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

Fall 2014 ISSUE

2014 Museum Hours April — December:

Tuesday — Saturday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

2014 McKell Library Hours

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

One of the final chapters in the completion of the Society’s new Collections Preservation Facility has been the installation of storage fixtures for the historical collec-tions being housed there. Last winter we purchased and installed several rows of heavy duty steel shelving, and this past spring our staff and volunteers began transferring boxes stored in other locations to the new shelves. On August 28th, fifteen, 300 pound, steel, textile storage cabi-nets arrived from the manufacturer and were hoisted into the second floor of the building by Bouillion Delivery, Mov-ing and Storage. We are now poised for the final stage of the project--filling the cabinets with historical clothing and other textiles currently stored elsewhere.

This project was made possible, in part, by a $10,000 grant from the Ohio History Connection's History Fund. The History Fund is sup-ported exclusively by voluntary donations of Ohio income tax refunds and desig-nated gifts to the Ohio History Connec-tion. www.ohiohistory.org/historyfund. We thank the Ohio History Connection and the tax payers of Ohio for so gen-erously supporting this worthy project.

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Ohio History Fund Grant Project Update

2014 Fall Speakers Series

A Blend of History & Prehistory

(Thursday), October 23, 7:30 p.m., The GI Offensive in Europe,1942-1945, featuring Dr. Peter Mansoor, Colonel, U. S. Army (Retired) & General Raymond E. Mason, Jr. Chair of Military History at The Ohio State University.

Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 p.m., Understanding Ross County’s Prehistoric Past through Artifacts, featuring Gary Argabright, retired educator, collector, & authority on prehistoric cultures of the Scioto River Valley, Chillicothe.

Wednesday, November 19, 7:30 p.m., “Ho for Mexico!” Ohio in the War with Mexico, 1846-48, featuring Larry Strayer, author, collector, living historian, Dayton. All three programs are open to the general public free of charge. (Please see page 3 for more details.)

Upcoming Events & Programs

2014 Holiday Season Programs at the

Ross County Heritage Center

Holiday Junior Member Program Saturday, December 6, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Christmas Open House at the Franklin House!!!

Saturday, December 13, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Volunteer Appreciation Christmas Banquet Friday, December 12, 6:00 p.m.

Fall 2014 — PAGE 2 THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER

President’s Report, by Henry Herrnstein

As the summer fades into autumn, the activities of the Ross County Historical Society also assume a different coloration. Visitation has been good this season, though we always hope for more. Remember, members, your out-of-town guests are always welcome free of charge. For the history minded, our Heritage Center could be a welcome visit during one of those too hot, too cold, or too wet after-noons. The Fall Speakers Series has been finalized as have plans for our Christmas Open House. After an hiatus of several years, the Open House will be returning to the Franklin House, which has been restored as much as pos-sible to its appearance in the 1930s when the Franklin fami-ly was in residence. Our Collections Preservation Facility is now virtual-ly complete. The big, new textile cabinets have arrived and have been installed. Erc Picciano fabricated and donated a beautiful workbench for the new workshop area. Despite the fact that it was designed and built to serve a utilitarian purpose, it is an object worthy of display.

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Director’s Report, by Tom Kuhn

It is hard to believe that it has been almost a year since the contractor put the finishing touches on our new Collections Preservation Facility. The project was the re-sult of the generosity and support of more than 150 individ-uals and charitable institutions who came forth to contrib-ute the more than $325,000 necessary to complete it. None of this would have been possible without the leader-ship of past Society President Bob Nelson who led the way in our fundraising campaign. Bob’s tireless efforts contact-ing potential donors to convince them of the worthiness of the project and his diligence in calling and arranging meet-ings with local businesses and foundations to present grant proposals were vital keys to our success. I would also like to recognize Erc Picciano for his vital assistance with this project. Erc, a retired engineer, donated countless hours pouring over several generations of architectural plans and drawings to ensure that all the details were in order and that the Society’s needs were met in the plans. Finally, I would like to thank Erc for build-ing, delivering, and donating a beautiful, heavy duty wood-en workbench for the workshop area in the new building. Many future projects will no doubt get their start there.

