TEACHERS’ MEETING - 1903

Ohio County, KY

Teachers’ Programs and Meetings

From The Hartford Herald

September 16, 1903

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TEACHERS’  MEETING

Program of the teachers for the Centertown Magisterial District to be held at Centertown, Saturday, September 1903, beginning at 1 p.m.:

1.   “What stress would you place on rhetoric in the public school?” – by W. S. Hill and Louanna Ford

2.   “What place has literature in the public school?” – by Oma Maddox and J. H Wood

3.   “The Importance of School Discipline” – by G. W. White and Carrie Rowe

4.   “How to cultivate friendship between pupil and teacher” – by H. H. Davis and Mattie Tichenor

5.   “Number work in primary grades” - by Maggie Davidson and E. M. Kimmel

6.   “How to teach diacritical marks” – by Everett Smith and Louanna Ford

7.   “Opening exercises, how conducted” – by W. H. Hill and H. H.

8.   “How to make grammar interest to beginners” – by Clarence Overhuls  and E. M. Kimmel

9.   “Difficulty of participles and infinitives”–by Everett Smith, Otto Kimbly and Carrie Rowe            

10.   “Word or A. B. C. method in primary grader” – by Mattie Tichenor and J. H. Wood

11.   “How to secure better daily attendance” – by G. W. White and Oma Mad

12.  “Should the school term be lengthened” – by Maggie Davidson and Herman Maddox

                  Com.:     E. M. Kimmel, Carrie Rowe and J. H. Wood

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PROGRAM

The teachers of Cromwell Magisterial District will meet at Rosine, Ky. Friday,  September 25, 1903.

10:00 a.m. – Devotional exercises - W. G. Stewart

                        Address of Welcome – Charles Crowder

                        Response – Leonard Sandefer

                        Object of Teachers’ District Association – Blamer Renfro, Mack Cook

Noon -           How to govern a district school – Birch Shields

1:00 p.m. –   Roll call address – Supt. James DeWees

                        An Essay – Miss Jessie Raley

                        How to teach beginners arithmetic – O. N. Stewart, H. C. Hunter

                        Language Lesson – Misses Maggie Paxton & Mary Holloway

                        How to teach reading – Clarence James & Lucien French

                        How to secure longer school terms – Charles Crowder &  S. P. McKinney &                                 Clarence Allen

                        Select Reading – Miss Rosa Berryman

                        How to arrange a daily program – Alex Boswell & Lonale Leach

                        Composition – Miss Flora Gray

Friday afternoon’s exercises:  Nettie Sulser, Birch Shields, H. C. Crowder.  All teachers are required to attend and teach an extra day.

                        Com.:     Leonard Sanderfer

                                        Mack Cook

                                        Birch Shields

Note: Some of the names are misspelled, but this is the way the newspaper published them. Thanks to Janice Brown.

