USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume II > Part 41
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sion of settlements from the immediate neighborhood of Cincinnati for some years, and the project was abandoned by the purchasers. Soon after Wayne's treaty, in 1795, a new company, composed of Generals Jonathan Dayton, Arthur St. Clair, James Wilkinson and Col. Israel Ludlow, purchased the lands between the Miamis, around the mouth of Mad river, of Judge Symmes, and on the 4th of November laid out the town. Arrangements were made for its settlement in the ensuing spring, and donations of lots were offered, with other privileges, to actual settlers. Forty-six persons entered into engagements to remove from Cincinnati to Dayton, but during the winter most of them scattered in different directions, and only nineteen fulfilled their engagements. The first families who made a permanent residence in the place arrived on the 1st day of April, 1796. The first nineteen settlers of Dayton were William Gahagan, Samuel Thomson, Benj. Van Cleve, William Van Cleve, Solomon Goss, Thomas Davis, John Davis, James McClure, John McClure, Daniel Ferrell, William Hamer, Solomon Hamer, Thomas Hamer, Abraham Glassmire, John Dorough, William Chenoweth, James
Drawn by Henry Howe in 1846.
VIEW IN DAYTON.
"On the left is shown the Montgomery County Court-house, the most costly and elegant in Ohio :- the bridge across the Great Miami appears in the distance." Old Edition.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Morris, William Newcom and George Newcom, the last of whom is still a resident of the place and the only survivor of the whole number.
Judge Symmes was unable to complete his payments for all the lands he had agreed to purchase of the government, and those lying about Dayton reverted to the United States, by which the settlers were left without titles to their lots. Congress, however, passed a pre-emption law, under which those who had con- tracted for lands with Symmes and his associates had a right to enter the same lots or lands at government price. Some of the settlers entered their lots, and obtained titles directly from the United States; and others made an arrangement with Daniel C. Cooper to receive their deeds from him, and he entered the residue of the town lands. He had been a surveyor and agent for the first company of proprietors, and they assigned him certain of their rights of pre-emption, by which
Drawn by Henry Howe in 1846. THE COOPER FEMALE ACADEMY.
[The Cooper Female Academy in Dayton is a highly flourishing institution in excellent repute. Mr. E. E. Barney is the principal, under whom are seven assistants and 174 pupils.]
he became the titular proprietor of the town. He died in 1818, leaving two sons, who have both since died without children.
In 1803, on the organization of the State government, Montgomery county was established. Dayton was made the seat of justice, at which time only five families resided in the town, the other settlers having gone onto farms in the vicinity or removed to other parts of the country. The increase of the town was gradual until the war of 1812, which made a thoroughfare for the troops and stores on their way to the frontier. Its progress was then more rapid until 1820, when the
depression of business put an almost total check to its increase. The commence- ment of the Miami canal in 1827 renewed its prosperity, and its increase has been steady and rapid ever since. By the assessment of 1846 it is the second city in the State in the amount of taxable property, as the county also stands second.
The first canal boat from Cincinnati arrived at Dayton on the 25th of January, 1829, and the first one from Lake Erie on the 24th of June, 1845. In 1825 a weekly line of mail stages was established through Dayton from Cincinnati to Columbus. Two days were occupied in coming from Cincinnati to this place. There are now three daily lines between the two places, and the trip only takes an afternoon.
