USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Indiana : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 47
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" Several miines are opened and extensively worked in and near Delphi for burning. The lime produced is of good quality. and is a specific article of trade known as . Delphi Lime.' It sets slow. or, in mechanical terms, 'works cool,' allowing the me- chanie time to spread his plaster or lay his mortar over a large space before 'setting.' and thus seenres complete contact with adjoining surfaces. On 'setting.' the' cement adheres well, and becoines bard as stone-often more compact than brick. The burned stone does not air-slake readily, and consequently affords ample time to facilitate transportation. Seventy pounds of this lime, I am informed, is considered equal to eighty pounds of other 'Ohio or Indiana limes.
" The following firms are engaged in the business with appli- ances and productions as follows. viz. : Cartwright & Co. use three common kilns and one . Donelson Perpetual Burning Kilu. Their prodnet for the current year will amount to 75,000 bushels. Reported cast of manufacture by common kilns, 16 cents, and with patent kilns, I0 cents, per bushel.
" At Springfield, Ill .. I am informed that lime from this firm was used in the construction of sewer walls in the place of hy draulic cement. At the expiration of one year. the wall. although exposed to water, was found to be compact and in a satisfactory condition.
" F. W. Hubbard & Co. mine their stone from the lower number of the Pentamerons limestone, at their location. abont twenty feet thick. The strata dip in every direction. and. at one part of the mine, are nearly vertical. A band of porous stone is seen near the water level. containing petroleum. which oozes out. oh exposure to the warmth of an October sun. Hubbard & Co. have twenty common kilus and two . Monitor Perpetual Burners." Pelton's patent. The capacity of the common kilns amounts to 150,000 bushels (seventy pounds) per antmm. The common kilns are now only occasionally at work. The capacity of the two . Monitor Kilns" is estimated at 500 bushels a day. and in tended to run nine months in a year. The greatest product in one year is reported at 150,000 bushels.
" F. Shelly & Co. uso four common kilns. having a capacity for burning 160,000 bushels per annin: one . Shelly's Perpetual Burner." which burns 200 bushels a day, or 66,000 bushels per annam.
" The expense of mining is 35 cents per yard: of burning by common kilo. 16 couts per bushel, and by patent kiln. 10 cents per bushel of seventy pounds. The product for last year, 150. 000 bushels. Spreimens from all the different mines were so. enred for the State cabinet for exhibition and analysis."
The status of affairs changed after the material for the fore going report had been gleaned: the others parties named, J. A. Cartwright, A. B. Cartwright and B. F. Shelly nited with K. W. Hubbard & Co .. thus constituting the Delphi Lime Company. under whose management the business is permanently established and rapidly enlarging. It's principal market has been Western Indiana and Central Illinois. Subsequently. Mr. Shelly retired from the company and William Bradshaw took his place. At a later date. George Harley and William Sidenbender commenced business on their own account. and succeeded satisfactorily. Recently. however, this branch has been changed. the business now being conducted under the firm name of Harley & Bro.
The Delphi, Lime Company now run six perpetual burners, and Harley & Bro, four, the aggregate products of which are equal to nearly one million bushels per annm.
*The first lime burned in Carroll County was Int 1825, by David and Danlel Bant, Men later period, Smurt. benon manufactured and shipped on flat-boais down the river small quantities of lime, but made no specialty of It. About the year 1840, Olds & Untrhinson begun n somewhat regn'ar trade in that fine. In the course of time, when appearances sermed Jo justify it, Inteh- Inson & Mills enlarged their manufacturing facililles and did a comparatively good business. They sold out lo Hubbard & Co. in 1×57. . .
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
THE DELPHI PAPER-MILLS.
GEORGE ROBERTSON THE FIRST PAPER MAKER IN DELPHI-MILL BUILT-RINEHART AND ROBERTSON BECOME PARTNERS-RINE- HART ALONE-RINEHART & WOOD-RINENART & BOWEN-ROB- ERTSON & ARMITAGE ERECT A NEW MILL-A. H. BOWEN AFTER- WARD OWNER AND PROPRIETOR-LARGE STEAM PAPER-MILL ERECTED BY BECK & GRIDLEY-IT IS BURNT AND NOT REBUILT.
