USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 26
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The Western Ohio Railway, the pioneer traction line of Northwestern Ohio, was com- pleted four years ago, in the spring of 1901. It is one of the best roads, not only from a mechanical point of view but as a financial proposition in existence. Over it an hourly service is maintained on which regular pas- senger traffic coaches speed north and south between its terminals, while every two hours a limited service is run between this city and Dayton, Muncie and Indianapolis. Through a combination arrangement, passengers are handled between Dayton and Toledo and St. Louis, via this city and Delphos, thence over the "Clover Leaf" into the cities mentioned. Over this line, too, heavy express and freight service cars are run at frequent intervals dur- ing the day, which carry weekly thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, fruits and manufactured products out of the city to the southward.
The Fort Wayne, Van Wert & Lima Traction Company is a close second in impor- tance to the Western Ohio. It traverses a -fertile and prosperous territory, paralleling the great Pennsylvania line all the way from this city to Fort Wayne. It has been projected by Lima men and financed in a large degree by Lima capital and is destined to become one of the greatest traction interests in the country.
The Lima & Toledo Traction Company is being projected and financed by the same gen- tlemen who own and control our excellent city traction system, at the head of which as
president is Joseph B. Mayer, one of the fore- most of electric traction men of the day. As- sociated with him are a syndicate of Eastern capitalists while locally we have Hon. Walter B. Richie, manager; J. A. Bendure, and other men of equal prominence, importance and stability in the list of names of incorporators.
Following are some interesting facts, re- cently compiled, as to Lima's freight service :
Average number of trains in and out of Lima each 24 hours, on all roads, 143. Aver- age number of cars to train, 52. Average number of freight cars in and out of Lima each 24 hours, 7,436. Average tonnage per car, 30. Average tonnage of freight passing through Lima each 24 hours, 223,080.
Average number of cars in car-load lots received at Lima freight offices each 24 hours, 127. Average tons of freight received in car- load lots at Lima freight offices each 24 hours, 3,810. Average number of cars in car-load lots shipped out of Lima each 24 hours, 178. Average tonnage of freight in car-load lots shipped out of Lima each 24 hours, 5,340.
Average number of cars of mixed freight less than car-load lots, received at Lima freight offices each 24 hours, 114, of five tons each. Average tonnage, in less than car-load lots, received each 24 hours, 570. Average number of cars of mixed freight, less than car- load lots, shipped out of Lima each 24 hours, 134. Average tonnage, in less than car-load lots, shipped out each 24 hours, 670.
Average monthly receipts from freight charges, $288,000.
Aggregate yard trackage, 73 miles. Num- ber of shifting engines employed in Lima's railway yards, day and night, 16. Number of men employed in Lima's railway yards, day and night, 108. Number of men employed in freight offices,-agents, clerks and warehouse- men, 74.
Excluding Columbus and Dayton, Lima has the best railway facilities of any city in the State. She has five trunk lines, running direct to half of the counties in the State-to be exact. 46. These trunk lines are as follows :
Pittsburg. Fort Wayne & Chicago, with 14 passenger and 45 freight trains daily.
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Chicago & Erie, with 10 passenger and 18 freight trains daily.
Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton, with 12 passenger and 10 freight trains daily.
Lake Erie & Western, with 6 passenger and 10 freight trains daily.
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton, with 6 passen- ger and 6 freight trains daily.
Lima also has the Columbus & Lake Mich- igan, with I passenger and I freight train daily.
Of the interurban lines, the Western Ohio gives the city 20 trains daily, with 4 through cars daily to Dayton. This road will, by spring, be running cars to Toledo, which will give Lima 20 cars more daily. Another inter-
urban line, the Fort Wayne, Van . Wert & Lima, now running 8 cars daily, will in 1906 run 25 cars daily. This road will build a branch to Ottawa in 1906, which will give 16 cars daily. The Lima & Toledo line has a great deal of grading done, and expects to have 20 cars in 1906 running daily to Lima.