***** Welcome New Members

The Society welcomes the following new members since the last issue of the Recorder (names are in alphabetical order):

Jack & Kathleen Burgess Jeffery A. Davidson

Matthew & Jill Haller & Family Jason Kellison

Diane Riley Esther Seitz & Gwyndalyn

Geddy Webb

Thurman Zimmerman

New Life Member James Barry Woodring

Memberships Make Nice Gifts

Memberships to the Ross County Historical Society make thoughtful and inexpensive gifts. Buy them for the history buffs you know by returning the form on page 7. Benefits include free admission to each of our museums and the McKell Library plus discounts at the museum store.

A Friendly Reminder

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

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 Record-er, we received a 25 foot fiberglass extension ladder from

member Gary Haslop—THANK YOU very much!

If you, or anyone you know, have any of 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. Stacked washer/dryer (for our new collections facility). 2. Gas or electric powered leaf blower

Gift Ideas from the Museum Store New! Camp Sherman: Ohio’s WWI Soldier Factory, $17.99 — A brief pictorial history of Chillicothe’s World War I army training camp with over 300 images & photos, by G. Richard Peck. New! The Ohio and Erie Canal, 1831-1907: A Guide to the Chillicothe Canal Path, $8.95 — A concise illustrated guide to easily trace the path of the canal from north to south through the city, packed with images and details, by Julia Vadakin Lambert. New! Absalom’s War: The Life and Death of a Young Ohio Farmer in the Civil War, $19.95 — The real life and death story of an enlisted man in the 73rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry including detailed accounts of battles, by Christopher McFarland Clarke.

Back In Print! The Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad, and Its Successor—The Baltimore & Ohio: A Study of this Once Great Route Across Ohio, 1851-1988, $25.00 — an outstanding compilation of photos, short stories and newspaper clippings on Chillicothe’s railroad history, by John R. Grabb. The Civil War Journals of Samuel H. Hurst, 73rd Regiment, OVI, $19.95 — a perfect companion to Hurst’s Journal History of the 73rd OVI, compiled by Patricia Fife Medert. Church & High Streets, Chillicothe, Ohio: The Buildings & the People & Other Miscellaneous Structures, $39.95 — the sixth in a series of publications on the structural history of

Chillicothe’s historic district, 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.

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 Medert & Andrew Verhoff. 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.

THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER Fall 2014 — PAGE 3

Fall Speakers Series 2014

Ross County Historical Society 45 West Fifth St., Chillicothe

Free & Open to the Public A Blend of History & Prehistory

“Ho for Mexico!” Ohio in the War with Mexico, 1846-48 Featuring Larry Strayer, author, collector, living historian, Dayton.

Wednesday, November 19, 7:30 p.m. Larry Strayer returns to speak on Ohio's participation in the twenty-two month long Mexican War, which saw the smallest number of troops raised from this state of any conflict since statehood - just over seven thousand men. Ohio formed five full regiments, contributed five regular army companies, a company of U.S. volunteers, and over a dozen independent com-panies (a contribution that greatly exceeded more populous, eastern states). Almost all of these troops went to Mexico, and three Ohio-raised regiments fought in pitched battles against Mexican Regulars - the 1st Ohio Infantry at Monterey, the "Bloody Fifteenth" Regu-lars in the Mexico City campaign and the U.S. Mounted Rifles in countless engagements. The presentation will include a discussion of weaponry and include a display of original and museum-quality arms, equipment and garments to help bring alive an era that fostered the cry "Ho for Mexico !"

The GI Offensive in Europe,1942-1945 Featuring Dr. Peter Mansoor, Colonel, U. S. Army (Retired) & Gen. Ray-mond E. Mason, Jr. Chair of Military History, The Ohio State Universi-ty.

Thursday , October 23, 7:30 p.m. The German army was one of the most capable fighting forces the world has ever known,

but in the end it was no match for the Allies. Some historians contend that the Allies achieved victory through brute force and material superiority. Peter Mansoor will present a

comprehensive argument to refute this claim, showing that the Army of the United States

succeeded by developing combat effective divisions that could not only fight and win bat-tles but also sustain that effort over years of combat. While American industry admittedly

enabled the United States to sustain its overseas armies, the effectiveness of those forces ultimately rested on their organizational capabilities and ability to adapt to combat in a va-

riety of lethal environments and to learn from their mistakes.

