Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-13
new FOUNTAIN
HAS ARRlV Ed
GIFT OF NATIONAL HUMANE Al
LANCE TO CITY OF oTTuM-
WA is HERE
Work Of Installing It Begun Today
Soon to be in operation-sketch Of
Hermon Lee Ensign, Founder Of the
Alliance.

Commencing at noon today, work
will be begun on the foundation FOR
the new granite drinking fountain
presented to the city of ottumwa by
the National Humane Alliance. The
fountain has arrived in the city and Is
being unloaded 1t is expected that
the work Of erecting it will be COM
pleted within a week or so.
The fountain is to be placed almost
at the center of the intersection OF
Court and Third streets. in front of the
City park. An idea of the size Of the
gift to the city may be gained, when II
| is known that the weight OF the toun-
tain is 5000 pounds.
Hernon Lee Ensign
| In connection with this gift, 1t Is an
| opportune time to call attention to tue
| founder of the National Humane ALI
ance. This man was the late HermoH
Lee Ensign.
| He was born in Carbonate, Pa, or
June 80, 1S49. At an early age ne
moved with his parents to Sheffield, III.
When fifteen years old he acquired
knowledge of telegraphing. and soon
became an expert operator Soon a1teI
that he went to Davenport, Iowa. anu
later to Denver.
| He was reared under religious inf1u-
ences, was a member of the Congrega-
tfonal church, and when twenty years
old decided to become a minister. WIN
that object, he entered Phillips acad-
envy. His health or finances soon failed
and he left school and went to Chicago,
where he began business with bridge
company.
| In Chicago Fire.
During the great fire of 1871 he rem
dered important service to this COM
pany by saving from the Office valuable
books.
A few years later he became the
manager Of a brilliantly written paper,
called the Alliance, weekly journal
mildly religious and widely humans
tartan. His experience in journalism
he turned to practical account by later
following it with marked success, and
acquiring fortune in twenty years.
Fertile in fancy and quick in expert
ment, he devised a new form of news
paper advertising, known as headline
paper advertising. He also invented
the stereotype plate with movable
base.
! in 1882 he moved to Rochester and
TWO years later to New York, where he
lived until his death in 1893.
An American Citizen.
without advantages of birth or for
tune, living the life of a quiet Amer
lean citizen and dying before he was
fifty, he had rounded out notable life.
4 To his business and general friends, he
was known as a genial and compan-
Iionable man, successful in his affairs,
/ light hearted and satisfied with life
His more intimate friends know that
! he had other interests and feelings,
| which represented the deeper and more
vital side of his nature. He had an
eager and imaginative temperament,
and instructive love of what is good
- rry6o 10
1 wrong. From childhood he was a lover
Of domestic animals This love made
him detest all that was cruel OF unkind
in the treatment Of animals by theil
natural protector-man. 1t became
more than sentiment--it became Q
passion, growing upon him and at last
dominating his life.
Animals Were His Friends.
To him animals were not merely in
ions and friends, devoting themselves
to man and dependent upon him fol
their lives and happiness. The ethics
of the relations with lower animals
have seldom had more practical ant
forcible expression than from this hu.
name man. He was an ardent disciple
of Henry Bergh, and felt that If h:
could leave behind him such record
as did Mr.. Bergh, he would regard i
l
DESIRE
Pounds Humane Alliance.
He accordingly founded the Nationa
Humane Alliance to carry out his idea.
for the welfare of animals. He intend
! ed to give his time and fortune to tn,
work. But just as it was started h
!, died. He left his fortune for thi
work, and the society is administering
the trust Of Mr.. Ensign on the lines o
his ideas, for humane work, educatin,
children in kindness to animals ant
, other similar work.
The Humane Alliance has offices a
f York City The officers are: Harriso,
Grey Ffske president; Frederick 3
: Tilghman, vice president; Lewis M
Seaver, secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Seaver was recently In this cit,
No. 410 United Charities building, Ney
to help select a site for the fountain