OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 56 ************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 03 : Issue 56 Today's Topics: #1 [OH-FOOT] Bio: Simonson, Charles - [Tina Hursh To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20030329034234.0162e874@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: [OH-FOOT] Bio: Simonson, Charles - Hamilton Co. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Trancribed by Linda Boorom *********************************************************************** History of Hamilton County Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches. Compiled by Henry A. Ford, A.M. and Mrs. Kate B. Ford, L.A. William & Co., Publishers; 1881. Between pages 224 & 225. Barney SIMONSON came from New Jersey to Crosby (now Harrison) township in 1818, and settled upon an unimproved tract (except for a small cabin upon it), the same in part as that owned and occupied by his son Charles. Here he spent the remainder of his life, and died here upon the seventy-third anniversary of his birth. He was born in September, 1774, and departed this life the same day of September, 1847. His wife was Catharine FREEMAN, also a native of New Jersey. She was of English and Holland stock; her husband of Holland and French extraction. Their children are consequently of mixed Dutch, British, and Gaelic blood, with the first predominating. They had eleven children, six daughters and five sons, viz: Nancy, Catharine, Lavina, Eliza, Sarah, Julia Ann, Jesse, Aaron, Barney, William, and Charles. Only Eliza (now Mrs. Joseph ATHERTON of Stark county, Illinois), Sarah (Mrs. Milton ATHERTON, of Kewanee, Illinois), Julia Ann (now Mrs. James RINICE, residing near Indianapolis), Barney (a farmer in Indiana near Harrison), Jesse (a farmer and formerly a local Methodist preacher near Eaton, Preble county), and Charles are now living; and the last named, the youngest, is in his sixty-fifth year. He was born at the ancestral home in Essex township, Essex county, New Jersey, October 13, 1816, and was consequently scarcely two years old when brought by his parents to this county. He received his formal education altogether in the schools of the neighborhood, and shared the labors of the farm with his father until the death of the latter, when he came into possession of the home farm, to which he has since made large additions by purchase, his place now comprising four hundred and forty acres of fine woodland and cleared fields. The elegant mansion he now occupies was built in part by his father, over half a century ago, to which handsome improvements were effected by him about 1866, making of it a spacious, comfortable, and very sightly residence. All the buildings upon the premises, including two large barns, a carriage-house, and other conveniences, are painted white, making the group a conspicuous object in the landscape for a long distance in nearly every direction, even from New Haven village, in Crosby township. The residence and part of the outbuildings appear to advantage in the illustration accompanying this sketch. Mr. SIMONSON has served as township trustee two or three terms, but has not been much in public life, confining his attention almost exclusively to the legitimate business of a farmer. He takes no very active part in politics, but aims always to vote, especially at elections of importance. He has been a Republican ever since the party had a being, and was a Whig before that. His first vote for President was cast for General HARRISON. in 1840. He is not a member of any religions or secret organization. except the Patrons of Husbandry, which has a society in the neighborhood, called Sand Hill Grange, No. 700. He lives the quiet life of a prosperous farmer, in tranquillity and ease, much respected by his fellow citizens, and bidding every way fair to leave an honorable record behind him. Mr. SIMONSON was married to Miss Liscetta BAUGHMAN, of the same neighborhood, October 4, 1844. The children by this marriage are two --Jennie, now the wife of Mr. Harry BOWLES, a farmer in Whitewater township, married to him May 2, 1866; and William H., married Sally WRIGHT, November 19, 1868, and residing upon his farm, formerly a part of his father's estate, in a dwelling a short distance south of the old home. Mr. SIMONSON lost his first wife by death December 3, 1849, and was remarried June 25, 1863, to Miss Sarah Jane GARD, of an old Preble county family, her father having immigrated thither in 1812. She is the second daughter of LITTLEJOHN aud Nancy (WRIGHT) Gard, born at the old home in Preble county, February 28, 1830. She was trained in the home schools of that day, and remained with her parents upon a farm at Sugar Valley, between Eaton and Camden, Preble county, until her marriage with Mr. SIMONSON, as before noted. She is of a family of school-teachers, and doubtless owes much of her intelligence and quickness of mind to this fact, but she herself never taught school. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Harrison. Since her marriage, which has proved childless, her history has been, of course, identified with that of her husband, in the peaceful life of the farm and homestead. