USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > A story of early Toledo; historical facts and incidents of the early days of the city and environs > Part 5
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The great trunk lines of railroad have main- tained their lake steamers connecting here with these lines of railroad with their cargoes for the east and the north. The growth of the city in popula- tion and commercial importance has induced pas- senger-carrying steamers to make it an important passenger and excursion points, and regular lines are now established between Toledo and Detroit, Cleve- land, Buffalo, Mackinac Island, Put-in Bay, Georgian
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Bay, Lake Superior, Lake Ontario and intermediate points, with merchandise-carrying craft in all direc- tions reached on the great lakes.
After the construction of these coal roads and the junction at this point by the roads and the lake traffic of the coal and iron, began the later rapid growth of the manufacturing industry of the city, as well as in other respects its commercial import- ance.
CHAPTER IX Early Banks and Industries
In connection with the boundary question be- tween Michigan and Ohio it is interesting to note that the first bank in the territory now Toledo was "The Bank of Manhattan," organized under a spe- cial charter granted by the "Michigan State Legis- lature," March 25, 1836. The Supreme Court of Ohio decided that this bank never had any legal existence because, first, the charter was obtained from a body calling itself "The Legislature of the State of Michi- gan," whereas there was no State of Michigan until January, 1837; and second, Manhattan never was under the jurisdiction of Michigan.
But the bank did business for some years and in 1840 its balance sheet showed total assets, $122,- 052.71; liabilities: capital stock paid in, $50,000; cir- culation, $57,381; interest, $951.41; deposits, $13,034.
Prentiss & Dow started a private bank in 1843 on the corner of Monroe and Summit Streets. It was not chartered and was not long continued.
A certificate was filed in the recorder's office, October 8, 1845, being a copy of the charter of "The Commercial Bank of Toledo, under the act of 1845 incorporating the State Bank of Ohio and other banking companies as branches." The capital stock of the Commercial Bank was $100,000. A similar certificate of "The Bank of Toledo" was filed in the recorder's office October 8, 1845, and its capital stock was $100,000. These were both branches of the State Bank of Ohio.
In December, 1846, Kraus & Co., "money brok-
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ers," opened an office corner Monroe and Summit Streets, later moved to Jefferson and Summit, and later William Kraus and William H. Smith succeeded as owners of "The City Bank," another private bank of which George C. Hertzler was cashier, and did business thereafter as Kraus & Smith (or City Bank), until 1873, when they failed.
In 1855 Berry & Day opened "The Mechanics' Bank," which lasted for several years.
In 1851 John Poag and Valentine H. Ketcham opened a bank under the name of Poag & Ketcham, later V. H. Ketcham & Co., and in 1869 Ketcham, Berdan & Co., which is now the First National Bank of Toledo. Mr. Ketcham was its president until his death, May 20, 1887.
The Bank of Toledo above mentioned after- wards became the Toledo National Bank. In 1855 it was purchased by a number of gentlemen of Cleve- land, with Samuel M. Young and Morrison R. Waite of Toledo, and in November, 1864, it went under the national banking act. Mr. Young was its president under both organizations for some 35 years.
In 1860 Mr. Parmalee started a bank under the name of The Marine Bank of Ohio, with George W. Davis as president. It is now the Second National Bank of Toledo. Mr. Davis was its president until his death.
EARLY INDUSTRIES .- The first bricks made in Toledo were made by Peter H. Shaw and E. Bab- cock. Babcock had a contract with the proprietors of the town for 1,500,000 brick, which he did not complete because of his death. Edward Bissell built
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a sawmill on Summit Street between Elm and Chest- nut, 1834. In 1835 Prentice built a sawmill on the East Side near what is now the end of the Cherry Street bridge. The first foundry in Toledo was built where the present Lagrange Street school is located. In 1838 a mill for grinding grain was at the foot of Elm Street and in March, 1839, the first grist of thir- ty-two bushels of wheat was satisfactorily ground in fifty-five minutes. The same engine was used when not grinding wheat for running the sawmill adjoin- ing. These mills passed in later years into the hands of William H. Raymond, who operated them until they were burned. In 1851 Wason & Co. com- menced making cars, by assembling the parts which they purchased elsewhere. Field & Wilmington in 1853 started the first car works for entire manufac- ture of cars. The business was later acquired by the Toledo Car Works and continued until 1872, when the operation ceased. In 1851, Calvin Bronson came to Toledo and established the Bronson Tobacco Works. In 1865 he paid the government $750,322 as the government tax on his manufactured product. His first factory was at the foot of Lagrange on Wa- ter Street, and later he located between Madison and Jefferson Streets, where he built a block five stories high, 80 feet front, and running through to Water Street, which is still there.