WILLIAM D. COLEMAN

WILLIAM D. COLEMAN, one of tbe respected citizens of Ohio County, was born in Bedford County, Va., on the 8th of October, 1822. His father, James Coleman, was a Virginian, born in 1789; married Miss Margaret Dowell in 1812; afterward served as a soldier under Gen. Wilkinson in 1814, and died in Campbell County, Va., in 1854. He followed the trade of a tobacconist for upward of thirty-four years prior to his death. John Coleman, the grandfather of William D., was a native of Ireland, and immigrated to America during the colonial period; he served as a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolution, as also did our subject's maternal ancestor, John Dowell, who was by birth a Scotchman. William D. Coleman left his Virginia home and came to Kentucky in 1838, and drove a team in Warren County for about a year, after which he traded in stock for five years, principally horses, which he shipped to Southern markets. In 1842 he married Henrietta D. Fox, who died in 1845, leaving two children: Gallia W. and Mary D.  Mr. Coleman soon after removed to Ohio County, where he leased land and turned his attention to farming, which vocation he has followed successfully up to the present time. In 1848 Mr. Coleman was married to his present wife, whose maiden name was May A. Shull. Time has proved them to be happily mated. Their union has been blessed with six children, five of whom are now living: Margaret E., James W., Peter S., Stonewall J., and Annie B. In 1849 Mr. Coleman bought 260 acres of slightly improved land, which he continued to improve and farm until 1861, when he entered the confederate army and fought under Gens. Beal, Morgan, and Lee, until the fall of the Confederacy. He then returned to what was once his home, but, of all of his former possessions, found nothing left except the land and his family, all else having gone with the "lost cause." Mr. Coleman is an uncompromising Democrat, and says, he "staked and lost all in the cause of the Rebellion." He at once set to work to repair losses, but again, in 1866, he suffered a loss of $3,000 by fire, which destroyed his dwelling and goods. His farm is one of the best improved in the county, and numbers 360 acres, all in cultivation. Mr. Coleman gives most of his attention to the raising of blooded stock. In 1873 Mr. Coleman was a candidate for election to the legislature; the election was gained by his opponent, J. W. Meadow, by 200 majority. In 1877 he was again defeated by J. W. Meadow, by a majority of fifty votes. Again, in 1883, Mr. Coleman was a candidate, and was elected by a majority of 269 votes, and during his legislative career introduced and passed four general and twenty-two local bills — most notably the bill entitled "A bill for the Ventilation of Mines, and the Protection of Miners." Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which Mr. Colpman has been a steward many years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has passed all the honors of the Ancient rite. As a liberal and public-spirited citizen, Mr. Coleman has done much for the improvement of the country, and he commands the respect and esteem gf all who know him.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

Note:  William Dowell Coleman dies 18 Nov 1901 in Rockport, Ohio County, KY, and is buried at the Rockport Cemetery.

Knights of the Maccabees

"The stars my camp, the Deity my light."

K.O.T.M. – Ohio Co., KY

           The local lodge Knights of the Maccabees gave a lunch and smoker at their regular meeting  time last Thursday  night, which was highly enjoyed by all those present.  Initiatory work was first gone through with, after which came the entertainment.

          

This lodge has had a phenomenal growth since its establishment here fifteen months ago.  The membership now numbers fifty.  It has especially made itself felt by the good it has done.  The personnel of its membership includes some of the best men of this and adjoining communities.  They have lately purchased a $100 set of paraphernalia, which, together with a well drilled degree team, makes their lodge effects and initiatory exercise first-class and magnificent.

The following roll-call of officers, lately installed:

Sir Knight Commander,   R. T. Collins

Sir Knight Past Commander,   E. B. Pendleton

Sir Knight Lieut. Commander,   Edward Bennett

Sir Knight Record Keeper,   D. E. Thomas

Sir Knight Finance Keeper,   R. R. Riley

Sir Knight Chaplain,   Alva Taylor

Sir Knight Physician,   E. B. Pendleton

Sir Knight Sergeant,   C. P. Nowlin

Sir Knight Master at Arms,   Henry Nall

Sir Knight 1^st M. of G.,   Charles Howard

Sir Knight 2^nd M. of G.,   Chas. Bach

Sir Knight Sentinel,   S. M. Phillips

Sir Knight Picket,   Chas. Sullenger

Source:  The Hartford Herald, January 13, 1904

History and Beginnings of “The Knights of the Maccabees”

Fraternal Organization

BEGINNINGS

The Knights of the Maccabees began as a fraternal benefit association of a type extremely popular in the United States in the late 1800s. A related but separate organization, Maccabees of the World was also established, the two merging under the title The Knights of the Maccabees of the World (KOTMOTW) later shortened to the Maccabees in 1914.

SOCIAL SAFETY NET

Fraternal Benefit groups were quite prevalent in the late 19th century. Many insurance companies were not interested in sales to ordinary people, and there was little in the way of safety nets. Groups like the Maccabees provided a margin of protection against catastrophic events along with opportunities for pleasant social meetings and other gatherings.

