USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 40
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" 'The first national agricultural association was organized at Georgetown, in 1809, which was discontinued in 1812, in consequence of the war with England. No effort was again made to organize it until 1840, which was not suc- cessful. In 1852 at the call of many agricul- tural societies, 153 delegates, representing twenty-three states met and a national society for agriculture was formed, which has been eminently successful. It has just closed its eighth annual exhibition at Cincinnati. It has done much good to raise the standard of agri- culture and disseminate information.'
"The first agricultural fair ever held in America was in 1804-05. The first exhibitions. however, that we have any definite record of were held by the Columbian Agricultural So- ciety, at Georgetown. D. C., in 1809. Among the premiums awarded was $too for the best
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'two-toothed ram lam,' $80 for the second best 'two-toothed ram lam' and $60 for the third best 'two-toothed ram lam.' President Madi- son and lady are spoken of as having attended this exhibition.
"Thus do we find the men of the early days of the republic, laboring to advance the inter- ests of agriculture by these societies and ex- hibitions. Should we not as intelligent men give the matter more attention in these advanc- ed days of the republic? Let us throw away party politics, the scrambling of men for posi- tion under our laws, which benefit us or our country not a whit, and devote a part of the energy and vigor we give to party, to accomp- lish something for that cause which works for our substantial happiness.
"Having referred somewhat to the history of the formation of agricultural societies, it may not be out of place, nor uninteresting, to see what has been done in Ohio in that behalf.
"In 1846 the Legislature passed an act 'For the Encouragement of Agriculture.' Under this law a State Board of Agriculture was organ- ized. It is made the duty of the board to meet annually, and to report to the General Assembly the condition of agriculture throughout the State, to be accompanied by such recommenda- tion as in the opinion of the board may be in- teresting and useful. Under this law they have published 12 volumes of reports, and have just held at Dayton their IIth annual fair, with a success unparalleled by any former exhibition, and have assisted most materially in impressing the people with an idea of the importance of a correct knowledge of the science of agriculture. So common have the societies and exhibitions become, so well are they approved by all men of science and friends of advancement, that scarce a county or State in the nation but what has its society thoroughly organized. Shall Allen County lag behind? Certainly she now gives evidence of awaking from profound sleep. But it must be confessed that it is not by these so- cieties, and these exhibitions alone that people are to be educated in the science of agriculture. We can here but interchange experience and ob- servation, and accomplish the other objects I
have spoken of. It is but the practical results which we view. We must have schools to teach the science of agriculture. We find a few of the States with agricultural schools and colleges ; New York has two or more; Michigan upon our north has incorporated into her constitu- tion a provision, requiring the Legislature to establish an agricultural college, and they have done it-have given 700 acres of land and $90,- ooo for the purpose. So have Pennsylvania and Maryland given like assistance to the estab- lishment of these schools.
"The necessity for the establishment of these institutions or some place where those who design cultivating the soil may be taught in all that pertains to agriculture, is apparent to everyone. Should Ohio be behind in this matter? Most certainly not. If it is necessary to educate the sons of New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Maryland in the science of husbandry, then it is also necessary to give a like education to the sons of Ohio.
"The Americans, as a nation, are eminently an agricultural people. We are tillers of the soil. Before the hardy industry of the Anglo- Saxon, the forest is made to 'bud and blossom as the rose', the earth is made to yield up her treasures, and the mineral is appropriated to the best use of man. Our wealth as a nation is in agriculture. The republic produces annually 200,000,000 bushels of wheat, 600,000,000 bushels of corn and 2,500,000 bales of cotton. Why, cotton is said to be King! Our agricul- tural exports amount to $220,000,000 annually whilst the manufacturing exports amount to but $23,000,000. Thus our agricultural ex- ceeds our maufacturing products in exports alone, nearly $200,000,000. Is not agriculture our greatest source of national wealth ?
"Take our own State of Ohio. In 1840 there were 300,000 of our people engaged in agriculture, and only about 70,000 engaged in commerce and manufacture combined. In 1850 we had 270,000 males over 15 years of age en- gaged in cultivating the earth. In 1860 we cannot have less than 850,000 engaged in farm- ing. In 1858 our agricultural wealth exceeded our manufacturing by many millions of dol-
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lars. The annual agricultural productions of
Ohio amount to $150,000,000. *
* * But it is useless to enumerate the evidence of our pre-eminence as an agricultural State. They are manifest on every hand. Our people are fed and our treasury filled by agricultural in- dustry.
