History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 40

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 40

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We append the following statistics, from the last report of the Commissioner of Common Schools, which will be found of interest to the friends of education in the county :

AMOUNT OF SCHOOL MONEYS RECEIVED WITHIN THE YEAR.

Balance on hand Sept. 1, 1878. $55,388 00

State tax 14,404 50

Irreducible school fund. 2,426 69

Local tax for school and schoolhouse pur-

poses

51,099 24

Fines, licenses and other sources.

868 81

Total.

$124,179 26

AMOUNT OF SCHOOL MONEYS EXPENDED WITHIN THE

YEAR.

Paid teachers-Primary.

$38 167 01

High. 2,405 00

Total

$40,572 01

Managing and superintending .... 3,635 00

Sites and buildings. 17,190 43

Interest on redemption of bonds .. 3,347 07

Fuel and other contingent ex-

penses

16,429 44

Total

$81,173 95

Payments to county $14,386 50

Received from county 15,267 09

Excess of Receipts.

S80 59

Number of youth between 6 and 21 years- White males. 4,996

.. females 4,726

Total

9,722

Colored males. 17

females 15

Total

Grand total of enumeration.

.9,754

Population of county 25,500

Per cent of enumeration. 38

Number of townships in county. 16

Number of subdivisions ... 107

Number of separate districts .. 6

Schoolhouses erected within the year. 8

Cost of same. $22,291 00

Whole number of schoolhouses. 114

Value of school property $334.200 00

Teachers employed-

Primary-Males.

116

Females. 95

Total 211

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

Separate districts : Primary-Males .. 8

Females 37

High-Males. 6

Females 1

Total. 52

Grand total 263

Average wages of teachers per month-

Primary-Males. $38 00

Females. 21 00

Separate districts : Primary-Males 48 00

Females 34 00

lligh -Males 62 00

Females. 75 00

Pupils enrolled-

Township : Primary-Males.

.2,560

Females 2,094

Total 4,654

Separate districts : Primary-Males 1,222

Females. 1,206

High-Males . 112

Females. 154

Total. 2,694

Grand total.

7,348

Average daily attendance-

Townships : Primary-Males.

1,477

Females 1,298

Total. 2,775

Separate districts : Primary-Males. 823

Females 811

High-Males. 77

Females 116

Total 1,827

Grand total. 4,602

The following is the report of the Auditor of the County to the State Commissioner of Schools :

" It affords me pleasure to report an increased interest in the schools of Crawford County. It seems that every effort is being made through- out the county to procure the best talent for teachers that can be had. The County Board of School Examiners have exercised care in the examination of applicants in theory and practice, as well as the branches of education.

" The union schools in Galion, Crestline and Bucyrus are managed by careful and attentive school boards, with competent and efficient superintendents and a good corps of teachers. The schools are rapidly improving. Especially is this the case with the Bucyrus Union Schools, under the able management of Prof. F. M. Ham- ilton, who has brought our schools up to a stand- ard that will compare favorably with the best schools in the State. The Teachers' Institute, which is always well attended, is producing an influence in promoting the interest and welfare of our common school system."

A few extracts from the annual report of Hon. J. J. Burns, the State Commissioner of Common Schools, are appropriate, and are given for the benefit of those who feel an inter- est in the proper education of the rising gene- ration. He says :

" How shall we cause our pupils to make the largest possible attainments in these founda- tion branches, and also have them, when they leave school, thirsting for more knowledge, and possessing trained mental faculties, so that they may acquire it; the organ of these faculties to be contained in a healthy body, while mind and body are under the guidance of correct moral principles? To avoid waste of time and labor is to be able to better do the work in hand, and to apply the savings to something beyond. A search for wastage is a highly practical thing, and economy here a moral duty.

