. Thompson, Alanson Knox, O. D. Hough and B. Moore. Mr. Kimball died soon after the organization of the bank, and was succeeded in the presidency by Mr. Moore. In 1875, Mr. O. H. Kimball became cashier. We have been unable to se- cure a connected history of the bank since the last named date, or a statement of its financial condition for publication. The following gen- tlemen are the present officers: John Landon, president ; J. J. Stark, vice-president. These gentlemen, with C. W. Parton and G. J. Burr. are the directors. Owen A. Kimball is cashier.

THE BANK OF ASHLEY was established in 1884, and is owned by the private banking firm of Sperry & Wornstaff. It has resources of $150,000. Both members of the firm are men of wealth. Mr. Sperry devotes his entire time to the banking business, while Mr. Worn- staff's time is occupied in looking after his large farming interests.

THE FARMERS SAVINGS BANK COMPANY, of Ashley, is a State bank, incorporated Au- gust 26, 1904. It was opened for business on February 9, 1905. It has a capital stock of $25,000, and on August 7. 1907, its deposits were $128,943.56. The following gentlemen are the officers of the bank: President. W. Slack ; vice-president, T. J. Cole : cashier, F. E. Whipple ; assistant cashier. F. J. Riley. Direc- tors : W. Slack, J. F. Wilt, H. B. Blair, T. J. Cole. B. F. McMaster, Isaac Clark. R. D. Mc- Gonigle.

THE BANK OF GALENA COMPANY. of Galena, was incorporated in January, 1902. Its capital stock is $50,000, and its cash capital paid in is $25,000. The following are the di- rectors and officers of the bank: William D. Miller, president ; John H. Dustin, vice-presi- (lent : J. J. Adams, cashier ; George W. Bright.

160

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

Charles Horton. Edward Hall and W. F. Ben- 11ett.

THE OSTRANDER BANKING COMPANY, of Ostrander, Ohio, was organized in March, 1903, under the banking laws of Ohio. W. H. Carr is president, and William Harris is cash- ier. The directors are WV. H. Carr, J. C. Maugans, Marion Kirkland, H. W. Ritten- house and J. I. Adamson. The resources of the bank amount to $141,000. Since its or- ganization, the bank has had a healthy growth and gives substantial promise for the future.

BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION. As far as the records show, the first association incor- porated in Ohio was "The Delaware Building Association" of Delaware. The articles of in- corporation were filed with the secretary of the State on February 20, 1867. There were few such institutions in the State at that time, and these were modeled on the German plan. Build- ing and Loan Associations soon became very popular in the cities of Ohio. The original idea was to furnish cheap money, on long time, to poor people, thus enabling them to purchase or to build homes, or to pay off in- debtedness on homes already acquired. Hun- dreds of people in Delaware have reason to bless these beneficent institutions. Nothing ever gave a greater stimulus to the building of homes in our city than the old Delaware Building Association.

The plan on which the association was based has been brought to the attention of Hon. J. D. Van Deman by a citizen of Day- ton. He studied the plan, and with the aid of Mr. C. E. Hills, who was always a leader in all public enterprises, a Building Association in Delaware was started. A charter was ob- tained, as already started, and Messrs. Van Deman and Hills canvassed the city for stock subscriptions. It is said that during this time. there was more figuring in interest and weekly payments, and calculating when the association would probably pay out than was ever seen before: the fences about town were covered with figures. The full amount of stock was soon subscribed, and the association opened its doors with Hon. John D. Van Deman as president, and John J. Glover, now in the De-

partment of Justice, at Washington, as secre- tary.

The money was put up at auction, and loaned to the bidder offering to pay the highest premium above the rate of interest. The as- sociation was successful from the beginning. and being on the terminal plan, it paid out in a little over seven years. Many a family had a home through this institution who would always have been homeless were it not for its methods.

When the association expired by limitation. all the stockholders met in Templer Hall; the president cancelled all the mortgages and de- livered them to the stockholders, who thus had their homes free from incumbrance. Other associations followed, but the first was the most successful of them all.

There are now two building and loan as- sociations in Delaware, but their plan of or- ganization and operation are quite different from the one we have just noted. Money is no longer put up at auction, nor are shares sold on the terminal plan. Money is loaned on mortgages in the regular way, at a stated rate of interest, the mortgagor having the privi- lege of paying any part or all of the principal at any time.

