The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 47

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214

USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county > Part 47

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Upon leaving the library, and looking to the right, the beautifu " Memorial Hall" and Home Church is in full view: and beyond, on knoll, shaded by forest trees, stands the Chaplain's residence. Stil farther to the right the magnificent and commodious hospital charms the be holder; and a little farther on the neat cottage of the Resident Surgeon, sur rounded by a lovely lawn, completes the picture in that direction. As we lool to the northwestward, we behold the Soldier's Monument, rising from a hill-to in the distance, which marks the place where the heroes sleep. Keeping th same position, we now turn to the left and observe a rustic arbor, the spring: the flower garden. the fountain, the conservatory and the lakes, upon which are numerous swans and other water fowl; and still letting the eye sweep on ward, we behold the rustic bridges, the beautiful groves of forest trees, th deer park, with more than fifty deer, elk, antelopes, buffaloes, etc .; the Veteran Spring, the Governor's residence, embowered in trees and flowers, the resi dences of the Treasurer, the Secretary and the Steward, all located on the bor ders of the grove. To the west is the long line of neat and comfortable bar racks where 4,000 veterans rest from the fight; the large and comfortable dining hall, kitchen, bakery. laundry, workshops, the Home store-building, the Quar termaster and Commissary store-building, the tasteful band pagoda. surrounded by a charming lawn, while the whole grounds are interspersed with broad

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

wl paved avenues and shaded paths, combining to make this splendid pic- tre complete. Strolling beyond the woods and immediate confines of the Ititution, we come to the farmer's residence, the vegetable garden, the barn, +]' stable and the well-fed stock that graze upon the broad acres of the Eme farm. From the Headquarters Building, which we have already de- ( bed, we will now go on to give a brief description of the principal build- us of the Home.

MEMORIAL HALL.

The first "Memorial Hall" was built without cost to the Government, the rhey coming from the disabled veterans themselves. through what is called "store and posthumous fund." It was a large, splendid brick building, 1 /x75 feet, and sixty-five feet high, designed for all classes of literary, dimatic and musical entertainments, military drills, etc. It was erected in [{8, and destroyed by fire in May, 1880. Congress soon afterward made an apropriation of $30,000 toward replacing it, and in October, 1881, the new il was finished, and opened during the winter of 1881 and 1882. It is a magnificent structure, with a seating capacity of 1,600 beautifully painted and fricoed, and possessing all the latest improvements in hall architecture. We d bt if there is a hall in the Union that surpasses it, in comfort, elegance, acustic properties, beauty of design and finish. The stage is fitted up with Dutiful scenery and all other appliances sufficient to produce any piece per- A med at first-class places of amusement.

THE CHURCH.

This is a fine Gothic structure, built of stone, eighty-nine feet long by fifty- ar wide with beautiful windows of stained glass. In the tower is a large clock wh the dial visible from all parts of the Home; also a large clear-toned bell, cat from brass cannon, captured from the enemy during the war of the rebellion. Te auditorium is handsomely frescoed and furnished, and will comfortably ut nearly 1,000 persons. The national colors are draped across the ceil- 11, while back of the pulpit near the ceiling is the seal of the institution wought in stained glass, with the inscription "The Nation to her Defenders." While the Rev. William Earnshaw, who is chaplain, holds services every Sun- d/, attendance is entirely voluntary, and the church is equally open and free all denominations. The basement of the church, now fitted up for a Cath- ), chapel, was formerly used each evening by one of the associations of tl Home, among which are the " Grand Army of the Republic," "Good Tem- prs," " Hibernian Society," " German Veteran Society," etc. The view of tls church, as we saw it one beautiful summer evening with the creeping ivy ejering its walls, will not soon be forgotten, as it was one of the most charm- in sights it has ever been our good fortune to behold.

THE HOSPITAL.

