USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > A story of early Toledo; historical facts and incidents of the early days of the city and environs > Part 8
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tary-Assistant Treasurer, under the general direction of the same officers and directors as the main bank on Superior Street. Both the main office and branch have Safe Deposit Departments, while the Trust Department is maintained exclusively at the Super- ior Street office. The Security owns the bank build- ings in which both its main and branch banking rooms are located. The present officers are: Clif- ford C. Whitmore, President; Otis A. Browning, Vice-President; William J. Wedertz, second Vice- President and Treasurer; Frank C. Hoehler, third Vice-President; Lester B. Martin, Secretary and As- sistant Treasurer; Ladd H. Morse, Assistant Secre- tary and Treasurer; Archibald W. Stone, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer.
THE COMMERCIAL SAVINGS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY .- The first officers were elected on February 20, 1899, the first President being Mr. Peter McCrory, the first Vice-President, Mr. A. M. Chesbrough, second Vice-President, Mr. J. K. Secor, and Cashier, Mr. Carey B. Close. The bank opened for business on Main Street, Toledo, East Side, on January 1, 1900, and was known as The Commercial Savings Bank. At the following election of officers held in January of 1900, Mr. M. B. Wolf was chosen President; Mr. David Harpster, Vice-President, and Mr. Carey B. Close, Cashier. The bank continued under that title until about the year of 1907 when it began operations under the title of The Commer- cial Savings Bank & Trust Co. A little before that date it opened its main banking room at 412 Adams street operating two offices. On July 1, 1915, or
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thereabouts, the bank opened its third office at 810 West Central Avenue, near Detroit Avenue, under the management of Mr. E. S. White, with the title of Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.
The present officials are: W. H. Yeasting, Pres- ident; Walter Stewart, Vice-President; Dallas P. Dil- dine, Vice-President; F. E. Stewart, Secretary and Treasurer; C. J. Eisenmann, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer; E. S. White, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer.
THE DIME SAVINGS BANK COMPANY OF TOLEDO, OHIO .- Was incorporated July 19, 1900, and commenced business on November 1, 1900. At the organization, Homer Hood was elected Presi- dent, Elisha B. Southard, First Vice-President, John S. Hallaran, Second Vice-President and Aaron B. Hood, Cashier. The Executive Committee consist- ed of George E. Lorenz, William Watts, John S. Hal- laran, William H. H. Reeder, and Louis H. Rohr. The bank occupied a small space in the rear part of a large furniture store at 315 and 317 Superior Street until the spring of 1902, when they secured the cor- ner room at the Southwest corner of Adams and Superior Streets-the site of the old Masonic Temple that had been destroyed by fire. In 1907, the north- west corner of Adams and Superior was purchased as a site for the permanent home of the bank. The bank moved into their new home on June 15, 1915. The present officers, W. H. H. Reeder, President; John S. Hallaran, Vice-President; R. V. Hodge, Vice- President and Cashier; Frank D. Butler, Assistant Cashier and Manager of their South side branch at
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the corner of Broadway and Western, and Oscar W. Salyer, Assistant Cashier and Manager of their branch at 1329 Dorr Street. William H. H. Reeder, has been President of the institution since early in 1901.
THE PEOPLE'S STATE SAVINGS BANK .- Located at 924 Starr Avenue, opened for business in their own building there May 1, 1909, with W. H. Tucker, President; V. O. Moore, Vice-President; W. J. Von Ewegen, Vice-President, and O. D. Tiffany, Cashier who are the present officers of that thriving institution.
