USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 17
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About six years after the completion of this crude building, the Baltimore society had grown so large numerically that the first church, which at its best (and the best of those days was poor, as compared to present-day ideals), was most illy adapted to the needs of a growing congregation- was too small to hold the people who as- sembled from time to time to hear the Gospel of Christ proclaimed from the sa- cred desk. A meeting of the membership voiced the sentiment that Baltimore needed a new church. Difficulties were in the way;
finances were low; the class record con- tained no long list of names, as it does to- day, so that the few must bear the burden of expense.
There were heroes in those days, how- ever, as there are today, and with the in- domitable will which the sturdy pioneer of those days possessed, actuated by the most holy of desires, our fathers and mothers formulated plans whereby God's name might be glorified and his cause ad- vanced by the erection of a temple suitable for the needs of his people. Not only did our parents give of their money, but they labored with their hands. Finances were at low ebb with most, but they gave of their little. Teams were offered that the small donations might not be dissipated by a use- less extravagance. The stone for the foundation and the lumber for the super- structure were carted most gladly by the membership that the class might not be un- duly involved in debt. They did not build hastily nor unsoundly, as their children and grandchildren can testify. Dedicating their second church in 1837, under the ministry of the Revs. C. W. Swain and W. T. Hand, our forefathers laid a foundation upon which we have builded characters which count largely in the civic and religious circle of our community.
In this structure God's presence has been manifested time and time again; God has been in his holy temple. Souls freed from sin's bondage and born into a new and higher life, have rejoiced "with a joy un- speakable and full of glory." Hearts that have hungered have had broken unto them the bread of life; sorrows have been soothed, burdens lifted, spiritual disease cleansed by the Good Shepherd, who so loved us that he sacrificed his life for us.
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In this church of our father's the child, a greater interest in the school, and its pres- as well as the adult has experienced the ent efficiency proves that their efforts have not been in vain. sacrament of baptism. Here we have con- secrated ourselves anew, as we have par- taken of His blood. Here hearts have been united in holy matrimony. Here we have taken our last view of loved ones who now await us beyond, and here penitential tears have fallen and shouts of praise and joy have been raised as the blessed Savior has whispered, "Son, Daughter, thy sins be for- given thee." Yes, the old building has been most sacred to us as individuals and as a community, and though we move to newer and better quarters, our hearts go back to the old home in most precious memories.
During the sixty-six years that elapsed since its erection, the old building has al- ways been kept in good repair and today, notwithstanding its removal from its old position to the site where it now stands, its timbers are as sound and well preserved as when first hewn from the tree. The splendid new structure into which we move
is our only apology for parting with that result of their work during the past two
which has been so intimately connected with the life and history of our organiza- tion.
The society now has a membership of over 278, with strong auxiliaries. Our membership has kept pace with the growth and development of the town and the pres- ent outlook holds out strong prospect of future success.
One of the most potent factors in our church life has been our Sunday school. During the years the membership has en- joyed a constant growth, the enrollment be- ing 175. Superintendent W. R. Osbourn, with his efficient corps of officers and teach- ers, have labored most earnestly to promote
The Epworth League is another factor in our church life. Call upon our young peo- ple for what you may, they will not fail you, and the very present hope that broader lines of living will soon be entered upon by our young people. Another strong ally of the church is the Dorcas Society. Many pleasures and comforts of the church had their origin in this society. The leaders of the Dorcas Society are appealed to on many occasions for the many incidental features which so greatly contribute to the comfort of the church. To this society we owe a great debt for their noble efforts in the raising of funds for the erection of our pres- ent structure. Closely related to the Dor- cas Society is the Junior Dorcas Society, which is composed of the young ladies and girls of our church. Too much cannot be said in their praise. Several hundred dol- lars have been raised and pledged as the years.
Baltimore charge, as it is now known, was formed in 1842, and has continued to exist, with some changes in the outlying ap- pointments as a circuit. Baltimore charge has two appointments-Baltimore and Basil. The following are the officers of the two churches (1911).
