USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 39
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Much talk and speculation was indulged in as to whether or not the Standard Oil Company was not really the " power behind the throne," and prophecies were made that in the final outcome Anderson would be in the hands of an " Octupus." The newspapers took it up, agitation became rife upon the streets, and while the company was laying the mains, street talk was indulged in quite freely. The people demanded that a price be named to consumers, which was refused by the officers of the company, and this added to the distrust in the minds of the people. The formation of a rival company was fully discussed which resulted in a meeting being held at the court house on the 13th of July, 1887, when a Citizens' Com- pany was formed with $50,000 capital, whereby each stock-
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holder who paid into the capital stock the sum of $50, was allowed the free use of gas for one house or business room. By this move the Standard Oil Company was driven from the field and disposed of all its leases.
John L. Forkner was elected president, G. M. Ballard, secretary, and L. M. Cox, treasurer of the company, the directory being composed of Chas. L. Henry, H. J. Bronnen- berg, A. C. Davis, G. M. Ballard, John L. Forkner, Jonathan Jones and L. M. Cox.
The company at once put down a well on the land of Harrison Canaday, who donated the site near the residence of Hon. J. W. Sansberry. In August they were rewarded by striking a wonderful flow of gas. Mains were at once laid in the streets and Anderson had two full-fledged companies from which to supply the people with fuel.
The Citizens' Company was a great factor in advertising Anderson. It was the means of giving Anderson what no other city on the globe could boast of-free fuel. The fran- chises issued by the company attached to the real estate and were transferable with the same, and was a great inducement for people coming here to invest in homes.
These two companies continued as competitors until September, 1893, when the Doxey plant was absorbed by the Citizens' Company, thus ending a six years' struggle of tur- moil and strife between the two organizations.
To the Citizens' Gas Company more than any other cause can be attributed the wonderful tide of immigration to Ander- son. Many who wished to live in ease, who had retired from business were attracted here on account of the free fuel, and made their homes in our midst, whilst,capital was also lured here by this inducement.
Albert Cole drilled the first well for the Citizens' Com- pany, getting a fine flow. He was considered a " mascot " for the organization, and continued in its employ for a long while as a driller.
Much credit is due to the Hon. W. S. Diven, T. J. Mc- Mahan, Stephen Metcalf, Dr. Z. Hocket, J. W. Sansberry, Harrison Canaday and others, who stood by the Board of Directors in their fight against strong opposition, and in the infancy of the company contributed of their means and valuable time to make it a success. The consolidation of the two companies was a happy conclusion of all the gas troubles, and gave Anderson the finest plant in the State of Indiana ; 29
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and healed up the sore places made by a bitter warfare, and enabled the different interests to present a solid and substan- tial front for Anderson and her future.
THE INDUSTRIES OF MADISON COUNTY.
It was the original intention of the writers to give a brief sketch of every manufacturing establishment in the county, and in order to obtain this information, postal cards were ad- dressed to the secretary of every establishment in the county, some of which met with a response, while others were ignored. 'To those who took the pains to give us the desired information, we give brief space, while as to others of which we can secure no data, we are obliged to content ourselves with giving them a passing notice.
Among those who answered our communication is the Anderson Knife and Bar Company. This establishment was organized by W. H. Manning and S. E. Farmer of Dayton, Ohio, who located in Anderson in September, 1888, employ- ing a capital of $25,000 and eighteen employes. William Rogers, of Philadelphia, is the president, and E. E. Lovejoy, of : Lowell, Massachusetts, secretary and treasurer. This com- pany manufactures all kinds of machine knives for wood working, paper cutting, shear blades and fly bars. E. W. Randolph is the resident manager.
The Columbia Encaustic Tile Company was organized by Indianapolis parties, who located in the south-eastern part of the city of Anderson, where they manufacture unglazed tiles for floors and a full line of enameled tiles for hearths and mantels ; also opaque and embossed enamel tiles. Mr. B. O. Haugh is the president, George Lilly, vice-president and treasurer, and Harry Haugh, secretary.
Among the many public buildings for which this firm has furnished decorated floor tiles, they mention the court houses at Grand Rapids, Mich .; Uniontown, Pa .; Cadiz, Ohio ; Ottumwa, Iowa ; Hartford City, Ind. ; Winamac, Ind .; Wapa- koneta, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas ; Olympia, Wash. ; Fresno and Auburn, Cal.
