USA > Ohio > The Ohio hundred year book; a hand-book of the public men and public institutions of Ohio from the formation of the North-West territory (1787) to July 1, 1901 > Part 38
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W. H. Hartsough, Stenographer, Columbus.
O. G. Brooks, Messenger, Ironton.
THE COMMISSIONERS OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
Names.
Years of Service.
Samuel Lewis.
1837-1840.
Hiram H. Barney Anson Smythe ..
1854-1857. 1857-1863.
*C. W. H. Cathcart.
1863.
Emerson E. White.
1863-1866.
* Resigned.
391
THE OHIO HUNDRED YEAR BOOK.
The Commissioner of Common Schools.
THE COMMISSIONERS OF COMMON SCHOOLS -- Concluded.
Names.
Years of Service.
*John A. Norris.
1866-1869.
*Wm. D. Henkle.
1869-1871. ,
Thos. W. Harvey
1871-1875.
Charles C. Smart
1875-1878.
John J. Burns.
1878-1881.
D. F. DeWolf.
1881-1884.
Leroy D. Brown.
1884-1887.
+Eli T. Tappan.
1887-1889.
tJohn Hancock.
1889-1891.
*Charles C. Miller
1891-1892.
Oscar T. Corson.
1892-1898.
Lewis D. Bonebrake.
Incumbent.
* Resigned. + Died in office.
THE DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
The office of state commissioner of common schools is a statutory and not a constitutional office, the act of March 12, 1836, being the virtual formation of the present school system of the state. Laws previously . enacted had not been so broad or liberal in their treatment of education as this act which created the office of superintendent of common schools and provided that the officer should be elected by joint resolution of the General Assembly. The term was fixed at one year and the salary at $500.00. On April 1, 1837, Samuel Lewis of Hamilton county was duly elected. He filed his first report at the convening of the General Assembly and on January 16, 1838, that body ordered 10,500 volumes. of it printed. On March 7, 1838, an act reorganizing the school laws. of the state was passed and under section eight thereof the term of the state Superintendent was fixed at five years unless the incumbent was removed by joint resolution. The salary was placed at $1,200.00. Two days later Mr. Lewis was elected for the term of five years. On March. 23, 1840, the office of state Superintendent was abolished and the duties. which he had performed devolved upon the Secretary of State who was. authorized to employ a clerk to do the work at a salary of $400.00 .. This law continued in force until March 14, 1853, when the office of state commissioner of common schools was again created.
This law provided that the officer should be chosen at the general election and the term was fixed at three years, the salary being placed at $1500.00. £ The duties of the commissioner were plainly prescribed and provision made that while he was absent on official visits to the
392
THE OHIO HUNDRED YEAR BOOK.
The Commissioner of Common Schools.
various counties of the state the State Librarian was to act in his stead and be his secretary.
This law was a complete re-organization of the Ohio school system and in addition to providing for the present classification of township districts and cities and villages, contained provisions for separate schools for colored children, county boards of examiners for teachers and for school libraries. Subsequent legislation has followed in the main the classification made in this act.
On March 27, 1884, a law was passed providing that the term of the commissioner would begin on the second Monday of July following his election instead of the second Monday of January. This change was made in order that the commissioner's term might terminate, approx- imately, with the school year.
OHIO'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
The educational system of Ohio has, from its inception, been strictly democratic in its nature, the management and support of the schools being left almost entirely in the hands of the residents of the various school districts.
