History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 66

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

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Friday, February 20, 1874, was pretty generally observed as a day of fast, the business houses were all closed, and many of the citizens attended the services at the several churches. During the fourth and fifth weeks, the ladies were, for the first time, molested and indecently treated. About this time, another saloonist gave way, selling out and sending off his liquors and left town. After the difficulty attending the use of the "tabernacle," that vehicle was discarded, but the policy of sending out daily skirmish- ers was still kept up.

WOMAN'S TEMPERANCE ALLIANCE.

The 5th and 7th, of March were days of great triumph to the crusaders, for on these days surrendered two men engaged in the liquor traffic, this being regarded as so great a conquest that nearly all of the bells in town were rung, causing great excitement and much joy. After the bells had ceased ringing a number of the more enthusiastic tem- perance advocates met at the Presbyterian church and sang songs of thanksgiving and praise. On March 6, the Woman's Temperance Alliance of Madison county was organ- ized at the Presbyterian church for the purpose of furthering the cause of temperance. The daily and evening meetings were continued, but by the middle of March the cam- paign was considered about at an end, though there still remained a few obstinate scattered forces to subdue. Thereafter, operations were chiefly confined to "Battle Row" and the "forts" in the neighborhood of the railroad.

At the spring elections, an entire "crusade" ticket was elected. The fourteenth week of the movement still saw the ladies making one visit a day to each of the obsti- nate rum-sellers, and both morning and evening meetings were in progress, but several weeks later street singing and praying was gradually ended.

While the "woman's crusade" movement did not perhaps result as successfully as some of the more enthusiastic supporters of the cause had anticipated, it certainly was the means of accomplishing great good by materially lessening the evil arising from the sale of liquor for a period of time and undoubtedly sowed the seed which bore fruit later on in the temperance cause.

MADISON COUNTY WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. By Anna Ebner.

The Madison County Woman's Temperance Union was formed at South Solon, in June 9. 1890. Mrs. E. J. Dixon, of London, was the first president and Miss Effe Crawford. the first secretary. The early records of this organization having been destroyed at the time of the burning of the home of W. H. H. Morgan, the writer has

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been able to gather only fragmentary information of its history in the first years of its existence. So far as she has been able to learn, the Woman's Christian Temperance Unions of London, Plain City, West Jefferson, Lilly Chapel, Mt. Sterling and South Solon and a flourishing Young Woman's Christian Temperance Union, of London, comprised this first county organization. The first convention was held at South Solon on June 25-26, 1890; the second at Mt. Sterling a year later. Mrs. Lillian Cole Bethel, of Columbus, was the state lecturer officiating at the former and the Rev. Henrietta G. Moore, of Springfield, at the latter. The county union has since held conventions annually at various points in the county, each year showing a growth in sentiment and a gain in membership. Today the county organization is composed of fourteen unions with a paid up membership of nearly six hundred. Those who have served as president of the county union are as follows, in the order named: Mrs. E. J. Dixon, London; Mrs. Viola Hixon, then of West Jefferson; Mrs. Ida S. Jones, Plain City; Mrs. Elizabeth B. Converse, Big Darby; Mrs. Margaret Hollingshead, Mt. Sterling, and Miss Anna Ebner, London.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was the direct outgrowth of the "woman's crusade" of 1874 and the organizations in those early years were scattered and not nearly so numerous as they are today. For this reason the state was divided into districts, each of these being composed of a number of counties. Later, as the work grew and the number of unions increased, the county organization was formed as the more logical connecting link between the local and the state organizations. It was in pursuance of this plan that the Madison county organization was formed and it has carried on its mission through the passing years with persistence, determination and an abiding faith in the ultimate victory of truth and righteousness.

