USA > Ohio > Ashland County > Loudonville > A brief centennial history of Loudonville, Ohio > Part 2
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the called the Washington House; a large two-story frame, the American House, where Haudenchild's drugstore now stands, Hatch and Eddy, proprietors; this later passed into the hands of the Stockmans; a laige two-story brick, on the Moyer corner, first known as the Cannon House and after 1845 the Comer House. In 1830 there were three blacksmiths, viz .: Sylvester Danner, on the Parrott corner; Elijah Marrietta, on the Citizens Savings Bank lot, and another directly across the street, next door to what then was George Easley's residence and watch-shop. There were two distilleries in operation, one west of town on Maple Heights, the other about a mile east of town, Heath and Doolittle, operators. T. J. Bull was running the flour mill and a sawmill, and Samuel Garrett a woolen mill south of town, on the Mt. Vernon road.
There are no positive records of stores at this time; it appears that all provisions and merchandise were brought from Wooster or Mt. Vernon. The town was still unorganized; each tavern operated a bar, whiskey being the principal commodity. Our pioneers were not noted for intemperance; distilleries, like mills, were a necessity. There was a surplus of corn and rye. while there were neither purchasers nor a market. The only way this surplus could be utilized was to convert it into whiskey, which could be exchanged for goods. The result was that many distilleries sprang up in every part of the country and whiskey became "Legal tender."
In 1833 a young man purchased a stock of goods in Pittsburg and started west to find a location to sell them. Mansfield, Ohio, was his objective point, but he could get no room except the bar-room of Smart's Hotel, which was then too far from the business part of the town, though now in the heart of the city. He hired a horse at twenty- five cents a day, and rode to Loudonville, then in Richland County. Here he began mercantile business for himself in a small frame building on the corner occupied at present by the Spreng Furniture Co. Before the goods were all moved into the building he opened a bag of coffee on the
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street and sold it to the crowd standing around, thus rais- ing money enough to pay the wagoners who brought the goods from Pittsburg. The store did a prosperous busi- ness and became the sensation of the day, customers coming a great distance. This young man, George H. Stewart, later Judge Stewart, thus has the distinction of being our first merchant. Stewart was long and favorably known to the town and one of its most energetic and pushing citizens.
A year or two later Nathaniel Haskell disposed of his milling business and opened a dry goods store on the corner of Main and Spring Streets. Here he continued until 1848, when he sold to Larwell and Taylor. In 1836 T. McMahan operated the dry goods store located on what is now the Covert corner. In 1834 the Methodist Church was organized by the Rev. Elijah Yocum. The services were held in McMahan's warehouse on the north- west corner of Main and Water Streets, until 1836 when a brick church. 24x36 feet, was erected on North Water Street. The first newspaper in Loudonville and Ashland County was the Hanover Journal and Mohican Advocate, edited by a Mr. Rogers. It failed after six numbers and suspended. Sparse settlements, few subscribers and poor mail service no doubt contributed to its failure.
On authority of our oldest native-born citizen, Selah Strong, the following business places were in operation about 1835, viz .: three taverns, Stewart's general store, McMahan's dry goods store, Haskell's dry goods store, Bull's mill, Easley's clock shop, Doolittle's two distilleries, Smith's brickyard, Garrett's woolen mill, two blacksmiths. two physicians, one school, the plank school-house, and one church, the Methodist. The stage was running regular, owned and operated by a Mr. Porter, of Wooster. Jerry, John and William Danner were the regular stage drivers, Asa Harris and Jeremiah Sanborn the village carpenters, and Abel Strong was Justice of the Peace.
In 1838 Aaron Yarnell, a tinner by trade, opened a tinshop where Leopold's now is. Previous to Yarnell, D.
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Pruizman was operating a tin and coppersmith shop. In 1839 the Baptist Church was organized and a new frame church erected on the present. location. By 1810 the following families were some of the additional settlers in the surrounding country, viz. : the Kelsers, Derrs. Heffel- fingers, Sprangs, Huffmans, Baldners, Weimers, Youngs, Becks, Derrenbergers and Dennys, east of town; the Mumpers, Moshers, Derrs, Arnholts, Smiths, Woodruffs. Ketterings, Sidles and Hydes, south and west of town; and the Wolf's, Quicks, Workmans, Warners, Byers, Longs and Helberts, north of town. The population of the village was 350. and Hanover, Green and Lake Townships had 4637 inhabitants. The country was being rapidly de- veloped and settled. The village business houses were in a flourishing condition, likewise the surrounding country. Clearing the land was the largest task and chopping frolics and log rollings were frequent events, always ending with a sumptuous supper and a dance. The husking bees for the men and quilting for the women were likewise frequent, jolly and long remembered events.
