Sandusky County, Ohio - Chapter 14: Public Institutes and Societies, 1909

Chapter 14: Public Institutes and Societies

Prior to 1831 there was no provisions in the laws of Ohio for the erection of county poor houses. Until 1845 the poor were provided for by two persons elected annually in each township called overseers of the poor, and relief through these officers was afforded at the expense of the township, for poor having a legal settlement therein; but, inhuman as it may now seem, all black and mulatto persons were denied by the law (Act of 1831) the right to become legal settlers in any township in the state. March 8, 1831, an act was passed providing for the purchase of sites and the erection of county poor houses, at the discretion of the county commissioners, but it did not supersede the poor laws. In 1845 the office of overseer of the poor was abolished and their duties imposed upon the township trustees. In 1845 the county commissioners, John S. Gardner, Hiram Hurd and Eleazer Baldwin resolved to purchase a site and erect a county poor house; and for that purpose to raise by taxation the sum of $1,500.

On January 16, 1849, the county commissioners purchased of John P. Haynes 200 acres of land in Section 25, Sandusky Township, for $3,000. The buildings on this land were fitted up and converted into a poor house.

By an act of the General Assembly, March 23, 1850, the term ''Poor House'' was changed to that of "County Infirmary" and in 1853 the color line was abolished so far as to allow the admission of any black or mulatto person into the infirmary.

about eighty rods east of the main body of the infirmary farm, paying therefor $4,550. The farm now contains 270 acres, all of which is practically under cultivation and is in an excellent state.

The central, or old, part of the building was erected in 1861. The two three-story wings on either side were built in 1885 at a cost of $20,000. The entire set of buildings is in excellent condition. There is a hospital and a strong ward, connected with the institution, built in 1906 at a cost of $10,000. A barn was built in 1906 at cost of $3,000.

From the directors' reports made from. year to year for quite a number of years, it appears that the average number of inmates is about sixty-five.

The above expenditures were required over and above the products from the farm, the estimated value of which was $6,125.39, for the same year, and mostly consumed at the infirmary, as they are from year to year.

Cost of relief to the poor given outside of the infirmary, for the year ending August 31, 1908, amounted to $5,773.34. Thus it will appear that Sandusky County expended for the relief of her poor, both in and outside of the infirmary for the year ending August 31, 1908, $13,596.52, exclusive of income from the farm.

The first step toward the organization of a county agricultural society of which there is any record, appears on the journal of the commissioners of Sandusky County under date of June 3, 1833, and is an entry of the following words:

"The auditor is ordered to give notice of a meeting to be held at the court house on the last Friday in June for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society to be entitled "The Sandusky County Agricultural Society.' "

The records do not disclose the results of this meeting but the Sandusky County Agricultural Society was not organized until nineteen years later. fue mont, Ohio, on the 31st day of August, 1852, for the organization of a county agricultural society, Hon. John Bell was chosen chairman and Daniel Capper, secretary, pro tem. Sardis Birchard and Jonas Smith were made a committee for the appointment of a board of directors for the ensuing year, who thereupon made their report as follows: LaQuinio Rawson, president of said board, Samuel Hafford, vicepresident, Stephen Buckland, treasurer, and Daniel Capper secretary. James Vallette, Isaac Glick, Samuel Skinner, Alvin Coles and D. Adams, directors. This board framed and adopted a constitution to govern the organization. P

Following are the names of the members of the first organization, each of whom paid $1.00 as a membership fee, and are here recorded to be remembered with gratitude by the future patrons of husbandry in the county.

Class H. - H. Haff, best acre of corn; William Hyatt, second-best acre of corn; Mrs. Dickinson, best variety garden corn; George Brim, best potatoes; George Hyatt, best turnips; Miles W. Plain, best squashes; Mrs. Vallette, best beets; Mrs. S. A. Loveland, best honey.

Class I. - J. C. Wales, best farm wagon, M. Holderman, second best; William Orr, best straw cutter; Dickinson & Co., best dressed calf skin; M. Justice, best and second best side harness leather; William Raymond, best buggy; James Moore, best barrel flour; M. W. Plain, best bacon; James Kridler, best twohorse buggy harness; J. A. Watrous, best lot fruit trees; Canfield & Co., best tin roof; J. W. Stevenson, best and second best card table; F. Luke, best panel door; M. W. Plains, best domestic carpet; S. E. Edgarton, second best.

