USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 44
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137
A charter was granted Jan. 14, 1858, in which Erastus Spaulding was named Worshipful Master ; David Bacon, Senior Warden ; and Henry A. Chapin, Junior Warden. Meetings are held in the Beeson block, corner of Main and Front Streets, Niles.
The lodge has at present a membership of 85. The present officers are S. Belknap, Worshipful Master ; J. S. Bacon, Senior Warden; A. J. Fox, Junior Warden ; H. A. Chapin, Treasurer; William J. Edwards, Secretary ; O. Mckay, S. D .; Henry Jordan, J. D. ; John Dunn, Tiler.
Harrison Lodge, No. 1, F. and A. M. ( Colored) .- This lodge received its charter from the Grand Lodge of In- diana, and worked under it for some time. It was char- tered as Harrison Lodge, No. 1, Dec. 5, 1865, with John W. Harrison as Master. He was also Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. In the spring of 1879 the number was
changed, and is now known as Harrison Lodge, No. 9. It numbers at present 30 members, and meetings are held in Coolidge Hall, on Main Street.
The present officers are William Powers, Worshipful Master; Alexander Ramsey, Senior Warden; William Waterman, Junior Warden ; C. F. Wilson, Treasurer; Alex. Winborn, Secretary.
Niles Council of Royal and Select Masters, No. 19 .- Dispensation was granted to this council as No. 18, Jan. 11, 1866, and it was instituted June 6, 1866, as No. 19, with B. F. Doughty, Thrice Illustrious Grand Master; A. S. Cook, Deputy Thrice Illustrious Grand Master. The pres- ent membership of the lodge is 33. The officers for 1879 are Hiram A. Edwards, Thrice Illustrious Grand Master ; James S. Reeves, Deputy Thrice Illustrious Grand Master ; Cyrus M. Alward, Principal Conductor of Works; Wm. J. Edwards, Principal Conductor of Council; John Woodruff, Treasurer ; George W. Timmons, Recorder; Charles W. Stowell, Captain of the Guard; William Graves, Steward; Henry Rounds, Sentinel.
Niles Commandery, No. 12, K. T .- A dispensation was granted by the Grand Commandery April 29, 1864, and a charter was granted June 28, 1864. Sir Knight Rufus W. Landon, Eminent Commander; Joshua Feather, General- issimo ; and George Kimmel, Captain-General. The pres- ent membership is 55.
The present officers are Edward S. Badger, Eminent Commander ; John Woodruff, Generalissimo ; Mills H. Lan- don, Captain-General ; William Graves, Prelate; George W. Timmons, Recorder ; John A. Montague, Treasurer ; W. I. Babcock, Senior Warden ; J. Crocker Brown, Junior Warden ; Brown K. Jones, Standard-Bearer ; E. D. Lo- velle, Sword-Bearer; Charles W. Stowell, Warden ; Henry Rounds, Tiler.
Scottish Rite .- Rufus W. Landon, Dr. James S. Reeves, J. R. Cogswell, and Frank W. Wilder are members of the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. Rufus W. Landon is an active member of the thirty-third degree, and J. Eastman Johnson an honorary member. William H. McOmber was Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Michigan from 1854 till his death, in 1860. R. W. Lan- don succeeded him, and continued until 1878.
Berrien County Lodge, No. 6, I. O. of O. F .- This lodge was instituted Nov. 27, 1844, with 10 charter mem- bers, namely : John F. Porter, Cogswell K. Green, A. J. Clark, J. C. Larimore, T. M. Freeland, John B. Goodman, Charles Jewett, Gerard Hoadley, George Goodman, and James M. Stuart. It has at present 42 members. The officers for 1879 are Robert Chambers, Noble Grand; James Kipler, Vice-Grand ; William W. Abbott, Sec. ; John Cutting, Permanent Sec. ; James S. Reeves, Treas.