THE PEOPLE'S BUILDING AND LOAN COM- PANY was incorporated in October. 1885. by J. Hipple, James M. Jones, John Donahue. Ilon. F. M. Marriott and H. L. Baker. At first its capital stock was $800,000; this was later increased to $1,000,000, and when this was all subscribed, the stock in 1905, was in- creased to $2,000,000. When the company started, it did business like any other building and loan association of those days, charging a legal rate of interest, and in addition, by put- ting the money up at auction, it secured a premium, which amounted to extra interest. A good many years ago this plan was aban- doned. and a fixed rate of interest (seven per cent. ) was charged. In November, 1899. the rate of interest was fixed at six per cent., and this rate has remained unchanged to the pres- ent time.

The Board of Directors consists of nine miemlers, three of whom are elected eaclı

16I

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

year by the stockholders for a term of three years. This board manages the affairs of the company. In October, 1907, there were 1.644 members, and their deposits amounted to $345.000. The value of loans outstanding was $354.971.09. The reserve fund for con- tingent losses was $12.179.85.

The present officers of the company are : C. Riddle, president: R. G. Lybrand, vice- president : H. C. Clippinger, secretary ; E. F. Young. assistant secretary, and R. M. Avery, treasurer. The following gentlemen consti- tute the present Board of Directors: C. Rid- dle. R. G. Lybrand. W. Kurrley, R. J. Pum- phrey. J. G. Hoffman, James Ousey, J. H. Cunningham, J. E. Campbell and T. J. Grif- fin.

The company loans only on first mortgages on city and farm lands in Delaware County. Settlements are made semi-annually, and all sums paid in excess of the interest due are applied on the principal. The careful manage- ment of this company is indicated by the fact that it owns no real estate.

THE FIDELITY BUILDING ASSOCIATION AND LOAN COMPANY was incorporated Jan- uary 19, 1887. by H. J. Mccullough, H. A. Welch. J. D. Van Deman and William T.

Gessner. At that time the capital stock was $400,000, and on June 9. 1890, this was in- creased to $1,000,000. The present Board of Directors is composed of the following gentle- men : D. H. Battenfield, Dr. W. P. Caldwell. Harry L. Clark, Robert J. Cox, M. Miller, Eugene P. Nash, F. J. R. Pfiffner, V. D. Stay- man and John D. Van Deman. The officers are: D. Il. Battenfield, president : V. D. Stayman, vice-president : Frank S. Watkins, secretary: R. B. Powers, treasurer. So care- ful has the management of this company been in making loans that at the present time it holds no real estate. This company is the only one in Delaware that loans money to build. The purposes of the company are well stated in the following paragraph, which we quote from its prospectus :

"It is the purpose of the company to place the resources of the investors at the disposal of the borrowing classes upon a safe, sound and equitable basis, affording the investor ab- solute security and a reasonable rate of inter- est, and the borrower convenient facilities for paying both interest and principal, with every safeguard that human ingenuity can suggest thrown around both."

CHAPTER IX.

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

The Ladies' Christian Union-Delaware County Infirmary-Children's Home of Delaware- Home for the Aged-Jane M. Case Memorial Hospital-Girls' Industrial Home.

THE LADIES CHRISTIAN UNION.

The Ladies' Christian Union, the oldest charitable organization in Delaware, had its beginning in response to the cry of a babe born in February. 1869. to a mother so poor that she could provide no clothing for its coming. This sad case came to the attention of James Jami- son and Judge M. L. Griffin, who were then trustees of Delaware Township. They con- sulted with Mrs. T. B. Williams, whose ready sympathy aroused her to immediate action. She set out to call upon Mrs. C. C. Chamber- lain and Mrs. W. P. Reid, two ladies whose names, during their lives, were identified with every charitable and public-spirited movement in this city. Mrs. Williams met these ladies on the sidewalk in front of Mrs. Chamber- lain's residence and made known her errand. Mrs. Chamberlain at once said. "We ought to call the ladies together and organize a so- ciety." So, on the following Sunday, the clergymen of the city, at the request of the ladies, announced from their pulpits that all ladies who would be interested in organizing a society for charitable work were invited to be present at a meeting called for that purpose at the residence of Mrs. C. C. Chamberlain on a certain day of the following week. Mrs. Chamberlain's home was located on Sandusky Street where the Delaware Hardware Com- pany now does business. Her parlors had ai- ready become historic, not only socially, but as the place where many a religious and benevo-

