USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > History of Ashtabula County, Ohio > Part 70
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Fifth. All lights must be put out at or before 10 P.M. Students are not allowed to leave the building for any purpose whatever, after 7 P.M. or during the study hours of the day, without the permission of the principal.
Sixth. No lady is permitted to receive any gentleman into her room, except in the case of a near relative, and not then without the consent of the principal. Gentlemen in or out of the building are expressly forbidden to visit or enter the ladies' rooms.
Seventh. Students are required to attend church regularly Sabbath morning.
Eighth. Any damage done to room or furniture must be repaired by the per- petrator of the same or at his expense. At the close of the term the rooms must be left in a wholesome condition.
Ninth. Great care must be given to fire and lamps, stoves being invariably closed upon leaving the room or upon retiring.
Tenth. Wash water and ashes from stoves must not be thrown from windows, but carried down in buckets prepared for same.
Eleventh. Kindling wood must be prepared before being taken to the room.
Twelfth. The occupants of a room must keep the same in good order, sweep- ing at least once a day. and taking up the sweepings in the room.
Thirteenth. All rooms must be opened at the request of the principal. Run- ning and jumping up and down stairs is strictly forbidden.
Fourteenth. Such other rules and regulations as may be proposed by the prin- cipal at any time, for the welfare of the students and proper management of the hall, shall be equally binding with these.
Fifteenth. All are expected and required to be ladies and gentlemen in the truest and best sense of those terms. Any student who willfully or maliciously disregards or violates any of the above will be summarily and severely dealt with. A printed copy of the above rules and regulations is placed in each room, and each student is held to strict account for the observance of the same.
Boarding .- It is ouly the occasional person who has not desires towards a good education. In our free republic all need it. Its acquisition with the majority turns on the matter of expense. One of the heaviest expenses to be borne by the
student is that for board. The principal of the Normal and his associates, fully realizing this, have succeeded in perfecting the boarding-club system, by which board is furnished at the absolute cost of provision and labor. Possessing every facility of doing this, and not wishing any revenue from this source, the cost of board has been reduced to such. a low figure that no one hercafter. desirous of getting an education, can be hindered from doing so. This system of boarding, during the past year, has given eminent satisfaction. The average cost, including cook's bill, has not exceeded twenty-five cents per day. Of course, the cost varics with the cost of provisions in the market. Speaking from experience, it is safe to say that the averaged cost per day will never exceed twenty five cents, or one dollar and seventy-five cents per week. The food is always of suitable quality and quantity,-is plain yet substantial ; and is always properly prepared for the table. Mrs. Bowers, the matron, is a superior cook. She has had considerable experi- ence, having been at the Grand River institute two years, and at Oberlin several ycars. The principal and wife, with the other teachers, have board at the same tables with the students.
Students boarding in the club are required to advance five dollars cach month on their bill for a provision fund. The board bill of each student must be settled at the end of every month. Parties wishing to bring provisions from home will be paid the market price for the same. The dormitories or rooms are furnished with table, stove, two chairs, wash-stand, and bedstead. All other neces- sary furniture must be furnished by the occupant.
TUITION.
For Fall and Spring Term of Twelve Weeks .- Common branches, 86 ; first and second years of English, classical, and teachers' course, $6.50 ; third and fourth years, English and classical, 87.
Winter Term of Fourteen Weeks .- Common branches, $6.50 ; first and second years, English, classical, and teachers' course, $7 ; third and fourth years, English and classical, 87.50.
Extras .- Drawing, twenty lessons, $3; music, per term, twenty lessons, $10; use of instrument, organ or piano, $2; painting, twenty lessons, $10.
Room-Rent .- Per term, twelve weeks, 83; per term, fourteen weeks. $3.50.
Students studying the common branches, and at the same time pursuing some of the higher branches, will be charged regular rates for the common branches, and fifty cents extra for each higher branch. The modern languages are counted as higher branches, and cost the student only fifty cents extra. In nearly every other school of any influence or reputation German or French costs the student from two dollars to three dollars extra.
Tuition and room-rent are charged for the half or whole term, and for the whole term unless otherwise arranged at the beginning of the term. All tuition and room-rents must be paid in advance.
If any student is obliged to leave school, at any time, on account of sickness, his tuition will be refunded for the time he is absent.
Correct Statement of Expenses at the Normal per Term .- Tuition, common branches, $6 ; room-rent, $3 ; light and fuel, $4; board, 821; total, 834.
When students can be furnished pleasant rooms and good board at so reason- able a figure, there is no excuse for ignorance, or for not attending school.
