USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc > Part 64
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Mr. Kimber was succeeded as superintendent by a Mr. Thomas, and then came Profs. William K. Leonard, Samuel A. Spear, Ephraim Miller, Will- iam S. Wood, C. F. Palmer and J. W. Zeller in the order named, and these have been the superintendents of the district since its organization. Mr. Spear was appointed in 1859, and his assistants were John Bowman, Miss Harriet Alban, Miss Mary J. Watt, Miss E. Paisley, Misses Eliza J. and Mary Mungen and Miss L. Coffinberry. Mr. Spear is best remembered as principal of the Academical Institute, and subsequent founder of the Home Companion, of which the Jeffersonian is the lineal successor.
In May, 1860, the board decided to establish a primary school in North Findlay, and the following July Lot 13, in Taylor's Addition, was pur- chased, upon which a small brick building was erected, at a cost of $650, and occupied in the fall of the same year. The old academy building on West Sandusky Street was subsequently rented from Mr. Galloway, who had pur- chased the property, and this building was utilized by the Union District a few years.
The time had now arrived when the Union Schools demanded better ac- commodations. But the board concluded to first try and unite the whole town under the Union School system, and in 1865 the authorities of District No. 9 were approached on the subject. That district again refused to unite, and replied that the people of No. 9 possessed good schools and ample as- commodations, and had no desire to enter the Union District. In September, 1865, the electors of the Union District, by a vote of 156 to 63, authorized the board to purchase a site and erect a two-story brick building estimated to cost $18,000. June 28, 1866. a plat of ground, then known as "The Park," located on East Sandusky Street, was purchased for the sum of $2,000, and the foundation constructed during the following autumn. Early in 1867 the work was pushed vigorously, but in August the plans were so changed as to include another story, wherein a fine exhibition hall is located, and in September, 1868, the structure was completed and occupied by the Union Schools. George W. Myers, George W. Galloway and James Harsh were the board under whose administration the building was erected.
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It is a massive three-story brick with a fine basement and a mansard roof, and, including the heating apparatus and furniture, cost about $36,000. Two towers, each ninety-one feet in height, grace the front of the building, which it is claimed will accommodate 500 pupils. It is known as the " High School Building," and ten teachers are now employed in this school, which takes a leading rank among the educational institutions of northwestern Ohio.
The old brick schoolhouse and lot on Front Street was sold to B. F. Hyatt in May, 1868; and the same year the frame on the corner of Craw- ford and East Streets was removed to the west end of Crawford, where some lots for a school site had been previously purchased. The old lot near the depot was sold in March, 1869, to George H. Crook, and thus, after being used for more than forty years as a school site, it passed beyond such staid purposes and is now the site of a saloon. The building, however, was des-
tined for a much better fate. It was occupied as a school for about twelve years longer, and then removed to the rear of Buck & Reimund's carriage factory, where it is yet doing good service as a part of that establishment.
February 12, 1877, the district voted in favor of erecting a new school building in North Findlay, as the old one had become too small for the growing wants of that part of the town. In August, 1872, two lots adjoin- ing the old site had been purchased by the board of education, and a good roomy site was now ready for a new building. In March, 1877, the contract was let to S. H. Cramer, to be completed the following August at a cost of $5,547. 41. Its school capacity is about 200, and it is a substantial two- story mansard-roofed brick building of four rooms, with heating apparatus in the basement, and is fully adequate to the school needs of North Find- lay.
Another school building was still necessary, to replace the old frame at the west end of Crawford Street, and in May, 1881, Joseph Fleming, of Toledo, was awarded the contract for the sum of $13,012. The structure was finished in the spring of 1882, and will compare favorably with any of the older buildings. It is a two-story brick with mansard roof, and con- tains eight rooms, all finished and furnished in the best and most approved style. It has a capacity of about 320 pupils. In the basement is the heat- ing apparatus which cost $2,000, and from basement to garret comfort and convenience pervade the whole building.
The public schools of Findlay need not fear comparison with any other town of its size in the State. Twenty-three teachers are employed therein throughout the full school year, including the two superintendents. The enumeration in the Union School District is 1,363, and the average enroll- ment 960; while that of No. 9 is 217 and 160, respectively. The total school enumeration of the village is thus 1,580, and the total enrollment, 1,120.
