Lecklider, John T *PIC*

Posted By: Wally Garchow
Date: 13 October 2004

transcribed from Frazer Wilson's History of Darke County, 1914, v. 2, pp 16-21.

JOHN T. LECKLIDER.

Darke county has produced some men of distinctive literary talent, among whom have been mentioned D. K. Swisher and Barney Collins, the former a writer on early historical and social topics, the latter a poet of recent years. In 1913 there appeared a book of over two hundred poems covering a wide range of topics, including religion, affection, travel, nature, home life, education and nearly everything else but war, all dedicated "to the good friends of my native state" —- which in this case was Ohio and mostly Darke county. These poems possess distinctive literary merit and are destined, doubtless, to have a wide circulation. John T. Lecklider, the author of these poems, first saw the light of this world on the 18th day of July, 1840, from a farm house some three miles south of Dayton, Ohio, on the Lebanon pike. When about six weeks of age his father, Daniel C. Lecklider, with his family, removed to Adams township, Darke county, to carve from the then virgin wilderness a home and farm. He was the youngest of five brothers. His mother taught him to read and write. He did not attend school until he was past eight years of age, and from then until he was eighteen, his average yearly attendance at the district school was not above thirty-five days. He recalls among his teachers (who were called "master" in those days) John Spayd, a master mathematician of Greenville, Ohio. Willard Heath, from the state of New York, a man of fine mind, general education, and a lover of books; Samuel Hagar (afterward doctor), a student and kindly gentleman ; there were others, whose chief merit was the ambition which called them from the counter, the workshop and farm to be teachers. His first books in school were McGuffey's second reader, Talbott's arithmetic, Webster's speller. In 1858 he was reputed as so familiar with Ray's higher arithmetic, Stoddard's mental arithmetic, Kirkham and Pinneo's grammars and Mitchell's geography (in the language of those days with the "3 R's") that he was called to teach his first school in what was known as the Miller, Overhalser, Wright district at $1.35 per day. At the close of his school term, he was re-employed for the following winter at $1.50 per day. The winter of 1860-61 he taught the Beanblossom school, just west of Pikeville. It would be misleading and unjust to assume this was the sum of his education before he entered college. He had an educated mother, who early impressed upon his mind the value of high ideals and the great benefit of reading good books. He informs us that to his home, as far back as he can remember, there came the New York Tribune, the New York Independent and the weekly Darke county paper. These were read, talked over and many times treasured for reference. Their weekly coming brought the news of the world, made the great cities and great men and events seem nearer, and filled the cleared spaces —- as the clearing grew with the thoughts of progress and deeds of men. Thus he became early in life interested in politics, the world's progress, invention, science and the government's duties and responsibilities. Thus, Mr. Lecklider was, so to speak, kept in touch with the great thinkers, reformers, scientists, preachers and statesmen of the times. Such reading was needed then and is needed now to make passing events intelligible. The increment of knowledge thus acquired, who can compute? It requires little schooling to beget a habit of study. One's education is never completed, an education is more than a life work, it goes into the future.

"Man is a student,
Forever at school,
Either courting wisdom
Or playing the fool."

Mr. Lecklider left the farm in 1861, and became a student of Wittenberg college, at Springfield, Ohio, and after completing the full collegiate course graduated in May, 1866, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and later the A.M. He then became a resident of Greenville, placed his letter of membership with the Presbyterian church. For two years he read law with the Hon. Wm. Allen, entering at once upon the drudgery that leads to professional life. The road seemed long. He tells us he was burdened with the fact that hiswants were many and his pockets were' empty. To replenish them he became principal and superintendent of the high school at Union City, Ind., for one year. At the same time continuing his law studies and reciting regularly to his preceptor. On the 20th of May, 1868, he passed an examination and was admitted to the practice of law in the courts of Ohio. He at once entered into co-partnership with Judge Wharry, in front office over Schaible and Kipp drug store. He was admitted to practice in the United States circuit and district courts of Ohio in 1870. During his residence in Greenville he was chairman of the board of examiners for teachers in the high school, was elected and served as president of the Darke County Sabbath School Association for two terms. Was elected and served as mayor of Greenville two terms. It was during his mayoralty that the fire department was organized and equipped. In 1870 his name appeared on the republican ticket as candidate for prosecuting attorney. He felt he had received in the nomination a generous but uncertain compliment, because the democratic majority was 1,400 or more at that time. He said to a friend on the day of election, "I feel like the Irishman, who said, `Faith and its aisy to be beaten when you're almost there.' " The count showed his opponent won by a small majority.