Having for its aim the definition of temperance as meaning the prohibition of all things harmful and the moderate use of all things good, it has ceaselessly labored toward this goal, and has witnessed an ever increasing growth of sentiment for the total annihilation of the liquor traffic, cleaner, purer living, a single standard of morals for the sexes, suffrage for women, the betterment of the race and the uplift of humanity. The present officers are : President, Anna Ebner, London; vice-president at large, Clara Stitt, Mt. Sterling; corresponding secretary, Alice M. Brown, London; recording secretary. Anna J. Lambert, West Jefferson; treasurer, Cora C. Baughn, South Solon.

LONDON WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

By Anna Ebner.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union is a direct result of the world-famous "woman's crusade" and is the oldest woman's organization in London. As with other noted movements in the world's history this great moral uprising of the womanhood of America was not an isolated fact. Certain definite causes led up to it and made it inevitable. Among these were: The Civil War, which had fastened drinking habits upon so many of the returned soldiers; the vast influx of foreign immigration which followed that war, bringing with it the drinking habits of the Old World; the close union between the liquor traffic and the government of the United States, which the war consummated, since it was as a war measure only that President Lincoln con- sented to the internal revenue tax upon spirituous and malt liquors; the widening of woman's horizon through the work she had accomplished during the war, making it inevitable that when that work was no longer necessary she should turn her atten- tion to the greatest foe of the home, the liquor traffic.

For years Mary A. Livermore had said: "The temperance question can never be settled until women take hold of it." This was but the voicing of a conviction

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rapidly growing in the public mind. When women, who have always been the greatest sufferers from this curse, had seen homes shattered, loved ones ruined in body and soul, once bright, noble boys and men made brutes and fiends by this infamous traffic; when such women had tested their powers in other lines of endeavor the hour struck and they "took hold."

About the year 1830 Mrs. Delecta Lewis led the godly women of Auburn, New York, in a warfare against the only saloon in the little town in the same manner that was afterward so famous in the world. This was so effective that her son, Doctor Lewis, said in speaking of it in 1874: "More than forty years have passed and that town is still free from saloons." As this event made a sober man of his father, who had previously been an habitual drunkard, leaving the wife and mother to provide for the family needs by the use of the washboard, it made a deep impression upon them, especially the son, Dio.

In delivering temperance addresses in 1873-74 throughout the country, Doctor Lewis naturally related the story with much feeling. He spoke on December 15, 1873, in Fredonia, New York, and on December 23, in Hillsboro, Ohio, and on the following evening at Washington C. H. With such fervor was it done that the following morn- ing in Hillshoro a band of seventy of the leading women of the town, led by Mrs. Eliza Thompson, wife of Judge Thompson, went forth to work and pray for the aboli- tion of the saloon. Immediately the women of Washington C. H., led by Mrs. M. G. Carpenter, took up the work there and it rapidly spread throughout Ohio and other states. As soon as the holiday festivities were over the splendid women of London and Madison county took up the work. London was famous for its monthly stock sales, which attracted buyers from all parts of the country, and had some twenty saloons; twenty-seven, I think Mother Stewart says In her "Memories of the Crusade."

The women worked effectively and most of the saloons closed or their keepers moved elsewhere. A few refused to be persuaded. Many of the women of London took part in this great crusade, a number of the young girls even helping with the singing. Most of these have now gone to their reward. Some are still living, honored and revered pioneers of a great and noble cause.

ENROLLED FOR TEMPERANCE.