The state is divided into districts, classified as city districts of the first grade of the first class; city districts of the second grade of the first class; city districts of the third grade of the first class; city dis- tricts of the first class ; city districts of the second class ; village districts ; special districts and township districts. The schools are governed by boards of education, selected by the electors of the various districts. In 1894 the electoral franchise for the election of school officers was conferred upon women and this law still continues in force but is not generally taken advantage of by the ladies. The number of members in boards of education in city districts of the first class varies from five members in Toledo to one from each ward in Cincinnati. In city districts of the second class and village districts the number is six, in special districts three or six. Township districts are divided into sub-districts with one member of the board from each sub-district. Prior to 1892 the sub- district schools were in reality governed by a board of sub-directors con- sisting of three members, one of whom was elected as member of the township board, but in that year the board of sub-directors was abolished and the entire authority conferred upon the township board. This did not give entire satisfaction, consequently, in 1898 the board of sub-direc- tors was re-established, but with the power of recommendation only, final action by the township board being necessary. The management and control of the schools is vested in the several boards of education without active supervision of any nature. Should boards exceed their authority or become derilect in their duty, recourse can only be had through the courts of law.
393
THE OHIO HUNDRED YEAR BOOK.
The Commissioner of Common Schools.
The school funds are derived from the income from school lands set apart by the National and State governments for educational purposes and by state and local taxes, the state contributing about one-eighth of the total amount.
The state commissioner of common schools has supervision of the school funds to the extent of appointing examiners in cases where mis- application or fraud in the management of the same makes it necessary.
The following statistics taken from the annual report of the state commissioner for the year ending August 31, 1900, will give some idea of the magnitude of the educational work being accomplished in this state at the present time.
Number of districts: City, 62; Village and Special, 1005; Town- ships, 1335; Sub-districts, 11097; Number of School Houses, 13073; Number of School Rooms, 22661 ; Value of School Property, $44,017,- 179; Number of Teachers, 26017; Enumeration of youth between six and twenty-one years, 1,226,366; Enrollment in Public Schools 829, 160.
In addition to the enrollment in the public schools it is estimated that 50,000 pupils are being educated in parochial and private schools. Number of high schools, 836; Enrollment in high schools, 56952.
There are 36 colleges and universities with 1118 instructors and 8148 students. This does not include professional schools, normal schools, academies, et cetera, of which the state has its full proportion.
STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS.
There have been a number of changes in the law relating to the state board of school examiners. When first enacted in 1864 the board consisted of three members who are appointed by the state commissioner. Since 1883 the number has been fixed at five. The term is five years and ends on August 31. The following have served on the board since its creation. Marcellus F. Cowdery, Thomas W. Harvey, Eli T. Tappan, Israel W. Andrews, William Mitchell, Theodore Sterling, John Hancock, Thomas C. Mendenhall, Andrew J. Rickoff, Alston Ellis, Henry B. Fur- ness, John B. Peaslee, William W. Ross, Charles R. Shreve, Chas. L. Loos, A. B. Johnson, Henry M. Parker, William G. Williams, Elmer S. Cox, Chas. C. Davidson, Marcellus Manley, Chas. E. McVay, Thomas A. Pollock, E. E. White, W. J. White, E. A. Jones, R. W. Stevenson, Edward T. Nelson, Jas. W. Knott, J. C. Hartzler, L. D. Bonebrake, J. P. Sharkey, Charles Haupert, C. W. Bennett, J. D. Simkins, W. W. Boyd, W. H. Meck, M. E. Hard, W. H. Mitchell, and C. C. Miller. The last five named are the present members of the board
SCHOOL-BOOK LAWS.
The first law relating to the use of text books in the schools of Ohio was pased April 22, 1885. It required boards of education to adopt text
394
THE OHIO HUNDRED YEAR BOOK.
The Commissioner of Common Schools.
books and prohibited any change in the same within five years, except. by a three-fourths vote. A provision was also made authorizing boards. to provide free text books.
On the 28th day of April, 1890, an amendment to this law was passed providing for a school book board, composed of the Governor, State Commissioner of Common Schools, Supervisor of Public Printing, and two persons to be appointed by the Governor. This board was authorized to pass upon all books used in the schools and to fix a price upon the same: not to exceed eighty per cent of the publisher's wholesale list price, and in case no satisfactory books could be secured the board was authorized. to receive bids from publishers and authors for furnishing text books, and report the result of the same to the next session of the General Assembly for action thereon.
