USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
286
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
As an advance courier, Mrs. O. W. Smith, of the Woman's Club, made a strong appeal for the library cause through the columns of our newspapers.
But the spirit had "touched the waters" and they were troubled pretty generally, it would seem, as close upon this action of the clubs came the announcement that a number of our influential men at a meeting called for that purpose, had reorganized the library associa- tion formed in 1882.
THE LIMA PUBLIC LIBRARY -- II. (By Medora Freeman.)
This reawakening among the men was al- most entirely due to Herbert L. Brice. It had been a dream of his to rouse the citizens to ac- tion in the matter of a permanent library for Lima and for some time before the attention of the people was generally called to the propo- sition, he had discussed plans with a number of the leading citizens, which he afterwards formulated. At his suggestion the old associa- tion of 1882 was reorganized and for the first time in the annals of the library movement an organization was put on a thoroughly systema- tized and sure basis.
To the regret of all those who lent their support to the movement, Mr. Brice was forced to withdrew his services on account of ill health, shortly after the library opened and was never again well enough to take any part in its pro- gress.
The Public Library as it is to-day is a mon- ument to his memory ; and the Carnegie Libra- ry when completed will be a realization of his fondest hopes; for it was through his efforts that we were put upon Mr. Carnegie's list of benefactions.
The reorganized association elected as its board of library directors : L. S. Motter, presi- dent; Herbert L. Brice, vice-president ; G. M. Sprague, secretary; J. W. Roby, treasurer ; James O. Ohler, J. W. Van Dyke and C. C. Miller. The various women's clubs were in- vited to co-operate and a plan was suggested and followed which gave the movement a start financially. Life membership tickets were sold
for $I each and the club women disposed of about 400 of these; individual subscriptions were also solicited by a committee and the money thus raised was used in organizing and opening the present Public Library. This com- mittee was made up of the directors with Her- bert L. Brice as chairman. His work was per- sistent and untiring and the success met with was largely due to his efforts. Mr. Brice and Mr. Roby selected the books which were pur- chased and with the volumes housed at the Y. M. C. A. the library was started.
Medora Freeman was elected librarian af- ter a competitive examination and began the work of cataloguing the books on the 15th of July, 1901. On September 21st following, the Public Library was opened to the public with 1641 volumes ready for circulation; of these volumes, 782 were purchased, 143 were do- nated and 716-the remains of the original li- brary-were moved from their old quarters in the Y. M. C. A. Building to the present library rooms in the Black Block.
At the end of the first year there were 2,- 678 volumes in the library and the circulation for the year was 31,423 volumes. At the year's close 1,952 borrowers were registered; these being limited to Lima residents although there have been many requests from county residents for library privileges.
There is a reading room in connection with the library, where a number of leading maga- zines are kept on file. The books are divided into three departments: Reference, fiction and juvenile. The reference department is classi- fied under the general heads of philosophy, re- ligion, sociology, philology, natural science, useful arts, fine arts, literature, history and general works. Each class is subdivided and all works dealing with a certain subject are kept together. The juvenile department is sadly handicapped as in truth are all the branches, for lack of room.
At the close of the fourth year there were 4.547 volumes in the library. 2.906 having been added since the library opened. All branches have been added to at different times so that an effort has been made to keep the departments well balanced. There were 3.746 borrowers registered at the close of the fourth year.
287
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
The Public Library, although quite inade- quate to the demands made upon it, has proved a great benefit and pleasure to thousands and has become an indispensable factor in the ad- vancement of the community.
Soon after the library opened, it was found necessary to have an assistant in the work and Martha Gamble was added to the force and is still in the library.
Several changes have occurred in the board of directors. Mrs. C. F. Lufkin was appointed to fill the place made vacant by the death of Herbert L. Brice; D. J. O'Day filled Mr. Van Dyke's unexpected term; and Mrs. T. K. Ja- cobs was elected at the expiration of Mr. O'Day's term. The board saw before the li- brary had been in operation very long that larger and better quarters would be needed very soon and they were glad to accept the offer made to us by Mr. Carnegie in 1901 for a li- brary building.
