Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 44

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149

USA > Ohio > Butler County > Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio > Part 44

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).

The commission determined to invite an iron worker of some kind to consider our city, and negotiations began between the commission and Messrs. Verity & Taylor, of Cincinnati. This resulted in the forma- tion of The American Rolling Mill Com- pany, with which company the commission made arrangements whereby a rolling mill was located in the city. on a plat of ground

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entered by the first white settler, Daniel Doty, in the beginning of the last century. The corner stone of this new plant was laid on July 12, 1900, on which day the people of Middletown were in holiday attire. The business houses, shops and mills were closed and the afternoon of that day was given to the laying of the corner stone of this new plant. It was a glorious event ; the opening of a new era of prosperity. Out of it the city renewed its energies and emerged from the dark clouds that had hung over the city from the panic and pressure of 1893-5. The buildings were pushed, the machinery secured as rapidly as wise counsels and ma- tured plans would allow. The business, once set going, developed speedily and suc- cessfully and shortly new buildings and the enlargement of old ones was demanded, and they came in due course. Today the mills are double the beginnings, and are in con- stant operation, employing four hundred to five hundred people. George Verity is the president and R. C. Phillips secretary. At this time the venture of promoting indus- tries in this public way seems to be a suc- cess. What the future may unfold must be but a surmise.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

In 1882 the Middletown Electric Light Company came knocking at the gates of the village, asking a grant to erect towers, poles, stays, and to suspend wires for the purpose of lighting the village of Middletown with electricity. This was a new departure, and if it came it meant that gas would have an active competitor for public lighting. Elec- tric lighting was in its infancy and the tower system was thought to be the right thing.

on May 26, 1882, and an electric plant in- stalled. An iron tower two hundred and ten feet high was erected at the corner of Third street and the canal (this tower still stands firm and strong). A contract was made with the village for a term and the great arc lights-Brush pattern-began to glow in the heavens. The people were delighted; the great lights stood as a beacon, to be seen far out in the county. Since the installation of this light gas has been unused for street lighting.

The Brush system very shortly had a stout competitor in the Edison light, which came to the city by public license in 1883, and for a brief term lighted the streets.

Ten years ago the Middletown Electric Light and Power Company, by permission of council, installed a plant here to light the city by arc lights suspended over the streets, but a short distance above the ground. This was a newer method than the tower light- ing. In April, 1894, a contract was made with the city for a term of ten years. This company has just made a new contract covering a period of ten years, from April. 1905, at sixty dollars per lamp per year. So popular was the old tower light that the new contract provides for a tower. notwith- standing towers have been taken down in most cities.

The old tower is now owned by the gas company.

WATERWORKS.

One of the most important acts of a public nature ever taken by the city was the vote had April 25, 1873, on the matter of the establishment of a system of public water works by the then village of Middletown.

The request of the company was granted Much opposition was manifested and

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GEORGE C. BARNITZ.

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a spirited meeting was had before the state legislature and at the election, but good sense and wisdom prevailed and the people registered their verdict in favor of the proposition and sanctioned the issue of bonds to the amount of seventy-five thou- sand dollars for the installation of the plant. William B. Oglesby, Daniel Bowman and Aretas Doty were made the first trustees to carry out this splendid idea. The water sys- tem has been extended and enlarged several times since and steam pumps added to the original power, privileges acquired from the Middletown hydraulic. The city now has twenty-three miles of water pipes and mains, with Holly pumps and large steam pumps to supplement the original Holly machines. This season a new well has been dug near the original one, whereby an increased sup- ply of water is secured and the city will now have an ample supply of the best water for fire, domestic and manufacturing purposes. These works and the splendid water sup- ply are the pride of the city. This excellent and extended system is the property of the city and more than pays its own way.

GAS SUPPLY.

In September, 1883, the city authorities granted the Middletown Gas Company the right to use the streets and alleys for the purpose of laying gas mains and introducing gas for public and domestic use. This was a great advance and when the works were ready and the lamps were lighted it was an occasion for a great public jubilation. The gas facilities have grown with the city and are now in the hands of a corporation that keeps them up-to-date and abreast of the de- mands of the people, meeting every require- ment.

