Wayne County, Indiana - Chapter 15: Social History of Wayne County, 1912

Chapter 15: Social History of Wayne County

ELEMENTS OF THE POPULATION - FIRST SETTLERS IN THE DIFFERENT TOW NSHIPS - PREDOMINANT CHARACTERISTICS - SOCIAL PROBLEMS - POPULATION OF VILLAGES IN IQIO - SLAVE QUESTION - CARE OF SOLDIERS - CARING FOR THE POOR - SECRET SOCIETIES - CH ARITABLE INSTITUTION S - SOCIAL CLUBS - THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

Early Social Conditions

The study of social conditions of any community must necessarily be accompanied by some difficulties. It is a study of facts, more or less hidden. Tendencies rather than events form the substance of such a study. It is necessary to consider, not only the concrete organizations which are the embodiment of the social efforts of the people, but also the causes which produce these social efforts. This demands a consideration of the stock from which the people of the community have sprung and their characteristics. The term "social" has a wide variety of meaning. In its broadest sense it may mean the relations of the people in all their various inter-relations and activities. In its narrowest sense it may mean the relations of a certain class, commonly known as polite society. In fact, no very definite ideas are conveyed to the average mind by the term "society." Thus, to determinate what should be treated in a social study of a given community is one of the difficulties which confronts a writer on this subject. The field is practically unlimited. It is, however, the object of this sketch to consider the facts and tendencies which show the relations and temper of the people outside the sterner and more earnest paths of business, politics, and religion.

There can be no absolute separation between the various lines of activity pursued by the people of a community. They are all interwoven in that wonderful fabric of civilization. Almost every event has a social, a political, an educational, and an industrial meaning. With this understanding, we will undertake a study of the early social conditions of Wayne county. To begin where the historians of this section usually begin, we will consider the social effects of the organic law under which the country was settled - the Ordinance of 1787. In this we find two provisions which have left their impress upon the social history of Wayne county.' The first was the exclusion of slavery north of the Ohio river. This encouraged the settlement of people opposed to slavery, and thus pledged Wayne county as free soil. The second provision was the encouragement of education, by setting apart one section in every township for the support of schools. The effect of this was to pledge the inhabitants to the maintenance of schools and to set before them the value of education. The social effect of education in a community is immeasurably great. Crime, intemperance, dishonesty, and stagnation, all decline before educational efforts; while on the other hand, social purity, sobriety, morality, and progress follow in its wake. We-will now examine the elements of population among the early settlers of the county.. It is manifestly necessary to do this, since upon the character of the early settlers depends largely the temper of the future population.

The early settlers of Wayne county came here to find homes, and nearly all brought their families. The first settlement was made in 1805. In that year, Richard Rue and George Holman, both Kentuckians, came north and built cabins about two miles south of where Richmond now stands. Both had previously been captured by the Indians and held for three and a half years. On their return, with their own families, they brought along two other settlers with their families, named McCoy and Blount, who settled in the neighborhood. Thus was begun the first settlement in Wayne county. In the same year, a little later, came the Endsleys and Coxes, with their families, who settled on the Elkhorn. In March, 1806, David Hoover and four others followed a section line west, eight or ten miles north of Dayton, and explored the land north of Richmond. He returned and reported very favorably to his family, who were Friends, and in May or June of that year, he and his father, Andrew Hoover, Sr., entered several quarter sections of land north of Richmond. Jeremiah Cox, about this time, took up land north of Main street, while John Smith settled south of the present site of Main street. Other families of Friends soon followed these and we find the following families settled west of Richmond: Jacob Meek, in 1806; Elijah Wright, in 1806; Jesse Bond, 1807; John Burgess, 1808; Valentine Pegg, in 1809.

North of the city, on the West Fork, settled, besides the Hoovers, already mentioned, Cornelius Ratliff, and Joshua Pickett, in 1810. Next, above these, was the Addington settlement. Further up were the Starbucks, Swains, Harrisons and Turners.

On Middle Fork, William Bulla settled near the mouth of the stream. Near the Hoover settlement we find Jesse Clark, Ralph Wright, Alexander Moore and Amos and Abner Clawson. Further up the stream, the Staffords, Bonds, Bunkers, Swallows, Ashbys, and Andrews, settled. A little further up, Jeremiah Cox, Jr., settled and built a grist mill. On the East Fork, the first settlers were Joseph Wasson, in 1806, and Peter Fleming, in 1807. They entered the first land in Wayne county in the winter of 1804. Among others who early settled on this stream were, Benjamin and Robert Hill, in 1806; Ralph Wright, in 1807; John Hawkins, in 1807; John Morrow, in 1808; John Charles, in 1809; and James and Peter Ireland. With the exceptions of the Wassons, Irelands, and Flemings, who were Kentucky Presbyterians, the majority of the settlers in and about Richmond were North Carolina Quakers, from Guilford county, near Clemen's Store, Beard's Hatter Shop, Deep River Settlement of Friends, of Dobson's Crossroads.

