USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Columbus, Ohio: its history, resources, and progress : with numerous illustrations > Part 13
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. The court-house was so far completed that the courts, as else-
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where noted, were held in it in the summer of 1840. The main building, which fronts on High street, has two small wings-one on the north for the clerk's office, and still appropriated to that use, and one on the south for offices for the county auditor and treasurer, but now occupied by the county surveyor and the trustees of Montgomery township, within whose original limits Columbus was formerly wholly, and still is chiefly, included.
Originally, the basement of the main building was used for the jail, and the first story above for the sheriff's residence. In the second story is the large court-room, with the usual append- ages. As the city and county grew, judicial and other official business increased, and the inadequacy of the accommodations provided became more and more apparent. In 1852 and 1853, the commissioners erected another building a few feet south of the court-house and fronting on High street, with a large hall and wide stairway in the center, on each side of which are-on the north the auditor's, and the south the treasurer's office. The upper story was appropriated to the Probate Court, but is now used as Room No. 2 of the Court of Common Pleas, as such is often the pressure of business in that court that it is found neces- sary to have two judges and sometimes two traverse juries at work in different rooms at the same time. Between the upper stories of the main and the south buildings, there has been con- structed a level passage-way, so as to give direct and easy com- munication between the two court-rooms.
The lower story of the main building was so remodeled as to afford rooms for the probate judge's office on the north, and for the recorder's office on the south of a hall running east and west through the building. Into these rooms, those offices were re- moved in February, 1869, where they still remain.
THE JAILS .- The first building used for a jail, after Columbus became the county-seat in 1824, was a brick structure on the south side of Gay street, between High and Third streets. The building is still standing and wears the dingy appearance of a veritable prison. After the court-house was built, its basement was used for a jail. But it proved a very insecure prison, and escapes were frequent.
A new jail, in the rear or east of the court-house, was com-
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RICHES.
NEW INFIRMARY.
To be located on the west side of the Olentangy river, at the west end of King avenue, northwest of the city, one mile west of High street.
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menced in 1864 and finished in May, 1866. The builders were J. C. Auld & Co. It is built of brick and stone, two stories high.
The front part is of brick and the rear of stone. The brick structure, fronting on Mound street, comprises the sheriff's office and residence. The rear part or prison proper consists of massive stone walls, within which are the cells, forty or fifty in number, for the safe-keeping of prisoners. These are made en- tirely of iron. They are in two tiers, and stand in the center, at least ten feet from the outer wall. The prison is well lighted and ventilated.
THE COUNTY INFIRMARY.
County infirmaries, in Ohio, were at first designated as "poor- houses." The legislature, on the 8th of March, 1831, passed an act to authorize the establishment of a poor-house in any county of the State at the discretion of the county commissioners. By authority of this act, the commissioners of Franklin county, in 1832, bought a farm on the forks of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, about three miles from Columbus. By the 1st of February following, a building was erected and ready for the reception of paupers. The directors of poor-houses were at that time ap- pointed by the county commissioners. Our commissioners ap- pointed Jacob Grubb, Ralph Osborn, and P. B. Wilcox, the first board of directors for the Franklin county poor-house. The di- rectors appointed Captain Robert Cloud, superintendent, and Dr. William M. Awl, physician to the institution.
The superintendent occupied part of the building, and had the use of the farm, which he cultivated with his own teams and utensils. The directors paid him a specified sum per week for boarding each pauper. Captain Cloud resigned his position at the expiration of his first year, and was succeeded by William King. The latter continued in charge of the institution upon the same terms as Captain Cloud, until October, 1837.
Mr. King, in his report to the directors, under date of January, 1837, gives the names, ages, etc., of all the inmates-nine in number-among whom was "Mary Sours, aged ninety-three years." She remained in the institution until her death in
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1849, when, according to the report, she must have been one hundred and five years old.
In October, 1837, the directors, consisting of James Walcutt, George B. Harvey, and W. T. Martin, concluded to change the plan of managing the institution, by stocking the farm and paying the superintendent a fixed salary for carrying it on and taking care of the house and its inmates. John R. Wright, a practical farmer, was engaged at a moderate salary. He continued to act as farmer and superintendent until the spring of 1840. At that time William Domigan had succeeded George B. Harvey as director. Improvements being needed at the institution, the directors and county commissioners concluded upon a change of location, as it was too far from Columbus, which furnished, so states one of the directors, more than three-fourths of the paupers. The conveyance of infirm and sick persons to the institution was both inconvenient and expensive. There had been for a time a rickety wooden bridge across the Scioto above the mouth of the Olentangy, but it lasted only a few years. Situated between the two rivers, the poor-house was quite inaccessible in time of high water.
