USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 41
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Not far from the same date Messrs. G. W. & W. G. Ewing opened a general trading house on the northeast corner of Market and Bridge Streets, now occupied by Martin Frank. That firm closed out its business here about 1838.
In 1831, John O. Skelton and Ashford Carter, as "Skelton & Carter," commenced business on the south side of Broadway, on the
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site now covered by the " Murdock Hotel." The year following they moved to the west side of Bridge Street, south of the alley, be- tween Broadway and Market, where the firm did business for several years.
In 1834 Comparet & Coteau opened a store on the south side of Market Street, between First and Second. The firm was afterward Scott & Comparet. Afterward the store was located at the north- west corner of Market and Bridge Streets.
Gen. H. Lasselle commenced mercantile life, in Logansport, about the year 1835, in one of the buildings on the south side of Market Space, being known as " Commercial Row." He continued business there until 1842.
At a later date Eldridge & Cummings began a general mercan- tile trade in the western extremity of " Commercial Row."
Still later, James Williams, afterward succeeded by Hanna, Mc- Cleny & Dart, commenced business in the building now occupied by W. H. Bringhurst, druggist, on Market Street.
Present Business Interests .- A brief sketch of the later and present industries and enterprises of Logansport is here given:
Banks .- The Logansport National Bank was established in 1865, and existed as such until December, 1883. It was re-chartered the latter year as the First National Bank, and is now one of the . largest banking houses in northern Indiana, having a paid up capi- tal of $230,000. The officers are A. J. Murdock, president; John C. Merriam, vice-president, and W. W. Ross, cashier. The follow- ing are the directors, viz .: G. N. Fitch, John C. Merriam, James Cheney, S. C. Taber, A. J. Murdock, W. H. Bringhurst and W. T. Wilson.
The State National Bank was established December, 1881, with a capital of $100,000. The officers are William Johnson, president; A. L. Pogue, vice-president, and John F. Johnson, cashier. Di- rectors-A. L. Pogue, Wm. Johnson, Joseph Ullery, William H. Snyder and D. C. Elliott. The bank has been conducted very suc- cessfully, and at no time during the history of the enterprise has it been unable to easily meet all demands made upon it. The build- ing, on the corner of Fourth and Broadway, is one of the finest bank buildings in the State.
Gas-works. - "Logansport has a complete system of gas-works extending over the greater part of the city, having about twelve miles of pipe laid, furnishing an abundant supply of light.
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"These works, in the beginning, were of small pretensions, but fully equal to the demands of the times. They owe their establish- ment here to J. W. Baine & Co., who, having purchased the grounds now covered by the old works, came here in the summer of 1862, and commenced the erection of the necessary buildings thereon without much delay in the preliminary arrangements.
"By an ordinance passed August 21, 1862, the city granted to the Logansport Gas Light & Coke Company, nominally composed of Thomas Harvey and Alfred H. Knowles, under the firm name of Thomas Harvey & Co., of the town of Marion, Marion Co., Ohio, and their associates and successors, heirs and assignees, acting under the company name aforesaid, the exclusive privilege, for the term of twenty-five years from that date, of using the streets and alleys of the city, as then or thereafter laid out, for the purpose of laying down in said streets and alleys the necessary pipes for the convey- ance of gas for the use of the city and its inhabitants. The com- pany was also exempted from the payment of city taxes for a period of five years from the 1st of January, 1864.
" In consideration of the foregoing and other privileges, the com- pany was required, on or before the 1st of October, 1863, to com- plete the apparatus for generating gas, and lay down, in connection therewith, at least one mile of main pipes, and thereafter extend the same as the demands for gas should justify.
" The works were accordingly put in operation, and the company, from time to time, extended their mains and increased the capacity for manufacturing gas in quantity and quality as required by the public demand. The original stock of the company having changed hands, the management and control of the works changed also.
"A few years since, the capacity of the company for manufactur- ing both quantity and quality of gas has greatly increased, the ave- nnes of supply being increased in a like ratio. Now, instead of two and a fourth miles of main and branch pipes, the maximum fifteen years ago, the company supplies gas through more than fourteen miles of pipe. All the principal streets, public buildings and busi- ness houses, as well as a large proportion of the private residences of the city were lighted from the supply of these works" until the adop- tion of the electric light in 1883. Since that time the business of the company has greatly decreased, gas now being used only in busi- ness houses, public buildings and residences.