At Herbert L. Brice's suggestion, Helen Brice, of New York City, interceded for us with Mr. Carnegie. Through her personal acquaint- ance with him, her appeal met with immediate success and Mr. Carnegie at once promised us a building to be given as soon as we could comply with the conditions he imposed. The stipulation made by Mr. Carnegie was that he would donate the sum of $30,000 for a library building if the people of Lima would furnish a site and guarantee 10 per cent. of his donation annually for its support and maintenance. His offer was gladly accepted. In November, 1902, the first step was taken toward securing a site. Under the management of the librarian, the ladies of the various clubs banded together and issued a special "Library" edition of the Rc- publican-Gasette. This proved a very successful undertaking and gave the site-fund a splendid start of $1,000. In April. 1903, the Federated Clubs gave a "twilight recital" and in June fol- lowing under the supervision of Mrs. C. F. Luf- kin they gave a lawn fete at McBeth's Park. Both benefits were successful, artistically and financially. and added $1,274 to the fund. The ladies of Lima were later called upon for indi- vidual donations and the balance necessary to ·secure the lot was solicited from the men. This
work was done entirely by Mrs. C. F. Lufkin, whose interest and perseverance in the work have crowned it with success. The beautiful lot, 100 feet square, at the northeast corner of Market and McDonald streets, has been pur- chased and work has been begun on the plans so that by spring the actual building will be start- ed to replace the castles that have been in the air the last four years. The work of raising a good sum of money for a public benefaction has never yet proved a light task-nor did this one. But perpetual pushing and assurance put the difficulties out of countenance, and made the seeming impossibility give way.
Those who know under what difficulties the work is carried on in the present quarters will doubly appreciate what the advantages of a real library with proper equipment will mean.
For almost 50 years this library movement has been growing and gathering strength with the years. If as some one has said, "To know how to wait is the great secret of success," surely the time is now ripe to gather our reward.
THE LIMA WATER WORKS.
On the 19th of July, 1904, the Board of Public Service purchased from the County In- firmary Directors 72 acres of the bottom farm opposite the infirmary buildings, paying there- for $8,280. From George R. Fetter they bought an adjoining 40 acre tract, paying for this $5, 150. To the Ohio Oil Company, which owned an oil lease covering the infirmary tract, with several scant producing wells, the sum of $20.000 was paid in order to secure the leases, and the Ohio Oil Company was permitted to at once "pull" the wells and retail the piping and other paraphernalia pertaining to the operation of the lease. To Oscar Hover, who owned a lease on the Fetter tract, was paid the sum of $2,000, this making the total cost of the site $34.430.
The contract of building the reservoir with its necessary equipment of high-powered and capacious pumping machinery, conduit lines. electric current lines, etc., was let to J. C. Linne- man for $139.578.49. This with the purchase price made a total of $175,008.49. The city
288
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
had been bonded for this purpose some years before to the extent of $150,000.
The new reservoir, as indicated above, cov- ered an area of about 112 acres, excavated to an average depth of 22 feet, and in volume this figures a little more than 600,000,000 gallons or more than five times the capacity of both the old city reservoirs, located on East North street which have a combined accommodation for but 1 17,000,000 gallons.
The daily consumption of water in this city has increased from less than 1,000,000 gallons eight years ago to about 2,500,000 gallons at this time. Therefore the combined storage ca- pacity of the old and new reservoirs of about 720,000,000 gallons is sufficient to supply the city for almost 300 days of 24 hours each, dur- ing which time there would be sufficient water even if not a drop were added to the supply. However, there is seldom three months at one time during which it would not be possible to greatly augment the supply in the new reser- voir, as well as practically fill the old ones from the Lost Creek dam, not to mention the two dozen wells at the East and West Side stations of the present system.
In view of these facts it will be seen that Lima has an abundance of water supply and in quality it is much better and purer than ever before. The water is taken from the Ottawa River, which flows alongside the walls of the new reservoir in an artificial channel, the mak- ing of which involved the removal of several million cubic yards of earth, every yard of which entered into the retaining wall construc- tion. It is taken only at flood tide, after all the impurities have been washed away by being carried off on the rise of the flood. A canal leads from the main channel of the pump suc- tion pipe well, and so great is the capacity of the pair of centrifugal pumps that a swift current is created by their suction in this canal, which is 16 feet in width and four feet in depth. In the reservoir the sediment settles rapidly, leav- ing the water near the surface practically clear, while the outlet pipe is hinged upon a huge ball point, which permits it to be raised or lowered, always taking water for the city reservoir from near the surface where it is clearest and purest. By this arrangement, in connection with the
twin reservoirs on East North street, all water pumped into the city mains is doubly purified. It is allowed to settle in the big reservoir before being drawn off into the conduit line and brought down to the East North street twin storage reservoirs. There the water is filled into one of the reservoirs and after it has been allowed to settle it is drawn off into the other and pumped into the mains, while another sup- ply is being settled, and so on indefinitely.
