USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > Lancaster > Centennial history of Lancaster, Ohio, and Lancaster people : 1898, the one hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the spot where Lancaster stands > Part 18
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of the new St. Peter's church, which is a monument to its builders and an ornament to Lancaster. At the time of his death Mr. Beck was sixty-nine years of age.
JOSIAH AND J. D. REEVES
The Messrs. Reeves came here from Chillicothe, Ohio, June 1, 1837, and opened a store in the Green corner, but their business career was not of many years' duration. They got into litigation and H. H. Hunter was appointed by the court as assignee to close up their business, June, 1838. J. D. Reeves returned to Chillicothe, where he resumed business and con- tinued it until the great fire of 1852. His wife was a daughter of Samuel Medary, the great editor of the Ohio Statesman. Josiah Reeves married Martha T., the only child of Judge Graybill, and they became the parents of John G. Reeves, an attorney of Lancaster.
After closing up his business here, he removed to Columbus, where he was engaged in business up to the date of his death.
He was born in Culpepper County, Va., and died in Columbus in the year 1848.
Judge Owen T. Reeves, of Bloomington, Ill., is a son of his brother, Rev. Wm. Reeves.
John G. Reeves, on the death of his mother, was taken to the home of his grandfather, John Graybill, where he was brought up.
In connection with his dry goods store, Josiah Reeves conducted a small merchant tailoring estab- lishment, of which Henry Springer was the manager. Before the death of Reeves, Springer came to Lan- caster.
Judge John Graybill, father-in-law of Josiah Reeves, was a gentleman of the old school, a plain, honest,
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worthy man. He resided on his farm near town. In 1813 he was an ensign in First Company, Second Bat- talion, Fourth Regiment, Second Brigade, Third Di- vision Ohio Militia. In 1816 he was promoted to lieu- tenant. In 1832 and 34 he was county commissioner. In 1836 and 1837 he was a member of the Ohio Legis- lature, associated with Wm. Medill. In 1838 he was appointed associate judge of the court of common pleas and served one term. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and for many years a justice of the peace. He died full of years and honors.
DANIEL KUTZ
Mr. Kutz came to Lancaster from Pennsylvania in 1836 and formed a partnership with John Reber, his brother-in-law, then in the dry goods business. They were good merchants and carried on a profitable busi- ness on a large scale. They were speculators and farmers, and during the partnership their outside vent- ures were not profitable. Mr. Kutz was a good merchant, popular with all classes, and a splendid salesman, and it is doubtful if he ever had his equal in this respect in Lancaster. In the year 1853 S. A. Foulke and Jacob Ulrick became members of the firm, under the name of Reber, Kutz & Co. January 1, 1856, Foulke withdrew and Philip Rising took his place, and the name of the new firm was Kutz, Reber & Co. In 1861 Rising sold out to Reber & Kutz, Mr. Ulrick retaining his interest. Mr. Kutz was associated with John Reber in handling shorthorn cattle, but not in his importation of horses.
While Mr. Reber for many years was merely a nom- inal member of the dry goods firm, Mr. Kutz was the
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manager and the leading salesman. J. C. Ulrick and Uriah R. Bell were members of this old firm for two or three years after the death of Mr. Kutz.
E. JULIAN
Mr. Julian was a Lancaster merchant for a few years and Jacob Ulrick was at one time his partner in the dry goods business. Ulrick sold his interest to young Foresman, brother of Charles Foresman of Rushville. Foresman retired in 1853. About this time Julian sold out to James Hedges, who continued the business but a short time when he sold out to Julian, who made every effort to keep afloat, but was soon compelled to close up. At the time the Green Block was destroyed, he occupied one of the rooms de- stroyed by fire. Julian commanded a company in the Second Ohio Regiment in the Mexican War. He was the author of a book for computing interest, which met with some favor. His wife was the youngest daughter of General Sanderson. Captain Julian died in Chicago, 1896.
SLEVINS & PHELAN
This firm came from Somerset, Ohio, with a stock of goods in 1833. John Slevin, one of the firm, after- wards made a name for himself in Cincinnati as a wholesale merchant as one of the firm of J. & J. Slevin. In 1838 the stock of Slevins & Phelan was sold to Workman & Co., who in the fall of 1840 removed to Chauncey, Ohio. Workman's wife was a niece of the Hon. Thomas Ewing and a sister of Mrs. John Gar- aghty. After retiring from business, Mr. Phelan pur- chased a large farm on the Baltimore road, which he owned at the time of his death.