The Toledo Gas Light & Coke Company was organized in 1853, and its works constructed in 1854. These were the earliest manufacturing industries in the city.
EARLY HOTELS .- The old warehouse, built
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in 1817, was for fifteen years the only place for any entertainment in Toledo. Baldwin, who com- menced to occupy it in 1823 without announcing it as a hotel, provided accommodation for such travel- ers as made this a temporary stopping place. In 1828 his son, John, put up a sign on it, "Tavern, by John Baldwin," but abandoned it after a couple of years, and turned it into a store.
In 1835 the Port Lawrence proprietors set apart lots 109, 110, 111, 119, 120, 121, 162, 163 and 215 for a hotel, and in 1836, at a meeting of the proprietors, Edward Bissell and Isaac S. Smith, a committee ap- pointed for that purpose, reported a plan for the hotel which was approved. This property was on the corner of Adams and Summit Streets and ex- tended to the river. They include the buildings where the Thompson-Hudson store now is, Water Street not then being made. The hotel was never built.
The Eagle Tavern, on Summit Street near Elm, was opened in 1834. Next was the Mansion House, Summit Street, east of Locust, a small frame build- ing; next the National Hotel, north side of Summit, near Adams. The Mansion House was headquarters during the Toledo war, and was the place where the Monroe constable was stabbed by Two Stickney, previously related.
The American Hotel, corner of Summit and Elm, built in 1836, was destroyed by fire in 1861. The Toledo House, corner of Summit and Perry, was built prior to 1836, enlarged in 1842 and renamed the Indiana House. In 1847, corner of St. Clair and Jefferson, first called Thayer's Exchange, afterwards
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the Collins House, burned about 1860. In 1847 the Ohio House, Summit near Cherry on the river side, afterwards called the Kingsbury House. In 1855 the Island House, on the middle ground, built by the railroad company. In 1853 the Oliver House was planned, but not completed until 1859. In 1869 the Boody House was planned and completed in 1872.
EARLY BUILDINGS .- In 1836 W. J. Daniels & Co. occupied a frame building adjoining the To- ledo House, with a store of general merchandise. Nearly opposite and between Monroe and Perry was the store of A. Palmer & Co., and the old store build- ing remained there until 1860. Three stores in a building of brick, three stories high, were built on the corner of Monroe and Summit Streets by the firm of Daniels & Goetel. They had been doing business in a frame structure on the corner of Perry and Swan Streets, but in 1836-7 moved into this brick structure. This was the first brick structure. The postoffice, elsewhere mentioned, between Adams and Oak Streets on Summit, was of brick and was the only building in the vicinity and for some years after.
On Cherry Street near Summit (now occupied by the Clark block), Smith & Macy of Buffalo, else- where mentioned, built a two-story frame building in 1836, which was for many years used as a board- ing house, and was the social center of Toledo. Many prominent citizens boarded there. Many weddings took place there. In 1874 Clark took down the old frame building and erected the present brick structure, and many residents of Toledo now
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will remember the festivities that for many years thereafter took place in the new Clark block, contin- uing its reputation as a social center. This building is now standing on Cherry Street, adjoining the Daniels building on the corner of Summit and Cherry.
Eighteen hundred and fifty-two was an unusual year for Toledo in a material sense, notwithstanding the cholera scourge. It was an unusual year in the building of business blocks. In that year the Mor- ris block, then so called, on the corner of Jefferson and Summit, about eighty feet front and four stories high, was commenced. Thomas Daniels built a store on the corner of Cherry and Summit Streets that year, and J. F. Schuerman the brick store ad- joining the Daniels store on the north. Latimer & Andrews commenced work on the Blade building, adjoining the present site of the First National Bank. Mathew Johnson built the bank building afterwards, for many years occupied by the old Toledo National Bank; C. B. Phillips a brick store a few doors below; Judge Miller, of Mount Vernon, another brick build- ing adjoining. These, with the Poag block, corner of Summit and Madison, where the Waldorf Hotel now is, built a year or two earlier, were all on the east side of Summit Street between Jefferson and Adams, then and for some years afterwards sup- posed to be the valuable side of the street. A. B. Waite built a store the same year on Summit near Monroe, and James C. Hall two stores near by. There were no substantial buildings on the west side of Summit Street between Monroe and Adams Streets.
