The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2, Part 30

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1410

USA > Ohio > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2 > Part 30

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A Mr. Rains erected an oil factory where Dr. Quinn now lives, and was quite successful for awhile in his enterprise. Silas Woodmansee and George W. Matthews opened the second store in the village, but fortune was against them, and they soon closed.

A. S. Amberg, the present Mayor of the village, and a Mr. Guiteman opened the third store. This store, under the direction of Mr. Amberg, con- tinued many years, but finally adversity overtook it, and it was closed five or six years ago.

On the property where Adolphus Woodmansee now lives, Jared Morgan opened the first hotel in the village. This has been succeeded by many others at different times and places in the town. But the names of proprietors or the dates of their commencement is not now known. There are at present two hotels, one boarding-house and two eating saloons. The hotels are kept by William Barnard and John Harrison; the boarding-house by Isaiah Brewer; the eating saloons by L. F. Craven and J. N. Underwood. These are all wor- thy men and keep good houses.

At present, the town boasts of one clothing, four dry goods, three fancy, six grocery, three shoe and boot, two stove and tin, and three drug stores, all situated on Main street between First and railroad depot. These stores are owned and conducted by Messrs. W. A. Brown, A. B. Beard, S. Hetherington, Dr. A. H. Lindley and Hussey, J. N. Underwood, Charles Kelly, Williams & Henry, A. Mohleinpage, F. Conard, John Eakins, W. E. Beard, George Hay- nie, Dixon & Son, James Santee, H. L. Day, McWright, Osborne & Allison, all of whom are gentlemen of high order, to business bred; Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, Mrs. Hetherington and Mrs. Gray control the notion stores.

The village has also two harness, three shoe and three blacksmith shops, all of which are in a prosperous condition. It has two wagon shops, and one buggy and carriage shop, one sash and blind factory, three livery stables and one furnishing and undertaker's establishment. The stables are owned and run by Nordyke & Sons and Homer Hussey; the blacksmith shops by the Hunt Bros., Vincent Cox and H. Deriven; the carriage and buggy shops by Samuel Hixon & Son; the wagon shops by S. Hixon and Allen Dennis; the shoe shops by S. Hetherington, J. Eakins and T. Dowden; the sash and blind fac- tory by James Nevin & Son. It has two mills, both of which grind and saw. One is owned by C. C. Lazenby & Co., the other by Benjamin Baker. The post office is located on Main, between West street and railroad, west side. It

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is easy of access, and in a very commodious building, erected by the present Postmaster, George E. Barrow, for the special use to which it is applied. There are two tailor shops, presided over by Joseph Williams and P. Mohlein- page. There are also two coaleries, under control of John Bernard and John Philips. There is one extensive grain and lumber firm, conducted by Routh & Livery. All these institutions are doing a good business. They, moreover, go to show the thrift and enterprise of the people of the village. The town- ship in 1882, had $32,000 more of taxable property than in 1881. The town has one bank, called the New Vienna Bank. Dr. E. M. Woodberry is. its President, E. Arthur its Cashier. The Directors are Stephen Hussey, J. M. Hussey, Charles Good, Ellis Good, E. P. Johnson and Mr. Guthrie. The bank has been occupying a small brick building on the north side of West street, a little west of Main street, but has recently sold its building to the . Town Council, and proposes to build a new and commodious structure on Main,' east side, opposite the Odd Fellows corner.

SALOONS.

There are, we are sorry to say, two drinking houses. These are located near the railroad depot. One is run by Mrs. Rice, a Jewess, and the other by Mr. Dunden, an Irishman. No native American is engaged in the business.

ASSOCIATIONS.

The town has one Building and Savings Association, organized in November, 1881. Its capital stock is $500,000. It has so far done well by its stockhold- ers. Also one Library Association, with headquarters in Dr. Connard's office on Main street, north of the post office. It has several hundred volumes, and is being read extensively. The books consist of encyclopedias, history, general and biographical, literary and scientific works, poetry and fiction. It is en- larged yearly by dues and memberships. It was organized about 1878.

PROFESSIONALS.

Editors-Daniel Hill is editor of the Friends' papers, such as Messenger of Peace, Olive Leaf, Christian Worker, and Sunday School Lesson Leaf.

Mr. Wilson and Samuel DeLa are editing a weekly paper under the title of the New Vienna Record. Mr. John Hussey is the publisher and proprietor of all these papers. He owns the press and supplies the labor and materials for publishing them.

