History of Cincinnati, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 59

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, O., L.A. Williams & co.
Number of Pages: 666

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The Cincinnati Society of ex-Army and Navy officers had its preliminary meeting September 2, 1874. A call was issued for another meeting October 2, when the so- ciety was fully organized, with Colonel Stanley Matthews for president, General A. Hickenlooper and Colonel L. M. Dayton, vice-presidents; Major Frank J. Jones, sec- retary ; Major William M. Este, treasurer. The first re- union was held in October, 1875, at the Burnet House, at which place annual reunions have since been had. Visits have also been made by the society, in a body, to the Soldiers' Home at Dayton.

CLUBS.

The spirit of association and associated effort, which the reader by this time will conclude has been rife in

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Cincinnati, almost from its earliest day, has in no other way shown itself more remarkably than in the formation of clubs. Some scores of these are now in existence ; several hundred have undoubtedly risen, flourished, and fallen during the ninety-one years of Cincinnati. A large number of the earlier clubs, and some of the later, were simply literary societies, with the customary objects of such institutions. The century had advanced but a little way when, in 1806, an excellent debating society was formed, which was attended by the most talented and brilliant young men of Cincinnati. It was eulogized by Dr. Drake, many years afterwards, in the warmest manner.

Seven years after the founding of this society another was instituted, which took the pretentious title of the School of Literature and Arts. It seems, however, to have been worthy of its name. It was formed consider- ably of young men, and its first president was Josiah Meigs, then surveyor-general of the United States and in 1815 commissioner of the general land office. The ex- ercises at each meeting were : A lecture from the presi- dent, an essay by one member, and a poetical recitation by another. An excellent report was made of the so- ciety at its first anniversary, November 23, 1814; and high commendation is given it by Dr. Drake, which is embodied in an address of his, quoted by his son, in the biography of Dr. Drake, prefixed to his volume of letters concerning Pioneer Life in Kentucky. Says Mr. Charles D. Drake :

That there should have been a School of Literature and Arts organ- ized in Cineinnati in 1813, when its population could not probably have exceeded four thousand, and it was still in the Far West, will be re- garded as a fact of interest by those who have known that place only as a central object in a region inhabited by millions, among whom knowl- edge and intelligence are well nigh universally diffused.

It is curious to know what, in that early period, the School of Literature and the Arts did. It appears from this address that during the first year of its existence it had assembled more than twenty times for literary exercises. He [Dr. Drake] says:

"The essays of the members equalled all reasonable expectation. Some of them consisted chiefly of original matter, while others mani- . fested a degree of research which is honorable to their authors and aus- picious to the sehool. It would be amusing to review their contents; but, being restricted to limits too narrow for the undertaking, I will substitute a catalogue of their titles, that by a single glance we can see the number and diversity of the subjects to which our attention has been directed. I shall enumerate them in the order of their delivery:

"1, An Essay on Education ; 2, On the Earthquakes of 1811, 1812, 1813; 3, On Light; 4, On C'arbon; 5, On Air; 6, On the Mind; 7, On Agriculture; 8, On Calorie; 9. On Gravitation; 10, On Instinct; II, Notices of the Aurora Borealis of the 17th of April and IIth of September, 1814: 12, An Essay on Water, considered chemically and hydrostatically; 13, On Common Sense; 14, On Heat; 15, On the Mc- chanieal Powers; 16, On the Theory of Earthquakes; 17, On Enthu- siasm; 18, On the Geology of Cincinnati and its vieinity, illustrated with mineral specimens and a vertical map; 19, On the Internal Com- merce of the United States; 20, On Hydrogen; 21, On Rural Econ- omy; 22, On the Geology of some parts of New York; 23, On Gen- eral Commeree.

"The third and subordinate portion of our exercises, poctical recita- tions, has been strictly performed, and our album of poetry already exhibits specimens indieative of a cultivated taste. The proposition to connect with the pieces recited such critical remarks as they may sng- gest, has reecived some attention, and promises to give to this branch an interest and dignity which were not originally anticipated."

