Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 49

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1086

USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th > Part 49

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).

"A review of education in Springfield with Hannah Haas left out, would ignore a very long and useful career. Before she began her work in connection with Springfield Seminary, Miss Haas gath- ered a little school in a house standing on the southwest corner of Fountain Avenue and Columbia Street. At another time she had a school in the basement of the church then known as the Associate Re- formed Presbyterian and later as the United Presbyterian. This house of worship, partly torn away to make room for Mr. James Carson's wholesale gro- cery, was recently wholly removed for the erection of Mr. E. S. Kelly's business block on Limestone Street. After occupy- ing a room in 'Trapper's Corner' for a brief time, Miss Haas then used the base- ment of the Episcopal Church, which then stood at the southwest corner of High and Limestone Streets. At another period she taught in the house on the Presby- terian Church lot alluded to in connec- tion with Miss Strong. Whether it grew out of the sympathy felt by the church for the school, or was a source of income to meet that vexatious question, 'current ex- penses,' so common in church finance, it will have been noted already in this nar- rative that the church edifice was the usual shelter of the school.

"The United Presbyterian Church was also used by Robert Black as a school of advanced grade; there are many of his students yet alive to attest to the excel- lence of his work in their behalf. In this same place was gathered the first public library, and here, too, a debating society held its meetings, which proved a valuable training for many who have since been much under public gaze. Robert Black remained long a citizen of this place and was recorder of the county for a term of years. Among others who used as a school room the Episcopal Church were Mrs. Lowndes, Miss Lavinia Baird, Laura and Virginia Miller, all of whom conduct- ed schools for little children.

"Miss Carrie Baird has the unique dis- tinction of having conducted in her own home a school for little ones who were un- able to pay the fees usually asked; prompted to do this simply as a means of doing what good she could. Miss Lavinia Baird at a later date gave instruction in a room over the tea store now on Foun- tain Avenue. These labors were about 1858.

"Where Central Methodist Episcopal Church now is was the site of a school kept by Miss Catherine Haas, sister of Miss Hannah Haas before named in this narrative.

"Miss Elizabeth Parker at a later date conducted a school on the site of Nathaniel Pinkered's early labors.

"A very interesting group of schools was located in the eastern portion of the town, then quite in the suburbs. Fifty years or more ago the tract east of Wal- nut Street and south of Main was farm, forest and orchard. Near the intersection of Walnut and High Streets was a frame

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structure in which an English gentleman (particular emphasis on gentleman) and his estimable wife kept school for all grades, including instruction in languages and higher branches. So long ago manual and industrial training were in vogue, for under Mrs. Miller's oversight sewing and embroidery were taught the girls; and women are still living who remember the instruction-and speak of the skill at- tained by several of the pupils. Mr. Mil- ler is remembered for the interest he took and inspired in his students in the study of astronomy. When Mr. Miller had re- moved to a new school near the corner of Main and Spring Streets, Miss Vicory succeeded him in the use of the building which was a part of her grandfather Merryfield Vicory's farm. Here also Miss Peet had a school afterward. ‘Kind and faithful' is the brief but expressive eulogy pronounced upon the memory of these teachers by one of the pupils.

"Across Mill Run, on the site of the East Street shops, and reached from the Vicory farm by a foot log, lay the little school presided over by Miss Emma Way. This one seems to have been the most re- mote from the center of the town.

"Three places are identified as the scenes of the labors of Mr. Orin Stimson, a pioneer in educational matters in Springfield; North Spring Street, a few rods north of Columbia Street, on the west side; South Limestone Street, near the former site of the Associate Reformed or United Presbyterian Church; northeast corner of Columbia and Factory Streets. There are many who recall the days spent in Mr. Stimson's school and attest his ability as a school man. He was one of

the victims of the cholera in its visitation about half a century ago.

"The lot now occupied by the mansion of Mr. John Foos has many scholastic as- sociations. Here in a large square frame house, Mrs. Anna Foos held a school dur- ing the summer terms of two years. Here also for one winter Mr. Cadwallader, and the next Mr. Buchanan served the rising young idea. It is a matter of regret that the details of this service, both as to facts and dates, are so meagre.

"Sam Lawton, of Miss Stowe's 'Old Town Folks,' was wont to say that a pretty face on the singer's seat, in church, was a means of grace. Apropos of this, there is a record that in the forest still surrounding the E. W. Ross homestead on East High Street there nestled a little school presided over by a woman of ac- complishments, to which were added un- usual charms of personal beauty ; declared by one admirer to have been the most beautiful woman of her time. Local his- tory should not fail, then, to place on its roll the name of Miss Minerva Aldrich. Miss Aldrich was followed in the conduct of this school by Miss Gunning.

