USA > Indiana > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 33
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
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CITY OF RICHMOND.
drawer for a few years, made him a comparatively rich man. He bought a large farm a mile and a half south-west of the town, where he died a few years after. George, one of his sons, now resides on the farm.
PHYSICIANS .- The dates of the settlement of the carly phy- sicians, or the order in which they settled, it is difficult to as- certain. The Historical Sketch of Richmond, by Dr. Plum- mer, written nearly a quarter of a century ago, is deemed more reliable authority than the recollections of persons at this late period.
Dr. Thomas Carroll is mentioned by Dr. P. as the first physician in Richmond. He came in 1819, and in 1823 re- moved to Cincinnati, where he was many years in practice, and where he died in March, 1871. A Dr. Cushman, from Fort Wayne, is said to have come in 1820. IIe built a dis- tillery in the south part of the town on the side of the hill on Front street, near a spring. In this enterprise he was unsuc- cessful, as was also his successor, Dr. Warner, into whose hands it passed. He suffered it to go down ; and it was never re- vived. Dr. Cushman returned to Fort Wayne, where he was an associate judge. Dr. Ithamar Warner came to Richmond about the year 1820, and was for many years the principal practicing physician in this town and Wayne township. [Sk.] Dr. Wm. Pugh studied medicine and commenced practice in Richmond, the year not ascertained. He removed to Center- ville about the year 1824, where he soon after died. Dr. James R. Mendenhall, of Carolina origin, commenced prac- tice in 1822, and retired in 1830. [Sk.] A Dr. Griffith arrived soon after Dr. Warner. He was somewhat advanced in age and practice. He chose a location on Front street. After a brief practice here, he removed to the West. The vacancy made by his removal was filled by Dr. John T. Plummer, only son of Joseph P. Plummer. [Sk.] Wm. B. Smith, from the East, studied medicine with Dr. Warner; married Alice Irwin, and settled on North Pearl street. He practiced many years with success, and died in middle life. Dr. Sam- uel Nixon came to Richmond about the year 1830; remained in town a number of years, and had a large practice; after
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
which he settled on a farm in the vicinity. He afterward removed west, and died a few years after.
LAWYERS .- When the first lawyer settled in Richmond can not, perhaps, be now ascertained. Dr. Plummer mentions " one - Hardy, who boarded at Ephraim Lacey's tavern," and soon left for want of business. This must have been af- ter 1824, as in that year there was no lawyer in Richmond. John B. Chapman, from Va., was advertised in the Public Ledger in 1826, as attorney and counselor at law.
John D. Vaughan was here before 1828, and died of cholera in 1833. Two of his sons, Edward and John, are at present, and have been for many years, hardware merchants, corner of Main and Franklin streets. Andrew, another son, is in the livery business. A daughter is the wife of Samuel Lippincott, many years a carriage maker in Richmond, lately removed to Indianapolis. Widow Vaughan, now widow of the late Henry Hoover, resides in the city.
John W. Green was an early lawyer in Richmond, and is still remembered by the oldest citizens. He has since resided, and probably still resides, in New York.
William A. Bickle, from Va., came with his father to Cen- terville, in 1836, and the same year to Richmond, where he en- gaged as clerk in the store of Daniel Reid. He soon after commenced the study of law, and was admitted to practice in Feb., 1840. He settled in Richmond, where he has continued in the successful practice of his profession until the present time.
Jesse I'. Siddall, son of Atticus Siddall, an carly merchant, before noticed, was born in Richmond, Oct. 20, 1821. In 1842 he was admitted, and commenced the practice of law in Madi- son Co .; whence, after about two years, he removed to Center- ville, where he formed a partnership with John S. Newman, which continued about ten years, during the last two of which Mr. Siddall resided in Richmond, where he is still engaged in his profession.
James Perry, although the oldest practicing attorney, was not among the earliest in Richmond. [Sk.]
379
CITY OF RICHMOND.
Manufactures and Trade of Richmond.