PRIOR to the year 1845, it was scarcely contemplated that Delphi would ever acquire the notoriety subsequently at- tained to as the great paper manufacturing center of Western Indiana. In that year, however, Mr. George Robertson came here, and. securing an eligible site on the canal west of town, commenced the erction of the first paper-mill, completing the building, putting in and adjusting the machinery during the summer of 1846, when the machinery was put in motion and the first paper manufactured. Enoch Rinehart purchased an interest in 1848, when the business was conducted by them jointly. In 1849, the whole establishment was destroyed by fire. Not dis- couraged by this misfortune, Mr. Rinehart, in conjunction with
and built a mammoth paper-mill, the machinery of which was propelled by steam. Not long after it had been completed and was beginning to be remunerative, the building took fire and was wholly consumed, including the valuable machinery and a large amount of accumulated stock. It was almost a total loss, and the cost was so great as to preclude the possibility of rebuild- ing it.
ENGINE AND MACHINE WORKS.
In the spring of 1848, William Dunkle and James W. Kil- gore, under the firm name of Dunkle & Kilgore, began the man- ufacture of wagons and plows in a two-story wooden building on the corner of Franklin and Wilson streets. The enterprise pros- pered from the first, and they continued enlarging their facili. ties. In 1855 or 1856. they established a store on Main street for the sale of agricultural implements, and, from time to time, were called upon to repair various articles of machinery for their
Charles Wood, in 1850-51, rebuilt the concern and commenced business anew, with abundant success. On the 19th of April. 1851, the firm of Rinehart & Wood was dissolved. Mr. Wood re- tiring and Abner H. Bowen taking his place. This arrangement continued for about one year, when the firm was again changed, and afterward known as Rinehart, Bowen & Co., and under that name the firm continued in business until 1864, when Rinehart and Charles Robertson became the proprietors. These gentle- men conducted the business through a series of years, but a sin- gle change occurring, until 1873. From that time forward, Mr. Rinehart has been the sole proprietor.
In 1853, Messrs. Robertson & Armitage built another mill, of about the same capacity as the other, but a little higher up the canal. When this firm had been operating for a few years, Mr. Armitage withdrew, and Mr. Charles Wood took his place, after which the firm was known as Robertson & Wood. At a later pe- riod, another change followed, the business being managed by Dewey & Griffith, who continned until 1868, when Abner H. Bowen became the sole owner, and so continued afterward.
Abont the year 1857-58, Messrs. Beck & Gridley projected
customers. From a repair-shop, their establishment gradually developed until it was decided, finally, to engage in a general machine business. In 1872, they moved the frame building to the rear of the lot, and erected, in its place, the present two- story brick structure, 30x50 feet, which they supplied with a full qnota of lathes and other machinery for the manufacture of boil- ers, stationary and portable engines, etc. They manufactured the Dunkle & Kilgore engine, of which an engraving is inserted.
The valve movement is the invention of Mr. Kilgore, and is so constructed that a maximum of power is obtained with a mini. mum of machinery. The machine is the result of years of study and experiment by a practical machinist, and is claimed to be more nearly perfect than any other engine manufactured. Among its points of excellence are: Lightness, combined with great power-the eight-horse power engine, complete, weighing but 3,000 pounds, the ten-horse power 3,400, and the twelve-horse power 3,500 pounds; they are quickly set for threshing, reqnir- ing only the setting of the brakes; they economize water and fuel, are convenient to move, and track with the ordinary wagon, and are fitted up with all the modern attachments of the best
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DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
quality. This engine has met with an extensive sale, and a force of from six to ten men are kept busy in its manufacture. They 'also manufacture the " Little Corporal," an engine especially adapted to the use of printing offices and light manufacturing es- tablishments. The boiler is of the upright pattern, having thirty fines, two and a half inches in diameter and thirty inches in length. The boiler and engine occupy a floor space of less than two feet square, and the construction is so simple that a child can operate it as well as an experienced engineer.
