INVENTORY OF THE COUNTY ARCHIVES OF OHIO NO

INVENTORY OF THE COUNTY ARCHIVES OF OHIO NO. 57 MONTGOMERY COUNTY (DAYTON) Prepared by The Ohio Historical Records Survey Project Division of Community Service Programs Work Projects Administration Columbus, Ohio The Ohio Historical Records Survey Project 1941 3 1466 00271 9363
Excerpts of portions dealing with Infirmary (poorhouse) Records
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Housing, Care, and Accessibility of the Records
This institution was established December 6, 1825. The original site, purchased April 10, 1826, contained 160 acres in the northeast corner of Jefferson township, three-quarters of a mile south of Drexel, Ohio, now known as 601 Infirmary Road. Since that time additional land has been purchased and the present site contains 244 acres. The original building has been enlarged to meet a growing population and new outbuildings and a laundry added. The administration building was authorized by the county commissioners on June 6, 1908, and a new wing was added, March 12, 1915. The records of the county home are kept in the office of the superintendent which consists of one room, just off the main entrance of the administration building. Bound records are kept on open shelves along the wall and unbound records are in steel cabinets placed along the west wall. Most of the records are in good condition. Ample space is provided and all the records are readily accessible. All records are located at the county home except six volumes of minutes of the directors, 1854-1912, which are housed in the commissioners' record room F in the basement of the new courthouse. p. 62
Commissioners -- Minutes
1. COMMISSIONERS' JOURNAL, 1804--. 45 vols. (A1, B, 3-45). Title varies: Road and Commissioners' Record, 1804-40 2 vols.; Commissioners' 1840-1905, 14 vols. Minutes of board of county commissioners relative to county business, showing date of meeting, names of members present, and a record of action taken on each motion and resolution. Proceedings pertain to ... --- County home, 1826--; --- approval of infirmary directors' annual reports, June 1829--March 31, 1885, and copies of semiannual reports of infirmary directors, April 1, 1885-1912, showing dates covered by report, financial and statistical data on the infirmary, and itemized inventory of infirmary property, machinery, tools, and equipment; copies of contracts and agreements, showing date, name of contractor or other principals, terms of contract or agreement, purpose, and amount; and all other official business under jurisdiction of the county commissioners. p. 85
Commissioners --Institutions and Relief
--- 5. JOURNAL (County Home), 1913--. 3 Vols. (1-3). Record of official proceedings of the county commissioners as board of directors of the county home, showing date of meeting, names of members present, and appointments made, giving name of appointee, position, and term of appointment; also approval of bills for supplies, equipment, additions and repairs, salaries, and sundries; also includes record of visits of the board with report on findings and recommendations, and copies of reports of superintendent of the county home to the board of directors, showing period covered by report, and statistics on the population of the home. Arr. chron. by dates of meetings. Indexed alph. by subjects or names of principals. Typed. Aver. 350 pp. 18 x 12 x 2. 2 vols. 1913-32, comm. record rm. F; 1 vol., 1933--, comm. ofc. For prior records, see entry 491. 6. RECORD OF THE COUNTY INFIRMARY, 1906-11. 1 vol. Discontinued. Record of applications to the county commissioners for admission to the county infirmary, showing name of applicant, age, sex, date of application, reason applied, claim of residence, physical condition of applicant, and disposition of the case. Arr. alph. by names of applicants and chron. thereunder by dates of applications. No index. Hdw. 350 pp. 16 x 8 x 2. Aud. record rm. E. p. 86
Superintendent of the County Home
In December 1825 the county commissioners appointed a committee of representative citizens to purchase a site for the Montgomery County Home as provided for by the legislature in 1816. In April 1826 the committee recommended the purchase of 160 acres in the northeast corner of Jefferson Township at a cost of $9 per acre, including lands and buildings. The institution opened with seven inmates. Since that time, additional land has been purchased until the present site, located at 601 Infirmary Road, now contains 241 acres. New buildings have been erected, including the administration building in 1908, and additions and wings have been added as needed. By the provisions of the legislative act of 1816, the county commissioners were authorized to build a "poor house," and to appoint annually seven persons to constitute a board of directors. This board, a