The first two annual fairs were held on the east side of the river where the Clauss and Herbrand factories are now located. In 1854 it was decided to hold the fair in the village or township offering the best inducement to secure it. Clyde made the best offer and it was held there that year.

In 1855 the association purchased the land between the old mill race and the west bank of the river and fitted it up for a fair ground where, for about ten years, the fair was held. Much trouble was encountered on account of floods. The last fair held there was in 1865.

Floral Hall In I86I

The names of the committee for fitting up floral hall for the annual fair of 1861 are as follows: Messrs., J. W. Failing, O. W. Vallette, Henry Buckland, Willard Norton, L. Moorehouse and E. Simpkins; Mesdames L. ©. Rawson, George Grant, G. Canfield, Nat Haynes and John Magee; Misses Eliza Simpkins, Becky Simpkins, Isabelle Nyce, M. Justice, Martha Raymond, Ellen Hafford, Jennie W. McLellan, S. Botefur, E. A. Morehouse, Mary Canfield, Amelia Norton, Sarah Jane Grant, H. Thompson, Myra Kesler, Emma Downs, A. Sharp, Sarah Wilson, Mary Durand, Eva Bartlett and Belle Maxwell.

"Owing to the unsettled state of the country on account of the Civil War and the fact that the draft in our county comes on the days appointed for our fair, it was decided by the officers of the society to postpone the fair for this year. Q. W. VAaALtette, Secy."

And Representative Citizens

The oldest part of the present grounds was bought of L. Q. Rawson, twenty acres at $250 per acre. B. Amsdam made the plat and survey of the grounds and J. C. Johnson made the plans for buildings and plat for their location. The first fair held there was in 1871.

The addition on the west side of the original ground was purchased in 1885. It contained about seven and one-half acres and a dwellinghouse, and cost the association $5,000. The dwelling was moved to its present location and has since served as a residence for the Sats intendent of grounds.

In 1905 the grounds were still further enlarged by the purchase of eleven acres of land from Mrs. Ball immediately north of the original ground and across North Street. The cost of this addition was $1,925. The society also purchased in the same year, from J. J. Lutz, two lots at the corner of Rawson Avenue and Haynes Street, across from the main entrance. These lots are used as a location for the ticket office and to place automobiles during the fair. They cost the society $750.00.

The Floral Hall was totally destroyed by fire on November 2, 1876. On October 2, 1877, the first day of the fair, fire broke out in the race-horse barn, in the northeast corner of the ground and the barn was totally destroyed, and one horse and other contents burned.

Present Officers And Board Of Directors Value Of Property Now Owned

Pursuant to notices in the newspapers of Fremont there was held at Birchard Hall June 6, 1874, a meeting composed of the following persons: George Bixler, Henry Bowlus, Platt Brush, Ralph P. Buckland, Homer Everett, John L. Greene, Sr., Rutherford B. Hayes, Thomas Holcomb, Henry Lang, Isaac M. Keeler, C. R. McCulloch, La Q. Rawson, John B. Rice, Robert S. Rice, Orrin A. Roberts, Samuel Skinner, Edward Tindall and James W. Wilson, to consider the matter of the organi-

ARTICLE 2. The objects of this society shall be to bring together at stated meetings the pioneer settlers of Sandusky County who still survive, to renew the friendship of the past, to perpetuate and cherish a remembrance of the persons and scenes connected with the first settlement of the country, and to collect and preserve interesting facts, traditions, anecdotes, printed and manuscript matter, relics, curiosities and in short whatever may tend to illustrate the history and condition of the Sandusky Valley before and since its settlement by the whites. .

ARTICLE 3. Any resident of Sandusky County may become a member of this society by signing the constitution and paying in to the treasury the sum of $1.00 - provided that any person who resided in Sandusky County on or before the first of January, 1830, will be exempt from the payment of any membership, fees. or dues.

ARTICLE 4. The officers of the society shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and an executive committee consisting of the President, Secretary and five other members, who shall be elected annually, and who shall be elected by ballot, and continue in office until their successors are elected.

