Crawford County, Ohio - Chapter 24: Bucyrus, the County Seat, 1912 (part 3 of 3)

Mr. Hopley remained for two years, and under him the schools were developed into system, and graded schools were for the first time really started, and have continued ever since. He was succeeded in the spring of 1858 by Alexander Miller, who had charge for three years at a salary of $800. The pupils increased in such numbers that additional room was needed, and at different times the M. E. Church, the old Baptist Church on Walnut street, and the Congregational Church had to be used for school purposes. In September, 1 861, B. B. McVey became superintendent at a salary of $800, and remained three years, and in September, 1864 was succeeded by S. J. Kirkwood, the salary being increased to $1,- ooo. He only remained one year and in September, 1865, J. C. Harper became superintendent and remained five years, his salary being several times increased until his last year it was $1,600. Under Air. Harper the grading was still further systematized, the new schoolhouse was built and the first class was graduated.

The crowded condition of the schools was such that in 1863 the board took the first steps toward securing better accommodations. On May 18, 1863, three propositions were submitted to the people:

I - For the sale of the old schoolhouse. This resulted, Yes 83 ; Xo i . 2 - For the purchase of the Gormly grove; Yes 84; Xo o. 3 - For a tax to improve said lot, Yes 84, X'o o. Everybody appeared to favor the proposition so a light vote was cast. The Gormly grove a little over two acres adjoining the school building on the east was purchased for $1,600. In June they voted unanimously, but only 2"] votes were cast, to build an addition to the brick schoolhouse, and to levy a tax of $9,000 for that purpose. Xothing was done about building the addition, and two years later the Congregational Church was bought for S3 .000, and fitted up into school rooms ; the old frame schoolhouse on West ^^'arren was now a part of the Bucyrus School district, and here the senior grammar had quarters. There was a wa^e throughout the state for large school buildings, and on Feb. 24, 1866, a proposition was submitted to the people to levy a tax of 840,000 to build a handsome new structure. The vote was yes 160, no 275. a majority of 106 against a large building. ]More room was absolutely necessary and the board submitted another proposition on April 13, 1867, asking for Si 0,000 or S20,ooo for a new building. The vote resulted, For a 820,000 levy, 102 ; for a Sio,ooo levy, 7; against any levy 44. The 820,000 proposition carried, and with this as a starter the board commenced the present building. A. Koehler of Cleveland was the architect who drew the designs, and when he presented them to the board, they were all so pleased that they later let the contract to the Bucyrus Machine Works to construct the building for $46,900. In the fall of 1867 the work commenced, and in April 1868, the old building was torn down, and the corner stone of the new one laid by the Masonic fraternity on July 30, 1868, in the presence of 5,000 people. Rev. Joshua Crouse and John R. Cljnuer, editor of the Forum, delivering addresses in English, and Rev. Jacob Graessle, in German. The foundation was completed and the walls were up, when money ran short, and an additional $20,000 was asked for. Many were indignant at the manner in which so large a structure tiad been contracted for against their wishes, yet the people had such a pride in the handso(ne structure, that the levy was authorized, the vote standing for the tax 195; against 144.