The work was well organized in London and was prosecuted with vigor. At a mass meeting of the churches called in the Methodist Episcopal church, the Rev. C. W. Finley asked the questions: "Shall we do anything for temperance? What shall it be? How many will pledge themselves to assist in the work?" Papers were circulated and one hundred and forty persons signed, both men and women. The following is the list recorded: John Lohr, Berthier Lohr, S. H. Cartzdafner, Oliver Creamer, S. W. Durflinger, James Coultas, W. H. Luck, Luke Smith, J. M. Fisher, U. B. Mooman Arthur Slagle, James W. Byers, R. P. Reitzel, L. Minshall, Thomas Wood, S. F. Marsh, E. R. Watts, B. F. Clark, A. Marshall, F. Shaw, B. Blake, David Rayburn, W. H. C. McCoy, J. A. Lotspietch, W. R. Lotspietch, L. G. McCollum, J. M. Lohr, S. S. Cheseldine. H. Toland, G. A. James, F. M. Durkee, A. T. Wiseman. Charles Monroe, Jesse Farnsworth, Horace Jones, W. P. Crabbe, W. J. Gain, P. C. Cowling, H. G. Spick, D. Clark, James Clowser, H. Groves. Eli G. Warner, William Ronemous, Moses Bentzel James Watson, James Self, T. D. Turner, Preston Adair, Robert Knight, A. E. Arnett, W. T. Davidson, Leonard Eastman, J. Q. Minshall, Abram Miller, William Chrisman, W. H. H. Morgan, F. M. Chapman, W. M. Kinney, E. J. Myers, George Creath, A. V. Chrisman, George E. Ross Mrs. S. J. Hubbard, Annie Burnley, Dollie McCormick, Jennie Burnley, Bena Bauer, Ella Fisher, Mrs. Thomas Wood, Mrs. S. F. Marsh, Emma Richmond, Mrs. John Dungan, Mrs. W. H. C. McCoy, Selestine McCoy, Mrs.

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A. A. Hume, Mrs. A. V. Chrisman, Mrs. Mary Chrisman, Mrs. Mary Rightsell, Miss Ella Warner, Mrs. Laura McCollum, Sallie Riddle, Mollie Warner, Josie Yates, Mrs. Sarah A. Eppert, Mrs. Kate R. Bentzel, Mrs. James Watson, Mrs. W. P. McLaugh- lin, Hattie E. Mulford, Sadie Mulford Alice Clark, Jennie Blizzard, Mattie Clark, Mrs. Mattie Hunding, Mrs. Doctor Jones, Mrs. Sarah Lohr, Mrs. S. P. Davidson, Mrs. B. C. Long, Mrs. Sallie South, Mrs. M. Wishlessen, Mrs. H. Burnley, Mrs. Samuel Sidner, Mrs. Lida Sevetland, Mrs. M. E. Jones, Mrs. J. W. Byers, Nelia Capsadell, Lizzie Lennon, Sarah Farnsworth, Mrs. J. S. Davidson. Mrs. Wyatt Minshall, Delia Arnett, Mary Cover, Belle Phelps, Maria J. Cartzdafner, Mrs. Doctor Williams, Mrs. Sallie Williamson, Kate Hubbard, May Riddle, Ad Minshall, Mrs. Harford Toland, Mrs. T. Monroe, Mrs. S. Blessing, S. Sparks, Mrs. L. Groves, S. J. Gain, M. M. I. Fraher, Sophronia Miller, Lizzie Heaton. Many others took part in the movement. A committee was appointed to draft a people's petition or appeal a druggists' pledge, and a denlers' pledge. Meetings were held daily alternating between the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal churches. The town was districted and a committee can- vassed each district for signers to the appeal. More than one thousand people signed. Another committee called on the druggists with the druggists' pledge, and still' other committees of two, one for each dealer, visited the saloons for the first time.

Following this the women formed in bands and visited the saloons, holding serv- ices consisting of singing, Scripture, prayers and exhortations. These were held daily, except Sundays, from January until April. Morning prayer-meetings were also held daily, Papers for a fund subscription were circulated "and twenty-five thousand dollars was subscribed to assist the women in the work by prosecution and as deemed best, so none should be spent to purchase the liquor."

THE MOVEMENT SPREADS.

Requests came from neighboring hamlets for the women to come and assist in the work at these points and delegations of thirty and more went. The interest in the movement was intense and the power of the Holy Spirit was manifest. On March 2 one denler signed the pledge, another on March 7, another a few hours later. Another broke up and sold his goods at auction. At the surrender of these parties "all the bells were rung in jubilee, the church bells being rung by the women." A grand prayer and praise service was held in the Presbyterian church. A day of fasting and prayer was set apart and the business houses were asked to close. The day was kept as planned-a most hallowed day for London.

