County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 31

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885

USA > Ohio > Williams County > County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical > Part 31

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tion, and June 13, of the same year he made another addition. July 22, 1864, Dr. William Trevitt, of Columbus, made his first addition. October 20, 1865, Albert M. Pratt and John W. Nelson recorded their addition to Bryan. March 4, 1867, A. P. Edgerton's first division was recorded. May 13, 1867, Edgerton's Second Addition. April 11, 1868, Gen. William Stough's Addition. July 27, 1868, John A. Garver and Andrew W. Killits recorded their addition to the town. January 1, 1869, M. Harris' Addition was recorded. June 23, 1869, A. T. Bement's Addition was recorded. November 13, 1869, Trevitt's Second Addition appears on the record. March 17, 1870, was recorded " plat of John Will's Fountain Lawn Addition to Bryan, Ohio." April 18, 1870, Cooney & Lyder's. May 24, 1870, Bostater's, and September, 3, 1870, Garfield's Addition were recorded. February 27, 1874, Baker's Second Addition, and October 19, 1874, Trevitt's Third Addition were recorded. January 14. 1875, Myers' Addition, and August 12, 1875, Nancy A. Shouf's were recorded. May 31, 1877, Pratt & Nelson's Addition of outlots, and April 16, 1878, William H. Lockhart's Addi- tion of outlots were recorded.

In the clearing of the land of timber for public buildings and sur- roundings, and for street and alley uses, it may not be here out of place to recall the fact that there rested upon the new plat as grand a timber growth as covered any portion of the earth, and had this and a small per cent of other forest wealth been suffered to remain as nature had planted and nursed it, it would now be of inestimable value; but it was so abun- dant that a general war of extermination was begun and prosecuted against the large and small trees, and even the attrative ones, that bore the most beautiful foliage during spring, summer and autumn seasons, shared a common fate. Had a half dozen of these been permitted to remain, they would have possessed tenfold the value of all the evergreens and other ill-chosen trees that, through the power of man, have usurped the places of those of nobler birth and grace.

Volney Crocker, yet a resident of the county, had the contract for " clearing" the public square grounds of this timber offense. He made no reservations, and every tree planted by nature was doomed to perish by the executioner's ax. Mr. A. J. Tressler was upon the ground when this clearing contract was in progress, and, during evenings, with other citizens, aided in burning timber and brush.

The foregoing and following, from official records, will explain the or - igin of the title through which Bryan real estate owners hold their prop- erty. Having been originally purchased of the United States by Charles Butler, of New York, agent of the American Land Company, and by him and that corporation transferred directly to the original proprietor of the

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town, John A Bryan, no real estate title could rest upon more indestruct- ible foundations :

JOHN A. BRYAN TO WILLIAM TREVITT :

Know all men by these presents that we, John A. Bryan and Eliza A. Bryan, wife of said John A. Bryan, of the County of Franklin, Ohio, in consideration of the sum of $800 in hand paid by William Trevitt, also of the said County of Franklin, have bargained and sold and do hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said William Trevitt, his heirs and assigns forever, the following premises, situate in the county of Williams, in the State of Ohio, and bounded and described as follows : All that lot, piece and parcel of land situate, lying and being in the County of Williams and State of Ohio, known and distinguished as the half of the west half of section number seventeen (17), in township number six (6), north of range number three (8) east, and containing an equal undivided half part of the entire half section, which half section contains, in all, three hundred and twenty acres (820), on which, or a portion of which, the seat of justice in and for the county of Williams, State of Ohio, has recently been located, as the same was originally conveyed to Charles Butler, by patent bearing date the sixteenth day of March, A. D. 1837, recorded in the General Land Office of the city of Washington, in volume twelve, page one hundred and seventy-five ; reference thereto had will more fully and at large appear the premises hereby conveyed-being the equal, undivided half part of the half section above described, and which was deeded by Charles Butler and the American Land Company to the said John A. Bryan under date of the twenty-second day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, as a reference to the same will the more fully exhibit, to have and to hold said premises with the appurte- nances unto the said William Trevitt, his heirs and assigns forever. And the said John A., and Eliza Ann, his wife, for themselves and heirs, do hereby covenant with said Will- iam Trevitt, his heirs and assigns, that they are lawfully seized of the premises aforesaid -that the premises are free and clear from all incumbrances whatsoever, and that they will forever warrant and defend the same, with the appurtenances, unto the said William Trevitt, his heirs and assigns, against the lawful claims of all persons whatsoever. In testimony whereof, the said John A. and Eliza Ann Bryan have hereunto set their hands and seals this twenty.seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one.

