The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 83

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

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750

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

business of the company, the wings for purifying and the retort house in rear of the main building. There was a coal-house 100x30, a tank for holders thirty feet in diameter and twelve feet deep, a gas holder thirty fee diameter and thirteen feet deep, with a capacity of 13,000 cubic feet of and a tar tank capable of holding 1,000 barrels. The works cost $11,000, ¿ their capacity was 36,000 cubic feet of gas per day, but so constructed as admit of enlargement so as to generate 100,000 cubic feet per day. This was manufactured from coal, and the completion of the works was comme orated by a supper at the Swaynie House, on Tuesday evening, September 1851. The first Board of Directors of the Dayton Gas Light and Coke Cc pany were Daniel Beckel, David Stout, I. F. Howells, C. G. Swain and J. Lockwood. On the 7th of August, 1848, I. F. Howells was elected Presid of the company, and M. B. Walker, Secretary, but they soon resigned. and August 28, Daniel Beckel became President and I. F. Howells Secretary, latter of whom served until August 10, 1849, when G. W. Rogers was elec Secretary. On the 23d of May, 1849, C. G. Swain became President, sul quently resigned and Daniel Beckel was elected August 7, and on the 2 of the same month was succeeded by S. B. Brown, who remained Presid until the election of William Dickey, May 26, 1853. J. M. Kerr became : retary, November 12, 1849; was succeeded by H. Strickler, March 14, 18 and he by John Garner in September of the same year. The latter gentler served until the election of Samnel T. Evans, August 17. 1855; R. R. Dic was elected President August 17, 1855, and served in that capacity until Aug 2, 1858, when William Dickey was again chosen to fill that position, and mained continuously as President of the company until May 10, 1877. at web time he resigned. He was succeeded by his son, Samuel A. Dickey, who ser up to the date of his death, which occurred August 9, 1880. On the 13th August, R. R. Dickey was elected President, and is at present filling that p tion. In November, 1877, George M. Smart became Secretary, and is now cupying that office. The present officers are : R. R. Dickey, President ; H. Graves, Vice President ; George M. Smart, Secretary ; Joseph Light, Super tendent, the latter of whom began his duties in 1855, and has ever since i connected with the works. The present Board of Directors are: R. R. Dic Joseph Clegg, H. C. Graves, W. P. Callahan, Simon Gebhart, Charles A. F lips and John Harries. The old gas building erected in 1851 is now used a condenser and washers. The present buildings were erected in. 1868, are located on Water street, between St. Clair and Mill streets. They con of two two-story brick structures, one of which is used as a meter house Superintendent's office, and the other for a purifying house and engine ro In 1880, the last gas holder was built with a house covering it. Its cape is 100,000 cubic feet of gas, while the old one holds 110,000 cubic feet. capital stock is now $450,000, the capacity of the works, 350,000 feet of per day, and they have a coal house capable of holding 4,000 tons of coal. company have now about thirty-eight miles of mains and 1,000 city gas pi the city appropriating $19,000 per year for gas. The Dayton National I is the Treasurer of the company, and their office is 120 East Third st which is neatly fitted up and occupies two rooms. The company is in a f ishing condition, and under the administration of the last three Presidents prospered beyond the most sanguine expectations of its warmest friends.

TELEGRAPHS.

The first telegraph message received at this place was one from the structor, O'Rielly, congratulating the people on having the telegraph to town. It was sent September 17, 1847.

751

CITY OF DAYTON.

In 1850, there was another line built, and shortly thereafter another. In !>>, there were the Wade line, the National or Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & Lou- vle line, the Ohio, Mississippi & Illinois, or O'Rielly line, and the House r ting line, all doing business in one room on the corner of Third and Main .r ts. In 1857, the Wade and House Printing Companies consolidated, forming 16Western Union, and in the year following the two remaining companies re merged into it. The first manager was W. J. Delano, who was also Su- entendent of the district. He served as manager one year, when he was suc- ered by J. H. Kiersted. E. J. Lane became the manager in 1867, and rid until 1881, when he was succeded by John Voorhes, the present incumbent. The Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Company opened an office here in 1870, room, No. 10, North Jefferson street. It was successively managed by Dunning, W. G. Whitehurst, John Voorhes, Lowe and W. H. Kiefer. It Iwas purchased by the Western Union, and merged into that company.

The American Union opened their office here in February, 1880, at No. outh Jefferson street, under the management of John Voorhes. In 1881, hi company consolidated with the Western Union, the office remaining under uaiger Voorhes' supervision, at No. 16 South Jefferson street, to which place Die Western Union was moved.

