USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > History of western Ohio and Auglaize County, with illustrations and biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent public men > Part 39
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6,000 00
Egypt
5.54
April 21, 1884.
22,169
16,853 51
Holtkamp
.08
April 5, 1884 ..
1,875
850 82
Reservoir
5.14
| Dec. 9, 1884. .
12,000
11,300 00
Blank
6.65
June 8. 1887 .. |
16.000
10,995 00
Valley
2.58
| Dec. 17, 1887.|
4,386
3,750 00
Boundary Line
3.00
Mar. 20, 1887.
6,600
3,675 00
Graham
1.00
Mar. 23, 1888.
2,000
1,400 00
Two Mile
6.00
Jan. 21, 1888.|
19,600
11,999 00
St. Marys and Kossuth.
8.93
Mar. 5. 1888 .. 1
26,790
17,000 00
Plattner
12.25
April 15, 1889.|
29,575
23,890 00
Gray
2.53
April 1. 1889 .. 1
6,000
5,200 00
Nobbs
1.00
Mar. 10, 1890.
1,892
1,343 00
Western
2.74
Feb. 8. 1892. . |
7,150
5.999 00
Quellhorst
3.25
| Jan. 30, 1892.|
7,150
6.500 00
Brorein
6.98
1 April 20 1892.|
17.460
12.469 00
Fairground
1.37
June 27, 1892.
4,000
3.949 00
River Road
11.95
Mar. 25, 1893.1
35.865
20,230 00
Cemetery
3.19
April 18, 1896.1
5,700
3,990 00
Gossard
2.49
| April 16, 1898.|
7,494
4,625 00
Heitt
.37 1 April 16, 1898.|
1,001
686 00
28 HAC
Estimated
Actual
434
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
Name.
Length.
Date of Petitioners' Bond.
Estimated
Actual
Cost.]
Cost.
Bowers
4:06
Feb. 19, 1898.
8,932
5,892 00
Moyer
3.21
Feb. 17, 1898.
8,025
4,732 00
Blackhoof Road
4.50
Mar. 23, 1900.
11,750
8,717 00
Idle Joint Pike.
1.56
Aug. 15, 1900.
2,900
2,567 00
Total
365.33
$947,160
$801,212 82
Actual cost of construction per mile-a fraction over $2,198.
PIKE REPAIRS.
1892
$3,407 78
1893
9,190 47
1894
16,322 52
1895
22,771 34
1896
11,022 92
1897
16,854 41
1898
19,398 33
1899
16,676 15
1900
15,896 69
1901
16,840 20
ARTIFICIAL DITCHES.
One of the greatest hindrances that beset the pioneers of the county was the want of a proper drainage of the soil that they attempted to cultivate. Such of them as possessed sloping lands adjacent to streams were indeed fortunate. But for those whose lands were comparatively level, there were long years of labor and waiting before the land yielded the bounteous harvests that it was capable of producing. The first county ditch recorded by the county commissioners was constructed in 1868. Prior to that year many ditches were dug by pioneers in their attempts to drain one basin into an adjacent lower one - frequently inun- dating their unfortunate neighbors. In some instances, where farmers' lands were contiguous, they joined their labors and constructed longer continuous ditches. Similar movements by farmers in other sections of the State led to the enactment of a system of ditch laws. Under those laws the following ditches have been constructed :
435
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
Name of Ditch.
Length In Feet.
Date of Petitioners' Bond.
Cost.
No.
1 2
Fred. Wendeln
3,775
Sept. 11. 1868.
C. Fueling
1,400
Oct. 30, 1868.
4
M. Wust
25,500
Jan. 16, 1869.
5
| J. F. Neal.
21,182
June 8, 1869.
6
| J. L. Shipman
16,155
Oct. 18, 1869.
7
J. A. Schubert
10,056
Jan. 24, 1870 ..
8
Robert Moon
5,880
Mar. 8, 1870.
9
F. Schilling.
10,936
Nov. 21, 1870.
10
D. McKercher
4,660
Dec. 7, 1870.
11
A. C. Smith.
12,320
Mar. 6, 1871.
12
Jno. Gilroy
27,802
Apr. 15, 1871
13
Geo. Huchison
20,630
July 31, 1871.
14
Dr. W. G. Kishler
2,700
Aug. 14, 1871.
