HISTORY OF THE OHIO STATE ASYLUM

FOR THE EDUCATION OF

IDIOTIC & IMBECILE YOUTH.

To Ohio, through one of her citizens, belongs the credit of first directing public attention to the elevation of Idiots in the United States. At a meeting of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane, held in Philadelphia in 1844, Dr. Wm. Awl, of Columbus, brought the matter before that body, and a Committee was raised to consider the subject, from whom an able report was presented to the Association at a subsequent session in Washington City, May, 1846. Institutions were soon established in several of the States.

No legislative action was had upon the subject in Ohio until March, 1850, when a resolution, presented by Hon. Pinckney Lewis, of the Senate, was passed, appointing Dr. Hanbury Smith, then Superintendent of the Ohio Lunatic Asylum, to report at the next session of the General Assembly upon Idiocy and Idiot Instruction, as follows:

First, to make inquiry into the expediency of making provisions, on the part of the State, for the support of the idiotic and imbecile portion of our population: particularly it shall be his duty to report the results of experiments already made, and now being made in the education of the idiotic; also, the number of this class of population in Ohio; and, finally, into the economy of supporting and educating this class of our population in institutions adapted to their case, as compared with their support as at present provided."

In January, 1852, Governor Wood, in his annual message.

directed the attention of the General Assembly to the duty

of providing for the care, protection, and improvement of the imbecile and idiotic. Governor Woods' efforts were earnestly seconded by his successor, Governor Medill, who, in his annual message to the General Assembly in January, 1854, recommended that that unfortunate class be embraced within the range or beneficial operation of our benevolent institutions.

In March, 1854, Dr. N. S. Townshend (at present and since the organization of this Institution one of its Trustees), then a member of the Senate, to whom was referred so much of the Governor's annual message as relates to the subject of Idiocy, made to the Senate a most interesting and able report, which was laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.

During the year 1856 public attention was called through newspaper articles to the number of idiots in the State, their condition, and their capabilities for improvement. by Dr. R. J. Patterson, who had for many years devoted himself to the treatment of insanity and mental diseases. bill to establish an Asylum for Idiots was introduced in the House of Representatives by Hon. Ralph Plumb, but was presented so near the close of the session that it was laid over for want of time to properly consider and act upon it.

In January, 1857, Hon. Herman Canfield, of the Senate, introduced a bill to establish an Asylum for the Education of Idiotic and Imbecile Youth. This bill became a law April 17, 1857.

The institution was organized by the appointment of Hon. William Dennison, Hon. N. S. Townshend, and Hon. Asher Cook as Trustees. R. J. Patterson, M. D., was made Superintendent. A large dwelling house, opposite the Institution for the Blind, was rented, and the first pupil was admitted August 3, 1857. Sixteen pupils were admitted the first year. During the three succeeding years the av erage number of pupils was thirty.

Hon. William Dennison having been elected Governor, resigned his position on the Board of Trustees, and was succeeded by Hon. Herman Canfield, November 15, 1859. Dr. R. J. Patterson resigned the place of Superintendent November 15, 1860, and was succeeded by Dr. G. A. Doren, the present Superintendent.

The accommodations of the Institution were increased to fifty pupils during the year 1861, which was the average number under care until the occupancy of the new building in July, 1868.

During the year 1862, Hon. Herman Canfield, who was killed at the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, was succeeded upon the Board of Trustees by Hon. Peter Hitchcock, and Hon. Asher Cook by J. A. Lutz, Esq.

In 1864 the Legislature passed an Act to permanently establish the Asylum for Idiots, and appropriated money for the purchase of a site, and the construction of permanent buildings. Work upon the buildings was not commenced, however, until the autum of 1865. The new buildings were occupied in July, 1868, and were opened with 105 children. The number was increased to 150 in 1869 to 170, in 1870 to 250, the extent of the capacity of the Institution in 1871. The buildings were then enlarged. In 1872. 300 pupils were accommodated. Additions were again provided for. During the year 1873, 310 children were cared for in 1874, 351; in 1875, 393. The number now in the institution is 400.

OFFICERS OF THE INSTITUTION.

Trustees-Hon. N. S. Townshend, M. D., Columbus, Ohio; J. A. Lutz, Esq.. Circleville, Ohio; Hon. John A. Shank, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Superintendent-Gustavus A. Doren, M. D.

Matron-Miss Harriet F. Purple.

Assistant Matron-Mrs. Sarah Lawrence.

Housekeeper-Miss Sarah Husted.

Teachers-Mrs. N. L. Doren, Miss M. E. Clift, Miss Emma Wilson, Miss Lucretia Lockwood, Miss L. Seymour, Miss C. L. Gregory, Miss Mary A. Penfield, Miss Mary E. Wicks, Miss Anna McGrew, Miss Anna J. Penfield, Miss J. Ricks, Miss Anna M. Clark, Miss Ella J. Stocking, Miss S. P. Owens, Miss C. N. Allen.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

OF THE

OHIO SOLDIERS' & SAILORS' ORPHANS' HOME

At a Department Encampment of the Grand Army of Ohio, held at Sandusky, July 21st, 1869, a resolution was adopted to provide a Home for the care and support of Soldiers' Orphans, of the State of Ohio. In accordance with this resolution, the Department Commander, General J. W. Keifer, appointed a Board of Managers, consisting of the following members: Rev. P. P. Ingalls, Toledo; General James Barnett, Cleveland; Hon. S. D. Griswold, Elyria; Colonel H. G. Armstrong, Cincinnati; General George B. Wright, Columbus; Major M. S. Gunkle, Dayton; General B. F. Coates, Portsmouth. Three ladies were afterward added to this Board, namely: Mrs. Lucy W. W. Hayes, Columbus; Mrs. Henrietta L. Monroe, Xenia, and Mrs. Rachel White, Springfield.

At the same time, Chaplain G. W. Collier, of Fremont, was appointed to visit the different localities of the State and solicit funds for the education and support of such soldiers' orphans as might be collected together. This work Chaplain Collier zealously pursued, assisted by others, and, as the result of these efforts, some time in the following December, a Home for Soldiers' Orphans was opened at Xenia, Greene County, Ohio. For several months this Institution was supported by voluntary contributions, until the number of inmates reached the aggregate of 125. During this time it was conducted in two separate buildings, in the business portion of the above named city, and managed by Mrs. H. H. Edgeton, Matron, and efficient assistants.