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 21:34:25 -0600 From: Tina Hursh To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20030329033425.0162bc2c@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: [OH-FOOT] Ch. 14, pt 2 - hamilton county Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Trancribed by Dorothy Wiland History of Hamilton County Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches. Compiled by Henry A. Ford, A.M. and Mrs. Kate B. Ford, L.A. William & Co., Publishers; 1881. CHAPTER XIV. part2 THE COUNTY SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION This was organized as the Hamilton county Sunday-school association in April, 1862, " promote the interest of the Sunday-school work, to encourage a spirit of harmony and Christian fellowship among its laborers; to gather them together at suitable seasons, and by comparing the statistics of their labors, to show forth to the world the blessings of the institution; also to act as auxiliary to the State Sunday-school union." It is said to be the first county organization of the kind in the State, and the first steps for its formation were taken before the State union itself was formed. April 8, 1862, in pursuance of consultations and a meeting held on the fifth of that month by a number of the leading workers in the Cincinnati Sabbath-schools, a call was issued to the officers of such schools throughout the county, for a convention of their superintendents and other delegates from the city and county, to meet in the central Presbyterian church, Cincinnati, at ten o' A.M., on Thursday, the seventeenth of April, with the following objects in view: " The formation of a county Sunday-school association, through which we may secure the statistics of the schools of the city and county from year to year. 2. That we may awaken a deeper and winder interest in the cause of Sunday-schools in the county, and keep this interest alive by this instrumentality." Detailed reports of the schools were called for, to be brought to the convention or mailed previous to its session to Mr. L. H. SARGENT, 31 Walnut street, Cincinnati. The call closed with this stirring appeal: " come! Come in the spirit of the Master, and pray that He may direct the convention and bless our cause." It was signed by Messrs. L. H. SARGENT, H. W. BROWN, AND George H. WOLF, all of Cincinnati, and members of the committee appointed for the purpose. The convention met upon the designated day. The response to the call was not large, probably in part from the shortness of the call, as well as from the newness of the movement and the absorption of the public mind largely in the events of the civil was then raging. Sixty-six delegates were present, however, representing thirty-four schools; and after an amicable conference and some interesting discussions the desired organization was effected. A. M. SEARLES was chairman of the meeting, and B. FRANKLAND was secretary; vice-presidents—first district of Cincinnati, S. H. BURTON; second district, S. S. FISHER; third, L. H. SARGENT; fourth, George H. WOLF. The appointment of vice-presidents for districts outside the city was left to the executive committee. The new society took hold of its work with great energy. After the formation of the State union, a State Sunday-school agent was employed, to organize county associations or unions throughout Ohio, and was paid a salary of two thousand five hundred dollars, principally by three or four gentlemen of Cincinnati, connected with or interested in the work of the Hamilton county organization. When his successor, Colonel COWDIN, of Galion, was appointed, this association assumed the entire expense of his support. During its first year, eighteen mass meetings of the children, officers, and friends of the Sabbath-schools were held in Mill Creek township ~pg 207~ alone, with results, as the report of them at the next annual meeting declare, " better than could have been hoped." Several reports from other districts, most of them equatly (sic) gratifying, were received at the first regular annual meeting. Soon after the annual meeting of 1863 an agent was employed to canvass the county, hold meetings, stir up the workers to livelier interest and more intelligent procedure in the work, and endeavor to obtain full statistics of the Sunday-schools of the county, with the aid of the vice-presidents in the several townships. The results were eminently satisfactory. The following remark was made in one of the subsequent reports concerning the statistics: " present a complete tabular view of the present condition of this work, and are worthy of the earnest study of all who are interested in the moral and religious training of the young." A series of successful meetings to aid the work was held in the townships—Sunday being chosen whenever practicable. Thirty of such assemblies were had between May and October, inclusive of 1863, at which appeared a long list of distinguished and zealous speakers from the city and elsewhere. They were largely attended, and were believed to have accomplished their objects in a very hopeful degree. In nearly every case where a meeting was held in a village