History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 101

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II > Part 101

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WOMAN'S EXCHANGE.

Of this helpful and semibenevolent enterprise Mrs. W. A. Mahony, in the paper already quoted, gives the following account :

The Woman's Exchange is a cooperative institution organized five years ago [in 1884] and has enabled many a family to live independently through the earnings of mothers or sisters who can do certain kinds of work in their own homes. The question, " what in the world can I do to keep my family together " is asked by many a widowed wife or mother and the Woman's Exchange gives the answer: "Learn to do one thing so well that some- body will want your work, and we will be your agent in bringing your work and a customer together." The noblest charity is in helping women to help themselves; this the Woman's Exchange does by providing a market for all articles of domestic manufacture. Any lady, in any circumstances, may become a consignor by purchasing a ticket for $1.25 which enables her to place on sale at the Exchange her wares for the period of six months ; a $2.00 ticket gives her the same privilege for one year. Last year there were fiftysix consignors from

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

Columbus and twentyeight from other cities and towns. .. . One bread consignor last year was paid over $1,000. Orders are received for marking linen and for repairing and cleaning laces. Purchasers do not know whose goods they buy, but are requested to ask the number of the consignor, as the persons making consignments are known by numbers only.

WOMAN'S INDUSTRIAL HOME.

This admirable institution began its working existence on Jannary 26, 1887, under superintendence of Mrs. Ira J. Bailey, as matron. Continuing the passages just quoted, Mrs. Mahony gives the following account of its origin :

The managers of the Woman's Exchange found it impracticable to sustain the educa- tional branches of their work with which they started out, viz .: The cooking school, kitchen garden, etc ; bnt earnest women realized the great necessity of more experience and effi- ciency among working girls and women, and in 1886 the Woman's Industrial and Educa- tional Union was organized. The purpose of this association, as stated in the second article of its constitution, is " to unite the women of Columbus in moral and educational work for the benefit of working women and girls, and to protect and promote their moral, industrial and financial interests." There are several departments of educational and industrial train- ing, including a kitchen garden for training little girls in domestic work, an evening cooking school, a dressmaking class, a night school and classes in hygiene ; a home wherein young women disabled or temporarily ont of employment are made. comfortable ; rooms and board given to working girls at a very moderate price ; a kindergarten for children whose parents have no time to care for them; a nursery where little children and infants are cared for while their mothers are out for a day's work ; evening classes and social gatherings ; moral and religious training and mothers' meetings ; an employment bureau where may be found a list of employers and those seeking employment ; a small library, to which the managers of the Union would gladly receive additions, and a public reading room with a superinten- dent in charge.

The first president of the association was Mrs. Alice Corner Brown. The Woman's Industrial Home occupies the building which now stands upon the lot donated by Alfred Kelley to the Female Benevolent Society, as stated in a pre- ceding part of this chapter. Under date of August 10, 1890, the following item appeared in an evening paper :

Last January Mr. B. S. Brown proposed to the Woman's Educational and Industrial Union to pay the last $5,000 due on the home at 64 South Fourth Street. Since April I, the remainder has been raised and on August 1, the bonse passed to the Union for $15,586,14. [Mr. Brown has since made an additional donation to the Home of $500 .- A. E. L.]

The Home is sustained by voluntary offerings, by membership fees and by moderate charges for board and rooms. All girls belonging to the Union are entitled to the privileges of the evening classes in the common English branches, plain sewing and dressmaking. The nursery takes care of the infants of work- ingwomen while at their tasks. Girls from 8 to 14 years of age are trained in the kitchen garden for domestic service. Meetings of working mothers are held once a week.

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CHARITIES.

HOME FOR THE AGED.

The object of this institution, as declared in its constitution, is " the care, sup- port and maintenance of old people." The movement which resulted in its estab- lishment began with a charity ball, said to have been the first of its kind in Col- umbus, held at the Princess Rink, West Spring Street, on December 30, 1886. From this ball, gotten up for the especial benefit of the Home proiect, and chiefly organized and managed by Mrs. Maria Monypeny, the sum of $1,400 was real- ized. This success furnished a basis as well as encouragement for further active proceedings, and on January 10, 1887, the following trustees for the institution were chosen by the Home Association : J. M. Westwater, D. S. Gray, A. G. Pat- ton, L. C. Newsom, Mrs. Maria Monypeny, Mrs. N. E. Lovejoy and Mrs. A. D. Rodgers. From the beginning of the association until the present time Mrs. Maria Monypeny has been its president. Mrs. A. D. Rodgers, Mrs. W. H. Akin and Mrs. D. S. Gray were the original vice presidents. Mrs. Charles Monypeny was the first treasurer, and Mrs. Ira Hutchinson was the first secretary. On Feb- ruary 22, 1887, a " Martha Washington teaparty " for the benfit of the Home was held at the Columbus Club House.