Physicians-There are two schools represented, the allopathic and the homeopathic. Of the first school there are four, viz., Drs. A. T. Johnson, George Connard, R. T. Trimble and T. C. Quinn. Of the second school there is but one, Dr. E. W. Brown. A. T. Johnson is the senior physician of the place. He is a very intelligent gentleman, with an immense surgical experi- ence. He served four years in the great rebellion as Surgeon. The others are all well read and practical men.

Attorneys-There are three attorneys, viz., William West, C. C. Bowers and W. D. Moore. George E. Barrow is Postmaster, and also Notary Public.

Ministers-Of these there are six, all living in the town, and working more or less for it. Of the Friends there are two, viz., - - and Joseph Wright. Of the Methodist Episcopal Church two, C. C. Bowers and C. C. Lazenby. Of the Baptist Church one, --- Powell. Of the Church of Christ one, viz., W. D. Moore.

SCHOOLS.

The village supports a graded school of six rooms, five teachers and a Principal. Its enumeration is probably nearly three hundred. The school grew

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up gradually out of the common schools by the increase of population. Prior to 1860, many good teachers had been employed in the district, and quito an interest in education had been awakened. This interest induced a joint-stock company to build a two-story brick house with two good rooms below and two above, and to employ teachers to organize a seminary. This was done, but it was but a short time until the religious sect called Gorman Baptist bought the house of the company and started a school of their own. For a time the enterprise was successful, but success did not last long, though the denomina. tion worked with a zeal worthy of permanent success, yet the school failed to be self-supporting and had to be abandoned, as every such enterprise must, unless supported by an endowment.

Schools can never be self-sustaining if they depend only upon the tuition fees for support. Hence, no adverse criticism should fall upon the people who made this attempt. They did what they could, and probably as much as any others would have done undor liko circumstances; yet they failed-failed only because the plan they adopted must always fail. At this time, the dis- trict had begun to onlargo rapidly, yet it was only a subdistrict. The records of the district call it a subdistrict as late as April 9, 1860. On this day tho voters elected Directors as follows: John Matthews, now Probate Judge, for three years; C. C. Bowers for two years, and J. B. Truitt for one year. On the 16th of the same month and in the same year, I find it called an Independ- ent District. On this day the board, which had been elected on the 9th, or seven days before, met under the title of the Board of Education of Independent District, No. 1, and organized by appointing J. B. Truitt, Chairman, and J. Matthews, Secretary. At this meeting the Board resolved to levy a tax for school purposes, amounting to $350, and also $150 for contingent fund. They also ordered J. Matthews, the Recorder, to make a plat of the additional terri. tory to the corporation of Independent District No. 1, Greene Township, Clin- ton County, Ohio. From these facts it seems evident that the district was detached from the subdistrict of the township, and became an independent one in April, 1860. Between April 16 and August 4, 1860, J. Matthews re. signed his office as Director, and on the 4th of August J. L. Swarts was ap. pointed by J. T. Crawford Township Clerk to fill the unexpired time of Mr. Mat thews. He was sworn into office August 14, 1860, and on August 22, a meet- ing was held by the Board, and C. C. Bowers offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That a tax of $4,000 be levied on Independent District No. 1, Greene Township, Clinton Co., Ohio,' for the purpose of building or buying a schoolhouse for said district; one-fourth to be paid in June, 1861; one-fourth in December, 1861; one- fourth in June, 1862, and one-fourth in December, 1862.

But this resolution was never carried into effect on account of its illegality. In April, 1861, T. L. Rogers and Nathan Hussey were elected Directors of the district, one for three and the other for two years. At their first meeting following the election, they voted a tax for school and incidental purposes of $500. At the same meeting the Board levied a tax of $3,000 for a house, $1, . 500 to be paid in 1861, and $1,500 in 1862; and they appointed T. L. Rogers to see to the selling of the old property. Subsequently, an election was held to determine whether the tax above named should be levied or not; the votoH stood in favor of the tax. Asa Nordyke was elected in 1862 in place of C. C. Bowers, whose time expired then. In 1863, George Mory was elected as Direc- tor; in 1864, J. C. Green was elected to the same office. In 1864, the Board raised the tax for school purposes, etc., to 4 mills. In 1865, Asa Nordyko was re-elected. This year the people voted a still greater tax. In 1866, George Mory resigned, and A. T. Johnson was appointed in his stead, and was after. ward re-elected. The school officers from 1866, elected in April of each suc.

