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School Year 1875-76 and Graduates

N.D.

CHAPTER 60.

In the fall of 1875, a number of Philos, among the number G.W. Rutledge, came to me with a proposition to allow the societies to elect a salutatorian and a valedictorian; one year the Philos to have the salutatory and the Franklins the valedictory and the next year the reverse. It happened that the Franklins had in their membership the Butlers and Blooms, the Zillers, Zeiningers, Zebolds and O.P. and Samuel Wilson, all strong students and some likely to graduate two and three times in different courses. Some Philos hinted that there might be collusion in the alphabetical arrangement at commencement and the Franklins getting the B's, W's and Z's.

In the early days every graduate had to deliver an oration on graduation day and to avoid the envy arising from giving first and second honors, we arranged the program alphabetically. The societies in those early days each gave a pay entertainment, the last week except commencement term. One society on Thursday and the other on Friday evening, alternating by terms. Friday evening in those day was by far the best night. Students would flock in for that evening in fact for both evenings but especially for Friday, as they now do for the May military contest.

When we began to have commencements and an annual contest, it happened that Friday night, the fall term, which then was the boom term, fell to the Philos. The Franklins complained. The Philos now offered if we would permit the societies to elect honor men for the opening and closing orations they would alternate Friday evening the fall term of school with the Franklins. The faculty, a committee of the Philo society and a committee of the Franklin society met in my office one evening ... fall term of 1875 to make an agreement to that effect. My office then was in the southwest lower room in what was later known as "Poverty hall," but then as Rutledge hall. The proposed change or trade was consummated. The next year honor men would be elected by the societies for opening and closing orations at commencement and the fall term of 1876. The Franklins were to have Friday evening for the term contest. In the history of 1876-7, I will relate what occurred the fall term of '76.

One night, sometime in the winter term of '75-6, Mrs Lynn, who had charge of Poverty hall, called me and requested that I would come over and see the boys. I went. It was about twelve o'clock. The boys had a moonlight parade. They were scantily dressed for a winter's night promenade. I went to the head of the stairs and as some were returning, I caught Will H. Wagner, in later years a professor at Findlay college, now a minister of the Gospel, also caught Mr. Richards, the sweet Welsh singer, and several others. I requested them all to meet me at my residence the next evening at 7 o'clock. They came. I talked to them about their treatment of such a lady as Mrs. Lynn and some of the lady students in the hall. Wanted to know what their mothers would think of such conduct, Mr. Richards, in Welshy English, interrupted me and said, "I would not have mother see me that way for $50; no nor Mrs. Lynn for $10, nor you professor for $5." This was to much for Will Wagner. He roared out laughing and said, "Now you see Professor how he rates you." Richards tried to explain but it was said. The boys made many promises, went to their rooms and all but Richards would smile every time they met me.

Scores of incidents might be related but space and the patience of readers forbid. I will here insert the names of some of the classes of that year.

In referring to the register of Prof. Richard, I see that he brought with him from Fostoria in addition to the students already named C.F. O. Daffer, Philo, J.F.M. Lole, Franklin, Gilbert Bacon, Franklin, and M.B. Mohn already referred to above.

I will here insert the class in Natural Philosophy which recited to Prof. Richards the spring term of 1876: Myrtle Maxwell, D.O. Cooper, D.C. Woodard, Finley R. Clark, Chas. T. Odaffer, S. G. Smith, F. P. Traster, B. O. Elliott, B. W. Waltermire, M. Chambelin, Lettie Miller, Ewing Stumm, G.C. Dulebohn, M.A. Smalley, Edith Allen, F.M. Pool, H.M. day. Mrs. E.D. Richard, L.S. Keyser, J.M. Summersett, H.E. Weaver, G.F. Getty, G. Francis, H.W. Smith, Mary Shirk, Lois Russell, Mary A. Farrell, E.J. King, Libbie Rowe, May Phillips, Sallie McBride, Hattie Hobbs, Dora Devope, Ella Kelley, Charlotte Graham, Minnie Adams, Annie Kiger, Sarah Buckingham, Jessie M. Hall, Junia Hagar, Lottie Pickens, Addie Allen, Emma Baind, Jennie Russel, Bert R. Knapp, J.W. Bowe, D.S. Dill, C.E. Traster, F.P. Andrews, Jennings Dutcher, J.K. Winters, C.F. Krieghbaum, Mack Sheraden, B.F. Hague, Albert Hoover, W.A. Secrist, Geo. W. Kockheiser, M.S. Davison, C. C. Kelley, M. Sharp, Harry G. Blain, L.A. Carrick, H.L. Lamsel, John Hubbard.

Will also insert the names of the Physical geography class taught by Prof. A.C. Pearson, the fall term of 1875. The classes in the common branches were quite large. Prof. Pearson enrolled thirty-four in higher arithmetic B.

