20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 45

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 45

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).

"These factories employ 1.000 men and 300 women, use a capital of $1.400.000. and their present product amounts to $2.100.000, annnally growing larger."

This same anthor sums up as follows:

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"Finally, to drive home the argument in favor of Industrial Springfield. I may cite these potent facts :

"Springfield makes more agricultural implements than any other city in the world, excepting only Chicago.

"Springfield has twenty acres under roof in green-honses and one of these is the largest rose grower in the world.

"Springfield produces more manufac- tured goods in proportion to its popula- tion than any other city in America.

"Springfield manufactures seventy-five per cent. of all the piano plates used in the I'nited States and Canada.

"Springfield mails more second-class matter than any city in Ohio, except only Cincinnati and Cleveland.

"Springfield is one of the largest pro- dneers of gas and gasoline engines."

MERCANTILE AFFAIRS,

Springfield has never taken much of a position as a distributing center for mer- chandise; indeed, the commercial activity of the town is so over-shadowed by the manufacturing industries that all others appear insignificant. At this time, as stated by Mr. Sharpe in an article in the Ohio Magazine, there are sixteen estab- lishments in Springfield that may be classed as of a wholesale character. The principal of these are three wholesale grocery establishments, one notion house, one tobacco and cigar house and some commission houses.

to this time by Charles H. Bacon, and be- fore his time by Horr and Bacon. Their place of business was on the northeast corner of Washington and Limestone Streets. Carson & Fox continued bnsi- ness for fourteen years, having dissolved in 1896. Each partner established a new house of his own; one, known as James Carson & Company, is located in a build- ing which the firm owns immediately north of the Kelly Building, occupied by the "News."

D. Q. Fox formed a company, and this company now conducts its business in the Kelly Building before referred to.

In 1895 Steele, Hopkins & Meredith eame to Springfield and purchased the establishment that had been run for a few years, owned by B. F. Funk & Company.

In 1901 and 1902 this firm purchased ground on West High Street, between Fountain Avenue and Center, and erected thereon their present commodious build- ing.

14. W. Bosart & Company have a whole- sale tobacco house located on East Main Street, near the first alley east of Lime- stone.

The Springfield Paper & Merchandise Company was organized about 1895 by David King. Its place of business is on North Limestone Street, in the Winger Building. Other wholesale houses in the tobacco field might be mentioned: Leo Bretzenfelder, Garnier Brothers, August Stelzer and others in that line.

The Springfield Confectionery Com- In 1882 James Carson and D. Q. Fox came to Springfield from Xenia, and un- Pany wholesales in its line. C. T. Crum is the moving spirit in this business. It is der the name of Carson & Fox purchased located on Sonth Limestone Street, not the wholesale grocery business that had far from High. A number of other firms been conducted for some years previons may wholesale in a small way, but the

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wholesale business is all of comparatively city from 1850-1880, built the building on recent date.

RETAILERS.

It being impossible in a work of this kind to give all the present retailers, we will mention some few in the pust who have transacted business in the city.

GROCERY.

the southwest corner of Main and Center Streets, and with his sons, Henry, C. C and John, carried on a grocery there.

DRY GOODS.

Twenty-five or thirty years ago three stores had the principal dry goods busi- ness of the city. Baldwin's was located on the northwest corner of Limestone and Main Streets. The principal proprietors were John H. Baldwin, who died in 18-1. and Henry Baldwin, recently deceased. who was a son of Jonah Baldwin, a pioneer resident of this town. This house went out of existence shortly after the death of the senior Baldwin.

Among the old established groceries was that of the J. D. Stewart Company. This grocery establishment existed in the city of Springfield from 1860 until the present year. The owner was quite a character in his time. He had an unfor- tunate habit of becoming intoxicated, but The Murphys had a store in Spring- field for a good many years, The senior, James Murphy, came here in 1844 and established the business, and upon his death it was taken up by his sons, Wil- liam R. and James W., and continued un- til 1895. It was a popular establishment and well patronized. he was a shrewd business man, and it was a common saying that "Jim Stewart knew more drunk than a great many people did sober." The grocery was on the west side of South Limestone Street. where the Zimmerman Building is now located. After Mr. Stewart's death it was run by R. N. Stewart until this year, when he made au assignment and was No house in the dry goods line is better remembered than that of the Blacks. Robert T. Black condueting a dry goods establishment in this city as early as 1847. At this date Andrew C. Black, who after- wards ran the store, came to Springfield and became a partner of Robert T., who was a brother. William M., another brother, afterwards became a member of the firm. For some time the Blacks con- ducted a dry goods establishment in the wound up. Another old time grocery was that kept by Mr. Charles HI. Shaffer at No. 51 East Main Street, and afterwards on South Limestone Street. Mr. Shaffer some years ago sold out his business and recently died (1907). Along in 1865 and '70 Frederick Zischler kept a grocery store about midway between High and Main on the east side of Fountain Avenne, and was very largely patronized. Other establishments have come and gone. To- old Trappers Corner, where Levy's day the town has what might be expected (Jething Honse is now located. The bovi- of it in this line for a city of its size. John hess was continued as Blacks' Store for a Funk, Sr., an active business man of this number of years after William Black

