Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 19

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th > Part 19

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The sawmills bore no resemblance to those of the present time. They were known as "up- and-down" mills. A long saw-blade, looking something like the large cross-cut saws now used for cutting logs and heavy timber by hand, was fastened in an upright position, the lower end of the saw being attached to the side of a wheel, which when it revolved, gave the saw an up-and-down motion. On each side of the saw were placed upright stanchions, made of flat boards, perhaps six inches in width. These were pushed against the sides of the log and held in place by wedges, the ob- ject being to steady the log in its position on the carriage. The log-carriage was propelled toward the saw by power, but it had to be re- turned to the starting point by hand. The boards were sawed only to within a few inches of the end of the log, and after all the cuts had been made, wedges were inserted between the boards, at the end of the cuts, and these wedges were driven down, thus splitting that part of the log remaining uncut. When the circular saw was introduced, it inspired many dark forebodings of the disasters which were sure to follow the starting of its rip-roaring racket, and that the mills were not torn to pieces and everyone connected with them killed was in- deed a miracle.

While mills were started at a number of different places in the county at about the same time, there seems to be little question that the first one was built by Nathan Carpenter in

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1804. This was on the Olentangy in Liberty Township. It was used at first for a sawmill, but a pair of "nigger-heads" were soon in- stalled. We do not know just how long this mill was in commission, but we know that for several years it was the only mill in the county, and was a boon to the pioneers in furnishing them with meal and lumber.

In 1807, Richard Hoskins built the first saw mill in Scioto Township, at the mouth of Boke's Creek. He ran it for some years, but for how long is not known.

The first mill in Berlin Township was built by Nathaniel Hall in 1808. It was located on Alum Creek, near the present Delaware and Sunbury pike. Probably it was used for saw- ing lumber as well as for grinding grist. In 1814, Joseph Lewis built a grist-mill and saw- mill near Cheshire. Philip Horshaw settled in Scioto Township in 1809 and immediately built the first grist-mill. It was located on the site of the present mill at Warrensburg. This site has, undoubtedly, the best water-power in the county, enough to develop 300 horse-power. At present, only one hundred horse power is used. The power is constant throughout the year. The mill has a capacity of fifty barrels of flour per day, and for the past five years has been operated by C. K. Cunningham, whose flour brand is "Triple Star." The mill, which is owned by Frank Van Brimmer, was remod- eled and enlarged to its present size of three stories, many years ago by Fred Decker. The machinery, however, was installed at a more recent date.

Colonel Byxbe was alive to the needs of his new settlement in Delaware, and soon after coming here, he set about erecting a sawmill and a grist-mill. A wooden dam was built across the river at the site of the present dam. and Erastus Bowe constructed a race from that point parallel with the river to what is now East Central Avenue, where it emptied into the river. This race still remains, a monument to its faithful and skilful builder. The saw- mill was like others of its time, and likewise the grist mill, which was located on the race, south of the sawmill. quite near to the present front of the lot on East Central Avenue. In

1800. Gilbert Carpenter, Sr., built a race be- tween Big and Little Walnut Creeks, near the present village of Galena, and erected a saw- mill. About 1810. Nicholas Manville built a grist-mill about half a mile southeast of the present village of Sunbury, and in 1815 he built a sawmill in connection with it. In 1818, Benjamin Carpenter, Jr., built a race between the two Walnut Creeks a little south of Gilbert Carpenter. Sr.'s race, and erected a grist-mill. This mill was in operation for many years, and was doing good service in the early So's.

For some years, the early settlers of Ilar- lem Township had to go to Chillicothe for their milling. The first mill in Harlem was operated by hand, but it is not known when it was built. In 1815 or 1816. a horse-power mill was started, and not long afterwards, John Budd, Sr., built the first water-power grist-mill and sawmill. It was located on Duncan Run. Ben- jamin M. Fairchild also built a saw mill and grist-mill on this Run, and at an early day Benajah Cook built a sawmill on the same stream. A saw mill was erected on Spencer Run at an early day by Colonel D. Keeler.

