USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > The centennial celebration of Springfield, Ohio, held August 4th to 10th, 1901 > Part 15
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The soldiers buried in Clark County belonged to many of the volunteer regiments of the Union Army ; to many independent companies or batteries, and to the regular army or navy, and to all arms of the service; generally they died where they fell or in military hospitals of wounds received in battle. or of disease con- tracted in war service ; some, there buried, died of starvation in Southern prisons. They signify the full measure of self-sacrificing loyalty, heroism, supreme effort, suffering and death, entailing upon family and friends an untold measure of sacrifice, suffering and sorrow.
Have not the good people of Springfield and Clark County patriotically performed their highest duty to establish, preserve. perpetuate and advance the cause of political and civil liberty in our whole country ?
Without the bloody sacrifices and heroic achievements of the
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Civil War, by which human slavery was overthrown and the rights of man were up-built, and the spirit of Christian love was more universally spread throughout the civilized nations of the earth, a war for humanity (Spanish War) would not have been possible.
SPANISH WAR, 1898.
On the call ( 1898) of President William McKinley for vol- unteers for the war to compel Spain to surrender her sovereignty over Cuba, because of her long-continued inhumanity to its inhab- itants (Spanish subjects), Springfield and Clark County contrib- uted their full share of soldiers and sailors, and many more of their young men were impatient because they were not accepted. Colonel Charles Anthony commanded the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Spanish War.
Captain William H. Bradbury's company (Ohio National Guard ) became Company B, of the Third. and Captain Horace E. Smith's became Company E. of the Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infan- try ; Captain R. R. Rudd's became Company A, Ninth Battalion (colored) of Infantry, and a section of Company --- , Second United States Volunteer Engineers (Lieutenant Arthur Balen- tine) also went from this county. Large numbers of others went to the Spanish War from this county, as officers and soldiers of sailors in the army or navy, joining other organizations or the volunteer staff departments. Carl K. Mower became a Captain and Commissary of Subsistence and served with credit in Porto Rico and elsewhere ; later he became Captain in the Forty-First United States Volunteers and served with distinction in the Phil- ippine Islands, and he now holds an appointment in the United States Army.
Horace C. Keifer was appointed (June. 1898) by the Presi- dent a Captain in the Third United States Volunteer Engineers, and he performed, by assignment of the War Department. the duties of an aide (often other staff duties) on the staff of Major- General J. Warren Keifer, in Florida, Georgia and Cuba. for about one year. Many of the Spanish War soldiers, and others of the county, enlisted in volunteer organizations in 1800 for service in the Philippines, and they have there performed excellent and hard
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SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
service; some went into the regular army and others into the United States Navy.
In the above eleven years of war (excluding all Indian wars) of the nineteenth century, Clark County has valiantly borne her full part in bearing the flag of our country to victory on land and sea. No sacrifice has been too great for her citizens to willingly make. We may be justly proud and boastful of Clark County's war history, and we can feel sure that if exigencies arise which again bring war. that, inspired by high and worthy example, her sons will valorously do their duty in a just cause, in upholding our blood-baptized stars and stripes, long so sacredly emblematic of organized liberty to mankind.
With all the significant things accomplished at the cost of blood and treasure in the nineteenth century, future generations will not be contented to "mark time" over the grave of the past. but, inspired by the great deeds and discoveries and progress made manifest to them, will "quick step" forward and attain to yet other, higher, more useful and better things.
Would to God we could foretell the events and the progress of the twentieth century, and write with the pen of prophecy Springfield's history as it will be on her second centennial.
Thus, briefly and imperfectly, we have presented you Clark County's military history, believing it equal, all things considered, to that of any other county in this State or Nation.
[In the address delivered by General Keifer he has modestly refrained from speaking of himself, save in a brief foot note, vet he is the most conspicuous figure in the military history of our county, and should, therefore, have some notice in this, volume. At the outbreak of the war, in 1861. General Keifer was a lawyer in Springfield, having been admitted to the bar in 1858. He volunteered at the beginning of the war and was appointed Major of the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In the first year of the war he was in a number of battles in West Virginia. In Febru- ary, 1862. he was made Lieutenant-Colonel and was on active duty in Kentucky and other States. In September, 1862. he was appointed Colonel of the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio. His regiment was transferred to Virginia, where he fought in many battles, suffer- ing severe wounds and many hardships in the service. He was
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brevetted a Brigadier-General in 1864, and in 1865 Major-General for "gallant and distinguished services." He served altogether four years and two months. After his return to Springfield he entered upon his profession. in which he was eminently success- ful. He became a member of the State Senate for two years ; was sent to the National House of Representatives for four terms, and during the third term served as Speaker. At the outbreak of the Spanish War he was appointed a Major-General. and faithfully discharged the duties assigned him. General Keifer is a conspic- uous figure in all that pertains to the welfare of our city .- Ed -- itor. ]
GOVERNOR GEORGE K. NASH.
