USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Memorial history of Syracuse, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time > Part 24
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The Duguid Saddlery Company -Among the first manufactures to at- tain much importance in Syracuse was that of saddlery hardware, which was begun as early as 1847, by Charles Pope, John A. Robinson, and Ed- ward S. Dawson, under the firm name of Charles Pope & Co. The first
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factory was located on the site now occupied by John Moore & Co., in James street, and the business was carried on until 1856, when the firm was dissolved. In 1858 the firm of E. S. Dawson & Co. was formed, consisting of Edward S. Dawson, Harmon W. Van Buren, and Jacob S. Smith. The interests of Van Buren and Smith were afterwards purchased by Henry L. Duguid, who then became a member of the firm. Their factory was in West Water street, later in East Water street, and a store in the Pike Block, and the business continued until 1868. In January of that year J. E. Wells was admitted as a partner, and the business passed into the hands of Duguid, Wells & Co., which firm carried on a successful business until 1883. From January, 1883, to January, 1890, the firm was Duguid & Wells, and January 15, 1890, the Duguid Saddlery Company was incor- porated with the following officers : M. E. Duguid, President ; W. M. White, Secretary and Treasurer; and E. E. Withey, Superintendent. The capital stock is $25,000, and fifty men and boys are employed.
Fraser & Jones Company .- In the year 1856 the firm of Olmsted & Jones was formed by H. R. Olmsted and Richard W. Jones. They began manufacturing saddlery hardware on an upper floor at the corner of West Fayette and Clinton streets, with a salesroom on the second floor of the present McCarthy retail stores. The factory was next located in Mulberry street, and not long afterward was removed to the " Old Line House," near the corner of South Salina and Onondaga streets, on the site of the present Brunswick House. The business was carried on here for a number of years and continually increased, and the number of hands employed rose from two or three to one hundred and fifty. When those quarters were outgrown the firm erected the brick structure in South Clinton street re- cently occupied by the L. C. Smith Gun Works, where they continued until 1867, when it was sold out to a woodworking concern. The store occu- pied after the MeCarthy Building was left was in the Washington Block, where the business was carried on almost thirteen years. In 1877 Mr. Jones sold out to Mr. Olmsted. The latter removed his jobbing trade in this line of goods to his present location in South Clinton street, and Mr. Jones joined the present Frazer & Jones Company, and for seventeen years carried on a large manufacturing business in the Penitentiary, which was closed in ISS9 on account of the smallpox. This firm now sells only to jobbers and has an immense trade, reaching $500,000 annually. The Frazer & Jones Company as at present organized is an outgrowth of a sinall business begun in 1852 by Kasson Frazer and Peter Burns, which continued until 1877. The firmn then became Frazer, Jones & Burns, and later Frazer, Jones & Hurst (1881). In October, 1882, the present com- pany was organized and incorporated with a capital of $100,000. The
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first officers were: President, R. W. Jones; Vice-President, George P. Hier ; Secretary, W. F. Pardee ; Treasurer, Frederick Frazer; these with O. P. Schuyler were the Directors. The buildings now occupied cover 250 feet front in West Fayette street, and 350 feet in Walton street, the main build- ing being five stories high. The product is saddlery hardware, wood and iron hames, leather goods, and malleable iron castings, and 500 men are em- ployed. The present officers are : President, R. W. Jones ; Vice-President, Frederick Frazer; Secretary, Charles R. Jones; Treasurer, George S. Hier.
Sherwood Harness Company .- This is a stock company with a capital of $20,000, for the manufacture of steel harness, the invention of Mr. Allen Sherwood, in 1881. He came to Syracuse in 1884 and organized this com- pany. About 20,000 sets of the harness have been made and sold. Dis- tributing houses are established in Chicago and Kansas City. Mr. Sher- wood is an inventor of considerable note, especially in connection with early mowing machines and self-binders. He made the latter in 1858, and gave the first exhibition of a grain binder in this country in 1859, exhibiting his machines throughout the States of New York and Illinois.
Syracuse Steel Foundry Company .- This company was incorporated in 1887, with a capital of $50,000, and the following officers : Frederick Fra- zer, President ; George P. Hier, Vice-President; R. W. Jones, Secretary ; George S. Hier, Treasurer. The first three named were the Directors, the number having since been increased by adding George S. Hier and O. P. Schuyler. The company began business in 1889, in Geddes, just west of the Solvay Process Works, previous to which time the manufacture had been carried on in Frazer & Jones Company's buildings in West Fayette street. The capacity of the works in 1887 was thirty tons per month of steel cast- ings for machinery, etc., which has since been increased to 300 tons per month, and seventy- five hands are employed. The office is at 351 West Fayette street.
