Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 113

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 1006

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Dr. Watt related an amusing incident of Mr. Wright, who died shortly after the war, at an advanced age. Said he : "A few years before his death, the late Dr. Joseph Tem- pleton, of Washington, Pa., but a former resident of Xenia, visited here, and the late Dr. S. Martin and myself were entertaining him. As we walked with him to the railroad station we met Mr. Wright. The two men, equally deaf, cordially saluted each other, when this dialogue ensued :

Templeton .- Xenia has greatly improved since I left.

Wright .- It is a great misfortune, but the best thing for us is a short tin trumpet.

Templeton .- Some very fine business blocks have been built.

Wright .- I'd show you mine, but a tinner has it for a pattern while making a new one for a friend.

Templeton .- Some of my old friends now reside in very fine houses.

Wright .- I'll have one made and send it to you if you will give me your address.

"And in twenty minutes' conversation," continued Dr. Watt, "they got no nearer. As we went on, Dr. Templeton cordially thanked us for waiting to let him have such a pleasant conversation with his old friend Coke Wright. Coming back we met Mr. Wright, who still more cordially thanked us for our patient waiting, as he had not had such a pleasant chat for years."

Mr. Galloway I found living in his rooms over some stores in the centre of the town, alone among his books and papers and old- time relics. Among these, over the door, were the horns of the last deer killed in Greene county. The year of Mr. Galloway's birth I know not, but evidently it was so far back that he must have been born in some cabin in the woods, or perhaps in one near their leafy margins, among the girdled trunks of the skeleton monsters of a once luxuriant forest.

The Bullet Barometer .- His grandfather, James Galloway, Sen., a native of Pennsyl- vania, was the first settler in his part of the county. In 1797 he came from Kentucky, and built a cabin on the Little Miami, near the site of the Miami Powder Mills. During the revolutionary war he was in the service of the United States in the capacity of hunter, to procure game for the army. "My grandfather," said he, "was in the Blue Lick fight in Kentucky and during the campaign of 1792 he was shot by the renegade Simon Girty, whom he well knew. He had met Girty while on horseback going through the woods face to face, who, perceiving that he was unarmed, said : "Now, Galloway, d-n you, I have got you," and instantly fired three small bullets into his body. Girty sup- posed he had killed him. Although in a fainting condition, Galloway wheeled his horse and made good his escape. One bullet

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GREENE COUNTY.

passed through his shoulder and stopped in the back of his neck. He carried it there for many years, and brought it with him to Ohio. It was a great source of annoyance, which varied much with the state of the weather. It served one useful purpose acted as a barometer ; so much so that when anything important was to be done requiring good weather, the neighbors would send to him to learn the prospect. Finally grandfather con-

Gatch, Photo., Xenia. THE GALLOWAY CHAIR.

cluded that he must part with his barometer; it was getting altogether too demonstrative. There was no surgeon about, so one day he sent for a cobbler and seating himself in his big arm-chair the cobbler extracted it, using his shoe knife and awl."

Having told me this, Mr. Galloway took me into his attic and brought ont the identical old arm-chair in which his grandfather had sat when the cobbler had turned surgeon. I found it the most comfortable of seats. It

was hand-made, very strong, the wood maple and hickory, and a great deal of thought with faithful workmanship had gone into its con- struction. The seat was very elastic. It con- sisted of a network of deer-thongs covered with buckskin, so that it yielded gently to every varying pressure or movement of the person. The back slats were each curved with a due regard to exactly fitting the part of the form leaning against it, the lowest having, as it should, great curvature. The chair arms were a curiosity, inasmuch as each terminated in a knob in which were cut grooves to admit the spreading fingers of a sitter, while resting in comfort.

Tecumseh Smitten with Rebecca Galloway. -Having shown me the arm-chair, Mr. Gal- loway gave me some anecdotes of the great Indian chief. "Tecumseh," said he, "was a young man of about thirty years when my grandfather first moved into Greene county. He lived some fifteen or twenty miles away. They became great friends, Tecumseh being a frequent visitor. Whether the chief was attracted by friendship for grandfather or his fancy for his daughter, my annt Rebecca, was at first a matter of conjecture ; it was soon evident, however, that he was smitten with the " white girl," but according to the Indian custom he made his advances to the father, who referred him to his daughter.