We will now consider the elements of the early population by townships. One of the first settlements was that of what is now Boston township. Here we find families from Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia. Among the early settlers were Thomas Bulla, Jacob Foutz, and Jesse Davenport, who came out in 1806; John Collins, in 1807; James Lamb and Abraham Gaar, in 1807; Aaron Martin, in 1807; Jackson Rambo and Wright Lancaster, in 1808; Christopher Roddy, Joshua Meek and Isaac Beeson, who came from North Carolina in 1807; Robert Grimes, in 1808; and Abraham Esteb, Jacob Keesling, Armstrong Grimes, and William Parson, who arrived in 1809. Adam Zeck settled in the northeastern part of the township in 1810. David Shaffer and Simon Draper, from Virginia, settled in the same neighborhood in 1810. James Sulser and Lazarus Whitehead, an English preacher, and William Burke and Isaac Beeson, all settled in the valley of the Elkhorn. In the southern part of the township we find the following early settlers: Joshua Benton, Jeremiah Girton, James Holman, Absalom Rambo, Joseph Cravens, Thomas Hiatt, Isaac Conley, John Miller, Thomas Ward, Peter Mellender, and John Rife. From these names it is evident that a large part of the population of this locality is of German descent.

land, after whom one fork of the west branch of the White Water river was named. He and his three sons settled on the west bank of that stream. In 1812, this land was sold by the Government, and being unable to pay for his quarter section it was taken off his hands by Thomas McCoy for a sum equal to the improvements made. The majority of the early settlers of this township were from North Carolina and were Quakers. Among the pioneer names we find the following: Henry Bryan, the first county surveyor and a native of Delaware; William Crawford, William Conner and James Haynes, all of whom lived on Noland's Fork; Caleb Jackson, who lived west of that stream; Greensburg Cornelius, William and John Harvey, James Townsend, Exum Elliott, Robert Galbraith, Edward Benbow, Joseph Overman, John Stiggleman, Michael Harvey, John Elwood, Jacob Griffin, John Maxwell, John King, Jehu Wickersham, John Garrett, William Hosier, Robert Harvey, James Junkins, Robert Black, John Hill, Ezekiel Commons, Daniel Stone, Francis Coffin, John Woodward, Samuel Parker, James Martin, Charles Canady, Joseph Overman, William and Thomas. Culbertson, Vumedge Russell, Richard Pedrick, James E. Bryant, Isaac Miller, and Isaac Julian. The majority of these were North Carolina Quakers.

The first settlers of Clay township were James Martindale and Jonas Hatfield, Sr., who settled in 1812. Both lived on Green's Fork, the former one-half mile above and the latter southeast of the present village of Green's Fork. In 1813,,came Jesse Bond and William Fox; in 1814 and 1815, Miles Murphy, Moses Martindale, William Young, Benjamin Angell, John Pierson, Martin Martindale, William Bell, Henry Garrett, and Abraham Elliott. Prior to 1816 came also Benjamin Albertson, Benjamin Hall, John Foland, Stephen Horney, Moses Coffin, Absalom Williams, and Isaac Mendenhall, all from North Carolina. Here, too, we find a large part of the early population Quakers.

Franklin township was settled almost exclusively by North Carolina Quakers. The first settler was probably Isaac Commons, who came in 1809. The northern part of the township was settled by James Harlan and his sons from Kentucky, in 1817, and has since been known as the "Harlan Settlement." Probably the first settlers in Webster township were Joseph and Rachael Bond, who moved from North Carolina in 1811. This region was soon after settled by immigrants from Virginia, Kentucky, New Jersey, and North Carolina, those from the last named State predominating. Probably the earliest settlers in New Garden township were

John Turner and Jonathan Marine, who settled there in 1809 or 1810. This became a Quaker settlement, many of the settlers coming from the New Garden Meeting House, Guilford county, North Carolina. They established a Friends Meeting, which they named for that from which they came, and it still exists under the same name, about one-half mile south of Fountain City. The sentiment of these people has continued to rule the community: ever since, and as a result the morals of the community have been of a high order. Green township was first settled by a North Carolinian. His name was John Lewis and he came in 1810. Among the early settlers there were several families from New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. At the close of the year 1814, but five families were to be found in what is now Perry township. They were those of James Warren and Richard Williams, of Tennessee; Thomas Lamb, of South Carolina; William Blount, from Kentucky, though originally from Pennsylvania; and John Bailey. As in most of the settlements yet noticed this section was invaded by a large number of Quakers. We also find several South Carolinians who drifted up through Tennessee.

Dalton township was not settled until 1818, when Aquilla West settled near the present town of Dalton. It was not until the Government sale of land, in 1822, that any great number of settlers moved in. Those who came about this time were from North Carolina, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. The majority were Quakers. Jefferson township was also not fully settled until after 1822. The earliest settlers are unknown, but some probably arrived about 1815. Here we find a new element of fopulation, not yet noticed - the German Baptists or Dunkards. They located a church which has been maintained by their descendants. Immigrants from Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Kentucky, took up homes in this township. Among them but few Quakers were to be found. Harrison township was first settled by Samuel Boyd, who came from Tennessee in the spring of 1811. John Beard was probably the next settler, arriving in October, 1811. The subsequent early inhabitants came from various States. A large number were Germans, from Maryland and Pennsylvania. Several families came from New Jersey, Kentucky, and Virginia.