On March 25 the workers resolved themselves into a permanent organization styled the "Woman's Temperance League of London." The officers elected to serve this asso- ciation were: President, Mrs. Jacob Martin; vice-presidents, Mrs. Doctor Jones, Mrs. Richard McCollum, Mrs. Add Chrisman; corresponding secretary, Miss Mary Warner; recording secretary, Miss Alice Richmond; treasurer, Mrs. Wyatt Minshall; executive committee, Mrs. S. Sidner, Mrs. John Dungan, Mrs. John Jones, Mrs. Richard Acton, Mrs. A. A. Hume, Mrs. John Kinney, Mrs. L. P. Wildman, Miss Jennie Morgan. The officers were to serve four months and the dues were ten cents a month per member. The term of office was later changed to one year. The league held regular meetings and was early in co-operation with the state and national Woman's Christian Tem- perance Unions, which were organized in June and November, 1874, respectively. Just when the name of the local organization was changed to Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union is not exactly known. The first record of the name Woman's Christian Temperance Union is in November, 1882, but the records for the five years immediately preceding this date have been lost. Many names of well-known and prominent women appear in the lists of officers, most of whom have passed on. But in every list some-

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where appears the name of Miss Jennie Morgan, later Dixon. For more than twenty years she was the honored president until her promotion, March 8, 1914. Through her efforts the county organization was formed and she was its first president. Her sister, Miss Nellie Morgan was also local president for some years.

The greatest result of the woman's crusade was the awakening of the women of the country to a knowledge of the enormity of the liquor traffic and to a conscious- ness of their own ability to work for its overthrow. The Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union is recognized as one of the most numerous and effective of women's organizations. Its activities are nation wide and world wide. It has never set its hand to light or inconsequential things. Through forty different departments this great host assails other evils, gives battle for other reforms. Through the divisions of organization, prevention, education, evangelism, legal and social work it reaches out and uplifts and helps humanity everywhere. Prohibition of tobacco to minors, estab- lishment of industrial homes for girls, and places of refuge for fallen women, placing matrons in police stations, advocating an equal standard of morals for men and women, safeguarding child life, betterment of the race, enfranchisement of women and the uplift of humanity are some of its missions. It recognizes that the liquor traffic is the chief destructive force in society, holds the balance of power in elections, is the curse of the working man and the sworn foe of the home; that it is at war with every interest of society; is the cause of twenty per cent. of the crime and pauperism, of fifty-five per cent. of the inmates of mad houses and seventy-five per cent. of our poor houses; that it strikes the roses from the mothers' cheeks and condemns little helpless children to cold and hunger; that it bids defiance to law, is the center of all social and political corruption, and the father of assassination, anarchy and riot. The empire of alcohol cannot be tolerated in the same world with the human race. The liquor traffic must be destroyed.

It is with this purpose held steadily in view that this noble band of women in London has worked through the passing years, ever laboring for the object of its mission. At present it numbers more than one hundred and seventy paid-up members. Its officers are: Honorary president, Mrs. Catherine March; president, Mrs. Ola Runyan; first vice-president Mrs. Alice Hathaway; second vice-president, Mrs. Anna Ebner ; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Viola Mayhigh; recording secretary, Mrs. Anna M. Jones; treasurer, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Chance; chaplain, Miss Maggie Becker, and custodian, Mrs. Carrie Long. With these at the helm it is moving persistently forward to the realization of its goal in the comparatively near future, the enfranchisement of women, State-wide and nation-wide prohibition.

MADISON UNION.

Madison Union, Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Range township. was organized in October, 1910, at the home of Mrs. Snyder, of Concord. The following is the list of charter members and ladies who organized this union: Mrs. Caldwell, Mrs. Snyder, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Glispie, Mrs. Stroup, Mrs. Redman and Mrs. Mowery. When this society was first organized it bore the name of Concord Union but on December 12, 1912, it was reorganized under the name of Madison Union. The first officers were Mrs. Caldwell, president; Mrs. Redman, vice-president; Mrs. Mowery, treasurer, and Mrs. Snyder, secretary. The meetings are held at the homes of the different members.