Board is furnished at the actual cost of cooking and providing the provisions, which is as cheap as the student can board at home.
Students rooming and boarding at the Normal are under the constant care and superintendence of the principal. They receive the same care, and enjoy the same privileges, they do in any Christian home.
Examinations .- Examinations, oral and written, are held at the middle and close of each term, and each student is held to close account for the instruction he has received during the term. The grading is on the basis of one hundred, and any student receiving less than sixty-five per cent. is required to take the same study the following term as a specialty.
To determine the standing of the student for the term, the middle and closing examinations are averaged. A record is made of the examination of each class, from which a term report is made and forwarded to the parent or guardian of the student.
Gradnation .- All students who complete any course of study provided in the regular courses, and whose average standing in all the examinations during their connection with the school is not less than sixty-five per cent., will be granted a certificate of graduation ; said certificate to be graded on the average per cent. the student has received during the entire course. The diplomas granted are beautiful in design and quite ornamental.
NUMBER IN ATTENDANCE, 1876-77.
Fall Term .- Normal school, seventy-five ; preparatory and union school, two hundred and twenty-two.
RESIDENCE OF LUTHER PARKER, GENEVA TP, ASHTABULA CO.,0
RESIDENCE OF R. SPRING, GENEVA, ASHTABULA CO., OHIO.
7
CHARLES TINKER.
This gentleman is one of the foremost men of the county who are connected with the mechanical indus- tries. The son of a mechanic, his natural bent took this direction, and the employment of his life has been such as to give it ample development. The father, dur- ing the boyhood days of the son, owned a farm in Kings- ville township (where the subject of our sketch was born on the seventh day of September, 1821), but in the winter time he applied himself to the trade of wagon- making. Here the son received his first instruction in the line of mechanical labor. He received a common- school education, such as the limited facilities of those days afforded.
He was united in marriage with Mary Webster, of his native township, on the twenty-fifth day of September, 1842. Now he began life for himself in dead earnest. In 1843 he built a saw-mill on the Conneaut creek, and in the following year he erected an oil-mill,-the first mill of the kind in that part of the county. In 1850 we find him in Mantua, Portage county, Ohio, where, in 1854, he built a foundry and machine-shops, and for about six years prosecuted the business of manufacturing plows, threshing, wood-sawing, and mowing-machines. Ten years later (in 1864) he is at Garrettsville, on Silver creek, Portage county, where he is again engaged in the manufacture of mowing-machines and plows.
At the expiration of four years, in 1868, he formed a partnership with N. S. Caswell, of Geneva, Ohio, and with him began the manufacture of forks and other small farming tools. The business at Garrettsville and that of Geneva were continued in conjunction with each other for two years, the wood work being done at the latter, and the steel work at the former place.
August 1, 1870, these gentlemen, finding that their business had so grown under their eare and attention as to demand the investment of more capital than they had at command, and recognizing the importance of concentrating the entire business either at Garrettsville or Geneva, they submitted a proposition to the citizens of both places to sell out to a stoek company at either point, the condition being that the stock on hand at both plaees should be purchased, and the works should be located at that place which would subscribe the larger amount of stock. Geneva's citizens having pledged stock to the amount of cighty-two thousand five hundred dollars,-a larger sum than the citizens of Garrettsville could raise,-the works were located at the former place, and a stock company, with Mr. Tinker as president, organized, Mr. Caswell becoming superintendent. To the prudent management and business ability of Mr. Tinker was this successful business strongly due, and he
CHARLES TINKER.
is justly entitled to be called the father of the Geneva Tool Works enterprise. For seven years the general management of the company's affairs was in the hands of Mr. Tinker, who remained president of the company up to August 1, 1877, and will hold the said office to August, 1878, if alive.
Although sustaining a serious loss in the fall of 1870, caused by the burning of the old shops on the South ridge, yet, through the skillful management of Mr. Tin- ker and his fellow-officers, the company was able to pay a cash dividend of ten per cent. in 1873, and the next year, in addition to a cash dividend of ten per cent., a ten per cent. stock dividend was declared, at which time the company sold stock enough to make their capital one hundred thousand dollars. Up to this date, in addition to paying a regular annual dividend of ten per eent., the company have accumulated a surplus of twenty-two thousand dollars.
The people of Geneva should ever hold Mr. Tinker in grateful remembrance as the founder and chief pro- moter of this important manufacturing industry, which has done so much for the growth and prosperity of their beautiful village.
Mr. Tinker has made several unsuccessful attempts at farming during the course of his life; once in Kings- ville, immediately after his marriage; once at Mantua, Portage county, in 1850; once at Geneva, in 1860; and lastly, at Garrettsville, Portage county. The reason why these attempts were failures was because he is naturally an artisan and not a farmer.