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EARLY CHURCHES .- It is related, and with undoubted accuracy, that in 1802 a Rev. Dr. Bacon, under the auspices of the Connecticut Missionary Society, during a trip to the west, came to the In- dians at this point and found them in celebration on a beautiful dancing ground, about where Elm Street is now located, and after a good deal of parley, got a hearing. Mr. Bacon has left a very extended re- port of his meetings, his address and the reply of Little Otter, the head chief, the most of the chiefs being drunk, as he reports, and being discouraged he left the grove and went to Mackinaw.
It is probable that the Methodists are entitled to the first place in the early religious services in the territory now occupied by Toledo. (See historical record of the Monroe Street M. E. Church, by Rev. T. N. Barkdull.) We have already mentioned the work of Rev. John H. Baughman, and in 1836, the Methodists purchased a lot on Huron Street between Locust and Walnut and began the erection of a church. This was afterwards purchased by the Ger- man Methodists. In 1851 the lot was purchased on the corner of Madison and Superior, now occupied by the new Northern National Bank building.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. - In 1833 there was organized in Toledo a church which was named "The First Presbyterian Church." This was the first regular church organization in the ter- ritory now included in the territorial limits of To- ledo. It had for its elders Samuel I. Keeler, Merriam Fox and Sylvester Brown. Prior to this, however, religious services were held by both Methodists and
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Presbyterians and about 1832 Rev. Elnathan C. Gavit preached the first sermon in the territory above men- tioned of which we have any record (not including early missionary work with the Indians).
In the winter of 1832-3 a few persons desiring to have religious worship met on Sundays at the resi- dence of Samuel I. Keeler, on the Adams Street road, so called, and Rev. Mr. Warriner of Monroe, Mich., was asked to come and organize a church. He came and the congregation met at the residence of Mr. Keeler and a church was formed of seven members, viz: Samuel I. Keeler and wife, Merriam Fox and wife, Sylvester Brown, Hiram Brown and George Bennett. Sabbath School was held at the residence of C. G. Shaw, near the corner of Adams and Sum- mit Streets, about half way between Port Lawrence and Vistula, and known as "Middletown House." These were the people who organized the first church mentioned above.
In the winter of 1834-5, Rev. Mr. Worthington was engaged to preach every alternate Sunday at the residence of George Bennett, on the river side of Summit Street between Monroe and Perry Streets, in the morning, with evening meetings at the resi- dence of Mr. Lathrop, corner of Summit and La- grange Streets, thus dividing the services between upper and lower town, which will be explained later.
In 1841 the church, under M. Haswell's ministry, changed its form of government to Congregational. The first minister of the church regularly serving was Rev. Warren Isham. He was succeeded by Rev. Isaac Flager, and Rev. George R. Haswell was its third minister. The fourth minister was Rev. Mr.
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Lawrence, who was in charge until the incorpora- tion of the church in 1844. During Mr. Lawrence's ministry a portion of the church members, with Mr. Lawrence himself, returned to the Presbyterian form of government, and for a while there were two dis- tinct bodies, until July, 1844, when they reunited and formed the First Congregational Church and incorporated as such under the laws of the state.
In September, 1844, Rev. Wm. H. Beecher was chosen pastor and, although never installed, acted until 1847, when Rev. Anson Smythe became pastor and continued as such until January, 1850.
The first church building erected in Toledo was on the corner of Cherry and Superior Streets and was occupied by the First Church. The money to build this church was furnished mainly by Heman Walbridge and Edward Bissell. This building was never owned by the church. It was dedicated on May 3, 1838, while Rev. Isaac Flager was minister. The dedication sermon was delivered by Rev. C. D. Bloodgood of Tecumseh, Mich.
Under financial difficulties and distress this church property was sold by the sheriff and passed into the possession and ownership of the Catholics. On the lot on which it stood stands now the St. Fran- cis de Sales Cathedral, and the old wooden church structure was moved to the lot on Superior Street and is now the school building fronting on Superior Street in the rear of the cathedral.
Rev. Samuel Wright became the pastor of the church in July, 1851, and served about one year, when, during the awful cholera season of the 1852, by constant exposure and heroic attendance upon
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the sick with that disease, he became its victim and died from it. After his death Mr. Smythe supplied the pulpit for about six months.
In 1853 Rev. William W. Williams of Camillas, N. Y., was called and on September 1, 1853, entered upon the pastorate.
