Licking County, Ohio - Chapter 36: Literary People of the County, Authors and Compilers, 1881

Licking county, have acquired a reputation as authors and compilers. Their names, and the titles of the volumes they wrote or compiled will be given, as far as they are known and remembered.

Honorable Herbert Howe Bancroft is the author of an elaborate work of five volumes, octavo, entitled 'The Native Races of the Pacific States of North America." He is a native of Granville, but is now, and has been for twenty years or more, a resident of San Francisco. His work was published in 1876. .

Dr. J. R. Black, of Newark, gave to the public a small volume of three hundred and twentytwo pages in 1873; its title being "The Ten Laws of Health."

Mr. Benjamin F, Ells, formerly of Newark, prepared and published, many years ago, in Dayton, Ohio, where he then lived, "A Grammar of the English Language."

Mrs.- Helen King Spangler, a native of Newark, but now a resident of Coshocton, is the author of a book of about four hundred pages, entitled "The Physician's Wife," which has run through quite a number or editions.

Mr. William M. Cunningham wrote the following works: "The Manual of the Ancient and Accepted Rite," which is a volume of two hundred and seventy-two pages, and bears the imprint of

Philadelphia, 1864; "Cross Masonic Text-Book ;" "Cross Masonic Chart;" "Cross Templars' Chart, 1865;" "Craft Masonry, 1874;" "Capitular Masonry;" "Cryptic Masonry;" "Templar Masonry." The author of the foregoing volumes is 'a native of Newark and has never lived elsewhere.

Mr. George W. Ingraham, city solicitor of Newark, compiled a volume of one hundred and eightyfour pages,' bearing the title of 'Revised Ordinances of the City,of Newark, Ohio, of a general nature, in force June 1, 1876."

Miss Minnie Sprague, a native of Newark, and always a resident, is the author of a popular work of fiction that has run through half a score or more editions, entitled "An Earnest Trifler." Although "An Earnest. Trifler" is the production of our most youthful author, and has been most recentiy issued, has,, nevertheless, been in more extensive demand, and' has obtained a wider circulation than the works of any of our authors, unless the Masonic

Honorable W. D. Morgan, who has been long a citizen of Licking county, while auditor of State, gave to the people of Ohio, annually, a "Report of the Auditor of State" for the years 1852, '53, 54," 55-

Mr. J. H. Newton wrote and-compiled an extensive volume entitled, "History of the Pan Handle; being historical collections of the counties of Ohio, Brooke, Marshall and Hancock, West. Virginia." He is also understood to be the author of histories of a number of counties in Ohio, including those of Belmont and Jefferson. From the title page of his history of the Pan Handle counties of West Virginia, it appears that he had associated with him Messrs. G. G. Nichols and A. G. Sprankle.

The work is very large, consisting of nearly five hundred large pages, is well got up, and. its production involved a large amount of labor.

PAMPHLETEERS. - -Near the close of Rev. Thomas D. Baird's ministry in the First Presbyterian church, of Newark, which terminated in 1820, he wrote a pamphlet of a somewhat controversial nature on the subject of church music, maintaining the right and the propriety of the members of the congregation, but who were not in communion with the church, but were of good moral character, to not only participate therein, but to lead in it if they had inclination and capacities fitting them for the positions.

Hon. Jacob Winter wrote a pamphlet of seven pages, double columns, entitled "A History of the Disciple Churches in Licking County, Ohio." It appeared as No. 4, in the series of pioneer pamphlets issued by the Licking County Pioneer His. torical and Antiquarian society, and was published in 1870.

Rey. H. M. Hervey wrote a pamphlet of twenty pages, double columns, in 1869, bearing the fol lowing title: '' Historical Sketches of the Presby terian Churches (O. S.,) in Licking County, Ohio being the substance of papers read before the Licking County Pioneer Association." It formec No. 1, in the series of pioneer pamphlets.

Hon. Samuel Park prepared two pamphlets being numbered respectively five and six, in thé pioneer series. The title of No. 5 was, "Notes 0 the Early History of Union Township, Lickins County, Ohio," read before a joint meeting of the pioneer associations of the counties of Franklin Muskingum and Licking, at their celebration o the National anniversary, at Pataskala, Ohio, July 4, 1870. The title of No. 6 is, "American An tiquities, Read Before a Joint Meeting of the Pio neer Associations of the Counties of Franklin Muskingum and Licking, at their Celebration o the National Anniversary at Pataskala, Ohio, Jul 4, 1870." No. 5 makes a pamphlet of thirty-fou pages, and No. 6, of twenty-two pages. Mr Park is a native of Union township, and spen forty years of his life within its limits, but at th time of writing the foregoing pamphlets, was a res dent of Marshall, Illinois. The pamphlets wer printed in Terre Haute, Indiana,

Rev William Bower is the author of a pamphlet with the following title: "Sermon preached in the First Presbyterian church, Newark, Ohio, Sunday,

Martyn Hervey, late pastor of said church, by Rey. William Bower." It is a pamphlet of twentyfive pages, and was printed in Granville. The author, tor years rector of Trinity (Episcopal) church Newark, and the subject of the memorial sketch, had been college mates and intimate friends, not only during their college days at Kenyon, but also in Newark.

