USA > Indiana > Huntington County > History of Huntington County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 38
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429
CITY OF HUNTINGTON.
E. G. Thomas elected at the organization of the Lodge and Mil- ton Slates, elected at the end of J. M. Hatfield's second term as Chancellor Commander, Hatfield being already a Past Chancellor. The Lodge has been represented in the Grand Lodge by the fol- Past Chancellors: In 1882. by E. G. Thomas; in 1883, by W. A. Jones; in 1884, by J. M. Hatfield; in 1885, by D. C. Anderson; in 1886, by John I Dille; and for representation for the session of. 1887, L. T. Bagley has been elected.
The lodge is now strong in membership, its roster containing the names of many leading citizens, is out of debt and has & little hard cash laid by for a rainy day, while the castle hall now occupied, at the corner of Market and Jefferson Streets, is one of the most elegant lodge rooms in the State.
On April 20, 1883, a number of the members assisted by Mes- dames Emmet Shanks, as Calanthe, and A. A. Adams as Nermion, and Master George Adams, gave a rendition of the Dream of Damon and Pythias, to a very large Huntington audience. Much interest was created in the order by the acceptable manner in which the play was given.
From the membership of the lodge Huntington Division No. 16, of the Uniform Rank, was organized January 30, 1884. Gen. James R. Carnahan being the instituting officer. This branch of the order has added much to the prosperity of the lodge in this place.
The lodge has had a fortunate career in its six years' history, so far no death having occurred among the members, although two, viz .: J. N. Gesamon and E. A. Ramsey have followed their wives to the grave. A number of the members have learned the value of a brother's watchful care while languishing upon beds of sickness, and the flood sufferer has been made to know the effect of the teachings of the great principles of Friendship, Charity and Benevolence.
After the location of the Chicago & Atlantic Railway shops, and a division headquarters of the road at this city in 1882-3, flourishing lodges of the order of Railway Conductors, and of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Brotherhood of Rail- way Brakemen were organized by the employees of the Chicago & Atlantic and the Wabash Railways.
The different organizations are well maintained and supported, and are the means of affecting much good to the members thereof.
There are several other societies in the city organized for benevolent and other purposes, notably the
German Benevolent Society,
The Huntington Turnveren,
And others of only local interest.
The Press .- The first newspaper printed in Huntington was the Republican Bugle, in 1847. It was published by Thomas Smith, who did all the work himself. In politics it was Demo-
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
cratic, and its legitimate successor is the present Huntington Democrat.
The paper was printed on one of the old-style Franklin presses.
In 1859, Alexander C. Thompson, then editor and proprietor of the paper, changed its name to the Huntington Democrat, which it still retains.
In 1860, Samuel F. Winters and William C. Kocher purchased the Democrat and became editors.
Mr. Kocher retired in 1862.
Mr. Winters was a clear, forcible writer and gave tone and character to the local Democratic organization during his con- nection with the paper.
In 1877, William J. Craig, the present editor of the Indian- apolis Sentinel, and William J. Hilligas, purchased the paper of Winters, and continued its proprietors until 1884, Mr. Hilligas having the active management, when the interest of Mr. Craig was sold to Col. I. B. McDonald, of Whitty County, and in 1885 the whole paper was sold to Messrs. William R. Emery and Benjamin F. Biliter, the present proprietors.
The paper has a circulation of 1,700; is the recognized organ of its political friends; its editors and proprietors are young men of good social standing and influence, and the paper is bright and newsy.
The Indiana Herald was founded by Isaac De Long and Alexander De Long in 1848, the first issue being in July of that. year.
The De Longs were whigs in politics and their paper advo- cated the political views of that party.
Isaac De Long soon retired from the active management of the paper and the entire control of the same was taken charge of by his son A. W. De Long, who continued to own and edit it until 1869, a period of twenty-one years, covering a period of great political excitement.
Mr. De Long's political writings upon the topics of the day were able, original and pointed. He stated his convictions in plain language and without equivocation, moved by neither fear, favor nor affection.
He is yet a resident of the city, and although not connected with the press, his pungent sentences are often seen in the city papers.