As it is, there are 49 steam and 28 electric trains landing passengers in Lima daily, mak- ing a total of 77 trains. And when the above- mentioned roads will have been completed in 1906, 145 trains will be landing passengers in Lima daily. It is possible to board a train in 44 different counties of Ohio, and reach the county seat of Allen County without a change of cars.
CHAPTER X
THE MANUFACTURES AND COMMERCE OF LIMA
Early Manufacturing Establishments-Lima's Business Interests in 1879-Lima Locomotive & Machine Company-Star Iron Works-East Iron & Machine Company-Bessemer Gas Engine Company-The Lima Gas Engine Company-Sinclair & Morrison Company -National Roofing Tile Company-Hall & Woods Company-Schultheis Brothers -- Deisel-Wemmer Company - American Cigar Company - Eagle Stave Company -- Lima Pork Packing Company - Lima Creamery & Cold Storage Company-Dairy Implement Company-Knisely Shirt Company-John Cramer Manufacturing Com- pany-Architects-Contractors - Brick Manufacturers-Lumber, Stone and Building Material Dealers -- Fuel and Ice Dealers-M. Thomas & Sons-Bell Supply Company -S. A. Baxter & Sons-Insurance Agencies-Public Utility Corporations-Hotels.
During the last 15 years Lima has rapidly advanced to the front as a manufacturing cen- ter, and to-day much of her prosperity is due to her manufacturing interests. The city's natural advantages aid in decreasing expenses and facilitates the distribution of its manu- factured products. Its factories are prosper- ous and of a diversified character and many new industries are continually springing up.
In her earlier days there were no manu- facturing establishments of importance. In 1842 we find that "Joshua Hoover ran a small foundry; and aside from two or three black- smiths, one or two tailors and about the same number of shoe shops there was nothing in the form of manufacturing. Thomas K. Jacobs was tailor and county treasurer, keeping his shop and treasurer's office in the same room. He was a most faithful officer, highly appre- ciated by the voters who continued him in office many consecutive terms."
EARLY MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS.
The Western Gasette of May, 1858, calls attention to the fact that at that time all of
Lima's business was not conducted on the Square, and that "Water street is one of the streets of Lima." Forthwith follows an in- ventory of the establishments on that street which we give below: "Commencing at the west end is the new steam mill of Hamilton & Mahon. This is one of the best mills in the State, and the proprietors, with Uncle "Sam" as flour manager, are gentlemen of the first water. Next in order is Parker's wagon shop. Mr. Parker is an honest, industrious citizen, always on hand to do work in the best order. The next establishment is rather hard to de- scribe; there is a little of everything, all kinds of buggies, straw-cutters, etc. This is some- thing new in the world and the inventors de- serve and will surely receive a good run with their new machine. Well, we'll kite along to the crockery store of Uncle John .- This estab- lishment is rather antiquated, yet it is useful in its way. The proprietor has recently opened a bank in connection with his former business. This bank pays out all the time and does not receive deposits. Hard by is the blacksmith-shop of Lytle & Company, where
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work in their line is pounded out to order. Everybody knows where Jo Smith's extensive iron foundry is. He makes stoves, plows and everything in his line, from a bootjack to an anchor. Next in order is Davis' double-rigged circular sawmill. They cut up logs in double- quick time. Compton's carding machine and fulling mill is an institution of great service in this community; remember it is not Lecomp- ton. Next in the line of travel is a heteroge- neous establishment, kept by Dan Musser, et al. It is-well go and see it, then you can tell what it is. There is steam, rake teeth, men wheels, boards, saws, and-go and see it, I tell you. Now last but not least is Lee's insti- tution. Mr. Lee is not a liar and he has lots of lye ; he does not keep a doggery, yet he uses dog power; he is not the sage of Ashland, but has lots of ashes and wants more. The fact is he has an extensive ashery. Now let's round to and come back to town or we will run against the R. R. bridge."
LIMA'S BUSINESS INTERESTS IN 1879. -
The following facts and figures are taken from the Allen County Republican of Friday, March 14, 1879, Lima at the time having a population of about 7,000.