or county neighborhood, the association was invited to repeat the visit. The following are the principal items in the returns of 1863 to the society: Number of children of school age in Hamilton county, 101,839, of whom about twenty-nine per cent, or 28,895, were in the Sunday-schools; in the city of Cincinnati, 81,839, of whom 20,700, or twenty-five per cent, were members of Sabbath-schools. Of the 20,000 children in the townships, 8,195, or forty-one per cent, were in such schools. Some townships reputed as high as seventy-five per cent of their children connected with the Sabbath-school work, but one township reported in attendance as low as eleven per cent. The convention of April, 1864, was held in the Melodeon hall, Cincinnati, and was large, enthusiastic, and every way profitable. Three hundred and ninety-nine delegates were present. The number of Sunday-schools in the county at this time was reported at about two hundred. The statistics of 1876-7, prepared and published under the auspices of the association, showed the number of schools held on the Sabbath in the county to be 213, of which Cincinnati had 99; children in county between five and twenty-one years old, 125,314; Cincinnati, 100,762; enrolled in Sunday-schools, 37,162; the city, 26,457, average attendance, 25,098; officers and teachers 3,624, with average attendance of 2,873; made profession of religion during the year, 1,237; amount of collections, $19,761; volumes in libraries, 61,345; taking Sunday-school papers, 180 schools; holding teachers' meetings, 99. The treasurer of the society, Mr. William E. DAVIS, reported the receipts of the year-$179.95, of which $140.20 were from the township schools. His disbursements amounted to $421, leaving due to him the sum of $241.05. The name of the society had been changed from "" to "" It contained a career of active usefulness during most of the time until 1872, when it became quiescent and gave but occasional signs of existence until October, 1878, when it was reorganized and the following named officers elected, who are those now in service: William George DOERING, recording secretary; Dr. James TAFT, corresponding secretary; Louis MANNS, treasurer; Rev. A. N. Gilbert, Rev. S. WEEKS, Rev. C. H. DANIELS, H. W. SAGE, H. W. BROWN, executive committee. Presidents of township Unions: A. W. WILLIAMSON, Anderson, Dr. E. G. DALTON, Columbia; Dr. J. M. MCKINZIE, Delhi; James M GAMBLE, Green;; M. AURELIUS FRANCIS, Harrison; Smith STIMMEL, Mill Creek; Walter HOWEL, Miami; Rev. William JAMES, Springfield; William GRAHAM, Sycamore; Rev. B. W. CHIDLAW, Whitewater. Vice-presidents were not appointed at this time for Colerain, Crosby, Spencer, and Symmes townships. Cincinnati—Eastern division of, east of Main, Rev. Sylvester WEEKS; central division, between Main an (sic) Central avenue, Rev. C. H. DANIELS; western division, west of Central Avenue, Rev. A. N. GILBERT. L. H. SARGENT, president; George B. NICHOLS, John W. DALE, W. T. M. GORDON, vice-presidents. The official preface to the new constitution and by-laws, published shortly afterwards, says of the union: Now it begins to show signs of new vigor and promise of work, indicating retuns that must yield large dividends for the Master. Our field of souls is much larger than when this union began its work. With age we have gained new experience and somewhat changed tactics. Formerly mass meetings once a year at central places and the best talent for oratory were the chief instrumentalities. Now hard work and thorough organization mean everything. Not that we love popular assemblies and the enthusiasm kindled by good speakers any less, but we have greater faith in God' blessing on good work done in the Master' name and for His cause. Notwithstanding this apparently vigorous and hopeful reorganization, the Union has not since manifested much activity nor held its annual meetings with regularity. The beautiful and interesting celebration of the Robert RAIKES Centennial, in the Music Hall of Cincinnati, on the nineteenth day of June, 1880, was, however, held under its direction, and was a pronounced success. THE COUNTY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. In 1864 Professor U. T. CURRAN, now of Sandusky, then principal of the public schools in Glendale, made an earnest effort to enlist others, especially the principals of the district schools in Cincinnati, in the formation of a county teachers' association; but without present success. On the twenty-ninth of August, 1867, however, a number of teachers of the county, mainly from the country, met at the hall of the Hughes' high school, on Fifth street, to organize " association to promote the progress of education and mental discussion." Mr. CURRAN had by this time removed to the city, and was in charge of a private academy; but was still the prime mover in this organization. A teachers' institute was in session, and he, on the day named, handed a notice to Professor Lyman Harding, then superintendent of the city schools, to read to the members, inviting them to a meeting, on ~pg 208~ the adjournment of the institute, at noon, to form a county association. Mr. CURRAN, who has kindly furnished most of the