USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 1 > Part 56
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There are also several other paintings in the above collection- one by Hugo Kauffman, "The Return of the Veteran," with both head and arm in sling. The picture is small, and painted on a panel.
Also, a good copy of A. Amberg's "Lovers by the Lake," by Uhl; the orig- inal is in possession of B. H. Warder, Esq.
Mr. Bushnell anticipates adding to his collection of paintings at intervals, as new pictures come before him and please his fancy.
Localizing art to Southwestern Ohio, and more directly to Clark County, Ohio, and to Springfield as the radiating point, we find that among the earlier expo- nents of art were the portrait painters Sweet, Brannan, Roberts, Craft, John Frankenstein. C. T. Webber; and among the painters of landscape, etc., were Godfrey Frankenstein, Miss Mary Spencer, Miss Eliza Frankenstein.
Among the former, Sweet died very young. in 1843. at the Exchange Hotel, leaving a number of unfinished commission's in portraiture, among them the por- traits of the then proprietors of the hostelry, Mr. Jason P. Phillips and wife. His very earliest efforts indicated that he was very talented.
Brannan's ability was not to be questioned. In his portraits, he gave evi- dence of great ability; strong, graceful, realistic, his productions were masterly. A few examples of his skill in portraiture yet remain in the city to attest his merits.
John Frankenstein was a great painter. In portraiture, he was very mas- terly -- a modern Michael Angelo. There are very few, if any, of his works to be seen in the city at this time. He was a very peculiar man, and. during the last years of life, lived secluded in New York City. On the 16th day of April. 1881, he was found dead in his room in that city, surrounded with many works of his art from his own easel.
FRANKENSTEIN FAMILY.
In 1831. John A. Frankenstein and Anna C. Frankenstein. the parents of John. Godfrey N .. Marie M. C., George L., Gustavus and Eliza, emigrated from Germany to America. They were shipwrecked on the coast of Virginia. but were more fortunate than some others in saving all of their valuables. An exceedingly kind and wealthy family gave the parents and children shelter dur- ing their trials, until they were able to resume their journey Westward. Some time during the year, they arrived at Cincinnati, Ohio, their future home. John A. Frankenstein was a teacher and professor of languages, also a thorough musician, and who possessed a voice of exceeding sweetness. In those days, at Cincinnati, teaching was not remunerative, and few cared to learn either Ger
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man, French or Latin, and so on, so Mr. Frankenstein turned his attention to cabinet-making. He invented many beautiful designs. Anna C. Frankenstein. the mother, was a woman of great personal beauty, superior intellect and most lovely Christian virtues. John, the oldest child, at the age of fifteen, painted portraits, the coloring of which is pronounced by competent judges to be unsur- passed. He also became celebrated as an historical painter and sculptor. The pictures. "Christ Mocked in the Prætorium," "Isaiah and the Infant Saviour." and others, are works of great power and beauty. The busts of Judge McLean. Dr. R. D. Mussey, " The Dawn of Life," place him in the front rank of sculp- tors. Godfrey N. Frankenstein, the second son, was born September S, 1820. The passion for drawing developed itself in young Godfrey at a very early age. Some of his boyish expedients in reference to artists' materials were amusing. It is related of him that. when quite a little boy. upon an occasion of hog slaughtering, he got a quantity of blood with which to color some of his draw- ings. The butcher. discovering what he was about, kindly informed him that coffee made very good yellow. The littie artist coaxed his mother to make some for him, and in a short time he had painted a whole village, church and all, using coffee for the straw-colored houses, the blood for the red tiles of the roofs of the dwellings, and diluted ink for the slate-colored roof of the church. Dur ing the year 1532, at the age of twelve, he worked a few months with a sign- painter. At the age of thirteen. he carried on the business of sign-painting on his own account. Persons wishing work done, and asking for the proprietor of the establishment. were, as we may well suppose, considerably astonished when the boyish Frankenstein presented himself in that character. He often related. with great pleasure and amusement. the munber of incidents that happened to him in those youthful days. He sometimes found some difficulty in convincing persons who came to the paint-room that he was the proprietor. At one time. a man came and wanted a sign painted. "My lad. where is the boss? I want a sign painted right away." "He stands before you." " Now, my lad, don't fool me. I'm in a hurry: tell me quickly, where's the boss?" "He stands before you." "Well. now, you have too honest a face not to tell the truth." Young Godfrey asked him to be seated and watch him make some let- ters. Accordingly, while he was getting ready to letter, the