History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 52

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp; Williams, L.A. & co., Cleveland, O., pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio, L. A. Williams
Number of Pages: 590

USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 52

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The following are the principal items in the returns of 1863 to the society: Number of children of school age in Hamilton county, 101,839, of whom about twenty- nine per cent., or 28,895, were in the Sunday-schools; in the city of Cincinnati, 81,839, of whom 20,700, or twenty-five per cent., were members of Sabbath-schools. Of the 20,000 children in the townships, 8,195, or forty- one per cent., were in such schools. Some townships reputed as high as seventy-five per cent of their children connected with the Sabbath-school work, but one town- ship reported an attendance as low as eleven per cent.

The convention of April, 1864, was held in the Melo- deon hall, Cincinnati, and was large, enthusiastic, and every way profitable. Three hundred and ninety-nine delegates were present. The number of Sunday-schools in the county at this time was reported at about two hun- dred.

The statistics of 1876-7, prepared and published under the auspices of the association, showed the number of schools held on the Sabbath in the county to be 213, of which Cincinnati had 99; children in county between five and twenty-one years old, 125,314; Cincinnati, 100,- 762; enrolled in Sunday-schools, 37, 162 ; the city, 26,- 457, average attendance, 25,098; officers and teachers 3,- 624, with average attendance of 2,873; made profession of religion during the year, 1,237; amount of collec- tions, $19,761 ; volumes in libraries, 61,345; taking Sun- day-school papers, 180 schools; holding teachers' meet- ings, 99. The treasurer of the society, Mr. William E. Davis, reported the receipts of the year $179.95, of which $140.20 were from the township schools. His disbursements amounted to $421, leaving due to him the sum of $241.05.

The name of the society had been changed from "As- sociation," to "Union." It continued a career of active usefulness during most of the time until 1872, when it became quiescent and gave but occasional signs of exis- tence until October, 1878, when it was reorganized and the following named officers elected, who are those now in service: William George Doering, recording secre- tary; Dr. James Taft, corresponding secretary; Louis Manss, treasurer; Rev. A. N. Gilbert, Rev. S. Weeks, Rev. C. H. Daniels, H. W. Sage, H. W. Brown, execu- tive committee.

Presidents of township Unions : A. W. Williamson, Anderson; Dr. E. G. Dalton, Columbia; Dr. J. M. Mc- Kinzie, Delni; James M. Gamble, Green; M. Aurelius Francis, Harrison; Smith Stimmel, Mill Creek; Walter Howel, Miami; Rev. William James, Springfield; Wil- liam Graham, Sycamore; Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, White- water. Vice-presidents were not appointed at this time for Colerain, Crosby, Spencer, and Symmes townships. Cincinnati .- Eastern division of, east of Main, Rev. Sylvester Weeks; central division, between Main an Cen- tral avenue, Rev. C. H. Daniels; western division, west of Central avenue, Rev. A. N. Gilbert. L. H. Sargent, president; George B. Nichols, John W. Dale, W. T. M. Gordon, vice-presidents.

The official preface to the new constitution and by- laws, published shortly afterwards, says of the union:

Now it begins to show signs of new vigor and promise of work, indi- cating returns that must yield large dividends for the Master. Our field of souls is much larger than when this union began its work. With age we have gained new experience and somewhat changed tac- tics. Formerly mass meetings once a year at central places and the best talent for oratory were the chief instrumentalities. Now hard work and thorough organization mean everything. Not that we love popular assemblies and the enthusiasm kindled by good speakers any less, but we have greater faith in God's blessing on good work done in the Master's name and for His cause.

Notwithstanding this apparently vigorous and hopeful reorganization, the Union has not since manifested much activity nor held its annual meetings with regularity. The beautiful and interesting celebration of the Robert Raikes Centennial, in the Music Hall of Cincinnati, on the nineteenth day of June, 1880, was, however, held under its direction, and was a pronounced success.