It was during the presidential campaign of 1840, that General Harrison, later President Harrison, visited the village. This was when making a trip from Mt. Vernon to Massillon to address a political meeting that General Harrison stopped at Loudonville's tavern. lle had been sent here from Mt. Vernon and when once here it was up to the Whigs in Loudonville to send the coming president to Wooster, the next lap on his journey. For this event no buggy could be secured in the town, but owing to the diligence of George II. Stewart, the merchant, a one-horse wagon was finally secured, decorated and the distinguished guest sent on his way, accompanied by Stewart and N. Haskell, and followed by a motley and enthusiastic pro- cession of admirers, among them a ten-year old Loudon- ville boy, W. L. Strong, who later, in 18S3, became Mayor of New York City.
In 1812 William McEwen was in the harness and saddlery business. He was succeeded in 1815 by a Mr. Henderson. In 1812 Christ Devarman opened the first
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cabinet shop in an old stable, where the widow of David Stacher now lives. The next year Henry Gilbert arrived and worked for Deyarman a number of years, until 1849, when he quit Deyarman and opened a shop of his own on Spring Street, where he continued until his death. About 1842 the first covered bridge, the second wagon bridge, was erected across the Blackfork. It was single track, covered and supported on log abutments and a log center pier. Probably the first military company formed in Loudonville was in 1845, during the Mexican War. The company was organized, uniformed and drilled, but never left the town. Drills were executed regularly every Saturday afternoon in a field on the Bull farm south of town. Old residents well remember the showy uniforms, martial music and well executed drills. Ephraim Marks was captain, William Sprague, fifer, John Strong, snare drummer, and Cooper Rowland, bass drummer.
An act erecting the county of Ashland passed the General Assembly, February 24, 1846. The new county was taken from the surrounding counties of Richland, Wayne, Lorain and Huron. At the first county election in 1846 N. M. Donaldson was elected the first prosecuting attorney, and G. W. Bull first county representative, both of Loudonville. George H. Stewart was named one of the three Associate Judges for the new county. He received the oath of office in Ashland March 3, 1846, and served seven years.
The original intention was to construct the Walhond- ing canal up the Blackfork to Loudonville. In 1838, a law was passed to provide for this extension, but unfortunately the money was not available and the project vanished. Stewart was the moving spirit of the project and the one who secured the legislation. Its failure was a great dis- appointment to the villagers. At the time of the erection of Ashland County and the location of the county seat. the settlers of the south end of the county had been promised the county seat of a new county of Hanover to be erected later; however the failure to secure the canal and also no erection of a new county effectually barred us of county seat honors.
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tilled, "An Act for the regulation of incorporated towns," passed February 2, one thousand eight hundred and thirty. BENJAMIN F. LEITER,
March 26, 1850.
Speaker of House of Representatives.
The first town officers were elected, as shown by Council Journal No. 1, as follows:
Pursuant to notice dated 10th April, A. D. 1850, the voters of the town of Loudonville met on the 22d day of April, 1850, for the purpose of electing town officers. John Robeson and Adam Koenrick were chosen viva voce as judges and Nathaniel Haskell, clerk. These were quali- fied by George W. Bull, a justice of the Peace for Hanover Township. In the election following, William Hoch was elected first mayor, John Strong, recorder, and Adam Koenrick, E. B. Fuller, John Deyarman, N. Haskell and T. C. Rowland trustees for a term of one year. John Jones was appointed first marshal. From this time on regular meetings of the council were held. Ordinance No. 1 was one for authorizing the election of town officers on the second Monday of April annually; No. 2 for the abatement of nuisances, and No. 3 to regulate and define the powers and duties of the town marshal. At the council meeting of May 23, 1850, the council received a petition signed by twenty-three voters, praying for an or- dinance to prevent sheep running at large in the town. Thus was the little village fairly started on her politic career.
in 1850 the village had at least the following business places. viz .: three taverns, three dry goods stores, four saloons, two clothing stores, two cabinet shops. three churches, three physicians, three blacksmiths, two distil- leries, and one each, warehouse. flour mill, saw mill, tannery, foundry, brickyard, woolen mill. lodge, academy, shoe store, tinshop, gunsmith, watchmaker and jeweler. stone schoolhouse and a railroad constructing.