Tobacco and Cigars .- The manufacture of tobacco and cigars in Syra- cuse is an old industry, and one that has reached large proportions. About the year 1837 Noah Evans began manufacturing tobacco by hand in a building which stood about on the site of the Butler Block in South Salina street. Ile made cut tobacco with a hand machine, and his output was, of course, very small. In 1839 Evans sold out to Henry Church and Oran Candee, father of James Candee, who continued manufacturing by hand, and also made cigars. They employed three cigarmakers, two cutters, and two peddlers, besides seven or eight boys as strippers. At a later date they employed horse-power and water-power on the old dike north of the canal, near the present gas works, and in 1844 moved to the Raynor Block in West Water street. From there they moved into the old " saleratus factory,"
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corner of Clinton and West Genesee streets. Previous to this time the firm was changed, Mr. Church going out, and with Perry Burdick formed the firm of Church & Burdick, the works going to the site of the late Leland Hotel. C. D Johnson was also a partner at one time with Candee. The original business was then soon closed up or sold out, chiefly on account of Mr. Candee's ill- health Church & Burdick kept what was called "Tammany ITall," at No. 11 South Salina street, which was a retail cigar store, and con- tinued the business of manufacturing. Mr. Burdick finally withdrew from the manufactory and carried on the retail business. Church closed up his business about 1861.
Dwight and Daniel O. Salmon began the tobacco business about 1850 in James street, and removed to the Blair Block three years later. They employed about ten operatives and made some cigars, but the greater part of their business was in cut tobacco. In 1866 they removed to the building on the site where the Pease Furnace Company is now located. They were burned out in 1869, and never resumed business. Dwight Salmon had died before the removal to the latter place.
The making of cigars has always been the more important part of the tobacco business in Syracuse. It was begun here by Ezra Long in South Salina street, on a part of the site of the Syracuse House, about the year 1837. He employed six or eight cigarmakers and several strippers, and conducted what was then considered a large factory. He continued in the business about fifteen years, and until his death, when the factory was closed.
Levi Comstock began manufacturing cigars about the time that Long closed his place, in the rear of the old Court- House. He removed to next door to the present Amos Hotel in North Salina street in IS52, where he employed fifteen to twenty hands, and contined the business about twelve years.
The firm of Lockey & McDermott purchased Oran Candee's small busi- ness in 1844, when George P. Hier and John McComes bought it and con- tinued it in the old Clinton Block a year and one-half, when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Hier then became associated with Andrew Greer, a practical tobacco cutter, and James Van Etta, under the firm name of Greer, Van Etta & Co., at No. 24 James street, the firm continuing about two years, when they sold out to James Van Etta. He failed in a short time. Lewis Sperry and George P. Hier then (1850) formed a partnership and were located one year in the Clinton Block, and thence removing to the Furman Block in East Water street. They later removed to the Frank- lin Block, adjoining the present G. A. Morris grocery, in Hanover Square, and six years later removed permanently to No. 25 North Salina street.
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Mr. Sperry sold out to Mr. Hier in 1854, while they were located in the Furman Block, and Mr. Hier continued alone until 1862, when. Nathan H. Plumb became a partner. About two years later Mr. Hier again as- sumed the sole ownership of the business, and in 1876 George S. Hier, son of George P., entered the firm and has continued in it since. Mr. Hier began the business of making cigars as soon as he sold out in James street, having then twelve cigarmakers and four strippers. Under energetic management the business grew rapidly, and at one time while in the Furman Block more than 120 operatives were employed. The manufacturing was continued until 1866, since which time the firm has operated as wholesale and retail dealers in leaf tobacco.
John P. Hier began manufacturing cigars in 1860 at No. 35 North Salina street, employing one man and a boy. The business flourished, and in 1864 larger quarters were taken at No 11 North Salina street. Two years later Bruce S. Aldrich was taken into the firm, and the business prospered. In 1872-73 they built the brick block at Nos. 140 and 142 North Salina street, in which the business is now carried on. Mr. Aldrich sold out to the senior partner in 1884, at which time 400 hands were employed. This firm has originated several brands of cigars which have almost a national reputation.
