History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 74

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Some attention is now paid to the elements of natural history in the D grammar grade, the elements of botany in the C, of physiology in the B, and of physics in the A grammar grade. United States history is also studied in the A grammar grade, and takes the place of geography. Practical language lessons form a more important feature than formerly in the work of the C and D grammar and primary grades. Writing is commenced with the first day of school life, and an effort is made to give the pupil constant daily practice in the use of writ-ten language.

Mental arithmetic, formerly pursued as a separate study, is now taught in combination with written arithmetic. Effort is made to give its analytical processes merited attention, and to use them as a key to the operations in written arithmetic. Number lessons commence with the lowest grade.

Music and drawing have, at different times, received consideration, with varying

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success. Two years ago L. S. Thompson, of Sandusky, was employed as a special teacher in drawing, to visit the schools once a month, and give instruction to teachers as well as pupils, and S. C. Collins, of the same place, as a special teacher of music, to visit the schools twice a month. Under their efficient supervision the schools are making commendable progress in these branches.

One new feature has been introduced into the schools, worthy of mention. Practical drill in music and literature has been made a daily exercise, with excellent results. A series of concerts was given at the close of the school year 1880 and 1881, which showed gratifying proficiency. Burns' and Moore's songs were sung with enthusiasm. A regular course of reading is being encouraged this year as a special feature.

The following is a list of members of the board with the dates of their election, beginning with the year following the or- ganization, and continuing up to 1872:

1851-H. Lang, Homer Everett.

1852-Samuel Wilson, Jacob Kridler.

1853-Dr. L. Q. Rawson, H. E. Clark, C. Doncyson.

1854-John Younkman, Aaron Loveland.

1855-Dr. Brainard, H. Lang.

1856-L. Q. Rawson, John Bell.

1857-James Justice, R. W. B. McClellan. 1858-Thomas Stilwell, Thomas Kelley.

1859-Isaac Glick, D. L. June.

1860-James Justice, R. W. B. McClellan. 1861-H. Everett, H. E. Clark.

1862-Ammi Williams, John Flaugher.

1863-Colonel Nat Haynes, James Justice.

1864-H. Everett, J. S. Van Ness.

1865-H. R. Shomo, Charles Thompson.

1866-C. Doncyson, H. Lesher.

1867-H. Lang, J. M. Smith.

1868-John McArdle, J. S. Van Ness.

1869-C. Doncyson, J. P. Elderkin.

1870-W. W. Stine, J. Elwell.

1871-J. S. Van Ness, H. Lang.

1872-C. Doncyson, A. J. Hale.

From 1872 to 1876 the board was constituted as follows: J. S. Van Ness, presdent; William Stine, treasurer; A. J. Hale, secretary; J. Elwell, H. Lang, and C. Doncyson.

The board for 1880-81 were: H. R. Finefrock, president; A. J. Hale, secretary; J. P. Thompson, treasurer: Jesse S. Van Ness, E. A. Bristol, J. Stierwalt.

Hon. Homer Everett was secretary of the first board of education, and has served as secretary and president many terms since, contributing efficient and judicious service to the schools.

The Rev. H. Lang, to whose research we are indebted for many of the facts of this review, was a member of the first board, and C. Doncyson was elected in 1853. Both have served from twelve to fifteen years, and been active, earnest, working members. J. S. Van Ness has been a member of the board for ten years, and most of the time president, without remuneration, giving careful attention to the school property and interests of the city. Mr. Stine has been an active member and treasurer for six years. Under his able management of the finances, the board are able to report themselves free from debt.

Mr. Elwell served efficiently for three years as secretary. Mr. Hale, the present secretary, is in his third term, and has proven himself a liberal and efficient member of the board.

Very much of the efficiency of the schools is due to the hearty co-operation the present board has extended to the teachers, and the liberal and yet judicious

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manner they have responded to the school wants.

The following gentlemen have served as superintendents since the grading of the schools in 1853, in the order mentioned: H. E. Clark, one year; J. W. Hiett, one year; G. A. Starkweather, two years; G. C. Woolard, two years; Don A. Pease, one year; Rev. E. Bushnell, three years; G. C. Woolard, one year; and W. W. Ross, who is in the eighteenth year of his superintendency.