"Forty years' history of the Second Presbyterian church, Newark, Ohio, by the pastor, Rev. Howard Kingsbury, July 16, 1876," is the title of a pamphlet of forty-four pages. It was a historical sermon, delivered during the centennial year, as the date implies, and was published by the congregation of the Second Presbyterian church of Newark.

Mr. Isaac Smucker is the author of a number of historical pamphlets, principally of the pioneer series - though some are not. One of his earliest in point of time, was published anonymously in Columbus, Ohio, its title being 'An appeal to Liquor Makers - Liquor Venders - and [.quor Drinkers." It was a pamphlet of sixteen pages.

Another of his pamphlets was entitled " History of the Welsh Settlements in Licking County, Ohio - the Characteristics of our Welsh Pioneers - their Church History, with Biographical Sketches of our Leading Welshmen; Read at the Licking County Pioneer Meeting, April 7, 1869." It was a twentytwo page, double column pamphlet, and is No. 2 of the pioneer series.

on early times in the Clay Lick Settlements ; Also Historical Sketches of the Townships of Licking, Bowling Green, Franklin, and Hopewell." This is a pamphlet of thirty-six double column pages, bearing the imprint of Clark & King, Newark, Ohio, and is No. 3 in the pioneer series- also the author of pioneer pamphlet No. 7, entitled, "Our Pioneers: Being Biographical Sketches of Captain Elias Hughes, John Ratliff, Benjamin Green, Richard Pitzer, John VanBuskirk, Isaac and John Stadden, and Captain Samuel Elliott, with Brief Notices of the Pioneers of 1801 and 1802; Also a Paper on the Pioneer Women of the West, by Rev. Mrs. C. Springer; Concluding with a Poem, entitled, The Pioneers of Licking, by A. B. Clark, Esq." This is a pamphlet of thirty-three pages, double columns, printed in 1872 by Clark and King, Newark, Ohio.

This prolific pamphleteer is likewise the author of "Licking County's Gallant Soldiers, who died in Defence of our Glorious Union and of Human Freedom." It is a pamphlet of twentyeight pages, and was prepared for and published by the Licking County Soldiers' Monumental association; Clark & Underwood, printers.

Small editions of four pamphlets by the same author were circulated, the matter appearing originally in the report of the Ohio secretary-of state for the years 1876-77-78 and '79. 'Their titles were as follows: "A Brief History of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio ;" "Ohio's Prehistoric Races and Pre-territorial History ;" ' History of our Moravian Missions, and Memorial Sketches of our Missionaries;" "Ohio Pioneer History - Cresap and Logan, Crawford's Campaign, and a Brief Biographical Sketch of Captain Cresap, Logan and Colonel Crawford." 'The first named was a pamphlet of twenty-five pages, the second of thirty-four pages, the next of thirty-two pages, and the fourth of twenty-four pages.

It may be observed also that Mr. Smucker was the writer of the historical matter, to the extent of twenpages, contained in the neat and well-gotten up pamphlet entitled, "Premium List and Regulations for the Thirty-third Annual Fair of the Licking County Agricultural Society, held on the Fair Grounds in 1880," and which is transferred to this volume.

Colonel B. B. Taylor published a pamphlet of a political nature, being an "Address read to the Keystone Association, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania."

Rev. D. R. Colmery is the author of a pamphlet entitled "Historical Discourse, July 30, 1876, in the Presbyterian Church, Jersey, Ohio, on its Fiftysixth Anniversary."

Dr. Z. C. McElroy is an extensive pamphleteer, the subjects very generally bearing on and relating to medical science. He wrote a pamphlet bearing the title "Organic Life;" another on "Fever Processes;" still another bears the title of ' Hydroadipsia;" and yet others with following titles: "Common Drunkenness ;" "Speculative Belief in Medicine ;" and numerous others, with titles not now recollected.

Rev. Dwight B. Hervey is author of "A Discourse Commemorative of the Life and Character of the Rev. Henry Hervey, D. D., delivered in the Presbyterian Church, Martinsburgh, Ohio, Sabbath, March 31, 1872." He is also chief contributor to a pamphlet entitled "Proceedings of the Fortieth Anniversary of the Presbyterian Church, of Mount Gilead, Ohio," published in 1871.

Rev. Jacob Little, D. D., wrote and published, by order of his congregation, a considerable number of pamphlets, being his annual historical sermons, delivered to the members of his church and congregation (Congregational, now Presbyterian), in Granville, Ohio.

Dr. Z. C. McElroy is the author of very many articles that appeared in the medical periodicals of Europe and America. Medical science and kindred topics were the themes upon which he wrote.

Dr. J. R. Black prepared many excellent papers for the medical periodicals and scientific magazines of this country, both in the east and west.

Dr. Charles P. King has written quite a number of papers on medical topics for the magazines and journals published in the interest of his profession.

Hon. S. G. Arnold is a magazine writer on miscellaneous subjects, principally politics, history and morals, and is also a pamphleteer as well as a magaziner.

Hon. Isaac Smucker is the author of many papers that have appeared in the literary, historical and scientific magazines of the east and west.

There are doubtless some omissions under each of the different heads in this chapter, but it was impossible to procure the information 'necessary to perfect the list of authors, compilers, pamphleteers and magazine writers.