USA > Ohio > The biographical annals of Ohio, 1906-1907-1908. A handbook of the government and institutions of the state of Ohio. > Part 46
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574
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The State Board of Public Works.
SIZE OF CANALS.
The Ohio, Hocking, Walhonding, and Miami and Erie Canal from Cincinnati to Dayton, were constructed 40 feet in width on top water line, bottom 26 feet, depth 4 feet; Miami and Erie Canal from Dayton to Junction 50 feet top, 26 feet bottom, depth 5 feet; Junction to Toledo 60 feet top water line, 46 feet bottom, depth 6 feet.
The size of locks is 90 feet in length of chambers, with 15 feet clear width between walls, as originally built.
COST OF CONSTRUCTION.
The entire cost of construction of the canals, including reservoirs and feeders, was $14,340,572.59, besides material aid from private in- dividuals and corporations in donations of land, right of way, and moneys. The state has received by sale of the lands granted by the general government for canal purposes, $2,257,487.32. The expenditures for the maintenance of the Ohio canals in repairs and cost of collections up to July 1, 1904, has amounted to $12,066,686.13. The receipts from actual earnings for the same time have amounted to $18,003,352.34, leav- ing a net credit to the canal of receipts over expenditures for maintenance account of $5,936,666.21.
The Public Works at present comprises 581 82-100 miles of navigable canals, about 30,000 acres of reservoir area, besides their feeders, and the navigable rivers of the state.
ABANDONMENT.
In 1894 the General Assembly ordered the abandonment of that part of the eastern system which was known as the Hocking Canal, 56 miles, and in 1896, 19 miles of the "Walhonding" Canal.
LEASE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS.
On the second day of June, 1861, the Public Works of Ohio were leased by the act of the Legislature, passed May 9, 1861, for twenty thousand and seventy-five dollars ($20,075.00) per annum. Said lease continued in force until December 1, 1877, at which time the lessees aban- doned the Public Works and by appointment of the Superior Court of Montgomery County they were placed in the hands of a receiver until May 15, 1878, at which time the State Board again took possession of the Public Works of Ohio.
Amount received from lessees, 161/2 years, at $20,075. $331,237 50 Amount received from December 1, 1877, to May 15, 1878. 69,765 59
Total amount received and included in above table. $401,003 09
575
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The State Board of Public Works.
The expenditures by the Board of Public Works for superintendence and repairs ceased with the transfer of the canals to the lessees. All expenditures during that time were for the settlement of prior claims, awards of damages, expenses of the office of the Board, expenses in- curred in the appraisement of personal property sold to the lessees, and the payment of outstanding indebtedness provided for by the act "making appropriations for the maintenance of the Public Works," passed May 13, 1861.
Under the law authorizing the lease of the Public Works of the State, C. S. Hamilton was appointed by the Governor, Paul Weatherby by the Board of Public Works, and John J. Isham by the lessees, to ap- praise the personal property of the state, which the lessees were required by said act to purchase. The value of the property appraised by them and transferred to the lessees amounted to fourteen thousand one hundred and seventy-three and sixty-four hundredth, dollars ($14,173.64.)
MEMBERS AND OFFICERS BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, 1906.
Office.
Name.
Residence.
Term Expired.
President
Geo. H. Watkins
Portsmouth
1911
W. Kirtley, Jr ..
Defiance
1909
B. W. Baldwin.
Jefferson
1909
Secretary
C. W. Diehl
Cambridge
1908
Chief Engineer
Chas. E. Perkins
Akron
1908
Assistant Engineer.
.
FORMER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Name.
Term of Service.
Alexander McConnell
1836-1838
John Harris
1836-1838
R. Dickinson
1836-1845
T. G. Bates
1836-1842
Wm. Wall
1836-1842
Leander Ransom
1836-1845
Wm. Rayen
1839-1840
Wm. Spencer
1842-1845
O. Follett
1845-1849
J. Blickensderfer, Jr.
1845-1852
Samuel Farrar
1845-1852
E. S. Hamlin
1849-1852
A. P. Miller . .
1852-1855
Geo. W. Monypenny
1852-1853
576
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The State Board of Public Works.
