USA > Ohio > Franklin County > History of Franklin County [Ohio]: > Part 20
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In March, 1848, an act was passed by the Legislature, incorporating Joseph Sullivant, William A. Platt, Alfred P. Stone, William B. Thrall, Thomas Sparrow, A. C. Brown, William G. Deshler, and their associates, under
394
HISTORY OF
the name of " Green Lawn Cemetery of Columbus." In the spring of 1849, the first purchase of ground was made, and on the 23d of May, 1849, a public Pic Nic was held on the ground, which was numerously attended ; and a partial clearing off of part of the ground was effected, preparatory to the laying out of lots, etc .; and soon after some of the lots and avenues were laid out by Howard Daniels, engineer; and on the 9th of July, 1849, there was a formal dedication of the grounds on the premises ; the proceedings of which, together with the rules, regulations, etc., adopted by the Board of Trus- tees, form an interesting pamphlet. One or two subse- quent purchases of ground were made, until the associa- tion now owns about eighty-four acres in one body and in good shape. This Cemetery Association is gov- erned by a Board of seven Trustees, elected by the stockholders or lot owners.
The first Board of Trustees, elected August 30, 1848, were W. B. Hubbard, Joseph Sullivant, Aaron F. Perry, Thomas Sparrow, Alfred P. Stone, Wm. B. Thrall, and John W. Andrews. Alex. E. Glenn, clerk.
Richard Woolley was employed as sexton or superin- tendent of the grounds, in 1849, and has been continued ever since.
The Trustees keep an office in Columbus, where they
395
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
hold monthly meetings, and where all the financial affairs of the association are attended 10, and a register of all interments is kept by the Secretary.
In the arrangement of the grounds, irregularity or variety seems to have been one object aimed at. The sections all vary in size and shape; the lots also vary in size from one hundred to twelve hundred square feet, and all kinds of shapes; and the improvements vary according to the taste of the lot owners. The lots are kept clean and in neat order, which shows not only a becoming respect for departed friends, but strips the place of half its gloom.
There are a number of costly and elegant monuments erected here, with impressive and appropriate inscrip- tions, dictated by surviving friends. But there is per- haps only one that was prepared by the tenant of the tomb, while living, and that is on the head stone of our old and esteemed fellow-citizen, Jeremiah Miner - an old bachelor, somewhat eccentric in character, and who had been a man of considerable wealth, but had become reduced by too freely accommodating his friends. He died at Sandusky, in Wyandot County, and was brought to Green Lawn for burial. He had prepared the inscrip- tion for his grave stone, leaving only a blank for the day of his death to be inserted. It is as follows :
396
HISTORY OF
" JEREMIAH MINER, Born in Massachusetts, On the fifteenth of November, 1780.
I owed the world nothing ; It owed me a small amount ; But on the 4th of March, 1854, We balanced all accounts."
In the summer of 1856, a question arose as to the propriety of selling lots to colored persons, and thereby admitting them as members of the association ; and by order of the trustees, the following circular was address- ed to each of the stockholders :
" OFFICE OF GREEN LAWN CEMETERY, Columbus, Sept. 15, 1856.
" Please attend a meeting of the stockholders of Green Lawn Cemetery Association, at their office, corner of Friend and Front streets, on Thursday, October 2d, at 3 o'clock, P. M.
" The object of the meeting is to determine as to the expediency of setting apart a section of our grounds for the burial of colored persons.
" Should your engagements be such as to prevent your attendance, please indorse your preference upon the back of this notice. Say 'Opposed ;' or, 'In fa- vor,' as the case may be, subscribe your name, and re- turn to this office by the day of meeting.
397
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
" The Board of Trustees are desirous of a full expres- sion from the stockholders upon this question, as a guide for their future action.
" By order of the Board.
" Very respectfully, 66 Sec'y."