"I have often asserted that there is a wast- age in having pupils spend time in learning to spell hundreds, yes, thousands of words, which they never have occasion to use outside of the spelling class, while probably the dictionary, which should be in constant use, rests in pen- sive quietness on the teacher's desk, if, indeed, there is one in the room. The meaning of words and their pronunciation are of far more moment than their spelling. The best text books from which to learn these are the reader and diction- ary ; the best proofs of progress are correct

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

oral reading and written compositions. In pen- manship, we want more drill in writing from dictation, in having the pupils put their thoughts or recollections upon paper rapidly and neatly. Copying that beautiful line at the top of the page with care and patience is a good exercise, but some better gymnastic is required to fit the writer for hours of real work. In one way or another, language rightly claims a large share of the attention of the teacher. It is the grand characteristic which distinguishes man from the other animals, the most direct product of his inner consciousness.

" The child has begun the study of language before his school-life commences. Learning to talk seems as natural as learning to laugh or cry or play. But so much of knowledge and the world is hidden in books, that a key must be found to unlock these treasures. and that key is reading-the power to translate the writ- ten word; to recognize it as the graphic symbol of an idea before in possession, so that the ability to reverse the process will follow. and printed words become the source of ideas. As the pupil masters words and their meanings, he is getting into his possession the tools with which he may dig in books for further knowl- edge, make his own knowledge more useful to him as a social being. and secure a hody for his thoughts, without which incarnation they are as little subject to control as the weird fancies of a dream. The art of silent reading deserves more attention in school-practice in grasping the meaning of a passage in the shortest possible time, and reproducing it with pen or tongue. But along with this, in its earlier stages, and for a short time preceding it, is the oral reading exercise, wherein the reader must serve as eyes to the listener, so that they may, through his voice, see the printed page.

" The translation of a written sentence into a spoken sentence is much more than the mere translation, in their right order, of the words of the written sentence ; and, to do this well, re-

quires, besides the names of the written charac- ters, culture of voice, training of eye, quicken- ing of emotion. To serve as medium through which others may know the printed page, catching the syllables upon the ear, is not low art. To breathe life into dead words, and send them into the depths of the moral and intel- lectual nature of the hearer, and that with power to convince, to arouse, to subdue, greater than if the hearer had been his own interpreter, is high art indeed.

* *

" One very good result of increased attention to literature in the schools is the marked increase in the amount of wholesome reading-history, biography, travels, poetry, popular science, and the lessened demand for dime novels and other low fiction. Few questions are, in their bear- ings upon the future of our country, more important than this : What are the boys and girls reading? I would not, then, have less time spent in our schools upon language, but teachers may well look into the subject, and see whether that time is spent to the best ad- vantage.

" The public regard arithmetic, par excellence, as the practical study. It is the practical educator's strong tower, and we have it taught in season and out. Measured by any definition of the practical, as a means either to fit one directly for bread-getting in the common busi- ness of life, or as a means of mental culture and discipline, a large part of arithmetic, as found in our books and taught from them, falls short. Instead of introdneing at an early stage the science of geometry, we fritter away valuable time upon annuities and allegations and progressions ; and as for interest, one would think that mankind in general made a living by shaving each other's notes. Children begin early to develop the idea of numbers. It concerns matter of their daily life. The elemental steps of writing and reading numbers naturally fol- low, and usually are not difficult of acquire-

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

ment. But there is such a gap between the conditions needed for the ready learning of these things, and the more mature judgment and that knowledge of business and the world demanded in the intelligent solution of ordinarily difficult problems in discount and certain other branches of applied arithmetic. Back and forth across this stretch the boy's mind must swing like a pendulum, repelled by what it cannot compre- hend and by what it has grown tired of. He marks time when he could so readily oblique into some other study and march forward. Then, by and by, if these advanced parts of arithmetical science are needed, their acquisi- tion would be easy. Meanwhile the child may give increased attention to literature and be learning interesting and profitable lessons about this world into which he has come, and in what body he came, and how to take care of it. While these priceless practical lessons are in progress, one can fancy that the arithmetic itself would enjoy the rest.

