History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 28

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207

USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions > Part 28

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"Sec. 4th. That if any person or persons licensed agreeably. to the provisions of these ordinances shall suffer or permit rioting, drunkenness or gambling in his or their grocery, he or they shall forfeit and pay for every such offense a sum not less than one dollar or more than fifty dollars, to be recovered and paid over in the same manner and for the same purpose and use as it provided by the preceding section of these ordinances.

"Sec. 5th. That it is largely made the duty of the treasurer to inquire into and prosecute all suits for the recovery of any forfeiture under the provisions of this act. "These ordinances to take effect and be in force from and after the 26th day of this inst. May 16, 1831.

"Ordered by the common council the day and year above written that the above ordinances be published at length on the door of the court house, in the town of Lon- don, ten days before taking effect of same.

"P. SMITH, Recorder. P. McLENE, President."

Digitized by Google

MAIN STREET, LONDON

SCENE AT LONDON. DURING THE BIG SNOW, FEBRUARY 17, 1910

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by

201

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

EXCELLENT LANGUAGE USED.

These proceedings are given verbatim to show what excellent language was used by the men of those days, who had but meager opportunities for an education. The handwriting is beautiful, quaint and legible.

Space will not permit taking up in detail the workings of the many councils of our town. It would be interesting if one of our newspapers would, from time to time, print some of the old ordinances and proceedings of council as are now sometimes printed "From our issue of 42 years ago."

Many of the forefathers of the F. F. V.'s of London took an active part in both making the local laws and in enforcing them. R. A. Harrison and H. W. Smith, two great lawyers, were members of the council at the same time. W. H. Chandler, Sr., was president of the council while George W. Wilson was clerk. Mr. Wilson was also clerk during the terms of M. L. Bryan and O. P. Crabb as mayors. W. H. Squires, Henry Warner, Amos G. Thompson, Nathan Bond, B. Custer, S. Watson, John Jones, John Dungan, Wm. Farrar, E. J. Gould, Charles Gulcher, Philip Speasmaker, Dr. Toland Jones, George W. Lohr, Robert Rea, Valentine Bauer, Jeriah Sweetland, George Ronemus, E. R. Watts, A. Duncan, S. H. Cartzdafner, William A. Netl, J. C. Bridgman, James Ryan and Richard Peard are some of the members who have served in the council in years long past.

In looking over the minutes of the proceedings of the council from the first down to the present, one must be impressed with the evident sincerity of purpose of those public servants. The councils seem to have been more precise in all their deliberations and business transactions in the early years of the village than are councils in later years. The people had not so many things to engage their time and attention then and life had not become so strenuous. One could hardly imagine the Hon. R. A. Har- rison acting as village clerk in the last twenty years of his remarkably successful life. But as recorder of our village, performing his services gratuitously, his records show the same painstaking care as he afterwards used in drawing pleadings in important cases.

INCENTIVE TO LOYALTY AND PATRIOTISM.

The council is many times severely criticised and some members permitted to serve but a single term in this body because the dear people, especially the proletariat, have . some real or fancied grievance for some sin of omission or commission. The electors should bear in mind that the councilmen perform thankless service; that, like the choir in the mining camp, they humbly ask the people not to shoot because they do the best they can. They would be thankful for helpful suggestions. Things are many times neglected that should have attention because the people do not notify council of their needs. All should feel more interest in the public business and assist council to come to correct decisions in important matters. This cannot be done by harsh criticism or meddlesome interference, but by taking time and pains to investigate mat- ters and then as a result to offer helpful suggestions. If every citizen would do his full duty as a citizen, the labor of the council would be greatly simplified.