JOHN A. BRYAN. [Seal.] ELIZA ANN BRYAN. [Seal.]

Executed in presence of

C. H. BRYAN. THOMAS WOOD.

[And following the foregoing is the usual acknowledgment-the in- strment having been executed at Columbus, Franklin County, March 27, 1841, and received for record in Williams County, by the County Re- corder, C. L. Noble, per W. A. Stevens, Deputy, July 20, 1841, and re- corded 22d same month.]

BRYAN AND TREVITT TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS :

Know all men by these presents, that we, John A. Bryan, and Elisa Ann, wife of the said John A., William Trevitt, and Lucinda, wife of the said William Trevitt, all of the county of Franklin, in the State of Ohio, in consideration of the location of the county seat of Williams County, Ohio, at the town of Bryan, in said county, have bargained and sold, and do hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the County Commissioners of the said county of Williams, the following premises, situate in the county aforesaid, in the State of Ohio, and bounded and described as follows : Being the Public Square in the

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center of the town of Bryan, in the center of the County of Williams, in the State of Ohio. which public square is distinctly marked and designated on the recorded plat of said towu of Bryan; also, the two town lots of the said town of Bryan, situated immediately south of said public square, and contained within the intersections of Main street, High street, Linn street and Butler street, with each other-the said last mentioned lots to be used for county purposes, under the direction of the County Commissioners, for the erection of a county jail and such other public buildings as may be deemed for the benefit of said county.

To have and to hold the said premises, with the appartenances, unto the said County Commissioners, and their successors in office forever. And the said John A. and William and Eliza Ann and Lucinda, their wives, themselves and their heirs do hereby covenant with said County Commissioners that they are lawfully seized of the premises aforesaid. that the premises are free and clear from all incumbrances whatsoever, and that they will forever warrant and defend the same, with the appurtenances, unto the said County Com- missioners and their successors in office, against the lawful claims of all persons whatso- ever. In testimony whereof, the said John A. Bryan, William Trevitt, Eliza Ann Bryan and Lucinda Trevitt, have hereunto set their hands and seals this twelfth day of June, A. D. 1841.

JOHN A. BRYAN, ELIZA ANN BRYAN, WILLIAM TREVITT, LUCINDA TREVITT.

Executed in the presence of Thomas Wood, M. Bryan.

[Then follows the usual form of acknowledgment, appended to which is the official statement of the County Recorder, certifying that the in- strument was recorded July 23, 1841.]

The Commissioners of Williams County had taken bond of John A. Bryan and William Trevitt, as principals, and Alfred P. Edgerton, as se- curity, for payment of the amount elsewhere named, to aid in the building of the present court house ; and to enforce compliance with the full terms of this instrument, the Commissioners brought suit against the proprietors and their security, and at the May term of the Common Pleas Court, 1847, obtained judgment for $6,402.65 and costs, and execution ordered and levy made upon the real estate of said proprietors. Mr. Edgerton bid of the property, and the sale was confirmed by court and the Sheriff or- dered to execute to him a deed therefor. Mr. Bryan conveyed his inter- ests. and the whole title became vested in Edgerton and Trevitt, as pro- prietors.

After it became generally known that the Legislative Commissioners had located the county seat of Williams in the midst of an unbroken sec- tion of Pulaski Township forest, many people, some attracted with a possi- ble view to purchase and open up business, and others to gratify curiosity, made journeys to the place. Most of these returned home and circulated reports anything else than favorable. Among the few, however, who determined to brave it out was the late John Kaufman, who aided in building the first log court house, and in burning brick for the walls of the present one. Mr. Kaufman was a worthy citizen, and many years

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prior to his death, which only occurred recently, was janitor of the court house.

By many, the selection of Bryan as the capital of the county was deemed ill-judgment, and some complaint, orignating chiefly at Defiance and neighborhood, was made ; but the place, being so near the geograph- ical center, satisfied for the time the majority interests.

Soon after the plat became cleared of its timber, however, an unex- pected source of water wealth developed itself at Bryan, being an artesian or flowing well on the premises of Daniel Wyatt, and soon after another on Alexander Hamilton's lot ; the third, on lots of Dr. Thomas Kent, and the fourth one at the tannery of Jacob Youse. Others were soon discov- ered, and as they multiplied, many of the first ones ceased their supplies of flowing waters.