lent enterprise, had had its birth-becoming, finally, a very "storm center" of woman's patriotic word and work, as she kept brightly burning the home fires 'mid the stormy days of '61-65. The meeting was largely at- tended, and an organization effected, of which Mrs. Joanna Murray was elected president, Mrs. Abram Thomson, first vice-president ; Mrs. Hosea Williams, second vice-president ; Mrs. Charles McElroy, secretary ; Mrs. W. F. Whitlock, treasurer. At the following meet- ing. the name of the organization was sug- gested. by Mrs. Abram Thomson, and was adopted. The make-up and work of the Union is reflected in its name-"Ladies" denoting its womanly character-"Christian" the spiritual as well as temporal work contemplated- "Union" its cosmopolitan or undenominational character. Soon after, a constitution and by- laws were adopted, and these have undergone but little change during the nearly forty years of good work accomplished by this society. The object of the Union is to help, mainly, sick women and children, or families where the husband and father is sick or disabled for work. Clothing, food and such other helps as the circumstances may require are provided, but money is never given, the Ward Workers making such purchases as may be necessary. An important feature of the work is keeping children warmly and decently clad, so they can attend the public schools. Some years the money expended has amounted to $400. but in recent years it has averaged about $150, be-

163

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

sides clothing, food, etc., which has been do- nated to the Union.

For seven years the treasury was re- plenished by membership dues, public and pri- vate donations, and an annual dinner that usually netted from $300 to, at one time, $600. The most largely attended dinner was that at which Rutherford B. Hayes, who was then governor of Ohio, and Mrs. Hayes, were the guests of honor. Later the payment of mem- bership fees was discontinued, and while the Union has never been without money, and its wardrobe has never been empty, there came at one time a falling off in its financial resources that caused some anxiety on the part of its of- ficers. The day is well remembered by some of the older workers, when General J. S. Jones stopped one of their number between the Court House and Jones' Block, and said: "Did you know that there was a law authorizing the levying of a special tax for the poor of a city the size of this? The machinery of your 'Christian Union' is in good working order- only money lacking: why not avail yourself of this help that the law provides?" The law referred to provided for a tax to be voted by the people, not to exceed three-fourths of a mill. the fund so raised to remain under the control of the City Council, and to be dis- tributed by a committee appointed by the Council, and making to it monthly reports. In 1876, a vote having been carried at the spring election to levy this tax, the Council so or- dered. appointing as its committee three ladies from the Christian Union ; and from that time funds flowed into its treasury. About this time it was deemed advisable to incorporate the Union under the laws of Ohio. Later this support from the city was withdrawn, and since that time, the Union has depended for the means to carry on its work upon donations of money, clothing, food, etc. For many years before her death, one of the benevolent ladies of Delaware sent the Union $50 every Christ- mas, and many times provided a Christmas dinner for every family which it was helping.

The Union has always had the co-operation of the city officials, the township trustees, and the truant officer, by whom cases are often re- ferred to the workers.

Meetings are held once a month, except in times of especial need, when they are held twice a month. At first. the meetings were held in Mrs. Chamberlain's parlors, and afterwards at the homes of the different officers; later the Union was given the use of a room in the Court House, and when the needs of the county made it necessary to withdraw this privilege. a room was provided in the City Hall, where the members met until the Masonic Temple was completed. The Union then moved into a room in the Temple which had been especially adapted to its need, and which had been con- veyed to the organization by a perpetual lease given by Mr. Sidney Moore. and Mrs. Moore. by whom the building was erected and pre- sented to the Masonic order.

The following are the names of the ladies who have filled the different offices since the organization of the Union, though at this time we are not able to give them in chron- ological order. Presidents, Mrs. Joanna Mur- ray. Mrs. Abram Thomson, Mrs. T. B. Wil- liams, Mrs. F. Merrick, Mrs. J. C. Evans, Mrs. James Barnes, Mrs. W. P. Reid, Mrs. W. O. Semans. Secretaries. Mrs. Charles McElroy, Mrs. William Little, Miss F. Perkins, Mrs. T. C. O'Kane. Treasurers, Mrs. W. F. Whit- lock. Mrs. J. W. Lindsey. Mrs. John A. Little. Mrs. W. W. Davies.