The first newspaper printed in Dayton was the Dayton Repertory, issued by William McClure and George Smith on the 18th of September, 1808, on a fools- cap sheet. The newspapers now published here are the Dayton Journal. daily and weekly, the Dayton Transcript, twice a week, and the Western Empire, weekly.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
The population of Dayton was 383 in 1810; 1139 in 1820; 2954 in 1830; 6067 in 1840, and 9792 in 1845. There are fifteen churches, of which the Pres- byterians, Methodists and Lutherans each have two, and the Episcopalians, Catholics, Baptists, Disciples, Newlights, German Reformed, Albrights, Dunkers and African Baptists have each one. There is a large water power within the bounds of the city, besides a great deal more in the immediate vicinity. A por- tion of that introduced in the city by a new hydraulic canal is not yet in use, but there are now in operation within the corporate limits two flouring mills, four saw mills, two oil mills, three cotton mills, two woollen factories, two paper mills, five machine shops, one scythe factory, two flooring machines, one last and peg factory, one gun-barrel factory and three iron founderies. The public buildings are two market houses, one of which has a city hall over it, an academy, a female academy, three common-school houses and a jail of stone. There are two banks. A court-house is now building of cut stone, the estimated cost of which is $63,000. The architect by whom it was designed is Mr. Henry Daniels, now of Cincinnati, and the one superintending its construction is Mr. Daniel Waymire. There are nine turnpike roads leading out of Dayton, and connecting it with the country around in every direction. The Miami canal, from Cincinnati to Lake Erie, runs through it .- Old Edition.
DAYTON, county-seat of Montgomery (incorporated February 12, 1805), about fifty miles north of Cincinnati, about sixty-five southwest of Columbus, is on the C. C. C. & I., L. M. & C., D. & W., N. Y. P. & O., D. & M., C. H. & D., D. Ft. W. & C. Railroads, and the Miami river and Miami canal. Four miles west of the city is the National Soldiers' Home. One mile south of the city is the Dayton State Insane Asylum. There are five street railroads.
County Officers, 1888 : Auditor, John D. Turner ; Clerk, F. Kemper Bowles ; Commissioners, John Munger, James B. Hunter, Alonzo B. Ridgway ; Coroner, Simon P. Drayer ; Infirmary Directors, William A. Klinger, George Rentz, John C. Heidinger ; Probate Judge, William D. McKemy; Prosecuting Attorney, Robert M. Nevin ; Recorder, Joel O. Shoup; Sheriff, William H. Snyder ; Sur- veyor, Herman S. Fox ; Treasurer, Frank T. Hoffman. City Officers, 1888 : Ira Crawford, Mayor ; Eugine Shinn, Clerk ; Louis J. Poock, Treasurer; David B. Corwin, Solicitor ; Edwin C. Baird, Engineer ; George H. Volker, Street Com- missioner. Newspapers : Herald, J. Edward B. Grimes, editor ; Daytoner Volks- zeitung, German Independent Democrat, Neder & Moosbrugger, editors ; Demo- crat, Democrat, John G. Doren & Co., editors and publishers ; Journal, Republic, W. D. Bickham, editor and publisher ; Monitor, Democrat, J. E. D. Ward, edi- tor ; Christian Conservator, United Brethren, Rev. William Dillon, editor; Chris- tian World, Reformed, Rev. E. Herbruck and Rev. M. Loucks, editors; Der Fræliche Botschafter, German United Brethren, Rev. Ezekiel Light, editor ; Herald of Gospel Liberty, Christian, J. P. Watson, editor ; Religious Telescope, United Brethren, Rev. J. W. Hott, D. D., editor ; Wæchter, German, M. Buss- dicker & Co., editors and publishers ; Workman, Labor, Stine & Hull, editors and publishers ; Golden Words, juvenile, Reformed Publishing Company, pub- lishers ; Leaves of Light, Reformed Church, juvenile, Reformed Publishing Com- pany, publishers ; Young Catholic Messenger, Catholic, juvenile, Rev. P. H. Cusack, editor; Farmer's Home, agriculture, W. B. Dennis, editor ; Nutzlicher Freund, German fiction, Rev. M. Bussdicker, editor and publisher; Ohio Poultry Journal, Robert A. Braden, editor and publisher ; Ohio Swine Journal, E. D. Hyre, editor ; Ohio Bible Teacher, United Brethren, Rev. D. Berger, D. D., edi- tor ; Instructor, Reformed Church, Rev. M. Loucks, editor Churches: 2 Metho- dist, 6 United Brethren, 2 Lutheran, 3 Evangelical Lutheran, 6 Methodist Episcopal, 8 Baptist, 1 Protestant Episcopal, 7 Catholic, 5 Presbyterian, 1 United Pesbyterian, 1 Reformed, 1 Evangelical Association, 1 German Re- formed, 1 Jewish, 1 Christian. Banks: City National, Simon Gebhart, presi- dent, G. B. Harman, cashier, Dayton National, William H. Simms, president,
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
James A. Martin, cashier ; Dayton Savings', Louis H. Poock, president, Ziba Crawford, cashier ; Merchants' National, D. E. Mead, president, A. S. Estabrook, cashier ; Third National, William P. Huffman, president, Charles E. Drury, cashier ; Winters' National, J. H. Winters, president, James C. Reber, cashier.
