The Ross County Historical Society

45 WEST FIFTH STREET CHILLICOTHE, OHIO 45601 (740) 772-1936 E-Mail: info@rosscountyhistorical.org Web Site: www.rosscountyhistorical.org

Spring 2008 ISSUE

Five Receive 2008 Nolan Scholarships

Five 2008 Ross County high school graduates have been awarded college scholarships from the Society’s William H. & Elizabeth Lynch Nolan Scholarship Fund. The recipients are: Hillary Buskirk, a senior at Unioto High School and daughter of Douglas and Lorna Buskirk. She plans to attend either Ball State University or Kent State University. Kristina Clark, a senior at Southeastern High School and daughter of Jeffery and Delores Clark. She plans to attend The Ohio State university. Timothy R. Grigsby, a senior at Adena High School and son of Jeffrey L. and Sandra D. Grigsby. He plans to attend Shawnee State University. Devon Rae Nicole Reedy, a senior at Chillicothe High School and daughter of Chris Reedy and Kim Gaus. She plans to attend the VanderCook College of Music. Brandy Zapata, a senior at Southeastern High School and daughter of Joe and Patricia Zapata. She plans to attend Wright State University. The Society congratulates all five scholars and wishes them success in reaching their academic goals. Nolan scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis each year to graduates of Ross County high schools. Students who wish to apply for scholarships in 2009 may obtain application forms from their school guidance coun-selors.

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2008 Museum Hours

January — March Friday & Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

April — December Tuesday — Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays.

2008 McKell Library Hours

1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday . Closed major holidays

Summer Junior Member Program

“Whose Job Is It Anyway?” Tuesday, July 29, 9:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

at the Ross County Heritage Center

Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. Register by calling (740) 772-1936, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please see page 3 for further details.

Society Acquires Edward Tiffin Settee

Archivist Pat Medert and photo-archivist Lisa Hess have prepared a new exhibit featuring famous people from Ross County in the temporary exhibit room in the McKell Library. Those selected for recognition are William Allen, congressman, senator, and Ohio governor; William Edwin Safford, botanist; May Cook, sculptress and angel of mercy to injured soldiers in World War I; Albert Hibbs, NASA scientist; Dr. John F. Erdmann, New York surgeon; William Welsh, early Chillicothe industrialist; John F. Cook, architect; and cartoonists and illustrators Billy Ireland, Noel Sickles, and Herbert Dawley. The exhibit will be open to museum visitors begin-ning in June.

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The Society recently acquired a fancy-painted settee in an auction of early American antiques at Garth’s auction house in Delaware, Ohio. The settee’s original owner was Dr. Edward Tiffin of Chillicothe — Ohio’s first governor. It will be exhibited with other artifacts connected to Tiffin.

New Exhibit Features Famous Ross Countians

Spring 2008 - PAGE 2 THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER

A Friendly Reminder

The use of articles, photographs, and other items in the Recorder is prohibited without the ex-press written consent of the Board of Trustees of the Ross County Historical Society, 45 W. 5th St. Chillicothe, OH 45601.

President’s Report, by Pat Medert

Each April there are members of the Board of Trus-tees who leave the board because of the completion of their third term, the limit allowed by the Society’s constitu-tion. This year, Robin McKell and David Carnes completed nine years on the board, and on behalf of the membership I want to thank them for their dedicated service to the organi-zation. Those who serve as trustees do more than attend a meeting once a month. They chair and serve on one or more of the ten committees, which are important to the op-eration of the Society. They help in the fall and spring clean up of the grounds when needed. They offer their ex-pertise in the preparation of exhibits, and they volunteer for the various open houses that are held during the year. I welcome the new trustees to the board. Erc Pic-ciano was elected to return after a two-year hiatus from his previous years of service, during which time he served as president. We well remember the leadership he provided during the planning and construction of the Heritage Cen-ter. Julia Pierson is a long time member and active sup-porter of the Society. She has a strong interest in local his-tory.