Niles Lodge, No. 207, I. O. of O. F., was instituted May 26, 1873. The charter members were John G. Hansler, E. Rauft, J. Enkel, F. E. Schmidt, and F. Schneewind. The officers for 1879 are George Hegne, Noble Grand; Fred. Zimmerman, Vice-Grand; Aldrich Drenz, Sec. ; Fred. Durm, Permanent Sec. ; John Hansler, Treas. The meetings are held in Odd-Fellows' Hall.
Pah-wah-ting Encampment, No. 3, 1. O. of 0. F .- Dispensation was granted to this encampment Jan. 6, 1846,
168
HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
and charter Feb. 10, 1846. The officers for 1879 are Frederick Durm, Chief Patriarch ; William Miller, Senior Warden ; James S. Reeves, High Priest; John Cutting, Scribe ; Enoch Egbert, Treas.
This encampment was united with Michigan Encamp- ment, No. 1, Lenawee Encampment, No. 4, Wilder En- campment, No. 5, and Samaritan Encampment, No. 6, as the constituent members of the Grand Encampment of the State of Michigan, organized at Kalamazoo, Feb. 4, 1847. J. C. Larimore and George W. Hoffman, Past High Priests, were delegates representing this encampment. The present membership is 49. Meetings are held in Odd-Fellows' Hall.
Niles Lodge, No. 843, I. O. of G. T .- This lodge was instituted April 13, 1875, with 28 members. Their meet- ings are held in Davison Hall. The present officers are Edwin H. Palmer, W. C. T .; Mrs. E. H. Palmer, W. V. T .; Mrs. J. C. Larkin, W. S .; John Davison, W. T .; Maggie Park, W. I. G. ; James Cutting, W. M .; Henry Jakwith, T. Sec .; Benjamin F. Park, W. A. S .; Lizzie Dutch, Dep. M .; A. K. Babcock, O. G .; Alma Palmer, R. H. S. ; Minnie Palmer, L. H. S. The lodge at present contains 30 members.
Catholic Knights of America, St. Mary's Branch, No. 17 .- This society was organized June 8, 1878, with 16 members, and has at present 37. Their meetings are held in Wells' Hall, on Main Street. The present officers are F. E. Fenton, President ; John Aul, Recording Secretary ; John C. Knauss, Treasurer ; Paul Skalla, Financial Secre- tary.
Order of Imperial Knights St. Joseph, Valley Lodge, No. 10, was organized June 14, 1879, with 11 members. The present officers are Lewis Augustine, Director-in-Chief; Joseph Greenamyer, Financier; Charles Henderer, Re- corder. The lodge contains at present 18 members, and their meetings are held in Davison Hall.
Knights of Honor, No. 831 .- This lodge was instituted Dec. 3, 1877, having previously organized under a dispen- sation, and elected officers, viz., Theodore G. Beaver, Dicta- tor ; J. P. Howlett, Vice-Dictator ; Charles J. Sterling, Reporter. They hold meetings in their rooms over the First National Bank. They have a present membership of 25, and the present officers are D. Sheehan, Dictator; C. N. Smith, Vice-Dictator ; John Glenville, Assistant Dicta- tor ; F. Schneewind, Reporter; E. B. Leroy, Financial Reporter; W. A. Wetherby, Treasurer ; C. J. Sterling, Chaplain ; W. H. Snyder, Guide; John Cutting, Guar- dian ; Jacob Mayford, Sentinel; H. Whitworth, Examin- ing Physician.
NILES WATER-WORKS.
Four miles east of the city of Niles, in Howard town- ship, Cass Co., at an elevation of 106 feet above the city, lies Barren Lake, a body of the purest water, a mile and one-fourth in length by three-fourths of a mile in width, fed by springs. For many years past this lovely lake was looked to as offering the best possible supply of water for fire purposes and for general use of the city. Several at- tempts were made to organize a company for its introduc- tion, but no organization was perfected until June, 1877.
In February, 1877, the Common Council of Niles entered
into an agreement with W. P. Hanchett, for the introduc- tion of water from Barren Lake into the city for fire pur- poses, and for general uses. Under this agreement a com- pany was organized on the 12th day of June, 1877, and articles of association were filed in the office of the Socre- tary of State, June 14th. During the summer the survey was made and the line definitely settled.