Baltimore: Trustees-J. W. Jones, C. A. Thomas, W. R. Osbourn, C. F. Miller, Frank Wiseman, A. T. Keller, S. S. Weist, J. C. Kumler.
Basil: Trustees-F. M. Paul, D. S. Cook, Ezra Smith, E. C. Outcalt, Amos Smith.
The following pastors have served the charge, with parsonage at Baltimore, Ohio:
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1842, Moses A. Milligan and Joseph Car- ter; 1843, James B. Gurley and P. P. In- galls; 1844, James B. Gurley and E. O. Bings; 1845, C. C. Lybrand; 1846, James Hopper; 1847, James Gilruth and B. Mark ; 1848, S. Harvey and R. Pitzer; 1849, S. Harvey and A. B. Lee ; 1850, A. B. Lee and David Lewis; 1851, B. Ellis and J. S. Adams; 1852, R. Doughty; 1853, R. Doughty and A. M. Alexander ; 1854, A. M. Alexander and Isaac Day; 1855, S. M. Bright and H. Gortner; 1856, S. M. Bright; 1857, Noah Speck and E. W. Kirkham; 1858, W. Z. Ross and B. Ellis ; 1859, W. Z. Ross and B. Ellis; 1860, A. Fleming and C. C. Lybrand; 1861, A. Fleming and C. C. Lybrand; 1862, J. Marten and N. Speck ; 1863, J. W. Young and N. Speck ; 1864, H. C. Firk and C. A. Philips; 1865, H. G. Fink; 1866, H. H. Ferris; 1867, William Beacham; 1868, H. L. Whitehead; 1869, S. C. Riker ; 1870, F. T. Lewis and T. C. Read ; 1871, F. T. Lewis ; 1872, J. W. Baker ; 1873, J: W. Baker and L. Brooks; 1874, J. W. Beery and W. Z. Filler; 1875, J. H. Beery ; 1876, J. H. Beery ; 1877, J. H. Beery ; 1878, L. F. Postle ; 1879, L. F. Postle ; 1880, E. H. Heagler ; 1881, E. H. Heagler ; 1882, W. H. Sayer; 1883, T. H. Hall; 1884, T. H. Hall; 1885, T. H. Hall; 1886, P. B. Davis; 1887, David Mann; 1889, G. W. Kling; 1890, G. W. Kling; 1891, L. B. Sparks; 1892, L. B. Sparks ; 1893, P. L. Mark ; 1894, P. L. Mark ; 1895, C. M. Prior; 1896, C. M. Prior; 1897, B. F. Jackson; 1898, B. F. Jackson; 1899, A. F. Hixson; 1900, A. F. Hixson; 1901, J. H. Westervelt, 1902, J. H. Westervelt ; 1903, J. H. Westervelt ; 1904; H. Pfaltzgraf ; 1905, C. H. Morrison; 1906, F. R. Crooks; 1907, F. R. Crooks; 1908, F. R. Crooks; 1909, G. E. Hughs; 1910, G. E. Hughs; 1911, G. E. Hughs; 1912, J. Palford.
United Brethren
Baltimore United Brethren Church .-- Steps were taken as early as 1893, toward organizing a United Brethren Church in Baltimore. Enos S. Miller, now among the redeemed in heaven, Prof. J. J. Wagner, C. M. Wagner were among the first to give the matter substantial consideration. In 1894 the Baptist church was leased for a term of fifteen years and an organization was effected. The following and others were charter members: Enos S. Miller, Rev. L. H. Montgomery, wife and daugh- ter, John Blauser and wife, Jacob Alt and C. M. Wagner.
The first Board of Trustees was com- posed of the following members: Enos S. Miller, J. J. Wagner, C. M. Wagner, E. B. Wagner, L. H. Montgomery, John Blauser and Jacob Alt.
The first class leader was Rev. L. H. Montgomery. John Blauser is the present leader.