FORMER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS-Concluded.
Name.
Term of Service.
James B. Steedman
1852-1856
Wayne Griswald ..
1853-1857
J. Blickensderfer, Jr.
1854-1858
A. G. Conover
1856-1860
John Waddle
1857-1860
R. L. Backus
1858-1861
John L. Martin.
1859-1862
John B. Gregory
1860-1863
Levi Sargent.
1861-1864
John F. Torrence
1862-1865 .
James Gamble
1863-1864 ·
James Moore.
1864-1871 .
John M. Barrere.
1864-1870 ·
Philip D. Herring
1865-1877 ·
Richard R. Porter
1870-1876 .
Stephen R. Hosmer
1872-1875 .
Martin Schilder.
1875-1881 .
Peter Thatcher.
1876-1879 .
J. C. Evans
1877-1880 .
George Paul
1879-1885 ·
James Fullington
1880-1883 .
Stephen R. Hosmer.
1881-1884
Leo Weltz
1883-1884 **
Henry Weible.
1883-1886 .
John P. Martin.
1884-1887 .
C. A. Flickinger
1885-1891 .
Will S. Jones.
1886-1892 .
Wm. M. Hahn
1887-1893 .
Frank J. McColloch
1891-1897 .
Charles E. Groce
1892-1898 .
E. L. Lybarger.
1893-1899 .
Frank A. Huffman
1897-1903 .
Charles A. Goddard
1898-1903 .
W. G. Johnston-
1899 -- 1903 ·
Wm. Kirtley.
1903
L. D. Hamlin (to fill vacancy)
1903- 1903
Geo. H. Watkins (short term)
1903- 1904
Geo. H. Watkins
1904
R. B. Crawford.
1905-1906
B. W. Baldwin (to fill vacancy)
1906
CANAL COMMISSION HAVING EXPIRED BY LIMITATION DUTIES CONFERRED BY STATUTES MADE APPLICABLE TO THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The 77th General Assembly passed an act on the 2nd day of April, 1906, whereby all the powers and duties conferred on the Ohio Canal Commission by statutes are conferred upon and vested in the Board of Public Works, and all sections of the statutes of Ohio relating to the Ohio Canal Commission are made applicable to the Board of Public Works.
EDMUND A. JONES.
37-B. A.
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H ON. EDMUND A. JONES, State Commissioner of Common Schools, is a typical New Englander. He was born at Rockville, Mass., February 11,
1842. His ancestors were natives of the same state, his great-grand- father having been born at Medway, Mass., about the middle of the eighteenth century. His father and grandfather were both teachers in their native State of Massachusetts, the former reaching the age of eighty-four years at the time of his death in 1899.
Mr. Jones received his early education in the common schools, and after further preparation at Mt. Hollis Academy, in 1860, entered Amherst College. After completing his sophomore year in that institution he offered his services in defense of his country and was assigned to Company B, Forty-Second Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry. His regiment was sent at once to join Gen. Banks' command at New Orleans. In the first battle in which he was engaged, at Bayou La Fourche, In June, 1863, he was seriously wounded. In the following month, after his colonel had recommended him for promotion because of meritorious service, he was honorably discharged. In the fall of the same year, 1863, he re-entered Amherst College, from which institution he received the degree of A. B. in 1865, and the degree of Master of Arts in 1868. Both before and after his military service, he was president of his class in college, having this honor at the time of his graduation.
Mr. Jones's career as a teacher began in Illinois in 1865, where he.taught in an academy, to the principalship of which he had been promoted before leaving for Ohio in 1869.