The schools completed, with much labor and pains on the part of the teachers, fourteen volumes of school work for the Centennial Exposition.

THE PRESENT SUPERINTENDENT.

W. W. Ross was born at Seville, Medina county, Ohio, December 24, 1834. He attended the village school until he was eleven years old, and then, for a few years, enjoyed the advantages of instruction in a private or academic school, common in those days on the Western Reserve, taught by Charles Foster, a graduate of Dartmouth college, and a very successful teacher, who died during the war of the Rebellion.

At the age of fourteen he had completed a very good course of study, including algebra and geometry.

He attended school little after he was sixteen years old, and none after he was seventeen, and but nine weeks outside his native village. He taught his first school at the age of sixteen, at fourteen dollars per month.

He built up a flourishing private or academic school, at Spencer, Medina county, Ohio. He took charge of this school for four or five years, and subsequently, for a like period, had charge of the academy in his native village.

He devoted the summer vacation of these years to the law, pursuing the study

in the office of Noble & Palmer, Cleve-land, Ohio; also in the office of Lieutenant- Colonel Canfield, of the Seventy-second Ohio regiment, Medina, Ohio, and with the Hon. J. C. Johnson, Seville, Ohio.

He was admitted to the Medina county Bar in 1861. In consequence of indifferent health, he did not commence practice.

His first experience in connection with graded schools was at Clyde. He was superintendent of the schools of that place from 1862 to 1864. In the latter year he was elected superintendent of the public schools at Fremont, a position he has filled for seventeen years, and still occupies.

Formerly quite active as a political orator, he has always taken a lively interest in political matters, and was the candidate of his party for State school commissioner in the year 1871.

He has filled the position of State school examiner for two terms; has served as president of the Tri-State Teachers' Association, and of the Northwestern Ohio State Teachers' Association; has been an active institute worker, and a frequent contributor to educational journals.

From earliest childhood more or. less familiar with legal proceedings in the office of his father, who served as justice of the peace almost uninterruptedly for a period of thirty years, he early elected the law for his chosen profession, and although circumstances have led him into another field, he has never, perhaps, entirely abandoned the thought of ultimately entering upon the practice of the law.

This thought, however has never pre- vented his giving his best activities and energies to the educational work in which, by the judgment of his peers, he has met with eminent success.

CHAPTER XXX.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

T 'HE Rev. Joseph Badger was an early missionary on the Western Reserve. After laboring there for a time he connected himself with the Synod of Pittsburgh, and in 1805 made a tour as far west as Michigan. June 14, he crossed the Sandusky River, swimming his horse by the side of a canoe. Here he speaks of meeting the Rev. James Hughes, and conferring with the Indian chief about preaching. He found a temporary home with Mrs. Whittaker, about three miles below Lower Sandusky. On his way back from Michigan he was at Lower Sandusky July 26, and preached to the Indians.

In 18o6, May 13, he ran into Sandusky Bay in a boat of three tons burthen, which he had himself built. That night, he quaintly says, "there being no fuel on shore, we had patience for supper." Next day he arrived at Mrs. Whittaker's.

At Lower Sandusky he found the Indians gathered together attending to their prophet, who was pointing out several of their women to be killed as witches. He got Crane, the chief, to stop the prophet and wait for an interpreter. His diary is not very full, but the impression left on the reader's mind is that he succeeded in saving the women from death. Here an Indian named Eunouqu, but called by the whites Barnett, was converted. Mr. Badger often afterward speaks of him as a steadfast and honest Christian.

At Lower Sandusky Mr. Badger and Mr. Hughes not only preached to the Indians, but they used to take their own

horses and help them plow and draw logs and rails for building. In this work he was opposed by some traders and government officers, but by persuading the Indians to avoid the use of strong drink he broke up the traders and they went off.

In September, 1809, there were rumors of a war with England. Mr. Badger appointed a meeting for the Indians in Lower Sandusky, at which he made an address dissuading them from taking any part in the war if it should come.

The labors of this missionary were of varied character. He speaks of making his own boat, of making a plow for Mrs. Whittaker, to replace one that had been broken, and the following are characteristic extracts from his journal:

Spent part of the week hoeing in the garden, digging for water, writing letters, and administering to the sick.