Principal Manufactures and Employees .- Fridman & Rothenberg, cigars, 18 hands; Joseph Shaefer, cigars, 155; Uhlman & Bloom, cigars, 135 ; Shaefer & Mahrt, cigars, 185; C. Wight & Son, builders' wood-work, 57; Moses Glas, cigars, 31 ; The Merchants' Tobacco Co., tobaccos, 44; M. J. Houck & Co., car- riage whips, 11; Kemp & Kinney, lanndrying, 14; Hewitt Brothers, soap, 8 ; Christian Publishing Association, 21; H. Hoefer & Co., bar fixtures, etc., 16; W. P. Callahan & Co., general machinery, 60; T. P. Long, shirts, 146; Stod- dard Manufacturing Co., agricultural implements, 477; Kratochwell Milling Co., 10; J. R. Johnson & Co., general machinery, 20; Pierce & Coleman, general wood-work, 123; The Ohio Rake Co., agricultural implements, 75; Zwick, Greenwald & Co., carriage wheels, etc., 90; Farmers' Friend Manufacturing Co., agricultural implements, 148 ; Crune & Seftom Manufacturing Co., paper boxes, etc, 93; Bradup & Co., school seats, etc., 10; Boyer & McMaster, stoves, 30; Stout, Mill & Temple, mill machinery, etc., 150; Hoskot & Young, laundrying, 18 ; MeHose & Lyons, bridge iron works, etc., 194; Joseph Shaefer, cigars, 176 ; Shaefer & Mahrt, cigars, 185 ; Bloom, Gerweis & Co., cigars, 205; Hoffritz & Keyer, cigar boxes, 31; W. W. White, tablets and stationery, 14; Walker & Walker, Printing, 12; Keifer, Reed & Co., laundrying, 54; Murray & Hannah, car- riages, 15 ; U. B. Publishing House, printing and publishing, 99; Buckeye Iron and Brass Works, machinery, etc., 185; Miller Brothers, cigars, 73; Thomas Nixon & Co., paper bags, 28; Dayton Leather and Collar Co., leather, 9; Lau- bach & Iddings, paper novelties, 119; Schaefer & Co., lawn rakes, 6; G. Stomps & Co., chairs, 186; Nixon Nozzle Machine Co., sprinkling machines, 15; Nixon & Castello, card board cases, 11; C. H. Frank, carbonated waters; C. N. Smith, flour mill work ; Lewis & Co., saws; J. P. Wolf, tobacco handler, 13; Union Collar and Net Co., horse collars, etc., 58 ; J. H. Wilde, woolen yarns, etc., 10; R. M. Connoble & Co., overalls and shirts, 69; George J. Roberts & Co., hy- draulic and steam pumps, 16; H. R. Parrott & Co., furniture, 36 ; Booher & Riper, job machine work; Wise, Sheible & Co., cotton batting, 56; E. H. Brownell & Co., boiler works, etc., 53; Pinneo & Daniels, carriage wheels, etc., 97; Gem City Stove Co., stoves, etc., 31 ; Mrs. John B. Hogler, lumber, 30; C. F. Snyder, extension tables, 35; W. P. Levis, paper, 20; John Stengel & Co., furniture, 62 ; C. Wight & Son, builders' wood-work, 62; The Brownell & Co., engines, etc., 183; The Parrott Manufacturing Co., plows, 25; The Aughie Plow Co., plows, 15; E. J. Diem, brown paper, 35; Josialı Gebhart & Co .. white lead and colors, 20; The Dayton Plow Co., plows, 40; The Dayton Screw Co., screws ; 145; The Mead Paper Co., white paper, 114; D. E. McSherry & Co., agricultural implements, 83; The Dayton Manufacturing Co., car furnish- ing goods, 169; E. B. Lyon, trunk material (wood), 48 ; Barney & Smith Manu- facturing Co., railroad cars, 1,587 ; The Troup Manufacturing Co., blank books, etc., 36; John Rouzer & Co., builders' wood-work, 46; Dayton Leather and Collar Co., horse collars, 32 ; Leland & Tiffany, cone pulley belt shifters ; The Sachs-Pruden Ale Co., ginger ale, etc., 44; Crawford, McGregor & Canby, lasts, pegs, etc., 47; Adam Zengel, cigar and packing boxes, 22 ; Bright & Fenner, candy ; Dayton Loop and Crupper Co., loops and cruppers, 26; W. R. Baker, bolt and screw cases ; National Cash Registry Co., cash registers, 79; The Holden Book Cover Co., book covers, etc., 26; H. E. Mead & Co., printing, etc., 11 ; John Dodds, sulky hay-rakes, 93; Dayton Malleable Iron Co., malleable iron castings, 262; E. Canby, baking powder, etc., 25; A. A. Simmonds, machine knives, 22; M. Ohmer's Sons, furniture, 41 ; Stilwell & Bierce Manufacturing Co., turbine water wheels, etc., 253; S. C. Bennet & Co., upholstering, 7; The C. L. Hawes Co., straw and binders' boards, 118; The Smith & Vaille Co., pumps and oil
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
machinery, 167 ; S. N. Brown & Co., carriage wheels, etc., 20; Hanna Brothers, cigars, 92; F. Cappel, upholstering, 9; A. Cappel, umbrellas, etc., 22; J. G. Doren, printing, 34; The Volks-Zeitung, printing, 16; A. Bretch, tin and sheet- iron work, 10; The Brownell & Co., steam boilers, 120; Terry & Shroyer To- bacco Co., tobaccos, 27; The Bryce Furnace Co., furnaces, 25; Robert Barnes, cigar boxes, 5; B. L. Bates & Bro., machine job work, 10; Charles Winchet, cornice, etc., 25; Mull & Underwood, candy, 8 ; Johnson & Watson, blank books, etc., 25; Reynolds & Reynolds, printing, 90; Monitor Publishing Co., news- paper printing, 19; The Grenewig Printing Co., job printing, etc., 30 ; Turner & Knerr, laundrying, 27; The Herald Publishing Co., daily newspaper, 26; Cot- terill, Fenner & Co., tobaccos, 65; G. W. Heathman & Co., crackers, etc., 20; John Klee & Son, ginger ale, etc., 7; Beaver & Co., soap, 10; Adam Eckhart, brooms, 10; J. W. Johnson, job printing, 16; G. Weipert, beer kegs, casks, etc., 12; A. L. Bauman & Bro., crackers, etc., 31 ; J. L. Baker, carriages, 35; L. & M. Woodhull, carriages, 95; The Columbia Bridge Co., iron bridges, 60 .- State Report, 1888.
Population in 1880, 38,678. School census, 1888, 15,466. W. J. White, school superintendent. Capital invested in industrial establishments, $5,144,450. Value of annual product, $9,520,782. Census, 1890, 61,220.
Among the public buildings may be mentioned the Public Library, the Young Men's Christian Association Building, the Court House and Jail, Government Post-office, Firemen's Insurance Building, Odd Fellows' Temple, Widows' Home, Children's Home, St. Elizabeth Hospital, sixteen public school-houses, several of them large, new and embracing every convenience that experience has suggested, and numerous churches, many of them unsurpassed for size and beauty by those of any city of equal population.