In 1882, the Mutual Union Telegraph Company completed their lines to Dajon, and on the 9th of March of that year, they opened an office in the old weern Union stand, under W. H. Kiefer. There are now but two offices in p.ebity.

752

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

CHAPTER XII.

ST. ELIZABETHI HOSPITAL-WOODLAND CEMETERY-CALVARY CEMETERY- SCRIPTIVE REVIEW OF THE CITY OF DAYTON.

ST. ELIZABETH HOSPITAL.

H OR a number of years prior to the founding of this charitable institut the Rev. Father J. F. Hahne, pastor of Emanuel's Church, had been sirous of seeing a hospital of the Sisters in Dayton, and had repeatedly invi the attention of the Mother Superior of the Sisters of the Poor of St. Frai to the lack of hospital accommodations in the city, and solicited her aid kindly offices toward the establishment of such an institution here under care of her order.

In 1878, his prayer was answered, and soon thereafter there appeared our midst two strange faces, whose appearance on our streets, clothed in a g of brown, with an embroidered red cross in front, and black veil and ck attracted the attention of our people. These were the forerunners, and th the mission of founding St. Elizabeth's Hospital. Prior to this time ho tematic accommodations for the receiving and caring of the indigent sick, unfortunate victims of accidents, existed in this city, other than the "F house," a habitation which, in name and associations, and its restricted acc modations, were alike objectionable and insufficient to properly and satisfa rily care for the varied class and character of applicants for hospital treatm This condition of things had, at different times for many years past, sugge various propositions on the part of public-spirited citizens, and the introd tion of resolutions into the City Council for the creation of an establishn equal to the wants and dignity of the city.

No decisive steps, however, were ever taken by the City Council, o: than a mere discussion and a reference to future action. As the undertal seemed, moreover, too large and expensive for individual enterprise, the ject had never as yet taken any definite shape.

The task, then, of filling so great a void and establishing such an ir tution in our midst, has devolved upon a small number of women, belong to the Order of the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis, whose mission is alleviation and care of the sick and helpless, and whose motto is that of untary and absolute poverty.

The Sisters referred to were Emilie and Columba, who, on the 2d of . of that year, rented a moderately-sized two-story brick building on Fr. lin street, near Ludlow, and commenced to prepare the premises for host, purposes. July 25, a railroader, with a crushed arm, the result of an accid, was brought to their doors for treatment. He was received, although, in language of our informant, "they were compelled to go to housekeeping fore they were quite ready."

Then commenced an active solicitation on their part for assistance and couragement. Sufficient aid to furnish the house and devote it to its purp was soon obtained.

A staff of physicians, who devote their time and services gratuito

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CITY OF DAYTON.

Ty: selected. Applicants of admission came pouring in, and the hospital beame a fixed fact.

At once an additional two-story frame house was erected on the premises, h two houses accommodating forty-one patients. Sister Emilie was the Su- E or in charge for about one and a half years, and was succeeded by Sis- 'e Columba, who is still the Sister Superior, assisted by fourteen resident STers.

The necessities of the institution demand more room, and, in fact, a more xinsive base for a full display of its great usefulness. The Sisters have jected six acres of land, known as the Patterson Brown property, in Brown- ton, and began the erection of a building that will presumably accommodate Alrequirements for many years to come.

The corner-stone of the building was laid September 17, 1881, by the erable Father, John F. Hahne, it having been his last official act. The ding is constructed of brick, with stone trimmings. The main building 3 )x46 feet, five stories and an attic. Wings on either side of main build- n. 40x35 feet.

Two rear wings 25x26 feet, four stories and an attic.

In rear of hospital is a building, 43x45, for kitchen, laundry and boiler- hcse purposes.

The interior arrangements and the various floors will be used as follows: First story will be devoted to work room, linen room, apothecary, waiting ), physician's room, parlor, five bed-rooms, offices.

Second floor will have one large ward and one small ward, both for men. Fr private rooms for men, accident ward, operating room and two surgeons' sals.

Third floor, consists of two wards for men and two wards for women, and he private rooms for women.

Fourth floor, two wards for women, two wards for men, also, three private as for men.

Fifth floor will be devoted to bed-rooms for the Sisters. There will be an lator from the basement to the attic.

Entering the main entrance, the visitor pases through a hall nine by nine- e feet into the main staircase hall, which is 22x23 feet, and which continues o le top of the building. Branching off from each side of this hall is a cor- icr eight feet wide, running through to each end of the building, with stair- wis at each end.

Each floor will have two pantries, with dumb waiter in each from base- n t, through which all meals will be served.

There will be two bath-rooms in each story, also water-closets and wash as.