corporate body, was authorized to make such rules and regulations as were necessary for the management of the institution, and to appoint a superintendent. This officer was directed to receive only persons who had the required order from the township trustees. He was directed to keep a book listing the name and age of every person received, together with the date of admission. The board of directors, or a committee of that body, was required to visit the "poor house" monthly to examine the condition of the paupers and to make a report on such matters as the food, clothing, and treatment of the inmates. Moreover, they were required to inspect the books and accounts of the superintendent. Annually the board was required to report to the county commissioners the "state of the institution" with a full and correct account of all their proceedings, contracts, and disbursements; and the expenses of establishing and supporting the institution were to be paid on the order of the county commissioners out of the money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. p. 257 --- Although there is some relation between the old age pension system and the county home the newer form of aid is merely supplementary to the institution. As always the county home cares for those whose condition is such that they cannot be satisfactorily cared for except in an institution. Since the inauguration of aid for the aged there has been a slight reduction in the population of many county; however, the social aid programs have resulted in no reduction in the cost of operating county homes. The Montgomery County Home has an average population of 358 inmates with operating and maintenance cost of $71,000.84 and a per capita cost of $198.61. Relatives whose income is sufficient to defray the cost of care are required to pay for maintenance of the inmate in the home. These accounts range from $4 to $15 per month and the total income to the county treasurer does not exceed $62.50 per month from this source. p. 259
Minutes; Case Records
Minutes 491. MINUTES, 1854-1912. 6 vols. (A-F) Minutes of the board of directors of the county infirmary, showing date of meeting, names of members attending, record of appointments made, bills allowed and other business transacted. 1854-67 also includes a record of children housed at the infirmary, showing name of child, date of birth, name of person to whom indentured, and when child left home upon becoming of age, shows date of departure and amount of money and clothing given. Arr. chron. by dates of meetings. No index. Aver. 350 pp. 18 x 12 x 2. C C. comm record room. F. For subsequent records, see entry 5. Case Records 492. REGISTER OF INMATES, 1888--. 5 vols. Register of inmates, showing name and address of inmate, case history, name of person to notify in case of death, and remarks. Arr. alph. by names of inmates. No index. Hdw. Aver. 500 pp. 17 x 14 x 2. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. 493. RECORD OF INMATES, 1892--. 2 f. b. (labeled by contained letters of alphabet). One subtitled Active, one, Dead or Checked Out. Card record of inmates of the county home, showing name and former residence, date of arrival, amount of aid extended, and date checked out or date of death. Arr. alph. by names of inmates. No index. Hdw. and typed on p. f. 7 x 51/2 x 9. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. 494. RESIDING IN, 1892--. 26 f. b. (labeled by contained letters of alphabet). Case papers of inmates in county home, including case history and application; all showing date of admission, name and former address of inmate, case number, and remarks. Arr. alph. by names of inmates. No index. Hdw. and typed on p. f. 5 x 41/2 x 91/2. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. 495. DEATHS, 1892--. 26 f. b. (labeled by contained letters of alphabet). Case papers of deceased county home inmates, showing information as in Residing In, entry 494, amount of aid received, date and cause of death, and place of burial. Arr. alph. by names of deceased inmates. No index. Hdw. and typed on p. f. 5 x 41/2x 91/2. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. 496. CHECK OUTS, 1892--. 26 f. b. (labeled by contained letters of alphabet). Case papers of former inmates who have left the county home, showing information as in Residing In, entry 494, also amount of aid received, date checked out, and place of residence after leaving the home. Arr. alph. by names of former inmates. No index. Hdw. and typed on p. f. 5 x 41/2 x 91/2. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. p. 260 497. BIRTH AND DEATH RECORD, 1886--. 2 vols. Record of births and deaths at the county home: record of births, showing date of birth, maiden name of mother, name of father, and date of admission of mother to home; also a record of deaths, showing name of decedent, date of admission to the county home, date and cause of death, place of burial, and remarks. Arr. chron. by dates of births or deaths. No index. Hdw. Aver. 200 pp. 14 x 9 x 1. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. 498. INSANE RECORD, 1866--. 3 vols. Record of inmates who had been housed in the county home and were committed to the state hospital, showing name of inmate, date committed to state hospital, and nature of case. Arr. chron. by dates of commitments. No index. Hdw. Aver. 500 pp. 16 x 11 x 3. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. 499. COMMISSARY DEPARTMENT, 1910--. 4 vols. Record of clothing issued to county home inmates by the stewart, showing date of issue, kind of clothing issued, and name of inmate. Arr. chron. by dates of issue. No index. Hdw. Aver. 500 pp. 16 x 11 x 3. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. p. 261
Financial Records; Personnel
Financial Records 500. RECORD OF EXPENDITURES AND RECEIPTS, 1920--. 2 vols. (dated). Record of expenditures from county home fund for salaries, food, clothing, medicine, equipment, maintenance, and burial expenses, showing date of expenditure, amount, and classification of same; also includes a record of receipts, showing date of receipt, from whom received, source of receipt, and amount. Arr. chron. by dates of receipts or expenditures. No index. Aver. 200 pp. 17 x 14 x 2. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. Personnel 501. EMPLOYMENT RECORD, 1887--. 3 vols. Record of employees of the county home, showing name of employee, position held, amount of wage, date employed, and date discharged; also includes a record of payment of salaries, showing date and signature of employee certifying receipt of payment of salary. Arr. chron. by dates of payments. Indexed alph. by names of employees. Hdw. Aver. 400 pp. 14 x 9 x 2. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. p. 261
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous 502. VISITORS REGISTER, 1909--. 1 vol. Register of visitors to the county home, showing name and address of visitor, date of visit, name of inmate visited, and remarks. Arr. chron. by dates of visits. No index. Hdw. 400 pp. 16 x 11 x 2. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. 503. MOVEMENT OF INMATES, 1933--. 5 vols. (dated) Copies of reports of census of inmates to state division of charities, showing date of report, number of males and females at beginning of period, number admitted, number of deaths, number checked out, number of males and females at end of period, dates covered by report, and remarks. Arr. chron. by dates of reports. No index. Hdw. on p. f. Aver. 100 pp. 121/2 x 9 x 1/2. Co. home ofc., 601 Infirmary Road, Dayton. p. 262
Infirmary Directors
Infirmary Directors
Abraham Darst 1826-1827 John Folkerth 1826-1828 John C. Negley 1826-1827 Abraham Trosell 1826-1827 Henry Oldfather 1826-1827 Edmund Munger 1826-1829 John Ehrstine 1826-1827 Luther Bruen 1827-1830 Alexander Grimes 1828-1832 Warren Munger 1828-1832 Alexander Grimes 1829-1831 John Hiser 1830-1831 Aaron Baker 1831-1834 Jacob Olinger 1831-1837 Peter P. Lowe 1833-1834 John Shelby 1834-1837 Job Haines 1835-1837	John Steele 1837-1840 Joseph Barnett 1837-1840 Jacob Witmor 1837-1839 John Holler 1839-1840 ------------? 1841-1852 C. G. Fitch 1853-1854 Albertus Geiger 1853-1854 C. G. Espick 1853-1854 D. Carroll 1854-1857 J. J. Antrim 1854-1856 George Getter 1855-1857 Zeph Getrow 1856-1858 M. N. Kimmel 1857-1858 David Carrol 1858-1867 Abraham W. Bowen 1859-1862I. Donnellan 1860-1866 George Getter 1862-1865 p. 317
Daniel Kiser 1865-1868 Michael Moyer 1866-1869 William Stansel 1867-1873 William H. Rowe 1868-1871 John Stephens 1869-1875 David L. Heck 1871-1874 Richard Lane 1873-1876 Joseph F. Kemp 1874-1877 Adam Snyder 1875-1878 William M. Simpson 1876-1879 Frederick Pansing 1877-1883 Isaac Dissinger 1878-1881 John H. Bell 1879-1885 George W. Kimmel 1881-1884 Jacob Clemens 1883-1887 George Rentz 1884-1891 William A. Klinger 1887-1890	John C. Heidinger 1889-1892 Joseph Schultz 1890-1893 Edwin M. Hendrick 1891-1894 Levi Baker 1892-1895 William H. Barbour 1894-1900 Daniel Utz 1893-1896 John B. McClary 1895-1898 (Died November) Hezekiah B. Ulm` 1896-1902 William H. Van Riper 1898-1904 (Vice John B. McClary) William B. Davis 1900-1906 John B. Pratt 1902-1908 A. C. Weaver 1904-1907 John C. Nieffer 1906-1913 David E. Heeter 1907-1913 V.A. Henkel 1908-1913 p. 318
excerpted and transcribed by: Joan Huecker
Note: Most of these inventories were heavily footnoted. We did not include the footnotes (which were usually references to other documents) here because we felt that this website is for general readers without a strong academic/legal need to see these footnotes. However, they are available upon specific request from researchers who e-mail us.
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