A five-acre lot, the site of the present county infirmary, was purchased by the commissioners in 1839, and a building erected thereon. The old poor-house farm was sold, and the live stock and farming utensils disposed of at public vendue in November, 1839. On the first of May following, the paupers were removed to their new abode, and were placed under the care of Edward Hedden, superintendent, and Dr. P. Sisson, physician.
The Legislature, at the session of 1841-42, passed an act re- quiring poor-house directors to be elected by popular vote, in the same manner as other county officers. Directors were first elected at the annual State election in 1842. Until then, Messrs. Walcutt, Martin, and Domigan had filled the office.
DIRECTORS .- The first directors elected were George Franken- berg, for one year ; Augustus S. Decker, for two years, and Robert Riorden, for three years. In 1843, Frankenberg was re-elected for the full term of three years. 1844, A. S. Decker re-elected ; Robert Riorden, in 1845; George Frankenberg, in 1846; and A. S. Decker, in 1847. In 1848, John Walton was elected in place of .
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Riarden ; in 1849, S. D. Preston, in place of Frankenburg ; and Arthur O'Harra, for two years, to fill the vacancy occasioned by Walton's removal from the county.
In 1850, Decker was re-elected, and O'Harra in 1851. In 1852, Amos L. Ramsey was elected in place of Preston ; 1853, Rufus Main, in place of Decker ; 1854, Orin Backus, in place of O'Harra ; 1855, L. J. Moeller, in place of Ramsey ; 1856, John Lisle, in place of Main, and in 1857, William Aston, in place of Backus; 1858, Moeller re-elected; 1859, James Legg, in place of Lisle.
In March, 1860, Moeller resigned, and John Greenleaf was appointed to fill the vacancy. At the October election of that year, Newton Gibbons was elected in place of Aston, and Philemon Hess, for the short term of one year, and in 1861 the latter was elected for the long term. In 1862, Frederick Beck was elected in place of Legg. Gibbons was re-elected in 1863; Hess, in 1864; Beck, in 1865, and Gibbons, for a third term, in 1866. Jacob Grau was elected in 1867, in place of Hess ; Fred- erick Fornoff, in 1868, in place of Beck; Henry L. Siebert, in 1869, in place of Gibbons; W. H. Gaver, in 1870, in place of Grau; John Schneider, in 1871, in place of Fornoff, and John H. Earhart, in 1872, in place of Siebert.
SUPERINTENDENTS .- Edward Hedden was retained in his posi- tion of superintendent until the fall of 1844, when Dr. C. F. Schenck was appointed. The following is a list of the succeed- ing superintendents, with the time of their appointment : Joseph McElvain, 1851; Charles Jucksch, 1852 ; Joseph McElvain, 1853; Daniel Evans, 1854; Dr. L. J. Moeller, 1857 ; S. P. McElvain, 1860; J. J. Funston, 1869, and S. P. McElvain, the present superin- tendent, re-appointed January 1, 1871.
PHYSICIANS .- The following is a list of the physicians to the infirmary, appointed since Dr. P. Sisson, so far as the names could be obtained : Drs. C. F. Schenck, - Short, L. J. Moeller, C. E. Denig, C. E. Boyle, Norman Gay, Starling Loving, John Dawson, C. H. W. Mahlmann, Van S. Seltzer, and W. H. Drury, the present physician.
By an act of the Legislature, passed March, 1850, the name of
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" County Poor-houses " was changed to that of "County In- firmaries."
The county commissioners, in 1844, added by purchase an adjoining tract of six acres to the infirmary lot, thus making the latter to consist of eleven acres. On the new purchase the city council erected a city hospital for the reception of persons in- fected with contagious diseases. It was, however, placed under the care and management of the superintendent of the infirmary. Near this hospital, and for a similar purpose, the county com- missioners caused to be erected, early in 1872, a frame building costing $1,800.
Various improvements, alterations, and additions were made from time to time to the original poor-house building erected in 1839. The most important of the additions was made in 1865, by the erection of the north wing, 37 by 86 feet, under the su- perintendence of Samuel Streng, architect.