The building will be heated by steam, and ventilated in the best manner, Ci by natural and artificial means. There will be covered piazzas on each uy of the two rear wings for the accommodation of convalescent patients.

Store and other rooms will be located in the basement.

The building will cost $65, 000.

The hospital is under the management of the Sisters.

The following-named physicians have constituted the medical staff of the nitution since its establishment:

President of Staff, J. C. Reeve, M. D .; Consulting Physicians and Sur- seis, E. Pilate, M. D., T. L. Neal, M. D., John Davis, M. D .; Visiting Phy- sits and Surgeons, W. J. Conklin, M. D., J. D. Daugherty, M. D., H. S. Jew- t.M. D.

754

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

The number of Patients received and treated during the year ending A ust 31, 1881, is given as follows:

Male. Female.

In Hospital September 1, 1880.

September.

October.

November

December.

January.

February

March.

April

May.

June.

July.

August

Grand Total

232

6-1

Civil condition-Married and widowed, 100; Unmarried, 172. Total, : Religion-Catholic, 146; Protestants, 126. Total, 272.

Nationalities-United States, 133; Germany, 78; Ireland, 42; Engle 6; Switzerland, 4; France, 3; Wales, 2; Denmark, 1; Holland, 1; Canada Bavaria, 1. Total, 272.

Ages-Under twenty years, 32; between twenty and thirty years. 74; tween thirty and forty years, 57; between forty and fifty years, 40: between ty and sixty years, 30; between sixty and seventy years, 22; between seve and eighty years, 9; between eighty and ninety years, 4; unknown, 4. To 272.

Male. Female.

Recovered.

165

Improved.

Unimproved.

Died ..

Remaining in Hospital August 31, 1881.

,Since the opening of the hospital, 824 patients have been admitted treatment.

WOODLAND CEMETERY.

This hallowed spot is conveniently and beautifully located on an elev; tract of ground a little southeast of the city. - Though within the corpo limits, it is so situated as likely never to be disturbed by the onward gr and progress of the city. It comprises nearly one hundred acres of grow whose surface is composed almost entirely of hills and valleys, which covered with numerous forest trees, with here and there numbers of the ch est evergreens and deciduous trees. The ground rises continually. the gradually; yet in some places the ascent is steep, from the entrance to summit of the main hill, about two-thirds of the distance of the cemetery t north to south. There are a number of neat and spacious avenues traver. the entire grounds, rendering, by their numerous intersections, each lot of access. These avenues are sixteen in number, and are appropriately prettily named, a number receiving their appellations from the kind of t skirting their borders, and are as follows: Red Oak. Walnut, Van Cleve, Ri Maple, North, West, Cherry, Sycamore, Ash, Locust, Cottonwood, South, Sa

755

CITY OF DAYTON.

fra Monument and Valley, the latter being the principal one, and passes hugh the great valley from the northeast to southwest. The grounds are blied with running water, water-works having been built in 1877, at a cost f 4,300. On the summit of the hill, in the northern part of the cemetery, .s e reservoir, holding about four hundred barrels, into which the water is "and a distance of 184 feet, by means of a steam force pump of twelve-horse- PoPr. The supply is furnished from a well below. Twenty-two self-closing y'ants are distributed throughout the grounds, and a beautiful little lake, a low pipe fountain in its center, is gently nestled in a low and valley- kspot by the surrounding hills. The numerous hills, forming on either 10 of the many avenues, terraces of great natural beauty, affording excellent for bank tombs or vaults, of which the cemetery has many. The "public ut" is of this kind, and is situated in the southwestern part of the cemetery, the entrance. Many artistically designed and costly monuments dot the grounds. On the brow of a hill near the lake is situated "De Graff hoel." It is a very imposing structure of one apartment, probably 2.2 feet, built entirely of stone and marble, with copper door, and con- vi, the remains of two of that family, deposited in massive marble. of Gothic architecture, and its peculiarity calls forth this mentioning. Viin the grounds is what was formerly the Superintendent's residence, situ- ne at the entrance, not far from which has just been erected a fine brick wwling, more commodious for the purpose, at a cost of over $4,000. The tiative steps toward the establishment of a rural cemetery where every pos- -b safeguard should be thrown around the resting-place of the dead, were kı in 1840 by Mr. John W. Van Cleve, to whom more than to any other erin are the people of Dayton indebted for their beautiful cemetery, and for Prosperity which has attended the enterprise from the beginning. At his a, in 1858, the Trustees expressed their sense of obligation to him in a i ble memorial which is recorded in the minutes and appears in this sketch. i first graveyard of Dayton, located at the northeast corner of Main and ('l streets, was, after a few years' occupation, abandoned, and the shocking veacle was often witnessed of human remains exposed to view, in excavating . l'es for the business houses which now cover the whole ground. In 1805, Vatel C. Cooper donated a tract of land for the use of the Presbyterian and Te odist Churches, and the town of Dayton, for burial purposes. It was situat- Lo West Fifth street, and was thought to be so remote from the town that it onl never be encroached upon. In less than thirty years, it was found to suitable for the purpose, and in the course of time interments were for- don in it by city ordinance. It was with this view that the question of a rural 'utery arose. Articles of association were drawn up by Mr. Van Cleve in rary, 1841, and fifty signatures were obtained, the subscribers forming e selves into an association under the name and style of "The Woodland Cem- en Association," and purchased of Augustus George, for the establishment of i rial cemetery in the vicinity of the town, forty acres of ground, to be taken aquare, at the price of $60 per acre. A meeting of the subscribers was Ill at the office of the Firemen's Insurance Company, on Thursday evening, l'iary 18, 1841. James Steele was appointed Chairman, and David C. hub, Secretary, at which meeting was organized the Woodland Cemetery As- ilion by the election of the following officers: Trustees, Job Haines, James 1 .The, Edward W. Davies, J. D. Phillips and John W. Van Cleve; Secretary, Holt C. Schenck; Treasurer, David Z. Peirce. At a subsequent meeting of the rustees, John W. Van Cleve was elected President of the Association. ilit in order of time, began the third rural cemetery of any magnitude estab- Ish, in the United States, preceding Spring Grove, at Cincinnati, three

