History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c., Part 68

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968

USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c. > Part 68

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).

In 1837, William Gass was chosen Bishop, and preached irregularly for a number of years. In 1850, he was induced to move to Mansfield, preach three-fourths of the time and take pas- toral charge of the church. This relation con- tinned one year. In addition to the above- named ministers, the following gentlemen preached at various times for a number of years : William Dowling, James Porter, John Rigdon, William B. Hammett, John Moody, C. E. Vanvoorhis, Daniel Swinney. J. H. Jones, Isaiah Jones, George Lacy, Jonas Hartzel, William Moody and Henry Dixon.

In 1840, a church was erected on the corner of Mulberry and Bloom streets, and was occu- pied until 1870, , when the present comfort- able brick building, on East Third street, was

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

purchased at a cost of $2,100. This church had been built by the Regular Baptists. and occupied by them about twenty years.

From 1860 to 1862, W. H. Maitin was Pas- tor. He was followed by N. A. Walker, 1865 ; Robert D. Gardner, 1866, and John Darnell. In April, 1867, Rev. A. Moore commenced preaching in the church, and continued irregu- larly until February, 1879, when he resigned. In 1867, the membership was 107. Protracted meetings were held at various times-one in 1866, by J. W. Lowe; one in 1869, by N. A. Walker; one in 1870, by A. B. Green and J. HI. Jones, and others later, by which many members were added to the church. Hiram Woods was called by the church in 1870, and continued preaching two years. He was fol- lowed by A. C. Read and Henry Cogswell. The present membership of the church is 125. and the present Pastor, Rev. G. W. Kemp. A Sunday school was organized in 1854, by John Neal, who was an active and efficient Superin- tendent for several years. It is still continued under the Superintendency of M. W. Mason, with a membership of sixty-five.

St. John's Church, located on the southeast cor- ner of First and Mulberry streets, was erected in 1865, and cost about $16.000. This organiza- tion was effected January 1, 1845, Rev. Mr. Hundsch being the first minister. April 3 of the same year, the corner-stone of the old frame church was laid. This church cost about $2.000, and occupied the same ground upon which the present substantial brick building was erected. The old building is still doing duty at the soap-works on Fourth street. At the first organization, George Baner and Theo- bold Allvater were Elders, and Simon Kauffer and Phillip Piester, Trustees. Some of the original members were Frederick Volkert, Hein- rich Ebler, Peter Sauch, Christian Brimkman. Leonard Balliet, Jacob Heldman and Peter Remy. The following were the ministers. in the order named : Rev. Messrs. Weiscotten,

Herr. Theodore Tressel. Albert Schory, Durr. Ferdinand Lenschan, A. Klein, and the pres- ent Pastor, J. B. Jndd.

Lenschan occupied the pulpit more than ten years. It was during his pastorate that the present building was erected.

The congregation now numbers 103 fami- lies, and is a member of the Evangelical Synod of North America. The Sunday school was organized about the time the old church was erected. and has been in an active and healthy condition sinee ; it now numbers 125 children. The Superintendents have been L. Wolfart. P. Rissler, William Durr and A. Kallmerton. The library numbers about one hundred and twenty volumes.

The meetings of the Reformed Presbyterian Church are at present held in Philharmonic Hall. northwest corner publie square. The church was organized October 10, 1878, by II. P. McClurken. D. D., and Elders J. Robinson and R. Johns- ton, a commission sent for this purpose by the Ohio Presbytery. The names of the orig- inal members are William P. and Elizabeth Clarke, James Raitt, William Gregg, John Anderson. Sr., Elizabeth Anderson, Johnston McKee. Mrs. Mary McKee, John Anderson. Jr .. W. J. Anderson, Robert B. Adams. Will- iam H. Garrett, James Reynolds, Mrs. Snod- grass, Miss Walker, Mrs. McKibbon. Mrs. E. O'Neil, Mrs. Mary Thomas. Renwick Thomas and Miss E. Bowden. The first meetings of this organization were held in the Young Men's Christian Association rooms. Sturgis Hall build- ing, corner of Main and Third streets. It is the expectation that a church building will be erected during the coming year (1881).

Rev. S. A. George is Pastor (ordained No- vember 20, 1878), and the present membership is fifty-one.