During the following spring the project received a most important impetus from the generosity of Mr. William Monypeny, who donated to the association as a permanent site for its proposed institution a lot opposite to the eastern portion of Franklin Park, on East Broad Street. To this lot, 100 x 180 feet, a tract 50 x 180 feet, on which it is intended to erect a home for aged men, has since been added by purchase. Pending the preparations to build on this tract Colonel A. G. Patton granted to the association the nse without charge, of a large dwelling- house with ample and beautiful grounds, situated a few hundred yards west of Franklin Park on East Broad Street. This generous offer was accepted, and in the house the use of which was thus acquired the Home was opened in April, 1887.

A " French market " for the benefit of the building fund of the Home was held, beginning December 5, 1887, and proved to be one of the most interesting social events in the history of the city. The " market " took place at the West Spring Street skating rink, then used as the Fourteenth Regiment Armory, and attracted an extraordinary patronage. On the evenings of December 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 musical and dramatic entertainments were given in which the most accom- plished amateurs of the city took part, and which were acknowledged on all sides to have been extremely well rendered. The bazar was very skilfully arranged and presented a great variety of original and curious attractions. The net pro- ceeds of the market amounted to $2,012.24, and raised the cash resources of the association to the sum of $6,891.83

On June 26, 1888, the cornerstone of the permanent Home building was laid with appropriate ceremonies, followed by a lawn fete on the grounds of the tem- porary Home. The building was completed during the year 1888, with twenty- one rooms. Its architect was Charles A. Stribling; the members of the building committee were William Monypeny and E. T. Mithoff. The present indebtedness of the institution is about $1,700. Annually a " harvest home" for its benefit is held in October. Applications for admission to the institution are made to the Board of Lady Managers. All persons admitted must have resided in Franklin County at least three years, and must be at least fifty years of age. At fifty the admission fee is 8500; between fiftyfive and sixty 8400 ; at and above sixty $300. The Home at present receives aged ladies only.

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

NEWSBOYS' HOME.

In October, 1885, a reading room at which newsboys might spend their even- ings was opened, through the efforts of Mrs. Ira J. Bailey, at Number 29 West Rich Street. In a short time a Sundayschool was added and was attended by about thirty boys. Some of these lads apparently having no home, some of the benevolent ladies of the city interested themselves in their behalf and eots, with bedding, for boys who had no lodging places were provided. The sum of three cents each was charged for the use of the cots. and all of them were occupied. As the number of boys patronizing the home steadily increased, a sixroom frame house on East Long Street was rented, and additional cots were procured. On January 1, 1886, the establishment was transferred to a brick building on West Town Street, and Miss A. E. Pumphrey was engaged as its matron. Here classes in the common English branches of instruction were organized, and at the close of each week an entertainment consisting of dialogues, recitations and music was given. A savings bank in which the boys could put away their pennies was also provided. Of the average yearly expense of maintaining the Home the boys paid about onethird. The residue was obtained mainly from donations and from fees paid by members of the association by which the Home was established. The officers and directors of this association and of the Home, in 1886, were the following : N. S. Smith, president ; W. D. Brickell, vice president ; F. W. Truman, secretary and treasurer ; George W. Bright, Nelson A. Sims, Clarence Maris, R. S. Smith, L. L. Rankin and W. B. Page. There was also a board of lady managers representing the different churches. The Home is at the pressent time in a state of suspension.

HUMANE SOCIETY.

The first organization under this name took place in December, 1873, and seems to have been prompted by the presence in the city at the time of the emi- nent champion of abused brute creatures and children, Mr. Henry Bergh, of New York. The object of the society was declared to be to enforce existing and future laws for the prevention of cruelty to animals. James L. Bates was chosen presi- dent and J. A. Scarritt secretary. In 1874 the directors were D. W. Brooks, president ; J. A. Scarritt, secretary ; E. L. Hinman, E. L. Taylor, William Riches, J. J. Voglegesang, Walter C. Brown, Theodore Comstock, Yeatman Anderson, T. W. Tallmadge, T. Ewing Miller, John G. Mitchell, William B. Hayden, Wal- stein Failing, Richard Nevins and P. W. Huntington. The annual fee for mem - bers was $5 ; for patrons $1. Police officers and patrolmen were asked to render the society whatever aid they could in the prevention of cruelties forbidden by a statute of April 4, 1871.