Lima is situated in Allen County, on the Ottawa River in the midst of an excellent agri- cultural district, at the crossing of the Pitts- burg, Fort Wayne & Chicago, and the Dayton & Michigan and the Lake Erie & Louisville railroads. All of these roads have shops for repairs, etc., here. The D. & M. shops cover some eight acres and employ from 200 to 300 men.
A street railroad from the Union Depot to all prominent points is now in operation through the principal streets.
Our hotels are first-class. Drummers come from 50 miles around to spend Sabbath at our place.
We have Baptist, Christian, Catholic, Dis- ciples, Episcopal, Presbyterian, two Lutheran and two Methodist churches.
Our city draws trade from the country for 50 miles and more around. -
Neither city nor county has any debt.
We have a reading-room and two public libraries.
Our city offers many advantages (extra facilities for transportation, cheap living, etc.) for manufacturing establishments and is fast becoming a noted manufacturiing point.
The streets are wide and the city is beauti- fully laid out and improved, containing many fine homes and residences; it is fast becoming the most prominent point in Northwestern Ohio.
Manufacturing Establishments .- Anchor Mills (flour), East & Lewis, 7 to 10 hands; D. & M. Machine Shops, 200 to 300 hands; I. M. Townsend & Company, furniture factory, 10 to 25 hands; Philip Kiel, furniture factory, 7 hands ; Lima Paper Mills, B. C. Faurot, presi- dent and general manager, J. N. Harrington, secretary and superintendent, 70 hands; Lima Machine Shops, John Carnes, Fred Agerter, J. M. Coe, G. W. Disman and Ira P. Carnes, 50 to 60 hands; Lima Wheel Company, office on D. & M. road, south of Market street ; Lima Carriage Bent Works, King & Boop & Com- pany, 12 hands; Smith, Dunan & Company, sash, door, blind and molding manufactory and lumber-yard; Reichelderfer & Brewer, planing mill, 10 hands; Ottawa Mills (flour), W. B. Gorton; Feeman & Sons , stirrup fac- tory, 12 to 18 hands; Frank Roush, stirrup and whip factory, 10 to 18 hands; Weot & Fisher, buggies, carriages, spring wagons, etc .; Fullerton Brothers, buggies and spring wagons; James Grove, wagon-maker; J. C. Davis, wagon-maker; Blocher & Berryman. wagons, buggies, etc,; James Irvine & Com- pany, hub and spoke factory, 35 to 50 hands ; E. Lannay, iron force pumps (pat. Aug. 14. 1877) ; J. D. Halter, mangles.
Agricultural Implements .- J. R. Ashton. W. K. Boone & Company, H. Parham, C. F. Donze and D. E. Murray.
Attorneys-Ballard & Mead, Cunningham & Brotherton, George Jameson, Hughes & Robb, Porphet & Eastman, Irwine & Brice, Lamison & Meily, Richie & Hutchinson and O. W. Smith.
Banks-Allen County Bank, B. C. Faurot,
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:
president; S. W. Moore, cashier, and C. M. Hughes, Jr., assistant cashier; City Bank, Baxter Brothers & Company; Bank of Lima, Dague & Selfridge.
Boot and Shoc Stores-O. P. Chester & Company, S. Neise and Sponsler & Romig.
Book Binders-Gale Sherman.
Confectioners and Bakers-Purtscher & Cantieny, William Hohl and Lee Williams.
Contractors and Builders-D. E. Kiplin- ger, D. J. Shuler, J. M. Mckinney and J. R. Mowen.
Cigar Makers -- H. Sontag and William Tigner.
Coal Oil Merchants- W. L. Porter (wholesale) .
Clothiers .- Bowlby & Company, Lesher & Company, Lichtenstader & Company, Jake Wise, M. P. Amsorge & Brother and Edward Dunn.
Dentists-G. A. Dille.
Druggists-Dr. E. Ashton, Dr. J. P. Har- ley, A. F. Wheeler, F. A. Wheeler and John Meyer.
Gunsmiths-Harley Brothers.
