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 23
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Harvey J. King has for several years engaged in various kinds of art work. His paintings are mostly of still life-animals, birds, game, etc. Recently, however, he has been giving his attention more to the decoration of the interiors of private residences and public buildings. His work is of a high order and in excellent taste.
One of the most effectual efforts in the way of developing a love for art that was ever made in Dayton, was in 1880, when a few ladies, deeply interested in such work, organized a Decorative Art Society. . Mrs. O. M. Gottschall was president of the society; Miss Mary Forrer, vice-president; Mrs. Martha Perrine, treasurer; Mrs. J. B. Thresher, recording seere- tary, and Miss Carrie Brown, corresponding secretary. Teachers were employed in different branches of art, and classes formed. . In September of the same year they secured the services of Professor Broome, of New Jersey, a man of rare versatility as a teacher. An old-fashioned, com- modious residence with extensive grounds was leased, and large classes pursued their studies in china painting, modeling in clay, light and shade, and composition both in water and oil colors. Professor Broome was a practical potter, and the society furnished him with the kilns-one under-glaze and one over-glaze -- and also all the appliances and materials for making china-ware for decorating. This "art-ware" made by Pro- fessor Broome was called "Miami pottery," and is a semi-transparent body, with a beautiful hard glaze, unsurpassed by any ware made in. the West. Many fine specimens of it are in the homes of Dayton people, handsomely decorated by modeled work in relief, or artistically painted by the ladies who were pupils in the Decorative Art Society's classes. For two years Professor Broome gave excellent service to the society, but was induced to go into the pottery business on a larger seale, and there- fore severed his connection with the Decorative Art Society. He took from them the lease of the property they held and converted it into a pottery for commercial ware. For one year after Mr. Broome retired the society had classes, conducted by Miss Rebecca Rogers, in the Cooper Academy, after which they made no further effort in that line. A well-
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directed enthusiasm on the part of a few of the members has sustained the society through nine years, a small number meeting regularly to work together, and they have kept up an interest in art work. Several of the members have kilns for firing china at their homes and are very successful in their firing. While the Decorative Art Society did not continue long in the brilliant career of the first few years of its life, yet it is conceded that by the efforts of the society an impetus was given to the love and study of art, and a great improvement was made in the manner of studying, so that great good was accomplished for Dayton through its existence.
For several years the officers of the society have been: Miss Carrie Brown, president; Mrs. O. M. Gottschall, vice-president; Mrs. D. A. Houk, treasurer; Mrs. W. F. Gebhart, recording secretary.
The earliest architecture of the city was in keeping with the pioneer character of the times. The log cabin, constructed of hewn logs,-barely sufficient to afford partial shelter to the hardy settler,-was the prevailing type. A specimen still exists in the first "courthouse" of Dayton-a two-story log cabin, standing on the southwest corner of Main Street and Monument Avenue. It has been covered with weather-boarding, and few would now suspect that it is the oldest house in the city.
It was not many years after the first settlement before substantially built houses began to be erected. The accumulation of wealth and the development of the resources of the community, prepared the way, in time, for the building of good houses for the many, and of what may properly be called mansions for some of the leading citizens, together with a number of notable public buildings.
Among these older buildings still standing, may be mentioned the residences of R. W. Steele, J. D. Phillips, Valentine Winters, Harvey Conover, T. S. Babbitt, and George W. Shaw; and the following public buildings: the old jail ( now the city workhouse), the old courthouse, Cooper Female Seminary, the Second and Fourth District schoolhouses, and the Phillips House.
The old courthouse, on the corner of Main and Third streets, deserves special mention. Its architect was Henry Daniels, then of Cincinnati, and its superintending architect was Daniel Waymire, of this city. It was completed in 1850. An exceptionally fine reproduction of Grecian architecture, it was at the time of its ercetion the finest building in the State, and is still regarded as one of the notable buildings of the city.
Among the early architects was Daniel Waymire, the superintending architect of the courthouse. For many years previous to 1861, when he
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was engaged to superintend work elsewhere, he was the most prominent architect in the city. The Phillips House, the residence of Valentine Winters, the Park Presbyterian Church, and many other prominent. buildings of his time were the products of his design.