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When the city of Columbus began to show signs of rapid growth, he purchased eighty acres of land where the Union Station now stands. This with other in- vestments made him a handsome fortune. William Phelan's first wife was Susan Arnold, daughter of Henry Arnold. His second wife was the widow of John Gillespie, and the mother of Mrs. Judge P. B. Ewing. He left the principal part of his estate to the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.
MYERS & ANSPACH
This firm sold dry goods in Lancaster from May, 1836, to January 9, 1840. Anspach sold out to Myers and Beck. Beck in turn in 1843 sold out to Myers.
LEVI ANDERSON
Levi Anderson, brother of Sam. Anderson of Pleas- ant Township, came to Lancaster early in the thirties; the year is not known. In the year 1837 he was a part- ner of John Ewing, who died in 1838. He was at one time the proprietor of a bookstore, and built a busi- ness block of two rooms on the Fricker lot, occupying one room himself. He dealt largely in tobacco, and his losses in this business compelled him to close up. He moved to California, and from thence to Portland, Oregon. In Portland he was a successful business man for more than thirty years.
JOHN C. WEAVER
Mr. Weaver was a son of Adam Weaver and a native of Lancaster. In 1839 he, in connection with his brother-in-law, Philip Bope, engaged in the hardware business. In 1842 he sold his interest to Mr. Bope. In 1844 he opened a new store on his own account.
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May 17, 1849, he made his clerk, Thomas H. White, a member of the firm. In the latter part of 1849 he sold his entire stock to Effinger, White & Latta. During the few years that he was a retired capitalist, he was president of the Savings Institute. In 1859 he purchased the store of Effinger, White & Latta, who had failed in business. In a year or two Augustus Mithoff purchased an interest and became a partner, and in a few years purchased Weaver's interest. Mr. Weaver was an industrious and careful merchant, and retired with a competency.
G. A. Mithoff sold out to Martens, Hanson & Rein- mund. In a brief time Reinmund retired, selling his interest to his partners. In three or four years Hanson sold out to his partner, Martens. The firm is now H. A. Martens & Co.
PHILIP BOPE
Mr. Bope was born in Fairfield County. He began life in Lancaster as clerk for Cassel & Levering, August, 1829. September, 1831, he became clerk for Benjamin Connell. In 1832 he removed to Winches- ter, Adams County, where he sold dry goods on his own account until 1839, when he returned to Lancaster. Here he opened a hardware store, his partner being John C. Weaver, who retired in 1842. In 1851 Jacob F. Beck was his partner for a period of eight months. Mr. Bope, being alone and in bad health, sold out to John Effinger. May, 1855 he engaged in the dry. goods business, and in the year 1859 sold his goods to Edson B. Olds, who came to Lancaster from Circle- ville. He became clerk for Dr. Olds and so remained until 1862. In 1864 he was appointed by Colonel Moulton as inspector of army clothing at Cincinnati
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army depot. Mr. Bope spent many years of his old age as traveling salesman. He reared and educated a large family of children and lived the life of an honest man. Mr. Bope was an ardent politician, first as a Whig and last as a Republican; and was never so happy as when discussing his favorite political topics. He was a friend of the union schools, a Sunday school superintendent, and a very prominent Odd Fellow. His wife was a daughter of Adam Weaver, one of the pioneers.
T. N. & T. U. REED
T. N. & T. U. Reed came from Rushville with a stock of goods in 1837. They did not make a success of it and soon closed up their business.
FRANCIS KENDALL
Francis Kendall came to Lancaster from Elyria, Ohio, and opened a nice dry goods store in the year 1846.
He adopted the cash plan, sold some leading articles at low rates and closed up his store in five years, with a clear profit of $15,000.
The writer remembers that there used to be a great rush to Frank Kendall's store.
WILLIAMS & ACKLEY
In 1839 Williams & Ackley were merchants in Lan- caster. After one year's experience they sold to Henry Dittoe, of Somerset, who soon tired of his bargain and returned to his old home, sometime in the year 1840.
THOMAS BATES
Thomas Bates was a dry goods merchant in Lan- caster in 1834 and in 1835.
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WESLEY J. ALKIRE
Wesley J. Alkire was a dry goods merchant in Lan- caster in the year 1837. For a time the firm was Al- kire & Parker. Their business was unsuccessful and was closed out in 1841.
