KNOX COUNTY OHIO - Norton's History of Knox County [Chapter XXI] ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Dave Ketterer Ketterer@empireone.net September 1, 2002 ************************************************ A History of Knox County, Ohio, From 1779 to 1862 Inclusive: Comprising Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes and incidents of men connected with the county from its first settlement: Together with complete lists of the senators, representatives, sherriffs, auditors, commissioners, treasurers, judges, justices of the peace, and other officers of the county, also of those who have served in a military capacity from its first organization to the present time, and also a sketch of Kenyon College, and other institutions of learning and religion within the county. By A. Banning Norton. Columbus: Richard Nevins, Printer. 1862 Entered according to the act of Congress in the year 1862 by A. Banning Norton, In the Clerk’s office of the Southern District of Ohio. ____________________________________________ CHAPTER XXI. LITERARY AND OTHER SOCIETIES. THE MOUNT VERNON POLEMIC SOCIETY-THE THESPIAN- THE LIBRARY SOCIETY-THE LYCEUM-THE FRANKLIN.- MECHANICS.-HISTORICAL, AND ITS LIBRARY. THE first society of a literary character, established at Mount Vernon, was the "Polemic Society," in 1815, which was kept up until 1817, and included among its members the more talkative and social citizens. It was converted into a Thespian Society and well sustained for many years. Theatrical performances were generally gotten up every winter, until about 1840, and were very creditable to those concerned. The object was to spend the long evenings agreeably-not to make money. Lawyers, doctors, merchants and students lent a hand as occasion required. Among the active and valuable upon the boards were Dr. R. D. Moore. Philo L. Norton, Jacob B. Brown, Charles Sager. J. W. Warden, Wm. Bevans, Chas. Colerick, B. S. Brown, T. G. Plummer, Jacob Davis, S. W. Hildreth, Wm. Smith, S. W. Farquhar, Eli Miller, N. N. Hill, T. W. Rogers, Henry B. Curtis, Isaac Hadley. John Colerick, J. S. Banning, and Calvin Hill. The exhibitions were usually at the court house. or at the "Golden Swan Inn." The clothing. equipment's and scenery, were of very rich material. One of the old actors says-"it was most splendidly illustrated with gorgeous paraphernalia in most profuse variety and transcends representation." "The Mount Vernon Library Society" was formed in the year 1816. Among the members of this association were Joseph Brown, Hosmer Curtis, R. D. Moore, Gilman Bryant, Timothy Burr, Daniel S. Norton, John Warden, Samuel Mott. H. Curtis was its last Librarian. It had a very good. collection of standard works, which, in the end. were divided among its stockholders. 'The Mount Vernon Literary Society" organized in the winter of 1821-2, by a number of young bachelors of the town, to wit : Dr. Norman Murray, David Wadsworth, Henry B. Curtis, John W. Warden and James Beebee. Members subsequent-lv admitted-Benjamin S. Brown, S. Farquhar, N. N. Hill and Samuel R. Curtis. The organization existed for several years. The society fell through by reason of the young men becoming absorbed in the more active duties of life. "The Mount Vernon Lyceum," in 1830, was formed and well sustained for many years. At the session of the Legislature, 1833-4, it was incorporated, and high hopes were entertained of its being a permanent organization. We have before us the inaugural address of Henry B. Curtis, Esq., delivered January 1st, 1834, in which he says "We have now assumed a different and more imposing attitude. Having adopted a public charter, we from this time become a part of the history of the State. And let us at least hope that the account which its faithful pages may hereafter give of us and of our transactions shall be such as would not make us blush, could we be permitted to see them." May the hope of President Curtis be gratified; for, although the Lyceum has long since consigned tothe "tomb of the Capulets," and the greater portion l of his associates