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 19
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The Miller brothers were honorable business men and have always been highly esteemed in Lancaster. They came from Germany to Lancaster with nothing
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but their industrious habits and a needle, and their career in business has been one much above the average.
JOHN LYONS
John Lyons was a cabinetmaker and learned the business with James A. Starling of Tarlton, Ohio. In the year 1824 he came to Lancaster, where he followed his trade for a few years, abandoning it for the grocery business.
In 1853 he was a partner of P. Rising in the dry goods business though still continuing his grocery.
John Lyons was a prominent grocery man for many years, first on Shaeffer's corner, where H. G. Trout's building now stands, and later on Main Street. He died insolvent long since and his family soon followed him to the great Beyond.
JOHN L. TUTHILL
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John L. Tuthill was born in Otsego County, N. Y., in 1808. In 1827 he went to New York City, where in two years he acquired the trade of a bookbinder. He came to Lancaster in 1827 and in company with Mr. Ackley opened a bindery and blank book factory, add- ing to the stock an assortment of books. In 1841 they sold to Hopkins & Symonds.
Tuthill worked at bookbinding until 1847, when he was appointed clerk in the war department in Wash- ington. In 1849 he again opened a bookstore which he sold to John Searles in 1851. In 1853 he was appointed postmaster of Lancaster, holding the posi- tion eight years. He was succeeded as postmaster by C. M. L. Wiseman, who held the office thirteen years. About this time he became editor of the Ohic Eagle. He formed a partnership with A. Brennaman which
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ended in 1865, Brennaman retiring. Mr. Tuthill took his son in as partner and for a short time W. L. Rigby, but growing old and tired of the worry of business, he turned it over to his son, John C., who managed it for several years.
Mr. Tuthill was a man of ability and of high char- acter. He was a good political writer and an able politician. For years he was an influential member of the school board.
THOS. U. WHITE
Mr. White was a native of Philadelphia and came to Lancaster as an attorney-at-law in 1827. On the death of John Herman, proprietor of the Ohio Eagle, which occurred in 1833, he purchased that paper. About the year 1834 he sold out to John and Charles Brough. Upon the death of Edmund B. Thompson he was appointed county auditor and held the position eighteen months.
Upon the death of Henry Drum, postmaster during Andrew Jackson's second term, he was appointed post- master of Lancaster.
With his sons he was for several years engaged in the dry goods business. Finally retiring, his son, Thomas, Jr., succeeded to the business. The son closed out in a year or two and went to Boston, Mass.
Thos. U. White retired to a farm in Hamilton County, O., where he died.
JAMES GATES
Mr. Gates arrived in Lancaster May 5, 1826, and opened a jewelry store. September 8, 1829, he was married to Henrietta Noble, the daughter of a tailor of that name who lived in a house that stood where the front building of Mrs. Effinger's property now
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stands. Miss Mary Scofield and John G. Willock were the attendants.
In 1846 he admitted to partnership a Mr. Cosper, the partnership continuing until 1852. In 1857 Robert Gates became interested in his father's business. In his declining years James Gates sold his stock to George H. Smith, Jr. Mr. Gates was a lover of music and a fine musician. In 1843 he was in charge of the music at the celebration of the Hockhocking Canal at Athens, Ohio. He was at one time a teacher of the Lancaster Band. He was a leading member of the Harmonic Society of Lancaster. Mr. Gates had a long and honorable career in Lancaster.
ROBERT FIELDING
Mr. Fielding was born in Alexandria, Va., in 1803. He was a hatter by trade and before coming to Lan- caster he worked in the chief eastern cities. He came to Lancaster in the year 1833, where he carried on a hat shop and a hat store, doing a good business. During his residence in Lancaster he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He reared and educated a large family of children. He died in the year 1868.
G. A. AND THEODORE MITHOFF
The Mithoffs came to the United States in 1839 from Hanover, Germany. For twelve years they were merchants in Pennsylvania. In 1841 they became res- idents in Lockville, Fairfield County. Here they con- ducted their mercantile business and in 1843 added to it the whiskey distillery. When the war came on and the whiskey tax was levied, they had on hands several hundred gallons which was exempt from tax.
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The sale of this whiskey laid the foundation of a large fortune. Tiring of Lockville and their business, they sold out and moved to Lancaster, where they soon established themselves and were recognized as leading citizens and enterprising business men. G. A. Mithoff purchased the large farm of Darius Tallmadge west of town, established his family there, made extensive improvements, and it was his home the balance of his life.
