USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > A story of early Toledo; historical facts and incidents of the early days of the city and environs > Part 7
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BOUNDARY DISPUTE .- At the time of the Ohio-Michigan boundary dispute there were many amusing happenings. To definitely establish Ohio's jurisdiction over the disputed territory it was decid- ed to have a session of court at Toledo. Sept. 7, 1835 was fixed as the day for the great event and the judges were in charge of Col. Van Fleet. They left Maumee on horse back at 1 a. m. of that day with an escort of 20 men armed with rifles and two cav- alry pistols each. The late Hon. W. V. Way in his account says they arrived at Toledo about 3 a. m. and went to the School House which stood "near
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where Washington street crosses the canal," and op- ened court in due form, of law. Junius Flagg acted as sheriff and Horatio Conant clerk. The proceed- ings were hastily written and placed in the clerks tall hat and after court adjourned they proceeded to a tavern kept by Munson J. Daniels near the site of the old American House. As the story goes, they had just taken a drink at the bar and were filling their glasses the second time when some joker called out that a strong force of Michiganders were in hot pursuit. Spilling their liquor and leaving their bill for future adjustment they made a precipitous re- treat and did not stop to call the roll until they ar- rived at the top of the hill near where the old Oliver House stands. It was then found that Conant the clerk had run against the limb of a tree with his tall hat and spilled his papers, the records of the court. It was yet before the break of day and while they were afraid of capture, after a hasty consultation Col. Van Fleet sent the clerk and two guards back to hunt the hat and papers which they finally found and bore triumphantly to Maumee. The order of the court reads as follows: "The State of Ohio, Lu- cas County, ss: At a court of Common Pleas, began and held at the court house in Toledo in said county, on Monday the 7th day of September, Anno Domini, Eighteen hundred and Thirty-five. Present the Honorable Jonathan H. Jerome Senior Associate Judge of said county, their Honors Baxter Bowman and William Wilson Associate Judges. The court being opened in due form by the sheriff of said coun- ty, Horatio Conant being appointed clerk of said court, exhibited his bond, with sureties, accepted by
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the court agreeably to the statute in such case made and provided. The court appointed John Baldwin, Robert Gower and Cyrus Holloway, commissioners for said county. No further business appearing be- fore the court, the court adjourned without delay.
J. H. Jerome, Associate Judge."
Benson John Lossing in his "Field Book" of the war of 1812 in speaking of his visit to Toledo while gathering the material for his work says: "I visited the theatre of events just described, (the operations about Fort Meigs) on the 2nd of September, 1860, and had the singular good fortune to be accompan- ied by H. L. Hosmer, Esq. of Toledo, author of the Early History of the Maumee Valley and the vener- able Peter Navarre, Gen. Harrison's trusty scout. Navarre resided about 20 miles from Toledo and had come into the city on business two or three days be- fore. Mr. Hosmer aware of my intended visit at that time had kindly detained him until my arrival. Only two days before I had enjoyed a long conversation at the "West House,, Sandusky City" with Gen. Les- lie Combs, who had just visited Fort Meigs for the first time since he was there a soldier and prisoner in 1813. That visit had recalled the incidents of the campaign most vividly to his mind, and he related them to me with his usual enthusiasm and perspicui- ty. With the soldiers description in my memory, and the historian and scout at my side, I visited Ft. Meigs and its historical surroundings under the most favorable circumstances. The night of my ar- rival at Toledo had been a most tempestuous one- wind, lightning, rain, and a sprinkle of hail. The
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following morning was clear and cool, with a bluster- ing wind from the southwest. We left the city for our ride to Maumee Valley at nine o'clock in a light carriage and a strong team of horses. Mr. Hosmer volunteered to be coachman. Our road lay on the right side of the river, and when nearly seven miles from Toledo we came to the site of Proctor's en- campment, on a level plateau a short distance from Maumee, upon lands owned, when we visited it, by Henry W. Horton. Across a small ravine, a few rods further southward were remains of the old Fort Miami within the triangular out-works
he (Navarre) was compelled to run the gauntlet for his life."