A number of clubs, and societies in the nature of clubs, were undoubtedly organized during the next fifteen

years; but not until about 1829 do we come upon the traces of the Cincinnati Angling club, which seems to have been a rather fine affair in its way. It had but twenty-five members, of whom four were living forty years after-Messrs. George Graham and Robert Buchan- an, of Cincinnati; A. L. Moore, of Washington city ; and William Green, of Rhode Island-and one of these, Mr. George Graham, died so lately as March, 1881. Mr. Buchanan was the first secretary of the club, and long remained in that position.

The Cincinnati Lyceum was an association for scien- tific and literary improvenient, with the founding of a public library among its objects. It was formed in Oc- tober, 1830, and incorporated the succeeding winter, during which a course of lectures was delivered by vari- ous niembers, in the hall of the Mechanics' institute. Its officers at the time were all well and honorably known in the affairs of the city, and several of them came after- wards to wear "State and national honors. Morgan Neville was president ; Timothy Flint, William Greene, Henry Starr, were vice-presidents ; and Salmon P. Chase, Timothy Walker, H. H. Goodman, Nathan Guilford, J. W. Gazlay, John Locke, M. G. Williams, and Calvin Fletcher, composed the executive committee.

' The Inquisition was one of the literary features in the early part of the '30's. It was a society for the public discussion of questions, orally and through papers sub- mitted. The members presided in alphabetical succes- sion at the weekly meetings. The more permanent offi- cers were a secretary (Mr. Ellwood Fisher in 1833-4), and a committee of questors, consisting of WV. M. Corry and Timothy Walker, esqs.

A little later, perhaps, came what was doubtless the most interesting and remarkable literary society during the midmost era ab urbe condita-the Semi-colon club. In the Memoir of Samuel E. Foote, a resident here in those days, by his brother, the well-known John P. Foote, some pleasant reminiscences of this coterie are re- called, which we cannot refrain from quoting at length :

The elegant mansion, built by Mr. Foote, on the corner of Vine and Third streets, was for many years, and until the fatal commercial crisis of 1837, the seat of a liberal hospitality, where the visits of relatives and friends formed a prominent portion of the enjoyments of social life.

Those pleasant reunions, established under the title of the Semi-colon elub, held their sessions there, and alternately at the adjoining resi- dences of Charles Stetson and William Green. . At these meetings a number of persons of both sexes, of the highest order of intellect and cultivation, assembled for the enjoyment of evenings of social relaxa- tion and rational amusement. Their mode of proceeding was to read such literary contributions as were sent in for the purpose by the men- bers of the club, after which such discussions ensued as might be elicited by what had been read or by any other literary matter of interest at the time ; music, sometimes alternated with readings and disens- sions, generally closed the sessions.

Among the founders of the club were the Rev. E. B. Hall and his highly accomplished lady, who had jointly and severally contributed valuable aid to the educational literature of our time; and also Judge Timothy Walker, whose contributions to educational, mathematical, and legal science contrasted strongly with his humorous contributions to the literature of the club. His death, in the prime of a most useful and laborious life, disappointed high hopes of future usefulness, and was considered, like that of James I Perkins a few years afterwards, a public calamity. Nathan Guilford, also the distinguished advocate of popular education whose exertions in the cause of the pubhe-school system obtained for him the designation of the father of that system. Other contributors included names of high eminence, among them Har

