USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 52
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The officers of the company are as follow : E. D. Johnston, president and general manager; George C. Hicks, Jr., vice-president and engineer : J. M. Shade, secretary and treasurer; William C. Basse, superintendent. The company employs an average of two hundred and fifty men, practically all of whom are skilled mechanics.
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OTHER BLOWER CONCERNS.
In 1893 a group of business men of the city organized the Connersville Blower Company, and from a very small beginning it has grown steadily until it is now producing blowers for all parts of the world. The company has several large buildings equipped with the latest improved machinery and is in a position to manufacture all kinds of water, air, gas and vacuum pumps.
The United Vacuum Appliance Company was organized in 1910 for the manufacture and sale of vacuum cleaners. The company makes exclusive use of the blowers of the Connersville Blower Company and has built up an extensive business during the six years it has been in operation. It manufactures a number of sizes and designs, which find a ready market for use in factories, public buildings, business blocks, theatres, residences, etc.
THE OLD ROOTS' WOOLEN-MILL.
The Connersville Woolen Mill, a very important industry between 1847 and 1875, was established in the former year by A. & H. P. Roots. The senior partner, A. Roots, retired in 1852 and was succeeded by P. H. & F. M. Roots, who ran the business until 187r, when the name of the firm was changed to P. H. Roots & Company. Early in 1875 P. H. Roots withdrew all his interests in the business and Charles P. Roots, his son, became owner and business manager and the firm was then styled Roots & Company. The products of the factory-flannels, robes, hosiery, jeans, waterproofs and worsted bagging-had a market throughout the United States. Forty per- sons on an average were employed the year around. It was estimated that for twenty-eight years an annual average of 150,000 pounds of wool was consumed, and the products during the same period were valued at $4,500,000. Fire destroyed the factory on June 13, 1875.
ANOTHER . DEPARTED INDUSTRY.
In 1873 the Western Hosiery Mill was established by Leonard Brothers, with W. H. Caswell as superintendent. In the beginning two machines were used, which were operated at the superintendent's house. In 1881 Superin- tendent Caswell obtained a patent for driving knitting and other machinery by power and applied the same to the Lamb machines then in use. From June, 1882, to October, 1883, the firm was Chenoweth & Ralph. In the latter month Ralph purchased the interest of his partner and a joint-stock
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company was organized, with J. N. Huston as president ; Melvin Ellis, secre- tary; A. J. Ralph, manager and W. H. Caswell, superintendent. A. J. Ralph sold his interest to Hub Thomas and retired from the mill in 1884. The mill found employment for upwards of one hundred female operatives. The concern finally failed and its building is a part of the Connersville Ice Company's plant.
BEGINNING OF THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY.
In May, 1865, Connersville witnessed the inception of the manufactur- ing of furniture-an industry which has since become so extensive as to command a market in all the principal cities of the United States. In the year mentioned, Warren Wanee, a carpenter, and A. C. Cooley, a cabinet- maker, joined their business interests and began the manufacture of furni- ture, but in the fall of the same year the partnership was dissolved. Shortly afterwards A. C. Cooley, George W. Gregg and William Newkirk formed a company for the manufacture of furniture and continued together until 1869. In addition to the factory they had a retail business in the town. When they dissolved Newkirk had possession of the factory building and machinery and Cooley and Gregg had the retail property .. Some six months later Gregg sold his interest to Alexander Morrison, and in 1870 Cooley, Mor- rison & Company began operations as a furniture manufacturing concern on Eastern avenue, where they continued until July of the same year, then moving to Central avenue and there continued until 1874, when the concern was merged into a stock company.
The Cooley-Morrison furniture factory was on the corner of Seventh and Mason streets and was a substantial four-story brick building. Curtis Wright was president of the company and J. T. Rittenhouse acted as secre- tary and treasurer. They employed about one hundred hands and manufac- tured all kinds of household furniture.
In 1869 William Newkirk formed a partnership with Herman Munk in the manufacture of furniture. In 1874 Newkirk sold to James E. Roberts and the firm became Munk & Roberts. The factory was located in the north- western outskirts of the city, along the track of the White Water Valley railroad. The company employed, on an average, one hundred and fifty workmen. Newkirk, on selling his interests to James E. Roberts in 1874, formed the Indiana Furniture Company, with the following named incorpor- ators : William Newkirk, J. B. McFarlan, John W. Ross, J. M. Wilson, B. F. Claypool, G. C. and F. A. Hanson. The officers were W. Newkirk,
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president; W. H. Wherett, secretary and treasurer. The original stock of $50,000 was later increased to $100,000. The factory was located at the south end of Eastern avenue. A second building was erected in 1876 and a further addition made in 1878. The manufactured articles were confined exclusively to aslı, walnut and cherry sets.