The Findlay Academical Institute and the Hancock Wesleyan Seminary were two of the pioneer schools of Findlay. The former was chartered March 4, 1845, the incorporators being as follows: John Ewing, William Taylor, Frederick Henderson, William L. Henderson, Dr. David Patton, Hiram Smith, Edson Goit, Hugh Newell and Squire Carlin. On the 4th of September, 1847, the board of directors, of which Hugh Newell was presi- dent and Dr. Patton secretary, purchased a two-story frame house and lot on East Main Cross Street, of N. Y. Mefford, for the sum of $500. Here
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the institute was first opened on Monday, October 4, 1847, by John M. Christian, A. B., principal, and Mrs. P. E. Christian, assistant. A high- sounding prospectus was issued in August, 1847, giving terms and setting forth the merits of the institute, from which we make the following quota- tion:
"The course of instruction will embrace every branch of a complete English and Classical Education, and no efforts will be spared to furnish the pupils with every facility for acquiring a correct and thorough knowl- edge of those studies usually pursued in our best seminaries of learning. Students who may be desirous of entering college may be fitted for an ad- vanced standing of one or two years; and particular attention will be given to the preparation of teachers for the various and responsible duties of their profession. It is confidently believed, in view of the experience of the in- structors, the well known moral and religious character and healthy situa- tion of the village, that the institution will be found worthy of the confi- dence and patronage of the community."
The building on Main Cross Street was soon found unsuited for the purpose, and the school was removed to the frame schoolhouse built by Alexander Adair, on East Sandusky Street, where Rummell's Block now stands. Upon the expiration of its first year, in the summer of 1848, the academy was closed, and not again opened for three years. In July, 1848, four lots on West Sandusky Street were bought of Dr. William H. Bald- win; and in February. 1849, the property on Main Cross Street was sold to Jesse Wolf, and is now the site of C. A. Croninger's residence. A two- story brick of two rooms was subsequently erected on the lots purchased of Dr. Baldwin, and April 28, 1851, the academy was again opened with Sam- uel A. Spear, principal, and his wife, Mrs. M. L. Spear, assistant. The board of directors at this time were Hugh Newell, William Taylor, Jesse Wheeler, John Ewing, Frederick Henderson, Dr. David Patton, Jesse Wolf, Edson Goit and William L. Henderson. Mr. Newell was still presi- dent of the board, and Dr. Patton secretary. In the spring of 1853 the institute was reorganized under a legislative act for the incorporation of colleges, academies, etc., as "The Findlay Male and Female Seminary." The academy at this time contained a large number of students, and was in a very prosperous condition, as the Union School District had not yet been organized, and the children attended the academy; but with the organiza- tion of that district, in the fall of 1853, the attendance dwindled away, and the institute became non-supporting. In June, 1854, Mr. Spear started the Home Companion, and a year afterward resigned his position as superin- tendent of the academy. He was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Hugh L. McKee, who conducted the school one year, and it was then closed; the history of the academy ending at the same time. In November, 1860, the property was sold to George W. Galloway for the sum of $800, and was subsequently rented for a few years by the board of education of the Union School District. The building was afterward torn down, and the material used by Mr. Galloway in the erection of his present business place on Main Street.
The Hancock Wesleyan Seminary was started in the spring of 1851, by the Methodists, in opposition to the academy, which they regarded as a Presbyterian school. The seminary was held in the old Methodist Church on East Main Cross Street, with Prof. P. D. Pelton and wife as principal
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and assistant, respectively; but though they were excellent teachers, the school had a brief career, yet it contributed its mite toward the cause of education during the year or two of its existence.