The capital stock is $100,000, and the average number of employes one hundred.
Union Glass Company .- These works were established in Collingwood, a suburb of Anderson in the month of August, 1890. Several extensive buildings were erected on South Pearl street. On the 20th of December in the same year, the
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plant was placed in operation for the manufacture of window glass-four months and one day from the time the company was organized.
Mr. Forbes Holton is the President and General Manager of the concern which enjoys the reputation of being one of the finest manufactories of window glass in the United States. Among the favorite brands which are most widely known to the trade are the Arm and Hammer brand, and the American window glass.
Mr. Holton owns a patent system of flattening by the use of water, a feature which is only used by this company.
Mr. Noble Holton is Secretary of the company, and is actively connected with the affairs thereof.
American Wire Nail Company .- One of the largest man- ufactories of steel rods and wire nails in the United States was established at Covington, Kentucky, in the year 1875. In 1888, attracted by the benefits accruing from the use of natural gas, the capital stock was increased from $60,000 to $300,000, and the plant was removed to Anderson. The officers of the Company are L. H. Gedge, President ; F. C. Gedge, Vice- President; C. P. Garvey, Secretary, and E. J. Buffington, Treasurer.
The daily output of the mill is 200 tons of wire rods, 200 tons of plain wire, 75 tons of galvanized wire, 3,000 kegs of wire nails, and 500 kegs of fence staples.
This is the most extensive manufacturing establishment in Anderson and employs an average of 500 people.
Anderson Iron and Bolt Company .- This institution was incorporated on the 6th day of October, 1890, and is the only institution in the city that is made up exclusively of Anderson -capital. The originators of the concern were L. S. Taylor, N. J. Pilger, R. J. Walton, J. L. Forkner, W. S. Diven, T. J. McMahan, John R. Page, A. J. Brunt, William Leib, Charles Leib, George Nichol, A. I. Makepeace, J. E. Canaday, J. J. Netterville, L. M. Cox, C. S. Burr, C. T. Doxey, Lafe Swank.
The capital stock is $75,000. The officers are C. T. Doxey, President ; John R. Brunt, Secretary and General Manager ; A. J. Brunt, Vice-President, and J. L. Forkner, Treasurer.
Indiana Box Company .- This organization has a capital Stock of $25,000 and was located in Anderson in September, 1 891. The concern manufactures boxes for the glass factories
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of Anderson, Elwood, Alexandria, Gas City and other sur- rounding towns.
The officers are H. Park, of Muskegon, Michigan, Presi- dent; Thomas Munroe, Vice-President; J. F. McIlwraith, Sec- retary and Treasurer. The company employs about 100 hands on an average.
National Tin Plate Company .- This company was or- ganized in July, 1894, and became legally incorporated during the same year. The plant was located in North Anderson. The capital stock is $150,000. Four hundred people are em- ployed, having a weekly pay-roll of many thousand dollars.
The company manufacturers tin plates of all grades, and roll their own black plate.
The officers are Philip Matter, of Marion, Indiana, Presi- dent ; W. H. Donner, Secretary and Treasurer, and Joseph I. Irwin, of Columbus, Indiana, Vice-President. Mr. Donner is also the General Manager.
This is one of the largest and most prosperous manufac- tories of its kind in the United States.
The American Straw Board Company .- This factory was established in 1889 by C. Fairbanks, of Terre Haute, C. B. Fatout, of Lima, Ohio, and William Baker, of . Akron, Ohio, with a capital stock of $500,000. It was originally known as the Union Straw Board Company, but was reorganized under its present name. Mr. C. L. Crum, of Winchester, Virginia, superintended the construction of the building, and was gen- eral manager of the plant after it was placed in operation for nearly two years, when he was succeeded by M. R. Williams, the present incumbent. It is one of the largest institutions of its kind in the country, and has done a large and profitable business from the day of its completion.
The Schofield Bolt Works .- This was the first manufac- turing establishment to locate in Anderson after the discovery of natural gas. It came from Fowlersville, near Buffalo, New York, in November, 1877. It was originally known as the Anderson Bolt Company and was owned by Fowler & Sons, of Buffalo, New York. It was incorporated as a company under the name of the Fowler Bolt Works. L. S. Taylor was the first manager but was succeeded by E. S. Fowler who had charge of the plant until it was sold to its present owners in 1895, and became the Schofield Bolt Works.
