THE OHIO REFORMATORY.

T

HE law creating this institution was enacted April 12, 1884; cornerstone was laid in '86, Hon. J. B. Foraker, Governor. The west wing and administration departments were not completed for occupancy until September 18, '96, when 150 prisoners were brought from Columbus.

The object of this institution is reformatory. Inmates are supposed to be first offenders, are admitted for all crimes except murder in the first degree, between the ages of 16 and 30. Male persons only are admitted. There are three grades: first, second and third. When inmates are admitted they are placed in the second grade; if their conduct justifies at the expiration of six months, they are promoted to the first grade, in which they remain for a second six months, when, if their conduct justifies, they are recommended to the Board of Managers for parole. With the consent of the Board of Managers they go out and remain the wards of the state under the supervision of the institution for one year, when, if their conduct justifies, they are fully discharged, and restored to citizenship by the Governor. Inmates are reduced to the third grade from either the first or second for punishment for certain misdemeanors.

They receive an indeterminate sentence from the court and the length of time they remain here is governed largely by their conduct, and is exclusively in the hands of the Superintendent and the Board of Managers. They can be released at the expiration of the minimum time prescribed by law for the crime committed, or can be retained until the maximum time has expired.

They are required to attend school and learn such trades as it is possible to teach them under the limited conditions now existing. It is expected, however, within the next few years shops will be erected and trades taught to these boys, so that when they go out, they will be able to make an honest living.

Following is a list of the members of the Board of Managers since the institution began:

Year.

The Ohio Reformatory (Mansfield).

BOARD OF MANAGERS, 1884-1900.

OHIO SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME.

O provide for the establishment of this institution the General Assembly passed an act April 30, 1886.

To carry out the provision of the act, Governor Foraker, in April, 1886, appointed as trustees Hon. Isaac F. Mack, R. B. Brown, Thos. F. Dill, Wm. P. Orr and Thos B. Paxton. The board organized on June 3, and elected I. F. Mack president, and R. B. Brown secretary. During the summer a number of places were visited and carefully looked over. A site three miles from Sandusky was finally selected as the best place to locate the Home. H. C. Lindsey, of Zanesville, was chosen architect, and he at once prepared plans for the buildings. Herman Haerline, of Cincinnati, was employed as landscape gardener, and the work of improvement of grounds and construction of buildings was at once commenced.

On July 11, 1888, the corner-stone of the administration building was laid by Judge O'Neill, Commander of the Department of Ohio Grand Army of the Republic, in the presence of Governor Foraker and a large assemblage of Ohio citizens; in the fall of 1888 the Trustees appointed the following officers: General M. F. Force, of Cincinnati, Commandant; Capt. A. M. Anderson, Delaware, O., Adjutant; Col. E. J. Blount, Cincinnati, O., Quartermaster; Dr. S. C. Rannells, Vinton county, Surgeon; Mrs. Sarah J. Price, Mansfield, O., Matron, who entered upon the discharge of their duties in October, and the Home was opened on November 19, with seventeen members. The annual report for the year ending November 15, 1889, shows that 716 men had been admitted during the first year.

In March, 1898, Col. R. B. Brown, after twelve years' continuous service as a member of the Board of Trustees, resigned the office, and Col. J. W. R. Cline, of Springfield, was appointed to fill the vacancy.

On May 8, 1899, the state and the Home sustained a great loss in the death of Gen. M. F. Force, the Commandant. The Board of Trustees ordered spread upon the minutes the following testimonial on his death:

"This Board will leave to others the task of writing suitable obituary for the distinguished dead, but we desire to preserve on our own records some testimonial of our appreciation of the eminent services rendered by Gen. Force for this institution. He was indeed the father of the Home.

"General Force had achieved renown as a soldier and jurist before being called upon to assume the great responsibility of organizing this Home and placing it as we all desired, first among the soldiers' homes of this nation.

"By unanimous voice of the Board he was tendered the position of Commandant before the Home was opened. He accepted the responsibility and came with his devoted wife to prepare for the reception of those who should

The Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home (Sandusky).

seek the support and protection of the institution, and as he often expressed it, not to make a military camp, but a home for his unfortunate comrades. His high character and intelligent zeal insured success from the first.

"With him charity and kindness went hand in hand with judgment and discipline. He was ever ready to hear the most humble petition, and while keeping up a high moral standard for the Home he loved and encouraged the weak and unfortunate.

"His resourceful mind gave to the Home steady improvement and his spotless life protected it from scandal. His zeal and devotion were unbounded, and it was a merciful Providence that permitted him to live to see the full fruition of his hopes, and to be comforted by the assurance of the national inspector that the home of which he was Commandant had found first place among the homes of the land.

"We shall miss him at our Board meetings, and wait in vain for him in our councils, but we shall cherish his memory with love and gratitude.

"To Mrs. Force and her son we extend our profound sympathy and assure them that wherever they may go they will bear with them the best wishes of every member of this Board."

At the meeting of the Board on May 17, Capt. A. M. Anderson was appointed Commandant, and C. A. Reeser, of Springfield, was appointed Adjutant.

The first of January, 1899, found the new hospital completed, which gives the home the most complete structure of its kind of any institution in the country. Seven trained lady nurses were employed to look after and care for the sick and suffering old men. Two years' experience has shown that these ladies have added wonderfully to the comfort and welfare of the sick.

The Home started in on the new century with an overcrowded house. Number present, January 15, 1,391; on the rolls, 1,621; average number present for the year ending November 15, 1900, 1,216; cost per capita for current expense, clothing, officers' salaries and trustees' expenses, $151.15; of which the general government pays $100.00, leaving a cost to the state of only $51.15 per annum to comfortably house, clothe, feed and give medical attention to these old soldiers. Since the Home was opened in November, 1888, forty-eight hundred and eighty-five (4,885) men have been admitted and cared for. The Home is largely indebted to the Grand Army of the Republic and the Woman's Relief Corps for generous donations of books, magazines and papers for the library, and hospital supplies of jellies, fruits, cushions and other articles.

The entire cost of building and permanent improvements, amounts to $657,863.72.

On April 18, 1901, Gen. A. M. Anderson died of heart failure. He died the death of one beloved by the gods, for it was instantaneous. He was an honest and honorable man, and a conscientious and efficient officer. He had the love and respect of the members of the Home.

The Board of Trustees selected in his place Thomas M. Anderson, a retired general officer of the army, and a Major-General of Volunteers. He is a native of Ohio, and before the War of the Rebellion was prac

56-B. A.