Many times the work of the council and the expenses of the village are greatly increased by the act or neglect of a class of the citizens and resulting from such act or neglect, criticism does not always settle where it belongs, but frequently on the mem- bers of council. So that many times good men are greatly loath to accept a nomination for the office. If the citizens of the village would attend the meetings of council more frequently and observe the great amount of important business transacted there, they would have a higher appreciation of the arduous and responsible labors of this honor- able body. Attendance at these meetings would bring about a more intelligent concep- tion of the business of the council and the affairs of the municipality and would result

Digitized by Google

MADISON COUNTY,.OHIO.

in a greater loyalty and patriotism of the citizenship, a more generous and general commendation of the good things and less reason for criticism of the evil thinga.

PRESENT CITY . OFFICERS.

Following is a list of present (1915) officers of the city of London :

'Mayor, M. L. Burnham; clerk, John W. Byers; treasurer, O. C. Burris; solicitor, C. C. Crabbe; city engineer, J. H. Arber.

Police Department-Chief. Edward Marshall ; night watch, Carl Becker and William Golden.

Fire Department-Chief, John W. Byers; vice chief, James Goldsberry ; driver hose reel, John Gallagher; driver hook and ladder, Harry Turnet.

Health Department-Health officer, Dr. Kyle; sanitary police, John Duffey.

Board of Public Affairs-E. R. Schurr, E. B. Pancake, Edward P. Speasmaker.

Park Commissioners-J. R. Atchison, Austin Hutson, George H. Van Wagener.

Public Library Board-J. B. Van 'Wagener, president; Mrs Gideon T. Clark, Sr., vice-president ; Mrs. Ida White, secretary ; R. W. Boyd, treasurer; Chester E. Bryan, Mrs. Saliie Robison.

Street Commissioner and Sewer Inspector-Nathan Vanskoy.

Members of Council-Samuel Ballenger, George W. Carter, Reed Chrisman, H. V. Christopher, Ernest Green and M. B. Cannon. H. V. Christopher, president pro tem.

Standing Committees, first named being chairman-Sewer : Carter, Green, Cannon ; Light : Ballenger, Christopher, Chrisman. Fire: Cannon, Ballenger, Green. Finance : Carter, Cannon. Green. Buildings and Grounds: Green, Christopher, Ballenger.' Street : Cannon, Carter, Christopher. Bridge: Chrisman, Ballanger, Carter. Health: Chris- topher, Green, Chrisman. ' Police: Christopher, Chrisman, Carter. Law and Order: Green, 'Chrisman, Ballenger. Water: ' Chrisman, Carter, Cannon. Rules: Ballenger, Canton, Christopher.

LONDON'S PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The first effort toward a public library in London seems to have been made by a group of young men who organized on September 25, 1856, as the Young Men's Library Association, with the following officers : R. A. Harrison, president; Dr. Toland Jones, vice-president ; D. Warner, secretary ; James McLain, treasurer. In the fall of 1857, this became a lyceum, and the meetings, from November 26, were held with' open doors and free for all.

On January 7, 1868, another London library and reading-room was organized at the Presbyterian church with R. M. Hanson in the chair and Otway Watson,' secretary. The permanent officers chosen were R. A. Harrison, president; J. H. McCurd, vice- president ; Otway Watson, treasurer; M. M. Thomas, secretary; R. M. Hanson, cor- responding secretary. Quarters were secured over the Davidson & Smith drug store, on Main street. The room was opened about the middle of March, of that yo - and the first lecture of a course that was inaugurated was delivered at Toland hall, Febru- ary 24, 1868. At that time the library contained about three hundred volumes, one hundred and three of which were donated by the Rev. C. W. Finley, and eighty-four by Hon. R. A. Harrison.

On the 7th of February, 1874, the London' Lyceum Club was organized with a membership of ten young men, with the following officers: W. H. Mckinnon, presi- dent; E. J. Myers, vice-president; A. C. Watson, corresponding secretary; and H. Hub- bard, treasurer. The executive committee consisted of A. C. Watson, L. Dungan and M. M. Thomas. The first lecture of the course was delivered by John B. Gough, in the Methodist church, March 13, 1874.