15
Harris Wells
15,233
Aug. 15, 1871. .
16
C. Allenbach
8,766
Jan. 11, 1872 .. .
17
Patrick Cooney
14,400
Mar. 10, 1872 ..
$606 64
18
Wm. Fenneman
3,200
Feb. 21, 1872 .. .
42 25
19
Samuel Moyer
11,700
May 28, 1872 ..
366 28
Hugh Elliott
14,300
June 4, 1872.
687 29
20 21 22 23
J. Winegardner
1,500
July 3, 1872.
116 11
Horace Wheeler
19,000
Aug. 7, 1872.
405 82
Val. Blume
11,080
Oct. 4, 1872 ..
216 79
24
Felicia Smith
8,675
Sept. 1, 1873.
457 17
25
Mercer, Auglaize and
Darke Counties
Nov. 22, 1873.
26 27 28
Horace Wheeler
24,700
Mar. 4, 1874.
Robert McMurray
6,900
May 26, 1874.
184 00
Val. Arnold
21,950
June 15, 1874
29
R. L. G. Means
17,000
| June 22, 1874. .
30 31 32 1
Eli Faler
1,900
June 29, 1875. . |
385 80
33
Jno. Fursattle
1,300
Aug. 30, 1875. . |
456 90
34 35
F. J. Krabaugh.
13,500
Sept. 9. 1875.
1,131 50
36
Jno. Koch
1,700
Oct. 23, 1875.
193 85
Daniel Gracely
2,000
Oct. 28. 1875 . ..
789 00
E. Schroer
1,500
Nov. 17, 1875. .
112 60
M. Brodbeck
68,234
Jan 24, 1876 ..
7,175 60
41
Hansfeld
12,150
Jan. 27, 1876 ..
1,652 80
| W. Kruse
12,200
Feb. 9, 1876. ..
2.773 20
1 A. Neese
1,400
Feb. 9. 1876. ..
402 40
| C. H. Heckman.
3,700
Mar. 2, 1876 ...
2,458 60
45
Jno. Davidson
800
Jan. 26 .. 1876 ...
174 20
1
Christopher Graham
2,668
Feb. 26, 1876 ..
1,250 00
47
Wm. Smart
2,500
Mar. 6. 1877 ... |
631 05
48
| J. H. Winegardner.
3,600
May 18, 1877 .. |
1,895 94
| Jno. Butcher
18,000
May 22. 1877.
1,521 80
49 50
M. Mayer
4,100
July 15, 1877. . |
532 45
51
Jno. Davidson
5,680
| Nov. 6. 1877. .. |
376 77
52
| H. Hirshfeld
9,000
Nov. 20, 1877. . |
840 82
1
July 3, 1875 . .
2,588 60
| P. Barnhart
800
Sept. 6, 1875 . .
339 20
37 38 39
Jno. Vauble
2,800
May 14, 1875 ..
105 90
Jno. A. Osterloh
11,818
40
Petition dismissed
42 43 44
46
3
436
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
Name of Ditch.
Length In Feet.
Date of Petitioners' Bond.
Cost.
No.
53
A. Scott
30,000
Nov. 26, 1877. .
1,777 00
54
Jno. Wirling
7,825
Dec. 8, 1877
575 25
55
·Petition dismissed
2,430
Mar. 4, 1878.
168 37
57
| Nelson Swan
17,000
Apr. 15, 1878. .
679 50
58
| J. Culp
12,300
Apr. 20, 1878. .1
401 78
59
| J. F. Wendeln.
8,400
May 25, 1878. .
340 98
61
Henry Frymuth
5,600
Oct. 9, 1878. .
243 80
62 1
Thomas Johns
12,600
Jan. 15, 1880 .. . I
311 30
64
M. Kelly
1,700
Apr. 28, 1880. .
454 50
65
Jno. Englehaupt
1,700
Jan. 10, 1882 ..
71 20
66
F. M. Smith.
6,100
July 1, 1882.
585 80
67
Fred. Brewer
8,900
Aug. 11, 1882.
793 40
68
Philip Zwiebel
4,450
1 Oct. 27, 1882 ..
152 80
69
| Geo. Steinke
8,100
Nov. 28, 1882. .
1,098 74
Geo. Huebner
4,500
Jan. 27, 1883. ..