Understanding Ross County’s Prehistoric Past through Artifacts Featuring Gary Argabright, retired educator, collector, & authority on prehistoric cultures of the Scioto River Valley, Chillicothe.

Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 p.m. Gary Argabright will discuss Ross County’s place in our understanding of North Ameri-ca’s prehistoric people and the Ross County Historical Society’s role in preserving and disseminating a record of it. Gary has been collecting, cataloging, and researching Na-tive American artifacts from the Scioto River Valley for more than 35 years. He has ac-cumulated and documented artifacts from some 60 different area farms and sites. Gary has been actively involved in the Mound City Chapter of the Archaeological Society of Ohio since 1987 and currently serves as its secretary and treasurer. He also served on the Historical Society’s board of trustees for 9 years, chaired its collections committee, and assisted with updating and renovating the museum’s prehistoric artifact exhibit. He continues to help with care and study of the Society’s extensive prehistoric artifact col-lection and will utilize items from the collection in his presentation which will focus on the development of prehistoric stone tools and how they were used.

THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER Fall 2014— PAGE 4

From the Library, by Pat Medert

In the McKell Library and archives are numerous books and manuscripts that are written in old German—that is words put to paper before the German alphabet was changed in the 1930s. People who have been educated in the language since that decade are unable to read these early works.* If the present trend of eliminating the teach-ing of cursive handwriting in the public schools continues, within a generation, readers of the English language will no longer be able to read the thousands of handwritten docu-ments in the archives. I have met young people who react to the words in these papers the same as they would to a foreign language. Since the time of this country’s founding, educators recognized the need for students to learn “the three Rs”—reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic—before adding other subjects to the curriculum. Each of the three was of equal im-portance. There are several books on the instruction of cursive writing among the collection of school textbooks in the library and exercise and copy books in the archives that were written by local students of an earlier day. They re-veal how important good handwriting once was.

Posture and the position of the pen in the hand are stressed in all, and repetitive exercises (Practice makes per-fect) were always part of the learning pro-cess. The oldest book in the library is The Young Clerks Assistant: or Penman-ship Made Easy, In-structive and Enter-taining: Being a Com-pleat Pocket-Copy-Book, Curiously En-graved for the Prac-tice of Youth in the Art of Writing by Richard Ware and published in London in 1733. His basic instructions included the follow-ing.

Hold your pen between the two forefingers extend-ed almost strait [sic], and the thumb bending outward, with the hollow downwards, and the nib flat. Let your paper lie directly before you and your hand rest only on the top of your little finger. Rest your arm lightly between the wrist and the elbow. Keep your body upright and your elbow almost close to your side. Rest your body on your left arm and keep your paper down with your left hand. Never lean hard on your pen. W. W. Bazely in his Elements of Penmanship, pub-lished in 1821, offered this advice to the students.

Sit perfectly easy; hold the pen loosely, nearly an inch from the point; rest the right arm on the wrist, and take care that the top of the pen points directly to the shoul-der….Do not stoop much, for your breath will damp the pa-per, and, by contracting your chest, soon tire you and en-danger your health….Do not move your head from side to side when you write; for it is not only ungraceful, but tends to deceive you in the slope of your letters and renders your writing irregular. In 1876, S. S. Thompson, author of The Electic System of Penmanship was more explicit in his instructions and begins with the following. Sit at a convenient distance from the desk, the

(continued on next page...)

Illustration from Zaner Method of Arm

Movement Writing—1910

Page from Marie Haynes’s Exercise Book, date unknown

body facing but not touching it. The body may lean slightly forward but should not bend. The feet should be placed near together, on the floor, in front of the desk. Place the lower left corner of the book next to the edge of the desk, so that its bottom and left end each shall form an angle of 45

0 with the front edge of the desk. The right arm should

be placed at right angles to the line to be written. The thumb and forefinger of the left hand should be placed on the upper left corner of the book to hold it in its place. Thompson also took teachers to task in his hand-book for instructors, saying that teachers generally don’t like to teach writing because they don’t know how to write and ended with: “Let the teachers of our common schools learn to write, and at the same time learn to teach the art. Let them impress upon their pupils its importance; after-ward, teach them to practice it skillfully.” The teaching methods I have described were used in the public schools well into the twentieth century. I do not advocate a return to this kind of instruction; I learned to write under the Zaner method with a stick pen and ink and, after all these years, well remember the torture of trying to do those swirls and lines and was rarely able to copy the letters and words accurately. I do, however, support the teaching of cursive writing for reasons too many to explain in this limited space. I do encourage it if for no other rea-son than to be able to read it. *I am looking for someone who can read old German to help in translating items that are significant to the history of our community. These include diaries, letters, baptismal records, almanacs, records of organizations, and docu-ments I am unable to identify. If you know of any individu-als who can help me, please call the office (772-1936) to let me know.

