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Students and Commencement 1978-79

CHAPTER 75.

And what shall I say of the two Belles as they were known in those days? They came to Ada from my Wayne county home. I boarded with the parents of Miss Armstrong before she was born. Her father was one of my warmest friends. They were true Philos, fine workers, full of fun, but true ladies. Miss Johnson teaches in Honolulu. Belle Armstrong is married. They still write to me occasionally.

Allen Cook and L.W. Fairfield had lively times in the Philo hall. Cook is practicing law in Canton. Lydia Darst and Vina Brown of near Dayton entered this year. No better students ever entered the Normal. T.B. Harris and W.H. Merrick were strong students. Merrick practices law in Toledo. He is quite popular. Maude Crow a bright and lively Philo, married one of our most brilliant students, C.J. Keyser, of near Ada. He is now one of the professors at Columbia University, N.Y. He was a Franklin and just as strong a worker for his society as she was for the Philos. How strange! C.J. Keyser, and L.S. Keyser, two of our strongest students, were agnostics; I might almost say atheists and now L.S. Keyser is a minister of the gospel, and contributes excellent articles for many religious journals and C.J. Keyser is a devout christian. Among some of the other strong Franklins I will name A.S. Burkett, Z.T. Gilbert, of Forest, A.J. Hoffman, S.N. Ayres and Jessie Ayres, J.E. McAdams, A.J. Myers, G.W. Pennington, R.E. Sawyer, W.G. Brorein, later Senator Brorein, R.E. Byers, a hard worker, Harvey Close, E.E. Carrier, A.M. Ebersole, Ella M. Holmes, Inez Kelly, J.L. Leonard, Maggie McGinnis, Minnie Grafton, now Mrs. Anspach, and I think Maggie McGinnis is now Mrs. Miller, Michael Morrow, and Max M. Mass the Hebrew. He could quote poetry equal to Prof. Davison. J.B. Steefel, Dora Fritz and Florence Fritz and many other united with the Franklins. At least thirty students residing in or near Ada entered school this year.

In the fall of 1878, Mr. Dietrick the contractor, left Ada and never returned. James Bastable, William Guyton and possibly one or two other gentlemen were on his bond and had to complete the building. A number of hands that had been employed at different times, wanted their pay. The bondsmen could not tell whether their claims were just and refused to pay them. They threatened to burn the building. Many citizens feared that some injury might be done, and suggested that I should pay the claims and give entertainments and dinners and raise the money in that way. "Yes, of course they would help." "No they would not let me stick." "No they wouldn't." The bills amounted to $56 and some cents. I paid them. I still have the receipt book that has most of the receipts. A number of the receipts written "per Shuster" and not signed. These were written for men who could not sign their names.

I tried to get back my $56. The societies got up an entertainment. The receipts were a little over six dollars. Engaged the services of a noted platform speaker. Lost a few dollars. Then asked a few ladies to prepare a supper for my benefit, but no one cared about paying or working for a dead horse. The bills were paid. But who paid them? It was a bitter lesson but I still live. The school was large, the rooms were few and too small and the work was hard. The students, without request, gave us a fine testimonial which we published in our new catalog. Will insert it in this chapter.

Testimonials.

We the students of the N.W.O.N.S., having attended the school for a number of terms and deeming it our duty to inform the public of the appreciation in which the school is held by all who attend, in and of our own free will, appointed a committee consisting of the following named persons: L.W. Fairfield, B.F. Rhodes, Rose D.B. Holeywell, Mary E. Young, C.B. Hickernell, and Asa Martin, whose business it should be to draft an article in which the sentiments of students with regard to the school would be clearly set forth.

The committee submitted the following article, all of which we believe to be true, and to which our signatures are gladly given:

We take pleasure in recommending to the notice of all, the merits of the N.W.O.N.S., situated in the pleasant village of Ada, Hardin Co., O.

The school being self-supporting and under the supervision of live and energetic teachers who have made the subject of economy a special study, affords all the advantages of a superior mental training unexcelled by any school in the land for thoroughness in the departments of which it treats. One very beautiful feature that characterizes the school, is that implicit confidence may be placed in the printed matter which it circulates.

We have found everything as represented in the catalogue, and feel no hesitancy in encouraging all who may be about to enter school, to give the Normal a trial, for we have been there and know where of we speak.
Trusting that this may do the good intended and so richly deserved, we very cheerfully subscribe our names:

