200 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY the success it has had in furnishing reading matter to the masses. It long ago passed through the incipient stages of newspaperdom to emerge into brighter and more profitable fields. Not all the newspaper ventures have lived or thrived, but the fittest have survived and so far as is known, their present appearance indicates prosperity. The citizens of the county are a reading and intelligent people and there is probably no home within the borders of Miami that some local paper does not enter. LOCAL LITERATURE. In the production of general literature the county, during the first hundred years of its existence, has not been very prolific. Few books have been written and published by home authors. I have searched the literary records from the earliest years and find the name of home bookmakers very scarce. The late G. Volney Dorsey was perhaps the first citizen to put forth a book. Dr. Dorsey was a gentleman of the highest culture and -a deep scholar. He published many years ago a free translation of some of the famous Greek poets, a work which evinced much learning. In later years Mrs. W. C. Rogers (Margaret Douglass) issued a volume of verse, as did Miss Adeline E. Gross, while Mrs. J. F. McKinney published some interesting local reminiscences and Miss Fanny Fleming published an account of her travels in Europe in book form. This seems to have been Piqua's contribution to general literature. Judge A. L. McKinney, of Troy, wrote two books, one of which was a life of I. N. Walters, a prominent minister of the Christian Church, and Rev. J. P. Watson published "The Light of Other Days." N. H. Albaugh, from the southern part of the county, issued a poetical volume entitled "Wayside Blossoms," and Boyd E. Furnas, of Newton Township, put forth "Poems of Heart and Home." Lawrence G. Gates, of Tippecanoe City, wrote and published a little volume called "Musings," which met with local success. Of the local authors east of the Miami, T. C. Harbaugh, who adopted literature as a profession in 1867, has published three books of poems, viz.: "Maple Leaves," "Bugle Notes of the Blue" and "Lyrics of the Gray," besides many serials, short stories and poems. J. M. Kerr, a former citizen of the county, has edited and compiled numerous standard law books, and his brother, J. A. Kerr, of Tippecanoe City, has had published a historical novel which was favorably commented upon by prominent critics. In 1885 Mrs. Sarah Furnas Wells, M. D., a Miami County woman by birth and education, returned to the home of her girlhood and published a book of travels entitled "Ten Years' Travel Around the World." This book told of journeys in Europe, Asia, North and South America. It is well written and is a most entertaining account of the people of many lands. Mrs. Wells is now lecturing. Horace Rollins, artist and author, has also issued a book. The above appears to be the whole literary output of the county since its formation. Many interesting reminiscences have appeared from time to time in the local press. Some of these should have appeared in book form, but the modesty of the authors doubtless prevented. About 1828 there arose in the county a local poet who rejoiced in the not very euphonistic AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 201 name of Benjamin R. Bulfinch. He wrote rather voluminously for the local press at the time, and his contributions were always accorded a generous welcome. His poems have never been collected, and even the author's name is forgotten. He touched upon almost every subject, but there were times when his muse became Anacreonic, as witness the following poem, which appeared in the Troy Reporter in August, 1828: TO MYRA. Wert thou an artless village maid, And I but an humble swain, To only share with thee, yon glade, Would rapture be to power or gain. Beyond the blue Atlantic wave, Blest would I be with thee to rove! To decorate our simple cave, And taste again the sweets of Love. Did I possess Golconda's mine, Fair India's domain all my own—Circassian beauties look divine, But you should grace my diamond throne. Of valour, were those charms the prize, Thy shaft, O Death! I would defy; Approved only in thine eyes, Would live with thee, or for thee die. —Benjamin S. Bulfinch. Whether the beautiful maiden who inspired the foregoing verses by the heart and hand of the first Miami County poet became Mrs. Bulfinch or not history does not record ; but she must have been indifferent to the wooings of her troubador if her heart was not melted into love by his "passionate" stanzas! CHAPTER XIV. AGRICULTURE Primitive Farm Machinery of Pioneer Days—Lack of Transportation Facilities—The Early Farmers Without Wagons—Improvements Gradually Introduced—The First Crops Grown in Miami County—Livestock Easily Raised—Orchards Planted—The First Agricultural Society— Miami Represented at the State Pomological Exhibition in 1851—The Miami County Agricultural Society—Fair Grounds Purchased —Present Condition of the Society and Roster of Officers—The Grange Movement—The Farmers' Institute—The Miami County Horticultural Society—Farm Products of Miami County—Stock Breeding. The pioneers of Miami County devoted themselves principally to agriculture. The majority were tillers of the soil and brought with them from their former homes the industrious habits that mark the successful farmer. Those who came from east of the Alleghanies had but little to learn in the wilderness of the Miami, while the immigrants from the South were largely cotton producers and not used to the sturdier system of farming which awaited them in the North. The southern pioneers soon adapted themselves to the habits of the new region and became, in time, the most progressive farmers of the early day. Many of the settlers brought with them the agricultural implements of the times. These were exceedingly primitive as compared with the improved farm machinery of the twentieth century. The wooden moldboard was then in existence, the grain was cut with the sickle and either flailed or tramped out in the first barns of the county. The progress made by the early agriculturist with his simple implements excites amazement now. He was handicapped in many ways, not only by a paucity of machinery, but the sore needs of good markets. The nearest places at which he could dispose of the produce of the little farm were Dayton and Cincinnati. His products had to be hauled to market by wagon or flat-boated down the Miami to the two places, then in their commercial infancy. Prices were low, but the farmer's needs were few and he was satisfied with the fruits of his labor. The few mills in the county gradually took up some of the produce, but it was usually set apart for home consumption. Boys were sent miles through the woods on horseback carrying sacks of grain to the pioneer - 202 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY - 203 mills and waiting there, sometimes for several days, till the grists were ground, when the return was made. For a long time the early farmers were without wagons. Not all of them had brought wagons across the mountain barriers. Those who did not, built wagons of their own. These were stout affairs, fashioned from the sturdy trees of the forest, with heavy wheels and ponderous axles, with great beds and other strong accessories, enough to test the strength and endurance of the teams which drew them over the poor roads that irregularly bisected the county. With all the difficulties that beset him on every hand, the pioneer farmer got along very well. He widened the scope of his labors as his scant means