Although Tecumseh was brave in battle he was timid in love, and it was a long time before he could get his courage up to the sticking- point, which he did finally and proposed, of- fering her fifty broaches of silver. She de- clined, telling him she did not wish to be a wild woman and work like an Indian squaw. He replied that she need not work, as he would make her a "great squaw." Not- withstanding his rejection, he ever remained friendly with the family.

Tecumseh on a Spree .- The books speak of Tecumseh having been a large man ; but this, I can assure yon, was not so ; he was but a moderate-sized Indian. He was fond of "fire-water," and would go on a spree some- times, when he would become very trouble- some and provoking. On one occasion, when at the shop of "Blacksmith " James Gal- loway (a cousin of my grandfather's who lived on the banks of Mad River), Tecumseh, being on one of his big " drunks," became very in- sulting and annoying. Galloway grew angry, and being a very powerful man took him, much to his disgust, and tied him up to a tree until he became more sober and quiet.

THE SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' ORPHANS' HOME.

This noble institution of the State is located at Xenia. The Home farm con- sists of 275 aeres, on a healthful site a mile southeasterly from the centre of the town and about three-quarters from the depot of the Little Miami railroad.

The buildings consist of an administration building with large dining-room at- taelied, the two forming an Egyptian eross ; twenty cottages, ten on each side of the administration building, a school-house, chapel, hospital, laundry, industrial building, engine room, gas houses and all necessary farm-buildings. The build-

GREENE COUNTY.

ings are substantial brick structures, except the industrial and farm-buildings and green houses.

The administration building has three stories, and is occupied by the officers and teachers ; the cottages are two stories high, and are arranged to accommodate thirty-four children each ; the school-house is three stories high, and will accom- modate nearly 700 children. The chapel has a seating capacity of 700; the hospital is well arranged for the care of the sick. The building annexed to the administration building, known as the Domestic building, is three stories in height, the basement being occupied by the kitchen and bakery ; the second story is the children's dining-room, with a seating capacity of nearly 700; the third story con- tains sleeping apartments for certain of the employees, and the linen and store rooms. The children all sleep in the cottages, each cottage being under the charge of a matron. The principal buildings are heated by steam, lighted by gas and supplied with water from the water-tower in the rear. This water originally came from Shawnee creek, which runs through the grounds.

The large view was taken from a standpoint in the forest north of the cottages. It shows just half of them and the administration building, the other half being on the other side of that building. They are about 1800 feet from the road to Xenia, and form a continuous line of 1500 feet. The ground in front is a grassy lawn, sloping down through an open forest, beyond which, on a little lower ground near the road, winds Shawnee creek, a mere rivulet which is crossed by a bridge. On the path side, as the visitor enters the ground, he is greeted by a floral design speaking from the ground itself, a single word only-" WELCOME."

It was a morning late in the autumn when we entered the place, and found the children scattered on the lawn enjoying themselves, playing at games in the bright sunshine. It was our second visit, after a lapse of a year and a half. A little later, while adjusting the camera for the picture, the music sounded from the boys' band in the distance near the school-house, summoning them to school. Looking up we saw the boys in their neat military costumes arranged in companies in front of the cottages as shown in the picture. In one place was a platoon of urchins in zonave costumes : red leggings and red fez. In another, one girl in the bright garb of a vivandier, at the end of a platoon of boys. It was indeed a charming picture. A few minutes elapsed ; we were too busy to look up. When we did, not a soul was to be seen ; not a sound was heard. It was a surprise to us, the sudden change. The whole, some 600 strong, boys and girls, had been hived in the school-house seen in the extreme distance.

It is the custom of the superintendent, Maj. Noah Thomas, an armless ex-soldier who carries an empty sleeve, to take a stand on the steps of the administration building on these occasions, and as the companies of boys march by they give him the military salute.

