History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 94

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826

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"Resolved, That in our opinion teachers' institutes are the most efficient means of improving the teachers, and through them the common schools of the State, and the best calculated to render the profession of school-teaching more elevating and dignified. .

"Resolved. That we heartily respond to the arrangement made by the executive committee of the State Teachers' associ- ation, to hold a teachers' institute in this county commencing on the twenty-seventh of March next, that we will procure a suitable building, and provide means toward defraying the ex- penses of the session, and we earnestly solicit teachers and friends of education in other townships in the county to cu- operate with us in this matter, and that a committee be ap- pointed to make arrangements for holding the institute in the town of Newark."

----

After the adoption of resolutions and the trans- action of other business, the following gentlemen were chosen officers of the society: Rev. Alex- ander Duncan, president; Rev. George Dennison, and Isaac Smucker, vice-presidents, and C. P. Wilder, secretary.

As a result of this movement, the institute which followed, March 27, was well attended, and characterized by a lively interest in the cause of public schools. Mr. M. F. Cowdry, president of the executive committee of the State Teachers' association, and Mr. Lorin Andrews, served in the capacity of lecturers during the week of the insti- tute, at the close of which a series of fifteen reso- lutions was adopted, setting forth the opinion of those in attendance, looking toward a more effi- cient system of public scools, a more thorough preparation of teachers, and a wider range in the course of studies.

At a meeting of the citizens interested in com- mon schools, held at the auditor's office, July 11,

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

1848, a committee of twelve was appointed to circulate a petition to the town council for the pur- pose of securing signatures of such of the quali- fied voters as were in favor of extending the provisions of the Akron law to this town. This petition received about four hundred and fifty signatures, almost a unanimous consent of the voters then within the corporation.

July 20th a notice was issued by the mayor, A. H. Caffee, that an election would be held August 12th following, for the purpose of electing six school directors for the town, in conformity with an act amendatory to the Akron school law, and applicable to this town. This election resulted in the choice of Israel Dille, Isaac Smucker, Samuel D. King, Adam Fleek, Abner W. Dennis and Joshua Gibbs as the first school board of New- ark, under the organization of the graded plan. The organization was further perfected at a meet- ing held August 16th, at which the oath of office was administered by Samuel H. Bancroft, a justice of the peace, and the following members were chosen officers of the board: Samuel D. King, president; A. W. Dennis, secretary; and Adam Fleek, treasurer. A. W. Dennis and Israel Dille were appointed a committee of correspondence. Messrs. Dille, Smucker and Gibbs were appointed a committee to procure rooms suitable for school purposes; divide the town into districts for primary schools; learn what number of pupils would want instruction in the higher branches, and make such other arrangements for the year as the schools might require. Correspondence was opened at once with school officers at Lockport and Utica, New York, Akron, Ohio, and others in different parts of the country.

The town council was notified to appoint school examiners, as required by law, and Messrs. Dille and Dennis were appointed a committe to draft rules and regulations for the government of school boards and schools.

The following notice was inserted in the Licking Herald of November 3, 1848:

"Candidates for the office of teacher, under the supervision of the Board of Education of the town of Newark, are hereby notified that an examination of such candidates will be holden at ten o'clock A. M., on Wednesday, the eighth instant, in the basement of the Episcopal church.

" The examination will be conducted orally in part, and

partly by use of written questions, to which written answers will be required.

"By order of the Board of Education, J. BUCKINGHAM, Secretary."

November 16, 1848, the committee appointed to rent rooms for the use of schools organized on the graded plan, reported the following, which was accepted:

"School-house in rear of the First Presbyterian church, at one hundred dollars a year; room in the basement of the Methodist church, on Fourth street, at four dollars a month; room in the base- ment of the Episcopal church, at four dollars a month; school-room in rear of the Welsh church, at three dollars a month; house owned by Joel Arnold, corner of Fifth and Main streets, at one and one-half dollars a month; house of Israel Dille, on East Main street, at three dollars per month; two rooms in front of the Franklin house, east side of public square, at five dollars a month ; room of A. J. Smith, in Appolo building, at twen- ty-five dollars a year; also two small buildings for- merly used as school-houses, one on Walnut street, and the other in East Newark. The same com- mittee also reported that the furniture and stoves necessary to furnish the rooms would probably cost one hundred and fifty dollars."