STREET RAILWAY.

In March, 1879, the council, by or- dinance, granted the Middletown & Madi- son Street Railway Company the right to operate a street car system along Third street, to be moved by horses. This was soon put in operation from the Cincinnati. Hamilton & Dayton Railroad depot, on the west, to the Big Four depot, on the east, being a line of about one and a quarter miles. This was a great help to the public in its day and cheapened transportation of pas- sengers to and from the center of the city to the railroads. C. F. Gunckel was the leader of this enterprise. It is now out of date and an electric road, as a belt line, is desired. The people await the incoming of this new line of transportation.

HOUSE NUMBERING.

In the spring of 1887 steps were taken, and ordinances were passed, requiring all houses and business places to be numbered. This was the first move in this direction and had become necessary by reason of the in- crease in population and the coming of free delivery of mails in the city. The sys- tem then inaugurated was, a year or two ago, superseded by the "block system," now so generally used, and is more satisfactory to the people.

TELEPHONES.

With the growth of the city came the telephone. On March 13, 1885, the city gov- ernment granted to C. H. Bendy and his assigns a right to use streets and alleys to erect a line for telephone service. Mr. Bendy and his associates soon established a small telephone exchange and the introduction

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was highly appreciated and well patronized. Today we have a Bell telephone system, which has now installed and in use one thou- sand and fifty telephones. The New Home Telephone Company is now seeking admis- sion to the city and will doubtless soon be at the service of the people. This will con- nect the city and country.

BANKS AND BANKING.

It were useless-nay impossible-to pro- mote industries and better means of trans- portation and travel without the facilities of exchange.

These are found only in and by the com- mercial advantage of banks and banking. No community can advance easily and se- curely without banks and bankers.

The necessity of a bank in the develop- ment of Middletown and the adjacent county began to be felt at a very early day by those who sold corn and other farm prod- ucts and who often made banks of deposit of the millers and other buyers of produce and then drew their money as needed or as was convenient to the miller. This was hazardous; then, too, the transfer of money, to pay for goods shipped away by these early buyers, was slow, hazardous and incon- venient.

At an early day, William B. Oglesby and George C. Barnitz conducted a general store under the name of Oglesby & Barnitz. This became the rendezvous for farmers and tradesmen for many miles around. These were men of business capacity and the high- est integrity, and in reaching out for trade won their way by genial manners and ac- commodating spirit. The character of these men and the increased custom at the store invited their friends and customers to de-

posit money with them; this grew to such a place, in 1847, that Oglesby and Barnitz con- cluded to open a bank of deposit and ex- change. This conclusion was carried out in that year, thereby giving to the business community the first bank in this vicinity.

This new addition to the business in- terests of Middletown occupied the corner room of the quaint old two-story building at the southwest corner of Third and Main streets, a cut of which is here presented. This structure, built in the solid, substan- tial style of the old-fashioned brick build- ings, was typical of the solidity of the con- cern it housed.

The business grew, and it was continued as a private bank until the summer of 1889, when it was reorganized, and incorporated under the corporate name of The Oglesby & Barnitz Company, Bankers. Up to the year 1888 the bank continued to do business in the old room, with no other sign or ad- vertisement to mark the place than the sig- nificant work "Bank." In that year the company erected, on the site of the old room, a new building in which the bank is housed today. On this bit of ground the same firm has continued to do business since Middle- town was a small village. William B. Oglesby continued to be the president until his death, in 1885. Our readers will be pleased to see' pictures of Mr. Oglesby and Mr. Barnitz, who have been so closely allied with the business of this city and vicinity.

George C. Barnitz continued his con- nection with the bank until his death, in 1894, and now C. B. Oglesby, son of Wil- liam B. Oglesby, and William O. Barnitz, son of George C. Barnitz, own the interests of their respective fathers, and the business moves along as before.

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C. B. Oglesby is president, W. O. Barnitz, vice-president and manager, and J. W. Shafor is the cashier, which position he has filled with great credit for twenty years and Ed. Sebald is the bookkeeper and teller.