409 75
Wm. Kelly
3,656
Mar. 11, 1884. . 1
338 00
T. J. Schamp
12,668
Dec. 3, 1883.
446 85
L. Fisk
9,000
1
Mar. 10, 1884. . | May 5. 1884. .
175 00
Patrick Burns
2,595
Mar. 15, 1884. .
519 00
Jas. Burns
26,212
Jan. 18. 1884 ..
4,427 92
Christopher Graham
4,100
| Mar. 29, 1884. . 1
258 97
Theodore Wehrman
10,500
Feb. 7. 1884. . I
593 45
| Henry Holden
1,360
Aug. 14, 1884. . |
57 78
J. B. Garber.
9,800 1 Sept. 15, 1884. . |
553 8
| Henry Dearbaugh
450
| Apr. 13, 1885. .
41 50
Orrin Lotridge
| Nov. 14, 1885. . |
74 50
Peter Huber
3,100
June 10, 1885. . |
218 00
Peter Huber
2,350
| June 27, 1885. . |
171 12
Fred. Kener
18,042
Apr. 14, 1885. .
671 75
Jason H. Lusk.
6,067
Mar. 31, 1885. . |
1,514 00
T. S. Bennett.
4,150
Sept. 7, 1885. . |
474 00
Theophelus Swartz
11,250
Sept. 10, 1885 .. |
1,520 00
J. S. Foreman.
12,000
Aug. 15, 1885. .
615 00
C. C. Pepple.
3,500
Dec. 9, 1885.
450 00
| Jno. J. Mefford | H. Stieker
5,336
May 28, 1886. .
735 00
Henry Arling
5,400
1 Oct. 18, 1886. .
4,710 00
Amos Wisely
5,400 1 June 8, 1886.
417 00
Andrew P. Loomis
3,300
Aug. 2. 1886. . .
9,773 72
Philip Helminger
1,630
1
Dec. 10, 1886. . |
1,381 50
Henry Remping
20,000
May 9, 1887.
12,846 00
Sebastian Sheblo
6,500
Apr. 4. 1887.
1,027 22
I Wm. Wubker
7,100
May 14, 1887. . |
1.343 70
August Meyer
11,000
Mar. 21, 1887 .. 1
5,840 20
L. K. Stroup.
1,200
Tune 30, 1887. . 1
1,145 05
| Horace Wheeler
11,500 | Tuly 27, 1887 .. |
687 00
| J. Kuest
6,800 | Feb. 20, 1888. . |
565 35
60
| Joel Brown
13,600
July 1, 1878.
515 26
63 1 M. Bupp
6,400
June 24, 1880. . |
746 30
:
70
*
' Ditches not numbered after January 27, 1883.
1
4,300
Jan. 15, 1886 ..
149 00
1
1
137 70
J. Koch
56
Adam Acuntius
437
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
Name of Ditch.
Length In Feet.
Date of Petitioners' Bond.
Cost.
Katharine Arnold
21,800
Feb. 6, 1888.
1,980 23
Ferdinand Harrod
17,200
Aug. 2, 1888. .
1,031 86
J. S. Foreman.
13,925
June 8, 1888. . .
673 40
Jno. Richardson
15,380
Sept. 3, 1888.
1,171 50
Moses Ashburn
3,000
Dec. 31, 1888. .
420 30
W. Huffman
7,500
Jan. 1, 1889
603 63
Daniel Gracely
21,800
Jan. 8, 1889.
3,037 97
J. Swartz
5,650
Mar. 22, 1889.
450 70
Aug. Glass
5,300
June 15, 1889.
297 76
Isaiah Ohler
3,230
June 18, 1889. .
405 79
J. Cummins
3,928
June 6, 1889. . .
529 25
D. J. Hamilton.
18,881
July 18, 1889. .
2,200 00
Daniel Gross
3,400
Feb. 4, 1890. . .
324 31
Valentine Veit
7,800
Sept. 9, 1890. ..
640 68
J. A. Woehrmeyer
15,767
| June 7. 1890. ..
2,715 11
Geo. Bushman
8,092
June 17, 1890. .
1,430 14
Lucirda Bodwell
3,784
Mar. 17, 1890. . |
336 30
Eli Kelly
2,138
1 Oct. 30, 1890 ..
151 75
Jas. Foltz
17,500
Apr. 2. 1891.
2,016 99
1 Jno. Musser
4,000
May 26, 1891 ..