BENEFITS

Originally it operated on an assessment basis: whenever a member died, each living member was assessed 10 cents to go into a pot to provide the widow $1000. After reorganization in 1881, it became much more sophisticated, collecting monthly assessments based on payouts. By the 1890s it provided not only death benefits but also sick benefits, disability benefits, and funeral benefits.

Source:  Internet History

             Sample of Grave Marker

SQUIRE WILLIAM STEWART COLE

SQUIRE WILLIAM STEWART COLE, Ohio County, was born September 7, 1837

in Butler County, Ky., and in infancy removed with his parents to Ohio County, where he grew to manhood and still resides. In 1861, he enlisted in the Seventeenth Kentucky Infantry and in the capacity of blacksmith remained with the regiment until near the close of the late war. His father, Chesterfield Cole, was born in Butler County, and died about 1843, aged about thirty-two years. He was the son of William S. Cole, also a native of Butler County, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, a high sheriff and also a Cumberland Presbyterian minister; he died at Bloomfield, Ind., about 1870, at am advanced age. Chesterfield married Luvisa, daughter of Jerry Ezell, of Ohio County; she died in 1845; their children are Sarah A., died in infancy; William Stewart: Martha, married first to Kessinger, who died in Andersonville prison, and afterward to Evans; and Nelson H., died in his thirteenth year. April 5, 1860, Squire Cole was married to Martha L., daughter of William M. and Mary (Mitchel) Miller, of Ohio County; she was born February 19, 1837, and to them have been born Joseph N., John S., Chesterfield M., Mary L., Arminta M., Nora F., James E., Jonathan L., Dorcas E., William O, Henry W., and Charles W.  Squire Cole served one term as a magistrate of his district. He is still a blacksmith, and also farms, owning 116 acres of fair land in a good state of cultivation. He is a member of the United Baptist Church; also of the A. F. & A. M, and in politics a Republican.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

Note:  Squire Cole died at Horse Branch, Ohio County, 5 December 1917.  He is buried in the Midkiff Cemetery.

Elisha M. Miles

~ Memorial of Elisha M. Miles ~

       “Elisha Milton Miles was born on what is now known as the Frank Mitchell farm, near Fordsville, Ky., December 11, 1839, and was the eldest son of John S. and Amanda Miles, formerly of Shelby county, Ky.  I have not been able to learn anything in regard to the early history of John Miles except that he came to Ohio county from Shelby county, and it was in the latter county that he married Miss Ford.  The exact date that he came to Ohio county is unknown, but it is supposed to be in the year 1834.  He was for many years a member of old Mt. Pleasant Baptist church, and for some years he was the moderator of that church. He died October 21, 1883, and his wife died some years before.  Elisha Miles lived on a farm near Fordsville with his father till the year 1857, when he went to Cloverport, Ky., to learn the trade of tailor with William Witt, who married a sister to Elisha’s mother.  Young Miles remained with his uncle till the year of 1860, when the troubled forbodence of the Civil War so paralyzed all business pursuits that he returned to the farm near Fordsville, where he remained till October 15, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. K, 17th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, and after a service of 39 months he was honorably discharged a private of Co. B, of the 17th Ky. at Louisville, Ky.  January 23rd 1865 by reason of expiration of term of service.

       “During the Georgia Campaign in the battles near Cassville Ga., May 19-22, 1864, he received a gun-shot wound in the left hand which made a cripple of him for life, and on his return from the army as this wound deprived him from working at his trade, he engaged in agricultural pursuits on his father’s farm.   April 8, 1869, he married Miss Josephine E. Smith, daughter of Henry Smith, a prominent early settler of the Fordsville community.  Mrs. Miles is a twin sister of N. B. Smith now (May 1904) living near Fordsville and he was named in honor of Napoleon Bonaparte, the great Republican Emperor of France, and his twin sister after the Empress Josephine, first wife of Napoleon .

