USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93
This camp meeting was a religious center and most wonderful revivals have been wit- nessed there. The influential and powerful preachers of the church have been heard there. Bishop Thoburn spoke there on many occa- sions, the first time in 1876. Bishops Taylor, McCabe, Leonard and Dr. C. H. Payne were often present. The camp meeting was run with variable success, sometimes heavily in debt, occasionally with a surplus. At last the question of open gates on Sunday came up and in 1895 the Ohio Conference turned it over to a Board of Trustees and it is under such a control now. There are 400 lots on the grounds which are leased every 14 years for from $15 to $40 according to location. The leasees own their cottages but not the grounds. Mr. J. M. Kennard was local manager for 20 years and upon his death he was succeeded by J. W. Bishop. Mr. W. M. Wikoff was busi- ness manager from 1899-1903.
The most famous men of the country have been heard from the platform at the Lancas- ter Camp Ground during the assembly which has been conducted for the last 15 years- Bryan, Mckinley, Dolliver, Champ Clark, Gunsaulus, Sam Jones, Sam Small, Geo. R. Stuart, Bishops Fowler and Taylor.
The present Board of Trustees is : Religious Superintendent, Dr. Herbert Scott; Board of Trustees-Rev. Swinehart, Athens; Rev. J. W. Mongey, Waverly; H. G. Trout, Lancas- ter : E. C. Dilger, Carroll: A. B. Vereblome, Circleville: Dr. Blem Vales, Circleville ; Dr. J. F. Grinels, Columbus; Rev. T. E. White. Columbus : Rev. J. H. Fry, Columbus ; F. W. Dunlap, Circleville: E. J. Chenowith, Colum- bus; R. M. Fontaine, Somerset ; J. W. Weller ; W. H. Radebaugh, Lancaster ; W. H. Lanning, Logan. The business manager is J. W. Bishop of Carroll.
Rev. George H. Leonard, D. D., pastor of
330 .
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Trinity Reformed church, Basil, Ohio, was born in Basil, Ohio, Sept. 20, 1837. He at- tended the public schools until about twelve years of age, and then became a student at Heidelberg Academy, at Tarlton, Ohio, then under the charge of Rev. S. S. Rickley. When sixteen years of age he entered Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio, and completed the class- ical course in 1859, and two years later gradu- ated from the Theological Seminary. He was pastor of the Highland Charge for more than three years, and began serving the Basil Charge on January 15, 1865, continuing as pastor until January 1, 1894. During his pas- torate in the Basil charge, 367 persons were received into membership in the two congre- gations. In 1894 he retired from the active ministry and spent the remainder of his days in well-earned rest and quiet reflection at the beautiful old homestead in Basil.
Rev. George H. Leonard was the son of Rev. Henry Leonard, known far and wide as "The Fisherman." The young man had been carefully trained and educated for his life work. No man ever entered upon his task with greater zeal and fervor, and for almost thirty years he faithfully served his people and the entire community. He baptized their chil- dren, married their young people and buried their dead. But this was not all ; he taught the beauty of Christian character and the strength of truth by word and example. Alive to the questions of the day, he called distinguished men to his pulpit to discuss questions of history and present-day problems. The Editor has a most distinct recollection of hearing, when a lad of fourteen, the Chaplain of the Ohio Peni- tentiary lecture in Rev. Leonard's church upon the beautiful character of Esther. The scene described by the eloquent speaker, when the carriers, mounted upon horses shod with sil- ver shoes, hastened away to the ends of the
kingdom; when Mordecai was vindicated and Haaman hung-will never be forgotten. The lecture was the first the lad had heard and it influenced to a certain extent the current of his life. Thus did Rev. Leonard extend the bless- ings of his pure Christian life and his untir- ing labors to others. He lived for those whom he served and died full of honors and with the benediction of his fellow men.