As has been before stated the contract for the building was placed with Lima men. J. C. Linneman, J. A. Bendure and J. D. S. Neely and Joseph B. Meyer, of Buffalo, president of The Lima Electric Railway & Light Company, were the principals in the contract. To Cliff Wise went the construction of the huge retain- ing walls which bound it on three sides and a portion of the fourth, and the dredging for the Ottawa River, by which that stream is diverted from its natural course, which was directly through the body of the reservoir, and carried past the big pond alongside its south bank to a point where it rejoins the natural channel.
When the infirmary site was adopted, it was. realized that there were several obstacles to. overcome and one of these was the handling of a small stream which crossed the road a few hundred feet west of the infirmary buildings, and passed down through the body of the tract which now constitutes the reservoir. This lit- tle 'stream carried away the sewerage from the- infirmary and it was an absolute necessity that it be taken care of in some manner that would absolutely and surely prevent any of its con- tamination coming in contact with the waters of the reservoir. This stream ran through a rather deep swale or ravine, leading down to. the river, with high banks sloping to the east and west. The only feasible course was a tun- nel leading almost directly eastward and at right angles with its old course which as to the south. This plan was adopted, and a hole seven feet in diameter was bored through the ridge- skirting the north and northeast bank of the big pond. In some places this bore is almost 30 feet beneath the surface of the ground. It is lined with a triple course of hard brick, laid in cement and the interior or net diameter of the tunnel thus formed is four feet. large enough to,
OBAZETTE
GAZETTE BUILDING, LIMA
DETROIT, TOLEDO & IRONTON RY. DEPOT. LIMA
1
FEDERAL BUILDING AND POSTOFFICE, LIMA
MASONIC TEMPLE, LIMA
29F
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
enable a person to walk through it in a stooping posture. This tunnel is almost 1,200 feet in length, and constituted a large item in the cost of the construction of the reservoir, or rather in making it possible to construct the reservoir. It conducts the little stream mentioned above to the Ottawa River several hundred feet south or down stream from the point where the in- take canal secures its supply, thus avoiding all danger of contamination from this source.
THE POSTOFFICE AND POSTMASTERS OF LIMA.
The postoffice at Lima was established Feb- . ruary I, 1832, with Lewis Srouf, postmaster. At that time the business amounted to little over $500 per annum. For the year ending June 30, 1905, the receipts for the sale of stamps amounted to $62,214.28, while the total money order business aggregated about $520,- 000.
The postmasters with their terms of service have been :
Lewis Srouf, February 1, 1832, to April, 1832.
John Ward, April, 1832, to June, 1832. Henry Lippincott, June, 1832, to April, 1833.
Charles Baker, April, 1833, to November, 1837. William Cunningham, November, 1837, to April, 1839.
John W. Thomas, April, 1839, to July, 1841.
John B. Wamsley, July, 1841, to May, 1843.
Samuel A. Baxter, Sr., May, 1843, to December, 1844.
B. A. Satterthwait, December, 1844, to April, 1851. John Keller, April, 1851, to June, 1853.
Samuel Sanford, June, 1853, to September, 1856. Orrin Curtiss, September, 1856, to March, 1861. John R. Beatty, March, 1861, to October, 1861.
Cornelius Parmenter, October, 1861 to March, 1867. Dr. William H. Harper, March, 1867, to April, 1869.
Cornelius Parmenter, April, 1869, to November 8, 1877.
George P. Waldorf, November 8, 1877, to April, 1886.
R. W. Meily, April, 1886, to April, 1890.
Dr. George Hall, April, 1890, to July, 1893.
W. R. Mehaffey, July 1, 1893, to August 1, 1898.
Dr. George Hall, August 1, 1898, to March 23, 1904. William A. Campbell, March 24, 1904.