L. HOPKINS
L. Hopkins sold dry goods in Lancaster in 1836, and, according to the old file of newspapers, was in business in 1839.
PHILIP RISING
Philip Rising is a native of Germany. He came with his parents to America when a small boy. From 1839 to 1843 he was a grocer's clerk. He then moved to Logan, where he was a clerk for two years. Re- turning to Lancaster, he was employed as clerk by Wise & Hilliard for a few months. He then entered the store of Reber & Kutz and was soon their book- keeper and confidential man. In 1853 he became a partner of John Lyons in the dry goods business, but in 1856 sold his stock to Reber & Kutz, and became their partner under the name of Kutz, Reber & Co.
In 1861 he sold his interest to his partners and opened a large clothing store upon his own account, laying here the foundation of his fortune.
He purchased the Beecher corner, and erected upon it a fine business block. In one of the rooms he, with Peter Miller and Rudolph Seipel, under name of Ris- ing, Miller & Seipel, continued to conduct a profitable clothing business. In 1879 Rising and Seipel retired, and the business was continued by Peter Miller, Ger- hard Miller and Rudolph Rising under the name of Peter Miller & Co., continuing in business five years.
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In the year 1868 P. Rising had, in connection with Abraham Beery and Wm. Brown, established a dry goods store in the west room of his Masonic Block, under the name of Beery, Brown & Co. This firm continued in business until 1874, when Rising pur- chased the interest of his partners. In 1877 he sold to A. Stutson, who conducted a profitable business for several years.
Mr. Rising throughout his life has been an industri- ous and successful business man. In 1892 he built the Fairfield County Bank building, of which bank he is president. He owns and occupies the handsome residence built by Wm. J. Reese in 1834.
LIPPEN LOBENTHAL
Mr. Lobenthal was a merchant of Lancaster from 1840 to 1849, and for many years a retired citizen of means, esteemed for his social and business qualities, and well known integrity. The story of his life is best told by himself, written upon the fly leaf of his German Bible.
L. Lobenthal was born October 24, 1797, in Schwa- back near Nuremburg in the kingdom of Bavaria. Left the home of his nativity in the year 1811 for Frankfort-on-the-Main, at which place, though very young, was serving in a dry goods store up to 1814. Left the latter city for Manheim, where he also served in a dry goods store until 1829. Languishing for the land of liberty he emigrated from Rotterdam, Sep- tember, 1829, in the brig Mexico, for Portland, state of Maine, at which place he arrived in November the same year. To make his mother tongue available, he left the latter place and went to Philadelphia and commenced peddling dry goods through that state and continued the same until January, 1853. Having cul- tivated many friends and desirous to rest his head on
.
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his own pillow, he opened a store in Hellerstown, Pa., in April, 1833, and remained successful in business until the spring of 1840, when he, his wife, and one child (Leo) in company with Mr. Joseph Reinmund and his family emigrated to Lancaster, Ohio.
L. LOBENTHAL.
Lancaster, July 6, 1848.
These two families came to Lancaster by canal boat, where Lobenthal and Reinmund opened a store and the partnership continued two years. Reinmund re- tired and Lobenthal continued the business alone until 1849. For a few years he ran a flouring mill on Rush Creek, which he sold in 1852 and permanently retired from business. He was a director of the Lancaster Savings Institute. During his retired life he was ac- customed to receive his friends on New Year's Day, and it was always an enjoyable occasion. He died while on a visit to his farm near Galion, Ohio, at the home of his son Leo. Mr. Lobenthal crossed the ocean in the same ship with Charles Reemelin and Frederick Rammelsburg, late of Cincinnati, Ohio. The friend- ship formed on that voyage continued through life. One of its results was the location of the Ohio Reform School at Lancaster. Mr. Lobenthal's influence brought Mr. Reemelin to Lancaster. The three gen- tlemen were poor German boys when they landed in America; but, by dint of industry, frugality, and integ- rity, they became wealthy and influential citizens of their adopted country. Henry J. Reinmund, of Lan- caster, married a daughter of Rammelsburg, and Miss Wheat, the daughter of a Lancaster woman, became the wife of one of his sons. James W. Slocum, of Lan- caster married a daughter of Charles Reemelin.
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JOSEPH REINMUND
Joseph Reinmund came to Lancaster in 1840 in com- pany with Lippen Lobenthal. They immediately opened a dry goods store. This partnership continued about two years. Reinmund retired from the firm, and opened a store in connection with his son and son- in-law, Jacob F. Beck, under the name of Reinmund, Son, & Beck. In 1851 Beck sold his interest to his partners and opened a store on his own account. January, 1852, Joseph Reinmund sold his interest to John D. Martin. In the year 1854 B. F. Reinmund sold his interest in the store to Emanuel and Daniel Giesy, and entered the bank of Martin & Co. as cashier. In two years' time the Giesy Brothers sold to Richard Hooker, and Martin & Hooker in time sold to Lyons & Son.
