Springfield Township (part 7 of 69)

By the wise foresight of Messrs. P. Cotes, E. J. Nugent, J. M. Gallagher, J. S. Halsey and others, a valuable lot on the northeast corner of High and Limestone streets was secured March 4, 1844. upon which, soon afterward, a good, substantial, two-story brick house of worship was erected and finished, so as to be dedicated Februar}' 12, 1832. On January 17, 1838, Rev. James Elliott, of New York, was called to labor half his time as pastor, and so continued to do for about two years. May 26, 1840, Rev. H. D. Mason, became pastor and served but seven months. On June 26, 1 841, Rev. Enos French was called to the pastorate at a salary of $400. On the 8th of September, 1843, ^^r. French resigned, to take effect at the close of the year. Rev. Mr. Syms was then chosen pastor, April 8, 1S44, and served until the Sprinor of 1848.

John S. Moore, from October 9, 1848. to April, 1850; Rev. Joseph Brown, from November 5, 1850, to Noveml:)er 5, i860; Rev. WiUiam AlHngton was called and remained until March 15, 1862; Rev. Samuel Williams, from June 2, 1862, to July i, 1864; Rev. J. R. Baumes, from November 4, 1864, to March 10, 1868; Rev. R. L. Colwell, from August 11, 1868, to July i, 1873; Rev. A. L. Wilkinson, from December 8, 1873, to August i, 1877; Rev. J. B. Tuttle, to August i, 1880. In April, 1881, this church sold its property on Limestone and High streets to Ross Mitchell for $25,000 in gold, and afterward erected its present building on the corner of South Fountain avenue and Miller street, at a cost of $15,000.

The list of pastors may be continued as follows : Rev. F. B. Cressey, for two vears, ending March i, 1892; Rev. G. O. King, from March 9, 1892, to April 17, 1893; Rev. A. S. Carman, from December 3, 1893, to July 12, 1898, and Rev. W. J. Sly, the present pastor, commenced his service here January 14, 1899. The membership of the church now numbers 472, and the enrollment of scholars in the Sunday school is 225. This church, in its existence of sixty-five years, has had sixteen pastors, averaging about four years each.

Trinity Baptist Church

On the 6th day of April, 1868, fifty-two members withdrew from this church by letter and formed a new organization under the name of the Trinity Baptist Church of Springfield. April 9th the body was organized, having the following official board, with Rev. J. R. Baumes as pastor: J. J. Tuttle, Clerk; McClung Huffman, Lewis C. Huffman, Jacob Gram and J. J. Tuttle. Trustees. This church worshiped for a short while in the old City Hall, and subsequently in Union Hall, which was occupied until January 22, 1871. Their new brick building on the corner of Limestone and Mulberry streets, having been flushed and in readiness, was dedicated on the 22d of January, 187 1, the Rev. Dr. H. F. Colby, of Dayton, preaching the dedication sermon.

Springfield, Ohio

1874. to December i, 1876; Rev. A. B, Jordon, July i, 1877, to July I. 1879; Rev. T. B. DePuoy, from March 22. Jamiary i, 1882, Rev. J. C. Fernald became pastor, and after serving a little over three years, he was succeeded by Rev. J. H. Roberts, September i, 1885, and he in turn was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. G. R. Richards, a recent graduate of Alorgan Park Seminary, Chicago. He was one of the first to champion the feasibility and advisability of an organic union with the First Baptist Church, holding that if such a union could be properly brought about, it would prove the beginning of a new and better era for the Baptist cause in Springfield. Air. Richards was pastor of the Trinity Church two years and three months, when he resigned, soon after which the contemplated union with the First Baptist Church was formally consummated, on the 17th of August, 1891.

The Blessed Hope Baptist Church was formally organized August II, 1898. Twenty-one charter members presented letters of admission from the First Baptist Church at this time. Rev. Albert Ehrgott, the first pastor, began his labors October 23, 1898, and closed them July i, 1900, to resume missionary service at Rangoon, Burma. Rev. C. i\I. Brodie, the present pastor, commenced his work January 6, 1901. The membership is now 165, and the Sunday school numbers 195. including officers, teachers and pupils.

The Second Baptist Church of Springfield was organized in 1859. with eleven members, by Rev. Wallace Shelton, of Cincinnati, Ohio. The church was ministered to by visiting ministers until 1865, when the Rev. George Dardis, of Nashville, Tennessee, was called as their first regular pastor. The church bought a lot and built their first house for worship on South Fountain avenue. This house was built in 1866. They worshiped there until 1884, when they moved into their present property on South Factory street. The membership at present is 400, and their present pastor is H. C. Bailey.

The St. John's Baptist Church was organized by Rev. J. C. Taylor, of Toledo, on the 6th of July, 1897, with the following charter members : Revs. Charles Orr and E. C. Clay, Y. W. Yates, Sarah Chapman, Cora Hooke, Nellie Martin, Elmer Spyglass, Elizabeth Keemer, Sarah Calvin, Sarah Chinn, John Maskell and others. A Council of the Dayton and Western Union Association was called for the 23d of August, 1897, at which time the St. John's Baptist Church of Springfield was regularly organized with twenty-one members. Rev. Joseph Wilson, of Cincinnati, was called to the pastorate December i, 1897, and served two years; Rev. A. P. Eaton was called January i, 1899, and yet remains as pastor. The present membership is 125, with a flourishing Sunday school, numbering, perhaps, about 50 scholars. Having purchased the comparatively new and handsome brick edifice, formerly owned by the Methodist Protestant Church, situated on West Pleasant street, between Market and Center streets, valued at $12,000, the church may now be regarded as established upon a permanent footing. Elder Eaton has been a zealous, working pastor.

The first minister that ever preached the doctrine of Universalism in Springfield was the Rev. M. Fisk, of New Jersey, in 1833. For three or four years after this date believers in the doctrine had no stated times or places of meeting, but occasionally had preaching services in the school houses or at private homes by such ministers as happened to come along. In 1837 Mr. John Winn entertained the idea of establishing a Universalist Church here, and with this object in view, he headed a subscription with $1,000, and proceeded to raise more money, and thus succeeded in getting enough to build a church, and in March of the same year, Mr. John Lowrey donated a lot situated on Washington street, between Center and Factory streets, upon which the society put up what was then regarded as the best church edifice in Springfield, at a cost of $4,500. Rev. George Messenger was chosen pastor and preached the dedication dis- course, and in the Summer of 1837 the building was finished. Among the prominent families entering into this early organzation were the Messengers, the Wynns, the Bancrofts and the Pierces.

As the records of this church, if existing, have not all been available, and as for much of the time the pastoral relations were not very regularly kept up, we can at present barely give the names of the principal ministers and the order in which they have served, as follows : Revs. George Messenger, Pingrew, Emmitt, Biddlecome, Waite, Lionell, Weaver, Turner, Demorest, Carlton, Bosseman, Lowlinson, Henley, Carlton, Ashenfelter, Guthrie, Countryman. These all served previous to the year 1893, when the new building was erected on West Columbia street, and furnished for the day of dedication, June 18th, of that year, at which time the Revs. Cantwell, Henley, and Ira W. McLaughlin were present and assisted in the exercises. After that time the pastors successively were: J. R. Stoner, George L. Sias and Henrietta G. Moore, the latter having just completed her third year with the church. The famiUes having more or less representation with the church are sixty in number, while the number of adherents are placed at about eighty persons. The affiliated departments of the church are a Sunday school of 35 members, a Young People's Christian Union of 22 members, a Missionary Alliance of 15 members, and a Gary Circle of 23. This church during the sixty-four years of its organization has had twenty regular pastors.

Lutheran

On the first day of May, 1841, the Rev. John Lehman, with about forty others, organized a Lutheran society, which, after Mr. Lehman's departure, became inoperative, but was reorganized in 1845, by Rev. Dr. Ezra Keller and three others, namely, Messrs. Kurtz, Filbert and Cook, who met in the house of Jacob Schuman. The first communion was held on January 11, 1846. For awhile the services were held in the Court House. A lot 100 feet front and 100 feet deep was purchased of Peter Murray, on the corner of High and Factory streets, for $250, and on the 14th day of June, 1845, the comer stone of their new church was laid, and the discourse of the occasion was delivered by Dr. Keller.

This building- was remodeled in 1869 at a cost of $20,000. It is now a large and commodious house, with full equipments, including a fine pipe organ, and bell. It has also a neat little edifice, immediately adjoining the main building, which was recently put up for Sunday school purposes. The church property is valued at about $45,000. The auditorium is capable of seating 750 persons.

The Sabbath school of this church was organized November 12, 1845, with sixty-four persons. In 1866 it contained 300 scholars; the average enrollment in 1880 was 690. Owing to the heavy colonizations going out from this church since the last mentioned date, the average attendance at the Sunday school has been reduced to about 500. The membership of the church itself is still over 750.

The German Lutherans, having previously been holding meetings at the Court House and in different private rooms, finally, in 1845, organized themselves into a church with a membership of seventy-five, and having the Rev. Mr. Schladerm at their head. They assumed the name of St. John's Lutheran Church and retained Mr. Schladerm as .their pastor, until the time of his resignation, in 1849, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Shulze. Then came Rev. Charles Stroud, who continued in the pastorate from 1857 to 1870, when he was succeeded by

Rev. Charles Betzler. The Rev. T. A. Roister was then called in 1873, after .which Rev. C. \\'. Knuth was selected as pastor, at which time the church had a memhership of about 400, and property valued at $20,000.

On the 17th of June, 1888, Rev. W. F. Werheini became pastor, and so remains. During his charge the new and beautiful church on the corner of Factory and Columbia streets was erected. The corner stone of this fine edifice was laid November 3, 1895, and the consecration took place April 26, 1897. The church property now is worth about $50,000. The membership now includes 450 families, and the Sunday school has 575, and the Ladies' Society has increased to 263 members. Mr. Werheim is a scholar, and his large and intelligent congregation has now the benefit of both German and English preaching, well apportioned, according to their highest needs.