The Indiana Furniture Company continued in business until 1908, although for some time prior to that date it had not been doing much busi- ness. In 1908 the Krell Auto Grand Piano Company acquired the entire plant of the Indiana Furniture Company and has been engaged in the manu- facture of pianos and piano players since that year.
Edwin B. Pfau has been the general manager of the piano factory since it came under the present management.
CONNERSVILLE FURNITURE COMPANY.
In 1869 John Wanee started a coffin factory on the site of the present Connersville Furniture Company. Subsequently J. T. Parry was associated with him in the enterprise. In October, 1874, J. H. Bailey and Samuel Beck acquired an interest in the business, and early in 1875 a stock company was formed with a capital of $57,000. The new firm at once constructed a five-story brick building, forty by eighty feet, at a cost of $13,700. In May, 1879, part of the factory was destroyed by fire and as a consequence about ninety employees were thrown out of employment. The estimated loss was in the neighborhood of $70,000, the company having 7,000 coffins in stock at the time. The firm went out of business with the fire and three years later the Connersville Furniture Company was organized and occupied the site.
The Connersville Furniture Company was organized as a joint-stock company in February, 1882, with the following officers: Francis M. Roots, president; Charles Mount, vice-president; N. W. Wright, secretary; E. V. Hawkins, factory superintendent. The first factory was six stories high, and in the early days gave employment to one hundred and fifty workmen. On January 30, 1884, a fire occurred which did considerable damage. The insurance adjustment resulted in the payment of $14,500.
The original capital was $55,000, which was subsequently increased to $75,000. The rapid growth of the company's business demanded additional space and capital, and in 1911 the latter was increased to $200,000 and a build- ing of solid brick, eighty-six by two hundred fifteen feet, erected. The company employ two hundred twenty-five men. The company's products are
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shipped to all important centers in America. The officers of the company are: E. V. Hawkins, president; M. L. Hawkins, vice-president; E. P. Hawkins, secretary, and F. J. Snider, treasurer. E. V. Hawkins is the only one of the original incorporators now with the company.
MANUFACTURE OF CARRIAGES AND AUTOMOBILES.
Until about 1850 but little was done in the way of carriage building. In the year mentioned the firm of Drew & McCracken began the manufac- ture of buggies and carriages on Central avenue, near Sixth street, but their operations were of short duration. In 1851 William P. and Andrew Apple- gate began the same branch of business on Central avenue, near Fifth street. The first kept running until 1870, when the first-named partner died, and the plant was sold to Henry & Swikley, and they in turn after a short time sold to J. B. McFarlan. While the Applegate plant was running about fifteen hands were employed during the year.
In 1851 the firm of Ware & Veatch opened a carriage factory on Sixth street, and continued in business for several years. Later, Charles Veatch became the proprietor and he operated the business until 1857. In the latter year J. B. McFarlan established a carriage and buggy factory under the name of the McFarlan Carriage Company. The old Veatch place fell into his hands and was the place of the beginning of his extensive operations, the buildings being on Sixth street and Central avenue. The company, comprising J. B., C. E., J., W. W., and J. E. McFarlan, was formed in 1883, and at that time employed about seventy-five men throughout the year. The company continued the manufacture of vehicles until the automobile industry forced them into that field.
The McFarlan Motor Company is an outgrowth of the carriage industry and was the pioneer in the automobile industry in Connersville. In 1909 it placed on the market the first medium-priced six-cylinder automobile in the United States. The company manufactures only high-priced pleasure cars and special closed bodies: they also make some fire trucks, hose and ladder wagons, patrol wagons, funeral cars, hospital ambulances, limousines and other cars for special purposes.
CONNERSVILLE BUGGY COMPANY.