EPISCOPAL .- At the court room in Port Law- rence, on April 22, 1837, a Rev. Mr. Lyster held the first Protestant Episcopal service at Toledo that we have any record of, and in 1838 there was an Epis- copal organization in Manhattan. In May, 1840, Bishop McWaine visited Toledo and held Episcopal service in the church on the corner of Cherry and Superior Streets, then, as already stated, the church of the Presbyterians (afterwards Congregationalists). Regular services were thereafter held in a building on Summit Street between Cherry and Walnut Streets. In 1842 an association was formed under the name and title of "Parish of Trinity Church in the township of Toledo, county of Lucas and state of Ohio," and "adopted the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the diocese of Ohio," etc.
Later the church became incorporated and in 1844 began the erection of a church which was com- pleted in 1845, on the same lot on which now stands the beautiful Trinity Church, corner of Adams and St. Clair Streets.
PRESBYTERIAN .- As already shown, the first church building was occupied by Presbyterians, af- terwards changed to Congregational. In 1854 steps
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were taken to organize a Presbyterian church, and in 1855 it was organized and held services in what was known as the Bethel on Vine Street. In 1865 the lot on the corner of Huron and Orange Streets was purchased and the present structure built there- on. Westminster Church was organized in 1865, and built the church on the corner of Superior and Locust Street.
BAPTIST .- The first Baptist church was or- ganized in 1853 and in 1854 the lot on Huron Street near Cherry was purchased, and the building erected thereon was dedicated December 9, 1855.
LUTHERAN .- In 1845 Salem Church was or- ganized and built on Huron Street between Elm and Chestnut; St. Paul's in 1854, with building on Erie, between Adams and Oak.
CATHOLIC. - Rev. Amadeus Rappe came to Toledo in 1841 and with a parish limits extended from Toledo to the Indiana state line and as far south as Allen county-he had no church building for many years-was a missionary in every sense, but finally his parishioners here bought the church building corner of Superior and Cherry Streets, for- merly occupied by the Congregationalists, and the name of the church and parish was "St. Francis de Sales." In January, 1847, the City Council voted Father Rappe fifty dollars for ringing the bell three times a day during the year 1846. In 1847 he was made bishop of the diocese of Cleveland.
It is not possible, within the purpose of this nar-
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rative, to give any account of the modern work of any of these religious denominations. That must be accepted as an excuse for not mentioning the many strong church organizations with their beautiful temples now existing here.
CHAPTER X Schools, Library and City Officials
In the little schoolhouse used as the first court- house, Miss Wright taught school in 1835. We be- lieve that to be the first in the Port Lawrence ter- ritory.
October 1, 1838, Charles W. Hill, then city clerk, gave notice of an election to determine the ques- tion of leasing, erecting or purchasing a lot or lots, and leasing, purchasing or erecting school buildings, and how much money would be appropriated for that purpose.
We can find no record of the vote or its result. In 1837 the Council provided for school directors. The first district was that part of the city east of Lo- cust Street; second district between Locust and Adams Streets, and the third district all west of Adams Street. Changing Adams Street to Madison and the three wards of the city were the same. What schools were provided is very indefinite. Tui- tion was in those days paid by the scholars or their parents. The teachers received nothing from the city but were paid entirely out of the tuition taxes. The city furnished only the buildings, or rooms and fuel.
Schools were opened and operated from time to time, by private teachers. In 1841 Miss M. Howlett, corner Superior and Lagrange; the same year, by Thomas Dunlap at the same place; in 1843 by Charles Dodge, corner Summit and Cherry, and in 1844 in the same building a Miss Jenks, a school for girls; by Levi S. Lounsbury, corner Summit and
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Monroe, a day and night school. There were no doubt others, and there were three buildings, such as they were, furnished by the city. The General Assembly in 1848 passed an act extending what was called the Akron school system to Toledo, provided the people voted to accept it. An election was held in May, 1849, by the qualified voters and the provi- sions of the act were accepted. Rev. Anson Smythe, then pastor of the First Congregational Church, was elected superintendent. He resigned his church connection and entered upon the duties of perfect- ing a school system. He remained until February, 1856, when he took his place as state superintend- ent, to which he had been chosen.
The Toledo Blade in 1852 in an editorial said:
"We doubt if any schools in the state were in a worse condition than ours when Rev. Anson Smythe took charge of them, and we confidently challenge any superintendent in Ohio to make an exhibition of schools now in better condition."