A few years later another association was formed that was later converted' into the

Digitized by Google

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

London Library Association. Just when this latter association was formed and just what. its name was the historian has been unable to determine. It is. said to have been known as the Underwood Library Association, but this is evidently a mistake. It was,a library association formed by the young men and certain ladies of London, the funds of which were provided principally by the young men. In the winter of 1877-87 a minstrel performance was given in London. This. local .company was known by the fanciful and somewhat significant title, of . "The Symphonie Ace-High. Minstrels.", Among those, who took part were, Will Lohr, John Mclaughlin, "Dick" Nickolson, Edward McCormack, Jose Kinglesmith, James Watson, Charles Lotspeich and Palmer Smith. The proceeds were turned, over to the young men's gymnasium, then located in Toland hall. In time this sum was increased by means of an excursion to Dayton. and a lawn festival held on the public school grounds, both given .. under the auspices of this association. At the time of the minstrel performance several ladies, including Mrs. Berthier Custer, Mrs. H. W. Smith, Mrs. Auburn Smith, Mrs. Hannah D. Under- wood, and others solicited the young men to use a part of the above fund to establish a circulating library. In the end most of the money secured. by the minstrel perform- ance, and increased by the gymnasium association, of which Ernest McCormack was treasurer, and. J. M. Warner, secretary, was so used. The ladies, with the co-operation of these young men, decided to hold a meeting in the court house to consider the ques tion of forming a library association ... This meeting was held and the London. Library Association was formed and the following, officers elected: Mrs. Hannah Underwood, president ; James. Warner, secretary, and Wyatt Minshall, treasurer. .. By subscriptions, over one hundred membership tickets were sold at one dollar each, entitling the holder to the use of books for the period. of one year. The young. men .. were energetic and the bank account soon grew to some three hundred dollars. Several efforts were made to divert. this money into other channels, but all failed. At one, time the fund was saved by the splendid effort of Hon. John. F. Locke at a public mass meeting.

LONDON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

This association was merged, in January, 1880, into the London Library Associa- tion. With this association began the history of real library work in London. Mem- bership in this was also secured by the method of selling subscription membership tickets for one dollar that gave the subscriber privileges of the library. As finally organized the association consisted of the following members: H. W. Smith, F. R. Bridgeman, Mrs. E. R. Florence, Mrs. A. A. Hume, George W. Wilson, John F. Locke, E. R. Florence, Mrs. O. Mitchell, Mra, James Hamilton, William . A. Neil,.Jennie . Burnley, Anna Burnley, Sallie .Minshall, Leonard Eastman, . Mrs. John Dungan, G. A. James, Hannah Underwood, P. C. Smith, W. H. Link, A. W. Gardner, Charles Ronemus, A. P. King, James M. Warner, Ada Minshall, Charles Cover, C. F. Richmond, S. W. Dur- flinger, Wyatt Minshall, A. C. Watson, Robert Smith, W. H. H. Morgan; James B. Sprague; Howard Snyder, F. L. Creamer, Charles Cheseldine, Williard MeNutt, S. D. Kumler, A. H. Underwood, Thomas Wood, Jacob Sifrit, M. L. Rea, Toland Jones, Robert Moore, .R. G. Jordan, W. R. Park, Val Bauer, Thomas Turner, Charles Gulcher, Martin Dungan, W. H. Mckinnon, Minnie J. Willis, Peyton H. Acton, John Van. Wagener, George E. Ropp, J. C. Winchester, May Riddle, Helen Crabbe, Lizzie Maxey, L. D. Smith, J. S. Crain, Mack McCloud, Sallle Riddle, E. F. Bethard,. Edward E. " Sparks, Pringle Lohr, Josle Lohr, R. Boyd, Stephen Watson, Mrs. Sweetland, W. H. Lohr,. Philip Speasmaker, Mattie L. Henry, A. A. Hume, J. F. Morgan, Maggie Hubbard, E. McCor- mack, 1. Phelps, William Ronemus, H. R. Stuson, Mame Chamberlain, A. J. Blue, Mattie Frames, H. T. Rankin, Libbie Gains, Mrs. R. B. Cowling, Mary Warner, Julia Willis, Mrs. George Lincoln, Jennie Morgan, Mrs. E. R. Watts, J. M. Lohr, J. C. Bridgman,