ARTICLE 5. The annual meeting of the society at which the election of officers shall take place, shall be held on the 2nd of August, at 2 p. m., in Fremont, except when the second falls on Sunday, in which case the annual meeting shall be held on the following Monday. The other stated meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of February and May. Other meetings may be called by the Executive Committee to be held at the time and place specified in the call.

ARTICLE 6. All moneys of the society shall be paid to the Secretary who shall keep a record thereof, and pay the same to the Treasurer taking his receipt therefor.

ARTICLE 7. Alterations or amendments of this constitution can be made only at regular meetings and with the consent of at least twothirds of the members present.

The following officers were chosen to serve until the regular annual election at the meeting to be held in August 1874, viz: - Homer Everett, president; L. Q. Rawson, vice-president; R. B. Hayes, Secretary; J. W. Wilson, treasurer. Executive committee : - H. Everett, R. B. Hayes, H. Lang, Platt Brush, R. P. Buckland, J. L. Greene, Sr., and Edward Tindall.

R. B. Hayes presented to the society the following : - An engraved portrait framed, of S. Birchard. A letter from Postmaster General R. J. Meigs, appointing Morris A. Newman the first postmaster of Lower Sandusky, dated the 2d July, 1814. This letter was presented by Mrs. Julia Myers, daughter of Judge Newman. A copy of the petition to the Government of Ohio signed by the inhabitants of Lower Sandusky, sixteen in number, dated 21st Dec., 1813. A letter from Heman B. Ely to S. Birchard, on the building of the first telegraph line through Lower Sandusky, dated 23d March, 1847. A report of James Justice, president, and L. Q. Rawson, secretary, of the Fremont Plank Road Company. H. S. Knapp, History of the Maumee Valley. The Western Annals, by Jas. R. Albach. Two volumes of the Documentary History of New York.

The executive committe was instructed to endeavor to obtain a complete list of all the pioneer settlers of Sandusky County who survive, together with their residence, date of settlement, place and date of birth, and occupa-

. The members of the Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Society assembled in pursuance of the Constitution, the president, Homer Everett, in the chair The roll of the pioneers residing in the several townships of the county was read and additional names added to the list. The number of members belonging to the society at the close of the meeting was 203, of whom 18o settled in the county before 1830, and are classed as "Pioneers."

After calling the roll, the society proceeded to the election of officers with the following result, viz: - President, Homer Everett; vicepresident, L. Q. Rawson; secretary, Rutherford B. Hayes; treasurer, James W. Wilson.

The constitution of the society was so amended that the executive committee of the society shall consist of the officers of the society and one member from each of the townships of the county. The following members were elected on the executive committee, viz :- - Baliville, Edward Tindall; Green Creek, Wm. E. Lay; Jackson, David Overmire; Madison, Martin Klutz; Rice, Grant Ferguson; Riley, Thomas Holcomb; Sandusky, Charles H. Bell; Scott, Benjamin Inman; Townsend, David Fuller; Washington, John F. Bowman; Woodville, Rev. C. Krowenwelt; York, J. B. Mugg.

The Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Society held a basket picnic Thursday, Sept. 3, 1874, of which the following account was published in the Journal:

"Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio, Friday, September 11, 1874. - Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Society Basket Picnic and Reunion. - "The establishment of pioneer and historical societies having become general throughout Ohio, and our own county affording a wide and inviting field for the antiquarian, geologist and historian to alike indulge their researches, it was recently agreed to form the present society. The idea first taking form

220 HISTORY, OF at the inauguration of the Birchard Library, when the right class of intelligent and influential gentlemen were assembled and ripe to entertain the subject; as a matter of course the undertaking quickly became a great success. The society formed, and ''good men and true'"' elected to fill the offices in its management, the next idea was to inaugurate its formation by the gathering to which we are about to refer.

"The committe or directors of our county agricultural society generously placed the fair grounds at the disposal of the friends, and invitations were unsparingly extended, which, irrespective of the weather, were freely accepted. The day fixed for the gathering was Thursday of last week, and a more gratifying assembly of "ye old sort'? we never remember witnessing. The care-worn countenances, silver locks, and in many cases tottering steps of the venerable participants in the re-union, afforded unmistakable evidence as to whom we are, in this day, so largely indebted for, 'our fields of waving, golden grain; each flowery mead and verdant plain, endeared io those who toil.