On May 4, 1891, the last-mentioned law was repealed and a new law enacted changing the membership of the "State School Book Board" to the Governor and Secretary of State with the State Commissioner of Common Schools as secretary. The principal provisions of the former law were retained, with further provisions in regard to publication of text books by the state and a reduction in the maximum price to seventy- five per cent of the wholesale list price. The law now in force was passed April 22, 1896, making the State Commissioner of Common Schools a member of the State School Book Commission together with the Gov- ernor and Secretary of State. The main provisions of the former law were retained, the method of enforcing the law and carrying the same into effect being simplified.
Under this law the schools of Ohio are provided with good text books at a reasonable price and with a few minor amendments would. undoubtedly give general satisfaction.
THE COMMISSIONER OF RAILROADS AND TELEGRAPHS.
M R. J. C. MORRIS, Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs,' was born in Youngstown, Ohio, August 18, 1856, and was educated in the public schools of that city. But while yet a boy he secured employment in a local grocery store and continued in that em- ployment until his nineteenth year, when he began railroading. His first employment was as a brakeman. Then he became baggagemaster. From this he was promoted to the position of conductor of a freight train. After a number of years' service in this capacity he became general yardmaster, remaining in that position until he secured a passenger train, which he continued to run as its conductor until he was appointed Chief Inspector in the office of the State Commissioner of Railroads and Tele- graphs, faithfully performing the duties of this appointment until the 16th day of March, 1901, at which time he was appointed Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs.
During all this long period of railway service - 26 years in all - he was in the employ of the Erie Railway Company, a fact that speaks. well for the character of the service he rendered.
He is a married man, having been married to Miss Emma Morris of Youngstown, Ohio, on April 28, 1878. They have four children, all boys. Mr. Morris is a Mason, a K. of P., and a member of the Order of Railway Conductors.
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396
THE OHIO HUNDRED YEAR BOOK.
The Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs.
THE DEPARTMENT OF RAILROADS AND TELEGRAPHS.
The Department of the Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs was created by an act of the Fifty-seventh General Assembly passed April 5, 1867, which required the appointment of the officer within fif- teen days after the passage of the act, and prescribed his duties. He has a general police authority over roads operating in Ohio, and is re- quired to give careful attention to the construction, operation and main- tenance of the roads and their equipment so far as these matters relate to the safety and general welfare of the public. The following extract from the report of the Commissioner for the year 1900, just ended, is a tribute to the friendly readiness of the railroad companies to safeguard the public, as well as an indication of the watchfulness of the department :
The Railroads of the State, taken as a whole, were probably never in better physical condition than at the present time, and they were never operated with a greater degree of safety. Extensive improvements are continually being made both on roadway and equipment. An especial effort is being made by the man- agement to reduce the liability to accident to the minimum.
The equipment of rolling stock with safety appliances is practically complete. Extra efforts are being put forth by all of the trunk lines to reduce grades and curves and to separate dangerous street and highway crossings so far as it is practical to do so, and a great many have been eliminated. New ones should not be established where it is possible to avoid them, for they are more or less dangerous even with the best protection in use.
The policy of all of the larger Corporations is to interlock all crossings where they intersect with the tracks of other steam roads at grade. A large number of the most important crossings in the State are already interlocked and the work is being carried on very rapidly with a view of interlocking all crossings that can not be separated.
Never in the history of the State has there been such activity displayed in the making of permanent and substantial improvements on the Railroads of the State, as has been made in the past year. More modern and better facilities are being provided for every Department of the Service, and from present indications, the improvements will continue until all of the principal roads operating within the State are brought up to the highest standard.
The volume of business done last year was largely in excess of any previous year in the history of the State. The total gross earnings never reached as high a figure. Ten thousand seven hundred and twenty additional persons were em- ployed, and the sum of $5,114,810.83 more was paid in wages than for the preceding year.