The history or legend most prevalent connected with Turkey Foot rock on the site of the battle of Fallen Timbers on the west bank of the Maumee river above Maumee is not exactly according to the facts and it is thought proper to here set readers of history aright on the subject. Our statement is back- ed by the late C. W. Evers one of the best authori- ties on early history of the Maumee, who in one of his publications says: "There is such a rock as we all know, but that there was a 'noted Indian chief' named Turkey Foot, I deny. I know I am going in the face of a long standing legend breaking an idol as it were; but it is best that we get our history of the long ago correct before it is too late. If any one interested, will take the trouble to consult a book written perhaps some time in 1830 or possibly earlier when the Indians were still here, by T. M. Coffin- berry, called the Forest Rangers, they will get the
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facts, regarding Turkey Foot rock. Mr. Coffinberry was a lawyer, lived at Perrysburg, was well educated and mingled, out of curiosity perhaps, much with the Indians, and knew their habits, customs and his- tory quite well. According to his statement, (I give the substance rather than his words), the Indian killed, at or near the big boulder, August 20, 1794, was a sub-chief of the turkey clan of the Wyandott tribe, whose totem or coat of arms or monogram was the imprint of a turkey's foot. Each tribe is divided into more or less clans; the beaver, the muskrat, the eagle, the dog, the bear, or any favorite object may be adopted as the emblem of a clan. A turkey in Wyandott is Massas. This warrior, killed that day was evidently popular and beloved of his clan for they not only carved the emblem of the clan, a Tur- key's footprint on the big boulder, but always, when passing that way, some of his kin or clan would stop and leave some little tribute of their affection, often- er plug tobacco than anything else. Thus it was the stone took the name Turkey Foot rock. There was no noted chief of that name. No treaty record with the Indians bears such a name. No such name is mentioned in the many fights before Wayne's bat- tle. If he had been a noted warrior, somewhere his name would appear. It is just a fiction of some of the white men of the later years and with some has grown into an honest belief as is the case with many other fictions we cling to as truths. There is a turkey foot rock. It is a land mark denoting the high tide spot of Wayne's battle. Near it a brave of the turkey clan was killed. He was popular and his clansmen cut the clan emblem, the print of a turkey's foot, on
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the stone and very naturally it has gone by the name Turkey Foot Rock. Its chief importance, however, is that it marks the place of one of the great battles of the border war period.
CHAPTER XIII.
EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
TOLEDO UNIVERSITY .- The Municipal Uni- versity of Toledo, Ohio, was founded in 1872 as the Toledo University of Arts and Trades by Jessup W. Scott, who bequeathed to the University several tracts of land among which was a quarter section ly- ing just outside the city limits. In 1884 the Univer- sity was established as a Municipal University and in 1909 was reorganized, since which time the insti- tution has had a steady development and its stu- dent enrollment has increased from 200 to over 1500, annually. The institution is under the con- trol of a Board of Directors of nine members, three appointed for a term of six years every two years. W. H. Tucker is president of the board and J. Gaz- zam Mckenzie Secretary. A. Monroe Stowe Ph. D., is President of the university. The institution consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Teachers College, College of Commerce and Business, Col- lege of Industrial Science, College of Law and Col- lege of Pharmacy.
ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY .- This institution, under the direction of the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, was opened in September, 1898, and incorpor- ated May 22, 1900, according to the general law of the State of Ohio, under the corporate title of "The St. John's College of Toledo, Ohio." On August 29, 1903, the original charter was amended and the cor-
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porate title was changed into "The St. John's Uni- versity of Toledo, Ohio," with power to grant such literary honors and to confer such degrees as are usually conferred by similar colleges and institutions of learning in the United States.