Boy & Touthain
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Electric Light .- The Logansport Jenney Electric Light & Power Company was organized for the purpose of lighting the city by electricity October 2, 1883. The Jenney system had been pre- viously adopted by the city council, and the proposition of the com- pany to light the city for $5,500 for one year accepted.
The following were the original resident stockholders of the company, viz .: A. R. Shroyer, P. W. Moore, J. A. Adrian, Joseph Seiter, Victor E. Seiter, Cecil & Wilson and E. Hattery. This is the first city plant from the Jenney Electric Light Company, of Fort Wayne, and was put into operation January, 1884. The com- pany from time to time extended their wires, and the city is now well lighted by sixty-four lights, operated by a Corliss engine of 150 horse-power, the cost per light being $150 a year, except those in Taberville and Shultztown, for which $140 per year is charged.
The officers of the company are A. R. Shroyer, president and treasurer; Victor E. Seiter, secretary, and William Dolan, manag- er. The following are the directors, viz .: P. W. Moore, V. E. Seiter, A. R. Shroyer, J. S. Wilson, R. T. McDonald, Wm. Dolan and J. N. Booth.
Telephone .- The Central Union Telephone Company was estab- lished in Logansport in the year 1881, the first manager being Mr. J. Moore. The business of the company has greatly increased since that time, there nowbeing 175 subscribers in the city, and branch ex- changes at Monticello, Burnettsville, Camden, Idaville, Galveston, and New Waverly. Joseph T. McNary is the efficient manager, and the following operators are employed: Bessie Bruington, Kate Mont- fort and Charles Lny.
Water Works .- Perhaps no city in the West is better provided with the means of protection against fire than Logansport, not- withstanding her experience with disastrous fires has not been such as to induce extraordinary efforts to secure a perfect system.
However this may have been, after very extensive agitation of the subject of water works, the city council, in December, 1875, having determined upon a system of water works adapted to the wants of the city, awarded the contract therefor to Messrs. H. R. Smith & Co., of Columbus, Ohio, to furnish the pipes and special castings, placing them in position, testing, etc., and Cope & Maxwell, Hamil- ton, Ohio, furnishing the pumping house, machinery and fixtures, the entire works to be completed and placed in perfect working
14
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order for $175,000, this sum including the purchase of the Forest Mill property. The mains now extend through thirteen miles of streets, passing under the bed of Eel River to the west division, at Broadway, and under the Wabash at Bridge Street, thus furnishing those parts of the city with an abundant supply of good water as well as ample fire protection. The machinery is operated by water- power, and the cost to run the same is less, perhaps, than that required by any other water works in the State. The works were completed and in good working order in September, 1876.
Fire Alarm .- In keeping with the efficient system of water works is the fire alarm of Logansport, established in the year 1877. The original contract between the city and the National Fire Alarm Company, of Richmond, for ten automatic fire alarm signal boxes, one engine house gong, one large town bell striker, three engine gong strikers and a sufficient number of galvanized telegraph wires, etc., the whole to cost $3,500, was entered into January 18 of the above year, and within a few months thereafter the alarm was com- pleted and ready for operation. That the alarm has proved a decided success is attested by the fact that thousands of dollars have been saved by the prompt work of the fire department since its adoption.
Logansport Railroad Company .- The Logansport street rail- road was established January, 1883, by F. G. Jaques, of Urbana, Ill., whose only appeal in behalf of the enterprise was that the citi- zens of the city should purchase tickets to the amount of $2,500. To this appeal the business men at once responded, and the above sum was duly paid over before any work on the line began. The track, as originally laid, extended from the Pan Handle Depot, north on Fourth Street to Market, west on Market to Bridge; thence north to Broadway, and up Broadway to where the barn is located, on Eighteenth Street. The line has since been changed, and now extends from the eastern to the western limits of the city, embracing in all about ten and a quarter miles of track on Broadway, Fourth and Market Streets. Four cars are kept constantly running, requir- ing the use of about forty horses and mules. The enterprise has proved a decided success, and its permanency is established beyond a doubt. The line is under the immediate supervision of William Jaques, superintendent.