"The song of the day, "Sixty Years Ago," by W. D. Gallagher, being so appropriate in its sentiment of that occasion, and so truly interesting, we reprint it:

"Governor Hayes, the secretary, next read the names of the members of the society, with their age and date of settlement in the county, at the conclusion of which there were quite a number fo fresh names added, and_ several letters read from prominent gentlemen invited, who were not present. The president, H. Everett, then congratulated the meeting on the large number present.

""Among those who spoke were Messrs. J. Bowlus, J. Millious, Kimble, Judge Holilngshead, Mr. Amsden, Mr. Adams, General Buckland and Governor Hayes.

"Tt was resolved unanimously during the proceedings, that not only present residents in Sandusky County prior to 1830, should be honorary members, but also those who settled within the old county boundary prior to 1830."

Year 1830

At the annual meeting in 1874, it was resolved to admit to membership any who lived within the original boundary of the county prior to 1830.

Enrolled Pioneer Members Settling 1830-1843 County

At the annual meeting held August 3d, 1908, articles of incorporation were signed by Isadore H. Burgoon, Basil Meek, Jacob Burgner, James D. Hensel, N. R. Tucker, J. L. Parks, Joseph Waggoner, B. B. Overmyer, J. W. Short and W. A. Bowman, dated August 3, 1908, and filed in the office of the Secretary of State, August 5, 1908. The name adopted is The Sandusky County Pioneer and Historical Association. The Directors are as follows: I. H. Burgoon, Joseph Waggoner, Basil Meek and J. D. Hensel, three years; N. R. Tucker, B. B. Overmyer, Jacob Burgner, Rev. W. A. Bowman, two years; Jacob Rimelspach, J. L. Parks, J. W. Short and G. F. Aldrich, one year. The officers are: Isadore H. Burgoon, president; J. L. Parks, vice-president; Basil Meek, secretary ; J. D. Hensel, treasurer ; Jacob Burgner, stenographer; Rev. W. A. Bowman, chaplain and M. T. Shackelford, Chorister.

The incorporation insures permanency to the Association, as originally organized, and takes over into it, the membership with all rights and privileges enjoyed in the original association, without additional fee. Any person young or old may become a member by the payment of a fee of $1.00. Annual dues of 25 cents are required of all members except "pioneers" (i. e.), settlers in the county prior to 1845, and such pioneers are not required to pay any membership fee or dues.

Birchard Library

On the evening of July 4, 1873, a number of gentlemen, upon the invitation of Ex-Goyernor Rutherford B. Hayes, met at the office of the mayor of the city of Fremont, to take into consideration preliminary measures for the establishment of a free library in the city of Fremont.

Governor Hayes stated that Sardis Birchard contemplated setting aside a sum amounting to about fifty thousand dollars in real estate and cash, the proceeds of which were to be used for the establishment and support of a ends he had selected the following gentlemen to act as a board of trustees: R. B. Hayes, R. P. Buckland, L. Q. Rawson, E. Bushnell,' J. W. Wilson, William E. Haynes, Thomas Stilwell, the mayor of the city and the superintendent of the public schools. Governor Hayes was chosen chairman, and W. W. Ross, superintendent of public schools, secretary.

The undersigned respectfully represent that Sardis Birchard of said city has conveyed real estate and other property of the value of $50,000, in trust to establish in Fremont a library and a gallery for paintings, pioneer, Indian and war relics, and other objects of interest for the free use of the people of Sandusky County, and that your memorialists have been appointed and have accepted the appointment to carry out this trust.

"We also represent that in our judgment the Northwestern part of the site of Fort Stephenson, now owned by Lewis Lepplemann, is a fit and appropriate place to erect the Birchard Library Building, and that the remainder of the ground formerly occupied by Fort Stephenson ought also to be owned by the city of Fremont for a park or for other public use. Your memorialists therefore propose that if the city of Fremont purchase the site of Fort Stephenson for a park or other public purposes, the undersigned trustees of the Birchard Library will pay $5000 of the purchase money in consideration of the right to occupy the northwestern part of said ground with said library, and thus the whole of the site of the old fort made famous by the heroism of Colonel Croghan and his gallant comrades will be forever preserved as public property for the general benefit of the people of Fremont."