The present organization is: Rev. Francis X. Busch, S. J. President; Rev. Francis P. Kemper, S. J., Vice-President; Rev. William J. Engelen, S. J., Secretary; Rev. Augustine Walters, S. J., Treasurer; Rev. Peter J. Schnitzler, S. J., was the first president. The law department has as its dean Judge John P. Manton.
The purpose of St. John's University in its Un- dergraduate Department is to educate in the com- pletest sense, that is to develop full and harmonious- ly the faculties of the whole man-intellectual, moral and physical. It is one of the decided ad- vantages of the system followed in the University, that the student may begin his studies in the High School and then pass on through the College course to graduation in the same institution.
PUBLIC LIBRARY .- The present main library building was constructed and occupied in 1890 and the fine additional quarters completed in 1916. With the five new branch "Carnegie Libraries" lately oc- cupied and an equipment of some 140,000 volumes, Toledo's library facilities rank among the best in the country.
TOLEDO PRODUCE EXCHANGE .- Toledo from its earliest days has been a leading grain cen- ter. The first grain dealers' organization was form-
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ed in 1849. June 7, 1849 commission men, forward- ers and produce dealers met at the steam elevators of Brownlee, Pendleton & Co., located on Water Street. Mathew Brown Jr. was chairman and Ed- ward B. Brown Secretary. The meeting resulted in establishing a Board of Trade with a membership seat price of two dollars. Dennison B. Smith who became identified with the grain trade here in 1841 was elected the first president and the board arrang- ed to receive telegraph reports of Buffalo and New York markets each day at 12 o'clock. On April 23, 1851 at another meeting of commission men, for- warders and dealers a board was organized with Mathew Brown Jr. President, but this project lasted less than a year. A still stronger organization known as the Board of Trade was formed in 1861 with Tru- man H. Hoag President. The board continued in operation until 1876, when it was deemed advisable to establish a more efficient organization and then it was that the present Produce Exchange was form- ed. The first President was Henry D. Walbridge with C. T. Wales secretary. Dennison B. Smith was chosen secretary Sept. 8, 1877, and held that posi- tion until his death June 22, 1901. Archie Gassaway who had been connected with the exchange first as a clerk since 1879 was then chosen Secretary and still holds that position. The old Produce Exchange building was built in 1878 and the organization oc- cupied quarters there from that date until 1915 when they moved into their present quarters in the Sec- ond National Bank building. Among the earliest elevators besides that of Brownlee, Pendleton Co., were those of Herman and Horace Walbridge, C. A.
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King & Co. (firm established in 1846) and the Grif- feth elevators.
TOLEDO BANKS.
Mention is made in preceding pages of this work of the early stages of the banking interests of To- ledo. It is, however, deemed proper to give a list of the prominent banking institutions, the date of their organization and prominent officials together wth something of their early history.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK .- Which is re- ferred to elsewhere in this work, was organized in September, 1863, and was the pioneer National Bank of Toledo. Valentine H. Ketcham was its president until his death in 1887. John Berdan was the first cashier. Mars Nearing succeeded Mr. Ketcham as president in September, 1887, and served until his death in October, 1895. He was succeeded by Shel- don C. Reynolds who was elected president in Jan- uary, 1896 and who resigned July, 1897, and was chairman of the board of directors until his death November 22, 1912. S. C. Schenck succeeded Mr. Reynolds as president January, 1898, and upon his resignation was succeeded by Frederick J. Reynolds who was chosen January, 1910, and is now serving in that capacity. The first banking room were where the Waldorf hotel now stands on Summit street. In 1869, a new building was put up on the present site which was replaced by the present new building in 1905, and which was the first strictly bank building erected in Toledo. J. M. Spencer was elected cash- ier March 5, 1878, and entered the service of the in-
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stitution in November, 1868. The present officers are: Frederick J. Reynolds, President; Rathbun Fuller, Vice-President; John Willys, Vice-President; Harold S. Reynolds, Vice-President; Joseph M. Spencer, Vice-President and Cashier; James G. Bur- nap, Assistant Cashier; Stacey L. McNary, Assistant Cashier; Karl Kniesser, Assistant Cashier.