permitted. He added to his agricultural domain, taking up the best land and, as his boys grew to manhood, farmed the whole of it. In course of time the cabin which had graced the clearing gave way to a better habitation, a frame house with real glass in the windows and good carpets on the floors—the product of the weavers' looms —of which a number sprang up in every township. It must be said that some of the first farmers were ingenious artisans, for not a few of the early farm houses are still standing. These structures were well built and quite roomy. Building material was cheap and always at hand. All that was needed was the labor, and that was ever ready. When the harvest was to be cut, the farmer found neighbors who stood ready to help get it in and the assistants were repaid in kind. As has been stated, the sickle was the first harvest implement, but the scythe soon followed it and this was considered a wonderful improvement in agricultural science. It took stout arms to sweep the scythe through the heavy grain that covered the Miami bottoms, and some of these scythe wielders became marvels in their way. The principal kinds of grain produced at the dawn of local history were Indian corn, wheat, rye, oats and barley. Indian corn was to be found on every farm. It is said to have yielded from sixty to one hundred bushels per acre, but the average crop for the whole region was about forty-five. Wheat was raised almost as generally as Indian corn. Twenty-two bushels may be said to have been the average crop, though at times forty bushels per acre were produced. The bearded wheat with reddish chaff was preferred, as least liable to injury from the Hessian fly and weavel, two pests which were known in the county as early as 1815. The cultivation of rye was much more limited, as it was only employed in the distillation of whiskey and as provender for horses. For the former purpose it was mixed with Indian corn. Its average crop was about twenty-five bushels per acre. The common crop of oats was about thirty-five bushels, and that of barley thirty. The latter was not extensively cultivated before the erection of two large breweries at Cincinnati, into which the barley product of the county went. Another thing raised by our first farmers was flax. A good many flax fields were to be seen and flax raising became quite an industry. It will be recalled that the Dilbones were working in their flax field when attacked and killed by Indians. Hemp was cultivated to some extent in the bottoms until a depression in price, when the raising of it was discontinued. 204 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY The early meadows of the county were luxuriant and produced wonderfully. Timothy, red and white clover and spear-grass were cultivated. Timothy and clover then produced about two tons to the acre. Farmed meadows were not used as pastures, because in the early stages of agriculture in the county the woods abounded in grass and herbage proper for the subsistence of cattle. The various prairies supported hogs, which grew and fattened on the fleshy roots, so that the raising of pork required no particular attention. Some land in Miami County which today commands $100 per acre was originally purchased for twenty dollars per acre. In remote sections it could be had for ten dollars. An average for the settled portions of the county, supposing the land fertile and uncultivated, may be stated at eight dollars; if cultivated, at twelve. The alluvial or bottom lands commanded the best price. The dry and fertile prairies were esteemed of equal value. Next to these were the uplands supporting hockberry, pawpaw, honeylocust the sugar tree and different species of hickory, -walnut, ash, buckeye and elm. Tmmediately below these in the scale of value was the land clothed in beech timber ; while that which produced white and black oak chiefly commanded the lowest price of all. After the War of 1812, when immigration received a new impulse, the nominal value of farm land advanced from twenty-five to fifty per cent. One of the first things that commanded the attention of the pioneer farmer after he had erected his cabin home and broken ground was the planting of an orchard. It was soon discovered that the apple would thrive in Miami County. Some of the immigrants had brought the infant trees with them and these were set out where it was thought they would thrive best. It was also found that peaches, pears, cherries and plums produced well in our climate and these were introduced to increase the fruit supply. It is not known whether that strange and harmless man called Johnny Appleseed ever reached the county domain, but doubtless people who obtained seed of him afterward settled here and thus added to the fruit production. In those days there were no traveling tree agents to supply the farmer with all sorts of "brush," consequently the first agriculturists were thrown upon their own resources in the way of orchard planting. Until 1846 there had been no thought of an Agricultural Society. In fact the situation did not demand one. As the county advanced in agriculture the needs of an institution of this kind became apparent. In the year above mentioned the Troy Times published a call for the people to meet to discuss the proposition to form an agricultural society. This meeting was held in the office of John G. Telford at Troy. Many of the best known citizens of the county attended, and a good deal of enthusiasm was manifested. It was decided to organize a society and William Giffin, David II. Morris, William I. Thomas and William B. McClung were selected to draft a constitution and by-laws for the proposed organization. A few days later, September 26, 1846, the committee reported; the report was followed by an organization and the following persons were elected officers of the first Miami County Agricultural Society : President, William I. Thomas vice-presidents, William C. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 207 Knight, Cyrus Heywood, David Jenkins ; corresponding secretary, D. H. Morris ; recording secretary, G. D. Burgess; treasurer, Jacob Knoop ; librarian, H. D. Stout ; committee on agriculture, John Hamilton, chairman ; Daniel Brown, James McCain, Zimri Heald and William Giffin. The first article of the constitution announced that the association should be called the Miami County Agricultural Society, the second defined that the object of the society was "the circulation of general intelligence and practical instruction in all the branches of agriculture," by the establishment of a correspondence with other bodies seeking the same object, by procuring the most rare and valuable kinds of seeds, plants, shrubs and trees, by the establishment of exhibitions at which premiums shall be awarded for the improvements of soil, tillage, crops, manures, implements of husbandry, stocks, articles of domestic industry, and such other articles, productions and improvements as may be deemed worthy of encouragement ; and the adoption of other means for the general circulation of knowl- edge on the subjects embraced by the Society." It was also included in the Constitution that " any person may become a life member of the society by the payment of ten dollars into the treasury at any one time." Substantially the by-laws of the society provide : That each member shall pay one dollar annually into the treasury, that no money shall be paid by the treasurer unless upon a written order of a majority of the directors, and that the society shall, in addition to annual meetings, hold three other meetings on the first Thursday of the months of December, March