He purchased an interest in J. C. Weaver's hard- ware store and with his son Hector took the manage- ment of the business. He also purchased stock of the Hocking Valley Bank and, upon the retirement of Darius Tallmadge, became president and so continued until his death. His wife was a daughter of Captain Augustus F. Witte. Mr. Mithoff was a quiet, modest, unassuming gentleman, a favorite in a large circle of friends and highly esteemed by all who knew him.
Theodore Mithoff purchased the town residence of . D. Tallmadge on Columbus Street in which his family still reside. He purchased the Swan corner and made many improvements, adding a story and making of it a first-class hotel building. In connection with his brother-in-law, E. Becker, he established the E. Becker Brewing Company and operated a first-class brewery. He purchased the old starch factory and converted it into a first-class manufacturing establishment, making agricultural implements. He gave his full time to this enterprise for many years and made of it a success. He purchased a controlling interest in the stock of the Hocking Valley Bank, and upon the death of his brother, G. A. Mithoff, he was elected president. He held this office with the exception of one year, 1883, until his death.
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Mr. Mithoff was a warm-hearted, generous man, full of life and pluck, with an energy and industry that never flagged. His death was a great loss to Lancaster. His business ability and his capital were devoted to the interests of his adopted city.
ERNEST BECKER
Mr. Becker was born in Hanover, Germany, October 8, 1822. He received a liberal German education and, when but fifteen years of age, entered a mercantile establishment, where he remained nine years. In No- vember, 1846, he came with his parents to America. His father died in New York and the mother and children came on to Fairfield County, Ohio, where they permanently settled. For one year he was a mer- chant's clerk in Lockville, and in 1846 became a clerk for F. J. Boving, then in the grocery business in Lan- caster.
In the year 1850, Mr. Boving, tiring of the business, sold out to Mr. Becker, then an energetic and indus- trious young man. In 1856 Becker sold out and moved to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he remained three years.
In 1859 he returned to Lockville and purchased an interest in the business of Mithoff Brothers, then pros- perous merchants and distillers. Here he continued until 1866. Soon thereafter he moved to Lancaster and in 1868 engaged in the brewing business under the name of Becker, Ochs & Co. This business pros- pered and in May, 1881, it was incorporated as the E. Becker Brewing Company, with a capacity of 15,000 barrels per day.
Mr. Becker was a quiet, pleasant gentleman, a mod-
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est but thorough business man and highly esteemed wherever known. He died July 14, 1892, respected in life, honored in death.
PHILEMON W. BINNINGER
Mr. Binninger was born in Lancaster, O., May 1, 1843. He served an apprenticeship to the jewelry and clock business with his father, and in 1858 went to Ft. Wayne, Ind., and received instruction in a first- class jewelry establishment. He returned to Lancaster in 1863 and, with his father, opened a small store, where he continued for three years. For a year or two he did business on the Scofield corner and later in the Rising block, where he remained a number of years.
He purchased the building on Main Street adjoining the McSweeny block and opened up a first-class store. Here he continued in business up to the time of his death July 7, 1893.
Mr. Binninger was an industrious man, always at- tentive to business, prompt and obliging. The result was that he was successful and accumulated a hand- some estate.
He was a partner in the new Columbian block, the handsomest business house in the city.
He was a partner and a director in the Farmers and Citizens' Bank.
He was one of the bright business men of Lancaster.
He was a member of the company first organized to prospect for gas in this field, with what success is well known.
Mr. Binninger was a useful man and highly esteemed in a large circle.
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L. C. BUTCH
L. C. Butch is a native of Pennsylvania. He came to Lancaster in 1855 and opened a jewelry store. He had a varied experience; first he was burned out, next he was robbed of nearly his entire stock. He served in the Union Army eighteen months, but was dis- charged on account of poor health. In 1863 he com- menced business again, at what time cannot be stated. He soon sold out and went to Nevada.
In a few years he returned to Lancaster and soon thereafter moved to Circleville.
GEO. H. SMITH, JR.
In 1863 Mr. Smith purchased the stock of James Gates and has been continually in the jewelry business since that date. He is an industrious, attentive and obliging man.
He married a daughter of Dr. E. B. Olds.
WOLFGANG BINNINGER
Wolfgang Binninger was a native of Germany. He came to Lancaster and opened a jewelry store in 1837 and followed the business in a modest, quiet way until 1863, when he was succeeded by his sons, P. W. and John D. Binninger. John does the repair work in the Binninger store, a position he has acceptably and faithfully filled for twenty-five years. He is a quiet, respectable and worthy citizen. He married a daughter of Captain F. A. Steck.