"The records of many schools are so scant that the narrative reads like a page from a city directory; yet in order to preserve local traditions and history, these teachers will be set down in this chronicle of one phase of our city's life.

"Miss Smith, later wife of Judge Rodgers and mother of Professor Henry G. Rodgers, taught on the site of the Bowman Building, opposite the Teegar- den residence on West Main Street.

"Mrs. Woodward, mother of the late Librarian Woodward, taught where the

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

Farm and Fireside publishing house now stands.

"In a stone house removed to erect the business house of Conrad Nagel, as long ago as 1832-5, Mrs. Donohue had a school for little children. Here, too, Miss Fin- ley and later Mrs. Anna Foos wrought on plastic natures. So few of the school- rooms used in those 'elder days' still stand, that any, which survive the de- mands of business for room to expand, should be pointed out as interesting links between the past and present. The red brick cottage on West Columbia Street, under the shadow of St. John German Church, was one of those 'noisy man- sions' where, with varying tides of for- tune, master and youth struggled with the problems then confronting them. Rev. Mr. Pingree, Mr. William Wilson, and probably Miss Ebersole are some of those who taught school in this house.

"Close to the track of the Little Miami Railway, between Center and Factory Streets, stood the school of Miss Doolittle, which is remembered as one of the most popular and flourishing schools of that era of 'pay schools.'

"Few, even of the older citizens, re- member personally Mr. Isaac Lancey, who enjoys the distinction of being the first custodian of the first public library. Mr. Lancey had a school on Fountain Avenue where Union Hall now stands, in a two-story frame house set back from the line of the street. The building on West Washington Street now used by the National Biscuit Company, and formerly the Universalist Church, was the school- room of Mr. James Wilson and also of Rev. Mr. Pingree, who was also a pastor of the church.

"It is interesting to note that in many of the schools last named the Bible was the chief reading book, and formal in- struction in the catechisms of the churches was a part of the system.

"The educational advantages of Spring- field ere long began to attract attention from beyond her bounds, and created a demand for boarding schools for both sexes. About 1844 such an enterprise for girls was started by Rev. Mr. Moore in a building known as the "Linn," where the Gotwald-Zimmerman edifice now stands. This school was maintained for some time, remembered by many for the public examinations and literary exercises, which were held in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Moore afterward removed to Gran- ville, Ohio, in charge of a college.

"Perhaps no name filled so large a place in public esteem as that of Rev. Chandler Robbins, who was identified in so many ways with the education of Springfield's youth. He was first called to the principalship of the Springfield High School, as the institution still stand- ing on East High Street was then called, and served acceptably five years. After an absence of three years in the South, Mr. Robbins returned to Springfield and in 1848 established Greenway Institute, a boarding school for boys. This school was first located on the Foos property, before mentioned, and. is said to have taken its name from the beautiful grounds surrounding the school.

"In 1851 the building on East Main Street, now forming a part of the City Hospital, was erected as the home of his school, to which boys were attracted from distant places. Mr. Robbins continued this institute till his death in 1871. In

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addition to his labors in his own school, this tireless man was successively rector of the Episcopal Church, a member of the Board of Education, superintendent of schools, examiner of teachers.

"On this roll of worthies must be in- scribed the names of Miss Matilda Stout, who kept a school at the northeast corner of Factory and Main Streets ; Mr. McWill- iams, William Reid and his sister, Jane Reid, Rev. William McGookin and Rev. John Rowe, all of whom spent many years of their lives in the cause of popular edu- cation."

PRESENT SCHOOL SYSTEM.

Prior to 1850 it seems that the schools were conducted by teachers in their own buildings, the Council estimating and de- termining the amount to be paid for tuition, according to the number of pupils attending each school. In 1847 the Legis- lature passed a law applied particularly to the town of Akron and providing for a School Board. This law was afterwards extended so as to allow any town of 200 inhabitants to organize under the act.

In 1850 Robert Black and John Ludlow were appointed managers of the public schools, and in March, 1851, the people voted to build two new schoolhouses. In February, 1853, a recommendation was reported in Council to purchase two lots; one was the present site of the western school building and the other, which was formerly that of the eastern school build- ing, was located on High Street, imme- diately northwest of the Big Four Rail- road, north of the bridge.

