USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > The centennial celebration of Springfield, Ohio, held August 4th to 10th, 1901 > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
32
1895
43
Total membership
II.3II
FRATERNAL HOMES.
Instituted .
Cost of Building ..
Residents
Acres
Cost Per Capita. .
Mem. Assessment
Masonic.
1895
$145,000
145
154
$146 17
$ .45
Knights of Pythias
1895
140,000 75,000
138
82
97 80
.40
Odd Fellows
1895
174
75
136 71
.40
.
1
:
217
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
35
Pythian Home.
218
CENTENNIAL OF
MR. CLIFTON M. NICHOLS.
THE PRINTING AND PUBLISHING INTERESTS OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, 1800-1900.
BY MR. CLIFTON M. NICHOLS.
It is quite safe to assert that, one hundred years ago, there was no fairer portion of America than that shown by the primeval forests, the graceful highlands, the rich and charming valleys, and the beautiful streams of the Mad River Valley in the territory now covered by the County of Clark, Ohio. No doubt the beauty of the landscape had its due influence on the scouts of an advancing civilization, but the chief attractions were of a mere physical char- acter : the game of the woods, the fish of the streams, and the fer- tility of the soil. Our ancestors of 1801 were pioneer home-seek- ers-vigorous, enterprising, intelligent and farseeing, and yet had not the slightest glimpse of the great empire, the foundations of which they, with others, in many portions of virgin territory, had commenced laying.
But, while neither prophets nor philosophers, they builded well, both for themselves and for posterity.
The log meeting-house and the log schoolhouse marked the outposts of the coming army in 1804 and 1806, and in 1817 Springfield had its first newspaper. It was called the Farmer, as were the larger number of little journals of that day, as their sup- porters were mostly of the agricultural class. So far as is known,
219
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
no copies of this paper have been preserved. Necessarily, it was small in dimensions and uncouth in appearance. It was not really a newspaper ; it was hardly a public journal. But it was quite up to the requirements of that day. Its appearance each week was gladly greeted. Its news from across the water and from remote portions of this country, if only six weeks old, was considered quite fresh. European kingdoms might tumble down and be re- constructed while the special advices were coming on the sailing vessels to our shores. The printer was the proprietor, publisher, editor, and, to a large extent, "devil."
The paper was a one-man power, and the Ben Franklin wooden press, worked by the editor, had the ink applied by balls by the office boy.
Now, in Springfield, we have our news in as many minutes as our journalistic forefathers had theirs in weeks. Indeed, we have our London reports of foreign events, nominally four hours ahead of their occurrence: that is to say, at two in the afternoon we have quite elaborate accounts of things that are not known in Lon- don and do not occur until six. This can be verified by referring to cable dispatches of the local paper any day in the year.
In 1820 the Farmer was edited by George Smith. Soon after- ward Henry Rogers took charge of the paper and changed the · name to the Farmers' Advocate, and in 1823. B. H. Rogers became owner, and the paper was known as the Western Pioneer, and in 1849 John M. Gallagher and J. B. Halsey changed the name of the paper to the Republic. The paper is now known as the Press- Republic, and traces its origin back to 1817.
The growth of journalism from 1817 to 1901 has corre- sponded with the growth of the town and the city. It was not many years before the newspaper became a political power. An infusion of party politics became perceptible before a news-service made its appearance. With politics came men, who used the press to promote their political principles, and they proved happily to be men of influence and power. One of these men was William 1. Rogers, who first appeared in 1829 and edited the Pioneer for a number of years. He became eminent not only as a journalist, but as a public man and a judge, and, had he lived, would have achieved the highest honors. Another, who lived at the same
1
220
CENTENNIAL OF
period, was John M. Gallagher. He was much in public life. Both gentlemen were known in politics, but they were pure men- without fear, without reproach. For ability and really statesman- like qualities it is doubtful if we have had their equals in journal- ism since.
They died long ago, and it will do no harm to tell the truth about them now. They were honored in their lives-they are hon-, ored still more now.