H. C. HIRE
H. C. Hire came to Lancaster in May, 1865, and opened a store devoted exclusively to millinery and fancy goods. He was the first merchant in Lancaster
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to open a store of this character. He remained but a few years. When the writer saw him last he was located in Cleveland as a magnetic physician and doing a profitable business.
FREDERICK MAYER
Mr. Mayer was born in Germany. In the year 1854 he settled in Lancaster and for four years was connected with Justus Younghans in the brewing business. His next venture was a grocery store, and for a long time he was located on the corner in the old Swan Hotel.
He lost his life by falling from the rocks at the gorge below the rock mill at the upper falls of the Hocking River.
DE LONG BROTHERS
These men both served in the army as good soldiers. They opened a grocery on Main Street in the year 1865, but continued in business but a few years. One of them married a daughter of Dr. Paul Carpenter.
JOHN WOOD
John Wood came from Maysville, Ky., and opened a dry goods store in 1829. His partner in business for a short time was Dr. Nelson, father of the late General Nelson, who was killed in Louisville by Gen- eral Jeff C. Davis, both of the Union Army. Dr. Nelson did not like Lancaster and returned to Ken- tucky. In 1833 John Wood sold to his son, Daniel, who in a few months died of consumption. In 1833 his stock of goods was sold to Rudisill & Co. Mrs. Phoebe Daugherty, wife of the late M. A. Daugherty, a good lawyer and an honored citizen of Lancaster, was John Wood's daughter. Mrs. Daugherty during her residence in Lancaster was a society leader and a
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brilliant woman. Rachel Wood was the wife of George Myers, a Lancaster merchant. Soon after retiring from business, John Wood, with two of his sons, moved to Indianapolis, Ind. The investments he made there proved a fortune to his family. John Wood, brother of Mrs. Daugherty, told the writer when in Indianapolis that he was a merchant in Lancaster in the year 1835.
LEVERING & CASSEL
Levering & Cassel (Maris Levering) came to Lan- caster from Baltimore, Md., and opened a store in the year 1829. They were poor merchants and in a year or two made a disastrous failure. Cassel went from here to Rochester, N. Y. Maris lived in and about Lancaster the remainder of his life and died in the year 1862.
BROWNING & NOBLE
These gentlemen were well known merchants in Lancaster in 1826, and continued their business until 1829, Colonel Noble devoting his whole time to his hotel.
Browning moved to Mt. Vernon, where he is said to have accumulated a fortune.
JOHN CREED
John Creed, son of W. P. Creed, purchased the stock of Julius Vagnier in 1866, which he conducted but a short time.
LOUIS SCHLEICHER
Mr. Schleicher settled in Lancaster in 1847. He carried on the grocery and bakery on Columbus Street for many years. His son succeeded to his business, and continues it with an increased trade.
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JACOB KELLER
Jacob Keller arrived in Lancaster from Germany in 1847. He first worked for Tatge as a cooper and afterwards for the Mithoffs at Lockville, O. He re- turned to Lancaster in 1860 and began a wholesale and retail grocery business. It was not long before he turned his attention to milling and pursued that business for several years in Lancaster and Logan. He now resides upon one of the best four-hundred- acre farms in Fairfield County.
He is a careful, shrewd, and thorough business man and thoroughly honest. He has accumulated a hand- some fortune. Besides his farm he owns four fine business properties in Lancaster in connection with his son-in-law, C. F. Kirn.
He is also one of the stockholders or partners in the Farmers and Citizens' Bank.
KELLER BROS.
Keller Bros. began business in Lancaster as grocers in 1865 on the corner of Columbus and Walnut Streets. In a few years the firm dissolved and Christian Keller succeeded to their business. Mr. Keller is a good business man and controls a fine trade. He is also a leading member of the city council.
LEVI FRIESNER
Levi Friesner left a fine farm and moved to Lan- caster and opened up a grocery store in the year 1865. Like most of such ventures on the part of farmers, it proved a complete failure.
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DANIEL BUSH
Daniel Bush, another farmer, came to Lancaster and became a grocer in 1863. He did a good business on the Swan corner for a few years, but grocery and farm were soon gone.
BAIN, WHILEY & CO.
Samuel Whiley and brother Thomas came to Lan- caster and opened a hardware store in July, 1866. They were from Greenfield, Ohio. Bain, a former citizen of Marion, Ohio, but at the period named of New York City. had an interest, as had F. C. Whiley, of Greenfield.