T. C. O'KANE
Tullins Clinton O'Kane was born at Pickerington, Fairfield County, Ohio, March 10, 1830, and died at his home in Delaware, Ohio, where he sang himself into the lives of those with whom he came in contact. He was not only a singer but a song writer of note. Few men of his gen- eration so touched with music the un- counted multitudes as did Prof. T. C. O'Kane. Wherever his inspiring hymns have been sung, there are those who grieve at his death. Wider than his native land, wider than Methodism, has been the range of his influence. Thousands who never heard his name and who will never know it till they greet him on the other shore, are nearer the Great Master whom he served, because of the music that he wrote and sang. A great multitude are indebted to him for a deeper sympathy and a larger hope, awakened by his inspiring song. T. C. O'Kane belonged to a class of singers and composers who had the honor of revolution- izing Sabbath School Music and his publica- tions found their way into more than one hundred languages and dialects. Some of his best known songs are: "Home over There," "Gathering One by One," "Behold a Stranger at the Door." "Hold the Light up Higher," "We'll not Give up the Bible," "Jesus the Rock of Ages," "Sweet Resting
331
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
By and Bye." At his funeral, a quartet sang his two most noted songs-"Home over There" and "Gathering One by One." Prof. O'Kane for many years had a book store in Delaware. He left two sons, Ed- ward, who lives at Delaware; and William, of Springfield. Mr. Henry O'Kane of Col- umbus is a brother of T. C. O'Kane.
Sixth Avenue M. E. Church .- The be- ginning of the Sixth Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was a Sunday-school started by Mr. J. D. La Ross, which first met in C. P. Cole glass factory in 1895. Mr. La Ross was first superintendent. The
church was organized Oct. 24, 1901. The building was erected on the west side of Garfield Ave. and Sixth Ave. The first pastor, the Rev. L. B. Bradrich, was ap- pointed in September, 1901. The church was dedicated May 17, 1903. The pastors have been : L. B. Bradrick, 1901-1905; W. H. Mitchell, Jr., 1905-1907; Andrew Plumb, 1907-1909; H. F. Deweese and R. A. Blair, 1909-1910; Pascal A. Bright, 1910. The church has about 250 members.
The Church of Christ, pastor 1912, Rev. E. J. Willis.
-
CHAPTER XIV
EDUCATION
The Lancaster Public Schools-The Old Greenfield Academy-Fairfield Union Academy- Crawfis Institute-Boys' Industrial School-John C. Hite-Township and Village Teach- ers of Fairfield County-Boxwell-Patterson Graduates-Then and Now (Log and Red Schoolhouse Times)-The Old Spelling School-Enoch Berry Seits-Geo. W. Welsh- IV. C. Brashares-Lancaster Literary Society-Historians of Fairfield County.
THE LANCASTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Lancaster has always been a town of the conservative type. New ideas are usually adopted hiere either after their usefulness has been demonstrated in other places or thie de- mand for them thoroughly established by an expression of her own people. Advancement ineducational lines has been therefore slow. A school system has evolved and is still in pro- cess of evolution.
Eighteen years before the opening of a pub- lic school in Lancaster, Miss Flora Buttler, afterwards Mrs. King, opened a school to meet the demands which were at that early time be- ing given expression. She and many others conducted successful private schools until the public schools were opened in 1830. Even af- ter that time private institutions were success- ful here because of the limited opportunities offered in the public schools. John and Will- iamı Tecumseh Sherman were educated in Howe's Academy. This fact and that of the education of many others caused a public de- mand for greater efficiency in the public
schools. This perpetual dissatisfaction coupled with a determination to prove all things before their adoption is the character- istic most noticeable in the evolution of Lan- caster institutions. With this in mind one can understand the very slow, but steady and permanent advancement of a system of schools which even today is a little behind others, but proud in the secure possession of all the best things of the past decades and making preparation to harvest for future use those that are now ripening.
In 1830 Samuel Carpenter, George Sander- son and Henry Dooble were elected the first school trustees of Lancaster. They employed William Charles at a yearly salary of $120 and Louis A. Blaire at a salary of $80 to take charge of two schools, which, until 1838, seem to have been the only educational provision for a growing population of about 3,000 peo- ple. In that year and at later dates facilities were enlarged and improved until in the year 1848 the citizens led by H. C. Whitman, W. Slade, Rev. Wmn. Cox, P. Bope and others se- cured in the state legislature the passage of
332
33
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
"an act for the support and better regulation of the schools in the town of Lancaster, Ohio."
As a result of this act an eight-room build- ing at the corner of Broad and Mulberry streets was completed in 1849 and John S. Whitwell employed at a salary of $600 to act as superintendent. According to the terms of the law the "benefits and burdens" of this school were not shared by those living south of Main street, that district having decided by a vote to have no share in these. The next year however they voted to become a part of the system and John Reber, John D. Martin, Robert Reed, John L. Tuthill, Jacob Hite and J. C. Rainey were elected the first Board of Education for the town. Mr. Whitwell con- tinued as superintendent and after the erec- tion of a good building for the South district, thoroughly organized the schools of the city. He resigned in 1851.