Historical Sketch .- The initiatory steps toward the establishment of a SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' ORPHANS' HOME were taken in 1869 by the Grand Army of the Republic. Its purpose was to secure necessary funds through private beneficence, believing that having placed the project well on foot the State would take it up and carry it to its consummation. On June 21, 1869, a meeting was held in the city hall at Xenia to devise the ways and means for perfecting the plan. On July 13th a second meeting was held therein and addressed by Gov. Hayes, Con- gressman Winans, Capt. Earnshaw and oth- ers. Subscriptions to the amount of $16,500 were guaranteed, Eli Millen, Lester Arnold and J. C. MeMillen subscribing $1,000 each.

In the meantime the citizens of Xenia and

representatives of the Grand Army of the Republic were actively at work ; a desirable location in the vicinity of Xenia was selected, and the press advocated the immediate eres- tion of buildings.

The Grand Army of the Republic appointed a board of control consisting of Gen. Geo. B. Wright, Maj. M. S. Gunckel, Col. H. G. Armstrong, Eli Millen, Judge White, Mrs. R. B. Hayes, Mrs. H. L. Monroe and Mrs. Ann E. MeMeans, which met October 11th and agreed to accept the location offered by the people of Xenia.

Contracts were made for the erection of four cottages. In anticipation of the early establishment of the "Home," a number of children had been gathered at Xenia and temporary provision made by leasing quarters

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GREENE COUNTY.

on Main street. Mrs. A. McMeans was elected superintendent in January, 1870, but resigned in a short time and Maj. M. S. Gunckel was appointed acting superintendent, with Mrs. Edington, of Chicago, as matron and four others as assistants and teachers. January 23, 1870, it was decided to construct at once a large frame building as a dormitory and dining-room, and contracts were made for the erection of five more cottages. Children were now coming in rapidly ; there were about one hundred in the temporary quarters and numerous applications on file. Contributions and donations, principally wearing apparel and bedding, were sent in from all parts of the State.

A committee from the State Legislature visited the "Home." February 28th a public meeting was held in the City Hall, attended by the children in a body, and one of them, Master Howard E. Gilkey, of Cleveland, delivered a touching speech, pre- senting the claims of the orphaned children upon the State. The entire audience was much affected by his speech, and after other speeches the committee returned to Colum- bus, thoroughly convinced that it was the duty of the State to at once assume the care of the orphaned children of its soldiers and sailors. A bill was introduced in the Legis- lature to "establish Ohio Soldiers' and Sail- ors' Orphans' Homes." The bill provided that such institutions should be under the control of a board of managers, consisting of seven citizens appointed by the Governor ; that there should be received into the Homes the children residing in Ohio, not beyond sixteen years of age, of deceased, indigent and permanently disabled soldiers and sailors who served during the rebellion. Thirteen thousand dollars was appropriated, and such part of the property of the State at White Sulphur Springs in Delaware county as was not necessary for the Reform and Industrial School for Girls, already located at that place, should be set apart for the establish- ment of a " Home." The bill also provided that in case the orphans could not be com- fortably and well accommodated at White Sulphur Springs without interfering with the efficiency of the Industrial School for Girls, that the Board of Managers should have au- thority to accept by donation or bequest a suitable tract of land at a convenient point, with necessary accommodations, buildings and equipments, for two hundred and fifty children. This bill was passed April 14, 1870, and the following gentlemen were ap- pointed a Board of Managers by the Gov- ernor : R. P. Buckland, Fremont ; James Barnett, Cleveland ; J. Warren Keifer, Springfield ; Benj. F. Coate, Portsmouth ; M. F. Force, Cincinnati ; J. S. Jones, Dela- ware ; H. G. Armstrong, Cincinnati. There was much objection to its requirement that the Home should be established at White Sulphur Springs; but, as that property could not be made available for the purpose of the law, at a meeting of the Board of Managers held in Delaware, May 13th, they

resolved that they would accept a suitable tract of land with buildings, etc., at some other point, as provided by the act of the Legislature.

May 25th the Board of Managers accepted the proposition of Gen. Geo. B. Wright, Maj. M. S. Gunckel and Col. H. G. Arm- strong, representing the Board of Control of the Xenia Home, which was to complete the work already commenced under their au- spices, and have the same ready for occu- pancy by June 1st. A large force of men at once resumed work on the buildings, and on August 16, 1870, they were ready for pre- sentation to the State. Dr. I. D. Griswold was elected superintendent and Mrs. Gris- wold matron. During this month the chil- dren were transferred to the three cottages and the large frame building (now occupied as the workshop). The Board passed upon application for more than two hundred and fifty children, including those already collected, who numbered one hundred and twenty-three at an average age of nine years. The whole number of children in the State entitled to the benefits of the "Home " was estimated at 800. Of these 350 had already made application for admission, and another appropriation was made in May, 1871, to in- crease the accommodations.

