USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Cincinnati, the Queen City, 1788-1912, Volume II > Part 64
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Previous to this publication there had been issued in Philadelphia in 1792 and. 1794 two volumes of territorial laws. These had been put forth by Francis Childs and John Swaine "Printers of the Laws of the United States."
Judge Burnet wrote of this first book: "This body of laws (enacted in the summer of 1795, at the legislative session of the Governor and judges at Cin- cinnati, from the codes of the original states) was printed at Cincinnati by Wil- liam Maxwell in 1795, from which circumstance it was called the Maxwell code. It was the first job of printing ever executed in the Northwest Territory, and the book should be preserved, as a specimen of the condition of the art in the west- ern country, at that period. All the laws previously passed had been printed at Philadelphia, from necessity, because there was not at the time a printing office in the territory."
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Carpenter and Friedley, of Cincinnati, had been appointed "printers to the territory" when the next volume of statutes after that which Maxwell had pub- lished came to be issued.
Cist states that a pamphlet called "The Little Book: the Arcanum Opened, &c.," was published in this town August Ist, 1801.
Previous to 1805 several books or pamphlets had been issued from the ex- tra presses of Liberty Hall and the Western Spy, which were both equipped for such work.
Dr. Daniel Drake issued his book "Notes Concerning Cincinnati" in 1810. When his "Picture of Cincinnati" came out in 1815, he wrote: "Ten years ago there had not been printed in this place a single volume; but since the year 1811, twelve different books besides many pamphlets, have been executed."
John P. Foote established here a type foundry and a book store in 1820.
There were printed in Cincinnati in 1826 a large number of books and pamph- lets. There came from the presses fifty-five thousand spelling books, thirty thou- sand primers, sixty-one thousand almanacs, three thousand copies of the Bible News, fifty thousand arithmetics, three thousand American preceptors, three thousand American Readers, three thousand Introductions to the English Reader, three thousand copies of Kirkham's grammar, fifteen hundred Family Physi- cians, fourteen thousand Testaments, hymn and music books, one thousand copies of the Vine Dresser's Guide, five hundred copies of Hammond's Ohio reports, five hundred copies of Symmes' Theory. There were in addition various other books.
In 1830 Morgan, Lodge and Fisher had five presses, each of which printed five thousand sheets daily.
About 1830 Truman and Smith began to issue school books and that firm grew to be the largest school book house in the world.
In 1832, U. P. James began his publishing business, which became so ex- tensive as to be called the "Harpers of the West."
In four months of the year 1831 there were eighty thousand volumes put forth by Cincinnati publishers.
The Cincinnati Almanac of 1839 stated: "Cincinnati is the great mart for the book trade west of the mountains, and the principal place of their manufacture. There are thirty printing offices, one type foundry, two stereotype foundries (be- ing the only establishments of the kind in the west;) and one Napier and sev- eral other power presses are in constant operation. At E. Morgan & Co.'s print- ing establishment, Eiglith street, on the canal, four presses are propelled by wa- ter power.
"The style of manufacture has been rapidly improved within a year or two past. Among other specimens Mr. Delafield's "Inquiry into the Origin of the Antiquities of America," published by N. G. Burgess & Co., will bear compari- son with any similar work from the American press, for the beauty and accuracy of its typography. The whole number of books printed and bound the past year, exclusive of almanacs, primers, toys and pamphlets, was about half a million. The principal houses who have issued the largest number of volumes are, Tru- man & Smith, N. G. Burgess & Co., E. Morgan & Co., U. P. James, Ely & Strong."
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In 1840, about a million dollars' worth of school books were issued and about half a million dollars' worth of other books.
Cincinnati was the main source of supply of books for Michigan, Western Pennsylvania, Virginia and a considerable part of the south.
A large number of standard books were republished here. Among these were Gibbon, Josephus, Rollin. Large numbers of Bibles were issued.
By 1850 the value of the yearly output of books reached more than a mil- lion dollars.
In 1858 the number of volumes had reached almost three millions. Cincin- nati was then supplying most of the public schools of the west with text books.
H. S. & J. Applegate & Co. began publishing and bookselling in 1850. In that year they put out one thousand copies of "Clarke's Commentary," four vol- times ; ten thousand copies of "Dick's Works," two volumes; four thousand "Plut- arch's Lives;" three thousand "Rollin's Ancient History ;" two thousand "Specta- tors." They issued also histories of Texas, Oregon and California, "Lyons' Grammar," "Parley Histories," and two popular music books the "Sacred Melo- deon" and the "Sabbath Chorister."