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Director’s Report, by Tom Kuhn

Close to 1,100 students, mostly from Chillicothe and Ross County public schools, visited the Heritage Cen-ter during the month of May. The majority were members of third grade classes participating in their annual curricu-lum-mandated field trips to our museum and to Adena State Memorial. While preparing for and hosting such a large num-ber of students all in one month is a challenging experi-ence for our staff and volunteers, we are reminded by every young face getting off the bus that this is precisely why we exist — to help educate each new generation of students about their local past and allow them to better understand that which makes their own communities and neighborhoods unique places. Many of these children may never pass through our doors again, while some may wait another generation to return as chaperones for their children’s field trips. All of them, hopefully, will remember the experience in such a way that will give them pride in the place they grew up and make them more conscious of their civic responsibilities wherever they live in the future. I thank all of our museum docents and volunteers who worked hard to make this year’s record number of field trips run smoothly and without incident. You are all pros in my book. Great job!

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Welcome New Members

The Society welcomes the following new members since the last issue of the Recorder:

Richard & Florence Snyder Ryan & Cathy Adams

Dave Minney Fay Herrnstein

From the Museum Store

New! Heroes of the Western Theater: 33rd Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, $45.00 — a fascinating, highly detailed history of a famed Ohio Civil War infantry regiment, many of whose members hailed from Ross County, by Lois Lambert. More Stories from Chillicothe’s Past, $14.95 — a compilation of 108 additional stories on Chillicothe history by Pat Medert which have appeared in the Chillicothe Gazette since her first volume Stories from Chillicothe’s Past was published in 1998. Fourth, Fifth, & Caldwell Streets, Chillicothe, Ohio: The Buildings and the People, $39.95 — the fourth in a series of publications on the structural history of Chillicothe’s downtown historic district. This 210 page volume covers both sides of each street, by Patricia Fife Medert. Main Street, Chillicothe, Ohio: Its Buildings and Its People, $39.95 — the third volume in a series covers both sides of Main Street from Mulberry to Walnut Street, by Patricia Fife Medert. Second Street, Chillicothe, Ohio: Its Buildings and Its People, $39.95 — the second volume in a series covers both sides of Second Street, by Patricia Fife Medert. The Rise and Fall of Camp Sherman: Ohio’s World War One Soldier Factory, $4.95 — a reprint of Richard Peck’s popular pictorial history of Chillicothe’s WWI army training camp.

Buckeye Blood: Ohio at Gettysburg, $30.00 — a pictorial history of Ohio’s role in the Battle of Gettysburg, including photos & stories of local soldiers, by Richard A. Baumgartner. Chillicothe, Ohio: Frontier Settlement to State Capital, $14.95 — An illustrated history of Chillicothe’s founding and role as Ohio’s first capital, by Patricia Fife Medert & Andrew J. Verhoff. Little Known Tales of Old Chillicothe and Ross County, Ohio, $20.00 — a group of fascinating short stories about Chillicothe and Ross County , by John R. Grabb. Ohio and Erie Canal Motor Tour: To Circleville from Chillicothe, $15.00 — an exploration of the remains of this historic waterway, by Martha Gerber Rittinger.

Society members receive a 10% discount on all purchases.

Franklin House Work Nearly Complete

Workers (above) prepare a base for a new sidewalk in front of the Franklin House Museum. The project is the culmination of two years of improvements at the property including major roof repairs, a complete repainting of the house’s interior, installation of a new kitchen floor, exterior masonry repairs, and the installation of all new exhibits.

THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER Spring 2008 - PAGE 3

Ross County Historical Society

Invites you to join us for

“ Whose job is it anyway? ” A Junior Member Program on

Early Ohio craftsmen & the things they made

at the

Ross County Heritage Center 45 West Fifth Street, Chillicothe

Tuesday, July 29th 9:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

Children 6-12 years old are welcome Free to Jr. Members, $10.00 for Non-Members

Space is limited — please call — 772-1936

Reg-

Learn about craftsman who made fine furnishings for the home, farmers who made things necessary for their own use, and small industries who produced items needed for everyday life in early Ohio. Then roll up your sleeves and get busy making some of these items for yourself in this hands-on pro-gram.

Spring 2008 - PAGE 4 THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER

From the Archives, by Pat Medert

In the last Recorder, I presented the first half of an account written by Mary Sears of her family’s experiences as some of the first pioneers to settle in Kansas. The fol-lowing is the conclusion of her narrative.