. The PUBLIC LIBRARY and the YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION are worthy of special notice. The library building is located in Cooper Park, which secures abundant light and freedom from noise. As the park is near the centre of the city, access to the library is convenient. In general style of architecture the building is a free treatment of the Southern French gothic or romanesque, built of Dayton limestone, laid in random range work, with Marquette red sandstone trimmings freely used, giving a very rich contrast, assisted largely by red slate for the roof. The building is fire-proof. Peters & Burns, of Dayton, are the architects of this fine building. The plan of the interior was obtained from Dr. William F. Poole, of Chicago, who has no superior in the knowledge of library construction and management. The building was erected by the city, and the library is sustained by taxation. All the people of Dayton over ten years of age may have free use of the library, subject only to such restriction_ as are necessary for the care and safe keeping of the books. The library numbers 29,310 volumes and 1,188 pamphlets.
The Y. M. C. A. building is complete in all its appointments. Beautiful ex- ternally, in its interior arrangements every want of such an association seems to be provided for. It is supplied with a reading-room, where the leading papers and magazines may be found, with elegant parlors for social entertainments ; with school-rooms where night schools are taught, and where instruction is given in free-hand drawing and modelling; with a large and completely-appointed gym- nasium ; with baths, shower, tub and swimming, and a beautiful hall, seated in opera house style, for meetings and lectures. The large amount of money neces- sary to accomplish these objects has been promptly and freely given by public- spirited citizens of Dayton.
The location near Dayton of the SOUTHERN OHIO LUNATIC ASYLUM, with its extensive buildings and beautiful grounds, and the magnificent NATIONAL SOLDIERS' HOME, have added no little to the attractiveness and prosperity of the city. The most remarkable business development in Dayton within the past few years has been the establishment of numerous BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS. No less
Appleton, Photo., 1891.
DAYTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Appleton, Photo., 1891.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, DAYTON.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
than nineteen of these associations, some of them with large capital, are doing a prosperous business. These associations have contributed largely to the prosperity of the city, and have enabled hundreds of working men to secure homes who probably otherwise would have never attained that desirable end. Dayton is noted for the large number of laborers who own their homes.
No greater boon can be conferred on a city than an abundant supply of pure, cold water. Dayton in this respect is fortunate. By a system of drive-wells, so deep as to be beyond the reach of contamination, an inexhaustible supply of water has been obtained which chemical analysis has shown to be free from all impnr- ities. Holly steam-pumps force this water to every part of the city. By attach- ing hose to fire-plngs located at the street corners, water may be thrown over the highest buildings. This, in connection with a non-partisan and most efficient fire department, makes Dayton practically exempt from disastrons fires. .
Dayton has superior street railway facilities, seven lines, two of which are elec- tric. These roads run over twenty-seven and one-half miles of donble track, or fifty-five miles of single track.
THE SOLDIERS' HOME.
The National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers was originated April 21, 1866, from a joint resolution of the two houses of Congress. A board of man- agers was appointed of nine citizens of the United States, not members of Con- gress, no two of whom should be residents of the same State, nor residents of any State other than those which furnished organized bodies in the late war. The ex officio members of the board, during their terms of office, are the President of the United States, the Secretary of War and the Chief Justice. This board was vested with authority to establish besides a Central Home for the Middle States, sectional branches thereto, in view of the wide extent of territory to be represented by the just claimants of such a benefice.
In the following November, 1866, the EASTERN BRANCH was opened near Augusta, Maine, and in the course of the succeeding year the CENTRAL BRANCH, near Dayton, Ohio, and the NORTHWESTERN BRANCH, near Milwaukee. Three years later the SOUTHERN BRANCH was founded at Hampton, near Fortress Monroe, Virginia. This was established from the increasing number of benefi- ciaries and the necessity felt for-a milder climate for a certain class of diseases. By an act of Congress, passed in 1884, another branch was established, the WESTERN BRANCH, located at Leavenworth, Kansas. This partly grew out of a clause in that act, which directs the admission to the Home "of all United States soldiers of any war who are incapable of earning a living, whether the in- capacity resulted from their service or not."