A Sabbath school was organized January 1. 1878, which has prospered, and now numbers forty members. W. P. Clarke is Superintend- ent.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

The St. Paul German Evangelical Lutheran Church is on West Third street. The German Reformed and German Lutherans were united in the first organization of this church, which occurred on the 5th of March, 1852. The principal members of this society were Chris- tian Bruckman. Henry Balliet, John Krause, Sr., Phillip Beck and a few others. The minis- ter was Rev. Mr. Hess. The present comfort- able brick church was erected in 1860, at a cost of about $2,000, and the present organization effected in 1863. The principal members of this original organization were John Krause, Sr., Coonrod Berg, Adam Risch. Henry Schmunk, Phillip Beck, Balthaser Ahlheim, John Mathias, Peter Ackerman. Adam Beck and John Steiner. The first minister was Herman A. Schmidt, who was also the founder of the church. He was followed by Conrad Kuchni, Gottfried H. Trebel, Ludwig Krebs, the present Pastor. The membership includes 108 families.

The organization of the Sunday school was coeval with that of the church. Phillip Beck was first Superintendent, Peter Ackerman is now Superintendent. with a membership of about one hundred.

St. Peter's Catholic Church is located on the corner of First and Mulberry streets. It was organized in 1855, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Rappe. of Cleveland, Ohio. The first Pastor was. Rev. P. Krensh. Some of the first members were Jacob Sholl, Barnard Yeager and Matthew Shambs. The first church, a wooden structure, was purchased from the Presbyterians in 1853, and used until 1872, when it was taken away and the present beautiful brick building erected. The first Pastor was Rev. J. Maloney, followed by F. Gallagher, F. Kuhn and others, each of of whom remained two or three years. The present Pastor, Rev. A. Magenhann, took charge September 7, 1869. Two hundred families are included in the congregation. The Pastor is supported by a pew rent and voluntary con- tribution. The church has been honored dur-

ing the present pastorate by many noted Catho- lic visitors, among whom were the Archbishops of Milwaukee, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Den- ver City, Colorado.

Connected with this church are three schools, with a regular attendance of 200 children.

Grace Episcopal Church, situated on West Third street, was organized by Rev. J. W. Cracraft in 1846. Benjamin Johns was the principal founder and was mainly instrumental in organ- izing the parish and erecting the church. The principal original members were Benjamin Johns, Philip Bartley, Uzziel Stevens, H. B. Horton. John Harvey, Mr. and Mrs. Bar- rett, Mr. Beach and Mrs. Sherman. Two years after the organization, the present neat, comfortable brick church was erected. J. W. Cracraft served from 1846 to 1850 ; Rev. Aus- tin. 1851 ; H. Blackaller, 1851 to 1856 ; P. H. Jeffries, 1856 ; R. L. Gauler, 1859 ; T. G. Wells, 1862 ; James Trimble, 1864 to 1869. In 1870, the present able Pastor, S. A. Bronson, D. D., was installed. The Sunday school was organ- ized soon after the church was ereeted, and now numbers about fifty pupils ; C. S. Doolittell is Superintendent.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church is located on East Diamond street. It is not at present owned by the congregation, which is small, numbering only about twenty members. It was organized at that place in 1875, the principal members being George Conley, Philip Harris, Judge Sheffield, William Steward and Mrs. Rachel Steward and Mrs. Isaac Pleasants. The ministers have been Rev. Armhouse, Neely Jackson, William Mackedew, N. L. Bray and J. W. Jackson. The Sunday school con- nected with this church was organized by Mr. L. J. Bonar, in 1865, in the basement of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bonar was Super- intendent for several years. After him Mr. Isaac Pleasants has occupied that position acceptably. The membership is about thirty- one.

FHOTO ENG.CO.N.Y

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

The Church of God. located in Jolins' Addi- tion. corner of Orchard street and Maude avenue. was organized in 1870, by Rev. J. W. Senseuney or Senesenny. of Upper Sandusky. Some of the first members were John F. Miles, J. W. Myers and John Foreman. The church (a frame) was erected in 1871. at a cost of $6,600 : before this. the meetings were held in the schoolhouse. Some of the Pastors are O. H. Betts. G. W. Wilson. M. Coates and J. S. MeKee. The present Pastor is Solomon Cline. The membership is fifteen. The Sunday school was organized in the fall of 1869. by L. J. Bonar. Superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday School. It first met at the dwelling of Mr. A. W. Lobach. and after- ward in the schoolhouse until the church was

erected. Mr. James Hamsher became Super- intendent on the retirement of Mr. Bonar in November. 1870.

A society calling themselves Believers in Christ worship in a small church located on East Market street, erected about 1863. at a cost of $1.500. It was first organized in 1850. and the early meetings were mostly held at the private dwellings of Mr. Frederick Lautz and Mrs. Minn. These, with Mrs. Case, Mrs. Brehm and a few others, formed the first society. Their first minister was Joseph Bella. The present membership is about sixty : and the present minister, S. Sorg. A Sunday school was organized in 1868. and is still in a healthy, con- dition. with a membership of about twenty-five.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLIX.