facts for this preliminary sketch, writes: " then spoke to a number of teachers and asked them to stay at the close of the meeting. Of those importuned Mr. G. W. OYLER, Mr. G. A. CLAUSE, Mr. G. WELSH, Mr. George WOODLLARD, Miss Kate WOOLLARD, and myself remained, and the four or five hundred other persons present left, looking curiously over their shoulders at the few who were to form the society. We six met, organized, appointed a committee on constitution, etc., were very harmonious, enthusiastic, and full of hope, and were so reported in the papers. We called a meeting at CURRAN & KUHN' academy, which was well attended. Very few teachers would take part in the meeting, because they were afraid the other was some wise professor from the city. The writer was elected president, with the privilege of selecting his own executive committee of three. I think I selected CLAUSE, M. S. TURRILL, and A. B. JOHNSON—I am sure of JOHNSON. " CURTIS and John TALBOT, a friend and a teacher of fifty years' experience, lent us their help. Dr. MAYO and other eminent men were called upon to address us, until we became accustomed to public speaking and had studied the subject matter of our profession so well that men within the ranks of the profession were ready to occupy with profit all the time at our disposal. For three years the society met at my school-room. I improvised seats by placing plank upon chairs. But at length it became evident that we needed a better place, and the city council generously allowed us the use of a room in their building. " the meanwhile we organized the first county institute ever held in the county. This was held at Glendale, at the Glendale Ladies' seminary. The second meeting was held at the same place; the third, if my memory serves me right, at College Hill. " do not know that the society failed in holding a meeting at the appointed time, viz., the second Saturday of every month. It certainly did not during my time. The amount of good accomplished is inestimable. The professional spirit engendered is very great. And the end is not yet." >From the records of the association it may be learned that G. W. OYLER was chairman at the first meeting and W. B. WELSH secretary. Messrs. N. T. CURRAN, G. A. CLAUSE, of Cleves, and G. W. OYLER, of Storrs, were named a committee to prepare constitution and by-laws. The preamble to the constitution afterwards reported reads: " the undersigned teachers and others interested in the cause of education, in order to promote the progress of sound learning and mental discipline, do hereby ordain and adopt the following constitution and by-laws." A vice president is appointed for every township in the county, who must be a resident of the township. Any person of good character may join the society. Among its members are a number of teachers very well known in the profession; as Richard NELSON, president of the Cincinnati business college; Florien GIAQUE, the lawyer and the law-writer and compiler; G. A. CARNAHAM, A. B. JOHNSON, E. C. ELLIS, M. S. TURRILL, and others. The annual county institute is still, we believe, in charge of the association, and has been held regularly. The thirteenth session was held at Mount Washington the last week in August, 1880, with an enrollment of two hundred and twenty-two, and a distinguished corps of instructors, including Professor CURRAN, Superintendent John HANCOCK, and other of note. The officers of the association, so far as we find them recorded upon the defective minute-book of the secretary, have been as follows. The year of election only is given: President—1867, U. T. CURRAN; 1872, G. W. OYLER; 1873, Florien GIAQUE; 1874, W. H. NELSON; 1875, C. J. FAY; 1876, D.B. MOAK; 1877, William BRICKLEY; 1878, J. Perlee CUMMINS: 1879, J. C. HEYWOOD: 1880, E. C. ELLIS. Recording Secretary—1872-' A. J. DISQUE; 1874, Miss A SOULES; 1875-' J. P. CUMMINS; 1877, A. J. McGREW, 1878, John LOGAN; 1879, W. A. DORAN; 1880, J. H. LOCHE Corresponding Secretary—1872, George W. WARNER; 1873, C. S. FAY; 1875-' Horace HEARN. Treasurer—1872, F. C. WILSON; 1873-'' L. A. KNIGHT; 1876, William BRICKLEY; 1877, J. P. CUMMINS; 1878-9-' A. B. JOHNSON The number of members of the association is about one hundred and twenty-five. Its meetings are monthly during the ordinary school months of the year. SUNDRY SOCIETIES In 1833 was organized the Hamilton county temperance society, auxiliary to the Ohio State temperance society. Bellamy STORER was president; Isaac G. BURNET, vice-president; Thomas BRAINARD, corresponding secretary; Rufus HODGES, recording secretary; William T. TRUMAN, auditor; Daniel W. FAIRBANK, treasurer; Stephen BURROWS, John T. SHOTWELL and T. D. MITCHELL, directors. A Hamilton county association of physicians has also left some faint footprints on the sands of time. Dr. MOUNT was president; Dr. Landon C. RIVES, vice-president; Dr. William WOOD, orator; Dr. M. FLAGG, treasurer; and Dr. L. L. PINKERTON, secretary. One of the organizations of the Patrons of Husbandry—the Pomona Grange—embraces the entire county in its membership and field of operations. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V03 Issue #56 ******************************************