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died, but the establishment has now gone (1907), had a large store in the Commer- out of existence.

At present the dry goods trade is large- ly controlled by two establishments, In 1873 the Kinnanes, father and sons, Ed- Another old establishment in the same line is that of M. D. Levy & Sons, located on the southwest corner of Fountain Ave- nue and Main Street. This firm has like- wise been in the town for many years. During the 'SOs and '90% the Remsberg Brothers condneted a clothing store on E. Main Street, two doors west of Limestone. J. M. Knote has been in the business for a good many years, A present large establishment in that line, in addition to the Kauffmans and Levys, is the "When," which came here some twelve or fifteen years ago and located on the southeast corner of High and Fountain. ward, John and James, and Edward Wren, a son-in-law, established a store in the Commercial Building. This was con- dneted for some years as Kinnane & Wren; afterwards the partnership dissolved and Mr. Wren conducted the business alone at the old stand until the department house was erected on East High Street, now oc- eupied by the Edward Wren Company. After the dissolution of Kinnane & Wren the Kiunane brothers, John, Edward and James, moved into the new Bushnell Building, and although the two senior members of the firm have since died, the business still continues in . charge of . Kredel & Alexander conduct a very Jannes, a brother, and John, Jr., a son creditable establishment on East Main of John. Sr., deceased. Both of these Street, near the Springfield Hardware stores have a very large assortment of Store. articles in the dry goods line,

In a smaller way Mr. Sullivan deals in dry goods on the northwest corner of Limestone and High, the location of the old Baldwin Store.

CLOTHING.

From the sixties to the nineties Abra- ham Lessner kept a clothing store located where the Springfield Hardware Store is now located, opposite where Jason Phil- lips, Sr., had a tailor store on East Main Street. About the same time a Jew by the name of Kauffman, designated as "Pop Eye," kept a clothing store on Main Street. Others of that period have passed away.

M. M. Kauffman, who recently died

cial Building on South Limestone Street and was in the clothing business in this town for a number of years.

DRIGGISTR.

Ludlow's Drug Store was one of the leading stores in that line for a half-cen- tury or more. The original founder, Dr. John Ludlow, was born in Springfield in 1810, and a long and active life identified him with many of the prominent interests of the town. In later years he was sue- ceeded in the drug business by his son Charles, and the store was located on East Main Street, not far from Limestone. It has gone out of existence some ten years,

For a long time William T. Smith car- ried on the drug business on Fountain Avenue opposite the Odd Fellows Build. ing. He recently (1907) died.

In 1868 Dr. T. J. Casper established his

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pharmacy at No. 41 East Main Street and for a long time were engaged in this busi- for forty years has continued in business ness. John P. is still living. at that location. In 1869 the old building on the southeast corner of Fountain Ave- SHOES. nne and Main Street was torn down and subsequently a drug store was established by Ridenour & Cobelantz. Within a few years thereafter Mr. Theodore Troupe be- came the proprietor, and still continnes to transact business there.

JEWELERS.

Forty or forty-five years ago A. Aron established on the north side of Main Street, not far from Fountain Avenue, a jewelry store. He continued in business there for some years and afterwards re- moved on the south side of Main Street, opposite the Bushnell Building, and con- tinned there until his death. The business is now run by his son. John H. Mulhol- land commenced the jewelry business in the city of Springfield in 1856 and con- tinned in that line until he lost his life by the burning of Black's Opera House in 1903. He had his store in several parts of the city and was a leader in his line.