The Buckeye Manufacturing Company .- This company was formed in Union City, Ohio, in the spring of 1884, under
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the firm name of Lambert Bros. & Co., with a capital stock of $2,000, at which time they began the manufacture of buggy neck yokes, with a force of six men and a few boys. The firm was soon afterwards changed to J. H. Osborne & Co., and a line of hardware specialties was added to the business. In 1890, J. H. Osborne withdrew from the firm and it again as- sumed the name of the Buckeye Manufacturing Company. In 1891 the plant was consumed by fire entailing a loss of $15,000 with an insurance of $12,000. New buildings were at once erected, and in 1893 fully covered 60,000 square feet of floor surface. In 1894, the Lambert gasoline engine was perfected, and patented, and was at once added to their line of manu- factures. In 1894 the company was reorganized and incorpor- ated with a capital stock of $100,000 with John W. Lambert, President, Geo. Lambert, Vice-President, and C. A. Lambert, Secretary and Treasurer. The plant now was removed to An- derson where the buildings were erected in what is known as the Evalyn addition. About three hundred men and boys are employed annually.
It has a large output of manufactured articles of various kinds, and a weekly pay-roll of several thousand dollars.
Pennsylvania Glass Company .- This company was orig- inally located at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and was removed to Anderson in the year 1888, since which time it has been one of the leading industries of the city, employing 500 peo- ple at their two plants with a weekly pay-roll of $1,500.
T. J. McMahan is the President of the company, John Schies, Secretary and Treasurer, and Flery Toms, Manager.
Anderson Paper Company .- This company was organ- ized in 1892, with E. J. Blake as President, and A. Reynolds as Secretary and Treasurer. The present officers are C. Fair- banks, President ; M. R. Williams, Secretary ; W. T. Durbin, Treasurer and General Manager. The plant is situated in Hazlewood addition, and does a large and extensive business. Anderson Glass Company .- This company was organized in North Anderson in 1890 by Philip Matter and G. W. Burke, of Marion, and Charles L. Henry, of Anderson, with a capital stock of $200,000. It is one of the largest manufac- tories of window glass in the gas belt. It employs 400 men annually and has a weekly pay-roll of $2,500.
The Anderson Flint Bottle Company .- This was the first glass factory to locate in Anderson, and came from Butler, Penn., in 1888. It has a capital stock of $60,000, and employs
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100 people under Mr. Alexander P. McKee, Secretary, Treas- urer and General Manager. It has a weekly pay-roll of $1,500. It was through the influence of Conrad Smith, one of the large stockholders, that this plant was located here. He, as well as Mr. McKee, is well known to the glass trade throughout the United States.
Philadelphia Quartz Company .- This institution is situ- ated in the south-eastern portion of the city. It came from Philadelphia in 1890. It has a capital stock of $100,000, and is owned by T. and J. Elkington and Ephraim Smith. The resident manager is W. H. Stanton. The company manu- factures silicate of soda. They employ about sixty people and have a weekly pay-roll of more than $500.
The Cansfield Stationery Company .- This company came from New York in January, 1893, and has been doing a thriv- ing business in the manufacture of box files and stationers' supplies. Mr. Samuel H. Cansfield is the President of the company, and General Manager of the concern. The product of this factory is sold in every State in the Union and in Canada.
The Clyde Window Glass Company of Frankton, is one of the busy industries of Madison county. Its capital stock is $50,000. It employs one hundred men. Mr. M. J. Blodgett is President, F. Dussler, Secretary, and John Lux, Treasurer. The works were moved from Clyde, Ohio, in 1890, after which place the company was named. It was incorporated in 1890.
United Window Glass Company at West Alexandria. -This company has a capital stock of $250,000, and em- ploys 225 men under the charge of Superintendent John A. Sweat. T. D. Catlin is president and treasurer, and W. T. Gray, vice-president. The company manufactures window glass and does a large business.