The first mills in Genoa Township were built by Jeremiah Curtis, on the Big Walnut in the northern part of the township. After running the mills a year or two. Curtis sold out to Elisha Newell. He ran the mill only a year, and in 1816, he sold it to Hezekiah Roberts. The dam and the buildings had be- come undermined and unsafe, so Roberts built a race across his farm, and erected a three- story. hewn-log grist-mill, to which he trans- ferred the running gear and "nigger-heads" of the old mill. This mill was operated until 1839, when it was destroyed by fire. The owner at that time was a man named Duncan. The mill was rebuilt, and soon after was sold to R. C. Barnum, who was succeeded in own- ership by Lewis Mahany, who installed a steam power-plant. After a number of years, busi- ness began to decline and Mahany sold out to Mathias Roberts. He shipped the engine and gearing to Illinois, where he started a new mill. About 1826 or '27. Squire Sylvester Hough and Dr. Eleazar Copeland erected a grist-mill and sawmill down where Yankee

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Street crosses the Big Walnut. It was not long before they were joined by I. S. Carpen- ter. He induced them to build a brick dry- house, and installed machinery in the mill for breaking flax, which at that time was the prin- cipal farm product.

A TRAGIC OCCURRENCE.

Dr. Copeland met his death in 2 tragic manner through his connection with this mill. We quote the following ac- count of the sad affair : "During a continuance of low water, there had accumulated a great many logs about the mill. A sudden and heavy rain having raised the water in the creek. the logs were floated off, and began going down stream in the current. Mrs. Copeland, notic- ing this fact, suggested that her husband, who was an excellent swimmer, should enter the water and try to save them. The doctor leaped in, for the purpose of gaining the other side, but when in about the middle, he was seized with cramps, and after a vain effort to reach the bank, sank under the turbulent waters and was drowned. This occurred on Wednesday, and although people gathered from every di- rection to search for his body, it was not found until the following Sunday, and then under circumstances that were very peculiar. It was understood throughout the section that a thor- ough search was to be made on that day, and a great crowd had gathered for that purpose. John Roberts and his brother-in-law, Mr. Smith, had left the main party, who were ex- ploring near where he went under, and be- gan to search farther down stream, on the west bank. Having sat down nearly opposite the mouth of Spruce Run to take a rest, John Rob- erts' attention was attracted by the hum of flies, and watching them closely, he saw them go in and out of a small hole which had been made by one of the searching party in a small sand-bar. He went down to the spot, and. after scraping away the sand, he discovered the body. face downward, completely covered with sand and driftwood." About 1838, a man named McLeod, who came from Pennsyl- vania, put up a saw mill on the Big Walnut,

just a little south of the middle line of the township.

The first sawmill in Kingston Township was built in 1819 by Leonard Lott on the Lit- tle Walnut. Peter Van Sickle built a saw- mill on the same stream somewhere about the year 1830. The exact date of the establishment of the first sawmill in Marlborough Township is not known, but as early as 1820, Robert Campbell, who came from Philadelphia, had one in operation. It was located on the Whet- stone River, in the southeastern part of the township. and as late as 1880, was said to be the best water-power saw mill on the river. About 1820, John Nettleton set up the first sawmill in Orange Township. It was located in the southeastern part of the township. It was changed to a grist-mill about 1835, and at once achieved a reputation for the fine quality of its flour. This mill was operated for many years, during which time it passed through the hands of a number of different owners.

Joseph Cole, who settled in what is now Troy Township, built the first sawmill here in 1820. About 1823. he erected a grist mill. The first meal that was ground was used in powder- ing the hair of Newman Haven, the mill- wright. The first dam that was built was a crude affair of the type we have already de- schibed. It was carried away by a freshet, and was replaced by a more substantial one. The owner of this dam had a narrow escape on one occasion, that illustrates the hazards taken by the early pioneers, while the rescue by his son shows their ability to quickly grasp a situation and to do the right thing at the right time on the spur of the moment. We quote the fol- lowing narrative of the event: "It seems that the water had forced its way through a weak place in the dam. gradually increasing the crevice until it had washed out a large hole in the bottom, through which the water was pouring with great velocity. Mr. Cole, seeing the danger that threatened the rest of the dam. immediately got a corps of workmen and be- gan repairing the break. While standing, looking down into the hole, superintending the filling, he lost his balance and fell into the boil- ing, foaming vortex. In an instant he was