At a meeting of the trustees of Birchard Library, all being present, held at the residence of Governor Hayes in Speigel Grove, February 13, 1874, the organization of Birchard Library was perfected so as to make the same an incorporate institution by the adoption of articles

"Sardis Birchard, late of the city of Fremont, Ohio, having made in his lifetime gifts of property and money to constitute a fund for the establishment and maintenance of a free library in said city for the benefit of the people of said city and vicinity, and designated Ralph P. Buckland, Ebenezer Bushnell, L. Q. Rawson, James W. Wilson, Wm. E. Haynes, Thomas Stilwell, Rutherford B. Hayes, the Mayor of the City of Fremont, and the Superintendent of the Public Schools of said city of

Fremont, to have control of sail fund and said library, the persons above named as trustees have formed themselves into a Library Benevolent Association under the name and style of The Birchard Library and adopted the following as permanent Articles and Conditions of their association."

On the evening of June 22, 1874, Birchard Library was ready for use in its temporary quarters, the old Birchard Hall, corner of State and Front Streets, and was then formally opened to the public.

The city council having acquired the title to the whole of the site of Fort Stephenson, accepted the offer of the library trustees, with reference to a site for the proposed library building. The library association having contributed, instead of $5,000, as first proposed, the sum of $9,000, toward the purchase price of the Fort Stephenson grounds consisting of about two acres, the Council of the City of Fremont on March 29, 1878, pursuant to an ordinance duly passed February 18,1879, conveyed by deed to Birchard Library Association the undivided one-third part and interest in and to said grounds. The deed contained the conditions prescribed in the ordinance which are as follows:

"That said Birchard Library Association are to have the right to have the right to erect, maintain and occupy a building for the Birchard Library on Lots Nos. 221 and 240, and that said city have the right to erect, maintain and occupy a building on said premises for a City Hall, where the same is now being erected on the corner of Croghan and Arch Streets, and that no other building, fence or structure of any kind shall hereafter be erected or put upon any part of said lots, nor shall the same ever be used for any purpose other than as a public park or any part thereof sold or conveyed without the consent of both the said City Council and the Birchard Library Association. The control and supervision of said Park shall be vested in the City Council and said Birchard Library Association jointly, but said City Council shall have the exclusive use and control of the building now on said Lots."

"T wish personally to take this occasion to say, that the bequests for this library were born in Mr. Birchard's heart, of the most kindly consideration for the people of Fremont and of Sandusky County. I know whereof I speak for this is not a mere inference. He first determined to devote a liberal sum of money to some public benefit which all might have opportunity to enjoy."

"The erection of this building and that of Birchard Library forever secures the site of Fort Stephenson to public uses. It should not be forgotten in this connection that it is chiefiy through the instrumentality and liberal benefactions of Sardis Birchard, that this desirable consummation was rendered possible. It was part of Mr. Birchard's plan in endowing a public library to secure the site of Fort Stephenson for the erection thereon of a library building for a park and for other public purposes. Our gratitude is also due to President Hayes for the untiring interest he has manifested in consummating Mr. Birchard's wishes."

In 1879 the library was transferred from Birchard Hall to the new library building. Mrs. Jessie E. McCulloch was the first librarian, serving from June I, 1874, to June 1, 1876. Her sister, Miss Fanny G. McCulloch, succeeded her and served to June 1, 1879, when Mrs. Harriet A. Gast became librarian and has continuously held the position until the present, (July, 1909) a period of thirty years, to the entire satisfaction of the library trustees and to the reading public.

In 1906 by the bounty of Elizabeth Green Kelly, of Chicago, an additional reading-room 17x32 feet, with ceiling twenty feet from the floor, was added to the main building on the south at a cost of $2,000. This addition is of the same architectural style, and in harmony, with the original building.