From April i, 1868, until Jan. i, 1869, schools were discontinued to save money to complete the building. It was useless to ask for more money; the Congregational Church was sold to the Baptists for $2,750 and everything salable was turned into cash, and by Feb. I, 1869, the building was under roof. On Jan. I, 1869 the schools had started, the high school in the Blair Hall, the senior grammar in the District schoolhouse on Warren street, and the Intermediate and Primaries in the old frame. On Sept. 18, 1869 the building was dedicated, Chapel Hall being crowded, and many unable to gain admittance A dedicatory poem written by William Hubbard was read by John R. Clymer; addresses were delivered by State School Commissioner D. W. Hinkle, Rev. A. S. :^Iillholland, C. \\\ Butterfield Prof. J. C. Hartzler of the Gallon schools. Miss Sarah Franz and others, and the affair closed with a dance. The board was heavily in debt, and 812,000 was asked for. An accounting was demanded. The board made a coinplete statement, showing the two levies voted had brought in 840,000; from the sale of old buildings, &c., they had raised 85,000. The amount paid the Bucyrus Machine Company on their contract was 850,415.69; the furniture, heating outbuildings and other necessary expenses amounted to 825,000 more. With receipts from the regular school levies and the bond sales the board had spent 8120,000 in the past four years in running the schools and on the building. The report showed that while there were some expenses that might have been a\oided, there Avas nothing dishonest and nothing to reflect on the business integrity of any member of the board. Yet the people were indignant at the manner in which an expensive building had been forced upon them against their wishes, several times expressed by their vote, and the money was refused, the vote standing. Yes 151 ; No, 292. The debts had to be paid and a friendly Legislature was appealed to and they authorized the Board of Education to make the levy, and it was done. The people, however, at the first election voted out of office every member of the board when he came up for reelection. Yet inside of ten years all took such a just and natural pride in what was then the largest and handsomest school building of any town in the state, that opinion changed, and they gave credit to the men who, exercising their own judgment against the wishes of the people, had seen fit to build the handsome structure believing that the people would later recognize they were acting for the best interests of Bucyrus and its school children, and while not one of the members of that board is alive today, every one lived long enough to see his act approved by the large majority of his fellow citizen ;. The board who built the present schoolhouse was made up as follows : Dr. C. Fulton, president ; John R. Clymer, secretary; John Franz, treasurer; Judge James Clements, George Donnenwirth, and Samuel Hoyt.

In the summer of 1870, Miss Marcella Swingly became superintendent of the schools with a salary of $1,100; she was succeeded three years later by F. M. Hamilton, who served the longest term of any superintendent. He commenced in 1873, his salary being $1,700. After 22 years he was succeeded in 1895, by J. J. Bliss, who remained 12 years, and in September, 1907, W. N. Beetham became the superintendent.

When the new building was first used as a schoolhouse in 1870, the enrollment was 785 ; of these 38 were in the High School, 182 in the four grammar schools, 266 in the five intermediate, and 299 in the four primary. In 1887 the enrollment had increased to 1,065, ^"^^ across the river, were several hundred people, and more school accommodations being necessary, the North Side schoolhouse was built; and as the occasion demanded other school buildings were erected, the West Side building in 189s, when the enrollment showed 1,325, and the East Side building in 1903, and the

South Side building in 1912, and arrangements are being made for the building of a Central High School building. The High School, which in 1870 had an enrollment of 38 and occupied one room in the new building today has an enrollment of 295, and occupies the entire third floor and a pan of the second of the large Central building. The one teacher then has increased to a principal with nine instructors of the various branches. The total school force is now 41, the superintendent, 38 teachers, and two special instructors.

The veteran teachers of the past were Mrs. Caroline P. Wiley, widow of George Wiley, who was the second probate judge of the county, elected in 1854, and died in August, 1855. In 1857 Mrs. Wiley commenced teaching in the public schools, and resigned in 1892, after a service of 35 years, filling her position in the primary grade under seven superintendents. The other veteran teacher was Miss Sarah Sheckler, who commenced in 1865, and taught in various departments until 1897, a period of 32 years. Of the present teachers, Miss Emily Sheckler began in 1873 and Miss Lizzie Stauffer in 1874.

The first class was graduated in 1870, and numbered six, all young ladies, Sarah Franz, Mary Howenstein, Anna Sears, Sallie Sims. Emma Summers and Kate Swingley. The next class had but three and the class of '72 had nine, when the first young men were graduated, Thomas P. Hopley and Charles Picking, the former being the first president of the Alumni Association, which was organized in 1878. The youngest graduate was Charles J. Scroggs, who completed the school course before he had reached his fourteenth birthday. He was a member of the class of 'jj.

In i860 the Ohio State Normal School was organized at Bucyrus with Martain Deal as president, the first term started on Aug. 13 of that year; the rooms were in the third story of the Quinby Block and over each window in large letters was painted the name of the institution. There were 24 windows in the building, and the singularity was the name allowed a letter over each window with a window intervening between each word. Isaac F. Bangs was the principal of the school, with Miss Harriet M. Angel as assistant. The first term had an enrollment of 54. This was in-

The first teachers' institute was held in 1850, commencing on March 18, and continuing one week, and there was an attendance of 30. A second was held in October of the same year with 35 present, and the third in April, 1861.