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ceeding year and appointed to fill vacancies, are as follows: A. F. Johnson, re- elected; J. F. Crawford, Daniel Hill, B. Y. Seigfried, Silas Routh, George Mory, Granville Osborne, A. S. Amberg, Asa Nordyke, A. B. Beard, Edwin Shockley, G. R. Connard and C. C. Lazenby. The three last named constitute the Board at present. -

Somewhere between 1860 and 1865, the old subdistrict schoolhouse was vacated and sold to the Catholic Church, and the house owned by the German Baptists was bought. There is nothing definite in the records by which to de- termine with accuracy the time of said purchase; but it seems probable that it was made about 1862. This house continued to be occupied until 1878. Prep- arations, however, had been made to erect a new building more in accord with the advance of the times, in 1877. The work of collecting material, etc., was well on the way in this year, and early in 1878 the workmen proceeded to erect the house. The house was ready, and school opened the last Monday of September, 1878, It is a substantial brick structure, two stories and cellar, with hall above and bolow stairs. It contains, bosidos tho cellar, six school rooms, and a commodious hall. The building speaks woll for both the heads and hearts of the people whose skill and money put it up.

TEACHERS.

The following are the teachers as far as can be ascertained, who have been employed since 1860: Prof. William Haydock was probably the first Principal; his wife assisted him; also J. E. Powell and Hannah Lewis; Mary A. Powell and Flora Higgins were also employed some part of the time of Mr. Haydock's principalship. In 1867, Prof. W. R. Spooner was employed as Principal at

$65 per month. Misses Jennie Holliday, Hannah Lewis and Mary A. Powell were his assistants. The length of school in this year was six months. In 1868, M. L. Ent was employed as Principal at $65 per month; Allen Terrill at $50 per month; Mary A. Powell, $35, and Hannah Kinsey at $25; six months length of school. In 1869, Allon Terrell was employed as Principal at $80 per month; Ettie Blair, $40; Hannah Lewis, $35, and Hannah Kinsey, $35; length of school eight months. In 1870, J. M. R. Bateman was employed as Principal, and continued to fill the place acceptably for four years, or in- cluding 1873, when he resigned and moved to California, where he has since been engaged in the schools of that State. He was a good scholar and edu- cator. The names of the teachers under him for these four years were D. J. Bateman, Misses Rhoda Francis, Lidie Oldaker, Clara Rhodes, Sallie Hunt, Allie Mory, Michael Nordyke and Mr. Samuel DeLa. During these four years, the schools ran about eight months each year. Wages much the same as those before recorded. In 1874, S. A. DeLa was employed at $75 per month as Prin- cipal, and Mr. Cyrus B. Austin, Misses Allie Mory, Michael Nordyko and Jennie Kinsey were his assistants. Miss Kinsey, soon after the close of the school, married a Mr. E. Good and left the school, and Mr. Austin attended Delaware College till he graduated, and then obtained a professorship in his Alma Mater. In 1875, W. D. Moore was employed as Principal; he continued in this position till April, 1880; his assistants were L. A. Henry, Grammar School four years; Miss Lacy, now ;Mrs. Conard, one year; Miss Flynn, now Mrs. Brown, four years in first and second departments, and Mrs. Craig, one year in second department; Mrs. C. Henry, wife of L. A. Henry, five years; Miss Allie Mory, five years. These were all good workers in the school.

In 1880, "the board met pursuant to adjournment," May 18, the mem- bers of the board all present. The following work was then done: They de- termined that school should commence the first Monday in September, 1880, and run eight months, with one week vacation at holidays. They levied 4

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mills to the dollar for furnishing means to pay indebtedness on building, and 5} mills for school purposes. . They then elected the following teachers: "For Principal, J. F. Fenton, at $75 per month; for Grammar School, L. A. Henry, $45 per month; Second Intermediate, Allie Mory, $35 per month; First In- termediate, Annie F. Brown, $35 per month; Second Primary, Frankie Smith, $35 per month; First Primary, Clara Henry, $35 per month."

".May 27, 1881, board met pursuant to adjournment; members present. Resolved that the board proceed at once to the selection of Principal and subordinate teachers for the term commencing September 1, 1881, upon the following conditions: That each teacher elected deposit with the Clerk during the month of June a certificate covering the length of time for which each is employed. * * The board then proceeded to ballot for Princi-

pal, which resulted in the election of Prof. J. F. Fenton, after which L. A. Henry was chosen to the Grammar Department; Alice Mory to the Second Intermediate; Emma Wright, First Intermediate; Miss Frankie Smith, Second Primary, and Mrs. Clara Henry, First Primary." The school was run this . year eight months.