In October, 1869, he accepted the superintendency of the city schools at Massillon, which position he occupied for four years. He then assumed con- trol of the schools at Marietta for a period of two years. His work at Mas- sillon had been so satisfactory to the people of that city that they induced him to return. Faithfully and efficiently, for the last twenty-nine years he served that city, whose people were only willing to release him to accept the honors of the office to which he had been elected by the people of the State. For when the city of Cleveland, 1889, offered him increased salary to come to that city, Massillon promptly met the offer and retained him in the position he had filled so long and so acceptably to the patrons of her schools.
On the second Monday of July, 1904, Mr. Jones entered upon the duties of the office of State Commissioner of Common Schools, with the confidence and respect of the entire teaching force of the State. This high esteem he had merited through his successful experience as an institute instructor throughout the State, and his excellent service as a member of the State Board of School Examiners.
In 1906 he was re-elected Commissioner of Schools and entered upon his second term on the 8th day of July, 1907. His services in the office he now holds have given universal satisfaction to all interested in the public schools and have been exceedingly helpful to the educational interests of the State.
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579
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Commissioner of Common Schools.
CLERICAL FORCE, OFFICE OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
The clerical force of the office consists of three clerks and two sten- ographers. The correspondence is heavy, as the commissioner's opinion is daily sought on all subjects pertaining to school laws and school man- agement.
CLERKS.
J. H. Snyder, Chief Clerk, Martins Ferry.
James W. Guthrie, Statistical Clerk, Alliance.
Walter E. Jones, Examination Clerk.
Miss B. M. Danford, Caldwell, Stenographer.
Miss Mary E. Douds, Canton, Stenographer.
O. G. Brooks, Messenger, Ironton.
THE COMMISSIONERS OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
. Name.
Years of Service.
Samuel Lewis
1837-1840
Hiram H. Barney
1854-1857
Anson Smythe
1857-1863
*C. W. H. Cathcart
1863
Emerson E. White
1863-1866
*John A. Norris
1866-1869
*Wm. D. Henkle
1869-1871
Thomas W. Harvey
1871-1875
Charles C. Smart
1875-1878
James J. Burns
1878-1881
D. F. DeWolf
1881-1884
Leroy D. Brown
1884-1887
+Eli T. Tappan
1887-1889
+John Hancock
1889-1891
*Charles C. Miller
1891-1892
Oscar T. Corson
1892-1898
Lewis D. Bonebrake
1898-1904
Edmund A. Jones (incumbent)
1904
.
*Resigned.
*Died in office.
580
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF'OHIO.
The Commissioner of Common Schools.
THE DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
The office of the 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 As- sembly, 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. The law con- tinued in force until March 14, 1853, when the office of State Commis- sioner 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 $1,500.00. The duties of the commissioner were plainly prescribed and provision made that while he was absent on official visits to the various counties of the state the State Librarian was to act in his stead and be his secretary.
The "New Code," adopted April 25, 1904, provided that, after Sep- tember 1, 1904, the questions for all county teachers' examination through- out the state should be prepared, printed and distributed under the direction of the State Commissioner of Common Schools, and the rules and regulations of all county boards of examiners should be subject to his approval.
By the same code each board of education was required to pre- scribe a graded course of study for the elementary schools under its control, subject to the approval of the school commissioner.
On March 27, 1884, a law was passed providing that the term of the commissioner would begin on the second Monday of July follow- ing his election instead of the second Monday of January. This change was made in order that the commissioner's term might terminate, ap- proximately, with the school year.
581
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Commissioner of Common Schools.
On April 2, 1906, in order to meet the requirements of the law pro- viding for biennial state elections the tenure of office was changed from three to two years.
On the same date a general state salary law was passed in which the salary of the State Commissioner of Common Schools was fixed at $4,000 per annum.
OHIO'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
The educational system of Ohio has, from its inception, been strict- ly 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 school districts, village school districts, special school districts and township school dis- tricts. 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. The number of members in boards of education in city school districts is now fixed at not less than two nor more than seven elected at large, and in cities in which the population reaches 50,000 or more, not less than two nor more than thirty elected from sub- districts, and in village, special and township school districts the boards consist of five members elected at large. Prior to 1892 the sub-district schools were in reality governed by a board of sub-directors consisting 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-directors was re-established, but with the power of recommendation only, final action by the township board being necessary. In 1904, by the passage of the Harrison school code, the present system was brought into operation.