GOVERNOR GEORGE K. NASH'S ADDRESS.
Governor Nash said in part : It gives me great pleasure to be- with you today, and to be able to congratulate you officially upon this centennial anniversary. I know that the people of Ohio are proud of Springfield and of Clark County. We have many beau- tiful and prosperous cities in Ohio, but when Ohio comes to ex- amine her municipal gems, she always finds that Springfield is one of the most beautiful of them all. In the name of the people · of Ohio I congratulate you upon this centennial celebration. I do not congratulate you, however, merely upon the fact that you are one hundred years old. If I should do that. it would seem as if you are getting old. But Springfield today has more energy, more wealth, more prosperity than she ever had before. I believe that
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SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
her next one hundrd years, with the advantages that she now has, will be much more pleasant to the people of Springfield than the years that have gone by.
It is upon the bright prospects of your future that I congratu- late you as well as upon your past. Individually it gives me great pleasure to be with you. I was very glad to hear the rule which General Keifer gave for the men whom Clark County claims. [ was glad to hear that rule, because under that rule I am entitled to- claim that I am a Clark County man.
In April, 1865, it was my good fortune to come to Springfield and here begin the study of law. Fortune did not ordain that I should stay with you very many months, but during that time I remember two days in which I had an opportunity to witness the patriotism of the people of Springfield and Clark County. I re- member well the 14th day of April, 1865. Lee and the armies of the rebellion had surrendered their power on the 9th of that month. Under the proclamation of the Governor of the State you were called upon to rejoice over the victory that had been won in that long war. This rejoicing occurred all over the State of Ohio. but I remember well the things which I witnessed in this city of Springfield. Your people assembled, 5,000. for the purpose of re- joicing. Upon every house, upon every shop, upon every available spot was displayed the flag of our country, waiving in such. tri- umph as she had never known before. From the bottom of your heart you rejoiced that victory came ; you rejoiced that your boys were coming home. When you went to bed that night you re- joiced that you still had for President of the United States the most glorious patriot, the greatest man, the most faithful citizen that this country ever had, in the person of Abraham Lincoln.
The next morning you were awakened to have the news con- veyed to you that the patriot President was dead. How changed was the scene. Upon every street corner, instead of rejoicing pa- triots, I saw your citizens in the depths of sorrow. Badges of mourning had taken the places of badges of rejoicing and victory. These two days, and the scenes which I witnessed upon those days, impressed upon me most vividly the patriotism of the people of Clark County.
I am rejoiced to be present with this patriotic people today, to
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rejoice with you in all that you achieved in the way of success during the last one hundred years.
And this is Soldiers' Day. I am glad that you have devoted one day to your soldiers. No man can tell what the soldiers have done for this country during her history. We all know what was accomplished by our Revolutionary soldiers. We all know what patriotism was exhibited in the War of 1812. We all know of the vast sacrifices which were made from 1861 to 1865. We know what those soldiers have done for us. We somewhat realize the debt of gratitude which we owe to them on account of what they did in the field during our wars. But what our soldiers have done during times of peace has been far more patriotic and far more beneficial than what they did in the camp and upon the battle-field.
Recall the old Revolutionary soldiers. When that war closed they were poor. They sought new homes. They came to Ohio and to all this country west of the Ohio River, and became the pioneers and founded the civilization in the great Northwest. They were good citizens. They were the best pioneers with which any country was ever blessed, and the prosperity of the great West is due to what those old Revolutionary soldiers did as pio- neers and as citizens.
Now, how has it been in late years? How has it been with the old veterans of the war of 1861 to 1865? They followed the ' example set by their fathers. They scattered, that war closed, through the great States west of the Mississippi River and east of the Pacific Coast. Among the pioneers who laid the foundations of those States. and who built up its civilization everywhere will be found the old soldiers of the Civil War. Go wherever you will. you find that those old soldiers have been our most faithful and our strongest citizens for the last thirty-five years. For this work during the days of peace I give them more credit than I do for their labor during the Civil War. Each task was a patriotic one. Each task has been performed by them in a patriotic way and with glory to our country.