Joseph Peters, who came to Dayton in 1844, and is still engaged in the construction of buildings, was his successor. Ile superintended the erection of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, the First Presby- terian Church, the Third Street Presbyterian Church ( all designed by non-resident architects ), and designed and built Christ Episcopal Church, Memorial Presbyterian Church, and the spires of two German Lutheran churches.
The recent architecture presents the attractions of the more elaborate designs which are now so extensively used in all parts of the country. Attractive buildings are not confined to a single portion of the city, but may be seen here and there in almost every quarter. Elegant private residences are muerous, and old business houses and public buildings are giving place to new and well-planned blocks, which are ornaments to the city.
Among the prominent public buildings of recent, or comparatively recent construction, may be mentioned: The new courthouse, the county jail, the Public Library, the Young Men's Christian Association Building, Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, Third Street Presbyterian Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Kuhns Building, Jefferson Block, Fourth National Bank Building, Firemen's Insurance Building, Eaker Block, Callahan Building, Pruden Block, Barney Building, Lafce Building, Odd Fellows' Temple, Simms Block, Huffman Block, Hollencamp Block, Central Block, Ware Block, Dover Block, St. Ehzabeth Hospital, Seventh, Ninth, Eleventh, and Twelfth District school buildings, and Main Street Engine House.
Leon Beaver was a prominent architect for about twenty years, and removed from the city only a few years ago. His principal buildings are: The new courthouse, Callahan Building, D. L Rike & Company Building, Legler, Barlow & Company Building, Pruden Block, Ninth District School, residence of C. L. Hawes, residence of Edward Cauby, Em- manuel Catholic Church, and the St. Elizabeth Hospital.
Luther Peters, the son of Joseph Peters, began his work in Dayton about 1870. In 1879, he became associated with Silas R Burns, the present firm being Peters & Burns, who are the architects of the fol- lowing buildings: Dayton Public Library, Firemen's Insurance Build- ing, Fourth National Bank Building, Kuhus Building, Barney Block, Jefferson Block, Twelfth District, Seventh District, Dayton View, and
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Browntown schoolhouse, Linden Avenue Baptist Church, St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, Central Baptist Church, Church of Christ ( now being erected), engine houses, and other buildings in the city, Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio, and numerous buildings in other parts of the country. For some years they have been the architects of the Central Brauch of the National Soldiers' Home, and more recently of the Pacific Branch, California, and the Marion, Indiana, Branch.
Charles I. Williams began business in Dayton in 1880. In 1888, the present firm of Williams, Otter & Dexter was formed. Mr. Williams' principal buildings are: The Young Men's Christian Association Build- ing, Sacred Heart Church, Hollencamp Block, Simms Block, United Brethren Publishing House (new building ), and the residences of R. L. Cummins, J. P. Wolf, W. H. Simms, C. G. Stoddard, J. Lane Reed, II. V. Lytle, I. L. Baker, and Howard Friend.
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CHAPTER XXII.
The Press --- Farly Newspapers-The Repertory-Ohio Centine !- Ohio Republican-Ohio Watch- mm-The Gridiron-Other Early Papers- Daily Journal-Log Cabin- Daily Transcript - Daily City Hem-Gazelle- Democrat- Volkszeitung -- Daily Herald-Monitor-Religious Telescope-German Telescope-Other Religious Papers.
THE first newspaper published in Dayton was by Noah Crane, formerly T' from Lebanon, Obio, who began its publication in July, 1806. After issuing a few numbers, however, he abandoned the enterprise on account of being attacked with chills and fever, and returned to Lebanon with his press and type. No copies of his paper have been preserved, so far as is known.
The next paper published in this place was the Repertory, num- ber one of which appeared September 18, 1808. It was a two-column folio, 8x12 inches in size, and was published by William MeClure and George Smith. . Their office was on Main Street. The number of the paper mentioned contained an extract from Canning's great speech on American affairs and an account of the accession of Joseph Bonaparte to the throne of Spain, the latter bearing the date June 17th. With number five, issued October 21, 1808, the paper was suspended until February 1, 1809, when it re-appeared enlarged to a four-column folio, 12x20 inches in size, and with Henry Disbrow and William McClure as editors and proprietors. Notice was given that all letters addressed to the editors must be postpaid, or they would not be attended to. News items from foreign countries were four or five months old, and two enterprising merchants of the place advertised a stock of goods received from Pitts- burg and Philadelphia the fall before.