In 1849, when the gold excitement was at its height, he went to California by the overland route, with ox- teams, requiring four months for the journey.
His wife, Mary Webster, born in Monroe township, this county, July 15, 1820, is the daughter of George Price and Mary Webster.
Charles and Mary Tinker are the parents of five children, viz. : George L., born June 19, 1843, married September, 1874, to Miss Emma Sharp, of New Philadel- phia, where he now resides ; Maria A. Tinker, born December 19, 1844, married A. D. Myers, of Geneva, Ohio, November, 1864, and died November 28, 1869; Henri- etta L. Tinker, born September 21, 1846, married Frank Gregory, of Geneva, Ohio, November, 1863, and now resides in Ashtabula, Ohio; Emma J. Tinker, born Feb- ruary 9, 1849, and married Otis B. Clark, of Streetsborough, Ohio, September 24, 1867, and now resides in Ashtabula, Ohio; and Charles Otis Tinker, born May 9, 1852, is unmarried, and resides in Ashtabula, Ohio. Mr. Tinker is deservedly estecmed in a wide eircle of friends in Ashtabula County.
ROMANZO SPRING.
It is with pleasure that we present the following sketch of the life of the above-named, who is emphatic- ally one of the self-made men of Geneva. He is the sixth of a family of nine. His parents, Squire and Polly Spring, originally of Vermont, emigrated to Painesville, Lake county, in the year 1814. Mr. Spring, Sr., took an active part in the building up of that now beautiful eity. In 1821 removed to Fairport, and engaged in the hotel business ; was also owner of the " Columbus," one of the finest vessels built upon this shore at that time. In 1828 removed to Saybrook, in this county, purchased a farm, built a hotel, and died there in 1844.
Romanzo, the subject of this sketeh, was born in Saybrook, January 24, 1829, and was, upon the death of his father, thrown entirely upon his own resources, and he has perhaps had one of the most eventful busi- ness careers of any man of his age in the county. His education was acquired at the district school, with one year at Kingsville academy. Entered the store of James Mills, at Unionville, as clerk, remained perhaps two years, and then came to Geneva and began business for himself. The building now occupied by the Times office stood where is now the post-office. In this he established the pioncer drug-store in Geneva; continued in this until 1855, when he sold out. Removed to Dela- ware, Ohio; entered into partnership with Judge Wood and others in the forwarding and commission business ; closed out in 1856. Went to Cleveland, and engaged in packing and shipping beef to Europe for the Crimean soldiers. Went to Warren, Trumbull county, in the spring following, purchased an extensive drug-store, where he carried on a wholesale and retail business until 1859, when he returned to Geneva, and established a hardware-store, on the site now occupied by Charles Talcott & Co.
In 1861, Mr. Spring disposed of this stock, and went to war; was then second lieutenant of Company " F," Light Artillery. On expiration of service, he returned
ROMANZO SPRING.
to Geneva, and, in 1865, established a dry-goods store, in company with H. W. Turner. This was eventually merged into the firm of Stephens, Turner, Lamb & Co.
In the fall of 1866 he made his celebrated "raid " into Tennessee, and many doubtless remember the cavaleade of mules, horses, oxen, army wagons, contrabands, etc., with which he came by special train to Geneva, on his way to the oil regions, where he fondly hoped to strike a " big bonanza" by transporting oil, but the establishment of pipe-lines entirely obviated the need of team transit. A halt was ordered. The contrabands returned to their homes in the sunny south, in part, the balance finding homes in this vicinity. The wagons were donated to the town; and after again returning to the south with the mules, and disposing of the same, he found that the trial balance-sheet showed well in the item of profit and loss, with the latter largely in excess.
In 1869, upon the passage of the bankrupt law, he made a specialty of closing out bankrupt stocks, of which he has handled fifty-four.
In 1872, he purchased the dry-goods establishment of Stephens, Turner, Lamb & Co., which is still in success- ful operation. In October, 1877, he established a fine furniture-store in Geneva.
He was first married, October 20, 1852, to Miss Mary J., daughter of Aseph Turner, by whom he had three children, viz .: Charley, the oldest, died in infancy ; Edwin Wilbur, born March 27, 1856, now at Oberlin college; and Nellie M., born January 26, 1859, who is at Beaver college, Pa.
He married his present wife, Sophia Morse, in Norwich, N. Y., August 9, 1871, by whom he has had two children (twins), Grace and Gertrude, born June 8, 1872. The latter died in infancy.
