USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 45
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The year 1854 found him in Chester County, Penn., where, after a long search for work, he met William Martin, who lived between Coatesville and Parkesburg, and who gave him employment through the winter of 1854-55, and an opportunity to attend the Rockdale School. The next win- ter he became an inmate of William Hamill's house, situated two miles south of Parkesburg, where he also worked for his board and attended the public school. In September, 1856, he arrived at Canton, Ohio, almost penniless, and after a vain attempt to find work among the farmers in that vicinity, by mere chance, C. Aultman, of the firm of Aultman & Co., hired him to work as a laborer at 77 cents per day, board not included. Sabse- quently he arranged to pass the winter with Christian Neisz, who resided near Canton, and there worked for his board and attended school. The fol- lowing spring he returned to the shops of Messrs. Aultman & Co., where he remained the major portion of the time for nine years, being promoted from time to time until his wages rose to $2.50 per day. He continued to study and work, frequently fourteen hours out of the twenty-four, and so im- proved that in the winter of 1858-59 he was able to teach school where he had formerly attended as a pupil.
In 1865, he purchased a half interest in the Medina (Ohio) Gazette, but at the expiration of nine months sold out. He then removed to his present home-Upper Sandusky-where he purchased the Pioneer. He afterward
*In the spring of 1852, he began to work with John Cordray, near Milford, Del., at the rate of $3 per month and continued with the latter six months.
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changed its name to the Republican, and is still its proprietor and editor. Appointed and re-appointed by his firm, personal friend, Gen. U. S. Grant, * he served as Postmaster at Upper Sandusky, from May 10, 1869, to July 1, 1877. As may be inferred, Mr. Cuneo is a stanch Republican, a Stalwart among Stalwarts, and a warm friend and admirer of Grant, Conkling, and their friends.
He was married, December 24, 1861, to Miss Myra V. Miller, of Canton, Ohio, who, born in Sandyville, Ohio, in March, 1842, died at Upper San- dusky December 27, 1883. Of ten children born to them, four of whom were twins, five are still living-Laura T., Sherman A., Edward Noyes, Eva and Roscoe Conkling.
Henry Albert Tracht, the founder and present editor and proprietor of the Weekly Chief, was born in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, August 26, 1862. His parents, Philip and Lucinda (Keil) Tracht, though of German descent, were both born in Crawford County, of this State. His education was ac- quired in the public schools of his native town, and at an early period in life too, for when only fourteen years of age he was compelled to give up his studies, by reason of an annoying and painful affection of his eyes. Some months later he established a small job printing-office, which proved to be a successful business venture, and from that modest beginning has grown up by degrees the present very creditable and successfully managed sheet, known throughout a wide region as the Chief. Mr. Tracht is still unmarried, and apparently has a bright future before him.
Frank T. Tripp, eldest son of Franklin and Elizabeth (Bowsher) Tripp, was born in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, September 26, 1850. HA ob- tained a common school education, and at the age of thirteen years began learning the printing business in the Wyandot Pioneer office, with Col. W. T. Wilson, who shortly after sold the paper to Pietro Cuneo. He remained with Mr. Cuneo six years, assisting him in the post office for the term of two years. He was married, October 26, 1871, to Miss Irene M. Stevenson, youngest daughter of James N. and Susanna Stevenson, now deceased. By this union four children were born, viz., Harry J., May 20, 1872; Susan Edith, April 12, 1874; Anna Grace, November 28, 1880, and Sarah Maria, August 2, 1882. The first-born, Harry, died April 30, 1879, and Anna Grace, August 26, 1881.
During the winter of 1872-73, he purchased a one-third interest in the Wyandot Democratic Union, and was associated with L. A. Brunner and D. F. Druckemiller. He disposed of his interest three months later, and re- moving to Carey, Wyandot Co., Ohio, established the Carey Weekly Times. He conducted the business there for nearly four years, and then sold the same to Hon. L. A. Brunner. When he became a resident of Carey he was elected Corporation Clerk, and served in that capacity until his removal back to Upper Sandusky in the fall of 1876. He was then emploved by Charles L. Zahm, who was then publishing the Union, as foreman and local editor.