The Sunday School was organized July 7, 1895 by the pastor, Rev. A. J. Wagner, with the following officers: C. M. Wagner, superintendent; E. C. Willison, assistant superintendent ; O. O. Thomen, secretary ; Elisha Ranch, treasurer; Bertha Born and Alice Snider, librarians ; Josephine Willison, organist.
The following have served as superin- tendents: C. M. Wagner, J. J. Wagner, I. M. Blauser, T. H. Kumler. The following pastors have served the church : A. J. Wag- ner, I. S. Snelling, J. M. Prickett, L. J. Hop- per, S. R. Shaw, J. S. Seaman ; present pas- tor, W. W. Rymer.
. The church leased from the Baptist was improved at considerable cost and dedicated by Bishop N. Castle. The property was
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finally bought and was in use until 1910, old brick building, now a residence, composed when the present splendid, modern, commo- dious edifice was built at a cost of $15,000, and dedicated June II, 1911, by Dr. W. R. Funk.
In this beautiful up-to-date church, an in- telligent congregation of loyal people gather weekly for worship. They have before them an encouraging future, and behind them is an illustrious record of the United a Brethren Church. Samuel Heistand,
former bishop of the denomination, lies buried at Bethel, two and one half miles dis- tant, and the remains of George Benedum, an honored minister of his day, rest in Lib- erty cemetery. But few churches have such beautiful historic associations.
BALTIMORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The village of Baltimore has had for the most part excellent schools. Good schools can only come from good teachers, and these schools have had a long line of distinguished superintendents and principals. Prof. J. C. Hartzler, for a quarter of a century the worthy superintendent of the Newark schools, was once at the head of Baltimore's school system. Prof. A. C. Bretz, the well known mathematician and surveyor; F. P. Schisler, the polished grammarian and fluent speaker ; E. C. Hedrick, the practiced teacher, and J. H. Horton, the faithful, quiet worker-all aided in bringing the schools to a high stand- ard.
Among these worthy teachers none stood higher than Prof. J. J. Wagner, who had charge of the schools for many years. A classical graduate of Otterbein University, a teacher by native inclination, he brought to his work an unusual amount of power. The editor of this history recalls the scenes-the strug- gles and triumphs-of a busy school, in the
of some of the strongest students who ever entered a schoolroom, among them being George Johnson, Charley C. Luckey, George Rader, Clarence Culp, Will Culp, Letitia Soliday, Livonia Jenkins, Arthur Thomen and Eli Wagner.
The center-the very heart of the work- was the enthusiasm of the teacher, Professor Wagner. The best books of the day werc used, and every subject presented was thor- oughly studied, from systems of reading to astronomy and trigonometry. Nor were the languages neglected-Latin and Greek and English composition. The writer recalls a class in "Paradise Lost" in which the analysis was as keen, the construction as accurate, and the whole treatment of that remarkable poem as scholarly and as thorough, as he has ever heard in college halls of today. Here was real love for the work-the very life of the school and the scholar-all inspired by the power of the teacher.
Teachers, 1908-09
High School-J. H. Horton, superintend- ent. Mrs. J. H. Horton, primary.
H. L. Kagay, grammar department. Nettie Kumler, intermediate department. Alice Holder, primary department.
Teachers, 1909-10
High School-C. W. Andrews, superin- tendent. H. L. Kagay, primary.
Nettie Kumler, grammar department. Leota Littlejohn, intermediate department. Alice Holder, primary department.
Teachers, 1910-II
High School-C. W. Andrews, superin- tendent. H. L. Kagay, principal. Carrie Miller, assistant principal.
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Nettie Kumler, grammar department. Leota Littlejohn, intermediate department. Alice Holder, primary department.
BALTIMORE SCHOOLS
PRINCIPALS BALTIMORE SCHOOLS
1857-W. H. Beachum.
1860-J. C. Hartzler.
1864-Wm. Noble.
1865-J. J. Wagner.