Thus it was that the graded schools of Newark came into existence.

The following is the corps of teachers employed and the salary of each: L. P. Coman, superin- tendent of all the schools and principal of the high school, salary six hundred dollars; L. W. Gilbert, first assistant, salary twenty-six dollars a month; Miss Sophronia Hines, salary twenty-two dollars a month; Miss Cornelia Curtis, sixteen dollars a month; J. C. Miller, first assistant in the secondary department, salary twenty-four dollars a month; Miss Susan Bushnell, Miss Caroline Carter, Miss Amelia L. Ellis and Miss Caroline Seymour, in secondary department, salary sixteen dollars a month each; Miss Elizabeth Morgan, Miss Sophia Carter, Miss Mary Dunham and Miss Lydia M. Little, in the primary department, salary sixteen dollars a month each.

September 18, 1849, the board of education adopted a complete course of studies, the schools having previously been named and classified with respect to time as follows:

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"Primary school embracing four years; secondary school em- bracing four years, and high school embracing four years. The course of studies for the primary and secondary grades embraced all the common branches, and natural history the last year of the secondary course, making this the preparatory year for admission into the high school. The high school course in- cluded English grammar, composition, vocal music, rhetoric, botany, United States history, mental philosophy, logic, book- keeping, higher arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, geology, Greek and Latin."

The following is taken from the first annual re- port of the board of education, after its organiza- tion under the Akron law, to the council, for the years 1848-9, dated February 19, 1850:

"During the first quarter, twelve schools were taught, consist- ing of six primary, four secondary and two departments of the high school, male and female. In these schools fourteen teach- ers were employed, including the superintendent, three male and eleven female. During the second quarter the same num- ber of schools were taught, and thirteen teachers were employed, the services of the assistant female teacher in the female depart- ment of the high school having been dispensed with on the ground that an assistant teacher in this school was not abso- lutely necessary.

"The number of scholars enrolled during the winter quarter was three hundred and ninety-five males and three hundred and twenty-seven females; total seven hundred and twenty-two. The average daily attendance was two hundred and eighty-four males and two hundred and forty females. The number en- rolled during the summer quarter was two hundred and twenty- nine males and two hundred and seventy-five females. The average daily attendance was one hundred and forty-two males and one hundred and ninety-two females.

"Amount collected from common school fund, United States military fund, county duplicates, delinquent school-house tax, and all other sources, two thousand nine hundred and thir- ty-one dollars, eighty-three cents and three mills; amount paid teachers, for rent, for fuel, for furniture and other miscella- neous items, two thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight dollars and fifty-two cents; balance in treasury, seventy-three dollars thirty-one cents and three mills.

"The most serious difficulty the board had to encounter dur- ing the year was the want of suitable school rooms, as they were under the necessity of relying solely on the rent of such rooms as could be obtained. Many of them are inconvenient as to location, unpleasant, and in many instances uncomforta- ble. Another difficulty was the classification of the scholars. When the town is supplied with convenient and well arranged school-houses, this important part of our schools may be im- proved.

"As the whole amount of school fund accruing to the town, under the general school law, and received into the treasury, was deemed insufficient to keep up the schools nine months in the year, the board was under the necessity of making an as- sessment for this purpose on each scholar whose parents or guardians were considered able to pay, taking special care not to exclude any who were justly entitled to free admission.

"As to the erection of a new building, it was first supposed that six or more primary school-houses, located in different parts of the town, would be first needed, but since they have

effected a classification of scholars, and better understand their wants, they are of opinion that the interests of the schools re- quire that a central school-house be first erected for the accom- modation of the secondary and high school scholars.

"When the town is supplied with suitable and well arranged school-houses, the board confidently believe that our public schools may be made equal to any schools in the State, either select or public, that the youth may be educated at much less expense in public than select schools, and that a large amount of money heretofore sent to other towns, for educational pur- poses, will be retained here for the improvement of our town., and for the benefit of common schools.

"Although the board have had an arduous duty to perform in organizing and classifying the several schools, they take plea- sure in stating that the success of our common schools during the year may, in a measure, be ascribed to the common sense liberality of the citizens of Newark, for the last of which no better evidence need be required than that they contributed from private sources nearly twelve hundred dollars for the sup- port of the public schools."