Of these circulars distributed through the post office, to the number of three hundred and forty, only one hundred and eleven were returned appropriately indors- ed, and they were -"In favor," twenty ; "Opposed " ninety-one. There being so large a majority of those who voted opposed, the question was considered as set- tled, at least for the present, against selling lots to col- ored persons.
The first burial in this Cemetery was a child of A. F. Perry, Esq., on the 7th of July, 1849; the second was Dr. B. F. Gard, on the 12th of the same month. On the Ist of January, 1858, the Secretary reported that there had been 1,079 burials to that date, of which two hun- dred and forty-seven were removals from other burying grounds.
The present Board of Trustees are: Wm. A. Platt, Pres't; Wm. T. Martin, Sec'y ; Thos. Sparrow, Treas'r; Joseph Sullivant, Dr. W. E. Ide, Robert Hume, John Greenleaf. Richard Woolley, sexton and superintendent on the ground.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.
German Theological Seminary-Capital University-Starling Medical College-Esther Institute-Common Schools, etc.
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AND CAPITAL UNIVERSITY.
IN 1830, the German Theological Seminary of the Lutheran Church, was located in Columbus. Its founder and first professor was the late Rev. Wm. Schmidt, who for several years labored for its establishment without remuneration, and for the residue of his incumbency as professor, up to his death in 1839, at a merely nominal salary. By the exertions and under the agency of Judge C. Heyl, some $3,000 were contributed by the citizens of Columbus, for the purchase of the site, etc., at the south end of the town; and the residue was do- nated by members of the Lutheran Church, throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Seminary was chartered by the Legislature, January 30, 1834, and still exists
399
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
under the same charter, as the Theological Department of Capital University. Its principal buildings were erected in 1833. Hon. G. Swan delivered the address on the laying of the corner stone. This property, south of the town, was sold by the Board to Mr. P. Hayden, in 1851, and some $16,000 was donated by it towards building Capital University ; into which the Seminary has apparently merged, though each institution still re- tains its separate endowments, and has its separate Board of Trustees.
Capital University had its origin in a resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Theological Seminary of the Lutheran Synod of Ohio and adjacent States, adop- ted in December, 1849. On the 7th of March, 1850, it was chartered by the Legislature. Its present Presi- dent is Rev. Prof. W. F. Lehman, who is also the head of the Theological Department .. Dr. L. Goodale, who donated the present site, north of the city, and one thousand dollars towards erecting the buildings, is the President of the Board of Trustees. The buildings were erected in 1852 and '53, and opened Sept. 14, 1853, on which occasion addresses were delivered by Hon. Win. H. Seward and Rev. Dr. Stohlman, of New York.
The present Faculty are, Professors Lehman, Worley, Wormley and Loy.
400
1
HISTORY OF
STARLING MEDICAL COLLEGE.
This Institution was chartered at the session of 1847 and '48. A lot was then procured and other prepara- tions made, and in the spring of 1849, the building was commenced-Mr. R. A. Sheldon, architect. At the cer- emonies of laying the corner-stone, Dr. Hoge delivered an address suited to the occasion. The work progressed regularly under the direction of Mr. Sheldon ; and in the fall of 1850, the building was ready for the recep- tion of students. The first session of lectures was opened and held during the winter of 1850 and 1851. The building at this time had cost about $45,000,; of which Lyne Starling, Esq., one of the original proprie- tors of the town, generously donated $35,000. The building, however, in all its parts, was not completed until some years after. The total cost has been about $55,000, being $20,000 over the Starling donation ; of which last sum of $20,000, the Faculty advanced $13,000, and citizens the balance.
Since the organization of the Institution, there have been about 1,200 students in attendance.
The building is situated at the corner of State and Sixth streets. The material of which it is composed, is brick, with a large proportion of ornamental cut stone. Its greatest length is one hundred and thirty-five feet,
11
FILCH COLUMBUS 0
STARLING MEDICAL COLLEGE.
+FLCM
ESTHER INSTITUTE.