John Shortridge is said to have been the first settler of Jackson township. He settled south of Germantown, in 1809. Carolina Quakers and Pennsylvania Germans were the principal early inhabitants. The Quakers came first, the German element beginning to arrive about 1820. A few families also came from Ken- tucky and Virginia. The territory now forming Washington township was first settled by Thomas Symons, of North Carolina, in 1811. He was followed by many families from the same State. We also find Pennsylvania Germans mixed with the early population. Among the earliest settlers of Abington township were the Endsleys and the Hunts, who came, respectively, from South and North Carolina. David Railsback settled in this neighborhood in 1807. 'The majority of the early settlers were North Carolinians. From this brief review of the population of the county, it is evident that the most numerous and widely scattered element was the Carolina Quakers. Next in number were the Germans from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. It will be noticed that the Carolinians predominated in the east and north, while the Germans were strongest in the west and south. Such is the stock from which the population of Wayne county has sprung. Although people from various States, religions, and nationalities, have since taken up their abode here, they have not changed the general character of the population. Another striking feature of the early settlement of the county is that few New Englanders found their way hither. The greater part came from south of Mason and Dixon's line. Those from north of that line came mainly from the Middle States.

The predominant characteristics of the people can be directly traced to the elements of this early population. The strong abolition sentiments held by the people when the slavery question was stirring the public mind can be traced to the North Carolinians and their descendants, who forsook their former homes because of their opposition to the institution of slavery. The honesty, piety, and moral purity of the people may be traced to both the Quaker and German Baptist element. Both make excellent citizens. While they are both conservative classes of people, they are not non-progressive. While they have not the quick-wittedness of the Yankee, they have a plodding.determination which has produced a wealthy and highly prosperous community. The early settlers of Wayne county were a peaceable and a just class of citizens. These traits were soon displayed in their dealings with the Indians. The red man was often fed by the early settlers, and by some he was made welcome at the fireside during the long cold winters. Many stories are told of the fairness with which the Quakers dealt with the Indians.

conventionalism and the commercial spirit of the city has not choked it out. Neither the Carolina Quakers nor the Germans were opposed to honest toil. These pioneers were "hewers of wood and drawers of water," and before the lusty strokes of their axes and their firm grasp of the plough handle forests fell and were superseded by waving fields of grain and fruitful orchards. The appreciation of learning and culture was keen among these people. The erection of the cabin was closely followed by that of the log school-house. The first school-house was erected by the Holman and Rue families, who first settled Wayne county. In general we may say that the early settlers of the county were an earnest, serious, sober, home-loving people. Purity and thrift are the rich legacy they have bequeathed their descendants.

Having discovered some of their traits, we will next inquire into their manner of settlement and living. The first settlers of Wayne county settled mainly along the streams. Land being cheap, at $1.25 per acre, most settlers entered a quarter-section or more. The first thing, of course, was to erect their cabin. It was an unwritten law that all the neighbors should help a newcomer or a bridegroom raise his cabin. Teams, labor, and tools, were put at his disposal and willing hands cut the logs, hauled them to place, notched the ends which were to form the corners, and placed them in position. Meanwhile others cut poles for the roof and rived huge blocks of straightgrained timber for clapboards. The fireplace was then built in one end, of sticks, stones, and clay, a piece of oiled paper was placed\in the window for light, the door was hung on wooden hinges and fastened with a wooden lock, and the cabin was ready for occupancy. In the same way all turned out at harvest time.

As is true with most pioneers of a new country, the early inhabitants were not people of means. All were in the same condition and all had sought new homes in order to better their condition. Their possessions were few and their wants were limited by their surroundings. It is a true saying that "the more a man has the more he wants." Knowing that to' want for the comforts of civilization was in vain, these people were content and happy. It was a case of the survival of the strongest, the physically weak and faint-hearted having no place in such a life. The division of labor had not progressed far. Each settler, by his own ingenuity, supplied the necessities of his life. Nearly everything was homemade. The pioneer made most of his tools and household utensils. He often made the shoes for the family.

The toil which he expended upon the soil produced his food. The sugar maples yielded his yearly supply of sugar and molasses. He was thus almost as independent as Crusoe upon his island. The wife was no less busy and played a no less important part in the struggle for existence. She spun yarn, wove the cloth, and cut and made the garments of the family, besides doing the thousand and one duties which fall to the lot of the farmer's wife. Her utensils were of the rudest sort, buckeye bowls, and,a few frying pans, crocks and kettles, forming her culinary outfit. Then, in cooking, she had to kneel before the wide fireplace and endure the scorching heat of the log fire. The women, too, were very skillful in their work. They could hackle flax and perform all the processes of making linen. They also made soap and hominy. To see a woman of that day dexterously turn a pancake with a jerk and twist of the long handled frying pan would be a revelation to the modern cook. These are now counted among the lost arts.

