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 6
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Centennial History of Lancaster
King and Henry Arnold for selling whisky in quanti- ties less than one quart. They were tried and fined five dollars and costs each. John Reber and John G. Willock were witnesses in two of the cases, being clerks in the stores.
George Smetters (Smothers) was indicted for selling three pounds of pepper at retail to Henry B. Joy of the value of $1.06. "Merchandise, not the growth and manufacture of the United States, contrary to the form of the Statute in such cases made and provided." T. Ewing, Prosecuting Attorney.
Smetters pleaded guilty and was fined $10 and costs of prosecution.
George Smetters was the owner of a large farm near town, but not a merchant. He drove a six-horse team to a Conestoga wagon, and carried produce to Balti- moreand brought out goods for Lancaster merchants. It is highly probable that he carried small quantities of goods of his own, or for his own use, and retailed to his friends. His case was continued for one or two terms and he finally gave Hugh Boyle, Clerk of the Court, a power of attorney to plead guilty for him. This very unusual proceeding was accepted by the Court. Smetters was no doubt absent from home during the sessions of the Court, which was the cause of his unusual manner of pleading. This indictment was brought October 1, 1821, and finally disposed of October, 1822, Judge John A. McDowell presiding. The foreman of the Grand Jury was Samuel F. Mac- cracken. The witnesses were George Burkley, Chris- tian Rokohl, and Henry B. Joy. The fact is Smetters had no attorney and he empowered Boyle to plead for him and submit the matter to the judgment of the Court.
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Kilbourne's Gazetteer for the year 1818, says of Lan- caster: "It contains between one hundred and two hundred houses and a population of six or seven hun- dred inhabitants. Here are likewise twelve mercan- tile stores, a handsome court house and jail, a Metho- dist meeting-house, a bank, an English and German printing office, from which are published weekly news- papers in both languages, and a market-house, with a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Various kinds of mechanical business are likewise here indus- triously prosecuted." Edition of 1829, gives this: "The town contains ten largestores, and seven taverns, the latter of which may justly be ranked with the first houses of entertainment in the United States. It con- tains about two hundred and fifty houses, and one thousand five hundred inhabitants. The houses are principally brick and frame-a large number of them brick buildings. The public buildings are a brick court house, a new market-house, with a town house and a Masonic hall erected over it, and four churches. Lancaster is well supplied with the means of education. In addition to an academy, which is now in high repute, there are several other respecta- ble schools. * Here are also two printing offices, from which are published weekly a German and two English newspapers."
BANKS
The Lancaster, Ohio, Bank was chartered in the year 1816, and organized for business August 30th of the same year, with capital of $200,000. Philemon Beecher was president for one year and was succeeded by John Creed. Michael Garaghty was elected cashier and served from August 30, 1816, until the
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closing up of the bank in 1842. The first directors were Philemon Beecher, Elnathan Scofield, Jacob Claypool, Peter Reber, Charles R. Sherman, John Williamson, Jacob Green, Daniel Van Metre, William King, Richard Hooker, Benjamin Smith, and S. F. Maccracken. Probably there was no abler board of directors in Ohio at that time.
The State of Ohio in 1827 advertised for bids for an agent to pay contractors on the line of the Ohio Canal. The Chillicothe Bank bid one-fourth per cent; the Franklin Bank of Columbus, one-half per cent; and the Lancaster Bank agreed to disburse the funds without charge, provided it could control all State funds deposited in New York. The proposition of the Lancaster Bank was accepted. This was a great financial stroke. The bank increased its circulation with this large volume of New York exchange as security to its bill holders. This brought on a war between the banks. The Chillicothe Bank bought up the circulation of the Lancaster Bank and made a systematic run upon it. Creed was aroused and re- taliated, and soon made the Chillicothe concern sue for quarter.
Jacob Claypool, one of the first directors of the Lancaster Bank, lived on his farm in Greenfield Town- ship. He came at an early day from Hampshire County, Va. He was a man of rare good sense, in- telligent and honest, and was always in close touch with the business men of Lancaster, by whom he was highly esteemed. He represented his county in the General Assembly for several years. In his day he was one of the most widely known and popular farmers and business men of the county.
In the year 1836, January 25, the Lancaster Bank
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had loans and discounts to the amount of $602,729.00; due from other banks, $72,291.00; specie on hand, $70,417.00.
The only banks in the State of Ohio outside of Cin- cinnati able to make a better showing were the Bank of Chillicothe, the Franklin Bank of Columbus, and the Commercial Bank of Cleveland. The banks of Massillon, Zanesville, Marietta, Dayton, Steubenville, and Circleville fell far below it.