Zion'S Lutheran Church

Zion's Lutheran Church went out from the St. John's German Lutheran Church, with twenty-three families, under the pastoral charge of Rev. J. C. Schulze. After worshiping in several small chapels, successively purchased by them, they finally, in 1867, built their present seemly and commodious brick edifice on the corner of Plum and Columbia streets, at a cost of $22,000. Revs. Loy and Lehman, of Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, conducted the dedicatory services. Rev. Mr. Schulze's successor in the pastorate was Rev. L. H. Lorenz, and he again was succeeded by Rev. H. Hinkle, in 1869. Rev. F. W. Althofif came into the pastorate in 1872, and during his term the church had acquired a membership of 375, and the Sunday school had 150 scholars. Immediately after Mr. Althoft, came Rev. R. C. Lenski, from October, 1892. to October, 1899; then came Rev. J. H. Kuhlman, the present incumbent of the pastoral office, beginning in November, 1899. The present number of communicants is 400, and the enrollment of the Sunday school, teachers and all, 214. Since the building above mentioned, a parsonage, costing $3,000, has been added to the church property.

Second Evangelical Lutheran Church

was organized January 13, 1884, with forty-five charter members, who had previously received regular letters of dismissal from the First Lutheran Church of the city. Among those charter members were Mr. and Mrs. Ross Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Schindler, Mr. and Mrs. William Lupfer, Professor and Mrs. C. L. Ehrenfeld, C. N. Gulp, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Bost, Mr. and Mrs. Z. F. Bost, and others. The building was begun and finished in the year 1886, and dedicated to God's service Decem.ber 19, 1886. Rev. Dr. John B. Helwig preaching the dedicatory sermon, and other Lutheran ministers participating in the exercises were Revs. G. L. Ehrenfeld, J. H. Richard, G. N. H. Peters and W. H. Singley. Addresses were also made during the day by Rev. Dr. W. G. Falconer, of the Presbyterian Church, Dr. R. H. Rust, of the M. E. Ghurch, and Rev. W. H. Warren, of the Gongregational. ,

The pastors who have served the church thus far were Revs. A. E. Wagner, Ph. D., from May i, 1884, to July 26, 1885 ; L. A. Gotwald, D. D., from December i, 1885, to December i, 1888; D. H. Bauslin, D. D., from December 16, 1888, to November i, 1893; Rev. E. H. Dornblaser, from December 15, 1893, to the present. The present membership of the church is about 300, and the enrollment of the Sunday school is 390.

Third Lutheran Church

In July, 1887, the Third Lutheran Ghurch was organized by twenty-nine charter members, mostly persons from the First Ghurch, of the same denomination, and among these were Mr. and A^rs. Christian Hanika, Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Rebert, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Sise, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Lyday, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Young. The church building was dedicated December 11, 1887, the sermon being preached by Rev. J. G. Zimmerman. The pastors have been as follows: Rev. E. L. Fleck, July, 1887, to November, i, 1888; Rev. L. S. Keyser, February i, 1889, to February i, 1895; Rev. John J. Hill, May 15, 1895, to December II, 1898; Rev. G. E. Derr, the present pastor, commenced his work in March, 1899. The church membership now numbers 317, and the Sunday school 325.

Fourth Lltherax Ciiircii

We learn from the Souvenir of their dechcation services, that the first meetings: in the interest of the Fourtli Lutheran Church was held May lo, 1887. At this meeting a committee consisting of Dr. ]]. F. Prince, Messrs. C. P. Remsherg and G. W. Billow, was appointed to secure subscriptions for the purchase of two lots on North Fountain avenue. On June 27th, a constitution was adopted and the first Board of Trustees elected, as follows: B. F. Prince, G. W. Billow, Rev. Dr. J. W. Richard. C. P. and R. C. Remsherg. The lots were purchased July i, 1887, at a cost of $2,352. From that time until the organization of the congregation, in 1897. regular yearly meetings were held by the 15oard of Trustees for the election and the transaction of their business. The formal organization of the church occurred May 7, 1897, at which time a constitution was adopted and twenty-four signatures secured. This number was increased to eighty-five, who became charter members. On July 18, 1897, the congregation decided to erect a church building. The corner stone was laid September 5th. From May 1897. to January 23, 1897. inclusive, services were held in the Chapel of Wittenberg College. The first service in the new building was on January 30, 1898, the sermon being preached by Dr. B. F. Prince. On February 4. 1898, the regular dedication services were commenced and continued three days. The first sermon of the occasion was by Rev. S. G. Dornblaser. of Columbus. President of Miami Synod. This was followed during the three days by various other religious exercises in which Rev. B. F. IVince, Ph. D.. D. H. Bauslin, D. D.. S. F. Breckenridge. D. D.. S. P.. Barnitz. D. D., S. A. Ort. D. D.. LL. D.. I'rofessor F. G. Gotwald, Ezra K. Bell. 1). D.. of Cincinnati, and others took ])art. The cost of the Imilding was $6,000. now all paid for.

From the organization of the congregation, in ^fav. 1897, until May 15, 1898. the Professors of Wittenberg College and Theological Seminary supplied the pulpit, up to the time that Mr. E. G. Howard, a student at the Wittenberg Seminarv. was secured as regular supply. He served with great acceptabilitv until the close of the year. On the first of January, 1899, Rev. C. F. Steck. of Louisville, Kentucky who had some weeks before been called, assumed the duties of the pastoral office. He was formally installed February 5th, following, Rev. F. G. Gotwald, Rev. Prof. D. H. Bauslin and others officiating. Rev. C. F. Steck is still the pastor. During the past year an addition has been built to the chapel for the use of the primary department of the Sunday school, at a cost of $800. For its support, the Fourth Church relies alone in the free will offerings of its mem1)ers and friends. Church socials, entertainments, etc., are never given for the purpose of making money, and the church building is used only for religious purposes. The present membership of the church is 135, and the Sunday school has 220, including officers, teachers and pupils.

The Fifth Lutheran Church

In speaking of the tenth anniversary of the Fifth Lutheran Church, which was observed on the 7th of last month, the following statements were made :

On the third day of July, 1891, the Sunday school and church was organized, and meetings were first held in a private residence on Mound street. At this time the congregation numbered twenty-five faithful workers in the cause of Christianity. Then a store-room at Mound and East streets was rented, and church services were held there.

Several months of worship were enjoyed in the old storeroom, when the members awoke one mornng to find their goods stored in the street and the doors barred against them. The lease held by the gentleman from whom they were renting had expired, and the owner had taken this method to have his property vacated. Not to be prevented from gathering together in the name of the Master, the little band went just across the street and fitted up a chapel. Here peace and tranquillity reigned.

In 1893 the lot at High street and Greenmount avenue was purchased and the pretty church edifice which now graces it was erected. The house was dedicated in 1894. In the Spring of 1898 the auditorium was dedicated.

Rev. Fred G. Gotwald, the present pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church, was the first pastor of the Fifth Lutheran. Rev. Baltzly was his able assistant, accepting the pastorate upon Rev.

Gotwald's resignation. He continued the work until December i, 1899, when he resigned and took charge of a church at Mansfield, Ohio, where he is now located. Rev. Harvey S. Lawrence, the present pastor, was installed on May i, 1900. From the meagre beginnng of 25 members the congregation has grown until over 350 souls are now identified with it.

The charter members of this first beginnmg on July 3, 1891, were Mr. and Mrs. Philip Gerhardt, Mr. and Mrs. F. Danforth, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Gerhardt, Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Miller, Mr. and Mrs A. E. Colt, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Balser Yonker, ]\Irs. M. L. Sise and daughter, Addie Tice, Emma Catlin^ Henry Yonker, L. E. Miller and F. G. Gotwald. At the end of the first year the membership reached 53, and has now increased to almost 200.

St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, comer of North and Race streets, was organized May 20, 1888, by Rev, C. W. Knuth. The church edifice was purchased of a sister denomination, and I do not know when it was erected. It was dedicated May 20. 1888, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Dr, J. D. Severinghaus, of Chicago, 111. This church has had the following pastors: Rev. C. W, Knuth, from 1888 to 1893; Rev. .Arthur Gringel, 1893 to 1894; Rev. C. A. Koenig, 1894 to 1900; Rev. J. G. Trefz, from 1900 to the present time. The membership numbers 140. and the Sunday school 138.

This congregation was organized April 15, 1900, with twenty-seven charter members, among whom were William H. Lohnes, Leroy E. Miller, George W. Gladfelter, H. L. Souders and Samuel P. Miller. This action was taken in a small storeroom, No. 409 West Main street, and was the outgrowth of an afternoon Sunday school, which some of the Lutherans of the West End of Springfield had carried on for the preceding year. After worshiping in this store-room until December 9, 1900, they took possession of their new building, on the southeast corner of High and Shaffer streets, December 16, 1900. Services were held in the smaller room until March 24, 1901, when the entire building was completed, and finally dedicated in due form, the sermons for the ocasion being delivered by Rev. David H. Bauslin, D. D., of Wittenberg Theological Seminary, and Rev, Charles F. Steck, President of the ^liami District Synod.

The act of dedication was performed by Rev. Prof. S. F, Breckenridge, D. D., then President of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church of the United States. From the organization of the congregation, April 15, lyoo, to July 29th, the same year, Rev. S. M. Lutz, a senior in Wittenberg Seminary, was acting pastor. Since July 9, 1900, Rev. F. G. Gotwald has been pastor. The church has now a membership of seventy persons. The Sunday school, in officers, teachers and pupils, numbers 140. The church property is valued at $5,000, and is free of debt. The future of the work seems bright and cheering.

