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 20
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They were wholesale and retail grocers in the year 1838. In January, 1841, Jno. C. Fall withdrew from the firm. In the year 1842 Kinkead became sole pro- prietor by purchase and associated with himself Samuel Doty, under the name of Kinkead & Doty. This firm had a prosperous career and in the year 1856 dropped out of the grocery trade and gave sole attention to the grain and commission business. This continued until the year 1862. They then purchased a half interest in the Magnolia Flouring Mill. Kinkead & Doty had a long career and as partners never had a difference or an unkind word.
Sometime in the sixties they sold their interest in the mill and retired from business. Mr. Doty in his old age moved to Missouri, where he died. Kinkead retired to his country place, where he spent many quiet years. His first wife was a daughter of Samuel Effin- ger; his second, a daughter of Richard M. Ainsworth.
CAPT. J. C. HENLEY
Capt. J. C. Henley was a native of Pennsylvania. He came to Lancaster from Columbus, Ohio. He was a plasterer by trade and worked in Dayton and Cincin- nati and the south before coming to Lancaster, which he did in the year 1834. He worked at plastering here until 1840, when he began the grocery business.
In 1844 he opened a dry goods store and continued it until 1862. He enlisted in the Union Army, was elected captain and served to the end, returning to Lancaster in 1865. His wife was the daughter of the old pioneer, Sosthenes McCabe.
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JOHN WORK
John Work was for years a merchant of Lancaster. In 1838 he was associated with Joseph Work and Ben- jamin Connell. In 1844 Joseph Work withdrew. On account of the failure in outside business of B. Connell, the business of the firm went into the hands of a receiver in 1849. John Work purchased the stock and in eight months sold out to Beery & Bitler. Work was idle for one year, when he again opened a tin and stove store. In January, 1857, he gave his son Charles an interest, under name of Work & Son.
JAMES McMANAMY
James McManamy was for many years a tin and stove merchant. He began business in 1853. He made a success of his business and educated his sons, who took charge after his death. He was an honorable man and a modest, successful salesman. He prided himself on selling goods that were always worth the money.
WISE & HILLIARD
Wise & Hilliard began business in Lancaster in 1846, coming from Rushville. Hilliard died in 1849. W. T. Wise continued the business until the year 1854, when he began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1857.
HENRY A. GEBELEIN
Mr. Gebelein began life as a cabinet-maker. He sold goods for a while for a Philadelphia commission house. In March, 1853, he opened a grocery store upon his own account and continued the business for some years.
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GEORGE L. ECKERT
George L. Eckert learned the trade of cabinet-mak- ing with Jesse Woltz in the year 1836, and spent two years in Rochester, N. Y., perfecting himself in it. In 1841 in partnership with McCall he opened a furniture store in Lancaster. McCall retired in 1845 and Eckert continued the business until 1861, when he sold out to Jesse Outcalt.
JESSE OUTCALT
Jesse Outcalt went with Geo. L. Eckert to learn the trade in 1851, and continued with Eckert until 1861, when he purchased the stock. He remained in the business but a few years. Since retiring from busi- ness he has been a pattern maker, first at Hocking Valley works and afterwards for the Eagle Machine Co. Stropel and Geo. Eversole were at one time inter- ested with Outcalt in the furniture business. The sons of Stropel are now furniture dealers on Main Street.
THE HOFFMAN FAMILY
John G. Hoffman came to this country from Wit- tenberg, Germany, in 1830 with his father, John Hoff- man, who formerly owned part of the Mithoff farm west of the city and who spent his last years on his farm in Berne Township. His brothers were George, Frederick and David; his sisters, Mrs. Prof. Carl Schneider of this city and Mrs. Rev. J. J. Sutter of Galion, Ohio. In 1849 he was married to Anna Cath- arine Fiedler who also came with her father's family from Germany, Frankfort-on-the-Main, in 1834, after a very rough voyage of sixty days' duration on a sail- ing vessel. Her father, William H. Fiedler, held a position for many years under the German govern-
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ment and at Lancaster was engaged in the grocery business, corner of Columbus and Wheeling Streets. The trip of the family from Baltimore, Md., to Lan- caster, Ohio, was in the true pioneer fashion, with wagon, guns, and trusty dogs. Mrs. Hoffman's sister, Mrs. Casper Shaeffer, was the mother of Mrs. Henry Cless, of Union Street, this city; her brother, Casper Fiedler, was a dry goods merchant of Baltimore and Somerset, Ohio, and also of Rock Island, Ill., where he died many years ago and where his widow and a part of his family still reside. His wife was a daughter of Rev. Miles, who was a classmate of Thos. Ewing at Athens, O. Her brother Jacob learned the printing business, but gave it up to join an overland party of gold hunters to California in the early part of 1849. He was a dry goods merchant here in 1848 in the .Stropel room and is now living in Cardington, Ohio. John G. Hoffman was the father of George H., J. Frank, and John L., of Lancaster, William T., of Den- ver, Colorado, and Mrs. F. W. Gunther, of Bellevue, Ohio; one daughter, M. Louisa, having died in infancy. He was a shoemaker and shoe merchant in Lancaster many years, and for several years had charge of the shoe department of the Ohio Reform School under the management of the late George E. Howe. He was one of the John Morgan Militia who was drafted to remain at Columbus, O., which he did as a sergeant until discharged. He died at the age of sixty-six years at his home on north Columbus Street, June 13, 1894.