and June in each year for the purpose of hearing addresses, discussing questions and receiving reports on the several subjects embraced by the society. Subsequent to the adoption of the original constitution and by-laws numerous changes have been made in the way of amendments. What has be- come of the library purchased by the first fair board I have not been able to discover, but it is probable that not many of the volumes are in existence. Much interest was taken in the Agricultural Society by the people of the county. It was one of the first bodies of the kind in this part of the state. In 1851 the State Pomological Society exhibition was held in Cincinnati, at which Jacob Knoop represented the Miami County Agricultural Society, and Dr. Asa Coleman was the first person to represent the new society at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture which convened in December, 1850. Messrs. Knoop and Coleman were very enthusiastic members of the Society and did much to make it known beyond the county's borders. In 1856 William Senior sold the fair board ground for the annual exhibitions of the Society and the price $1,520 was paid in three installments. The following year the society erected on its grounds a house for exhibition purposes and a year later adjoining counties were invited to compete with Miami at the Fair. Set firmly on its feet by the energetic men who were at the head of it, the so- ciety made good progress. More ground was purchased from time to time and many improvements were made. The old grounds were situated on the vacant land in what is now the southeastern portion of the City of Troy, near the Miami River and 208 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY the Miami & Erie Canal. The buildings on the grounds were poor and were soon found inadequate. In 1871 the present county fair grounds were laid out on land purchased by Mrs. E. McKaig and are now among the handsomest fair grounds in the state, being reached by steam and trolley lines and excellent turnpikes. Of late years much money has been spent in the beailtifying of the grounds and for the convenience of the fair-going public. Some years ago the old manner of electing the directors was abolished and they are now chosen by the electors of the county at annual elections, two directors being elected from each township. The twenty-four directors constitute the fair board and elect the several officers of the Society. The Miami County Agricultural Society, as constituted today, is the splendid outgrowth of the one established in 1846. It holds an annual fair which has become known everywhere, both for the variety and excellence of its exhibits and for other features not necessary to enumerate here. Its speed ring has gained commendable notoriety among fair goers. New buildings of modern convenience have been erected as the success of the fair demanded. The annual premium list of the Miami County Agricultural Society is large and well chosen and the character of the exhibits are second to none in the state. Following will be found the presidents, secretaries and treasurers of the county fair from its second year to date (the officers of the initial year being already given) : PRESIDENTS. 1849 William B. McClung. 1850 William B. McClung. 1850-51 Dr. Asa Coleman. 1852-53 William B. McClung. 1854-55 S. K. Harter. 1856 W. H. Gahagan. 1857 W. H. Gahagan. 1858 W. H. Gahagan. 1859-60 W. H. Gahagan. 1861 W. H. H. Dye. 1862 Isaac S. Sheets. 1863 W. B. McClung. 1864 W. B. McClung. 1865 W. B. McClung. 1866 W. B. McClung. 1867 B. F. Brown. 1868 W. H. H. Dye. 1869 to 1871 W. B. McClung. 1872 N. Smithers. 1873 N. Smithers. 1874 J. W. Ross. 1878-1881 M. W. Hayes. 1882 Lewis Hayner. 1883 David DeWeese. 1884-5 F. B. McNeal. 1 886-7 D. C. Branson. 1888-9 W. B. Cox. 1890 D. M. Coppock. 1891-3 W. I. Kiser. 1894-9 Thos. B. Scott. 1900-7 W. F. Robbins. 1908- George A. Fry. SECRETARIES. 1849-53 M. M. Munson. 1854-5 R. W. Furnas. 1S56 George Morris. 1857-61 C. W. Morris. 1862 C. T. Bear. 1863-65 C. W. Morris. 1866-69 W. H. Gahagan. 1870 J. W. Ross. 1871-4 S. R. Drury. 1875 F. M. Sterrett. 1876-8 W. A. R. Tenney. 1879-80 A. M. Heywood. 1881-2 J. C. Chamberlain. 1882-1908 W. I. Tenney. TREASURERS. 1849-53 G. D. Burgess. 1854-55 S. K. Harter. 1856-61 B. S. Kyle. 1862-4 C. H. Culbertson. 1865-6 David Kelly. 1867-70 C. H. Culbertson. 1871 Frank Harter. 1872-3 S. R. Drury. 1874 S. D. Frank. 1875 Theodore Sullivan. 1876 Thomas Sullivan. 1877-8 Theodore Sullivan. 1879-85 I. N. Price. 1886-93 W. H. Alexander. 1894-7 John A. McCurdy. 1898-1904 D. M. Coppock. 1905-08 John N. McDowell. Some years ago the Grange movement began in the county and in a short time assumed great proportions. It at once interested the agricultural localities and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 209 granges were established in various sections. Store houses were set up, but, with one or two exceptions perhaps, these have been discontinued. There are now a number of thriving granges in the county and the meetings are largely attended. Charles M. Freeman, of Rex, P. 0., has held the office of secretary of the National Grange for several years. The Farmers' Institute is another important body of recent formation. This organization has done more to keep up the interest in county agriculture than anything yet started. It holds one or more meetings each year at which speakers of state and national reputation deliver addresses. It does not confine itself to any one locality, but meets at various points in two-day sessions. Theodore Rogers of Casstown is now president of the Farmers' Institute. The Miami County Horticultural Society, B. B. Scarf, president, is another organization which of late years has done much good in its particular line. It was formed to keep up an interest in horticultural matters and in this has been very successful. The importance of horticulture is constantly kept at the fore by the society and many of its discussions are published at length in the county newspapers. There are several nurseries and fruit gardens in the county, besides many berry raisers, and these work in conjunction with the Horticultural Society. A large amount of berries are annually raised within the county for home consumption and foreign shipment and this branch of industry is yearly increasing. The soil of the county is peculiarly adapted to small fruit culture and the farmer is taking advantage of it. The farm products of Miami County are for the most part wheat, corn, oats, rye, hay and barley. Of late years the culture of tobacco has been introduced with much success. This commodity meets with ready sale and the farmer has added it to the sources of his income. At first tobacco was raised only west of the Miami, but of late years the farmers east of the river have taken up the culture of the weed and have profited thereby. The prediction that within a few years Miami will become one of the greatest tobacco producing counties of the state may be made with the utmost confidence. Aside from general agriculture the farmers of the county have taken up the breeding of good stock as a side line. In the early sixties the first Jersey cattle were raised on the Johnston farm near Piqua ; Charles McCullough had one of the first brought to Troy. In 1876 N. H. Albaugh exhibited a pair of Holsteins at the Fair. Many years ago a sale of Durhams was held in Troy. Captain John Drury brought the first Morgan horse to the county seat, and about 1860 N. Smither had the first English draft horse brought into the county. The early 70's witnessed the ar- rival in the county of the first Norman horses. As early