The school funds are derived from the income from school lands set apart by the National and State governments for educational pur- poses 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 make it necessary.
The following statistics from the annual report of the state com- missioner for the year ending August 31, 1906, will give some idea of the magnitude of the educational work being accomplished in this state at the present time.
The expenditures of the public schools for the year 1854 were from
582
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Commissioner of Common Schools.
the State School Fund $1,113,089.02; from the School and Trust Funds $112,463.65; from the School District Library Fund $55,904.45; from Local Levies $980,000.00-in all $2,266,457.12. For the year ending August 31, 1906, the expenditures of the public schools aggregated $20,971,041.15. In 1854 the enumeration of youth of school age was 816,408 ; for 1906 it reached 1,252,724.
The value of school property in the state in 1854 was estimated at $3,704,720.90. The total valuation of school property for 1906 is re- ported at $57,448.817.00.
In 1854, according to the commissioner's report, there were 57 high schools in the state, employing 71 male and 63 female teachers, there being 4,611 pupils enrolled. In 1906 the number of high schools had increased to nine hundred and thirty, employing 1,572 male and 94T female teachers, with 64,166 pupils enrolled.
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 were appointed by the state commis- sioner. 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. Furness, John B. Peaslee, William W. Ross, Charles R. Shreve, Charles L. Loos, A. B. Johnson, Henry M. Parker, William G. Williams, Elmer S. Cox, Charles C. Davidson, Marcellus Manley, Charles E. Mc- Vay, Thomas A. Pollock, E. E. White, W. J. White, E. A. Jones, R. W. Stevenson, Edward T. Nelson, James W. Knott, J. C. Hartzler, L. D. Bonebrake, J. P. Sharkey, Charles Haupert, C. W. Bennett, J. D. Sim- kins, W. W. Boyd, M. E. Hard, W. H. Mitchell, C. C. Miller, Arthur Powell, H. P. Williams, S. P. Humphrey, H. H. Helter, W. H. Kirk and W. H. Meck. 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 passed April 22, 1885. It required boards of education to adopt text 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.
583
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Commissioner of Common Schools.
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 author- ized 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 14, 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 maximumi 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 Gover- nor 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 boards of education have the power of providing free text books if they so desire.
RENICK W. DUNLAP.
R ENICK W. DUNLAP, son of Nelson J. Dunlap and Elizabeth (Bell) Dun- lap, was born near Kingston, in Pickaway Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, on October 25, 1872. The Dunlap and Renick families are pioneers in that part of the State, his great-grandfather, John Dunlap, and his maternal great-grandfather, George Renick, emigrating from Virginia to the neighbor- hood of Chillicothe when it was a wilderness.
Mr. Dunlap passed his boyhood on his father's farm, attending the district school until he was fifteen years old, later entering the public school at Kingston. In 1890 he entered the Ohio State University in the second year of the preparatory course, and graduated therefrom in 1895 with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, later taking three months of post graduate work in the animal mechanics. During his college career he was a member of the University Senate and President of the Townsend Literary Society, Major of the University Military Battalion, Captain and then later Manager of the foot ball team. Since graduation he has been actively engaged in farming.
Mr. Dunlap was tendered a position in one of the State Agricultural Colleges, but declined the offer. For three years he was secretary and president of farmers' institutes in his county and was selected by the State Board of Agriculture in 1900 as lecturer for the farmers' institutes throughout the State, and he continued such work to the time of taking charge of his present office.
He was a candidate for Representative from Pickaway County on the Republican ticket in 1901, but was defeated by a reduced Democratic ma- jority; elected State Senator from the Tenth Senatorial District in the fall of 1903 by a large majority, being the first Republican ever elected in this district from Pickaway County. He was author of several important bills, among which was the law regulating the sale, etc., of commercial feed stuffs.