As a manufacturing town, Richmond has long maintained a high rank among the cities of the west. In the amount and variety of its manufactures, in proportion to its population, it is perhaps unsurpassed in any western city. The products of its capital and labor find sale in many of the western and south-western states. Our limited space forbids a minute de- seription of these establishments; some of them can scarcely receive the briefest notice. We commence with the
GAAR MACHINE WORKS .- This extensive establishment, now devoted to the manufacture of steam and horse power threshing machines, portable and stationary engines, circu- Jar and mulay saw-mills, and other works of a similar charac- ter, was started in 1836, in a frame building, which stands on the corner of High street and Washington avenue, whither it was removed in 1856 to make room for the machine shop. Its first proprietor was Isaac E. Jones, who used the building prin- cipally for a stove foundry. In 1839, it passed into the hands of Jesse M. and John II. IIntton, and in 1841 was built the first thresher (a chaff-piler) ever made in Indiana. In 1849, the Huttons sold their establishment to Jonas Gaar and his sons, Abraham and John M. Gaar, and his son-in-law, Wm. G. Scott, who continued the business under the firm of A. Gaar & Co., until April 1, 1870, just twenty-one years, during which time it grew to its present huge proprotions. Its major- ity was celebrated at the latter date, when the firm assumed the name of Gaar, Seott & Co., the same proprietors being still the exclusive holders of the capital stock of the concern, amounting to $400,000. The purchase money paid by A. Gaar & Co. to the IInttons is said to have been 89,000. From this may be seen the vast extension of the business under the man- agement of the present proprietors.
The machine shop, built in 1856, was burned down, January 31, 1858, but was immediately rebuilt; and other buildings have from time to time been added. The establishment uses four or five acres for its buildings and grounds ; has used 400,000 feet of lumber in a year, melted four tons of pig-iron in its foundry per day, and made up 100 tons of boiler iron annu-
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
ally. The floor room in the shops and warehouses is 1,662,309 square feet-about two and one-third acres. The number of hands employed averages over 200; and the products are be- tween $350,000 and $400,000 per annnm.
ROBINSON MACHINE WORKS .- This establishment was founded in 1842, by Francis W. Robinson, on the corner of Main and Washington streets. It was for a time confined to the making of threshing machines of the " Chaff- Piler " and " Traveler " patterns. The former was a horse-power machine, and simply threshed the wheat; the latter took the wheat in the shock, threshed and separated it, and delivered the wheat in a box, leaving the straw on the ground. The value of the machines turned out the first year did not, as is believed, exceed in value $6,000. In 1858, Mr. Robinson obtained a patent for a thresh- ing machine, which has been improved from time to time, until the " Gold Medal Thresher and Separator" is supposed to be equal to any in the United States. In or about the year 1847, he commenced the making of steam engines and saw-mills. In 1862, Jonas W. Yeo became sole proprietor, and was joined in 1868 by Robert H. Shoemaker; since which time the business has been conducted under the firm of Yeo & Shoemaker. From a comparatively small beginning, these works have risen to a high rank among the manufactories of its class in the state. Its grounds on the corner having become too circum- scribed for its increasing business, room was obtained for the boiler shop on the east side of Washington street, and for the warehouse on the south side of Main. Its manufactures are horse-power and steam threshers and separators, portable and stationary engines, portable saw-mills, and castings of every description. The average number of workmen employed is between seventy and eighty ; and the amount of sales has been between $125,000 and $150,000 annually. In 1866, a fire oc- curred in the establishment which destroyed property to a considerable amount, the loss being mostly covered by insur- ance.
QUAKER CITY WORKS .-- These works were commenced by Isaac Ringe, in 1856, soon after the completion of the National bridge, (which had been built under his superintendence,) for the manufacture of stationary engines, and all kinds of job
381
CITY OF RICHMOND.
work. The next year Isaac Ringe & Co. (- Brady having become a partner,) built the present three-story brick shop and foundry, when the concern took the name of the "American Machine Works." In 1860, Ringe sold his interest to Brady; and the business was conducted by Brady & Son. Brady soon after sold one-third of his interest to J. M. Aikin, and the same year another third to J. J. Russell. In 1862, Brady sold his remaining interest to Wm. Sinex; and soon after Russell sold his to John Roberts, the name of the firm, J. M. Aikin & Co. still remaining unchanged. In 1865, Samuel Sinex became sole proprietor, and, in 1867, sold to A. N. Hadley and G. Morrow, (firm, A. N. Hadley & Co.) Among the articles man- ufactured at these works are stationary and portable engines, of all sizes, flouring-mill machinery, circular saw-mills, tur- bine water wheels, circular saws for firewood, shingle machines, Doan's ditching machines, tile-mills for making tile, Farquhar & Doan's feed boilers, sugar-mills, and all kinds of builders' work. About thirty men have been employed, and the prod- ucts have been about $100,000 in a year.
