USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of Dayton, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneer and prominent citizens Vol. 1 > Part 37
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A joint resolution of congress, appointing managers for the National Asylum, was approved March 21, 1866. These managers were as follows: Richard J. Oglesby, of Illinois; Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts; and Frederick, Smyth, of New Hampshire, of the first class, to serve six years. Lewis B. Gunckel, of Ohio; Jay Cooke, of Pennsylvania; and P. Joseph Osterhaus, of Missouri, of the second class, to serve four years. John II. Martindale, of New York; Horatio G. Stebbins, of California; and George H. Walker, of Wisconsin, of the third class, to serve two years.
The first meeting of the board of managers was held, pursuant to a call made by Major-General Benjamin F. Butler, at the office of the surgeon-general of the United States, in the city of Washington, May 16, 1866. At that meeting, Major-General B. F. Butler was elected president, Major-General P. J. Osterhaus first vice-president, Hon. George H. Walker second vice-president, and Lewis B. Gunckel secretary.
Proposals for 'sites for the Asylum were required by the board to be sent to its president on or before June 20, 1866, and on the 13th of July, an executive committee was appointed, whose duties included the making of a report on the selection of a site or sites for one or more asylums. On September 6, 1866, it was decided by the board of managers to establish three branches of the Asylumn, and the Togus Springs property, near Augusta, Maine, was selected for the Eastern Branch. Mr. Gunckel offered a resolution at this meeting to the effect that, in the opinion of the board, the Central Branch of the Asylum should be located in the State of Ohio, but a substitute was presented by Edwin M. Stanton, instructing the executive committee to make further examination for a suitable site for the Central Branch. On the 7th of December, 1866,
335
MILITARY HISTORY.
Governor Frederick Smyth, Lewis B. Gunckel, and Dr. Wolcott were appointed a committee to make a selection of a site for the Northwestern Branch of the Asylum in the vicinity of Milwaukee, and they were also constituted a committee on the location of the Central Branch.
As may readily be imagined, the question of the location of the Central Branch of the Asylum was of great interest in many parts of the country at that time, and nowhere more than in Dayton and vicinity. For several months this question was earnestly dis- cussed. Measures to carry out the design of congress were taken by the Soldiers' National Asylum Association, a meeting of which was held for the purpose indicated about the 20th of May, 1866. The managers of this association extended. invitations for the donation of sites, the premises to be situated in the loyal States. Each site must contain not less than two hundred acres, must be in a healthy locality, and easily accessible by railroad or otherwise. It was the intention of the managers to erect suitable buildings upon the sites that were accepted, without unnecessary delay, the buildings to include detached cottages for soldiers with families. In the erection of the buildings, the Gothic style of architecture was to be avoided.
When it became fully known that the building of soldiers' homes had been definitely decided upon, the question at once arose as to whether Dayton had not two hundred acres of land that she could offer to such an enterprise. The attention of the board of managers was directed to the fertile valley of the Miami, and they, on their visit to the Northwest and Ohio, made an investigation of its merits. On the 11th of April, 1867, the committee reported to the board of managers, "that the committee had also visited Ohio, and carefully examined the sites offered at Columbus, Dayton, and White Sulphur Springs, and come to the conclu- sion that, all things considered, the site of Dayton was most suitable, and, therefore, recommended its purchase as the site of the Central Branch.'
The board, upon the consideration of this part of the report of the select committee, after a lengthy discussion, adopted the following resolution :
" That a committee be authorized to negotiate for the purchase of the White Sulphur Springs property; provided they can arrange for perma- nent railroad accommodation to the same, at least once a day each way by a responsible railroad company, at their own expense, and at the usual fare and freight; and if such accommodation cannot be obtained, then to make the purchase at Dayton, according to the proposition made by Mr. Gunckel, to-wit: The land named by the committee, four hundred acres at $113 per acre, less a donation by the citizens of Dayton."
336
HISTORY OF DAYTON.
The committee appointed under this resolution was composed of General J. II. Martindale, Governor Frederick Smyth, and General John S. Cavender. The lands referred to, lie about three miles west of Dayton. At the time of the purchase, it was in the ordinary condition of farm lands throughout the State, but possessed great natural beauty, and several springs of excellent water.