The Alexandria Window Glass Company .- This com- pany was organized by Harper and Cruzen, of Findlay, Ohio, in 1889. These gentlemen were unsuccessful in the operation of the plant, and it was purchased at assignee's sale by Sylvanus Free and others, since which time it has been successfully operated by the present company, com- posed of Henry W. Heer, M. Miller and Sylvanus Free, under the firm name of the Alexandria Window Glass Company. They have a capital stock of $40,000, and employ about 100 people. The factory has a large output and has a large weekly pay-roll.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
We are sorry that all the manufacturing establishments to whom we sent postal cards, did not see the importance of being fully represented in this work. While we have been unable to give an extended notice, we have endeavored to make mention of every factory in the county.
Among other factories of importance are the Sefton Mfg. Company, Cathedral Glass Company, Wright Shovel Company, Victor Window Glass Company, Arcade File Works, Ander- son Forging Company, Coping and Glass Cresting Company, Raible Bros'. Box factory. Anderson Paint Company, Wooley Foundry Company, Haugh-Kurtz Steel Company, Electric Power Company, Irondale Steel and Iron Company, Fisher Cradle & Snath Company, Gedge Bros'. Roofing Company, Anderson Pottery Company, Anderson Broom Works, The Gould Steel Company.
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CHAPTER LI.
HISTORICAL MISCELLANY-THE ORIGINAL WHITE RIVER BRIDGE.
The handsome and substantial wooden covered bridge spanning White river at Anderson, where the present magnifi- cent iron bridge stands, near the cemetery on North Main street, was, on the morning of November 23, 1883, swept away by a terrific flood, the effect of a week's heavy rain. The crashing and falling timber arrested the attention of peo- ple in the vicinity and all eyes were turned toward the bridge just in time to see that old landmark break in two and sink into the angry waters. The water had undermined the mid- dle pier until the weight caused it to tilt over to the west. Two large sycamore trees standing near the west end prevented it from being carried away entirely by the current.
This old bridge was one of the landmarks in the history and prosperity of Madison county. It was built in the years 1863 and 1864, upon the Buckingham truss plan, and was con- structed by the County Commissioners, who made an appro- priation out of the county funds for that purpose. A large number of tax payers of the county also subscribed to the fund, giving their notes, some of which were never redeemed and are yet on file as mementos in the office of the County Auditor. Mr. William Crim was superintendent of the work and Benjamin Thomas, contractor for the masonry and G. W. Webster, of Grant county, for building the superstructure. It cost $20,000 and was in its day the best bridge within a radius of fifty miles.
Immediately upon the washing away of this bridge the ' Auditor of Madison county convened the Board of Commis- sioners in special session and steps were taken to erect an iron structure in its place. They advertised for sealed proposals, and after examining the same the contract for building the new bridge was awarded to the firm of McCormack & Sweeney, who were then engaged in building the court house. These gentlemen secured the contract for the stone work, and the
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
contract for the superstructure was awarded to the Massillon Bridge Co. The new bridge was completed in 1884. Some interesting reminiscences relative to the old bridge will be found in another part of this volume.
THE FIRST GAS LIGHT IN ANDERSON.
Prior to the year 1865 Anderson was but a small unim- portant country town, and existed only as an ordinary town corporation. In the spring of that year it began to show signs of improvement and an increase of population, and the citizens concluded that Anderson could best subserve the in- terests of the taxpayers and the people by throwing off its town garb and assuming the proportions of a city. Accord- ingly at a meeting held at the court house, it was resolved to take on city airs, and Milton M. Harriman was appointed to take a census in order to ascertain the population, and see if the town possessed a sufficient number of people to entitle it to a city charter, the required number under the statute being 2,000. It is said that Mr. Harriman in taking the enumera- tion, not only copied the names on the hotel register, but also visited the cities of the dead, and secured names from the tombstones, in order to get the required number. Be this as it may, a sufficiency was obtained, and in the spring of that year Anderson obtained a charter and became a city. R. N. Williams, Esq., was elected Mayor to serve until the next general election ; Milton M. Harriman was chosen marshal, and Calvin D. Thompson, Esq., elected city clerk, and Joseph Fulton treasurer, who all held their offices until the general election in the spring of 1866. During Harriman's incum- bency as marshal he agitated the subject of lighting the streets. He and John P. Barnes, who was then a member of the city council, contracted for and erected iron posts around the busi- ness part of the city, which were lighted with coal-oil lamps. These contrivances served to furnish light until 1875. In the spring of that year the agitation for more light became so gen- eral among the tax-payers that the city council contracted with Mr. P. F. Good, of Ashtabula, Ohio, and H. C. Bard- well, of New York, and gave them a franchise of the streets of the city for a term of twenty years. These gentlemen im- mediately went to work to erect a gas plant for the purpose of furnishing light to private consumers, as well as for light- ing the streets of the city. On the 2d of July, 1875, the work of putting in the plant was completed and accepted by
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the council, and on the evening of the 3d of July, for the first time in her history, Anderson was lighted by gas. On that evening the streets, stores and residences provided with gas fa- cilities were beautifully illuminated. The city began to assume something of a metropolitan character. The great superiority of illuminating gas for artificial light over the usual methods of coal-oil lamps was very forcibly illustrated. Stores that had heretofore been provided with a multitude of lamps, and but dimly lighted at that, now almost shone with the bright- ness of noonday. People who had lighted their dwellings were happy to find a flood of soft light illuminating their rooms, a thing which they had never dreamed was possible.