"In the time which can be saved, also a few short steps could be taken in some other branches now much neglected. The reason for, and the practical mode of doing, many things which are to be done in real life by the citizen, the man of business, the manager of a household, might be taught in the schools. Something of the nature of the materials which we eat, drink and wear, and economy in the buying and using, would be excellent lessons. If he is a benefactor of mankind who causes two blades of grass to grow where one grew before, the language does not furnish a name for him or her, who shall cause the laboring man to know how to make one dollar produce the good results of which he must now expend two. No matter whether we regard the school as established primarily for the good of the children, or for the preservation of the State, we must admit that the most valuable result of all education, is the building of good charac- ters. This, to speak definitely, is to instill cor-

rect principles and train in right habits. Citi- zens with these, 'constitute a State.' Men and women with these are in possession of what best assures rational happiness, the end and aim of human life.

"I am not forgetting that we grade for 'de- portment,' and that deportment is a sort of outside view of character. But our sight is very short, even when we attempt to trace actions back to their causes, and we are entirely blind to the evil intention which never met its opportunity, to the fierce but quiet combat against wrong impulses, when nothing marks the victory but a continued walk in the path of right. Yet, in every properly conducted school, these lessons are being given. The faithful teacher is following an unwritten curriculum, and training his pupils in truthfulness, honesty, obedience to law, neatness, cheerfulness, kind- ness, in that divine summing up of active vir- tues, the Golden Rule. He is acting lectures on these theories, and constantly, by his own example, pleading at the door of the child's moral nature for all that is true, beautiful and good. Pure sentiments, generous promptings, love for God and man, should be the fruits of a liberal education. If this child grows into this inheritance, he has riches which he can keep and yet give away, which he will carry out of the world, yet leave behind to build his noblest monument."

The newspaper of the present age, is one of the most important features in the history of the country, and possesses as much interest, and as accurately measures the progress of social de- velopment, as any other influence that can be brought to bear; perhaps, more. It is the faithful chronicler of passing events, which, as time rolls on, become historical facts. With- out the newspaper, the country would be a benighted wilderness. And the county press is no weak part of the vast newspaper influence of the country. Its power is felt at home, and in its own immediate circle it wields a greater

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IHISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

influenee, perhaps, than the great cosmopolitan journal does in the country at large. We shall devote considerable space in this chapter to the press of Crawford County. The history which follows, of the Bueyrus press, is by Thos. P. Hopley, and is compiled in an able manner :

If the county newspaper of 1880 he com- pared with those published in Bucyrus from thirty to fifty years ago, it will become apparent that the press of Crawford County has kept pace with the progress of the last half-century. Fifty year ago, the Bucyrus editor had, seem- ingly, no use for a pen. The scissors were the brains of the establishment, and his publication each successive week was filled with advertise- ments and such news items, political artieles and miscellaneous matter as could be gleaned from the exchanges. Oeeasionally a marriage notice was published, or a three or four-line announcement that some prominent citizen of the county was dead. The editor published columns of second-hand politieal news ; but never seemed to consider that his readers might take an interest in events occurring within their own county and neighborhood. After the year 1840, original politieal editorials beeame fre- quent ; but the dearth of local news continued until several years after 1850. It is doubtful if the entire amount of local news published in all the Bucyrus papers previous to the year 1850 exceeded what can be found in either the Journal or Forum during any three months of the year 1880.

The first printing press brought to Bueyrus, or Crawford County, was the property of William Y. McGill. It was an old Ramage press, and about 1829 (Moderwell), he contem- plated publishing a Jackson paper, but after the first number appeared the publication was dis- continued. McGill must have been a man of excellent financial judgment, for he had disere- tion enough to foresee that, even in that day, running a newspaper in Crawford County would not be an easy road to financial prosperity, and

he promptly suspended the new enterprise. He continued as a resident of Bucyrus and vicinity for many years, occasionally teaching school in the village and surrounding country. April 1, 1833, he aeted as cleetion clerk in Liberty Township ; and, at the same time, his fellow- eitizens having implicit confidence in his integ- rity, eleeted him to the lucrative office of " Fence Viewer." This is the only office received by the man who introduced the printing press into Crawford County. When war was deelared with Mexico, McGill left for the seat of hostil- ities, deeming, no doubt, that the success he had failed to obtain by his pen might be gained with the sword, but misfortune was still his lot, for while on the way home he took sick and died at Newport, Ky. It is doubtful if any copies of this first newspaper published in Crawford are preserved at the present time.