We might give many further interesting incidents, but owing to the excessive modesty of Mr. Spring we desist.
ROBT WOODRUFF.
RESIDENCE OF ROBT WOODRUFF, GENEVA TP. ASHTABULA CO. O.
MRS. ROBT WOODRUFF
MRS. ROB! WOODRUFF. ( DECEASED.)
177
HISTORY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO.
Winter Term .- Normal school, one hundred and twelve; preparatory and union school, two hundred and fifteen.
Spring Term .- Normal school, eighty-two; preparatory and union school, two hundred and five; commercial department, seventy-seven ; total per terms, nine hundred and eighty-eight.
Different Students enrolled in Normal School .- Gentlemen, eighty-two; ladies, sixty-four; total, one hundred and forty-six ; average attendance per term, ninety; whole number of foreign (tuition) students by terms, ninety-two.
The enrollment for 1877-78 will exceed the above.
THE GRAMMAR AND PREPARATORY SCHOOL,
under Prof. J. D. McCalmont, is doing a noble work. The school is conducted in accordance with the most approved methods. A comprehensive course of study is pursucd, and students are required to pass satisfactory examinations on the branches in this course before they can enter the Normal.
The course of study is the same as that adopted by the Northeastern Ohio Teachers' association.
The schools of Geneva are an ornament to the place, and the people are justly proud of them.
ROAD RECORD.
The first road established in Geneva was of course that now known as the " South Ridge," and the first record on the commissioner's journal bears date June, 1812, and is as follows: " From the west bank of Indian creek, on the lake-shore, between lots 45 and 46, and to continue in a south course as near as may be, to intersect the Ridge road between lots No. 13 and 14; thence along the Ridge road, west, to the line of lots No. 4 and 9; thence south to south line of lot No. 12, in fifth range; and from thence to the road leading from Harpers- field through Austinburg, near the house of Samuel Bartholomew." March, 1819: " From Lake Erie to the South ridge, by Lorin Cowles." March, 1820: " From the Ridge road, on the line between Levi Gaylord's and I. Morrison, to the Austinburg road." February, 1820: " From North ridge, near the middle of section No. 3, to Lake Erie." March, 1821: " From the lake-shore at east line, thence westerly to the road running north and south." November, 1820 : " From South Ridge road east of Dr. Johnson's southwest corner, and running northwesterly to Lake road."
CHURCHES.
It is thought the first regular religious services were conducted by the Rev. Jonathan Leslie, who was of the Presbyterian faith, and it is said of him that he was a man of good native talents and respectable acquirements, possessed of a logical mind, and was an instructive speaker. In 1817 (probably) a Methodist class was formed in Geneva of members mainly resident in this township, and about the same time a Baptist church was organized. The first church edifice erccted in Geneva was the Presbyterian, in 1820. This building was of wood, and stood on or near the spot now occupied by the building of William E. Proc- tor, corner of Main street and Broadway.
Of the present churches in Geneva, we find that the two which take first rank, so far as relates to elegance and cost of structure, are the Methodist, on South Broadway, and the Congregational, situated on Eagle street, near Normal school building, both of which were completed in 1866, costing, the former fourteen and the latter thirteen thousand dollars. (See history of these two churches in con- nection with the views of the same in another portion of this volume.) The Baptist church, also on South Broadway, was erected as early as 1848. The Disciple church, on Park street, is the building formerly occupied by the Meth- odist, and was purchased of them and removed to its present site in 1866. At the little hamlet known as the "North Centre" there is also a church of the Methodist denomination, the pulpit of which is supplied at present by the Rev. J. D. Vale, who is the resident pastor of that denomination in Geneva. The pastor of the Congregational church is the Rev. G. W. Phinney. Rev. Thomas Powell cares for the flock at the Baptist church, and Rev. James Vernon occu- pies the pulpit of the Disciple church. Episcopal services are conducted at the town hall by Rev. W. H. Capers, pastor, each alternate Sabbath.