man jumped up and said: "Here's your order. I see by your maneuvers that you can paint a sign. and I'll bet, if you live long enough, you'll do some wonderful things." He won a great reputation for the beauty of his lettering. then a mere bov. He was accustomed. at this time. to go out early in the morning, among the hills near the city. to draw from nature. returning before business hours. He now also practiced painting heads. and met with great success. He soon became so absorbed in painting pictures that he began to neglect his sign-painting. and it was obvious to him that he must abandon either the one or the other. After much reflection and deliberation, and a consultation with his parents, who left the matter entirely to him. he decided to give up his business, though it bade fair to be very lucrative. and devote hin self entirely to art. In June. 1539. he opened his studio in Cincinnati, and made quite a brilliant debut. His health. however, soon became seriously affected by the extreme dampness of his room. and he did not fully recover for several years. During the years of 1839. IS40 and 1541, he made sketches in the vicinity of Cincinnati, chiefly on Mill Creek. then and for several years after a beautiful stream: on Bank Lick. Kentucky: on the Little Miami, near Clifton, Ohio; about Yellow Springs, Ohio: in the vicinity of Madison. Ind. : and many other places. On the death of his father. which occurred in 1542. his elder brother being absent. he became' " head of the family," which position he held until death. In June. 1544. he visited Niagara Falls for the first time. He was so charmed with their grandeur and beauty
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that he spent the greater part of the time between 1844 and 1866 depicting them on canvas in all seasons of the year, by day and by night, from every con- ceivable point. All these scenes he portrayed on canvas with a fidelity and del- icacy of touch which have never been equaled or surpassed by any artist, living or dead. He was the first to call attention to the great beauty of Niagara Falls, and the first to make it apparent. He also, between the years 1844 and 1851. painted a large number of pictures, and visited various sections of the country in the pursuit of his art. Among his pictures at this period were portraits of William Cullen Bryant, Hon. Albert Lawrence, and the White Mountain scenes. the Lawrence homestead, Groton. Mass .. the Adams residence, Quincy, Mass .. the birth-place of John Adams and John Q. Adams, Braintree, Mass., and many other places of interest. William S. Sampson, Esq., of Cincinnati, purchased the artist's first landscapes-one above Cincinnati, on the Ohio River; the other below Cincinnati, on the Ohio. He manifested great interest in him, and proved a most invaluable friend to him until death. The late Dr. John Lock. a scientist, took a very great interest in Frankenstein's paintings, and, during the artist's youth, did everything in his power to encourage the growth of his genius. John D. Park, of Cincinnati, has a gallery of the Frankenstein paint- ings. His judgment in nature's beauties is keen and correct. We could enumerate many others, but space forbids; and we ought not to omit mentioning the friendship existing between John L. Whetstone, of Cincinnati, and the artist, from boyhood until death. that was as beautiful as it was rare. In 1849, he removed with his mother and sister to Springfield, Ohio. Between the years of 1851 and 1861, when not at Niagara, he painted some lovely scenes on the Lagonda Creek, Mad River-all in the vicinity of Springfield, Ohio. The quiet beauty of some of these views is matchless. In 1849, he conceived the idea of painting a panorama of Niagara, one of the principal motives being to bring the great wonder of the world before all people, to induce many who might not otherwise do so to make a journey to the great original: to present those who could not do this as faithful a representation as could be given, and to renew the pleasure of those who had made the pilgrimage. How fully he has succeeded is attested by the spontaneous and enthusiastic language of the press throughout the country, and of the thousands from all parts of the globe who have seen the work. In 1867, he visited Europe, sojourning awhile in England, painting some English scenes, and spent a season. in company with his younger brother, Gustavus Frankenstein, among the Alps. On their return to London, it - was acknowledged that Mont Blanc and Chamouni Valley had never before been painted with such power and beauty. After an absence of two years, he returned to America in April, 1869, and in the following autumn he went to one of his cherished streams. Little Miami River, near Foster's Crossings, twenty-two miles above Cincinnati, and painted Gov. Morrow's old mill, two views of it-one looking up the stream. the other down the stream. The loveliness of these two scenes is indescribable. The following season, 1870, finds him again in the same vicinity, fairly throwing the sunshine on the canvas. In the month of January, 1871, the artist met with a severe loss in the death of his mother. from the effects of which he never fully recovered.