The paper was discontinued about January 1, 1810, which left the community without a paper until May 3, 1810, when the first number of the Ohio Centinel appeared, published by Isaac G. Burnet, "on a sheet of royal size," 11x19 inches in size, and a four-column folio. The subserip- tion price was two dollars per year if paid in advance, or two dollars and fifty cents at the end of the year, and produce of ahnost all kinds was taken in payment at the market price. The motto of the paper was " With slight shades of difference, we have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles." The paper had a wide, if not large, circulation throughout the sparsely settled Northwest, as far as Detroit and Chicago,
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and contained official announcements and legal notices for all that terri- tory. Politically the paper was devoted to " Republican principles," and gave a variety of information on all kinds of subjects in which its readers were interested. During the war of 1812-1813 its patrons were kept thoroughly advised as to events transpiring in the North and East until May 13th, when, most of the men of the community being in the army, or in some other way connected with the war, and the women being fully occupied in the cultivation of the fields and the care of the family, the paper ceased to exist from want of patronage.
The Ohio Republican followed the Ohio Centinel, the first number appearing October 3, 1814. It was published by Isaac G. Burnet and James Lodge. The paper was similar in style and appear- ance to its predecessor, the same type and press being used in its publication. The subscription price was two dollars per annum if paid ยท in advance, two dollars and fifty cents if paid within the year, and three dollars if paid at the end of the year. Its motto was: " Willing to praise, but not afraid to blame." It was devoted mostly to literature and foreign news, home news at that early day not being deemed of sufficient importance or interest to find a place in the columns of the papers. A month after the paper's first appearance, Mr. Burnet, having been elected to the legislature, sold his interest in it to his partner, Mr. Lodge, who conducted it until October 9, 1816, when he was obliged to discontinue its publication because his subscribers did not pay for their paper, two-thirds . of the subscription list yielding him nothing. The people had not at that time been disciplined into paying for a newspaper in advance, the only method according to which a newspaper can be certain of success.
The Ohio Republican was succeeded by the Ohio Watchman, the first number of which appeared November 27, 1816. Robert J. Skinner was the publisher, he having purchased the materials and "good will" of the Republican. At first the Watchman was published every Wednesday, at the old stand of Burnet & Lodge. Its motto was, "Truth, equality, and literary knowledge are the three grand pillars of republican liberty." On the fifth of June, 1817, the motto was changed to " A free press is the palladium of liberty." At first the paper was a four-column folio, and its subscription price was two dollars per year in advance, two dollars and fifty cents at the end of six months, and three dollars at the end of . the year. Upon starting the paper the editor announced that he intended to conduet it on genuine Republican principles; that he was partial to the administration then in power, but that he did not intend to permit party prejudice to blind his eyes, or to make his ears deaf to the prin- ciples of truth. The date of publication was changed to Thursday, on
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January 30, 1817, and on the 9th of April, 1818, it was enlarged to a five-column folio, 12x20 inches in'size of page .. Its political principles were "genuine Republicanism," a phrase which probably meant some- thing quite different from what the same phrase would mean at the present day. On December 25, 1820, the name of the paper was changed to that of the Dayton Watchman and Farmers and Mechanics' Journal. It was published by George S. Houston and R. J. Skinner. The office of publication was on Main Street, a few doors south of David Reed's tavern. The following articles were taken in payment for subscription to the paper: Flour, whisky, good bay, wood, wheat, rye, corn, oats, sugar, tallow, beeswax, honey, butter, chickens, eggs, wool, flax, country linen, and clean linen and cotton rags. On August 6, 1822, R. J. Skimmer retired from the firm, and the publication of the paper was continued by George S. Houston & Company. In the winter following, A. T. Hays became one of the proprietors, and on January 15, 1826, George S. Ilouston sold his interest to A. T. Hays and E. Lindsley, who continued its publication until November 21, 1826, when it was discontinued. In April, 1823, the letter in the title was changed from Old English to script, and in the following September, this gave way to Gothic. On the 16th of March, 1824, the motto of the paper was cularged by the addition of "Democracy, literature, agriculture, manufactories, and inter- nal improvements, the pillars of our independence." At the time when Messrs. Hays & Lindsley commenced its publication they announced their intention to follow the same Democratic course that had been so successfully followed by Mr. Houston for the preceding four years; that they were opposed to " mending" the Constitution, and that they were in favor of the tariff of 1824.