. This is the largest single building of the Home, is built of brick, three s vies high, with basement and rear building for kitchen, dining-room, etc. Je main structure is 293 feet long, composed of a center or administration building 41x131, and two wings for wards for the sick, each of the six vrds being 101x28. with two rooms in the tower, twelve feet square, alached to each ward and fitted up for bath-room. water-closets, etc. The vrds are perfectly ventilated and heated, and are beautifully furnished with everything which could possibly add to the comfort of the patients. The hilding stands immediately north of the church on an open ground a little plining from the latter. The position, though somewhat lower, is conspicu- os and convenient. and Mr. Gunckel did not fall into the error of hiding the

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

hospital in some obscure place. Approaching from the main entrance to the grounds, it stands the first important edifice of the Home. It is the prominen object. The building cost over $200,000, accommodates 300 patients, and i believed to be one of the best-constructed, best-furnished and best-kept hospital in the country.

CEMETERY AND MONUMENT,

More than 2,100 of the disabled veterans who were residents of the Central Home since its establishment, have died and been buried with military honor in the beautiful grove, west of the Hospital, which has been tastefully laid ou for a cemetery. Their comrades desiring to manifest their respect and love fo these fallen heroes, have erected to their memory a beautiful monument of pur white marble, fifty feet high, and surmounted with a splendid figure of a pri| vate soldier. It was unveiled on the 12th day of September, 1877, by the President of the United States, with grand ceremonies and in the presence o 25,000 people. On the pedestal are the words, "To our fallen Comrades, and "These were honorable men in their generation." On the base are fou figures, representing the four arms of the service, viz., Artillery, Infantry Cavalry and Navy. These figures were carved in Italy, at great expense The base is surrounded by tablets, on which are engraved the names o all the veterans who are buried in the cemetery. The entire cost of this beau tiful monument was $16,000, each veteran voluntarily paying $1 toward it erection, which was in charge of the "Monumental and Historical Society " o the Home. Rev. William Earnshaw has been President of this society since its organization, and to his efforts much of the success attained is justly due Several donations helped on the worthy object, but it will ever stand as the tribute of the living veterans to their deceased brothers.

DINING ROOM, KITCHEN AND OTHER BUILDINGS,

It is no small matter to bake the bread and cook and serve the food fo 4,000 men, and no ordinary building will answer for all these purposes at the Central Home; but the great structure immediately west of the frame barrack was specially designed to meet these requirements. All the baking, cooking and serving is done by the veterans, and although the food is all of the bes quality, comprising an abundance of the best meats, vegetables, fruits, etc., the average daily ration of each man for 1880 was only 163 cents. This building is of brick, 97x131 feet, three stories high, and finished in first-class style, the top story being a mansard The Central Home buildings comprise 140 i number, and altogether make a pleasant looking city. The most of them wer designed for and are used as barracks. the older ones being of wood, largely constructed from lumber taken from "Camp Chase." They are large, three storied structures, 30x100 feet, with mansard roofs, and are uniform in size and appearance. The new barracks are of brick, three stories high, 34x14( feet, and the interiors of all are nicely furnished and supplied with everything necessary for the health and comfort of their occupants. All these building have large windows on four sides, with no partitions, affording perfect venti lation and making them admirable for sitting and sleeping apartments. Between each row of barracks is a wide. well-paved avenue, or a space of from fifty to sixty feet, laid out and kept as lawns. Many other large and substan tial buildings, some of fine and imposing appearance, and all tasteful and wel adapted to the purposes for which they are used, are scattered over the grounds South of the dining hall is a large brick building used exclusively for bathing and the men are not only furnished with hot or cold baths without price, but every man in the institution is required to take one bath each week. Just west of the bath-house is another large brick building, devoted wholly to the

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

tom laundry, at which the washing of all the men is done. West of this are th carpenter and cabinet shops, and near by are the workshops for the shoe- mers, tailors, tinners, saddlers, blacksmiths, broom-inakers, cigar-makers, nInbers, stocking-knitters, wagon-makers, painters, etc. Then there is a a. e, three-storied brick building for amusements. Upon the first floor are o ling alleys; upon the second, billiard and bagatelle tables, and the third v& used as the armory of the Brown Guard, a splendid volunteer military o pany, belonging to the Home, composed entirely of disabled veterans. W understand that this company has disbanded on account of the many re- -ta tions thrown in its way by the present unpopular Governor of the Home, vl, no doubt, disliked the honor paid to his predecessor, through this organ- .zaon, after whom it was called. There are also half a dozen pretty cottages oofficers' residences, and still other buildings for the school, restaurant, hotel, · ten fire engine, for quartermaster and commissary stores, for post office, r:ting office, and for the manufacture of gas, with which all the buildings reiighted.