The officers, clerks and carriers at the pres- ent time (January, 1906) are as follows : Post- master, William A. Campbell; assistant post- master, R. H. Mckinney ; money-order-clerk, Eda M. Ballard; mailing clerks-George F. Winemiller, Clarence H. Atmur, Guy Sproul and Frank I. Mumaugh; distrib- uting clerks-Earl E. Winemiller, Jona- than K. Yant, Silas I. Barling and Bruce M. Darby; stamp clerk, Joseph Y. Ba- deau; registry clerk, Harold L. French ; general delivery clerk, Asa H. Osman; clerk in charge of the South Lima station, John J. Anderson ; substitute clerk, Fred F. Flager ; city carriers- Arthur Baker, Frank J. Bolton, Calvin K. Carnes, Edmund L. Conrad, James W. Cre- mean, Edward G. Hall, Fred. C. Herold, Harry L. Hutchins, Robert T. Jones, Charles. A. Knecht, Cantwell McKee, Will S. Simpson, Cloyd E. Strawbridge, Norman H. Townsend and Harry D. Zurmehly ; substitute carriers- Benjamin F. Richie and Frank J. Smith ; rural. carriers-Richard Stockton (Route I), Billa Hitchcock ( Route 2), Walter Wetherill ( Route 3), Harry Ward ( Route 4), Alton L. Osmon (Route 5), Emanuel Waltz (Route 6), John W. Bowersock ( Route 7) John E. Vore ( Route 8) and Charles Rousculp ( Route 9) ; substi- tute rural carriers-Schuyler C. Early and Clara M. Roush; janitors-Adolph Lehman and Edward Harrison; mail messengers-John T. Swander, Thompson R. Kennedy and Wil- liam M. Hawkins; contractor screen-wagon service, O. D. Fisher.
During Mr. Parmenter's administration as. postmaster, the postoffice was located on the southwest corner of the Square; afterwards,. under Dr. Harper, it was removed to the old Holland Block, corner of High and Main streets. In 1880 it was moved across the street to the room now occupied by Melville's drug- store, and the Commercial Bank and there it remained for 15 years. During Mr. Meily's term of office, 1886-90, free delivery of mail in the city was established. On July 4, 1894. in the administration of Mr. Mehaffey the corner- stone of the new Federal Building and Post- office on the corner of Elizabeth and High streets was laid by Allen Andrews, Grand Mas-
16
292
-
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
ter of F. & A. M. of the State. In 1895 the building was completed, the cost being $40,000, and in September of that year the postoffice was moved to its present quarters. This handsome Postoffice Building was secured for Lima at the expense of the national government through the efforts of Senator Calvin S. Brice. While the building presents a creditable appearance, it is, nevertheless, too small to accommodate the growing business of the city of Lima, and the rural free delivery. During the early years of Dr. George Hall's second term as postmaster, 1898-1904, and largely through his efforts, ru- ral free delivery was inaugurated in the county.
Federal Officers (1906) .- S. R. Vertner, deputy revenue collector, and F. L. Churchill, pension examiner, occupy rooms on the second floor of the Postoffice Building.
THE ALLEN COUNTY FAIR.
The first annual fair of the Allen County Agricultural Society was held in Blackburn's Grove, which was located south of Spring street and west of McDonald on what was afterwards known as Faurot's farm. The fair was held on the 4th and 5th of October. 1860. On the last day of the fair Hon. Isaiah S. Pillars was to have delivered an agricultural address but on that day the Democrats held a mass meeting adjacent to the Fair Grounds and, owing to the noise and confusion, Mr. Pillars declined to deliver the address. The address was published in the weekly paper.
At a meeting of the board of directors of the Allen County Agricultural Society, held in January, 1861, the following officers were chosen: J. B. Roberts, of Ottawa township, president ; F. J. Lye, Jr., of Marion, vice-pres- ident: O. E. Griffith, of Ottawa, secretary ; George W. Overmyer, of Ottawa, treasurer ; Joseph Slutz, of Jackson, Dr. R. E. Jones, of Sugar Creek, C. W. Jacobs, of Perry. J. L. Smith, of Auglaize. A. E. Hadsell, of Bath, J. R. Hughes, of Ottawa, Charles Crites, of Ger- man. James Pettit. of Monroe, Mr. Lewis, of Richland. Calvin Harris, of Amanda, Nelson Hayes, of Marion, John H. Harbison. of Spen- cer, and James .\. Hover, of Shawnee, man- agers.
The officers in 1868 were: President Thomas K. Jacobs; vice-president, Robert Mchaffey; directors-Gabriel Hefner, James . Hover, Calvin Harris and S. R. McKee. In 1869 the officers of the so- ciety were: President, J. R. Hughes, vice-president, Robert Mehaffey; secretary, G. W. Overmeyer; treasurer, James A. Hover ; directors-S. R. Bailey, G. C. Schooler, William Yoakum and Gabriel Hefner. The of- ficers for 1905-06 are: President, Joseph E. States; vice-president, J. W. Shanahan ; treas- urer, George R. Fetter; assistant secretary, L. J. Keppler ; secretary, T. B. Bowersock.