At the regular meeting in May, 1850, the board entered into contract with Messrs. H. Rogers and S. Ferguson for the erection of what is known as the Central school building on Church street, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. Said building was to be two stories high, eighty feet long and sixty feet wide; to contain two school-rooms in basement, eight school-rooms, one office and one recitation room in the superstructure, and to be ready for occupancy at the opening of the schools in the fall of 1851. In 1854 the capacity of the central building not being sufficient for the accom- modation of the pupils then in the schools, a third story, containing four school-rooms, and one rec- itation room was added to it.

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Since the erection of this building, substantial two-story primary buildings were erected in East. South and West Newark. A handsome two-story building, containing ample corridors, one office and eight well arranged and furnished school- rooms, with cloak-rooms connected, and all warmed with steam heating apparatus, was completed in September, 1875, in North Newark.

The following is a tabular form of the more im- portant statistics since 1855, showing the growth and improvement of the schools, and the increase of funds expended for their support :

1855.

1865. 1875- 188:

Number of pupils enumerated.

1,400

1,927

3,379

Number of pupils enrolled.

820

1,178

1.563 1,812

Average daily attendance.

540

629 1,037 1,215

Number of teachers.

Number of school-rooms.

Number of weeks in session

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HISTORY FO LICKING COUNTY.

The amount paid teachers in 1849 was $2,057; in 1875, $12,593; in 1880, $17,006.82. Value of school property in 1851, $13,000; in 1875, $80,- 000; in 1880, $95,000.

THE PRESS OF NEWARK .- The Newark Ad- vocate was the first paper printed in Licking county. It was started in 1820, by Mr, Benjamin Briggs, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He continued its publication until August, 1856, a period of thirty- six years, when he sold it to Mr. W. D. Morgan. Mr. Morgan conducted it until January, 1865, when he transferred it to Mr. Lewis Glessner, who published it until April, 1866. Mr. W. W. Kings- bury became owner at this latter date, and remained sole proprietor until April, 1867, when he formed a partnership with W. D. Morgan, one of its former conductors. Mr. Kingsbury died in Sep- tember, 1875, and the paper was continued by Mr. Morgan alone until March 10, 1880, when it was purchased by the present proprietor, J. A. Caldwell.

The Advocate supported Henry Clay for presi- dent in 1824; General Jackson in 1828 and 1832; Martin Van Buren in 1836 and 1840; James K. Polk in 1844; Lewis Cass in 1848; Franklin Pierce in 1852; James Buchanan in 1856; John C. Breckenridge in 1860; General George B. Mc- Clellan in 1864 ; Horatio Seymour in 1868 ; Horace Greely in 1872; Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, and Winfield S. Hancock in 1880. It has been pub- shed sixty years, and has been consistent as well as persistent in its advocacy of Democratic princi- ples and in its support of Democratic candidates.

Its first editor, Mr. Briggs, was a clear, forcible writer, much given to the use of strong Saxon words that vigorously expressed his ideas, and he never wrote without having ideas to convey. He ' wrote carefully, slowly, scarcely with ordinary facil- ity, but his manuscripts were remarkably correct as to orthography, and were short, generally amount- ing to less than a column. It was his practice to put his editorials (especially the shorter ones) in type without writing them. When he chose to be vituperative he generally succeeded. During his long residence in Newark he was a prominent citi- zen, and was identified with every project that tended to the advancement and welfare of the place and its people. He held various public

trusts, being elected mayor of the city, and to both branches of the State legislature; he was also postmaster some years. Upon retiring from edi- torial life he removed to Washington city, where he spent several years. Death overtook him in his sixty-eighth year.

The second paper started in Newark was called the Newark Gazette. Its first issue was by Rufus Henry & Company, late in 1827, and it was devoted to the advocacy of the election of John Quincy Adams to the Presidency. Dr. Daniel Marble was the company; he edited the paper and Mr. Henry printed it. In 1837 Mr. Clark Dunham became proprietor and remained such about ten years, ex- cept during the year 1841, when George M. Young and Samuel White were editors and proprietors. Messrs. George P. Conrad and William Richards succeeded Mr. Dunham about 1847. In 1852 Michael P. Brister purchased the Gazette and changed its name to the Newark Times. He de- voted it to Americanism a year or two, and sold it, in 1855, to A. W. Stevens, who changed its name to the North American, and published it as a Re- publican paper about three years and then sold it to S. G. Arnold. W. C. Gray and M. L. Wilson continued the paper as the True American in 1863 and 1864. In 1865 McAdam & Lee bought it. About a year after Major Caffrey and Dr. T. B. Hood became the owners. Hood soon retired, and, in 1868, the concern was purchased by M. L. Wilson and A. B. Clark. During the following year Henry I. King purchased Mr. Wilson's inter- est, and Mr. Clark, in turn, purchased Mr. King's interest in 1873. The latter conducted the paper about one year alone. . In March, 1874, Mr. I. N. Underwood, an old and experienced newspaper man, purchased a half interest in the concern.