The prospectus of the Gridiron was first published September 10, 1822. Its motto was announced to be
burn, roast meat, burn, Boil with oily fat, ye spits forget to turn."
It was to be neatly printed on good, medium paper in octavo form. The subscription price was to be one dollar per year, payable one-half yearly in advance. The Gridiron was to be devoted to the best purposes, and the publisher, in order to assure the people that he was in carnest, pledged his honor, liberty, and his life, if necessary, to its success.
John Anderson was the editor of the Gridiron, and published it for the purpose of correcting such abuses as he might see in society. He carried out his motto as literally as possible for nearly eighteen months, by " roasting " people who did not live up to his views of right and wrong; but as it could hardly be expected that those who were scored in the
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columns of the Gridiron would continue to take the paper, and as there seemed a great many people who were more or less faulty in their lives, the paper failed to be sustained by publie sentiment. T. B. Reed was one of the contributors to the Gridiron.
The Miami Republican and Dayton Advertiser made its appearance September 2, 1823. Judge George B. Holt was the editor and publisher. The paper was a weekly Democratic one, 11x21 inches in size, and was continued until September 7, 1826.
On the 10th of April, 1826, the announcement was made by Willian! Campbell that he had purchased the establishments of the Dayton Watch- man and the Miami Republican, and that he proposed to consolidate the two papers and publish them as one, the publication to commence as soon in the following fall as he could make arrangements to leave the farm, upon which he then resided in Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania. The paper was to be a weekly issue, and to bear the name of The Olo National Journal and Montgomery and Dayton Advertiser. In accordance with this announcement, the first number of the paper appeared November 25, 1826, and was continued by Mr. Campbell one month, when he sold it to Jeptha Reguns. It was a paper 13x20 inches in size, five columns to the page, and its motto was, " Principles and not men where principles demand the sacrifice." In politics, the Journal was Whig. On December 4, 1827, Mr. Regans sold a one-half interest in the paper to Peter P. Lowe, and they two continued to publish it until January 15, 1828. On the same day that Mr. Regans took in Mr. Lowe as a partner, the name of the paper was cut down to simply The Dayton Journal and Advertiser. On December 2, 1828, John W. Van Cleve purchased a one-half interest in the paper, and from that time on until the death of Mr. Regans, the name of the firm was Regans & Van Cleve. Mr. Van Cleve then continued the publication of the paper alone until October, 1830, when Richard N. Comly bought the interest of the Regans estate in the establishment, and the firm became Van Cleve & Comly. This firm lasted until July 15, 1834, when Mr. Van Cleve sold his interest to William F. Comly, and the Journal was then enlarged to be the largest paper published in Ohio. It was made a seven-column folio, and the place of publication was removed in July, 1835, to the third story of Samuel Steele's new building, on the east side of Main Street. The firm name was changed to R. N. & W: F. Comly, and this firm struggled on for years with the single purpose of giving to Montgomery County the best paper that it was possible to make. In their commendable efforts they met with the success which they deserved, and were themselves well satisfied with their encouragement, and were looking forward to
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reaping the reward of their labors, when, on the evening of May 5, 1863, their entire outfit was destroyed by a mob, on account of the arrest of Hon. C. L. Vallandigham, under the order of General Burnside, who was then in command of this military department.