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swept through the dam into the deep water be- yond. Hugh Cole was engaged in hauling logs to help repair the dam, and was just re- turning with one when he saw his father fall into the hole. The next moment he saw him struggling in the branches of a submerged sycamore tree, which had floated over the dam a few days previous, and into which the cur- rent had carried him. He sprang to the ground, and, cutting the hame string, took one of the horses out, jumped upon his back, swam him across the river to where a "dug- out" was tied, and, pushing that into the streams, paddled to where his father was, and brought him to shore. It was found upon ex- amination that Mr. Cole's right arm was dis- located and that he was otherwise badly bruised. He told his son that in three minutes more he would have been compelled to release his hold, and in all probability, he would have been drowned. It may not be out of place to give another instance connected with this dam, that resulted more fatally to one party, at least. In 1832, Thomas Willey and Nathaniel Cozard attempted to cross the river just above the dam, in an old "dug-out." It seems that neither of the men had had much experience with that kind of a craft, and, as the river was high and the current swift, they were carried over the dam. By a strange coincidence, Hugh Cole was riding along the bank and saw the men pass over. Dashing his horse into the angry waters just below the dam, he seized Willey by the hair as he was going down the last time, and brought him safely to shore. Cozard was carried down the stream and drowned. His body was found soon after about a mile below the dam." Lyman Main built a dam and saw mill on "Horseshoe Creek," in 1832, and ran the mill for a number of years. Two years later, Timothy Main erected a saw mill on the same stream, near the line between Oxford and Troy Township. It did service for a number of years, but disappeared like the other mills of those days.

The first mill in Thompson Township was one for grinding grist. erected near the mouth of Fulton's Creek by James Cochran, about 1827. Previous to this time, milling for the

settlers in this township was done at Millville, which, as distances were counted in those days, was "handy." A few years later, Ros- well Field, who came into the settlement from Canada, about the same time as Cochran, built a saw mill on the same site, and rebuilt the grist mill, which by that time was showing the ravages of time. The mill now owned and operated by Bruce Charles on Fulton Creek, in Thompson township, was built in 1834 by Roswell Fields on the site where James Cochi- ran had built a grist mill in 1827. At his death, the mill passed to Roswell Fields' son, Sam- uel, who sold it to Simon Charles, the father of the present owner, in 1859. The original up-and-down saw and gearing are still pre- served at the mill. The sills, braces and all of the siding used in the construction of the building are of black walnut. Power is now furnished by a 25-horse-power steam engine and a 14-horse-power gasoline engine. The oldest mill building now standing is that owned by George Mulzer of Liberty Township. Mr. Mulzer says that he has records that show that this building was originally erected during the first few years of the nineteenth century by a man named Hinder. D. W. C. Lugenbeel states that one of his classmates at the Ohio Wesleyan University was Harry Lathrop, whose father began operating this mill about the time of the second war with England, and continued to do so until late in the 40's. At that time a grist mill and an up-and-down saw mill were located here. The next owner of whom we have knowledge was James Walcott, who had the property for ten years, and sold it to Murray Case, who, a few months later, transferred the mill to Herman Mulzer, the father of George Mulzer, who for many years was a partner in the business and now retains an equal interest in the property with his fa- ther's estate. The hewn timbers of the original building are still in a perfect state of preserva- tion. Nineteen years ago a new saw mill was installed, and in 1897, d 50-horse-power en- gine was purchased. This power is supple- mented by the natural water-power. Flour, buckwheat flour and chop feed are still manu- factured here.

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The first saw mill in Thompson Township was built in 1830, by Jacob Swartz. About 1863, Clark Decker built a saw mill in the ex- treme northeastern portion of the township on the Scioto River, and in 1887, H. P. Pickrell, who had run a mill at Ostrander, built a large grist inill on the site which had been occupied by Cone's woolen mill.

The first saw mill in Concord Township was built on Mill Creek by Col. Seburn Hinton, one of the first settlers. He did a large lumber business, and also rafted logs and lumber down the Scioto to Columbus, and even down to the Ohio River. He also built a grist mill. The date when this mill was erected has long been forgotten, but we know that it was enlarged in 1838, and that on account of the growth of the business, new machinery was placed in it a few years after that. He sold the mill to Jabez Cole, who sold the property a few years later to Fred Decker, who finally sold it to a man named Cruikshank and bought the mill at Millville, or Warrensburg, as the village is now called. After that it passed through the hands of several owners, one of whom, Dr. Blymer, made extensive improvements in it. At a later date it was owned by Dr. Morrison, at one time a practicing physician of Delaware. It is not known when or by whom the first saw mill was erected in Brown Township, but it was several years prior to 1830. The mill was located on Alum Creek, about three miles north of Eden, and never attained any importance. In 1830, Ezekiel Longwell built a saw mill on that stream, within the limits of the village of Eden. Later, when it was becoming some- what dilapidated, it came into the possession of William K. Thrall, who repaired it and also built a grist mill to run in connection with it. The mill was operated by different owners un- til about twenty or twenty-five years ago, when it was destroyed by fire.

