20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 43

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 43

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).

In 1867 Gov. Asa S. Bushnell entered

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the Lagonda firm while this industry was showing such great evidence of prosperity. In 1882, the old firm of Whiteley, Fassler and Kelly dissolved, and Mr. Whiteley became the sole proprietor and began the erection of the celebrated East Street Shops. Along in '85 or '86 Mr. Whiteley having indorsed paper for Mr. E. L. Har- per of Cincinnati, became financially em- barrassed and with him Amos Whiteley, who was president of the Champion Ma- chine Company, so after a while the firm of Warder, Mitchell & Co. became the sole manufacturers of these celebrated ma- chines.

The East Street Shops were afterwards sold and various other industries there established. The . Champion Machine Company's shop became the property of the Superior Drill Company, which in time was absorbed by the American Sped- ing Company, And the firm of Warder, Mitchell & Company, Mr. Mitchell hay- ing retired and Mr. Glessner having been taken in to the firm, became the firm of Warder, Bushnell & Glessner. In 1902 this establishment hecame a member of the International Harvester Company and today manufactures reapers and mowers with a diversified line of other agricultural implements.

In 1856, as indicated heretofore, Jolin H. Thomas and P. P. Mast began the man- ufacture of cider wills and grain drills. This industry was continued by them un- til 1871, when Mr. John H. Thomas with- drew and established the Thomas Mann- facturing Company. This latter firm was largely for a time engaged in the making of hay-rakes, cider-presses and articles of that kind. P. P. Mast continued to be the moving spirit in the old company un.

til his death. After Mr. John H. Thomas retired from the firm of Thomas and Mast, Mr. C. A. Gardiner, W. C. Downey and A. W. Butt became members of this firm.

In the latter part of the sixties the firm of Ferrell, Undlow & Co., composed of Mr. Alphonso Ferrell and Mr. Abraham Lud- low, were engaged in the manufacture of cider-presses. Later on this firm beenme Ferrell, Indlow & Rodgers, and in 1872, Thomas, Ludlow and Rodgers, there hav- ing come into the firm besides Mr. Lud- low, Mr. I. W. Rodgers, Joseph W. Thomas and Charles E. Thomas, they en- tering into the manufacture of what after- wards developed into the Superior Drill. This company was afterwards reorgan- ized into the Superior Drill Company, with Captain A. M. Winger, E. L. Buch- walter, Charles S. Kay and others as the moving spirits. The Superior Drill Com- pany in 1897 having sold their shop, which was located on the east side of Limestone Street between the Big Four and Penn- sylvania Railroads, to the Pennsylvania Company, entered into negotiations for the purchase of the shop which formerly was the property of the Champion Ma- chine Company, and afterwards hecame the owner, and there, with very great sue- cess, manufactured the Superior Drill un- til the American Seeding Company was formed, when it was taken into that large corporation.

In 1884 Gustavns Foos, having in pre- vions years, by an unfortunate turn of the wool trade, lost the greater part of his fortune in which he was engaged, with his sons W. S. and Robert formed the Foos Mannfneturing Company and began the manufacture of corn grinders and articles of that kind. This shop was lo-

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cated in the eastern part of the city south of the Leffel Water Wheel Works, and the of the Big Four Railway. It is now con- ducted by the Baner Brothers.

The oldest establishment in our city that has continued in the same family is that of the H. V. Bretney Company, engaged in the manufacture of leather, etc. This firm was established in 1829 by Harry Bretney at its present location on Enst Main Street. It was afterwards con- ducted by Charles, his son, who continued the business until his death, when the grandson of the original founder, Harry V. Bretney, took it in charge.

FIRST LEFFEL, WHEEL.

The first Leffel Turbine Water Wheel manufactured in Springfield, was only abont ten inches in diameter, and was first installed under seven foot fall in a flume in the basement of the Methodist Protest- ant building (now the Grand Opera Honse). It was used for furnishing power for a large Adains' book press to print the "Methodist Protestant." and the "Penny Telegram" and "American Ruralist."

Congregational church with three feet of water, doing great damage.

This caused the building of the Mill Run sewer, insuring immunity from all such trouble in the future. The water power became so mureliable that it was found necessary to get power for the printing establishment by a shaft from the Leffel Water Wheel Works located on the south side of Mil! Run.

This shaft was protected except where it passed over Mill Run. But one cold winter night Mill Run froze over and the school children were playing upon the ice when the writer was horrified to see a little ten-year-old girl revolving around the shaft, her feet with every revolution striking the hard ice.