THE SECOND NATIONAL BANK .- Was or- ganized on January 18, 1864 when Toledo had a pop- ulation of 20,000 and George W. Davis was its presi- dent and Nehemiah Waterman its first cashier and John Cummings was inspector of electiores at that meeting and Frederick B. Dodge the first notary public for the bank, which opened for business May 2, 1864. The first quarters of the bank were on the site now occupied by the Alhambra Theater, Sum- mit Street, but it soon moved to the King Block, Southwest corner of Summit and Madison. In 1870 it located in the old Chamber of Commerce building and after that building burned located between Summit and St. Clair on Madison Avenue. On Dec. 7, 1864, the Second took over the Marine Bank which was first established by E. Parmelee in 1860. George W. Davis was president of the Second until his death June 2, 1904. C. F. Adams entered the bank as teller in August, 1865, was cashier from January 14, 1873, which position he held for 32 years. He was elected president June 7, 1904, and retired in 1907. May 1, 1907, the institution consolidated with The Merchants National Bank and now occupies fine quarters in its new 22 story building, corner
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Madison Avenue and Summit Street, the present officers are: M. W. Young, President, W. C. Carr, Vice-President, F. A. Chapin, Vice-President, J. T. Rohr, Vive-President, C. W. Cole, Cashier, L. S. Ketcham, Assistant Cashier, C. A. Baldwin, Assist- ant Cashier, H. E. Gail, Assistant Cashier, E. J. Bur- man, Assistant Cashier, G. L. Irons, Auditor. Mr. Young has been president since January 14, 1908. Mr. Carr entered the bank as messenger in 1892, was chosen cashier June 7, 1904, which position he held until elected vice-president.
THE NORTHERN NATIONAL BANK .- The Northern National Bank of Toledo was organized November 30, 1864. Matthew Shoemaker was the first president of the institution, and John T. New- ton its first cashier. The bank first opened for busi- ness on Summit street near Jefferson, and when the Produce Exchange building was built in 1878, they took up quarters there until their fine new building was erected at the corner of Madison Avenue and Superior streets, which they occupied May, 1916. I. E. Knisely was chosen president of the bank in Jan- uary, 1892, and has since held that position. A. F. Mitchell became identified with the institution in June, 1887, as a clerk, was chosen cashier in January, 1901, vice-president in 1914, and at the latter date Mr. H. M. Bash took the position of cashier. Mr. Bash has been identified with the bank since 1890.
The present officials are: I. E. Knisely, Presi- dent; J. K. Secor, Vice-President; H. C. Truesdall, Vice-President; A. F. Mitchell, Vice-President; H.
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M. Bash, Cashier; A. G. Moore, Assistant Cashier; W. K. Corson, Assistant Cashier.
THE TOLEDO SAVINGS BANK & TRUST CO .- This institution, the first savings bank in To- ledo, was incorporated May 8, 1868 by James C. Hall, H. S. Walbridge, Richard Mott, John J. Barker, Val- entine Braun, Albert E. Macomber. Its first officers were Richard Mott, President; Albert E. Macomber, Secretary & Treasurer. It opened for business in the Fort Industry Block corner Monroe & Summit Streets. In 1906 the bank moved to its present lo- cation corner of Jefferson and Summit Streets. The present officers are C. L. Reynolds, President; Charles A. Russell, Vice-President; Donald L. Rey- nolds, Vice-President; Frank H. Greene, Cashier; A. Giesel, Assistant Cashier. There has always been a matter of historical interest attached to this in- stitution from the fact that its first location was so near to the site of old Fort Industry. The first de- positor when the bank was opened over fifty years ago is still a depositor there.