Among the prominent dealers in shoes might be mentioned John A. Reifsnider. who came to Springfield in 1854, and about the time the Civil War broke out be established the business. In 1863 he was joined by his brother, and Reif- snider's Shoe Store was one of the best known in Springfield.

In 1868 Mr. E. S. S. Ronse established a shoe store on Fountain Avenue and con- tinued in that business until along in the '90s, when he was sneceeded by 0. 0. Rouse and J. W. Parsons, and a few years thereafter this firm ceased to do business.

Herbert S. Huffman conducted a shoe store for a while on East Main Street, not far from the Kiser Building. After- wards Starkey & Scowden established a large shoe store in the Arcade. Mr. Seowden having embarked in other busi- ness, Starkey became the sole proprietor until his death (1905), when it was dis- posed of and is now owned by Mr. Nisley.

Mr. C. C. Fried practically commenced the jewelry business in Springfield in Among the old established and well known dealers in shoes the name of George Horner, father of Judge William R. Horner, should not be omitted. as he was in business for a long time in this city, latterly having a store on West Main Street, not far from Center. Among the present shoe stores are Oscar Young on East Main Street, Rontzahn & Wright on Fountain Avenue and Horner Brothers. grandsons of George, conduct a store in the Bookwalter Building on Limestone 1858, when he served an apprentice under a Mr. Grossman. Afterwards he worked for B. Allen and for John P. Allen. In 1872 he opened his own store and conduct- ed that until his death in 1907. The busi- ness is now condneted by his son and is located on East Main Street, a few doors east of Fountain Avenne. Other leading establishments in that line at the present day in Springfield might be mentioned as Hofman & Company and Margileth & Me- Farland. Ben Allen and John P. Allen Street. Stimmel & Powers conduct a

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store on West High Street, not far from Fountain Avenue. Ben Best for a time "cobbled" while not performing the onerous duties of city marshal.

MEATS, ETC.

The pioneers in this line were William Grant and Jobn Leuty. William Grant was an Englishman and came to Spring- field in 1836 and established himself in the meat business. He continued here his en- tire lifetime. His sons, William and Martin, now continue the business in a store on West High Street, opposite the Arcade.

John Lenty was likewise an English- man and came to this city in 1833 and afterwards became a partner of William Grant, whose sister became his wife. They were partners for twenty-five or more years. The store is still continued by his son, James L., on Fountain Avenue, not far from High Street. Other persons in former times who engaged in this busi- ness, it being continued in some cases by their sons, were the Weigels, on East Main Street, and the Kransses on South Taylor Street, and John Swonger was in this business for a number of years and is still living, aged ninety-two years. Wil- liam Detrick was likewise for a long time engaged in the same business. Aaron Reeder was also in the meat business. Al- most all the large packing houses now have branches in this city.

The Leutys condnet an abattoir on North Plum Street; the Grants have one on North Bechtle Avenne, and Mr. Steve Huffman has one not far from the loca- tion of the Grants. No general packing business is done in this city.

LIVERY MEK.

Among the livery men that may be mentioned who were prominent in this city twenty-five years ago was Benjamin Holloway. He commenced the business in this town in 1845 and continued until his death. He had a stable in various parts of the city; latterly it was located where Wren's Department House is now. He was succeeded by his son Christy, and after his death, which occurred abont 1892, the business passed into other hands. Along in the '60s and continning until the building of the Soldiers' Monument, Mr. Charles Catheart conducted a livery stable east from the Court House. For a long time Nimrod and Edward Myers con- ducted a livery stable on North Lime- stone Street, immediately north of the St. James Building, which is still occupied for that purpose.

In 1865 S. and A. Deffenbaugh opened a livery stable on North Limestone Street, immediately opposite the Myers stable, and continued in that business until they sold out to Henry Erter some ten or fif- teen years ago. The building was soll to Captain Amaziah Winger, who tore it down. Mr. Erter continued in business in the new building, where the "Sun" of- five is now located, until 1906. when this old livery site passed out of existence. Some ten years ago Isaac Johnson erected a livery barn on Sonth Spring Street. where John O. Swords now conducts a livery barn. On the same street, a few doors north, Joe O'Brien has a livery barn. In 1808 the Inte John S. Foster built a livery stable immediately sonth of the Court House. This property after- wards was purchased by David Carter &

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Son, who continue the business. John S. a partner. He died in 1893. Herbert L. Foster in the meantime built a stable on Huffman was a native of Clark County. West Columbia Street, a short distance and died in 1900. west of Fountain Avenue, which is still conducted by his son, Jolmn K.