John Williams succeeded to the superin- tendency. This man was considered one of the great scholars of his time and in Scott's History of Fairfield County, one may find the following, "There are probably more men to- day who owe their success in their professions and other vocations in life to having been pu- pils of Dr. Williams, than to any one man liv- ing."
Mr. Williams was succeeded in 1856 by W. Nelson and he in 1857 by Rev. Daniel Risser. In 1861 E. E. Fish became superintendent and in 1862 Rev. J. F. Reinmund whose adminis- tration was one of the remarkable ones of this history. By his industry, honesty, scholarship, kindness of Heart and enthusiasm he won the love and respect of all teachers and pupils as well as that of the Board of Education and citizenship at large.
In 1868 Mr. Reinmund was succeeded by W. R. Spooner and in 1869 George W. Welsh,
the high tone of whose character, scholarship and executive ability calls for an extended ar- ticle elsewhere in this volume, was promoted from a teaching position to the superintend- ency. Mr. Welsh resigned in 1879 and S. S. Knabenshue succeeded. After three years Mr. Welsh returned to his old position, but owing to ill health remained but one year and was followed by J. J. Burns who after a single year of service became Superintendent of the schools of Dayton and made room again for Mr. Welsh, who then returned for a term of eight years.
Elijah Burgess became superintendent in 1892 and Mr. Welsh again in 1899. Early in 1903 it was found impossible for Mr. Welsh to continue and the high school principal, H. A. Cassidy, was chosen to succeed him. Mr. Cassidy served until 1911 when S. H. Layton was elected for a term of two years.
At the earliest organization of the schools of the city, a high school was provided for. The first superintendent, Mr. Whitwell, was also the first high school principal. He has been succeeded through the years by the fol- lowing: 1851, Miss Wilcox, 1857, Miss Has- kins, 1858, Miss Jane M. Becket, 1868, Miss Holbrook, 1869, C. Wilkinson, 1870, C. T. M'Coy, 1873, Marcellus Manley, 1874, G. F. Moore, Sept., 1875, J. F. Halderman, Oct., 1875, E. B. Cartmell, 1877, Miss Ella Trout, 1878, R. W. Dennis, 1879, Elijah Burgess, 1881, Samuel Major, 1882, W. A. Beatey, 1890, I. N. Keyser, 1892, M. Smith, 1893, J. A. Long, 1895, C. M. Humes, 1897, T. C. Coates, 1902, H. A. Cassidy, 1903, Seth Hayes, 1906, W. C. Brashares.
At the present time the members of the Board of Education are, W. H. Radebaugh, President, R. M. Miller, Clerk, L. E. Eyman, L. G. Silbaugh, R. M. Giesey, G. M. Bell and G. E. Miller. S. H. Layton is in charge as su-
334
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
perintendent, W. C. Brashares is principal of the high school, C. L. Berry of the North school, Elizabeth O'Grady of the East, W. A. Kline of the South, C. J. Hughes of the West and Bess M. Outcault of the new school in South Lancaster.
The teachers of the High school are: Anna Davidson, History, L. D. Thomas, German and Music, Mabel Curtiss, Latin, Lacie Per- fect, English, J. F. Hawk, Science, H. J. Scar- borough. Mathematics, Prudentia Streter, Latin and German, Bertha Hunt, English, D. M. Hickson, U. S. History and Science.
The teachers at the North school are, Emma Cook, Seventh grade, Frances Kiger, Seventh, Mary Shutt, Sixth, India Wolfe, Sixth, Maria Shaeffer, Fifth, Katherine Rippman, Fifth, Inez Kraemer, Fourth, Sophia Geiser, Fourth, Annabel Kellerman, Third, Bess Hammack, Third, Marie Smith, Second, Mary Mechling, Second, Floranelle Fosler, First, Ethel Ward, First, and Helen Benner, First.
At the East school are, May Bulger, Sev- enth grade, Martha Cowden, Sixth, Cora Love, Fifth, Lena Bowers, Fourth, Ethel Blackman, Fourth, Agnes North, Third, Anne Miller, Third, Ethel M'Cutcheon, Second, Myrtle Tidd, Second, Fannie Miller, First, Estelle Danison, First.
At the South school are, Alice Malone, Sev- enth grade, Flora Welsh, Sixth, Valeria Mar- tin, Sixth, Gertrude Middleton, Fifth, Ida Keller, Fifth, Hazel Beck, Fourth, Florence Myers, Third, Mabel Stahl, Third, Lettie Bell, Second, Emilie M'Kown, First, Eleanor Pat- ridge, First.