SCHOOLS, PRESS AND POST OFFICE.

THE PIONEER SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS OF THE CITY -THE FIRST SCHOOLHOUSES - DIVISION INTO DISTRICTS- THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF TEACHING -THE FEMALE COLLEGE- THE SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE SCHOOLS -THE BOARD OF EDUCATION-THE ERECTION OF SCHOOLHOUSES-PROGRESS AND STATISTICS-THE CITY PRESS-THE OLIVE-MANSFIELD GAZETTE-WESTERN HERALD-OHIO SPECTATOR-RICHLAND WHIG-OHIO SHIELD - SHIELD AND BANNER -RICHLAND JEFFERSONIAN - MANSFIELD HERALD - MORNING PENNANT- RICHLAND BUGLE AND INDEPENDENT PRESS-MANSFIELD COURIER-OHIO LIBERAL-RICHLAND DEMOCRAT -SUNDAY MORNING CALL-THE FIRST POST OFFICE-THE EARLY MAIL ROUTES-STAGES-POSTMASTERS- LOCATION OF POST OFFICES-THE BUSINESS OF THE OFFICE.

"There in his quiet mansion skilled to rule, The village master taught his little school. * *

* * * * I knew him well, and every truant knew ; * * * * * * Yet he was kind; or, if severe in aught, The love he bore to learning was his fault. The village all declared how much he knew, 'Twas certain he could write and cipher too." -Goldsmith.

T' THE present system of public schools in the city has been in operation more than twenty years, during which period great advancement is supposed to have been made over the old sys- tem of public teaching ; many of the best citi- zens of Mansfield having put their shoulders to the wheel and kept them there until the schools of this city have been pushed to the front rank of the public schools of the State. A complete history of these schools and their progress would be interesting, but of the early schools very little is known. and that little is unwritten, existing only in the memory of "the oldest inhabitant."

In gathering the general history it is found that wherever half a dozen families settled near each other (and from one to five miles was called near in early days), they first established a school and a place of worship. So deeply rooted and firmly established in the American heart is the fundamental idea that the common

school is the hope of the Republic, that every opportunity for establishing a school was im- proved. Hence the early schools were taught years before the settlers were able to construct schoolhonses, and before any public money could be obtained for that purpose. These were " subscription " schools. The teacher, or " schoolmaster," as he was more frequently called. carried around his subscription paper ; parents of children agreeing to give so much per scholar for a certain time, or a certain num- ber of weeks or months. and the teacher received his pay when the work was done ; teaching the future statesmen wherever he could find an empty room or cabin. Thus it was with the early schools of Mansfield. Among these first schools was one taught by Eliza Wolf in one of the block-houses on the square. This lady was the sister of John M. May's wife and the mother of W. W. Drennan, of Plymouth. Her school was probably the first in the town, and it may be proper to say here that she was also the cus- todian of the military stores which occupied one of the block-houses during the war of 1812, and by reason of her connection with this position, became intimately acquainted with a number of the leading officers of the army. She seems to have been a lady of rare tact and ability.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

These bloek-houses were for several years used for schoolhouses, churches and public halls. Among the first cabins built in the town was one on the east side of the square where Hedges' new block now stands. John Mull taught school in this cabin in 1817. Mull taught sev- eral years in the town. In 1821, he is found on West Third street teaching in a one-story dwell- ing house, directly opposite the United Presby- terian Church-the building standing between the McFall dwelling and J. H. Cook's dwelling. A few of his pupils were John Stewart's two boys. Mansfield, Hiram, George and Eliza Gil- kison. John Loge, Perry Walker and Jane Lind- ley. Mull was a cripple, but a very good teacher for that day. He used to sit on a stool in the center of the schoolroom with a whip in his hand sufficiently long to reach every scholar. In this way, he managed to keep order without leaving his seat. The younger scholars of those days were taught their letters and their multi- plication table in a rather novel manner-the letters being pasted on one side of a little board made in the shape of a paddle, and the multi- plication table upon the other side. This pad- dle had a small hole bored through one end. and was hung up when not in use. It may fairly be presumed that it was occasionally used for other purposes than those mentioned.

John Lowery taught one of the earliest schools in a two-story frame building, which occupied the site of Dougherty's tailor-shop on South Main street. This building had been put up by Elijah Lake for a warehouse. Lake kept a store in it for some time ; and was after- ward Clerk of the Court, the same building being used for a court house while the late structure was in course of erection on the square.