The plan of dividing the children into families in cottages, separating the sexes, was found to work excellently, thereby ren- dering government easier and less liability to sickness and epidemic. A main building served to provide a suitable dining-hall, cul- inary department, school-rooms, etc. Many of the larger children were required to work, the boys on the farm and the girls in the do- mestic department.

In 1872 additional land was secured to en- large the farm, and many improvements made on the grounds and buildings, and the following spring a large number of fruit trees and vines were planted. In 1874 a system of industrial education was inaugurated. Shops were established to teach printing, telegraphing, tailoring, dressmaking, knit- ting, carpentering, blacksmithing, shoemak- ing and tinning. Gentlemen well versed in the different branches were placed at the head of each department.

The inmates now numbered nearly 600, and although the general health had been good, the prevalence of sore eyes was no- ticeable, and Dr. C. B. Jones, the physician, upon investigation discovered that the trou- ble arose from the manner in which the in- mates washed their hands and faces. This was done in tin wash-basins, three to each cottage, the drying being done with one large towel. Fixtures were introduced so that the washing was done in running water, and the drying with separate towels, and the epi- demic soon disappeared. The measles and scarlet fever had also appeared simultane- ously with the coming of every winter sea- son. Investigation into the cause of this showed that every spring the heavier winter bed clothing had been stored away in closets

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GREENE COUNTY.

without airing or washing. Washing, air- ing and drying before storing in the spring prevented a recurrence of these diseases.

Further appropriations by the Legislature and a steady improvement in the system of management brought to the institution a high degree of efficiency in accomplishing the objects for which it was founded.

On February 16, 1879, the destruction of the administration and domestic buildings by fire involved a loss to the State of nearly $75,000, and to the employees and officers of' sums ranging from $100 to $500. The Leg- islature speedily authorized the rebuilding of the destroyed structures, and plans were adopted for making the new buildings fire- proof.

On the 27th day of April, 1884, the insti- tution was visited by a most terrific cyclone. The storm did not rage to exceed one minute, but with force indescribable, tearing away the roofs of the laundry, hospital and other buildings, completely demolishing the barn, wagon and tool sheds, carrying away the roof of the hospital a distance of five hun-

dred feet, in an almost unbroken condition until it struck the earth, driving slates into the trees with such force as that it was im- possible to remove them with the hand ; re- moving a large part of the east veranda from its foundation, tearing down timber, fences, and other structures, and carrying a portion of the wreck miles away, and yet there was no human being injured, except two em- ployecs slightly, although there were at the time within the institution about seven hun- dred and fifty men, women and children ; the children all being at supper.

The damages resulting from the cyclone were repaired, at a cost of $7,500, a large portion of the money used for that purpose having been procured by Governor George Hoadly and Hon. John Little, they having given their joint promissory note for $5,152 .- 50, and Mr. Little his individual note for $508.75.

This was the same cyclone which visited Jamestown in this county, with such disas- trous results, an account of which is given on another page.

In 1888 the institution was under the superintendence of Major Noah Thomas, with Mrs. Alice Thomas matron, Leigh McClung physician, George H. Harlan financial officer. The Educational Department, with Horace A. Stokes as prin- cipal, had sixteen lady teachers. The cottage matrons numbered twenty, also a hospital matron, Mrs. Ephraim Hardesty, and Miss Rosa Bauerle supply ma- tron and teacher The number of children November 15, 1887, were 668, of whom 242 were girls, 426 boys.

The occupations taught are domestic economy, stenography, shoemaking, farm- ing, carpentering, painting, girls' sewing, printing, tinning, gardening, engineer- ing, baking, tailoring, dressmaking, blacksmithing, cutting and fitting dress- making.