At the West school are, Sallie Junkerman, Sixth grade, Iva Wells, Fifth, Martha Peet, Fourth, Alice Mock, Third, Evelyn Mack, Sec- ond, Grace Shue, Second, Bertha Kirn, First, Elsie Smith, First.
Aileen Townsley is the assistant of Miss Outcault at the new school in South Lancas- ter, Hazel Robuck, has charge of the music of all the eight grades, C. P. Zaner of the pen- manship and Vera Webb and Florence Bow- ers serve as cadet teachers.
WV. S. Eckert is superintendent of buildings and has charge of the following janitors : South Lancaster, Fred Young, West, Lizzie Cooper, East, Chris Rudolph, South, James Powers, North, Thomas Reap, High School, James Bloom. Without mention of Mr. Bloom no account of the Lancaster schools would be complete. He is known by every citizen and his reputation for keeping his building spotlessly clean is state wide. He has probably attracted more attention than any other employee of the present Board of Edu- cation.
The schools of Lancaster have never taken backward steps; they are therefore today in better condition than ever before. The com- mon schools have grown to exceed the wildest guess of those in charge but a few years ago. Seven buildings are now in use and all are taxed to the extent of their capacity. In one quarter of the city, West Lancaster, a three- room building was sufficient for school needs six years ago. An eight-room building has since been erected, the intention being to aban- don the old. Now the new building is inade- quate and both the old and new are in daily use. The broader meaning of the value of school property is being recognized and school property in out-of-school hours is being de- voted to the public good. The beautiful parks in which the schools are located are being given over to the public for recreation. Boys are playing upon the beautiful lawns and un- der the green trees with the protection of a public officer. People young and old are being drawn to these beauty spots and thus thou-
335
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
sands of dollars invested in school property are made to give returns much greater than formerly.
The character of the teachers employed in these schools is better with each succeeding year. All of the later additions have been re- cruited from the Normal schools. These bring with them the latest ideas which soon permeate the whole school, it being frequently found that the older teachers can make better use of these than can those who introduce them. All are required by regular and sys- tematic reading of the newest and best things in school literature and by attendance at state and county teachers' meetings to keep up to date and to meet the ever growing require- ments of an increasingly intelligent citizen- ship. The teachers of this day are recognizing the real needs that can be supplied by the pub- lic schools. They are therefore teaching the things that are useful in socializing the chil- dren under their direction. Purely formal studies are being abandoned and time given to the things seen to be directly useful in the fu- ture life of the individual. There are now en- rolled in these schools 1,965 pupils.
The high school moved into the beautiful new building Feb. 22, 1906. This building is one of the best in Ohio. A fine gymnasium, an auditorium to seat 550 people, first-class laboratories for Physics and Chemistry, lava- tories of best marble finish, elegant offices, and large halls are added to the usual equipment of well furnished rooms for study and recita- tion. All of these are being used to make of the high school a true social center. The prop- erty cost $70,000. It was designed to meet the needs of the school for a long time, but after only six years it is feared that it will soon be inadequate. More room even now would mean larger and better results.
The teachers of the high school must have
as a minimum preparation graduation from a reputable college. Constant vigilance is ex- acted of them in order that all that is newest and best in education may come under their observation. They are therefore coming to look upon the school as a business institution in which the young life of the community is to be given the best possible chance. Little or no attention is given to unimportant formal- ities and teachers and pupils are learning to work together in the same way as do foremen and workers in any other institution.
The pupils in 1911-1912 number 315. This shows a growth of more than one hundred per cent in the last six years. This is remarkable in the face of the fact that Lancaster offers so many attractions in a business way to young people. A boy of high school age can earn in one of the shoe factories nearly $400 per year and there is employment of this kind for 1,000 people.
The high school building is being made as attractive as possible in order to compete with the attractions offered by these factories. Pupils are encouraged to give expression to whatever talents they possess. This year one group gave Tennyson's "The Princess," an- other a meritorious operetta "Sylvia," an- other a Dickens carnival in which moving pic- tures of David Copperfield were used. The school has one of the best high school choruses in Ohio and an excellent 15-piece or- chestra. Basket ball and foot ball hold the interest of pupils and attract citizens to the school. All of these are kept subordinate to the real work of the school and as a proof that real interest in education is fastered here we point to the fact that fifty-nine graduates of this school are this year enrolled in the various colleges seeking an extension of the advan- tages they have here learned to prize. That the work of the school is done according to
336
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
generally accepted standards is proved by the one of the most distinguishel scholars and fact that it is ranked by the State Commis- sioner of Common Schools as of the first grade, that the school holds membership in the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and that such institu- tions as Case School of Applied Sciences, Vassar and others accept its graduates with- out examination.