The children of that day also had a place in the domestic activities. Idleness was not to be tolerated and each had his duties to perform. The great fireplace ate rapidly into the wood pile, which was generally attended to by the boys. The grain must be carried to the mill, which was generally several miles distant. At first it was carried on horseback, along the narrow bridle paths through the forest, but with the opening of roads, wagons soon came into use. Arriving at the mill, the grain was reduced to meal and bran, the usual toll of one-eighth was taken by the miller for grinding, and our farmer boy would set his face towards home with a lighter sack but greater in bulk. These trips often took an entire day. Then, on Saturday, when not in school, there was hominy to be beaten in the mortar with the heavy pestle, and in the sowing and harvest times the boys carried water, dropped the seed, or helped to bind and haul the ripe grain.

The girls, also, had their duties and were early initiated into the arts of domestic affairs. In this social state, each had his place to fill and no one was heard to complain because of lack of work. In almost every community the settlers built a stockade, with block houses at two opposite corners, which commanded all the approaches. In these, they took refuge in time when Indians took to the warpath. The block houses were constructed with an upper story which overhung the lower about four feet, the floor of this projection being pierced by loopholes for rifles. Thus, the ease and safety of the present generation was gained by the hard toil of its sturdy ancestry, amid danger and privation. But, although people of to-day are more cultured and are infinitely more advanced in the arts of civilization, yet it is to be doubted whether they are happier than their worthy sires. The amusements of the early settlers were keenly enjoyed. The family gathered about the roaring fire of logs of a winter's evening, the bright, healthy faces, the enjoyment of stories and jokes and the ever-present cider and apples, forms a picture which is not dimmed when placed alongside a modern fire scene. Social amusements were generally of such a nature as included an element of usefulness.

House raising, followed by the house warming, at which supper was usually served, was one of the social functions of the time. The husking bee, at which the company divided itself into two rival parties, vying with each other to see who could shuck the most corn, was another amusement then in vogue. This was usually followed by supper and games. Among the women, sewing bees and quiltings were a means of social intercourse and also of profit. Apple "pealings" likewise made a pleasant amusement in the autumn. As a means of education and genuine enjoyment, the spelling school came in for its share of attention during the winter evenings. Old and young assembled from miles around at the little log school-house to hear the contest. Singing schools were also very popular and afforded the young gallant an opportunity to escort his "best girl."

From this brief sketch it is evident that the simplicity was the principal characteristic of the early social life of Wayne county. This is true in the pioneer stage of every community. Progress means complexity of institutions. We have seen that the settlers practiced nearly all the trades which were necessary to their simple manner of life. Business methods were as yet simple. The elaborate system of credit which now prevails was then unknown. Barter was the rule in trade. The people were so honest that notes were not given for borrowed money and banks did not make their appearance until 1834. Schools were as yet not differentiated into various grades as at present. The district schools taught the "Three R's" to all grades and ages of pupils.

Simplicity was also the ruling principle in religion. The various auxiliaries of the church were unknown and the Meeting was the sum total of religious effort. Politics stirred the people very little and the political activities of the citizen were confined to national questions and national candidates. The social institutions and problems were as yet very simple. The care of the poor and the saloon question vexed the pioneer mind very little.

They are problems arising from the centralization of population in towns and cities. We will now seek to discover how the people of Wayne county have been in the past, and are at present, solving the various social problems.

Social Problems

In 1811 a commission was appointed by the Court of Wayne county to select a site for the county seat. The members of the commission were Samuel Walker, Richard Maxwell, and Benjamin Harris. They selected a place donated by Samuel Woods, on Clear creek, in township 13, range 3. This was the first town laid out in the county. It flourished as a village of a few hundred inhabitants until 1816, when the county seat was removed to Centerville. The name of this village was Salisburg, but neither the place nor its name are to be found at the present time upon the map, and nothing remains of its buildings. Centerville had been organized as a town in 1814 and, being more centrally located, was made the county seat, which it remained until August, 1873. In 1826 it had about 400 people and was a thriving town. Few places can boast of having more great men as residents. Among them are Indiana's great war governor, Oliver P. Morton; and General Burnside. For many years Centerville was the largest and most prosperous town in the county, but the removal of the county seat to its rival, Richmond, was a severe blow to its progress. In its palmy days, Centerville was the home of brilliant lawyers and many prominent people of the county. Many of Richmond's most respected citizens came from that town. It is yet a town of 600 people.

Richmond was begun in 1816, by an addition being laid out south of Main street by John Smith, and a little later by one north of Main street by Jeremiah Cox. In 1819, it had about 350 people. Through its manufacturing industries and its being the county seat it grew rapidly in population. It is now, according to the census of 1910, a thriving city of 22,324 people. Cambridge City, the second city in population and wealth, was laid out in 1836. It has steadily increased in population since its foundation and contains about 2,237 people. Besides these there are several other towns and villages in the county. Hagerstown, in Jefferson township, is a town of 936 inhabitants. Dublin, two miles east of Cambridge City, in Jackson township, has a population of 704. Fountain City, in New Garden township, has a population of 448 people.