THE COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

In 1864 Professor U. T. Curran, now of Sandusky, then principal of the public schools in Glendale, made an earnest effort to enlist others, especially the principals of the district schools in Cincinnati, in the formation of a county teachers' association ; but without present success. On the twenty-ninth of August, 1867, however, a num- ber of teachers of the county, mainly from the country, met at the hall of the Hughes' high school, on Fifth street, to organize "an association to promote the prog- ress of education and mental discussion." Mr. Curran had by this time removed to the city, and was in charge of a private academy; but was still the prime mover in this organization. A teachers' institute was in session, and he, on the day named, handed a notice to Professor Lyman Harding, then superintendent of the city schools, to read to the members, inviting them to a meeting, on

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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.

the adjournment of the institute, at noon, to form a county association. Mr. Curran, who has kindly fur- nished most of the facts for this preliminary sketch, writes: "I then spoke to a number of teachers and asked them to stay at the close of the meeting. Of those importuned Mr. G. W. Oyler, Mr. G. A. Clause, Mr. G. Welsh, Mr. George Woollard, Miss Kate Wool- lard, and myself remained, and the four or five hundred other persons present left, looking curiously over their shoulders at the few who were to form the society. We six met, organized, appointed a committee on constitu- tion, etc., were very harmonious, enthusiastic, and full of hope, and were so reported in the papers. We called a meeting at Curran & Kuhn's academy, which was well attended. Very few teachers would take part in the meeting, because they were each afraid the other was some wise professor from the city. The writer was elected president, with the privilege of selecting his own execu- tive committee of three. I think I selected Clause, M. S. Turrill, and A. B. Johnson-I am sure of Johnson. .

"Dr. Curtis and John Talbot, a friend and a teacher of fifty years' experience, lent us their help. Dr. Mayo and other eminent men were called upon to address us, until we became accustomed to public speaking and had stud- ied the subject matter of our profession so well that men within the ranks of the profession were ready to occupy with profit all the time at our disposal. For three years the society met at my school-room. I improvised seats by placing plank upon chairs. But at length it became evident that we needed a better place, and the city coun- cil generously allowed us the use of a room in their building.

"In the meanwhile we organized the first county insti- tute ever held in the county. This was held at Glen- dale, at the Glendale Ladies' seminary. The second meeting was held at the same place; the third, if my memory serves me right, at College Hill.

"I do not know that the society failed in holding a meeting at the appointed time, viz., the second Saturday of every month. It certainly did not during my time. The amount of good accomplished is inestimable. The professional spirit engendered is very great. And the end is not yet."

From the records of the association it may be learned that G. W. Oyler was chairman at the first meeting and W. B. Welsh secretary. Messrs. N. T. Curran, G. A. Clause, of Cleves, and G. W. Oyler, of Storrs, were named a committee to prepare constitution and by-laws. The preamble to the constitution afterwards reported reads: "We, the undersigned teachers and others in- terested in the cause of education, in order to promote the progress of sound learning and mental discipline, do hereby ordain and adopt the following constitution and by-laws." A vice-president is appointed for every town- ship in the county, who must be a resident of the town- ship. Any person of good character may join the society. Among its members are a number of teachers very well known in the profession; as Richard Nelson, president of the Cincinnati business college; Florien

Giaque, the lawyer and law-writer and compiler; G. A. Carnahan, A. B. Johnson, E. C. Ellis, M. S. Turrill, and others. The annual county institute is still, we believe, in charge of the association, and has been held regu- larly. The thirteenth session was held at Mount Wash- ington the last week in August, 1880, with an enrollment of two hundred and twenty-two, and a distinguished corps of instructors, including Professor Curran, Super- intendent John Hancock, and others of note.

The officers of the association, so far as we find them recorded upon the defective minute-book of the secre- tary, have been as follows. The year of election only is given :

President-1867, U. T. Curran; 1872, G. W. Oyler; 1873, Florien Giaque; 1874, W. H. Nelson; 1875, C. J. Fay; 1876, D. B. Moak; 1877, William Brickley ; 1878, J. Perlee Cummins; 1879, J. C. Heywood; 1880, E. C. Ellis.

Recording Secretary-1872-'3, A. J. Disque; 1874, Miss A. Soules; 1875-'6, J. P. Cummins; 1877, A. J. McGrew; 1878, John Logan; 1879, W. A. Doran; 1880, J. H. Locke.

Corresponding Secretary-1872, George W. Warner; 1873, C. S. Fay; 1875-'6, Horace Hearn.

Treasurer-1872, F. C. Wilson; 1873-'4-'5, L. A. Knight; 1876, William Brickley; 1877, J. P. Cummins; 1878-'9-'80, A. B. Johnson.

The number of members of the association is about one hundred and twenty-five. Its meetings are monthly during the ordinary school months of the year.

SUNDRY SOCIETIES.

In 1833 was organized the Hamilton county temper- ance society, auxiliary to the Ohio State temperance society. Bellamy Storer was president; Isaac G. Bur- net, vice-president; Thomas Brainard, corresponding secretary ; Rufus Hodges, recording secretary; William T. Truman, auditor; Daniel W. Fairbank, treasurer ; Stephen Burrows, John T. Shotwell and T. D. Mitchell, directors.