J. F. Desilver, whose specialty was medical and law books issued "Worcester on Cutaneous Diseases," Hope's "Pathological Anatomy," and Harrison's "Ther- apeutics."
About 1850, W. H. Moore & Company, school book publishers, became gen- . eral publishers, reprinting Hugh Miller's "Footprints of the Creator" and An- derson's "Course of Creation," among other noted books.
J. A. & U. P. James put out "Gibbon's Rome," the "Libraries of American History and of General Knowledge," "Dick's Works," Bibles and such works.
E. Morgan & Company put out in 1850, twenty thousand large Bibles, fifteen thousand copies of "Josephus," ten thousand copies of the "Life of Tecumseh," one hundred thousand copies of Webster's spelling books, ten thousand copies of Walker's school dictionary besides other books.
The U. P. James house which years ago held a very notable place among pub- lishing establishments and issued large numbers of valuable books has ceased the printing of books. A bookstore, of which the proprietor is his son Davis L. James, retains the name U. P. James.
There is no better known name connected with the book business in the country than Robert Clarke. The Robert Clarke Company perpetuates his name and his work. He was born in Annan, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, May Ist, 1829. He came with his parents to Cincinnati in 1840, and was educated at Woodward College. The Robert Clarke Company was formed in 1858 by Mr. Clarke, Rod- erick D. Barney and John W. Dale, and in 1874 Howard Barney and Alexander Hill entered the firm. Mr. Clarke edited the world-famed "Ohio Valley His- torical Series," and he wrote a pamphlet entitled "The Prehistoric Remains which were found on the site of the City of Cincinnati, with a vindication of the Cin- cinnati Tablet." This pamphlet was privately printed in 1876 and is now very rare. The Cincinnati tablet spoken of was found in a mound near the present site of Mound and Sixth streets, and opinions differ as to its origin and from whence it came. Mr. Clarke was a deep student and a great reader and dearly
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loved his books. Mr. Clarke died in the summer of 1899 but a short time after returning from a trip around the world.
On February, 1903, the Robert Clarke Company lost its entire plant in the disastrous Pike Opera House fire, but at once began reprinting their numerous publications, which consisted mostly of historical works and law books. The publications of the firm also included important contributions to the archeology and prehistoric anthropology of the Ohio Valley and contiguous regions. The literary history of the valley was covered in works like the well known critical narrative of Professor W. H. Venable and poetical writings of George D. Pren- tice, J. J. Piatt, W. D. Gallegher and others. Among the prominent historical works were Howells "Recollections of Life in Ohio," Drake's "Pioneer Life in Kentucky," Smith's "Captivity with the Indians," Clark's "Campaign in the Illinois in 1778-9," Bouquet's "Expedition against the Ohio Indians," McBride's "Pioneer Biographies," two volumes.
After the destructive fire spoken of above, Mr. Theodore Kemper voiced a common sentiment in a newspaper in these words: "The place was known from Boston to San Diego simply as 'Robert Clarke's' and equally well in the British and European capitals; and if that historical place does not rise from its ashes, Cincinnati will have met with a loss which no modern architectural achievement can make good." Happily the Clarke Company found a new home and form again a flourishing establishment.
The Robert Clarke Company was the first to import books to any consider- able extent from Europe to the Ohio Valley. This firm issued so many "Amer- icana" that Justin Winsor said in his "Narrative and Critical History of Amer- ica," "The most important American lists at present issued by American dealers are those of the Robert Clarke Company, of Cincinnati, which are admirable specimens of such lists." John Fiske in his "History of the United States" ad- vised his readers "to apply to The Robert Clarke Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, who keep by far the largest collection of books on America that can be found on sale in this country."