The population of the village was 980, this showing a very small gain in the ten years past. The three surround- ing townships were practically stationary, there being 4681
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inhabitants as compared with 4637 in 1810. This mainly due to many of the older settlers, having the wes fever and longing for pioneer times, now rapidiy pass. selling their lands and going farther west to live again the Pioneer struggles. Pioneer customs and costumes still prevailed. If the people of those days had less for costly apparel and ostentatious display, they had more for charity and benevolence. They had no infirmaries. no paupers, few lawyers and no jails. Their type of Christianity will not suffer by comparison with that of today. The vain and thoughtless may jeer at their unpretending manners, customs and costumes, but in all the elements of true man- hood and true womanhood it may safely be said they were more than the peers of those who in their turn have fol- lowed them. Between 1850 and 1800, owing to the coming of the railroad, one of the pioneer industries-the manu- facture of whiskey-began to wane and another take its place-the raising of stock and grain for market. The community gradually awoke to the fact that modern shipping facilities enabled them to grow these commodities at a profit.
Previous to 1850, the nearest available shipping points were Massillon, on the Ohio canal, and Cleveland. The early settlers frequently hauled their grain to those points but at a great expense of time, labor and money. Now all was changed and all that was necessary was to haul their produce to their own village -- the railway did the rest. P. J. Black. in 1851. was the first heller and confecionar in the town. His shop was next the old American House. on Main Street. In Isi1. T. J. Herderam conducted a harness and saddlery on Main Street, and in 1857 C. Open- heimer, clothing, and Claud Pelol. boots and shoes and repairing, were new business places. lienderson was where Raby nos has his implement room. Openheimer where the Evans building slands, and Petot where his son now continues the business. Petof's first shoe shop was a repair shop and located in the basement of the American House. The foundry on East Main Street changed hands a number of times between 1859 and 1800. In 1851 T. J.
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Bull, 1855, Tilleson and Feik, and in 1858 Moltrup and Feik were owners. In 1858 Selah Strong was conducting a large blacksmithing establishment in the foundry building.
The village school was on the site of the present school building. This school came to be known as the sheep pen. After abandoning the old stone school house (on this location) a larger one-room frame building was erected, which in a few years also proved too small and a second room was added. In a few years the same process was repeated and so on, until the building consisted of six rooms, all one story high, each built to the other. In 1856 the second wooden bridge-a double tracked covered bridge-was built across the Blackfork. This bridge served until the first iron bridge was erected.
The night of the Presidential election in 1856 was long remembered for two events, the burning of the rail- road bridge and trestle west of town and the murder of John Whitney. Whitney, a worthy and esteemed citizen. was waylaid, assaulted and robbed when on his way home that night. His skull was fractured, but he managed to crawl to his home, a few rods away, but could not tell who committed the deed. He died the next day. The mystery never was solved.
On April 20, 1854, Sylvan Lodge, No. 240, I. O. O. F., was established at Loudonville with six charter members, as follows: John Taylor, D. E. Stockman, A. P. Mathers, C. Hilderbrand, A. Yarnell and Jacob Lentzy. The present membership is about one hundred. In 1860, Larwell. dry goods; Openheimer, clothing; Shaffer, groceries; Gooth, groceries; Black, bakery; Merklinger, groceries, were some of the business houses. There were still three taverns, three blacksmiths, two liveries, warehouse, tannery, foundry, brewery, gunsmith, distillery, three churches and a school. In 1860 the village was visited by another fire, and the Hanover Evangelical and Reformed Church, on North Union Street, was burned. There had previously been a great deal of friction between the two congregations and for two years they had not been meeting together. It was thought some one ap-
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plied the match to settle this controversy. The following year both congregations erected new churches, both frame and both on the locations they now occupy.