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Fall 2014 — PAGE 5 THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER

(...continued from previous page)

Page from the Zaner Method of Arm Movement Writing, 1910

The proper way to hold the pen is shown in the illus-tration above from Payson, Dunton & Scribner’s Na-tional System of Penmanship (1881). The directions say: Place the penholder between the thumb and first two fingers (A,E), resting it forward of the third joint of the forefinger (B). Bend the thumb (C) and fingers (A) outward, so as to bring the end of the thumb (D) opposite the first joint of the middle finger. Press the thumb a little under the holder to keep the pen at a proper angle. The left side of the middle fin-ger supports the holder just above the pen (E), and the forefinger closes over the holder. Hold the pen as lightly as though it were a delicate glass tube that could be crushed in the fingers.

From the Photo Archives, by Lisa Uhrig

Joseph Kellhofer was born in Chillicothe on Febru-ary 4, 1844, the son of Leopold and Martha Fisher Kellhofer. At the age of 19, Joseph went to work as an ap-prentice for the B&O Railroad and later became the fore-man of the painting department.

He first married Mary Theresa Miller with whom he had three children, though only one daughter survived to adulthood. His second wife, Elizabeth Wetzel, had 11 more children, three of whom died in infancy. Joseph opened his grocery business in 1869. The grocery store was very successful, and he delivered goods by horse-drawn wagon to all parts of town. Behind the store, several additions were made to the building, includ-ing a bowling alley, a horse barn and storage sheds. At the rear of the building was a saloon known as “the last stop” because it was the last chance for a drink before leaving town via Eastern Avenue.

In 1901, he built the Kellhofer Scioto Mills, and his son, John, would travel by train to surrounding communities to secure orders for the mill. He would then deliver the grain by covered wagon to businesses as far away as Jack-son and Washington Court House. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1909, and the grocery store closed around 1916. Mr. Kellhofer was prominent in civic affairs and was a member of St. Peter’s church. He died July 25, 1919, and is buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery.

Fall 2014 — PAGE 6 THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER

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Mary Elizabeth Kellhofer, daughter of Joseph & Elizabeth,

married George Howard Ratcliff of Londonderry on April

18, 1906 (wedding photo above). The Ratcliff family will be

featured in the next issue of the Recorder.

Joseph Kellhofer 1844-1919

The Kellhofer home and store, 560 Eastern Avenue. The

family lived on the left side of the building and the grocery

store was on the right. This building still stands today.

Above: Kellhofer’s Scioto Mill, 554 Eastern Avenue, 1907, and (below) the aftermath of the fire on August 4, 1909.

Joseph Kellhofer, Local Entrepreneur

Elizabeth Wetzel Kellhofer 1852-1924

THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER Fall 2014 — PAGE 7

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

Recent Acquisitions of the Museum and Library

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

35. Candy Mold – tin, heart shaped; Fleam (a bloodletting instrument) in case – c. 1798; Lamp - hand blown glass alcohol burner; Glasses Case – brown leather, early 19

th century, donated by Darwin Drake.