Railroad Machine Shops .- The original shops of the Chicago
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& Great Eastern Road were moved from Richmond to Logansport about the year 1863. Six years later the road was leased by the Pan Handle Company, and immediately thereafter steps were taken toward the erection of much larger shops, the cities of Logansport and Richmond striving to secure their location. The superior advantages of the former city, together with an appropriation of $50,000 in behalf of the enterprise, induced the company to locate their buildings here, and by May, 1870, the present round house and shops were completed and in use. The buildings, lumber yard, etc., cover an area of from six to eight acres, and are among the most extensive of the kind in Indiana. A force of from 450 to 500 men is kept constantly employed, distributed among the various departments as follows: Car shops, 125; blacksmith shops, 100; machine shops, from 100 to 125; round house, 100. The principal work consists of making and repairing cars of all kinds, and the building and repairing of locomotives, etc., etc. The shops are by far the most important industry of Logansport, and have added greatly to the wealth of the city. The following is a list of the men in charge of the various departments at the present time: W. W. Reynolds, master mechanic; Thomas Austin, general foreman; Charles Starr, foreman car department; Edward Matthews, foreman machine shops; William Aughe, foreman blacksmith shops; Charles Seigmond, foreman of tin and copper department; Charles Griffith, foreman of the boiler shop; William Henke, pattern-maker; Sewell, draughtsman; George T. Cockburn, assistant foreman car department; George Tanguy, store keeper; A. P. Jenks, chief shop clerk; O. B. Sargent, book-keeper, and B. F. Butler, telegraph operator.
Bent-Wood Work .- Near the machine shops of the Pan Han- dle Railroad are located the works of the Logansport Manufact- uring Company. These cover a space of about two acres, and there are constantly employed 90 to 125 men. The advancement made by this company since its origin, is certainly great, and is a subject of just pride to every citizen of the city who feels an interest in its welfare. Started on a limited scale, its growth has surpassed the expectations of its founders, and it will now rank with any manu- facturing establishment of northern Indiana. The buildings and grounds occupy twelve lots on either side of Toledo Street, but not- withstanding their present capacity, the entire space is required for
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the storing of material used in the manufacture of their goods, such as spokes. felloes, shafts, poles, bows, and, in fact, everything in the bent-wood line. In addition to the articles mentioned, they also fur- nish sawed felloes, reaches, bolsters, hickory axles, tongues and hubs in car loads.
The great success which the company has attained in the past is, in a great measure, owing to the indefatigable energy displayed by the gentlemen forming the original company, among whom, de- serving of special mention, is Charles Kahlo, the first president.
The officers at the present time are A. J. Robinson, president; George Todd, vice-president, and Jacob Dritt, secretary and treas- urer. The company annually manufacture spokes, hubs, bent-wood, etc., to the amount of about $125,000, and have a demand for their work at San Francisco, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and other important points, while their reputation extends over the greater part of the United States.
The Howe Factory .- In the first rank of Logansport's manu- facturing establishments stands that of S. E. Howe, of which the following is an outline sketch: In December, 1869, Mr. J. H. Tuck- er came to Logansport and commenced the manufacture of plow- handles in the old building at the foot of Market Street, which had been occupied by Mr. Burrows as a furniture factory, his sole capi- tal amounting to $265. The first year he employed but one work- man. and though he had never been in the business before, his tact and energy soon started him on the road to success. At the end of the year Mr. Tucker found it necessary to secure larger quarters for the business, and accordingly obtained a part of the Lincoln Foun- dry, at the intersection of High Street and the canal, and increased his force of hands to three. On the 1st of May, 1870, he sold an interest in the factory to Mr .. S. E. Howe, forming a partnership under the firm name of Tucker & Howe, which continued until Jan- mary, 1884, Mr. Howe purchasing the entire interest at that time.
Since 1870 the business has steadily increased, and from that date until 1884, the firm, in addition to the manufacture of wood- work, did a general foundry and machine-shop business, having purchased the Lincoln Foundry in 1876.
The large, two-story brick building, opposite the foundry, was erected in 1874 at a cost of $15,000. It is a model in every respect. and one of the handsomest and best arranged factories in the city.