A Hamilton county association of physicians has also left some faint footprints on the sands of time. Dr. Mount was president; Dr. Landon C. Rives, vice-presi- dent; Dr. William Wood, orator; Dr. M. Flagg, treas- urer; and Dr. L. L. Pinkerton, secretary.

One of the organizations of the Patrons of Hus- bandry-the Pomona Grange-embraces the entire county in its membership and field of operations.

CHAPTER XV. RAILROADS.

Whizzing through the mountain, Buzzing o'er the vale ;-

Bless me! This is pleasant- Riding on a rail. JOHN G. SAXE, "Rhyme of the Rail."

IT was but a single year after the successful experi- ments of George Stephenson at Gadshill, England, had

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established the practicability of steam locomotion on rail- ways, that the first legislative movement was made to- ward their establishment in Ohio. February 23, 1830, Representative William B. Hubbard, of Columbus, sub- mitted to the general assembly "an act to incorporate the Ohio canal and the Steubenville railway company." In this conglomerate act was the germ of the magnificent railway system of Ohio, to which Cincinnati and Hamil- ton county owe so much of their material greatness. New charters were thereafter applied for in large numbers and rarely failed to be granted by the pliant legislature. Among the early charters may be mentioned that granted in 1832 to the Mad River and Lake Erie railroad com- pany, and another in 1835, to the Monroeville & Sandusky City railroad. The year 1836 was somewhat prolific in charters-among those granted being the organic acts of the Mansfield & New Haven, the Cleveland & Pitsburgh and the Little Miami railway companies. But down to the close of that year very little had been done toward the re- alization, in wood and iron and earthwork, of any of the projects, owing to the financial depression that prevailed during the latter half of that decade. The next year a law which obtained the popular (or unpopular) name of "the plunder act," was passed "to authorize a loan of credit by the State of Ohio to railroad companies and to authorize subscriptions by the State to the capital stock of turnpike, canal, and slack-water navigation companies." The act was repealed in 1840; though not until under it the incipient railway enterprises secured seven hundred and seventeen thousand five hundred and seventy-five dollars in loans; but they did not build and equip as much as thirty miles of road with the entire sum. This was accomplished by the close of 1840, when these thirty miles were in use; and for some years the progress of railways in the State was slow, but three hundred and fifty miles having been constructed by 1846. Since then, however, the growth of the system has been something marvelous ; and by the opening of the year 1880 the total length of the steam railway lines in Ohio was five thou- sand five hundred and twenty-one and twenty seven hun- dredths miles, while the companies operating them numbered eighty-five. The total valuation of their prop- erty within the State, as fixed by the State board of equal- ization for 1879, was seventy-five million five hundred and seventy-three thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine dollars and thirteen cents.

We now proceed to give an outline history of those railways which actually traverse Hamilton county, or some part of it, without detailed reference to the entry into Cincinnati of trains from other lines upon the tracks of these roads.

' THE LITTLE MIAMI.

This was the pioneer railroad constructed into or from Cincinnati. It received its charter from the State March II, 1836. The agitation in behalf of it took its rise in Cincinnati from a pressing sense of the need of a rail- way connection with the north and east through a route to Sandusky, connecting with the lake navigation, and thus affording a more ready and convenient outlet for the

yearly increasing product of the Miami valley than the river supplied. The route proposed lay altogether in the valley of the Little Miami to Xenia, sixty-six miles from the city, and thence to Springfield, eighty-four miles in all. This was the whole length of the road, as orig- inally surveyed and chartered. At Springfield it was to meet the Lake Erie and Mad River railroad, forming with it a continuous line to Sandusky. Here also it in- tersected the National road, upon or near which a rail- way was sure to be built soon to Columbus and thence eastward.

For the work of survey the services of a young scien- tist, then of but twenty-six years, struggling with pecuni- ary difficulties in the maintenance of his family and the establishment of the Cincinnati observatory, were secured as engineer. He afterwards became renowned as the as- tronomer, popular lecturer, author, and army commander, professor, and general, Ormsby M. Mitchel. Young Mitchel threw himself into the enterprise with all the energy which secured to the city of his adoption the observatory and its great telescope, in the face of tre- mendous difficulties. He became not merely a hired servant, but an active promoter, of the enterprise. He surveyed the route, made his estimates, and then aided in the push for pecuniary aid. In conjunction with Mr. George W. Neff, a prominent and influential citizen of Cincinnati, he pressed the merits of the project upon the attention of the city council, and finally secured a loan of the public credit of the city to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars. He then went to eastern cities, and did what he could, under the depressing cir- cumstances of the financial panic of those years, to se- cure further pecuniary aid for the company. Under the legislative act of March 24, 1837, the road secured a loan of State credit amounting to one hundred and fif- teen thousand dollars. Gradually but surely, as means became available in those "tight times," the construction of the road was pushed, and finally, in August, 1846, more than a decade after the obtainment of its charter, the promoters of the project had the satisfaction of wit- nessing its completion to Springfield. It was a gala time for Cincinnati-the consummation of the first of its since numerous railway enterprises.