He has always been an optimist, has a social, companion-able nature, though aggressive for what he deems right, yet courteously tolerant of views of others. He soon had the confidence of the people and enjoyed a profitable practice. He liked his profession, but early became convinced that a general practice was not to be coveted, that too often the criminal lawyer becomes a criminal. Deciding to limit his professional life to civil business, in August, 1874, he removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, and was admitted to practice in the state, United States circuit and district courts there. Through ability and energy he acquired a large and profitable practice from which he retired the 20th of August, 1910.

Mr. Lecklider was not only a successful lawyer, but a successful business man as well; his natural tastes drew him early to the fields of literature, especially poetry, a book of which he has published since retiring from the law. Many of the poems were written while he lived on the farm in Darke county. The book was in process of writing, covering a period of many years.

He and his wife have traveled in the United States and Canada extensively, also have traveled in Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Azore Islands, and in 1910 visited Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, England and northern France. He esteems these trips abroad and the days spent in the great cities, art galleries and museums as equal to a liberal education. Men and nations are big or little, ac-cording to their creeds; they develop according to their individual ideals. Every man is in servitude to his own or some other's physical need, and is great according to his mental and spiritual wisdom.

Many poems of merit, real gems of thought and rhyme might be quoted from Mr. Lecklider's excellent collection, but we must be content to select three of the smaller ones:

She Told Her Love.

The night wind sweet and cool
Is fanning my fevered brow,
She has told her love
To the roving wind
And the wind is telling me now.

My heart is full of bliss,
My thoughts are wild with joy,
She has told her love
To the roving wind,
Her love, so shy and coy.

The heavens are soft with light,
Bright stars and great round moon,
Though sundered afar
Her spirit is near,
My soul's in a blissful swoon.

Sweet fragrance is on the air,
The earth with bloom is bright,
For love, sweet love's
On the roving wind,
Our souls have met tonight.

A voice is in my ear,
That melts my heart ;
To scenes far off and dear
It calls me and I start
To tread the past again
The paths sweet, simple, plain.

Robin's Song—The Coming Spring.

Full of complaining and faulting the weather,
Abusing the winter and dull skies together,
I went forth at random oppressed by my mood
And strayed down a path where naked trees stood;
And there on the cold dead limb of a tree
A robin sat carolling merrily;
His heart was so glad he was forced to sing
And his song was hope in the coming spring,
He recited his joys so delightfully clear
The day grew brighter, spring seemed more near.

Then I mused on the wonderful song I had heard,
I mused on the life of the timid bird,
And saw tho' he lived in the present like me,
His song was a song of futurity.
Then my own roused soul was fain to sing
Like a robin its song of eternal spring.
A fairer world than this there lies
Beyond earth's winter and gloomy skies.
And man like robin if he would sing,
Must borrow his song from the coming spring.

Pearls and Roses.

0, where are my pearls and roses,
My jewels of long ago?
So many and each one priceless!
In youth they charmed me so.

I know they have not perished,
Tho' they vanished long ago;
They still abound on happy shores,
Where eyes with youth are aglow.

From these it will be seen that Mr. Lecklider has the soul of the true poet, and the art of the literature. The fact that he has written these during the years of a busy life occupied with the cares incident to a success professional career ought to add luster to the unusual attainment and be a source of pride to friends and citizens of his old home. Mr. Lecklider is a brother of Dr. L. C. Lecklider, deceased, and of Frank and Mary Lecklider, now living on East Third street.

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