The first saw mill in Porter Township was built by Samuel Dowell, a native of Mary- land, who settled in this locality about 1830. The "County History," published in 1880, says that the mill was built on the head-wa- ters of Sugar Creek, and passed from Dowell to his adopted son, George Deets, who ran it

for many years. About 1832, Rev. Henry Davey, a "Dunkard" preacher, built a saw mill about half a mile down the stream from the Dowell mill. Another early mill was owned by George Synder and was also located on Sugar Creek. About the same time. Cham- ber's mills were built on the Big Walnut, about a mile and a half north of East Liberty. A mill of much more recent origin was operated by Emmett Carnes for sawing lumber and grind- ing feed. It is probably twenty years since this mill was abandoned. Because of the mill- ing facilities established in the older nearby settlements, no mills were built in Oxford Township until 1832. In that year Milton Pierce and Henry Riley erected a mill where Basin Branch empties into Alum Creek. It was operated many years until it became decrepit from old age and hard usage. In 1846, Lewis Powers bought the mill from Joel Coles and rebuilt it. He ran it until about 1849, when he sold it to Rev. Benjamin Mar- ton. a Baptist minister. He raised a good deal of flax, and so changed the mill into a flax mill. The property still remains in the Martin family, but the mill is no more, having been abandoned about twenty years ago. About the same time that Pierce and Riley built their mill, Hosea Waters started a grist mill a lit- tle farther up the stream. The "nigger-head" buhr-stones were run by horse-power. Slow as was this method of making flour, it was a great improvement over the old custom, born of necessity, of going from ten to twenty miles to mill.

The first saw mill in Trenton Township was built in 1835, by Middleton Perfect and Haz- ard Adams. The same year, John Van Sickle built the first grist mill in the township. It was located on the Big Walnut, about half a mile northeast of Sanburv. E. M. Condit bought this mill from Van Sickle in 1855 and operated it until 1862, when he sold it to Jacob Boyd. What was known as the old Brailey mill was built on the creek, about half a mile below the Van Sickle mill, in 1845. This mill came into the possession of Henry Boyd, and at a later date he purchased the Van Sickle mill from his brother. Jacob Boyd,

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and transferred most of the machinery from it to the Brailey mill. Other early saw-mills there were, of which little is known. One of these was owned by a man named Stockwell ; another was located on Perfect's Creek and was run for a number of years by J. Condit. Alvin P. Condit had a mill on the north branch of Rattlesnake Run. At an early date a man named Crane built a saw mill on Big Walnut at the mouth of Rattlesnake Run, just on the township line. This was operated by one, Williams for some years. The "Old Stone Mill," as it has long been known, located on the west side of the Olentangy, about a mile north of Delaware, was built by Fred Decker and H. J. L. Brown, at an early day, probably during the '30's. Many men identified with the early milling interests of the county were at one time or another owners or part owners in this mill. Among them we may name Reu- ben Zeigler, James Slough, Charles Wottring and Anthony Smith. The latter was the last one who operated the mill, which was aban- doned perhaps thirty years ago.

About thirty-five years ago, G. W. Brown and G. W. Hughes bought what had been a carding-mill in Galena, and began the manu- facture of corn-planters and hay-rakes in a small way. A few years later, James R. Smythe bought Brown's interest, and the firm name of Hughes & Smythe was adopted, and has been retained to the present time. The factory was destroyed by fire in 1896, and was at once replaced by a two-story frame building. The business employs about fourteen people. who annually turn out about 1,200 hay-rakes. 8.000 to 10,000 corn-planters, and 15,000 to 20,000 animal-pokes. The firm of Wheaton & Cummings of Sunbury also manufacture from 8,000 to 10,000 pokes annually. A rake factory was started in 1853 in what is now the village of Ashley, but was operated only about a year when the property was sold to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

CHAIR MANUFACTURE.

