USA > Ohio > Hardin County > A twentieth century history of Hardin County, Ohio : a narrative account of its historical progress its people and principal interests, Vol. I > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
This school was organized in September, 1908, and so well was it received that the first year it enrolled sixty pupils. Its work is attracting attention because of the sensible and helpful methods em- ployed, and many of the little pupils write little melodies after only a few months in the school. It outgrew its original quarters, and is now located in large and comfortable rooms over Nourse and Caine's store, with space for expansion as it develops and grows. It is contemplated that a violin instructor will be added to the teaching force in the near future, and though very youthful, the School of Music bids fair to do a great work for music students in Kenton and vicinity.
INDUSTRIES OF KENTON. The Champion Iron Company of Kenton, started out in December, 1875, as The Champion Iron Fence Company, and was founded by B. G. Devoe, Henry Price, William Walker, James Young and W. H. Young. Its purpose was the manufacturing of a patent iron fence, and the first quarters contained 1,500 square feet of floor space it occupied in a frame structure in the west part of Kenton, across the Big Four railroad. On February 13, 1878, the company was incorporated under the name The Champion Iron Fence Company, with a capital stock of $100,000. The following men were interested in the enterprise at that time : Edward Crawford, W. H. Young, James Young, Henry Price and Benjamin G. Devoe. The following officers were elected: Edward Crawford, president; W. H. Young vice president ; James Young, treasurer; Henry Price, secretary, and B. G. Devoe, super- intendent. On May 1, 1899, owing to the desire of the company to manufacture other lines of work besides fence, the name of the company was changed to The Champion Iron Company, and under that name it is still doing business. The old plant, which had grown until it covered all the space between Franklin and Columbus streets west of the Big Four to Leighton street, was destroyed by fire April 23, 1902.
282
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
This was the largest and most destructive fire the city has ever exper- ienced, and help was asked from Bellefontaine, as a high wind was blowing and for a time it seemed as if the flames could not be confined to the company's buildings. The loss to the firm was $180,000.
Work was commenced on the new plant which is located south of the Erie railroad, in South Kenton, and fronting on Steiner avenue, on April 23, 1903, just one year after the old plant was destroyed. At present the company has a building more suited to its needs than the old group in the west part of the city, with plenty of space to grow, and in every way the plant is a credit to the city. The floor space covers 89,500 square feet, and the number of employes is about 275. The Champion Iron Company is the largest manufacturing concern in Hardin county, and its work is known all over the United States. The capital stock is $500,000. The work has greatly changed since the formation of the company, in the early history iron fence being the chief product, whereas now that forms the smallest part of the business. Structural work, such as light houses, prisons, jail work and ornamental iron work constitute the main products, and at present this firm is engaged in con- structing much work for public buildings, government light houses, county jails, churches and large manufacturing concerns. The present officers are: George J. Carter, president and treasurer; William J. Armstrong, vice president, and L. D. Carter, secretary.
Car Shops, Toledo, Kenton and Columbus Railroad, Kenton: On March 31, 1890, the citizens of Kenton held a special election to vote on the proposition to bond the city for the purpose of getting the car shops of the new T. and O. C. railroad, and the proposition carried unan- imously. A location in the southeastern part of town near the railroad, was secured, and the shops erected in the same year. The amount of the bond was $50,000, but this was only a small portion of the cost of the plant. At first twenty-five men were employed, but the business of the company increased to such an extent that from time to time new men were taken on until now the number of employes is 165. A boiler shop, 85 by 100 feet, had to be added in 1907, and the plant has increased its capacity for work several times in its history. The present pay roll is about $10,000 per month. Outside of the shops, doing various work connected with the railroad, sixty-five more men are employed. C. J. Cooper was master mechanic from the opening of the shops until December 31, 1902, when he resigned, and J. C. Homer took charge January 1, 1903. Mr. Homer resigned April 10, 1903, and on the same date Mr. H. E. Passmore took charge as master mechanic, a position which he still holds.