THE SPITZER-RORICK TRUST & SAVINGS BANK .- This bank was organized and opened for business Nov. 1, 1911, with the following officials: C. M. Spitzer, President; A. L. Spitzer, Vice-Presi- dent; H. C. Rorick, Vice-President; Geo. A. Weber, Cashier; C. W. Cummings, Assistant Cashier; C. H. Vischer, Assistant Cashier. The present officials are: H. C. Rorick, President; A. L. Spitzer, Vice-Presi- dent; Carl B. Spitzer, Vice-President; James R. Eas- ton, Vice-President; A. V. Foster, Vice-President; Geo. A. Weber, Cashier; Carl Mathias, Assistant Cashier. This bank is incorporated under the bank- ing laws of the State of Ohio, is authorized to exer- cise the powers of a savings bank and administer trusts committed to its care and in addition to its savings department and the trust powers that it un- dertakes it does a general banking and exchanges business. The banking rooms are located in the Nicholas building.
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THE GUARDIAN TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK .- The Commerce Trust Company was or- ganized April 1, 1913, with the following list of offi- cers: S. D. Carr, President; W. W. Edwards, Vice- President; R. B. Crane, Vice-President; A. H. Peiter, Secretary and Treasurer; Richard W. Kirkley, Trust Officer. The company was re-organized under the name of "The Guardian Trust and Savings Bank of Toledo," under date of March 17, 1914. The pres- ent officers are: Edward H. Cady, President; Wal- ter L. Ross, Vice-President; Edward G. Kirby, Vice- President and Trust Officer; Harry P. Caves, Treas- urer; J. Brenton Taylor, Secretary; George E. Wise, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. This bank joined the Federal Reserve System under date of January 1, 1916, and was the first State Bank in Ohio to take this step. The Guardian Bank was one of the first banks in the city to enter the field of front window advertising, and their ideas have been adopted in nearly every city in the country; so that they readily claim that they were pioneers in this form of bank advertising.
THE ROSSFORD SAVINGS BANK, ROSS- FORD, OHIO .- While this bank is located in Wood County, it is given here in the list of Toledo institu- tions, and was organized in June, 1918, and opened for business on July 1, 1918. The bank occupies a new building erected for the bank by the Edward Ford Plate Glass Co. The officers are: Edward Ford, President; H. S. Reynolds, first Vice-Presi- dent; Fred Uffman, second Vice-President; Earl B. Haas, Cashier. The bank is a Member of the Fed- eral Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
CHAPTER XIV. TOLEDO DAILY NEWSPAPERS.
THE TOLEDO BLADE .- The dominating figure who put the Toledo Blade on the map was D. R. Locke and the wide distribution of the Week- ly Blade through the appearance of the "Nasby Let- ters" was a great factor in making Toledo known during the later sixties. A detailed story of the var- ious changes and early history of this publication would make a volume in itself. Here are some of the high spots.
The Blade was started in 1836. Abel W. Fair- banks and L. L. Willard, were connected with the paper in 1837, the latter but a few months when Mr. Fairbanks became sole publisher, which honor he held about thirteen years. Andrew Palmer former- ly a Democrat, but an active supporter of Harrison for the presidency, was editor of the paper during that memorable campaign and made the forests echo with the slogan "Tippecanoe, and Tyler too." Then appear as editors, proprietors and publishers through the early struggles of the paper, the names of S. S. Blanchard, Edward A. Graves, Daniel Mc- Bain and down until 1844, when Jessup W. Scott, be- came editor, but stepped out of the job for some reason in less than a year. In May, 1846, appeared the tri-weekly Blade. H. L. Hosmer was a partner at this time and Mr. Fairbanks after being out and in at times evidently gathered enough wind or cash to take hold of the game again with a Dr. Graham, editor. The first issue of the daily Blade was April 17, 1848. In January, 1850, Stephen T. and H. L.