On May 1, 1882, Prof. J. F. Fenton was again for the third time chosen as Principal; Mrs. Clara Henry, First Primary; Second Primary, Miss Frankie Smith; First Intermediate, Miss Emma Wright; Second Intermediate, Mrs. Clara E. Brown. School to run nine months. Wages, $90, $45, $40 and $35. Such is a brief view of the schools for the last twenty-two years.

CHURCHES.

The village of New Vienna has five churches-one Friends, one Baptist, one Methodist, one Catholic and one Disciple.

The Friends' Church was organized many years ago. Their house at that time and for many years stood nearly three-fourths of a mile west of north from the village. The house at that place growing old and considerably dilapidated, made it necessary to build a new house. This house was built on Church street, between Second and Third streets, in the year 1871. It is a substan- tial brick edifice, capable of seating comfortably about three hundred persons. The Friends' Church is in a prosperous condition; they hold regular services every Lord's Day, and have a fine Sunday school. The Friends have their principal printing office of the United States in this village. They send off an immense amount of printed matter, in weekly papers, monthlies, books, etc.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Methodist Episcopal Church was or- ganized early in the history of the village, probably about the year 1843; their first house of worship was built about 1850, on or near the site of their present house. This continued until 1876, when they erected a two-story brick edifice, which they at present occupy, though the auditorium is not yet completed. There is hope, however, that it will soon be ready for use. Rev. C. B. War- rington, an itinerant, was the first preacher of the denomination who visited the place, and, at the commencement of his first meeting, Mrs. Mary Bowers, wife of Rev. C. C. Bowers, was the only member in the town. During his first meeting several professed religion and were organized into a congregation; subsequently, not being able to build a house, they rented the Baptist Church house for one year; then fitted up a house standing at that time on the lot now - occupied by Mrs. Eliza Dennis, in which they continued to hold services until 1850, when they built their first house, above referred to. Among the names associated with Mrs. Mary Bowers in the first organization, are found Julia Moyer, now wife of Rev. C. H. Savidge, of Minnesota: Eliza Matthews, widow of George Matthews, of Leesburg; William Noble and his wife, Ann Noble. There were perhaps others, whose names are not now known. Many of the

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first members have passed to their reward. The names of ministers who have labored for this church are as follows, given in the order of the time of their labor: Revs. C. B. Warrington, Francis A. Timmons, James Webb, Jeremiah Ellsworth, Levi Cunningham, T. M. Gossard, Anthony Musgrove, a blind man; Joseph Gatch, John S. Jackson, Allon Thompson, D. Calahan, A N. Spahr, S. A. 'Brewster, H. Stokes, T. A. G. Philips, M. P. Zink, E. H. Field, John Shinn, James Porter, Wesley Webster, J. H. Middleton, S. W. Edmiston, J. R. Hunter, J. - McShultz, Lafayette Young, R. E. Smith, G. M. Edgar, J. G. Black. The Presiding Elders, as far as known, are William P. Ellsworth, George W. Walker. George C. Crum, M. Kaufman, M. Dustin, James Kindal, S. D. Clayton, J. T. Baile, L. F. Van Cleve. Under the labors of this minis- try, this church has had its share of trials and difficulties, its ups and downs; yet, withal, progress has, on the whole, attended it. Hundreds have held membership with it. But through doaths and removals its numbers now stand at about 110. It has regular preaching each alternate Lord's Day, and a good Sunday school, which moets in the morning of every Lord's Day. Its future is hopeful. Its residentor local ministers are C. C. Bowers and C. C. Lazenby, both of whom are zealous and energetic men.

Baptist Church .- This church was organized at first a mile or two east of the village, and continued there several years. It was then known as a " Hard- shell " Baptist Church. However, after a time, a division occurred, when the more liberal-minded collected themselves together and kept up worship about at the houses of friends till the band grew strong enough to erect a house of worship. Their first house was built in the village about the year 1840. The leading spirits of this missionary Baptist society were Joseph Haskins and wife, Istma Harris and wife, Charles Posegate and wife. The other division of the church remained in possession of the old house and decayed and died as the old house rotted down. The missionary Baptists enjoyed the labors of Revs. Eli Froy, Hiram Burnett, J. B. Sutton, Mr. Waters, Henry Brown, J. W. Dinkloman, J. R. Sargent, Eli Tilson, G. W. Churchill, B. Z. Seigfried, H. H. Witter, J. R. Powell and others whose names we do not have. The church has boon quite prosperous. It has in it now many of the most substan- tial citizens of the town and vicinity, such as Isaac Routh, Isaac Posegate, A. B. Beard, John Routh, Cleyborne Burnett, William Burnett, L. A. Henry, etc., and their families. They number about 120 members, with a fine Sunday school, which has been under the management of A. B. Beard, a man every way worthy of the place. They are erecting a fine brick edifice, which, when finished, will cost about $10,000.