This old institution has stood through all the hard times, several panics and busi- ness depressions for more than a half cen- tury and has never suspended the payment of currency over its counter for a single day .. The founders of this institution were men of great prominence and their careers were closely interwoven with the history of the city. The bank does a very large business and enjoys the confidence of the people.

In 1858 or 1859 David Wolverton and John Dickey, two wealthy citizens, formed a partnership as Dickey & Wolverton and their association became known as the Dickey-Wolverton Bank. The office was in the second story of a building on Third street, owned by M. B. Hatch. The field of operation of this concern was that of broker- age, rather than that of regular banking. L. D. Doty, an attorney, was the cashier and manager of this institution.

The First National Bank is the oldest national bank in our city, and the second oldest in the county. It was chartered in July, 1865, soon after the close of the Civil war, with a capital of one hundred thou- sand dollars, and with a list of stockholders made up of the best and most successful men in this vicinity.

The board of directors, at its beginning. was made up of nine members; they were Joseph Sutphin, F. J. Tytus, Tobias Lane, S. V. Curtis, Joseph C. Williamson. Wil- liam Davidson, Christian Holly, John R. Shafor and Theodore Marston. These are all dead except Mr. Marston, who is living

in this city, a respected and honored citizen ; he has been continuously a stockholder and director since July, 1865. At the organiza- tion Joseph Sutphin was made president and L. D. Doty was chosen cashier; when he as- sumed this position the old house of Dickey & Wolverton closed its business. The fol- lowing named persons have acted as presi- dent of this old and stable banking house : Joseph Sutphin, S. V. Curtis, Daniel Mc- Callay and Robert Wilson; L. D. Doty. Daniel Helwig, W. M. Marshall, Simon Goldman, J. R. Allen, M. W. Rennick and F. A. Jones have been cashiers during the career of the bank. Capt. Robert Wilson is now president ; F. A. Jones. cashier, and C. B. Johnson, vice-president and general manager. This excellent corps of officers is backed by a list of strong men as stock- holders and a paid-up capital of one hun- dred thousand dollars, a surplus fund of fifty thousand dollars and undivided profits of thirty thousand dollars: the assets are five hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

The bank was rechartered in 1885 with- out a word of criticism, so well had the bank been managed during the twenty years of its existence. The directors, officers and stockholders are all wealthy and successful men and deserve and receive the confidence of the people. Its clientage is large. This bank is found in the corner room of Leibee's block. With every banking fa- cility at hand for the easy, pleasant and safe transaction of its business, the bank is as solid as the building containing its offices, and it is shown in the accompanying cut.

In 1868 and '69 Charles F. Gunckel, F. P: Loehr and J. M. Loehr associated them- selves together as a partnership, under the firm name of Gunckel, Loehr & Company,

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to do a general brokerage business. This enterprise was successfully continued until 1872, when it was merged into the Mer- chants' National Bank, with a directory con- sisting of C. F. Gunckel, J. M. Loehr, F. P. Loehr, L. D. Doty and James M. Johnston, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. C. F. Gunckel was chosen president, and F. P. Loehr, cashier. The bank opened for business at once in the east room of the building owned by Mrs. Mary Hilt, on Third street, next to Centre alley. Here it continued to do business until a new bank- ing house was erected on the northeast cor- ner of Third and Main streets. This is a handsome and attractive building. three stories high and built of Buena Vista sand- stone. The ground floor was originally divided into two rooms, the bank occupying the corner room, but the business of the bank so developed that in a short while the whole ground floor was occupied by the bank. C. F. Gunckel was continued as the president of the bank up to 1891. when he sold his holdings to Paul J. Sorg, who was then made president, honorably and ef- ficiently filling the position until his death. in May, 1902. At the death of Mr. Sorg his son, Paul A., was chosen president and holds that position at this time.

The following persons have filled the position of cashier : F. P. Loehr, J. M. Loehr, G. F. Stevens, E. W. Gunckel, C. D. Wrem, J. M. Boyd and Charles Neiderlan- der, who is now filling this responsible posi- tion with great credit.

Among the vice-presidents have been T. C. Simpson, George Phipps, John M. Boyd. who is at this time actively engaged in the general management of the bank. The pres- ent directors are : Paul A. Sorg, William L.