         “In December 1882, a Grand Army Post was recruited at Fordsville, and when it was duly mustered, January 6th, 1883, Elisha M. Miles was one of its charter members, and during his long membership in the order he was in good standing and served much of that time as an officer of the post, or a committeeman on some business pertaining to the Grand Army.  Comrade Miles died of consumption on the 17th of March 1898, after a lingering illness of many months.  His funeral service was preached by Rev. B. T. Jenkins (This should read  Rev. B. F. Jenkins, jb), a sergeant of the 17th Ky., and a former pastor of the Baptist church at Fordsville, where Brother Miles and many of his relatives were members for years.  He was buried by his Grand Army comrades with his deceased relatives in the Josiah Haynes graveyard on his farm, and the United States Government furnished a military headstone to mark his grave.  Comrade Miles is survived by his wife and six children – three sons and three daughters.  Two of his sons are grown and married.  At the time these notes were taken, April 13, 1904, his youngest son is 12 years old and his youngest daughter is 8 years old.

         “Comrade Miles’ early home is about two and one-half miles from Fordsville, on the Pattieville or Shreve Post-office road and is near the beautiful country graveyard where the  remains of him and so many of his relatives and friends lie buried.  Fond and loving hands have planted choice flowers upon his grave which will soon be in full bloom and bring to the visitors memory the following lines:

“Sweet flowers exhalt their fragrant breath

Where now he peaceful sleeps in death

And trees their shedding branches wave

Above his solemn country grave.”

     “To those that were familiar with Elisha M. Miles’ reconciliation to the dispensation of our souls after death, and his views on the justice of the god to us all, summons to quit the walks of this life, the following lines had no doubt been long considered by him, which was evidently the way he appeared to take his last farewell look of each one of his relatives and friends during his last days.

“The call of my maker compelled me from home

I bade my companion farewell.

I left my sweet children, who for me now mourn

In a far distant region to dwell.”

                 “Reverend Jenkins, while preaching the funeral sermon at the grave of comrade Miles, spoke of the long church membership of his comrade in arms.  He also said that brother Elisha, being human, had his faults, and that no one appeared to regret his faults greater than brother Miles did himself, nor try harder to make amends for them, which we all knew was so.

                 “In our free and happy country where we have full access to the beautiful teachings of the sacred scriptures it has long ago became an admitted fact by our best and wisest men that when our bodies are laid to rest in the ground that our misgivings are buried with them and our souls made radiant with the blood of the blessed Redeemer, as returned in a pure state to the God who gave it.  May the grave of Elisha M. Miles ever be kept green. “ 

                                                                                                ~ Edwin Forbes

Source:  The Hartford Republican

                June 17, 1904, Page 8

WIFE OF ELISHA M. MILES, JOSEPHINE E. (SMITH) MILES

Jan 18, 1848 – Jan 23, 1928

            Josephine Elizabeth Smith was born in the winter of 1848 to Henry Smith (1808-1882) and Elizabeth Marlow (1818-1863) at Fordsville , Ohio County, Kentucky. 

            When she was 21 she married Elisha Milton Miles on April 8, 1869 in Hartford.  Tthey made their home at Fordsville.  In the 1900 census she stated she had borne seven children; six were living.

            According to her death certificate, she died from bronchial pneumonia, emphysema, and old age.  She was 80 years old at the time of her death and was living in Fordsville.  The informant was J. H. Miles of Irvington, Breckinridge, KY.  In the 1900 census she stated she had borne seven children, and six were living. See Find- -A Grave Memorial #61649698 – Created by John Dicky Smith.  

JOSEPHINE SMITH MILES WITH LETITIA CHAPIN MILES (WIFE OF JO'S SON JOHN HENRY MILES) AND GRANDDAUGHTERS ANITA GRACE MILES (WHEELER) AND HELEN BLINN MILES (HARDIN) ABOUT 1921.  

      Source: John (Dicky) Hardin

10-10-1879, INVALID PENSION TO ELISHA. 3-19-1898,

WIDOWS PENSION TO JOSEPHINE.

Source: John Hardin

Note: This posting was researched and contributed by my friend, Janice Brown.

THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY

THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY, Ohio County. Walter D. Christian, the progenitor, a very worthy and honorable gentleman, was a Virginian by birth, a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in Kentucky about 1845, aged nearly seventy years. At what period he immigrated to this State is not definitely known, but his good standing is established by the fact that he filled various offices of honor and trust, among which was that of sheriff. He espoused in marriage Elizabeth Stewart, of Fayette County; she died in 1874, aged seventy-seven years. Their children are Samuel M., Charles V., and Sarah E. (married first to Daniel and afterward to Axton). Mrs. Christian had been formerly married to a Mr. Smith, and bore him the following named children: Granville T., Jennetta A. (Mitchell), James W., and Eliza C. Smith.

Samuel Mekitt Christian was born May 11, 1834, in Ohio County, Ky., on the inherited patrimony, where he now resides. He was married, October 23, 1856, to Phoebe E., daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Daniel) Tilford, of Ohio County; she was born August 22, 1836, and to them have been born Rebecca A., married to John Wilson; James M., and Granville J.  Mr. Christian is a farmer, owning 138 acres of fine land in good condition. Mrs. Christian is a Baptist. Politically, Mr. Christian is a Republican.

Charles Valentine Christian was born on the place where he now resides, in Ohio County, Ky., June 19, 1836. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Seventeenth Kentucky Infantry, and remained in service three years and four months. March 20, 1859, he married Mary E., daughter of Walker and Julia A. (Mitchel) White; born March 11, 1841, and from this union sprang Juda A. (Boyd), James W. (deceased), Mahala E., Julia A., Sarah E., Josie, and Lizetta (twins, exactly alike and of equal weight). Mr. Christian is a farmer, having 103 acres of well improved land, in good condition and in a fine state of cultivation. In politics he is a Republican.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

Note:  Samuel Mekitt Christian died in 1904 and is buried in the McCord Cemetery, Horse Branch, Ohio County, KY.

Charles Valentine Christine died in 1917 and is buried in the Cane Run Cemetery, Horse Branch, Ohio County, KY.

JOSIAS CHINN

JOSIAS CHINN, farmer, Ohio County, Ky., is the fourth of five children, whose parents were Charles and Nancy Chinn, of Bourbon County, Ky. The father was born in Virginia, January 21, 1800, and died in Ohio County in 1867. The mother, a Miss Berryman, died in 1837. One brother, Benjamin, is deceased; another, John, resides at Beaver Dam; Elijah; at Rochester, on Green River, and Octavia, the wife of H. B. Taylor, two miles east of Beaver Dam. Josias Chinn was born July 15, 1831, in Ohio County, Ky. After receiving a fair education at the public schools, he attended the college at Hartford, Ohio Co., Ky. His home was on a farm and he has made farming his life work, and has been very successful. He was married, April 29, 1857, to Mary B. Tant, by whom he has five children: Mary, Emily, Charles, George and Eugene. The family are worthy members of the Christian Church, as were also their parents.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

Note: Probably had a first marriage to Corris Harris in 1851. Wife's middle initial probably E., not B.

Masons Elect Officers

~ Masons Elect Officers ~

          At the annual meeting of Hartford Lodge No. 675, F. & A.M.,

The following officers were selected for the ensuing year;

          Dr. E. W. Ford, Master

          J. H. Patton, Senior Warden

          W. S. Tinsley, Junior Warden

          W. G. Hardwick, Secretary

          J. C. Riley, Treasurer

          Rowan Holbrook, Senior Deacon

          G. B. Likens, Junior Deacon

          J. P. Miller & V. G. Barnett, Stewards

          James Sullenger, Tiler

         

Past Master  J. T. Smith presented the Lodge with two beautiful framed pictures, one of  Geo. Washington opening and the other of Lafayette closing a lodge.  The Lodge prizes the pictures very highly and extended a vote of thanks to the donor. 

                                        George Washington, Masonic member since 1752

Source:  The Hartford Herald

Dec. 31, 1902, Page 3, Col. 5