as 1847 Zimri Heald exhibited a lot of Merino sheep and for many years this breed was the only kind to be found in the county. At the public sale of Durhams mentioned above a calf was knocked down for seventeen dollars. This price was then considered excessive and led one of the spectators to exclaim: "Why, that is more than we gave for our cow !" In 1847 cows in the county sold for from ten dollars to fifteen dollars. The 210 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY reader may compare those prices with the ones that prevail now. Today the county is full of blooded stock, as is seen by the annual exhibits made by the farmers. In this respect agricultural Miami is the peer of any county in the State. CHAPTER XV. PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS The Children's Home—Benevolence of John H. Knoop—The Schmidlapp Free Public School Library, Piqua—The Troy Free School Library—The Young Men's Christian Association—The Woman's Christian Temperance Union—The Young Women's Christian Temperance Unions—Colored People's Temperance Union—Woman's Christian Association of Troy—The Ball Memorial Hospital at Piqua—The Altrurian Club of Troy—The Civic League—Regimental and Other Military Organizations—The Maryland Association. The Children's Home—It was not until recent years that public institutions sprang up within the county. The need of these had long been felt. The County Infirmary had cared for the indigent, including their off-spring, but the time came when a proper home for the latter was found to be a necessity. The Infirmary was not regarded as a suitable home for the little wards of the county, and a place was needed where they could be educated apart from the influences that surround an infirmary. To this end many discussions arose, but nothing promised to come out of them till a single man stepped forward and solved the problem. John H. Knoop, a bachelor, a man of wealth and one of the first settlers of the county, gave stability to the idea of a Children's Home. He possessed several hundred acres of excellent land which was situated in Elizabeth Township. Mr. Knoop emigrated to the county at an early day and settled at Staunton. His old cabin, said to be the first house erected within the limits of the county, is standing at the present day upon the old Knoop farm now occupied by William R. Saunders. Perhaps it was his own boyhood spent in the wilderness of the Miami which caused John H. Knoop to sympathize with the homeless child, the little one cast adrift upon the world, sometimes by the act of heartless parents, and always by circumstances over which the waif had no control. He resolved to brighten the future of the homeless child and to this end he proposed to deed to the county land upon which should be erected a Children's Home, where the poor youth of the county could be housed and schooled away from all improper influences. The Women's Christian Association first brought before the public the necessity for an institution of this kind in 1877, and this was so well received that the directors - 211 - 212 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY of the County Infirmary advocated it in their report which was made in March of that year. On the 4th of June, John H. Knoop (conjointly with his brother Jacob) conveyed to the county, through its commissioners, Isaac Clyne, W. H. Northcutt and D. C. Branson, 160 acres of land situated in Elizabeth Township, to be used for all purposes of a Children's Home. The county auditor, W. I. Tenney, was authorized by the commissioners to inform the voters of the county that they would be called upon to vote on the proposition to build a Children's Home, at the coming October election. The need of such an institution was so apparent that it was thought it would carry unanimously, but 175 votes were cast against the building of the Home to 5,891 in favor of it. Having sanctioned Mr. Knoop's munificent proposition, the good work was not allowed to lag. During the following spring the commissioners visited various children's homes for the purpose of familiarizing themselves with the construction of the proper buildings, and in May, 1878, building contracts amounting to over $16,000 were awarded to several parties. The plans and specifications of the main building were drawn up by D. W. Gibbs, an architect of Toledo. Having progressed thus far, R. P. Spiker, of Piqua, Jacob Roher, of Tippecanoe City and Samuel K. Harter, of Troy, were appointed trustees and in January, 1879, Washington Barnes of Troy was made superintendent. The building was finished and ready for occupancy the last of that. month. Mr. Barnes served as superintendent till 1891, when he resigned, to be followed by Henry Jay, who later gave way to Rufus Fish, who is the present efficient superintendent, while his wife fills the position of matron of the institution. Since the erection of the Home proper other commodious buildings and annexes have been added, until now the Knoop Children's Home is one of the best institutions of the kind in the state. Within the last few years a handsome chapel and schoolhouse have been built on the grounds, and everything has been done for the comfort of the children. The farm so generously donated to the county by John and Jacob Knoop is very productive, one of the best east of the Miami. It is well drained and cared for and annually, under the present management, brings forth good crops. The Children's Home is governed by a board of trustees who, aided by the superintendent, makes an annual report to the commissioners, which report is always open for inspection by the public. In connection with the Home is a well-conducted Sabbath school and the day school conducted by a corps of excellent teachers is a credit to the institution. Visitors to the Home are admitted from 1 to 4 p. in. except Saturday and Sunday and the Sunday school is open to every one. The regular meetings of the trustees take place on the first Monday of each month, when friends and relatives of the children are allowed to call upon them. Children are sometimes allowed to be taken out of the Home and raised by proper parties and these children are looked after by the superintendent, who sees that they are well cared for and properly schooled. The average number of children occupying the Knoops Home is about sixty. A competent physician is regularly employed by the trustees to look after the health of the children, and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 213 their every want is supplied. Miami County is proud of the Knoop Children's Home, as well it may be, for it fills a long-felt want and is today the most prominent of its public institutions. The present roster of the Home is as follows : Superintendent, Rufus Fish; matron, Mrs. Rufus Fish; trustees, David Deweese, John T. Knoop, Ellis Kerr, and C. L. Bennett. The Schmidlapp Free Public School Library—The largest public library within the limits of the county is the Schmidlapp Free Public School Library, situated in Piqua. This handsome library was secured through the generosity of Jacob Schmidlapp, a wealthy gentleman of Cincinnati, but born and raised in Piqua. The Library was organized in 1890 and at first had quarters in the old Schmidlapp home on Main Street and at first consisted of two rooms, the stock room, and reading room. These quarters were soon found to be inadequate and in 1898 a large addition was built. At the present time the building contains a large stock room, store room, two well appointed reference rooms, -a children's room. store room, librarian's office and the office of the clerk of the Board of