Dechant, J. C. Holloway, J. F. Gallaher and J. W. Boyd. The bank was rechartered by the government in 1892. Its present capital is two hundred thousand dollars, with a surplus of one hundred thousand dol- lars and undivided profits of seventy-five thousand dollars; its assets are and have been for some years about one million dol- lars. This is the largest bank in the city, and its banking room is large and its fixtures are tasteful and modern. Every facility is afforded for the safe and quiet conduct of its large business. Its safes, vaults and safety deposit appliances were recently put in at a material outlay, and are the finest and best in the county. The list of stockholders represents a goodly number of wealthy peo- ple and the bank stands for all that makes a bank useful and helpful to a community and enjoys a large and profitable business.

The Gunckel Banking Company began to do business as general bankers in 1891-2, in a room in the Hyndman block, and se- cured a favorable line of deposits and com- mercial accounts, but its career was short. as in 1903 its business came to a close and C. F. Gunckel died shortly afterward.

BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS.

In the growth and development of Mid- dletown the building associations have been very important factors. The money loaned through these institutions has been the medium by which the poor men and the men of moderate means have secured homes. It can be truthfully said that in but few towns. if any, do so many people own their own homes as in this city. This healthful state of affairs is due to the successful conduct of building associations. The first building associations incorporated in Middletown

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were The Middletown Building and Sav- was one million dollars, divided into five ings Association and The Middletown Building and Savings Institution. It will be noted that the only difference in the name is that one is called "Association" and the other "Institution." This led often to con- fusion. The application for a state charter for "The Association" is dated May 7. 1868. and for "The Institution" May 8. 1868. The first was incorporated May 9, 1868. the sec - ond May 26, 1868. These dates are almost together. The race evidently was one be- tween two competing bankers, each anxious to be the depository of funds to be accumu- lated by these new institutions.

The incorporators for the Middletown Building and Savings Association were Charles A. Bapst. Jacob Schaffer. George Jacoby. Nicholas Graff. Fred Seibert and William Sebald. This was always known as the German Association.

The incorporators of the other were F. B. Irwin. J. J. Newman, Charles F. Gunckel. Daniel Helwig and William S. Marshall. These associations were organ- ized very soon after the passage of the build- ing association law, and were among the earliest in the state.

They enjoyed very successful careers and ran out in the regular way under the true building association system. James E. Campbell, then beginning his career at the bar, was the attorney for both societies.

These associations were succeeded by the Union Loan and Building Association. incorporated May 6, 1875: P. P. La Tour- rette, David Newman. James H. Jacoby, I. N. McFadden, Jacob Schaffer. I. N. Foote. Fredrick Seibert. Robert Johnson and W. H. Todhunter were its first board of directors. Its authorized capital stock

hundred shares of two hundred dollars each. This capital stock was, on July 1, 1882, increased to two million dollars. This asso- ciation did a large and profitable business. and was conducted on a plan far less com- plex than the one used for those organized in 1868. It was a great factor in the growth of the city. This association honorably closed up its affairs and its business was ab- sorbed by The Middletown Building and Deposit Association. incorporated May 6, 1886, with a capital stock of three million dollars. divided into fifteen thousand shares of two hundred dollars each. The incorpora- tors were Robert E. Johnson. R. Corson, M. B. Hatch. S. P. Crane and John Wolver- ton. The present directors are James Lawrence, William Ling, J. C. Holloway. Lylburn Palmer, J. C. Russell, I. P. Crane. William Smith, G. A. Wilmer, with Wil- liam Ling, president, G. H. Wilmer, vice- president. George R. Edson, secretary. Lyl- burn Palmer, treasurer and assistant secre- tary.

The nineteenth annual report of this as- sociation shows assets of six hundred and seventy-six thousand four hundred and eighty-seven dollars and eighty-two cents, and a reserve fund of forty-one thousand dollars. with two thousand twenty-eight shareholders, six hundred and thirty-eight borrowers and two hundred and sixty-one special depositors, making two thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven as the total number of active accounts open on the books of the association. This association owns no real estate and has no foreclosure suits on hand and is among the largest in the state.