401
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
and its height to the top of the tower, is about one hundred and thirty-eight feet. Its arrangement is said to be well adapted to the purposes for which it was de- signed ; and its outward appearance is admired by the lovers of modern architecture.
The present officers of the Institution are -
President-William S. Sullivant.
Sceretary-Francis Carter.
Trustees-Wm. S. Sullivant, Esq., R. W. McCoy, Esq., Samuel M. Smith, M. D., Francis Carter, M. D., Hon. Jos. R. Swan, John W. Andrews, Esq., Dr. L. Goodale.
FACULTY.
S. M. Smith, M. D., Professor of Theory and Practice, and Dean.
Francis Carter, M. D., Professor of Obstetrics, and Diseases of Women and Children.
John Dawson, M. D., Professor of Anatomy and Phys- iology.
J. W. Hamilton, M. D., Professor of Surgery.
S. Loving, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica, The- rapeutics and Medical Jurisprudence.
Theo. G. Wormley, M. D., Professor of Chemistry.
R. N. Barr, M. D., Demonstrator of Anatomy.
ESTHER INSTITUTE.
This institution was opened in a private building on
26
402
HISTORY OF
Rich street, in October, 1852, with twenty-one pupils. Its present splendid and commodious building on Broad street was erected in 1853, and opened the 28th of September, of that year. It now numbers near one hundred and fifty pupils, of whom about one third are non-residents of Columbus. It is under the exclusive management of L. Heyl, Esq., its founder.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The first attempt to introduce the common school system in Ohio, was the passage of a law on the 22d of January, 1821, entitled, "An act to provide for the reg- ulation and support of common schools." Then on the 5th of February, 1825, " An act to provide for the sup- port and better regulation of common schools," was passed, and on the 30th of January, 1827, an act was passed entitled " An act to establish a fund for the sup- port of common schools." About this time the system was first reduced to practice in Columbus.
On the 21st of November, 1826, the first school meeting under the act of 1825, for the district com- posed of the whole town plat, and part of the township, was held at the old Presbyterian Church on Front street - Orris Parish, Chairman, and Wm. T. Martin, Secretary ; at which meeting Dr. P. Sisson, Rev. C. Hinkle, and William T. Martin, Esq., were chosen
403
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
directors. A Mr. Smith was employed as teacher. For some years the school funds were too limited to support a school more than about one quarter in a year.
In 1830, John Warner, C. Heyl, and William St. Clair, were chosen directors. In 1831, Wm. McElvain, Horton Howard, and Nathaniel McLean, directors. In 1832, J. M. C. Hasseltine was first employed as teacher.
In 1836, at a public school meeting, it was resolved that the directors should cause two schools to be opened at the same time, one to be taught by a male teacher for the instruction of the advanced scholars, and the other by a female for the instruction of young child- ren. There were then no public school houses, and the schools were kept in rented rooms, and were not properly classified, and no regular or uniform course of instruction was pursued.
On the 3d of February, 1845, a law was enacted authorizing the election of six directors to constitute the " Board of Education of Columbus," to whom is committed the management of all the public schools in the city. Two members of this Board are elected annual- ly, to hold their offices for three years. By the same act, the City Council were authorized to appoint three ex- aminers of teachers.
Three school house lots having been purchased, in the spring of 1846, the people of the city decided by a
404
HISTORY OF
vote of seven hundred and seventy-six to three hundred and twenty-three, to levy a tax of $8,000, for the erection of school houses. Three brick buildings, containing six rooms each, were erected, and the schools were commenced in them on the 21st of July, 1847. Previous to organizing the schools under this late reg- ulation, the Board appointed a Superintendent, to whom they intrusted the general direction of the course of study and instructions in all the schools, and who entered on the duties of his office on the 15th of May, 1847.
The schools are divided into four grades, Primary, Secondary, Grammar and High ; and the scholars are classified in each with reference to their advancement in the prescribed studies.