At the time of opening the new system in 1849, and for several years thereafter, school was held in the basement of the First Congregational Church on St. Clair Street, between Madison and Jefferson, taught by Miss Fannie M. Deyo; later in the build- ing erected on Superior Street between Madison and Jefferson Streets, near the present Northern National Bank building.
During the same period the High and Grammar schools occupied a two-story frame building on Summit Street, nearly opposite Neuhausels' new building. Then the Grammar department was moved to a frame building on Superior Street between Ad-
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ams and Oak, and finally both departments moved into the new High School building completed in 1853-54, without the wings afterwards added. The first graduates from the High school were W. H. H. Smith, Olive Parmelee and Amos W. Crane, in 1857.
The Lagrange Street school, built in 1852, was the first important school building. Both of these buildings were erected while Rev. Smythe was su- perintendent.
The successor of Mr. Smythe as superintendent was John Eaton, who acted until 1859. He was suc- ceeded by Moses T. Brown, who acted until April, 1864, when Daniel F. DeWolf was chosen as his suc- cessor, who served until 1876, and was succeeded by Almon A. McDonald, 1876 to 1880. John W. Dowd, who served six years.
To Anson Smythe and Charles W. Hill is due the gratitude of the city for their work in behalf of the public schools. Mr. Hill was a member of the Board of Education continually from 1850 for fif- teen years and he made its success the great hobby of his life. Some fitting memorial is due to Gen- eral Hill.
After Mr. Dowd came the following Superin- tendents: Harvey W.N Compton, term, June 14, 1886, to May 3, 1897; A. A. MacDonald, May 3, 1897, to Jan. 28, 1898; C. G. Ballou, Supt. of High Schools -Jan. 31, 1898, to May 31, 1898; J. I. Ward, Supt. of Ward Schools, Jan. 31, 1898, to May 31, 1898; W. W. Chalmers, May 31, 1898, to March 6, 1905; H. J. Eberth, Acting Supt. from March 6, 1905-Appoint- ed, May 17, 1905, to July 1, 1907; C. L. Van Cleve, July 1, 1907, to Sept. 26, 1909; Dr. William B. Guit-
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teau, Oct. 18, 1909, who now ably is at the helm. Miss Lillian I. Donat has been clerk of the board of education since 1906, and treasurer of the board since January, 1912.
PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS .- The advent of the parochial schools of Toledo is in the main of a period later than the limits of this narrative. Rev. Amadeus Rappe, elsewhere mentioned, as soon as he secured the the building on the corner of Cherry and Superior Streets, started a school there, and ex- cept the temporary suspension during the cholera seasons of the early '50's, it has always been main- tained and has always had a high character of teach- ers and a high standard of moral and scholarship training. The subsequent introduction of parochial schools, as already stated, is of a more modern period. It needs only to be added that, in common with the whole people of Toledo, the school system, public and parochial, has been a subject of interest and pride.
THE ORIGIN OF THE PRESENT PUBLIC LIBRARY .- In December, 1838, there was organ- ized in Toledo "The Toledo Young Men's Associa- tion," under a charter granted by the Legislature of Ohio, the declared object being to establish "a ly- ceum and public library in Toledo." The constitu- tion had on it the signatures of sixty-six men, most of them prominent in the future growth of the city, although none of them are now living. In 1845 it had 500 volumes in its library with ten periodicals subscribed for. The dues were two dollars a year,
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and a committee consisting of William Baker, Dr. Calvin Smith and Charles I. Scott reported it in good condition. In 1847 it attempted to create pub- lic sentiment in favor of draining Mud creek, else- where herein mentioned, by having public debates on the subject. On October 3, 1864, at the annual election for officers and trustees, a surprise was sprung on the members who has been active in its work. A friendly contest was being had between A. W. Gleason and Richard Waite for president. Shortly before the polls closed a large number of men came from the Mcclellan Club rooms, to whom membership tickets had been issued by the treas- urer, and voted on an independent ticket, made up entirely of Democrats. As this occurred during the presidential campaign and shortly before the elec- tion, it was one of the political moves of the cam- paign. It will be remembered that the presidential contest that year was between Abraham Lincoln and George B. McClellan, and during the closing year of the War of the Rebellion. It was a bitter and acrimonious contest, and the attempt to make the association an aid to the Mcclellan campaign was bitterly resented, and as politics had never before entered into the affairs of the association in any way, substantially all of the 163 members immedi- ately resigned and organized a new association known as the Toledo Library Association, rented rooms on the second floor of the building on the corner of Summit and Madison, and proceeded to start a new library, and make engagements for the lecture course for the coming winter.
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