On the 16th of December, 1840, the first number of the Daily Journal was published by R. N. & W. F. Comly. The paper was a four-column folio, and was started as an enterprise. It was changed to a tri-weekly six months afterward, and continued as such until May 6, 1847, when the Daily Journal again appeared as Number 1, Volume I. The Daily Journal has been continued ever since, in connection with the weekly. In 1857, R. N. Comly withdrew from the paper, and John P. Comly became a member of the firm, which so continued until April, 1862, when, on account of the appointment of W. F. Comly as postmaster of Dayton, in 1861, the paper was sold to Lewis Marot and William H. Rouzer, the latter gentlemen giving their notes in payment for the paper. After the destruction of the office as mentioned above, W. D. Bickbam took charge of the paper, and for some weeks issued a small daily, until it was possible to refurnish the office with presses and other necessary material, and this refurnishing took considerable time, as new printing presses were in great demand at that particular juncture. Mr. Bickbam commenced his work here on May 11, 1863, and on July 28th following, issued the first number of the paper, which was of the usual size. This was a seven-column folio. Mr. Biekham has continued to conduct it ever since, and has made for the Dayton Journal a national reputation. Mr. Comly, since retiring from the post-office, has been continuously the associate editor of the paper; Captain Ashley Brown has been the tele- graph editor since the spring of 1882; and John P. Pflaum, who learned his trade as a printer with the Comlys, has been foreman of the newsroom since 1863. The Journal has never given out any uncertain tone as to its polities. It has never gone off' after false gods or false prophets, but has always been a staunch Republican paper, and has wielded great influ- ence in the counsels of the party, because of its steadfastness. It probably did more to secure the nomination of R. B. Hayes to the presidency, in 1876, than did any other one influence or power connected with the Cincinnati convention,' or than 'any other paper in the State. The Journal is the only paper in Dayton using the associated press dispatches, and thus has great advantage over its local contemporaries, and, though a sceular publication, always strikes the key-note of sound religion and correct morals.
The Log Cabin was a four-column folio newspaper published during the presidential campaign of 1840. The first number appeared March 21,
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1840. It was embellished with the picture of a log cabin with its chimney of logs and sticks, extending just to the ridge of the roof, and built, as was the custom then, on the outside of the house at one end. In front of the house was a cider barrel on one side of the door. The paper con- tained a description of the method of building a log cabin, taken from " Doddridge's Notes on Virginia," "An Invitation to the Log Cabin Boys to Old Tippecanoe's Raisin'," etc., etc. The border of each page was a frame of logs, as they would appear to a person looking down from a height directly over the cabin as it was in the process of erection. Number two appeared April 18th, number three May 5th, etc. This paper contained much valuable statistical as well as general information, and carried the mottos, "One presidential term" and " Fair prices of labor and protection to domestic manufactures." " The subscription price was twenty-five cents for the campaign.
As it may not be generally known what gave rise to the Log Cabin and hard cider feature of the campaign of 1840, it is not deemed inap- propriate to introduce in this connection a brief statement of its origin. It was said contemptuously of General W. H. Harrison by a certain newspaper correspondent, that if the General could have a barrel of hard cider as a companion he could sit contentedly in a log cabin the remainder of his days. This was previous to the presidential nomination, and was intended to cast opprobrium on one of the leading candidates for that nomination, and thus what was intended to cast a slur or a reproach upon him, was taken up by his friends and converted into an antidote to the correspondent's poison by being made a party watchword or shibboleth and used in such an effective manner as to elevate the man to the presi- deney whom it was sought to degrade.
The Dayton Daily Transcript was established in January, 1841, by George C. McCuen and John Wilson. It was a semi-weekly paper, 11x17 inches in size. At the expiration of about eighteen months it was suspended for want of support. In October, 1842, the firm of MeCuen & Wilson was dissolved, the interest of McCuen being purchased by J. Milton Sanders, who continued to edit the Transcript, revived, until October 4, 1843, when he retired. The paper was then enlarged to 12x19 inches in size, and was published for six weeks by E. Marot & Company, the firm being composed of E. Marot and John Wilson. Subsequently Mr. Marot retired from the firm, and Mr. Wilson continued the publica- tion of the paper until July, 1845.
Up to the opening of the political campaign of 1844, the Transcript had been neutral in politics, but at that time it espoused the cause of the Whigs, and was published under the name of the Dayton Transcript
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