With all our hardships and misfortunes, we did not forget the intellectual side of life. It was in 1859 that our nearest neighborhood, 4 miles east of us, began to agitate the idea of a literary society. A meeting was held and a committee appointed to solicit membership. One day in October I was surprised to see a white woman coming on horseback over the hills. She finally stopped at my door, and after talking with Mr. Sears and his cousin about the proposed literary society she rode up to my door and intro-duced herself as Mrs. Eliza Conger and invited me to be a member of the new society. You may be sure I was not long in saying: “Yes, I shall be glad to become a charter member and to know there is some place where I can enjoy the social and intellectual side of life.” Mrs. Conger refused to alight, but sat on her horse the whole time she talked with me. She informed me that she and her family had been in Kansas only a short time, that they were from New York State, my old home and native State.

I have never regretted that I became a charter member of the Hesper Lyceum. This was one of the joys that came to me in the West. Even though the road was long and dreary and we were sometimes weary, our faithful team, Buck and Broad, always carried us safely there and back with our precious load of little ones; for we always took our children along with us, with comforts and buffalo robes to keep them warm. I derived much benefit from the association I formed at this society, for they gave me new courage to bear up and go bravely on.

I should like to describe in more detail the social and community life of these pioneer days. My husband built the first schoolhouse after taking a public subscription to raise the necessary funds. Here the community gath-ered for its literary, religious and social activities. I recall that Mr. Sears was superintendent of the first Sunday school in which I taught a class of young people. This school was established by the Presbyterian Church. I think also of the singing school, the first one of which Mr. Sears taught, being a lover and student of music all his life. The lyceum was a big event every week during the winter months, calling forth the real intellectual forces of the neighborhood. The religious revivals stirred the people deeply, as they were usually led by Free Methodists such as the famous Lovejoy, who stood flatly upon the tenets of the old theology.

True, the pioneer days were often lonely and weari-some, and yet somehow we found the spirit of happiness. The very isolation developed among us a sense and ser-vice of helpfulness one to the other.

I must tell about the Kansas grasshoppers. It was in ’75 to ’76 that this scourge visited the Sunflower State. We lost all fall crops excepting our corn; and in the spring instead of the hoppers being frozen up by the winter, they hatched out and began their devastation with renewed en-ergy and in enormously increasing numbers. In less than a

day they ate everything on our farm of 160 acres except a bunch of tansy. The hedges and peach trees were stripped of their leaves, the peaches were eaten down to the pits, which were left hanging on the trees. I had cautioned my children when they came from school not to leave the cellar and house doors open. When on one occasion I came back from a trip to town I could see at once that the hoppers had gotten in, for my curtains were hanging in strips and the house and cellar were full, so thick that you could not step or put your finger down without touching them. As soon as the little hoppers had grown their wings, which was late in summer, they rose from the ground in great clouds and hid the sun, darkened the sky and flew away to the southwest never to return. One more story, and I am done. The most tragic and dramatic experience of my pioneer days in Kansas was the Quantrell raid. My husband had been commissioned by Gov. Charles Robinson, our first and war governor, Captain of Troop A of the First Regiment, Kansas State Militia. His commission was dated November 26, 1862, which hap-pened to be his birthday. This troop was known locally as the Hesper Company, for at this little village it met for drill. On Friday, August 23, 1863, the city of Lawrence, Kans., our county seat, 12 miles distant from our farm, was at-tacked at daylight by Quantrell and his band of some 375 western Missouri guerrillas. They had marched all night and in the early morning hours had passed within a mile and a half of our farm. We were at breakfast, when a neighbor riding a horse without saddle, with a rope for a bridle, armed only with a corn knife, came galloping up to our door shouting: “Hello! Quantrell is in Lawrence murder-ing the citizens.” In a few minutes Mr. Sears had saddled his horse, and armed with a double-barreled shot-gun, started for Hesper to assemble his company. He was able to get together about one-half his men, and joined the other militia companies and citizens in the pursuit of the guerril-las, who, in the meantime, after burning the city and mur-dering 153 men, had started back for Missouri. In the pur-suit there was much skirmishing, but no real pitched battle, and the guerrillas were able to escape, for when they reached the timber country of Missouri they scattered and could not be found. My husband was wounded in the neck during this pursuit and came back four days later, worn out from the hard riding, sleepless nights and loss of blood. Immediately upon his return we drove to Lawrence to view the ruined town and help distribute our contribution of food and clothing to the survivors. While there Mr. Sears and I attended the trial of a guerrilla spy in an old woolen mill near the river. At the end of the trial the spy was con-victed and sentenced to death. Immediately a rope was brought and thrown over a cross beam in the old mill. This was too much for me, and I begged Mr. Sears to take me out. The man was hanged, but I could not bear to stay and see the execution. The day of the pioneer is past. No such opportu-nity will again come in this country as came to me, to travel hundreds of miles with oxen teams and settle in a frontier wilderness, where on all sides could be heard the howl of Continued on page...