The cigar manufacturing enterprise of Justin Seubert is among the old- est established representatives of the leading houses engaged in this line of trade in Syracuse. The concern was established by him about twenty-five years ago. It was subsequently known as Seubert & Warner, but in ISSS it again reverted to the sole control of Mr. Seubert, and now employment is given to about 250 hands. Mr. Seubert is an old-time resident of this city, and a gentleman well known to the public and the tobacco trade as an energetic, enterprising, and honorable business man.
Michael and Baltisar Auer, of the firm of Auer & Co., came to Syra- cuse in 1850. Michael Auer learned the trade of cigarmaking with George P. Hier. After an honorable war record he began manufacturing cigars in Jamesville in 1865, and two years later transferred his business to Syracuse, locating in the Jervis Block. In 1873 the firm was formed by his associa- tion with his brother, Baltisar Auer, and the factory was removed to Mul- berry street. From 1873 to 1876 M. Auer filled a State position in the Auburn State Prison, and when he returned in the latter year the cigar fac- tory was removed to East Water street. Two years later it was again re- moved to a store in Clinton street, where it remained until 1887, at which time the firm took: their present location in West Water street. . The busi- ness has grown to such an extent that the force of employees lias increased from twelve or fourteen to fifty hands. They manufacture about twenty
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brands of cigars, and are jobbers in many more. They handle large quan- tities of manufactured and leaf tobacco, and employ three commercial trav- elers who visit the principal towns in Central New York. Michael Auer was Supervisor for two years from the Seventh ward.
John Demong began the manufacture of cigars about the year 1864, in Burnet street, but soon afterward removed to old number 167 North Salina street, where he remained until 1875. He then purchased a building on the corner of Lodi and John streets, and there continued his business until his death, on the 23d of March, 1884. He was Mayor of Syracuse in 1882-83, and the first Democratic Mayor that had been elected in more than ten years. Mr. Demong had previously served as Alderman of the Second ward four terms. His son, William J. Demong, succeeded his father at the death of the latter, and continued the business till June 6, 1891, when Charles Hofher was taken as partner, under the firm name of Demong & Co. They employ from ten to fifteen hands.
Previous to the late war Jacob Sax was a cigarmaker in the employ of George P. Hier. He returned from the war in 1865, and opened a cigar factory in North Salina street in 1878. In 1883 he purchased his present location, No. 528 North Salina street, which he is occupying as a cigar fac- tory and a wholesale and retail tobacco store. Mr. Sax has been a resident of Syracuse for forty years, and has an honorable war record He enlisted in 1861 in Captain John G. Butler's company, Co. D, Third N. Y. Infantry Volunteers, Colonel Fred Townsend commanding. He was in front of Richmond, and participated in the bombardment of Charleston and in numerous other engagements. In the engagement at Drury's Bluff he was wounded, necessitating an amputation of the leg above the knee. He re- ceived his discharge in 1865 and returned to Syracuse. During the ad- ministration of Governor Fenton he had charge of the State Arsenal, and in 1870 he occupied the position of weigher of hay. He represented his ward on the Board of Supervisors in 1886 and 1887.
Owing to the peculiar nature of the cigarmaking industry it is very difficult to procure reliable statistics relative to it. While we have men- tioned its early history, and a few of the leading manufacturers, there are about 125 others who are engaged in the business in Syracuse, employing all the way from one to fifty hands. The product reaches far into the mil- lions of cigars, but its value and the gross number of men employed cannot be stated with any degree of accuracy. The forthcoming census will un- doubtedly throw light upon the manufactures of every city which will en- lighten the investigator in such statistical problems.
The Greenway Brewing Company .- The Greenway Brewery was founded by the late John Greenway and his brother in 1850, and was the
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first important establishment of the kind in Syracuse. The brother died soon after the brewery was started, and John Greenway continued in the business until his death, on the 28th of May, 1887. At the beginning the brewery was a small concern as compared with its present capacity, and employed only about fifty men and four teams, while now 150 men and ten teams are employed. The brewery is located in West Water street, and at present comprises one immense structure, in which are located the malt- house and the brewery proper, the whole being 650 by 75 feet. The capacity of this brewery is about 100,000 barrels a year, and the product has for many years enjoyed a high reputation throughout the world. In October, 1878, the Greenway Brewing Company was formed with a capi- tal stock of $200,000, and John Greenway was made President of the com- pany. On the death of the founder of the business his son, John, was elected President and Treasurer, and has since continued in the office. A. G. Cook is Secretary.