As soon as possible the engine was stopped and the little girl removed to an express wagon which was passing when it was found one of her legs was broken. Her first recovery from the shock was manifested hy the exclamation, "Where is my shawl?"

The "Penny Telegram" was purchased DEFUNCT INDUSTRIES. by Hastings and Nichols and combined with the "News" and later the "Repub- PAPER MILLA. lie." requiring four presses for the com- bined establishment. Under normal con- While the city has been constantly add- ing new industries, yet in our progress we have lost several that in other places have developed into extensive establish- ments. The first of these was a paper mill which was established in 1827 on Buck Creek by Ambrose Blount. James Lowry and Jacob Kills. This mill was put in operation in 1828 and for a time was operated as a hand paper mill, and ditions this little wheel could do the work ; lint Mill Run on which the power depend- el, like some men, had the habit of get- ting high and low, which in either case diminished the fall. And sometimes a fish would attempt suicide by entering the wheel and partially closing the gates thus shutting off the power. Back water from ohstructions to the Mill Run at one time flooded the press-room and the basement continued adding new methods until 1861,

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when it was making all kinds of paper. sted & Burk. It was conducted with suc- From 1836-1861 it was operated by J. W. cess until 1874, when the power was sold Kills & Son. They made an assignment 10 Warder & Barnett and this industry ceased to be a factor in the business life of our city. and the mill was afterwards adapted to other industries. The nearest thing that we have had to an industry of this char- CAR Snors. acter since that time was the one some years ago conducted by J. W. Hanes and Frank J. Webb, at Enon Station.

On. MIIs.

As early as 1817 Griffith Foos had an oil-mill on the corner of Linden Avenue and Monroe Street. This mill was after- wards moved to where the Herb Bitters Establishment now is, on East Street, and used as a cotton factory and flax.mill. Mr. John Foos at one time was extensive- ly engaged in this business.

In 1861 he purchased the oil-mill built by James Barnett in 1842 on Warder Street, and in 1863 he bought the Steele. Layman & Co., oil-mill which was built hy Olly Taylor in 1846, and also located on Warder Street. These industries were moved to a mill on the cliffs immediately west of the Factory Street bridge on Buck Creek. It was a considerable industry in its time, but went out of existence some fifteen years ago.

WOOLEN Mn.I.s.

Abont 1814 Ira Paige and Jacob Wood- ward had a woolen factory near where the old paper-mill was located on Mill Rnn. There is some dispnte as to whether Mad- dox Fisher conducted a cotton mill in 1814 near the same location.

It may be interesting to know that at one time Springfield had fair prospects of becoming the center of the car manufact- uring industry. Perhaps if it had been continned we might have had the very ex- tensive shops of Barney & Smith. now lo- eated at Dayton.

In 1852 Jacob Winger and Anderson built a shop immediately south of the Grand Opera House, where for a time they built box and flat cars, and it may be also interesting to know that, as early as 1852. this firm built a number of what were then called Jackson Cook Reapers, the first reapers ever built in this city. These shops were sold to Mr. Leffel and con- verted into shops for the manufacture of his water-wheel.

THRESHING MACHINEN.

In 1842 John A. Pitts the inventor of the Pitts Threshing Machine, moved to Springfield from Rochester, New York. and established a manufactory innnediate- ly east of Limestone Street and north of the bridge. This was a very prominent manufacturing establishment in its time, as the "Pitts" was a machine known all over the conutry. It was conducted after his death by his sons.

In 1866 and '67 the property passed in- to the hands of Charles P. Ballard and .James W. Reinhart, and afterwards it was operated hy the heirs of these two

In 1847 Rabbitts & Olds established their woolen mill on the power purchased of the Barnetts. This mill was immediate- ly east of the present grist mills of An- parties, and Mr. L. H. Parsell, under the