350 90
Jos. Wright
6,500
May 2, 1891.
652 07
Sarah Bressler
4,700
May 26, 1891. .
446 08
Caroline Mott
Oct. 23, 1891. .
1,250 56
J. C. Jacobs
1,412
Aug. 18, 1892. . |
106 75
1. Horace Wheeler
3,066
June 9, 1892.
325 81
1 C. H. Dixon.
3,000
June 11, 1892. . |
375 78
Gustave Thieman
11,640
| Feb. 25, 1893. . |
1,411 63
L. C. Brewer.
5,156
Dec. 22, 1892. .
762 48
1 Jno. Kenefake
10,825
| Mar. 6, 1893.
380 37
Jno. Miller
2,900
Mar. 4, 1893.
206 33
1 G. W. Line.
24,100
July 25, 1891.
4,921 77
| Geo. Shaub
9,546
Aug. 15, 1893. .
854 36
West Prairie
9,546
Aug. 15, 1893. . |
4,286 00
Ino. Harrod
25,200
May 27, 1893. .
3,662 02
William Axe
26,125
Aug. 30, 1893 .. |
3,062 92
F. Stamets
24,119
Oct. 16,
1893. .
9,423 71
1 Wm. Nedderman
2,800
July 9, 1894.
374 00
A. H. Mertz. 1
56,679
Jan. 9. 1894.
16,844 76
1
W. Schlachter
58,200
Apr. 6, 1893.
10,504 54
1 Fred. Prueser
29,693
Feb. 11. 1894.
. I
3,644 97
| H. M. Lusk.
6,383
May 19, 1894.
1,138 13
1 C. A. Shumate.
14,956
Mar. 24, 1894. .
2,382 62
| A. H. Musser.
5,535
Oct. 15, 1894 ..
1,027 48
| Hugh F. Wade.
3,400
May 14, 1895. .
214 10
1 Jno. Metzger
6,800
May 25, 1895. .
858 68
1 Chas. Steineman
990
Aug. 3. 1895.
931 37
M. N. Davison
Sept. 14, 1895. . |
456 08
T. T. Reed.
12,900
| June 25, 1896. . 1
1,605 29
P. Brocker
7,802
1 Tan. 13, 1896. . |
982 00
Wm. Idle
3,975
Feb. 9. 1897. .. |
456 00
Jno. Meir
6,976 1 Feb. 23, 1897. . |
448 16
L. G. Neely.
4,536
Mar. 15, 1897. . |
555 65
1 Rebecca Means
6,418 1 June 18, 1897. . |
795 09
1
1
1
1
438
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
Name of Ditch.
Length In Feet.
Date of Petitioners' Bond.
Cost.
J. B. Adams.
14,500
July 21, 1897. .
1,923 06
S. W. Houchin.
4,756
Dec. 14, 1897. .
815 04
Jacob Heintz
5,100
Feb. 26, 1898: .
722 87
J. Campbell
3,810
Apr. 7, 1898 ...
555 51
Mary D. Keyser
4,000
Apr. 20, 1898.
705 00
Jno. Annesser
5,186
May 3, 1898.
901 61
Henry Swartz
6,400
June 27, 1898. .
1,024 81
Katie Lotz
11,496
Aug. 13, 1898 ..
814 39
Ed. Grothaus
5,063
June 18, 1897. .
2,077 90
H. Rockhold
12,200
Mar. 24, 1898. .
1,329 76
Hoffhaus
14,482
June 28, 1898. . ]
6,381 58
Ken
4,600
Dec. 14, 1898. .
1,457 00
Daniel Gracely
27,500
Mar. 26, 1898 ..
3,485 97
E. A. Gay
1,700
Mar. 14, 1898.
230 58
C. W. Klopfenstein.
10,055
Mar. 31, 1899.
2,198 15
R. C. Hanold
4,231
Oct. 1, 1898. ..
845 74
F. Wieth
25,146
Feb. 20, 1899.
6,472 75
J. N. Lotridge.
13,458
Mar. 4, 1899. ..
1,966 63
Drusilla Marbaugh
2,270
Aug. 10, 1899. .
171 95
F. M. Coleman.
1,098
Apr. 20, 1900 ..
156 40
| J. W. Smith.
4,816
Mar. 3, 1900 ... |
5 00
David A. Horn.