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

years. On the 29th of April, 1841, a deed was received from Augustus Ge for the forty acres of ground above referred to. This tract of land was cov with a dense growth of forest trees, many of them of the largest size. ground was at once inclosed, and suitable carriage ways laid out, and the y subdivided into burial lots, seventeen by twenty-two feet each. This me of division has not been followed by the Trustees in platting new grc The act to incorporate the cemetery was passed February 28, 1842, and add by the association April 16 of the same year. On the 7th day of June, the cemetery was opened, and the lots offered at public sale, and on the of the same month the grounds were dedicated with the following order o ercises: Prayer by Rev. James C. Barnes; hymn-Old Hundred; addre Rev. John W. Hall; hymn-Pleyel's German hymn; dedication and praye Rev. Ethan Allen; hymn-Dundee; benediction. The first interment made July 11, 1843, when were interred the remains of Allen Cullum, near the center of the cemetery. It has been the aim of the Trustees t crease the size of the grounds by the purchase of adjacent land when opp nity offered. Contiguity to the city, while an advantage in some respect: rendered large additions of ground impossible; however, the cemetery comprises more than twice the amount of the original purchase, and it is mated that over thirty acres of available ground remain unsold. The lence of fine forest trees very appropriately gave the name of Woodland i cemetery. The sylva of the grounds, in 1843, as recorded by Mr. Van ( exhibited forty-one different kinds of trees. Before the opening of the gro such trees as were thought unsuitable were removed, and, up to 1870, no further had been done, and owing to the growth and decay of trees, it thought best to remove a large number, which work was superintended b. James Kidd, who proved himself thoroughly competent. The same yea Trustees planted in suitable places large numbers of the choicest evergreer deciduous trees, heretofore spoken of.

The following officers were elected for the years indicated. Pres John W. Van Cleve, elected February 18, 1841, deceased September 6, Secretary, Robert C. Schenck, elected February 18, 1841; term expired ruary 18, 1853. Robert W. Steele, elected Secretary, February 18, 1853; e President September 14, 1858. Edwin Smith, elected September 14. term expired September 11, 1865. Ziba Crawford, elected September 11. Treasurer-D. Z. Peirce, elected February 18, 1841; deceased August 15, V. Winters, elected March 4, 1861. Superintendent of Grounde-G Lane, appointed : deceased September 5, 1860. William W. Lan pointed September 5, 1860; resigned June 14, 1869. J. C. Cline, appo

June 14, 1869. Trustees, 1841 to 1882-John W. Van Cleve, elected I ary 18, 1841; deceased September 6, 1858. Job Haines, elected Februa 1841; deceased July 16, 1860. James Perrine, elected February 18, deceased January 22, 1864. J. D. Phillips, elected February 18, 184. ceased February 13, 1871. Edward W. Davies, elected February 18, deceased December 11, 1873. Robert W. Steele, elected September 14, Thomas Brown, elected March 4, 1861; term expired September 11, 186 G. Lowe, elected April 16, 1864.