Samuel was in early life a clerk for Bain in Marion and spent one year with him in New York. In 1872 F. C. Whiley moved to Lancaster and became an active member of the firm. Thos. Whiley died some years since; Samuel Whiley, quite recently.
Their hardware business was disposed of some years since to W. B. Maccracken. The Whileys then organ- ized the Eagle Machine Company.
SAMUEL WHILEY, SR.
Samuel Whiley, Sr., was born July 1, 1838, at Three- kingham, Lincolnshire, England. At the age of fif- teen years he, with some relatives of his mother, emigrated to the United States and became a resident of Marion, Ohio, in the year 1853. He obtained em- ployment as a clerk in the hardware store of J. W. Bain. He spent eight years in Marion and is well known to all of the old citizens. S. A. Griswold, of this city, was then a resident of Marion, and a warm friend of Mr. Whiley. In April, 1862, he removed to Greenfield,
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Ohio, and in connection with his brother, F. C. Whiley, and J. W. Bain engaged in the hardware and implement business. In the year 1863 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Eckman, daughter of Judge Eckman, one of the prominent men of Greenfield. In the year 1867 he and his brother Thomas removed to Lancaster and opened a hardware store of which F. C. Whiley, who continued their business in Greenfield, was a part- ner. In 1870 he, with his brother, F. C. Whiley, and the Purcell Bros., organized the Eagle Machine Co., F. C. Whiley, president, and Samuel Whiley, secretary. Mr. Whiley always had a taste for the manufacturing business, and in the year 1873 had become so thor- oughly interested in the new plant that the brothers sold their hardware business to W. B. Maccracken. The Eagle Machine Co. was a success from the start and Mr. Whiley's connection with it was severed only by death.
In the year 1893, he and his associates organized the Farmers and Citizens' Bank of which he was pres- ident at the time of his death. He had been president of the city board of gas trustees for several years, . having been elected trustee by the popular vote. He was re-elected for a term of three years in April, 1896. The gas plant has been successfully managed upon business principles, and much of the credit, by common consent, is awarded Samuel Whiley. The best evidence of this is the fact that Mr. Whiley held this position for years - practically without opposition.
When the law creating the jury commission went into effect some three years ago, Mr. Whiley was appointed a member of that body by Judge Slough, and has served in that capacity since then.
For thirty years he had been an honored and useful
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citizen of Lancaster, and in all that time, neither his word or integrity was questioned.
His oldest brother, John, father of Frederick S., a retired army officer, resides in England. His only other surviving brother is F. C. Whiley of this city.
VICTOR VAGNIER
Victor Vagnier was a grocer in Lancaster in the year 1861, but did not remain long in the business.
B. Vagnier opened a grocery store in Lancaster in the year 1861 and continued with profit for a number of years.
MYERS & BRO.
Charles and George Myers were in the grocery busi- ness for a year or two along in the sixties. Charles had previously been associated with Charles Pairon. He retired from the firm in the year 1866.
ANDREW BAUMAN
In October, 1865, Andrew Bauman purchased the stock of Samuel Beery and commenced the grocery and baking business. He has since added a wholesale department. He has been an active, well-known, public- spirited citizen of Lancaster since the war. For. many years he has been one of the water works board. He has been one of the most active promoters of the electric street railroad and one of the stockholders.
GARDNER AND CHERRY
Gardner & Cherry purchased the stock of Charles Pairon in the year 1866, but did not long remain mer- chants of Lancaster.
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HENRY H. GIDDINGS
Henry H. Giddings, a native of England and a well- trained groceryman, was a merchant for a time in Rushville and Carroll. He spent many years of his life here, much of the time clerk and warehouseman for Reber & Kutz.
JOHN MILLER
John Miller, son-in-law of John S. Snider, was a resident of Lancaster in 1852, and clerked in Flemm's Hotel. In 1853 he was clerk in J. F. Beck's dry goods store. In 1862 he opened a dry goods and millinery store in Lancaster, but in 1868 made an assignment and soon thereafter removed to Kansas City.
A. BRENNAMAN
Mr. Brennaman first clerked for Geo. Wygum in 1851, and in 1854 conducted a business of his own. He was chief clerk of the postoffice under J. L. Tuthill. In 1854 he opened a book store and conducted it until July, 1897, when he made an assignment. He was for several years president of the school board and through his personal efforts the board secured the north school lot of five acres from the Kemerer estate.