In 1869, U. D. Cole and M. G. Main became proprietors, Mr. Main retiring a few months afterward and Mr. John F. Moses taking his interest. Messrs. Cole & Moses continued to manage the paper until 1875, when Mr. De Long, assisted by Alfred Moore, Esq., again took charge of it. This firm continued until October 1878, when Charles F. Filson took Mr. Moore's place, and the paper continued in their hands until in 1882, when it was sold to Hon. James B. Kenner and Alonzo and O. E. Mohler, who continued to own and edit it until the present stock com-
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CITY OF HUNTINGTON.
pany was formed, Mr. O. E. Mohler having the active man- agement.
In May, 1887, the Indiana Herald was consolidated with the News-Express and the name changed to the Huntington Herald.
The consolidated paper is owned by a stock company.
Mr. Thad Butler, of the News-Express, and (). E. Mohler, being the principal editors and managers.
The Lime City News was established by W. T. Cutchall, Esq., in 1878. It was devoted to local interests, was for a time inde- pendent in politics, but afterwards afiliated with the National Greenback Party.
In 1883 it passed into the hands of D. B. Hoover, Esq., and was continued as a local Independent paper, until January 1, 1886, when Mr. Hoover and Thad Butler, Esq., publisher and proprietor of the Andrew's Express; consolidated the two papers under the name of the News-Express, and issued the same from the News' office in Huntington.
During the political campaign of 1886, the News-Express took an active part in the local politics of the county as a republican paper.
In May, 1887, the paper was consolidated with the Indiana Herald. Mr. Butler, its principal editor, taking the same posi- tion in the consolidated paper.
The consolidated paper has by far the largest circulation of any paper heretofore published in the city, and is issued in daily and weekly forms.
No abler local paper is published in northern Indiana.
Banks .- The first banking institution in the city was the " Huntington County Bank," which began business in 1854 with a capital of $50,000. The principal part of the stock was held by James R. Weldon, of Mansfield, Ohio. The resident stockholders were John Roche, Samuel H. Purviance, Samuel Moore and Benjamin Orton. John Roche was President, James R. Weldon, Cashier, and and Thomas Roche, Assistant Cashier. The circulation was about $45,000. It did a general banking busi - ness until the financial crash in 1857, when it closed its business , redeeming its outstanding circulation in full, dollar for dollar.
The First National Bank was organized September 26th, 1863, and chartered December 12th, following. The incorporators were Charles B. Culver, Samuel H. Purviance, William McGrew, John R. Coffroth, John Roche and Thomas S. Stanfield. The capital stock was $50,000. Samuel H. Purviance was elected President, a position he held until his death, in April, 1873. William McGrew was the first Cashier, filling that position from the organization of the bank until 1878, when he was chosen President, and is still at the head of the bank. Joseph W. Pur- viance became President in 1873, and held the office until 1878. The capital stock was increased in 1871 to $100,000. In 1883 the bank was re-organized, its first charter having expired. Mr. McGrew was continued as President; his daughter, Mrs. Frank
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
Dick, was selected for Cashier, a position she has ably and suc- cessfully filled ever since, and Mr. B. Eisenhouer was made Vice President; he, Mr. McGrew, and Mrs. Dick, having the active management of the bank. The bank is one of the best managed of the National Banks, has undoubted credit, and does a general banking business throughout the United States, Europe and Canada.
The Citizens' Bank was organized September 1, 1871, with the following stockholders: Frederick Dick, Enos T. Taylor, U. D. Cole, James B. Cole, Charles H. Nix, A. W. DeLong, Matthias Ludwig, and John Morgan.
Fredrick Dick, Enos T. Taylor and John Morgan were chosen the first President, Vice President and Cashier, respectively, posi- tions which they still occupy.
Since 1877 the capital stock of the bank has all been held by Frederick Dick and Enos T. Taylor. The original capital stock was $50,000, but this has been largely increased by the addition of surplus earnings. The financial standing of the institution is above question, and its management is careful, energetic and successful. The bank does a large business and is deservedly popular in the community.
The Manufacturing Interests of the city have contributed no inconsiderable part to the general prosperity.
As the County of Huntington was originally heavily timbered with the largest growth and best qualities of hard wood, lumber and timber in various manufactured forms, have been the princi- cipal resource of manufacturing enterprise.
Probably the pioneer effort in exporting lumber from Hun- tington, was made by the late John Lewis, who is said to have shipped lumber to an eastern market, via the Wabash & Erie Canal, as early as 1847-8, the amount shipped however was not large.
