USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of Dayton, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneer and prominent citizens Vol. 2 > Part 12
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At the beginning of the enterprise, in 1834, only one periodical was issued,-the Religious Telescope,-with but one editor. In 1889, ten peri- odicals are published, under the supervision of seven editors, and devoted to general religious, Sunday-school, and missionary interests. Eight of these are English, and two German. Seven are prepared for the Sunday- school, an interest which has itself grown into prominence since the founding of the House. The periodicals now published, with the dates of first issue, are: the Religious Telescope, weekly, 1834; Froehliche Bol- schafter, weekly, 1810; Children's Friend, semi-monthly, 1854; Missionary Visitor, semi-monthly, 1865; Jugend Pilger, semi-monthly, 1870; Our Bible Teacher, monthly, 1873; Lessons for the Little Ones, weekly, 1876; Our Bible-Lesson Quarterly, 1878; Woman's Evangel, monthly, 1881; Our Inter- mediate Bible-Lesson Quarterly, 1882. Total average combined circulation for the year 1888-89, 288,744. Several other periodicals have been pub- lished for a time, and then discontinued, or merged into the above. Among them were the Unity Magazine, a monthly, published from 1854 to 1859, and Lesson Leares, issued from 1878 to 1878, when it was succeeded by the Quarterly. A new periodical,-a Church quarterly,- was authorized by the General Conference of 1889, and the first number will be issued in January, 1890. For other information concerning these periodicals, see "The Press."
The book department, opened upon a small scale in Circleville a few years after the founding of the Telescope, at first confined its work to the sale of the few publications issued by the House, and a limited number of books of special value to ministers in preparation for their work. The enlargement of its work was not rapid, but steady. Though receiving more or less attention from the agent and his assistants, it was not given special prominence until its removal for the second time into the corner room of the first floor, in 1867, when Mr. Shucy selected Rev. W. H. Lanthurn, who had been engaged in the book trade in Richmond, Indiana, to become the head of the department. To his literary talents and admirable judgment of books, is largely attributable the building up of the local, as well as a large part of the general, reputation and trade of this department. Since 1867, it has expanded into a store well stocked in all departments of literature, domestic and foreign, together with all supplies of a first-class book-store. Mr. Lanthurn died in 1884, and was succeeded in 1885 by E. L. Shuey, A. M., who has continued to improve
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the department, until it is regarded as one of the foremost book-stores of the country. When the House was removed to Dayton, in 1853, the book-store was invoiced at $2,190.50; in 1889, it has reached $71,864.54. A subscription-book sub-department was opened in 1884.
The printing department, opened in 1834, with a few stands of type and an old-fashioned hand press, valued at a few hundred dollars, has expanded into a first-class plant, valued at $35,245.49. In 1850, the first power press-an Adams-was purchased at a cost of $1,549.77. It was at first operated by hand. Now there are in operation, in a press-room admirably adapted to its purpose, eleven steam presses. At first, the work done was creditable, but in the course of years this department has kept abreast of the times, and is now noted for the excellence of its work. Job work has been done from the beginning, in addition to the regular work of the House.
Of the other departments, it is sufficient to say that they have been expanded from time to time, as the demands of the business required.
The establishment includes all the departments needed to perform the work of a large publishing house, -publisher's department, wholesale and retail book-rooms, composing, job printing, power, press, and mailing rooms, bindery, electrotype and stereotype foundry, and editorial departments.
" The establishment is controlled by a board of nine trustees, elected every four years by the General Conference. In immediate charge of the House is the publishing agent, chosen also by the General Conference. The board meets annually, and fixes the salaries of the general officers, controls the property, and plans for the extension of the work. In the interim, an executive committee of five advises the agent when neces- sary. The agent has direct management of all the business of the House, appoints and pays all subordinates, plans and executes all its commercial enterprises, and is responsible for all its work."* Besides these business officers, are the editor of the Religious Telescope and his associate, the editor of the Sunday-school literature, the editor of the Church quarterly ( who is also assistant Sunday-school editor), the editor of the German papers, the editor of the Missionary Visitor ( the secretary of the Missionary Society), and the editor of the Woman's Erangel and her assistant, who direct the various periodicals with which they are connected.
" The Discipline provides that the profits of the establishment, beyond what is necessary as a reserve, shall be distributed among the Confer- ences, according to the number of itinerants, for the benefit of worn-out preachers and their families."*
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& Hand- Book of the United Brethren in Christ, by F. 1 .. Shuey, A. M.
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HISTORY OF DAYTON.