The Total Mileage of Railroads incorporated under laws of Ohio in 18,354.57 miles, of which 8,691.46 miles are within the State, or 47.36 per cent.
THE OHIO HUNDRED YEAR BOOK.
The Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs.
ROSTER OF DEPARTMENT, JANUARY, 1901.
Name.
Office.
R. S. Kayler.
E. H. Archer
D. S. Archer
Stenographer.
E. H. Hanna.
Statistician.
J. C. Morris
Chief Inspector.
C. G. Knight
Deputy Inspector.
ROSTER OF DEPARTMENT, JULY, 1901.
Name.
Office.
J. C. Morris
H. E. King.
Commissioner. Chief Clerk.
E. H. Hanna.
Statistician.
C. G. Knight.
Chief Inspector.
O. F. McJunkin
D. S. Archer
R. L. Williams
Deputy Inspector. Stenograpder. Messenger.
FORMER COMMISSIONERS OF RAILROADS AND TELEGRAPHS. (Term of office: Two years.)
Name.
Term.
George B. Wright.
1867-1871
Richard D. Harrison
1871-1872
Orlow L. Wolcott
1872-1874
John G. Thompson
1875-1876
Lincoln G. Delano
1876-1878
William Bell, Jr
1878-1880
James S. Robinson.
1880-1881
Hylas Sabine
1881-1885
Henry Apthorp
1885-1887
William S. Cappeller
1887-1890
James A. Norton
1890-1892
William Kirkby
1892-1897
Raymond S. Kayler.
1897-1901
J. C. Morris.
Incumbent.
Mr. Wright resigned in October, 1871.
Mr. Harrison died in April, 1872.
Mr. Thompson resigned in December, 1875.
Mr. Robinson resigned in February, 1881 Mr. Cappellar resigned in May, 1890. Mr. Norton resigned in May, 1892.
397
Commissioner. Chief Clerk.
THE DAIRY AND FOOD COMMISSIONER.
J OSEPH ELLIS BLACKBURN was born in a log cabin in the vil- lage of Farmington, Colerain township, Belmont county, Ohio, June 30, 1860. He attended the common schools at Martins Ferry and Bellaire until he was nearly twelve years of age, when he went to work at common labor in the Belmont Glass Works. He rose step by step until he became foreman of the factory. He was one of the principal organ- ¿zers of the most successful mold makers' union in the United States and was either President or Secretary thereof as long as he worked at the trade.
In 1887 Mr. Blackburn embarked in the drug business, and, after taking a course in pharmacy at the Ohio Medical University at Ada, had the degree of Ph. G. conferred upon him. He never held public office until elected a member of the Seventy-second General Assembly in 1895. He is a Republican and was nominated by the State Convention of his party for the office of State Dairy and Food Commissioner March II, 1896, and elected by a plurality of 52,519 votes.
Mr. Blackburn assumed his official duties February 16, 1897. He was elected to a second term in 1898 and to a third term in 1900 by an increased majority.
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399
THE OHIO HUNDRED YEAR BOOK.
The Dairy and Food Commissioner.
ROSTER OF DAIRY AND FOOD COMMISSIONER'S DEPARTMENT -
1901-2.
Name.
Office.
Residence.
J. E. Blackburn
Commissioner
William Martin.
Assistant Commissioner 66
John J. Kinney
M. A. Bridge.
Chief Clerk.
M. J. Cheetham
Stenographer
Anna C. Hoge.
Clerk
Martin Cowen
Chief Inspector.
F. W. Herbst.
Drug Inspector.
Columbus.
George Reymer
Inspector
Mansfield. Caldwell.
J. F. Knouff.
66
Tontogany.
O. J. Berry.
Kimbolton.
Anthony Sauer
66
Dayton, Toledo.
E. B. Dillon.
Columbus.
O. J. Renner
Cincinnati.