We might print a long list of eminent men who came after these gentlemen: Moses M. Henkle, Edward H. Cumming (a lawyer and clergyman as well as an editor), the Williamsons, Mr. Cushing, and the Halseys, Thomas Harrison, and, in later years, George H. Frey, the oldest man now living in Springfield who has been known in journalism. He has been a most eminent and use- ful factor in public affairs through a long series of years. In 1853 he published the first daily paper ever printed in Springfield, which existed for six months. It is proper to mention here the appearance of a little weekly paper called the Dollar Nonpareil, as that paper and the Republic were published simultaneously for a number of years and finally became one, under the name of the older paper.
In 1852, George W. Hastings, who came here from Cincin- nati, and James J. Green, both practical printers, commenced the publication of the Nonpareil. Clifton M. Nichols, also a practical printer from Cincinnati, soon succeeded Mr. Green, and in 1855 Mr. Hastings and his partner began the regular issue of the Daily Nonpareil, the first Springfield daily to maintain a permanent ex- istence.
It is necessary now to speak of the origin of a paper that be- came prominent at this time-the Democratic Expositor, as its ed- itor, William G. Boggs, was a contemporary with Mr. Frey and Mr. Nichols in discussing, through the press, the affairs of the town and nation. Mr. Frey and Mr. Nichols were Republicans, from the birth of the party in 1854. In 1839 the Mad River Dem- ocrat made its appearance. It afterward became the Union Democrat and then the Clark County Democrat. John M. West was the editor.
E. G. Dial came after Mr. West, and published The E.r-
J
221
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
positor of the Fourth Congressional District, afterward abbrevi- ated, by way of economizing time and space, to the Democratic Expositor, with William G. Boggs in charge. The paper passed through many changes and ownerships until it is now known as the Springfield Daily Democrat. Thomas D. Wallace is now the publisher and Harry E. Rice editor.
One more statement will give the origin of the Springfield Daily Gazette and bring it up to date, as one of the present "Big Four" factors in Springfield journalism. In 1873 T. E. Har- wood, a "graduate" of the Republic concern, started a small weekly which he called the Commercial Gazette. Ultimately an- other Republic man, Charles E. Folger, became the editor, and both gentlemen are in charge of the business and editorial departments of the Daily Gazette. The Gazette vindicated its right to be born and to exist, meeting a public need by showing itself to be a clean, interesting and strong evening paper.
Buried in the Republic concern lay the remains of the "late lamented" Evening Telegram, commenced in 1861 by Henry Clay Craft and subsequently edited by Hon. Jacob R. Dodge, who pub- lished at the same time the American Ruralist, a most able and excellent weekly magazine ; the Springfield Daily Times (pub- lished nearly a year by Wells S. Trader), and the Springfield Daily Advertiser. Afterward the Daily Globe, with the late Charles E. Winters as manager, made its appearance, and was a handsome, able and enterprising paper. After a few years the company bought the Republic, the paper becoming the Globe- Republic, and later Coates Kinney, C. M. Nichols and others, under the style of Kinney, Nichols & Co., bought the Globe- Republic, and the paper continued publication at the old Republic stand, the site of the Republic building being ultimately occupied by the present magnificent Bushnell Building-the Gov- ernor having had a brief experience in journalism. During his administration C. M. Nichols and Hon. John F. McGrew were at the helm.
One more change gave to us the Press-Republic. Mr. Arthur D. Hosterman bought the Champion City Times, a vigorous daily, and the Republic, and united them. The paper is now with us, demonstrating its strong qualities daily.
222
CENTENNIAL OF
The Sun is now in its seventh year. It is a morning daily. It was organized and is now published by printers and journalists, and has been under the same management throughout the period of its existence. This shows the extraordinary pluck, persistence and enterprise of its editors and managers, which qualities have given to the concern a degree of success that is really wonderful. Enos Conard is the publisher and Harvey L. Miller the editor.
C. M. Nichols was retained as editor of the Republic for a year after the consolidation with the Times and resigned to be- come the secretary of the Springfield Board of Trade, of which institution he was one of the founders, twelve years ago. He had an unbroken career of thirty-five years of service as editor and part proprietor of the Daily Republic. The Press-Republic, with its splendid building, one of the finest newspaper plants in Ohio, is owned by Ed. S. Kelly. James A. Linn is the publisher and Walter R. Linn the editor.
The Advertiser, already mentioned, was edited, ably, by Oscar T. Martin, Esq., now a most prominent and honored member of the Clark County bar.
The German press has been most creditably represented by the Journal-Adler, founded and conducted for many years, by Louis Weixelbaum, with signal abilty.