A very early school was taught in a one- story log cabin, which had been erected and used for a dwelling, immediately south of the log house occupied by John Wiler for a tavern. on Main street. James Russell taught one

term here, and, during this term, an incident occurred illustrative of the customs of those times. It was customary to bar the teacher ont on Christmas. and require him to treat before he could again take possession. It may be remarked that this custom is still in vogue in nearly all the more Western States to-day. When Mr. Russell found the door barred, he attempted to capture the place by assault, but. failing, climbed to the roof with the intention (probably not serious). of entering by the chimney. 1 hot fire in the huge fireplace beneath, however, drove him back; he was compelled to retreat, and. it may be inferred, in some confusion. The most surprising part of the business was the demand of the future sov- ereigns, which was two gallons of whisky. some eakes, apples, etc.

When Judge McCluer kept a kind of tavern on the old Lamberton corner-site of the sav- ings bank-being. probably, unable to keep up the supply of pork and cornbread his numerous guests demanded, without some outside assist- ance, he concluded to rent part of his building for a schoolroom, and placed a board partition across one room for that purpose. Alexander Kearn taught here one winter. Mrs. Grant re- members going to school to him, and that she could look through the cracks of the board partition and study anatomy on the numerous hogs the Judge had slaughtered and stored in the next room. Kearn taught a seleet school of about a dozen scholars.

Judge Stewart, in his younger days. was among the early teachers in Mansfield. He taught a select school in a dwelling-house on the corner of Second and Walnut streets. The lot is now owned by Dr. W. H. Race. The Judge also taught a select school on Market. between Walnut and Mulberry, in a two-story log house, owned and occupied by John C. Gilkison. Stewart's school was in the upper part of the house ; a stairway being erected on the outside of the building. The house stood

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

on the east half of the lot now occupied by Dr. Craig. He only taught here one winter. as the children made so much racket over Mrs. Gilkison's head, that she concluded to dispense with the school. During the next season. how- ever, the Judge succeeded in having a small frame schoolhouse erected on the next lot east of Mr. Gilkison's, where he continued his school. This is believed to have been the second schoolhouse erected in the town, and was built mainly by the efforts of the Associ- ate Reformed Church, of which Rev. James Johnson was Pastor. One of Stewart's pupils was a young lady, very pretty. it is said, by the name of Loughridge. She lived somewhere in the woods, a mile or two from town. The Judge fell in love with, and married, her. Their only child is now the wife of Secretary Sherman.

One of the earliest schools was also taught in a cabin, which stood in the alley, back of Niman's furniture store.

M. H. Gilkison says the first schoolhouse of which he has any recollection, and, he believes, the first in Mansfield, was located on East .Dia- mond street. west side, between Third and Fourth, on the northwest corner of East Dia- mond and the alley which connects East and West Diamond. It was a frame, about fifteen feet square. He thinks John O'Brien was the - first teacher. O'Brien, in common with several other early teachers, drank too much, but was a very good teacher for the times. A man by the name of Timberlick, a lady named Emily Ann Terry, and James Russell also taught in this house-the latter several years. Some of the pupils were George Carothers, Hannibal Pugh, Alexander Mann and sister, Mr. Neal, Alexander Curran, Ralph Hedge, Mansfield H. and George Gilkison, Joseph Cairns, Orin Terry, and Joseph and Andrew Newman.

A small frame schoolhouse was afterward erected on the corner of Second and Walnut streets, on the lot now occupied by the Lutheran

Church. David Bright, afterward Sheriff of the county, taught there at one time. James Brice also taught there in the winter of 1830-31. A school was taught at an early day on South Main street, near where Dr. Race now resides.

When Gen. James Hedges laid out the town. he donated two lots on the northeast and north- west corners of the plat for school purposes. Many of the old settlers are under the impres- sion that the first schoolhouse was built on one of these lots-the one on the northeast corner. This would seem probable from the fact that the lot was donated and intended for that pur- pose. The house was called the " Big Spring " Schoolhouse, and was built in 1818, and stood where the soap factory now stands on Fourth street. There was a block-house on that same lot before the schoolhouse was built. Alexan- der Barr was one of the first, if not the first, teacher who occupied this house. He was the son of a Baptist minister, a very efficient teacher, and taught here fifteen years. The house was a frame, about 20x35 feet. Mordecai Bartley writes thus concerning this schoolhouse: " As the town increased in population, public spirit and enterprise. the policy of erecting a schoolhouse was discussed, and for the purpose of having a decision, an individual visited each family in the village. and to each presented a subscription paper, thereby obtaining a promise of the payment of $200 to aid in the building of a schoolhouse. On the evening of the same day, a meeting of the citizens was held, and after organizing by appointing a chairman and secretary, a motion to proceed immediately in erecting a schoolhouse was carried without de- bate. It was then proposed by one that it be built of logs, by another that it be frame, by another, brick, and another, stone. Each plan had its advocates, but finally the meeting dis- solved in confusion without coming to any con- clusion, save that a schoolhouse be built. The subscription of $200 was placed in the hands of