Wm. B. Beebe.
6
Cleveland.
Chas. H. Bosler
Dayton.
J. P. Fawcett.
Canton.
J. W. Halfhill.
Lima.
O. J. Renner
Cincinnati.
B. F. Perry, Jr
Jefferson.
Scott Bonham.
Cincinnati.
J. C. Heinlein
Bridgeport.
J. C. Tallman.
Bellaire.
A. H. Kunkle
Springfield.
C. T. Marshall.
Zanesville.
W. S. Plum.
Bellefontaine.
James Joyce.
Cambridge.
Henry Bowers
New Philadelphia.
Chas. M. Wilkins.
Warren.
Louis Schmidt.
Chief Chemist.
G. A. Kirchmaier
Chemist
P. L. Hobbs
66
Cleveland.
B. S. Young
66
Ada.
E. Herbst.
Columbus.
O. G. Brooks
Messenger
Ironton.
Columbus. Chardon. Cincinnati. Columbus.
Bellaire. 66
E. B. Beverstock.
George C. Diehl.
Attorney
Cincinnati.
Walter F. Brown
66
60
60
60
66
66
66
Cincinnati. Toledo.
400
THE OHIO HUNDRED YEAR BOOK.
The Dairy and Food Commissioner.
This office was originally appointive by the Governor, but the Legis- lature, in 1891, made it elective, and fixed the term at two years. It was. first established May 8, 1886. The following is the incumbency.
DAIRY AND FOOD COMMISSIONERS.
Incumbents.
Terms.
S. H. Hurst.
1886-1887.
Frank H. Derthick
1887-1890.
Edward Bethel.
1890-1892.
Frederick B. McNeal.
1892-1897.
J. E. Blackburn
1897-Incumbent.
THE STATE EXAMINER OF STEAM ENGINEERS.
G EORGE M. COLLIER, chief examiner of engineers, is an Ohio boy born on a farm near Elyria, Ohio, Lorain county, in 1859, where he resided until he was eleven years of age, when his parents removed to North Amherst, Lorain county, Ohio, where he re- ceived a common school education. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship at the machinists' trade with one of the largest ship build- ing concerns in the country. He has held some very important positions as master mechanic and chief engineer, notable among which was the- position of chief engineer of the J. H. Wade Estate, of Cleveland, Ohio, which very responsible and lucrative position he resigned to accept an appointment under Governor Nash as Chief Examiner of Engineers.
Mr. Collier is widely known throughout the State, especially among the engineering fraternity. He has been identified with the organization of stationary engineers, and as such had much to do with securing legis- lation favorable to engineers. He has shown good executive ability in the appointment of and organization of his force of district examiners to carry out the intent and letter of the law.
His ancestors on both sides were from New England, and were of a: mechanical turn of mind. Mr. Collier is at the present time a resident of Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he has lived for the past fourteen years.
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402
THE OHIO HUNDRED YEAR BOOK.
The State Examiner of Steam Engineers.
THE EXAMINER OF STEAM ENGINEERS.
The law creating this department was passed March 1, 1900, and provides for the better protection of life and property against injury or damage resulting from the operation of steam boilers and engines by incompetent engineers and others.
The Governor of the State of Ohio, with and by the advice and con- sent of the Senate, appoints a chief examiner of steam engineers, and the chief examiner, with the approval of the Governor, appoints six district examiners and a clerk, provided, however, that not more than three of said examiners shall be members of any one of the two great political parties. The chief examiner and district examiners are required to be competent and practical steam engineers, and hold their offices for a term of three years from the date of their respective appointments and until their successors are appointed and qualified. In case of the resignation, re- moval or death of any of the examiners, the vacancy is filled in the man- ner as provided for in the original appointment, for the unexpired term only. The, Examiners are required to devote their whole time and atten- tion to the duties of their respective offices. The chief examiner is located in the State House, Columbus, Ohio, where all the records of his office are kept. And he issues such instructions and makes such rules and regulations for the government of the district examiners as will secure uniformity of action throughout the State. The salary of the chief examiner is $1800 and that of the district examiners, $1200, together with all necessary traveling and office expenses incurred by them in the dis- charge of the duties. The salary of the clerk is $720. The chief exam- iner is required to give a bond in the sum of $3,000 and the district examiners in the sum of $2,000.