The history of newspapers, previous to the Civil War, during the period of discussion of the problems involved in the attempted extension of the institution of slavery over territory then free, the gigantic struggle of the Civil War, in which the problem was fought out, in the greatest conflict the world has ever seen-in principles involved, in the number of men arrayed against each other, and in the hundreds of thousands who fell on the field and died in hospitals, and afterward in the reconstruction times-the history of the newspaper during these periods was co-extensive with the history of the country and need not be discussed in this paper. The time was one that severely tried the souls of men and women ; but resulted, ultimately, in extinguishing sectional hatred and in giving us at last a united country, and in introducing a period of growth and prosperity so great and grand as to ex- ceed anything known or even dreamed of in the history of any nation. The newspapers and the intelligent and patriotic citizens
41
223
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
«of Springfield and Clark County stood solidly at the front, in sup- port of the soldiers in the field and in the expression of public · opinion at home, in promoting and establishing a free and popular Government-the freest and grandest of any on earth. This has · been often said, but it is just the proper time to say it again.
At least a brief and honorable mention should be made of our local religious press. The Gospel Herald, edited and published by the late Rev. James Williamson, and The Methodist Recorder, edited successively by Revs. Dr. George Brown and Alexander Clark, and Rev. Ancel H. Bassett, were published here many years ; and The Evangelical Lutheran, edited by the late Rev. Victor L. Conrad, was a strong paper, printed here for quite a long period. D. T. West published the Sunday News for a num- ber of years. He was an able and vigorous writer. I regret that I have not space for further detail. A large volume could be printed if a full history were given of all the persons eminently worthy of a prominent place in this record.
The contrast between the newspaper at the beginning of the nineteenth century and today's issues at the opening of the twen- tieth shows a marvelous advance and growth. The little folio of 1817 or 1820, placed by the side of our great Springfield news- papers of today, with type set by machinery, with immense per- fecting presses, and giving to our citizens, in Associated Press dispatches, the news simultaneously with New York, Chicago and Cincinnati papers, presents a wonderful picture of intellectual progress and achievement.
But the printing and publishing interests of the city in the production of periodicals and books, have shown a development quite as marvelous as that shown by newspapers. On Octo- ber 1, 1877, was first printed a semi-monthly . journal called the Farm and Fireside, by Mast, Crowell & Kirk- patrick, the same journal being now published by J. S. Crowell, T. J. Kirkpatrick, and others. In 1885 these two gentlemen commenced the publication of an illustrated monthly periodical now known as the Woman's Home Companion. which periodical has met with an extraordinary degree of success. The Crowell & Kirkpatrick Company has now one of the finest, most extensive and best equipped printing and publishing con-
-
1
224
CENTENNIAL OF
cerns in the United States, in a handsome four-story building of its own-with every appliance known for the execution of the several processes required in producing artistic printing and illus- trating. Of all the manufacturing concerns in Springfield, no one has exerted a higher educational and more refining influence than this company. And in addition to its periodicals, of which more than a million copies a month are regularly produced, the company has printed and published hundreds of thousands of useful pam- phlets and books.
On January 1, 1875, was commenced the publication of the weekly now known as the National New Era, which has acquired a very large circulation, and with the paper has grown up a large printing business, with a large and fine plant of its own. R. H. Thompson is the editor and publisher.
The publication of the Farm Newes was commenced here in 1890, and the Farm and Garden was established subsequently. The two have had an immense development, and are now pub- lished by J. N. Garver and have a combined circulation (monthly) of nearly 175,000 copies. A. D. Hosterman-for years connected with the Republic-was for several years jointly interested with Mr. Garver in the publication of these journals. Mr. Garver has his own printing concern.
The successful work of the Farm and Fireside and Home Companion, and the circulation of these periodicals throughout the United States, may be said to have created a literary atmos- phere in this city favorable to the production of publications of this sort, and Home and Flowers made its first appearance in 1897 and attained a circulation in 1901 of 125,000 copies. Its manager is D. J. Thomas, and his degree of success in building up so great a business in so short a time is nothing less than amazing. The Floral Publishing Company, of which he is the head, also issues Pets and Animals and the Home Florist, each of which has attained a large circulation.