This union contains twenty paid-up members at present. It has been very active since its reorganization, responding to the calls of various needs; flowers have been sent to the sick and floral offerings to the dead. It has always answered the calls for help in the different departments of the work and has done a great good in other

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fields besides that of temperance. The present officers are Mrs. Anna Groff, presi- dent; Mrs. Wissler, vice-president. This union has never lost a member by death.

ROSEDALE UNION.

Rosedale Union, of Pike township, was organized on December 4, 1913, at the home of F. M. Roseberry. There were twenty-three active members and five honorary as follow : Mrs. Mamie Brake, Mrs. Sarah Burnham, Mrs. Ottie Burnham, Mrs. Ellen Foulk, Mrs. Margaret Galloway, Mrs. Ada Mccullough, Mrs. Alice Guy, Mrs. Belle McCarty, Mrs. Louie Newman, Mrs. Kate Patrick, Mrs. Nell Thomas, Mrs. Myrtle Weaver, Mrs. Nettie Roseberry, Mrs. Blanche Roseberry, Mrs. Mabel Roseberry, Mrs. Margaret Stoddard, Mrs. Anna Gordon, Edna Tagert, Edna Wintermute, Clara Williams, Carrie Galloway Bess Williams and Mabel Foulk. The honorary members were Fenton M. Roseberry, Joseph C. Roseberry, John B. Roseberry, M. Eugene Thomas and A. D. Wells. The first officers of this union were Mrs. Ada Mccullough, president; Mrs. Blanche Roseberry, vice-president; Mrs. Margaret Stoddard, recording secretary; Bess Williams, treasurer. The meetings were held at the homes of the different members or at the churches. The organization of this union came about through the efforts of Mrs. Lulu T. Gleason, state organizer, who visited the homes and schools at Rose- dale, stating the work and the object of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and called a meeting for that night at the above date and place. Twenty-eight responded to the call and formed this union and all have stood faithfully by their pledge and the constitution of the union.

The following ladies have joined since the organization : Mrs. Adelia Williams, Mrs. May Stoddard, Mrs. Emma Kennedy, Mrs. Lillie McCarty, Mrs. Florence Guy, Mrs. Edna Sanford, Mrs. Florence Jackson, Mrs. Laura Y. Krout, Mrs. Nellie Edge, Mrs. Rosa Houck, Mrs. May Clear, Mrs. Mary Becker, Mrs. Edna W. Dye, Mrs. Lena Mouser, Mrs. Leota Oyler, Mrs. Edna Trees and Mary Roseberry. The honorary roll has been increased by the following members: Lewis W. Burnham, Ed. M. Stod- dard, Pearl Stoddard, Lohren W. Thomas Charles P. Guy, Dr. V. D. Krout, E. M. Mccullough and Frank Roseberry. The officers for 1915 are Mrs. Nell W. Thomas, president ; Mrs. Mamie Brake, vice-president; Mrs. Margaret Galloway, treasurer; Mrs. Rosa Houck, recording secretary; Mrs. Ollie Burnham, corresponding secretary.

BIG DARBY UNION.

Big Darby Union, of Canaan township, was organized in 1901 by Mrs. Florence Richards at the Big Darby Baptist church. There were twelve charter members and Nora Hook (now Mrs. Henry Gilliand) was elected as the first president. This union is composed wholly of farmers in that vicinity and a strong sentiment has been created for temperance and woman suffrage unsurpassed in any country place. The people have been very generous whenever an appeal has been made for funds to carry on the work for temperance. The present officers are Mrs. Florence M. Converse, presi- dent; Mrs. Lottie Myers, recording secretary; Mrs. Viola Sherwood, corresponding secretary and Mrs. Della Sherwood, treasurer. The union has a membership at present of thirty-three.