This association seems not to have been permanent, for under date of November 21, 1883, we read of a meeting of ladies and gentlemen for the purpose of organiz- ing in Columbus a branch of the State Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Children. J. A. Scarritt was chairman of this meeting and J. J.

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CHARITIES.

Janney secretary. A constitution was adopted and a committee to nominate offi- cers to an adjourned meeting was appointed. On December 7, 1883, the associa- tion was incorporated as the Humane Society of the City of Columbus. "After a period of inactivity " this society met in December, 1884, and elected the following officers : President, H. M. Neil; vice presidents, J. A. Scarritt, George K. Nash and Miss Lou. Phillips ; secretary, J. W. Myers ; treasurer, W. H. Albery; also a board of directors. The objects of the society were at this time declared to be to prevent cruelty to animals, to protect neglected children and to create a public sentiment against the abuse of innocent creatures whether of the brute kind or human. As an auxiliary movement the children of the public schools were organ- ized in Bands of Merey, preliminary to joining which they signed the following pledge : " I promise to be kind to all creatures within my reach, and to protect them as far as I can from cruelty and illusage." On December 14, 1885, the soci- ety elected the following officers : President, F. C. Sessions ; vice presidents, Mrs. H. E. Ide, W. H. Slade, Miss Lon Phillips ; secretary, J. W. Myers ; treasurer, W. H. Albery; also a board of directors. At an anniversary meeting of the society on December 9, 1889, an address was delivered by its president, O. A. B. Senter, and a legacy of one thousand dollars was received from Mrs. Mary N. Bliss. The present officers of the society are: President. R. C. Hoffman ; vice presidents, Frank C. Hubbard, Mrs. Lafayette Backus ; secretary, E. O. Randall ; treasurer, W. H. Albery ; attorneys, Frank C. Hubbard and E. O. Randall. The first agent of the society was Mr. Fraser, the second C. M. Morris, the third T. B. Vause, who is now in service. The society is supported entirely by voluntary donations. The annual membership fee is one dollar.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

Plans for an institution bearing this name were conceived early in 1890, and on February 27, 1891, articles of incorporation of the Children's Hospital of Columbus were filed with the Secretary of State. The movement aims to provide for the care of sick chidren, pursuant to the belief that this can be done best in an institution devoted to children exclusively. The trustees are James Kilbourn, George W. Sinks, Herman G. Dennison, Charles Parrott, A. B. Cohen, Thomas C. Hoover, Edwin Kelton, Starling Loving, F. C. Eaton, John Siebert, C. F. Clark, C. C. Waite, G. C. Hoover, W. F. Goodspeed and H. A. Lanman.

CITY POOR FUND.

This fund is disbursed by the City Infirmary director, who states in his report for the year ended March 31, 1891, that 9,307 persons, or about onetenth of the population of the entire city had received during that year the benefit of this charity. The number of families relieved was over eleven hundred. Only to persons who have been bona fide residents of the city for at least one year can the fund be disbursed. The amount of such disbursements during the year ended

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

March 31, 1891, was $2,346.20. The disbursements of the County Infirmary directors in Montgomery Township during the same year were $15,272.58. The dispensation of the city fund is limited to the demands upon the city infirmary office.

NOTES.

1. Ohio State Journal.

2. About $1,000 of this money remained after all calls were satisfied, and was ordered to be refunded to the donors.

3. An act of the General Assembly passed February 15, 1884, appropriated $200.000 for the relief of the Ohio flood sufferers. Pursuaut to this act a State Relief Commission was appointed, of which P. W. Huntington, of Columbus, was treasurer. The report of this commission showed total receipts amounting to $145,077.48, of which sum $45,077.48 was derived from private sources.

4. Semicentennial Manual, 1888.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. These buildings and grounds were purchased for the mission October 20, 1869. The amount paid was $12,000. The money with which the first payment was made was collected chiefly by Mrs. Doctor W. E. Ide and Mrs. Doctor S. M. Smith.