Education. The library is supervised by the Board of Education of Piqua, which consists of the following persons : President, Oscar Fisher ; vice-president, Mrs. W. P. Orr ; clerk, George Dettmer ; trustees, C. C. Jelleff, Otto Von Bargen, Dr. W. J. Prince and F. P. Brotherton. The Schmidlapp Library does not issue a printed report as do other public institutions of the kind, hut the librarian annually puts out a statistical account of the library's patronage, etc. The Library now contains about 15,000 volumes and has a circulation of over 50,000 books a year. Its shelves are well stocked with books of every sort and keep up with the demands of the reading public. Its active personnel is as follows : Librarian, Jessie H. Masden; assistant librarians, Sue Hetherton, Gertrude Irvin; library committee, Charles Jelleff, Will J. Prince, M. D. The Schmidlapp Free School Public Library is the pride of the citizens of Piqua and is well patronized. The volumes on its shelves are selected by a discriminating committee and none but the best literature of the day is found there. Troy Free School Library—The nucleus of the Troy Free School Library was brought together in the "Reception Room" of the old Edwards school building by the beloved first superintendent of the Troy public schools, William N. Edwards. Front time to time a few additions were made to this by the classes graduating from the school, but at the end of twenty years there were only 150 volumes, but these were all well selected books. In 1880 the public-spirited citizens of Troy determined that Troy should have a public library and a number of professional men organized a lecture course, each man delivering one lecture. The proceeds of these entertainments were used in maintaining a reading room for a few months, but there being no funds to keep up the library, it was dropped for the time. In 1885 C. L. Van Cleve. then superintendent of the Troy schools. moved the school library to the new Kyle Building, appointed one of the high school pupils librarian, wrote to several of the older graduates living in other cities for donations, and arranged to give out the books to pupils and citizens who held card. the cards being issued to any one who donated $5 to the purchase of 214 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY new books. Not much use was made of the library, however, for the reason that it was in a remote part of the town, was only open during a limited number of hours each week and the patrons of it were mostly people who had as good, if not better, libraries of their own. In March, 1894, a number of women in Troy organized the Altrurian Club, with the avowed purpose of creating a sentiment in favor of a public library. In 1895 the Altrurian Club petitioned the Board of Education to place the school library in a room accessible to all and to make it a free public library. The school board consented, providing a room could be obtained. The club agreed to raise a large sum of money for the* expenses of the library as an inducement to the City Council to grant the use of a room in the City Building. A small room on the second floor of the City Building was granted them and the school board allowed the school library to be moved to the City Building. Mrs. Clarissa D. Williams was appointed librarian and the room was opened to the public one-half of each day. The work of cataloguing the books was at last completed and the Troy Public Library opened to the public December 5, 1896, the total number of books at that time being 2,111, and nine magazines were placed upon the reading table. The Altrurian Club raised over one thousand dollars for the support of this library by conducting a number of entertainments, issuing a Woman's Edition of the Miami Union and publishing two editions of the Altrurian Cookbook. The editors of the three county papers published in Troy, The Miami Union, The Buckeye, and the Democrat, assisted in creating a sentiment for the public library by each week publishing either an editorial or news item. Other literary clubs in Troy began making donations each year to the public library until 1902, when the time seemed ripe for establishing the library upon the basis that it should be supported by the tax payers of Troy. A mass meeting of all the clubs in the city was held in September, 1902, at which time it was decided to petition the city council to donate the room on the first floor of the City Building for library purposes. This room was then used as a post office, but the lease would terminate in a few months, and the post office would be moved to the first floor of the I. 0. 0. F. Temple. The City Council granted the request and appropriated sufficient money to remodel and furnish the room, which would be ready for occupancy by May 1st, 1903. That day was set for a "book shower," and all winter committees from every club in Troy were busy working to make the book shower a success. On May 1st, 1903, H. P. Weatherhead, as president of the Council, formally presented the furnished library room to the city of Troy, A. F. Broomhall in behalf of the Board of Education and the citizens of Troy accepted the gift. The donations received that day amounted to $1,051.50 in money and 1,300 volumes of books, many of them being valuable books of reference which would have cost several dollars per volume. A tax was levied for the support of the library and over $3,000 each year is appropriated for the expenses of the library. The annual report of the librarian shows that on November 30, 1908, there were 9,640 books in the library, fifty-eight magazines upon the reading table and a number of daily papers and all the weekly pa- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 217 pers of the county, these last being donated by the publishers. During the year 16,468 visitors had dropped in either to look over the magazines or to consult books of reference ; 2,575 people are enrolled as patrons and the number of books placed in circulation during the year was 34,867, the library having been closed several weeks by order of the Board of Health because of an epidemic of small-pox in the city. During the month of March 3,767 books were issued. The library is now open every day, except Sundays and legal holidays, and under the efficient management of the librarian, Mrs. Clarissa D. Williams, and her assistants, Miss Blanche Mitchell and Miss Anna Mary Dinsmore, it is an aggressive force in all that pertains to the betterment of the individual and, through the individual, the civic life. The Young Men's Christian Association of Piqua is another prominent institution which has already accomplished a great work. Since its founding a few years ago it has advanced along the lines of moral improvement until it has reached the position it occupies today. It is the only institution of the kind in the county. Others which have been suggested have not materialized, so that Piqua may be called the pioneer in this direction. This excellent Y. M. C. A. has the following officers : President, J. H. Clark; vice-president, H. K. Wood ; secretary, J. F. Stewart ; treasurer, E. M. Bell; general secretary, Edmund McDonald, Jr. ; musical director, Christ F. Kunz, Jr.; office secretary, Ray Besanceney ; board of trustees, Charles H. Brown, H. H. Gravett ; D. 0.; E. W. Lape, D. F. Licklider, L. W. Pool, A. G. Rundle, C. F. Wilder, J. B. Williamson. Woman 's Christian Temperance Union —The county has been thoroughly organized by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. There are branches of this noble institution in every township and the workers are indefatigable in the