At the request of the board of managers, Chaplain T. B. Van Horn, of the United States Army, was detailed by Secretary Stanton to lay out the grounds. In this connection the statement should not be omitted that great credit is due to the exertions and influence of IIon. Lewis B. Gunckel, who was secretary of the board of managers. Vigorous measures were at once taken to erect and make ready, at the earliest possible time, the buildings necessary for the accommodation of the disabled soldiers. The government performed its part of the work by contributing the lumber which had been used in erecting the temporary buildings at Camp Chase, with the use of which, under the supervision of Mr. Gunckel, buildings were rapidly constructed, and these buildings were filled as fast as ready for occupancy.
The buildings, barracks, and other property of the United States, at Camp Chase, were turned over to the board of managers of the National Asylum, for the use and benefit of the soldiers, under authority of a resolution of congress, approved March 22, 1867 .. On the 5th of Septem- ber following, Mr. Gunckel reported that he had shipped from Camp Chase to Dayton, for the construction of the temporary buildings of the Central Asylum, about two hundred and fifty thousand feet of lumber; that there was ready for shipment about one hundred thousand feet more, and that he had realized from the sale of smaller buildings the sum of $4,554.69.
On December 5, 1867, the board of managers passed a resolution returning thanks to the patriotic citizens of Dayton, Ohio, for the sum of twenty thousand dollars donated by them to the board, and used in the purchase of lands for the Central Asylum, near that city. On the next day, General Timothy Ingraham was detailed for duty as acting governor of the National Asylum, and was stationed at the Central Branch. On the same day, Dr. Wolcott and General Cavender were appointed a visiting committee for the Central Branch.
June 14, 1868, fifteen hundred dollars was appropriated for the purchase of a, printing office for the Central Branch, and on October 8, 1868, a report was made to the board of managers that Mrs. Mary Lowell Putnam, of Boston, Massachusetts, had donated a large and well selected library, and over one hundred beautiful pictures to the Central Branch,
VIEW OF THE NATIONAL MILITARY HOME, DAYTON, OHIO.
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MILITARY HISTORY.
as a memorial of her son, William Lowell Putnam, who fell at the battle of Ball's Bluff. The following resolutions were thereupon unanimously passed and adopted by the board:
" Resolved, That the board of managers receive with pleasure the munificent donation of Mrs. Mary Lowell Putnam, and return the thanks of the board and the gratitude of the beneficiaries of the National Asylum therefor; and direct that the same shall be carefully kept for the use of the disabled soldiers of the Asylum, so long as the National Asylum shall exist, and then disposed of in accordance with the request of the donor.
"Resolved, That the board do further direct that the books be cata- logued and kept apart in cases, bearing the inscription of 'Putnam Library.'"
During the first year of the existence of the Central Branch, there were cared for there, 1,249 disabled soldiers, and up to December 1, 1868, there had been expended in the construction of buildings, furnishing them, and in work on the grounds, $212,900.69.
On June 14, 1868, plans for a hospital building at the Central Asylum were adopted, and proposals were invited for the construction of the building. In March, 1870, three thousand dollars was appropriated for the erection of officers' quarters, and twelve hundred dollars for a wagon "shed, hennery and fence.
On July 25, 1870, the construction of a new building with fire proof vaults was authorized for the books and papers of the asylum, the building to cost not more than twenty-five thousand dollars.
On the 29th of October, 1870, Colonel John W. Skiles, of Ohio, was dishonorably discharged as secretary of the asylum, and was succeeded by Captain W. H. Lough, of Ohio, who was at that time made acting secretary, but who, on the 10th of the following July was appointed secretary.
On March 9, 1872, the name "Asylum " was changed to " Home," so that the name of the institution became the "National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers." On July 10th, five thousand dollars was appropriated for the construction of a brick quartermaster and commissary building; eight thousand dollars for the construction of a barrack in place of the one to be removed, the new barrack to be three stories high, of brick, with hollow walls, and with flat metal roof; and two thousand dollars for the removal of the frame barrack which was to be superseded by the new one.
The purchase of one hundred and one acres of wooded land was authorized on the 6th of December, 1872, the price being one hundred and ninety dollars per acre. Captain William Thompson was appointed steward of the Home on the same day in place of Captain A. P. Wood-
338
HISTORY OF DAYTON.
ruff, who was appointed secretary and steward of the Branch at its establishment in 1867, and who resigned on account of ill-health.