HARDWARE STORES, ETC.

Away back in the '40s and '50s Charles Stout, the father of Mr. Stout who is now For a long time in the '60s and early '70s Doty & Rhinehart conducted a hard- ware store where the Woods Brothers are secretary of the Springfield Building and Loan Association, ran a livery stable on West Main Street, not far from the loca- . now located on East Main Street in the tion of George Derrickson's present stable. Afterwards, along in the '60s, Josiah Driscoll built the Derrickson Stable, and for thirty or more years, until his death in 1895, Driscoll's Livery Stable was considered among the best in the city, Mr. Driscoll himself giving supervision over the management. U'pon his death it was purchased by the present owner. George Derrickson. Kizer Building. This store afterwards passed into the hands of the Hamilton Brothers, William and Fin, who continned the operation of this business until the latter part of the '80s. It was one of the leading stores of its time. About the same time that Doty had his store, Major Brown and William B. Baker had a hard- ware store on Main Street in the building immediately west of the Bushnell Build- ing. Later the Springfield Hardware HATTERS, Store was established in the room vacated by the post office, where the Gotwald Building is now loeated. on the southeast corner of Limestone and Main. Phil Wiseman and J. S. Kitchen were the prin- cipal proprietors. William Dichl died in 1894 and was in the hardware business a long time in this city. He founded the es- tablishment now condneted by his son Wallace, immediately west of the First Presbyterian Church.

P. E. Baneroft, recently deceased, was an old time merchant of this city. He commenced business practically at the place where he continued until his death, in 1907. in 1851. His business is con- tinned by his son Robert, and is located a few doors cast of Fountain Avenue on Main Street. Other persons engaged at present in the hat business may be men- tioned as O. F. Hypes, who has a store in the Bookwalter Building; J. S. Bethel, located in the Fisher Building, and John Sullivan, in the old Sharpe Building on Sonth Limestone Street.

Joshua Gore, for a long time a citizen of this place, about 1840 condneted a hard- ware store, afterwards a dry goods estah. lishment and later in life a hat store on East Main Street, with Herbert Huffman

Shortly before the death of Mr. Diehl he and his son George conducted a hard- ware store in the building immediately west of that occupied by the Elder & Tut- tle establishment. From the sign of the Lion on the roof the Lion hardware was so called. IT. HT. Gurney, George Eherly and Forest Rice are largely interested in his firm.

In the early '90s D. N. Elder and Caleb

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Tuttle, under the firm of Elder & Tuttle, Pierce commenced in a small way, hand- established the hardware store now called the Vulcan on East Main Street. About the same time the Springfield Hardware Store was established in its present quar- ters in the Zimmerman Building. Henry Wiseman is the moving spirit recently. Charles H. Bigler is connected with this firm.

John Hugel and E. S. Heiserman con- dnet a hardware store on East Main Street, opposite the Bushnell Building. Mr. Hugel was for a long time clerk in the Hamilton store. W. F. Tuttle & Co. have a store on Fountain Avenue, opposite the King Bnikling.

BOOKS AND BOOK .BINDERIES.

John D. Smith came to Springfield as carly as 1837; he left, but returned about 1844 and opened a book binding and book establishment in Trappers corner, and continued there for some sixteen years. In 1879 J. D. Smith & Co. was formed. He afterwards conducted the same with his son-in-law, E. T. Thomas, in a build- ing where the Bushnell Building is now located. Upon his death the plant was purchased by the Springfield Bindery.

The Barretts began a blank book and book binding establishment in this city. their business being founded about 1860 by the senior, E. L. Barrett. It is now divided among his sons, one branch puh- lishing blanks for township officers and the other those for the Probate Court and the Court of Commnon Pleas. C. H. Pierce came to this city in 1857 and first opened a news stand in the post office, which was located in the old building on the Gotwald corner, and afterwards succeeded to the newspaper business of J. D Nichols. Mr.

ling the Cincinnati newspapers, deliv- ering them for a time from house to house, and finally established the pres- ont business, which is conducted by his son Roscoe and others in the Odd Fel- lows' Building. During the seventies Rev. J. W. Gunn conducted a book store in the room innnediately west of the alley across from the Bushnell Building. now occupied by S. T. Fout's candy store. The following gives the number of lead- ing establishments of our city :

Bakeries, 28; boots and shoes, 13; blacksmith shops, 14; cigars, etc., 38; clothing, 16; coal dealers, 24; confection- eries, 25; daily markets, etc., 60; duggists, 22; dry goods, 3; feed stores, 10; florists, 24; furniture dealers, 10; grocers, 155; hardware, 9; hats, 12; livery stables, 14; lumber dealers, 9; men's furnishings, 13; millinery, 16; photographers, 10; printer, books, ete., 18; restaurants, 27: wall paper, 9; watches, jewelry, ete., 14.