WV. H. Todhunter was the attorney for

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the Union Loan and Building Association from 1875 until 1886. when it wound up its honorable career, and he has been the at- torney of the Deposit Association since its organization, in 1886.

This association occupies a choice room on the ground floor, is open every day in the week, and two evenings; has its own vault and other equipments. Its depository is the Merchants' National Bank. Its last annual dividend was six per cent. and it has never passed a dividend period and none have been below six per cent.

The German Building and Loan Com- pany is an active association in the city, in- corporated in April, 1889; capital stock, one million five hundred thousand dollars; M. B. Hatch, president; Joseph L. Shaffor, secretary ; LeRoy Kemp, treasurer. The di- rectors are M. B. Hatch, Joseph Shaffor, Joseph Isamyer, Robert A. Hensey, Wil- liam Conklin, F. M. Kemp and Edward Se- bald; Ben Harwitz, attorney.

It has 450 members and assets of two hundred thousand dollars. It is propserous and declares dividends of five per cent. to its stockholders and has been a great help in the city.

THE PRESS.

The newspapers in the Western country usually come early in the history of a town, but it is very certain that no newspaper was published in Middletown until 1839. This is probably due to the fact that the sparse population was supplied very efficiently from Hamilton, the county seat of Butler county, where newspapers were published at an early day.

It may be stated with reliance that the first newspaper published in Middletown

was called the Middletown Mail. It was owned and published by John M. Gallaher and the first issue was dated April 20, 1839. Mr. Gallaher had previously edited the Co- lumbus Journal and was later on associated with the Cincinnati Gazette. His pioneer poems attracted considerable attention, and his writings are referred to in W. H. Ven- able's "Footprints of the Ohio Valley."

The Mail was devoted to "general intelli- gence. trade improvements, literature and morals." It was "delivered to subscribers at two dollars a year in advance." The Mail was neutral in politics. The editor says "The party man has already discovered that we have assigned him no space nor shall we. Against all matters of a party nature the Mail will be strictly closed. It enters not into our plans to cater for the peculiar taste of' Democrat or Whig, yet political tables and authentic returns of all elections will be given."

When General Harrison spoke in Mid- dletown, during the great campaign of 1840, Mr. Gallaher made a very complete report of the meeting and the speech. This was a great achievement for a newspaper in the then small hamlet of Middletown. The meeting was immense and the General's great voice could be easily and distinctly heard two blocks away.

The publication of the Mail was not long continued, as the venture was not largely profitable, and Mr. Gallaher, possessed of real newspaper talent, found other and more profitable fields for the exercise of his pow- ers.

Nothing reliable can be given until the spring of 1851, when F. J. Oblinger, now of Toledo, Ohio, established The Emblem, the first number making its appearance

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April 26, 1851, and was continued under his management for two years. Mr. Oblinger now has all these numbers at his home. Rev. J. B. Morton and David Heaton, two influential citizens, assisted Mr. Oblinger in the editorial work of the Em- blem.

David Heaton subsequently moved to North Carolina and was elected to congress. Both he and Rev. Morton, the pastor of the First Presbyterian church, are dead. Mr. Oblinger sold the Emblem to James D. Jack- son, who changed the name to the Middle- town Herald.

Mr. Oblinger threw all his energies per- sonally and by means of the Emblem to se- cure the location of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad in the town of Middle- town, but it was of no avail, for the road was located on the west side of the Miami about a half mile west of the city.

No trace of Mr. Jackson can now be found, but by the fortune of change Rev. M. Harlan, a Methodist minister, became the owner of a newspaper in Middletown in 1855-6 and called it the Middletown Engine. Mr. Harlan was a talented man and his wife was a gifted woman and wrote a very at- tractive novel, entitled "Helen, or the Chained Mother," which bore upon the slav- ery question. then becoming the burning is- sue of the times.

About this time, or perhaps a few years prior, a magazine was published in Middle- town known as the Hesperides, by a man named J. J. Pete, but its life was very short. The mazes settle down on us in the news- paper craft for a few years, and we again reach certain footing in 1857, when we find that C. H. and A. C. Brock succeeded Mr. Harlan and changed the name of the

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 44

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1149

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149