The Scioto Sign Company was established by W. L. Finley and H. B. Williams, in 1898, in the room now occupied by H. A. Reed as a candy factory. The first room was about sixty feet long, but after the business had been in operation six months or more it was enlarged
283
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
until it reached the alley, and then a large oven was built on the side. It was originally the intention to manufacture metal signs only, but later Messrs. Finley and Williams decided to enlarge their field, and they added cardboard, paper and muslin signs, and the business grew so rapidly that in 1900 it was incorporated, and in 1901 moved to its present location, where a three story brick building was erected with about twenty-five thousand square feet of floor space. At the beginning Messrs. Finley and Williams employed about six or eight persons, and their force has now grown to seventy-five. In 1906 the plant was enlarged, so that now the company has over one hundred thousand square feet of floor space. Everything in the advertising line is man- ufactured, including signs made out of metal, cardboard, paper, muslin, oil-cloth, wood, advertising horse covers, caps, carpenter aprons, laundry bags, school bags, yard-sticks, rulers, metal trays, business calendars, art calendars, and one hundred and one different kinds of advertising novelties.
The company sends its goods to every state and territory in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Philippines, Cuba and South America. The present officers are : W. L. Finley, president; T. C. Mahon, viee president ; Ed. Mahon, secretary; W. W. Durbin, treasurer and general manager; George M. Binekley, superintendent, and H. S. MeSavaney, sales manager.
The Roser-Runkle Company, manufacturers of eake and candy specialties, was organized by H. L. Runkle and C. M. Roser in 1899. Realizing that the highest calling among men is the preparation of human food, the company at once took as its motto, "Purity of product and excellency of manufacture." With these ideas in mind, the market has been taxed both here and abroad for the finest and purest raw materials, and to attain the aim sought it become necessary to specialize upon a few items, chief of which are fig newtons and fudge candy. It soon beeame apparent that the demand throughout the United States and Canada for the Roser-Runkle pure food specialties was exceeding the output of the plant, and it became necessary to increase the capacity and facilities step by step until the output now equals nearly one mil- lion dollars per annum. The length of the company's public service is its best guarantee of good faith and business integrity, and this is still further shown by the exceptionally high class, standing and prom- nence of its customers, among whom are numbered the largest concerns in this country. The Roser-Runkle Company give steady work to one hundred and fifty employes residing in Kenton, and to over one hundred traveling salesmen located throughout the country. The company's inbound and outbound freight averages fifteen hundred car loads per year, the distribution of which has advertised Kenton in praetieally every eity and town in the United States; and the Roser-Runkle's produets are universally recognized everywhere as the standard of
284
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
excellence. The company is one of the largest firms in Kenton, which, ever mindful of the city's growth, leaves no stone unturned when the city's interest and advancement are at stake.
The Kenton Telephone Company was organized in the year 1898, the early board of directors consisting of W. A. Norton, L. A. Ansley, P. M. Crow, JJ. B. Seymore, J. S. Brailey, E. L. Barber and Horton Park. The capital as incorporated, was $10,000. Captain Horton Park was the first manager. At this time the telephone business in Kenton was not at all developed, there being only 250 subscribers to the existing exchange of the Bell Company, and there was no service at all to be had by the farming community, it being generally held by telephone men at that time that it was impractical to furnish telephone service to the farm. The company began service with 200 subscribers, the office being loeated on the second floor at the northeast corner of Market and Franklin streets. The list grew steadily, and in 1900 the first lines were con- structed for farm service. This proved practical and popular, and from that date to the present, the company has followed a consistent policy of expansion in the rural as well as the city field, until their list includes 600 farm and over 1,100 city subscribers. There is not a town- ship in Hardin county which is not today equipped more or less fully with rural telephones. In 1902, on the death of Manager Horton Park, Mr. C. E. Nicholas, of Columbus, Ohio, succeeded to the management, holding this office until 1904, when he resigned, to be sueeeeded by the present ineumbent, F. S. Chapman, of Toledo, Ohio. The company's equipment, as at first installed, was for an ultimate eapaeity of 500 sub- seribers. Owing to the growth of the business and the consequent congestion of their equipment, in 1908 the company earried out an exten- sive program of rebuilding, taking down the old overhead wire, making it all cable, and installed about twenty miles of overhead and several miles of underground eable, all the business district being underground, with about 125 miles of poles and a thousand miles of wire, overhead and in cables. They also purchased and remodeled the building which they now occupy at the corner of Market and Columbus streets, and in- stalled the automatic system complete. And it is conceded by telephone men that their plant is the most thoroughly equipped of any in the state. The present capital is $150,000, and the officers are as follows : President, James L. Moore; viee president, W. A. Norton; secretary, Charles H. Shanafelt ; treasurer, Henry J. Miller ; manager, F. S. Chapman. James L. Moore, W. A. Norton, Charles H. Shanafelt, Henry J. Miller, L. A. Ansley, W. P. Bowman, D. B. Nourse constitute the board of directors. Nearly all the company's stoek is held by Hardin county eitizens, there being nearly 120 individual stockholders. The company has never yet missed a dividend.