On December 19, 1874, Captain R. E. Fleming, of Ohio, was ap- pointed secretary of the Home, and Dr. J. M. Weaver, who had been, during the war, surgeon of the Ninety-third Ohio Volunteers, was appointed acting surgeon of the Home. On July 10, 1875, the erection of a building for dormitories for the men was authorized, the cost of which was not to exceed fourteen thousand dollars, and on September 17th, following, owing to the rapid increase of the number of inmates, thirteen thousand dollars more was appropriated for the construction of another brick barrack; two thousand, five hundred dollars for the construction of a new amusement hall; one thousand dollars for a new epileptic ward, and one thousand dollars for an additional building for greenhouse and conservatory. Still another epileptic ward and slaughter-house were authorized on December 17th, the cost of which was not to exceed four thousand dollars.
With reference to the conduct of the men in the Home, the president of the board of managers, Major-General B. F. Butler, in his report to the United States congress for the year 1875, said :
"Upon the whole there has been scarcely any need of coercive measures for discipline. Ninety-seven per cent of all the inmates of the Home behave themselves with perfect propriety and good conduct, save in one single regard, and that is that army vice ( although not by any means wholly confined to the army ), the too great use of spirituous liquors. Were it not for the vice of drunkenness, which the board have come to look upon almost as a disease, less than one per cent would cover the entire number of those inmates of the Home who are guilty of any serious infraction of the rules, or conduct themselves otherwise than with perfect propriety, and as it is, less than three per cent give the board or officers any trouble by their misconduct. Perhaps there is no more remarkable, and certainly no more complimentary thing to be said of the disabled soldiers of our homes than this: The proportion of vicious men among them, as shown by the necessity of punishment, is not greater than the equal number of any part of the community; and considering the fact that during the war the prisons were substantially emptied into the army, and the necessary demoralization of camp life, we have in our homes this example of the highest commendation of the American soldiers." ;
In the report of Hon. Lewis B. Gunckel, secretary of the board of managers, to the president of the board, he shows the cost of the rations per day in each of the four branches of the Home then established. The cost at the Central Branch was 22 4-5 cents per man. This was the total
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MILITARY HISTORY.
cost of running the Home, including food, clothing, fuel, lights, medicine, officers' salaries, inmates' pay roll, transportation of men to the Home -- in short, all expenses except those for construction and repairs. The total expense for the year 1875 was $325,527.30, or $151.16 per man, or when the cost of clothing was deducted the cost per man was $141.56.
On September 21, 1876, on account of the continued increase in the number of inmates at the Home, the construction of four wooden bar- racks was authorized, each to be 110 feet long, 24 feet wide, and two. stories high. The sum of six thousand dollars was appropriated for this purpose. 'On the same day, in response to an application for the same, the board of managers resolved to allow political meetings in the Central Home grounds during the presidential campaign of that year. Under this resolution, one political meeting was permitted to be held in the afternoon by each party, on different days, at which two speakers from without the Home were to speak, the speakers to be indicated by the political organizations of the county. . The governor of the Home was to preside and to keep good order. No one was to be admitted to the grounds during the meetings except authorized reporters for the press, and the organized central committees of the several parties, and not to exceed ten other persons to be selected by the said committees.
In Mr. Gunckel's report for 1876, the cost of maintaining the inmates upon the same basis as that above mentioned for 1875, was $143.15 per man, or when the cost of clothing was deducted, $128.07.
With reference to the school established at the Home some years previously, the same report said: "Several years ago schools were estab- lished at each of the branches, but the number of young men ( little could be expected of the old ) who had sufficient health and ambition to educate themselves, was not sufficient to justify the expense. It was deemed better, as well as more economical, to transfer all who desired the advantages of a school to the Central Branch, where a school has been maintained with continued and marked success. It was established February 24, 1868, and has been ever since in charge of Miss Mary J. Eaton, of New Hampshire. The attendance during the year has been 93, and branches taught, reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, book-keeping, music, algebra, and telegraphy. The total number who have availed themselves of the school during the past eight years is 524. Since the establishment of the school, not a single case of disorder or misconduct has been reported, the veteran scholars having been regular, attentive, and studions. Some (mostly colored men, who have never before had the advantage of a school) have learned to read and write; others have studied the higher branches and qualified them-
القوة
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HISTORY OF DAYTON.
selves to teach school; some who lost the right arm have learned to write, and well, with the left hand; and others have prepared themselves to earn their own living as book-keepers and telegraph operators. It is known that not a few, educated in this school, have secured lucrative positions, which they have so worthily filled as not only to satisfy their employers, but in several cases to earn honorable promotion."