NEWPORT UNION.

Newport Union, of Paint township, was organized in August, 1908, at the New- port Methodist Episcopal church, the charter members and organizers being Mrs. Elizabeth H. Neff, Mrs. Cora Newsome, Mrs. D. G. Kilgore and Mrs. Funk. The first officers were Elizabeth H. Neff, president; Cora Newsome, secretary, and Sarah Kilgore, treasurer.

In the seven years of the life of this union great work has been done for the

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cause of temperance. A very successful literary contest was held, which closed with a social banquet. Red-letter days have been observed, musical and vocal contests have been held and free lunch was served to the voters for county option. Although few in numbers and scattered over miles in a rural community, much good has been accom- plished by this union both socially and morally. The present officers are Elizabeth H. Neff, president; Ada Nickel, secretary, and Sarah Kilgore, treasurer.

PLUMWOOD UNION.

Plumwood Union. of Monroe township, was organized on July 5, 1912, at the Plumwood Methodist Episcopal church. The charter members were Mrs. Charies F. Sanford, Mrs. James Stockwell, Mrs. Clyde Armstrong, Mrs. Fannie Wilson, Mrs. Belle Webb, Mrs. Almeda Gammel, Mrs. Maggie Neer. Mrs. Dora Littler, Mrs. Mattie Pratt, Mrs. Laura Murry, Mrs. Eli Holler and Mrs. Bessie Reed. The first officers of the union were Mrs. Charles F. Sanford. president : Mrs. James Stockwell, vice-president; Mrs. Fannie Wilson, secretary and Mrs. Mattie Pratt, treasurer.

In May, 1912, Mrs. Florence D. Richards visited Plumwood, giving a temperance address at the Methodist Episcopal church. There being at that time no Woman's Christian Temperance Union at that place, she made a plea for volunteers to form a union and quite a number of the temperance people responded. The organization was effected by the county president, Anna Ebner. There had previously been a small union at Piumwood, but it had been discontinued. The new union promised a more substantial growth and has had a prosperous existence. The principles for which the Woman's Christian Temperance Union stand are its chief aim, and the organiza- tion is devoting itself to the betterment of the community and the uplift of humanity.

The present membership includes Mrs. Stalbird, Mrs. Lon Porter, Rozzie Porter Edua Field, Mrs. Eliza Snyder, Mrs. Colla Costin, Mrs. James Stockwell, Mrs. Maggie Neer, Mrs. Almeda Gammel. Mrs. Mary Wibright, Mrs. Euphemia Lombard, Mrs. Carl Roseberry, Mrs. Mattie Pratt. Mrs. Fannie Wilsou. Grace Pratt, Mrs. Charles F. San- ford, Ethel Peters, Eva Peters, Eva Pennel, Florence Spesinger, Mrs. Belle Webb. Mrs. Helen Harbage, Mrs. Haines, Mrs. Roberta Corney, Mrs. Elf Holler, Mrs. Clyde Armstrong and Mrs. Anna Weaver. The officers for 1915 are Mrs. Charles F. Sanford, president ; Mrs. Colla Costin. vice-president ; Mrs. Fannie Wilson, secretary ; Mrs. Mattie Pratt, treasurer ; Mrs. Merritt Stalbird, assistant secretary.

PLAIN CITY UNION.

Plain City Union, of Plain City, was organized in 1895. with eleven charter mem- bers. Mrs. Minerva B. Fleming was chosen as the first president. The following is the complete list of presidents who have served this union: Minerva Fleming, Ida S. Jones, Blanche M. Florence, Elnora Bose, Alice W. Horn, Carrie A. Irwin, Emily S. Smith. Lulu A. Brown, Harriette M. Butler, Florence M. Converse, Ola A. Runyan, Etta Freeman Lane, Frances E. Sanderson and Gertrude Warman.

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History of Madison County Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Part 66

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

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