HENRY CLESS
Henry Cless, who married a granddaughter of Wm. H. Fiedler, was a tailor by trade. He was a native of Germany, but lived the greater part of his life in Lan-
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caster. He was a good, quiet, modest citizen and reared a large family of sons who are exceptionally good business men. The oldest, George, is a member of the firm of Ulrick & Cless, of Columbus, Ohio. Three of his sons reside in Des Moines, Iowa.
H. W. DEVELLING
H. W. Develling was born in the city of Baltimore. He was a resident of Zanesville, O., and in 1830 moved from there to Lithopolis. He came to Lancaster in 1848 and opened a dry goods store, which he closed in 1850. He then read law with Judge Welch, of Athens, O. This was in 1852. He returned to Lan- caster in 1853 and again commenced the dry goods business, which he discontinued in 1856. In 1859 he tried his hand at the grocery business, which he con- tinued until 1865, when he permanently retired from business.
GEORGE J. WYGUM
George J. Wygum was a native of Germany. He came to Lancaster in 1836. He learned the baking business with S. Beery & Cly. He was clerk and baker for Cly until 1839. In the year 1841 he was clerk for John U. Giesy. In 1842 he began the grocery business for himself, and in 1846 formed a partnership with Samuel Beery, which continued to 1851. In 1861 he enlisted in the army and was made quartermaster of the 61st Ohio Regiment. After the war he removed to his farm in Greenfield Township, of this county, where he recently died. His daughter, Mary, was well educated. In her young days the Democratic ladies of Lancaster presented a flag to the Young Men's Club. Miss Wygum made the presentation speech.
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She has since married and has become the mother of five stalwart Republicans.
JOSEPH WORK, SR.
Mr. Work was born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1820. He learned the business of shoemaking with John Stallsmith, and soon after com- menced business for himself. In 1829 Robert Reed became his partner, but in 1831 they dissolved part- nership, Joseph Work, Jr., taking Reed's place. John Work (son) was added to the firm in 1845. Joseph, Jr., died in 1860. The firm then became Work & Son; it had previously been Work, Son & Work. Joseph Work, Sr., died in 1864. After his death the brothers, John and James, conducted the business for some years.
· Joseph Work was an honorable man and much re- spected. During the greater part of his residence in Lancaster he was an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
SAMUEL BEERY
Samuel Beery was born in Virginia and came to Ohio in 1805. He became a resident of Lancaster in 1819. He first learned the tanner's trade with Henry Sutzen, whose tannery was on the ground now occu- pied by the Eagle Machine Co. In 1827 he became a clerk in the dry goods store of W. & C. King. In the year 1829 he commenced the grocery business on his own account.
James Cessna became his partner in 1830 and so continued until 1837, when Cessna sold his interest to Jacob Cly. In 1839 Beery sold out to Cly.
In 1846 Beery, with G. J. Wygum as partner, opened a large store in the Tallmadge House block. In the year 1848 Beery sold to Wygum and opened a grocery
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store in his own building on the north side of Main Street. In 1856 George Burberry became interested but did not long remain. In 1865 Mr. Beery sold his stock to Andrew Bauman and his building to D. Tall- madge. He died after a painful illness in the year 1867.
JOHN SEARLES
John Searles came to Lancaster in 1820. For thirty years he was engaged in the pottery business. In 1850 he purchased the stock of books of J. L. Tuthill and conducted the business until 1861. He held several minor but responsible offices during his life and always maintained an honorable character.