Since that time, Mr. Tripp has been connected with the press. of Upper Sandusky, more or less, as local editor. Since November 27, 1879, he has been with the Union, foreman of its job rooms and assistant editor. He is a brilliant young journalist, and has a bright future before him. As a local writer of incidents and happenings he has few superiors. His style is fine and effective, losing none of the little details around which throngs the in-
*Some two years ago, Gen. Grant sent a large photograph of himself to Mr. Cuneo, which is probably one of the best pictures of the great General in existence.
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terest of a recital. He is always ready, and gifted with a literary turn of mind which frequently sparkles in his graceful and well-rounded periods. He is a young man, yet his care and faithfulness in his profession has all the marks of experience and native thought. He rarely takes to the humorous, but when he does his writings are sure to contain a dash of the irresistible. His social qualities, though never pretentious nor obtrusive, are none the less of a high order, and few in our midst have more or warmer friends. Mr. Tripp has been a correspondent for the Cincinnati and Eastern papers for several years, and his articles have attracted wide attention.
CAREY PUBLICATIONS.
The. Carey Blade, Carey's first newspaper, was established by Franklin Dame, a young man only fifteen years of age, in December, 1872. It was a small four-column folio. After getting out four numbers, its publication was suspended, but young Dame conducted a job printing-office for several months thereafter.
The Carey Weekly Times was established by Frank T. Tripp, Jr., of Upper Sandusky, now foreman of the Wyandot Democratic Union office, on the 8th of May, 1873. He continued its publication until August, 1876, when it passed under the control of Louis A. Brunner, of Upper Sandusky. In 1878, Mr. Brunner transferred his interests to Samuel M. Gillingham, who conducted the paper until January 1, 1880. when it was purchased by its present editors and publishers, George H. Tallman & Co., consisting of George H. Tallman and A. H. Balsley, editor of the Jeffersonian, of Find- lay, Ohio. This paper, known since it passed under the control of Gilling- ham as the Wyandot County Times, is a seven-column folio, has a circula- tion of 700 copies, and is neutral in political matters.
George H. Tallman, the present editor of the Wyandot County Times, was born at Canal Winchester, Ohio, May 2, 1851. His parents, Hinton and Amanda (Thompson) Tallman, were natives of the State of Virginia, and his maternal grandfather was born in Scotland. When he was ten years of age, the parents of George H. removed to Delaware, Ohio, where he remained ten years, meantime passing two years as a student of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. In the spring of 1871, he proceeded to Fremont, Ohio, where he was engaged until 1873, as a salesman in a boot and shoe store. In July of that year he became a resident of Port Clinton, Ohio, where he remained until April, 1875, when he located at Findlay, Ohio, and soon after entered the office of A. H. Balsley, editor of the Findlay Jeffersonian, for the purpose of learning the printer's trade. There he remained until January 1, 1880, when he entered into a partner- ship with his former employer, Mr. Balsley, and with him purchased the Wyandot County Times, which paper he has since conducted in a very suc- cessful manner.
His wife, Molly, a daughter of A. H. Balsley, was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., October 10, 1853, and came to Ohio with her parents when two years of age. They have one daughter, named Neta. Mr. Tallman is a member of the organization known as the Knights of Honor.
THE NEVADA ENTERPRISE.
This publication, issued by Rev. A. B. Kirtland, made its first appear. ance under date of January 1, 1872. Mr. Kirtland continued in contro until May 1, 1876, when Messrs. T. H. & J. H. Harter became its owners On the 1st of January, 1879, J. H. Harter sold his interest to J. M. Wilcox
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Harter (T. H.) & Wilcox then conducted the paper until November 1, 1882, when Mr. Wilcox purchased Harter's interest and remained sole editor and proprietor until November 1, 1883, when the present firm of Wilcox & Holmes was formed, by Frank Holmes purchasing a one-half interest. This paper is neutral in politics, has a circulation of eight hundred copies, and its annual gross receipts are from $2,500 to $3,000.