These disclosures of artesian wells, and their claimed medicinal vir- tues, gave the new town a broad fame, and made many recruits to the population.

FIRST SHANTY AND CABINS.

Volney Crocker, for use as a habitation during the time he was engaged on his contract for clearing the public square grounds, built a shanty on the lots now owned by David King. The first regular cabin was built by Daniel Wyatt, on lots now owned by Samuel White, south side of the square and on Butler street, and now used by Mr. White as a resi- dence. But very soon after that time, John Kaufman erected a cabin on the lots now owned and occupied by Dr. Q. H. Graser.

FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE.

The first schoolhouse was a small log structure, situated on the south side of the square, on the lots where the Bryan Boot & Shoe Company now stands, and this was where A. J. Tressler, now President of the Bryan First National Bank, taught the first public school. Previous to this, however, Miss Harriet Powell, now Mrs. David Shoemaker, of Mich- igan. had taught in the same building a private school for the instruction of juvenile pupils. Subsequently, and in about 1845, a one-story frame schoolhouse was built on the lots northwest corner of Butler and Beech streets, upon which now stands one of the public school buildings. More on this subject will be found farther along in this chapter.

FIRST MARRIAGE.

The first marriage solemnized in Bryan was in September, 1842-the contracting parties being Andrew J. Tressler and Miss Oleva, daughter of Dr. Thomas Kent.

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HOTEL RESOURCES.

The first recognized public wants, after the county seat became fixed at Bryan and the public records had been removed, were places of accom- modation for transient visitors. Several undertook to meet this demand, and Thomas Shorthill opened a public house on Main street, which he af- terward sold to Mr. Yates, who used part of the building for his first storeroom. Thomas McCurdy, on Lynn street, west side public square, and in the vicinity of Pratt & Bentley's law office, and John McDowell, southeast corner of public square, each opened public houses. During the first court terms, accommodations were so limited that such private houses as could afford possible entertainment for lawyers, clients, jurymen, wit- nesses and others, whose business required them to attend court, offered lodgings to sojourners. The first frame public house, and, indeed, the first one of any importance, was built by Daniel Langel, east side of court house square, upon the ground where now stands Neikirk's dry goods store. On these premises, before Langel opened his house, he discovered, by boring about sixty feet, that he had struck a vein that afforded him a large volume of water, and by adjusting tubing, he carried the stream that issued from the earth to a height above the first floor of his house. But a pump is now required to bring the water above the surface, having lost its flowing power nearly forty years ago.

FIRST DRY GOODS STORES.

In the fall of 1841, William Yates brought with him from Wayne County, where he had formerly been engaged in mercantile business, his family, consisting of his wife and ten children, and a stock of goods. His freights were transported from Defiance to Bryan in wagons drawn by ox teams, and three days were consumed in making the distance, which, in a straight line, would be eighteen miles. A person could now travel from New York to Omaha in less time. In December, 1855, the store and dwelling of Mr. Yates were destroyed, and he retired from the business. The three merchants who immediately succeeded him were, in order of time, D. M. Crall, Jacob Boyer and Charles Case.

EARLY INDUSTRIES.

The blacksmith most convenient to the town, after settlement com- menced, was William Sheridan, Sr., who resided one and a half miles west of the corporation line. The first who opened a shop in the town was James Alexander, and the second, John Thompson.

James Shorthill established the first tailor shop, and, subsequently, James B. Akey and Richard McClure engaged in the business.

Jacob Over and James McFadden were the first who appeared as car -.

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awin Nt Stubbs

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penters, and for a brief time were partners, and dressed the logs for the first court house. John Bostater was the third carpenter, and furnished most of the wood work for the present court house.

The first wagon-maker was John Sadoris, and the second, C. T. Weldon.

The first shoemaker was Alexander Hamilton, and Henry Carbaugh the second.

In 1842, Jacob Youse established a tannery, and operated it until 1848, when he sold to William R. Bowlby. During the six years it was managed by Mr. Youse, it was the most important manufacturing indus- try in Bryan. A. M. Rolls engaged in the business; but during several years the town has had no tannery.

BRYAN MANUFACTURING IN 1882.