Our group of printing and publishing houses is one of the most creditable features known in our city, and exerts a most wholesome educating influence on the community. The Barrett Publishing Company is one of these, with a fine building of its own, provided with fine machinery for printing and binding.
1
225
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
E. L. Barrett is one of the founders, and is at the head of this concern1.
One of the finest and best equipped printing and lithograph- ing concerns in the country is the Winters Company, of this city. Its splendid success in executing the illustrated work of the Co- lumbian Exposition in 1893 made it famous throughout the civil- ized world. The best and most illustrious artists in America were' employed, and their work and that of the company has not been excelled to this day. The company has a plant of its own, and hardly has its equal, for the taste and beauty of its work, in any country.
Any intelligent person who would investigate, if it were pos- sible to do so successfully, the extent to which the millions of issues each month of our periodicals reach the people of various classes throughout the land would be astonished as well as im- mensely pleased with the result of his work. No city in the world, of the size of Springfield. can show so good and creditable a rec- ord as she. Her printed sheets correspond, in excellence and en- terprise, with the machinery from her workshops that is found in all civilized countries. No higher praise can be given than this.
A large number of gentlemen may be named as having taken large part in journalism in addition to those already mentioned. Among them Captain D. C. Ballentine (now of Washington, D. C.), Byron O. Elifritz, Charles E. Winters (now dead), Captain B. H. Winters and Robert P. Winters, Charles S. Kay, Quincy A. Petts, R. B. Stevenson (now of Cincinnati), Isaiah Thomas (lost at sea many years ago), Hon. William T. Coggshall ( United States Minister to Ecuador, of much fame as an author), Frank J. Webb, Ben Kurtz of Baltimore, Major Frank S. Rice of Cali- fornia, and quite a number of others. W. T. Stillwell was editor of the Champion City Times previous to its consolidation with the Republic. Hon James H. Rabbitts, now postmaster, was editor of the Republic for several years. And there are others whose names might properly appear on this scroll of worthies, who have, as a class, done inestimable service in building up the best interests of our city during the last hundred years.
.
226
CENTENNIAL OF
During the same day an adjourned meeting of the old pio- neers was held. There was so much to be said on the part of those who had passed their three score and ten to more than four score years, that would be entertaining to those of younger years. that more time was given for the old pioneers to be heard, and many of them gladly embraced the privilege offered. Judge F. M. Hagan opened the meeting, speaking on the pioneers of Clark County.
Mr. Henry Croft, who is 81 years old and has lived all his life in Clark County, told how he helped to run the first thresh- ing machine used in Ohio, in 1828. In those days all the clothing was made by the mother, with the exception of the hats, which were made in Springfield by hatters. Singing schools were the chief form of amusement in those days. During the long winter months they sang every night, and, according to Mr. Croft, "there never has been such good singing since." To get to Springfield it was necessary to follow the river to the hill west of the city, where a cut had been made through the rocks just wide enough to let one wagon pass through. It was always necessary to go ahead to see whether a wagon was coming, before an at- tempt was made to drive on.
Rev. Benjamin Seever, Mr. W. A. Barnett, Mr. Elder Stew- art, Mr. James Anderson and Mrs. M. C. Wilkerson related many things that were of much interest to those present.
227
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
-
VIII LABOR ORGANIZATIONS AND AGRICULTURE
.
Friday, the 9th, was devoted to the consideration of Labor and Labor Organizations, and to Early Agriculture in Clark County. These interests are of prime importance to our welfare. Clark County is made up of fertile soil, there being but few acres of untillable land within its borders. It is watered by three im- portant streams, with their tributaries. Many places which, two generations ago, were marshes and swamps, are now drained and are among the best lands of the county. Here the farmer early flourished because he was able to reap and gather more products from his farm than were necessary for the wants of himself and family. He was not only ready to trade, but with his excess of supplies he was enabled to purchase for himself those articles that would best help him in the work of further production. Our county became a good field in which to sell the best machinery.
This in turn stimulated the demand for labor. Farm imple- ments must be built, and to accomplish this, laborers must be gathered together and organized. Hence our great factories which have made Springfield famous throughout the world, had their rise more than a half-century ago through need of labor to supply the wants near at home. Labor in Springfield has had a remarkable history. Though there have been thousands of work- men in the past, and their numbers legion today, there have been but few minor disturbances growing out of differences between the employer and the employed, and those that did occur were soon settled. Our laborers have usually been intelligent, inde- pendent, and progressive. Many of them have secured a competence, and thousands of them have acquired for them- selves homes. Mr. R. C. Holman, who is one of the best farm- ers in the county, was chairman of the day.