According to the best authority, there was not a single Catholic family living in Clark County lief ore the year 1830, 1)Ut we ascertain about the year 1835, and for ten years afterward, quite a number of Catholics located in Springfield and immediate vicinity. Among them were Patrick Rockett, William Giblenhoft', Francis Criegton and twenty others, most of whom had families. From 1845 to 1850 came the Hennesys, the Lynches, the Mc-" Breens and about fifty other families, and in the next five years, the Gallaghers, the Bolans, the Tenans, the Maddens and twentyseven other families. The first priest was Rev. Henry Juncker, who afterward became the Bishop at Alton, 111. The Catholics had services at irregular intervals, but only averaging about once or twice per month, generally at private homes ; and occasionally in some small public hall, when such could be had. The next priest coming to Springfield was Rev. Joseph O'Marley, who died here, and was succeeded by his brother, Patrick O'Marley. 'I'he latter was followed by Rev. Father Cahill, who came here from Piqua, Ohio.

In August, 1840, the Catholics of Springfield had their first resident priest, the Rev. James F. Kearney, who remained about one year, and then resigned, on account of failing health. Some- time before Mr. Kearney's i^aslorate, the present central and m every wav valuable lot was purchased, ui)on which was budt a neat' church, laroely l)y the liberal aid of Mr. Michael Cassily, a wealthv Catholic of Cincinnati. Services were for a long time held in the basement of this building". The first parish register was opened in August, 1849, by Father Kearney. The last-named priest was followed by Rev. Maurice Howard, in May, 1850. He remained in charge for thirteen years. The Rev. T. J. Cogan became pastor in 1863, and remaining but a few months, was followed in January, 1864. by Rev. J. X. Thisse, a French priest. On the loth of May, 1873, Mr. Thisse was instantly killed by a runaway team of frightened horses. Then the following priests came successively and officiated, each for a short while, to fill up intervals between the regular pastors from 1847 to 1873; Revs. Father Duffy, in 1848; Th.omas Blake and Thomas Boulger, in 1850; C. A. Doherty and C. F. Shellhamer. in 18^18: X. B. Young and J. H. Dutting, in 1869, and Rev. D. Carle, in 1873.

In the year 1868, and from that on, the priests in charge of the St. Raphael Catholic Church have had necessarily a regular assistant, to aid in the work of the parish. Up to 1881, the assistant pastors have been the following, in their chronologcal order: Revs. J. S. Mahoney, J. A. Burns, C. M. B.erding, T. A. Conway. Francis ^lallon, J. L. Dickbons, Michael Abern and W. B. Miggeal.

In June, 1873, Rev. W. H. Sidley, a native of ( Miio, became the principal incumbent of the priestly office for St. Rajihael's Church, and is reckoned as the fifth regular pastor. He has ably held the position till the present. On taking this charge he found a debt of $7,000, a small frame school house and no residence for the priest. He commenced the erection of a priest's house, which was completed June i, 1874, at a cost of about $7,000. In 1876 he began to build the present fine school house, which is 45x82 feet and three stories high, containing eight school rooms, besides a large hall in the third story, the full length and breadth of the entire building, for lectures and other purposes, to suit the wants of the congregation. This school house was finished in September, 1877, and together with the lot upon which it was built, cost $19,000.

In the Spring of 1892, the work of taking down the old brick edifice was commenced, in order to erect their present splendid stone church building, which was finished and the joyous event signalized by a golden jubilee on the 17th day of July, 1898, in which Archbishop Elder, of Cincinnati, and numerous other clergy of various ranks (from different cities took part. The principal tower is 184 feet in height, entirely of stone, the top being reached by 156 steps. The tower containing the bell is 135 feet high. From either of these towers can be seen the whole city of Springfield and the entire surrounding country for many miles in every direction. This building, costing $75,000, is quite impressive on account of size and architectural beauty, and is a fine ornament to the city. Father Sidley has been pastor of St. Raphael's Church for twenty-seven years, during which, as authoritatively stated, he has raised and paid out for buildings and the various kinds of furnishings for the church, about a quarter of a million dollars, every cent of which has been completely and satisfactorily accounted for. Were Springfield not situated so near to Columbus, it might, sometime in the not distant future, become the seat of a Bishopric. At all events, the citizens of Springfield would be glad to have Father Sidley remain here as a resident for life.

In September, 1861, the Germans of Springfield organized a congregation at 166 and 168 East Main street, and were ministered to for a few months by Rev. Messrs. Volmer and Manclerke, but the first regular pastor was Rev. William Dieters, who remained till 1866, and in February of that year was succeeded by Rev. J. Weissenberger. In 1868, Rev. J. H. Jutting became pastor, and was succeeded in 1869 by Rev. John Schugart, who immediately commenced building the present large and commodious edifice, which was finished in 1870, and was dedicated in July of that year by the Rt. Rev. Sylvester Rosencranz, of Columbus, Ohio. This church is 60x130 feet, located on the corner of Columbia street and Lagonda avenue, seats about 900 persons and cost $24,000.

bered about 800 members. After Rev. Mr. Schugart, who served from Deceml)cr, 1869, to January, 1882, then came Rev. John D. Kress, from January, 1882, to September, 1887; '^- J- Fischer, from Septcniber, 1887, to the present time, August, 190 1. The churcli has now a membership of 250 famiUes, with an average attendance of about 800 persons. The Sunday school was organized in 1863, wardens, teachers and scholars numbering in all 280.

To accommodate the Catholic residents of Southeast Springfield, and to furnish greater facilities for the practice of their religion, it was evident that a new church and school were necessary. In i88r, three lots were purchased on the corner of Kenton street and Central avenue. In 1882 was begun the erection of a large three-story school house, the first story of which providing a commodi».^us room suitable for church service. In October, 1883, the school was opened and services held regularly in the church. St. Joseph's, the name of the new church, became independent in 1884, by which lime the congregation had a perfect organization, l)oth in church and school, and were in all things able to work for themselves.

Rev. C. ^l. Berding Avas the first pastor, and in a few years afterward he was succeeded by Rev. W. C. Conway, who remained in the pastorate from February i. 1895, till June, 1901, when he was called to take charge of a church in Cincinnati. During Mr. Conway's incumbency tlie sum of $45,000 had been taken in and expended on the expenses and debt. Furnishings and improvements were $13,000, and interest on borrowed money $8,000. Father Conway then raised sufficient money to build their present magnificent temple, and there was left only a moderate indebtedness. St. Joseph's parish consists of 250 families, or about 750 persons. Rev. Mr. Conway was succeeded as pastor by Rev. Mr. Loney, who took charge of the church about six weeks ago.

United Brethren

The present membership is 321. The Sunday school was organized in 1845, ^"cl now has an enrollment of 275 scholars, with an average attendance of about 200, including 15 officers and 24 teachers. Erom this efficient church have been sent forth thirteen ministers of the Gospel, of whom Rev. Drs. W. Shuey and Daniel Berger, both now of Dayton, and several other distinguished embassadors of the Cross might be noted.

Congregation Alists

The next denomination to be noted in our general order is that of the Congregationalisls. In 1849 ^ f^'^'^' persons, mostly from the First Presbyterian Church, after many previous consultations, met at the home of Mr. Henry E. Smith on Wednesday evening, February 28, 1850, and resolved that it was expedient to organize a new church, to be called the First Orthodox Congregational Church of Springfield, Ohio. Within a few weeks they secured the services of Rev. J. C. White, a man of fine talents and deep piety, who was their first pastor. He remained with them till October, 1854. On the 27th 'of April following, an ecclesiastcal council was called, and the church was formally organized on the next day.

Springfield. Ohio

upon this was erected a l)uil(lin!^- at a cost of $3,700. The l)asement of this new edifice was first occupied, October 31, 1851, after having for awhile held their meetings in the City Hall. The church was dedicated, April 28, 1853, by Rev. Mr. Boynton, of Cincinnati.

The entire debt of $3,500 w'as canceled in July, 1856. This was done during the pastorate of Rev. Hugh AIcLead, who served as pastor from May, 1855, to December, 1857. His successor, Rev. Edward Roote, served from October, 1859. to 1865. Rev. A. Hastings Ross then served from. February, 1866, to January. 1873. During this time the Inilding was remodeled and in various ways improved, at an expense of $3,000.

The subsequent pastors, with their terms of services, were as follows: Rev. Joseph L. Bennett, from April, 1873, to December, 1874; Rev. William H. Warren, from September, 1875, to February 22, 1887, at which time, the church, which began with thirty-nine persons, had acquired a membership of 350. On March 25, 1887, Rev. S. T. Dunlap, of Hannbal, Mo., was called to the pastorate, and was installed on April 21st. following. Mr. Dunlap served until Arjgust, 1895, a period of eight years and five months. During this pastorate, besides the addition of many good, strong and earnest persons to their membership, was the building an equipment of their i)resent fine edifice, one of the most tasteful and convenient, in all its a])pointmcnts, of any in Springfield.

Rev. E. A. Steiner, I'h. 1)., a scholarly gentleman, a native of Austria, but more recently from St. Paul, Minnesota, was called as pastor in April, 1896, and served until December, 1898. Rev. C. H. Small became pastor in April, 1899. and fully intrenched in the hearts of. his people, he remains with them to the present. A vigorous Sunday school and a Christian Endeavor Society has for years been kept up in connection with the church, the former with 182 enrolled scholars, and the latter with 56 voung people. This church, during its existence of fifty years, has had nine pastors, their terms averaging about five and a half years each.

Laooxda Avenue Congregational Church

Church was organized on Lagonda avenue during the year 1883, and faithfully kept up by the labors of Edgar, Joanna and Lucy Fay, C. E. Folger, the Danforths, A, D. Vischer, J. L. Nelson, E. J. Vose, Jessie Rowe, Emma Catlin and others. Preaching was enjoyed by the little colony from time to time by Rev. W. H. Warren, of the First Congregational Church, and Rev. William E. Fay, of the West African Mission, who was temporarily home in this city. The work of this Sunday school culminated July 19, 1887, in the establishment of a regularlv constituted Congregational .Church. Soon after this W. W. Pierce was chosen pastor byj a unanimous vote, with a salary of $800. Mr. Pierce served until March, 1890, nearly three years.