Findlay College, the most recent addition to the schools of Findlay, will open its first term September 1, 1886, and we believe it is destined to be one of the leading educational institutions of Ohio. While the estab- lishment of a college, under the auspices of the "Church of God," has been in contemplation for many years, the initial movement looking to that end took definite shape in a resolution introduced at the general eldership held at Findlay in 1881. That body authorized the committee on educa- tion to take the proper steps to form an incorporation and to select a loca- tion for the proposed institution. Findlay was selected as the most appro- priate site for the college, and on the 23d of January, 1882, articles of in- corporation were filed with the Secretary of State, "Findlay College" being the name adopted. The incorporators were Jeremiah M. Carvell, Robert L. Byrnes, Isaac Schrader, Tobias Koogle, Jacob M. Cassel, Anderson C. Heck, John C. Strickler and George F. Pendleton, the four last mentioned being citizens of Hancock County. The board of incorporators met at Findlay, February 8, 1882, and the board of trustees, previously recom- mended by the executive board of the general eldership, appeared and signed their names to the articles of incorporation, and were duly qualified. The board then organized by the election of the following temporary offi- cers: Isaac Frazer, president; Eli G. De Wolfe, secretary; E. P. Jones, treasurer. Executive, finance, building, library and cabinet committees were appointed at the same time. The first annual meeting of the board was held at Findlay, June 21, 1882, when a permanent organization was effected, by-laws adopted, and a large amount of preliminary business transacted.
On the 18th of October, 1882, the board again met for the purpose of considering plans for a college building. when those submitted by M. Rum- baugh were accepted. The architect was directed to prepare complete plans and specifications, and sealed proposals for the erection of said building were ordered to be advertised for. The bids were opened March 6, 1883, but none were accepted for the reason that they were not within the $50,000, to which the board had by previous resolution limited the cost of the build- ing. The contract was finally let June 20, 1883, to Pierce & Coleman for the sum of $49,000, to be finished according to the plans and specifications. The work was soon afterward commenced, and on Sunday, the 25th of May, 1884, the corner-stone was laid with imposing ceremonies in the presence of a very large assemblage. Under the contract the building was to be com- pleted by April, 1885, and the college opened the following autumn, but unforeseen obstacles prevented the consummation of these plans until the present year. The total cost of the building has largely exceeded the esti- mate, and when finished and furnished throughout will, doubtless, reach the sum of $60,000. In comparison with other institutions in their infancy, Findlay College is unsurpassed in the rapidity of its growth and fortunate escapes from reverses, which threatened the very existence of some of our oldest and best institutions. From the beginning the work has moved steadily on, though perhaps not quite as fast at times as some not experi- enced in such work had anticipated. During the last year work upon the building ceased, owing to the pressure of the times and the unswerving res-
Samuel Spiller
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VILLAGE OF FINDLAY.
olution of the board to keep free from debt by paying as they went. But even during this time, other departments of the work went steadily forward. When we consider what has been already accomplished, together with the fact that one hundred cents have been paid on every dollar of indebtedness, and that no encumbrance whatever rests upon the college property, there is room for congratulations upon the success already achieved.
The college is located in North Findlay, about one mile from the post- office, being conveniently near the business part of the city for all practical purposes, and sufficiently removed to secure proper attention to college work. From the third floor of the building one may get a commanding view of Findlay and its surroundings. The building is a large, commodious and elegant structure, and when fully completed will not only be massive and imposing in its appearance, but its convenience and adaptability cannot help but provoke favorable criticism. It is 171 feet 8 inches in length, 107 feet 3 inches in depth, four stories in height, exclusive of the attic and includ- ing basement, with a main corridor in each story running the entire length of the building, from which other corridors lead to the various apartments. The building affords sixteen recitation rooms, laboratory, lecture room, museum, a unique library, a novel and well arranged chapel, capable of seating 800 students comfortably, and four large society rooms, 40x50 feet, besides double parlors and well arranged public and private offices. It stands in about the middle of a campus including ten acres of ground, on all sides of which will be a driveway 50 feet in width, except Main Street, which is 100 feet wide and on which the college building faces. The campus is to be nicely graded, laid out with walks and drives and ornamented with shrub- bery, when it will be at once an attractive and inspiring place for the admirer of learning and art.