After a pleasant association of thirty-four years, the firm of Dunkle & Kilgore was dissolved, in January, 1882, by the with- drawal of Mr. Dunkle, who received the agricultural establish- ment in the settlement. In February, 1882, he sold this to Messrs. Ray, Rice & Stewart, and retired from business.
Messrs, Dunkle & Kilgore were the pioneers in their line in Delphi. They manufactured the first plow and the first two- horse wagon ever made in this market, and built up an establish- ment that stands second to none in importance among the indus- tries of the city. The manufacture of a superior wagon is still continned in the old building, by Messrs. Fisher & Hare, who purchased the machinery of Messrs. Dunkle & Kilgore in 1879 or 1880.
ELEVATORS.
In 1845, Spears, Caso & Co. erected the large elevator now owned by John Lenon, at the west end of Main street. The Wabash & Erie Canal was then the great commercial outlet of this region, and bore away, anmally, large consignments of grain from this firm, varying from 100,000 to 300,000 bushels a year. Although not sitnated directly on the canal, a " side-ent," or pri- vate canal, led from the elevator to the main canal, and boats were run up and loaded at the warehouse, much as cars are now loaded at the same place. Delphi was then a favorite wheat market, and Messrs. Spears, Case & Co. purchased large amounts of grain from this and adjoining counties, especially from White, Howard and Clinton. They conducted a prosperous business, from which they retired in 1867 or 1868. In 1870, the building was rented by John Lenon, who engaged in a general grain trade, which he has since prosecuted successfully. In 1879, he pur- chased the building, and, during his ownership of it, has intro- duced numerous improvements. He remodeled the shelling ca- pacity to such an extent that two men now do the work which formerly required the labor of ten. The sheller is fed by a drag- belt, which carries the corn directly to the hopper, where it is shelled, the cobs being conveyed out of the building by a set of machinery working in connection with the sheller. He also added a cleaner, with suction fan, which carries the dust and chaff out of the building, and superseded an old-fashioned fan with a Moline separator for wheat. Mr. Lenon handles and ships from 150,000 to 200,000 bushels of grain per annum. The elevator is a frame building, 60x180 feet, three stories above the basement, and has a storage capacity of 60,000 bushels. The machinery is operated by steam.
W. A. Rinehart erected the steam elevator near the Wabash depot in the summer of 1879. The wheat yield of that year was unnsnally large, and he handled and shipped more than 50,000 bushels. The elevator is conveniently located close to the rail- road, and cars are loaded in a few minutes. It is a three-story frame building, 30x50 feet, with a storage capacity of 16,000 bushels.
HUBS AND SPOKES.
In 1879, William F. Lytle and others, under the name of the
Lytle Manufacturing Company, began the manufacture of staves and coopers' supplies, at the north end of Union street, Delphi. Their location was remote from the railroad, thereby increasing the cost of handling"stock and shipping goods. To increase their facilities, they removed to their present location, near the Wabush depot, where, in the spring of 1880, they erected their present establishment, which, with sheds and ontbuildings, occu- pies two mid a half acres. After removing to this location, they abandoned the manufacture of staves, and embarked in the man- nfacture of spokes and hubs. The enterprise prospered from the first, and has become one of the leading and most important in- dustries of the city, giving employment to from forty-five to fifty mon. They manufacture daily a sufficient number of spokes for 115 wagons, or, as they are technically called, 115 sets. They have a sufficient demand for their goods to keep the factory run- ning at full capacity, their shipment's being to jobbers and man- ufacturers in various portions of the United States. The works consist of a main building, 74x150 foot, besides the dry-sheds, storage rooms, ete .- iu all, ten buildings. The machinery is all of the latest and most approved patterns, and the workman- ship that of the best mechanics.