Milton, lying two miles south of Cambridge City, in Washington township, has a population of 601 people. Abington, in Abington township, has a population of 150 people. Williamsburg, in Green township, has 300 inhabitants. Economy, in Perry township, has 350 inhabitants. Dalton, in Dalton township, has 62 inhabitants. Green's Fork, in Clay, has 377. Jacksonburg, in Harrison, has 100. Germantown, in Jackson, has 305. White Water, in Franklin township, has 112 people. These are the principal centers of population and in them we expect to find social institutions developed.

The first great social movement among the people of Wayne county was their attitude towards the Fugitive Slave Law. The sentiment of the people being against slavery, they were naturally opposed to returning runaway slaves to their masters. In the system of helping runaways to freedom Wayne county's citizens played an active part. The town of Newport, now Fountain City, was an important station on one of the lines for transporting negroes, which were known as the "Underground Railways." Levi Coffin, a citizen of Newport, and a Quaker, was one of the foremost workers in this most humane work. His house, which by the way still stands as a relic of those days, was a station on the line. Mr. Coffin ran one of the large covered wagons used in the work. He and his kindhearted wife received the runaways into their house, fed and clothed them, and secreted them from the slave hunters who infested the country, until they could be transported to the next station. This was usually to Cabin Creek; thence to Jonesboro, Marion, and so on, up to Canada. The route south of Newport included Cincinnati, College Hill,-Elkhorn, and New Paris. William and Israel Huff were among the other workers in the cause. Mr. Coffin stated that he cared for 3,200 fugitives during his residence in Newport, not one of whom was recovered by his master. The trips were made at night and very rapidly. Several encounters were had with bands of slave hunters, who often insisted on searching their houses for slaves, but, as a rule, they were baffled by the system of hiding and transportation. While the proceedings of the "Underground Railway" were contrary to the spirit, if not to the letter, of the Fugitive Slave Law, yet they may be excused upon the grounds of humanity.

The next social movement in which the people of Wayne county were interested was the care of the families of the soldiers who took part in the Civil war. Many were the sacrifices made by families in that great struggle. Husbands and sons went to war, leaving behind them families who were dependent on their daily toil.

The suffering entailed by this state of affairs would have been enormous had not those of Wayne county's loyal sons who remained behind come forward and liberally contributed to the support of the soldier's wife and children. Especially was help necessary in the cities. In the country, the women and children could manage to raise enough produce to keep "the wolf from the door"; but in the cities, their sources of income were more limited, through their inability to earn anything. Many generous deeds of kindness are doubtless unrecorded; but the liberality of the farmers surrounding the city of Richmond, in caring for its distressed, was so great that it deserves to go down in the history of the county as one of its brightest pages. The winters of 1862 and 1863 were very hard on the poor. One morning in January, 1863, twenty-five wagons, loaded with wood, and one with flour, meal, potatoes, etc., were driven into Richmond by the Middleboro farmers, and their contents were distributed among the poor and needy of the soldiers' families. On Saturday, Feb. 14, a delegation from Boston township brought over sixty cords of wood and 3,000 pounds of meal and other provisions. On Feb. 28, the farmers along the National Road, east of the city, brought in ninety-two cords of wood, over 2,000 pounds of flour, forty bushels of corn meal, six bushels of potatoes, etc. The procession was eight blocks long. The next Monday the farmers along the pike west of town, came in with a contribution equally as large, The rivalry in this work of mercy became very intense. The Middleboro farmers again came into town on March 28 with a train of wagons nearly a mile long. The farmers along the Liberty Pike, not to be outdone, now brought in their contribution, their total gifts amounting, in value, to $1,300. These different delegations were received by the citizens with brass bands and speaking.

Provisions were also hauled into the smaller towns. In December, 1863, Cambridge City received a large contribution of wood and provisions, and March 19, Centerville was liberally remembered by the patriotic farmers. On Oct. 31, 1863, the Middleboro farmers, for the third time, opened their liberal stores of wood and provisions and brought into Richmond about $500 worth of material. Governor Morton made the opening address of welcome on this occasion and was followed by Generals Benton and Marisfield. A few days later, a "Young Men's Saw-Buck Brigade" was organized, which sawed and split the wood for use.