In 1855 the first Board of Education

was selected, consisting of Chandler Rob- bins, Joseph Brown and C. H. Williams.

F. W. Hurt was elected the first super- intendent. John Fulton was principal of the western and Daniel Berger of the eastern school. The Board of Education was elected by wards until the adoption of the new municipal code, when it was provided that there should be elected cer- tain members at large, the others to be chosen by the various wards. The High School Building was erected in 1875 at a cost of $70,000. A few years ago an ad- dition almost doubling its capacity was added to the west part. At this time there are a large number of excellent school buildings in various parts of the city.

The following is a list of the superin- tendents of the schools so far as we are able to give their names :

F. W. Hurt, James Cowles, Chandler Robbins, Charles B. Ruggles, Allen Arm- strong, John F. Rynman, Charles H. Evans, J. A. Jackson, W. J. White, A. E. Taylor, William H. Weir, Carey Boggess, John S. Weaver, Carey Boggess.

In 1855 there were fourteen teachers, including the superintendent and prin- cipal; in 1860, eighteen; 1865, twenty- four; 1870, thirty-four; 1875, forty-two; 1880, sixty-two; 1907, superintendent, one; special teachers, three; elementary German teachers, five; principals, six- teen ; high school teachers, eighteen; man- ual training teacher, one; elementary teachers, one hundred and twenty-six; total, one hundred and seventy.

In 1872 and 1873 the enumeration was 4,047; 1878-1880 it was 5,789. In 1907 it is as follows :

Springfield City-First ward, males, 1,493; females, 1,305; total, 2,798.

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

Second Ward-Males, 1,126; females, 1,061; total, 2,187.

Third Ward-Males, 1,203; females,

1,235; total, 2,438.

Fourth-Males, 642; females, 895;

total, 1,802.

Fifth-Males, 907; females, 895; total, 1,802.

Sixth-Males, 976; females, 925; total, 1,901.

Total-Males, 6,347; females, 6,043; total males and females, 12,390.

NAME, LOCATION, PRINCIPAL AND ENROLLMENT OF THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS BUILDINGS (1907).

Name.

Location.

Principal.

Enrollment.

High School

Southwest corner High & Factory

Chas. C. Patterson

649

Bushnell

N. W. corner Schaffer and Columbia

D. B. Long

366

Central

Southwest corner High and Factory

Trillena White 327

Clifton Street

Southeast corner Clifton & Taylor

L. S. Meloy

619

Dibert Avenue

Southeast corner Dibert Ave. & Jackson

Theo. J. Rebert

301

Elmwood

Northeast corner Oakland Ave. & Elmwood Ave.

P. S. Altman

223

Franklin

South side Fair between Miami & Y Springs

Augusta Wiegel

135

Frey

Northwest corner Auburn Ave. & Erie Ave.

Charlotte M. Swanton

Garfield

Southeast corner Pleasant & Winter streets

Wm. Roberts

347

Gray

West side Dayton Pike near Hughes

Chas. A. Kizer

414

Jefferson

N. S. McCreight Ave. b. Limestone & Fountain Ave.

O. E. Allen

421

Lagonda

Belmont Ave., Lagonda

Salathiel Ogan

216

Lincoln

West side Pearl between Southern Ave. & Rice

7. Taylor

364

McKinley

South side High between East & Mary

Peter Lynch

393

Northern

South side College Ave. b. Fountain Ave. & Limestone .

Ladru M. Layton

585

Southern

Northeast corner Miller & Limestone

Daniel Ebersole

362

Washington

Northwest corner Lagonda & Park Aves.

B. B. McIntyre

376

Western

Northeast corner Main & Yellow Springs

H. E. Boggess

371

Selected statistics for school years 1905 to 1907 :

1905.

1906.

1907.

Enrolled in June.

.5585

5474

5614

Enrolled for year-

Boys

.3191

3194

3233

Girls

.3326

333

3304

Total

.6517

6527

6537

Average monthly enrollment.

.5928

5896

5888

Average daily

attendance ---

Boys

2655

2615

2659

Girls

2765

2718

2707

Total

5420

5333

5366

PRIVATE SCHOOLS OTHER THAN WITTEN- BERG COLLEGE.