The Western Methodist Book Concern, with headquarters in Cincinnati, is a very successful publishing plant and has also in Cincinnati one of the city's best books stores. The general conference of the M. E. church in 1787 established in Philadelphia the first Methodist book concern in America, and the proceeds were set apart for Cokesbury College and other schools. In 1804 this concern was removed to New York city and its profits were used for the enlargement of the publishing house. A branch was opened in Cincinnati in 1820 that the coun- try west of the mountains might be supplied with Methodist publications. The Cincinnati branch did not enter on the publishing business for some years. The office of "The Methodist Book Room" was at first at the corner of Fifth and Elm streets ; the agent was the Rev. Martin Ruter. Dr. Ruter printed at his own risk a scriptural catechism and primer. The income of the establishment for the first year was about four thousand dollars. Dr. Ruter was succeeded in 1828 by the Rev. Charles Holliday. The concern was removed to George street, between Race and Elm, and two years later to the northwest corner of Baker and Walnut streets. In 1832 the Rev. John S. Wright was appointed assistant
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agent, and the cornern was removed to a building on the west side of Main street, near Sixth.
In 1833 the Western Concern by permission of the New York Concern, issued an edition of the hymn books and disciplines. In 1834, the Western Christian Advocate was started, with the Rev. Thomas A. Morris as editor. In 1836 the the Western Concern was made independent of the New York Concern, except that it was authorized to "cooperate" with that house. The Cincinnati office was now authorized to publish any book on the general catalogue "when in their judgment and that of the book committee, it would be advantageous to the interests of the church; provided that they should not publish type editions of such books as were stereotyped at New York." The agents were authorized to establish a printing office and bindery.
The Concern now bought the lot at the southwest corner of Main and Eighth streets where stood a brick house which was said to have been build in 1806 by General Arthur St. Clair. There a printing office was erected, four stories high. In that building was printed the first book issued by the Concern; it was printed from the manuscript and was "Phillips' Strictures." This publication was suc- ceeded in due time by "The Wyandot Mission," "Power on Universalism," "Shaffer on Baptism," "Ohio Conference Offering," "Memoir of Gurley," "Lives of Quinn, Finley, Roberts and others."
The Book Concern received a state charter in 1839. In 1841 the monthly magazine, The Ladies' Repository and Gatherings of the West was published. This magazine was successfully issued until the end of 1880, when it and the mag- azine for young people, Golden Hours, were discontinued.
A little later, the Concern started a German Methodist paper Der Christ- liche Apologete.
About this time, the Concern purchased an adjoining lot and erected a build- ing six stories high, fifty feet front, and more than one hundred feet deep.
The Western Methodist Book Concern has now as its publishing agents H. C. Jennings and E. R. Graham. The total sales for a recent year were $1,425,- 755. It publishes many books and a list of important papers and reviews. Among these are the Apologete and Haus und Herd in German.
The Western Tract Society was established in Cincinnati November 1852 as the American Reform Tract and Book Society. It aims at practical better- ment of individuals and the nation by the dissemination of Christian literature. It did much in the anti-slavery cause, and has been active in temperance and other reforms. After emancipation the society dropped the word "reform" from its official title. It does a large work in the distribution of Christian literature and maintains an excellent book store.
A large school book publishing company was that of Van Antwerp, Bragg and Company. The founder was Winthrop B. Smith. The firm of Truman and Smith was established in 1830, and after Truman withdrew the firm became Winthrop B. Smith and Company. They were succeeded by Sargent, Wilson & Hinkle. This became in 1868 Wilson, Hinkle and Company. In 1877 the firm became Van Antwerp, Bragg and Company.
Cincinnati is the home of the W. T. Anderson Company of law book publish- ers, one of the best known firms in this specialty and one whose publications are
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standard everywhere. They have given readers among other volumes, the val- uable "Life and Speeches of Thomas Corwin."
The Phonographic Institute of Cincinnati is also headquarters for the pub- lication of phonographic works by Benn Pitman and Jerome B. Howard.
The Phonographic institute was established in Cincinnati by Benn Pitman in 1853, the year of his coming to America. His first six months in this country were spent in Philadelphia. At the end of that time he was invited to make a visit to Dayton, Ohio, to talk to a teachers' institute held in that town by the famous educator Horace Mann, then president of Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, Ohio. Mr. Pitman then and there decided to cast his lot among the people of what was then "the west," and in the same year he established his school and publishing office, under the name of the Phonographic Institute. in Cincinnati, then the largest city west of the Alleghanies. Mr. Pitman continued to be the sole owner of the business until 1881 when he formed a copartnership with Jerome B. Howard, with whom he was associated until his death recently. In 1892, the business, which had long since become exclusively a publishing house, headquarters for the publications of Pitman Phonography in America, was incorporated at The Phonographic Institute Company, and from that time Mr. Pitman was president of the company until his death in 1911, and Mr. Howard manager.