As the county commissioners have purchased a new site, and are erecting thereon a model infirmary building, a more detailed description of the old site and building would be out of place.
INFIRMARY STATISTICS .- The annual report of the infirmary di- rectors for the year ending May 31, 1872, shows that there were in the institution on the 1st of June, 1871, 171 inmates, and that there had been received during the year 717, making a total of 888. Of this number 39 had died, and 647 had been discharged, leav- ing 202 in the infirmary on the 1st of June, 1872. Of this latter number, 64 were sane and 19 insane men ; 80 were sane and 28 insane women, and 11 were children. Outside of the infirmary, 257 families, numbering 1,028 inmates, had been relieved. The average number of inmates in the institution during the year was 227, and the average number of families relieved was 45. All this had been done at an expense of $25,077.21, or an aver- age per week for each one assisted of $1.78.
By an act passed April 26, 1872, the directors of an infirmary are required to report to the county commissioners, on the first Monday of March and September in each year, the condition of the infirmary. In compliance with this statute, the directors of our county infirmary made a report on the 1st of September, 1872, for the quarter ending the day preceding.
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By this last report it appears that there were received into the institution during the quarter 115 inmates. This number added to the 202 remaining on the 1st of June, 1872, makes a total of 317. Of this number 3 had died, and 143 had been discharged, leaving 171 remaining September 1, 1872. Of this last number, 30 were insane and 55 sane men; 37 were sane and 37 insane women, and 12 were children. The cost of sustaining the infirm- ary during the quarter had been $3,656.15.
PURCHASE OF A NEW SITE .- On the 1st day of December, 1869, the county commissioners entered an order confirming the pur- chase from William Neil, for $17,250, of a tract known as the " Flenniken farm," containing one hundred and fifteen acres, for a county infirmary site. It is situated northwest of the city, on the west side of the Olentangy river, at the west end of King avenue, two miles north of the state-house, one mile west of High street, adjoining the corporate limits of the city, and south- west of the Ohio Agricultural College farm. The land is second bottom, sloping eastward.
The engraving of the new infirmary in this work is taken from the drawings made by architect Kelly and accepted by the county commissioners. The contract for the erection of the new building has been made with Fornoff, Hess & Miller for $189,279.48.
The building is so arranged as to form three different main departments. The first department, which is intended for the administration building, will be fifty feet square, and will contain a main office and other necessary rooms for the officers and the household of the superintendent of the institution.
The rooms for the inmates will be found in the second part of the building, accessible from the administration building by proper connections. This structure is three hundred and sixteen feet long, fifty-five feet wide, and has a basement story, eight feet seven inches high, and three stories above, each twelve feet in height. This building is divided into two distinct parts, one to be occupied by the male and the other by the female inmates. These two divisions are entirely separated from each other, so that no communication can be had between them, except through
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the superintendent's office. In connection with the infirmary building will be the necessary outbuildings, conveniently located.
The floors of the entire structure are fire-proof, made so by putting in iron joists and brick arches. The two departments occupied by the inmates will have fire-proof stairways, con- structed of iron and stone, extending entirely through the three stories, and providing the inmates in the emergency of fire ample access to the outside of the building. The center part of the building, or that part to be occupied by the inmates, will be connected by proper approaches with the chapel building.
The third, or chapel building, will be connected by proper approaches with the center part of the building, or that to be occupied by the inmates, and will contain the necessary cellars of the infirmary. The kitchen, sculleries, bake-room, flour-room, and bread-room will be located in the basement. The kitchen will be thirty by forty-one feet and twelve feet high in the clear. The second story is divided into two dining-rooms, each fifty- five feet in length by nineteen feet six inches in width, and thir- teen feet in height in the clear. Connected with the dining- rooms are closets and wash-rooms. The kitchen is also connected by proper dumb-waiters. The third floor contains the chapel proper, with a gallery and a raised ceiling, showing the con- struction of the roof. It gives ample room for all the inmates, the floor being sixty-three feet nine inches long by forty feet six inches wide. It will also be used for school purposes on secular days.
The entire building will be covered with slate roofing. The architect has exercised special care to have each and every room of the building thoroughly ventilated, for which purpose four large ventilating stacks will be put in the different buildings, and all rooms and halls will have connecting flues with these ventilators. The entire building will be heated by steam, and very probably lighted by gas, which will be manufactured on the premises.
CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES.
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ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL.