1867-E. F. Holland.
1869-J. J. Wagner.
1877-A. E. Bretz.
1879-J. J. Wagner.
1885-D. B. Kumler.
1888-W. T. Betz.
1889-F. P. Schisler.
1892-L. L. Wagner.
1895-J. J. Wagner.
1896-E. C. Hedrick.
1900-L. C. Kemp.
1901-J. H. Horton.
1909 to present-C. W. Andrews.
1905-1906-J. J. Wagner, Principal High School.
1892-1894-J. J. Wagner, Grammar Grade.
NOTE-From Professor Wagner, who was for so many years at the head of the Baltimore Public Schools :-
"If I am correct in the main, I have been at Baltimore more than one-fourth but less than one-third of the time since 1857. That covers the time since the erection of the first brick schoolhouse opposite News office."
GALAXY OF PROMISE Among My Pupils
Charles C. Miller, George V. Johnson, George Rader, Clarence M. Culp, William L. Culp, Charles C. Lucky, Perry W. Cook, Tillie Holmes, Edith L. Soliday, Lavona
Jenkins, Arthur A. Thomen, Elias B. Wag- ner. Among others of that period, yet not of that class, are A. J. Wagner, A. J. Weaver, Laura Rader, A. P. Rockey, Clark Rockey, and many, many others. About 75 of my fam- ily during that "Flood Tide" entered the pro- fession of teaching. That was during the days of no janitor, low prices and plenty of hard work. Received $14.25 per month (24 days from 8:00 A. M. to 4:00 P. M.) and paid my own board for my first school.
J. J. W.
BASIL
The village of Basil lies three-quarters of a mile west of Baltimore. At its naming, two names-Geneva and Basil-were sug- gested. The name Basil was agreed on by a majority of one vote, cast by the father of Henry Leonard (Sebastian). It was laid out in lots in 1825. Basil was incorpo- rated in 1905. E. J. Dilger, G. W. Kumler and J. M. Weaver have served as mayors. .
Lot Platting History of Basil
Original plat of Basil by Jacob Goss, proprietor in 1825, lots I to 40.
Later Goss addition to Basil, lots 41 to 64. Later Leonard Bros.' addition to Basil, lots 64 to 73.
In 1869 Mayne's addition to Basil, lots 74 to 147.
In 1870 Bowling's addition to Basil, lots 148 to 163.
In 1879 Mayne City was platted, lots I to II3.
In 1895 J. W. Emch platted Highland ad- dition, lots I to 10.
In 1899 John Bigerton platted addition to Basil, lots I to 8.
In 1903 G. W. Kumler platted Kumler
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place, a sub-division of lots in Mayne's ad- dition, lots 1 to 15.
In 1905 Geo. H. Leonard platted lots I to 15 and called it an addition to Basil.
Postal Service
Until 1857 the people of Basil and vicin- ity got all their mail at the Baltimore post office. About the year 1850, Henry Leon- ard (later known as "The Fisherman"), of the mercantile firm of Leonard Bros., doing -
The first road in Pleasant Township was- business in the old brick store on the cor- ner, and now occupied by the firm of J. M. Bowling & Co., at his own expense procured a mail pouch and employed a boy named Samuel Schaub-whom many of the older citizens recollect-to carry all mail back and forth between their store and Baltimore. This was quite an accommodation and many persons availed themselves of the oppor- tunity of getting their mail in this way. The boy was not overworked, as mail only came to the office in Baltimore three times a week. After a couple of years the Jolly Fisherman, in his enterprising way, decided to cheapen the service as well as add to its efficiency. A large Newfoundland dog was procured and fitted out with a pair of sad- dlebags as a receptacle for the mail. The same youth was given the job of instruct- ing the dog in his mail messenger duty. It was thought that after a few weeks of coaching the dog would be able to go it alone. But alas! "The plans of mice and men gang aft aglee." The dog was learn- ing rapidly and the boy was thinking that in a few days he could resume his fishing and swimming undisturbed. One day, as the two were making their way to Balti- more, when near the place where the tile mill now stands, whether for good luck or
bad, we know not which, a rabbit crossed the road in front of them. As the dog was larger than the boy, lie asked no permission but started post haste after the frightened bunny. Owing to the dog's load, he was not as swift as the rabbit and when he got near the canal he lost sight of the object of his pursuit. The dog, thinking, no doubt, that the rabbit had crossed the canal, swam after it. Not finding his prey on the oppo- site side, he swam back again. To use an expression now in vogue, the damage done to that mail "was a-plenty." The dog being likely to meet rabbits almost any day, the enterprise was abandoned and thereafter the boy trudged his weary way alone. Rev- G. H. Leonard, then a boy in his 'teens, was a mail messenger for several years.