John Kenower begun the lumber trade in 1852 and has been engaged in it almost continuously ever since. His first efforts were made in the black walnut lumber trade, then first becoming an important item in the trade. He continued to make a spec- ialty of this branch of the lumber trade, until 1875, during which time he bought and shipped an immense quantity of that kind of lumber, amounting at times to 1,500,000 feet per year.
Mr. Kenower did not confine himself to the black walnut lum- ber trade alone, but in 1865, in connection with George S. Brinker- hoff, he built a sawmill, near where his mill now stands, purchasing Mr. Brinkerhoff's interest two years afterward, and with a slight intermission, continuing the business until the present time.
In 1868 a planing mill was added, and in 1878 new machinery, and again in 1880, other machinery was added, which has been still further increased, as the wants of the business required it.
The firm is now John Kenower & Son, and they are justly entitled to the large share of business they receive.
The stave and heading factory of Col. C. E. Briant in the
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CITY OF HUNTINGTON.
east end of the city, was located here in 1870, and has been in almost constant operation ever since, at times running two sets of hands, keeping the factory in operation day and night. The capital invested is $40,000, and the annual output 6,000,000 staves and 1,000,000 set of heading, the manufacture of which gives employment to seventy-five workmen. The manufactured material is shipped to Buffalo, N. Y., on the east, to Lincoln, Neb., on the west, and to St. Louis, Mo., and Sherman, Texas, in the south, including all the principal intermediate points east, west and south.
In 1882 a saw mill was erected in connection with the other factories, with a capacity of 2,500,000 feet of lumber per year, which gives constant employment to fifteen men.
And in 1884 the bending factory was established, with a cap- acity of 8,000 feet of lumber per day, which is manufactured into all kinds of rims for buggies and wagons, and is operated with a working force of twenty-five men.
The whole establishments are under the active personal sup- ervision of the proprietor, Col. Cyrus E. Briant, and is the most important manufacturing industry of the city.
The plow handle and barrel hoop factory of G. V. Griffith & Son, is located on the south side ofthe Wabash Railway track in the east part of town.
This industry was established in 1869, by the senior Mr. Griffith, was removed to its present site and enlarged in 1875, and has lately been supplied with a band saw mill, the only one in use in the county.
The annual output of manufactured articles is 1,500,000 of barrel hoops, and 250,000 plow handles.
With the exception of the saw mill, all the machinery used in the factory is the invention of Mr. G. V. Griffith. The business gives employment to forty men.
The lumber yard and planing mill of Slack & Ayres was established in 1875, and is located on the banks of the river in the east part of the city.
The firm is composed of James R. Siack and Edwin B. Ayres.
All kinds of wooden building material is manufactured, and a supply of lumber sufficient for the local market is kept con- stantly on hand.
The latest and best kinds of wood working machinery is used, and a constantly increasing trade has rewarded the efforts of the proprietors.
Mr. D. L. Martin & Son operate a lumber yard and wood work- ing establishment in the east part of the city.
All kinds of building material for wood buildings are manu- factured and kept on hand.
They are also making a specialty of a wire and slat picket fence, having lately fitted up machinery for manufacturing the same to a large extent.
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
Pump Factory. - Jacob Binlley's pump factory has for many years been in active operation in the city.
The trade is confined to the local demand, but that is kept constantly supplied with a superior article.
Spoke and Bentwood Factory. - This establishment is located on the south side of the river and was first operated by the late Henry Drover, in 1868.
The raw material is supplied from the east, of hard wood native timber, and is manufactured into all kinds of spokes and bentwood materials.
The value of the annual output is about $40,000. This is one of the solid establishments of the city, is owned by John J. Young, Esq., and gives work to a considerable number of em- ployees.
Furniture Manufactory. - This business was established in 1846 by John Kenower. In 1863, he took his brother A. Q. Kenower into partnership, who in 1869 became sole proprietor, and has continued to operate it ever since.
The establishment is supplied with the latest improved machin- ery and gives employment to an average of ten men.
The material is obtained from the native woods. The trade is confined to the local demand. The value of the annual out- put being from $15,000 to $20,000.
Coopering. - This industry was established in Huntington by Robert Black upward of thirty years ago, and is still carried on by him at his factory in the west part of the city.
The material is found in the county. The business has been principally confined to pork cooperage.