From the beginning, there have been two visitors appointed for each ward of the city. It is the work of these ladies to discover the needy cases, visit them and report the result of their investigations and efforts to the or- ganization. It should be stated here that 110 one connected with the Ladies' Christian Union receives any remuneration, except that blessed- ness which comes from giving both time and substance to those in need. We are unable to give a complete list of the ward visitors from the beginning, but among them are the follow- ing: Mrs. T. B. Williams, who is the oldest ward visitor: she has worked continuously in the East Ward from the beginning. Mrs. W. O. Semans was a ward visitor continuously from 1872 until within a short time. when the condition of her health made it necessary for her to give up a little of the more arduous work: Mrs. J. J. Shur, Mrs. Loofbourrow.

164

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY

Alrs. Charles Crawford, Mrs. Shattuck, Mrs. Thomas Evans, Mrs. George Eaton, Mrs. H. MI. Carper, Miss Matikla Dickinson, Mrs. T. F. Joy, Mrs. E. Butler, Mrs. Dr. Goldrick, and many others.

The present officers of the organization are : Mrs. W. O. Semans, president ; Mrs. N. Wagner, vice-president ; Mrs. W. M. Semans, secretary ; Mrs. W. B. Patton, treasurer ; Mrs. W. W. Davies, assistant treasurer. Ward Visitors: Mrs. C. B. Austin, Mrs. T. D. Tharp, Mrs. W. B. Patton, Mrs. J. Markle, Mrs. N. Wagner, Mrs. T. B. Williams, Mrs. C. W. Wiles.

While the work of the Ladies' Christian Union has been unostentatious, the amount of good it has accomplished will never be known this side of eternity. It has the approval and support of every public-spirited and generously disposed person. Wherever there is need, there these unselfish women are found minis- tering to it with words of cheer and solace for the mind, and physical necessities and comforts for the body, given with an intelligent sym- pathy, and regardless of the personal sacrifices that may be involved. They cannot fail to hear the words: "Come, ye blessed of my Fa- ther, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, * * for ] was an hungered, and ye gave me meat : I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink : 1 was a stranger and ye took me in : naked, and ye clothed me : I was sick, and yet visited me."

DELAWARE COUNTY INFIRMARY.

The early pioneers of Delaware County were, as a class, energetic and industrious, thrifty, self-reliant and provident ; among them pauperism was practically unknown. As time went on, however, and the population in- creased, families were found who became ob- jects of charitable consideration. Some of these were adventurers who had been attracted hither by the apparent prospects of wealth without work; others were thriftless or im- prudent ; then there were those who were men- tally or physically incapacitated for the battle of life, and some who were victims of misfor- tunes. Kind-hearted neighbors and friends

cared for cases of this kind until the burden became too great to be borne by private indi- viduals, and so, in 1852, we find the county commissioners, Ezra Olds, O. D. Hough and Joseph Cellars, appointing three directors to see what provision could be made for the care of these unfortunates. The directors, Hora- tio P. Havens, Amos Utley and William M. Warren, interviewed many of the leading citi- zens, and it was finally decided to purchase a farm and erect suitable buildings for the care of the destitute.

In 1854, the Joseph Blair farm, consisting of 1131/2 acres of land in Brown Township, and located about half a mile west of the vil- lage of Eden, and five and one-half miles northeast of Delaware, was purchased. A substantial brick building was erected, forty by 140 feet in dimensions. The wings on the east and west sides of the main building are each forty feet long and two stories high. These wings, and the rear of the main build- ing, are uesd by the inmates, while the front of the house is used by the superintendent and his family. There is a large basement under the entire building. On the first floor is the store room, wash room, kitchen, dining rooms, pantries, and a few bed rooms. The second story is divided into sleeping apartments.

When this farm was first purchased, the wisdom of the commissioners in selecting this location was called in question. For the larger part of the year the place was almost inaccessible, owing to the condition of the mud roads leading to it. Part of the farm was covered by water, and much of the rest of it was swamp and forest. The buildings on the farm were not worth considering for the pur- pose for which the farm was purchased. But this description does not apply to the farm as we find it todoy. Much of the land has been cleared and tilled, giving the county a farm of great fertility, adapted to raising fruits and vegetables as well as general farm crops. An excellent orchard was planted, and this pro- vides a large part of the fruit consumed. Everything is done to make comfortable the unfortunates who are dependent upon the char- ity of the county in their declining years.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 23

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 926

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926