In the autumn of the same year, he went to the White Mountains, accom- panied by his sister Eliza, where they both painted from nature. In November. 1872, the artist painted his last scene from nature -Mad River, Fern Cliffs. three miles from Springfield. Ohio. He contracted a cold, which culminated in a very brief, severe illness in the following February, lasting ten days, and, on the morning of February 24, 1873, he breathed his last. His industry was wonderful, and he possessed one of the largest collections of landscape paintings in the world, never having parted with any of his original pictures, but one.
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He was a great and good man. He had the strictest regard for truth and right, in whatever he said or did. His word and his honor as a man he valued above all price. He died in the prime of life, and, as a Louisville writer well said: "He applied all his energies to the duties of his profession with the devotion of an enthusiast. He had a great range of knowledge, and a wonderful percep- tion of the qualities and relations of things. His learning was both thorough. and profound. He was a philosopher, a reasoner and an observer. A laborious student, not wedded to any dogmas; was constant, methodical and unremitting in the performance of his duties. He was none the less distinguished for his exemplary conduct in all the relations of private life. The beautiful and child- like simplicity of his character, the unobtrusive modesty of his manners, and the refinement and purity of his principles, won for him love, honor, obedience. and troops of friends."
Marie M. C. Frankenstein, a sister, equally gifted with pencil and brush, and a rare talent for modeling, has also received the highest testimonials for having been a most successful teacher in the primary department of the public schools in Cincinnati. Ohio.
George L. Frankenstein has command of pencil and brush, and wields the pen with equal force and grace.
Gustavus Frankenstein very early evinced his talent for drawing and paint- ing, and has become a great mathematician, writer and scientist, the author of the Magic Reciprocals, whose exquisite beauty has called forth the highest praise.
Eliza Frankenstein, the youngest of the family, often accompanied her brother Godfrey in his sketching tours. It afforded him exceedingly great pleasure to have her paint, and he often said the most peaceful and happiest moments of his life were those when he and she together went to paint from nature. Still busy with her brush. she continues her favorite studies in botany and music.
S. JEROME UHL.
S. Jerome Uhl is an artist who has made rapid progress toward fame by the force of merit alone. He has been a citizen of Springfield since 1868, during which time he has risen to a high rank in his profession. His portraits have been universally admired for the absolute faithfulness to the originals, the deli- eacy of touch and realistic appearance of features. MIr. Uhl mixes his paints with the same important ingredient which Sir Joshua Reynolds said was essen- tial to success-to wit, brains. Among the prominent works of this artist. chiefly portraits, we have observed that of Gen. Lytle, Cincinnati; Mrs. John Campbell, Ironton: Mrs. Dr. Vincent, Plainfield, N. J .; Asa Bushnell; Maj. Luther Brown, deceased; Mrs. Whitely, mother of William N. Whitely; Mrs. Amos Whitely, Mrs Mary Cowling. Oliver S. Kelly. Several gems in land- scapes have been produced from his studio. . They were painted for Ross Mitch- ell, and are seenes about Lagonda. Mr. Uhl will leave during the present sum- mer for Europe, where he proposes to spend about two years in study. He will take with him commissions from a number of our citizens for paintings from his hand.
PRESENT PROSPECTS.
We have now seen the little launlet in the woods develop from the lonely cabin on the hillside and the small cluster of log huts on the slope, through all the processes of municipal growth, until it has attained the position of the thing manufacturing city in the State. In all its stages, its course has been steadily onward in its symmetrical development. It is now in the heyday of its strength and enterprise, peopled by a class of citizens who demand obedience to law and order, who have a conscientious respect for religion, and a thorough appreciation of education and the fine arts. These elements of success in the
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past are prophetic of still greater achievements in the future. It has not yet reached its maximum stature. Its possibilities have not yet been measured. Its manufacturing establishments have been crowded out of the center of the city, and are stretching along its suburbs east and west, contiguous to the railroad tracks which intersect the city in many directions. It is on the eve of impor- tant enterprises, public and private, which will add to its wealth and impor- tance. The establishment of water-works is in the immediate future. This has been a subject of discussion for the last ten years, but no practical steps had been taken until the present year. 1SS1. The necessary legislation has been obtained. Anthority to issue the bonds of the city to the amount of $400,000 has been granted. A Board of Water Works Trustees, consisting of George H. Frey, John H. Thomas and Oliver S. Kelly has been elected, contracts for the work have been made, and this much-needed improvement will be added to the city. The water will be obtained above Lagonda, will be filtered in galleries. and brought fresh and pure into the houses of the citizens, in sufficient quan- tity and at moderate cost.