Spring 2008 - PAGE 5 THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER

...continued from page 4 of the wolves and often be seen the deer and antelopes bounding across the hills, while only 30 miles away ranged the great buffaloes that provided us always with our winter meat. I do not regret my pioneer experience nor the hard-ships I endured on the frontier, for they gave me self-confidence and a more charitable view of life and humanity. A year ago last July [1915] I visited for the last time my frontier home in Kansas, and only a few weeks ago was shocked to receive the news from an old neighbor that the home my husband built and in which we spent our pioneer days had been recently destroyed by fire.

Charles Sears was the senior partner in the Sears & Nichols Canning Co. in Chillicothe. He and his wife, along with some of their children, moved here in 1884. Charles died in 1900, and Mary survived him for nearly 19 years. Their sons succeeded Charles in the management of the company. One of the sons, Walter, purchased the house that is now the McKell Library in 1919 and lived there until his death on Feb. 13, 1929, following surgery for a ruptured appendix.

***** The Society’s Wish List

Donations of everyday items such as tools and other types of equipment help our staff and volunteers complete a multitude of projects. Since the last issue of the Recorder, the Society received white cotton sheets from Nell Kinsel, Margaret & Stan Planton, and City Linen; wooden coat hangers from Jane Hilty; wooden coat hang-ers & cotton towels from Mr. & Mrs. Donald Coppel; a re-chargeable flashlight from Kevin Coleman; shelled corn for the Jr. Member Program from Mr. & Mrs Myron Gearhart; and a train whistle for the Chillicothe model rail-road exhibit from David R. Medert. Thank you! If you, or anyone you know, has the following items to donate to the Society, please call 772-1936. We would be happy to make arrangements to pick up your donation.

1. Power point projector 2. Laptop computer 3. White cotton sheets (we can never have too many) 4. Cotton towels. 5. Wheelchair (for visitors who may need to use one) 6. Wooden coat hangers (we can never have too many)

Mary Sears in 1917 & Charles Sears in 1898

1890 photograph of the Sears Kansas homestead showing additions and improvements. The house was destroyed by fire in 1916.

Walter Sears, circa 1890

Spring 2008 - PAGE 6 THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER

From the Photo Archives, by Lisa Hess A LOOK AT PAXTON TOWNSHIP

(Left to right) James W. Bumgardner, First Cook of Company F, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, WWII, son of Mr. & Mrs. John W. Bumgardner of Bainbridge; and Beryl Rumfield, U.S. Navy, WW II, Rt. 1, Bainbridge.

“A few of the mermaids” at a picnic at the Wallace Shanty on the Cincinnati Pike (U.S. Route 50) and Paint Creek, July 10, 1921.

Seymour Double Covered Bridge on U.S. Route 50, and the DT&I Railroad Bridge, 3 miles east of Bainbridge. The covered bridge was built in 1840 for the Chillicothe and Milford Turnpike Company by John W. Slee. It is a Lewis Wernwag truss design. It was removed in 1934 due to an abutment failure.

Seip Mound Excavation, the “Great Pearl Burial”, 1925.

Bainbridge councilman Paul Houseman, Mayor William P. Frey, and Councilman W.B. Darbyshire at the Bain-bridge Hardware Store, owned by Darbyshire, 1947.

Bainbridge High School Band at the dedication of “Camp Wallace”, June 10, 1934.

THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER Spring 2008 - PAGE 7

Recent Acquisitions of the Museum and Library

(Listed in order received since the last issue of the Recorder)