SCHOOLS AND LABOR.

Another excellent feature of the Institution is a school, where veterans re nstructed in useful callings. Here men who lost their right arms are :acht to write with the left hand, while instruction is given in book-keeping, ol-carving, telegraphy, as well as all the common school branches. Any sorof a trade may be thoroughly learned here, the object being for each vet- ca to acquire that calling best suited to his disability. Believing that men vezwhere are more healthy, contented and happy when they have something ), it has been the steady policy of the management to encourage labor by tolishing workshops of every suitable kind, and by making the cultivation wers, fruits, etc., features of the institution. It is an imperative order of Board of Managers that all labor and service in and about the Home, shall, m , far as possible, be performed by the disabled soldiers themselves, for h'h they receive a reasonable compensation.

NUMBER OF VETERANS CARED FOR.

The Central Home cared for 616 disabled soldiers during the year 1867; 3) in 1868; 1,793 in 1869; 1,954 in 1870; 2,255 in 1871; 2,426 in 1872; 61 in 1873; 3,255 in 1874; 3,769 in 1875; 4,184 in 1876: 4,523 in 1877: 03 in 1878; 4,596 in 1879; 5,304 in 1880; and 5,552 in 1881, showing a ret increase yearly, thereby demonstrating that the "Nation's defenders" eciate the Nation's efforts to provide with a worthy Home those gallant in blue who freely shed their blood that freedom and liberty might live.

COST OF RUNNING THE HOME, ETC.

We have heard it freely asserted that the Government could support the et ans of the National Homes in the first-class hotels of the country at less Inse than the saine cost at said Homes. This is a mistake, as a glance at cexpenses of the Central Home will prove. The total current or running Į uses of this institution, including subsistence, clothing, fuel, lights, med- 1., officers' salaries, employes' pay roll, transportation, and all other expenses, woot only those for construction and repairs, during the year 1880, was 39,791.54. The average number of men present during the year was 3,399, wang the average yearly cost of keeping each man $117.32, which is actually lesthan at any other of the public institutions of the United States, although thuveterans of the Central Home are better and more generously provided for the those of any other public institution.

Any soldier during the late war for the preservation of the Union, who

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

was honorably discharged and disabled by wounds received or sickness com tracted in the service, can gain free transportation and admission to the Hom By a recent act of Congress, soldiers of the war of 1812, and Mexican war, al also included. Thus does a thankful Government provide for those war-wor veterans, filling their last days with peace, contentment and happiness.

RECENT IMPROVEMENTS, FLOWERS, ETC.

Besides the new brick barracks, the monument, hotel and "Memorial Hall many other improvements have recently been made, or are in process of cor struction. A new lake, covering ten acres, has been built, large ice hons erected, and an extensive water-works system is now being put in at an mitla of about $30,000. The Board of Managers have appropriated $3,000 for th purpose of constructing an avenue 100 feet wide, in conjunction with certai citizens of Dayton beginning at the western terminus of Fifth street, and te minating at the new lake on the Home ground.

It would be utterly impossible to attempt in this brief article anythir like a description of the magnificent beauty of the garden, conservatories ar flower beds. Entering a lovely dell where the art of the florist and botani has been brought into requisition, a landscape garden, with nature's choice Howers of beauty and fragrance delights the eye and charm the senses, the co servatory and greenhouse, with plants from the tropics, and trees bearing the delicious fruits. Creeping vines adorn the rock work, and rustic seats are co veniently placed for rest and pleasure. Three mineral springs are converte into drinking fountains; and it is not too much to say that nature and art cor bined have succeeded in creating a little paradise of beauty and grace. To M Frank Mundt, the florist and gardner, to Mrs. Elizabeth Rohrer, of Germa town, and to Mr. Davis, the architect, assisted by the veterans of the Hom the whole under the personal supervision of Col. E. F. Brown, is due tl honor of creating this garden of Eden, which to-day is the wonder and adm ration of the 100.000 persons who annually come from all over the world feast their eyes and record their tributes of praise.

OFFICERS AND EX-OFFICERS OF THE HOME

In closing this sketch the want of space will prevent us from recordin more than the names of those who have held official positions in the Centi Home, leaving to some future writer the duty of giving to each a genero biography.