As the Smith and Silk Tool Company, the Ohio Machine Tool Company of Kenton, was established in September, 1890, with a capital
285
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
stock of $50,000, incorporated under the state laws of Ohio. Of the eapital stock $35,000 had been paid in. The first directors were P. P. Silk, W. D. Smith, H. W. Gramlich, H. A. Wise and John Callam. A large building was erected on South Leighton street, Riverside, Kenton, Ohio, along the Erie railroad, and work was begun as soon as the factory was completed with a force of eighteen men. The first building cost approximately $6,000 and was located on the company's lots comprising nearly one acre. A few years later another large building was erected. Both were used until destroyed by fire in September, 1902. In 1895 the name was changed to The Ohio Machine Tool Company, and it has so existed ever since. The company is engaged in turning out heavy metal machines, such as planers and shapers, and these are shipped to all parts of the United States and foreign countries. The fire was a heavy blow to the organization, but early in the spring of 1903 the new buildings were ready for use. The largest building is 60 by 150, and the other 45 by 125. The work increased until seventy men were employed, and this factory is one of Kenton's most substantial and complete industries. The present officers are: President, W. D. Smith; vice president, Henry W. Gramlich; secretary and treasurer, H. A. Wise.
The Kenton Gas and Electric Company is the outgrowth of what was at one time the Kenton Gas Company, and later the Scioto Natural Gas and Oil Company. It was incorporated May 4. 1880, with a capital stock of $50.000, the incorporators being Peter Marr, J. M. White and others. The object of the company was to manufacture gas for lighting purposes, and a franchise was granted them by the city of Kenton for that purpose. On March 3, 1886, the Scioto Natural Gas and Oil Com- pany was incorporated, the persons interested being J. M. White, J. N. MeCoy, Thomas Espy, H. C. Koller and Henry Price. The object of this company was to drill and prospect for natural gas and oil. The first board of directors were. chosen April 20, 1886, and consisted of the fol- lowing members: Thomas Espy, George Leighton, J. M. White, J. N. McCoy, J. A. Rogers, H. C. Koller and Henry Price. The board of directors met and organized April 21, 1886, and after organizing elected the following officers: President, Thomas Espy; vice president. George Leighton ; secretary, W. S. Robinson, and treasurer, Horton Park. The capital was increased in 1887 to $50,000, at which time the properties of the Kenton Gas Company were taken over by the Scioto Natural Gas and Oil Company. In February, 1888. the capital stock was again increased, this time to $200,000.
The Kenton Gas and Electric Company was incorporated March 4, 1890, and under this name the company has been known ever since. The incorporation papers were taken out by G. H. Harris, J. N. McCoy, Thomas Espy, M. C. Me Vitty and H. C. Koller. The object of this com- pany was to furnish electric light for the city of Kenton and its residents and also to furnish electricity for power purposes. A franchise for
286
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
these purposes was granted by the city. At a meeting, the first one of the stockholders, held April 1, 1890, the following directors were chosen : Thomas Espy, H. C. Koller, L. Merriman, J. N. McCoy, G. H. Harris, J. A. Rogers, J. M. White, A. Letson, Joseph Timmons, Henry Priec and George Leighton. The board of directors immediately elected the following officers: President, Thomas Espy ; viee president, H. C. Koller ; secretary, W. S. Robinson, and treasurer, J. M. White. The capital stock was originally $50,000, and was raised at a meeting held in April of the same year to $200,000, at which time the properties of the Scioto Natural Gas and Oil Company were taken over by the new company. At. this meeting Mr. Timmons resigned and was succeeded by George W. Rutledge. From that time to the present this eompany has furnished gas for light and fuel and electric lights and electricity for power to Kenton and its citizens, and there are few homes in the city without one or more of its products.
The offices and power plant of the Kenton Gas and Electric Com- pany are located on South Main street and at the corner of Walnut. The present offieers are: President, W. A. Norton; vice president, .Joseph Timmons; secretary, E. E. Rutledge; treasurer and manager, P. M. Magly. The board of directors consists of W. A. Norton, Joseph Timmons, A. G. Merriman, E. E. Rutledge and Henry Price.