The pulpit was then supplied for several months by Revs. W. B. Marsh and Talmadge and l\Ir. Quaife, of Toledo. The next pastor was Rev. Ralph Albertson, who served from November, 1891, to November, 1895. Rev. A. B. Woodruff next served as pastor from April i, 1896, to April i, 1899. The present pastor, W. N. Baker, began his work in April, 1899. Their new and enlarged building on a new lot was erected m 1894, and dedicated in June of that year. The church now embraces about 58 families, while the Sunday school represents 50 others, in addition.

Jewish Congregation

The Jewish Congregation, or Ohev Zedukah, was organized November 25, 1865, with about twelve male members, and worshiped in the Follrath Building, on West Main street, and after two or three removals, finally occupied their present position in the Johnson Building, on West Main street. The growth of the congregation has been quite slow. Quite a number of Russian Jews arrived here in the early seventies, but finding this congregation "too advanced," they organized themselves into what is called the Old Orthodox Congregation, and they now worship in King's Building, on Limestone street.

The old Ohev Zedukah Congregation now have a male membership of about thirty-two, and an organized Sunday school with about twenty attendants. They employ no regular minister, but have Divine services every Friday evening and Saturday morning, and also on holidays, led by L. Weixelbaum. They also have semi-monthly preaching by a rabbi from Dayton, Ohio. The Sabbath school is conducted by Misses Birdie Schoental and Dora Levy. The present officers of the Congregation are : AI. M. Kauffman, President; A. Aron, Vice President, and M. D. Levy, Secretary. Among the prominent leaders of this congregation in the past have been Rabbis Myers, Strouse, Freedman, Greenbaum and others.

Seventh-Day Adventists

In August, 1878, a series of tent meetings was held by the Seventh-Day Adventist people, under the charge of Elders Wagner and Stone, at the close of which fifteen or sixteen persons formed a society for the purpose of keeping up regular worship, and they generally met in private houses. On the nth of December, 1878, was effected an organization of the Seventh-Day Adventists of Springfield, with a inembership of sixteen persons. They held their meetings for awhile at Allen's Hall, on Miami street, then at No. 25 1-2 East Main street.

The Christadelphian Society was formed in 1868, with a membership of about thirty persons. They met in various places, mostly in private houses, until they finally selected Central Hall, on the comer of Main and Center streets. They have no regular pastors, but all are free to preach, pray, exhort or sing as they feel inclined, on occasions of public worship. The principle leader of this little congregation for many years was Dr. William H. Reeves, then an active practitioner of medicine in this city. These people laid great stress upon the literal second coming of Christ to this earth in order to establish a physical, as well as moral and religious government, and that not many, if any, outside of their order of faith, will ever be raised in the resurrection of the dead. Owing to divisions among them, the number of persons be longing to this society are less now than formerly. They have never had a church building of their own, but their meetings have been kept up at irregular intervals to the present time.

Grace Reformed Church

Among our most lately developed religious organizations must be reckoned the Grace Reformed Church, which was formed in Temperance Hall, on West High street, November 19, 1895. with forty-six charter members, including, among others, Alexander Baker, Mrs. Susan Printz, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Smith, Louisa Hardcastle, Harry Hardcastle. Sarah Darner, David Garlinger, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Pemberton. They worshiped in Temperance Hall until November, 1896. when the old Trinity Baptist Building on the corner of Limestone and Mulberry streets, was rented and used until December, 1898, when the present building on Plum street was ready for use. This structure cost about $5,000, and was dedicated October i, 1899, with all the money to pay for it amply provided for. The sermon for the occasion was preached by the General Missionary Superintendent, Rev. D. S. Fouse, of Lisbon, Iowa. Others who took part in the week's special services were Rev. J. W. Burghalter, of Dayton, Ohio; Rev. J. W. Bechtel, of North Hampton. Ohio; Rev. H. S. Geokler, of Xenia, and Rev. C. E. Miller, of Dayton, Ohio.

Rev. J. C. Horning, then Sunday School Missionary, started the work at first, and remained with it until the final organization in November, 1895. Rev. S. B. Yockey, D. D., served as supply from the last-named date until May, 1896; then Rev. Mr. Hornmg again supplied from last date -until September i, 1896, when Rev. R. F. Shultz was commissioned by the General Board of Home Missions, to take charge of the church, and he has served till the present time. The church has now a membership of one hundred persons. There are enrolled in the Sunday school, including officers, teachers and scholars, 147. This is the third effort to establish a Reformed Church in this city, and seems to have Deen successful from the start. The organization is now thoroughly established, with a property worth at least $8,000, and all paid for.

cluirclies mentioned in the foregoino" passes, much good has also been done in a similar line, especially of late years, by Christian Associations, Epworth Leag-ues, Christian Endeavor Societies, most of which have been intimately, if not organically connnected with those churches, J^ut of these auxiliaries in religious work. we shall take ocasion to mention only one, namely, The Young Men's Christian Association.

In August, 1854, but little more than ten years after George Williams led in forming the London (Eng.) Association, and less than tliree years after Montreal organized one, Springfield, Ohio, joined this lay movement. Colonel E. M. Doty was the first President. Our Civil War was the occasion of merging many of these Associations into the Christian Commission Work of the Army, and thus was terminated their careers as separate bodies.

The reorganization was effected at the High Street Methodist Church in the year 1868, when Dr. Isaac Kay was elected President and in a year or two was succeeded by Mr. E. W. Mul likin, and who in turn was succeeded by Prof. B. F. Prince.

During this period the special outside work of the z\ssociation was to hold services at the Jail and Station House at stated times, and to secure public meetings in the Summer months on Sunday afternoons in some one of the groves which at that day were found in the city. For three successive winters fine lecture courses were offered. Among those who appeared as speakers were John B. Gough, \A'endell Phillips, Frederick Douglass, Rev. Stephen Tyng, Jr., George Kennan, Charles F. Hall, the Arctic explorer, and others of much reputation. There being no general Public Library in the city then, the Association made a collection of books, containing more than eighteen hundred volumes.

In 1872, the Association being pressed for funds, decided to relinquish its work. Its indebtedness, $300, was assumed by the Board of the new I'ublic Library, organized that year, and to which Board the cases and books of the Association were assigned, the collection becoming the basis of our present magnificent Library.

In 1879 another organization for young men was formed. From this time until 1886 some important work was done by the Association, but owing to the difference of opinion as to what the real work of the Young Men's Christian Association ought to be, and also to the comparatively limited amount of financial support received, but little advance was made toward the last in furtherance of its high purpose. Messrs. Rev. Hastings, J. S. Crowell, E. M. Doty and Dr. Thomas King were among the prominent leaders for -some years.

On December 22, 1887, under advice of S. D. Gordon, Secretary of the State Committee, enlarged plans were adopted for a four-fold work, $6,500 were raised, and thus a new period be- ^an in the history of the Association. Messrs. George H. Frey, H. S. Bradley, D. O. Fox, T. J. Kirkpatrick and Dr. J. H. Rodgers, successively have been President, and for most of this time, VV. J. Fraser has been the industrious and efficient General Secretary. In 1892 the number of members reached 1,001. In 1895 the young men, themselves, gave $5,000 toward the purchase of a lot. In 1897 citizens completed the purchase of the lot, raising $12,000. In 1899 another fund, $5^,000, was pledged for the building, Ross Mitchell giving $5,000; Governor A. S. Bushnell $10,000, and E. S. Kelly $10,000. Over 600 persons contributed the balance.

Dr. J. H. Rodgers, Robert Johnson, John Foos, Charles H, Pierce, R. Q. King, F. E. Snypp and W. S. Frazer constituted the Building Committee. The property, when completed, will have a value of near $100,000.

Formal Opening Day

The formal opening;' of the Centennial occurred on Monday, the 5th. and proved to be one of the best days of the week. The various interests considered and represented touched the very life and growth of the city. The City Government, Manufactures and Mercantile Interests were sufficient to elicit the attention of all classes, and large numbers thronged the streets and found their way to the Fair Grounds, to witness the procession and to hear the papers appropriate to the day.

A parade was part of the program, which, under the direction of Chief Marshal E. N. Lupfer, assisted by a number of citizens acting as aides, proved an entertaining feature. There were numerous carriages conveying the General and Sub-Committees, Mayor of the city, members of the City Council, of the School Board, Board of Public Affairs, Police and Fire Board, followed by machinery from many of the factories, in some cases showing articles made in the early history of the plant, together with those made now ; wagons and floats carrying lighter articles manufactured in the city ; the Fire Department, with all its modern appliances for fighting fires, all gaily decorated and in iioliday attire. When formed into line they extended for more than a mile, and showed to the people that the interests of Springfield were many, and that when aroused to action, she could make a display both entertaining and instructive. Bands of music were distributed throughout the parade column, which greatly enlivened the occasion.

On reaching the Fair Grounds, the Chief Marshal and the various Committees and I'.oards ascended the reviewing stand and viewed the procession as it passed by, after which all repaired to the huge tent where the further exercises were held. Judge F. M. I lagan, with an eloquent address, formally opened the Centennial, and then introduced ex-Governor I'ushnell as Chairman of the Day, who appropriately introduced those who had part in the program. Tiie papers were strong, and told a history at once useful and entertaining.

Address Of Judge Francis M. Hagan

Fello\\' Citizens : We are here to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the City of Springfield. Language can but feebly express the thoughts which press upon us as we contemplate the history of our beloved city.- It is not for me to recount it in detail. Others, each with his chosen theme, will eloquently portray the striking events of a hundred years of her civic life.