Friday: rode to the upper town, and preached a short lecture to the black people. Bled three women.

Monday: returned home and spent most of the week in administering to the sick; made a last and a pair of shoes.

Mr. Badger died in 1847, at Perrysburg, in the ninetieth year of his age. A few years ago the members of the Presbyterian synod made a contribution of money to place a stone at his grave.

Mr. Badger's labors were largely for the benefit of the Indians. It was only after a long interval that a Presbyterian church was organized here. Before this took place religious worship had been occasion-ally had here after the forms of this church. This worship had been conducted, and the Lord's Supper administered,

* Rev. Doctor E. Bushnell.

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by the Rev. James Robinson, a clergyman from Southern Ohio. These services were held in a log school-house, which stood upon or near the site now occupied by the high school building. No organization was effected until Saturday, November 30, 1833, when Rev.

Messrs. Enoch Conger, Xenophon Betts, and Ellery Bas-com met with those interested to form a church. This meeting was held in the court-house, the building which, remodeled, is now the dwelling of the pastor of the Lutheran church.

Twenty-two persons joined in constituting the church. All but two had been members of churches in other places, and most of them had regular letters of dismission.

The ministers who formed the church were all members of the Presbytery of Huron. At the next stated meeting of the Presbytery, April 8, 1834, the formation of the church was reported, and it was received under the care of the body.

One of these ministers, Rev. E. Bascom, became the first ministerial servant of the church. He was graduated at Western Reserve College, 1830, a member of its first class. He had studied theology at Princeton, and was ordained by the Huron Presbytery, October 8, 1833. At last accounts he was still living in Wisconsin.

David Camp and William C. Otis were chosen elders, and were ordained in the evening after the organization. Mr. Camp was the father of Mrs. Jacob Stahl.

For some time the Sunday services were held in the court-house, or in a stone school- house near the present high school building. Prayer meetings were held at the house of the minister. His house has been enlarged, and is now the residence of Dr. Failing, on Justice street, between the park and State street. After leaving the court-house the congregation,

for some time, used a small building which stood on Front street, a few rods north of the post office, which has given place to business edifices.

The church was incorporated by act of the Legislature of Ohio, under date of March 4, 1836. But no meetings of the body as thus incorporated are recorded until January 7, 1841. From that time the annual meeting in January has never failed. The annual meeting of January 1, 1842, is recorded as held "in their meeting-house." At this meeting the trustees were directed to complete a lease with Isaac Prior for his house, as a place of public worship. That house was erected by Mr. Prior on purpose for the use of the church, and the church continued to use it rent free, till the completion of an edifice. It is still standing, used as a dwelling, on the south side of State street, next door to the marble shop, east of the bridge.

At. a meeting held in April, 1844, it was resolved expedient to make an effort to build a house of worship. The trustees were directed to immediately purchase, a lot on the northwest corner of Main and Garrison streets. This was done, and the location has ever since been occupied. In May (1844) a building committee was appointed. The house was erected, and was dedicated January 1o, 1847. It was forty-five by sixty feet, was the first house built by the congregation, and was used until the last Sabbath of March, 1869. In January, 1852, it was resolved to undertake the building of a lecture room. Such room was- built in the rear of the church, and was used as long as the church itself.

In January, 1869, the trustees were in- structed to raise, if possible, a subscription of twenty-five thousand dollars, and if suc- cessful to proceed to the erection of a more commodious edifice, having first re-moved both the old edifices. The effort

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succeeded, and the house now occupied was built, the congregation meanwhile worshiping ten months in Birchard hall. The basement rooms were first occupied January 30, 1870. The completed edifice was dedicated on Sunday, the 28th day of April, 1870, without debt, having cost nearly forty thousand dollars. The congregation has occupied this location nearly thirty years.

The church has elected seventeen elders, two of whom declined to serve. The first two, as already stated, were David Camp and William C. Otis. March 31, 1838, Ezra Williams and John Tindall were elected. The latter appears never to have been ordained hr to have served. In November, 1841, Samuel Hafford was elected. In November, 1833, Samuel Clark, Samuel Crowell, and Dr. Franklin Williams were elected. Mr. Crowell declined to serve, and Chauncey J. Pettibone was chosen. In January, 1848, George Wall was elected. In April, 1849, J. B. G. Downs; in January, 1852-53 Joseph T. Moss and Thomas Gilimon; and in February, 1856, Dr. T. Stillwell and R. W. R. Mclellan were chosen, and April 30, 1869, C. R. McCulloch and I. M. Keeler.