The second attempt at journalism was made by William Crosby, who obtained possession of McGill's press and materials and, about Septem- ber 1, 1831, commeneed publishing a newspaper advocating Democratie principles. He must have been more successful than his predeces- sor, if the number of issues published be taken as proof for the statement. The oldest copy known to be in existence is at the Bueyrus Jour- nal office, and dated March 9, 1833. Crosby's pa- per was then known as the Western Journal and Bucyrus Advertiser, and was " printed and pub- lished on Sandusky avenue a few doors north of the post office." The post office was then kept at St. Johns' store where Malice & Gloyd's establishment is at the present time. This issue of March 9, 1833, is No. 80 and in Vol. II. If the newspaper appeared regularly each week for the preceding seventy-nine weeks, then it must have been established about September 1, 1831, but it is doubtful if the publication was issued regularly every Sat- urday, and consequently the Western Journal might have been started several months pre- vious to September, 1831. The only local

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

news contained in No. 80, is two marriage notices; the issues being filled with miscella- neous reading matter and advertisements, from which many historical facts in regard to the the early history of Bucyrus can be proved if necessary. In those days, money being scarce, the publisher notifies his patrons that their subscriptions can be paid in " county orders, bacon, wheat, sugar and other articles." No. 80 does not present a fine typographical appearance, and in these later days any tenth- rate pressman would not take pride in show- ing this issue as a specimen of his work- manship. It would seem that Crosby's print- ing ink ran out and he supplied the deficiency by " opening a crock of apple butter." The pub- lisher continued the paper for about three years ; the issue of July 12, 1834, No. 32, of Vol. III, whole number, 136, being still in existence. It was then called the Bucyrus Journal. Crosby sold the printing office to Charles P. West, who published for about one year the People's Press, which aimed to be neutral in politics. In 1845, President Polk appointed Crosby Consul of the Port at Talcahuano, Chili, in South America. Moderwell says in regard to Crosby's later his- tory : "Finding the office was not a very lucra- tive one, he resigned and engaged in the whale fishery, which proved to be much more profita- ble, and in which he is still engaged. He vis- ited Bucyrus in October, 1867."

. David R. Lightner was employed in the People's Press office before the publication was discontinued, and, when West sold the establish- ment to Joseph Newell, arrangements were made for a new paper, to be published by New- ell & Lightner. Mrs. Newell, however, opposed this new move on her husband's part. and, in order to " keep peace in the family," Newell turned the enterprise over to John Reeder, and gave him ten bushels of wheat for "taking the bargain off his hands." Reeder and his son, Jonathan, and his nephew, Lightner, then started the Ohio Intelligencer. The first num-

ber appeared about January 1, 1836, for the twenty-first number was issued July 23, and the forty-second December 30, 1836. This paper was neutral in politics, the issue of July 23 publishing both Presidential electoral tick- ets. The name of the firm was then D. R. Lightner & Co. ; but, after fifty-two numbers had been published, John Reeder retired and his son Jonathan, continued in partnership with his consin Lightner, for several more numbers of Volume II. Young Reeder also became discouraged and sold his interest to John Caldwell. The Ohio Intelligencer was then discontinued, and Caldwell & Lightner started the Crawford Republican about August 1, 1837. with Caldwell as editor, and D. R. Lightner as publisher. The office was then on the corner now occupied by Frank Blickes' store. In the eighth number, dated November 4, 1837, on the first page. and November 28 on the third, the proprietors make the following announcement : "The experiment we have commenced in publishing a Democratic paper, is now in full tide of operation. and with the result so far we have no reason to complain. In addition to the old list of subscribers, we have obtained about one hundred and twenty- five new ones, and are daily receiving more. We want two hundred more immediately, and no labor or expense will be spared to make our paper interesting. An interesting and impor- tant crisis is now approaching in both our State and National affairs, with which every man in the county should make himself ac- quainted, and which we will endeavor to lay before our readers faithfully as they transpire." This number was issued during the panic of 1837, and, money being very scarce, the pro- prietor, in order to secure patronage, published on the fourth page. in sale-bill type, the follow- ing notice : " Wheat, corn, buckwheat, oats, pork, beef, butter and candles will be received on subscription at this office." After fifty-two numbers of the Crawford Republican had been