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SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
5
COLONEL JAMES KILBOURNE.
COLONEL JAMES KILBOURNE'S ADDRESS.
I deem it a very good fortune which permits me to be present today, and I heartily thank the committee to whom I am indebted for the honor of an invitation.
Mingling together here are men of different political views. different religious views. Here we have men of all religious de- nominations, all political faiths, Republicans and Democrats, all gathered here together and all with the common purpose of honor- ing the memories of the fathers of this city. I say that such meet- ings as this are more far-reaching than was first thought of. A number of Ohio cities have already celebrated their centennial. This happens to be the first of this kind that I have attended, and it takes my thoughts back to the little village of Worthington, which was founded by my grandfather a little more than one hun- dred years ago. I can still see the little schoolhouse, the first that I ever attended. My friends. there is nothing that this generation can do better than to show honor to the memories of those who came out from their earlier homes and located here in what was
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then the wilderness. We must not go backward. We must not even be content with our present. They left their early homes and came out here to the wilderness and founded the great State of Ohio. We can not follow them in that. There are no more Ohios to be built. The day of the land pioneer in Ohio is practically -over, but pioneer work in the way of a better civilization can be done if we are true sons of our pioneer fathers.
In many ways our lives are better than our fathers' were. Our food is better, our clothing is better, our enjoyments are bet- ter, our children are wealthier, and life is more worth living now than then.
This is soldiers' day, and I wish to say a few words to my comrades, the old soldiers of the Civil War. Their numbers are growing rapidly smaller and the body of many is bent with the weight of years of service, but their hearts are as warm and love for their services as strong as when I took up arms for the preser- vation of the Union.
No one has a higher appreciation of their services than I. But when I think of old soldiers I naturally think of those who were with me. Comrades, our war is now past. Its great events have passed into history. A, new generation has come upon the stage. We risked our lives for our country.
Our country is united, and the slave market is a thing of the past. We can not change the nature of man. We must continue to fight so long as God gives us breath, for honor, justice and truth. This Government, united by the wisdom and valor of our fathers, shall be kept inviolate for all times a heritage of freedom.
General Keifer then called Governor Bushnell, who spoke as follows :
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SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
GOVERNOR ASA S. BUSHNELL.
GOVERNOR ASA S. BUSHNELL'S ADDRESS.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen :
I rejoice and congratulate you on this beautiful day and most auspicious occasion for the observance of "Soldiers' Day" at this. our Centennial Celebration-the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of this city.
The part that the citizens of this county have taken in all the wars in which the country has been engaged in the nineteenth century, is a splendid history-her people willingly and loyally responding to all calls for danger and duty, upholding liberty and the rights of men-as General Keifer has just said in his splendid address, for which we desire to thank and compliment him-he was very modest in the mention of his own service, but I want to say of him that he did as much, if not more, to bring distinction to this county as any of her soldiers, and there were many distin- guished officers and men among them. I am very happy to be here and take part with you in this day's exercises, not only be- cause we are celebrating a most important historical event-which it is eminently proper we should observe in honor and memory of the splendid old pioneers who first settled here-and as an educa- tion to the rising generation-but because we have with us distin- · guished citizens of another county; one of them, in fact, belongs to all the counties of the State, our Chief Executive, Governor
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Nash-the other a soldier of renown, Colonel Kilbourne, who would like to succeed Governor Nash in his high office ; and, per- mit me to say, our city is very highly honored today, probably more so than any city of the State will be for years to come, and the honor is not alone by reason of this magnificent audience of fair women and brave men, but from the fact we have with us the Governor, the ex-Governor and the next Governor. I con- gratulate you that we are thus favored, and I thank the Governor and Colonel Kilbourne for their presence, which has contributed so much to the interest and success of the occasion. I wish they could stay with us the remainder of the week ; we would endeavor to make it pleasant for them. Tomorrow ( Thursday ) is "Educa- tional Day," when all the colleges and schools of the city will take part in the exercises-papers will be read bearing on the present educational advantages of our city compared with those of the past, and many of the children of the public schools will be in at- tendance, making it in part a holiday for the children and a day- of instruction for all. Friday will be "Labor Day," in which not only all the members of the different labor organizations, but all the wage-earners of the city will take part. bringing their wives and children with them, and for none have we greater respect than for the working people of our community : they are the bone and sinew of our prosperity. Saturday will be "Woman's Day,"" and no celebration can be a success. without the countenance and co- operation of the women, and I take pleasure in saying the women have done much toward bringing this celebration to a successful issue, which is now assured, and are entitled to our sincere thanks -which are hereby tendered-for their support. To all these meetings, dear friends, you are invited. especially the "Woman's Day" meetings ; at those, papers on important subjects and of, rare interest will be read, and, fellow citizens. as many of you as can. we hope will attend each day.