east of the city of Richmond, who were given, in turn, a dinner in Starr Hall, in company with the soldiers' families. At the time the first soldiers departed a committee, composed of Louis Burke, J. A. Bridgeland, and Rev. J. W. T. McMullen, was appointed to see the Richmond city council and the county commissioners relative to making an appropriation for the soldiers' families. The council responded by ordering money paid from the treasury and by ordering all unnecessary improvements stopped; the county commissioners paid out about $700 weekly, during the winter of 1862, for charity. On April 10, 1862, a "Sanitary Committee" was appointed at a mass meeting in Starr Hall. At this meeting $522 was raised and, on a call to other townships, they responded liberally with money, provisions and clothing for hospital use. The aid societies of the churches were organized about this time and did noble work in supplying hospital necessities and luxuries. On May 28, 1862, the published report of the "Sanitary Committee" showed a total of $1,166.66 paid in, besides clothing and provisions. During December, 1863, a special effort was made to raise money by suppers, concerts and subscriptions. This was under the control of the "Sanitary Committee" and the aid societies. Centerville gave a dinner, a supper, and a concert. At White Water a dinner and a supper were given. Meetings were held in Cambridge City, Dublin, Milton, Clay township, Abington, 'Harrison township, Hagerstown, Newport, Williamsburg, Economy, and Dalton township. A grand total of $11,300 was raised by this effort. For this liberal offering Wayne county was presented a prize banner by the State Sanitary Commission. We must not neglect to mention the enormous load of wood hauled into Richmond by William Parry, which is said to have been the largest contribution by any one. Williamsburg and Fountain City also contributed stores of wood and provisions. The last demonstration by the farmers was made in the winter of 1864. Prizes of purses and buffalo robes were offered for the largest contribution, and the delegation from the National Road, east of Richmond, won, with 111 cords of wood. Thus did the people of Wayne county deal with the charity question during the Civil war. The grand totals for the whole county were as follows: Contribution for soldiers' bounties, $379,093.35; contributions for the relief of soldiers' families, $184,350; total, $563,443.35.

Wayne county has been in the past and is at present in the forefront among the counties of the State in caring for her poor. The amount expended for the relief of the poor by the county, in

1879, was $13,422. In 1898 the amount expended for the same purpose was $14,231. This money is distributed by the township trustees, who furnish fuel, food, and sometimes transportation, to worthy persons who become stranded in their community. By far the greatest amount is expended by the trustee of Wayne township, under whose jurisdiction is the city of Richmond. About $6,500 is expended annually in this township for the relief of the poor.

Wayne County's Poor Asylum is situated just north of the National Road, about two miles west of the town of Centerville. It is a model institution and, under the management of the present superintendent, E. N. Brumfield, is kept in fine condition. The farm contains about 300 acres. The number of inmates in the poor asylum in 1889 was fifty-four; in 1896, fifty-four; in 1898, fortyseven. Considering the number of inhabitants of the county, this number is small in comparison with the other counties of the State. The church auxiliary societies and secret societies do a vast amount of work throughout the county in caring for the poor. The various aid societies, Christian Endeavor, Sunday schools, and Epworth League societies, not only help the poor of their own membership, but give much help in general. The Woman's Relief Corps, whereever it has an organization, as in Richmond and Cambridge City, has done much for the comfort of the poor among the ex-soldiers of the Civil war and their families.

The secret societies of the county, out of theif treasuries, pay benefits to their sick members and care for their poor. The Masons are an exception to this rule, but one of the ancient charges of the order is, "if you discover a true and genuine brother in want, you must relieve him if you can, or else direct him how he may be relieved." The four chief orders of the county are: The Masons, Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows and the Red Men. The Masons have lodges in Richmond, Cambridge City, White Water Williamsburg, Economy, Chester, Baston, Abington, Milton, Centerville, and Hagerstown. The Knights of Pythias have lodges in Richmond, Boston, Abington, Centerville, Hagerstown, Fountain City, and Cambridge City. The Odd Fellows are represented by lodges in Richmond, Cambridge City, Boston, Abington, Centerville, Germattown, Dublin, Milton, Hagerstown, Washington, Williamsburg, Jacksonburg, Walnut Level, and Webster. The Red Men have lodges in Richmond, Cambridge City, and Centerville. The county is thus well covered by these organizations. Their work, although confined to their own members, is neverthe- less a powerful factor in caring for the county's poor and unfortunate. In the city of Richmond the charitable efforts of the citizens are carried on through certain special agencies which are more or less in harmony, through the co-ordinating influence of the Associated Charities and the Council of Charities. Among these organizations and institutions are the following: The Woman's Relief Corps, the Morrisson Relief Fund, the Children's Home, Margaret Smith Home, the St. Stephen's Hospital, the Home of - the Friendless, the Busy Bee Society, the Penny Club, the Pingree Garden Committee, and the Richmond Benevolent Association.

The Woman's Relief Corps is an auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. The Richmond corps was organized Jan. 18, 1887. The membership is now limited to soldiers' relatives. Up to 1897, $1,300 in money, besides much clothing and food, was expended by this society for charity; also, four children have been placed in good homes and an orphan girl was sent to a surgical institute for treatment. They also see to the burial of soldiers' widows. These noble women are untiring workers in the cause and give suppers and entertainments to raise funds. The Morrisson Relief Fund is a sum of $10,000, donated by Robert Morrisson at his death, for the good of the poor of Richmond. From its beginning it has been managed by a board of trustees, composed of James E. Reeves, C. W. Ferguson, and Elgar Hibberd. With the interest accruing from it the Children's Home was established and maintained until it became a county institution. Since that time a board of lady managers has regulated its use, the greater part going to the support of the Margaret Smith Home. This most generous gift has done much good and will forever redound to the honor of the giver.