In 1860 the villagers were considerably exercised because Jonas and John Priest. heirs of J. L. Priest, at- tempted to reclaim and take the Public Square. The at- tempt was again made in 1861 and 1863, and in the spring of 1865. the Priest brothers commenced to plow the Square for corn. A special meeting of the village council was hastily called, an injunction secured and an ordinance passed prohibiting trespassing on the Square. Claude Petot was appointed marshal pro tem in the absence of the regular marshal, with orders to see that the ordinance was obeyed-and it was. At the council meeting of May 16, 1865, a resolution was passed, asking that Judge R. C. Hurd, of Mt. Vernon, be retained as attorney and counselor to institute and prosecute such legal proceedings as he may judge expedient to obtain final settlement of the right and claim of the village of Loudonville to the Public Square, as against claims of certain heirs of J. L. Priest, deceased. In 1870 the village council issued a lease on the Public Square to the Board of Education for 999 years, for purpose of erecting a Public School. Again the Priest claim was urged, and it became a matter of doubt if the council had the right to issue such lease. It was finally determined to submit the matter to the courts for settle- ment. Attorney Hurd was again retained, and two suits instituted, one in the name of John Stockman for the village of Loudonville, vs. the heirs of J. L. Priest, deceased, the other J. W. Hilderbrand ys, incorporated village of Loudonville. The first suit effectually settled the right and title of the village to the Public Square. The second also made it evident that the village could not lease or otherwise dispose of the Square for public buildings. This latter action was commenced in the Court of Common Pleas, appealed to the District Court, and reversed by that Court to the Supreme Court. The case was finally ended by the Board of Education refusing to defend the suit and asking that the injunction be made perpetual.
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In the early days, 1860, when most people drank their toddys and everybody went to the depot to see the train come in, the village boasted of a population of 447, while the Township of Hanover had 1743, Green 1743 and Lake 912 inhabitants. In 1861 Company H, 23d O. V. I. was organized at Loudonville by Captain James L. Drake, re- cruited in Hanover, Green and Lake Townships, and mustered in at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, June 12, 1861. The officers were James L. Drake, captain; John P. Cunningham, first lieutenant. There were ninety men in the company, of which three were killed in battle, four died in hospital and one was drowned. The company was mustered out July 26, 1865, at Cumberland, Maryland.
In 1861 A. A. Taylor purchased the Loudonville flour mill of J. C. Larwell and first began his extensive milling career. He at once erected a new large frame mill with two run of stones. The mill did a large and profitable bus- iness. Meeting with success, in a few years Taylor began to branch out and engage more extensively in the business. He erected and operated a large cooper shop at Loudon- ville, where he made his own barrels. In a few years Taylor was operating large mills at Orrville, Massillon, Mt. Vernon, Toledo and Loudonville.
In 1865, J. C. Larwell. having for a number of years conducted a large dry goods business, on the Larwell corner, took his clerk, W. S. Fisher, in as partner. The firm of Larwell and Fisher continued in this location until 1880. In 1863 Simon Bolly, having disposed of his plow and foundry business, engaged in the saloon business. In a few years he formed a partnership with M. Derrenberger and continued the business. In 1867 the foundry was operated by Moltrup Sons & Miller. Lucian Rust at this time was extensively engaged in the structural iron and contractor business, being connected with many large con- tracts in his line and extending his operations to nearly all parts of the United States. Redd and Black, grocers, and J. B. Long, boots, shoes and repairing, were new business enterprises for 1867. The latter started in a small frame
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building on the same location where now C. S. Long is located.
In the same year, 1867, the first bank, Ilaskell's Bank. in Loudonville was organized, Nathaniel Haskell, principal stockholder, and J. L. Quick, cashier. Haskell's Bank was located where T. B. Gilbert's store is. It was reorganized and called the Loudonville Banking Company after Has- kell's death in 1875. In 1867 Daniel Geiselman, livery and saddlery, and in 1869 J. L. Burwell and wife, millinery, were new businesses, the former on North Water Street. the latter on Main Street. in the old brick where since the Hotel Ullman was erected. J. W. Stacher and brother were conducting a dry goods store on the Stacher corner. A. Ullman and son, on the Haskell corner, and Larwell and Fisher in the Larwell Block. J. F. Redd, S. Hess and P. J. Black were grocerymen. The physicians were A. B. Fuller, A. J. Scott and C. S. Mills. The village was in a flourishing condition and had a population of 612. St. Peter's Catholic Church, an imposing brick structure, carrying the sacred emblem of the Cross more than one hundred feet higher than any other structure in the town. was erected in 1871. In the following year the same congregation became possessors of the old academy build- ing, to be used as a parsonage.
The first newspaper was The Independent, established in 1869 by Robert Lockhart, which after a few years was moved away. In 1873 J. H. Ruth started the Loudonville Advocate, which passed into the hands of P. H. Stauffer in 1877. In 1901 J. R. Fisher purchased the same; in 1993 H. E. Zimmerman became the owner, and in 1905 a stock company was organized. In 1878 The Loudonville Deno- crat was established by John G. Herzog, who in 1885 sold it to George Campbell. In 1890 the present owner of the Democrat, John P. Bowman, purchased the paper and has since continued the publication.