And yet it seems fitting, at the outset of this occasion, to glance for a moment at the City of Springfield, as a whole, during the century of her existence, as uoon a panorama, flashing with the speed of lightning before us. As we lift our eyes we see, first an unbroken wilderness, tenanted only by wild beasts and a few savages scarcely less wild. Then appear the pioneers of another race, rearing their humble log cabins. We look again and behold the primeval forest, with its little band of hardy settlers, changed as if by magic to a city great, prosperous and beautiful, the home of forty thousand souls in the forefront of civilized life. The bark wigwams of the Indian and the rude huts of the pioneers have given place to thousands of commodious structures, some palatial, all fit for happy homes.

pliances of his conqueror have alike heen supplanted hy the mvriad conveniences which mark the dawn of the Twentieth Century. The hmited harter of the first-comers with the natives of the adjacent forests, has swollen so that to-dav the wares made by our people encircle the g-lohe and their traffic is with the ends of the earth, hring-ing- back in exchang-e the choicest products of other climes.

The dip lioht and the candle of one h.undred years ao^o are displaced l)y gas and electricity, which pour floods of illumination along- our streets and into our dwellings. The winding trails here and there through the forests have disap]:)eared. hut in their places are miles of well-ordered streets, along which glide splendid equipages and elegant cars, the carriages of the common people, carrying us everywhere within the city and far beyond her borders, while the great railroad systems which enter Springfield connect her with the remotest parts of the planet. Water brought from the X'alley of Lagonda refreshes verdant lawns, batfles the fire fiend,and gushes in every dwelling.

The telegraph, flashes our thoughts as far as civilizaton extends her sway, while the telephone enables us to hold instant converse with our fellow citizens in every part of the municipality, and even with those separated from us by thousands of miles. We gaze once more and see giant factories, superb busmess blocks, a grand City Building, second to none in the great Commonwealth of ( )hi(), a noble and well-filled Public Library, a fine Government lUiilding, a magnificent home for the Young Men's Christian .\ssociation, a thoroughly equipped Pul^lic Hospital, three Fraternal Homes on as many hills, a Cemetery which our renowned traveler, John W. IJookwalter, declares to be in some of its features, the finest in the world, and a I'ark hundreds of acres in extent, without a rival in its natural beauty, afifording recreation to all. We perceive that progress in intellectual, social and spiritual lines has not lagged behind material development ; for here are an efficient Public School System, Wittenl)erg College, the i)ride t)f our people ; great and enterprising newspapers, scores of literary clubs, polite and refined society, with a social chib house, whose elegance would do honor to an\- citv ; homes for aged members of the weaker sex and helpless children, sup- ported l)y the sacrifice and untiring zeal of saintly women, and, crowning all, half a hundred churches, whose spires and faithul ministers are ever pointing toward heaven.

Who, under God, has wrought the transformation from the wilderness to all these things, more wonderful than the poets who sang in the gray morning of time ever dreamed of? Its architects appear in three generations of brave, loyal, devoted men and women. As they swiftly pass us in review, first come the sturdy figures of Demint, Foos, Tlumjibrey, Kenton and Low^-ey, others joining them year by year, laying their axes to the roots of the trees and hewing out the beginning of the city which was to be, not forgetting even in that far-off day to establish humble schools and churches, in recognition that intelligence, morality and religion are the firm foundations upon which the welfare and happiness of every community must rest.

In the first decades, here and there an infant factory arises, prophetic of the future of Springfield. We, surrounded by all that comforts and adorns ci\'ilizcd life, in vain try to realize the toils, the privations and the hardships of the men who founded the city. As these veterans are about to leave the stage of life, the second generation marches to the rescue, led by the Whiteleys, the Fooses, the Vv'arders, the Snyders, the Ludlows, Mast, Mitchell,, the Barnetts, Thomas, Kelly, and their compeers, whose inventive and constructive genius has reared those vast hives of human industry and developed those resources which have made the name of Springfield famous throughout the world.

Marching shoulder to shoulder ^vith them are the men of the professions, skillful physicians caring for the bodies, and devoted ministers, for the souls of men ; profound lawyers and jurists, vindicating human rights, and great educators and journalists, striving for intellectual improvement. Some of these grand men sre still with us, as witness Abram R Ludlow, John Foos, Ross Mitchell, Oliver S. Kelly and others, venerable men, who, as Webster said of the survivors of Bunker Hill, who stood listening to ills immortal oration, "have come down to us from a former generation." May they long remain to guide us with their wise counsel and to enjoy the fruits of their labors. John and David Snyder passed away but yesterday, leavin.sf behind them for all the generations to follow, a precious legacy in Snyder Park and a hospital service for the indigent. To the time of the second generation belong the Mitchell-Thomas Hospital and Warder Library. And now as that generation begins to go the way of all the earth, the third, the men of our own time, fills the breach. Among the works of their hands are industries multiplied and expanded to almost fabulous proportions, material conveniences second to those of no other community ; asylums for the aged, the widows and the orphans of the three greatest benevolent orders in the world, and. finally, a splendid structure to house the Young Men's Christian Association, fitly marking the closing year of the first century of S])ringfield.

Could we but call the roll of all the citizens of Springfield, from the day of James Demint to the present hour, and review each individual life, how gladly w'e should look upon the grand drama thus aflforded, in order that the due meed of praise might be awarded every one who has helped to make Springfield what it is.

Here rise to view brave pioneers in James Demint, Griffith Foos. Simon Kenton, Humphreys, Lowry and Donnell ; successful manufacturers, some of whom are recalled by the names of Blakeney, Buch waiter, Bushnell, Foos, Crain. Gwynn, Hoppes, Johnson, Kelly, Leffel, Ludlow, Lupfcr, ^last, Mitchell. Patric, Rabbitts ,Rhinehart, Rodgers, Thomas, Warder. \\'hitely, Montanus. Winger; astute business men by those of Bacon, Baldwin, Black, Barnett, Blee. Burk, Benalleck, Carson, Cartmell, Crowell, Diehl, Cobaugh, Fox, Harshman, Jefteries, Kirkpatrick, Meredith. McGrew, Phelps, Pierce. Seitz, Webb, Wiseman, Zimmerman ; a fertile inventor in William N. Whitely ; experts m getting Fraternal Homes for Springfield in Pearl M. Cartmell and Charles W. Constantine ; profound jurists in William Rogers, John C. Miller. William \\'hite, Charles Anthony, Samson Mason and Samuel A. Bowman ; a great statesman and lawyer in Samuel Shellabarger ; a citizen renowned in law. in statesmanship and in war, in General Joseph Warren Keifer, once occupying the third highest station in the gift of his ccnmtrymen; a world-famous advocate of tenii)erance in Mother Stewart ; philanthropists in Benjamin H. Warder, John and David L. Snyder, Edward S. Kelly and Asa Bushnell, who also enjoys the distinction of having been the best Imsiness (lOvernor Ohio ever had ; a philosopher and traveler known throughout the world in the person of John W. Bookwalter : able journalists in William (j. Boggs, William T. Cogshall and Clifton M. Nichols ; artists in the Frankensteins and Jerome Uhl, who have made the canvas glow with life and beauty ; gifted authors in General Keifer, John W. Bookwalter, Robert Brain and Minnie Williss Baines Miller; and brilliant scholars in a Sprecher, an Ort, a Breckenridge, a Keller, a Prince and a Geiger.

The list might be swollen to include hundreds of others worthy of special mention. Yet not alone have the great charac ters of our city wrought to build it. Every toiler in the office, in the shop, at the counter, on the street, or on a farm, in the adjoining region, lias done his or her part in the great work. Wherever, in any capacity, however humble, men or women have done well their appointed tasks, putting the best of themselves into their calling, they should be awarded praise. The lives of patient, toiling, noble men and women may fade from earthly recollection, but they dwell imperishably in the mind of God, and leave their lasting impress on the world.

We should be false to those who have gone before us, false to ourselves, false to our Heavenly Father, if in this hour of our Centennial Jubilee we failed to recognize all worthy effort and aspiration in the lives of those whose labors have given us what we enjoy.

Many of the builders of S])ringfaeld sleep in xonder Cemeteries. If they could come back to us, but for a day, how gladly should we greet them. It may be permitted them in another sphere of existence to look upon this scene with joy, though their forms are invisible to mortal eves. lUit let us be aniniated by the mig-htv si)irit of all those, livinii" or dead, that have toiled here. W'e rejoice in the triumphs of peace which our city has won. We rejoice that when war clouds hovered over the land, Springfield sent regiment after regiment to the defense of an imperiled Union, and that she has never hesitated to obey our country's call to arms. But let us turn our eyes from the glorious past and meet the great responsibilities of the ever urgent present, while we look with bright ho])e and unshaken confidence to the future.

Long ere the second Centennial of Springfield, we shall have passed awav. Even our children will then have finished their earthly career; but. as our children's children gather, it may be on this verv spot, to celel)rate that day. may they say of us and of the dear ones we leave behind, as we can now say of those who have gone before us. "They did their part well in their day and generation." And now. l)y the authority of the General Committee having this great event in charge, and on behalf of all the people of Springfield, I declare this Centennial Celebration open.

''Over the roofs of the Pioneers Gathers the moss of a hundred years ; On man and his works has passed the change That needs must be in a century's range. The land Hes open and warm in the sun, Anvils clamor and mill wheels run ; Flocks on the hill side, herds on the plain, The wilderness gladdens with fruit and grain."

The story of Springfield's century of business is, in miniature, the story of the life of the Nation. Our beginning was in the single log house erected in 1799 by James Demint, who had journeyed hither from Kentucky, and built his cabin home on the north bank of Buck Creek. On March 17, 1801, Mr. Demint, assisted by two others - Mr. Griffith Foos and Mr. John Daugherty - attracted by the favorable location, laid out the town. Tradition accredits the wife of Simon Kenton with sus'gesting the name - Springfield. From this humble Ijeginning, Springfield, in a single century, has become a city known throughout the length and breadth of the world - wherever the torch of civilization has enlightened the peoples of the earth.

mg of our early patriots and pioneers, used these words: "It is only when we consider what they found this country, and what they have handed it down to us, that we learn the efficacy of public and private virtue, of wise counsel, of simple manners, of frugal habits, and an inborn love of liberty."