Joseph M. Wilcox, editor of the Nevada Enterprise, was born in Mifflin County, Penn., January 1, 1855. His parents were Christian and Sarah (Miller), Huffnagle, but his father dying when our subject was a mere child and his mother soon after marrying H. S. Wilcox, the latter name was adopted and has since been retained. His father was born in Pennsylvania and died in that State January 18, 1861. His mother was a daughter of Thomas and Susan (Dorman) Miller, and was born in Union County, Penn., in 1823. Being left a widow in 1861, she moved to Ohio the same year and located at Bellevue, where she was married to H. S. Wilcox in 1863, and where she resided about two and one-half years. She then moved with her husband to Tiffin, and one year later to Millmore; two years after this, they located at Benton, Crawford County, and five years later at the present point of residence, Nevada. Our subject spent the first nineteen years of his life attending school, acquiring a good education. In 1874, he entered the Normal School at Ada, Ohio, and passed a thorough course in the art of book-keeping, after which he spent one year in the wholesale millinery establishment of A. & E. Thompson, beginning January 1, 1875. May 1, 1876, he entered the office of the Nevada Enterprise to learn the trade of printing, and January 1, 1879, he purchased a half interest in the office, where he has since been engaged. He is well versed in the " mysteries " of his calling, and publishes a spicy and newsy country paper. Mr. Wilcox was married, January 1, 1879, to Miss Celia Gillan, who was born in Petersburg, this county, December 23, 1856. Her parents are William K. and Eliza (Betzer) Gillan, and both reside in Nevada. Mr. and Mrs. Wil- cox have one child, Harry, born October 8, 1879. Mr. Wilcox is a member of the F. & A. M., and favors Republicanism in things political. His work is performed with ability and in all respects he is highly esteemed in his community.
Frank Holmes, a son of Dr. Samuel W. and Sarah E. (Ensminger) Holmes, was born in the town of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, August 4, 1862. Until seventeen years of age he attended the public schools of his native town. He then worked one year in the Union office, and subsequently was engaged for six months in the office of the Marion Independent. On the 29th of May, 1880, he assisted in getting out the first number of the Sycamore Star, under the firm name of S. W. Holmes & Son. He continued to be interested as editor and proprietor of the Star until May 29, 1883, when it was sold to the News Publishing Company. On the 1st of November, 1883, he purchased a one-half interest in the Nevada Enterprise, of which he still continues as part owner. He was married, December 25, 1883, to Ella, daughter of John and Ellen (McGlen) Turner, of Sycamore, Ohio. She was born in the city of Harrisburg, Penn., August 16, 1866.
THE SYCAMORE NEWS.
This weekly journal was founded as the Sycamore Star May 29, 1880, by S. W. Holmes & Son. It started as a five-column quarto, and was man- aged by its founders until May 29, 1883, when the News Publishing Com- pany, consisting of William Corfman (who had been local editor from
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October 1, 1882), C. C. Clark, R. J. Plummer and J. E. Goodrich (with C. C. Clark as manager, and Corfman and Plummer as editors) became its owners. On the 1st of July, 1883, Corfman and I. E. Beery purchased the paper and managed it together until January 1, 1884, when Mr. Corfman retired, leaving Mr. Beery in sole control. On the 31st day of January, 1884, the latter changed the size of the paper to an eight-column folio. The present title was adopted on the 29th day of May, 1883. The News is an independ- ent family newspaper, and has a wide circulation.
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CHAPTER X.
'EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS-CLERICAL PROFESSION.
THE DAYS OF LOG SCHOOLHOUSES-OLDEN TIMES MANNER OF TEACHING-SPELL- ING SCHOOLS-ITEMS FROM THE SCHOOL REPORT OF 1882-PRESENT EXAMIN- ERS-THE FIRST MEETING OF THE WYANDOT TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION- TEACHERS' INSTITUTE OF 1882-EARLY MODES OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP- MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, 1845 TO 1851 INCLUSIVE-EARLY POETS AND POETRY.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
A S a sort of prelude to a topic which, treated at its best, possesses but little interest for the general readers, we insert the following pen-picture of the primitive log schoolhouse, and the manner of teaching school twenty-five and thirty years ago in this county, and, indeed, throughout all of the northern portion of the United States (with the exception of the large towns and cities), before the advent of teachers' institutes, the graded school system, uniform text books, and costly high school buildings. The truthfulness of this description will be recognized by the old and the middle-aged readers at a glance.
The primitive log schoolhouse was erected in every neighborhood as soon as there were a dozen children to attend school. The general archi- tecture of this original academy of the wilderness was the same as that already described for the cabin; the difference being that the furniture of the schoolhouse consisted exclusively of benches for seats and a desk fas- tened to the wall on two sides of the room, behind the principal row of benches, on which the pupils did their writing and laid articles not used for the time being. These writing desks were simply rough slabs, resting upon pins driven inclined into the wall, and they extended nearly the whole length and width of the building. The fire-place averaged larger than those in dwellings.