The Children's Home was first established in the manner stated, on South Fifth street. In 1881 it was removed to its present site at the corner of the National Road and College avenue, which was bought by the county commissioners. In 1887 the commissioners undertook its full support and for a time it was continued as a county institution. The Margaret Smith Home for aged women was established out of a legacy left by Margaret Smith, amounting to $32,000. It was first started in the Francis Robinson property on South Fifth street and was subsequently moved to its present beautiful location at the corner of Seventeenth and Main streets. Any aged lady, by giving up her property to the Home, can be cared for there. The St. Stephen's Hospital, at the corner of Eighth and North C streets, was organized under the auspices of St. Paul's Episcopal church, in 1884. A board of nine members was appointed by the vestry of this church, selected from the various churches. The institution is open to any one regardless of creed or nationality and is dependent for its support upon charity and the contributions of those who are able to pay for the services rendered them. Its present site was purchased in 1891 for $6,000. The St. Stephen's Ladies' Aid Society has done much for its support by giving suppers and entertainments. From 1885 to 1896 they raised $2,836. This is a most worthy institution and deserves the help of all citizens.

The Home of the Friendless was organized under the direction of the Young Men's Christian Association by a committee of ladies. Its purpose is to shelter and provide for unfortunate women and children until they are able to care for themselves. It reaches out after those who have fallen the lowest and screens them from the sneers and blows of a hard and unfeeling world. It is controlled by a board of lady managers. The average number of inmates is eighteen. It is dependent entirely upon charity. The Society known as "Busy Bee" was organized in 1868 by Martha Valentine and Letitia Smith, as a training school for poor children. Sewing was taught and the garments made were given to the poor. It lasted about twenty years, but is now disorganized. The Penny Club is likewise a club for helping the poor. A penny is donated by each member at each meeting. It works in connection with the Relief Corps and its methods of bestowing charity are of the best. The Associated Charities was organized in 1889, to succeed the Minister's Association, which had done charity work for twentyfive years. "The object of the Association is to promote whatever tends to the permanent improvement of the condition of the poor." The work of the Association is first, "to bring existing local charitable agencies into co-operation, in order to prevent indiscriminate and duplicate alms giving; second, to secure the investigation of the cases of all persons in any of our districts who need help; third, to find them the help or work they need; fourth, to prevent begging and to secure the community from imposters; fifth, to promote the general welfare of the city; sixth, to improve the character and methods of administering relief; seventh, to prevent the children growing up paupers." From this, we see that the association is proceeding upon a rational basis and has taken the proper method of alms giving. In 1892 a city missionary was appointed, who has done efficient work and has found her field of work constantly widening. Soup houses were opened in the basement of the Pearl street church during the hard winters of 1893 and 1894. At first it was given away, but later was sold for one cent a bowl or five cents a pail. In November, 1895, workrooms were opened on South Fifth street, where citizens were requested to bring mending and washing to be done by poor women. At first, five cents an hour and a good dinner was the pay, but the next year forty cents a washing was substituted. These methods are the most advanced in the theory of alms giving and deserve the hearty co-operation of every loyal citizen.

The "Pingree" or Detroit plan of helping the poor to help themselves came into being through the efforts of Mayor Ostrander, in the spring of 1895. He asked the council to appropriate $100 for the experiment, which they did. A committee, composed of Caleb King, Jacob Hampton, and Daniel Hill, was appointed to carry it out. The plan was highly successful. During the first year fifty-two gardens were cultivated. In 1896, eighty gardens were cultivated and sixty dollars of the $200 appropriated by the council in that year was turned back into the treasury. In 1898 and 1899, $200 was appropriated by the council and the number of gardens was considerably increased. In order to obtain a plot of ground the applicant must sign several articles of agreement between himself and the committee. The' committee agrees to furnish a plot of ground, put it in suitable order for planting, and furnish seed potatoes; the applicant agrees to furnish the smaller seeds and plants, to cultivate the same in good order, and to furnish a report to the committee. A failure in any one of the above requirements forfeits the lot. The plan has been a grand success and some very good products have been exhibited at the annual exhibition of such products. The principle involved in this plan is in accordance with all the principles of correct charity giving.

Richmond also has a Council of Charities, organized Aug. 16, 1896; it brings all the charitable organizations into harmonious action. There has recently been organized a new institution, known as the Richmond Benevolent Association, with J. B. Craighead as president; its object is to raise funds for the various charitable institutions of the city by giving entertainments, such as a society circus in the summer and a play in the winter. It is a worthy movement and deserves great success.