"But let us come nearer home. What of Allen County? We have 242,000 acres of land. Of this we cultivate 64,000. In 1850 we sowed 15,000 acres in wheat, and planted 10,270 acres in corn. In 1858 we sowed 16,165 acres in wheat ; in 1856 we planted over 19,000 acres in corn. In 1850 we produced 231,277 bushels of wheat; in 1851 300,000 bushels of wheat ; in 1859, 140,000 bushels of wheat. In the mean- time, however, during those years of discour- agement which you all will long remember, the wheat crop became almost a failure.
"In 1851 the farmers of Allen County plant- ed 11,326 acres in corn, and gathered about 40 bushels to the acre, or 443,126 bushels. In 1853, from 13,623 acres there were gathered 529,623 bushels of corn; and in 1855 we gath- ered 529,541 bushels of corn from 18,000 acres. In 1858 from 12,000 acres we gathered 216,000 bushels of corn and in 1859 we gathered 646,000 bushels of corn. We have 6,560 horses, 17,000 cattle and 27,000 hogs.
"Besides this we have 50 miles of railway in the county diverging and connecting us with the best grain markets in the West. Our popu- lation amounts to 20,000. Less than 4,000 of these live in the villages, leaving all who are able to labor out of 15,000 connected directly. with agriculture."
THE STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
The State hospitals of Ohio have for a num- ber of years been overcrowded. On thorough investigation, it was decided to give these in- stitutions greater facilities and, therefore, the Legislature of the State, on April 25, 1904, passed House Joint Resolution No. 60, author- izing Governor Myron T. Herrick to appoint a commission, whose duty it would be to select a site for the erection of a new State Hospital for the Insane. Acting upon this resolution, Gover- nor Herrick appointed the following commis- sion :- Dr. E. LeFever (chairman), Marietta ; Hon. A. H. Judy (secretary ), Greenville ; Hon. C. J. Manix, Cleveland ; Hon. Walter B. Richie, Lima; and Dr. A. B. Smith, Wellington.
The first three named were members of the Ohio House of Representatives. This commis- sion entered earnestly upon the responsibility with which it was charged, and. after an extended examination of sites pro- posed by a large number of the cities of Ohio, decided by unanimous vote to accept the location offered by the people of Lima and Allen County. The place selected consists of 628 acres of land, a little more than a mile di- rectly north of the city of Lima. This tract of land has several streams of clear running water, most excellent drainage facilities, and two large natural groves of forest trees. The location is ideal in every way for the purpose for which it is intended. The above-named commission has made its report to the Legislature in session at the present time (1906), and resolutions are pending for the proper amount of appropriation for the purchase of the site and erection of the buildings.
CHAPTER XVII
FRATERNAL, BENEVOLENT AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS OF LIMA
Sweet Charity-History of the First Lodge of Masons Organized in Lima-Masonic Socic- ties of To-Day --- The Masonic Temple-Independent Order of Odd Fellows-Odd Fel- lowe's Societies of To-Day-Knights of Pythias-The New Ritual, the Work of Walter B. Richic-Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks-Improved Order of Red Men- Ancient Order of United Workmen-Knights of the Maccabees and Ladies of the Mac- cabecs-Modern Woodmen of America-Other Fraternal Insurance Societies-Catholic Societies-Grand Army of the Republic and Woman's Relief Corps -- United Spanish War Veterans-The Crusade and the W. C. T. U .- Young Men's Christian Association -The Lima Club-The Business Men's Association-The Lima Progressive Association.
SWEET CHARITY.
The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath; it is twice blest ; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
One of the noblest attributes of the human heart is benevolence. Sad indeed would be this old world were men not actuated to noble deeds by the impulse of charity. From Christ him- self man has learned that the strong should bear the infirmities of the weak.
In order to more fully comply with this di- vine instruction men have organized many so- cieties for the purpose of alleviating human suf- fering, as well as to extend the social spirit. Be- nevolent organizations, both within and with- out the church, have collected millions of dol- lars, and with it they have made bright the dark places of earth, and have carried the blessings of Christian civilization to the poor, the sorrow- ing and the helpless at home and abroad. The humanitarian spirit has ever flourished in Lima, and throughout the country. The leaders in benevolence have ever taught the masses that
There's a wideness in God's mercy, Like the wideness of the sea.
And the masses have taken up the refrain and through the splendid benevolent and other or- ganizations of the county-
The charities that soothe, and heal, and bless, Are scattered at the feet of man like flowers.
THE MASONIC ORDER.