The Grand Opera House, a beautiful building, will be finished by the 1st day of October. 1SS1. It is being erected by John W. Bookwalter, a citizen of wealth, on the site of the former shops of James Leffel & Co., which have been removed to the vicinity of Lagonda. It has all the modern improvements, stage accessories, exits. etc., a seating capacity of 1,200, and will be finished in the highest style of the decorative art. It will be the pride of the city.
The railroad enterprise which has engaged the latest attention of our citi- ens is the proposed extension east of the Indianapolis. Bloomington & Western wailroad from Indianapolis to Springfield, connecting with lines east and north This will place the city on the great highway of trade and travel between the East and West. The company has asked a donation from the citizens in the stum of $100,000, and will then extend the road through New Carlisle to Spring- field, opening an entirely new territory, which will be greatly to the advantage of the city. There is also in contemplation the construction of a standard gauge road from Springfield north through Piqua and Sidney, which, if completed. would open a way to the Northwest. This road is called the Springfield, St. Paris & Sidney road.
In concluding this part of this history, the writer desires to return his acknowledgment for the assistance which has been afforded him by the labors of those who have traversed this field before him, and without whose sketches and historical reminiscences this work would have been impossible. Robert C. Woodward, the efficient Librarian of the Public Library, is the local historian who has been assiduons in collecting and preserving many matters connected with the early settlement of Springfield. These were published in a small book in 1852, under the title of "Sketches of the City of Springfield." Great free- dom has been taken with these sketches, and they have been embodied herein so far as applicable. Dr. Jolm Ludlow, who is a connecting link between past and present Springfield. some years ago read before the Clark County Historical Society a series of valuable papers on the early settlers of Springfield, which were partly based upon the sketches of Mr. Woodward, and partly upon his owu recollections. The valuable historical statements which were made in those papers, subject to such corrections as were necessary. have been incorporated in these pages, and to these gentlemen full credit should be given. The memories of the older citizens, the newspapers of the day; old rusty records and forgotten archives, have been fruitful sources of information. In what has been written there will no doubt appear many errors. but these will be pardonable, as the entire work was performed. of necessity, in a few weeks, and amid the hurried rush and continued interruptions of a professional life.
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This closes the history of the city proper. Its educational, religious and industrial interests are histories in themselves, and may be found in the succeeding pages. The various departments of the city, and its more important elements, such as its press, railroads, telegraph, public library. art, etc .. etc., are given in detail in the pages which follow. The aim has been to present Springfield as it was, and as it is. If we have but barely outlined it in the foregoing and in the succeeding pages, we shall be satisfied.
CHURCHES
In consequence of the loss of the old records of Mad River and Springfield Circuits, it had been somewhat difficult to find correct data upon which to make a complete record of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, which is the parent church in the city of Springfield, from the beginning of Methodism in this city to the present time: but with the aid of the conference minutes and by diligent inquiries made of pioneer Methodists and others, we are able to present the following as being substantially a correct account of early and later church matters as pertaining to this charge.