Upon the death of Jacob F. Beck, Joseph Reinmund then in his old age took his place behind the counter and conducted the business for his daughter Eliza Beck, and assisted her in rearing a family of boys. He was thus engaged for several years until the boys whom he had instructed were able to take charge of the busi- ness. He made no charge for his services. Mr. Rein- mund was a good business man and had the confidence of the people of Lancaster. He lived to a green old age. His daughter conducted the business at the old stand until the year 1897. Jacob F. Beck, January 18, 1840, purchased the interest of William Anspach, and with his brother-in-law, Matthew Myers, conducted the store for a term of three years, or until Septem- ber, 1843, when he became a partner of Joseph Rein- mund as above stated.
Wm. Anspach left Lancaster in 1840 for Philadel-
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phia, where he soon established himself in business. In time he became a member of a large wholesale es- tablishment and accumulated a fortune estimated at more than one million dollars.
His daughter married a Stanton, a nephew of Ed- win M. Stanton, Secretary of War under Abraham Lincoln.
B. F. REINMUND
B. F. Reinmund was born April 29, 1820, in North- umberland County, Pa. He came with his father to Lancaster in 1840. He was a clerk for Lobenthal & Reinmund and a member of the firm of Reinmund, Son & Beck, Beck being his brother-in-law. He was a good business man and honorable in his dealings. When Martin & Company established their bank, he became the cashier and served in that capacity for sev- eral years. He was a painstaking, careful business man and had the confidence of business men and the general public. Retiring from the bank, he engaged in the insurance business, which he followed success- fully for the remainder of his life. He was the husband of the youngest daughter of Henry Arnold and in this way connected with many of the leading families of Lancaster, Mansfield and Bucyrus.
He died a comparatively young man. For more than twenty years he was a leading member of the English Lutheran Church. His son, Henry J. Rein- mund, was Insurance Commissioner under Governor Hoadley. He is now a prominent insurance man of New York. His son, Bowman F. Reinmund, is en- gaged in the insurance business at Galesburg, Illinois.
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WM. LATTA
Wm. Latta was the son of John Latta, the old mer- chant. He was a favored child, had the advantages of the Lancaster schools, and was a graduate of Athens University in 1843. His father left him a handsome fortune, and in due time he was married to Miss Eliza- beth Smith, daughter of James Smith the merchant, and step-daughter of Major Grubb.
Wm. Latta engaged in business with Thos. H. White and John Effinger under the name of Effinger, White & Latta, and for several years they did a good business, but finally closed out at a loss.
Wm. Latta was well known upon the streets of Lan- caster for twenty-five or thirty years, and was a genial pleasant gentleman. His family occupied a highly re- spectable position in the society of Lancaster. In the year 1859 Mr. Latta was engaged in the milling busi- ness, and it was during this year that the boilers of his mill blew up.
For a few years he was established in a nice country home just west of town, which the good taste of his wife adorned and beautified.
HENRY SPRINGER
Henry Springer in 1849 was conducting a clothing store. In 1850 the firm name became Springer & Trout, H. G. Trout having purchased an interest. This business continued for nine years, when Springer with- drew. In 1861 Springer repurchased the stock and conducted the business alone.
Late in 1861 he was appointed sutler to the Seven- teenth Ohio Regiment and followed the fortunes of his regiment during the war. Retiring from the army,
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he moved with his family to Iowa and engaged in rais- ing stock. He did not remain in Iowa long, but re- turned to Lancaster.
For years he was a traveling salesman and ceased only when he became a hopeless paralytic. At this writing he occupies the bed of an invalid and with Christian fortitude endures his affliction. Springer is an honest man and a genial, pleasant gentleman.
Henry Springer was born August 23, 1822. Mr. Springer was an orphan and was brought up in the family of Judge Graybill, and went with the Judge's son-in-law, Reeves, to Columbus. Springer was pres- ent in the Presbyterian Church, when the great panic occurred on a public Masonic occasion, probably as early as 1841. He got out, but could never tell how, rode home and told Judge Graybill that the church had fallen down and that many people were killed.
It was fortunate that this panic was not more serious. Many people jumped from the high second- story windows to the ground, but no one was very seriously injured.
Since writing this sketch Henry Springer departed this life, December 4, 1897.