1,616
Dec. 23, 1899. . |
200 00
A. E. Brentlinger
2,734
July 25, 1900. .
282 76
O. W. Burgoon
6,397
Sept. 29, 1900 ..
) 508 00
Total
1,318,084
$209,659 67
RAILROADS.
The proposition of constructing a railroad from Dayton to Toledo was discussed as early as 1848, but nothing was done toward carrying the measure into effect until the summer of 1849,- when a preliminary line was surveyed from Troy to Toledo. In August of that year ---- Pomeroy, of Dayton, a competent engineer, attended by the necessary number of hands and com- missary ambulances, left Troy and reached Wapakoneta about the tenth of the month, the line passing along Perry street and across the river, where it angled to the right in the direction of Lima. Fourteen days afterward they reached Toledo. Mr. P. M. Reed, of Moulton township, who was a member of the party, relates that in coming into camp one evening, in Henry county, he struck his axe into what he supposed to be a moss-covered stump, and passed on to the camp. He was followed a few minutes later by another one of the hands, who detected the odor
439
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
of whiskey, and upon examination found that it proceeded from a moss-covered barrel of whiskey, the supposed stump on which Reed had tried the edge of his axe. It had probably been unloaded there to lighten the load of an army wagon in passing through that locality in the War of 1812. The writer. has been assured by Mr. Reed that the liquor was of excellent quality. It is safe to say that such revelry in the wilderness as prevailed in camp that night had not been heard since the departure of the red men. At the close of an all-night spree, it was resolved not to commence work until the afternoon of the next day. Soon after the resumption of work they approached a prairie, which, from the great number of rattlesnakes that infested it, they named Rattlesnake Prairie. As to whether the snakes were real or imaginary, the reader must draw his own inferences. Mr. Reed asserts that they were real.
When the bill was before the State Legislature to charter the Dayton and Michigan Railroad with a northern terminus at Sidney, Dr. George Holbrook and Hon. G. W. Andrews, acting in behalf of the citizens of Wapakoneta and citizens of the sur- rounding country, succeeded in procuring the sum of $70,000, which bonus induced the projectors of the road to extend it through the county.
Four lines were surveyed before the road was finally located. When the last line was run, T. S. Huntington, the chief engineer, set his transit at the point where the road crosses Auglaize street, and surveyed the present line of the road to Lima.
The road from Troy to the Henry county line was divided into four working sections. The sections were placed in charge of engineers, as follows: Samuel Craig, from Lima to the Henry county line ; J. B. Craig, from Lima to a point fifteen miles south of Wapakoneta ; and Jonathan Arnot from a point four miles north of Sidney to Troy. William Craft, Charles Shives, Jesse Olmstead and Henry Baumgardner, citizens of Wapakoneta, assisted the engineers during the survey of the road.
The construction of the road was commenced in 1855, and completed through the county in 1858, giving the needed outlet, north and south.
The length of the main track through the county is 12.62 miles.
Length of siding 2.32 miles.
440
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
Amount of taxable property, including main track, sidings, rolling stock and buildings $133,848 00
Amount of taxes paid in 1901 was. 3,156 40
LAKE ERIE AND WESTERN RAILROAD.
The Lake Erie and Western Railroad, commencing at Fre- mont, occupied over twenty years in its extension through the State. It was not completed through Auglaize county until 1877. A branch of this road extends from St. Mary's south through New Bremen to Minster, placing those two villages in communication with the main line. At the present writing, and for several years past, the Lake Erie and Western has been one of the best paying roads in northern Ohio.
The length of the main track is. 16.204 miles.
Length of siding 4.473 miles.
Length of branch.
9.945 miles.
Amount of taxable property, including
main track, siding, branch, rolling stock and buildings is. $210,502 00 Amount of taxes paid in 1901 was. 4,420 66
OHIO SOUTHERN.
The Ohio Southern Railroad (now Detroit Southern), com- menced in 1890, and ecompleted in 1892, extends in a south- easterly direction from Lima, Ohio, through the townships of Union and Clay.
The length of the main track is. 11.244 miles.
The length of siding is. .918 miles.
The amount of taxable property, including main track, sidings, rolling stock and buildings is $79,589 00
The amount of taxes paid in 1901 was .. 1,502 74
TOLEDO AND OHIO CENTRAL.