In April, 1878, the work of excavation and laying pipe was commenced in earnest, and by July two-thirds of the work was completed. At this time, the first company be- coming pecuniarily involved, the work passed into other hands; a new company was organized, and not until the summer of 1879 was the work completed. The water is brought from the lake through a 12-inch main, five and one-half miles in length, emptied into a reservoir of 300,000 gallons capacity, and distributed already through about six miles of pipes. No city in the West can be fur- nished with such an abundant supply of so pure water more easily and economically than Niles.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
In September, 1838, a petition was presented to the council of the village of Niles by a number of citizens, ask- ing for the organization of a fire company. In accordance with a provision in the charter a company was then organ- ized called " Niles Engine Company, No. 1," and number- ing 31 persons. An engine, hose, ladders, buckets, and other equipments were purchased, but no provision was made for cisterns, and the only supply of water was from the river and from private sources. The consequence has been the disbanding of organized companies, an ineffi- cient fire department and discouragement of the firemen. No companies are in existence at the present time, though the city has a chief engineer, Daniel Sheehan, who consti- tutes the fire department of Niles. Upon the completion of the present system of water distribution, the city will organize hose companies, and Niles will, for the first time, possess adequate facilities for the extinguishment of fires.
MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD.
The route of the Michigan Central Railroad was changed to pass through Niles in 1847, and in 1848, on the 7th day of October, the first passenger train from Detroit came into the village of Niles, at five o'clock P.M., containing about 130 invited guests. The train was greeted by a great con- course of citizens, speeches were made, and great rejoicing was the order of the day, for Niles was linked to the me- tropolis of Michigan by iron bands. Steamboating busi- ness was conducted from this time on the upper river, in connection with the railroad, and placed in charge of B. F. Fish, August, 1849. A warehouse was constructed at the bridge, 100 feet high from the bed of the river, and pro- duce was elevated from vessels below. This continued for about three years, when the boats were .withdrawn.
A road was constructed by the Michigan Air-Line Rail- road Company from Jackson to Niles, reaching Niles in February, 1871, and continued to South Bend soon after.
NILES GAS-LIGHT COMPANY.
This company was chartered under the general law in the spring of 1868, with a capital of $37,000, and during
0
PREMISES of MRS.J. B. MILLARD, CITY OF NILES, MICH. MICHIGAN WOOD PULP COMPANY'S MILLS, & NILES WATER POWER COMPANY'S DAM IN BACKGROUND.
169
CITY OF NILES.
the summer of 1868 works were erected on Front Street below Main. The first officers of the company were James L. Glenn, President ; J. C. Larimore, Secretary ; R. C. Paine, Treasurer. The present officers are R. W. Landon, Presi- dent; Mills H. Landon, Secretary ; George W. Platt, Treasurer ; Directors, J. C. Larimore, Thomas L. Stevens, and J. S. Tuttle.
MUTUAL CITY AND VILLAGE FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY OF BERRIEN, CASS, AND VAN BUREN COUNTIES.
This company was incorporated Nov. 13, 1878, with J. C. Larimore, President; J. Eastman Johnson, Secretary. The office is at the corner of Main and Third Streets. There are issued to Aug. 25, 1879, 179 policies, represent- ing $210,000.
BANKING INTERESTS.
On the 6th of February, 1836, a meeting of citizens of Cass, Berrien, and St. Joseph Counties was held at the American Hotel in Niles, and passed resolutions requesting the Legislature of the State to grant a charter to a bank to be called the " Bank of Niles," with a capital of $250,000, with the privilege of increasing it to $500,000. The Bank of Niles, having a small capital, was in operation the follow- ing year, with Jacob Beeson as President, and George W. Hoffman, Cashier.
The Berrien County Bank also was chartered about the same time, Lucius Hoyt being the first President, and J. A. Noonan, Cashier. These banks were short-lived and soon suspended.