In 1852, the building for the German School was erected, and in 1852 and 1853, the High School build- ing, on State street, was erected. The Board of Educa- tion in their report of July 1853, say : The cost of the school buildings, exclusive of the ground, may be stated as follows :
Central building for High School, 60 by 70 feet, three stories
above the basement, estimated at. $15,000
Three houses erected in 1846, 187 by 24 feet 12,000
German school house, 70 by 32 feet. 3,000
Total for five buildings. $30,000
Since which there have been several thousand dol-
405
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
lars expended, enlarging the north and south school houses.
The free school system had its friends and its op- posers from the first. The opposition, however, grad- ually gave way, until now, the system generally has no opposers. But there are those who very seriously doubt the propriety of that part of the plan embracing the High School, which continues about one-twentieth of the scholars four years longer in school than the other nineteen-twentieths, and that in a costly school, too, while the parents of the nineteen-twentieths are an- nually taxed to give a superior education to the favored one-twentieth.
The following is the number of teachers, aggregate of salaries, and average daily attendance of scholars for the ten years ending June 30, 1857 :
Year.
Number of Teachers.
Aggregate of Salaries.
Average Daily Attendance.
1848
15
798
1849
19
940
1850
20
1075
1851
21
1107
1852
23
$8,104 74
1100
1853
24
8,475 00.
1224
1854
32
10,530 96
1348
1855
38
16,292 05
1575
1856
38
16,173 62
1533
1857
40
16,169 16
1442
406
HISTORY, ETC.
SUPERINTENDENTS.
Dr. A. D. Lord, appointed 1847-resigned July, 1856. E. D. Kingsley, A. M., appointed 1856.
There are also several respectable private schools in the city.
.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
LADIES' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY AND MECHANICS' BENEFICIAL SOCIETY.
THE FEMALE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF COLUMBUS
Was organized by a meeting held for that purpose at the Town street Methodist Church, in January, 1835. The object of its formation was to devise and carry out a systematic plan for the temporary relief of the poor. It was expressly provided in the constitution, that the relief administered should be given in such a manner as to encourage industry, and independent exertions for support. " The sick, the old and infirm, widows, and very young and destitute children, were to be the first objects of attention." This society was organized as a union society, and has always continued to have mem- bers from all denominations ; any female of good char- acter being permitted to join, on paying her annual sub- scription.
The city was divided into wards and districts, to each of which visitors were assigned, whose duty was to inspect
408
HISTORY OF
personally all cases coming to her knowledge, and re- lieve them.
The first officers elected were, Mrs. James Hoge, Pres't; Mrs. E. W. Sehon, Vice Pres't; Mrs. N. H. Swayne, Treas'r; Miss M. Kelley, Sec'y. The original number of members was one hundred and seven. The society thus organized, has continued to carry out its original design from that time to the present.
In 1836, the managers of the society, observing the large number of children destitute of the means of edu- cation, at the suggestion of the President, Mrs. Dalton, took steps to establish a free school ; which was opened in a rented room. Subsequently, a small lot on Fourth street, was donated to them by Hon. Alfred Kelley, on which a small school house was afterwards erected by contributions of citizens, and under the supervision of Mr. P. B. Wilcox, Mr. Dwight Woodbury, and Mr. Jo- seph Ridgway, jr.
This school was continued until the present system of public schools was matured, about the year 1855 or 1856. The building and lot were subsequently sold for $500, and the money placed at interest, to add to the yearly income of the society.
The following persons have held successively the office of President : Mrs. Hoge, Mrs. Gen. Patterson, Mrs. Dalton, Mrs. T. R. Cressey, Mrs. Wm. Preston, Mrs. I. G.
409
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Dryer, Mrs. Dr. Lord, Mrs. J. L. Bates. Mrs. Dryer held the office for many years, and was a most efficient officer. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer were filled most faithfully for eleven years by Miss Mary E. Stewart, afterwards Mrs. Joseph Geiger.