Having noted manufacturing in its first planting, it may be well to give here a sketch of the interest as we find it. in 1882. The town has now the Bryan Manufacturing Company; two flouring mills; planing mill ; two saw-mills; marble and granite works; ashery ; three carriage factories; wagon and repair shop ; foundry and machine shop; two cooper shops ; two handle factories ; four harness shops; a boot and shoe factory, that supplies jobbers, and three that make custom work ; one of the best breweries in the State ; furniture factory ; two merchant tailor shops ; one cigar factory ; wheelbarrow factory ; pump factory ; three bakeries ; four blacksmith shops, that are disconnected with carriage, wagonmaking, or machine shop; fanning-mill factory ; and a brick yard and tile factory ; an extensive creamery and cheese factory.

Following this enumeration, it is just to make something more than passing mention of parties, to whose enterprise and foresight Bryan is chiefly indebted, for establishing a business power which, of itself, is the chief source of its prosperity.

THE BRYAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

This concern was organized in 1873, and had its foundation in the energy and sagacity of Morrison & Fay-a firm that accomplished more to plant the manufacturing interests of Bryan upon the solid basis it now occupies, than any other firm that has had existence in the town. No two men were, perhaps, ever associated in a firm, whose business and social re- lations were more pleasant, and who worked together in a higher degree of harmony. Mr. Morrison possessed a mechanical genius rarely equaled ; and his death, which occurred November 18, 1880, was deplored by all interested in Bryan, and regarded as a public loss. There are few in active life, in Bryan, possessed of a clearer judgment, which enables him

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to grasp all the details of a large business than Mr. Fay. The loss of his energetic partner was, especially, a serious one to him; but since that event, there has been no visible interruption in the steadily increasing prosperity of the industries that survive him. Mr. Morrison's widow and heirs continue to hold the interests left by him. To afford a general idea of the magnitude of different industries of the company, it may be stated, that for their wheelbarrows, alone, orders seek them from almost every State and Territory of the Union, and even from Europe. The company employ an average force of from thirty to thirty-five men.

PLANING- MILL.

The planing-mill of John and Philip Niederaur, under the firm name of Niederaur & Bro., conduct a successful business, and have facilities for supplying all the wants of town and country.

BREWERY.

This brewery, of which Jacob Halm is proprietor, is pronounced by those who are judges of lager, to turn out as good a quality of beer as is produced in any Ohio city, or in Milwaukee or Chicago.

FANNING-MILLS.

C. Osmun has achieved a reputation for the manufacture of a quality of fanning-mills that have been awarded premiums at every fair where they have come in competition with those heretofore considered the best in use, inasmuch as Mr. Osmun's mills effectually cleanse wheat of oats, and even of timothy and flax-seeds - points never known to have been achieved by any other invention.

FLOUR. MILLS.

The " Model Mills," by Warner & Son, and the "Excelsior," by J. Y. Lyon, have established high reputation for the superior quality of flours they produce.

CHEESE FACTORY AND CREAMERY.

Welker, Dales & Co., an enterprising mercantile firm, have, during several years, conducted a successful cheese factory, and have this year added to their cheese manufactory, an extensive creamery.

MARBLE WORKS.

The establishment of Willett & Darby has been in successful opera- tion, encountering scarcely an attempt at competition during a period exceeding twenty years. Their works are supplied from marble obtained at the best quarries of Scotland, Italy and America.

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CARRIAGES.

Two establishments-one owned and managed by A. Kenninger, and the other by the Bryan Carriage Company - turn out first-class work. Mr. Kenninger commenced in April, 1868; and the Bryan Manufact- uring Company, in 1881, bought their property of C. H. Straight, who founded the establishment and continued in business about eighteen months. Both these establishments are powerful in wealth and resources.

PUMPS.

From a cooper shop, established by G. Lockhart & Bro., in 1862, the senior partner took the business alone, and converted it into one for the manufacture of pumps, cisterns, and wagon and carriage neck-yokes, and has raised the business to a condition of high prosperity.

FOUNDRY AND MACHINE WORKS.

Among the most important manufactories of Bryan are these works, which also had their origin in the intelligent enterprise of Morrison & Fay, but since the decease of the former they have passed into the own- ership of a joint-stock company. An extensive three-story block of brick was added to the works about a year ago. These extensive works are highly creditable to the town and remunerative to stockholders.

THE BRYAN BOOT AND SHOE COMPANY.