In 1834, by an Act of the General As- sembly of Ohio, the Springfield High School, in the town of Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, was incorporated. Quite an extended account of this institution is given in Beers' History, and many of the prominent men of the town were engaged in promoting this worthy enterprise. In the list are the names of Sampson Mason,

Charles Anthony, Judge W. A. Rogers, Dr. Robert Rodgers, Dr. B. Gillett, Jere- miah Warder, Edmond Ogden, Reuben Miller, James S. Halsey, Levy Reinhart, John Bacon, Charles Cavalier, Harry Bretney, Samuel and James Barnett, Will- iam Worden, John Whiteley, James Reid, Rev. Edward H. Cummings, Rev. John S. Galloway and John M. Gallagher.

A site was selected for this school on East High Street, immediately east of the Methodist Church, and a building erected there, which is used at this time as a pri- vate academy. The High School was or- ganized in 1835, with Milo G. Williams as principal. He resigned his position in 1841 and was succeeded by Chandler Rob- bins. For some reason it was proposed to transfer the school to the conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the proposition was made and accepted by

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that body in 1841, and in '42 an act was passed to incorporate the Ohio Confer- ence High School in the town of Spring- field. Chandler Robbins was succeeded as principal by Rev. Solomon Howard in 1845. He resigned in '52 and was suc- ceeded by Rev. John W. Weakly, and in 1860 Mr. Weakly was succeeded by E. G. Dial, Mr. Dial's successor being W. J. Ellsworth, who was followed by J. W. Herron. The latter resigned in 1869, when the building was leased to the Board of Education of Springfield for five years, to be used for a public high school. Upon the termination of this lease the school passed again under private control. Miss Anna B. Johnson now conducts a primary school in this historic building.

SPRINGFIELD FEMALE SEMINARY.

In 1840 Rev. Jonathan Edwards con- ducted a select school for ladies in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church, and in 1852 a charter was ob- tained. A large building was erected for the purpose of the Female Seminary on the spot where the Northern School Building now stands.

Mr. John A. Smith had charge of this school, which was conducted under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Smith was succeeded by M. H. Chris- tian in 1854, and he was succeeded in 1855 by Rev. Charles Sturdevant. By reason of a debt and financial embarrass- ments, Mr. Sturdevant assumed the lia- bilities and became the owner. In 1857 Rev. James L. Roberts bought a half in- terest, and in 1860 Rev. Henry R. Wilson bought Mr. Sturdevant's share. In 1865 Rev. J. S. Rogers became the sole owner

and conducted it as a seminary until it was sold in 1871 to the Board of Educa- tion.

PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.

The Catholic Churches and some of the old Lutheran Churches of the city still conduct parochial schools. These schools at present are the following :

St. Raphael School.

St. Bernard's Parochial School.

St. Joseph's Convent and Conservatory of Music.

St. Joseph's Parochial School.

German Evangelical Lutheran School (Zion's).

In addition there are the following : Williss Business University.

Nelson's Business College.

The following constitute the present members of the Board of Education and the officers of the same: W. A. Martin, president ; S. R. Hutchings, J. M. Derrick- son, A. F. Linn, Paul C. Martin, H. L. Schaeffer, W. S. Meredith, Carey Bog- gess, superintendent of instructions; W. H. Thomas, Clerk; C. W. Arbogast, treasurer.

At the election held November, 1907, it was voted to erect a new High School Building at a cost not to exceed $200,000.

WITTENBERG COLLEGE.

By Benjamin F. Prince, A. M., Ph. D .* As most early collegiate institutions in our country, Wittenberg College. was founded under the pressure of a religious

*Dr. Prince graduated from this institution in 1865 and commenced his duties as an instructor in 1866, and has remained with the institution ever since, a period of forty-two years.

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

organization. The Evangelical Lutherans of Ohio and Indiana realizing that if they were to gain and maintain a permanent footing in the West, as these states were designated in the early forties, decided to establish an educational institution which should be under their control.

FOUNDATION.

As early as 1830 such an effort was made and a seminary for the special train- ing of ministers was commenced. This was largely controlled by the German ele- ment of the church, and did not, as was thought of some, sufficiently take into ac- count the interests of those who had passed from the German into the English stage. The latter desired an institution which would not only give opportunity for a theological education, but a scientific one as well, and one where the laity might receive a training which would better qualify them for entrance into one of the professions or into business and the chan- nels of trade. With this in view Witten- berg College was chartered March 11th, 1845. At this time there was no money in the hands of the Board of Directors, but their hopes and expectations were in the future. They believed that friends would rise up and take care of the new in- stitution and push it forward to success.