Folic )wino- tb.e building- of Demint's humble home, Griffith Foos hewed out and built &x first tavern. It was opened for business in June. i8or. In this bouse the first preaching- service was held two years later. I'.efore embarkino- in business, Mr. Foos secured at the lo^ Court House in Xenia, the necessary license for keeping; tavern, the fees beino- eight dollars. In 1804, the town had a dozen or more houses. In addition was a settlement of some fourteen cabins at a fort and blockhouse just north of town, and other settlements to the west. T.usiness was conducted by Ci. B. Fields, as a cabinet-maker, near ^lain and Market. Opposite was John Reed's cooper shop. Near the other corner was another tavern, whose proprietor is alleged to have been - an old colored man named Toney. Mr. Stowe kept a grocer>^ store. Near Limestone street, a large, two-story log house served as a blockhouse in the alarms from Indian raids. Wearing apparel was dispensed by two Frenchmen, the firm name being LeRoy & DeGrab - the name of the junior meml)er having no reference, it is presumed, to their business methods.

For the first decade, Springfield failed to develop and realize on that energy and pluck that, in later years, has marked her prosperity. The reason may readily be found in the feeling of insecurity from the Indian depredations. Tecumsch, a son of our county, and his band of braves were a constant menace, to some of whom plunder or murder was but a pastime. Treaty after treaty could not stay their treacherous hand. What tribute shall we pay those brave and daring i)ioneers to whom toil and ])rivation was not all of life? Fearlessly and patiently they wrought as did the children of Israel under Xehemiah. "Every one with his own hand wron^ht in tlie work, and witli the other liand held a wea])on. For the buiklers every one had his sword girded bv his side, and so l)uilded."

That Springfield \\as a favored spot before the dawn of civilization, is readily established, in the location near by of the Indian villages of Chillicothe and Piqua. At the latter village, west of town, when destroyed by General George Rogers Clark, in 1780, some three hundred acres of Indian corn were under cultivation. In fact, the first shipment ever made from what is now Clark County consisted of a cargo of i)rovisions. They were loaded bv David Lowry into a fiat boat, Iniilt by himself in 1800, placed upon the waters of the Big Miami, and thence taken to New Orleans. Provisions thus sent were usually exchanged for sugar. The Indians did not cease to be a threatening factor, retarding the growth and prosperity of the village, until (General Harrison secured peace to the frontier in his famous victory at Tippecanoe. Tecumseh, brilliant, brave, but sullen - no longer able to incite nor harass the settlers of Springfield, nor }et impede the wheels of progress - but ever ''against the government," met his final fate while enlisted as England's all\- in the War of 1812.

The early forests ])roved to be a friendlv factor, not so much as a pronounced article of trade and commerce, as in furnishing abundant sup])l:es for building material and fuel. A liberal growth of beech, (jak, ma])le. walnut, ash, and hickory, have, until recent years, served as an ami:)le source of local sup]:)ly. One part of the country, the northwest, has long been known as the "P)eech."' It was the mecca of man\- of those sturdy English folk who are a credit to any community. The story was told me recently, by an old resident, of the arrival in New York years ago of a small grou]) ni the early English settlers, who, upon being asked their destination, innocently re])lied "The I'cech." and asked where they might find it.

our only source of mineral weallli. In the absence of underlying' coal, oil or gas, our stone quarries have proven no small factor in commercial life. The strata of rock averaging thirteen feet thick lias been quarried for sixty years. (At present 250 men are erii- ]:»loyed in four quarries. In the half-century of their workings, thousands of cars of stone have been quarried, much of it having been reduced to lime. Shi])ments have been made as far south as New Orleans.) At one time Springfield limestone was the standard finishing rock for this part of the countr}-.

Our lim])id streams, Mill Run and I'.uck Creek, in earlier days served as a prime factor in ])lacing Springfield upon the ma]) as the center of commercial and manufacturing activity. With all due respect to those noble streams of the past, they may, in the absence of the rushing current that once filled their banks and turned our factor}- wheels, still serve the sanitary needs of modern Springfield, with even greater value than afYorded by their water power of other years.

At the formation of Clark County, and Springfield as the County Seat, in 1818, the picture presented is not a liopetul one. Mr. Robert Woodward, in his. sketches of Springfield, gives this summary: "The west liank of Mill Run was an exceedingly muddy and miry place. In crossing to go to the eastern ])art of town, it was not only necessary to wade through the mud and mire and cross the stream on a foot log, but also ascend the east bank, which was quite steep. It was no uncommon thing there to see horses and wag-ons drive close up to the doors of dwellings." He speaks also of a low state of morals, which is verified by other writers. The product of the "still" had not .only furnished "fire water" to their Indian neighbors, all citizens more or less sharing the ill results therefrom, but was being felt also in drunkenness and brawling among the inhabitanis. "llut amidst all," says Mr. Woodward, "were men of upright, firm character, who did much by their influence and exertions to stem the rapid progress of iniquity in the community."

erful aid to business, "the printing" press." After varying ownerships, the first pubHcation of influence was the Western Pioneer. In 1825, with a vim and vigor creditable to modern journaHsm, the paper brought about the adoption of street lamps. They cost $25.00 each. The expense of maintaining them was a tax of I? 1-2 cents, collected from each house, to pay for oil and wick - the lamp to be cleaned by the family nearest in location. About this time, in addition to several mills producing flour, woolen and cotton products, there were eight stores, and several lawyers and phvsicians. Tn the county was a population of 9,533. Shortly after Springfield was incorporated as a village (by act of Legislature. January 2^, 1827), the first complete census was taken of which we have any record. That enterprising paper, the Western Pioneer, in its issue of September 28, 1828, said: 'A\^e have for the information of our readers and our own gratification, taken the pains to enumerate the population of our village. There are in Springfield 935 souls - 6 blacksmith shops, with 15 hands; 4 wagon shops, with 13 har.ds ; 4 shoemaker shops, with 9 hands; 3 tanneries, with 8 hands ; 6 tailor shops, with 18 hands : 3 saddle shops, with 10 hands; 3 bakeries, with 5 hands; 2 hatter shops, with 6 hands ; 3 cabinet shops, with 8 hands ; i tin shop, with 4 hands ; 3 cooper shops, with 10 hands ; 2 chair shops, wdth 5 hands ; 14 stores, with ^2 hands ; 4 groceries, with 4 hands ; i paper mill, with 20 hands ; i gun shop, with 3 hands."

2 sign and i portrait painter, and i extensive flour mill. Incidentally, they mention 4 schools, a courthouse, brick jail, 3 churches, their own printshop and "a postoffice at which 24 mails are received weekly in elegant four-horse coaches."

During the period of our village life we grew from 935 inhabitants in 1828 to 5,109, reaching the latter figure in 1850, when the city charter was granted. Compared with the rapid growth of large cities in the far West, this increase, covering a period of twenty-two years, is not startling. Manufacturing, however, that was lo prove the keynote of our prosperity, was just beginning to assert its influence.' We are in reality celebrating a half-century of preparation and a half-century of real progress. Having ratified the city charter, one of the first steps toward metropoHtan manners was the aboHshing of the oil street lamps and the adoption of gas light - on the evening of April 4, 1850, the city was first lighted with gas. The price was $6 per thousand cubic feet. Fifty years later the same gas company supplies us at $1 per thousand. The needs of the city now require a gross output of nearly sixty million cubic feet annually among 2,172 consumers. In addition, 2,600 consumers use natural gas for fuel at 25 cents per thousand. The supply coming originally from Mercer County, but latterly from the Fairfield County gas fields, seventy-five miles distant.

Electric Light Plants

With characteristic energy. Springfield was among the first cities to adopt electric light. To William A. Scott, Esq., Theo. Troupe, Charles H. Pierce and others may be attributed the first efifort in this direction. Two thousand dollars were raised in $100 shares, when, in 1882, the plant was established in the Driscol Carriage Factory. The original price of $150 per year for street arc lights of 2,000 candlepower has been reduced more than half. In the city streets 306 such lights are now used, in addition to 600 gas posts. Upwards of 8,000 incandescent lights are used in stores and residences, 230 miles of wire being necessary for this service. The Kelly light and heating plant is recently establishedwith additional capacity for commercial electric lighting and steam heating.

Transportation

As a means of develop^ing our own resources, and marketing them upon the world, transportation is a most important factor. Clark County has well developed roadways. They were not always so. When Griffith Foos and his small party, in 1801, blazed their way through forest and over stream, they made the first wag- on tracks leading into Springfield from the east. About the saine year, Mr. Foos assisted Daniel Lowry and John Daugherty in surveying the first road out of Springfield. It led to Da}' ton, and was possibly over the trail cut by Cleneral Goerge Rogers Clark some twenty years earlier, when he led his brave baud cf Kentuckians in the destruction of the Indian village of Piqna. Of material benefit, from a commercial standpomt, was the completion in 1832 of the National Road, which event was duly celebrated at the time. This brought Springfield prominently before the State and country, as a stopping point on that great channel of early commerce and travel. Crossing the 412 square miles in Clark County to-day are 312 miles of county turnpikes, in addition are the township and county roads, aggregating 498 miles, making a grand total of 810 miles of improved roadways in the county. The measurements have been supplied after much effort through the courtesy of the various townshi]:) clerks and trustees and the County Commissioners, and now appear for the first tmie. They tell their own story as a feature of internal improvements being a wise means of developing our own resources : Bethel Township, 39 miles ; German Township, ^^ miles ; Green Township, 55 miles ; Harmony Township, 50 miles ; Madriver Township, 47 miles; Moorefield Township, 49 miles; Madison Township, 66 miles ; Pike Township, 30 miles ; Pleasant Township, 45 miles ; Springfield Township, 84 miles.