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Hosmer became owners with the latter as editor. Then came Peter E. Latimer, Samuel Andrews and Joseph R. Williams with their names spiked to the mast-head, when in September, 1856, the plant, newspaper, job and book-printing, was purchased by Clark Waggoner and Guideon T. Stewart, of Norwalk, the latter a great champion of Prohibition and at one time a candidate for president on that ticket. Waggoner withdrew in 1865, and David Ross Locke came to the paper as editor, and A. D. Pelton sole proprietor in that year. In 1867, Mr. Locke and John Paul Jones became partners in the firm-A. D. Pelton & Co. Many further changes of minor importance followed with the names of Dr. A. P. Miller and T. P. Brown appearing with E. A. Higgins editor for a time. In August, 1876, The To- ledo Blade Company was organized with A. P. Mil- ler, President and Editor; T. P. Brown, Vice-Presi- dent; and Frank T. Lane, Secretary, which position Mr. Lane held until his death the fall of 1912. Dur- ing 1876 Mr. D. R. Locke obtained entire control of the company, and was its president with A. W. Glea- son, vice-president. For a short time the daily and weekly were published by Alexander Reed and Her- man D. Walbridge, but in 1878, the Blade company again assumed control of everything. Mr. Locke the dominant factor in placing the Blade in the ranks of newspapers of national importance was edi- tor and owned the controlling interest in the paper until his death when his son Robinson Locke took the chief editorship which place he still holds and is president of the company, with Florence E. Cottrell, vice-president and treasurer and who has
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been connected with the Blade for nearly 28 years. John McElroy of the National Tribune was manag- ing editor for a time followed by S. S. Knabenshue who came to the paper shortly before the death of D. R. Locke and who held that position until ap- pointed consul in 1907. Then came F. L. Dustman and Blacque Wilson and now Grove Patterson as managing editor of the daily, with Frank M. War- wick editor of the weekly since Knabenshue's time. The paper occupies its own building corner of Jef- ferson Avenue and Superior Street.
THE TOLEDO NEWS-BEE .- This plant is one of the links in the chain known as the Scripp's news- papers. Negley D. Cochran is editor-in-chief and the paper occupies its own building corner of Huron Street and Jackson Avenue. The Toledo Evening Bee was started by H. S. Chapin in April, 1876, and was one of the pioneer low priced papers of the coun- try. The property was soon after transferred to The Toledo Bee Company which under the former name of The Toledo Printing & Publishing Company had been in the job printing business. H. S. Chapin was editor, and one of the proprietors until December, 1883 when he disposed of his interest and was suc- ceeded as editor by John Paul Jones who was in turn succeeded by R. W. Harris and Elmer White. Mr. Chapin who had in 1884, with R. M. Brinkerhoff and others started The Toledo Evening Post, on the lat- ter papers being absorbed by the Bee in 1886, return- ed to the Bee as one of the editors and held a posi- tion there until he went with S. G. Mccullough to Columbus, where he was editor of the Columbus
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Post, a new daily they established there. Elmer White was editor and part owner of the Bee at this period with Frank P. Chapin the principal owner and business manager. It was under this regime that a new building was put up at 328 north St. Clair Street and the paper moved from their old quarters on St. Clair between Jefferson and Mon- roe Streets. After this management came Thomas W. Starr, and Archibald Stuart, when in 1897, Neg- ley D. Cochran purchased the paper from Wm. Beat- ty, receiver, an ill advised political move being one of the causes of the paper unpopularity. Then June 1, 1903, the Bee, Sunday Bee, The News, (a daily started by J. M. Bloomer, J. P. Coats and others) and the Morning Times were bought by the Scripps- McRae organization and the papers became News- Bee, Sunday Times-Bee and Morning Daily Times, the latter two being a little later purchased by George Dun of Columbus. The News-Bee occupied their present new building October 12, 1912. Mr. Cochran has been editor of the paper all during the Scripp's control and Harry J. Howard was the first managing editor of the News-Bee and held that position until his death in 1917, and was succeeded by Frank M. Heller the present managing editor.