good cause. The W. C. T. U. of Miami County is of comparatively recent growth. A few years ago there were few within the county but through the earnest effort of the Christian women the work has received a stimulus which has not been allowed to lag. Following are the presidents of the various unions now in the county, with the name of the president of each organization : West Milton, Mrs. Rev. Maxwell; Laura, Mrs. Hattie Brandon; Potsdam, Mrs. E. P. Stauffer ; Phoneton, Mrs. Ollie Bell; Brandt, Mrs. Emma Heffner ; Tippecanoe City, Mrs. Mary Ross ; Piqua, Mrs. John Miller, Bradford; Mrs. Margaret Winters ; Lena, Mrs. Ida Duer ; Covington, Mrs. Amanda Kendig ; Pleasant Hill, Mrs. Martha Shaffer; Troy, Mrs. Mary Westlake ; Casstown, Mrs. Callie Webb. Young Women's Christian Temperance Union—There are five Young Women's Christian Temperance Unions in the county in addition to the foregoing. They are as follows : Fletcher, president, Mrs. J. E. Eichelbarger ; Pleasant Hill, Mrs. Bertha Troas ; Piqua, Mrs. Ida Bayes ; Covington, Miss Lova Williams ; Troy, Miss Sue Statler. There are alSo two Young Men's Christian Temperance Unions. The Troy Y. M. C. T. U. was organized three years ago and is now in a flourishing condition with a membership of over sixty. This society has rooms on Water Street in the McCullough Building, where a Bible class is conducted. Another Y. M. T. C. U. is conducted at Ludlow Falls. 218 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY A Colored People's Temperance Union is conducted in Troy, of which Mrs. Elizabeth Fletcher, wife of Rev. Fletcher, is president. Summing up, Miami County has over 600 members of the various temperance unions operated today within its borders and these societies have worked untiringly to secure local option within the county and as Miami last fall voted dry, they feel that they have achieved a great victory. Apropos of temperance in 1873 an attempt was made to rid the county of its saloons in a decidedly unique manner. This is called the Woman's Crusade. Bands of women appeared in front of saloons and held religious services on the sidewalk. The excitement extended to the remotest borders of the county and continued till the end of the crusade. Despite the earnest efforts of the women but little was effected. The Crusaders were, as a rule, treated respectfully by the vendors of liquor and in some instances were permitted to hold services in the bar-rooms. Very few men took part in the Crusade of 1873, the whole work devolving upon the women. After awhile the Crusaders discovered that their efforts were unavailing and the effort was abandoned. In 1908 the second crusade against the liquor interests was inaugurated under the provisions of the Rose Law recently passed by the Legislature. The requisite number of signatures to call an election were secured and this event took place November 24th. Prior to the election an exciting campaign was inaugurated by the opposing parties known as the "wets" and the "drys," temperance or local option meetings were held in every section of the county and great demonstrations were held in the larger towns. Speakers from other states were introduced into the county and the campaign was not entirely free from personal "amenities." The liquor men whose headquarters were in Piqua held no public meetings. One of the largest votes ever polled in the county was had on the 24th. It resulted in a majority of 1,309 for the "drys." On December 24th the saloons and breweries in the county closed their doors and Miami joined the other "dry" districts of the State. The Woman's Christian Association of Troy is a strong charitable organization which is given rooms in the City Building by the City Council. Here every Saturday afternoon the members of the society conduct a sewing-school, teaching the children of the poor how to sew. As soon as a child completes a garment it is given her to wear, and thus many of the poorer children are taught how to become neat seamstresses and so grow up able to earn a good living. This society also takes special pride in looking after the comfort of the poor of the city and many families are kept by them through the rigors of the winter. Annually the Knights of Pythias of Troy give a Charity Ball, the proceeds of which are turned over to the Woman's Christian Association for expenditure among the needy as is also the annual Thanksgiving offering at the Union Thanksgiving services. Ball Memorial Hospital—The only public hospital in the county is the Ball Memorial Hospital at Piqua. This hospital was opened a few years ago and is conducted on advanced lines. It employs a corps of competent surgeons and nurses and so far has been very successful, treating all kinds of cases. It was erected large- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 219 ly through the instrumentality of a Mr. Ball, who was once a prominent resident of the city. A few years ago a hospital was opened at Troy, but it was not operated very long and now no longer exists. The beginning of the Memorial Hospital was had in 1904 when Mrs. Edward C. Thayer, of Keene, N. H., proposed to erect and give to the city a hospital to cost $20,000, to be known as the Memorial Hospital, in memory of the late De Los C. Ball, her brother, and at one time a respected resident of Piqua. The generous offer was accepted and five acres on Park Avenue were secured. The hospital is conveniently situated and is one of the most complete hospitals in the country. All departments are well equipped. The operating room, sterilizing and anaesthetizing rooms are on the third floor, also a pathological laboratory for the accommodation of physicians. The hospital was dedicated and formally presented to the public with impressive ceremonies, November 30th, 1905, but was not opened till the following December. It was founded and maintained for the benefit of all classes, and is managed by a Board of Trustees, composed of twelve citizens of Piqua, assisted by a Board of Lady Managers. At present it is officered as follows : President, W. P. Orr ; vice-president, John H. Young ; treasurer, Henry Flesh; secretary, George M. Peffer ; superintendent, Elabeath L. Hatfield. Board of Trustees : Gen. W. P. Orr. John H. Young, Henry Flesh, George H. Rundle, Robert H. Patterson, James R. Duncan. (Life Members) : Term expires 1913—Charles L. Wood, Samuel K. Statler ; Terms expire 1911—Daniel Spencer, George A. Brooks ; Term expires 1909—Samuel Zollinger, Frank Lange. Trustee ex-Officio—The Mayor of the City of Piqua. School Libraries—About forty years ago nearly every school had a circulating library, but these were discontinued and now few rural schools possess anything of the kind. The smaller towns of the county depend somewhat for their reading matter on the inadequate bookshelves of the high schools, but outside of Troy and Piqua no regularly officered libraries are in existence. The two exceptions are the outgrowth of earnest work on the part of citizens, especially the ladies, and with little effort similar institutions could be established and kept up in the lesser towns. Social Clubs—Within the county a large number of social clubs exist. The membership is almost exclusively feminine. The Altrurian Club of Troy is probably the best known of these literary and social organizations. Most of these women's clubs belong to a State Federation which is under the jurisdiction of the National Federation. The members of these clubs hold weekly meetings, at which literary papers are read and discussed. Some of the papers describe personal travel by the authors, while others discuss a certain era, giving a