During the nineteen years of its existence the company has had but four presidents: Mr. Espy from 1890 to 1891; J. M. White, 1891 to 1892; Thomas Espy from 1892 to 1901; Samuel Lee, 1901 to 1908, and W. A. Norton, who was ehosen in 1908 and is still serving. The follow- ing men have served in the capacity of manager: Thomas Espy, M. C. Me Vitty, J. N. McCoy, H. C. Koller, Joseph Timmons, E. W. Plaisted, J. M. Plaisted and P. M. Magly (who is in charge of the plant at the present time).
On February 2. 1888, a meeting of some of Kenton's leading citizens was held for the purpose of forming a Building and Loan Association, and George W. Rutledge was chosen chairman. Four days later. Feb- ruary 6, the Home Savings Building and Loan Company was organized and the following directors chosen: Lewis Merriman, Charles Canaan, D. S. Fisher, J. H. Pfeiffer, E. L. Millar, S. H. Slater and Paul Watts. The officers were: President, Lewis Merriman; secretary, A. M. Rice; treasurer, W. A. Norton; attorney, O. W. Squires. The capital stock was placed at $250,000. After a few months the company established quarters in a room just north of the Kenton Savings Bank, and a few years later moved two doors farther north, where they remained until taking possession of their own building on North Detroit street, where they are still located. This building was purchased December 4, 1905. but owing to extensive repairs it could not be occupied at once. The office of the company is light, airy and modern, and was occupied early in 1906. Lewis Merriman served as president until his death in
287
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
November, 1905, when Paul Watts was chosen as his sueeessor. Mr. Riee served as secretary until April 28, 1888, when G. W. Rutledge succeeded him. Mr. Rutledge held the place until March 29, 1897, when Miss Mary E. Walker was employed as secretary. Miss Walker began working for the company as assistant secretary in September, 1892, and received a well deserved promotion when advanced to seeretary. Since then, she has had full charge of the affairs of the company, and is one of the most efficient and capable workers in Kenton. W. A. Norton has always been the treasurer, and the company has had but two attorneys, James Ray Stillings succeeding Mr. Squires in April, 1897. The eapital stock is $2,000,000; contingent fund, $24.000; assets, $638,000; members, 2,500.
The present directors are Paul Watts, A. M. Rice, W. J. Ochs, C. B. Fink, A. G. Merriman, E. E. Rutledge and James L. Moore. The present offieers : President, Paul Watts; vice president, A. M. Rice; second viee president, W. J. Oehs; secretary, Mary E. Walker ; treasurer, W. A. Norton, and attorney, James R. Stillings. Lodged in a comfortable building, managed by thoroughly competent officers, and everything about the affairs of the company condueted with scrupulous exaetness, The Home Savings, Building and Loan Company is one of the substan- tial institutions, not only of Kenton, but of Hardin county, and has been a blessing to thousands of families in working for homes of their own, as well as a credit to the community.
The Crystal Ice and Cold Storage Company of Kenton, was estah- lished in 1904 for the purpose of manufacturing pure iee, and also as a eold storage plant. A commodious, well equipped building on South Leighton street near the Scioto was erected, and the product soon became popular in Kenton and surrounding towns. Every precaution is taken to keep the iee absolutely elean and pure, and the result is a beautifully elear, healthful produet. By the latest proeess the water is converted to steam, condensed, reboiled, skimmed and then filtered, making it im- possible to contain any germs before freezing, which is done by a scientific process. From three to six wagons are necessary to supply the loeal patrons in warm weather and large quantities are shipped to other towns. The company also does a large business in storing food supplies, furs and canned goods, charging very reasonable rates and keeping the articles in first class condition. Jolin S. Riee is president ; A. G. Ahlefeld, vice president ; J. F. Andrews, treasurer ; J. S. Wetherill, secretary and manager, and W. P. Bowman and J. F. Andrews, the auditing committee. The directors are John S. Riee. A. G. Ahlefeld, J. F. Andrews, E. S. Neely, W. P. Bowman, Whippart Sehmidt and A. V. Salisbury.
In 1874 a large building was ereeted by Alonzo Teeters and Asher Letson on the bank of the Seioto river in South Kenton. for a pork paeking establishment, but eight years later the slaughter of hogs was discontinued and the property came into the possession of the Seioto
288
IIISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
Straw Board Company. The building was greatly enlarged and the new company, with a capital stock of $60,000, went actively into the business of making paper. The stockholders were James Young, Nathan Ahle- feld, Asher Letson, James White and William H. Young. When equipped for business the plant was valued at $80,000, and for a time employed sixty men. Other buildings were added and a force of men was kept busy bringing the straw to the mill, when litigation commenced to stop the pouring of the refuse into the Seioto on the ground that it polluted the stream and killed the fish. The case dragged along, and about that time the company disposed of the mill to the paper combine or trust, which operated a number of paper mills all over the country. On account of the objections raised by Hardin county citizens, and also because of over-production of the kind of paper manufactured at this mill, the plant was shut down about twenty years ago and has never been re-opened. The company which bought it still retains control, and in a measure keeps up the building, but the weather and a destructive fire have worked ruin with it in many ways, and it is worth nothing to the community.