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riet Beecher, afterwards Stowe, whose papers have since been published in a volume entitled The May Flower, and dedicated to the club. Judge James Hall, whose reputation was already established as an au- thor of high and varied talents. His articles were published in the magazine of which he was at that time the editor. Miss Catharine Beecher, whose fame and literary works have been widely disseminated before and since, some of whose contributions to the Semi-colons have been published in annuals and magazines. Professor Hentz, an acconi- plished naturalist, and his wife, Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz, who became a very popular novelist; Rev. Professor Stowe, already established as one of the most learned scholars of our country; E. P. Cranch and U. T. Howe, some of whose very amusing articles were published in a news- paper which they conducted, but the best and wittiest of which are still inedited-some of them had their attractions increased by exquisitely humorous illustrations from the pencil of the former; Professor O. M. Mitchel, now of world-wide celebrity as an astronomer; Charles W. Elliott, historian of New England, and author of various other works of merit; Dr. Daniel Drake, of extensive and established fame as a med- ical author and professor; Benjamin Drake, his brother, author of the Lives of Tecumseh and Black Hawk, and other works, mostly on western statistics and history; E. D. Mansfield, his associate in his statistical works, and author of many biographical and other works of great merit; Professor James W. Ward, poct and naturalist of fine and varied tal- ents; Davis B. Lawler, James F. Meline, Judge Charles P. James, Dr. Wolcott Richards, D. Thew Wright, Joseph Longworth, J. Newton Perkins, Edward King, Charles Stetson, T. D. Lincoln, William P. Steele, George C. Davis, and some other gentlemen whose contributions are still in manuscript, James H. Perkins, whose extraordinary and ver- satile talents were as much admired as their possessor was beloved, and whose untimely death shed a gloom over the city, over the poor to whom he was a missionary, carrying in his visits temporal relief and spiritual instruction, as well as over an admiring and extensive circle of friends in the highest classes of society; William Green, eminent as a political writer and expositor of the principles of our constitution; Charles D. Drake and C. B. Brush, whose poetical contributions graced some of the periodicals of the period; three Misses Blackwell, two of whom have since become eminent M. D.'s, and all of them valuable contribu- tors to the literature and science of the age; three other ladies, whose names have since been changed, with others distinguished for intellec- tual qualities ;- constituted a literary galaxy which could scarcely have been equalled at that time in any city of our country.

The cultivation of musical taste and talent has always been a promi- nent portion of female education in Cincinnati. From the earliest period of its history this has been remarked by travellers and visitors, and among the Semi-colon ladies it was a matter of course that there should be those whose excellence in that department was equal to that of the best of the literary contributors.

These reunions began and terminated at early hours, and expensive luxuries in food and drink being rigidly prohibited, the health of the members was not endangered (nor the reputation of their neighbors); -intellectual food, of a quality superior to anything afforded by the highest style of cookery, and more wholesome than personal gossip, not only for the mind, but for the body also, being served up. Visitors of congenial minds and talents were frequent guests, the members of the club having the privilege of ir.viting friends to accompany them to the meetings. Among those visitors who gave and received much grat- ification by their attendance, Hoffman, the highly gifted and unfortu- nate, is remembered as one whose company was' peculiarly pleasing, who gave no reason from any peculiarity in his actions or conversation to apprehend the approach of the melancholy calamity that afterwards destroyed the carly promise of a inind of talents and accomplishments of the highest order, and overwhelmed one who had given testimony of his desire and power to aid in the elevation of the literary reputation of his country, with the heaviest of human calamities. Other visitors of varied talents and accomplishments were occasional guests, and added to the amusement and instruction derived from such meetings.

Sumptuary laws, it was well understood, could not be enforced by private associations any better than by governments and lawgivers. It was, however, understood to be one of the principles of the club to discountenance extravagance in dress and luxury in entertainments, both by example and by avoiding discussions in which they might form a prominent subject.

The club continued in existence many years, and until the fearful commercial catastrophe of 1837 swept like a flood over the country and occasioned a domestic revolution proportionate in its effects to those crises, as they are styled, which, since 1789 (and before) have been historical events in the annals of commerce, both in Europe and

America. The losses and misfortunes inflicted upon individuals and families at that period were no respecters of persons. Like hurricanes, earthquakes, and conquerors, they carried desolation very impartially to all in their course, especially to all commercial cities. The banks failed, and individuals were compelled to follow their example.

Sometime during the years 1833-5, Dr. Daniel Drake, upon the completion of his house on Vine street and removal into it, organized in an informal way a social and literary reunion, which met statedly with his family. Mr. E. D. Mansfield, in his Memoir of Drake, has given a charming picture of this coterie, with honorable mention of its leading members. He says:

Those meetings are indelibly impressed upon my memory, and though others of similar character have been made memorable by liter- ary fame, I am well persuaded that they were neither more instructive nor more pleasing than those which Dr. Drake gathered around him in his Vine street home.