In the year 1857 a petition asking the Post Office Department at Washington to establish a post office at Basil, Ohio, was gotten up and forwarded to the late Hon. C. D. Martin, then the member of Congress from this district. Through his influence the petition was granted and the office placed in the Leonard store with George Messerly (father of our citizen, J. L. Mes- serly) as postmaster. After remaining in the store for a number of years it was moved to the office and residence of Dr. W. F. Mayne, now occupied as a residence by E. E. Kumler. We are unable to give the dates of appointment and length of service of the different postmasters who handled the mail for the good people of Basil.
The next person who wrote P. M. after his name on all official documents was Dr. Shrader, who conducted the office in a small building that stood where the meat mar- ket of J. F. Finkbone now stands. His service extended to about the year 1863 when Mrs. Luke Pearce, the widow of a
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soldier, was appointed to the office by Pres- ingly. From 1893 to 1897, during the sec- ident Lincoln. ' The work was done by her ond Cleveland administration the honor was worn by Dr. L. E. Park, who conducted the business in the house now occupied by Mr. Elmer Weaver. On September 1, 1897, J. W. Buchanan, the present incumbent, took charge of the office, which for eleven years or more was located in the Paul drug store in the old Harner building. The drug store and post office were moved to the Kumler block, their present location, about October 1, 1908. two daughters in the building now occupied by the Bank of Basil. In 1868 J. H. Har- ner, then in partnership with his father, H. B. Harner, conducting a general mer- cantile business on the corner where J. M. Weaver's hardware store is now located, assumed the title of postmaster, conducting the business in the room adjoining on the south, with Henry May as chief clerk. This only lasted a year or two, when A. T. Ma- son, who was in the drug business, with Theophilus Stover, in the Danner building, now the general merchandise store of G. W. Kumler, became the one who stood the blame if expected mail did not arrive on time. Going out of business in June, 1871, the office went begging for a while, but was again placed in the old brick room on the corner under the guiding hand of J. M. Bowling. For a while it was in the hard- ware store of Weaver & Mauger, with Bowling still looking after its supervision.
About the year 1874 J. W. Chapman re- ceived his postmaster's commission and for eleven years licked stamps, handed out mail, and mended your boots and shoes, "while you wait," in a small building located where the Township House now stands. The of- fice becoming a political football, then changed hands at every different political administration until 1897.
During the first Cleveland administration, J. K. Henry, now a lawyer of Columbus, con- ducted the office in his drug store on the corner now occupied by the hardware store of J. M. Weaver. From 1889 to 1893, dur- ing the Harrison administration, F. M. Paul of the firm of Paul & Holland, successors to the firm of Driver & Henry, assumed the title of P. M. and governed himself accord-
A few words regarding the postal service in Basil. Like the service all over the coun- try it has kept pace with the demands of the people. Until the railroad was built in 1880, the mail was carried three times a week on horseback from Lancaster. It was what is known at the present time as a "star-route," leading from Lancaster to Dumontsville, Baltimore, Basil, Millersport and Hebron; in summer time returning the same day, in winter out one day and back the next. Monday, Wednesday and Friday were mail days. An ordinary-sized leather pouch held all the mail for the above-mentioned towns. One has only to look at the amount of mail coming to Basil five times a day to under- stand the growth of the postal service all over the country. J. W. Chapman was the first postmaster to install call boxes; they rented for five cents per quarter. In the year 1881 he also got the office rated as a money-order office. The first money order was purchased August 15, 1881, by John A. Laver. The amount was for $7.45 in favor of the Brooks Oil Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Orders 2, 3 and 4 were purchased by Roley & Co., payable at South Bend, Ind. They wished to send $130 and had to make it in three orders, $50 being the limit for a single order. Fees were as follows: from
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ȘI to $15, 10 cents; from $15 to $25, 15 activity. The village began to improve and in cents ; from $25 to $50, 25 cents.