Catholic Church .-- This church has been organized but a short time, probably fifteen or twenty years. At first, it bought and used the old school building, but within the last five or six years, it has removed that building and replaced it with a new brick structure of a plain, neat finish. The house is not large, but sufficient for the church, except on great occasions. It has no pastor settled in the town, but one visits it regularly and instructs it in its special theology. The members are mostly of foreign birth or descent. The names of the leading men are Augustus Kernan, Thomas Higgins, Patrick Tooey. The numerical strength of this church is not large, but the member- ship is earnest and devoted to the interests of the church. Most all, if not all, - of this church are either of foreign birth themselves or children of those who are of foreign birth. The church is not aggressive here. Its increase is from those who move to the place.

Church of Christ (ordinarily called Disciples). - This church has existed. as an organized body since 1866. The ground-work was laid by W. D. Moore, who was a missionary at this place under the auspices of Mt. Olivet, Bethel

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and New Antioch Churches. Theso churches employed him one-fourth of his time for one year, commencing in the fall of 1859, to labor at Now Vienna. A result of this work was to call out many into the servicos of God and to unite thom on the Biblo alone. In June, 1860, W. D. Moore and Rev. Mr. Bacon hold a discussion involving the doctrine of Universalism. This discussion was fruitful of good, as it is believed, as it has settled that question in this community, and few are left to advocate the doctrine of unconditional salva- tion. Many were called to a fuller realization of their obligations to God. Mr. Moore collected and united within this year some forty or fifty persons as Disciples. In the fall of 1860, from $1,000 to $1,500 were subscribed for building a church house, and the work was postponed till spring. When the spring came, the great rebellion came with it, and in a large degree stopped almost all religious enterprises; so the work was not begun again until after the war ended, when Elder F. D. Garvin and others renewed the thought of building, which was carried out in 1866 or 1867, and the house dedicated to the worship of God and a congregation organized, with Zephaniah Spears and Clark Dixon as Overseers. Clark Dixon, who withdrew from the church, was succeeded by Brother C. B. Tattershall; Brother Z. Spears by George E. Bar- row, and he by W. D. Moore, with whom J. W. Ruble was associated for two years; but at present, and for the past two years, W. D. Moore is the only Elder in the church. At present, Washington Spears and Dora Hildebrant are the Deacons; Zephaniah Spears, John Pond and Dora Hildebrant are the Trustees. The church is in good condition. It numbers about eighty mem- bers, with a good Sunday school. It has preaching once a month by W. D. Moore, who has worked for it more or less for the last ten years. It has had hundreds of members in fellowship; but death, omigration and other causes have kept it depleted until it is numerically small. It has been, and still is, a liberal church, ever ready to assist in whatever tends to promote the true in- terests of society.

BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

There are three lodges in town-one Masonic, one Independent Order of Odd Fellows and one I. O. O. F. Encampment. These are all in good condition. All have halls of their own. The Masons own the second story of a brick building east side of Main street, south of Third street, over Frank Conard's grocery. The Odd Fellows own a building on the west side of Main street, north of West street, on the corner and opposite the Masonic room. It is two stories, two business rooms below and lodge-room above. This lodge is wealthy. The Encampment meets in the same hall.

Such is a brief and succinct statement of facts, as far as necessary, to show the present condition of the town. Industry, economy and thrift are marked characteristics of the people of the village. They are, moreover, an average for enterprise and general intelligence.

NEW ANTIOCH.

This place is but a hamlet of probably one hundred inhabitants, situated a half-mile to the northeast of the New Vienna & Wilmington pike, and about eight miles from the former place. Its buildings are all frame, but are good and substantial. It takes on quite an appearance of thrift. It has two pikes passing through it. It has one mill, owned and run by John Duchane, a very worthy citizen; two stores, run by the Layman Bros. and the Rulon Bros. They seem to be doing a fair business; John Barrett makes shoes and boots for all who call upon him, and Pressly Rulon furnishes harness to those who wish. Both these are enterprising young men. Jesse Pond is a citizen of the hamlet, and trades extensively in grain and stock. It has two physicians- Drs. Barriere and - Farabee, both worthy men.

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The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2, Part 30

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1410

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1410