Andrew Gump, elected September 11. term expired February 18, 1875. John H. Winters, elected March 13, Thomas Brown, re-elected January 12, 1874. S. W. Davies elected Fel 18, 1875. Present officers and Trustees as follows: Robert W. Steele, dent; Ziba Crawford, Secretary; Valentine Winters, Treasurer; John C. Superintendent; Robert W. Steele, John G. Lowe, John H. Winters, T Brown and Samuel W. Davies, Trustees.

The ground now comprising the cemetery cost about $30,000, an

757

CITY OF DAYTON.

et purchased in quantities (excepting the first forty acres), from a fraction of lot to ten acres, from the following named persons: Johnson V. Perrine aes Stover, Mary George, Nathaniel Hast, Prosser & Snider, P. Hamilton, . radford, S. Boltin, Master Commissioner, W. Eichelberger, M. M. Dodds, VH. Gill, Dr. J. Coblentz, estate J. V. Perrine, M. Bodem's heirs, Daniel Beger, Sarah D. Beckel and S. N. Brown, and in about ten different years. 'Tre were removed from the old graveyards about fifteen hundred remains, n'up to May 1, 1882, there have been interred (including all removals from otlr cemeteries), 11,092 bodies. The statement below, gives the number of attments from 1843 to February 1, 1882: 1843, 10; 1844, 58; 1845, 101: Si, 88; 1847, 93; 1848, 119; 1849, 188; 1850, 187; 1851, 141; 1852, 180; >, 219; 1854, 412; 1855, 328; 1856, 292; 1857, 193; 1858, 257; 1859, 3 1860, 317; 1861, 318; 1862, 318; 1863, 300; 1864. 381; 1865, 300; 36, 325; 1867, 264; 1868, 324; 1869, 404; 1870, 396; 1871, 339; 1872. - 30 1873, 383; 1874, 353; 1875, 391; 1876, 379; 1877, 405: 1878, 356; 1879. 1 1880, 421; 1881 (to February 1, 1882). 465.

CALVARY CEMETERY.

On the 9th of July, 1872, Calvary Cemetery Association was organized, ncthe following first Board of Trustees elected: Revs. J. F. Hahne, William arey, F. J. Goetz and H. Stuckenborg, for the term of three years; Will- n Helfrich, N. Ohmer, John Stephans and Henry Hilgefort, for two years. ncRobert Chambers, Severin Wiegert, Theodore Barlow and Henry Schlaman. or ne year; Jacob Stephans, elected Clerk. Soon thereafter were purchased n'y acres of ground two and a half miles south of the city, and the name alvary Cemetery given it. It is beautifully situated on the bluffs of the ret Miami. It has been regularly laid out into lots, and is dotted with

Lr obery. The cost of the ground was $25,000. The following table 03 the number of interments thus far made in the cemetery: July 1, 1875, ly 1, 1876, 91; July 1. 1876, to July 1, 1877. 151; July 1, 1877, to July 1, 175; July 1, 1878, to July 1, 1879, 181; July 1, 1879, to July 1, 1880, July 1, 1880, to July 1, 1881, 265; July 1, 1881, to May 23, 1882, 270; 1& 1,347. Of this number, 315 were removed from St. Henry's Cemetery, d'Isewhere. The cemetery is exclusively a Catholic burying-ground. Present officers are as follows: N. Ohmer, Vice President; John H. Finke, c tary; A. Froendhoff, Treasurer; William Irvin, Superintendent.

Executive Committee-N. Ohmer, M. Walter, Henry Hilgefort, S. Wiegert. Trustees or Directors -- Emanuel's Church, Michael Walter and A. Froend- f St. Joseph's Church, Rev. J. J. O'Donohue, Nicholas Ohmer, James I.uiett. St. Mary's Church, Rev. H. Stuckenborg, Severin Wiegert, Franz mi Holy Trinity Church, Rev. T. J. Goetz, Henry Hilgefort, Sebastian Dhle.

ST. HENRY'S CEMETERY.

The first burying-ground of the Catholics bore this name. In September, + one-half of what was known as Outlot No. 27, was purchased by coishop Purcell of Thomas Morrison. for $305. March 2. 1853, the it half of the same lot was purchased by the same gentleman of E. W. LT's, for $800. These two pieces of ground with, perhaps, later additions, netute St. Henry's Cemetery. Interments were made therein soon after le reparation of the ground for a graveyard. It is like the other burying- grords located south of the city, yet is within the corporate limits. The grouds are inclosed by a high board fence, and contain many beautiful shade treeand evergreens, with shrubbery. Few interments are now made in it. 1

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

as pretty much all of the space has been taken up, and it is considered abandoned.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 83

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