This road, commenced in 1897 and completed in 1900. extends from the southeastern corner of the county. through Wapakoneta to St. Mary's, a distance of about twenty-three miles. A bonus of $47,000 and the right-of-way along the entire route induced the railroad company to construct the road. In the spring of 1900, this road, known at that time as the Columbus and Northwestern, a branch of the Detroit and Lima Northern,
441
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
was sold, and thereby became a part of the Toledo and Ohio Central system.
The amount of taxable property including main track, siding, rolling stock and buildings is $64,288 00
Amount of taxes paid in 1901 was. 1,514 27
WESTERN OHIO ELECTRIC RAILROAD.
This road, commencing at Lima, Ohio, and extending south and southwest through the villages of Cridersville, Wapakoneta, Moulton and St. Mary's, is fast approaching completion. Since the commencement of the construction of the road, it has been decided by the company to extend the main line from Wapako- neta to Dayton. The roadbed of this projection has been com- pleted from Dayton as far north as Lockington. A branch road has also been constructed from St. Mary's, parallel to the L. E. & W. road, as far south as the village of Minster.
AUGLAIZE COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.
This association was organized in the fall of 1868, at a meet- ing held in the old brick school building at Wapakoneta. W. F. Torrence, principal of the St. Mary's schools, presided as chair- man, and Fernando C. Layton was chosen secretary. Levi Hamaker, probate judge, Edward Meyer, county clerk, and the county school examiners, W. V. M. Layton, Rev. W. C. Barnett, and Dr. C. Berlin, were present, and participated in the organiza- tion. The following constitution and by-laws were adopted, and officers were elected for the ensuing year :
CONSTITUTION.
Preamble. As a means of improvement in the profession of teaching, and of promoting the interests of the schools of our county, we, the undersigned, associate ourselves under the following constitution :
Article I. This association shall be called the Auglaize County Teachers' Association.
Article 2. The officers of this association shall be a presi- dent, three vice-presidents, a secretary, treasurer, and an executive committee of three members, who shall also perform the duties
442
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
of the financial committee. The secretary shall, ex officio, be one of the members of this committee, and shall keep a record of its proceedings.
Article 3. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of the association. In case of vacancy or his absence, any one of the vice-presidents or the chairman of the executive committee may perform his duties.
Article 4. It shall be the duty of the secretary and treasurer to perform the usual duties devolving upon such officers.
Article 5. The executive committee shall carry into effect all orders and resolutions of the association, and shall devise and put in operation such measures not inconsistent with the objects of the association, as it deems best. It shall arrange business for all regular meetings of the association, and shall appoint, under the direction of the association, at least one such meeting each year. It shall make all necessary arrangements for holding and conducting at least four teachers' associations in the county each year.
In case the amount of money under the control of the associa- tion, including the institute fund in the hands of the county treasurer, be insufficient to defray the necessary expenses of an institute said committee shall fix and give due notice of an institute, tuition fee to be paid by those attending such institute.
All moneys belonging to this association are to be paid out only on orders drawn by the executive committee.
Article 6. The executive committee shall hold its meetings as soon after election as possible. Two members shall constitute a quorum for business, and afterwards meet on their own adjournment or appointment.
Article 7. Any teacher or active friend of education may become a member of this association by subscribing to the consti- tution and contributing annually to the finances of the association.
Article 8. The officers of this association shall be chosen by ballot or in such manner as the association shall direct, at the annual meeting, and shall hold their offices for one year, or until their successors are elected.
Article 9. This constitution may be altered or amended by a majority of the members present at any regular meeting, pro- vided notice of such intended alteration or amendment shall have been given at the previous meeting.
443
AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
Names and addresses of teachers who signed the constitution :
C. W. Williamson.
W. F. Torrence
Maggie L. Roney
Nettie Hollingsworth
Amelia M. Wood.
Emma A. Good.
Zida S. Layton.
Jennie S.
Carrie M. Elliott.
St. Marys, Ohio.
Mary B. Elliott.
Nettie Simpson
Tallie Trimble
S. B. Smith
Wm. Pinkerton
C. T. Cook.
T. A. E. Weadock.
St. Marys, Ohio.
H. W. Bockemoehl.
Oliver McDonald
John Knierim
Robert Montgomery
Thomas J. Hasting
Daniel D. Dapper
Joseph Gearing
R. G. Montgomery.
Julian F. Lewis.