have departed hence without day, he yet lives to " be permitted to see" " the account which the faithful pages of history"-our history of Knox county doubtless predicted-" gives of its transactions." It was the best literary association and the longest lived ever in Mt. Vernon. It continued in successful operation until 1842, and numbered among its active members many of the best citizens of Knox. Its regular meetings were held at the court-house, and the public generally and ladies particularly attended its sessions. and of our transactions shall be such as would not make us blush, could we be permitted to see them" May the hope of President Curtis be gratified for, although the Lyceum has long since been consigned to Literary essays, orations and discussions were the chief entertainment. Among the number of those who have died we may name Benjamin S. Brown, David Dunn, John A. Holland, S. W. Hildreth, M. A. Sayre. Daniel S. Norton, T. W. Rogers, W. A. Hoey, T. G. Plummer, and Dr. M. L. Bliss. Among those living in other parts, Wm. Byers, J. F. Kinney, J. C. Hall, G. Hathaway, J. W. Chapman, H. Curtis, J. B. Foster, E. Sparrow, D. C. Dunlap. Among the survivors in this county are C. Delano, M. H. Mitchell, J. W. Miller, Henry B. Curtis, Rollin C. Hurd, J. S. Davis, J. N. Burr. The Lyceum established a very good library of several hundred volumes. In 1834, a "Mechanics" Society" was formed, which continued till 1840, and enlisted J. B. Brown, G. C. Lybrand, E. Ailing, D. Mcfarland, Abel Hart, and pretty much all the workmen in this vicinity. In 1839, a society called the "Franklin" was organized for mental improvement, by John Lamb, Robert Thompson, Ben. McCracken, W. H. Old-ham, Isaac J. Allen, W. P. Griffith, W. T. Curtis, J. S. Thomas, and others, which was well sustained for three or four years, and then went down. In 1850, Zoar Blair, Noah Hill, Robert Thompson, Dan. Clark and Sam. Davis started the Mechanics" Mutual Protection, which after two rears, was merged in the Brotherhood of the Union, and continued till 1851. In December, 1849, several gentlemen of Mount Vernon set about getting up a Historical Society for Knox county, and in January, 1850, a constitution was drawn up and signed by Hosmer Curtis, Gilman Bryant, Joseph Muenseher, M. E. Strieby, Jesse B. Thomas, James Scott, Daniel S. Norton, M. H. Mitchell, Henry B. Curtis, R. C. Hurd, R. R. Sloan, A. Banning Norton, C. P. Buckingham, G. W. Morgan, C. Delano, M. W. Stamp, Walter Smith, N. N. Hill, G. Browning, Matthew Thompson, J. C. Ramsey, J. N. Burr, S. Israel, J. W. Vance, W. H. Smith, J. C. Stockton, D. Potwin, J. W. White, J. H. Peacock, W. Beam, Samuel Mower and John W. Russell. H. Curtis was elected President; G. Bryant, V. P.; R C. Hurd, Treas"r; Cor. Sec"y, Rev. J. Muen- 274 HISTORY OF scher, D.D.; Recording Sec"y, Rev. M. F. Striebi-; Cabinet-keeper, R. R. Sloan. Among other standing committees were the following: on Agriculture, M. H. Mitchell; on Manufactures, Daniel S. Norton; on Mechanic Arts, C. P. Buckiugham; on Fine Arts, H. B. Curtis; on Education, R. R. Sloan; on History, R. C. Hurd; on the Medical Profession, J. N. Burr, M.D.; on the Clerical Pro- fession, Jos. Muenseher, D.D.; on Diseases, J. W. Russell, M.D.; on Population, S. Israel; on General Biography, A. Banning Norton; on Geology and Mineralogy, Prof. H. L. Thrall, M.D.; on Meteorology, Rev. Prof. Geo. Dennison; on Literature, W. H. Smith. Twelve years have passed by, the society long since was numbered among the things that were-and this comes thc nearest to being a report of anything that yet has emanated from any of its members. Following in its wake, however, is an institution which it is to be hoped will long continue in existence-"The Mount Vernon Library Society," which has collected, through the instrumentality, principally, of the Rev. Dr. Muenscher, its learned Librarian. several hundred volumes of valuable standard works, and may serve as a nucleus for a future large collection. It was started in 1856, and its rooms are in Huntsbery"s building, Main st., Mount Vernon,