Haberle Brewing Company .- In the year 1855 Benedict Haberle, one of the prominent German citizens of the city, began brewing in what is now the Thomas Ryan Brewery, corner of Butternut and McBride streets. He continued the business there with a fair degree of success until 1865, when the new brewery was built, directly opposite the old one, in Butternut street. The business increased until 1881, when Mr. Haberle died and the Haberle Brewing Company was organized with a capital of $125,000. The officers were and still continue to be as follows: F. B. Haberle, President and Manager; Charles L. Hoffman, Vice-President; W. H. Haberle, Treasurer ; and Charles Haberle, Secretary. These with John H. Costello constitute the Board of Directors. When the company was organized extensive im- provements were inaugurated and the quality of the lager greatly improved. The plant now comprises a five-story brick structure, with a frontage of 250 feet in Butternut street, and a depth of 80 feet, besides the great under- ground cellars with a storage capacity of 30,000 barrels. About seventy- five men and thirty horses are employed, and the annual production reaches 60,000 barrels. Two Arctic ice machines are used, one of 110 tons and one of 50 tons daily capacity.
Zett's Brewery .- In 1858 Francis Xavier Zett, father of George Zett, began brewing lager beer in a small building on the corner of Court and Lodi streets. His capital was very small, only a few hundred dollars, and he had two employees, but he gradually increased the product until, at his death in ISSI, he was making 3,000 barrels annually. George Zett then became the owner, and in 1888 erected several additional buildings, which greatly increased the capacity of the brewery. In 1890 the output reached 15,000 barrels. A part of the malt used is made on the premises. Thirty men are now employed and the plant is valued at $150,000.
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Moore, Quinn & Co .- This establishment is located on the corner of Crouse avenue and East Water street, and was organized in 1881 by Frank Moore, William Quinn, Edward Callahan, and Martin McGarvey, who have constituted the firm ever since. The buildings are 126 x 75 feet in size, and six stories high. Eighteen men are employed, and the yearly capacity of the brewery is 31,000 barrels. This firm makes India pale, present-use, and stock ales and porter, using nothing but the finest Canadian malt and State hops. Frank O'Rourke, an expert brewer, has charge of the manufactur- ing department, and his product is conceded to be number one. The firm was in the brewing business two years in Utica previous to coming to Syra- cuse.
Crystal Spring Brewing Company .- This company was incorporated in 1887, with a capital stock of $175,000. The main building is 220 feet front, 84 feet deep, and three stories high ; the boiler-house is 30 x 50 feet ; the bottling-house 22 x 90 feet ; all are located in Burnet avenue. Seventy-six men are employed, and the capacity of the brewery is 100,000 barrels an- nually. The officers are as follows: President, Anton Zahm ; Vice- Presi- dent, Thomas Ryan; Secretary and Treasurer, Edwin C. Hall ; Directors, John Dunfee, T. E. O'Keefe, Edward Joy, George Schieder, Edward Seiter, Edwin C. Hall, Anton Zahm, Charles Simon, and Thomas Ryan.
The National Brewing Company .-- This company was incorporated in 1888 with a capital of $50,000. The Directors are John H. Costello, Cor- nelius J. Ryan, Charles Umbrecht, Frank B. Haberle, Edmond A. Dollard, Charles Haberle, Charles L. Hoffman, Charles Schwarz, and William H. Haberle. Following were the other officers of the company: Cornelius J. Ryan, President ; Edmond A. Dollard, Vice-President ; Charles L. Hoff- man, Treasurer and Manager; Charles Schwarz, Secretary. The brewery is located on Lock street, with a front of 170 feet and 90 feet depth, five stories high. The office is at Nos. 923 and 925 Lock street. Twenty men are employed, and the capacity is 75,000 barrels annually. The product con- sists of ales, porter, India pale ale, etc. The officers now are C. L. Hoff- man, President ; P. F. Murray, Vice-President ; Charles S Schwarz, Secre- tary and Treasurer; and J. H. Costello, Attorney.