THE MERCHANTS AND CLERKS SAVINGS BANK COMPANY .- Organized by Oliver S. Bond, had its inception February 10th, 1871. In a rear room of The Northern National Bank, located at 99 Summit Street, this bank had its first office with the following list of officers: Mathew Shoemaker, Presi- dent; C. L. Luce, Vice-President; Oliver S. Bond, Secretary and Treasurer. Toledo at that time was a growing little city with a population of about 30,- 000. The bank outgrew their small quarters and
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finally moved to a building of their own at 78 Sum- mit Street. The present location 338 Summit Street was remodeled February, 1911, and at that time was the only building owned and occupied exclusively for banking purposes by any Savings Bank in To- ledo. Oliver S. Bond, who had been Treasurer and Secretary since the bank's foundation, was in 1888 elected president and continues in that office at the present time. He has the distinction of having act- ed as an executive officer for a longer period than any other bank official in Toledo. E. Louis Schom- berg entered the service of the bank October 1, 1872, as messenger and has worked his way up through the different positions until 1903 he was elected to the office of Vice-President, which office he still occu- pies. Following are the present officers: Oliver S. Bond, President; E. Louis Schomburg, Vice-Presi- dent; Will H. Gunkel, Cashier; James C. Scott, Asst. Cashier.
UNION SAVINGS BANK .- This bank was or- ganized in 1888, and held its first meeting of direc- tors May 5, of that year in the office of the Toledo Blade, corner of Jefferson Avenue and Superior Street. The officers elected were James Secor, President; William H. Maher, Vice-President, and Leander Burdick, Cashier. The bank opened for business on the 18th of June, 1888, and has continued in this location on Summit street ever since organiz- ed. The present officials are: Henry C. Truesdall, President; George L. Shanks, Vice-President; Christ- opher Doudt, Vice-President; Eugene P. Mettler, Cashier; Joseph T. Dempsey, Assistant Cashier.
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THE NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE .- The Ketcham National Bank was organized June 1, 1888, with John B. Ketcham, President; John Ber- dan, Vice-President; W. O. Parker, Vice-President; S. H. Warring, Cashier; E. D. Rose, Assistant Cash- ier. On January 1, 1890, E. L. Barber was chosen vice-president in place of John Berdan. October 4, 1892, S. D. Carr was elected second vice-president and then first vice-president January 1, 1893, with E. L. Barber second vice-president. March 6, 1894, J. B. Ketcham resigned as president, E. L. Barber taking that position and S. D. Carr retaining the first vice-presidency. Sept. 7, 1898, G. W. Walbridge was elected assistant cashier and in January, 1899, E. L. Barber resigned as president and S. D. Carr was chosen for that position. In February, 1899, the name of the bank was changed to The National Bank of Commerce and G. W. Walbridge, elected cashier. July 1, 1907 the bank absorbed or was con- solidated with The National Bank of Toledo, with S. D. Carr, President; W. W. Edwards, first Vice- President; R. B. Crane, second Vice-President; G. W. Walbridge, Cashier, and A. R. Truax Assistant Cashier. W. W. Edwards died in May, 1913, and was succeeded by E. C. Edwards in that position in July of that year with some other changes. The present officers are: S. D. Carr, President; R. B. Crane, first Vice-President; E. C. Edwards, second Vice-Presi- dent; G. W. Walbridge, third Vice-President; W. L. Lamb, Cashier; George L. Mills, Assistant Cashier, and A. J. Saelzler Assistant Cashier. The bank has always been located at the corner of Madison Ave- nue and St. Clair Streets and sometime ago purchas-
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ed the Drummond block and the St. Clair building north adjoining and have made over and enlarged their quarters from time to time as increased room and facilities were required.