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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In the year 1817 the Rev. Robert Montgomery, as pastor (grandfather of P. W. Tuttle, Esq.), formed a class, consisting of Thomas Stevens as leader, James Morison, Jr., and wife, Abisia Laughton, Phebe Custin, Anna Morison, and Samuel Quinton. They used as a church the loft of James Morison, Jr.'s, cabin. A few years later a class was formed at North Centre, consisting of R. B. Munger and wife, Jonathan Hammond and wife, Artemicio Snediken, and Betsy Munger. In the year of 1832, the two classes joining, the first church was built. It was dedicated in the year 1833. The pastors were James Gilmore and A. M. Brown. As years passed the membership increased and the building became old, and in
the year of 1858 the building was torn down and the second church building was built, at a cost of twenty-two hundred dollars, and dedicated by Elder Hawkins free from debt. In the year 1865 the building was sold to P. W. Tuttle, moved off, and the town hall now stands on the lot. Rev. A. C. Tibbetts was pastor, and under his administration the present building was built at a cost of $16,000. It was dedicated by Bishop Kingsley entirely free from debt. The principal donors were R. B. Munger, $1000; H. S. Munger, $1000; H. P. Stephens, $500; J. L. Morgan, $500; J. O. Swan, $500; J. Worden, $500; the society at this time being in a good condition. In the year of 1877, the trustees thinking the old parsonage not becoming the church, they decided to build a new parsonage. The house was completed in the winter of 1878, at a cost of $2200, the pastor, J. D. Vail, being the first to occupy it, and it is now the largest and wealthiest church in Geneva, Ohio.
HOTELS.
The first hotel established in Geneva township was doubtless by Colonel Jacob Bartholomew ; the date of this we have not obtained. This " hostelry" stood on the northwest corner of the crossing of the Centre and North Ridge road. The first house of entertainment in what is now the village of Geneva was in about 1834, by S. S. Tuller (father of the indefatigable Tom). This building is yet occupied by Mrs. Tuller, and was operated as a hotel some twenty years. The present hotels are the " Fountain House," located on West Main street, owned and conducted by A. Trunkey, and the " Tuller House," which began operations in the fall of 1863, by Tom Tuller, who opened at the same date his " one-horse livery," consisting of one horse and an open buggy. From this small beginning the business increased until, in the fall of 1874, it was sold for $5100. At the Fountain House, E. D. Hyde, Jr., conducts a fine livery establishment. In addition to the foregoing hotels there is a commodious restaurant on North Broad- way, owned by T. Wickham.
ORGANIZATION.
As before stated, an election was ordered to take place on the first Monday of April, 1816. But from MSS. in the possession of the Historical Association of Ashtabula County we learn that the first election in Geneva did not transpire until October 8 of that year, at which time Noah Cowles, Jacob Bartholomew, and Levi Gaylord were chosen judges, and Daniel T. Bartholomew and Elihu S. Gaylord clerks of said election. There are no records extant from which to obtain the names of officers elected at this time. The officers for 1877 are A. Smith, A. L. Fuller, and W. C. Maltbie, trustees; L. E. Morgan, clerk ; W. H. Maltbie, treasurer ; G. A. Fuller, assessor ; J. H. Hunt and S. T. Battles, con- stables. There are also nineteen supervisors of roads and highways. The present justices of the peace are Dennis Thorp and B. Brett.
GENEVA VILLAGE.
"Tis said there is nothing more indicative of the prosperity of a place than its manufacturing interests, and basing the present activity and the prospective future development of Geneva, as a manufacturing centre, upon its railway facilities and the enterprise of its citizens, very promising results are manifest. It already takes front rank among the villages of the county. The numerous substantial brick blocks, elegant churches, excellent school advantages, a live newspaper, second to none in the county, fine town hall, an efficient fire department, and the many other evidences of that spirit which is expressed so fully by the word " Excelsior," bespeak more plainly than any written page the brilliant future which awaits it.
The petition for incorporation of the village of Geneva was signed by some one hundred and thirty citizens, and bears date March 5, 1866, and on June 6 following the commissioners of Ashtabula County granted the prayer of the petitioners ; and an election transpired on March 2, 1867, at which time Anson Smith, Benoni Webb, and T. D. Leslie were judges, and M. B. Gary and J. Mordoff clerks. The following persons were elected : Dennis Thorp, mayor ; Will. E. Proctor, recorder ; Anson Smith, Salmon Seymour, Benoni Webb, Charles Talcott, and Nelson Brigham, councilmen. The succession of mayors to the present time is as follows : 1869, M. B. Gary succeeded Thorp ; served one year, and was succeeded by T. D. Leslie, who was succeeded, in 1874, by R. O. Rote, and he, in 1876, by Hiram W. Turner, who served until the spring of 1878, when he resigned and Dennis Thorp was appointed to fill the vacancy, and is the present incumbent. The balance of the officers for 1877 are L. E. Morgan, clerk ; Harvey Gould, treasurer; J. H. Hunt, marshal ; council, A. Smith, G. W. Bennett, W. P. Spencer, D. W. Dorman, and R. O. Rote; street commis- sioner, W. H. Downs; board of education, Chas. Talcott, E. R. Cowles, J. L. Morgan, G. W. Foster, N. B. Johnson, and P. F. Haskell.
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