In regard to the ministers who have served the church, the records, whether of the church or the session, do not snake it clear, in all cases, when they came or when they went. There have been ten ministers. Three have been regularly installed pastors, viz .: Rev. Ferris Fitch, May 16, 1839, dismissed May 8, 1844; Rev. Flavel S. White, installed October 20, 1847, dismissed June 29, 1852; and Rev. Ebenezer Bushnell, installed May 12, 1857, still in office (October, 1881). The church has been in existence for forty-eight years. These three pastors have ministered thirty-four and a half of those years. The remaining thirteen and one-half years have been divided between vacancies and

seven stated supplies. Messrs. E. Bascom, E. Conger, H. A. Reed, and John McCutchen preceded the pastorate of Mr. Fitch. Between Mr. Fitch and Mr. White, was Rev. F. T. Backus. After Mr. White came Rev. H. A. Rossiter and Rev. F, Hendricks.

The records give no clue to the date of the organization of the Sunday-school. The most prominent name among the earlier superintendents is that of C. J. Pettibone, though he alternated with J. B. G. Downs, Dr. B. F. Williams, and C. R. McCulloch. For about twenty-five years C. R. McCulloch has been superintendent.

Many of the members of this church have joined it by letter from other churches, and many others have come in on profession of their faith. There have been times of unusual accessions. In July, 1837, five persons were received by letter, and forty on profession. Of these, some afterwards became prominent members and officers. In April, 1843, eight were received on profession. Between January, 1845, and July 4. of the same year, twenty-eight were received on profession and eight by letter. In May, 1850, sixteen were added; in May, 1859, thirty-two; in May, 1865, seven; in May, 1866, eight; in May, 1867, seven; and in March, 1872, eleven were added. In the first four months of 1873 twenty- five were received on profession. These members are a key to the fact that the church has enjoyed not a few seasons of special revival, while in the meantime accessions have been made more gradually.

During the first half of the church's history statistics were very sparingly put on the books. The first gives the number of members in 1846 as 123, but no "funds raised" are recorded. Since 1854 the statistics have been regularly recorded. In 1852 the number of members is given as 103; in 1855, 109; in 1856, 114. The highest number ever reported in the annual report is 199.

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In April, 1876, it was 193. The neglect to record statistics prevents one knowing what the church has given for benevolent purposes.

In the ordinary course of things this church has caused the preaching of more than five thousand sermons, and held two thousand five hundred prayer meetings, and two thousand two hundred and fifty sessions of the Sunday-school.

Could the town afford to do without this and other churches?

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH .*

The parish of St. Paul's, Fremont, does not possess a very lengthy history, yet that history includes facts of interest which should be recorded, and thus preserved from oblivion, and handed down for the information of future generations.

It was upon a conviction of the value of religious influences to a community, and a desire to establish here the services of the Protestant Episcopal church, that this parish was organized, in the year 1842, under the name of St. Paul's church, Lower Sandusky.

The population of the town was then below two thousand. Many who were then leading spirits of the place have now passed away from the stage of action. The majority of the men who united in forming this parochial organization were not professors of religion, but they acted, no doubt, under a sense of duty to themselves and families and a desire to advance the interests of the town.

The first meeting for the purpose of or- ganizing a religious society according to the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal church, was held at the court- house on Wednesday, the 15th day of January, 1812. The articles of association then and there adopted were signed by twenty-eight citizens. At a meeting

held January 25, 1842, Messrs. D. E. Field and William C. Otis were chosen wardens, and John P. Haynes, A. Coles, John R. Pease, A. B. Taylor and N. B. Eddy, vestrymen of the new parish.

The average attendance at Sunday morning services is from eighty to one hundred.

The following occurs in the record of the first meeting of the vestry, February 5, 1842:

Ordered that the secretary be directed to write to Rev. James O'Kill, assuring him that the sum of one hundred dollars may be raised for him to officiate as pastor of this church once a month for the space of one year, or at that rate, the arrangement, however, subject to be put an end to by the vestry of this church, so soon as a permanent pastor can be secured.