In addition to the hinb and spoke industry, the mamifacture of the Finley patent safety whiffletree and neck-yoke is con- ducted on a large scale by Messrs. Lytle & Dreifus, who have purchased the patent.
CITY MILLS.
In the summer of 1881. Montinan & Ewald, who had formerly conducted a fouring-mill at Colburn, Ind., removed the machin- ery to Delphi and erected the present frame mill north of the Wabash tracks, on Washington street. The building is 32x44 feet, standing two stories high above the basement, which is a stone structure, ten feet high. The mill has a capacity of about twenty-five barrels of flour per day, but is operated almost en- tirely as a custom mill.
'STAVE, AND BARREL. FACTORY.
This enterprise is conducted by Jaunes Lunney, at the west end of Main street. In February, 1879, he began the manufact- nire of slack and tight barrels, making 6,000 barrels the first year. During the second year, he manufactured upward of 20,000, and in March, 1881, he added to his establishment by combining the manufacture of staves with that of barrels. He erected a frame mill adjacent to his cooper-shop, 2x40 feet. and supplied it with the necessary machinery, consisting of buckers, heading machines, etc. He employs from five to fifteen men, and manufactures from 30.000 to 35,000 barrels per aunum. The slack barrels are sokl chiefly in the home market, and the tight work at Chicago.
PLANING - MILLS,
C. A. MeClure & Co. erected a frame building at the west end of Delphi, in 1863, and engaged in the manufacture of sash. doors, building material, ete., at the same time con ucting exteu- sive operations in contracting and building. In December. 1866, the inill and machinery were destroyed by fire. Immediately afterward, they began the erection of the present mill. at the south end of Washington street, and resumed the business on a large scale. The new mill was first set in operation in the spring of 1867. The muin building is frame, 40x55 feet, three stories high, udjoining which is a brick building 20x50 feet, which is used for an office and warehouse. The remaining buildings are an engine room, 20x40 feet, constructed of stone, and a dry-shed
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
16x40 feet. The main building contains the principal machin- ery, consisting of two planers, siding-mill, molders, shapers, ten- oning machines, scroll and circular saws, etc.
In addition to the sale of planed lumber to mechanics and private parties, this firm are engaged in contracting and building, as well as the manufacture of all kinds of building material, such as doors, sash, etc.
Directly opposite the planing-mill of McClure & Co. is a similar establishment, owned and operated by Lewis Moore, who is also extensively engaged in contracting and building. The mill, which was erected by Mr. Moore .in September, 1876, is a brick building, 44x50 feet, with an extension 20x24 feet. The lower floor contains the planing machinery, consisting of one planer, a molding machine, rip saws, cut-off saws, etc. The upper floor is occupied by the carpenters of the establish- ment as a shop, and contains a rip saw, a cut-off saw and a scroll saw.
He manufactures the material used by himself in the con- struction of buildings, but does not ship goods beyond the home market.
BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTORY.
The boot and shoe establishment of John Burr & Son is among the oldest on the Wabash. In the summer of 1836, John Burr, the senior partner, came to Delphi from the State of Connecti- cut, and, in the spring following, opened a manufacturing-shop on the site occupied by present business house of the firm. At. that time, George Alsop, from Kentucky, had a shop in the same room with Adams' saddle-shop, and was doing business in a small way. Mr. Burr's shop, however, was the first in town exclusively appropriated to the manufacture of boots and shoes. From the beginning, he commanded a good trade, and has, from that day to the present, maintained not only an unsullied reputation for business, but a continually increasing trade. Until 1850, he manufactured in his shop all the work sold by him, employing four or five men for that purpose, running a custom-shop in addi- tion. About that time, he began to buy Eastern work, when his establishment became more properly a retail store.
From the time he began to purchase Eastern work, he de- creased his manufacturing force, employing at this time only two men in that department. In 1860, Mr. Burr took his son, John H., into business with him, since which the firm has been known as John Burr & Son.