Among the most active and efficient visitors from the original organization may be found the names of Mrs. Gen. Patterson, Mrs. Demas Adams, Mrs. Bailhache, Mrs. J. M. Espy, Mrs. Wm. Neil, Mrs. Joel Buttles, Mrs. Al- fred Kelley, Mrs. J. N. Champion, Mrs. Chittenden, Mrs. Asbury, Mrs. Dr. Awl, Mrs. Dr. Edmiston, etc., etc.
The officers of the society for the present year, 1858, . are Mrs. J. L. Bates, Pres't ; Mrs. Wm. Neil, Vice Pres't; Mrs. Samuel Galloway, Treas'r; Mrs. A. P. Stone, Sec'y. The income of the society amounts at present to between $600 and $700 annually, all of which is expended. This fund is derived from subscriptions from members, and annual donations from gentlemen, from interest on permanent fund, and from collections in churches.
MECHANICS' BENEFICIAL SOCIETY.
In 1830, a number of the mechanics of Columbus formed themselves into a society, which, on the 9th of March, 1831, was incorporated by the name of the " Mechanics' Beneficial Society of Columbus." The in- corporators named in the act, were P. H. Olmsted, M. R.
410
HISTORY OF
Spurgeon, Jonathan Neercamer and C. Love, and their associates-the object of the society being the advance- ment of the best interests of mechanics, manufacturers and artisans, by a more general diffusion of knowledge, and for the purpose of more conveniently and effectually affording relief to unfortunate members. The act of in- corporation constituted P. H. Olmsted, President, M. R. Spurgeon, John Haver, Jonathan Neereamer and Charles Love, the first Board of Trustees. The society held their business meetings either in some public office or rented room, until 1841, when they leased part of a lot ' at the corner of High and Rich streets, and in 1842, erected the building known as " Mechanics' Hall." This was done by voluntary contributions of the members, and other citizens. About this time, the society was in a flourishing condition, and numbered over one hundred members.
Agreeably to the amended constitution and by-laws, adopted September 2, 1856, any new member, when ad- mitted, must pay an initiation fee of not less than fifteen nor more than thirty dollars, according to his age; no one is admitted at an age over forty-five years. Each member must pay a monthly due of thirty-three and a third cents, and one dollar extra at the death of any benefit member.
Any person having been a member of the society
411
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
nine months, is considered a benefit member; and in case of sickness so as to be incapable of performing manual labor, or attending to his ordinary business, from any unavoidable casualty, shall be entitled to three dollars per week, out of the funds of the society, during such disability : And in case of the death of any benefit member, his widow or heirs are entitled to from fifty to three hundred dollars, out of the funds of the society, in proportion to the length of time the deceased had been a member.
The number of members in 1856 was reduced to thirty-three.
OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1857.
President-Vacant.
Vice President-James Stephens.
Secretary-J. P. Bruck. Treasurer-Jeffrey Powell.
Trustees-John Otstot, J. P. Bruck, Thomas Roberts Andrew Sites, William Herd.
CHAPTER XL.
STATE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
Deaf and Dumb Asylum- Lunatic Asylum - Blind Asylum - Idiot Asylum.
DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.
ON the 38th of January, 1827, an act was passed to " establish an Asylum for the education of deaf and dumb persons," and Hon. Gustavus Swan and Rev. James Hoge, of Franklin, Hon. Thomas Ewing, of Fair- field, Rev. William Graham, of Ross, Rev. William Bur- ton, of Pickaway, John James, Esq., of Champaign, Wm. D. Webb, Esq., of Trumbull, and Sampson Mason, Esq., of Clark, were appointed by said act, together with the Governor, who was, ex officio, President of the Board, the first Trustees.
They procured the services of H. N. Hubbell, Esq., to take charge of the school, which opened on the 16th of November, 1829, and at first consisted of only three pupils. At the close of the term, July, 1830, the number
413
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
had reached nine, and it soon after filled up to the num- ber twenty or thirty. A son of Captain George W. Williams and a son of Judge Flenniken were among the first.