The Newark Gazette was the organ of the Whig party in this county, and as such supported Henry Clay for President in 1832; General Harrison in 1836 and 1840; issuing, in addition, the Harriso- nian in 1840, and the Kickapoo in 1844, as cam- paign papers, both in the interest of General Har- rison. They were made up principally of the Gazette editorials. In 1844 the Gazette advocated the election of Henry Clay again; General Taylor in 1848, and General Scott in 1852. Soon after this the Whig party expired, and the successor of

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

the Newark Gazette, being now called the North American, sustained the candidate of the Republi- can party, Colonel J. C. Fremont, for President. The Newark American has since been the organ of the Republican party here, supporting all the Re- publican candidates for the Presidency since the organization of that party. Under its present management it is, probably, the best conducted and most ably edited county paper in central Ohio.

The Constitutionalist was the next paper started in Newark. The first number was issued in 1837, by Rankin & Stadden, and supported the Demo- cratic doctrines. Colonel William Spencer, Colo- nel Boring, W. P. Morrison, and John R. Petit were, at different times, associate proprietors with Stadden after Rankins' death in 1840, until late in 1843, and Abijah Baker and Messrs. George H. and C. B. Flood took a hand in the editorial man- agement of it.

A campaign paper called the` Rasp was issued in 1840 from the Constitutionalist office. Both pa- pers advocated the re-election of Martin Van Buren to the Presidency.

About 1842 a paper was issued from the Gazette office, called The Laborer; it was edited by James Sloan, and advocated protective tariff notions. It lived about three months.

Late in 1843, Mr. Jacob Glessner purchased the Constitutionalist and changed its name to the Lick- ing Herald. He remained the sole proprietor, supporting James K. Polk for President in 1844, until 1848, when he sold out to J. C. Springer. In 1850, Messrs. Harvey C. Blackman & Company bought it and supported Franklin Pierce for Presi- dent in 1852. Soon after the election a Mr. Col- burn owned it awhile. William Parr was proprie- tor in 1853, and E. J. Ellis then conducted it, except during a brief interval in 1856. Mr. Bris- tor having disposed of the Times bought the Her- ald of Mr. Ellis, changed the name to the Newark Times and published it as a Democratic paper a few months, flying the flag of James Buchanan for President. Mr. Brister's death occurred before the election, but the Times was continued as a neutral or independent paper, devoted to news, miscellany and reform, by Mrs. Brister. It was discontinued in 1859.

The Oriental Evanic was started in 1846. It

advocated the principles of the Oriental Evanic order, and, though ably edited, it was short lived. It was the organ of the Newark Evanics, and of the "Concilium," the knighthood branch of the order.

The Voice of the People was started as a Douglas paper in 1860, by John H. Putnam, and was a squatter sovereignty advocate until the summer of 1861, when its editor "went to the wars," and his paper was swallowed up by the Advocate.

In 1863, Asa L. Harris began the publication of the Licking Record in this city. It was devoted to Republicanism, but was short lived, enduring about a year.

In 1862, a campaign paper, styled the True Democrat, was published a few months. It advo- cated the election of an independant ticket, put in the field against the regularly nominated Demo- cratic ticket. The paper was edited at first by a Mr. Whitely, and at last by Mr. Peter Long. Its ticket was defeated, and the True Democrat was discontinued.

In 1866, Messrs. Caffrey & Tenney started the Reveille and Woolgrower. Its publication was continued about a year, when it was merged in the Newark American.