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firm name of Reinhart, Ballard & Co. made by the International Harvester Com- Along in the eighties Oliver S. Kelly be- pany. This firm was composed of Will- came interested and finally purchased the entire plant and devoted it to other in- dustries. iam N. Whiteley, a native of Clark Coun- ty, JJerome Fassler, a native of Germany, and Oliver S. Kelly, another native of SEWING MACHINES. Clark County. The latter two are de- ceased. The former still is engaged in For some time after the invention of sewing machines, and while they were pro- tected by patents, there was very great profit in their maunfacture. In 1875 a company was organized by Mr. John Foos and others for the manufacture of the sewing machines that had been patented by Mr. St. John of Bellefontaine. This manufacturing establishment was located on the northeast corner of Center and Main Streets, and some of our leading citizens were interested in its success. It was however never a very prosperous con- cern, as the patents on the general prin- ciple had expired, and as this cheapened sewing machines very much on the market the profits were not as large as they had been, and the older firms were better able to meet the competition of the new firms that had thus come into existence. Final- ly the industry was abandoned after hav. ing had an existence of some ten or fifteen years. Other establishments for the man- nfacture of various machines have come and gone, but the above are the principal ones that manufactured articles that might, under more favorable conditions, have caused their development into great und prosperous establishments. manufacturing enterprises in our city. Mr. Whiteley has been given the credit, and with a great degree of justice, for establishing the manufacture of reapers in our city on a large scale. To his in- ventive genius the "Champion" reaper owed its existence. It has been said of Mr. Whiteley, by those who were com- petent judges, that he was not only a great inventor but the greatest collector of inventions that our country has known. The financial success of this firm was no doubt dne largely to Oliver S. Kelly. The firm began operation in '56 and '57, and continued until 1882, when Mr. Whiteley bought out Kelly and Fassler and moved the shops to the gigantic structure just erected known as East Street. This firm had its shops where the Arcade Building is now located. The part used for an of- five is now occupied by the When Cloth- ing Store, in the northwest corner of the Areade Building. In its palmiest days this firm employed from 700 to 800 mnen. Mr. O. S. Kelly after his retirement built the Arcade and with his son Oliver pur- chased the threshing machine works form- erly belonging to the Pitts and afterwards to Reinhardt, Ballard & Co. Mr. Fassler retired from business altogether.

WHITELEY, FARSLER & KELLY,

While this firm has gone out of exist- ence, or become merged into others and thus becomes one of our defunet establish- ments, the "Champion" machines are still

CHAMPION MACHINE COMPANY.

So popular did the Champion machine become and the demand for it so great that in 1867 Amox Whiteley with a few

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other men-Robert .Johnston, W. W. Wil- ferred the business to their other houses son, D. P. Jeffries and others-organ- and sold the plant to the Patric Enrace ized a company to be devoted specially to Company. the manufacture of the Champion ma- chine. This firm erected buildings on COMMON SENSE ENGINE COMPANY. Monroe and Gallagher Streets, and con- tinued actively in the manufacture of this In 1878 H. J. Creighton began the man- ufacture of the Common Sense Engine in an alley between High and Washington and Market and Center Streets. This establishment was afterwards sold to Yakey & Byers, who built a shop on the corner of Mound & East Streets, now or- enpied by the Herb Medicine Company. The property afterwards passed into the hands of Mr. Janey and finally was ahan- doned as a manufacturing establishment. Yakey and Byers were attorneys. C. F. Yakey died and A. T. Byers went to Texas, where he is still living. machine until Mr. Amos Whiteley becante embarrassed in 1884. In the meantime Robert Johnson had retired and become engaged in other manufacturing enter- prises; likewise D. P. Jeffries, who was largely instrumental in organizing the Lagonda Bank and who for many years was its cashier, also retired, and contracts were made by Mr. Whiteley for the inter- ests of other stock-holders. However, up- on Mr. Whiteley's embarrassment the shop began to go down and finally ceased operations. The stock for a time was held by a syndicate and the shops finally sold to the Superior Drill Company. This firm CHAMPION CITY MANUFACTURING COMPANY. at one time employed front 800 to 1,000 men.

THE A. C. EVANS COMPANY.

In 1876 J. M. Evans and three brothers established what was known as the Evans Manufacturing Company. Afterwards a new corporation was organized called the A. C. Evans Company and a factory was built on Dibert Street west of the Pan- handle Railway. This shop showed great prosperity during the life time of Mr. A. C. Evans and was used for the manu- facture of corn planters, hurrows, potato diggers, and implements of that char- arter. Mr. Evans died about 1594, and the business began to decline. Afterwards the shop and business were soll to the American Seeding Company, who trans-

This was a company incorporated in 1875 as Kissell. Blount & Co. which pur- chased the building formerly occupied by the Rabbitts and Olde woolen mill on Warder Street. The firm was engaged in the manufacture of enftivators, hay rakes, double shovel plows, and implements of that kind. It continued in operation for about ten years when it was abandoned.

TRICYCLE FACTORY.