W. S. BEATTY
W. S. Beatty, a native of Ohio, came to Lancaster in 1845 and opened a very complete book and stationery store. In 1849 he sold his goods to John L. Tuthill. In 1853 he was engaged on a newspaper at Athens, O. Returning to Lancaster in 1855, he launched the Amer- ican Democrat upon the world. It was an anti-slavery organ. In 1860 the Democrat was united with the Lan- caster Gazette. While at Athens he lost a fine library by fire and on his return fire destroyed his household goods. For several years he manufactured cigars.
JAMES WEAVER
James Weaver, son of Christopher Weaver, was born . in Lancaster. His first business was that of a grocer. In 1852 he was elected sheriff of Fairfield County. Leaving the sheriff's office he engaged in the commis- sion and grain business. Of late years he looked after his Iowa lands and took the world easy. He reared a family of daughters, all of whom were married to
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good business men. His wife was a daughter of Charles Mytinger, the old tailor of that name. In 1837 and 1838 he was clerk of the Swan Hotel under Colonel Sager.
FREEMAN & RICHARDS
These gentleman were contractors on the Ohio Canal and opened a store in Lancaster in the year 1829, which they carried on in the Creed block for three years.
SPENCER J. WRIGHT & CO.
Spencer J. and Francis E. Wright came to Lancaster in 1864 and opened a wholesale grocery store. Francis retired in a year or two and made some investments in Denver. He was the father of the late Mrs. George P. Rising. Spencer J. Wright continued the business until the year 1873, when he closed out and soon there- after became a partner in the Commercial Bank with J. H. Cochran, who came here from Cambridge, Ohio. Cochran had, for one year previous, conducted the Bank on his own account. Cochran returned to Cam- bridge, Ohio, invested forty thousand dollars in coal mining, and died a year or two since a bankrupt. Mr. Wright continued the Commercial Bank until Sep- tember, 1874, when it was merged into the Fairfield County Bank, with Wesley Peters as president and S. J. Wright cashier. In a short time Wright resigned his position as cashier and sold his interest in the bank. His next venture was the organization of the present Lancaster Bank, of which he was for a few years presi- dent. He disposed of his interest in this bank about two years since. He has since been engaged in the settlement of estates and in taking care of his real estate. Mr. Wright is a good business man, quiet, and unassuming in his manners.
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JOHN A. COLLINS
Mr. Collins was a well known partner of Fall & Myers. It was his money that was used to maintain the waning fortunes of the firm in the last years of its existence. His name will always be remembered in connection with the well-known brick block that bears his name, "The Collins Block." He spent his old age upon his farm east of town and died at an advanced age.
W. J. ALKIRE & JEHU COLLINS
Messrs. Alkire and Collins were partners as mer- chants, and dissolved January 17, 1840.
P. H. COLLINS & CO.
They were merchants in the year 1841.
GEORGE W. BROCK
Mr. Brock was a native of Zanesville, Ohio. He came to Lancaster and entered the store of Reber, Kutz & Co. as clerk, where he remained several years. Upon the death of his father-in-law he succeeded to his drug business and continued in it until his death. He mar- ried Rose Sifford, well known in Lancaster society circles.
LEWIS THOMPSON
Mr. Thompson was an early settler in Lancaster. He was a grocer on his own account, and at various other times in partnership with some one. He died in 1843.
JOHN G. WILLOCK
Mr. Willock was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to Lancaster in the year 1826. He, with R. M. Ainsworth, clerked for Latta & Connell, and in time
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succeeded to their business. In 1849 he sold out to Ainsworth. After that he was salesman and clerk sev- eral years for Reber, Kutz & Co.
His last employment was as an inspector of army clothing at Cincinnati and St. Louis. John G. Willock was a well-educated man, and one of the society gentle- men of Lancaster. He was a Freemason and Knight Templar.
His first wife was a daughter of Judge Sherman. She died young and he married for his second wife a sister of John H. Tennant. In his prime John G. Willock was one of the elegant gentlemen of Lan- ·caster, and was a member of its best society. He died January 30, 1881, aged seventy-two years.
FROST & DURBIN
The first regular boot and shoe store in Lancaster was opened in the year 1841 by two young men from the East, Frost and Durbin. They occupied a room in the Green block.
P. B. EMBICH
Mr. Embich, a well-known citizen of Lancaster, in connection with his father conducted a hardware store from about 1847 to 1852; but for want of capital, could not compete with such firms as Jno. C. Weaver, and they were compelled to close out. He was an efficient clerk for many years in other establishments. In late years he has conducted a pension agency with consid- erable success.