The Lancaster Bank building was the first one in Lancaster to have a freestone front.
This bank for seventeen years declared a dividend of nineteen per cent to its stockholders, besides having a large surplus. Work Galbreath was the teller and paid the contractors.' In 1837 he carried to Toledo $100,000 in currency. This would be considered a risky business at this day. In 1841, owing to the stringency in the money market, the bank increased its capital $50,000 and issued notes for it. Distrust followed this act and the pressure became so great that the bank closed in 1842, the Court appointing H. H. Hunter, Jacob Green and Joseph Stukey receivers. The outstanding circulation was called in and re- deemed-the last act was to pay Jacob Green $4,000 to redeem such straggling notes as might be still in circulation. This in brief is a history of the greatest financial institution known to Lancaster. T. Ewing, W. J. Reese, H. H. Hunter, H. Stanbery, S. F. Mac- cracken and John Creed were directors in 1841.
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Centennial History of Lancaster
HOCKING VALLEY BANK
This bank was a branch of the State Bank of Ohio, and was organized in 1847, capital $90,000; D. Tall- madge, president; C. F. Garaghty, cashier. In 1848 Garaghty resigned and Wm. Slade, Jr. (a Lancaster attorney), was elected cashier. In 1850 he resigned and moved to Cleveland, O. He was succeeded by M. A. Daugherty (a Lancaster attorney).
At the April election in 1855 John Reber was elected president and C. F. Garaghty again cashier. Reber was president but one year, when he was succeeded by D. Tallmadge. C. F. Garaghty resigned in 1859 and was succeeded by H. V. Weakley. The charter of the bank expired in 1865. This bank was well managed and was one of the solid institutions of Lan- caster.
The Hocking Valley National Bank was the legiti- mate successor of the Hocking Valley State Bank, capital $100,000. D. Tallmadge was president, H. V. Weakley, cashier, and James T. Willock, teller. In 1866 Weakley resigned and J. W. Farringer was elected cashier. In 1869 G. A. Mithoff succeeded Tallmadge as president and W. D. Kutz succeeded J. W. Farringer as its cashier. Upon the death of G. A. Mithoff his brother Theodore was elected presi- dent and served as such to the date of his death, except one year of this time, 1883, when H. C. Drinkle was the president.
The Savings Institute was organized in 1848. Jacob Green, Samuel Beery, Henry Miers, L. Lobenthal, Gideon Martin, Wm. Phelan and S. McCabe were the directors; Jacob Green, president, and C. F. Garaghty, cashier. J. C. Weaver succeeded Green as president
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Centennial History of Lancaster
and N. C. Worthington succeeded Garaghty as cash- ier. This bank lost heavily by discounting notes for a young speculator, the notes proving to be forgeries, also in the destruction of their office by fire. The directors concluded to close up the affairs of the bank, which they did in 1857, with a loss to the stockholders.
EXCHANGE BANK OF MARTIN & CO.
This was not a bank of issue. It commenced busi- ness January 1, 1854, with John D. Martin, P. B. Ewing and Samuel Stambaugh as the partners. S. Stambaugh died in June, 1854, and the business was continued by his associates. B. F. Reinmund was cashier for a few years, and February, 1859, was suc- ceeded by C. F. Garaghty. In 1864 this bank was merged into the First National Bank, and C. F. Garaghty was cashier for one year. He was suc- ceeded by Geo. W. Beck, who has held the position with a change of name and stockholders for thirty- two years. For several years it has been known as the Lancaster Bank. S. J. Wright was president for a time and Henry Musser was his successor.
John D. Martin was a banker thirty-two years, longer than any Lancaster man; Michael Garaghty came next, serving twenty-six years; and next in length of time, John Creed, serving twenty-five years.
COMMERCIAL BANK
This bank was what was called a private bank. It was established in 1872 by J. H. Cochran. In June, 1873, S. J. Wright became a partner, and in February, 1874, bought the interest of Cochran. September 14, 1874, this bank was merged into the Fairfield County
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Centennial History of Lancaster
Bank, with Wesley Peters as president and S. J. Wright as cashier. These officers were succeeded by P. Rising as president and H. B. Peters as cashier.
BANK OF GARAGHTY AND HUNTER
This bank was organized in 1869, with C. F. Gar- aghty as president and Wm. Noble as cashier. John Hunter was the partner of Garaghty.
November, 1875, it closed its doors upon its de- positors forever.
Jno. R. Mumaugh and Wm. Noble closed up its affairs as assignees and paid forty per cent. dividend. This was a bank without capital or prestige - and those who put their faith in it were heavy losers.