The press and the school are so closely allied in the cause of spreading knowledge and enlightenment, that it will not be inappropriate to give the his- tory of the newspapers of Findlay in the same chapter with its schools. The Courier was the pioneer newspaper of the county, and is now in its fiftieth year. It was established by Jacob Rosenberg and first issued, as The Findlay Courier, November 10, 1836. Mr. Rosenberg was a native of Bedford County, Penn., born October 13, 1811, and there received a fair education. He learned the art of printing in the office of the Farmer, in Millersburg, Ohio, whence he had removed from his native place, and in the fall of 1836 took up his resi- dence in Findlay. The Courier was first a five-column folio printed on a sheet 18x26 in size, but after a few months it was somewhat enlarged. From a copy of the paper handed us by its present editor, dated "Findlay, October 12, 1837," and headed "Volume I, No. 41," the average reader might infer that the Courier had its inception in January, 1837, but the paper was issued very irregularly during the early part of its existence, which accounts for the seeming contradiction between the number spoken of and the date of the first issue. As a matter of some interest to the investi- gating reader, we here give a verbatim copy of the terms under which the Courier was published in 1837:
"The Findlay Courier will be printed every Thursday, at the moderate rate of 2 dollars per annum, payable within the year, or two dollars and fifty cents will invariably be charged if payment is delayed until the year has expired. No subscription will be taken for a shorter period than six
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
months, and no paper discontinued until all arrearages are paid up, unless at the option of the editor.
" Advertisements not exceeding one square will be inserted three times for one dollar; and twenty-five cents for each subsequent insertion. A fair deduction will be made to those advertising by the year.
"Country produce will be taken in payment of one-half of the sub- scription, if delivered in Findlay before the year expires."
Upon the close of the first volume the name was changed to The Findlay Courier and Hancock and Putnam Democratic Shield, a title sufficiently lengthy, no doubt, to satisfy its readers. But it was then the official organ of Putnam, as well as of Hancock County, and the name was adopted to please its patrons in both. The Courier was also enlarged at this time to a six-column folio, 21x31 inches in dimensions, but printing paper was then very scarce, and the Courier would occasionally be issued at a reduced size, though for several years it remained a six-column paper. From 1836 to 1840, and perhaps longer, printing paper was $7 per ream delivered in Findlay, and difficult to purchase at that price, while the sheet was not half so large as it is to-day. In January, 1840, Mr. Rosenberg sold the Courier to Henry Bishop, and subsequently started the Hancock Farmer. He possessed considerable local influence in the Democratic party, and was elected sheriff in October, 1838, and re-elected to the same office, serving until November, 1842. It is said that he was a "plain, terse and forcible writer," but there is nothing in the old numbers of his paper from which to form such an opinion, as they are made up principally of selected matter, political and foreign news (copied) and advertisements, with occasionally a few lines of local news, or brief editorial comments. Mr. Rosenberg married Mrs. Delia Hollabaugh, widow of Martin Holla- baugh, and in the fall of 1840 opened a hotel in the old frame court house, which he had previously purchased and remodeled, and here died in Octo- ber, 1844. His widow married Jacob Carr, a pioneer dentist of Findlay, and is still a resident of the village.
Mr. Bishop issued his first number January 24, 1840, as The Findlay Courier, thus going back to its original title. He began a new series, and published the paper until July 1, 1845, when he was succeeded by William Mungen. In 1850 Mr. Bishop was elected to the Legislature to represent Hancock and Wyandot Counties, and in 1851 he was re-elected under the new constitution as the representative of Hancock. He had previously re- moved to a farm in Eagle Township, and was drowned in Eagle Creek, June 18, 1855. His brother, John D. Bishop, was one of the pioneers of that township, and both have descendants living in the county.
Mr. Mungen, prior to purchasing the Courier, in June, 1845, had been engaged in publishing the Hancock Farmer. He took charge of that office in February, 1845, the paper, through the death of Mr. Rosenberg the pre- vious fall, being for sale, and conducted the Farmer until he bought the Courier, when he consolidated the papers as the Democratic Courier, first issued July 1, 1845. From a file of the Courier of 1846 and 1847, now in possession of Col. Mungen, we find that during those years a vigorous polit- ical and personal warfare was waged between the Courier and Herald, the latter being the Whig organ, and then edited by James M. Coffinberry, now of Cleveland, Ohio. In January, 1849, Mr. Mungen rented the office to W. M. Case, who began a new series with many promises, but Mr. Mungen
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VILLAGE OF FINDLAY.
was finally obliged to do most of the editorial work, as "Mood" Case was one of those good-natured, lazy cases, who bother themselves very little about the active duties of life. At the close of Case's lease Mr. Mungen rented the office to Benjamin F. Rosenberg, a son of the founder, and in January, 1851, sold the paper to Henry Brown and Aaron Blackford. Col. Mungen is yet a resident of Findlay, and a brief sketch of him will be found in the chapter on the judiciary.