He is a Knight Templar Mason. He was married June 9, 1897, to Maxie E. Cummins, a daughter of Edward W. Cummins, of Columbus, Ohio .. They have one son, Nelson H., born February 16, 1902.
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585
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Dairy and Food Commissioner.
ROSTER DAIRY AND FOOD DEPARTMENT.
Ohio.
Renick W. Dunlap
Commissioner
Kingston. Circleville.
Charles H. May.
Chief Inspector
Charles L. Thurber.
Stenographer.
Columbus.
Annie C. Hoge.
Bookkeeper
Bellaire.
Dr. James H. Beal
Drug Inspector
Scio.
John J. Kinney
Assistant Commissioner.
Cincinnati.
William Martin
Assistant Commissioner.
Chardon.
Ernest J. Riggs
Inspector Food Department.
Gallipolis.
C. M. Shafer.
Inspector Food Department.
Canal Fulton.
W. E. Johnson
Inspector Food Department.
Jackson.
Anthony Sauer
Inspector Food Department.
Cincinnati.
C. W. Orr.
Inspector Food Department.
Piqua.
C. H. Waid.
Inspector Food Department.
Wauseon. Mt. Sterling.
R. T. Dennis
Inspector Liquor Tax.
W. H. Westman
Inspector Liquor Tax.
Cleveland.
James H. Bamber.
Inspector Liquor Tax.
Dayton. Toledo.
Albert L. Brown
Inspector Liquor Tax.
Charles A. Gasser
Inspector Liquor Tax.
Columbus.
W. D. Dunifon
Inspector Liquor Tax
Van Wert.
Perry L. Hobbs.
Chemist.
Cleveland.
T. D. Wetterstroem .
Chemist
Cincinnati.
William McPherson
Chemist
Columbus.
H. A. Weber.
Chemist
Columbus.
O. S. Marckworth.
Chemist
Columbus.
Azor Thurston.
Chemist
Grand Rapids.
James A. Beer ..
Chemist
Columbus.
Oberlin G. Brooks.
Messenger.
Columbus.
1
OHIO
A. B. CRITCHFIELD.
T HE department of the Adjutant-General is, as its name implies, the headquarters of the National Guard of Ohio, of which the Governor is Commander-in-Chief. Under the law, the Adjutant- General is appointed by the Governor for a term of two years, with the grade of Brigadier-General, and upon him also devolve the duties of Quartermaster-General. He has two assistants, each with the rank of Colonel-the Assistant Adjutant-General and the Assistant Quarter- master-General. To the Assistant Adjutant-General is assigned the super- vision of all affairs of the department pertaining to organization, inspec- tion, discipline, and all similar work pertaining to the Adjutant-General's department proper. The Assistant Quartermaster-General has chage of all ordnance and quartermaster's stores and of the military property of the State, and supervises the affairs of the department pertaining to property, transportation and annual returns to the War Department. Both assistants operate under the immediate direction of the Adjutant- General, who is in control of the military department of the State.
The Adjutant-General is also Superintendent of the State Capitol buildings and grounds.
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587
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Adjutant-General.
ROSTER OF THE GENERAL STAFF (1904).
Brig .- General Ammon B. Critchfield, Shreve.
. Adjutant-General Inspector-General; ex-officio Chief of Staff Colonel Worthington Kautzman, Bellefontaine Assistant Adjt .- General Colonel Edward T. Miller, Columbus Assistant Quartermaster-Genera
ROSTER OF THE DEPARTMENTAL FORCES.
Lieutenant G. S. McCormick, Wooster. Second Co., Signal Corps, Chief Clerk
Major Wm. H. Duffy, Toledo. 1st Brigade, Financial Clerk
Captain Julius Armstrong, Columbus. Record Clerk Sergeant Geo. T. Blaka, East Liverpool. Bond Clerk
Captain M. D. Townsend, Conneaut.
Quartermaster and Ordnance Clerk
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