The difficulties with which this pioneer railroad battled in its earlier years were at times almost insurmountable. They were admirably depicted, from personal recollec- tions, in the address of Hon. S. S. L'Hommedieu, deliv- ered at a celebration by the Cincinnati Pioneer associ- ation, April 7, 1874 :

The struggle of the officers of the Little Miami company to carry on their work, the then young civil engineers can best record. They could tell how often, when pay-day came, how many cattle were butchered and distributed to the laborers-cattle which had been re- ceived in payment of the farmers' subscriptions to capital stock. They could also tell how the men of the "shovel and the pick" surrounded the house of honest William Lewis, the treasurer, demanding money from an empty treasury, calling him every kind of hard name, until he was forced in search of his president, in order to resign, saying, "These men, when I tell them I have no money, call me liar and scoundrel so often and so earnestly that I begin to think that I am what they call me, and I must resign. ".

Thirty miles of the road were nevertheless opened to

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public traffic in 1843. The total rolling stock of the company was then one eight-wheeled locomotive, two passenger coaches and eight freight cars-all, even the locomotive, made in Cincinnati. On the seventeenth of July, 1845, it was opened to Xenia, sixty-eight miles dis- tant, and the first train over the completed track to Springfield was run August 10, 1846. The cost of the road to this time had been one million two hundred and twenty-two thousand dollars; when afterwards leased to the Pennsylvania company it represented a value of about five millions. The property of the road had to be assigned to trustees before reaching Springfield ; yet a dividend upon the capital stock was already cleared by it in 1845, and thereafter, to the time of its lease, divi- dends were quite regularly declared to an average amount of ten per cent. per annum ; and it still, under the lease, pays a very handsome revenue to its owners. It has been, financially, one of the most successful rail- ways in the world. Its early dividends, however, were smaller, and the stock of the road first came to par in 1852, after that of the Cleveland & Columbus, then reaching one hundred and twenty-five before experienc- ing a fall. Its convertible bonds were rapidly turned into stock, which is still largely held by the original parties or their heirs. The only bonded indebtedness of the road was created, to the amount of one and a half millions, to meet the expense of rebuilding and other improve- ments. The original strap rail used on the road was dis- placed by T rail, curves were straightened, grades re- duced, and other useful changes made. It now, for twenty-eight miles out of Cincinnati, has a double-track.

The connection for Sandusky was not completed till the latter part of 1848, when the Little Miami and the Mad River railroads gave Cincinnati her first rail and water communication with the Atlantic coast. A large passenger and freight business was at once commanded; the leading stage lines upon or near the route soon were disused, and a great impetus was given to railway con- struction.

The connection for Columbus was made at Xenia by the Columbus & Xenia railroad, which was, however, not constructed until 1848-9, the first passenger train travers- ing it February 20, 1850. Soon afterwards the members of the general assembly made an excursion over this and the Little Miami roads to Cincinnati. November 30, 1853, the two companies operating each its own road en- tered into an arrangement by which both were operated as a single line. January 1, 1865, they came into pos- session, by lease, of the Dayton & Western and the Richmond & Miami railways, and, later in the same year, by purchase, of the division of the Dayton, Xenia & Belpre road between the two places first named. The partnership arrangement of 1853 was dissolved Novem- ber 30, 1868, when the Little Miami company took a lease for ninety-nine years of the Columbus & Xenia road, and all the rights and interests of that corporation in the Dayton & Western, Xenia & Belpre, and Richmond & Miami roads. Just one year and one day thereafter the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis (Pan-Handle) rail- road company leased of the Little Miami company its