Any person who desires to act as a steam engineer, shall make appli- cation to any district examiner for a license so to act, upon a blank fur- nished by the examiner, and if, upon examination, the applicant is found trustworthy and competent, a license shall be granted him to have charge of, or to operate any steam plant. Such license shall continue in force for one year, unless after a proper hearing it is sooner revoked for intoxication or other sufficient cause, the said license to be renewed yearly. The fee for examination and license is $2.00, and for renewal is $1.00.
It is the duty of each district examiner to notify every person operat- ing a steam boiler or engine in his district, to apply for a license, and to give such person a reasonable opportunity to take the examination therefor. Any owner, user, or engineer, who violates any of the provi- sions of this law, is liable to a fine of not more than $100 nor less than $10. The examiners have authority to visit any and all engine rooms in the state at all reasonable hours.
403
THE OHIO HUNDRED YEAR BOOK.
The State Examiner of Steam Engineers.
DEPARTMENT ROSTER- 1900-1901.
Name.
Office.
Headquarters.
George M. Collier
Charles J. Manney.
George G. Bennett.
District Examiner.
Cleveland, Ohio. Toledo, Ohio.
Thomas Winship
Eber H. Harman.
66
Columbus, Ohio.
August Deschler
66
Chillicothe, Ohio.
Elmer E. Miller
Canton, Ohio.
Jos. H. Ebright.
Zanesville, Ohio.
Chief Examiner Clerk
Columbus, Ohio. 66
OHIO FISH AND GAME COMMISSION.
T HE Ohio Fish and Game Commission was created in 1886. The commission is composed of five members appointed by the Gover- nor, who serve without compensation excepting their actual ex- penses, for a period of five years each. The present personnel of the Board consists of Col. J. L. Rodgers, President, Columbus, Ohio, Col. Albert Brewer, Tiffin, Ohio, J. C. Burnett, Sabina, Ohio, A. J. Hazlett, Bucyrus, Ohio, and C. E. Buroker, St. Paris, Ohio. The Board being non-partisan, the first three are the Republican, and the last two the Demo- cratic members of the Board. L. H. Reutinger is secretary and chief warden. "It is the duty of the commissioners to examine the various rivers, lakes, ponds and streams in the state or bordering thereon and ascertain whether they can be rendered more productive of fish and game, and what measures are required to effect this object, either in restoring the production of fish and game in and about them, or in protecting and propagating the fish which at present frequent and abound in them, or otherwise ; and the commissioners shall'carry into effect all such measures, in this behalf, that they deem necessary, so far as means are placed at their disposal for these purposes ; and they shall also inquire into the matter of the artificial propagation of fish in the waters of the state, and adopt such plans to test the efficiency of this mode of increasing the quality of edible fish as they think best."
The commission has erected a plant at London, Ohio, for the purpose of propagating the Mongolian and English ring-necked pheasant and the breeding of black bass, marble cat and other species of edible fish. The plant is an extensive one and the commission succeeds in rearing at least from two to three thousand pheasants every year for public distribution and from a half to one million fish for planting in the public streams. According to an act of the last General Assembly the commission may appoint deputy state wardens wherever they see fit. Their jurisdiction ex- tends over the waters of Lake Erie within the boundary line of Ohio. That industry alone is of great magnitude and importance and from twenty-five to forty million pounds of fish are taken from these waters annually. The experiment of propagating the Mongolian pheasant has proved very successful and within a few years the commission expects to report an abundance of pheasants in every locality in the state of Ohio.
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