Our Railway Systems

Assisting in our development, at the beginning of the last half-century, was the opening of the railroad era. On August 6, 1846, the engine "Ohio" whistled its greeting to Springfield, arriving on the tracks of the "Little Miami" Railroad, the first train following on August 11. Tw^o years later the "Mad River" road was completed, connecting Springfield with Lake Erie. In 1851 the Springfield and Dayton road was finished. Later the Springfield and London, also the Springfield and Pittsburg. The last line completed was the road to the coal fields, originally the Springfield, Jackson and Pomeroy, now. with northern extensions, known as the Detroit Southern. Springfield capital was largelv instrumental in its buildine.

Street Car Traffic

Our adventure in street car traffic began in 187 1. The orio;-- inal line was built from Limestone street west on High to Dayton road. P. P. Mast, George Spence. Esq., and others were its chief backers. The road was a bonanza when the State Fair was held in Springfield, but the patronage thereafter did not pay "horse feed." Three years later Mr. Charles A. Harris bought the entire outfit - roadway, three cars and "gondola," also the motor power, consisting of nine familiar mules and two horses, at sheriff's sale, for the sum of $2,200. Street car traffic began in earnest when the Citizen Company was organized in 1882. The lines were extended and a fair service rendered. In 1891, Mr. I. Ward Frey successfully inaugurated the first electric street railway, having received a franchise to the North Side. The line was later merged into the Citizens" Line, and the whole system became electric in 1892. The stock of the present company is controlled largely by Eastern capital, yet the management have been fortunate thus far in reducing loss of life and property to a minimum. The result may further be accounted for in the faithful service given by competent employees. The company employs 100 men with an equipment of thirty cars and twenty-nine miles of track. They carried during 1900 an average of 12,427 persons daily, transferring to any part of the city upon a single five-cent fare.

The latest development in transportation lies in the interurban electric lines. By this system Springfield has added facilities in reaching hourly and cheaply the surrounding cities of Dayton, Urbana and Xenia. The latter line is under construction as well as a branch to London and Columbus, with other lines in project. The Dayton, Springfield & L^rbana, completed in 1900, has general offices in Springfield, under competent management.

With the development of our manufacturing and commercial interest came the need of a proper railway outlet for our products. V)\ the consolidation of various roads, we also became a junction point on the Big Four (C. C. C. & St. L.) system. From the small showing at the start, when our freight cars were shifted about by horsepower, and the vigorotis voice of the driver, the returns this year show more than forty miles of yard and sichng track in use, in addition to 121 miles of main tracks crossing' the county. The service of eleven yard or switch engines is required to handle our shipping.

The total number of trains arriving and departing dail}- by the various lines are thirty-six passenger and forty freight. While an accurate record of passengers carried by the various lines for the period of a year is not easily ascertained, yet from the best data obtainable, by careful computation, one hundred and thirty-four thousand seven hundred and fifty-eight passengers were carried out of Springfield during the year 1900. This covers the Big Four, Pennsylvania and Detroit Southern roads. In jxiint of revenue, Springfield is the fifth city on the entire Big Four system, being exceeded only bv Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago and -St. Louis. In passing, it may be well to state as a matter of current history, that the stations supplied by all of the roads entering Springfield, for the use of their patrons, would, if placed on public sale, scarcely bring a sufficient price to pay for tlicir tearingdown and hauling away.

When the Springfield postoffice was established in 1804, "mail day" came but once a week. Couriers from Cincinnati carried the mail into the great Northwest. In 1823. when the horse and saddle bags were supplanted in the mail service by a fourhorse coach and a daily mail, the inhabitants were filled w-ith [pardonable pride. Perhaps there is no more certain indication of business conditions than the postal service. The appended record, secured through the courtesy of our si)lendid postmaster, Mr. James II. Rabbitts, would indicate a healthy business relation between Springfield and the outer world. \\'e receive and dispatch daily ninety-two mails. This deimands the service of seventy-two emplo3'ees, about equally divided as to carriers and clerks. Following is the postoffice record for the year ending June 30, 190 1 : Total mail, first class, handled during year, about 11,650,000. This would indicate an average of about 300 letters per year for every man, woman and child in SiiringfieUl. In second-class mail

Our Telegraph And Telephone

In addition to this enormous "mail" output, our business is sufficiently urgent at times as to require the handling during last year of 135,402 telegrams, together with 78,936 messages sent and received over the long-distance telephones. Our foreign transactions require the use of 769 cable messages during the year. The office of the Atlantic. Lake and :\Iississippi telegraph was opened in Springfild in 1847. Our esteemed and useful citizens, George H. Frey, Sr. (now retired), and John W. Parsons, Superintendent of the Ohio Masonic Home, \vere early telegraph operators. From a report sheet of 1849, I estimate at about eight the average daily messages sent during that year. Upon that report, as patrons, appear the honored names Rodgers. ^^^^itely, r.uckingham. Mason, and Thompson.

Our telephone exchange dates from 1882. with fifty original subscribers. The same company under the "P.ell" patent, have grown into their own new stone-front building, with the most modern equipment of any exchange in the country. Eighteen hundred and fifty subscribers make a daily average of 24.600 calls by day, and 6.400 night calls. iM-oni the crude service at the beginning, when communication could be had with outside points only with considerable effort and patience, the new copper line service of to-day renders conversation with Xew York or Chicago as plain and satisfactory as though in an adjacent room. The original price of $6 per month for stores, and $5 for residences, has been reduced one-half, while the service rendered has been brought to the highest standard of their time. Competing lines are now seeking franchises, and the universal use of the tele])hone seems but the question of a few years.

The beginning of our second centurv finds almost everv branch of business thoroughly represented. There is scarcelv anything necessary to modem human needs that cannot be supplied reasonably and well in S]:)ringfield. Our food supplies - largely the product of our own county - are usually as good as can be obtained on the face of the earth. In addition to a market house with tiled floor and clean apartments, more than two hundred grocers, bakers, milkmen, etc., find business employment in meeting the needs of table supplies. The bakers send out ten thousand loaves of bread daily. Eighty physicians stand ready to answer the calls of the afflicted from any over-indulgence in the good things of life, or the ailments to which the human flesh is heir; also "Scientists," who are equally ready to dissolve the illusion that there are any bodily infirmities, save as they exist only in the mind. In ])uil(ling operations, the entire structure. from foundation to girder or roof, may be constructed with home products and labor. House furnishings, from furnace to frescoes, with all the comforts of home, are easily available in our midst. The adornment of the body and bodily comforts, are very largely and earnestly cared for by competing houses, whose appeal for business often exhausts the vocabulary of self-praise. In such unseemly strife, over seventy-six lawyers and eight undertakers seem content to ply their vocations after the busy actors of the stage of business life shall have closed their career and passed on to their reward.

of our existence - the output of merchants, artisans and tradepeople generally, reaching into the millions. To reach an accurate estimate of moneys thus invested, is an undertaknig not easily solved. Personal interview with more than twelve hundred persons so engaged, seemed a hopeless and even unprofitable task. Returns to the County Auditor did not cover all, while reports to mercantile agencies might indicate a variance with taxation returns. From a careful review from each business interest, aside from manufacturing, the table appended gives a reasonably fair showing of moneys so invested. Where two or more lines of merchandise are sold in the same store, the busii-^^ss is listed under its principal item.

Centennial Of

In the rise and fall of the business world, Springfield can take pardonable pride in her financial institutions. During the dark days of depression, our finances have been a Gibraltar of strength to the community.

On January 22, 1847, the Mad River Valley branch of the State Bank opened its doors for business. Levi Rinehart was president and J. T. Claypole, cashier. In 185 1, "The Springfield Bank" was organized with Oliver Clark, president, and W. T. McMeans, cashier. Today we have five National Banks with an aggregated capital of one million dollars, and nearly five thousand depositors. Their published statements, as called for bv the Comptroller of the Currency on July 15, 1901, show the following results :

In addition to the five thousand citizens using the National Banks, as depositors, our Springfield Savings Bank appeals more strongly to the masses, by reason of the payment of interest on deposits - at present, 3 per cent. Organized in 1873, the Savings Bank, under the safe and splendid management that has always marked its career, has become a public benefactor. From 730 depositors at the end of the first year, their records show 9,808 depositors at the beginning of the current year. Since its organization, more than three-quarters of a million dollars in interest has been paid to their customers. During 1900, their deposits increased a quarter-million dollars, indicating a comfortable financial growth among the wise and prudent.

Building And Loan

Next to the Savings Bank in popularity are the Building and Loan Associations - "The Springfield," organized in 1884, and "Merchants' and Mechanics'." organized in 1892. During the years of their career, hundreds of homes have been built by the. proceeds of careful savings fostered by their managements.

An aggregate showing of the several depositories is a most convincing argument that our citizens who so desire are more thrifty, and laboring classes under happier conditions than the toilers of continental Europe. The appended list tells the old story : "Take care of the dimes, and the dollars will take care of themselves" :

A general summary of the investments in Springfield commercial life in 1901 - aside from manufacturing - may be conservatively stated as follows :

Evidences are not wanting that we are sharing materially in the general prosperity that has followed the economic, as well as patriotic policies, of President AEcKinley. An abstract secured from the County Recorder shows that during 1901 the county made a net gain in cancelled mortgages of $2,388,027.

What Springfield has wrought as a business city has been achieved amid the trials of a busy centur}\ We have had to confront the Indian question. We have had to stop the wheels of progress for wars at home and abroad. Be it said to the lasting fame of our city and county, that the sordid spirit of commercial gain has never yet suffered her people to falter at their country's call. We have .passed through the fires of financial panic. We have suffered the furies of the tornado and cyclone; yet Springfield greets the dawning of her second century, proud of her past, happy in her present, and hopeful for the future.