He was born in Lancaster, and attended the famous academy of Mark and Samuel L. Howe. He knew most of the men described in these sketches and is familiar with events since 1830. His brother, William,
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lived most of his life in Lancaster, though born in Hagerstown, Md. After a long and useful life, he recently died at the age of eighty-two years.
JOHN C. FALL
John C. Fall enjoyed the distinction of being the most popular salesman of Lancaster. He was born near Staunton, Va., and came with his mother to Ohio as early as 1827.
John C., at about seventeen years of age, entered the store of General S. F. Maccracken, where he re- mained a number of years, becoming for a short time a partner. He was a member of other firms, under the names of Fall & Maccracken and Myers, Fall & Col- lins. These firms made disastrous failures and Jno. C. removed to Cincinnati.
About the year 1849 or 50 he made the overland journey to California and landed at Marysville, where he soon opened a large store under a canvas tent. He made a fortune here and returned to Lancaster and paid off his old debts.
Returning to California, he engaged in some specu- lation and lost his fortune. He then repaired to Hum- bolt, Nevada, and was successful, making a handsome fortune, which he again lost in some adventure else- where. His last venture in business was at Wilcox, Arizona. Here he made money until his death at the age of eighty-two. He died at his home in San Fran- cisco. He was three times married. First to a daugh- ter of John Connell. His daughter by this wife mar- ried ex-Governor J. H. Kinkead, of Nevada. His sec- ond wife was a daughter of John Creed. John C. Fall was a man of great energy, never satisfied unless at work. He was a man of the very highest integrity.
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Centennial History of Lancaster
REV. JACOB MYERS
Rev. Jacob Myers was a minister of the Methodist Protestant Church and lived many years in Lancaster. He was the father of George and Henry T. Myers. His oldest daughter, Mary, married Jonathan Hill, a farmer of Walnut Township. In 1850 they moved to Illinois. Three of his daughters went to Rushville, Ill., as did his youngest son, Hamilton. His youngest daughter, Kate, married R. S. Blackwell, afterwards one of the distinguished lawyers of Chicago. George Myers married a daughter of Jno. Wood, a merchant of Lancaster, in 1830. He was a member of the firm of Myers, Fall & Collins.
Henry T. Myers married a daughter of Colonel Jno. Noble. He was a merchant with varying fortune for several years; his business finally ended in disastrous failure. When the Myers brothers failed they were indebted to David Ruffner, of Walnut Township. Mr. Ruffner came to town to look into the matter, and made a thorough examination. Satisfying himself as to its extent, he came to the door, took off his hat and at the top of his voice exclaimed: "As Napoleon said at Waterloo, 'All is lost for the present.'" Henry T. Myers was accused of some irregularity in his busi- ness affairs, and his eastern creditors proposed to ar- rest him. He left Lancaster, and was followed to Cin- cinnati by Sheriff Samuel Ewing and was arrested at his hotel. He got permission to see his wife in her room before departing for Lancaster. In a short time two women came down stairs and passed out of the hotel. One of the supposed women proved to be Myers in his wife's clothing. He made his escape and was not rearrested. The next heard of him he was in
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Beardstown, Ill. Here his wife died and was buried. Myers soon thereafter went to California and never returned. His daughter went to live with her grand- father, Colonel John Noble. She became the wife of Edward L. Taylor, a prominent attorney of Columbus, Ohio.
WILLIAM A. RITCHIE
Mr. Ritchie was called an adventurer. He came from Canada to Lancaster when a young man. Two young friends came with him, Bull and Eckert. Bull married Maria Wilson, step-daughter of John Latta. Eckert married a daughter of Tunis Cox, and for a time was his partner in business. His son Isaac lives somewhere in Iowa. Ritchie married a daughter of John Creed, and lived several years on the Creed farm, now the Mithoff home. He was at one time a dealer in grain; and at another time, a pork-packer. He was not a good business man and failed in everything he undertook, his father-in-law being the sufferer. One of his last projects was the opening of a private bank, in the room now owned by John Naughten, with his Canadian friends as partners, under the name of Ritchie, Bull and Eckert. The opening of this bank was preceded by a grand party given by Ritchie as a sort of opening. The bank did not have a long life; they had no capital and depositors were not numerous. This was a case of want of confidence. Mr. Ritchie was charged by eastern parties with some irregularity, and they came to Lancaster in a carriage and kid- napped him; he was politely invited to take a ride, which invitation he accepted, and the ride was con- tinued to New York City. Henry Stanbery went to New York and secured his release. Returning home he soon removed to Cincinnati, where he obtained some
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kind of clerkship. Eckert left Lancaster and it is not known where he ended his days. Mr. Bull paid some attention to real estate, besides his business connection with Ritchie. His whereabouts, if alive, is unknown. Ritchie sometimes had money, and he built and owned for a time the Wetzel Hotel building.