The House also furnishes rooms, free of rent, with light and heat, to the Missionary Societies and Historical Society of the Church, pays the expenses of all General Conferences, makes donations for various benevo- lent purposes, and aims to furnish its products at the lowest reasonable rates.
Among the trustees of the House have been the following citizens of Dayton: Rev. L. Davis, D. D., Rev. Henry Kumler, Jr., John Dodds, James Applegate, Rev. John Kemp, Rev. D. K. Flickinger, D. D., D. D. Rike, T. N. Sowers, Rev. D. R. Miller, Rev. G. Fritz, Rev. William McKee, and Judge J. A. Shauck.
The present board of trustees, elected in May, 1889, are the follow- ing: D. W. Crider, Pennsylvania; Rev. C. I. B. Branc, Maryland; Rev. J. S. Mills, Iowa; B. F. Witt, Indiana; Rev. S. Mills, Illinois; Rev. George Miller, Iowa; Rev. G. F. Deal, Nebraska; D. L. Rike and Judge J. A. Shauck, Ohio.
The present excentive committee are D. L. Rike, Judge J. A. Shauck, Rev. L. Bookwalter, A. M., and S. L. Herr, of Dayton, Ohio, and B. F. Witt, of Indianapolis, Indiana.
For some time the financial interests of the Publishing House were in the hands of the editor of the Religious Telescope in connection with the trustees. Afterward they were conducted by the Rev. William Hanby. The General Conference which met at Circleville, Ohio, May 12, 1845, elected Rev. J. Markwood as publishing agent, but he soon resigned and was succeeded by Rev. Nehemiah Altman. Mr. Altman was reflected in 1849, and in 1852. Rev. William Hanby was appointed by the Scioto Conference. In May, 1853, the Rev. Solomon Vonneida was elected, and served alone until March, 1854, when Rev. Henry Kumler, Jr., was associated with him. This association continued until December, 1854. In 1855, T. N. Sowers was elected assistant agent. In May, 1861, T. N. Sowers and J. B. King were elected publishing agents. In June, 1864, Rev. W. J. Shuey became associated with Mr. Sowers in place of Mr. King. In May, 1865, Rev. W. J. Shuey and T. N. Sowers were elected agents, and during the same year, upon the resignation of Mr. Sowers, Rev. William McKee was chosen to his place by the trustees. Since 1866, Mr. McKee having resigned, Rev. W. J. Shuey has been the agent, with- out assistants.
Of the agents above named, T. N. Sowers and J. B. King were citizens of Dayton at the time of their election. Rev. S. Vouneida, though coming to Daytou for the first time at the time of his election in 1853, remained a citizen after his retirement from the management, continuing his con- nection with the House, first as editor and then as chief book-keeper, until
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his death in 1880. Rev. W. J. Shuey is a native of Montgomery County, and a former presiding older in the Miami Annual Conference. He had been a citizen of Dayton before his election to the management of the House, and has been actively identified with the interests of the city since 1864.
The following persons have been editors of the Religious Telescope: Rev. William R. Rhinchart, 1834 to 1889; Rev. William Hanby, 1839 to 1845; Rev. D. Edwards, 1845 to 1849; Rev. William Hanby, 1849 to 1852; assistant, Rev. John Lawrence, 1850 to 1852; Rev. John Lawrence, 1852 to 1864; Rev. D. Berger, 1864 to 1869; Rev. M. Wright, 1869 to 1873; - assistant, Rev. D. Berger, 1869 to 1873; Rev. M. Wright and Rev. W. O. Tobey, A. M., 1873 to 1877; Rev. J. W. Ilott, D. D., 1877 to 1889; assistant, Rev. W. O. Tobey, A. M., 1877 to 1881; assistant, Rev. M. R. Drury, A. M., 1881 to 1889; Rev. I. L. Kephart, D. D., elected, 1889; associate, Rev. M. R. Drury, A. M., elected, 1889.
The editors of the Sabbath-school periodicals have been the follow- ing: Rev. D. Edwards, 1854 to 1857; Rev. Alexander Owen, 1857 to 1858; Rev. S. Vonneida, 1858 to 1869; Rev. D. Berger, D. D., 1869 to the present; assistant, Rev. J. W. Etter, D. D., elected, 1889.
The editors of the Unity Magazine were: Rev. David Edwards, 1854 to 1857; Rev. Alexander Owen, 1857 to 1859.
Editor of the Church quarterly: Rev. J. W. Etter, D. D., elected, 1889.