UNION MACHINE WORKS .- These works, for the manufacture of portable and stationary engines and castings generally, were established in 1860, by White & Bargion. In 1862, they passed into the hands of Edgar M. Baylies, Joseph Marchant, and Gustavus A. Baylies. In 1864, Marchant sold his interest to G. A. Baylies, and the firm took the name of Baylies & Co. In 1866, the firm was changed to Baylies, Vaughan & Co., the partners being E. M., G. A., and Joseph M. Baylies, and An- drew F. Vanghan. In 1868, Vaughan retired, and the firm was changed to J. M. Baylies & Co. In 1869, Isaac D. Dann came in under the firm name of Baylies, Dunn & Co. In 1870, the name of the firm was again changed to Baylies, Vaughan & Co. The average number of men heretofore employed is 35; and the value of products annually sold, about $60.000. These works are on the corner of Seventh and Pool streets, north of the railroad depot.
RICHMOND MILL WORKS .- These works were established November, 1859, by Ellis Nordske and his son, Addison H. Nordyke, at the corner of Green and Walnut streets. In 1866, they removed to their place of business, in the north-west part
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
of the city, on Green street, when Daniel W. Marmon becanie a partner, and the company took the name of Nordyke, Mar- mon & Co. They have from time to time added to the num- ber of articles manufactured and furnished, among which are grinding and bolting mills, corn and feed mills, burr mill- stones, bolting cloths, smut machines, &c. Their specialty is the manufacture of complete portable flour mills, and bolts for grinding and bolting the several kinds of grain. All that pertains to a first rate flouring mill, except the castings, is made at this establishment. From 20 to 30 hands are em- ployed; and the annual products amount in value to about $65,000.
The proprietors have also, at the same place, a custom flour- ing mill, five stories high, propelled by the same water power. This mill was built in 1867, and is run by H. C. Wright & Co. The grinding is done in the fourth story, which is on a level with the street on the east side. The stones are turned by a perpendicular shaft. [Since the above was written, in conse- quence of the death of Ellis Nordyke, a change in the proprie- torship has occurred.]
STOVE FOUNDRY .- In 1865, C. P. Peterson and E. J. King established a foundry for the manufacture of stoves, hollow- ware, and castings generally. Their capital and trade have steadily increased, until their annual products amount to $25,000 or $30,000 ; and their wares are sold in several states. Castings for the school desk manufacturers are made at this foundry.
RICHMOND SCHOOL FURNITURE WORKS .- John P. Allen and George H. Grant associated, in 1865, under the firm of Allen & Grant, for the manufacture of Allen's patent self- supporting school desks. In 1868, Mr. Allen died ; and soon after, Mr. Grant took as a partner, Joseph Marchant, who, in April, 1869, sold his interest to Joshua Nickerson and Wm. Wooton, when the company took its present name, George H. Grant & Co. In December, 1869, Turner W. Haynes bought the interest of Mr. Wooton; and in January, 1870, A. W. Kempleman became a partner. The business was commenced in South Sixth street. The increased demand for the Richmond school furniture required the enlargement
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CITY OF RICHMOND.
of their works; and new buildings were erected on the corner of Ninth and Noble streets. Both the quantity and variety of furniture manufactured has increased. There are here made school desks and seats of various styles and sizes, reci- tation seats, settees for halls and depots, counters on iron frames, counting-house desks, church pews, library and cab- inet cases, gymnastie apparatus, etc. The quantity of lumber annually used by these works is about 300,000 feet. The number of hands employed is about 15, and the value of products sold about $40,000 a year.
SASII, DOOR, AND BLIND AND SCHOOL FURNITURE MANUFAC- TORY .- In 1856, Hollopater & Barnard commenced the manu- facture of doors, sash, and blinds, at the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets; and in 1859 sold the establishment to Ezra Smith, James Smith, and Asa S. Smith. The business has since been conducted under the firm of Ezra Smith & Co., without change of partnership, except by the retirement of Asa S. Smith, six months after it was formed. The present proprietors have added to their machiney a planing mill, and to their manufactures the various articles of school furniture, and all kinds of joiners' work for buildings. They employ about 20 hands, and sell of their products annually to the value of about $40,000.