About the year 1885 the manufacture of tricyeles, boys' wagons, and similar ar- ticles, was started in this city, a shop be- ing built on Park Street north of Colum- bia. This plant was afterwards sold out to the Springfield Gas Engine Company and the manufacture of tricycles was abandoned.

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PRESENT INDUSTRIES.

INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER.

Among the present industrial establish- ments of Springfield the Champion divi- sion of the International Harvester Com- pany is no doubt the most extensive. This firm occupies and is the owner of what was formerly the plaut of Warder, Bush- nell and Glessner Shops on Buck Creek, in what was called Lagonda. The plant is the successor, through varions muta- tions, of the plant established in Lagonda in the beginning of the century. In 1850 Benjamin Warder was the moving spirit, and in '56 or '57 he became associated with Ross Mitchell and afterwards with Asa S. Bushnell. When Mr. Mitchell re- tired, George B. Glessner of Chicago be- came active in its operation. Towards the latter part of its existence Mr. Warder was not actively identified with its busi- ness affairs, he having moved to Wash- ington, D. C., where by wise investments in real estate he accumulated great wealth. Governor Asa Bushnell stayed with the firm until it entered the trust, when he, too, retired. Mr. Glessner remains an officer of the trust company known as the International Harvester. This firm em- ploys from 1.500 to 2,000 persons and does not confine itself to the manufacture of reaping-machines, but manufactures also hay-rakes, hay-teders, mowing-ma- chines, hay-presses and articles of a like character.

P. P. MAST COMPANY.

This is one of the old firms of the city, and was organized in 1856 by P. P. Mast, lately a resident of Champaign County, and John II. Thomas, a newly fledged

lawyer, whose ancestry eame from Mary- land. They began the manufacture of cider-mills and grain-mills, where the shops of the firm are now located, on Warder Street cast of Limestone. The firm of Thomas & Mast continued until 1871, when Mr. Thomas withdrew and es- tablished the Thomas Manufacturing Company. The firm was reorganized as P. P. Mast Company. From that time on until his death, Mr. Mast was the con- trolling spirit in this enterprise. In 1860 Charles A. Gardner, who died some twen- ty years later, became identified with this firm and in 1862 William C. Downey, and in the same year A. W. Butt. These men retired in the eighties and afterwards en- gaged in other enterprises. Both are now deceased.

After Mr. Mast's death Mr. Charles R. Crain became the president and man- ager of this establishment and so con- tinned until 1905, when the controlling in- terests passed into the hands of other parties. This company was organized in 1871, with a paid up stock of $500,000. Ifoward D. Maize is now president, P. . A. Lewis, vice-president, and H. H. Sellers, secretary. In 1895 this firm purchased what was formerly the private residence of James D. Stewart, on North Lime- stone Street, north of the Soldier's Mon- ment, which they converted into an office buikling and now occupy it for that par- pose. This firin is largely engaged in the manufacture of the Buckeye Grain Drills and Corn Plows, etc., employing from 250 to 350 men.

AMERICAN SEEDING COMPANY.

The superior division of the American Seeding Company ocenpies the buildings

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that were formerly the property of the Champion Machine Company. This divi- sion, however, is the snecessor of the old Thomas, Ludlow & Rodgers firm which did business for a number of years, where the Union Depot is to be erected, and which afterwards became the Superior Drill Company. A munber of persons have been actively identified with this in- dustry. In the old Thomas, Lndlow and Rodgers firm, Abraham Ludlow, a native of this place, was the moving spirit. He afterwards became largely identified with the Springfield Malleable Company; he died in 1906. Alfonso Ferrell was a brother-in-law of Mr. Ludlow. The Thomases that were in this firm were Charles E. and Joseph W. Charles E. Thomas is still a resident of this city. Joseph W. lives in California. When the Superior Drill Company was organized Captain A. M. Winger, lately deceased, E. L. Bnehwalter, and Robert Johnson became the moving spirits of the new con- cern. When the Superior Drill Company was taken into the trust and became a division of the Champion Seeding Com- pany. these three men, with Charles S Kay, beenme members of the new firm. Captain E. L. Buchwalter became presi- dent of the American Seeding Company. In a short time Mr. Winger, Mr. Kay and Mr. Johnson retired from the active operations of the firm, Mr. Frank C. John- son, Robert Johnson's son remaining as an official. The old Superior Drill Com- pany was a very successful firm, having a large foreign market for its prodnet 4. notably in Australia. The firm employs from three hundred to five hundred men.