FARMERS' AND CITIZENS' BANK
This bank was organized in January, 1893, with Samuel Whiley as president and F. C. Whiley as cashier. It is a private bank and the other stock- holders are Jacob Keller, Edward Binninger, Philemon Binninger and C. B. Whiley. All well known Lan- caster business men.
THE ERA OF SHINPLASTERS
The panic of 1837 broke many business men and banks throughout the West. No one knew when he took money over his counter whether it would be worth fifty cents on the dollar on the next day. For want of currency and for other reasons, individuals and corporations issued promises to pay in fractional amounts and this paper was called the shinplaster. Many of these small notes were counterfeited and many who issued them failed in business, and the country was soon flooded with shinplasters as worthless as the
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Centennial History of Lancaster
bills of doubtful banks. Among others the City Coun- cil of Lancaster authorized such notes and they were signed by W. J. Reese, president. It has not been many years since the council redeemed a few of these notes.
Julius W. Dumont was one of the merchants who issued these notes and failed to redeem them. Me- chanics and small traders issued such notes. Mr. Burkey, a shoemaker, and father of Lawrence Burkey, late of Newark, Ohio, issued notes of this character. Irvin Schleghm, a cigar maker, issued such notes, as did many other business men of small means; and for a time they passed as readily as any other currency.
LOTTERIES
In the early history of Lancaster, lotteries and the sale of lottery tickets were legal, and many schemes were managed by very prominent citizens.
In 1819 S. F. Maccracken advertised lottery tickets for sale in the Ohio Eagle. The scheme was for a canal at the falls of the Ohio River, Jeffersonville, Indiana.
The postmaster advertised lottery tickets for sale in that year for a New Jersey scheme. In 1819 the Bar- rett Woolen Mills at the upper falls of the Hockhock- ing was built by lottery. There are still in existence lottery tickets with the names of General W. J. Reese, S. F. Maccracken, and Jacob Claypool, as managers. This was the canal mill scheme; the drawing took place sometime in the thirties. Lotteries had their day and are now illegal. Men who once engaged in the lottery business would not think of doing it now; for public sentiment pronounces it an evil, thoroughly demoral- izing in its tendency; and, like the universal use of intoxicants, it is a thing of the past.
SCHEME !
1 PRIZE OF $8,000
8,000
1
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2,001
2,001
2
do.
1,000
2,000
4
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500
2,000
30
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50
1,500
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20
800
100
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10
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250
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4401
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4829 PRIZES.
$32,004
9395 BLANKS.
ORDERS from any part of the United States, enclosing the cash, and post paid, will receive prompt attention, if address- ed to either of the Commissioners, in Lancaster, or to such a- gents as they have or may appoint-
LANCASTER,.
une 1828
BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF OHIO. Whiu State Lottery FIRST CLASS,
U NDER the superintendence of Jacob Claypool, John Creed, and Samuel F. Maccracken, Commissioners, appointed by the Court of Common Pleas of Fairfield County.
THIS ticket will entitle its holder to such prize as may be drawn L to its number, if demanded within twelve months after the draw -. ing: Subject to a deduction of fifteen per cent. Payable thirty GNot two blanks to a prize! days after the drawing is finished.
Larob claypove
Commis- sioners.
Arhaciacher
3 13,203
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Centennial History of Lancaster
HENRY ARNOLD
Henry Arnold, son of Frederick Arnold who died on his farm north of Lancaster, was born in or near Ha- gerstown, Maryland, 1776, where he was a counter- pane weaver for a number of years, and where a ma- jority of his children were born. Henry Arnold is mentioned in a history of Western Maryland as early as 1800 and up to 1805. In a weekly paper, published in Hagerstown and preserved in the library at Balti- more, Md., he advertises his business, that of counter- pane weaver, and states that his shop is located on the street leading to the Western country. Other adver- tisers locate their shops on the street opposite Henry Arnold's place, giving him some prominence. Henry Arnold in same paper advertises for a runaway negro. The records show that he sold considerable property before moving to Ohio in 1815. His father, his brother Daniel, and four sisters, Mrs. Reber, Mrs. Orr, Mrs. Canode and Mrs. Weaver, came to Lancaster sev- eral years in advance of him. He came to Ohio about the year 1810 on a prospecting tour and was pleased with the country; just how long he remained or the exact time he brought his family to Lancaster, is not known. Mrs. McNeill, shortly before her death, gave the year 1815 as the time of his arrival here with his family.
He purchased what has long been known as the Arnold corner and commenced the dry goods business, which he continued until about the year 1836, when he retired from the cares of business. F. A. Foster was his partner in business from October 30, 1817 to Octo- ber 30, 1823.