This was organized August 3, 1880, the design being to manufacture boots and shoes for the wholesale trade, and the experiment has fully met the anticipations of its projectors.

FOLK'S GUN WORKS.

An unpretentious but very useful business are the gun and plating works of William Folk. His manufacture of muzzle-loading rifles are favorites among sportsmen.

BANKING.

Bryan has two banks-the First National, which commenced business in 1864, with a capital of 850,000, and the Farmers' National. Of the First National, A. J. Tressler is President, Oscar Eaton, Cashier, and D. Farnham, A. J. Tressler, Oscar Eaton, A. M. Pratt and D. C. Baxter, Directors. The Farmers' National Bank is a re-organization, under United States charter, within the last year, of the Bryan Bank, a pri- vate institution, which had existed several years, and established a high credit. This institution is now officered by J. W. Nelson. President ; Frank M. Carter, Vice President, and E. Y. Morrow, Cashier, and by

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the Board of Directors, John Miller, Richard Knight, Andrew Smith, J. W. Leidigh, J. W. Nelson, F. M. Carter and E. Y. Morrow.

So far as the fiscal arrangements of Bryan are concerned, no city or town in Ohio could be regarded as more substantial.

HOTELS.

The Bryan House, by Jacob Hudson, and the Fountain City House, by Mrs. Gilbert, are popular with their guests. There are also five well- conducted boarding houses. Bryan has five well-patronized restaurants, where no intoxicating beverages are sold.

MUSEUM.

Although this is a private institution, and the exclusive property of Dr. Q. H. Graser, citizens of Bryan prefer a sort of quasi claim to it as common property. It was, however, the Doctor's genius, money, and in- domitable industry that originated and perfected the enterprise. The doors of his museum have always been thrown open to the free inspection of respectable citizens and non-residents. The field of numismatics has hardly been explored more thoroughly by any scientist in the United States than by Dr. Graser. Bryan may well have pride in so valuable a citizen, and of his varied contributions to the Republic of Science.

PUBLIC LIBRARY.

As yet, Bryan has not had the advantages of a popular library. Even the high and other schools have hitherto been destitute of this public blessing, which like institutions always confer upon a community.

Many of the private libraries, however, have extensive and valuable collections of books. The cultured ladies of Bryan, alive to this great want, have taken hold of this matter in earnest, and organized the Bryan Library Association. At their first annual meeting, held in May, 1882, they adopted a constitution and by-laws, and made choice of the following- named Trustees : For three years-Mrs. A. M. Pratt, Mrs. J. W. Long, Mrs. E. Foster, Mrs. H. Cooney and Mrs. Oscar Eaton. For two years -Mrs. J. P. Day, Mrs. C. W. Pitcairn, Mrs. J. W. Nelson, Mrs. C. W. Mykrantz and Mrs. J. M. Welker. For one year-Miss E. M. Willett, Mrs. O. M. Dales, Mrs. A. J. Tressler, Mrs. R. D. Everett and Mrs. F. G. Fay. The following officers, at a meeting of the trustees, were elected to serve during the ensuing year : President, Mrs. A. M. Pratt; Vice President, Mrs. Oscar Eaton ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. C. W. Pitcairn; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. C. W. Mykrantz, and Treasurer, Mrs. J. W. Nelson. The very names of the ladies engaged in this movement

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afford ample guarantee that a solid foundation stone has been planted for the Bryan Library Association.

CLOTHING.

There are two establishments in Bryan exclusively devoted to this trade, and their houses are so well stocked that general merchandise stores have discontinued traffic in clothing. These are conducted, respectively, by D. A. Wolff and P. H. Magnus. Their goods display will bear favorable comparison with city stocks.

GENERAL MERCHANDISE.

Five large establishments are engaged in this trade, to wit : Moore & Yesbera, Willett & Gibson, Welker, Dales & Co., L. C. Neikirk and E. T. Binns.

GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS.

This business, one might imagine, is overstocked, but all appear to have a prosperous trade. Those prominent are W. J. Carroll, T. O. Will- iams, F. Carter, E. S. Jones, Jacob Halm, McQuilken Bros., McLain & McHenry, W. Brownsberger, and two or three others of some impor- tance.

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County of Williams, Ohio, Historical and Biographical, Part 31

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 885

Author: Weston A. Goodspeed, Charles Blanchard
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 885