There is a large list of publications of the Phonographic Institute Company now in print. The "Phonographic Amanuensis" is, since 1904, the leading ele- mentary text-book of the Benn Pitman system of phonography, and is the text generally used in commercial colleges and other schools that prepare students to become shorthand writers in business offices. The "Manual of Phonography," an older elementary text, continues in print, and is still preferred by many schools. Over half a million copies of the last named book have been issued from the Phonographic Institute. The "Reporter's Companion" is the text for the use of advanced students, or experienced commercial amanuenses, who wish to pre- pare themselves for professional shorthand reporting. The "Phonographic Dic- tionary," a large octavo of 552 pages, gives the entire usable vocabulary of the English language (over one hundred and twenty thousand words and phrases) in both the phonographic outline, and the ordinary print. The Phonographic Magazine is a monthly periodical, edited by Mr. Howard for the last twenty-two years, in which articles are printed in both phonographic and the ordinary typic character.
The Leo Wise and Company, publishers of Cincinnati, issue the American Israelite from Cincinnati and the Chicago Israelite from the latter city. They also issue six books by Rabbi Isaac Wise and one by Rabbi Philipson.
The great American Book Company, publishers of school and text-books has its headquarters in Cincinnati. It is one of the largest concerns of its kind in the world.
Among the Cincinnati authors whose works have been published by this company were or are Mr. W. H. Aiken, supervisor of music; Mr. F. A. King, instructor in Hughes' high school; Prof. A. J. Gantvoort, of the College of Mu- sic ; the late Miss M. Burnet, of Woodward; Prof. W. H. Venable, formerly of Walnut Hills high school, (still living) ; Maj. A. M. Van Dyke, formerly princi-
Vol. II-33
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pal of Woodward; Miss Celia Doerner; Mr. E. L. Dubbs; Miss M. E. Thal- heimer ; the late Miss Christine Sullivan ; Dr. H. H. Fick, supervisor of German . Prof. J. E. Harry, of the university ; the late Thomas W. Harvey author of "Harvey's Grammars," for many years a resident of Cincinnati; Miss C. B. Jordan, instructor in Hughes; Mr. C. C. Long; Dr. W. H. McGuffey, author of the "McGuffey Readers," etc., and for some time a resident of Cincinnati; J. B. Peaslee, ex-superintendent of schools; the late Joseph Ray, once professor of mathematics in Woodward College; Mr. Alan Sanders, of Hughes high school; Mr. A. H. Steadman, supervisor of penmanship; Mr. G. W. Umphrey, of the university ; W. H. Weick; C. Grebner ; the late Dr. E. E. White, ex-superintend- ent of schools.
The Standard Publishing Company, of the Christian denomination, issues a list of twenty-six publications, "with an aggregate circulation of nine hundred thousand. Some of these are quarterly issues. One of their chief publications is the Christian Standard, a leading religious newspaper. A number of their publications are for the Sunday school, and these have a vast circulation. This company also publishes numerous books of a religious character, chiefly written by members of the Christian denomination.
The Scudder Brothers Company is a firm of medical publishers and book sellers. The firm was founded by the late John M. Scudder, succeeding the medical publishing business of Willstach, Baldwin & Co. Their Eclectic Med- ical Journal has been printed continuously since 1836.
One of the pioneer establishments of music in America is the one bearing the name of the John Church Company, which was founded in Cincinnati in 1859 by Mr. John Church. From that time to this the firm has been a prominent one in musical industries. By reason of great expansion of business the trade name was changed in 1869 to John Church and Company. As publishers of high grade classical and standard music, the prints of the John Church Company are unsurpassed, and their distributions through their five establishments are num- bered by the millions.
The press of the University of Cincinnati was conceived by Mr. Howard Ayers, lately president of that institution, and was equipped mechanically by Charles P. Taft in 1900. The publications consist of the University Studies, the Teachers' Bulletin, the Catalogue and miscellaneous text-books, most of them by their own people. This press has quite an imposing list of studies in economics, history, languages, &c:
The Young Men's Bible Society of Cincinnati was founded in 1834. It has been the auxiliary and depository of the American Bible Society since that time. It does its Bible and missionary work in cooperation with the American Bible Society of New York. Its headquarters are now Room 32, Methodist Book Con- cern, 222 West Fourth street. The Rev. Dr. Geo. S. J. Browne is the depos- itarian.
Peter G. Thomson for a number of years was engaged in general publishing and also had a bookstore.