With reference to the morals and religion of the men at the Central Branch of the Home the same report says:
" At the Central Branch there is a resident chaplain, Rev. William Earnshaw, who has most worthily performed the duties of his high calling for ten years past, and succeeded in doing much good, both for the spiritual advantage and moral improvement of the men. . . . At the Central they have had the Sons of Temperance, Good Templars, and Red Ribbon Brigade, cach with one hundred or more members; a German Veteran Association, and Hibernian Benevolent Society, each with large membership."
In July, 1877, it became evident that new accommodations would be needed for the ensuing winter, and that it was necessary to erect a music ball. The governor was therefore instructed to prepare plans, specifications, and estimates for the building of an amusement and lecture hall, to be two stories in height, the lower story to be used as a concert and lecture room, and the upper story as a memorial hall and museum. He was also to put in the foundations of the building, and to make prepa- rations for the vigorous prosecution of the work. In September, it was resolved to erect three new frame barracks, similar in size to the four erected in 1876, and that six thousand dollars be appropriated therefor. In December, 1877, the subject of the increase of the water supply was taken up, and six thousand dollars appropriated for increasing it.
In their report for the year 1877, the managers made a statement as to the magnitude of the Central Home at that time. There were then erected 132 buildings of all sizes, 56 of them were supplied with water, 26 were heated with steam, and 50 were lighted with gas. The buildings contained 501,172 square feet of flooring, and the dormitories contained 1,614,066 cubic feet of air space, an allowance of 570 cubic feet for each person. The grounds were then nearly a mile square, and included 63 miles of macadamized roads, 2 miles of graveled walks, 8 miles of paved gutters, and 15 miles of sewers and drains. There were 5 never failing natural springs, 10 deep wells, 54 large rain-water cisterns, and 4 large lakes.
The workshops of the Central Branch had become so large and im- portant, and had been so successfully conducted, that considerable space
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MILITARY HISTORY.
was devoted to them in the report. Ninety men were employed in the cigar factory, who carned $6,160.15, and made 1,838,515 cigars, which sold for $33,347.41, realizing to the Home a net profit of $2,901.16. Eighteen men with knitting machines made 2,069 dozen pairs of stockings, which realized a total of $7,391.46, and a profit of $1,478.26. The shoe shop turned out 220 pairs of boots, and 286 pairs of shoes, all hand made, at a profit of $1,256.36. The tailor shop turned out 695 garments made, and about double that number repaired, at a profit to the Home of $1,435.32. The soap factory had made 121,599 gallons of soft soap, and 29,309 pounds of bard soap, all chiefly from material from the kitchens of the Home. Besides these various industries, there were the printing office and book bindery, and inmate carpenters, painters, plumbers, gas fitters, tinners, etc., who did much of the work of construction, and all of the repairs, resulting in both convenience and economy. Cabinet-makers and blacksmiths, wagon- makers, harness-makers and upholsterers were also in the Home, and found employment in the shops.
During the latter part of 1877, and the first part of 1878, the water supply was increased by deepening and increasing the capacity of the three lakes, 1,800,000 gallons, by digging a large well fifty feet deep, giving 24,000 gallons of pure spring water daily, and by the purchase of ten acres of land of James Applegate and W. F. Howell, immediately east of the lakes of the Home, forming an additional reservoir which, with a small expense, was made to hold at least 20,000,000 gallons. Three thousand dollars was appropriated for the continuance of the work.
The amusement hall mentioned above, was formally opened by the board of managers and the president of the United States, September 12, 1878. This hall had a seating capacity of fifteen hundred persons, and 'all the appointments of a first-class theater. During the succeeding winter the National Dramatic Company, the National Minstrels, and the German Veteran Association, composed of inmates of the Home, and a few ladies of Dayton, gave several excellent entertainments. Clubs from Cincinnati and the Dayton Reading Club, also furnished suitable entertainments.