The Germania Brewing Company .- This company was organized in 1886, with a capital of $125,000, which has been increased to $150,000. The first officers were as follows: President, Charles Simon ; Vice- Presi- dent, Francis Baumer; Secretary and Treasurer, John Greenway, jr .; Di- rectors, Charles Simon, Francis Baumer, John Greenway, jr., Peter Pfohl, Daniel Ackerman, Jacob Knapp, Leopold Joh, Thomas Abele, Frank Lang, J. J. Klein, William Kearney. The brewery occupies the premises from 100 to 206 North West street, and comprises several four-story brick struct-
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ures Forty- five men and nine teams are employed. The present officers are Frank Lang. President ; Arthur Gunther, Vice-President ; John Green- way, Secretary; F. E. Knowlton, Treasurer. The product is the celebrated Germania lager beer, and the sales annually now reach about 40,000 bar- rels.
Kearney's Brewery, -- William Kearney began brewing in 1869, in a building 40 x 90 feet, on the corner of North Salina and Wolf streets, em- ploying at first nine men. The dimensions of his plant have been increased from time to time until the building now used as the brewery and office has a frontage of 140 X 127 feet, and is four stories high. In the rear is a two- story building, 30 x 90 feet in dimensions, and a malt-house 121 x 36 feet, four stories high, with a capacity of 50,000 bushels. He now employs in his brewing business thirty men, and the establishment has a capacity of 150 barrels per day. The product is present- use and stock ale and porter and India pale ale. These beverages have a large sale throughout the State.
The Rock Spring Brewery .- This brewery, which is located outside of the city limits on the Split Rock road, had its inception about the year 1856, when Frank Martin began the manufacture of small beer. He went out of business in 1859, and the property passed to the possession of Henry Wents and others, and finally in 1874 to Jacob Mantel. He died in 1879, and Mrs. Mantel conducted the business until 1882. Joseph Ilaas then secured an interest, and the firm became Mantel & Haas, which continued to 1889, when the property passed into possession of Fred Fry and Frank Mantel, and the firm of Haas, Fry & Mantel conducted the brewery to October, 1890. At this time Mr. Haas sold his interest to his partners. Five men are employed and about 20,000 barrels of beer are made annually. It is located in Grand avenue, corner of Avery.
The Syracuse Brewing Company .- This company was incorporated in March, 1890, with a capital of $20,000, which was subsequently increased to $35,000. The Directors are George G. Campbell, Conrad Pinches, Edwin Loder, James A. Gregg, and John McLennan. Following are the officers of the company: John McLennan, President; Edwin Loder, Vice-President; Conrad Pinches, Secretary ; George Murray, jr., Treasurer and General Manager. The property, which is situated in Prospect avenue, near Laurel street, has a frontage of 79 feet and a depth of 165 feet. All grades of pres- ent-use ales, and India pale, cream, nectar, and Burton ales, stout, and porter are made. The capacity of the plant is 30,000 barrels annually.
Thomas Ryan .-- In April, 1884, Mr. Ryan purchased an interest in the Onondaga Brewery. The product of that brewery at that time did not ex- ceed 150 barrels per week. In 1885 a brick building was erected beside the old one, and at a later date another was added, which fronted on But-
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ternut street, giving the establishment as thus enlarged a front of more than 200 feet on Butternut street, with a depth of 100 feet and three stories in height. In October, 1887, Mr. Ryan purchased the interest of his partner, and has since that time conducted the business alone. The product now reaches about 800 barrels per week, which represents a business of more than $225,000 per annum. The specialty of this brewery is export and India pale ale. Mr. Ryan was elected Mayor of Syracuse, and served dur- ing the years 1883, 1884, and 1885.
Intimately associated with the brewing interest is the bottling industry, which has within the past few years assumed considerable importance. The Greenway Brewery began bottling in 1885, under the administration of the late Jolin Greenway, and the works are now operated by John Greenway, jr. The establishment is located on the canal, just east of West street, and em - ploys sixteen hands and has $50,000 invested. From 35,000 to 50,000 dozen bottles are put up annually, with their India pale ale far in the lead. It is the only establishment in Syracuse that bottles ale, and the only one in the United States that ships to foreign countries, their product going to Java, China, France, the Sandwich Islands, and Australia
The lager beer breweries carry on this branch of the business to a con- sicherable extent, the Haberle Brewery bottling its own lager and Seiter Brothers in Burnet avenue putting up the Crystal Spring lager. Friedel & Gebhart find a good market here for the Genesee Brewing Company's lager, of Rochester, and Becker & Myer bottle George Zett's product.
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