Lima Lodge, No. 205, F. & A. M .- On January 1, 1851, when Lima was only a little struggling hamlet of a few hundred inhabi- tants, under dispensation granted by Grand Master Hubbard, Lima Lodge met and organ- ized in what was then the Jacobs Block on the present site of the Lima House, with the fol- lowing officers : Orrin Curtis, worshipful mas- ter; Seth W. Washburn, senior warden; Sam- uel A. Baxter, junior warden ; Thomas K. Ja- cobs, treasurer, and John H. Meily, secretary. David H. Anderson, Zeno Bates and Phineas Edgecomb were also present at this first meet- ing.
At the meeting of January 18, 1851, the pe- titions of John M. Anderson, Richard E. Thomas, Samuel Sanford and Napoleon B.
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Howard for the entered apprentice degree were received. On the 3rd of February the degree was conferred on Samuel Sanford, and on the Ioth of February on Napoleon B. Howard. These young men were business partners, were about the same age and were the first to receive the degrees.
On the 5th of May, 1851, the first Masonic funeral was held over the remains of Ezekiel Hover, and in June of the same year Edmund S. Linn; the first victim to succumb to the scourge of cholera, was given a Masonic burial. During the siege of cholera, wherever there was a case of the dread disease, there were found members of Lima Lodge and their wives, bravely ministering to the sick, the dying and the dead. Of these heroic workers is still living one who pre-eminently deserves honorable men- tion in Lima Masonic history. For more than half a century the wife of the first secretary, al- though not permitted on bended knee to assume the lodge's vows she has followed its precepts and practiced its teachings. She has been fore- most in deeds of charity and pure beneficence, has nursed the sick, soothed the dying, provided Christian burial for the dead. All this has been done without hope or expectation of reward. All honor to Mrs. Meily! Surely for her, as she "descends the final slope" that ends the shadowy valley, the darkness will be edged with light from the Land beyond the border.
In the spring of 1852 the lodge voted to turn over all the available assets to Thomas K. Jacobs as a partial compensation to him for having provided for the wife and children of a deceased brother during the preceding winter. There is also an instance of three members of Lima Lodge, who took turns for more than a year in sitting up with a sick brother. This is the kind of Masons they had then and that the kind of lodge to which they belonged.
The second home of the lodge was in the third story of the Badeau Block, built by Ed- mund S. Linn. The room was carpeted and that carpet was the cause of much tribulation to the brethren. The traditional mud of those days exceeded in amount all that could be found in the Black Swamp in springtime. "Uncle" Phineas Edgecomb, the tyler. did not propose to
have that carpet spoiled, neither could he afford to travel 10 miles from his country home to sweep it at 25 cents a week. So he solved the problem by issuing an edict that those brethren who did not provide themselves with slippers should enter the lodge room neither barefoot nor shod, but in their stocking feet.
At the close of the fiscal year July 1, 1851, Orrin Curtis, Seth W. Washburn, Samuel A. Baxter, Thomas K. Jacobs, John H. Meily, Zenas Bates, William S. Baker, Andrew Schin- dler, Lott Turner, Michael Leatherman, John M. Anderson, George Cowles, Henry Grove, Napoleon B. - Howard, William L. Hartley, Grimes McConahy, Thomas Milligan, Phineas Edgecomb, Mathias H. Nichols, James M. Nash, William S. Rose, Samuel Sanford, Henry Sharp, Daniel Swalley, A. N. Smith, Richard Thomas, Eli Bond and William Winn constituted the lodge.
The first meeting under the charter was held November 3, 1851. The officers installed were : Orrin Curtis, W. M .; Seth Washburn, S. W .; Samuel A. Baxter, J. W .; John H. Meily, sec- retary ; John M. Anderson, S. D .; Zenas Bates, J. D. ; Phineas Edgecomb, tyler ; and thus came into full maturity Lima Lodge No. 205, form- erly known as Charity Lodge.
For some time after this period the accre- tions were fitful -- at times active, at other times dormant, but at no time dead. There have al- ways been faithful members and few regular meetings were ever adjourned for lack of quo- rum or lack of business.
On December 27, 1852, Benjamin F. Met- calf was the presiding officer and delivered the address at the first public installation, which was held in the old Court House.
The next home of the lodge was in the Lan- gan Block, now the City Bank corner, and on December 27, 1867, it established its quarters without pomp or ceremony in the rooms over Melville's drug store, which it continued to oc- cupy until the completion of the new Masonic Temple in 1900.
Garrett Wykoff Lodge, No. 585. F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation July 28. 1900, with Davis J. Cable, worshipful master under dispensation. The name was given to
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the lodge in commemoration of Garrett Wy- koff, an old and honored Mason of Lima. The charter was granted October 25, 1900. The past masters have been D. J. Cable, U. D., W. K. Boone, William M. Melville and F. M. Frey.