In 1872 Case and Pell were clothiers in a room next the I. O. O. F. building, and Joseph Schaweker. a dry goods store at the stand now occupied by Stitzel & Uhman.
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R .COALI
In 1873 Jacob Breicheisen erected the checkered front building on North Water Street and conducted a large grocery and produce business for a number of years. Prutzman and Leopold were each in the tin and stove bus- iness; Derrenberger & Bolly, saloon, and J. C. Pell, drug store. In 1874 the Presbyterian Church was organized and in 1875 a brick church erected southeast of the Square. The English Lutherans organized in 1875 and erected a substantial brick church on East Main Street in 1875. The Presbyterian and English Lutheran congregations united in 1912, as Presbyterians, occupying the English Lutheran building.
In April, 1872, the village was visited by the most de- structive fire of her history. During the night of April 5, fire broke out in the tinshop of G. G. Leopold and before it could be controlled the following business houses were completely destroyed, viz .: Ullman's dry goods store: Baldner's grocery; Leopold's tinshop; Oppenheimer, cloth- ing; and Jacob Young's saloon. Previous to this time the village was without a fire department. After the fire the citizens and council awoke to the necessity and two fire companies were organized. A fire engine, ladders and apparatus were purchased and cisterns built. Up to 1875 there was no town hall or municipal building. On May 21, 1873, the village council voted to bond the village for the purpose of erecting a town hall, to cost about $7000. A lot was purchased on North Water Street, of A. Lemmel for $1400 and construction commenced. The building, a rather imposing brick, was completed and occupied the following year.
In 1874, the old covered bridge across the Blackfork was replaced by the first iron bridge, which in 1892 was replaced by the "Brooklyn Bridge," the latter being swept away by the flood of 1913 and destroyed.
On May 27, 1875, Teutonia Lodge, No. 69, K. of P., was organized and a charter secured from the Grand Lodge. The charter members were Jacob Kuhlman, C. F. Stoelzel, Charles Roth, G. Goll, J. Young, K. Konrad, M.
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Derrenberger, S. Bolly, J. Bollinger, Daniel Scheuler. The Lodge has been prosperous, now owns its own building on West Main Street, and has a membership of about one hundred and ninety.
Loudonville's business directory for 1880 contains the following: clothing, Case & Pell. George L. Wilcox; dry goods, Larwell & Fisher, J. W. Stacher & Brother, Baldner & Otoman; tinshops, D. Prutzman, G. G. Leopold; boots and shoes, J. B. Long, C. Petot, A. B. Priest, E. Y. Listin ; groceries, F. Smith, Jacob Young, S. Bolley, D. Mellinger, S. E. Hess, J. Brecheisen & Co .; hotels, American House, John Stockman, proprietor, Ohio House, T. Workman, pro- prietor; grain dealers. A. A. Taylor, R. P. Wallace & Co., Devarman ; flour mill, A. A. Taylor; millinery. J. L. Bur- well, Julia Freshwater; physicians, S. S. Mills. J. Pell, A. J. Scott, W. H. Wirt and A. B. Fuller; drug stores, J. C. Pell, H. S. Stockman, A. Robison; blacksmiths, Pippitt, S. Strong, G. Eberts, S. Stentz; printers, Advocate, J. H. Ruth, editor, Democrat, J. G. Herzog, editor; bakers, J. Yuncher, L. McMahon, J. F. Redd; attorneys, H. L. Meray C. W. Downes; saddlery, D. Geiselman; banks, Loudonville Banking Co., J. L. Quick, cashier; brewery. Roth & Graf; tanner, G. Schaweker; carriage works, L. Zimmerman; furniture, H. Gilbert, C. M. McLaughlin; hardware, Whitney & Gaines, M. Frangkiser; churches, six; popu- lation, 811.
By 1880 A. A. Taylor was extensively engaged in the flour milling business, operating mills at Orrville, Mas- sillon, Mt. Vernon, Toledo and Loudonville. These mills were all burr stone or old process mills and had been oper- ated at a handsome profit-said to be as high as a dollar on barrel of flour. About this time the method of milling underwent a radical change from the burr-stone to the roller process. Burr-stone flour was no longer command- ing the price, nor could it compete with the new process product. This made it necessary for Taylor to change the machinery in his mills, involving the expenditure of many thousand dollars. To meet this demand he borrowed
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