The American Farm Products Company was organized in 1904, under the laws of New Jersey. with a capital stock of three million dollars. It owns and operates factories in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. The Kenton plant, which occupies a large cold storage building on South Detroit street, Kenton, near the Scioto river, is in charge of Alfred G. Wessling. The plant at Kenton makes process butter, ice cream and other products. Mr. Wessling is also the manager of the company's creameries at Forest, Belle Center and Pfeiffer. At the Kenton plant sixty men are employed, including those at the creameries, and about three million pounds of butter are handled annually. It is one of Kenton's most prosperous industries, and the products are shipped to all parts of the country.
Under the name. The Kenton Lock Factory, the Kenton Hardware Company began business about 1891 in a large plant located in River- side. The company was incorporated with a capital stock of $75,000, and General J. C. Howe was the first manager. Work was begun on the factory in 1890, but it was not until the next year that everything was completed. For some years it continued under this name, and then was changed to the Kenton Hardware Company. It employed a number of men, and was considered one of Kenton's most important industries, but very suddenly in 1907 it went into the hands of a receiver, and has since been elosed.
The Kenton Carriage Company succeeded the R. K. Gravell Car- riage Company in 1880, since which time it has steadily grown and occupied more and more room. R. K. Gravell will be remembered by many Kenton citizens, as he was actively engaged in the manufacture of wagons and earriages in the seventies in a shop located baek of the
289
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY
present Theodore Schindewolf furniture establishment. Paul Watts came to Kenton from Tiffin in 1880, and bought out the plant, conducting the business alone until 1887, when a company was formed consisting of J. M. Arndt, Otto Hessberger, Adam Linz, Ethan Williams along with Mr. Watts, and under that management it has ever since been continued. At present Mr. Watts is the president; Mr. Hessberger, vice president, and Adam Linz, secretary and treasurer. The company has gained for itself a broad reputation in this and other counties for fine work in the carriage line. The gentlemen who form the company enjoy the con- fidence of the community, and the work they turn out speaks for itself. They are noted as manufacturers of high grade work in all lines, and the business is rapidly increasing. On October 29, 1891, the property of the Kenton Carriage Company was destroyed by fire, and the firm then bought the present location at the corner of Wayne and Columbus, known then as the Ford property. The present substantial brick build- ing stands on that site. In all departments they occupy about 17,300 square feet of floor space.
In 1868 Henry Kaiser, Sr. founded a little wagon shop in Kenton, making farm wagons and doing blacksmith work. The business grew, and he gradually worked into the carriage business, and away from the other lines of work. Ten years after he established the business (1878) he was ready to devote himself exclusively to the manufacture and repair of carriages and buggies, erecting a substantial plant on East Columbus street, at the present location. The business (known as the H. Kaiser Buggy Company) flourished, but in 1885 the plant was com- pletely destroyed by fire. At the time of the fire the floor space occupied by this growing manufactory was 5,400 square feet. The plant was immediately rebuilt much larger and better than before, and when completed, had a floor space of 9,600 square feet, or nearly double the former room. In 1890 another addition was added for a repository, with 2,600 square feet of floor space. In this are displayed the beautiful and durable vehicles for which this company is noted, and it makes a convenient and attractive place to display them. In 1895 an addition was built at the rear of the plant with 8,000 square feet more of space, but the company has outgrown even this large addition. At present they are preparing to engage in the repairing of automobiles, and this will require another addition to the plant. As now planned, it will add 2,400 square feet of space to the factory, and necessitate the employment of more men. The present force consists of twenty employes. The members of the firm are: Henry Kaiser, Sr., W. H. Kaiser and J. C. Kaiser, all substantial, honorable business men of Kenton, where they have spent most of their lives. These gentlemen build their vehicles on honor, and as a result have built for themselves an enviable reputation in this and other counties. They have had a large trade in Chicago and other large cities, shipping buggies and carriages there every year.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.