Imagine such a house, with the children seated around, the teacher on one end of a bench or in a chair, with no desk, and you have a view of the whole scene. The "schoolmaster" has just called "Books ! books !" at the door, and the scholars have just run in, almost out of breath from vigorous play, taken their seats, and are, for the moment, hurriedly "say- ing over their lessons " in a loud whisper, preparatory to recitation. While they are thus engaged, the teacher is, perhaps, sharpening a few quill pens for the pupils, for no other kind of writing pen had been thought of as yet. In a few minutes, he calls up an urchin to say his A B C's. The little boy stands beside the teacher, perhaps leaning against him The teacher, with his pen knife (urchin wishes he owned such a knife), points to the first letter, and asks what it is. The little fellow remains silent, for he does not know what to say. "A," says the teacher; "A," echoes the urchin. Teacher then points to the next, when the same programme is carried out, and so on, with three or four letters a day, and day after day until the " boy has got all his A B C's by heart." At the conclusion of these exercises, the teacher bids the " Major " to go to his seat and study his letters, and when Le comes to a letter he doesn't know to come to him and he will tell him.
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Accordingly, he returns to his seat, looks on his book a little while, and then goes trudging across the floor to his master, pointing to a letter out- side of his lesson, and holds it up awkwardly in front of the teacher's face. He is told that that letter is not in his lesson, and he needn't study it now, and he trudges, smilingly as he catches the eye of some one, back to his seat again; but why he smiled he has no definite idea.
To prevent wearing the books out at the lower corner, every pupil was expected to keep a " thumb-paper " under his thumb as he held the book in his hand, which was then the custom, there being no desks in front of the scholars. Even then the books were soiled and worn through at this place in a few weeks, so that a part of many lessons were gone. Consequently, the request was often made, "Master, may I borrow Jimmy's book, to git my lesson in? Mine hain't in my book; it's tore out." It was also customary to use book pointers, to point out the letters or words in study as well as in recitation. The black stem of the maiden-hair fern was a favorite material from which pointers were made.
The a-b, ab, scholars through with, perhaps the second or third reader class would be called up, who would stand in a row in front of the teacher, "toeing the mark," which was actually a chalk or charcoal mark, or a crack, and, commencing at one end of the class, one would read the first "verse," the next the second, and so on round and round, Sunday school fashion, taking the paragraphs in the order they occur. Whenever a pupil hesi- tated at a, word, the teacher would pronounce it for him. And this was all there was of the reading exercise.
Those studying arithmetic were but little classified, and they were, therefore, generally called forward singly and interviewed, or the teacher would visit them at their seats. A lesson, comprising several "sums," would be given for the next day to those in classes, while others would press forward without any regard to quantity. Whenever the learner came to a " sum he couldn't do," he would go to the teacher with it-unless he was a drone-and the teacher would do it for him.
In geography, no wall maps were used, no drawing required, and the studying and recitation comprised only the "getting-by-heart " names and places. The recitation proceeded like this : " Where is Norfolk ?" " In the southeastern part of Virginia." "What bay between Maryland and Virginia ? " " What is the capital of Pennsylvania ? " " Harrisburg." " Where does the Susquehanna River rise ?" "In New York."
When the hour for writing arrived, the time was announced by the master, and every pupil learning the art would throw his feet over and around under the writing desk, facing the greased paper or glass window, and proceed to " follow copy," which was invariably set by the teacher at his leisure moments, not by rule, but by as nice a stroke of the pen as he could make. Blue ink and blue paper were both common, and a "blue time " the learner often had of it.
About half past 10 o'clock, the master would announce, "School may go out," which meant, "little play-time," in the children's parlance, called in modern times "recess " or "intermission." Sometimes the boys and girls were allowed to have this intermission separately. Between play- times, the request, "Master, may I go out?" was often iterated, to the annoyance of the teacher and the disturbance of the school.