The charter provided for both a theo- logical and scientific education and that the usual collegiate degrees might be con- ferred when property to the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) should be in possession of the Board of Directors.

DR. KELLER.

Rev. Ezra Keller, D. D., was the moving spirit in the enterprise. He had traveled

as a missionary through the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, and from his observation became impressed with the importance of educating a min- istry for the church to which he belonged, on the territory where their labors were so much needed on account of the rapidly growing population. He also had in mind the training of young men who would not enter the ministry, in subjects that be- longed to higher education and which would make them leaders in society, church and state.

LOCATION.

It was through his advice that Witten- berg College was located at Springfield. Other places were considered by him, while casting about for a suitable location for the college, as Wooster, Canton and Xenia. In 1844 Dr. Keller opened a school at Wooster, but he felt that the permanent place for it should be further to the south and west. Springfield was finally decided upon as the future home of the institution and the selection of the site was made in March, 1845. For the next six or seven months Dr. Keller oc- cupied himself in awakening an interest among the Lutheran people in the states to be connected with the enterprise, and in securing the co-operation of the resi- dents of Springfield and Clark County in the new institution. On November 3rd, 1845, the school was opened. Five stu- dents were present at the first hour and four more came in during the day. Others came later, and the aggregate number for the first year was about seventy. There was as yet no building erected by the col- lege board. The classes were heard in the basement of what is now known as the

SELMA SPECIAL SCHOOL, SELMA

BUSHNELL SCHOOL, SPRINGFIELD

ELMWOOD SCHOOL, SPRINGFIELD

JEFFERSON SCHOOL, SPRINGFIELD

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First Lutheran Church, which was yet in an unfinished state. It contained several small rooms, which served as places in which to hear and instruct the various classes.

ERECTION OF FIRST COLLEGE, ETC.

In the summer of 1846 the erection of the east wing of what is now the young men's dormitory was begun. Funds were low and the completion of the wing was greatly delayed. In the spring of 1847 Dr. Keller made himself personally re- sponsible to the various contractors if they would proceed with the work. In this manner the building was completed and occupied by transferring the classes from the church. The main building with the west wing was still to be erected, to which work Dr. Keller gave much thought and energy. But he was not destined to see its consummation. In December, 1848, he was suddenly stricken with typhoid fever. His system, reduced by hard labor and anxiety concerning the many growing and pressing interests that confronted him, was unable to resist the encroachments of the disease and on De- cember 29th he fell a victim to its ravages. ·His death was a great loss to the institu- tion and was deeply mourned by his many friends in the city, who were numbered among all denominations and who ever held his memory in the profoundest esteem and respect. His body was laid to rest nearby the institution to which he had given five years of earnest toil. After the opening of Ferncliff Cemetery his re- mains were removed to its beautiful and attractive grounds.

REV. SAMUEL SPRECHER.

The Board of Directors now elected Rev. Samuel Sprecher to the place made vacant by the death of Dr. Keller. Rev. Sprecher was a warm friend of Dr. Keller and the person whom the latter would have chosen as his successor. The repu- tation of Rev. Sprecher as a scholar, theologian, philosopher and eloquent speaker was already well known.

In June, 1849, President Sprecher as- sumed the duties of the position to which he had been elected, performing them to the satisfaction of the Board of Directors, friends and students of the college. At his coming he found but one wing of the proposed building completed and the money for erecting the remaining parts mostly to be raised. It seemed almost an impossible task, but he gave himself hero- ically to it and by the close of the col- legiate year, 1850-51, the heavy duty was accomplished.

FIRST CLASS.

In the year 1851 the first class was graduated from the college. It consisted of eight members. Four became minis- ters, two lawyers, one a physician and one entered upon a business career. One still (1908), Rev. William H. Wynn, D. D., Tacoma, Wash., survives to remember the day of his graduation.

Among the hard problems which the in- stitution had to meet, that of finance was the most strenuous. It did not begin full-handed, as many institutions of a later date, but had to struggle in its ef- forts to do the best possible work with slender means. That it turned out so

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

many persons in its early history who be- came eminent in the various professions which they entered, is a proof that much can be accomplished in awakening ambi- tion for scholarship and inciting of lofty aims without a lavish expenditure of money. At the various meetings of the College Board in those early days the sub- ject of finance was a common theme, and plans looking to the betterment were from time to time inaugurated.

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Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 49

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 1086

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1086