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

mechanies, who speedily erected a comfortable frame schoolhouse in the northeast part of the town, which was occupied for school purposes more than twenty years." Some of Barr's pu- pils were Joseph, Robert and Harriet Cairns, John and Hugh McCluer. Rebecca. George and James Coffinberry-the latter is now a promi- nent Judge in the city of Cleveland-and Eliza- beth. Susan, Jane W., Rebecca D .. George W .. Mary and Sarah L. Carothers.

Some years after the Big Spring Schoolhouse was built, another was erected on the other lot donated by Gen. Hedges. It was called the " Red " Schoolhouse, and occupied the lot on the corner of Fourth and Mulberry. where F. E. Tracy now lives. This house was standing in 1840, as Mr. J. H. Cook was a teacher at that time. One of the later schoolhouses was also erected on the south end of the market-house lot, and the school there was at one time taught by Moses Dickey.

It was not until March. 1846. that a petition was received by the Council. asking that the town be divided into school districts. Up to this time, but one district existed. In April following, the Council ordained, " that said cor- porate limits be divided into three separate dis- tricts, to be known and called Nos. 1, 2. and 3." District No. 1 to include all that part of the town east of Walnut street and north of the public square ; No. 2 to embrace all south of the north line of the public square. and east of Walnut, except that the line running north and south between Second and Third streets should follow Main street instead of Walnut ; No. 3 embraced all that part of town not in- cluded in the other two.

Five Wardens were appointed by the Council for each of these districts, and. as the town in- creased in population, other districts were added from time to time. as the necessities of the case demanded, until they numbered six. In these three original districts, the schoolhouses were, No. 1, the Big Spring, on Fourth, where the first

brick schoolhouse was afterward erected ; No. 2, the new brick on Southeast Diamond, now occu- pied as a normal school ; No. 3. the Red School- house. corner Fourth and Mulberry.

There is a gap in the history of Mansfield schools it will be hard to bridge over, in conse- quence of the total destruction of all the records of the Board of Education by fire, when H. C. Hedges' block was burned, about 1870 : however, there is little valuable history of the schools before about 1855. when the present system. then. of course, in a rude state, came into existence. The following is copied from the Mansfield Herald, of January. 1857 : "Our schools were organized under the law of 1852. immediately after its passage. A Board of Education. consisting of J. H. Cook, A. L. Grimes and I. Gass, was elected in the spring of 1855. As contracts already existed for teaching one term in the several school dis- triets into which our city was then divided. this Board did not enter fully upon its duties until the fall of that year, at which time prop- erly commences the graded system among us. The usual embarrassment attending the appli- cation of any new law as important as this. was felt by the Board in their early labors. which demanded the utmost discretion and skill in overcoming. We have had no access to the statistics of these schools previous to their organization under the new law. Such as we have are furnished by Dr. Catlin, the present Superintendent. Alexander Bartlett was appointed Principal of the High School and Superintendent of Instruction for the first year. He was succeeded by H. Merrel, who held the position seven months. George W. Waring succeeded I. Gass, and B. Burns sue- ceeded 1. L. Grimes, on the expiration of their terms of office. The Board. as now constituted. consists of J. H. Cook. President ; G. W. War- ing and B. Burns ; the City Clerk, Alexander Mellvaine. acting. by virtue of his office. as Clerk of the Board.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

" Dr. Catlin has had charge of the schools as Superintendent of Instruction, since Septem- ber, 1855, at which time the Board of Educa- tion found it necessary to adopt, and publish in pamphlet form, a system of general rules and regulations. to the wise and wholesome ad- ministration of which. the present flourishing condition of our schools is, in a great measure, attributable. Our school year. commencing on September 1. consists of forty weeks, divided into three terms. one of sixteen weeks, and the other two of twelve each. We have at present eleven schools, employing, with Superintendent, thirteen teachers. There are five primary, four secondary, a grammar and a high school. The annual enumeration of youth. at the last census, was over one thousand five hundred. an in- crease of about two hundred since the present system was adopted.

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Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 968

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968