Grain and Secd Dealers-A. E. Clutter and King & Day.
Grocers-A. Bowsher, Frederick & Son, Tom Fitz, McComb & Davis, Moore Brothers (wholesale and retail), S. J. Mowen, J. Lan- gan, John Wheeler, R. T. Hughes, Fred Hol- land and William Stoup.
Hotels-Burnet House, S. V. Browell, proprietor ; Lima House, J. Goldsmith, pro- prietor ; French House, C. Finney, proprietor ; Forest City House (Forest, Ohio), F. S. Johnson, proprietor.
Hardware Dealers-W. K. Boone & Com- pany and C. F. Donze.
Insurance Agents-I. Hooper, Houtzer & Melhorn, O'Connor & Son, Timothy Shroyer and E. D. Gamble.
Jewelers-H. H. Cole, D. P. C. Tirrill, Wheat Jackson and I. N. Satterthwaite.
Lumber Dealers-Reichelderfer & Brewer, Smith, Dunan & Company and Harrison Hall.
Meat Markets-H. Brunt, John Huffman, M. & L. Zimmerman and John Disman.
Merchants - H. Ashton (hats, caps,
trunks and gents' furnishing goods), H. A. Moore, B. F. Schwab & Company, W. H. Standish, William Stump (dry goods and groceries), J. C. Thompson, W. W. Williams, J. D. & W. L. Watt (dry goods, carpets, boots, shoes, etc. ) and R. M. Funk (dry goods).
Pork Packers-King & Day, 40 hands.
Physicians and Surgeons-F. G. Arter, E. & C. L. Curtis, R. W. Thrift, J. B. Vail, S. B. Hiner, W. H. Harper and W. H. McHenry.
Lima possesses nearly 100 classified indus- tries, each of which constitutes a bona fide manufacturing establishment This number will be materially augmented in the next year. On the following pages are given short sketches of some of the best known concerns in the industrial and commercial world of Lima.
LIMA'S MANUFACTURING, BUILDING AND COM- MERCIAL INTERESTS (1906).
THE LIMA LOCOMOTIVE & MACHINE COM- PANY is one of the oldest industries in the city. commencing business in 1860. They started in a small way with a comparatively small plant under adverse circumstances, but they have steadily advanced until to-day the ster- ling reputation of the products of these big works is known throughout the entire coun- try. The plant of this company, a view of which is shown on another page of this work, covers 15 acres of ground and is situated in the southern part of the city on a site lying between the C. H. & D., L. E. & W. and C. & E. railroads. Connecting tracks, built to each of the three roads, afford convenient shipping facilities. The buildings are all connected by a system of yard tracks so that material can be transported from one department to another. The entire plant has complete sewerage, fuel gas and water systems, the different buildings are heated by hot air and all the buildings and yards lighted by electricity. This is a complete locomotive plant and one that can be extended with facility, as each building is so arranged that it can be enlarged without encroaching upon another. The principal product is the "Shay" locomotive of which they build all
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sizes from 10 tons to 150 tons weight. It is a geared engine especially designed for service on heavy grades and sharp curves. They also make direct-connected locomotives of all types and sizes, which are built complete from speci- fications and drawings. The plant was de- signed with the view of competing with the largest locomotive works in the country and is not only one of the substantial concerns of the city, but is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. The officers of the com- pany are : A. L. White, president and general manager; Ira P. Carnes, vice-president; and W. T. Agerter, secretary and treasurer.
THE STAR IRON WORKS, conducted by George S. Vicary, take high rank among the industries of Lima. In an ideal location for such a plant, these works are located at the crossing of Eureka street over the C. H. & D. and L. E. & W. railway tracks. All kinds of boilers and engines, fishing tools, oil-well sup- plies, pumping jacks, saw mills, tile mills and machinery of all classes are manufactured. Every part of an engine, boiler or oil-well tool is kept constantly in stock and supplied on a moment's notice. They remodel, repair and rebuild gas-engines and handle oil and gas- engine supplies.