CHAPTER X.
CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES.
DIOCESE OF COLUMBUS.
THIS Catholic diocese, established in March, 1868, comprises " that part of the State of Ohio south of north latitude 40° 41', and between the Ohio river on the east and the Scioto river on the west, together with the counties of Franklin, Delaware, and Morrow."
The Right Reverend Sylvester Horton Rosecrans, D. D., con-
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secrated March 25, 1862, Bishop of Pompeiopolis in partibus infidelium, and Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati, Ohio, was trans- ferred to this city, March 3, 1868, and became the first bishop of the diocese of Columbus.
The Vicar-General of the diocese is Very Reverend John Bernard Hemsteger, and the Chancellor, Reverend George Henry Ahrens.
There are in the diocese fifty-two churches, twenty-three chapels and stations, forty-six priests, twenty-two clerical stu- dents, one male and four female religious institutions, two female academies, twenty-three parochial schools, and one hospi- tal. The Catholic population of the diocese is 60,000, and of Columbus, its metropolis, 8,000.
The following are the chapels in the metropolitan city :
Chapel of St. Francis Hospital, located on the southeast corner of Sixth and State streets ; Rev. Bernard Hildebrand, Pastor.
Chapel at the Sisters of Notre Dame, located on Rich street, between Fifth and Sixth streets; attended from Holy Cross Church.
Chapel of the Academy of St. Mary's of the Springs; Rev. O. M. Clarkson, O. P., Pastor.
Chapel of the Convent of the Good Shepherd, located near the west end of Broad street; attended from St. Aloysius Seminary.
CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
Prior to the year 1833, there was no regular organization of the Catholic Church in Columbus. Services were conducted, at long intervals, by members of the Dominican Convent at Som- erset, Perry county. The congregation consisted of laborers on the National Road, which was in the process of construction, and a few German residents and farmers living in the vicinity. Word was sent to Catholic families whenever a clergyman of their faith happened to visit the town, and the news was always joyfully received, as a gracious relief from the religious isola- tion in which they lived. Services were held, at first, in a hall in the Paul Pry House, on Water street; subsequently they were held at the house of George Studer, on Canal street, be- tween Friend street and Cherry alley. The three buildings
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then used are still standing, and have been handsomely photo- graphed. The small frame was sufficient to accommodate the worshipers at first, but the congregation increased so that it became necessary to use the brick building, and afterward the two-story frame. Services were also held, for a few Sundays, at the residence of John Burke, on South street, between High and Third streets, and at the residence of John McCurtney, on Friend street, between High and Third streets.
While the small frame building was occupied, the following persons comprised, according to the data now in existence, the entire congregregation. They constituted the pioneer Catholic families of Columbus :
Michael Reinhard and wife, George Studer and wife, Andrew Murphy and wife, Owen Turney and wife, J. D. Clarke and wife, Cornelius Jacobs and wife, John Jacobs and wife, and the Russell family.
The following addition to the congregation rendered neces- sary the use of the larger building :
John Ender and wife, Clemens Bear and wife, Mr. Sherringer and wife, Mr. Zehnacher and wife, Joseph Miller and wife, Esedor Frey and wife, John Burke and wife, Mr. Midelwood and wife, Francis Buss and wife, P. Kelly and wife, Mr. Zettler and wife, Mr. Zahringer and wife, Peter Swartz and wife Henry Lutz and wife, Laurenz Beck and wife, the two Woelfel brothers and their wives, C. Kuhn and wife, and John Ury and wife.
During the pastoral care of the Dominican Fathers, the lot on the northeast corner of Rich and Fifth streets, being No. 961 in Samuel Crosby's addition to Columbus, was donated to them in trust by Otis, Phœbe W., Samuel, and Margaret Crosby, and Nathaniel and Caroline E. Medbury, in consideration of "a desire to promote religion and toleration, and the improvement of the town." The condition of the grant or donation was that a church was "required to be built " on the premises, "and sufficiently furnished for occupancy, within five years from the date of the deed." The deed was dated May 15, 1833, and was witnessed by Robert Milton and W. T. Martin.