BURIAL CASE AND CASKET MANUFACTORY .- The manufacture of sash, doors, and blinds was commeneed about the year 1854, by Smith & Hyde, corner of Sixth and Market streets. The establishment passed successively into the hands of the following firms : Hasecoster & Rowten, (who removed it to Fort Wayne avenue,) Hasecoster & Kane, and Hasecoster & Stephens. In February, 1867, Jesse M. Hutton, George Hasecoster, Samuel S. Ganse, and Wm. P. Hutton became proprietors, under the firm name of J. M. Hutton & Co. In January, 1868, they removed to their new building on the south-west corner of Ninth and Noble streets. In June, 1869, George Sherman and Matthew HI. Dill were admitted as part- ners; and the company was incorporated under the general law of the legislature, without change of name. In 1869, the manufacture of wooden burial cases and caskets was added to their business, and has already become quite extensive.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Their new shop was a three-story brick building, 105 by 40 feet. The new branch of business requiring an increase of room, a new brick building, 100 by 25 feet, three stories high, was erected on the north-east corner of Noble and Ninth streets, which has since been enlarged by an addition of equal dimensions. Orders for these cases are received from the western and south-western states. In the two branches of this establishment, about 40 persons are employed; nearly 700,000 feet of lumber are consumed; and between $40,000 and $50,000 in value of products are sold in a year.
Since the foregoing was written, the first mentioned of these buildings-that in which the manufacturing was chiefly done-with its machinery and other contents, was destroyed by fire, October 4, 1870. In fifty-five days, a new three-story brick building was erected on the same spot, and in success- ful operation. The loss was estimated at $22,000, and no portion covered by insurance. The business is now confined to the burial case and casket manufacture, which has been greatly increased. About 50 persons are now employed, and the amount of sales has been augmented in a much greater proportion.
EMPIRE STEEL PLOW FACTORY .- This business was com- menced in 1832 by Solomon and David S. Horney, by whom it was continued for about eight years, and thereafter by Solomon Horney until about the year 1848, when he was again joined by his former partner, and the business was car- ried on in the name of S. & D. S. Horney. In 1850, S. Horney again assumed the sole proprietorship. In 1852, George McCullongh became a partner; and in 1853, Elwood Patter- son-firm, S. Horney & Co., which has continued to the present time. This has become one of the more important manufacturing establishments of the city. At a not very re- mote period, it turned out about 500 plows annually. Its products have risen to upward of 5,000 a year. Cultivators and other agricultural implements also are to some extent manufactured. About 30 persons are employed, and the value of products annually sold is about $70,000.
RICHMOND PLOW WORKS .- In 1865, the manufacturing of steel plows was commenced by Bratz, Meir & Co., 394, 396,
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CITY OF RICHMOND.
398 Main street. In 1867, the firm was changed to Bratz, Perry & Co., and in 869 to Oran Perry. The molds, shares, and all other parts of the plows coming in contact with the soil, are made of German and cast steel, and polished on emery belt. The number of plows made at these works the first year was 150; the last year about 2,500. They are sold in the states of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and at prices from $10 to $40.
CARRIAGE MANUFACTORIES .- Peter Crocker, the proprietor of an establishment of this kind on Main street, commenced business in this city as a blacksmith in 1837. In 1845, he commenced the wagon-making business. Since 1852, he has confined himself to the manufacturing of fine carriages, which, for quality of material, for neatness and durability, are scarcely surpassed by those of any similar establishment in the state. The value of the products of this manufactory has been from $12,000 to $15,000 annually.
Stephen S. Strattan, a native of Richmond, commenced car- riage-making in 1859, on Fort Wayne avenue, where he still continues the business. He wrought first at repairing and the making of peddlers' wagons. He has gradually enlarged his shop and extended his business, until it has become a first-class establishment. Its products have reached the amount of about $14,000 a year.
HUB, SPOKE, AND FELLOE MANUFACTORY .- This business was commenced about the year 1865, by Hare, Test & Co., who run it about three years, and Lemon, Test & Co. about one year. It next passed to Dr. J. R. Mendenhall, who, about six months after, sold to Matthews & Brother, [Edward R. and Wn. N. Matthews,] who, in 1871, changed their business to the manufacture of patent carriage wheels. This establish- ment is on the corner of Eighth and Noble streets.
RICHMOND MALLEABLE IRON WORKS .- These works were established during the last year, [1871,] and are already in suc- cessful operation. Its proprietors are E. D. Palmer and H. H. Fetta. They make all kinds of malleable iron cast- ings; also wagon, carriage, plow, and agricultural castings. The proprietors contemplate making large additions to their 28
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
works. The estimated cost of the establishment, when com- pleted, will be about $30,000.