Fifty-four classes have graduated from this school. In these there is a total of 745 mem- bers. In the first class, that of 1853, Mattie Connel, later Mrs. Sykes of Jamestown, New York, was the only member. In 1863 there were three graduates, in 1873 ten, in 1883 nine, in 1893 twenty-two, in 1903 twenty; the class of 1911 numbered forty-two and the class of 1912 has now a membership of forty-five.
As to the work of the Superintendent and Board of Education, it should be said that there is excellent cooperation and that all are keenly alive to the needs of the schools and are working constantly to guarantee that these are met. This year free text books have been provided, and liberal appropriations have been made in many other lines. The youth of Lan- caster are being well taken care of in an edu- cational way, thanks to a hearty cooperation among school officers, teachers, pupils and par- ents.
[Note .- The above excellent sketch is from the pen of Prin. W. C. Brashares, of the Lan- caster High School .- Editor.]
THE OLD GREENFIELD ACADEMY
From an Article by Prof. J. T. Thompson in "Ohio School Journal." George W. Tooil, Editor.
About four miles north of Lancaster, on what is known as the Millersport and In- firmary road, is a small humble dwelling and a few acres of land, which was the home of
educators that have made Ohio renowned for its men of superior intellectuality. The writer refers to Dr. John Williams, author of the "Parsers' Manual," published by the American Book Company, and the "Read- able and Topical Lexicon," published by A. S. Barnes & Co. His greatest work rests in silence, as it was not quite ready for the printer, when the Messenger called him from his labors. The work unpublished is an elaborate exposition of arithmetical, al- gebraic and geometrical problems. The de- sign of the work was original with Dr. Wil- liams, there being nothing like it in Europe or America.
The profundity of Dr. Williams' knowl- edge of foreign languages and his famil- iarity with the philosophies and govern- ments of the people of the world was com- prehensible to only a few people. Thus he was a prince and a mighty man in intellect. No one could look upon that massive brow, encircled with silver locks of age, without feelings of the most profound reverence for that seemingly endless fountain of the pur- est intellectuality. His intellect was as deep as it was mighty. No mere digging or scraping on the surface could satisfy him. He would find and be sure of the founda- tions of all conditions of things before he could be induced to build upon them. Every subject, whether it pertained to literature, to science, or to religion, had to be sub- mitted to the crucible of his deep logical thinking. The grand result was evident to all who may have been favored with his ac- quaintance and had the intelligence to ap- preciate his thorough scholarship.
Dr. John Williams was the son of an hon- est, plain farmer, whose circumstances and labors prevented him from fully discerning
337
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
the hidden forces in the mind of a boy with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. It was only by the most self-denying and stu- pendous efforts on the part of himself that he succeeded in becoming the eminent scholar and the distinguished teacher that he was. No outward stimulus, no admonitions, entreaties and urgings of parents or teachers were ever needed by him or ever accorded to him to encourage him in the pursuit of knowledge. He had a great mind, and its cry for substantial food could not be re- pressed.
He was born in the state of Maryland, on the 8th of October, 1901. When but a small boy his books were his constant and favorite companions. After spending the day at hard work on the farm, he would spend the evenings in study. His parents, thinking that he ought to retire at the same time as themselves, were in the habit, not only of extinguishing the light, but of removing the candle, so as to compel him to go to his bed. But at such times he was wont to cause the firelight to serve him in the pursuit of his studies. He also carried his book in his pocket and when he went to rest he sat down to read.
He taught his first school at the early age of fifteen, before which time he had never been in any school as a student. He earned by this means money enough to sustain him for a term of six months in an humble acad- emy in western Pennsylvania, known as the Canonsburg Academy. This was the highest school and the only school he ever had the privilege of attending.
About the year 1817 the Williams family came to Ohio and finally settled in Morgan county, not far from Zanesville. Here the young man continued his education, teach- ing school at intervals to provide himself
with the necessities of life, and to support himself while studying medicine with Dr. Moore, a physician in Putnam and a grad- nate of Miami University. Here he made substantial progress in the Latin and the Greek languages. He attended a course of medical lectures in Cincinnati, after which he began the practice of medicine. For a short time prior to this he had read law with Judge Hanna, of McConnelsville, Ohio.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.