THOMAS MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

This company exists as the result of the efforts of John H. Thomas, after he severed his connection with the firm of Thomas & Mast .. It was incorporated in 1886. The stock is largely, if not all, held by the Thomas family. This firm origin- ally made lawn-mowers and cider-mills and afterwards branched out into the maunfacture of bicycles and portable en- gines, grain-drills. hay-rakes, etc. Will- iam S. Thomas, a son of the original founder, is now president and treasurer, Charles E. Thomas, vice-president and H. HI. Bean, secretary. The plant is located on South Limestone Street, immediately south of the Panhandle Freight Depot. It employes from 250 to 350 men.

SPRINGFIELD METALLIC CASKET COMPANY.

In 1876 Boyd Hotsenpiller & Company began the manufacture of eloth-covered easkets on Washington Street, east of Limestone Street. Afterwards this firm manufactured burglar-proof vanlts. When the Driscoll carriage shop. located on W. Columbia Street, was for sale, it was pur- chased by the then members of the Spring- fiehl Metallic Casket Company. This eor- poration was formed in 1886 with a capital stock of $200,000 and has been a growing concern. C. E. Patrie is president, Paul A. Staley, vice-president, E. N. Lupfer. serretary. Charles S. Kay, treasurer, and Charles H1. Heiser, superintendent. From 150 to 200 persons are employed.

CROWELL PIMASTING COMPANY.

This firm is the sneressor of that which was at first. Mast, Crowell & Kirkpatrick

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and afterwards Crowell and Kirkpatrick, and the business was continued from that and is engaged in the publishing and day up till 1878 by William Foos and Mrs. printing of the "Farm & Fireside" and afterwards the "Woman's Home Com- panion," in the plant located on the north- west corner of High & Factory. Upon Mr. Kirkpatrick's retirement Mr. Crowell became the sole proprietor until the stock was disposed of to parties in New York. It was incorporated in 1906 with a capital stock of $1.750,000. George H. Hazen is president, J. S. Crowell, vice-president, Fred L. Collins, secretary. In the neigh- borhood of 300 persons are occupied in the business of this firm. Leffel, the widow, and John W. Book- walter. At this time Mr. Foos retired and Mr. Bookwalter became practically the sole proprietor. The present cota- pany was incorporated in 1890 with a capital stock of $250,000. John W. Book- walter is president, F. M. Bookwalter, vice-president and treasurer, J. A. Book- walter, secretary, and A. P. Sparks gen- eral manager. It employes in the neigh- borhood of 250 persons and has been a very profitable establishment for a num- ber of years.

GOOD & REESE COMPANY.

This company is engaged in the floral business, and it is said that it is the largest rose house in the United States, possibly in the world. It was incor- porated in 1890 with a capital stock of $20,000. It is located on South Lime- stone Street near the south corporation line. . J. M. Good is president, Frank E. Good, vice-president, and Harry F. Good secretary and treasurer. Abont 150 per- sons are employed.

JAMES LEFFEL & COMPANY.

This firm was originally established by James Leffel in 1862 and engaged in the manufacture of the celebrated turbine water-wheel. They purchased shops on S. Limestone Street, immediately north of the Big Four Railway Company on the west side and continned there until the early eighties, when the present plant was built on the Big Four Railway, south of Lagonda Avenne. Mr. Leffel died in 1965

WICKHAM PIANO PLATE COMPANY.

In 1889 there was organized by Mr. William Irwin, John W. Chapman and Henry Wickham, the firm which was known as Irwin, Chapman & Wickham, and which engaged in a small way in the manufacture of piano plates. Mr. Irwin died a few years afterwards and the other members purchased his interest and con- tinued to run the establishment until a few years ago, when Mr. Chapman retired. The plant is located in the eastern part of the city along the Big Four Railway, and is doing a very extensive business, Henry Wickham being president, and James Johnson, .Jr., vice-president. It employs from 300 to 400 men. Mr. Wickham died in November, 1907.

BETTENDORF METAL, WHEEL COMPANY.

This firm is a branch which came here from Towa in 1890. It is engaged in the manufacture, as its name indientes, of metal wheels. The plant is located at the

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corner of Wheel & Larch Streets. G. similar products. It employs from 100 to Watson French is president, J. L. Hecht, 200 men. general manager, Nathaniel French, vice- president, Thomas B. Carson, secretary SPRINGFIELD MACHINE TOOL COMPANY. and treasurer, and H. J. Rober and W. H. Stackhouse managers. It employs from 200 to 300 men.

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 43

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993