THE HOME SAVINGS BANK CO. GARDNER BUILDING .- This bank was incorporated Novem- ber 10, 1892; began business in Toledo December 3, 1893, in the quarters which they now occupy. Its first officers were, Mr. Herbert Baker, President; Mr. C. F. Braun, Vice-President; Mr. D. V. R. Manley, Cashier. Its present officers are : Mr. Herbert Baker, President; Mr. W. A. Brigham, Vice-President; Mr. Marion M. Miller, Vice-President; Mr. R. D. Mills, Cashier; Mr. D. P. Clifford, Assistant Cashier; Mr. Carl H. Schwyn, Assistant Cashier, Mr. F. W. Linds- ley, Auditor.
THE CITIZENS SAFE-DEPOSIT & TRUST Co .- Was organized in April, 1893, under the title of The Home Safe-Deposit & Trust Company. The incorporators were Charles F. Adams, Mars Nearing, M. I. Wilcox, S. D. Carr, and Horace Holcomb. About 1908, the corporate name was changed to The Citi- zens Safe-Deposit & Trust Co. The place of business has always been in the Gardner Building, and the safe deposit vaults built when that building was erected. The present officers are: S. R. Dority, President; W. S. Walbridge, Secretary and Treasur- er.
THE OHIO SAVINGS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY .- This institution was incorporated De-
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cember 5, 1896. The original officers were David Robison, Jr., President, and George E. Pomeroy and Dennis Coghlin, Vice-President, and James J. Robi- son, Secretary and Treasurer. The bank opened for business in the Chamber of Commerce building cor- ner of Summit Street and Madison Avenue. Some time before the death of David Robison, Jr., in April, 1906, he retired from the presidency and was chair- man of the board of directors, James J. Robison suc- ceeding to the presidency. On the death of James J. Robison in June, 1914, he was succeeded as presi- dent by William Hardee who in turn was suc- ceeded by George M. Jones. The Ohio Savings Bank and Trust Company took over The Dollar Sav- ings Bank and Trust Company June 15, 1910, also took over The Continental Trust and Savings Bank December 1st, 1918, and The Market Savings Bank December 15, 1918. The present officers of the in- stitution are: John Cummings, Chairman of the Board; George M. Jones, President; Howard I. Shep- herd, first Vice-President; Edward Kirschner, vice- President and Secretary; Frank P. Kennison, Vice- President and Trust Officer; Seymour H. Hoff, Treasurer; Charles A. Frese, Assistant Treasurer; James F. Young, Assistant Treasurer; Albert A. Fair, Assistant Treasurer; Frank J. Klauser, Assistant Trust Officer; Ernest W. Davis, Comptroller; Roland J. Tappen, Manager Safe Deposit Department; C. E. Christen, Manager Foreign Department; E. E. Glea- son, Manager Credit Department. The bank took up its quarters in the Ohio building in 1906.
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THE SECURITY SAVINGS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY .- The Security Savings Bank and Trust Company, located at 315-317 Superior Street in Toledo, is the oldest Trust Company in Lucas County, having been organized as The Securi- ty Trust Company June 14, 1898. The Security Trust Company was located at 224 St. Clair Street, and after about six months removed to the corner of Madison Avenue and Huron Street in the Spitzer Building. In 1903 they again removed to the pres- ent location. Its first officers were: F. B. Shoe- maker, President; N. H. Swayne, Vice-President; John J. Barker, Vice-President; C. F. M. Niles, Sec- retary and Treasurer; H. W. Cummings, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. Having been organized purely as a Trust Company, and not to engage in any way in the banking business, its officers, direc- tors, and stockholders were made up very largely of officials and stockholders of other banks. In fact, its first Board of Directors and Trust Committee in- cluded in its membership five bank presidents, four vice-presidents, and two bank cashiers. Two years later, The State Savings Bank Company was organ- ized, and had among its stockholders and directors many of the stockholders of The Security Trust Company. Later, The Security Trust Company to enlarge its operations and engage in the general banking business, in addition to carrying on its trust business, a merger was effected between it, and The State Savings Bank Company, and the two were con- solidated under the present name. The Security maintains a branch at 1518-1520 Cherry Street. It is in charge of Mr. Ladd H. Morse, Assistant Secre-
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