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The foundry building was disposed of by Mr. Howe in 1884, since which time the manufacture of wood-work has been made a special- ty, including plow-handles, beams, and all kinds of work sawed or cut to shape for agricultural or other purposes. In addition to the above, Mr. Howe deals extensively in hardwood lumber, buying and shipping to the leading cities of the country. The business of the factory requires the work of about twenty-five men, and, Mr. Howe states with pardonable pride, there has not been a Saturday passed since the establishment was founded that the employes were not paid in full.
Hagenbuck, Parker & Co., planing-mill, and manufacturers of sash, doors, blinds, scroll work, etc. This firm is composed of three individuals at the present time, i. e .: William Hagenbuck, E. T. Parker and J. Mc. Johnson, all of whom can be classed as strictly self-made men.
The business was established in 1869 by Messrs Hagenbuck & Parker, who, as young men with nothing but a knowledge of the trade they had selected, started a small shop near the Pan Handle freight depot, for the manufacture of bent-work, wagon and buggy material, which they continued with fair success for two years. In 1871 they abandoned the bent-wood work business and purchased their present location on Berkley Street, just north of the old canal, and the same year erected the large, stone planing-mill, the most complete of its kind ever built in the city. Since they first com- menced operating, the firm has gradually increased its facilities and added other branches of industry, giving employment to fifteen men, so that at the present time they stand second to none in the rank of Logansport manufacturing enterprises. The planing-mill is sup- plied with the latest improved machinery for dressing lumber, mak- ing moldings, brackets, balusters, pickets, lattices, floorings, sash, doors, blinds, sidings, etc., besides which the firm has established a large lumber yard, and are doing an extensive business in this branch of the trade.
George Bruington became a partner in 1871, and retained his interest until 1873. In 1877 J. Mc. Johnson purchased an interest, and has since that time been a member of the firm. The large two- story brick building on the corner of Spencer and Berkley Streets was erected in 1875, at a cost of $5,000. This is used as an office and ware-room, where at all times may be found a complete stock of
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their manufactured goods. That they have made wonderful prog- ress there is no question, and that they will retain their standing as a leading institution in the community, their past record is a sufficient guarantee.
The firm of R. D. Sterens & Co. also do a very large business in dressed lumber, scroll work, moldings, doors, etc. They have been established here for a number of years, and by proper atten- tion to the desires of their customers, have attained quite a hand- some trade. They operate a large brick factory on First Street, between Canal and Market, supplied with the latest improved ma- chinery for the manufacture of their goods, and give employment to a number of men. Adjoining the mill is a lot used for lumber, in which branch of industry the Messrs. Stevens & Co. have built up an extensive business.
The old Lock Foundry, of which the present large manufactur- ing establishment of Knowlton & Dolan is an outgrowth, was estab- lished in the year 1849, by S. & A. Kendall. The Messrs. Kendall did a general foundry and machine-shop business until 1851, at which time C. B. Knowlton and B. F. Dow purchased the establish- ment. and engaged in the manufacture of threshing machines. which they carried on successfully until burned out in 1861. The foundry was rebuilt by Mr. Knowlton the latter year, and by him operated until 1868, at which time D. D. Dykeman purchased a half interest, and the firm thus formed continued until 1875, making a specialty of the manufacture of the "Little Giant" Water Wheel in the meantime. Mr. Dykeman sold his interest to William Dolan in 1875, since which time the firm of Knowlton & Dolan has estab- lished a well and favorable reputation throughout the United States and Canada. They are now building roller mills and a full line of machinery patented by J. T. Obenchain, for the manufacture of flour under the new system of gradual reduction. They have a large number of mills in process of construction, and carry on an extensive business in this class of machinery in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky. Indiana and other States, employing a force of about 100 men, including millwrights.
The shops are situated on Duret Street, near the Pittsburgh, Cin- cinnati & St. Louis Railroad, covering several hundred feet of ground, extending back to the old canal, and the business of the firm is constantly increasing.