In the early days nearly all business was done by exchange of commodities, what one man had he exchanged with his neighbor for what he might want that the neighbor had. And even merchants purchased their supplies more with an exchange of commodities than with cash. The farmer brought in his 12 dozen eggs or more, and exchanged them for a yard of calico or less. If any man accumulated too much money, he secreted it about the house, or buried it in his yard. That is, if it was real money, gold or silver. For the money in those early days was mostly paper issued by banks in the larger cities. If he had these, he promptly paid them out for more land or something tangible, as they were of such fluctuating value that their purchasing power varied from nothing up to few cents below par. No man was so wise, but he frequently found his stock disposed of for currency which had little or no value. Leading merchants had a bank detector which they received weekly which gave the value of all notes issued by the different banks in the United States, so they might know the value of all currency, and also keep posted on the counterfeit notes in circulation, for the money was cheaply printed and easily imitated.

Business men kept their own money, and in 1848 Dr. R. T. Johnston had a drug store, and one night was aroused by the cry of "fire," and hurried to the scene and found that his own store was in danger. He knew that in his desk was a wallet containing a large sum of money. The building was filled with smoke, but he found his way to his desk which he unlocked, took out the wallet and made his exit by the back door, and here half suffocated, he staggered into purer air and falling, dropped the pocket book among the debris in the backyard. There was no time for further search and he was compelled to abandon the wallet. The next morning after a two hours' search he found the wallet in the ruins at the back of the

The town was increasing in business, and in 1849 William W. Miller and Paul I. Hetich started a broker's office in the Hetich Block, now 1 19 South Sandusky. Mr. Miller came to Bucyrus with his father Peter Miller in 1835, and their first work was to haul dirt from over the river to fill up the Public Square, which was under water about half the year. With his father, in December of that year, they purchased the Moderwell building where the Hotel Royal now stands for $850 and started a store. The firm was Peter Miller & Son until the father died in 1839, when Mr. Miller conducted the business alone, until the building was destroyed by the fire in 1848, which burned a dozen buildings on the southwest corner of the Square. Mr. Miller had prospered. Paul I. Hetich came from Pennsylvania -in 1837, was interested in a saw mill at Olentangy, and he too had prospered. So they started the first bank in Bucyrus.

They put out a sign with only the words "Hetich & Miller, Exchange Brokers." Their business was the exchanging of the notes of different States; a merchant going east, went to the office, and exchanged what western bank notes he had for notes on eastern banks, as western notes were only taken in the east at a very heavy discount. Similarly people coming from the east, had their money exchanged for western notes, a per cent being charged for the exchange. Another line was the buying of "uncurrent funds," - the notes of broken or badly demoralized banks. Still another was the lending of the money, the interest being only limited by the emergency of the borrower and what he would stand. In the thirties, E. B. Merriman had need of money as he had a bargain in some cattle to take east. Money was not to be had in Bucyrus, so he rode across the country to Norwalk and secured of John Gardiner who ran a bank there, $1,000, bought his cattle, took them east and sold them. After the sale he discovered a bargain in a large line of mercantile goods and he purchased the entire lot which he brought to Bucyrus, and when pay day came he had plenty of merchandise, but no money; Gardiner wrote, and Merriman explained the situation and stated that when the goods were sold, he would meet the note; time passed until three years rolled by, when Mr. Merriman wrote that at the next payment of the Indians of their annuities allowed by the Government he would have the money ready. Gardiner drove across with his wagon; the Government paid the Indians in silver, and as fast as they were paid off they paid the accounts they owed Mr. Merriman, and when Mr. Gardiner returned he took with him over $2,700 in silver, the interest having been 40 per cent compounded annually. The Gardiner Bank is still running, and is now the Norwalk National, with John Gardiner as president, over 90 years of age, and at the office nearly every day. Hetich & Miller were probably more modest in their interest charges, but still their only limit was what the customer would stand.