8. The letters here referred to by Mr. Deshler, are the same quoted in Chapter XIV of Volume I of this work.

9. This ordinance provided that all rents and income of whatever nature which might be derived from the Hare legacy should be set aside forever for the support of the inmates of the institution and other purposes connected therewith, and that the institution should receive all orphan foundlings and abandoned children of the city which should be brought to it. The organization and management of the Home were placed under the control of four trustees to be chosen by the council.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

ASSOCIATIVE ORGANIZATIONS-I.

MASONIC BODIES.

BY DAVID N. KINSMAN, M. D.

The Mount Vernon Commandery .- From the records of Mount Vernon Com- mandery Number One, now stationed at Columbus, Ohio, we learn that in answer to a petition signed by two Knights Templar (John Snow and Frederick A. Curtis) and five Royal Arch Masons, (James Kilbourn, Chester Griswold, Chauncey Barker, Levi Pinney, and Mark Seely) members of Horeb Chapter Number Three, located then, as now, at Worthington, Ohio, a dispensation was. issued by Thomas Smith Webb, Deputy General Grand Master of the United States. The following is a copy of the document :

By Thomas Smith Webb, Esq., Deputy General Grand Master of the General Grand Encampment of the United States, to John Snow, Knight Templar, Knight of Malta and of the Red Cross ;

Sir Knight: You are hereby authorized and empowered to congregate and assemble together in the town of Worthington in the State of Ohio a sufficient and legal number of Knights of the above mentioned orders, and to open a Council and Encampment in the said town and therein confer the said orders from such tried and worthy companions of the Royal Arch as may make application for the same, conforming in all your doings to the Constitu- tion of the United States of America ; this dispensation to remain and continue in force for the space of three months from the date hereof, unless sooner revoked, and at the expiration of which time the said dispensation to be returned to me, with an account of your proceedings, by virtue of the same, it being expressly understood that any work performed under this author- ity is to be done in behalf of the General Grand Encampment and for the benefit of its funds, unless a charter should hereafter issue for the permanent establishment of an Encampment in said town consequent upon this dispensation.

Given under my hand and seal the 14th day of March 1818. THOMAS SMITH WEBB,

Deputy General Grand Master, General Grand Encampment of United States.

Under the authority of this dispensation Sir Knight John Snow summoned all of the Sir Knights living within the distance of forty miles to assemble at the

[747]

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

Masonic Hall in the Academy .in Worthington, Ohio. On March 15, 1818, in obedience to this summons, Thomas Smith Webb, hailing from the General Grand Encampment of the United States and the Grand Encampment of Massachusetts and Rhode Island : John Snow, hailing from St. John's Encampment, Rhode Island ; and Frederick Curtis, hailing from Ireland, as we believe, the only Tem- plars in Ohio, met. They exchanged credentials, read the petition and dispensa- tion, and under the anthority of the foregoing dispensation proceeded to form and open a council of Red Cross Knights. The council then " resolved to proceed to confer the orders of knighthood on such approved companions as may make application for the same." James Kilbourn and Chester Griswold were elected and created and dubbed Knights of the Red Cross after which the council " dis- banded in good harmony." Thus began the history of Mount Vernon Command- ery Number One.

On March 17, 1818, Chauncey Barker, Levi Pinney and Mark Seely received the order of the Red Cross. On March 20, 1818, an encampment of Knights Tem- plar and Knights of Malta of the order of St. John of Jerusalem was opened. "Chester Griswold having been proposed and elected. having been duly prepared and conducted through the various ceremonies appertaining to the orders with firmness and constancy, was dubbed and created Knight of the Valiant and Mag. unanimous orders of Knight Templar and Knight of Malta of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, the encampment was disbanded in good harmony " On March 25, 1818, Chauncey Barker and James Kilbonrn were created Templars. On April 10, 1818, Levi Pinney and Mark Seeley received the order of the Temple. This closed the list of original petitioners. Joseph S. Hughes and William Little received the order of Red Cross May 29. June 5, Roger Searle, Benjamin Gardiner and Pardon Sprague received the Red Cross. An encampment was then opened and Joseph S. Hughes and William Little received the orders of the Temple and Maita. On the sixth of June Benjamin Gardiner and Roger Searle received the orders of the Temple and Malta. These two men were elergymen and their fees were remitted.