The Catholics have two important book stores here, well equipped with books and church supplies. These are Pustet's, on Main street, and Benzinger Broth-
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ers. The Catholic Telegraph Publishing Company issues the Telegraph and pub- lishes books and papers.
Among other publishing houses are the Aldine Company, Associated Trade Press Co., Central Publishing House, Cincinnati Program and Publishing Com- pany, Gibson Art Co., Higber-Bickwell Publishing Co., International Text-Book Co., Jones Brothers Publishing Co., Meddler Publishing Co., Western Magazine Publishing Co., and C. J. Krehbiel & Co.
CHAPTER XXI.
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES.
NUMEROUS ARE THE CLUBS OF CINCINNATI-ALUMNI OF HARVARD ORGANIZED THE CLUB OF THAT NAME IN 1869-MANY OTHER ALMA MATER ASSOCIATIONS-POLIT- ICAL, COUNTRY, COMMERCIAL AND SOCIAL CLUBS-WOMAN'S CLUB-WOMAN'S PRESS CLUB.
There have been and are numerous clubs of various kinds in this city. Some have fallen by the way side in the course of time while others have gathered strength as the years have passed and are today flourishing and influential in- stitutions. Many of these have been treated in another part of this work.
A number of the larger universities and colleges have clubs in this city. The Harvard Club was organized in 1869 and the resident alumni of that university meet for an annual dinner. The Yale Club, organized in 1863, is said to be the oldest alumni society in this country. There are Williams, Princeton and other college clubs here. The University Club is well established and is well known.
The Young Men's Blaine Club, republican, was organized on the day when James G. Blaine was nominated for the presidency, June 6. 1884; its house is on Eighth street, east of Vine. The Stamina Republican League was founded November 5, 1888. The West End Republican Club dates from February 22, 1888. The Duckworth Club, democratic, originated in 1880; its handsome club- house is on Ninth street.
The Country Club, the Cincinnati Golf Club, the Riding Club, the Clifton Golfers' Club, the Pillars and others are well known.
The physicians club is known as the Academy of Medicine. It meets in the rooms of the Literary Club, as does also the Engineers' Club.
The Queen City Club was organized October 1874. It is chiefly social in its aims, though in its handsome building many semi-public meetings are held to dis- cuss popular subjects.
The Commercial Club, organized in 1880, holds its sessions in the house of the Queen City Club. Its purposes are both social and commercial. This club is a very energetic body, has done and is doing much for the advertising and progress of the city.
The Optimist Club and the Piccadilly Club also use the Queen City club house as headquarters.
The Phoenix Club was founded in 1856. Its house is at Ninth and Race streets, and was built in 1894. It is one of the notable structures of Cincinnati. Its handsome building has been rented recently to the Business Men's Club for a term of two years. with privilege of purchase. The Phoenix will build else-
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where. The Cincinnati Club was organized in 1889, and has its house in Walnut Hills. The membership of these two clubs is chiefly Jewish.
The Business Men's Club began in an organization of young men in 1892. These young men set before them the aim of informing themselves as to public interests in Cincinnati. They planned a series of dinners at which prominent representatives of the business, literary and artistic worlds should speak. After a struggling existence of a few years a reorganization was affected in 1896 as "The Young Men's Business Club of Cincinnati." In its articles of incorporation its purpose was declared to be "to promote the best interests of Cincinnati." In 1899 the name was changed to "The Business Men's Club of Cincinnati." It established itself in the Chamber of Commerce building, where it had dining rooms, billiard rooms and reading and lounging rooms. It has committees cov- ering every important progressive interest. When the Chamber of Commerce building was burned early in 1911, the Business Men's Club was homeless for a time, but found temporary quarters in the Grand hotel. It has now leased the Phoenix Club building, at Ninth and Race streets, for two years, from June I, I9II, and at the expiration of that time the Business Men's Club will have the option of purchasing that structure. The Business Men's Club expended about $35,000 in improvements. Ten or eleven thousand dollars of. this was put into improvements of the Phoenix building, about half of this was of such na- ture that the improvements can be taken away in case the club decides to again move after two years. One or two new fire escapes have been placed in the build- ing, elevators were installed and the entire structure renovated. The club spent about $25,000 on new furnishings and equipment, and now the club house is not surpassed in Ohio. On the evening of October 9, 1911, the new home of the club was thrown open to its members.
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