ERIE COUNTY OHIO - The "Islander" (Lyceum) [Part 2]
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Darlene E. Kelley
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374                              
May 21, 1999
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Historical Collections of Ohio
The Kelley Family Book compiled by Hermon Alfred Kelley   1897   
And Then They Went West
by Darlene E. Kelley    1998   
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     The Journel " The Islander " was a mine of historical events
connected with Kelley's Island and is the writer's authority for many of
the facts stated in Kelley's Island history.The statistical reports of
the grape crops, stone business, schools, population, etc. were usually
prepared by Addison Kelley and were well done.  It was a credit to the
community; especially when one considers that there were so many as
seventy-five editors employed on it in seventeen years, or rather winter
seasons of about three and a half winter months duration.  A still
futher insight into the character of this unique publication may be
obtained from an editorial by Erastus Huntington in the first number of
Vol. 15 dated December 19th, 1874. He says in part as follows:  " Few
communities have ever carried on a literary society and a journel as
diversified in its character as this, for so long a period without an
intrruption.  We have changed editors regularly every week during the
entire period and as a matter of course, have advanced all sorts of
opinions, political, religious, and social, and during the entire period
(then 14 years) we have not had an instance where an editor was caned or
whipped by an exasperated victim.  Anyone who will take the pains to go
over the back numbers of the Islander, will be amused to see the vast
difference of opinions there-in expressed.  W are practically the same
community from year to year,__ yet we notice many changes from volume to
volume.  Those who figured very conspicuously in one volume will be
found missing in the next.  We find them missing for a season or two and
then come on stage as brilliant as ever.  True we have lost some of our
hardest workers, Messrs. Townley and A.S. and W.D. Kelley were among our
pillers and their places wil be hard to fill.  Still we have secured
accessions to or rank, which we think will be entirely adequate to help
us through the present volume. "  The following persons served as
officers:  Presidents; 1st, A.S. Kelley, 1860-61; 2nd George P.
Bristol,1861-62; 3rd,M.K. Holbrook, 1862-63; 4th, W.D. Kelley, 163-64;
5th,E.C. Barnum,1864-65,each one term. 6th,Rev.R. McCune. 1865-66 and
1866-67, two terms. 7th, Julius Kelley, 1867-68; 8th, Jacob Rush,
1868-69; 9th, M.F. Lincoln, 1869-70; 10th, C.C.Townley, 1870-71; 11th,
Jacob Rush, 1871-72; 12th, Mrs. E.K. Huntington, 1872-73; 13th,
George P. Bristol, 1874-75; 14th, Erastus Huntington, two terms 1876-77.
There were 213 persons associated with the Lyceum as members up to 1876.
Seventy five occupied the editorial chair.  The Islander was not
continued after the 14th number of volume No. 17, March 1877 and the
Lyceum came to an end at the same time.  Mr Erastus Huntington made an
interesting compilation which was published in the last number Volume No
16, 1876 of the persons who served as editors during the seventeen
years.  To this has been added the persons who served during 1877.  As
this is a real honor roll it is given herewith in alphabetical order :
Bates, H.L., 3 times
Barnard, E.C. served 4 times.
Bristol, George P.  served 23 times.
Mrs. Bristol, G.P. served 1 time.
Cameron, Miss Jennie, served 7 times.
Cameron, Miss Nettie, served 8 times
Carpenter, Charles, served 1 time.
Carpenter, Mrs. Charles, served 5 times.
Carpenter, Mary H., served 5 times.
Carpenter, Alida J., served 2 times.
Cassidy, Miss Eliza, served 2 times.
Dean, Walter, served 4 times.
Dwelle, Mrs. J.T. served 1 time.
Elwell, Miss Kittie, served 1 time.
Foster, H.A., served 1 time.
Hamilton, William, served 22 times.
Hamilton, Titus, served 9 times.
Hamilton, Hattie W., served 2 times.
Hamilton, James J., served 1 time.
Hamilton, Miss Bertha, served 1 time.
Lincoln, Morris F., served 7 times.
Lincoln, Emmet, served 1 time.
Lincoln, Nancy, served 3 times. 
Lincoln, Sarah, served 3 times.
Malchi, Miss K.M., served 3 times.
McCune, Rev. Robert, served 5 times.
Moisey, Willam, served 1 time.
Moss, Miss Hattie, served 1 time.
Morris, David, served 2 times.
Preston, Rev. J.P., served 2 times.
Holbrook, M.K., served 13 times.               
Rossiter, S.C., served 1 time.
Howlett, M.P., served 4 times.
Howlett, Grace, served 1 time.
Howlett, Emma, served 4 times.
Huntington, Mrs. E.K., served 22 times.
Huntington, Erastus, served 33 times.
Huntington, Simon, Sr., served 5 times.
Huntington, D.K., served 7 times.
Huntington, Joseph A., served 1 time.
Hall, Ferris C., served 2 times.
Kelley, Addison, served 28 times.
Kelley, Julius, served 17 times.
Kelley, A.S., served 27 times.
Kelley, W.D., served 26 times.
Kelley, F.M.,served 20 times.
Kelley, Franklin, served 10 times.
Kelley, C.W.,served 1 time.
Kelley, Laura( Mrs. E,Hamilton) served 1.
Kelley,Zinah H., served 7 times.
Root, Miss H.C., served 7 times.
Rush, Jacob, served 8 times.
Strain,Miss Libbie, served 3 times.
Spaulding,Dr.Miss J.E.,served 1 time.
Seton, D.D., served 1 time.
Seton, Miss Alida, served 1 time.
Titus,Miss.S.K., served 2 times.
Townley, C.C., served 9 times.
Townley, Miss Mammie, served 1 time.
Ward, Miss Melissa, served 7 times.
Ward,Miss Hettie, served 4 times.
Ward, E.C.(Mrs.H.B.Holbrook) served 4.
Ward,Uri L.,Served 6 times.
Wilmot, Miss.Julia, served 1 time.
Wilcox, Miss D.,served 1 time.
Webb,Mrs.W.S.,served 6 times.
Webb,William S., served 11 times.
Ward, Miss Belle B.,Served 5 times.
Warden, Henry, served 1 time.
Warden, Mrs. Chloe, served 1 time.
Woodford, J.T., served 1 time.
Woodford, Mrs. Sarah L., served 1 time.  
Mr. Huntington said further, " Different kinds of exercises have from
time to time been introduced, but all been abandoned except the reading
of selected articles and " The Islander " which appears to have
withstood all attempts at over throw."  The Kelley's Island Literary
Society or Lyceum came to an end in 1877 and there was an interval of
about five years wthout a simular organization on the island, but in
about 1881 or 82 the Excelsior Society was formed.  The Society was
conceived by Miss. Hettie Ward, who succeeded in interesting the young
people in it, and to whose faithful efforts, it became a great success.
This society was  counter-part for the Lyceum, which had been attended
by their parents and others of the earlier generations.  The membership
of the Excelsior Society included practically all of the best young
people of the island, and undoubtedly had a profound influence in
directing their thought to culture, literature and art.  Unfortunately,
they did not resume the Islander, which is a distinct loss to the
Island's historical record.
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