From this brief review it is evident that Wayne county is far advanced in the methods of her charitable work, in the amount of such work, and in the efficient institutions engaged in it. In the sphere of organizations for raising the general standard of culture and sociability, she is also well up in the forefront. Nearly every hamlet has its literary society, which has not only an educational influence, but also a direct social influence. The town of Cambridge City has three active literary societies: The Helen Hunt Club, the Friday Night Club, and the Magazine Club. In Richmond there are eighteen active clubs. They are the Tuesday Club, a purely literary organization which discusses papers on miscellaneous subjects written by its members; the Cycle, a purely literary club, engaged in studying literature, biography, economic and political history; the Tuesday Aftermath, consisting of forty members and studying literature, history, domestic, economic, and current events; the Wednesday Society, a ladies' club which has done literary and musical work and contributed to charitable objects; the Tichnor Club, organized for literary and social purposes ; the History Class, having for its purpose the study of history and art; the Tourist Club, having a social as well as a literary feature, the latter being a successive study of the conditions of the countries of the world; the North End Literary Club, devoted to the study of children and literary subjects; the Variorum Club, a club of ladies engaged in invstigating questions concerning municipalities; the Women's Literary Circle, having about forty members and organized for social, literary and charitable purposes; the Spring Grove Literary Society, a family organization, having for its purpose the social intermingling of the families which constitute its membership and the discussion of general literary subjects and current events; the Magazine Club, which considers all the current magazines and contributes to the musical taste and social enjoyment of its members; the Child's Study Club, a club composed of mothers and teachers devoted to "the promotion of the welfare of the children and to bringing parents and teachers into mutual relationship in order to accomplish this"; the Twentieth Century Club, a ladies' organization, having for its object the study of political questions; the Nomades Club, composed of twenty ladies who study the work of various authors and the art of conversation ; the Woman's Collegiate Club; the Friday Evening Club, composed of twenty members, both ladies and gentlemen, and giving programmes, consisting of discussions of English and American authors, and music, besides a general social time; the Local Sociology Club, devoted to the study of various social questions in Richmond, and composed of the foremost business men and educators of the city; and the Political Economy Club, composed of the leading business men of the city who are investigating questions of political economy, political science, and sociology.

Besides these various clubs there is a co-ordinating organization, known as the Council of Clubs, which is composed of two delegates from each club in the city. Its meetings are purely business meetings; their work is towards the general advancement of culture in the city by art exhibitions, etc.

One more problem in the county remains to be treated - the temperance question. This question has been met with as much ability as have the others which we have examined. In the first place, where the original elements of population have held sway, the saloon has never flourished, and drunkenness has been the exception rather than the rule. The fight against the saloon has been determined and systematic and not without favorable results. In the early days little was thought of drinking; many farmers had their whiskey barrel in the cellar and the jug was usually seen in the harvest field; but to-day these practices are unusual. In New Garden township, of which we have made mention before, on account of its high moral atmosphere, we find public sentiment strongly shown against salogns. A brewery, started there in 1825, was abandoned on account of the hostility of the inhabitants towards it. In the year 1828, William Way started another, but it soon succumbed to the pressure of public opinion. In 182g four saloons were present in Fountain City; in 1830, a temperance society was organized to resist their influence; a debate was opened on the question between the liquor men and the anti-liquor men; it occurred in public from 2 o'clock p. m. until after midnight. The temperance debators were Dr. H..H. Way, Able Lomax, and Willis Davis. The representatives of the whiskey faction were John Huff, E. Lee, and Joseph Lomax. The debate is said to have been won by the anti-liquor men. This locality succeeded in getting rid of its saloons and is now free from their baneful influence. In Clay township, in 1849, twelve women of the community succeeded in driving out the only saloon in their midst. Only one saloon has ever been licensed by the county commissioners in that locality, and it quit before its license had expired.

A Woman's Christian Temperance Union organization was started in the town of Green's Fork in 1875. Williamsburg had a branch of the Washington Society in 1841, and an organization, called the Sons of Temperance, was organized in 1846. -A woman's temperance society was organized in 1851. The women have been very active in keeping out saloons in that community and one has not been located there since the last named date. Dublin's first temperance society is said to have been organized as early as

1839; it was supplanted by the Sons of Temperance in 1846; in 1851 the Temple of Honor and the Social Temple were organized to combat the liquor habit. In 1856 the Good Templars took the field against it and held out until 1875, when the general opinion of the public was apparently so strong against the saloon and drinking that its labors were no longer needed. Dublin has been practically free from saloons for over fifty years.

Webster, Abington, Boston, Chester, and Middleboro, have been, as a rule, free from saloons. Centervilie had one or two saloons for several years, but strong efforts have been continually made against them by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and other temperance workers. In the winter of 1898 and 1899, the inhabitants took advantage of the Nicholson Law, which gave a community the right to expel a saloon from its midst by a petition of a majority of the qualified voters, and protested against the re-issuing of licenses to the saloons in their midst and were successful. Two other saloon keepers were prevented from obtaining licenses. In Richmond no organized attempt was made against saloons until 1836. About this time a Washington Society was organized. A delegation from Cincinnati organized a society of the Daughters of Temperance about the same time. The Temple of Honor and the Social Temple also had organizations in the city of Richmond during the '50s. The Sons of Temperance came next and were in turn followed by the Good Templars. Thesewg# ganizations have done much to discourage the drinking of intoxicating liquors and to establish a public sentiment against it. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union is now one of the most active organizations upholding the temperance cause. The White Water Quarterly Meeting of Friends has a standing committee of twenty-one members on temperance which has also been very active.

In reviewing the social characteristics of the people of Wayne county the following challenge our attention: Intelligence and culture are widely spread throughout the county. It is only necessary to drive through the town and country places to observe traces of culture and aesthetic taste; well kept farms, lawns, and houses, tell a story of their own; thrift is the rule rather than the exception.