I.J. Konklin C.S. Barron
Marion Burnett L.D. Wisner
J.G. Kishler R. Fowler, Jr.
W.H. Troup A. Comrie
C.A. Hover Monroe Davison
M.G. Eggerman G.B. Kickerness
Orange Thomas A.B. Feller
T.D. Lanker Eug. D. Bosworth
H.E. Lacey C.W. Johnson
John H. Blaser J.E. Hesser
J.W. Pyfer Alice N. Hamilton
Albert Hoover J.L. Shultz
Jennie M. Jacobs B.O. Elliot
H.V. Waltermire S.J. Shetler
J.W. Keplinger J.W. Caldwell
D.W. Steiner G.W. Moore
Chas. Melhorn J.W. Light
N.H. Colwell W.W. Sibley
G.W. Hall Retta F. Murray
E.B. Smith J.W. Baker
D. Edith Heter J.L. Hampton
A.E. Winter J.C. Sidle
I.J. Lepley D.D. Landis
L.E. Griffin F.M. Houser
B.G. Rutter B.E. Hamet
H.E. Neff B. Meck
P.S. Morgan F.L. Wickert
A.S. Rudy B.F. Freed
E.W. Henry W.C. Morgan
W.L. Gilbert A. Freehafer
J.S. Adams Charles Myers
H.L. Snyder E.C. Smith
J.W. Wynn J.W. McClintock
J.F. Longsworth H. Hero
S.A. Keister Israel Williams
A.H. Pool Henry L. Finzel
S.A. Engleman J.T. Chambers
E.O. Loveland W.S. Hanna
B.F. Rhodes Ella M. Neff
W.B. Jackson A.E. Walton
Minnie Wright R.S. Banks
J.W. Culbertson Stanley Woodruff
S.P. Kail F. Slonecker
H.C. Campbell W.O. Bailey
Mollie Davenport R.L. Miller
C.F. Zimmerman U.W. Eyers
Agnes Elliott I.J. Stuck
H.E. Hood F. Logan
S.E. Huff E.M. Stahl
W.M. Pore Ira R. Wetherill
Will D. Stratton J. Cook
A. Martin L.W. Fairfield
R.S. Torbet Mattie Reese
G.W. Foltz J.E. Millar
Mabelle Carroll W.A. Braden
J.H. Moroney Jennie Thompson
J.C. Ridenour D.G. Wylie
Lillie McKinney J.F. Crider
O.C. Voorhies Hattie Banks
R.A. Bunnell F.C. Fryett
D.D. Darbyshire Hattie Harnley
John Bowland J.M. Hamilton
W.F. Hildebrand H.G. Sutton
Battle Clark F.M. Saum
L.O. Maffett F.D.H. Henry
J.R. Walton L.C. Bretz

Ada, O., June 1, 1878.

Having frequently visited the Normal School in this place, and being acquainted with most of the teachers especially with H.S. Lehr, A.M., the Principal of the school, whose care for and interest in the welfare of the students can not be exceeded; and knowing that the citizens of Ada take a deep interest in the students, giving them every possible aid religiously, welcoming them to their churches, giving them a place and part in the public services, prayer meetings and Sunday school, and in many other ways giving them aid and encouragement; I can heartily recommend the school to all who desire the advantages of a good Normal school.

P.A. Drown, Pastor
M.E. Church, Ada, O.
The Northwestern Ohio Normal School is an institution answering, in every way, the purpose for which it was founded. Its faculty are a corps of energetic and efficient teachers, strictly unsectarian, yet pervaded by a healthful moral tone, the school is in every respect worthy of the patronage of all who may desire the advantages of a higher education.

C.K. Lehmann, Pastor
Presbyterian Church, Ada, O.

The Franklins had their second Triennial Reunion. They built arches in various places and tried in every way to out do the Philos who had their second Triennial the year before. It was a great success. The valedictory oration, commencement day, fell to the Franklins. The contest was sharp and warm. The principal contestants were C.B. Hickernell, R.L. Miller and D.E. Niver. Hickernell was successful and gave a fine oration.

CLASS OF 1878-9.

CLASSICAL

C.B. Hickernell, Findlay, R.L. Miller, Bluffton.

SCIENTIFIC.

J.W. Caldwell, Freedom Mills; Jonas Cook, Oneida; G.F. Getty, Waynesfield; L.E. Griffin, McComb; Cora Houfstater, Plymouth; Retta F. Murray, Paint Valley; D.E. Niver, Centreton; N.G. Stringfellow, Green Springs; S.J. Shetler, Justus; F.D. Ward, Huntington; Mattie White, West Newton; Lillie D. Woodruff, Salem.

TEACHERS.

G.C. Dulebohn, Welsh Run, Pa.

COMMERCIAL.

J.F. Cecil, New Carlisle; L.J. Keck, Royal Oak; E.O. Loveland, Fremont; F.M. Roberts, Bucyrus; Charles Richison, Roscoe.

POST GRADUATES.

CLASSICAL.

Eva Sisson, W.D. Stratton, D.G. Wylie.

SCIENTIFIC.

Eva Drown, S.P. Grey, Rose D.B. Holywell.

This was the first catalog in which we published the names of post graduate students. The class was addressed by Hon. William Lawrence of Bellfontaine.

There were fifteen Literary graduates, all Franklins but three--Jonas Cook, G.F. Getty, and S.J. Shetler. Of the Commercial graduates all were Franklins but J.F. Cecil and E.O. Loveland. There were five members in the Commercial class.

This year brought back a number of old students, S.P. Grey, Isaac Garwood, George Henry and others that were strong friends of the Normal. There were a number of students in the early days who were in school many terms but before we began to graduate. I very much wished to add them to the list of graduates. Among the number were Doctor R.L. Souder, Mrs. Doctor Souder, George Henry, Stephan H. Bigger, Wm. Guyton, George Guyton, K.E. Shuster, John Shanks, Isaac Garwood, George Francis and others whom I could name. The year closed with a spirited contest between the societies in which as usual both sides claimed the victory.