At about half past 11 o'clock, or a little later, the teacher would an- nounce, "Scholars may now get their spelling lessons," and then, in pros-
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pect of "big play-time " being near at hand, they would, with the charac- teristic loud whisper, " say over" to themselves the lesson a given number of times. " Master, I've said my lesson over four times," would sometimes be heard. A few minutes before twelve, the "little spelling class" would recite, and then the "big spelling class." The latter would comprise the larger scholars and the greater part of the school. They would stand in a row, toeing the mark in the midst of the floor, or standing with their backs against an unoccupied portion of the wall. One end of the class was the "head," the other the "foot," and when the pupil spelled a missed word correctly he would "go up," "turning down" all those who had missed it. The recitation done, the class would number, the head pupil numbering as at the foot, where he or she would take station next time, to have another opportunity of turning them all down. Before taking their seats, the teacher would say, "School's dismissed," which was the signal for every child rushing for his dinner, and enjoying the " big play-time." The same programme would also be followed on closing school in the afternoon. " Past the Pictures." This phrase had its origin in the practice of pio- neer schools which used Webster's Elementary Spelling Book, toward the back part of which were a few reading lessons illustrated with pictures --- as the mastiff, the stag, the squirrel, the boy stealing apples, the partial lawyers, the milk-maid's day dream, and poor Tray. Succeeding this illus- trated portion of the book were a few more spelling exercises, of a peculiar kind; and when a scholar succeeded in reaching these he, was said to be "past the pictures," and was looked up to as being smarter and more learned than most other youths expected to be. Hence the application of this phrase came to be extended to other affairs in life, especially where scholarship was involved.
Spelling and singing schools were held at night, at the schoolhouse, when a general frolic was had, and sometimes mischief was done by the " rowdies." On assembling for the spelling match, two youths would vol- unteer as "captains, " to "choose sides" and have a contest. Various methods were adopted, even in the same neighborhood, for conducting this exciting exercise. Sometimes "tally " would be kept; at other times a system of cross-spelling would be followed, commencing at the head or at the foot, or they would spell straight around, or have a "word-catcher " ap- pointed for each side, or would "turn down," etc. After an hour's contest, an intermission was had, which was indeed a lively time for conversation. After recess, the practice was to have a regular spelling-down, sometimes the sides chosen at the first taking their places so as to carry on & sort of double contest, and sometimes taking all the assembly promiscuously. The audience dismissed, the next thing was to "go home," very often by a round-about way, "a-sleighing with the girls," which, with many, was the moss interesting part of the evening's performance.
The singing school was of later introduction, but afforded equal advan- tage for a jubilee. These occasions were looked forward to with great an- ticipation, even by the older folks.
From the published reports are gathered the following items regarding the educational interests of Wyandot County, for the year ending August 31, 1882, the report for 1883 having not yet been made public:
Amount of school moneys received within the year: Balance on hand September 1, 1881, $49,918.13; State tax, $11,175; irreducible school fund, $3,681.28; local tax for school and schoolhouse purposes, $45, 258.73; received on sale of bonds, $1,745; fines, licences, etc., $350.35; total receipts, $112,128.49.
Henry Peters
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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
Expenditures: Paid primary teachers, $29,822.77; paid high school teachers, $2,370.25; for managing and superintending, $1,050; for sites and buildings, $22,703.19; for interest on or redemption of bonds, $509.11; for fuel and other contingent expenses, $6,386.42; total expenditures, $62, - 841.74; balance on hand September 1, 1882, $49,286. 75.
Amount received by the county from the State Common School Fund, $11,175; amount paid by the county into the State Common School Fund, $10,935,81; excess of receipts over payments from this fund, $239.19; num- ber of youth between six and twenty-one years of age in the county, 7,616; amount received by the county as interest from the Section 16 school fund, $4,124.53.
Number of unmarried youth in the county between the ages of six and twenty-one years: White boys, 3,991; white girls, 3,583; total, 7,574; colored boys, 25; colored girls, 17; total, 42; whole number between six and twenty-one years, 7,616; number between sixteen and twenty-one, 1,937; population of the county in 1880, 22,401.
Number of townships in the county, 13; number of subdistricts, 107; number of separate districts, 4; number of primary schoolhouses erected within the year, 5; cost of the sanre, $6,955.
Whole number of primary schoolhouses in the county, 107; number of primary schoolhouses in separate districts, 5; total, 112; value of school- houses and grounds, $123,050.
Number of school rooms, exclusive of rooms used only for recitation, 127; number of teachers necessary to supply the schools, 133.
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