Digitized by Google

204

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

Irving .F. , Willis, F. J. Betts, J. L. Crain, G. Speasmaker, T. B. Betts, W. B. Blake, James Cushman, A. T. Wiseman, E. Richmond, Mary Frames, Clara Bauer, Guy Under- wood, Lizzie Webb, Mrs. W. C. Ward, R. E. VanMeter, Anna MacCracken, Katie Bieden- back, E. E. Mann, George Miller, Ed Lotspeich, Ormond Bryan,. Mrs. Kate Hanson, Lincoln Farrar, Wood Finley, Dollie Davidson, J. W. Dixon, J. S. Chance, Thomas Bonner and Frank Baird. The first officers were: Lizzie Maxey, president; Jennie Burnley, vice-president; Mattie L. Henry, corresponding secretary; Helen Crabbe, recording secretary .; Emma Richmond, assistant secretary; Minnie Willis, treasurer; Mary Warner, librarian, and Sarah Wood, assistant librarian.

. The library was opened in the Bluff Block on February 22, 1880, and has since been maintained. It was originally modeled after a very successful library that was being conducted at Xenia, Ohio. Anna McCracken, then a teacher in the London public schools, was the chief advisor, as she. was familiar with the workings of the Xenia library. The officers in turn served as librarians, and the expense was reduced to the minimum. But even with the most pinching economy the supply of money for books, coal and rent was frequently exhausted, and the women of London would be called on to raise funds. Many attractive schemes were worked out to raise money. One of the first public. entertainments given was at . the home of Miss Sallie Minshall, a musical and social affair, that netted some thirty-six dollars a little sum, but very acceptable to the struggling institution. A "Dickens Party" followed in 1883, and the sum of sixty-seven dollars was realized. One of the most successful entertainments of a local nature ever given in London was a series of the two plays, "The Lady of Lyons," and "She Stoops to Conquer," staged under the personal supervision of Col. H. H. Prettyman, presented on May 23, 1894. Great crowds are said to have thronged the rink where the productions were given. The costumes and accessories wore elab- orate, and after meeting a naturally heavy expense bill the association was the richer by some four hundred dollars. Colonel and Mrs. Prettyman received the warm thanks of the library board and their efforts to help the library by means of a local entertain- mnt have never been exceeded. A most successful progressive dinner was given on February 12, 1903, at the homes of Mrs. E. Richmond, Mrs. J. Watson, Mrs. S. W. Durflinger and Mrs. Reed Watts, that was well patronized and the sum of one hundred and thirty-five dollars was added to the library fund.

TRIX CIRCULATING LIBRARY.

In the course of time the library was moved to another room, now the directors' room of the Exchange Bank, where a reading department was established and Robert Lotspeich was made librarian. Electric lights and tables were provided and the read- ing room soon became popular.

During 1808 the library was changed from a. circulating library on a subscription basis to a free circulating library, three-tenths of a mill being levied by the village council against all taxable property for its support. It was at that time that the association faced a grave crisis. It was without funds, as the money to be raised by taxation would not be available for a year, and means for the support of the library must be provided. Again the merchants and the citizens of the towns came to the rescue. Benefit sales were resorted to, which, with private donations, kept the library on its feet for the year. In 1800, the money appropriated by the village council car- ried the organization through that year, but the council failed to make a levy and funds again ran low in 1900. The ladies, however, not to be defeated in their efforts, borrowed sufficient funds for the library for that year, depending upon the council to make a levy year after year for its support. This it did, and the library has remained