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Flouring-Mills .- The Forest Mill is entitled to more than a pass- ing notice, dating, as it does, from the very commencement of Lo- gansport, one of the oldest landmarks left of the early history of the city. It was the first mill of any kind erected in the vicinity, and was built by Gen. John Tipton in the year 1828. It was first used as a saw-mill, as there were no means of procuring lumber for building purposes at that time. Soon after a corn cracker was at- tached, continuing for some time, until the proper facilities were procured by which all kinds of flour, etc., could be manufactured. From Tipton's hands it passed into that of Messrs. Hamilton & Ta- ber, some years later, and several parties rented the mill from time to time, the last person previous to Cecil & Co. being a Mr. Beach. In 1846 James Wilson came West, and subsequently entered the mill in the capacity of a general clerk. The firm of Beach & Cecil continued until 1857, at which time Mr. Beach withdrew, and Mr. Wilson became a partner. When this partnership commenced Mr. Cecil took up his residence in New York, and made that the market for the disposal of the products of the mill, over which Mr. Wilson exercised a personal supervision. In 1875 the firm sold their mill property, with the water power, to the city, receiving therefor the sum of $40,000. They continued to lease the property, however, and the well-known firm was kept up until 1884, at which time Mr. Cecil disposed of his interest in the enterprise, leaving Mr. Wilson sole proprietor. The mill was thoroughly remodeled in July, 1886, supplied with additional rolls, and now has a capacity of 125 bar- rels of flour per day. Mr. Wilson is one of the oldest and best known mill men on the Wabash, and his favorite brand, known as the "Bellmont." has a wide reputation for its superior quality.
Empire Mills .- One of the wealthiest interests in the city was built in the year 1859 by Jos. Uhl and James Cheney. The mill is situated at the mouth of Eel River, on the west bank, and is sup- plied with an abundance of water-power for all practical purposes. In 1862 the original firm name was changed to that of Uhl & Co., Mr. Dennis Uhl, son of the first named gentleman, being admitted, while in 1865 Mr. Cheney withdrew altogether from the business, and Chas. H. Uhl was taken in, thus forming the well known firm of J. & D. Uhl & Co. The mill has been thoroughly remodeled and supplied with complete roller machinery for the manufacture of flour on the Hungarian system, and has a capacity of about 40,000
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barrels annually. The average annual shipments to New York are about 35,000 barrels, while an extensive business is done in mill feed, which is shipped to different points in New England and other States. The firm also deal heavily in grain, shipping yearly about 1,000,000 bushels of corn alone to New York and Philadelphia.
Among the many mills that have made a reputation by putting their goods upon the market and letting them make their own name is the Logan Milling Company. The original mill, known as the Lock Mill, was erected as early as 1849 by John W. Wright and operated by different parties until about the year 1877, at which time it fell into disuse. The Logan Milling Company was organ- ized in 1881, and in the spring of 1882, the Lock Mill was com- pletely remodeled and supplied with full roller machinery for the manufacture of first-class grades of flour. The mill operated on an extensive scale, and has a capacity of 125 barrels per day, all of which is disposed of locally-the largest local trade of any mill in the city, and one of the largest in Indiana. The gentlemen in- terested in the enterprise are well known business men, and as a firm they have much more than a local reputation in business circles. The present officers of the company are J. N. Booth, presi- dent; John T. Obenchain, vice-president; and S. B. Bowyer, secretary and treasurer.
Oil Mill .- The manufacture of linseed oil is another of the most important branches of industry to be found within the limits of Logansport. This enterprise is conducted by Messrs. Hardy & Metzgar, and was established in the year 1867. The mill is situ- ated on the Hamilton Race, south of the Wabash River, and is kept running constantly, requiring the work of fourteen men. The mill building is a brick structure, and just opposite, connected by a con- venient bridge, is located a large stone ware-house, where are stored thousands of bushels of flax-seed used in the manufacture of oil, and at no time, probably, can be found less than 6,000 or 7,000 bushels ready for use. Messrs. Hardy & Metzgar use annually 175,000 bushels of flax-seed, from which they derive over 6,500 barrels of linseed oil and 3,500 tons of oil cake, both of which are classed as number one, and find ready sale at all times. The firm purchase their seed principally in Iowa, Minnesota, and the North- west, and ship mainly to the cities of St. Louis, Cincinnati, Chi- cago and Peoria. The gentlemen comprising the firm are shrewd
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