The business house now occupied by the firm was erected in 1850. Prior to that time, Mr. Burr had occupied a small frame building, formerly used by Dr. Blanchard as an office.
BANKS AND BANKING.
At a very early date in the history of business in Delphi, long before the present or even recent system of banking had been in- angurated, first, James P. Dugan, for a number of years, was con- sidered and recognized as the chief banking officer of the com- munity at large, since he was the general depositary for the sur- plus cash of the people throughout the county and beyond. While, therefore, he was not, in a technical sense, a banker, he received and paid out deposits with the same systematic regularity observed in the banking operations of the present day. In a larger or smaller way, from that day to this, it can, perhaps, truthfully be said that Mr. Dugan has been a banker.
At a later period, when the public works were in progress in this vicinity, from 1838 to 1843, during the construction of the canal, the pool-dam at Pittsburg and the steamboat lock, mak- ing a passage-way around the dam for that species of craft, a more extensive receipt and deposit business was gradually devel- oped, by the addition of James Spears and Reed Case to the ope- rations formerly controlled by Mr. Dugan alone, and the firm caine to be known as J. P. Dugan & Co., Spears, Case & Dugan, Spears. Case & Co. Although the business conducted by these gentlemen was not under any general banking law, nor, indeed, a strict banking business, yet, because of their well-kuown re- sponsibility. and the extensive operations-requiring the handling of large sums of money, their establishment began to be and was recognized as a banking house. Subsequently, when the na- tional banking law came into force, the First National Bank of Delphi was organized, by and under the general management of Spears, Dugan & Co. The people having, as in the past, un- limited confidence in the business integrity and qualifications, their banking operations came to be unusually large. In the course of time, however. while they were endeavoring to supply the demands of the people of the county for money. they were drawn upon too liberally, and hence, were compelled temporarily to suspend payments. It was only temporary, however, for, when the situation was fully canvassed, their ability and intention ulti- mately to pay in full all demands against the concern was clearly manifested, as the sequel has demonstrated.
More recently, the Citizens' Bank of Delphi has been organ- ized, and its operations have grown to be very extensive also, this institution in a measure taking the place of the First National. The following are its officers elected January 3, 1882: Presi- dent, E. W. Hubbard; Vice President, Charles Harley; Cashier, William W. Hubbard ; Directors, E. W. Hubbard, D. R. Harley, Christian Gros, Jr., W. F. Lytle and Charles Harley.
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DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN BRIDGE.
The subject of this biography is the descendant of a highly honored ancestry. He was the grandson of Samuel Bridge, a native Englishman, who came to America while yet a young man, and a short time prior to the Revolutionary war. At the ont- break of that long and sanguinary struggle, he was living near Lexington, Mass., and here, adjacent to his home, occurred the first conflict of arms in the war which led to the independence of the colonies. Becoming thoroughly in sympathy with the col-
moved to Delphi and passed the rest of his days in retirement from business cares. He died in April. 1876. His wife survived him, and is living with her son. J. C. Bridge, in this city.
JACOB C. BRIDGE.