228
CENTENNIAL OF
MR. JULIUS C. WILLIAMS.
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE AGRICUL- TURAL INTERESTS OF CLARK COUNTY.
BY MR. JULIUS C. WILLIAMS.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century the proud City of Springfield was not known. The agricultural interests of our county were, indeed, in a very primitive condition. The wants of. our pioneer fathers were few that could not be supplied by the rifle, as the forest at that time teemed with wild game of every kind, from the squirrel to the buffalo. The pioneers, as a rule, were expert huntsmen. The little log cabin afforded ample shel- ter from the inclemency of the weather.
Their implements of husbandry were few and rude, the axe, shovel, and plow being the essential tools in the early improve- ment of this county. The development of the agricultural inter- ests of the county forms a history equally as interesting as the founding of the city that we today celebrate. It was the develop- ment of the agricultural facilities of the county that gave the in- spiration to the fertile brains of our inventors and manufac- turers.
The first cultivated lands found within the limits of this county were those vacated by the Shawnees, when they were
229
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.
driven out by General Clark and his army in 1780. The Dayton, Springfield & Urbana electric road passes through these lands. The present owners of said lands are Leander Baker, C. B. Crane, C. M. Minnick and brother, J. B. Crane, Dr. Marquart, Robert Lowry, and others. Then, as now, the principle products were corn, wheat, and flax. Those pioneers were progressive men, possessed with considerable will power, being determined to win for themselves and families homes of comfort in the wilder- ness, surrounded as they were with wild beasts and savage men. Many unfavorable conditions well calculated to deter and dis- courage, were met with, but, undismayed, they labored on, know- ing full well that victory comes only through trial.
The wooden mold-board plow, such as you can see today in the rooms of your Historical Society, was an important factor in the development of the early agricultural interests of the county. A brush harrow was used in the preparation for the seed bed, and also for the covering of the seed, the seed being scattered broad- cast over the ground. At harvest, the reaping hook was used in securing the golden grain. Like Naomi and Ruth, our pioneer mothers were gleaners in the field. As a rule, after attending to their household duties, they invariably shared in the labor of sav- ing the crops. Never in the history of our race was there a more devoted, heroic, self-sacrificing class of women than were the pioneer mothers who first settled in this county, and your history will be incomplete unless a large space is devoted to their mem- ory. It was their unwavering fidelity that made it possible for the splendid civilization that marks our history today. After the harvest was secured, the grain was threshed out by beating with a rude instrument called a flail, one of which ought to find a place in the collection of the Historical Society. The grain was sepa- rated from the chaff by using a linen sheet, made by the mothers from the flax that grew upon the farm. The flax brake, the spin- ning wheel, and weaver's loom were all necessary implements in the make-up of the farmer's outfit, and were valuable step- ping-stones in the progress of our civilization, and in the de- velopment of the agricultural interests of this great country. These rude instruments of husbandry answered the purpose of our pioneer fathers as well, perhaps, as does our improved. up-to-date machinery of today answer our purpose.
.
-
230
CENTENNIAL OF
The total number of acres under cultivation in the entire county, at the date of the building of the first cabin on the site of Springfield, did not exceed 500, and the total product was less than three thousand bushels. And from this humble begin- ning, up to the present day, the agriculture of Clark County has kept in touch with every other legitimate industry of the county or city. Nowhere in the State of Ohio can be found a more pros- perous or a more intelligent husbandry than is found within our borders. From the wooden mold-board plow we have passed to the use of the splendid steel gang plow. So when we stir the soil we ride on springs, and under cover. From the reaping hook we have passed the grain cradle, the back-breaking reaper, the self-rake, and now ride in the shade while harvesting our grain upon the far-famed Champion self-binder, manufactured here in your city. From the simple flail and tramping floors used by our fathers for threshing grain, with the shaking fork and hand rake, we have passed through all the evolutions in that line up to the present, and rejoice in the use of the steam separator and blower manufactured by the O. S. Kelly Company.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.