The German papers have had the following editors: Rev. John Russel ( unofficial ), 18440 to 1841; Rev. Jacob Erb, 1841 to 1842; Rev. N. Altman, 18446 to 1847; Rev. D. Strickler, 1847 to 1851; Rev. Henry Staub, 1851 to 1855; Rev. Julius Degmeier, 1855 to 1858; Rev. S. Vonneida, 1858 to 1866; Rev. Ezekiel Light, 1866 to 1869; Rev. William Mittendorf, 1869 to 1885; Rev. Ezekiel Light, 1885 to 1889; Rev. William Mittendorf, elected, 1889.
Editors of the Woman's Ecangel: Mrs. L. R. Keister, M. A., 1881 to the present; assistant, Mrs. L. K. Miller, M. A., 1888 to the present.
Music editors: Rev. W. II. Lanthurn, 1873 to 1874; Rev. Isaiah Baltzell, 1874 to the present; Rov. E. S. Lorenz, A. M., B. D., 1876 to the present.
Book editors: Rev. D. Berger, D. D., 1878 to 1877; W. A. Shuey, A. M., 1881 to 1888; Rev. M. R. Drury, A. M., 1888 to 1889.
As to the character of the publications of the House, their general reputation is such as to render a lengthy notice unnecessary. Almost without exception, the books published have discussed.important themes in an able manner, and have seenred the commendation of the pulpit and the press. Within the last few years the literary reputation of the House
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JHISTORY OF DAYTON.
has advanced to a high standard, and its products have commanded the favorable notice of the most critical journals of the country. Over two hundred books, of various sizes, have been issued since the foundation of the establishment. The principal departments of literature represented are church and Sunday-school music, Sunday-school library books, and historical, doctrinal, and practical theology. The Sunday-school period- icals are used by large numbers outside of the denomination.
The management of the House has had the uniform good-will of the community in which it is located, and the liberal patronage of the citizens of Dayton and the surrounding territory has contributed largely to its success; indeed, the growth of this establishment has been, for many years, a matter of local pride.
It is altogether probable that a more complete, well appointed, and carefully kept institution of its size does not exist in this country, and its reputation for superior workmanship and fair dealing was never higher. than at the present time.
The Christian Publishing Association was established in 1843, as the Ohio Christian Book Association. The first meeting of the members of this Association was held at Ebenezer Chapel, Clarke County, Ohio, April 24, 1843, at which there were present the following persons: Elders Jacob G. Reeder, Derastus F. Radby, Arthur W. Sanford, Robert McCoy, and Elijah Williamson. These individuals constituted the executive com- mittee of the Association. The committee organized by the choice of the following officers: Elder J. G. Reeder, president, and Elder Elijah Will- iamson, secretary. The second session of the committee was held at New Carlisle, Ohio, October 23, 1843, at which time a constitution was adopted. . The executive committee managed the business of the Association until the appointment of a publishing agent, which was done at this time in the person of Eider I. N. Walter. The executive committee in 1852 was as follows: Jacob G. Reeder, Elias Smith, John R. Miller, J. N. Walker, and A. W. Sanford. The name of the Association was changed at the con- vention of 1852, from the Ohio Christian Book Association to the Western Christian Book Association. In January, 1854, the executive committee met at Springfield, Ohio, and elected officers as follows: Jacob G. Reeder, president; A. W. Sanford, secretary, and John R. Miller, treasurer. The incorporation of the Association was authorized at the same time. On September 14, 1863, the exceutive committee met, at Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, and on December 14, 1864, at Ogden, Indiana. William Worley was made chairman of the committee, and J. T. Lynn, secretary. The first meeting of the committee at Dayton, Ohio, was held at the house of Elder P. McCullough, January 17, 1865. The name was changed to the
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Christian Publishing Association, and the Association was re-incorporated on November 28, 1866. For several years after removing to Dayton, the business of the Association was carried on in the United Brethren Publishing House, on the corner of Main and Fourth streets. On May 21, 1868, it was resolved that the trustees of the Christian Publishing Association accept the property bought of J. L. Falkner, on the southeast corner of Main and Sixth streets, at $11,500; purchased previously for the Association by William Worley, P. McCullough, and W. A. Gross. William Worley was employed to collect the rent and manage the property. The question arising as to whether the Association should occupy its own property thus purchased, the executive committee, on December 9, 1868, resolved to stay another year in the Telescope building, on the corner of Fourth and Main streets. On the 15th of September, 1869, the executive committee on buildings and grounds was instructed to mature plans for building, or for renting a building, for future operations. Afterward, the south portion of the ground, together with a house upon it, was sold, and the money applied on the debts owing by the Association.