Digitized by Google

205

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

a fixture in London. As soon as it was made free the demand for books increased rapidly, and a new system of classification became necessary. Anne Watson, who had made a special study 'of library work, came from Chicago and established the Dewey decimal system, which made for a great improvement in the service. The librarians in order to the present time have been Robert Lotspeich, Hattie Smith, Anne Watson, Mrs. Elsie Minshall-Stahl, Mrs. Rilla Hornbeck, Hattie Smith, Ara March, Abigail Gabriel and the present librarian, Hattie Smith. At the time the initial public .levy was made it was necessary to incorporate the library under the state law, and on March 7, 1898, the secretary of state issued articles of incorporation, the incorporators being Mrs. Anna E. Smith, Adeline Hamilton, Mary C. Finley, Elizabeth J. Watson, Mrs. J. R. Atchison and May Riddle. The purpose of the corporation, as defined in the above articles, is "to establish a free public library, to receive gifts, devises and trust funds for said library and library association and to acquire and maintain a library of books, periodicals, and other papers and documents for the encouragement of litera- ture and science, learning and the culture of the members of the association, and to be free for the public generally." The movement to have the library supported by a tax Jevy was inaugurated by Mrs. Anna Smith, and she as much as any library worker in London, was responsible for that happy consummation when it was brought about. .

THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

And then came Andrew Carnegie, prince of benevolence and builder of libraries. London finally crossed the range of his vision, and library lovers of that place received the glad tidings that he would erect a library building in London. This matter was first taken up at a regular meeting of the Woman's Club, on January 27, 1902, when Sallie Dooris proposed that the club "try to secure the gift of a library building from Mr. Andrew Carnegie, for London." By unanimous vote Miss Dooris was authorized to write to Mr. Carnegie asking for this gift. Others, notably Mrs. Mary Florence and Mrs. Jeannette Watson, urged him to compliance with this request, and at last his secretary .entered into correspondence with Miss Dooris, and the announcement of the gift was made on February 10, 1902.

The corporate council appointed a library board to have charge of the site, plans, and the erection of the building. That board consisted of Miss Dooris, Mrs. George Lincoln, William M. Jones, M. S. Murray, Dr. A. J. Strain, J. B. Van Wagener and F. R. Bridgman. Under the new municipal code it was held that women could not have a place on the board, much to the regret of library lovers, and J. W. Cartzdafner and Xerxes Farrar took the places of the deposed ladies. The present site at the cor- ner of East First and South Union streets was purchased of Harford T. Rankin. In due season the work was begun, the handsome building finally being completed, and was formally opened on January 18, 1905.

The exercises of the opening day were in charge of the ladies of the London Library Association, the faithful veterans of the preceding twenty-five years of library work, who graciously turned over their books to the new board appointed by the mayor. Mrs. Alice Armstrong, president of the Women's Library Board, presided at this recep- tion and a committee of ladies gave a cordial welcome. In behalf of the board of trustees, Judge Durflinger presented the building to the town, Mayor A. T. Cordray accepting the gift. Mrs. Hannah D. Underwood read an interesting history of the library, giving due credit to the several association's that had assisted in the work. About four hundred enjoyed the social affair. Old residents and friends were asked to donate a book, with the result that four hundred and seventeen books were added to the list, the literary clubs, lodges, social clubs and others responding generously.

Digitized by Google

206

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

THE FLORENCE AND OTHER GIFTS.

It is proper at this point to say something of the bequest of five hundred dollars left by Mrs. Mary Florence to the association. Always a lover of books, with the library interest ever dear to her, Mrs. Florence left something substantial to the cause that that should be an incentive to coming men and women. No finer monument could be built to her than the alcove in the library containing the valuable reference works par- chased with the funds provided by her bequest.

To the following, not that they include by any means the full number of those whose time and resources have been given to the association, but that they are, per- haps, representative, tribute should be paid: Mesdames Anna Smith, Dixon, Nell Mitchell, Finley, Mary Florence, Adeline Hamilton, Minnie Bonner, Robert Hanson, E. P. Fisher, R. H. McCloud, Thomas Gosslee, Carrie B. Kohn, J. R. Atchison, Jennette Watson, H. H. Prettyman, X. Farrar, Butler, Ira Porter, Robert Rea, Elizabeth Wat- son, William M. Jones, S. W. Durflinger, Job Clark, Den Winchester, George Lincoln, James Byers, J. C. Smith, Frank Bridgman, Reese, Reed Watts, Alice Armstrong, Thomas Wilson and Sallie Robison, and the Misses Lizzie Maxey, Mary Warner, Mattie Henry, Mame Chamberlain, Sallie Minshall, Emma Richmond, Ella Lilly, Maria Carta- dafner, Ella Morgan and May Riddle.