Messrs. Brown & Blackford intended to make their paper sufficiently Democratic without retaining that title at the head of their columns, so they at once changed the name to The Hancock Courier. and began a new series. The present name and numbering date from that time. The Courier was a six-col- umn paper from the fall of 1837 to July 28, 1852, when it was enlarged to a seven-column folio, printed on a sheet 24x36 inches, and so remained up to December, 1865. In January, 1854, Mr. Brown sold his interest to Mr. Blackford, who, in partnership with his brother, John, ran the paper one year, and then disposed of it to Mr. Brown. The Courier was printed by Alpheus M. Hollabaugh (a step-son of Jacob Rosenberg) from May, 1851, to July, 1852, when he was succeeded by W. F. Gilkison, who ran the office until the close of 1855, and Benjamin F. Rosenberg then bought whatever interest he had in the material of the office. Mr. Brown conducted the Courier until December 20, 1856, and then sold out to Mr. Rosenberg. It had at that time a circulation of nearly 900 copies, and was a vigorous exponent of Democratic principles. The annual subscription price was $1.50, $2 and $2.50, according to the time paid. A perusal of the files during Mr. Brown's editorial control will convince the most skeptical that he believed in no half-way measures in politics. His blows were dealt with that earnest, peculiar vigor characteristic of the man, and if his articles did not always convert they generally implanted a large grain of doubt in the minds of his political opponents as to the justice and honesty of their views. Mr. Brown soon became quite popular with his party, and has received many favors in recognition of his services.
Mr. Rosenberg was sole proprietor of the Courier until July 18, 1857, on which date Alpheus M. Hollabaugh bought the office. The latter pub- lished the paper until its purchase by Lewis Glessner & Son, in March, 1861. Mr. Rosenberg died in Findlay in 1869, and Mr. Hollabaugh in 1871. The former was a son of Jacob Rosenberg, and came to Findlay with his parents in the fall of 1836. Here his mother died, and his father married Mrs. Delia Hollabaugh, widow of Martin Hollabaugh, a pioneer of 1835, and mother of Alpheus M. Hollabaugh. The boys thus grew up as members of one family, and both were practical printers.
With the advent of the Messrs. Glessner the Courier entered upon a more prosperous career than it had previously enjoyed. The first number under L. Glessner & Son was issued March 8, 1861, and a little more than a month afterward the civil war broke out. That was a trying period for newspapers, especially those of Democratic proclivities, but the new propri- etors were experienced newspaper men, and the Courier buffeted the wave of political passion and prejudice successfully. With the close of 1864 the father retired from the paper, disposing of his interest to his son and pre- vious partner, W. L. Glessner, and removed to Newark, Ohio, where he purchased and published the Newark Advocate. In December, 1865, with the beginning of Volume XVI, the Courier was enlarged to an eight- column
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folio, 26x38 inches in size. It was successfully conducted by W. L. Glessner until May 3, 1866, on which date his last number was issued. His father again took the editorial helm, this time as sole proprietor, the son removing to Toledo and purchasing the Record of that city. The Courier's circulation at that time was 1,000 paying subscribers, and in two years this list was swelled to 1,300. In September, 1868, the paper was enlarged to a nine-column folio, and has so remained up to the present. Mr. Glessner conducted the Courier until his death, March 13, 1869, pre- vious to which event he had erected the "Courier Block," on Sandusky Street, and occupied a portion of the building with his printing office. Since the death of Mr. Glessner the paper has been published by his widow, with Fred H. Glessner as editor and business manager. The Courier is in a prosperous and flourishing condition, claims a circulation of 1,800 copies, and a first-class job office is run in connection with the paper. It is the only Democratic paper published in the county, and as such is the official organ, and receives the support of that party. The history of the Courier goes back to the days when Hancock County was just emerging from its primitive condition, and Findlay a straggling hamlet of cabins. It has published the obituaries of several opposition papers during the period of nearly fifty years that it has been doing battle for the Democracy, but it has never wavered in its allegiance to the best interests of the party, and from its infancy up to its present vigorous manhood has ever battled for what it regarded as the rights and liberties of the people.
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