pen picture of past events and celebrated personages. Of late years the club has become quite popular in the county and there are few progressive women who are not connected with one or more of these organizations. In another chapter will be found some of the organizations conducted by the women of the county. The Civic League—An attempt was made during 1908 to establish what was called a Civic League which was to benefit the colored race. The league appeared to meet with some success and its prospects 220 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY were favorably commented upon, but in a short time the leaven of politics was injected into the organization and disrupted it. Since that time nothing has been heard of the Civic League. It passed out of existence and in all probability will not be revived. There are numerous local societies in the county which do not come within the scope of a work of this kind. These exist within certain neighborhoods and families and comprise in part social organizations which culminate annually in family reunions. All these clubs are offi- cered and the membership of some is large. Almost every well known family now has an organized club and in some cases family histories have been published. Each of the clubs has a historian whose duty it is to gather family data and present the same at the annual gatherings. In this way traditions are collected and preserved and relationship extended. Several of the largest family clubs meet annually at the Miami County Fair grounds. Regimental Organizations—Apart from the clubs mentioned stand the regimental organizations which embrace the old veterans and their families. These reunions are separate and apart from the department encampments of the Grand Army and Woman's Relief Corps. These regimental reunions are held every year by the several regiments from this county that served in the War of the Rebellion, and the gatherings are most interesting in character. At these reunions the fast disappearing wearers of the Blue live over the camp, the march and the battle. Campfires form a noted feature of these gatherings which will be kept up till the last veteran has answered the roll call and passed beyond to rest "in the shade of the trees." The Maryland Association of Ohio was organized in Miami County in 1897. It is composed of Marylanders and their descendants residents of Ohio. From a small affair the society has reached statewide proportions and meets annually, though not always within the limits of the county. It has now a membership of 3,000. The present officers of the association are Albert Kerns, president ; T. C. Harbaugh, secretary, and S. T. Fout, treasurer. This completes the list of public institutions, societies, etc., which properly come under the head of the present chapter. All mentioned are flourishing and well conducted and there is not one that is not a credit to the county in which it exists. CHAPTER XVI. BANKS AND BANKING Early Currency; Its Instability—The Old State Banks—The First National Bank of Troy Organized—The Miami County Bank and Troy National Bank—The Piqua National Bank—The Citizens' National Bank of Piqua—The Piqua Savings Bank Company—The Tippecanoe National Bank—The Citizens' National Bank of Tippecanoe City—Banks of West Milton, Covington, Pleasant Hill, Bradford, Etc.—Stability of Miami County's Financial Institutions. The history of banking in Miami County may be briefly told. The banks now in operation and successfully so are the successors of the old State banks which were the first mediums of financial exchange. Prior to the establishment of the State banks the meager currency of the country was poor indeed. Before the War of 1812 the circulating medium was the almost worthless sharp-skins or cut-money, a description of which has already been given. There were no banks operating in this locality at that time, for the State banks did not come into existence till after the War. While they were a great advance in the way of monetary affairs they were, to some extent, looked upon with distrust. Before the coming of the banking institutions which flourish today, the excellent national banks and those chartered under the present banking laws of the State, including the savings banks, the country went through the "wild-cat" regime, winch is well remembered by our older citizens. This period of poor and depreciated currency was the nightmare of every business man and those who handled money. Every merchant was compelled to keep in his desk a "detector" which, to a certain extent, kept him informed as to the value of the bills which passed over his counter. A person going from one state into another often found that his money carried him no further than the state line. There was really nothing behind the "wild-cat" banks. Half the time their issue was "up in the air" so to speak. They were fairly good today and tomorrow their currency was not worth the paper upon which it was printed. Banks failed everywhere and the holders of the bills had no recourse whatever. If a light-fingered gentleman picked a traveler's pocket he got nothing for his pains but a lot of bills whose value as stated on their face was a prevarication. - 221 - 222 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY Some of the State and wild-cat banknotes were beautifully engraved and well printed. In fact, they were marvels of the engraver's skill. Counterfeits were abundant, and in many instances were as good as the genuine, owing to the instability of the prevailing banks. A merchant sending bank bills, say to the East or even into an adjoining state, in payment of goods, was apt to have his money returned with the information that the banks of issue had "gone out of business." This period was one of financial uncertainty. It kept every handler of money suspicious and consequently exercised a deleterious influence on trade. The State banks were much better than the others, but in time the need of a better banking system than they afforded called for improvement. In 1863 the First National Bank of Troy was established as a successor to the Miami County Branch of the State Bank, which was founded in 1847. The first officers were : President, Asa Coleman ; cashier, John C. Culbertson ; teller and book-keeper, Daniel W. Smith. Directors—Jacob Knoop, Sr., Daniel Brown, George Smith, Asa Coleman, Lewis Hayner and H. W. Allen. In 1865 H. W. Allen was elected president and D. W. Smith cashier, positions which hold to this day. The First National in 1908 erected a new fire-proof banking house and its present officers follow : President, Henry W. Allen; vice-president, Cyrus T. Brown ; cashier, D. W. Smith ; assistant cashier, John H. Drury; teller, C. E. Snyder ; Savings Department—Walter G. Wells ; book-keeper, Roy Fish ; Directors —H. W. Allen, C. T. Brown, S. K. Statler, H. M. Allen, C. J. Harr, John McClain, J. S. Coombs, A. B. Thackera, C. U. Briggs. It was the fifty-ninth National Bank to be started in the United States. Its capital is $200,000. The First National is considered one of the safest banks in the country. The Miami County Bank was established in 1871 by W. H. H. Dye and Son and in 1879 passed into the hands of another corporation headed by H. H. Weakly. It has a capital of $50,000. Later on, in 1888, it became the Troy National Bank, with a capital of $100,000. Its first officers were : President, N. H. Albaugh ; vice-president, John M. Campbell; cashier, Noah Yount; assistant cashier, Charles E. Wilson. Noah Yount was cashier of the Miami County Bank under the Weakley management. The present officers of the Troy National are : President, John