HORATIO GATES TROUT
Mr. Trout was born in Milton, Penn., November 15, 1829. There he mastered the tailoring trade. He came to Lancaster July 24, 1847, and went to work for Henry Springer, continuing to work for him until the year 1850, when they became partners. This part- nership continued until 1860, when he accepted the position of chief cutter for Philip Rising. Here he continued until 1867, when he became a partner with Orrin E. Peters and John Reber in the clothing and
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merchant tailoring business under the name of Peters, Trout & Co.
In 1876 John Reber retired from the firm and the business was continued by Peters and Trout, and thenceforth known as the "Temple of Fashion."
They occupied first the Marcuson room, then a room in Maccracken block, and later a room in the J. C. Weaver block. Thev kept salesmen on the road taking measures, and selling suits by sample, and their busi- ness grew to immense size, the sales amounting to $85,000 per annum (employing seventy hands). They built what is known as the "Temple of Fashion," corner of public square and Broad Street, which they occupied in the spring of 1882. This is one of the largest and most imposing buildings in the city.
Peters removed to Cincinnati in 1886, but did not sell his interests here.
In 1894 Trout purchased the interest of Peters in the real estate and became the sole owner, and in January, 1896, his interest in the stock, becoming sole owner. This firm was widely and favorably known.
H. G. Trout was married to Ruth Card, September, 1849. For fifty years H. G. Trout has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Lancaster, and connected during that time with the Sunday-school, either as teacher or superintendent.
John M. Creed was the superintendent in 1847 and first appointed Mr. Trout as teacher.
Mr. Trout was for six years a prominent member of the Lancaster school board. He has been a trustee of the Lancaster camp meeting from the beginning, twenty-four years. He has been an official of the Meth- odist Church continuously for forty-five years.
Peters from 1865 to 1867 was a partner of Peter and
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Gerhard Miller. He now resides in Cincinnati and is the treasurer of the King Powder Company and of the Peters Cartridge Company.
DR. EDSON B. OLDS
Dr. Edson B. Olds, an old practitioner and druggist of Circleville and a member of congress for six years, making quite a reputation as such, came to Lancaster in 1858 and purchased the stocks of E. Julian and P. Bope. He did a thriving business for several years as a dry goods merchant.
He took an active part in politics, opposed the war of 1861, made violent and incendiary speeches and was arrested by Secretary of War, Stanton. He was for several months confined in Fort Lafayette. He was an able, shrewd politician.
About the close of the war he died suddenly at his home in Lancaster.
His son, Joseph Olds, is one of the prominent mem- bers of the Columbus bar and recognized as an able lawyer.
PETER MILLER & BROTHER
Peter Miller and his brother Gerhard were members of one of the leading clothing firms of Lancaster for thirty years. They were born in the Rhein Province, Prussia; Peter, in June, 1831, and Gerhard, in January, 1838. Both were tailors by trade, having acquired the same in the old country. Peter worked at his trade in some of the principal cities of Germany for two years, and then sailed for America and landed in New York, November, 1853. He came to Lancaster in January, 1854, and engaged to work with Theodore Tong, then one of the leading merchant tailors of the city, as a coat maker. Gerhard arrived in Lancaster
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in 1856 and was also employed by Mr. Tong. Peter, , on account of failing health, gave up his job and engaged as a clerk in Martin & Hooker's dry goods. store, afterwards known as John Lyon's & Son.
During the war he clerked for Reber, Kutz & Ulrick. In 1865 Orren Peters, Peter and Gerhard Miller formed a partnership under the name of Peters, Miller & Bro., merchant tailoring and clothing. In the year 1867 Orren Peters withdrew from the firm and Philip Ris- ing took his place, and the name of the firm was Rising, Miller & Seiple (Rudloph). In the year 1881 Rudolph Seiple and Rising retired with $14,000 cash each. The firm name was then changed to Peter Miller & Co. and included Peter and Gerhard Miller and Rudolph Rising. For years this firm gave employment to sev- enty-five hands the year round. Traveling men were kept on the road taking measures and selling suits by sample. Their trade extended over a large territory and their business assumed large proportions, their firm name being known far and wide.
In the year 1887 Gerhard Miller withdrew from the firm with $20,000 cash. He then established a store of his own in his own building on Main Street, where he and his sons continued to do a prosperous business until his sudden death in 1890. Gerhard left his family a handsome estate.
From 1887 Peter Miller and Rudolph Rising con- tinued the business until March, 1893, when Rudolph- Rising retired. Peter Miller then continued the busi- ness on his own account and soon thereafter moved to the new Columbian block.
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