H. W. Stearns
E. B. Stiner.
W. H. Blakely
Middleton Lucas
F. C. Layton.
Emma Mott
New Bremen, Ohio. St. Marys, Ohio. " Moulton, Ohio. Wapakoneta, Ohio.
After the adoption of the foregoing constitution and the- registration of the names of members, the election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows :
W. F. Torrence, President.
H. W. Bockemoehl,
C. C. Pepple, Vice-Presidents.
Emma C. Good,
F. C. Layton, Secretary.
Middleton Lucas, Treasurer.
C. W. Williamson, William Blakely, Executive Committee. C. B. Smith,
Wapakoneta, Ohio. St. Marys, Ohio.
66 Wapakoneta, Ohio.
66 Wapakoneta, Ohio. Waynesfield, Ohio. St. Johns, Ohio. Moulton, Ohio.
New Bremen, Ohio. St. Marys, Ohio.
New Knoxville, Ohio ..
Wapakoneta, Ohio.
444
HISTORY OF WESTERN OHIO
Before the adjournment of the meeting, the executive com- mittee was instructed to engage institute instructors, and prepare a program of exercises for an institute to be held at Wapakoneta in August of the following year.
A two weeks' institute was held at Wapakoneta, commencing August 16th, 1869. Principal S. C. Crumbaugh, of Dayton ; S. F. DeFord, superintendent of the public schools of Celina, and the writer, served as instructors.
It was soon discovered that a large number of the members attendant upon the institute were quite deficient in text-book knowledge, and that more time must be given to instruction in arithmetic, grammar, and geography, than to the discussion of methods of teaching.
The influence of the first institute soon became perceptible in all sections of the county.
The academic method of conducting the institute was con- tinued until 1876. Since that year the instruction has been more professional in character.
From 1869 to 1897, a two weeks' session was held each year. Since that time a session of one week per year has been held.
The accumulation of examination fees collected from the teachers of the county from 1864 to 1869 was more than sufficient to pay the expenses of the first session of the institute. For the three years following, the county commissioners appropriated one hundred dollars per year to supply the deficiency in the institute fund.
When the school laws were codified in 1873, the clause authorizing the commissioners to appropriate a hundred dollars to support county teachers' institutes was repealed. From 1873 to the present, the deficiency has been supplied by voluntary contributions from the teachers.
From one to four meetings per year have been held by the association from its organization up to the present time.
The institute generally determines, in committee of the whole. the character and amount of the work to be undertaken, and at times designates the course to be pursued in attempting to secure its accomplishment ; but it is the usual practice to entrust the arrangement of details and the general management of business affairs to the executive committee. The members of this com-
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AND AUGLAIZE COUNTY
mittee are elected by ballot, and are chosen from the more pro- gressive class of teachers.
Since 1876, the attendance at the annual institute has been over ninety per cent. of the whole number of teachers required to fill the schools of the county.
Some idea can be formed of the efficiency of the thirty-two annual institutes from the names of the following instructors from Ohio and other States: S. C. Crumbaugh, S. F. DeFord, W. F. Torrence, C. W. Williamson, Dr. Aaron Schuyler, Prof. William Richardson, Dr. T. W. Harvey, Dr. C. W. Bennett, Prof. William Hoover, Dr. J. J. Burns, Superintendent J. L. Carson, Superin- tendent John W. Dowd, Superintendent J. A. Shawan, Prof. C. H. Churchill, Frank V. Irish, Principal A. J. Willoughby, Dr. Alston Ellis, Prof. Charles L. Loos, Superintendent C. S. Wheaton, Dr. W. G. Williams, Superintendent J. W. Zeller, Prof. E. M. Mills. Prof. S. J. Kirkwood, Miss Lelia Patridge, Prof. L. M. Sniff. Superintendent Frank B. Dyer, Superintendent R. W. Mitchell. Superintendent J. D. Simkins, Prof. Byron W. King; Prof. A. J. Gantvoort, Dr. Charles McMurray, Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh, Superintendent F. R. Dyer, Superintendent S. T. Dial, and Dr. C. C. Rounds.
Every one of the foregoing list of instructors has been a teacher of much experience, and in most cases has had the man- agement of a system of schools. Many of them were specialists in the branches in which they gave instruction.
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