Jacob C. Bridge. the sou of John Bridge, was born near Ham- ilton, Butler Co., Ohio. May 11. 1835. While yet in his in- fancy. his father moved to this county and settled in Carrollton Township. At the age of ten. he put his hands to the plow and onists, he esponsed their canse, promptly volunteered, and ren- ; rendered his father substantial aid on the farm. In the winter, he enjoyed such educational advantages as were attainable in a log schoolhouse in the neighborhood. In 1852, he went with his father to Camden and assisted him in the dry goods busi- ness for about a year. During 1854. he clerked for the late Matthew Rogers, in Camden, and received for his services $100. During 1855, he elerked for Sterrett & Rankin. Camden, at an : increased salary-$200. In May. 1856, he came to Delphi, where he clerked for Joel Dewey, who was then conducting a store in a frame building where Moore's Block now stands. In 1857, he returned to Camden and engaged as clerk in a store owned by his father, J. M. Justice and Dr. F. G. Armstrong. He remained with them about two years, and then went to Cin- cinnati to learn book-keeping. In 1859. he returned to Delphi, where he clerked for C. & G. G. Moore until the spring of 1862; afterward, for Gaylord. Frisbie & Co. (Bolles' store) until spring
dered heroic service in the Federal army. During the war, prob- ably in 1778, John Townsend Bridge, his son, the father of our subject, was born in the city of Boston. After reaching man's estate, he emigrated to Hamilton County, Ohio, and soon there- after, wedded Miss Mary, daughter of John Harper. Mr. Harper and wife had found their way thither from Virginia, the State of their nativity. The maiden name of Mrs. Harper, the mother of Mary, was Margaret Carr, a native of Ireland. Later in the his. tory of the " Old Dominion," the Carr family became one of con- siderable prominence. Soon after his marriage to Miss Harper, Mr. Bridge crossed the Ohio River to seek his fortune in Kep- tneky, but, a year or two later, returned to Warren County, Ohio. and located near the town of Lebanon. Here JJohn Bridge, the subject of this sketch, was born, in Jannary, 1806, the second son and third child. Soon after his birth, the parents moved to Riley Township, Butler Connty, Ohio, where were born the rest of 1864; then with Wellhouse & Co., clothiers, eighteen months; of the family-four brothers and two sisters, viz .: James, Han- nah, Joseph, Thomas, William and Mary. Of the entire family, three brothers only are now living-James, Thomas and Will- iam. The former is a resident of Logansport, Ind .: the two lat- ter reside in Ohio. Joseph Bridge, one of the younger brothers. died in Carroll County, Ind., in the month of July, 1879.
! then with Crooks & Donnvan nearly two years; and then with Noab Corey. grocer, until March 16, 1871, when he engaged with John Lenon in the grain trade. He is yet in the service of Mr. Lenon. He was married. March 27. 1862. to Miss Emmeline J. Witherow. They were married at Dry Run, Penn .. whither Miss Witherow was visiting at the time. Mr. Bridge is considered one of the best and most successful business men in the county.
John T. Bridge, the father, was a farmer and was deemed sne- cessful in his honorable vocation. Hoping to better his condi- tion he moved about the spring of 1818 to Franklin County, JAMES H. BARNES. Ind .; thence in the fall of 1819 to Pendleton, Madison County. The subject of this sketch springs from an old New York fam- ily of Scotch-Irish descent. noted for patriotism and courage in defending civil and religious liberty in America. But two years had elapsed here when death robbed the family circle of wife and mother, and a year later the insatiate destroyer summoned the father. The large family thus so sadly afflicted In the line of his paternal ancestry, his great-grandfather, Jolm Barnes, held a Captain's commission in the colonial army during the Revolution, and commanded a company of minute men in the State of New York. After the close of the Revolu. tionary war. his grandfather. James Barnes, settled in the State of Ohio, near the mouth of the Little Miami, and was married, in a block-honse near that place. in 1795. Seventeen years after ward, another war breaking ont with England, he and his brother, Alexander, enlisted, and served as comrades in the army of Gen. Hull, and were present at the time of his surrender to the British at Detroit, August 16, 1812. Later, he moved with his family, became broken np, and the younger members found a home with their Grandfather Harper then a resident of Butler Conty, Ohio. Jolin, however, the subject of our sketch, having nearly reached the age of maturity, returned to Butler County and hired ont as a farm laborer among his father's old friends and neighbors, con- tinuing so to do for some time subsequent to his marriage. He was married March 13, 1834, to Rosanna Carr, near Hamilton. Ohio. October 18, 1837, he landed in Carroll County and set- tled in Carrollton Township, on the farm now owned by A. J. Wickard, Esq. He remained there until 1852, when he moved i to Camden and engaged in the dry goods trade. In 1868, he including the father (James Hamilton Barnes) of the subject of
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