The exchange office was so successful, that one of the proprietors was known as the "rich Miller." On April 18, they started the Bucyrus Bank, with a capital stock of $20,000. It was located in the old Ward building, then the Miller Block, where the Flohr shoe store now is. The owners of the bank were Paul I. Hetich, William W. Miller, George Quinby, Franklin Adams of Bucyrus ; David Anderson of DeKalb, R. W. Musgrave of Sulphur Springs, Abraham Momnett of Crawford County, John Sherman, James Purdy and William S. Granger of Mansfield. Paul I. Hetich was president and David Anderson, jr., cashier. In 1856 the bank reorganized, Hetich, Miller, Adams and Musgrave becoming the proprietors. Paul I. Hetich was president, with George Quinby as cashier, succeeded by Gerard Reynolds and later in 1856 by Frank Patterson who held the position until January I, 1861, when he was succeeded by David L. Fullerton, and on July i, 1861, the bank discontinued business.

On Monday, April 21, 1856, the Exchange Bank commenced business in a frame building at the west end of the Quinby Block, with George Quinby as president and Gerard Reynolds as cashier. James B. Gormly had just completed a business course at the Cincinnati Commercial College, and entered the bank as teller. Mr. Quinby was at that time treasurer of the Ohio and Indiana road and the bank was a depository for the railroad funds. The stock of the road was very low, and the bank frequently bought up the road's certificates at 5 cents on the dollar. The bank once bought of James McLean $2,000 of stock for $100. Later that same year the road was consolidated with the Ohio and Pennsylvania, and stock went up rapidly. The bank removed to No. 2 Quinby Block until Mr. Quinby could erect the three western rooms of his building and when these were completed the bank returned to the old corner. The bank discontinued business in the spring of 1861, Mr. Quinby went into other business and Mr. Reynolds entered the army, became major in the cavalry service and was killed while leading a charge at the battle of Roanoke, on June 25, 1864.

The Peoples Deposit Bank commenced business on Aug. I, 1859, and has been in business ever since, the oldest bank in Bucyrus. It was organized by John A. Gormly and his son James B. Their room was the west room of the Rowse Block. John A. Gormly was president and James B. Gormly, cashier. One important affair occurred in this room. One day in cashing up they found the funds an even one thousand dollars short. There was no way to account for the loss except from an overpayment; there was but one transaction in which they believed the error could possibly have occured; the man was seen, but he assured them there was no overpayment in the transaction. There was no proof and the bank fathered the loss. The father and son were both satisfied as to who had the money, but like the bankers they were, the soul of honor and integrity, they never hinted the name to any one, and the identity of the guilty person is' known to but one man, the present president of the bank, who has carried the secret for over 50 years. In i860 James P. Bowman built his block at the corner of Sandusky and Rensselear; the north room was fitted up expressly for the bank, and here it was moved to its new quarters in August, 1 861. In August, 1862, the bank had $20,000 in gold, and the war had sent gold to a premium. Starting at a small per cent it had gone up to 6 and 8, and was constantly advancing. Finally the president wrote to a personal friend, the president of the Nassau Bank, in New York, asking advice, and he said they had better sell as "he did not see how it could possibly go any higher." In August of that year it had reached 14 per cent premium, and ^Ir. John A. Gormly went east to personally look over the situation, and while there sold at 15 per cent, premium, clearing $3,000. (Later gold reached $3.85.)

On ^lay 28, 1864, the bank was reorganized as the First National Bank \\ith a capital stock of $100,000, its number being 443. There were a thousand shares of $100 each, and there were 34 stockholders, and of these but two are still living, James B. Gormly and Benjamin Sears. They met on April 18, 1864, to organize, and a committee of three consisting of John A. Gormly, James P. Bowman, and W^illiam M. Reid were appointed to report the names of seven directors. When the committee retired, Mr. Gormly regretted being on the committee as he expected to be one of the new directors; Mr. Bowman expressed a similar view, Mr. Reid said they certainly ought to be on, and wrote the names of the seven directors, naming everyone himself; they were reported to the stockholders and promptly elected. These first directors were John A. Gormly, James P. Bowman, James S. Kerr, John Kaler, Horace Rowse, Benjamin Sears and John Monnett, Mr. Sears being the only one still living. The directors organized by electing John A. Gormly president, and James B. Gormly cashier. By Jan. 2, 1865, there was another accumulation of gold, amounting to $1,500, and this was sold at $2.25 amounting to $3,375. In June, 1864, George C. Gormly entered the bank as assistant cashier. On May 8, 1868, John A. Gormly died and James B. Gormly became president with George C. Gormly as' cashier. The charter was renewed in 1884 and again in 1904. In 1893, the bank ^^-as officered by the Gormlys, James B. Gormly being president ; his brother George C., vice-president; John Clark Gormly, son of the vice-president, cashier, and James B., jr., son of the president, assistant cashier. Clark Gormly went into business at Cleveland, and was succeeded as cashier by James B. Gormly, jr., and on his death H. E. Valentine was cashier with Edwin G. Beal as assistant cashier. On the retiring of Air. Valentine, Edwin G. Beal was elected cashier. \\'^hile Mr. James B. Gormly is president the active duties of the office are cared for by his son-in-law, W H. Picking, one of the vice-presidents.