There are about 16,000 volumes in the library, besides magazines, pamphlets, newspapers and other unbound matter in great quantities of rare value. The books have been well chosen, comprising as they do science, history, biography, fiction, literature, religion, philosophy, useful arts, fine arts, books of reference, dictionaries, encyclopedias and general works. The second story is devoted to use as a Museum, and contains relics of the war of the Revolution, War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish American War, Philipino Insurrection and China Relief Expeditions, besides many rare and valuable curiosities ; Indian curios, autograph letters of Lincoln, Croghan, and others; historic medals, portraits, etc., etc. Present trustees - Wm. E. Haynes, president; M. Stamm, vice president; Chas. Thompson, Webb C. Hayes, R. P. Hayes, H. S. Dorr, H. S. Buckland, Mayor of Fremont, Superintendent of Public Schools .

Clyde Public Library

This library originated with the Clyde Board of Education and is under its control. December 1, 1903, the school library, then containing about 1,600 volumes was, by a resolution of the Board of Education, unanimously passed constituted a public library free to all the inhabitants of the district, on and after January I, 1904, under such reasonable regulations as the board should provide. After the purchase of books for 1904, it was found that the quarters then occupied were too small for library purposes, and that more space was required to make the project of a public library successful. The Board decided to make an effort to provide . a larger and permanent home for the library. Mr. S. S. Richards of the Board suggested that the matter be presented to Mr. Carnegie. The suggestion was adopted by the Board. Accordingly a letter to Mr. Carnegie giving a description of the Clyde school district and surrounding country, naming the various resources and historical and patriotic features, of which the people are so justly proud, was delivered to him in person by Mr. Richards. Mr. Carnegie responded by offering to give $10,000 under the conditions that the people of Clyde furnish a site for the library building and equip the same; that the Village Council and the Board of Education jointly agree to accept the gift, and that a sum equal to ten per cent of the amount of the gift be raised and

These conditions were accepted and the sum of $10,000 was accordingly placed by Mr. Carnegie to the credit of the Board of Education. The construction of the building was begun in May, 1905, and in due time finished, the completion of which gives to the people of Clyde a most beautiful structure. The walls are made of granite boulders, found near at hand, where they were deposited during the period known by geologists as the glacial or ice period. This unique building is therefore a monument, not only to the projectors for their enterprise and interest in the uplift of their fellow people, but also to the fact of the great phenomenon during which these boulders were transported thither.

Classified List Of Books In The Library

The library is open continuously from 9 a. m. to 8:30 p. m. Officers - F. M. Ginn, president; W. G. Estill, secretary; Miss Rena Richards, librarian.

Carnegie-Stahl Free Public Library

the Bellevue Library Association the sum of $10,000 toward building a public library upon the conditions that the people of Bellevue would furnish the site. Mr. H. C. Stahl of Bellevue on May 2, 1903, offered to give to the association $5,000 to be used in purchasing books upon the condition that the association would accept Mr. Carnegie's offer and raise the necessary money to pay for the site. This offer was accepted. The Bellevue Board of Education pledged the sum of $1,000 each year for the support of the library to be raised by taxation as provided by law. The Village Council endorsed the action of the Board of Education.: Mr. Carnegie subsequently added to his gift $3,000, making his total donation $13,000.

August I, 1903, the association contracted with H. Kimmel & Son for the erection of the building at a cost of $10,368, the building to be of gray Norman pressed brick and cut stone. The building having been completed according to contract was on August 19, 1904, opened to the public with appropriate exercises.

The money donated by Mr. Stahl for the purchase of books was appropriated as follows: $500 for juvenile books, $2,500 for works of fiction, and the balance for historical works, works of reference and miscellaneous books. There are about 6,800 well selected volumes in the library, besides pamphlets, magazines and unbound matter. The total number of books circulated last year was 31,985.

The library is under the control of the City Board of Education and is free to the public under the reasonable rules prescribed. The Library Board is appointed by the City Board of Education and is now composed of H. C. Stahl, president; Hayes Wolf, secretary; Dr. Irvin I. Good, Dr. H. R. Dewey, Jesse Vickery, F. A. Knapp, H. C. Bates and J. D. Cook. Librarian, Emma Suttor; assistant librarian, Hulda Bergman.