THE TOLEDO TIMES COMPANY .- Was or- ganized in April, 1908, by Geo. W. Dun, who was its first president. The company took over the ma- chinery and equipment of the Toledo Press and the Associated Press franchise held in the morning field by the Scripps McRae league. In May, 1911, the Toledo Times Publishing Company was organized,
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purchasing the machinery, equipment, franchise and good will of the Toledo Times Company. The first officers were Geo. W. Dun, President, Clarence Brown, Vice-President; Charles N. O'Brien, Secre- tary and R. C. Patterson, Treasurer. In December, 1914, Geo. W. Dun, president of the company died and Clarence Brown was elected president. Upon the occasion of his death in the summer of 1918, R. C. Patterson was elected president. The Toledo Times Publishing Company prints the Toledo Times, the only morning and Sunday paper in Toledo and Northwestern Ohio. Its office is at 234 Superior Street. The present officers are: R. C. Patterson, President & Treasurer; Clara C. Dun, Vice-President; John D. Dun, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.
THE TOLEDO COMMERCE CLUB .- The present officers are: Charles Hartmann, President; Royal R. Scott, first Vice-President; John D. Cowell, second Vice-President; Warren E. Griffith, third Vice-President; Earl A. Hulce, Treasurer; Frank G. Saxton, Secretary. The merger of the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Men's Club into the Toledo Commerce Club was affected on May 9, 1911. The first officers were President, J. Gazzam MacKen- zie; first Vice-President E. H. Cady, second Vice- President, Geo. L. Shanks; third Vice-President, F. V. Culbertson; Treasurer, C. R. Clapp; Secretary, Louis H. Paine; Assistant Secretary, F. I. Lackens. The trustees of the Chamber of Commerce at the time of merger were: E. H. Cady, W. W. Knight, I. B. Hiett, C. R. Clapp, D. C. Donovan, E. L. Camp and G. S. Mills. Trustees of the Business Men's Club:
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Lyman Spitzer, W. F. Donovan, F. V. Culbertson, R. W. Kirkley, Geo. E. Hardee, Geo. L. Shanks and R. A. Beard. The presidents of The Toledo Commerce Club after Mr. Mckenzie were: Isaac Kinsey, Frank L. Mulholland, William L. Diemer, William A. . Gos- line Jr., Carl B. Spitzer, Irving E. Macomber and Gustavus Ohlinger. John D. Biggers, Geo. E. Hardy and Frank Saxton, followed Mr. Paine as Secretaries. The club's location is the sixteenth floor of the Nicholas building. The purpose of this organization is the advancement of the commercial, industrial and civic interests of Toledo and as con- tributing to that end, the establishment and promo- tion of friendly relations and co-operation among the citizens in this community.
THE CALL OF EARLY TOLEDO .- In the spring of 1851, a young man filled with the vigor and spirit imbibed from the atmosphere of progress of these early days, then 27 years old, and just admitted to the practice of law at Portsmouth, Ohio, felt the call of the west. The map indicated the head of nav- igation in the wilderness of the wonderful Mississippi Valley as the future economic objective of a vast territory of great prospective wealth and he decid- ed upon Minneapolis as his permanent home where his ambition and enthusiasm could have full sway. He undertook to provide funds for the journey by taking some notes for collection on the line of his route and which led him up the Muskingum canal to Cleveland, from where he was to go to Adrian, Michigan. This took him by boat to Toledo and as he sailed up through Maumee bay into the river his astonished gaze measured the broad expanse of the
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wonderful harbor and his imagination saw therein the combined tonnage of London, Liverpool, New York, Boston and Baltimore. In the midst of his dream of the future a hand was laid on his shoulder and a stranger said, "Young man where are you go- ing?" When the latter's answer was given revealing his purpose and proposed destination the stranger swept the great expanse of bay and the miles upon miles of harbor line with a gesture and replied, "Can Minneapolis offer anything in prospect equal to this?" The young man was James M. Ashley and as there is a destiny which shapes our ends, the course of his life was changed and six years later (1858) he was elected to congress as an Abolitionist -or Black Republican. He served in the national house for the ten consecutive years following (the period of national reconstruction) a period of bitter agitation and domestic conflict. He framed the 13th amendment to the constitution (abolition of slavery) introduced and guided its course to its final passage. His activity in the impeachment proceed- ings against President Johnson is well known and later he successfully undertook the construction of the Ann Arbor railroad, a line more than 300 miles long and involving an investment of more than $8,- 000,000 in money with no other resources than intel- ligence, character and courage. This transportation system has proved its public usefulness and has added many millions of dollars value to the territory it serves. This is the story which made James M. Ashley a resident of Toledo instead of Minneapols.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter One
Page
Early History of the Valley 11
Missionaries Appear
12
Peace Commissioners Duties
13
Indians Taken Prisoners
14
Wayne Addresses Indians
15
Wayne's Reply to Campbell
17
Captain William Wells 18
Terms of Greenville Treaty
19
Old Fort Industry.