The elections of November, 1905, resulted as follows : John Thomas, W. M. ; G. F, Wine- miller, S. W .; J. W. Puetz, J. W .; T. W. Dob- bins, treasurer; E. H. Johns, secretary, O. F. Ramseyer S D .; W. F. Dobbins, J. D. ; and J. H. Blattenberg, tyler. The membership num- bers 90.
Lima Chapter, No. 49 R. A. M., was organ- ized under dispensation March 27, 1852, and chartered October 21, 1852. The following is a list of past high priests: Orrin Curtis, D. H. Anderson, Thomas Milligan; Eli Bond, Milton Scott. D. C. P. Tirrill G. W. Overmeyer, Cal- vin Halladay, E. H. Johns, Garrett Wykoff, W. K. Boone, G. W. Walker, L. T. Furnas, A. B. Crall, G. Wms. Van Rennselaer, H. C. Scheide, P. A. Lown, James McBeth, Thomas Cahill C. E. Lanphier Gus Kalb, W. J. Shep- herd and Henry C. Seebers.
On November 15, 1905, the following offi- cers were elected : Evan L. Thomas, H. P .; Charles H. Cook, K .; George B. Holland, S .; Perry A. Lown, C. H .; John W. Witmer, P. S .; Charles M. Shaeffer, R. A. C .; Robert P. Jones, treasurer; Wallace Landis, secretary ; William E. Smith, G. M. 3rd veil; Carl W. E. Boegel, G. M. 2nd veil; John S. Patton, G. M. Ist veil ; and John W. Crum, guard. The mem- bership is 198.
Lima Council, No. 20, R. & S. M., was or- ganized under dispensation May 31, 1854, with Eli Bond, William L. Hartley, D. H. Anderson, Thomas Milligan, S. F. Heff- ner, George Arnold, A. Youngkin, Alden Beasee, and W. S. Gallagher as members. It was chartered October 13, 1854. Eli Bond was thrice illustrious master and D. H. Ander- son, deputy master. The past thrice illustrious masters have been: Eli Bond, Milton Scott, D. C. P. Tirrill, Calvin Halladay, C. I. Neff, D. S. Fisher, E. H. Johns, G. Walker, Garrett Wykoff, A. B. Crall, Miner A. Atmur, H. C. Scheide, D. R. G. Rouch and W. J. Shepherd.
The following officers were elected Decem- ber 5, 1905: George P. Conner, T. I. M .;
George B. Holland, D. M .; Alfred Gustason, P. C. W .; Thomas W. Dobbins, treasurer; Wallace Landis, recorder ; William E. Smith, C. G .; Robert P. Jones, C. C .; Albert D. Neu- man, steward; John W. Crum, sentinel; and Mathias S. Bowser, chaplin. The council num- bers 133 members.
Sharonce Commandery, No. 14, K. T., was granted dispensation November 14, 1855, with Eli Bond, eminent commander. The charter was granted October 16, 1857. The following is the list of past eminent commanders: Eli Bond, A. N. Smith, Milton Scott, D. C. P. Tir- rill, G. W. Overmyer, Calvin Halladay, G. W. Walker, W. K. Boone, Levi Reichelderfer, Garrett Wykoff, E. H. Johns, C. M. Hughes, R. Wms. Van Rennselaer, G. W. Myers, W. M. Melville, G. E. Bluem, F. A. Zimmerman and R. O. Woods.
The present officers, chosen at the election of June 13, 1905, are as follows: Walter N. Boyer, E. C .; John Thomas, G .; Frederick T. Cuthbert, C. G .; James L. Andrews, S. W .; Charles W. Herbst, J. W .; Mathias S. Bowser, P .; W. K. Boone, treasurer ; George B. Hol- land, recorder; Charles W. Lewis, standard bearer ; Bert F. Betchel, sword bearer; Hermon V. Chase, warden; Byron S. Fogle, Ist G .; Charles H. Cook, 2nd G .; Ira L. Shaffer, 3rd G .; and John W. Crum, sentinel. The mem- bership numbers 236.
Thus the Masonic fraternity in Lima has steadily increased each year, numbering at present some 921 members. Its labors have al- ways been for strong and resolute manhood, for virtue that is more than a name, for gen- tle deeds and kindly forbearance with the weak and erring.