One interesting gift to the library that should be mentioned is a copy of a history of the United States by Edwin Erle Sparks, a London "boy," formerly of the history faculty of Chicago University, but now president of Pennsylvania State College, at State College, Pennsylvania. He had written an inscription on the fly-leaf that gives such a picture of the workings of a boy's mind that it is herewith produced :

"As I write these lines there lies before me a small note book, ragged and worn, bearing on the fly leaf the inscription, 'Ed. Sparks, London High School, 1877.' On its penciled pages I find many names of my schoolmates of those days, my grades at vari- ous examinations, diaries of excursions to Columbus, the Dayton soldiers' home and Put-in-Bay, a list of selections rendered by Cushman's Cornet Band, and 'Rules of Conduct for a Young Man.' Upon one page I find a list of books, which I have copied below so that my young friends of the future may see the reading which Miss Lizzie Maxey required in connection with the literature class, which she taught in the high school at that time. This was the first serious reading I ever did and I regard the task as an important event in my life. This public inscription is but a small meed of praise due to the noble teacher who strove daily for the inculcation of a liberal education in the minds of the pupils.

"Here is the list: Moore -* Lalla Rookh (boss), Fudge Family; Swift -* Gulliver's Travels (heap lie) ; Milton -* Paradise Lost (fair), Iconoclasts; Bunyan -* Pilgrim's Progress (tolerable) ; Dryden -* Alexander's Feast (N. G.) ; Pope -* Rape of the Lock (tolerable) ; Addison's Spectator, Magazine; Thompson-The Seasons; Grey -* Elegy in a Country Church Yard (tolerable) ; Goldsmith -* Vicar of Wakefield (snide), Trav- eler; Scott -* Ivanhoe (good) ; Bronte *Jane Eyre (immense) ; Dickens *David Cop- perfield (good) ; Washington Irving- The Sketch Book (fair) ; Hawthorne -* The Scarlet Letter (fair) ; Holland-Katrina ; Longfellow-Evangeline; Biography of Ham- ilton, Webster, Clay (dry) ; Shakespeare- Richard III (slow), *King Lear (slow), *As You Like It (slow).

"The asterisks evidently indicate the books that I had, and the words at the side show the slangy comments of a boy."

. A .WELL-EQUIPPED LIBRARY.

The library is at present in a very prosperous condition. It has six thousand six hundred and sixty-two volumes on its shelves, with twenty-five magazines and periodi-

Digitized by Google

207

MADISON COUNTY, OHIO.

cals in the reading room. It receives the Columbus dailies and the local county papers. It has a yearly circulation of about twelve thousand volumes and averages about three hundred readers a month in the reading room. . The building is very well equipped, con- sisting of a main floor and an unfinished basement. Entrance is made into. a small vestibule that opens into the delivery lobby. On the right is the reading room, with its magazines; on the left is the reference room, lined .. with its steel shelves and their contents. To the rear of the reference room is a small but well-equipped and well- arranged children's room. Behind the delivery. desk are found the stacks. The shelv- ing throughout. is of steel. This library is very fortunate in its well-chosen book lists. The present library board consists of J. B. Van Wagener, president; Mrs. Homer E. White, secretary; Robert W. Boyd, treasurer; Chester E. Bryan, Mrs. Sarah K. Rob- ison and Mrs. Gideon T. Clark. Miss Hattie Smith is the present librarian. :

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 28

Author: Chester E. Bryan Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1207

Author: Chester E. Bryan
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1207