CUTLERY MANUFACTORY .- This establishment is one mile north of the city near the Hillsboro' turnpike. The build- ings were erected in 1865, by Joseph Comer and Clarkson Moore. Though the variety of the articles here manufac- tured is not great, the quality is said to be excellent. Pocket- knives and table knives and forks are made a specialty. The works are now in the hands of a stock company, the mem- bers of which are Joseph Comer, John Roberts, A. P. Stan- ton, and James Comer.
WOOLEN MANUFACTURE .- Jesse Clark, from North Carolina, who had settled about 2 miles north of Richmond, and built there a fulling-mill, the first in the county, removed his ma- chinery to a building which he had erected at or near the present site of the Green street flou ring-mill. He leased the works to Warner M. Leeds and Samuel Test, who added machinery for carding, spinning, and weaving. In 1825, they sold the lease for the nnexpired term to Levinus King and his brothers, Thomas W. and Dean. In 1834, Levinus King became the sole proprietor, and continued such until 1837. A company was then formed, styled " Richmond. Trading and Manufacturing Company," composed of Levinus King, pro- prietor of the woolen factory, Warner M. Leeds and Isaac E. Jones, owners of the paper mill, and James R. Mendenhall, who had become the owner of the Cox grist-mill. This com- pany continued until 1843, when the property passed out of their hands. Mr. King then hired the establishment, and, after having run it for five or six years, bought it in 1848, and continued the business until 1853. It was afterward converted into a flax-dressing mill.
# In or about the year 1835, Win. Bancroft started a woolen factory half a mile below town, where Mering's grist-mill now is. He continued the manufacturing business about three years. It then passed into the hands of Caleb Shrieve, who rented it a year to Levinus King, and a year to Christian Buhl, when it was discontinued.
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CITY OF RICHMOND.
RICHMOND WOOLEN MILLS. - The establishment of these mills in 1865, by Richard Jackson and Elias H. Swayne, on the site of the old grist-mill of Jeremiah Cox, and subsequently of the flouring-mill of Basil Brightwell, has been mentioned. About six months after, Henry C. Dunn became a partner ; after which time the name of the firm, Jackson, Swayne & Dunn, has remained without change. The building was much enlarged, and the machinery greatly extended and improved, until it was surpassed by few manufactories of the kind in the West. The building was of wood, five stories high. The goods made at these mills consisted chiefly of cassimeres, jeans, satinets, blankets, and yarns, which were considered equal in quality to similar goods made in eastern mills. They re- ceived complimentary notices at the expositions in Chicago and Cincinnati ; and at the latter, premiums were received on sati- nets, flannels, and yarn. These mills gave employment to about 75 hands ; consumed annually about 150,000 pounds of wool, costing about 45 cents a pound ; and turned out manu- factured products yearly to the value of $200,000. They con- tained three sets of carding machines, four jacks, (960 spindles,) and twenty-nine looms ; and had the capacity to produce 4,500 yards of different kinds of cloth, and 1,000 pounds of yarn per week. About a year ago, and since the above sketch was prepared, these mills, with their contents, were destroyed by fire. A small proportion of the loss was covered by insurance.
MOUNT VERNON WOOLEN MILL .- This mill is on the White- water, about a mile and a half below the city. It was estab- lished in 1855, by Alpheus Test. It was destroyed by fire in 1857, and rebuilt by Alpheus Test and Abijah Moffitt. A year or two later, the firm was changed to A. Test & Co. In 1865, William, Rufus, and Oliver, sons of Alpheus Test, became pro- prietors, and under the firm of Test & Brothers, have conducted the concern until the present time. In 1866, it was again burned down, the proprietors suffering a loss of $9,000, and was immediately rebuilt. Although various kinds of cloth are made to some extent, it is now chiefly employed in the manufacture of stocking yarn of all kinds for machine and hand knitting. It gives employment to about fifteen hands, and its products amount to about $25,000 or $30,000 a year.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
FLEECE DALE WOOLEN FACTORY .-- This manufactory was es- tablished by Benjamin Hibbard in 1825, on the site of a saw- mill previously owned by Hawkins. (?) It was in or about the year 1849 bought of Hibbard by Benjamin Bond and Alpheus Test, and conducted by them for several years; next by Sam- uel Nixon and Ezekiel Aikin until 1865 ; and since, by Eze- kiel Aikin and Samuel Porter, [E. Aikin & Co.,] to the present time. Custom work, chiefly, is done at this establishment. Its fabrics are blankets, flannels, satinets, jeans, and stocking yarn, which are sold, or exchanged for wool, at the manufactory. It is situated about a mile and a half above the city, on Whitewater.
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