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

published, Caldwell retired from the firm, and Lightner continued the paper another year, or rather for another volume of fifty-two numbers, the last appearing about January 1, 1840. The Democratic party were not satisfied with the management of the paper under Lightner, who says that " some declared I was not a good Democrat for publishing a communication from Bishop Tuttle, in which the people were ad- vised to examine both sides." Lightner was not sorry to be relieved, and the office was transferred to Caldwell, and the paper discon- tinued for about three months. Mr. Lightner was afterward elected Mayor of Bucyrus in April, 1842, and re-elected in 1843. He is at present a resident of the town. Caldwell, for many years a resident of Crawford County, re- moved to California, and was murdered while carrying mail.

In the summer or fall of 1838, a new Whig paper, the Bucyrus Democrat, was established by John Shrenck. Number 52, of Volume I, was issued October 2, 1839. An exam- ination of this issue would prove that if it be a specimen of the political newspapers pub- lished in 1839, the character of Bucyrus news- papers has improved very much during the past forty years. It would seem that the sole idea for which Shrenck published the Democrat was to abuse the Democratic candidate for Prose- cuting Attorney. This gentleman was re- elected by a larger majority than ever, and is still an honored and respected citizen of the town, while the Democrat "yielded up the ghost " nearly forty years ago. Shrenck con- tinued the paper several years ; No. 47, of Vol. III, was issued May 4, 1842, and it was pub- lished during a political campaign of that year. After a precarious existence of four years, he removed the press and materials to Upper San- dusky, and from there to Fremont, Ohio, where he died a few years afterward. This Bucyrus Democrat was the first paper published in the county in opposition to the Democratic party.

The Democracy of Crawford were anxious to have an organ at Bucyrus, and the publishers of the Ohio Statesman, at Columbus, recommended Thomas J. Orr and John White as two printers who could conduct a paper to suit the party. About April 23, 1840, these young men, having obtained possession of the printing material formerly owned by Caldwell & Lightner, started the Democratic Republican, the fourth number of which appeared May 14, 1840. White then retired from the establishment; it is generally reported that the partnership was dissolved by Orr kicking White out of the office for being intoxicated. Considering the present partisan meaning attached to the words Demo- cratic and Republican, it appears strange that, in 1840, the organ of Crawford County Democ- racy should be named the Democratic Repub- licun, while the Whig paper, opposed to the De- mocracy, should be called the Bucyrus Demo- crat. Orr continued in the newspaper business at Bucyrus for several years, and was supported by the Democratic party. The first volume of the Democratic Republican was completed May 28,1841, and, shortly after this, Orr commenced issuing the paper very irregularly, for although the second volume was started June 4, 1841, it had only reached the thirty-eighth number by July 23, 1842. The other fourteen numbers were possibly issued during the next eight months, but on Saturday, April 15, 1843, the second number in Volume I, of the Bucyrus Republican was published. In the next twelve months the paper was generally regularly is- sued. the fifty-second number appearing June 8, 1844. When the Presidential campaign was over, the Republican was published so irregu- larly that the patrons became disgusted with Orr's management, and the Prople's Forum, es- tablished in the spring of 1845, received the patronage of many who had formerly supported the Republican. No. 27, of Vol. II, was issued March 22, 1845, and soon after this the paper was discontinued. Orr was elected Clerk of

John Hailey

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

the Court in 1851, and re-elected in 1854. In 1859, he was chosen to represent Seneca, Craw- ford and Wyandot Counties in the State Sen- ate. During the second session, the war broke out. and Orr supported the measures adopted by the Legislature, for the preservation of the Union. For doing this, he was bitterly de- nounced by many Democrats, and, when he sought a re-nomination at the next primary election, received only 782 votes in Crawford County, while Judge Lang, of Tiffin, received 760. Orr afterward removed to Calhoun County, Iowa, where he died July 2, 1874.

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 40

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034