His son George was a partner from 1825 to 1830.
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Centennial History of Lancaster
George moved from Lancaster to Utica, Ohio, and opened a store. Here Jno. D. Martin and General W. S. Rosencrans were his young clerks.
From Utica he moved to Mansfield, Ohio, where he engaged in the dry goods business and was a suc- cessful merchant.
Here he made the acquaintance of Miss Bartley, the daughter of Mordecai Bartley, the future governor of Ohio. Miss Bartley in time became his wife; and when his father-in-law became governor George Ar- nold was appointed his secretary. When he left the governor's office he settled in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. His grandson, H. B. Arnold, is a promising young attorney of Columbus, Ohio. Young Rosencrans went with Mr. Arnold to Mansfield. From here, on one occa- sion, he drove Thos. W. Bartley to Columbus. He proved to be so bright and intelligent, and so pleased Judge Bartley, that in a year or two he procured his admission to West Point. Henry Arnold had a family of seven daughters, all handsome young women. They became the wives of the best young men in town, Dr. Robert McNeill, F. A. Foster, Thomas Reed, Wm. Phelan, Amos Swayze, Benjamin Reinmund and O. W. Rigby. Mrs. Swayze married for her second hus- band Mr. Wells, and they moved to Iowa. Mrs. Maria Rigby for her second husband married a Mr. Bently, of Mansfield, where they resided. Her daughter by this marriage became the wife of General R. Brinker- hoff, now one of the distinguished men of Mansfield. Mr. Bently dying, his widow became the wife of Mr. McNulty, of Ashland, Ohio, he being her third hus- band.
Henry Arnold was during his life a very prominent citizen of Lancaster. In 1833 he was one of the County
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Centennial History of Lancaster
Commissioners for Fairfield. He was the guardian of John Reber, his nephew, and employed him as clerk in his store.
For many years of his old age he made his home with B. F. Reinmund and wife on the old Arnold cor- ner, where on a pleasant day he was a familiar figure. He died September 20, 1858, in his eighty-first year.
The Arnold connection by blood and marriage is a very large and highly respectable one. Henry Arnold married a Bowman and a sister of his wife married Mr. Gormly, who at the time of his death was a wealthy banker in Bucyrus, Ohio. Gormly's granddaughter is the wife of F. S. Monnett, Attorney-General of Ohio.
HONORABLE DAVID COLERICK
The Hon. David Colerick, late of Ft. Wayne, Ind., left Lancaster when a young man. He told the writer, when in his old age, that he had visited Lancaster but once, and that was two years after he had removed to Ft. Wayne. At the time he left Lancaster he was en- gaged to Susan Arnold. He returned to claim his bride, but her parents told him frankly that they would rather bury her than send her to the wilds of Indiana to endure the privations of a frontier life among the Indians. He returned to his home and never saw Lancaster afterwards. Susan Arnold subsequently married Wm. Phelan, and Mr. Colerick married Miss Walpole, of Indianapolis, a granddaughter of one of the Gillespies, of Brownsville, Pa. One of his daugh- ters married John Larwell, of Wooster, Ohio. Lar- well's sister married John K. Miller, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, a grandson of another Gillespie. General Chas. Ewing married the daughter of John K. Miller, who was a brother of T. Ewing Miller, of Columbus, Ohio.
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Centennial History of Lancaster
WILLIAM TOWNSEND
William Townsend came to Lancaster at an early date and opened a jewelry shop. He advertised in the Ohio Eagle as early as 1817. He ceased to do busi- ness in 1826. He was a friend of General Sanderson. He and the General with other old friends spent their summer afternoons in the shade of his sycamore tree which stood in front of his establishment. He was quite a character. He died in the year 1843.
JOHN LATTA
John Latta, Benjamin and John Connell came to Lancaster about the year 1813 and commenced the business of merchandising under the firm name of Latta and Connell. They were men of integrity, wide- awake business men and popular salesmen, being suc- cessful rivals of Creed, Maccracken and the Kings. Their store was opened at sunrise and their clerks re- mained on duty until late at night. John Connell re- tired from the firm in March, 1823, and in the year 1825 Richard M. Ainsworth became a partner and the firm was known as Latta, Connell and Company. In the year 1828 Benjamin Connell sold his interest and retired to his farm on the hill west of town. The name of the firm was then changed to Latta and Ainsworth. January 22, 1834, John Latta retired on account of poor health. R. M. Ainsworth, John G. Willock, who came to Lancaster from Scotland in 1826, and James Rice became the proprietors. Rice retired from the firm in 1838 and the business was continued by Ains- worth and Willock until the year 1847. Early in 1847 Willock sold his interest to R. M. Ainsworth. Ains- worth left for the East to buy goods on his own account
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Centennial History of Lancaster
and died suddenly at a lonely hotel on the National Road on his return trip. His widow sold the goods to John Effinger, and he in 1849 sold out to Little and Dresbach. Mr. Latta notwithstanding reverses in business made some judicious investments and at his death left his son William a handsome estate. In Jan- uary, 1830, Captain Witte, of Hanover, Germany, came to Lancaster and purchased the farm now owned by John S. Brasee and erected a steam mill and distillery.