- The Connersville Buggy Company, organized in December, 1883, was first located on the corner of Eastern avenue and Charles street, the premises
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being formerly occupied as a planing-mill. The first officers of the com- pany were J. N. Huston, president ; J. D. Larned, treasurer ; L. T. Bower, secretary ; John W. Pohlman, superintendent of manufacture. Within a short time Bower became superintendent and so continued until May, 1892, when he became president, continuing in this capacity until his death in 1912. In 1892, when Bower became president, Scott Michener was elected secretary- treasurer, a position he filled until the death of Bower in 1912. Mr. Michener then became president, his brother, E. M. Michener, becoming secretary-treas- urer at the same time. . This plant, like all vehicle factories in the country, was practically forced out of business by the automobile industry. In 1914 the company entered into a contract with the Van Auken Electric Car Com- pany, of Detroit, for the manufacture of electric trucks. They manufactured a number of the trucks in that year, Harry K. Tarkington being superintendent of construction. During 1915 and. 1916 the company manufactured automo- bile bodies. In January, 1917, the company was absorbed by the Dan Patch Novelty Company, the latter company occupying the extensive plant of the old buggy company.
TRIPLE SIGN COMPANY.
Manufacturing companies come and go in Connersville and one that was a flourishing industry for several years, but has come and gone, bore the unique title of the Triple Sign Company. This company was not exactly a company, but rather a voluntary association of two business men of Con- nersville, Theodore Heinemann and Francis T. Roots. In the latter part of the eighties Heinemann secured a patent on an advertising sign of an unusual character, now known all over the civilized world, and in 1888 associated Francis T. Roots with himself in the manufacture of the sign. They continued in business until the death of Roots in 1908, the other mem- ber of the firm disposing of the business at the same time because of his health.
During the twenty years that the sign was being manufactured in Con- nersville it did a business in excess of a million dollars. . Roots secured the orders and Heinemann had charge of the manufacturing end. At one time the firm employed fifty men in order to take care of the large amount of business which was secured through the efforts of Roots. One order alone -to Lever Brothers, Limited, of England, soap manufacturers-amounted to fifty thousand dollars.' Another heavy user of the sign was a well-known soap manufacturer in this country. The signs of this local concern found
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their way into all corners of the world and were printed in scores of differ- ent languages.
With the dissolution of the firm in 1908 the business was sold to the Dan Patch Novelty Company of Connersville, but the new firm did not meet with the success which attended the efforts of the old firm. At the present time very few of the signs are being manufactured. But the history of the industrial life of Connersville would not be complete without an account of a business which once was the best advertisement that the city enjoyed.
THE ANSTED INDUSTRIES.
The next stage in the industrial history of Connersville opens in the early nineties, when E. W. Ansted established a spring factory in the city. When he started his factory here in 1891 only vehicle springs were made and it was not until four years later that the manufacture of axles was added. The Ansted Spring and Axle Company, the first of the many industrial plants established in Connersville by E. W. Ansted, has grown to be one of the largest plants of its kind in the United States. Starting with this one plant Mr. Ansted has established a series of industrial concerns in the city, all of which at the present time are correlated with the Lexington-Howard Com- pany.
The story of E. W. Ansted's connection with the industrial life of Con- nersville is the story of a man of unusual business ability. During the twenty- six years he has been connected with the city he has undoubtedly done more for its industrial life than any one other man. For several years after coming to the city he devoted all his time to the manufacture of axles and springs for vehicles. It was not until 1898 that he began to extend his operations. In that year he organized the Central Manufacturing Company for the manu- facture of vehicle wood work. In 1903 this plant began the manufacture of automobile bodies for the Cadillac Motor Car Company. In 1907 the company began to manufacture metal bodies for automobiles and is still engaged in that line of manufacture. They have added building after building in order to meet the demands of their increasing business and are now making metal automobile and buggy bodies, and selling only to manufacturers. The plant absorbed the Connersville Wheel Company in 1915. They make all the bodies for the Lexington-Howard Company and for a number of other automobile factories. It might be mentioned that the Connersville Wheel Company had a contract with the Empire Automobile Company of Indianapolis to construct
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cars for that concern and was thus engaged from 1912 until absorbed by the Central Manufacturing Company in the latter part of 1915.