Until 1882 the Allen County Agricultural Society held their annual fairs on the grounds afterward known as Faurot Park, situated west of McDonald and south of Elm street. We find this entry in the minutes of the society under date of August 6, 1881 : "Agricultural Board met this day ; Pres. W. K. Boone in the chair. The Secretary stated the object of the meeting was to consider the question of buying 30 acres of ground of J. B. Roberts for perma- nent fair grounds. After considering the mat- ter, motion was made by R. Mehaffey, That the society purchase the ground (30 acres) at the price offered by Mr. Roberts ($7.000) and that the $2,000 due the Agricultural Society from the surplus dog fund on hand be paid as first payment. Motion carried. Motion by Lester Bliss, That the President, Secretary and Amos Hefner be a committee to see to the survey and perfecting the title and that the President and Secretary execute, sign and seal the necessary notes and mortgage to complete and effectuate said purchase, also to employ such legal advice as they may need in the matter. Motion car- ried. Adjourned to meet September 10, 1881."
This ground has been used as the meeting place of the Allen County Agricultural Society since the fall of 1882. In 1903, the Lima Driv- ing Park Association purchased the Fair Grounds, then having 34 acres, of the Agricul- tural Society. Since that time the fair board rent the grounds of the Lima Driving Park Association for the purpose of holding the an- nual fair.
The Lima Driving Park Association was organized by representative citizens of Lima
293
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
and the surrounding territory. It is a stock company, with capital stock of $25,000. Im- provements have been made on the grounds to the amount of $15,000. The grand stand, a view of which is shown elsewhere in this book, cost $7,500, and will seat 1,600 people. The half-mile track and equipment is the best in the Middle West and the track holds the half-mile track record.
The race meetings given in the spring and fall are attended by the most prominent horse- men from New York to Chicago and from De- troit to Lexington. The officers for 1905-06 are : President, J. C. Linneman ; vice-president, J. W. Rowlands; secretary, F. E. Baxter ; and treasurer, Harry M. Moore.
The following are extracts from the address of Hon. Isaiah S. Pillars. This address is the one referred to at the opening of this article on the Allen County Fair.
"As early as 1784, the South Carolina Ag- ricultural Society was established and still ex- ists. As early as 1657, the growth of hops was encouraged in Virginia by legislative enact- ment. In 1732 the cultivation of the mulberry tree and silk worm was encouraged in Georgia by legislative enactment. In 1785, the Phila- delphia Society for the Promotion of Agricul- ture was founded by a body of citizens, only a few of whom were actually engaged in agricul- tural husbandry, but who were convinced of the necessity of such an association. This society was finally incorporated in 1809. In 1791 a society was organized in the city of New York 'for the advancement of agricultural arts and manufactures.'
"In 1792 was organized the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture. As early as 1794, the formation of a national agricultural society seems to have occupied the attention of Washington, then President of the United States. In a letter to Sir Peter Sinclair, he ad- vised the establishment of such a society, but thought it would be some time before Congress would give the matter any aid. The agricul- tural report from the Patent Office for 1859 says : 'The first proposition for the establish- ment of such an institution was made by Wash- ington, in his annual speech, delivered on 7th
of December, 1796, when he met the two houses of Congress for the last time. He said : " It will not be doubted that, with reference to either individual or national welfare, agricul- ture is of primary importance. In proportion as nations advance in population, and other cir- cumstances of maturity, this truth becomes more apparent, and renders the cultivation of soil more and more an object of public patron- age. Institutions for promoting it grow up, supported by the public purse, and to what ob- jection can it be dedicated with greater propri- ety? Among the means which have been em- ployed to this end, none has been attended with greater success than the establishment of boards, composed of proper characters, charged with collecting and diffusing information, and enabled by premiums and small pecuniary aids to encourage and assist a spirit of discovery and improvement."
""Thus do we see that the formation of these societies for the promotion of agriculture met with the hearty approbation of one whom we all delight to call the father of his country. This recommendation of Washington met with a hearty response from Congress.
" 'From this time, agricultural societies be- gan to be formed in various parts of the coun- try-in New England, in New York and Pennsylvania, and in the Southern States.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.