M. Campbell ; vice-president, D. M. McCullough ; cashier, Walter E. Bowyer ; assistant cashiers, Noah Yount, John K. De-frees ; teller, H. E. Scott ; book-keeper, V. C. Levre. Directors—John M. Campbell, D. M. McCullough, W. H. Francis, A. G. Stouder, Jacob Henne, E. F. Sayers, R. W. Saunders, W. P. Martin, A. M. Heywood. The Troy National, with the First National, pays interest on time deposits, has safety deposit boxes and does a safe banking business. The present Piqua National Bank was incorporated as the Piqua Branch of the State Bank of Ohio in 1847 with a capital stock of $100,000, by William Scott, Jos. G. Young, H. W. Hughes, J. D. Holtzerman, Stephen Winans, Robert Young, L. R. Brownell, and J. A. Schmidlapp. William Scott was its first president and Jos. G. Young its first cashier. On March 13, 1865, it was reorganized as the Piqua National Bank, with William Scott, presi- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 223 dent, J. G. Young, cashier, and Henry B. Greenham, assistant cashier. Its capital stock was increased to $200,000. During the forty-three years of its existence its net profits have been over one million dollars, from which dividends have been paid to the amount of $855,565. A balance of more than $200,000 is still carried as undivided profits. The present official force of the Piqua National is : George H. Rundle, president ; H. K. Wood, vice-president ; John H. Young, cashier ; George M. Peffer, assistant cashier ; August S. Clouse, teller ; G. E. Folk and F. H. King, book-keepers. Directors—G. H. Rundle, H. K. Wood, Jas. R. Duncan, J. W. Brown, J. H. Clark, C. N. Adlard, J. B. Sheridan, Daniel Spencer, J. W. Daniels, Joe F. Cop-pock and John H. Young. This bank has the confidence of the entire community and is listed as one of the best institutions of the kind in the banking business. The Citizens' National, also of Piqua, was organized in 1866 by William and M. N. McGrew. It started business with a capital of $100,000. In 1867 the McGrews sold out to G. Volney Dorsey and Robert B. Moores. Dr. Dorsey became president and his partner cashier. The present personnel of the Citizens' National is as follows : President, W. P. Orr ; vice-president, Samuel Zollinger ; cashier, Henry Flesh ; assistant cashier, Frank B. Zoe ; teller, F. P. Irvin. Directors—W. P. Orr, S. K. Statler, Samuel Zollinger, W. McC. Dorsey, W. A. Snyder, L. M. Flesh, A. M. Orr, Joseph Wolcott. and Henry Flesh. This banking house has enjoyed prosperity from its inception and is accounted a safe and sound institution. Among its older officers were C. S. Parker, vice-president, and H. C. Landis, cashier. Its present capital is $150,000 and its volume of business done in a year is approximately $5,000,000. The Piqua Savings Bank Company is one of the best financial institutions in the county. It was organized in October, 1901, and ever since has been successfully conducted. Its present corps of officers is as follows : President, W. P. Orr ; first vice-president, L. M. Flesh ; second vice-president, George Benkert ; cashier, John L. Prugh ; assistant cashier, W. B. Dubois; Directors—W. P. Orr, L. M. Flesh, George Genkert, Henry Flesh, S. K. Statler, John W. Yenney, John W. Brown, L. E. Chamberlin, W. B. Snyder, John L. Boyer, A. M. Orr. This bank is capitalized at $100,000 and does a very large banking business, having the confidence of all. The Tippecanoe National Bank was organized March 5, 1883, and commenced business August 27, of that year. Its first officers were : Samuel Sullivan, president ; Jacob Rohrer, vice-president ; A. W. Miles, cashier ; Directors—Samuel Sullivan, Jacob Rohrer, G. W. Weakley, W. W. Crane, J. W. Bowman, William Ashworth, John Brown. It has a capital of $60,000 and its deposits and loans have increased from $42,000 to $250,000 during the last twenty-five years. The present officers of the Tippecanoe National Bank are : President, T. C. Leonard ; vice-president, E. L. Crane ; cashier, A. W. Miles ; assistant cashier, E. L. Crane ; Directors—T. C. Leonard, William Ashworth, J. W. Bowman, A. W. Miles, E. L. Crane, W. E. Crane, A. L. Harshbarger. Always reliable and careful, the Tippecanoe National has the entire confidence of a large and increasing clientele. 224 - HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY The Citizens' National Bank of Tippecanoe City was organized January 2, 1908. It has a capital of $50,000 with $12,500 of an undivided surplus. It is officered as follows : S. R. Fergus, president ; S. D. Hartman, vice-president ; C. O. Davis, cashier ; Directors—S. R. Fergus, Jacob Coppock, S. D. Hartman, C. O. Davis, T. J. Dinsmore, A. R. Garver, J. H. Pohlman, R. M. Evans, W. E. Prill, L. C. Gissman, John Singer, George J. Smith, Henry Studebaker, Abe Studebaker, J. S. Studebaker and L. N. Agenbroad. There is a bright future before this, one of the latest, banks to be established in this county, and its reliability is vouched for in its present efficient personnel. The town of West Milton contains two banks. The first of these in point of organization is the West Milton Bank, established in December, 1882. In 1908 it was succeeded by the First National Bank of West Milton, with a capital of $30,000. The first officers were Robert M. Douglass, president ; C. B. Douglass, vice-president ; D. F. Douglass, cashier. For twenty-five years this banking house has had the same corps of officers, with the addition of Gifford Douglass, who is the assistant cash, ier. The deposits of the First National 'now amount to $175,000, an excellent showing for a bank in an interior town. The Citizens' National Bank of West Milton was organized in 1907. It has a paid-up capital of $18,000 and an authorized one of $30,000 and its annual volume of business foots up more than half a million. The first and present elective officers are C. E. Emerick, president ; Adam Pfeifer, first vice-president ; A. J. Iddings, second vice-president ; Noble B. Hunt, cashier ; Ada M. Guagey, book-keeper. Directors—C. E. Emerick, Adam Pfeifer, A. J. Iddings, J. C. Henderson, Dr. W. H. Kessler, J. C. Minnie'', B. J. Ford, L. A. Pearson, G. N. Falkner. Though young in years the Citizens' National has its share of the banking business of the Stillwater region and gives good satisfaction. The Stillwater Valley Bank of Covington commenced business in 1871, and was incorporated as a state bank in 1908. It has a capital of $50,000 and does an annual banking business of over $200,000. It is officered at present as follows : J. Ken-dell, president ; S. W. Ullery, vice-president ; J. Kendell, cashier ; and A. J. Maier, assistant cashier. The Stillwater Valley Bank is regarded as a sound banking house and enjoys a large and increasing patronage. On May 31st, 1900, the Citizens' National Bank of Covington was incorporated with a capital of $25,000. Its first officers were Henry Flesh, president ; J. W. Ruhl, vice-president ; J. L. Goodnight, cashier ; J. G. Bartness and S. B. Freshour. At present its official force is Henry Flesh, president ; J. W. Ruhl, vice-president ; A. W. Landis, cashier ; Directors—J. W. Dowler, C. M. Patty, D. E. P. Faul and A. W. Landis. The average deposits amount to $100,000, showing a good financial condition, which has gained much by careful management. Of the lesser banking institutions of the county are the Fletcher Banking Company, which has but one officer, P. L. Carter, cashier ; the Pleasant Hill Banking Company, managed by Charles F. Perkins ; the Commercial Savings Bank of Troy, established within the year, and the First National Bank of Bradford, of which William Vermilion is cashier. The Building &