On June 21, 1870, the trustees of the Association met at Marion, Indiana. The president was Elias Smith; secretary, J. T. Lynn, and treasurer, William Worley. The other members of the board were Elders N. Summerbell, A. C. Hanger, A. R. Heath, W. A. Gross, C. T. Emmons, Thomas Holmes, D. Lepley, and Brothers George W. Webster and William Penec. Two days afterward, an executive board was chosen, as follows: N. Summerbell, J. T. Lynn, William Worley, W. A. Gross, and A. R. Heath. This executive board was authorized to close a contract with such builders as they might select to ereet a publishing house in Dayton, and it was resolved that the main floors of the first story be at least two feet above the sidewalk, and that the basement have a wide entrance and good and sufficient windows.
On December 6, 1870, it was resolved that the constitution be so . construed that the president, secretary, and treasurer of the Christian Publishing Association be considered the president, secretary, and treasurer of the board of trustees, and the trustees assumed all the responsibilities of the executive committee incurred since the last meet- ing of the trustees. The present building of the Christian Publishing Association was erected in 1871 and 1872, and on the 4th of December, 1872, authority was given to paint in large letters the words, "Christian Publishing House," on the building. The board of trustees met for the first time in their new publishing house on January 2, 1873. A resolution was adopted June 21, 1872, to the effect that a large and fine engraving of the new publishing house be made and circulated, with
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certificates of donation or stock, and the following four sentiments of the Christians:
1. The Bible, our only creed.
2. Christian, our only name.
3. Christian character, our only test of fellowship.
4. Liberty of private interpretation in faith, and obedience to God.
One of these engravings was offered to each church or person that should pay one hundred dollars into the treasury of the Association, either as a donation or as a subscription to its stock, and each minister was requested to work to raise one hundred dollars in his church at as early a day as possible.
Rev. Frank Browning was chosen publishing agent Jannary 1, 1870; Rev. A. L. Mckinney, December 7, 1870; Rev. W. A. Gross, December, 1871, and December, 1872; Rev. William Worley, December, 1873, 1874, and 1875; Rev. N. Summerbell, December, 1876 and 1877; Rev. T. M. MeWhinney, 1878, 1879, and 1880; Rev. C. W. Garroutto, December, 1881, 1882, and 1883; Rev. A. W. Coan, December, 1884, and Rev. Mills Harrod each year since that time.
The periodicals published by this house are as follows: Herald of Gospel Liberty, weekly; Sunday-School Herald, semi-monthly; Glad Tid- ings, semi-monthly; the Little Teacher, weekly, for children, with Sunday- school lessons; Bible-Class Quarterly; Intermediate Quarterly.
The Reformed Publishing Company was organized carly in 1882, by the election of the Rev. Edward Herbruck and the Rev. M. Doncks as editors of the Christian World and the other publications of the company, and having associated with them John Blum as foreman of the printing establishment. The object of the firm was to buy printing-presses and material with which to print the Christian World and the Sunday-school papers, and to do such job printing as they might secure. The very best type that could be obtained was purchased both for the papers and the job department. A room was seenred in the Brooks & Kemper building, which was already fitted up with shafting and pulleys ready to attach machinery. At first but three compositors were employed, sufli- cient to set the type on the Christian World, and more were employed as they were needed.
In the summer of 1884, it became necessary to seek larger quarters, and to add new machinery, in order to keep up with the demands on the printing office. The rooms now occupied are at Number 131 South Jefferson Street. flere five rooms are in use, the floor surface being 5,400 square feet.
The following periodicals are published by this company: The
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Christian World, Leaves of Light, Golden Words, Little Pearls, Heidelberg Teacher, Scholars' Quarterly, and Lesson Papers.
In the foregoing pages, it has not been attempted to notice every manufacturer in the city, or to present a detailed history of even those who are mentioned, since to succeed in such an attempt would have been im- practicable. The number of manufacturing establishments is far too great for that. According to the report of the president of the board of trade for 1888, there were then more than seven hundred manufacturing establish- ments of all kinds, doing an annual business of over twenty million dollars. Reference to the preceding pages will show that in almost every case, . cach establishment, no matter to what proportions it may have grown, commenced in a small way, with few hands, or perhaps none except those of the proprietor, and with but very limited capital. Many of these establishments have now grown to mammoth proportions, and in almost all cases, if not in every one, the manufactured products of Dayton firms are held in very high estimation wherever they may be found, whether in the United States, Europe, South America, or Australia, or any other part of the civilized world. Besides the large number of manufacturing establishments, and the high grade of goods made, the next most notable feature of this class of the industrial interests of the city, is the great variety of articles manufactured, the result of all being the bringing to Dayton of a large number of the best grade of manufacturers and artisans of all kinds. And it is also worthy of note that in most instances these manufacturers and artisans own the homes in which they live, the pro- portion of those thus owning homes being much greater than is usually the case in cities of the size of Dayton. This fact is due in part also, it may be proper to state, to the existence of so many and so well managed building associations, a history of which may be found in other pages of this volume.