Wagons, Carriages and Buggies. - Henry Beaver is the pio- neer wagon maker, begining that line of business thirty-five years ago in connection with his blacksmith shop, and has continued that line of business successfully from thence to the present time; giving the business his own personal supervision. Messrs. Hall & Hendricks started their carriage and wagon establishment in 1869. They make a speciality of hand made vehicles, strong, durable and elegant, giving employment to an average of five men.
The Craumer Carriage Co. was first started in Andrews in 1883; removed to this city in 1886. They do a wholesale and re- tail business in all kinds of wheeled vehicles. Have a capacity of 200 carriages per year. The proprietors are Messrs D. M. Craumer & Sons.
Heading Factory. - In August, 1882, George Myers and Eli E. Allen, engaged in this business, confining their business solely to the manufacture of heading setts for the cooperage trade.
The business has been fairly renumerative, and the proprie- tors are gradually increasing their stock and their facilities for working the same. They are located on the south side of the river, just east of the Chicago & Atlantic Railway tracks.
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CITY OF HUNTINGTON.
Mills and Foundries. - The first blacksmith shop in Hunting- ton was built and carried on by William G. Johnson. It was of logs, and stood on the rear end of the jail yard lot on the banks of Flint Creek. This shop was built in 1835, and to it was added a foundry on a small scale. An open fire was built of charcoal, and a blast supplied by two bellows of the ordinary kind used by blacksmiths, and worked by horse-power, each alternately, so that a constant draft was kept up.
By this fire from 200 to 300 pounds of ore could be melted at a time.
The modeling and moulding was doubtless equally primitive.
In 1858, Morris Drummond and Avery Drummond, erected a foundry on Lot 55, which they afterward sold to P. W. Moffitt, who conducted the business with different partners until 1869, when he formed a partnership with James McCurdy and M. V. B. Gotschall, and the business greatly enlarged, and the new brick buildings erected on Lot 54. Gotschall and McCurdy afterward retired from the firm and Thomas Roche became a member, and the new firm engaged largely in the manufacture of stoves and machinery.
In 1883, the whole plant passed into the hands of the present proprietor, E. G. Clayton, Esq., who has added greatly to the facilities for turning off work and largely increased the business of the concern.
After selling their foundry on Lot 55, to Moffitt, the Drum- mond Bros. erected another foundry on the banks of the canal, at the crossing of Warren Street, which they continued to oper- ate by themselves, and by other parties in connection with them, until 1822, when they were succeeded by Messrs. Cook and Speaker who operated the foundry, engaging principally in the manu- facture of plows, until 1881, when the plant was sold to Messrs. Dorn & Gemmer.
These gentlemen have added largely to the business, and in the spring of 1887 built a large and commodious foundry on the banks of Flint Creek, in the northeast part of the city, and have added new and improved machinery and facilities to meet the wants of their increasing business.
The old foundry on Warren Street has been refitted by Messrs. Newman & Voght, two young men of enterprise and ability, and new machinery added in the early part of the present year, 1887, and already command a fair share of the business in their line.
Flouring Mills. - The first mill in Huntington was owned and operated by William G. Johnson. It was a " corn cracker, " and was situated on the rear end of the jail lot over the creek.
It was a small affair and was in the basement of the pro- prietor's blacksmith shop. It was run by water power furnished by a dam over Flint Creek, about where the First National bank building now stands. This mill was soon after enlarged so as to
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
grind wheat, and was the first "grist mill " in this part of the country. This was in 1837, and was operated in this way until 1849, when Johnson tore away the old shop, foundry and mill, and built a complete flouring mill on the same site, with three runs of stones, which was operated by different parties until 1861, when it was destroyed by fire.
The Huntington Flouring Mills were built in 1861, by James Taylor, at a cost of $15,000. The mills passed through several hands until they were purchased by the present pro- prietors, Arnold, Thomas & Co., 1870, who have made important additions to them and added new and improved machinery, making a specialty of "New Process Flour."
They do a large and increasing business.
The City Mills were built in 1869, by Uriah Fink; they were built for custom work, and have always commanded a good business. They are now in charge of Mr. John Minnick, who has put in additional facilities, and manufactures "New Process Flour" for the city trade as well as attending to the large custom trade that the mills have built up.