A " Memorial HIall" was erected in 1878, without cost to the govern- ment, the money being derived from the " store and posthumous fund." It was a large, splendid brick building, 129x75 feet on the ground, and 65 feet high, and was designed for all classes of literary, dramatic and musical entertainments. In May, 1880, it was destroyed by fire. On July 10th, following, the rebuilding of the hall was taken into consideration by the board of managers, and referred to General John Love and Colonel Harris, who were authorized to sceure the rebuilding of the hall, at a cost not to exceed thirty thousand dollars, which amount had been appropriated by .
9
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HISTORY OF DAYTON.
congress for that purpose. The new hall was finished in October, 1881, and opened during the succeeding winter. It possesses all the latest improvements in hall architecture, is beautifully frescocd, and has a seating capacity of sixteen hundred.
September 23, 1880, Dr. A. H. Stephens, of Eaton, Ohio, was ap- pointed surgeon of the Central Home in place of Dr. J. M. Weaver.
The postoffice at the Home is altogether independent of any other postoffice. Justin H. Chapman, postmaster, made a report to the governor November 8, 1879, as to the working of his office for the six months ending June 30, 1879. This report is of interest as showing what the inmates were doing in the way of correspondence with their friends. The number of letters mailed, including postal cards, was 54,080; the number received was 37,752; papers and packages mailed, third class, 9,464; papers and packages received, second and third class, 45,994; total cash received for money orders sent, both domestic and foreign, $4,852; total cash drawn on money orders, domestic and foreign, $1,271.71. For the year ending June 30, 1880, the report was as follows: Number of letters mailed, including 12,301 postal, cards, 119,870; number of letters received, 82,240; papers and packages mailed, third class, 38,928; papers and packages received, second and third class, 101,988; cash received on money orders issued, $14,215.05; cash paid for money orders drawn on the office, $2,813.56.
For the six months ending June 30, 1879, the total current expenses of the Home, including cost of all clothing issued to the men and exclud- ing construction and repairs, was $187,927, or $55.50 per man. Deducting the cost of clothing, $47.46 per man. For the year ending June 30, 1880, the cost per man, including clothing, was $117.32, and excluding clothing, $95.40.
Following are the numbers of disabled soldiers cared for at the Central Branch since its establishment: In 1867, 616; 1868, 1,320; 1869, 1,637; 1870, 2,101; 1871, 2,329; 1872, 2,426; 1873, 2,661; 1874, 3,177; 1875, 3,769; 1876, 4,120; 1877, 4,623; 1878, 5,098; 1879, 4,596; 1880, 5,304; 1881, 5,552; 1882, 5,914; 1883, 9,481; 1884, 7,146; 1885, 6,884; 1886, 6,020; 1887, 6,022; 1888, 5,936.
The following table shows the cost of running the Central Branch, exclusive of expenses for construction and repairs, since 1872, the statistics for previous years not being available.
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MILITARY HISTORY.
YEARS.
TOTAL COST.
COST PER MAN.
1872
$199,16 68
$156 72
227,927 43
157 95
1871
1875
325,527 30
151 10
1876
360,740 81
143 15
1877
371,933 64
13: 95
1878
375,881 83
118 50
1879
187,927 60
$55 50
1880
398,791 54
117 32
1881
159,731 29
+103 24
1882
472,939 32
130 51
1883
613,753 5S
124 10
1SS4
670.417 53
146 54
1885
686,391 13
146 72
1886
640,959 58
124 05
1887
631,103 04
126 65
1888
705,270 21
181 18
* For six months.
1 Exclusive of clothing.
The following table shows the States and Territories, in which the soldiers admitted to the Central Branch enlisted from date of organiza- tion to June 30, 1888:
Alabama
6
Massachusetts 580
Arkansas
6
Michigan
885
California.
77
Minnesota 75
Colorado.
23
Mississippi 9
Missouri. 4SS
Dakota
1
Nebraska
18
Delaware
73
Nevada
5
District of Columbia.
107
New Hampshire
80
Florida
2
New Jersey
178
Georgia.
3 New Mexico
3
Ilinois
1,390
New York
2,627
Indiana
1,826
North Carolina
1
łowa
205
Ohio.
6,990
Kansas
235
Pennsylvania. 1,170
Kentucky
790
Rhodo Island
45
Louisiana.
105
South Carolina
1
Maino
Tennessee 73
Maryland
192 Texas
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