His plan of entertainment and instruction was peculiar. It was to avoid the rigidity and awkwardness of a mere literary party, and yet to keep the mind of the company occupied with questions for discus- sion or topics for reading and composition. Thus the conversation never degenerated into mere gossip, nor was it ever forced into an unpleasant and unwilling gravity. We used to assemble early, about half-past seven; and when fully collected the doctor, who was the acknowledged chairman, rang his little bell for general attention. This caused no constraint, but simply brought us to a common point, which was to be the topic of the evening. Sometimes this was appointed beforehand, sometimes it arose out of what was said or proposed on the occasion. Some evenings compositions were read on topics selected at the last meeting. On other evenings nothing was read, and the time was passed in a general discussion of some interesting question. Occasion- ally a piece of poetry or a story came in, to diversify and enliven the conversation. These, however, were rather interludes than parts of the general plan, whose main object was the discussion of interesting questions belonging to society, literature, education, and religion.

The subjects were always of the suggestive or problematical kind, so that the ideas were fresh, the debate animated, and the utterance of opinions frank and spontaneous. There, in that little circle of ladies and gentlemen, I have heard many of the questions which have since occupied the public mind talked over with an ability and a fullness of information which is seldom possessed by larger and more authoritative bodies. To the members of that circle these meetings and discussions were invaluable. They were excited to think deeply of what the many think of superficially. They heard the ring of the doctor's bell with the pleasure of those who delight in the communion of spirits and revel in intellectual wealth. Nor was that meeting an unimportant affair; for nothing can be unimportant which directs minds whose influ- ence spreads over a country-and such were here. I do not say what impressions they received; but I know that persons were assembled there, in pleasant converse, such as seldom meet in one place, and who since, going out into the world, have signalized their names in the annals of letters, science and benevolence. I shall violate no propriety by naming some of them, for those whom I shall name have been long known to the public.

Dr. Drake was himself the head of the circle, whose suggestive mind furnished topics for others, and was ever ready to incite their energies and enliven the flagging conversation. General Edward King was an- other who, in spirit, manners, and elocution, was a superior man, hav- ing the dignity of the old school, with the life of the new. His wife, since Mrs. Peters, and widely known for her active benevolence and as the founder of the Philadelphia School of Design, contributed several interesting articles for the circle, and was a most instructive member. Judge James Hall, then editor of the Western Monthly Magazine, whose name is known in both Europe and America, was also there. Professor Stowe, unsurpassed in Biblical learning, contributed his share to the conversation. Miss Harriet Beecher, now Mrs. Stowe, was just begin- ning to be known for her literary articles, and about that time contrib- uted several of her best stories to the press. She was not a ready talker, but when she spoke or wrote showed both the strength and the power of her inind. Her sister, Miss Catharine Beecher, so well known for her labors and usefulness in the cause of female education, was a more easy and fluent conversationalist. Indeed, few people have more talent to entertain a company or keep the ball of conversation going, than Miss Beecher ; and she was as willing as she was able. Conspicuous,

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

in both person and manners, was Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz, whom none saw without admiring. She was what the world calls charming, and, though since better known as an authoress, was personally quite re- markable. She and her highly educated husband-a man on some subjects quite learned, but of such retiring habits as hid him from the public view-were then keeping a popular female seminary in Cincin- nati. They were among the most active and interesting members of our coterie.

I might name others whose wit or information contributed to the charms of our intercourse ; but I should want the apology which public fame has given to the mention of these. In the current of private life, it often happens that those unknown to the public are the most genial and inspiring spirits of the social circle. Like the little stream which flows among the lofty hills, they sparkle as they flow, and shine in the shade. We had more than one such ; and while memory sees first the fame covered hill, it dwells longest and closest with those who cast sun- shine on our path and made life happy as it was bright.