I beg your pardon for having kept you so long. The hour of noon is at hand, and if I detain you further, I am sure you will say as one of General Keifer's soldiers did. He had been sick in the hospital for a number of weeks with fever; in the weakness of convalescence the surgeon found him crying, and. to comfort him, said: "My good man, you must not cry : you are getting bet-
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ter-you'll get well." "Oh!" said the soldier, "that's not what I am crying about ; I'm crying because I didn't eat more kraut at Camp Piqua." If I keep you longer, you may feel like crying because you did not eat more breakfast this morning, so I shall detain you but for a closing word.
The hours of this day have been altogether glorious, but the occasion will soon be passed. Neither we nor our children can; expect to behold its return. That time is in the distant regions of futurity, and it exists only in the all-creating power of God. Who shall stand here a hundred years hence to survey, as we have surveyed, the progress of their county-the lapse of a cen- tury? We would anticipate and partake the pleasure with which they will then recount the steps of their advancement. On the morning of that day, although it will not disturb us in our repose, the voice of acclamation and gratitude, commencing on the Rock of Plymouth, shall be transmitted through millions of the Sons of the Republic until it loses itself in the murmurs of the Pacific Seas.
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SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
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Masonic Home.
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SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
VII FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PRESS.
Thursday, the 8th, was devoted to the interests of fraternal organizations, fraternal homes, and the press. The paper con- cerning our fraternal organizations was not read, but will be found below.
Our city has three institutions sustained by the fraternal bodies of the State which have become a pride to all our people. They are the Masonic Home, Pythian Home, and Odd Fellows' Home, each occupying a commanding site. Their beautiful grounds, fine buildings, their excellent management, their kindly care for young and old, and the many bright and happy faces of the children who find a home in them, make them a joy to all who become acquainted with their object and their administration. During this day the children of these homes were present and gave a number of exhibitions in drill and calis- thenics which greatly delighted the large audiences that were in attendance.
Springfield has reason to feel proud of what she has done in the field of literature and the press. Books written by Springfield and Clark County authors, and published here, are numbered by the scores. Some of them are fof a high degree of excellence and are worthy of a careful reading. A collection of about fifty vol- umes was made by the Committee on the Press, and these volumes were placed on exhibition during centennial week.
In newspapers, Springfield has always had its full share. They have been devoted to politics, to agriculture, to temperance, and to religion, and have been great agencies in helping to fight the great civic and moral battles which are incident to the life and development of a growing and prosperous city. Their influence has not been confined to mere local bounds, but has gone out to the broader fields of human life and has been favorable to the best statesmanship, the best religious development, and to the highest type of everyday life. Our newspapers have, therefore, been use- ful, progressive, and helpful.
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Odd Fellows' Home,
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SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
P. M. CARTMELL.
DATA CONCERNING SECRET SOCIETIES.
BY MR. P. M. CARTMELL.
Insti- Member-
Name.
Number.
tuted.
ship.
American Mysteries
I
1849
34
Ancient Order Hibernians (five divi- sions )
1875
350
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
.
5I
1885
16I
Free and Accepted Masons-
Clark Lodge
IOI
1848
328
Anthony Lodge
455
1871
252
Springfield Chapter
48
1851
286
Springfield Council
17
1852
197
Palestine Commandery
33
1878
200
Masons (Colored)-
Champion Lodge
15
1865
75
Eureka Lodge
3
1895
65
Hiram Lodge
7
1897
40
Golden Star
I
1879
41
Mt. Olive Chapter
4
1871
40
Hiram Chapter
3
1809
40
St. James Council.
2
1896
25
Wilson Commandery
2
1874
24
Washington Temple
7
1899
14
Fraternal Mystic Circle.