Trinity Chapter, No. 16, O. E. S., while not strictly a Masonic organization, is composed of the wives, daughters and sisters of Masons, and holds meetings in the Masonic Temple. It is distinctly a social organization, and was chartered October 28, 1893. Mrs. Lettie Lown was the first worthy matron, while Mrs. Mary Fall is at present in that office. and Mrs. Anna B. Frisbie is the secretary of the chapter. Its membership numbers about 130.
THE MASONIC TEMPLE .- After the organization of Lima Lodge, in 1851. the or-
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der grew and prospered as the Masonic order does everywhere, recognized and revered as the parent of all secret organizations. A number of years ago the need of a modern home, for this and the several integral and constituent bodies or lodges growing out of the original organization, was keenly felt. For several years prior to that time the Masons had util- ized the third floor of the building at the south- west corner of Main and High streets, now known as the "Old Masonic Building," for their home and meeting place. At one period the order owned this entire corner, extending from Main street west to the alley, but from time to time disposed of the property until the main building, fronting on Main street, was sold to Jacob Wise, the Masons, however, re- serving the third floor for lodge purposes, and also erecting a third floor to the present City Building, which for a time was also util- ized as a lodge room.
The sentiment in favor of a more modern and more commodious home for the different orders rapidly grew and at the beginning of the present decade, or, in fact, toward the close of the past decade, had assumed such proportions and gained such foothold among the members of the allied orders that definite steps were taken to secure an establishment in keeping with the prominence and importance of Masonry in Lima.
A company composed of members of the order was organized and incorporated under the laws of the State, bearing the title "The Lima Masonic Hall Company," the capitaliza- tion being set at $50,000, and the sale of stock, of course, restricted to members of the order. The value of shares was placed at $10 each, and members were permitted to subscribe a sum of that amount or its multiples. The sub- scriptions were payable in installments and cer- tificates were issued on payment of the amount subscribed. The stock sold rapidly several of the individual members taking as high as $1,000 each, while a number of the lodges, from their treasuries, invested heavily in the stock.
After the company had been organized and the stock sales had proceeded to a point where
the success of the enterprise was assured, plans for the structure were accepted, George S. Mills, of Toledo, being the successful compet- ing architect; and a short time later a con- tract for the construction of the building was let, the firm of H. J. Spieker & Company, of Toledo, being the successful bidders for the construction. Ground was broken early in the year 1900, and the corner-stone was laid on the 18th of July of that year, amid great ceremony Past Grand Master Nelson Williams, of Ham- ilton, being present and officiating. Construc- tion work was pushed as rapidly as possible, and it was completed and accepted from the contrac- tors about the first of January, 1901. The ground plan of the building is 100 feet on High street extending west from Elizabeth, and 40 feet on Elizabeth, extending south from High street. The building is practically six stories and a basement in height, and the entire fourth, fifth and sixth floors, are devoted to the use of the different Masonic orders. The three lower floors are rented as offices and places of busi- ness. The structure is one of the handsomest in the city, of fine, gray, vitrified brick and til- ing to correspond, while the interior finish is entirely in keeping with its exterior appearance.
The interior finish is in handsome quartered oak, while the light and all other interior fix- tures are of the best, handsome in appearance and convenient in use. The building is com- plete in all its details. It is equipped with a hydraulic elevator, supplied with water from a deep well in the basement of the building, pumped by machinery located therein. The basement contains an extensive heating plant, including a large boiler, and the heating sys- tem is one that has proven most satisfactory and is the only one of its kind in the city. It is what is called an indirect heating system. At the southeast corner of the basement is a huge network of steam pipe coils, through which steam may be forced either from the boiler plant of the building or from the mains of the city steam heating plant. Fresh air is brought from outdoors over these coils and heated, then is drawn by a large exhaust fan into a commodious duct and forced through smaller channels or ducts into every room and
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hallway of the building, entering the rooms through small registers in the sidewalls. Thus, in addition to supplying heat, the system fur- nishes fresh air, and the temperature may be easily varied. In the summer time when heat is not needed, ventilation and plenty of pure air may be forced into the rooms by this same appliance.
When the building was erected, its ma- chinery equipment included a very large and powerful double gas-engine, intended for oper- ating a dynamo by which the building was made independent of an outside lighting plant, as well as power supply for its elevator, which at that time was electrically driven. But it was found that the gas-engine was too ener- getic, caused too much vibration, made too much noise, and that the maintenance of this system of power and lighting supply was more expensive and less satisfactory than to obtain it from outside sources; hence the big engine was dispensed with. There are now several medium-sized motors in the basement perform- ing the various functions for which they are intended such as pumping water and operating the fan-heating system.
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