CEMETERIES.

"One morn I miss'd him on the 'custom'd hill

Along the heath, and near his favorite tree :

Another came-nor yet beside the rill, Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he.

"The next, with dirges dne, in sad array. Slow through the church-way path we saw him borne.

Approach and read (for thou can'st read) the Iny Graved on the stone beneath yon aged thorn.

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"Here rests his head upon the lap of ground has been abandoned for the use earth,

Fair Science frown'd not on his humble birth,

of burial purposes for a number of years. A youth, to fortune and to fame un- known, Frequently it has been proposed that the dead should be taken up and re-interred in Ferncliff, or some other suitable place, 'but to this there have always been some And Melancholy mark'd him for her objections, resulting probably more from own. the disinclination to disturb the final rest- ing place of those old settlers than from any other reason,

"Large was his bounty, and his soul sin- cere :

Heaven did a recompense as largely send :

He gave to Misery all he had-a tear; He gain'd from Heaven ('twas all he wish'd) a friend.

"No farther seek his merits to disclose, Or draw his frailties from their dread abode,

(There they alike in trembling hope re- pose),

The bosom of his Father and his God." (Gray's Elegy.)

COLUMBIA STREET.

When James Demint made his plat in the city of Springfield September 5, 1803, three lots were reserved as a burial ground. This is what now constitutes the old burial ground or graveyard located west of Center Street on Columbia. Un- til the year 1844 this was used as a public burial ground for the city. In earlier times it was common for persons through- out the country district to have small burial lots located on their own farms, which they used as a burial ground for the family, and consequently not so many were buried then in the city burial ground as is now the case. This old plot of

GREENMOUNT CEMETERY.

In 1842 or '43 the City Council made arrangements to purchase a tract of land which was then far outside of the city limits beyond the railroad along the Na- tional Pike. This property was trans- ferred to the city in 1845 by Cyrus Arm- strong. For many years Greenmount Cemetery was the popular place of burial for the citizens of Springfield and the im- mediate locality. A dwelling house for the use of the sexton was built in 1868. The space allotted for burial purposes in this cemetery has been practically all taken, and it is scarcely ever now used for burial purposes. Louis Kindle was superintendent from 1862 until his death in the '90s, Lewis E. Staley being the present superintendent.

FERNCLIFF CEMETERY.

The rapid growth of the city soon made it evident that the space occupied by Greenmount Cemetery would not long avail for the burial of the dead of our city and community, so on June 13, 1863, the matter was brought up before the City ('ouneil by Mr. William Warder. A com- mittee was afterwards appointed from the

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CITY HOSPITAL. SPRINGFIL.LD

THE WARDER PUBLIC LIBRARY, SPRINGFIELD

MASONIC HOME. SPRINGFIELD

CLARK COUNTY CHILDRENS' HOME

LAGONDA CLUB, SPRINGFIELD

Y W CA BUILDING. SPRINGFIELD

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various wards to take the matter under and add much to enhance the natural consideration, and on Angust 3d these beauty of the place. comunittees made reports and a plan of A massive granite shaft indicates the solid character of the late John H. Thomas, and a huge block of granite well attests the last resting place of the city's benefactors, J. and D. L. Snyder. organization was adopted. The amount of stock was limited to $10,000 in shares of $300 each. A special act of incorpora- tion was passed in the Legislature in 1848 and a constitution and by-laws were after- It would be impossible to enumerate the many other appropriate and beautiful monuments that adorn the last resting place of the many persons who have been buried in various places throughout these grounds. wards adopted. The subscriptions were in the nature of a loan and were to be paid back with interest out of a sale of lots. The original officers were' Dr. Robert Rodgers, S. A. Bowman and D. Shaffer, trustees for three years; G. S. Foos and Chandler Robbins for two years and William Warder and John Ludlow, trustees for one year.

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 45

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