The Farmers and Mechanics' Bank of Detroit estab- lished an agency at St. Joseph as early as 1835, with Thomas Fitzgerald in charge as cashier. Rodney C. Paine, a brother-in-law of John A. Wells, the cashier of the Farmers and Mechanics' Bank of Detroit, came from Albany to St. Joseph in March, 1836, and was placed in charge of the agency at that place. He remained until 1841, when he located an agency at Niles, opening an office in the building now occupied as a tobacco-store by James Trudeau. In 1843, Mr. Paine built a banking-office on the northwest corner of Main and Third Streets, where he continued business until his death, which occurred on March 16, 1855. The business of the Farmers and Mechanics' Bank was continued until 1848, when it was withdrawn, and from that time Mr. Paine conducted the business alone. He was also a director in the First Na- tional Bank of Niles.
The First National Bank of Niles received its certificate of organization Dec. 15, 1870, with the following-named persons as directors, viz. : Thomas L. Stevens, David Rough, Rodney C. Paine, Joseph C. Larimore, Alonzo Sherman, Rufus W. Landon, and George Kimmel. Rufus W. Lan- don was chosen President ; Joseph C. Larimore, Vice-Pres- ident; and Thomas L. Stevens, Cashier. The capital of the bank was $100,000, fully paid up. The banking- rooms were established at No. 156 Main Street, where the business is still continued. The present officers are Thomas L. Stevens, President ; Solomon G. Krick, Vice-President ; Charles A. Johnson, Cashier ; Directors, T. L. Stevens, S. G. Krick, Silas Ireland, W. K. Lacey, E. S. Badger, Geo.
H. Rough, William R. Rough. The bank has a present surplus of $7500.
Citizens' National Bank of Niles .- This bank received its authority to transact banking business Oct. 1, 1861, its capital being $50,000. The following persons were chosen directors : O. S. Abbott, J. C. Larimore, G. W. Platt, J. S. Tuttle, F. M. Gray, M. D. Matteson, and E. P. Hill. President, J. C. Larimore; Cashier, O. S. Abbott. The bank was located in the present banking-office, corner of Second and Main Streets. The present officers are J. C. Larimore, President ; F. M. Gray, Cashier; Directors, J. C. Larimore, F. M. Gray, I. P. Hutton, G. W. Platt, S. B. Shepard, H. F. Kellogg, F. W. Wilder.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
Dowagiac Hydraulic Company .- On the 18th day of March, 1837, an act was approved incorporating Obed P. Lacey, Elijah Lacey, Erasmus Winslow, and Rodney C. Paine as the Dowagiac Hydraulic Company, with a capital stock of $50,000, and with power "to hold real and personal estate necessary for the construction of a canal for the use of said company, to be located in the village of Niles, within the limits of Lacey's addition to said village." The canal to be constructed within two years, connecting the waters of the Dowagiac River with the St. Joseph, and to be at least 30 feet in width and 4 feet deep. The canal was not built by the company, but in 1846, Elijah Lacey and Jasper Mason built the raceway that connected with the Dowa- giac and furnished the water for the Volant and Dacota Mills
Niles Hydraulic Company and Niles Manufacturing Company .- In the year 1842 a company was incorporated and organized with the above name, and having for its ob- ject the development of the water-power of the St. Joseph River at Niles. During that year the company commenced the construction of a dam across the river, at the foot of Main Street, with a lock at the west end, to allow the pas- sage of boats. The contract for building was taken by Seth Hanchett. Before the completion of this work it was par- tially carried away by a sudden flood in the river, in the fall of 1843, and was damaged to such an extent as to discourage the projectors and to cause a suspension of further opera- tions. The cost of the work had been about $4000, which was a total loss to the company.
Efforts were made from time to time to raise more funds and resume operations on the dam and lock, but no results followed, though the company at one time proceeded so far as to put the work under contract. In the Niles Repub- lican of March 8, 1845, there appeared an article under the heading of " Dam not Completed," in which it was said that " We are credibly informed that Crocker & Mason have the contract," but on the 29th of the same month the Republican said, " We are now informed that something has arisen whereby the whole matter is under the command of General Flatout, who, in relation to this work, is highly distinguished." In this the fate of the dam project was. truly expressed.