Governors. - Maj. E. E. Tracy was appointed Deputy Governor in Marc 1867, and died in June, 1868. Gen. Timothy Ingram was appointed Govern in December, 1867. and served until January 1, 1869, on which date Col. F. Brown relieved him. The latter was commissioned Deputy Governor November, 1868, confirmed in July, 1869, and was appointed Governer Se tember 6, 1873. On September 23. 1880, Col. Brown was appointed, by t Board of Managers, Inspector General of the National Homes, and Gen. M. Patrick appointed Governor of the Central Home, which office he now occupie

Treasurer. - Col. Jerome B. Thomas has served as Treasurer of the Cen I Homo since its establishment, in 1867.

Secretaries. - In 1867. Capt. A. P. Woodruff was appointed Secretas serving until September, 1870, when he was succeeded by Capt. William Lough, who served until September, 1873. Capt. R. E. Fleming then becar Secretary, and occupied that position until May 14, 1880, when Maj. Loug again became Secretary, and now occupies that position.

Surgeons .- Dr. C. McDermont served as Surgeon of the Central Hor from its organization until August, 1874, with the exception of fourteen mont

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

be; as the surgeon of the Southern Home. Dr. S. K. Towle was transferred ro the Northwestern Home to the Central in April, 1872. and served until li 1873, when he resigned. In November, 1874, Dr. James M. Weaver be- n Surgeon, and was succeeded by Dr. A. H. Stephens October 1, 1880, who s t> present Surgeon of the Home. The following physicians have served as Asstant Surgeons in the Central Home: Drs. J. W. Stewart, George G. Hop- n T. F. Price, J. K. Evans and A. S. Dunlap.

Chaplain .- Rev. William Earnshaw, D. D., has occupied the position of nalain since the organization of the Central Home, and his labors have been v uable to the institution. A brave soldier, an earnest student, and a kind- aled, Christian gentleman, his chaplaincy has been a constant blessing to o Tome.

Stewards .-- Capt. A. P. Woodruff served as Steward in connection with ecretaryship. He occupied the latter position until September, 1870, and - tewardship until December, 4, 1872, when he resigned and was succeeded npt. William Thompson, who served in that capacity for nearly ten years. F Thompson then resigned, and on the 1st of March, 1882, Maj. M. F aon began his duties as Steward of the Central Home.

Matron .- Mrs. E. L. Miller has been Matron of the Home since its incep- nand too much praise cannot be accorded her for the indefatigable energy as always displayed in the performance of her arduous duties.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

CHAPTER XV.

GEOLOGY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

THE geological structure of Montgomery County is identical with that several other counties in Southwestern Ohio, and the geological histo says Prof. Orton, is substantially the same. From a report made by that g tleman in 1870, and made a part of a volume on the geological survey of State, the facts herewith presented were taken. Mr. Orton's observations w made in 1869, and appear to have been very thorough.

The surface rocks of Montgomery County present three distinct for tions, viz., the Cincinnati, or blue limestone group, belonging to the Hud River period of the Lower Silurian age; the Clinton group and the Niag group, the latter two belonging to the upper division of the Silurian a Above these are drift beds of varying thickness. These are given in their der, the blue limestone being the lowest. In the rocky beds here exposed found the earliest forms of fossil organic life, of various characters, ; of most interesting forms, often beautiful in the extreme. The highest 1. in the county is over 1,000 feet above the level of the sea, or about 600 i above low-water mark on the Ohio River at Cincinnati, which is 432 feet ab tide water. The Great Miami River and its tributaries-the Stillwater Mad, with numerous smaller streams-furnish the drainage for this cour receiving the surplus from nearly its entire area.