The Literary Club of Cincinnati was organized October 29, 1849, when a constitution reported by a committee appointed at a preliminary meeting was adopted. The club was subsequently incorporated under the general State law. Weekly meetings were held on Monday evenings until December, 1849, when Saturday became the club-night, as it has since remained. The club-rooms were first on the southwest corner of Vine and Long- worth streets; then, successively, in Gundry's Commercial College, old Apollo building, corner Fifth and Walnut; over Gordon's drug-store, corner Eighth and Central avenue ; over Dr. Weed's book-store, on Fourth, between Main and Walnut; the law-school rooms in the college building; from September, 1855, for a time, in the Morselle building on Seventh, near Vine; over the old engine-house, No. 60 East Fourth ; the Morselle building again; a room on the third floor of the Apollo building; the rooms of the Bar Association, in the college building ; and finally its present home at No. 239 12 West Fifth street, during and after September, 1875. The member- ship was at first limited to twenty-five. It was enlarged in 185 1 to thirty-five, in 1853 to fifty, 1873 to eighty, and in 1875 to one hundred. April 15, 1861, directly after the outbreak of the war, a special meeting of the club was held and a military company formed, called the Bur- net Rifles, from Mr. R. W. Burnet, drill-master of the company, of which fifty members afterwards regularly en- listed in the northern armies. This meeting was called to order by R. B. Hayes, esq., since governor of Ohio and President of the United States, who remains to this day a member of the club. Of the original members of the Burnet Rifles who went into the army, one became a major-general, five brigadiers, eight colonels, four lieu- tenant-colonels, eleven majors, fourteen captains, five first-lieutenants, and two second lieutenants -- every one thus becoming a commissioned officer.

In consequence of military and political excitement and movements, no meetings of the club were held from October 8, 1862, to February 19, 1864. Meetings were then resumed, and have since been prosperously main- tained. The whole number of members, since the or- ganization of the society, has been about five hundred, including many of the most eminent men of the city. Strangers distinguished in literature or fine art may be in- vited by the board of management to the privileges of the club, and any one may be introduced by a member to the rooms or the regular meetings. The presidents of the

club, since 1864, have been Charles Dexter, E. W. Kit- tredge, Rev. A. D. Mayo, M. F. Force, Dr. C. G. Comegys, J. W. Herron, J. Eggers, P. S. Conner, J. R. Sayler, T. M. Hinkle, John Hancock, Julius Dexter, E. F. Bliss, and Herbert Jenney. The club-rooms are beautifully furnished, and contain many fine engravings and paintings, busts, and statuettes.

The Shakspeare club, organized in 1851 and still in ex- istence, gives weekly readings from Shakspeare and other dramatists, and also gives admirable amateur theatrical entertainments. The Wallack and two or three others are more strictly dramatic clubs, for practice in the his- trionic art.

A number of the large universities and colleges of this country give name to clubs organized in Cincinnati by their graduates; as the Harvard, formed in 1869, which has an annual dinner for its members; and the Yale, or- ganized in 1863, and reputed to be the oldest alumni society of the kind in the country. The "old Wood- ward boys," or graduates of Woodward college, organized a club in November, 1855, which was once quite large, but is now small. Formerly a game of foot-ball was en- joyed annually, on the last Thursday of September. The Woodward Alumni association is composed of graduates of the high school which succeeded the college, and has an annual reunion. Both societies joined in the erection of the statue of Mr. Woodward, upon the grounds of the school, on Franklin street. There is also the University club, which has one hundred and twenty-five members, many of whom take lunch together daily. Its first anni- versary was handsomely celebrated December 20, 1880. The Williams, Princeton, Marietta, and other college clubs are well known here.

The Cuvier club, founded in 1874, has for its object the protection of fish and game, the enforcement of the law concerning them, and the promotion of field sports. It has a superb collection of more than three thousand specimens in ichthyology and ornithology at its rooms, No. 200 West Fourth street.

The Athletic club is a product of that prolific year for clubs, 1879. Its object is to promote manly sports and physical culture, and it naturally makes headquarters at the Gymnasium on Fourth street. There are also several boat-clubs-as the Cincinnati, organized. in 1872; the Americus, of 1874; the Dauntless; and others.

The Musical club, organized 1879; the Etching club, also of 1879; and the Pottery club, which dates from the same year, have objects sufficiently defined in their titles. They will, however, receive further notice in future chapters.

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History of Cincinnati, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 59

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Cleveland, O., L.A. Williams & co. Number of Pages: 666

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, O., L.A. Williams & co.
Number of Pages: 666