3
1885
66
-
.
214
CENTENNIAL OF
Insti- Member- Number. tuted. ship.
Name.
Grand Army of the Republic-
Mitchell Post .
45
1881'
210
John Brown Post.
633
1887
3I
Woman's Relief Corps. .
315
1891
56
Improved Order Red Cross-
Olive Branch
5
1885 -
30
Independent Order Red Cross-
Elite Commandery
23
1897
56
Improved Order of Red Men-
Lagonda Tribe
61
1872
129
Ontario Tribe
96
I888
100
Pocahontas Council
25
1885
58
Euola Council
22
1892
49
Fried Commandery
8
I90I
36
Independent Order Foresters.
I435
1893
38
Independent Order Odd Fellows-
Springfield Lodge
33
1844
470
Ephraim Lodge
146
1850
280
Goethe Lodge
384
1867
183
Lone Star Lodge.
732
1884
165
Mad River Encampment.
I6
1865
105
Lagonda Encampment
280
1895
70
Springfield Encampment
264
1892
20
Canton Occidental
21
1891
42
Fidelia Lodge (Rebekah Degree)
12
1869
315.
Star of the East
339
1891
I20
Ivor Lodge
415
1895
125
Schiller Lodge
420
1895
95
Champion Binder. G. U. O. O. F
3027
1888
62
Solomon Temple. G. U. O. O. F.
1498
1872
100
Springfield Patriarchie, G.U.O.O.F.
24
1881
35
Household of Ruth.
I33
1879
5I
Household of Ruth.
628
1890
46
Good Samaritans
4
1865
IO5
Daughters of Jerusalem
I
1849
60
Junior Order U. A. M .-
Champion Council
2
1872
383
Buck Creek Council.
143
1891
100
Helping Hand Council
61
1900
180
Springfield Council
2.40
1892
339
Home City Council
27
1894
130
Violet Council
29
1894
97
Uniform Rank
3
1900
30
.
-
215
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
Insti- Member- ship.
Knights of Ancient Essenic.
22
tuted. 1896
75
Knights of the Golden Eagle-
Logan Castle
I
1887
I53
Lincoln Castle
9
1887
160
Champion Castle
26
1898
IO2
Springfield Commandery
2
1889
40
Logan Commandery
3
1889
75
Fidelity Temple
1 895
60
Honor Temple
24
1898
40
Valor Temple
25
1895
55
Knights of Fidelity
II
1900
96
Knights of Maccabees-
Springfield Tent
272
1894
89
Lagonda Tent
38I
1897
33
Ferncliff Hive
170
1896
IIO
Knights of Pythias-
Moncrieffe Lodge
33
1871
296
Red Star Lodge.
205
I886
300
Lessing Lodge
372
1889
96
Ingomar Lodge
610
1892
235
Knights of Pythias (Uniform Rank)-
Springfield Company
6
1878
62
Champion City Company
44
1884
73
Lessing Company
105
1800
25
Rathbone Sisters
II3
1897
77
Knights of Pythias (Colored)-
Diamond Lodge
30
1887
105
Mystery Lodge
45
1898
70
Star Division
4
1888
25
Court of C'alanthe.
5
1898
70
Court of Calanthe.
17
1898
55
Knights of Tabor ..
306
....
67
Daughters of Tabor
503
...
98
Kesher Shal Barzel ..
138
1875
15
Modern Woodmen-Commercial Camp. .
3347
1895
140
National Union --
Royal Council
81
1884
154
Crescent Council .
528.
1890
100
Patriotic Order Sons of America-
Washington Camp
I
1898
46
Protective Home Circle-
Iron Circle
258
1806
35
Springfield Circle
155
86
Wilhelm Circle
294
1897
51
1
1
Name.
Number.
216
CENTENNIAL OF
Insti- Member-
Name.
Number.
ship.
Royal Arcanum-Lagonda Council
15I
tuted. 1878
63
United Commercial Travelers-
Champion City Council.
23
1888
87
Sons of Veterans-
Z. Barney Phillips Camp
37
188.4
46
Sisters of Mysterious Ten.
23
1895
35
Tribe of Ben-Hur.
32
1898
210
Union Veterans' Union-
Stevens Command
16
1887
183
United Brothers Friendship.
IO
1895
105
Queen Esther's Court.
4
1882
62
Woman's Veteran Relief Union
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