Maccracken, Latta and Effinger, on special contract, bought his grain and undertook to dispose of his whiskey. The venture was a loss to all concerned. Witte failed and turned his property over to his agents. They in turn made a contract with Captain Joshua Clarke to run the business in connection with Captain Witte. This arrangement lasted two or three years but it was not profitable. The wife of John Latta was the daughter of the first Thomas Sturgeon, one of the first hotel keepers of Lancaster. She was the widow of Dr. James Wilson. Latta died in 1846, aged fifty- eight years.
SAMUEL EFFINGER
Samuel Effinger was born in Woodstock, Va., and came to Lancaster in the year 1813. He began the tinning and coppersmith business in which he was suc- cessful. In October of 1816 he was married to Mary Noble, sister of Colonel John Noble. In connection with his regular business he purchased horses and drove them to Virginia and Baltimore, Md. His skill- ful coppersmith was John A. Shraff. Richard and Milton Hamson, David Kyner, Philip Lantz, William Searls, Thomas Durban, Elias Prentice, Jacob Evans, John McClelland and John Work received their train-
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Centennial History of Lancaster
ing in his shop. In 1832 he had just completed his new house, where Mrs. Dr. Effinger now resides, when he took sick and died. His stock of goods was sold to Maccracken and Cross who carried on the business for a few years. Maccracken then sold his interest to David Reese. April 11, 1837, Reese and Cross dis- solved partnership and Reese continued the business alone. In 1838 the firm was known as Reese and Shraff, and in 1839, Reese and Kreider. David Reese died in 1840, and his interest in the firm was sold to Jesse B. Hart and John D. Martin. In 1842, John D. Martin retiring, John McClelland became Hart's part- ner and in a year or two bought the interest of Jesse B. Hart.
FREDERICK A. FOSTER
Mr. Foster was a native of Rhode Island. He came to Lancaster from Marietta in the year 1810 and was first employed as a clerk by John Creed. November 23,1815, he became partner and the firm was known as Foster and Company. October 30, 1817, he withdrew from this firm and formed a partnership with Henry Arnold. This partnership continued until 1823, when Foster sold out to George B. Arnold. Foster then opened a store on his own account and carried on this business until April, 1832, when he sold out to Benja- min Connell who bought the stock for his brother John Connell. This closes Mr. Foster's mercantile career. He served as secretary of the Lateral Canal Company and was clerk for Mr. Hunter, the receiver of the Lan- caster, Ohio, Bank. F. A. Foster was highly esteemed, a man of integrity and good business ability. He was one of the last of the pioneers whose life continued to the present generation, his death occurring in the year
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Centennial History of Lancaster
1880. He was one of the honored pioneer members of the Presbyterian Church. His first wife was a daugh- ter of Henry Arnold; his second wife was a Wilson.
REVEREND SAMUEL CARPENTER
The Rev. Samuel Carpenter was a native of Lan- caster County, Pa., and came with his cousins to Lan- caster at a very early day. He was partner of Emanuel Carpenter, Jr., in the mercantile business in 1816 and 1817. Upon the death of his partner a few years later, he became a suitor for the widow's hand and they were married.
He was a surveyor, which calling he followed after the failure of Emanuel Carpenter. He also preached for the Old School Baptists the greater part of his life. In 1827, when the canal was being built, he rode to Akron, Ohio, on horseback, to solicit employment of Alfred Kelley, the Canal Commissioner. He carried with him an excellent letter of introduction and recom- mendation by Charles R. Sherman, which the Judge very kindly volunteered. He was also endorsed by Thomas Ewing at request of Judge Sherman. Copies of these old letters are still preserved. Carpenter was employed by Kelley and was also employed years after- wards on the Hocking Canal. He was a painstaking, honest engineer, polite and courteous to all in his em- ploy. He was fond of fruit and flowers and at one time had a nursery. He lived and died in the house built by Emanuel Carpenter on Broad Street.
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