For some two or three years the school was kept in a rented room - part of the time on the lot now occupied by Dr. Gay, on Front street, north of Broad. Mr. Hubbell was then a young man, and had been en- gaged for some time in teaching a common school in Columbus, but had, during the agitation of this asylum enterprise, left his school and gone to the East and spent some eighteen months at the American Asylum, Hartford, Connecticut, qualifying himself for a teacher of the language of signs, in which he succeeded admirably; and he made both an efficient teacher and a popular Superintendent.
In the years 1833 and 1834, the original part of the present asylum buildings was erected, and the institu- tion removed thither. The building has been several times enlarged, and the number of pupils has in- creased with the capacity of the building to accom- modate them. For the last few years the number has generally ranged at from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and sixty.
Mr. Hubbell died in Columbus in January, 1857.
414
HISTORY OF
SUCCESSIVE SUPERINTENDENTS.
Horatio N. Hubbell, appointed 1829 - retired 1851.
Rev. J. Addison Cary, 1851 66 1852.
Rev. Collins Stone, 66 1852 (still in office.)
PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Robert Thompson, appointed 1833 - retired, 1857.
" S. M. Smith,
1857.
STEWARDS.
George Gobey, appointed 1843 - retired in 1846.
Samuel Cutler, 66 1846 66
1852.
N. W. Smith, 66
1852 66
1852.
Isaac H. Roston, 66 1852 - died in 1854.
Hiram Weaver,
1854 66 1856.
Geo. W. Wakefield, "
1856 (still in office.)
NAMES AND SALARIES OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.
Names.
Occupations. Salaries.
Rev. Collins Stone, .
Superintendent, . $1,200
Roswell H. Kinney, . Instructor, .
1,000
William E. Tyler, .
66
900
John M. Francis, .
66
.
S00
Geo. L. Weed, jr., . 66
800
Benj. Talbott, .
6:
.
700
Danforth E. Ball,*
800
.
* Mr. Ball died in April, 1857.
415
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Names.
Occupa:ions.
Salaries.
Fisher A. Spofford,
Instructor, .
$800
Plumb M. Park,
6. 800
Robert Thompson, . Physician, . 200
Geo. W. Wakefield, . Steward,
500
M. J. Westervelt,
Matron, .
300
Mary Swan,
Assistant Matron, 200
And about a dozen others, male and female, receiving monthly or weekly wages.
LUNATIC ASYLUM.
At the Legislative session of 1834-5, an act was passed to establish a Lunatic Asylum for the State of Ohio, and Dr. Samuel Parsons and Dr. William M. Awl, of Columbus, and Gen. Samuel F. McCracken, of Lan- caster, were appointed Directors under the law for the erection, etc., of the necessary buildings. And on the 30th of November, 1838, the buildings were so far com- pleted as to admit the first patient.
Pursuant to an act of the 13th of March, 183S, Dr. Samuel Parsons, Col. Samuel Spangler, Adin G. Ilibbs, Esq., N. H. Swayne, Esq., and Dr. David L. McGugin, were appointed Directors, whose duty it was to appoint a Superintendent, etc., and Dr. Wm. M. Awl received the appointment.
416
HISTORY OF
In the years 1844, 1845 and 1846, the additional wings to the building were erected and completed. Dr. Awl, in his report of December 1, 1846, thus de- scribes the whole structure :
" It is a stupendous pile of brick and stone work, which presents an imposing appearance. The structure faces the south. It is a quadrangular, and measures 376 feet in front, by 218 feet in depth. The buildings cover just one acre of ground, and enclose an area of 1864 square yards. The main center building is three stories and an attic in height above the basement. The wings and new buildings are each three stories ; and a walk through all its different passages and galleries exceeds one mile. It contains rising 5,200,000 bricks, and something like 50,000 feet of cut stone. The entire cost to the State was about $150,000, including the amount of work done by the convicts of the Ohio Pen- itentiary, which constituted a large item in the ac- count."
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