The first account of Methodism in Springfield which we have is the estab- lishment of Miami and Mad River Circuits, in the bounds of which Springfield was included in the year 1805, which was about four years after the village was laid out by James Demint. A large scope of country was included in the limits of that circuit, which had in that year, a membership of 734 communicants. The Mad River Circuit was set off' and established as a separate circuit from the Miami Circuit, with the Rev. John Thompson in charge. In 1807, Revs. Adjet Mc- Guire and Isaac Quinn were preachers upon Mad River Circuit; in 1808, RAVs. T. Milligan, J. Davison and W. Mitchell; in 1809, Revs. Hezekiah Shaw, Will- iam Young and Saul Henkle; in 1810, Revs. Saul Henkle and Hector San- ford; in 1811, Rev. John Clingan; in 1812, with probable additional territory, it was styled Mad River and Xenia Circuit, with the Revs. John Collins and Moses Crume as preachers: in 1813, the name was again changed and finally established as Mad River Circuit, with the Rev. Joseph Tateman as preacher, and a membership of 1,200; in 1814, the preacher in charge was Rev. Joseph Oglesby; in 1815, the Rev. Abbott Goddard; in 1816, Revs. Moses Crime and Henry B. Bascom; in 1817, Revs. Walter Griffith and William Williams: in 1818, Revs. John Sale and John Strange; in 1819, Rev. John Strange: in 1520, Revs. Russell Biglow and Robert W. Finley; in 1821. Revs. Robert W. Finley and A. Mclean; in 1822, Revs. Thomas S. Hitt and George M. Maley; in 1823, Rovs. James Collerd and John T. Taylor. The membership reported this year was 1,209. In 1824, Revs. William Lamdin and John P. Taylor: in 1525, Revs. James T. Wells and George Gateh; in 1826 and 1827, Revs. Augustus Eddy and Levi White: in 1828 and 1829, Revs. Burroughs Westlake and Alfred M. Lorain: in 1830, Revs. Levi White and Elias Patler; in 1831. Revs. William H. Raper, James T. Donahoe and Joab W. Reagan; in 1832, Ress. William Raper, Richard Brindriff and Joseph Hill. In 15:3, William Raper being the Presiding Elder of Lebanon District, of which Mad River Circuit was a part, a new circuit was formed, of which the charge at Springfield formed a portion, which was styled Springfield Circuit, with the following preachers in charge: Joshua Boucher, J. P. Taylor and A. Sellers as supernumerary. The circuit at the close of this conference year had a membership of 950. It was during this year that the church.was built, if not wholly completed, at the south - past corner of Columbia and Market streets. It was a large brick editice, two stories in height, with a gallery, supported by large circular wooden pillars, running across the end opposite the pulpit, and along the two sides, affording ample accommodations for the largest congregations collected at Springfield at
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that day, and. on account of its size, the church was often used for gatherings not strictly religious in their character. Back of the pulpit was a large circular recess reaching nearly to the ceiling of the main structure, and arched over so as to form a sort of half-dome. This was removed some years afterward on account of the echo which it created. The church had no belfry, and for a number of years the people were accustomed to assemble, as did the other con- gregations of the town, at the ringing of the court house bell, which was rung at the same hours on the Sabbath for the service of all the churches. A belfry was, however, erected shortly afterward, and a bell placed therein, which is the same bell now used at the Central Church. In 1834, Revs. J. Boucher, Gran- ville Moody and A. Sellers, as a supernumerary. were in charge of Springfield Circuit. In 1535, Urbana District of the Ohio Conference was organized under William H. Raper, as Presiding Elder, with Springfield Circuit in its bounds. under the charge of Reys. William A. Barrett and John Alexander and A. Sel- lers, supernumerary. In 1835-36. Revs. Michael Marley and E. B. Chase; in 1836. Revs. Michael Marley and Joseph Gasner. were appointed to Springfield Circuit; in 1837, Revs. Mifflin Harker and James L. Grover; in 1838, Revs. Mifflin Harker and Solomon Howard; during the last three years, Rev. Robert O. Spencer succeeded W. H. Raper as Presiding Elder of the Urbana District: in 1839, Revs. William Young and Samuel Clarke were preachers, and Rev. Zachariah Connell commenced a four years' term as Presiding Elder: in 1840, only seven years from the organization of Springfield Circuit, the charge at Springfield was constituted a station, with the Rev. William Young as its Pas- tor, and had at the close of this conference year a membership of 330; in 1841, Rev. Solomon Howard was Pastor; in 1842 and 1843, Rev. John W. Weakly; at the close of this conference year there was reported a membership of 375; in 1844. Rev. William Herr was Pastor; in 1845, Rev. Uriah Heath: in 1846. Rev. Randolph S. Foster; during the past four years Rev. William Simmons was Presiding Elder: in 1547, Rev. Randolph S. Foster; Rev. James L. Gro- ver, Presiding Elder: in 1848. Rev. Charles Elliott.
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