Alusgrave, organized the banking house of Scott Biddle & Co., their bank being what is now the south room of the Deal House, the present office of the Bucyrus and Alarion electric. May 18, 1868, on the death of Air. Musgrave, his interest was transferred to Franklin Adams as trustee. In 1873 the bank was reorganized as the Scott & Adams Bank and so continued until Jan. i, 1879, when the bank was discontinued, Mr. Scott going to Cleveland.

Orf Dec. 12, 1881, the Alonnett Bank was organized, with a capital stock of $50,000, the following being the organizers: E. B., J. T., A. E., M. H., and M. W. Alonnett, J. H. Malcolm, J. C. Tobias, L. H. Ross, and George Donnenwirth, every one being a son or son-inlaw of Abraham Monnett, excepting Mr. Donnenwirth. The bank was opened in the Miller Block, now the Flohr shoe stoie, and its first officers were E. B. Monnett, president ; George Donnenwirth ^ice-president ; M. \A'. Monnett cashier, W. A. Blicke assistant cashier. In 1892 it was reorganized as the Bucyrus City Bank with a capital stock of $60,000. By degrees the Monnetts all disposed of their stock with the exception of J. C. Tobias, and George Donnenwirth became president, J. H. Robinson, cashier, and W. A. Blicke as assistant cashier. In 1897 they bought the corner they now occupy and built the three-story brick. Mr. Donnenwirth has remained as president ever since his first election. Air. Robinson became vice-president and W. A. Blicke, cashier. It is the only private bank in the city, and has resources of over a million dollars.

On Jan. i, 1878, the Crawford County bank commenced business in the old Boeman Block, which stood where the present Second National Bank building is located. It was organized with a capital stock of $50,000 by Abraham Alonnett, George \\^ Hull, L. W. Hull, E. Blair, and Lovell B. Harris of Upper Sandusky. Abraham Alonnett was president ; G. W. Hull, vice-president; L. W. Hull, cashier, and M. W. Monnett, assistant cashier. On March 19, 1 88 1, Abraham Alonnett died, and George W. Hull became president. On Jan. i, 1885 it was reorganized as the Second National Bank, with G. ^V. Hull as president, M. J. Monnett, vicepresident ; J. C. F. Hull as cashier ; \\\ P. Rowland, assistant cashier; J. H. Robinson, teller.

On the deatli of G. VV. Hull in 1890, II. J. Monnett became president, filling the position until he went west when E. Blair became president, a position he held until his death in June of this year, when G. K. Zeigler was elected. J. C. F Hull continued as cashier until he joined his brother-in-law M. J. Monnett, in the west, in 1907, when A. G. Stoltz became cashier.

The Farmers and Citizens Banking and Savings Company was organized as a State bankon Oct. 5, 1907. The first board of directors was C. R. Rowe, R. O. Perrott, F C. Heinlen, Fred Schiefer, D. B. Eichelberger, Henry H.

The directors organized by electing G. W Miller, president; Amos Keller and T. M. Kennedy, vice-presidents ; H. E. Kiess, cashier. They opened in the Lake room in the Quinby Block on Jan. 6, 1908, and removed to their present room on May 9 of the same year.

Bucyrus has also two flourishing Building and Loan Associations which have been in e.xistence twenty years. The Bucyrus Building and Loan Association, with James W. Miller as secretary, and the People's Savings, Loan and Building Company, A. J. Richards, secretary.