Soon after the execution of the deed, the Catholics of Colum-
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bus came under the care of the Right Reverend Bishop John B. Purcell, D. D., now the venerable and worthy Archbishop of Cincinnati. He visited the city in June, 1836, stopping at the National Hotel, kept by Colonel John Noble, where the Neil House now stands. During his stay Bishop Purcell consulted with the Catholics here as to the building of a church in Colum- bus. Mr. Stafford, the superintendent of the masonry on the new penitentiary, just then completed, made proposals for build- ing a church of fair dimensions, for the time, of rough limestone. His propositions were accepted, and English and German sub- scription lists were immediately opened for raising the neces- sary funds. The following are the names on the first list. dated June, 1836 :
George Studer, Adam Dick, Adam Luckhaupt, Benedict Huber, John Niebling, Franz Hahn, Jacob Fischer, John Adelsberger, Clemens Bähr, Cornelius Jacobs, Bernhard Burk, William Gröblinghoff, John Kress, Henry Möller, Jacob Schör- inger, Franz Fischer, Fidel Kistner, Joseph Satler, George Schaefer, Ludwig Frey, Ignaz Baker, Jacob Wetzel, John Koch, Michael Reinhard, John Reitz, George Möller, Michael J. Reinhard, John D. Briggeman, Adam Zender, Franz Carl Bacher, Mauriz Bissig, Stephen Kälin, Peter Paul Kählin, John Jacobs, Adam Weisbacker, Mauriz Gartner, Ignaz Jörger, Con- rad Spang, Joseph Hainss, Joseph Woelfel, John Will, Xaver Mättelholz, John L. Slyd, Adam Wagner, Adolph Herman, Francis Buss, John Ender, Laurenz Beck, C. Kuhn, John Ury, Owen Turney, J. D. Clark.
The names on the second subscription list, dated August, 1836, were these :
Augustin Sifert, Herman Steinke, Jakob Vogel, Benedict Lotz, Thadeus Mittelholz, Joseph Frey, Henry Schlitt, Henry Lotz, John Weaver, Michael Buchart, Henry Nadenboush, Charles Cross, Brice Helmick, Richard H. Jones, B. McGinness, Joseph Weitgenand, Andrew Volz (or Fols), Margareth Schlum- berger, George Stehle, McKnally (probably McAnally), Simon Gutteman, Frederick Heiman, Joseph Müller, Peter Schwartz, Mrs. Russell, Fridolin Schumacher, Wendel Rodel, Philipp Frey, Antoni Werle, Fridolin Mutter, J. B. Backer, Catharina
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Lotz, Mrs. Silley, Joseph Becherer, Widow Schlitt, Joseph Rosenfeld, Dannis Robberts.
The Archbishop appointed a building committee, consisting of Cornelius Jacobs, George Studer, Jacob Schoeringer, Charles Cross, and Martin Stafford. The committee organized by elect- ing Mr. Stafford, president; Mr. Cross, secretary, and Mr. Ja- cobs, treasurer. The stone for the prospective church edifice were furnished by Henry Nadenbusch, at $1.25 per perch. By consent of James Phelan, sand was taken from his bank on the east side of the Scioto river, and hauled by Joseph and Zirach Woeifel. It was not long, however, before the building com- mittee became aware of the fact that the funds at command were insufficient for building a large church. They paid all bills and suspended operations for the present.
During the years in which religious services were held at Mr. Studer's, there was an occasional change to the hall of the House of Representatives, in the old state-house, to the court-house, or to one of the eight buildings on Town street, whenever Bishop Purcell made his visitations. Rev. Fathers Martin, Stahlsmidt, Hoffman; Thienpont, of Logan, Ohio, now the oldest Catholic priest of the diocese; the learned Archbishop Allemane, of San Francisco, and Bishop Henni, of Milwaukee, occasionally vis- ited the city.
By order of the Bishop, Rev. Father H. D. Juncker, afterward Bishop of Alton, Illinois, came, in August, 1837, to take the charge here, and build the church, the five years' limitation named in the deed donating the lot having nearly expired. The good father displayed a commendable energy, and by the aid of the building committee already appointed, soon had mat- ters in shape for active building operations. All took hold with a will, and a prominent building of rough limestone, fifty feet long by thirty wide, and eighteen feet in height from the ground, with an interior gallery, was, with the exception of the pews, plastering, and painting, completed on the 20th of April, 1838. On the 29th of the same month, Father Juncker celebrated the first high mass in the new church, assisted by the Rev. Father Badin, a venerable French priest, who preached an English ser- mon after vespers.
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The plastering, putting in of pews, and the painting of the church were done during the summer of 1838. Church services were then held more frequently than before.
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