The SOLDIERS' HOME at Dayton, the Central Branch, is by far the largest and most important branch in point of numbers. The citizens contributed $20,000 towards its establishment. Its land area is 627 acres-nearly that of a mile square. Its location is three miles west of the court-honse in Dayton, on the gentle bounding slopes of the great Miami valley, which is here some five or six miles wide. It is an unique place ; a small city mainly of graybearded men, few women, and no children, excepting those of the families of the officers. It is a spot of great beauty, from its location, its fine buildings, its green-houses, flower beds, and for the display of the triumphs of landscape gardening. These fea- tures render it a great place of attraction in summer for visitors, who come by thousands in excursion trains from all parts of Ohio and the adjacent States of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, etc. The other Branches have like attractions in the way of landscape adornments with pleasant walks and drives, and whatever con- tributes to the comfort of the veterans, and are like places of resort for the public. The visitors at the Dayton Home number annuaily over 100,000.
Two railroads enter the Home from Dayton, the one called "The Home
.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
Avenue" and the other the T. D. & B .- the first entering from the east side and the last from the north. On reaching the Home the visitor alights at a handsome depot. Near it is a fine hotel for the accommodation of visitors, and in close view a large open space, where is a flag-staff with the American flag unfurled, waving over siege guns and mortars, with pyramids of shot and a battery in position as in battle.
Standing almost in front is the Headquarters' Building, an imposing brick structure, 130 by 41 feet, three stories in height. The first story is used for the offices, the governor-at this writing, 1891-Col. J. B. Thomas, the treasurer and secretary. The second and third stories are used for a library and reading- room ; is 104 by 41 and 19 feet from floor to ceiling, lighted by ten windows each on the north and south sides, making it light, airy and cheerful ; at night it is lighted brilliantly by a cone reflector.
This room contains the noted " Putnam Library," contributed by Mrs. Mary Lowell, of Boston, Mass., as a memorial to her son, killed at Ball's Bluff early in the war, and also the Thomas Library, contributed by the old soldiers and ad- mirers of Gen. Geo. H. Thomas. Unitedly these libraries contain about 15,000 volumes. This room is handsomely frescoed, hundreds of pictures hang on its walls, its tables are strewn with the leading magazines and newspapers, and in cases and around are many interesting relics of the war.
" Upon leaving the library, and looking to the right, the beautiful " Memorial Hall " and Home Church are in full view ; and be- yond, on a knoll, shaded by forest trees, stands the Chaplain's residence. Still far- ther to the right the magnificent and com- modious hospital charms the beholder ; and a little farther on the neat cottage of the Resident Surgeon, surrounded by a lovely lawn, completes the picture in that direction. As we look to the northwestward, we behold the Soldier's Monument, rising from a hill- top in the distance, which marks the place where the heroes sleep.
"Keeping the same position we now turn to the left and observe a rustic arbor, the springs, the flower garden, the fountain, the conser- vatory and the lakes, upon which are numer- ous swans and other water fowl; and still letting the eye sweep onward, we behold the rustic bridges, the beautiful groves of forest trees, the deer park, with more than fifty deer, elk, antelopes, buffaloes, etc .; the Vet- eran Spring, the Governor's residence, em- bowered in trees and flowers, the residences of the treasurer, the secretary, and the steward, all located on the borders of the grove.
"To the left is the long line of neat and comfortable barracks where 4000 veterans rested from the fight; the large and com- fortable dining hall, kitchen, bakery, laundry, workshops, the Home store-building, the Quartermaster and Commissary store-build- ing, the tasteful band pagoda, surrounded by a charming lawn, while the whole grounds are interspersed with broad, well-paved aven- ues and shaded paths, combining to make this splendid picture complete. Strolling beyond the woods and immediate confines of the institution, we come to the farmer's resi- dence, the vegetable garden, the barn, the stable, and the well-fed stock that graze upon
the broad acres of the Home farm. From the Headquarters, Building, which we have already described, we will now go on to give a description of the principal buildings of the Home."
The Memorial Hall is used as an opera house, a place of public entertainment for lectures, music and theatricals. It is a mag- nificent structure, with a seating capacity for 1600, beautifully painted and frescoed. The stage is fitted up with beautiful scenery and all the other appliances for first-class amuse- ment.
The Church is a fine Gothic structure, and said to have been the first church built by the United States Government anywhere. It will seat 1000 persons. The basement is fitted up for a Catholic chapel.
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