The gas was generally considered to be good and gave the utmost satisfaction. The mains were then limited to-the following territory : Main street, from the Bee Line depot to the Pan-Handle railway ; Meridian street, from the Bee Line railway to Hanna street ; Jackson street, from Lane to Anderson ; William street, from Main to the Catholic church ; Bolivar street, from Jackson to Delaware ; Anderson street, from Main to the Fair Grounds ; East Washington street, from Meridian to Water street; Lane street, from Jackson to Brown street ; Hamilton street, from Meridian west to its terminus; Hanna street, from Meridian to its western ter- minus.
P. F. Good & Co. operated the plant for about one year under the superintendency of J. C. Lord, who is now in charge of a similar institution at Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. N. C. Mccullough, late President of the Citizens' Bank of An- derson, investigated the profits of this enterprise and became satisfied that it was a financial success and purchased the en- tire stock of the original owners and operated it successfully until 1887, when the finding of natural gas in Anderson de- stroyed its usefulness. The old building and tank that now stand at the foot of Eighth street on the line of the Pan- Handle Railway are silent monuments to what was once con- sidered one of the best paying " bits " of property within the city limits and are now slowly going to decay.
FREE MAIL DELIVERY IN ANDERSON.
On the Brd of June, 1890, the free mail delivery was inaugurated under an order from the post-office department. Postmaster H. J. Daniels appointed Charles Stewart, Jacob Bravy, Joseph Morrey and -- Kinkaid to be letter carriers,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
which appointments were confirmed by the government. Charles Stewart was allowed a horse, being the first mail-car- rier in Anderson to deliver mail in that manner. Each car- rier was required to give a bond of $1,000 to be approved by the Postmaster General for the faithful performance of his duty. Each carrier was to receive as a compensation for his services $600 for the first year's work and $800 for the second. There were distributed through the different portions of the city 30 mail boxes for the collection of mail matter. These boxes were located under the direction of Postmaster Daniels. The mail-carriers were required to make four trips a day for the delivery and collection of mail. After the adoption of the free delivery system, dropped letters were required to have a two-cent postage stamp, whereas before that time they only required a one cent stamp. Parker Short and Charles Tyre were appointed as substitutes, their duty being to take the place of the regular carriers when any of them were sick or taking their vacation. This was a great event in the history of Anderson and marked a new era in the city's progress. We speak of this matter in order that hereafter the residents of Anderson, when it becomes a metropolitan city, may look back to the establishment of the first free mail delivery here, and note the changes that have taken place.
FIRST NATURAL GAS ACCIDENT.
During the laying of the mains for the Citizens' Natural Gas Company of Anderson, in September, 1887, a bad accident occurred, by which John Clancy, a laborer, was severely injured and rendered a cripple for life. His leg was broken, his shoul- der dislocated, and he was otherwise severely bruised. The men were working at the time on West Eleventh street near the corner of School, when the accident took place. It was customary in putting down pipe to test the strength of it after the connection had been made by turning on a full pressure of sgas from the wells. This had been done in this instance, and Tthe pipe proving to be of sufficient strength, the men at the well were signalled to turn off the gas, the plug was removed From the end of the main, when almost instantly the gas was Turned on again from some cause, and came rushing through The pipe with dreadful force. The last joint that had been attached to the line bursted with a terrific noise, being heard 1For several squares, and a section of pipe 20 feet long was torn 1 ose from its fastening and whirled against the fence on the
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