MAHLON SMALLEY
Mr. Smalley was for many years a hatter and the proprietor of a hat store in Lancaster. He was a well- known citizen and much respected, and was for years a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He occupied a room in the Green block when it was destroyed by fire, but saved most of his goods. He was a quiet, modest merchant, content with small gains.
JOHN CONNELL
John Connell, brother of Benjamin Connell, was a citizen and merchant of Lancaster for many years.
He was a partner in the firm of Latta & Connell, and was also for a few years a jobbing merchant of Pittsburgh, Pa. He finally failed in business and his brother, Benjamin, who was his backer, went down with him. He had a family of five daughters, all of whom married Lancaster men; viz., Gabriel Carpenter, brother of Dr. Paul Carpenter, John C. Fall, James · Sherman, James C. Maccracken, and Dr. King, the dentist.
In the years 1833 to 1841, and for a year or two thereafter, he was a hardware merchant. In a few years he met with reverses and as stated carried his brother Benjamin down with him.
Both Benjamin and John Connell reared good-sized families. So far as known but one child of each sur-
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vives. Most of them sleep with their parents in Elm- wood cemetery.
Carpenter, Sherman, Fall, and Maccracken are dead .. Indeed but few survive who walked our streets from 1840 to 1850.
John Connell was an elegant gentleman, of fine man- ners and good address, and he was very highly re- spected.
ALVORD STUTSON
Mr. Stutson was born in Zanesville, Ohio, August 8, 1835. He moved with his father to West Jefferson and sold goods for a brother until 1863, when he moved' to London, Ohio, where he sold dry goods on his own. account until 1870, when he moved to Topeka, Kansas. There he was cashier of a bank until 1877. In this year- he came to Lancaster and purchased the dry goods store of Philip Rising, where he continued to sell goods for several years, commanding a splendid trade. He was a good merchant and a popular salesman. He- was married twice; the second wife was Miss Emma Norton, of Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Stutson died in: the prime of life, leaving his family a handsome estate.
Stutson sold his stock to Hall & Becker. Hall re- tired in a year or two and the firm was reorganized by H. E. Becker, Darlington Nourse, and Yontz, under- the name of H. E. Becker & Co.
THOMAS H. WHITE
Mr. White was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, May 20, 1820. He came to Lancaster in 1836, where he first sold dry goods. Later he was one of the firm of Effinger, White & Latta, hardware merchants. His wife was Rebecca P. Koontz, one of the Carpenter-
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family. For many years he resided on a beautiful little mountain called Koontz's hill.
He was elected justice of the peace in 1874, after the failure of Effinger, White & Latta. He made a good justice and was re-elected two or three terms.
JOHN CLASPILL TUTHILL
Mr. Tuthill was born in Lancaster, March 17, 1841. He was educated in our schools and spent his leisure time as clerk in the postoffice under his father. He also was chief clerk for C. M. L. Wiseman the first year of his term as postmaster. He was the son of John L. Tuthill, a local politician of considerable influence.
Leaving the postoffice, he conducted a bookstore for several years. He was a friend of James E. Camp- bell and did him some service in his campaign for gov- ernor. In return for this service Governor Campbell appointed him State Librarian. He was a good officer and popular with the patrons of the library. John C. Tuthill was always a popular man in Lancaster and had a large circle of friends. He died suddenly in the old Claspill home, where he was born.
WILLIAM STEWART
Mr. Stewart was one of the old-fashioned merchants of Lancaster, and a plain, honest, unassuming man. He was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, September 1, 1816.
Early in life he became a citizen of Hillsboro, Ohio, where he was for a few years engaged in the furniture business. From there he moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, and again engaged in the same business. April 14, 1846, he was united in marriage to Jane Neely, of Chillicothe. Of this union were born three children, of
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whom Mrs. Samuel W. Busby and John W. Stewart survive.
In the year 1855, at the age of thirty-nine years, he moved to Lancaster, Ohio, and engaged in the queens- ware and crockery business. Here for forty years he led a quiet business life and was a successful retail merchant. He was a member of the Odd Fellows for nearly fifty-five years, and one of the oldest members of the Lodge.
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