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CHAPTER XIX.
The Bench and Bir of Dayton-Early Legislation E tablishing Courts -- First Courts Held in Dayton -- Jurisdiction -- English Common Law-Roman Civil Law-Barly American . and English Lawyers-Common Pleas Court-Judges-Superior Court-Judges-Per- sonnet of the Dayton Bar, Etc.
N the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed an act, anthorizing the people of the eastern part of the Northwest Territory to form a State government, preparatory to the admission of Ohio into the Union.
A convention assentbled at Chillicothe, on the first of November following, to frame a State constitution, which was adopted on the 29th of the same month, and on the 19th of, February, 1802, Congress passed an act, admitting Ohio as a State into the Federal Union.
The first legislature which assembled under the new State govern- ment, passed an act on the 15th of April, 1803, organizing the judicial courts of the State.
By the sixth section of that act, the State was divided into three judicial circuits, the first comprising the counties of Hamilton, Butler, Montgomery, Green. Warren, and Clermont.
A president judge of the court of common pleas was required to be appointed in each circuit, who, together with three associate judges (not necessarily lawyers), constituted the courts of common pleas of the respective counties.
By an act of the legislature, passed on the 24th of March, 1803, the - county of Montgomery was established, and its boundaries prescribed. It then comprised all the territory north of the line of Butter and Warren counties, as far as to the State line, and west to its western boundary; and included the present counties of Preble, Darke, Mereer, Allen, Van Wert, Paulding, Williams, Fulton, Henry, Defiance, Putnam, Auglaize, Shelby, and Miami.
The sixth section of that act provided that, " until permanent seats of justice should be fixed, in the several new counties, by commissioners appointed for that purpose, the temporary seat of justice, and the courts, should be held in the county of Montgomery, at the house of George Newcom, in the town of Dayton."
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Leo. W.Howk
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THE BENCH AND BAR.
The time fixed by the statute for holding the court of common pleas in Montgomery County, was the fourth Tuesdays in March, July, and November; and that fixed for holding the supreme court, was the third Tuesday of October, thus establishing and perpetuating among us the custom of "court terms," which still generally prevails, and which originated centuries before in England, under widely different conditions, when the sovereign himself, with a retinne, passed from county to county to dispense justice to his subjects. This persistent survival of institu- tions, long after the conditions in which they had their origin seem almost entirely obliterated, is one of the most suggestive phenomena of civilization.
March having passed, the first court for Montgomery County was held on the 27th of July, 1803, in the upper room of George Newcom's tavern, in the house still standing at the southwest corner of Main Street and Monument Avenue, in the city of Dayton.
It is a bowed log house of quite ample dimensions, and has long since had its rude frontier-looking surface concealed and preserved under successive coats of painted weather-boarding. It is the last well preserved relie of the first settlement of Dayton, and the only one connected with the origin of the judicial history of Montgomery County.
Its unpretentious shelter and hospitalities were enjoyed in those early times by the rugged pioneers, who came, in the face of dangers and privations of which we can now have but the faintest conception, to lay the foundations of this fair city, whose wonderful progress and splendid future they could not have foreseen, even in dreams.
A patriotic inspiration has preserved the headquarters of Washing- ton, at Newburgh, New York, in the precise condition in which they were left by the commander-in-chief and his staff at the close of the Revolutionary War. It is the great attraction of the city; regarded with affectionate reverence for its rare historical associations and as an object lesson of deep significance. It. contrasts the simplicity and economy. of the early days of the Republic, when life was an heroic struggle for liberty and independence, with the luxurious ideas of modern times when the ruling passion seems to be the acquisition of wealth and its extrava- gant display. Would it not be the gratification of a worthy and noble sentiment for the people of this city and county to preserve this old land- mark of our early history with all its deeply interesting historical associations, especially as it is in the very shadow of the splendid monu- ment dedicated to the memory of the soldiers of Montgomery County, whose valor so largely contributed to the preservation of the blessings of constitutional government? It would not be difficult to secure the neces- 33
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