The third industry started by Mr. Ansted was the Indiana Lamp Com- pany which was incorporated in 1904 for the manufacture of automobile and vehicle lamps of all kinds. The lamps are sold through jobbers and automo- bile supply houses throughout the United States. In 1913 Mr. Ansted estab- lished the Lexington-Howard Company, which succeeded to the manufacture of Lexington cars, commenced by an earlier and less successful company in 1908. During the four years which this company has been in operation it has built up a business which has made the name of the Lexington car known all over the United States. This company, as has been stated, is the center of the group of Ansted industries in Connersville. The Lexington-Howard Company assembles the car, the parts of which are manufactured by the subsidiary plants composing the group. All the iron castings for the Lex- ington are made by the Hoosier Casting Company; the springs and axles come from the Spring and Axle Company ; the tops from the Rex Manu- facturing: Company, while the lamps are the product of the Indiana Lamp Company and the hoods and fenders from the Metal Auto Parts Company, of Indianapolis, another Ansted company. Thus, many of the parts which go into the Lexington car are manufactured by the Ansted factories in Con- nersville. It is said there is no automobile that is so wholly under the super- vision of one man as is the Lexington car.
The increased demand for the Lexington car during the past year made it necessary for all of the Ansted factories to increase their output. It was not so long ago that the Lexington-Howard Company was turning out only one car a day and two years ago the company was only producing an average of six cars daily. During 1916 the plant was enlarged so that it is now possible to produce twenty-five cars daily and the company plans to produce at least seven thousand cars during 1917. Since the Lexington-Howard Company was organized in 1908, E. W. Ansted has been endeavoring to build up such a system of auxiliary plants in Connersville as would enable him to produce a high-grade automobile at the lowest possible. cost of production. It was in accordance with this plan that he organized the Hoosier Casting Company in May, 1915, with a capital stock of $35,000, since increased to $100,000. This company is headed by W. H. DeVaney, who was formerly mechanical and production engineer with the Interstate Foundry of Cleveland, Ohio. The company makes automobile, stationary and marine-engine castings and a general line of light and medium weight gray iron castings for all pur- poses. The company bought the plant and building, sixty by one hundred
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and thirty feet, of the old Connersville Safe and Lock Company. All the old machinery was cleared out, and a new equipment consisting of a cupola, core of ovens, pattern shop and all molding accessories. At the end of seven months they built a brick-and-frame addition, sixty-six by seventy-five feet, and at the end of fourteen months from date of organization, the present building was started, which covers the entire square from Seventh to Eighteenth street, on the east side of Columbia avenue. The company now employ over two hundred men in the factory, exclusive of the office force and management. The products of the company are shipped to many important points in the United States, including North Tonawanda, New York; Detroit, Poughkeepsie, New York, and Chicago.
SOME OTHER LOCAL INDUSTRIES.
Another flourishing industry of Connersville is the manufacture of leather specialties. This industry is in charge of the George R. Carter Company and has been in operation in the city since 1903. It had previously been located at Williamsburg, Ohio, where it was established in 1897. The company manu- factures gimps, welts, automobile top straps, cut leathers of all kinds to patterns for the carriage and automobile trades and furnishing special leather designs of every description. They do not cure or tan the leather, but confine their attention to the manufacture of products from the finished leather.
In 1911 the H. Cain Company began the manufacture of steel tank and troughs in Connersville, although the company had been in business since 1895, in general tinning and sheet metal work. In igII they installed machinery for the manufacture of steel tanks and troughs of all sizes and shapes and are now turning out several thousand each year. They make water- ing, storage, tower, dipping and wagon tanks, and poultry and stock watering troughs. They also install furnaces, do all kinds of galvanized-iron work and take contracts for metal roofing and eaves-troughing.
There are two large flour mills in the city, the McCann Milling Com- pany and the Uhl-Snider Milling Company. Milling is one of the oldest industries of the city and has existed practically from the beginning of the county.
George M. Fries is engaged in the manufacture of drain tile and has one of the best equipped plants in the state. His plant was totally destroyed in the flood of 1913, but he immediately rebuilt and is now operating on a larger scale than before the flood. He was the originator of the State Asso- ciation of Drain Tile Manufacturers. G. P. Ariens & Son have an extensive brick plant adjoining the city.
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There are four lumber companies in the city: The Connersville Lumber Company, Fayette Lumber Company, Thomas H. Stoops Lumber Company and W. H. Sherry & Son.
MINOR . INDUSTRIES.
Ice cream and artificial ice are produced by the Bell Ice Cream Company. The Carnation Support Company manufactures and sells wire supports for flowers and also is engaged in jobbing in all kinds of floral supplies. The Connersville Ice Company manufactures distilled artificial ice and ice cream. J. L. Heinemann has been engaged in the manufacture of mirrors for nearly a quarter of a century and has one of the busiest plants in the city. He finds a ready market for his output in the furniture factories of Connersville and through the Lexington-Howard Company.