Marble Works. - The establishment now owned and operated by N. A. Myres, near the river on Jefferson Street, was estab- lished in 1851, by Augustus Kellog, afterward passing into the hands of A. D. Turtlott, and from him to the present owner. The output is $3,000 worth per year, and is increasing.
Jacob Becker & Son's marble works are situated on the banks of the old canal on North Jefferson Street; were established in 1872 and have always received a fair share of the public pat- ronage.
White Lime .- The white lime trade of the city has become one of its most important industries. The first lime was burnt along the old Wabash & Erie Canal, west of the city, and shipped principally to Fort Wayne. Large quantities of this lime was burned and shipped before the present kilns east of the city were opened. The present limestone quarries were opened in 1865.
Adam Beck, James Fulton, Hawley Brothers, E. S. Wheeler, W. A. Berry, John Lillie, Michael Boltes, James Lillie, and others, were among the early operators in the east part of town, the most of whom are yet in the business. The lime manufactured is of a superior quality in strength, durability, and particularly in its pure white color.
The market is to all points that can be reached in reasonable time, and rates, by rail, principally Chicago, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. The principal part of the trade is controlled by the White Lime Association, composed of the leading operators in the business, under the active supervision of Wesley W. Haw- ley, Esq., of the firm of Hawley Bros. The output of the kilns is an average of thirty car loads per day, and the industry gives employment to about 200 men.
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CITY OF HUNTINGTON.
Flax and Jute Bagging Factory. - This establishment was started in the summer of 1876, by John Niblock, the original plant costing about $15,000. The raw material at first was almost entirely flax straw, purchased from the farmers of the sur- rounding country, of which an average of 1,000 tons per year was used.
In 1880 Niblock's interest passed to Messrs. William McGrew, President of the First National Bank, and William H. Hessin, Esq., the latter having the active management of the business. In 1886 the entire buildings and machinery were destroyed by fire.
The buildings were replaced by fire-proof structures and new and improved machinery introduced.
Flax straw and jute form the raw material, from which cot- ton bale bagging is manufactured.
The capacity of the mill is 2,500 yards of bagging per day. The mills are kept in constant operation, giving work to an aver- age of fifty employees, and is one of the substantial enterprises of the city.
Brewery. - In 1866 Jacob Boos and George Phaler started their brewery. In 1869, Boos became sole proprietor, and has operated it ever since.
The plant is worth at this time $30,000, with an annual out- put of 2,000 barrels of beer.
Potash Factory. - This establishment was started in 1873, by Frederick Lushing, and has been in active operation ever since. The raw material is obtained from wood ashes.
The output is 100 barrels per year of the finest grade of potash. Fire Department. - There is perhaps no organization so tax- ing on the energies and pockets, as a volunteer fire department, and none deserving of more gratitude.
This advance guard over the lives and property of the com- munity deserve the good will of the city and an honorable place in its history.
The department is under the efficient management of Mr. Samuel Buchanan.
The working force is divided into four companies, and num- bers 130 men.
The equipment is two steam engines, 2,500 feet of hose, and a full supply of ladders, hooks, buckets, carts, etc., etc., and a team of trained horses.
The city owns a substantial brick engine house, two stories, and surmounted by an alarm bell.
There are two cisterns in the First Ward.
One cistern in the Second Ward, with Flint Creek traversing diagonally the entire ward, furnishing a constant supply of water, and the river on the south end of the ward.
One cistern in the Third Ward, and the river on the whole north side thereof.
The cisterns are of 1,000 barrels each.
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
An episode in the city's history was the organization of the Huntington Mining Company, in 1866, for the purpose of pros- pecting for gold in the limestone quarries west of the city. The company was organized by several citizens of the town, and large tracts of land leased. Experts examined the limestone for- mations for traces of the precious metal, and several barrels were shipped to eastern assayists to discover the percentage of gold in the rocks, a number of speculators from abroad were in- duced to take stock, machinery was purchased, and work begun under the supervision of one of the aforesaid experts. But the dividends were on the wrong side of the ledger account and the scheme was finally abandoned, after an ineffectual attempt to strike oil, the gold having failed to "pan out," by boring on the farm of Thomas Moore, west of the city. And this oil hole that flows with pure water is all that remains of the gold excitement, except the recollections of the stockholders, whose only divi- dends were assessments to pay expenses.
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