In 1870, Messrs. R. G. Lybrand, T. E. Powell and Charles W. Clippinger formed a

co-partnership under the name of The Dela- ware Chair Company, for the manufacture of chairs. John G. Strain, an old chair-maker, who had been making splint chairs and selling them from a wagon in a small way, induced these gentlemen to take up the manufacture of these chairs on a larger scale. A frame building, 28 × 60 feet, two stories high, was erected on East Winter Street. Power was taken by a wire cable from the planing-mill of Clippinger & Company, to the south, now a part of the Mckenzie mill. Mr. Strain was placed in charge of the factory, and while he was not so successful as had been anticipated, he demonstrated that there was a demand for the product. Mr. R. G. Lybrand, who was engaged in the stove business at that time. gave it up in order to devote his entire time to the chair factory. The first year's business was small, but the Chicago fire, which occurred in 1871, created a demand for all kinds of furniture, and these chairs rose rapidly in popular favor. The business increased so rapidly that additions to the factory were built in 1872, '73 and '74, giving the Company a building finally that was 74 x 100 feet and three stories high. In 1871 Mr. Clippinger sold his interest to Samuel Lybrand, and the business was continued as a co-partnership un- til 1885, when it was incorporated by R. G. Lybrand, T. E. Powell, A. Lybrand, Jr., and Samuel Lybrand. The capital stock is $150,- 000. The present officers of the company are : R. G. Lybrand president and treasurer; A. Lybrand, vice-president and secretary. In 1880, they moved the business to the buildings that had been erected and used by the Dela- ware Manufacturing Company on Flax Street. The property now comprises eight acres of land and six or seven substantial stone and brick buildings. The company manufactures all kinds of chairs. They were pioneers in the manufacture of the double-cane seat, and all this class of work has come to be known. in the trade as the "Delaware chair." The product of this factory is shipped all over the country. About 125 people are employed in this factory, to say nothing of the large num- ber who cane chairs at their homes.

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LUMBER AND FURNITURE.

The Mckenzie Lumber Company. This company's plant is located on the site of an old ashery. Here John A. Clippinger and George W. Perry built a three-story brick mill in 1866, the first two stories of which were used for a planing-mill. They manu- factured all kinds of interior finish, including doors, sash and blinds. Later Mr. Clippinger became sole proprietor, and after a time failed in business. The mill then remained idle for some time. In the spring of 1896 Mckenzie & Thompson came to Delaware and bought the old Clippinger mill. At first they employed about thirty people. In 1902 Mr. Thompson retired, and F. E. Mckenzie and P. H. Said became members of the firm, the name of which became The Mckenzie Lumber Com- pany. They have five mills : One at Delaware, where they employ about forty-five people : one at Norton, where they employ about twenty people. This was established in 1899. The company also has a portable mill at Sunbury. The other mills are outside of Delaware County. Altogether, about one hundred peo- ple are employed by this company. Their plant in Delaware is on a lot including about five acres. The teaming and logging work requires sixty head of horses. About thirty- six carloads of sucker-rods are manufactured each year. A large business is also done in buggy and wagon stock. From 4,000,000 to 5,000,000 feet of lumber is manufactured an- nually, and this is shipped all over the United States and to foreign countries.

In 1900 C. C. Dunlap started a steam saw- mill on land leased from the Hocking Valley Railroad. A building 75 x 125 feet was erected. In 1903, a planing-mill was also es- tablished. About 300,000 feet of hardwood lumber are sawed and manufactured annually, including a large quantity of wagon stock, which is marketed principally in South Bend. Indiana. About 300 carloads of softwood lum- ber is handled annually, the business being conducted on both a wholesale and retail basis.

The firm of Clark & Battenfield was estab- lished January 1, 1904. Their business, how- ever, is one that dates its beginning back at least thirty-five years, when Frank C. Ger- hart started in the lumber business at the rail- road crossing on South Sandusky Street. Dur- ing all these years a planing-mill has been run as a part of the business. The manufacture of cement building blocks was begun here in the spring of 1903. All kinds of building ma- terial and supplies and coal are handled by this firm.

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Century history of Delaware County, Ohio and representative citizens 20th, Part 19

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 926

Author: Lytle, James Robert, 1841- [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 926