Nothing more appears to have been done until 1849, when (March 31st) an act was passed for the improvement of the navigation of the St. Joseph, and incorporating
22
170
HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
James L. Glenn, R. C. Paine, William H. McOmber, and others, as the " Niles Hydraulic and Manufacturing Com- pany," with a capital of $30,000.
By Legislative act of March 21, 1851, the charter of the Hydraulic and Manufacturing Company was amended, and the name changed to the original one of " The Niles Hy- draulic Company." This company remained inactive till 1865, when the corporators called a meeting, and efforts were made to revive the dam project, and to proceed with the work of construction. Engineers had been employed to examine the river, and their report was made at the meeting held at Kellogg Hall, June 10, 1865. The report embodied facts and estimates as follows : width of river at point selected, 287 feet ; average depth, 44% feet ; length of dam, 350 feet ; height, 11-4 feet ; estimated cost of dam, including head-gates, waste-weir, and raceway, $39,085.76. The power to be secured by the construction of the dam was estimated at 1333 horse-power. The site then in contemplation for the dam was at the head of the " Big Island."
Nothing was done at that site, however, and in 1866 another was decided on, it being the present location of the dam. At this place work was commenced in June of the year named, but before it was completed a change was made in the company and its operations in the manner narrated below.
The hydraulic company had become embarrassed in its financial affairs, so that there seemed little probability that it could bring the work to a successful issue. When this became apparent a number of citizens of Niles associated themselves together to take such action as would insure the development of the water-power of the river. On the 26th of February, 1867, 22 persons, having this object in view, held a meeting in Niles, and organized as the " Niles Manu- facturing Company," with Rufus W. Landon, Benjamin F. Fish, and William Bort as trustees, and Henry H. Coolidge as secretary. This company became incorporated June 26, 1868.
On the 7th of September, in the same year, the com- pany was organized under the incorporation by the elec- tion of the following directors, viz. : Joseph C. Larimore, Rodney C. Paine, Benjamin F. Fish, Joseph S. Tuttle, Rufus W. Landon, Henry H. Coolidge, and James Badger. Rufus W. Landon, President ; Benjamin F. Fish, Treas- urer; Jerome B. Fitzgerald, Secretary.
Before the incorporation the company had purchased the farm of Jacob Beeson, consisting of 113 acres of land con- tiguous to the eastern end of the dam which had been com- menced by the Hydraulic Company. For this farm they paid the sum of $22,000, which was the authorized capital of the Niles Manufacturing Company. On the 26th of September of the same year that company purchased a half- interest in " all the rights, titles, and privileges" of the Niles Hydraulic Company, known as "The Dam Company." Oct. 28, 1868, the capital stock of the Manufacturing Company was increased to $50,000, and on the 18th of June, 1869, that company contracted, for the sum of $17,000, for the completion of the raceway, head-gates, and other work on the dam; which had been commenced by the Niles Hy- draulic Company.
In March, 1870, the capital of the manufacturing com- pany was increased to $70,000, and in 1871 that company purchased the remaining interest of the Hydraulic Com- pany, which latter practically ceased to exist at that time. In January, 1872, the Manufacturing Company sold a part of their interest in land and water-power, on the west side of the river, to French & Millard for about $10,000. A site, with power, was also given to Paine & Gitchell for a furniture-factory, and in 1872 the Niles Paper-Mill Com- pany purchased the site and power now occupied and used by their mills. The Niles Manufacturing Company finally sold all their interests and privileges on the river to the Niles Water-Power Company in 1878.
Niles Water-Power Company .- This company was incor- porated Dec. 24, 1877, with a capital stock of $25,000. There existed at that time a mortgage of $20,000 on the property of the Niles Manufacturing Company, and when this property was sold under foreclosure, at Pike's Hotel,- Niles, on the 15th of January, 1878, the purchasers were the Niles Paper-Mill Company, and S. M. Beeson, J. C. Larimore, B. F. Fish, Thomas L. Stevens, J. W. French, 0. W. Coolidge, M. Pettingill, and David Gitchell; these gentlemen representing and purchasing for the Niles Water- Power Company. This company is still in existence, and owns the property acquired by the purchasers above men- tioned. Its present officers are : President, J. W. French ; Treasurer, B. F. Fish ; Secretary, J. C. Larimore ; Direc- tors, A. A. Jacks, M. Pettingill, Thomas L. Stevens, David Gitchell.