own road, the branch owned by it from Xenia to Dayton, and all its rights in the Columbus & Xenia and other roads. The lease is for ninety years, renewable forever, and brings an annual rental of eight per cent. to the Lit- tle Miami company on its capital stock, besides interest on the funded debt, five thousand dollars yearly for ex- penses of organization, and the fulfillment of lease obli- gations to its own leased lines. The road is operated by the Pennsylvania company, which was a party to the con- tract, and by whom its faithful performance was guaran- teed. The total length of its lines is one hundred and nine-five and nine-tenths miles-eighty-four on the main line, Cincinnati to Springfield; sixteen on its branch, Xenia to Dayton; fifty-four and seventy-four hundredths on its leased line from Xenia to Columbus ; thirty-seven on that from Dayton to the Indiana State line (Dayton & Western), and four and sixteen-hundredths thence to Richmond, Indiana (Richmond & Miami). It is one of the most profitable roads in the United States, its earn- ings per mile in 1879 being six thousand eight hundred and one dollars and ninety-two cents, and its expenses but four thousand four hundred and fifty-eight dollars and fifty- three cents per mile. A spacious and costly new depot is building for it on the southeast corner of Pearl and Butler streets, Cincinnati, erected, of course, by the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis railroad company.

CINCINNATI, HAMILTON, AND DAYTON.

This was the second railroad to get into Cincinnati. Its company was chartered March 2, 1846, under the name of the "Cincinnati & Hamilton Railroad com- pany." An act passed March 15, 1849, to amend the several acts relating to the company, gave it its present corporate name. It is an interesting and noteworthy fact, considering the period of its construction, that the road was built without the aid of township subscriptions to its capital stock, and that its stocks and bonds sold at par, without cost of brokerage, in New York or elsewhere. In Cincinnati so sublime yet practical a faith was reposed in the enterprise, that in less than a month three-quarters of a million dollars, in cash subscriptions, were placed at its service; while the capitalists of New York city were to take the rest of the stock and the first issue of the bonds of the road at par. It was the first case of the kind, as to the fact last mentioned, and it is said to have surprised the brokers of Gotham very thoroughly. West- ern railroad securities had not theretofore been placed in that city without suffering large discounts, selling for but eighty to eighty-five cents on the dollar.

The road was pushed rapidly, and was opened for bus- iness within a little more than a year-on the nineteenth of September, 1851. For a long time it paid fair divi- dends to its stockholders, and promptly met all its obli- gations.

On the eighteenth of February, 1869, the Cincinnati, Richmond & Chicago railroad company leased its road and property, in perpetuity, to the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad company, and assigned to that com- pany also its lease of the Richmond & Miami railway. Previous to this, May 1, 1863, the railway from Dayton

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to Toledo, belonging to the Dayton & Michigan railroad company, had been similarly leased, and a modification of said lease being made in the early part of 1870, the entire line under operation has reached a total of two hundred and forty-four miles. In addition to their track of four feet ten inches guage, the company has a track of six feet guage between Dayton and Cincinnati, over which the cars of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio and the Erie railway companies are transported. In No- vember, 1872, the company purchased the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Indianapolis railroad.

THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI.

This was the third of the Queen City's successful rail- road enterprises, in order of time. The road reaches from Cincinnati to East St. Louis, on the Mississippi river, opposite St. Louis, a distance of three hundred and forty miles, only nineteen and one-half miles being in the State of Ohio. The road was built by two corpora- tions, completed in 1857, and since operated under a sole management-the portion from Cincinnati to the Illinois State line as the eastern division, and that in Illi- nois as the western division. Originally it had a gauge of six feet, and in connection with the Atlantic & Great Western (now the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio) and the Erie lines, made a through broad-gauge route between St. Louis and New York. The western division was sold under foreclosure in June, 1862, and reorganized as the Ohio & Mississippi railway company, February 5, 1863. The eastern division was sold January 9, 1867, to the owners of the western division, and the entire line con- solidated November 21, 1867, with its present title. In addition to the main line above given, a branch road has lately been opened from the main line at North Vernon, Indiana, to Jeffersonville, in the same State, and Louis- ville, fifty-three miles in length, called the Louisville Di- vision of the Ohio & Mississippi railway company. This was constructed on the old, abandoned line of the Fort Wayne & Southern railroad of Indiana. The Springfield division was purchased January 1, 1875. It is the old Springfield & Illinois Southeastern, sold under foreclos- ure in 1874, purchased by the bondholders, and trans- ferred to the Ohio & Mississippi company, March I, 1875. The principal office is in St. Louis, and the fiscal and transfer agency is in New York city. Professor and General O. M. Mitchel did much of the early surveying on this road to eke out a poor income derived from his scientific and pedagogic labors.

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History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 52

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp; Williams, L.A. & co., Cleveland, O., pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio, L. A. Williams Number of Pages: 590

Author: Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp; Williams, L.A. & co., Cleveland, O., pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio, L. A. Williams
Number of Pages: 590