20
Fort Meigs
20
Harrison Issues Defi
21
Col. Dudley's Defeat.
21
Retreat of Proctor.
22
Chapter Two
Ordinance of 1787
24
State Boundaries
24
Disputed State Lines.
25
Ohio Governor Leads Militia
27
Stickney's Surrender De-
manded
28
Chapter Three
Lucas County Formed.
29
Congress Settles Boundary
Question
29
Navarre Finds Perry
30
Indians Leave the Valley.
30
Chapter Four
Early Years In Toledo
32
Early Land Interests.
33
The Twelve Miles Reserve
34
Warehouse at Port Lawrence
35
First White Child Born 36
First Store Built.
37
Vistula
38
A Grand Ball
39
Chapter Five Page
Toledo Named
40
Territorial Jurisdictions
41
Toledo the County Seat.
42
County Buildings Started 43
Tremainsville
43
First Clergyman.
44
Early Families ..
44
Nearest Post Office
44
Chapter Six
Manhattan
45
Early Land Companies.
46
Orleans and Lucas County.
48
Land Purchases.
49
First City Directory
50
Chapter Seven
Early Topography
51
Mud Creek and the Hog's Back 51
Trinity Church.
52
First Congregational Church 53
Toboggan Hill
54
Early Building
55
Early Poetical Effusions.
56
The Packet Dock.
57
Father Hannin.
58
Swan Creek Ferry.
58
Maumee River Ferry
58
County Seat Removed
59
Chapter Eight
Early Railroads.
60
Early Eastern Railroads
63
River, Lake and Canal Traffic ..
65
Early Steam Boats.
66
Railroad Competition.
67
The Grain Trade
69
Revival of Lake Commerce
70
Chapter Nine
Page
Early
Banks
73
Early Industries
74
Early Hotels
75
Early Business
Buildings
77
First Churches.
79
Chapter Ten
First Schools
85
Parochial Schools.
88
Public Library
88
Amusement Halls
91
Toledo Mayors
91
Early Press.
92
Street Railways
93
Post Routes
94
Chapter Eleven
Incidents
95
Politics
95
Wild Game
95
Early Stores
96
1846 the Banner Year
96
City Expenses.
96
Absence of Biography.
97
The Professions
97
Cemeteries
98
Tax Rates
98
Page
Floods
99
Changes In the Residence
Section :
99
"Paving" Summit Street
101
Bridges
101
Military
102
Chief Justice Waite
103
Senator Ben Wade
103
Early Visions
104
Chapter Twelve
Mound Builders About Toledo .. 106
First Court in Toledo.
107
Historian Lossings' Visit.
109
Turkey Foot Rock.
110
Chapter Thirteen
Toledo University
113
St. John's University
113
Public Library
114
Toledo Produce Exchange
114
Toledo Banks of Today.
116
Chapter Fourteen
Toledo Daily Newspapers
129
The Toledo Commerce Club
133
Story of James M. Ashley.
134
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