Rural service from Basil was established in the year 1900. On July Ist of that year, John V. Good commenced to carry mail on Route No. I. Route No. 2 was established November Ist of the same year. Amos Smith was the carrier. He resigned in a short time and his place was taken by Chas. A. Smurr. Route No. 3, with James F. Dumond as carrier, was established May 15, 1905. Since the establishment of the office in 1857, burglars have entered the office three times. In 1878 the office was broken into and robbed of some pennies, nickels and stamps, in value about eight dollars. In 1884 it was again robbed of a considerable quantity of stamps, stamped paper and a small amount of money. It was supposed that the first robbery was com- mitted by home talent. The second was committed by an ex-convict, who was fin- ally apprehended and served four years in the penitentiary for the act. On the night of April 21, 1910, the office was again en- tered by experts, who blew the safe into atoms but secured nothing for their trouble. The postmaster, suspecting visitors, was prepared for them. Several parties were suspected but no arrests were made.
J. W. Buchanan.
DR. W. F. MAYNE AND RAILROAD IIISTORY
Dr. W. F. Mayne, who died in 1884, was a prominent, successful and wealthy physician. During the Civil War he purchased the Bib- ler farm, adjoining the village of Basil. In 1869 he platted a double tier of lots on the south and west sides of this farm-Lots 74 to 147-and called it an addition to Basil. This act woke up Basil from its sleepy condi- tion for more than a score of years to one of
1872 the citizens were very anxious to have a railroad, as the shipping facilities on the canal were on the wane. Dr. Mayne with others worked for a railroad and interested some Columbus capitalists to survey a line from Columbus through Basil, and the town- ship would vote $50,000 in bonds to help construct the railroad. An election was called to vote bonds in September, 1872. The bond issue proposition was defeated, not having a two-thirds vote, as the law then was, but had a majority vote.
The next year-1873-we had a money panic. On account of the general chaos noth- ing was done to get a railroad until after re- sumption of specie payment in 1879, when the Columbus and Sunday Creek Valley Rail- road Company surveyed a line on the Refugee road, four miles north of Basil to run to Mil- lersport, there to form a junction with the railroad to run north and south and already under construction. Then the big trio, Dr. W. F. Mayne, B. M. Pugh, a prominent grain dealer, and Solomon Bader, a prominent farmer, got busy and called on General Sam- uel Thomas, the president of the new pro- posed road to cut across farms and bring the railroad through Basil and Baltimore and from a junction at Bush's Corner (now Thurston). These three men, with others agreed to raise $10,000 and right of way through Liberty Township as a bonus. The proposition was accepted. Then came tlie hustling. The re- quired amount of money was raised and right of way secured. In April, 1879, grading of the road commenced and by January Ist, 1880, a passenger car passed over the road and money subscription was due.
December 2, 1879, Dr. Mayne platted a new town on the Bibler farm through which the railroad passed and called it Mayne City. lots
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running 1 to 113. For awhile it was thought that perhaps the business of Basil would drift to the new town on account of railroad facili- ties and the abandonment of the canal. When deeds of conveyance for lots in Mayne City are made, it is usually stated "In lot No. - in Mayne City within the corporation of Basil."
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