Niles Paper-Mill Company .- The company was organ- ized Jan. 10, 1872, and the present mill-site purchased of the Niles Manufacturing Company, and buildings erected. The firm have an average of about 35 employees, and manu- facture straw wrapping-paper exclusively, shipping it to the Chicago market. The officers are A. A. Jacks, President ; B. F. Fish, Treasurer ; John Le Clere, Secretary.
Michigan Wood-Pulp Company .- This company started business in June, 1872, as the firm of French & Millard. It was organized as a joint-stock company, under the gen- eral State law, in August, 1874, name as above, with J. W. French, President; J. B. Millard, Treasurer; and W. S. Mil- lard, Secretary and Superintendent. The company still re- tain the same officers. Their building is 156 feet long by 52 feet in width, and three stories high. Half this build- ing was erected in 1872, and the remainder in 1875. The stock manufactured is whitewood pulp, for print, manilla, and book papers. Silver-leaved poplar, pine, and basswood is used.
This company owns one-third of the power created by the erection of the dam, to be used exclusively on the west side of the river. The company employs about 38 men and 10 boys, day and night, and furnishes Western paper- mills, exclusively. Its shipments in and out over the Michigan Central Railroad were 648 cars during fourteen months, ending Jan. 31, 1879.
Lacey's Barrel-Factory .- About 1849, Messrs. Dare & Barrett started a small coopering business upon the prop- erty now occupied by S. & G. Lacey. In 1855 the prop- erty passed to Jones & Chapin, by whom it was continued until 1862, when Anson & Lambert came into possession.
ENTRANCE TO RESIDENCE & GROUNDS
VIEW OF HATCHERY LOOKING EAST.
VIEW OF FISH PONDS LOOKING EAST.
BILLIARD
ROOM.
VIEW OF HATCHERY LOOKING WEST.
RES. AND SURROUNDINGS OF THE HON. G.H. JEROME, NILES, MICHIGAN .
171
CITY OF NILES.
In 1866, S. & G. Lacey purchased the business, and still continue it. They employ 20 men, and have a manufac- turing capacity of 400 barrels a day. In 1871 a cider- mill was built in connection, and in 1873 a brick building, 26 by 110 feet, and 3 stories in height, was erected for the enlargement of the cider-works.
The flouring-mills of Niles will be found mentioned in the history of early mills and mill-sites.
Krick's Carriage Manufactory .- In 1872, Messrs. Rice, Griffith & Lambert erected the brick building now occupied by S. G. Krick, and commenced the manufacture of wagons, buggies, etc. The sum of $28,000 was expended in real estate, buildings, and machinery. The financial difficulties of 1873 caused a discontinuance of the business, and in 1874, Solomon G. Krick purchased the stock, and the First National Bank became owner of the real estate. The property was leased to Mr. Krick, who continued the man- ufacture of wagons and buggies, and has increased the busi- ness to an amount of $40,000 annual sales. The trade is largely confined to grangers, to whom he offers special induce- ments. The engine has a capacity of 40 horse-power. A planing-mill and pill-box-factory in connection with the works, are leased to other parties, and supplied with power from the engine of the wagon-factory. About 40 men are employed in the establishment.
Fanning-Mill Manufactory .- In 1835, Lucius Scales emigrated from Ohio, and commenced the manufacture of fanning-mills in the village of Niles. After a few years the business passed into the hands of Jerome Walton, and in 1844 or 1845 it was carried on by Barber & Wells. In 1856, Martin Cleland and son purchased the business and continued till 1862, when A. J. Cleland purchased his brother's interest, and since that time he has continued the manufacture of fanning-mills and other agricultural imple- ments. Sales of these are made throughout the Western States.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.