Resolved, That the Secretary write to the Rev. Bishop Mellvaine, requesting him to furnish this church with a pastor so soon as possible.

In accordance with this resolution, the Rev. Mr. O'Kill came from Norwalk and held service a few times. It is said that a few of the earlier services were held in the building then occupied by the Methodist society, on the southwest corner of Arch and Garrison streets. The abilities of Mr. O'Kill are highly praised by those who knew him. He was a man of brilliant talents. In November, 1842, the Rev. William Fagg was invited to the charge of the parish at a salary of four hundred dollars per annum. This, as we are informed, was Mr. Fagg's first parish. After serving the congregation one year he left on account of ill-health. Mr. Fagg died a number of years ago in the South. There is a record of one marriage and five burials by Mr. Fagg, but no record of any baptism or of anyone presented for confirmation during his rectorship. William C. Otis and D. E. Field held the offices of warden, and D. E. Field was chosen delegate to the diocesan convention.

The meetings at this time were held in

*Rev. R. L. Chittenden.

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the old stone school-house, a small building which stood on the present site of the high school building. Subsequently the meetings of the congregation were held in the courthouse.

In 1843-44 the members of the congre- gation erected a handsome and commodious church edifice-of brick with stone trimmings-on the lot on the northwest corner of Main and Court streets. A small portion of the subscriptions for the work promised labor, teaming and materials-the balance money. The building was sixty by forty-two feet, with Gothic windows and a handsome steeple in which hung a sweet-toned bell, from the manufactory at Troy, New York. This bell, not being of sufficient size and weight for the expected new tower, was sold a few years ago, and now serves to give fire- alarms in case of a threatened conflagration. The church was heated with stoves, from which long smoke-pipes extended through the building, entering the rear wall on each side of the chimney. The number of slips was fifty-two. A pulpit of Gothic design, and a heavy gallery for the organ and choir at the east end, completed the interior equipment. A small room in the rear, lighted by one north window, served as a vestry-room, and was also used for the instruction of the infant class. The interior of the wood-work was of an oaken-brown color. The location of the church is quite central, and the building at the time of its erection was, probably, with hardly an exception, the best and most tasteful church edifice in the county. The building being completed, the pews were appraised and offered for sale (six being reserved), the purchase money to apply on the subscription of the purchaser. Only seventeen are marked sold in the record of proceedings. If no more were disposed of it may be conjectured that it was because the

pews were to be subject to assessment for debts of the church, as well as the support of the minister. The cost of the new building exceeded the amount raised by subscription. At the close of the year 1844 a debt of one thousand three hundred and eighty-three dollars and six cents yet remained, being money advanced in equal amounts by six gentlemen, over and above their subscriptions for the erection of the church.

Some two years afterward an average of about sixty-three dollars was paid to each of these gentlemen on the above indebtedness, and they afterwards generously gave up their claims, still amounting to about one thousand two hundred dollars. The names of these gentlemen are: R. P. Buckland, John R. Pease, N. B. Eddy, John M. Smith, A. Coles, and A. W. Cutter. In 1844 the pews were ordered to be sold for the support of a minister. Rev. Humphrey Hollis having been elected rector, entered upon his duties on the 15th day of July, 1844, and continued in charge until the 10th day of August, 1846, at a salary of five hundred dollars per an-num. The first baptism on record in the parish is that of Caroline Elizabeth Eddy, at the residence of her parents, on Thursday, August 29, 1844. Date of birth, April 13, 1842. Sponsors, the parents, Azariah and Harriet M. Eddy, and Mrs. John P. Haynes. Clergyman officiating, Rev. H. Hollis.

On the 14th of November, 1845, fifteen persons were confirmed by Bishop Menvaine-presented by Mr. Hollis. During these two years the baptisms numbered eleven. Rev. Mr. Hollis died not long since in Ashtabula county, this State.

We find on record under date of November 1, 1845, a formal request ad-dressed to the bishop of the diocese, asking him to consecrate the new church, thereby separating it from all unhallowed,

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worldly and common uses, and solemnly dedicating it to the worship and service of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, according to the provisions of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States of America.

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History of Sandusky County Ohio with Illustrations 1882, Part 74

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