36. Scrapbook, Programs, Photographs – CHS Class of 1949, donated by Patri-cia Stanton Charles. 37. Collection of items of Mosher family. Clothing – (women’s) 19

th & early 20

th

century; Photographs – (9) black & white prints; Autograph Book – 1877; Record Book – accident reports of Marietta & Cincinnati R.R., 1895 and other items, do-nated by Nancy Korst Smith. 38. Photographs – includes school classrooms, Chillicothe Baseball Team, 1902, portraits of Steel family; Photographs, Patches, Dog Tags, Bible – of James H. Crowe, WWI; Civil War Discharge Paper & other Documentary Artifacts – of James B. Crowe, donated by Vivian Crowe. 39. Book – Phebe’s Story, by Phebe Cook, 2010, donated by Helen Sproat. 40. Book – Recollections of the Civil War From a Child’s Point of View, by Maud E. Morrow, 2014, donated by Barbara J. Morrow. 41. Photograph – “Clarksburg O. Schools 4/15/25”, donated by Diana Simpson. 42. Documents (original) – related to Rear Admiral Henry Walke, donated by H.W. Jesse Jenckes. 43. Children’s Books – (3); Ledger books – Ratcliff Bros Store, 1886, Londonder-ry, Ohio; Newsletter – (16) Orange & Black Tooter, Liberty High School, 1929-31; Photographs – (4) Liberty High School students, 1930-31; Booklet – General Business Review Ross County, Ohio for 1889, donated by Marilyn Hiser. 44. Quilts – (2) crazy quilts, 1883; Grandmother’s flower garden, c. 1925; Cloth-ing – (women’s) 1880-1979; Cast Iron Cookstove, Cookware & Accessories – (toys) c. 1900; Stone Artifacts – (prehistoric), donated by Ann Menard. 45. Collection of items from John Bennett family – includes Watercolors; Photo-graphs; Book – first issue Master Skylark; Tray – wooden, hand carved; Chess Set – 1844; China Figurines & Tea Set and others, donated by Elizabeth Leal. 46. Quilt pieces; Needlwork – includes embroidered pillow cases, table runners and crocheted items, c. 1940; Chalkboard – (child’s) c. 1940; Photographs & Ad-vertising Cards – early 20

th century, donated by Willie Martin.

47. Book – Ohio State Board of Health, Volume I, 1911; Book – Revised Ordi-nances of The City of Chillicothe State of Ohio, 1928; Booklet – Chillicothe, U.S.A., Ohio’s First Capital, it’s heritage preserved, it’s future secure, by the Chil-licothe Telephone Company, donated by Ross County Health District. 48. Photographs – (3) 1908 & 1913 floods, Ross County, Ohio; Newspaper Arti-cle – “Bourneville Calaboose Protested In Court”, November 28, 1970, donated by June Gregg. 49. Rocking Chair – Boston Rocker, painted & decorated, c. 1870, donated by Stephen Madru. 50. Book – Babyland, The Babies Own Magazine, 1894; Book – Stories Merry and Stories Wise, 1898; Photographs – (scanned copies) of Ratcliff & Kellhofer families of Londonderry & Chillicothe, Ohio, donated by Marilyn Hiser. 51. Booklet – The Ohio and Erie Canal 1831-1907, A Guide to the Chillicothe Canal Path, 2014, written & donated by Julia Vadakin Lambert. 52. Books (12) – historic information related to Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia; Printed Material (photocopies) – of information pertaining to Worthington, Inskeep & Harness families; Christmas Cards & Book – designed by Judith McVicker White; Book (bound photocopies) – Biographical Sketch of General Benjamin Tupper, donated by Eleanor Heishman. 53. Phonograph Records – (3) Chillicothe Little Symphony, Mozart Concert, 1956, donated by Maxine Wright. 54. Printed & Written Material – from Federal Reformatory, Chillicothe, OH, c. 1940; Booklet – The Bulletin Board, April 1947; Map – WWII showing the location of the 39

th Infantry in Europe; Photograph Negatives – WWII, military, donated by

Douglas Hunt.

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THE ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY RECORDER Fall 2014 — PAGE 8

Officers and Trustees of the Ross County Historical Society

Henry Herrnstein ....................... President Erc Picciano ................ 1st Vice President Ron Bowen................. 2nd Vice President Tim Barada................................ Secretary Bob Casari ................................Treasurer Tom Kuhn ................... Executive Director Judy Benson ................................ Trustee Vic Cleary ..................................... Trustee Neil Coleman ................................ Trustee Lewis Coppel ................................ Trustee Alan Davis .................................... Trustee Richard Enderlin ........................... Trustee Chris Harrod ................................. Trustee Robin McKell ................................ Trustee Pat Medert.................................... Trustee Bob Nelson................................... 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 45 West Fifth Street

Chillicothe, Ohio 45601-3227