11. Checkbook – “The First National Bank, Chillicothe, Ohio”, 1942; Card Holder – for Elks membership card, “Chillicothe, Ohio Lodge No. 52”, c. 1940, donated by Christopher Larned. 12. Book – “Ohio University Alumni Directory 2008”, donated by Marilyn Harness. 13. Architectural Drawings – (2) “Recreation and Mess Hall Chillicothe, Ohio” 1936, donated by Ron Manring. 14. Posters – U.S. Army Uniforms and U.S. military battle scenes, c. 1953; Maps – (2) Chillicothe and Ross County, 1961, donated by Jane Hilty. 15. Watch Holder – leather, 1917, donated by Emily Marks. 16. Mug – glass, “Celebrating Ohio’s Bicentennial, 1803-2003”; Postcards – (set) Chillicothe scenes; Booklet – “America’s Major Flood Disaster 1937”, RCHS Ac-quisition. 17. Almanac’s – (3) “Samantha’s Comic Almanac, Chillicothe, Ohio”, 1894, 1895 and 1908; Handbill – “Holiday Smiles”, Chillicothe, Ohio, December 25, 1909, do-nated by Johnny Frump. 18. Photographs (at right) – (2) Chillicothe Fire Department, 1934 and c. 1940, donated by Dana Martinko. 19. Printed Material – 2008 Presidential Cam-paign, RCHS Acquisi-tion. 20. Books & Booklets – Archaeology Report for McCafferty Run Site, Ross County, OH, by Jonathan P. Kerr et al, 2005, RCHS Acquisition. 21. Doll – handcrafted, “Tecumapeace”, by First Capitol Doll Club; Sew-ing Accessories – nee-dles and spool holder, donated by Stan & Mar-garet Planton. 22. Gas Mask, Knap-sacks, Helmets and other items – U. S. Army, 1943 – 1961, do-nated by Judy Benson. 23. Uniform – WWII, U.S. Army Warrant Offi-cer, belonged to William A . B a k e r , donated by Frank & Jean Dittrich. 24. Funeral Announce-ment (at right) – Col. John Madeira; Souvenir wood remnants from historic sites; 19th cen-tury cut nails from Pitts-burg, donated by Johnny Frump.

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The Ross County Historical Society Welcomes

__ New Member __ Renewal Name________________________ Address______________________ City, State, Zip________________ Phone_______________________ Date_________________________ Are you interested in volunteer work? Yes__ No__ I have enclosed a check made out to the Ross County Historical Society for $___________________. ( ) My employer will match this gift. Employer’s name:_______________ _____________________________

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP Junior (12 & under).......... $10.( ) Teacher ........................... 15.( ) Individual ......................... 20.( ) Family.............................. 30.( ) Contributing..................... 75.( ) Group/Club or Business.......................... 100.( )

CONTINUING MEMBERSHIP

Life (per person) .............. 500.( ) Patron.............................. 750.( ) Benefactor .......................1,000.( ) Your benefits as a member of the Ross County Historical Society include: ♦ Quarterly newsletter ♦ 10% discount in museum store ♦ Free admission for museum

visits by member and out-of-town guests

♦ Free admission to many Society programs

♦ Reduced fees for workshops and special programs

The Ross County Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)(3) institution. Your gift may be tax deductible

Please make checks payable to:

THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

45 West Fifth Street Chillicothe, Ohio 45601-3227

(740) 772-1936

THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER Spring 2008 - PAGE 8

Officers and Trustees of the Ross County Historical Society

Pat Medert ................................. President Bob Nelson .................. 1st Vice President Lewis Coppel ..............2nd Vice President Karen Hoffman ..........................Secretary Bob Casari .................................Treasurer Tom Kuhn ....................Executive Director Gary Argabright ............................ Trustee Judy Benson................................. Trustee Vic Cleary ..................................... Trustee Henry Herrnstein .......................... Trustee Ed Kunzelman .............................. Trustee Dana Martinko .............................. Trustee Erc Picciano.................................. Trustee Julia Pierson ................................. Trustee Stan Planton ................................. Trustee Bob Sigler ..................................... Trustee

The RCHS Welcomes Junior Member... Name_____________________________Telephone #____________ Address_________________________________________________ City________________________State______Zip Code ___________ Birthdate_______________________Grade in School ____________ Parent/Guardian’s Name____________________________________ Parent/Guardian’s Signature_________________________________ What are your hobbies? ____________________________________

Are your parents members of the Historical Society? - Yes - No Is this a gift membership? - Yes - No From Whom? ____________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________

Please send $10 with this form to The Ross County Historical Society

45 W Fifth Street Chillicothe, OH 45601-3227

NEWSLETTER DATED MATERIAL • OPEN AT ONCE

Non-Profit Org., U.S. Postage

PAID Chillicothe, Oh 45601 Permit No. 230

Ross County Historical Society