MOSES LEVY & JACOB BLOCK
Moses Levy and Jacob Block commenced a clothing business in Lancaster in the year 1856. In 1865 they made an assignment, Levy continuing a small business which he finally closed out. He died in Lancaster and his family moved to St. Louis.
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JACOB BLOCK
Jacob Block went to Cincinnati and from there to Rushville, Ind. From Rushville he was sent to the penitentiary for manslaughter and was released in about three years. He then moved his family to St. Joseph, Mo., where he built up in connection with his five sons a fine business and in April last died leav- ing his family a handsome fortune.
DAVIDSON & BRASEE
Davidson & Brasee purchased the stock of George Kauffman's estate November, 1867. Geo. B. Brasee soon retired from the firm and Dr. Andrew Davidson has since conducted the business on his own account.
Dr. Davidson is a native of Ireland, born in the year 1819. He came when quite a boy to Fairfield County in the year 1835, and studied medicine with Boerstler & Edwards in the year 1842-3. He married the sister of Rev. Granville Moody and settled down to the prac- tice of medicine. He was an army surgeon and ran the batteries at Vicksburg, was captured on a bale of hay and taken to Richmond, Va. He has for many years been a breeder of fine horses.
BENJAMIN CONNELL
The life of this citizen was traced in the sketch of Latta & Co. to his farm west of town. In 1835 he returned to town and became a member of the firm of Devol & Parsons. Parsons died March 4, 1837, and the firm-name was changed to B. Connell & Co.
March 29, 1839, a sale was made to Rice & Hedges, and they in time sold to Rice & Ring. In 1836 B. Connell built the canal mill, the same afterwards oper-
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ated by Brasee & Kauffman. In 1837 he sold the mill to Harvey & Price, and in 1838 he became a partner in the firm of Work & Connell in the tin and coppersmith business. In 1844 Joseph Work retired. from the firm leaving John Work and Connell to prosecute the business.
In 1849 the concern was closed up and Mr. Con- nell, after a long, honorable and laborious life, found himself in straitened circumstances. His friends rallied. to his relief and he was appointed postmaster of Lan- caster. He died soon after retiring from the postoffice.
He had handled thousands of dollars without wrong- ing any man, but died poor, leaving what is better than riches, yea great riches, "a good name." His first wife was a Miss Matlack; his second wife was a sister of. Dr. Robert McNeill.
ANDREW REED
Andrew Reed sold dry goods in Lancaster in 1860. He closed out his business here in 1864 and located in Urbana, O.
BLACK & COLES
Black & Coles sold goods in Lancaster in 1866 .. Black sold out to a Mr. Douglass and the firm became Douglass & Coles. They were in Lancaster but a few years.
SAMUEL CRIM
Samuel Crim came to Lancaster as a clerk from· Pennsylvania. In 1839 he, with William Clement, opened a dry goods store. August 4, 1840, they dis- solved partnership, Crim continuing in the business .. In 1843 the firm became Crim, Hart & Co., Jesse B. Hart and Wm. Hart being partners. Jesse B. retired. from the firm in the year 1845. Some time after this.
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event Wm. Hart withdrew from the firm, and a brother of Crim took his place. We cannot name the year, but in time this firm closed up their business, and Crim ceased to be a merchant.
In connection with Thomas Sturgeon in 1850 he opened a large sales-stable, where they bought and sold horses. In 1852 they crossed the plains with one hundred head of horses, and again in 1860. Crim returned to Lancaster in 1861 and moved his family to San Francisco. Here he accumulated a large for- tune. He died several years since.
P. H. KRANER
P. H. Kraner was born in Germany and came to Lancaster at an early age. He was first employed by John Creed to do chores about the house. He was employed as clerk by Latta & Connell, by Ainsworth & Co. and by Ainsworth & Willock. He was a fine clerk. In 1846, September 24, he, with W. W. Cox as partner, opened a dry goods store. They proved to be poor managers and were soon closed up. Kraner was a forty-niner and spent the balance of his life in San Francisco. He died a year or two since.
PERRY D. FOSTER
Perry D. Foster, son of F. A. Foster, sold goods in Lancaster in 1845. After an experience of one year he sold out and went west.
HOPKINS & SYMONDS
Hopkins & Symonds were jewelers in 1839, but were in business not more than two or three years. They returned to Boston, from whence they had come.
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J. C. KINKEAD & CO.
This firm was composed of Kinkead, Myers, Fall and Collins.
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