Board of Trustees .- Charles H. Grosvenor, Athens ; Nelson A. Fulton, Xenia ; William C. Lyon, Newark; John S. Jones, Delaware; and Andrew Schwarz, Columbus.

The average age of the children is about eleven years, and were it double its capacity the Home would speedily be filled with orphans of the class contemplated by the law. The annual expense is for each orphan about $140. This is about what it is with the inmates of the other charitable institutions, as the Deaf and Dumb, Blind, Imbecile and Insane.

TRAVELLING NOTES.

" The Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home" at Xenia is one of the bright places in the State. It pays the people largely to sustain it. I was a guest over night March 17, 1886, and then, passing there a few hours of the next day, saw much to admire and nothing to condemn. It is as one great household where system and order and a conscientious spirit everywhere prevails.

The Food and Health .- At these various State charitable institutions the inmates all live well. The food is of the very best, much fruit, vegetables and milk ; with no dishes of flummery for cloyed appetites, but all simple, well cooked, and healthy ; far better than in most private families or hotels. The sleeping apartments are well ventilated, am-

ple washing facilities are supplied and a healthy temperature maintained by good heat- ing facilities. Aside from this comes the element of uniform employment without the fret, worry and hurry and idleness that often attend life elsewhere. Hence the health of the inmates generally surpasses that of any like number of people outside of such institu- tions. Only one death had occurred here in the three years prior to my visit.

The Ages .- Children are here of all ages from the infant of nineteen months to those of sixteen years. Beyond the sixteenth birthday none are allowed by law to remain. Places where they can earn their own living are generally found against the arrival of the sixteenth birthday, and by that time they have been taught some industry to help them do

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GREENE COUNTY.

80. Some who have been bred here are among the teachers, and in time the entire supply may come from the institution itself.

I visited the various shops, among them the printing office, where they print a weekly newspaper, the fruit and vegetable store- house, and the greenhouse, with its array of flowers. The hospital I did not enter ; it is not much used, as there are rarely many in- mates.

Uses of Children .- A school-room, es- pecially if filled with very small children, is always attractive. A world without children would be a stupid spot. They make things lively, are the best sort of instructors, their ignorance, helplessness and trustful leaning so developing to our own high good, often so warming the heart in delightful emotion, that, even before the Master himself came to utter the words, "Suffer little children to come unto me," multitudes of our race must have experienced the angelic glow that comes from their appealing presence.

Beauty of the Dawning Intellect .- No flower opens with more beauty to sip the morning dew as it glistens upon its fragile petals, than the heart of the young child to the reception of kindness and love, while it literally hungers and thirsts after knowledge, finding itself in this great storehouse of erea- tion, with everything around new and strange, made for its use and development.

Yes, everything : the glory of the earth by day; the glory of the vast dome by night; time, that never was, but ever is; space, with its immensity that has no bounds; and, moreover, the qualities of justice, truth and love, higher than all material things, which always were, before anything was, ready existing for their exercise whenever sentient life could spring into creation.

And then a Supreme Intelligence and Supreme Power over all, that creates, bring- ing these qualities into the uses of the think- ing life he has created, and to fill it with joy and gratitude as it learns to discern more and more, through all time, through all eternity, the full perfection and superlative beauty of the universe, of which not the least wonder will be that he finds himself a part. It is in this view to what children are the heirs, that to supply their highest wants, to give to them the noblest, purest development, is among the highest, most bliss-filling of duties.

An Exhibition of the Little People .- I entered the far building in the picture, the school-house. The first room I went in was for small children, about eight years of age. There were forty boys and girls under the charge of Miss Dix. The room was on the ground floor, spacious, and lighted on two sides by nine windows. These gave a pleas- ing outlook upon green fields and noble trees, with the early buds of a spring morning un- folding in the sunlight. I now state what happened.

Ist. School opened with the Lord's Prayer. 2d. With folded hands and bowed heads the children repeated :

"I thank thee, Lord, for quiet rest, And for Thy care of me," etc.

3d. A hymn was sung by the children, "Gentle Saviour," followed by one entitled "Little Ones," "Jesus, when He Left the Skies," etc.

4th. Recitation. The noted poem of Alice Carey, beginning with-

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Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 113

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio Number of Pages: 1006

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 1006