James White and Dr. Tuller, in 1861-2 pub- lished a small semi-monthly paper called the Souver, at fifty cents a year. It advocated the three lead- ing doctrines of the New Church, viz: First, that God is one in essence and in person, and that Je- sus Christ is that one: Second, that the word of God is divine wisdom, and, therefore, the eternal fountian of divine truth: Third, that a life, according to this truth, is the way leading to use- fulness, which introduces to heaven. The Souer lived a little over a year.

It is also worthy of mention that M. L. Wilson, at long intervals, got out an advertising sheet !; sometimes it took the shape of a holiday paper, especially about Christmas and New Years. He also issued a fifty cent paper at intervals of a month or thereabouts, called Papers by the Way. This was made up of the matter of the American.

A daily paper was at one time issued in the city for a few months only. It died for want of proper nourishment.

Twenty or thirty years ago a paper called the

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HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

Spy was issued "semi-occasionally." It was devo- ted to fun. The Monthly Voice, a Swedenborgian Sunday-school paper was also issued many years ago, by M. L. Wilson. It lived a year or more.

The Newark Banner was started April 1, 1874, by Milton R. Scott, the present editor and propri- etor. It is independent in politics.

In 1878, a paper, called the National Advance, was issued by T. O'Donovan. It was a stock con- cern and advocated the principles of the National party. About a year later it was purchased by O'Donovan & Kuster, who changed the name to the Newark Democrat, it also became a Demo- cratic paper. It was purchased by the proprietor of the Advocate, in the spring of 1880, and dis- continued.

In the spring of 1880, Rev. O. J. Nave began the issue of the Newark Pastoral, a paper devoted to the interests of the Methodist church. It was discontinued late in 1880.

A second attempt has been made to start a daily paper, and the first number of the Newark Morning News was issued June 7, 1880. It was conducted by Charles F. Dutcher until August 9, 1880, when it passed into the hands of Messrs. Stephens & Fant. It is Democratic.

In the spring of 1880, it began to dawn upon the Germans that they were in sufficient force in this city and county to sustain a paper printed in their own language; accordingly the first number of the Newark Express made its appearance June 25, 1880. It is Democratic in politics, and is ed- ited by F. Kochendorfer, who is also a teacher in the public schools.

It will be observed that Newark has, at present, four papers-one daily and five weeklies, viz: The Advocate, American, Banner, News, and Express. Three of these are Democratic, one Republican, and one independent.

CHAPTER LXIII.

NEWARK TOWNSHIP AND CITY CONTINUED.

EARLY SETTLERS-FIRST CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE IN NEWARK-NOMINATING A PRESIDENT-EARLY MAILS AND LIST OF POSTMASTERS-THE EFFECTS OF THE NATIONAL ROAD AND CANAL-THE "MEETING HOUSE "- ISAAC SMUCKER'S RECOLLECTIONS OF NEWARK IN 1825-NEWARK AS A TOWN AND CITY-LIST OF MAYORS-EFFECT OF THE RAILROADS ON THE CITY-A SUMMARY OF THE BUSINESS-THE YOUNG MENS' CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION-THE LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION-THE LICKING COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION-MASONS, ODD FELLOWS AND OTHER SOCIETIES.

"And so I have said, and I say it over, And can prove it over and over again, That the four-footed beasts on the red-crowned clover, The pied and horned beasts of the plain That lie down, rise up, and repose again, And do never take care, or toil, or spin, Nor buy, nor build, nor gather in gold, Though the days go out and the tides come in, Are better than we by a thousand-fold ; For what is it all, in the words of fire, But a vexing of soul and a vain desire?

-Joaquin Miller.

R ETURNING to the early settlement of the town and township, it is found that the set- tlers of 1803-in the former, were Robert Sher-

wood and, perhaps, one other; and in the latter, on the "Wilson section," Jacob Wilson and Evan Payne. Sherwood was a native of Ireland, but married and lived some years in Shippensburgh, Pennsylvania, before coming to Newark. He be- came owner of a lot on the southeast corner of First and Main streets, where he died in 1822. Wilson and Payne built a cabin on the North fork, but on the east side. Near the "Big spring," close to his cabin, Jacob Wilson stuck into the ground a willow switch he had brought with him from the Alleghany mountains, which grew into

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History of Licking County, Ohio: Its Past and Present, Part 94

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr. Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Number of Pages: 826

Author: N. N. Hill, Jr.
Publication date: 1881
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826