By D. Z. Gardner. Esq

^Municipalities have become the ?tudy of the day. Historically treated, their study carniot hut lie interestino^ ; their chief interest, however, at this day, lies in their political influence. Bv the term "municipalities'" here is meant cities.

In the first ag-es of the world, the population was agrarian. Cities grew up and were formed by tribes or nations as the best means of defense against other tribes or nations. P)Ut po])ulation has always had the tendency to centralize. Although there is evidence of reaction periods in this centralization, the ruins of great cities prove that at times the city population became very great. It appears that during the last few decades population has been centralizing into cities at a more rapid rate than ever before, tmtil, I presume, at the present time, a larger per cent of people live in cities than ever before. And what is true in this respect of population, is true, to even a greater degree, of wealth. These facts give special interest to the study of cities, their government and departments. While it is interesting to stmly the ancient cities and their ruins, they camiot throw much light on the j^rob- lems of modern municipalities. Tl:e sliuly of our own city is certainly of more interest and vastly more importance. The recent agitation on the subject of government and forms of government for cities might lead one to think that it was a matter of recent origin and importance. This, however, would be a mistake, but it is true, that on account of increasing population and new problems constantly being presented, the study of city government has assumed new character and importance. It is generally agreed that old forms and methods will not answer any longer, and that new ones must be devised. The cities of the more remote past were mostly merely scattered communities rather than compact cities ; houses within a stone's throw of each other, rather than crowded together and twenty-six stories high.

And here let me ask, have you ever stopped to consider how little attention you pay to your municipal government affairs, and yet how much more important they are to you than National or State affairs, to which you devote so much of your time and thought? The management of city aft'airs touches you in a hundred places where State and National aft'airs combined touch you once. The security of person and property depends almost wholly on your police and fire departments. You pay $7.00 taxes to be administered by your municipal officers to one dollar expended by State and National officers combined. While the security of your person and property and the expenditure of taxes paid by you are almost wholly in tie hands of your municipal officers, is it not true that you interest yourself, in about inverse proportion to their importance, in municipal affairs and officers? It is probably true that not too much interest is t^ken in National and State affairs, but it is surely true that too little interest is taken by those most interested in municipal affairs and ot^cers.

One hundred years ago there was nothing but nature where now stands the city of Springfield. There is nothing peculiar about Springfield's origin and growth. To a house or two on what afterward became the famous National Road, were added a house or two, and then another or two, and finally enough to be something of a settlement. Springfield became incorporated as a village in 1834, ialthough an organization had been eft'ected in 1827, with the usual six trustees and with Edward H. Gumming as President, and James S. Halsey as Recorder. She ran on under this form of government until 1850, when, by an act of the Legislature, Springfield became a city of the second class. The first Mayor was James M. Hunt, and the first City Clerk was S. Parsons. From 1850 to 1891, when the present form of government was adopted, the city cannot be said to have had any departments ; in fact, it has none now legally so designated.

Presidents While A Village Mayors Of Citv

There were two or three instances in which the regularlyelected Mayor, for one reason or another, did not serve out his term, and temporary appointments were made, the last being that of T. J. Kirkpatrick in 1898.

I will give the names of the legal advisers of the city in their order, designating the years in which they were elected, beginning in 1853 with George Spence :

Fire Department

The steam fire department was organized in 1865 with A. R. Ludlow as first Fire Marshal. The position was held by him until 1871, when R. O. King was elected and served till 1880. J. C. Holloway was elected in the latter year and was succeeded in 1882 by William E. ^loore, Jr., who served till December 2, 1884. when E. \A\ Simpson was elected and served till September I, 1895, when the present Chief, George Follrath. was appointed. During all its life our Fire Department has been an honor to the city, and, while we have had some destructive fires, the statistics of the United States show, I believe, only one or two cities of our size that have averaged a lower fire loss. There arc now seven regular fire department houses, operated by a force of tfiirty-five officers and men. The department is well equipped with the most modern machinery for fighting fire.

The present system of police management came in with the new form of government in 189 1. Tt consists at present of thirtysix officers and men. The efficiency of this department, especially since it came under the new form of management, cannot be questioned. Tt has attained an enviable reputation throughout the country. The control of the station and patrol houses is in this department. The Chiefs of the Department have been as follows :

The Police and Fire Departments are naturally somewhat connected and interdependent, and hence are under control of one board, designated the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners. Let me remark here, in passing, that I am not to be construed as speaking for or against the present form of government ; I mayrefer to some parts of it in such manner later on, in this paper.

Council And Board Of Public Affairs

Under our present form of government,, Council is relieved of some of the duties it had under the former system of management, and some have hastily assumed that it has been entirely shorn of its power and influence ; but this is a grave mistake, and arises from having failed to study the situation. The powers and really and truly belonging to such a body still remain to it ; in fact, all the important legislative functions of the city remain in Council. If we except a few minor matters, only executive functions have been taken from Council and lodged in the Board of Public Afifairs. In a city the size and importance of Springfield, the executive duties become so great and complex, requiring at times quick and immediate action, that a number of men with something like original authority are required to give all their time and attention to them ; hence the necessity of some such arrangement as the Board of Public Affairs. This board, in addition to its executive power, has legislative power over only small matters, and such as might be expected to require immediate action, and such as may arise from day to day and require more speedy action than could be obtained from Council. This partakes somewhat of the nature of the management of private corporations and in them such arrangement of power has been found suitable and necessary.

There is always danger of friction between these two bodies, naturally somewhat jealous of each other. By careful, skillful management, however, this has usually been avoided. A careful laying down of the duties and authority of each will always avoid dangerous clash. These duties and powers are very clearly de-

In the matter of conducting the executive affairs of a city. we may borrow some from the experience of the past. I do not know where the framers of the present city government obtained their ideas, or whether they were original, but an examination of the state of city affairs of the ancient Carthage shows that her government was very similar at one time to ours. The question is often asked why the cities of today are so inferior to those of the remote past. In the first place, we may ask whether there is any room for the question. I maintain that the cities of today, in serving the purposes for which they are intended, are not inferior to those of any past age. They may not possess the useless grandeur of Babylon or the ancient This, On, or Thebes, but where among the ancient cities was there anything to compare with New York or Chicago? The twenty-six-story building may not seem so wonderful to us who are used to seeing them go up from five, ten and twenty stories. A modern twenty-six-story building,, with its engines, elevators, and various appliances, would much more arouse curiosity and wonder than the pyramids or hanging gardens. It is true that in useless grandeur some of the ancient cities surpassed us, but we must remember that nations and continents were plundered to build and embellish them. It is also true that in those times the city was the state. Everything was drawn upon to improve the city of the king or tyrant. The execution of the design was in the hands of one man. We may here learn something of the value of having executive authority, at least, concentrated as much as possible. The works of science and art in those days indicate a degree of happiness and pleasure among the people surpassing that of today.

Park

About the only agency we have looking after the pleasure of our citizens is our Park Board. This board, at present composed of Messrs. John Foos, Frank jNIcGregor, Robert ]\Iills, D. F. Snyder and W. H. Blee, is rapidly transforming the "Snyder Park" into a paradise. I do not presume, however, that they will

In one department, however, and that of the highest importance, we are far ahead of our forefathers even of the not very remote past. Our hospitals and facilities for taking care of the sick and maimed are marvels of the healing art heretofore unknown and never dreamed of by the ancient followers of the art. Our hospital management is certainly second to none in the country. It is in charge of a Board of Hospital Trustees, at present composed of Dr. A. C. McCabe and Messrs. J. E. Bowman, P. E. Montanus, O. S. Kelly, and, recently appointed, E. C. Gwynn.

Of the efficiency of the last two named boards there has never been any question. And may it not in part be due to the fact that the members are appointed for long terms of office? Let me here remark that I am aware of the prejudice against long terms of office. The idea is, give everybody a show. Pass the offices around. This is a grave mistake in municipal management. No great private concern changes its officers every year or two. It is often said that we do not want an office holding class. Well, we will never have efficient, economical management until our executive officers are put upon long terms. Find a man suitable for the particular position and keep him there, should be the rule of public office as well as private office. This practically means civil service.

Library

Our library facilities compare favorably with those of any city of our population. The management of its affairs is intrusted to a Library Board of Trustees, at present composed of Governor A. S. Bushnell, W. S. Thomas, E. L. Buchwalter, Oscar T. Martin, W. B. Rodgers and John L. Zimmerman, trustees, and C. A. Schuster, President of City Council, ex-officio member.

This board has adopted the very salutary rule of living within its income. It is usually in the fight each year for an increase of its levy, but lives within the amount allowed it.

Health

judgment, this is a mistake. My personal experience with this board convinces me that the Board of Health ought to be separate. It may be conceded, however, that the matter of health has been fairly well looked after, and the United States Government reports show Springfield to be in the very front in healthfulness, and low death rate.

The matter of water supply is in the hands of the Board of Waterworks Trustees, and they have recently had their hands full, working out a plan to increase the water supply so badly needed. It has been my idea that we have been allowing the candle to be consumed at both ends in the matter of water supply. We have allowed the water supply to decrease and also allow millions of gallons of water to waste. I feel satisfied that by using the means already in possession of the city to increase gradually the supply, and by cutting ofif the waste by more rip-id inspection and watchfulness, and by the introduction of meters, the supply will be abundant for years to come.

Equalization

I believe I have covered about all the departments of strictly city management, and by this time you have learned, if you did not know it before, that we are governed by boards.

There is one board to mention yet. against which all the other boards are once a year waging warfare. That is the Board of Tax Commissioners. This board supervises the levy of taxes for each department of the city, and as the pie is not very large, it requires some ingenuity to make it go around and please each department management.