Thomas Smith Webb, who had been present at all the meetings, now disap- pears and on the twentyseventh of January, 1820, we find at a meeting of Mount Vernon Encampment the following roster of officers : M. E., Sir John Snow, Grand . Commander ; E., Sir Chester Griswold, Generalissimo: E., Sir James Kilbourn, Captain General ; Sir Joseph S. Hughes, Prelate; Sir Chauncey Barker, Senior Warden and Sword-Bearer; Sir Mark Seely, Junior Warden and Treasurer ; Sir William Little, Recorder and Standard Bearer ; Sir Levi Pinney, Warder.

At this meeting the charter was received which had been issued September 15, 1819. In this document we find the names of the following Knights: Sir John Snow, who was the first Commander; Sir Chester Griswold, who was the first Generalissimo ; Rev. Sir Roger Searle, who was the first Captain-Gen- eral; Rev. Sir Joseph S. Hughes, who was the first Prelate; Sir James Kil- bourn, who was the first Senior Warden ; Sir Levi Pinney, who was the first Junior Warden ; Sir Benjamin Gardiner, who was the first Treasurer; Sir Wil- liam Little, who was the first Recorder. To this charter were signed the names of Dewitt Clinton, General Grand Master; Henry Fowle, Deputy General Grand Master; John Snow, General Grand Generalissimo ; Ezra Ames, General Grand Captain-General. From the language of the charter we are led to infer that Thomas Smith Webb was already dead and that Mount Vernon Encampment was the last Masonic body to feel the touch of his fostering hand.

On February 22, 1820, the committee on accounts reported that after all just debts were paid there remained in the treasury nine dollars and eight cents. On this evening the first election was held under the charter which resulted as follows : Sir John Snow, Grand Commander; Sir Chester Griswold, Generalissimo ; Sir Ben- jamin Gardiner, Captain-General ; Sir Joseph Hughes, Prelate; Sir Mark Seely,

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ASSOCIATIVE ORGANIZATIONS - I.

Senior Warden ; Sir James Kilbourn, Junior Warden ; Sir Levi Pinney, Treas- nrer; Sir William Little, Recorder; Sir Pardon Sprague, Sword Bearer ; Sir Eras- tus Webb, Standard-Bearer; Sir Chauncey Barker, Warder. " No further busi- ness appearing, the council was dissolved in good harmony."

On May 21, 1820, there was a meeting at which the Red Cross was conferred and these zealous Knights met no more until February 22, 1821. At this meet- ing a committee was appointed to compare the original and transeribed minutes. The committee on bylaws reported a code for the government of the encamp- ment. " A very respectful communication having been received from Sir Ben- jamin Gardiner stating his reasons for non-attendance they were considered satis- factory by this council. Satisfactory evidence was given that Sir William Little was not within a distance of forty miles at the issuing of this summons for con- vening this eneampment. It being made known satisfactorily that Sir John Snow was absent on Masonic duties, it was considered sufficient reason for his absence. Sir Levi Pinney being absent, and no reason being assigned, it is there- fore ordered that a summons be issued requiring him to attend the next meeting and account for his absence." At this meeting the second election for officers took place. Chester Griswold declined the office of Generalissimo. Such a surprising circumstance is not known to have occurred again in the bistory of this body. At the next meeting, June 1, 1821, Pinney was excused. Platt Benedict, many years after efficient in Masonie labors in the city of Toledo and Republie, petitioned for the orders. On February 22, 1822, Samuel R. Milller, of Cincinnati, Calvin Co- nant, Elias Fowler of Putnam, Ohio, and Ezra Griswold, of Delaware, made applica- tion for the orders. The encampment voted to pay postage on all letters directed to members of this encampment, which was no small expense at that period. We find in 1823, that at a meeting on February 22, ten dollars were appropriated to be divided equally among the Sir Knights, members of this encampment, resid- ing at Delaware, as a remuneration of their expenses in obtaining lectures for the benefit of the institution. On February 16, 1824, the petition of William Field- ing, of Franklin, Warren County, was presented. This brother was long noted as a blue lodge leeturer throughout the country, and was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio.

To show that many points of interest have been dropped in these records, we cite the following : On February 23, 1824, Bela Latham was elected Prelate of Mount Vernon Encampment, yet the records are silent concerning whence he hailed or how he secured his membership. At this meeting a resolution was passed as follows :

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 101

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196