Class in Physical geography: C.G. McAdams, F.M. Houser, A. Comrie, Mattie Reece, J.J. Edington, H. Kelley, J.W. Sommersett, Nonie Gilbert, K.F. Beery, Miss M.J. Shans, C.D. Kelley, F. Hense, A. Zinninger, A. Miller, Miss Davenport, Miss Curry, H.V. Waltermire, J.F. Kimmerline, Mellie Obernour, M. Davison, C.L. Ward, Scinda Hassan, Minta Morrison, R.J. Vaker, Clerinda Reves, Miss Litterrick, Mr. Ward, Miss Baker, Mollie Lindsey, C. Zebold, A. Zebold, J.W. Walton, F. Henry, Mattie Reece, Ella Tuttle, Belle Young, Mollie Hill, John Blosser, H.F. Stanley, M.J. Scott, M. Chamberlain, S. Price, F.M. Houser, W.P. LaRue, W.W. Terry, A. Zinninger, H.E. Buckmaster, H. Welch, E.W. Price, A. Comrie, E.O. Wickercham, L. EcElroy, M.H. Bain, Nettie Gates, M. Davison, Miss Gilbert, J.D. Alexander, Miss Obenour, Mr. Morey, Estella Ferral, Mr. Kimmerline, M.W. Scholes, Miss M.J. Shane, L.S. Woods, W.D. Humphrey, Miss Currie.

The D algebra class taught by Prof. Pearson had forty-two members; the second term Latin had ten numbers, class in parliamentary law had sixteen members. It had such students as B. W. Waltermire, H.V. Waltermire, W. B. Pool, S.A. Court, H.W. Gramlich, J.R. Walton, J.O. Walton, F.M. Houser, Ford lewis, J.F. Kimmerline, L.M. Bowers, A. Zinninger, M. Woods, L.J. Shetler, and several other familiar names.

The reading class taught by the writer had forty-one members the fall term of 1875. The arithmetic, grammar and geography classes were large. I state these facts, that later students may have some conception of their alma mater thirty years ago.

The commencement exercises of 1876 began with the Triennial reunion of the Franklin Literary society, Thursday, June 8. It was a success, as had been the Philo reunion of 1875. Commencement exercises were held June 9th.

GRADUATES 1876.

Classical--J.M. Reid, Ada, Ohio; Millie Schoonover, Ada, Ohio.

Scientific--O.M. Bowman, Lima, Ohio; Ollie Bobbins, Ada, Ohio; E.L. Millar, Kenton, Ohio; A.M. Tidd, Kenton, Ohio; B.W. Waltermire, Forest, Ohio; L.G. Wilson, Ada, Ohio.

Teacher's Course--Eliza Davenport, Ada, Ohio; Carrie Flinn, North Manchester, Ind; J.J. Houser, Hassan Ohio; Mollie Schoonover graduated with the class of '73, J.M. Reid with the class of '74, and Ollie Dobbins with the class of '74, in other courses that those named here.

I have already spoken of O.M. Bowman as a good student. He possessed fine natural ability. He had that suavity of manner that endeared him to teachers and students. As stated before, resided in Kansas.

I have also referred to E.L. Millar, once one of the editors of the Literary Casket edited and published by Rutledge and Millar. I have the papers on file, but not with me at present. I do not remember the exact date when first published. Later Millar and Thompson edited the Literary Casket as a School Journal. Still later about 1879 Millar and Thompson united the Literary Casket with the local Ada paper, called the Ada Commercial, and called the newspaper the Ada Record. They sold the Record to the present proprietor of the Record, Agnew Welsh. Mr. Millar then took charge of the Kenton Republican and is now editing a paper in Duluth, Minnesota. He also takes an active part in politics. When he entered school he was a Democrat. I have thought he changed his views in my class in political economy.

A.M. Tidd is practicing law in Kenton and is succeeding finely. B.W. Waltermire is practicing law in Findlay, O. He is also engaged in literary work, being the author of a number of popular works of fiction. He is the author of numerous beautiful poems and is one of the most eloquent lecturers on the American platform.

S.F. Wilson is in the far west making his fortune as a promoter. Eliza Davenport was a womanly woman, a true lady. She is married and resides somewhere in the far west. Carrie Flinn was a prominent student, a leader in her society and a social leader. She married an eminent physician, a graduate of an eastern college, I think it was Yale. J.J. Houser, a fine singer a good ball player, a thorough scholar, a true gentleman, in engaged in the profession of teaching. Rev. Berry, of Lima addressed the class.

The contest between the societies was spirited and excellent. The crowd was large, the cheering long and loud and as usual both Franklins and Philos were victorious as could easily be proved by scores of visitors. By the alphabetical arrangement the salutatory and valedictory commencement day would again have fallen to the Franklin as Mr. Bowman, Mr. Waltermire and Mr. Wilson were Franklins, but by the arrangement entered into at a joint meeting of committees that each society should elect an honor man to represent the society, the Franklins had the valedictory and the Philos the salutatory. This is as I now remember the arrangement although I have no program of that commencement at hand. There were six Franklins and four Philomatheans in the class. Thus closed another school year, the fourth of year the Northwestern Ohio Normal School.