Prof. Orton says in his report: "As all the strata that are met with the county are in the main undisturbed, or very nearly horizontal, it is evid that the different levels of the county will be marked by different rock formatic or by different beds of the same formation. It is found, accordingly, that blue limestone occupies all those portions of the county which are not more t. 450 to 475 feet above low-water at Cincinnati, while the Clinton and Niag formations are confined to those limited areas which are more than 450 to feet above this level, or, in other words, to the hilltops and highest table la of the county. In many instances, however, these formations are themsel overlaid with heavy beds of drift. Of the 350 feet extreme elevation, ab mentioned, it will be seen that the blue limestone series fills 225 feet, wi the remaining 125 feet is divided among the Clinton, Niagara and drift in following order: The Clinton holds an average of twenty feet, its thick! diminishing from thirty feet in the northern portions of the county to r feet in the southernmost. The Niagara formation of the county has a mi mum thickness of fifty feet, which, however. it rarely attains, and it is so! times found in beds the aggregate of which is not more than five feet. A. tical section in the vicinity of Centerville, Washington Township, from surface of the ground to the level of the river, would give approximately following results: Drift, fifteen feet; Niagara. forty feet; Clinton, twe feet; blue limestone, 225 feet; total, 300 feet. A section at Webber & I man's quarry, east of Dayton two miles, gives eight to twenty feet of d sands or clays. ten feet Niagara, twenty feet Clinton and 150 feet blue li stone; total, 200 feet. A section at the Soldiers' Home, two miles wes Dayton, gives, drift, ten feet; Clinton, ten feet; blue limestone, 160 ft total, 180 feet. The last two sections are drawn to the level of the rive Dayton."

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

It is customary to unite the Clinton and Niagara groups under one desig- abn "Cliff Limestone," and about one-fourth the area of Montgomery is occpied by these formations, the other three-fourths being taken up by the Ult limestone. The blue limestone, which outcrops only in Southwestern (b), and the adjacent portions of Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee, attains an ggregate thickness of more than 500 feet. "It is the geological equiva- ler of the shales and sandstones that are known as the Hudson River group nije State of New York. Its name indicates the color and composition of theocks that belong to it. The blue limestone proper, however, is interstrati- fierwith beds of a blue calcareous clay or marl that constitute, in many lo- valies, the larger portion of the system. The solid rock occurs in eleven Hy's that sometimes reach a thickness of ten or twelve inches, but which gen- -ray vary from three to six inches in thickness. Both limestone and marl bond in admirably preserved relics of the living forms that inhabited the nont seas in which these beds were formed. These fossils belong exclusively e lower divisions of the animal and vegetable kingdoms. No remains of n'vertebrated animal, and no traces of land vegetation have ever yet been Isvered in the strata of this group. Sea weeds and sponges, beautiful star 'sl's and stone lilies of exquisite construction, corals in great variety and in- nie number, molluscan shells of the great classes, so crowded as frequently Institute the entire substance of the rock, and many species of trilobites, tulated animals of an order long since extinct, are found in all portions of tebedded rock and in its weathered exposures. The general character of the) fossils would indicate that the beds were formed at the bottom of deep aj and no mark of shore lines or other indications of shallow water ever oc- nto contradict this inference."

Wherever the channels of the streams in the county are worn deep enough, nelue limestone is exposed, and it is evident that this formation underlies hentire county. To the northward, it extends beyond the county limits a since of twenty miles or more, as shown in the beds of the Great Miami and Sui water Rivers. It is inferred that the whole surface of Montgomery County waonce covered with unbroken strata of this formation to the height of 450 "eor more above low-water mark at Cincinnati. The upper layers of the or's, constituting from six to twenty feet, differ in mineral character from helower beds, and are composed for the most part of red and yellow clays, nooccasionally a yellowish, arenaceous limestone, which is quite often made seil as a fire stone or building rock.

The Clinton formation, lying next above the blue limestone, is identical wit the same formation in the State of New York, where it was originally a ified an l named. It is a crinoidal limestone, some twenty feet in thick- to the upper layers showing crystalline particles when fractured, and the wir ones inclining strongly to a sandy character. On this account, it has od frequently called sandstone, and, although that name would apply very Feito portions of the formation, it must be remembered that it is formed of n sand, instead of silica sand, silica being almost entirely wanting in the liton rocks of this region. "In color," says the authority before quoted, tise rocks have no uniformity, varying not only in different localities but ftp in closely adjacent beds, passing from a marble-like whiteness through rubus shades of gray, pink, yellow and red. The weathered surfaces have ver generally a yellowish, rusty appearance, due to the oxidation of the iro that the rocks contain. The crystalline beds take a good polish, consti- tutig a marble of attractive appearance. The Harrisburg and Ludlow 'mar- ble' are examples of this quality of the formation."

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 47

Author: W.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214