CONNERSVILLE BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
There have been enumerated more than a score of the larger industrial concerns of the city, but in addition to these are a number of other concerns engaged in manufacturing on a smaller scale. The city has its full share of bakers, confectioners, jewelers, milliners, monument makers, plumbers, photographers, tailors, tinners and wagon makers. There are the usual number of department stores, grocery stores, dry-goods stores, hardware stores, drug stores, and the like, all of which are enumerated in the appended directory, which includes the various business and professional interests of Connersville in 1917.
Ackerman, C. C., jeweler.
Adams Express Company, Z. O. Mullane, agent.
Ainsley, Joseph, tailor.
Allison, Roscoe, tinner.
American Express Company, H. E. Suhre, agent.
Ansted Spring and Axle Company.
Ashworth, J. L., drugs.
Auditorium The, William Shea, manager.
Ayers, Mrs. Albert, restaurant.
Ayers, John, second-hand goods. Ball, Isabel, librarian.
Barker, V. J., hardware and implements.
Barrows, A. E. Company, insurance.
CLARENCE ROOTS.
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Bell Ice Cream Company, Albert Bell. Berg, Charles, photographer. Blieden, Harry, clothing and shoes. Blum, W. L., meats. Booher, Irvin E., physician. Brand, Theodore, harness. Braun & Kehl, clothing. Broaddus & Florea, attorneys. Cain, Harry, tinner. Carlos, John F., grain and seeds.
Carter, George R., Company, leather goods.
Carver, C. H., insurance. Cassidy, E. P., life insurance. Central Manufacturing Company, vehicle bodies. Central State Bank. Chance Bros, grocers.
Ching Tong, laundry. Chitwood, F. A., physician.
Chrisman, A. L., attorney and real estate.
Chrismer European Hotel, J. A. Chrismer, proprietor.
Clark,. J. H., physician. Clifford-Mathewson Company, insurance.
Cochran, Murlin, insurance.
Conner, Alonzo, attorney. Connersville Blower Company.
Connersville Commercial Club. Connersville Commercial School, Irene Durham.
Connersville Dry Cleaning Company, S. E. DeHaven, proprietor. Connersville Examiner. Connersville Furniture Company.
Connersville Ice Company. Connersville Lumber Company. Connersville Mirror Works. Connersville Publishing Company.
Connersville Taxi Company.
Connersville Times. Connersville Vulcanizing Company. (36)
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Conner & Lewis, hardware and implements.
Conwell, LaFayette, architect. Cooley, A. C., photographer. Cooley, Frank M., grocer. Corner Drug Store. Courier Printing Company.
Crescent Enterprise Laundry Company.
Dan Patch Novelty Company.
Dillman, L. D., physician. Doenges, Simon, postmaster.
Dorris, Andrew, confectioner.
Douglass, George, shoes.
Drebin, Myer, clothing and shoes.
Dudley, baker. Elliott, R. H., physician.
Evening News, Times-News Company.
Farmers & Merchants Trust Company.
Fayette Lumber Company.
Fayette Manufacturing Company, confectioners.
Fayette National Bank.
Fayette Savings and Loan Association.
Citizens Telephone Company.
Fearis, J. H., insurance.
Fick, A. C., furniture.
First National Bank. Fletcher, A. J., physician.
Frost, Goble & Himelick, attorneys.
Gardner, Bruce C., photographer.
General Repair Machine Company.
German Building and Loan Association.
Grand Hotel, Mrs. Albert Ayers, proprietor.
Green, L. E. and D. R., drugs. Gregg, William M., monuments. Griffin, H. M., architect. Guttman, Harry, furniture.
Hackman-Heeb Company, furniture. Hahn's Accessory Company, garage and accessories. Hamilton, Jesse & Son, transfer. Hankins, John S., attorney.
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Harper, E. E., horse and auto livery. Harr, J. C., veterinary surgeon. Hassett, Michael, sporting goods. Hassler, F. J., grocer. Heinemann, Charles, grocer. Helvie & Dragoo, veterinary surgeons. Henry, O. M., harness and buggies. Hilbert, J. H. wagonmaker. Holberg, M. & Company, clothing. Home Loan Association. Hoosier Casting Company. Huxtable, F. W., laundry. Hydro-Electric Light and Power Company. Ideal Candy Shop. Indiana Lamp Company. Inland Motor Sales Corporation, automobiles.
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