THE EAST IRON & MACHINE COMPANY OC- cupies the old site of the Lima Locomotive & Machine Works on East Market street. The company was organized and incorporated in 1903 and is already one of the largest manu- facturing plants in the city. The concern makes a specialty of structural and ornamental iron work, and during last season placed in the heart of the iron manufacturing districts many thousand dollars worth of this class of goods. Iron railings, stairways, fire-escapes, illumi- nated sidewalk lights, jail constructions, gray iron and brass castings, building special ma- chinery and the construction of bridges are specialties of this company. The officers are : President, William S. East; vice-president, A. D. Neuman; secretary and treasurer, J. L. Simpson.
THE BESSEMER GAS ENGINE COMPANY .- The "Bessemer" gas-engine is manufactured at Grove City, Pennsylvania, but a branch es-
tablishment, incorporated under the laws of Ohio, and in which local capital is interested, was established in Lima in 1899 on East Elm street. In 1903 the company built a commo- dious factory building and office quarters on East Wayne street adjacent to the L. E. & W. freight house. The local plant, real estate and machine equipment is valued at $30,000 and is under the management of H. B. Willower.
The "Bessemer" engine, on account of its seady running and great power is extremely useful for driving dynamos for the manufact- ure of current for electric lighting and for all similar - manufacturing purposes where cheap and reliable power is desired. They are built in many sizes, from five horsepower up.
In addition to manufacturing this engine, the company makes a specialty of converting steam-engines into gas-engines by the substi- tution of a gas cylinder for the conventional steam cylinder. This gas cylinder is original with the Bessemer people and is so effective that more than 5,000 of the regular style of oil field steam-engines have been converted into gas-engines by them. This company also makes the famous "Bessemer" oil-well roller- bearing pumping power, which does more work and consumes less engine power than any other rig on the market.
THE LIMA GAS ENGINE COMPANY, makers of the "Swan" gas-engine and one of the large manufacturing concerns of Lima, was incor- porated in 1901 with a capital of $50,000. The plant, which is located at the corner of Green- lawn avenue and the C. & E. Railroad, covers four acres. The buildings are all comparative- ly new and in excellent shape. The "Swan" engine is now shipped to all parts of the United States. It is an engine especially designed for close regulation, making electric light equal to any steam-engine. The officers of the com- pany are : President, J. O. Hover; vice-presi- dent, J. O. Orr; secretary and treasurer. E. Christen ; general manager, John W. Swan.
THE SINCLAIR & MORRISON COMPANY. man- ufacturers of drilling and fishing tools for oil. gas and artesian wells, was established in 1886 and incorporated in 1889, with a capital stock of $50.000. The officers are as follows: J. R.
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Sinclair, president; T. C. Morrison, vice-pres- ident ; E. A. Dean, secretary and treasurer ; E. E. Sinclair, assistant treasurer and manager of the branch shop at Montpelier, Indiana. They were the first to open up a shop in Lima soon after oil was found in this section, and their tools are known all over the oil fields, from Pennsylvania to California.
THE NATIONAL ROOFING TILE COMPANY are manufacturers of the celebrated "Klay" patent tile. The company was incorporated about three years ago for $100,000. The plant is modern in every respect and was built especially for the manufacture of roofing tile. The very best of machinery is used in turn- ing out the best finished tile on the market. The tiles are burned in the best burn- ing kilns known in the business to-day; and the clay is taken from 45 acres of the best clay ground in the coun- try. The most skilled workmen are em- ployed and some excellent designs and pieces of clay work are turned out. The tile is rain and snow-proof, is exceedingly dense, straight and true and is sold in all parts of the country. The plant is located east of the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railway and north of the Chicago & Erie Railroad, south of East Kibby street. It occupies 40 acres of ground and turns out daily 50 squares, or 7,500 pieces of tile. The officers are: J. R. Sinclair, president; J. L. Andrews, vice-president; C. F. Stolzenbach, treasurer ; Davis J. Cable, secretary. The above named gentlemen, together with C. H. Cory, J. B. Kerr, William H. Duffield, J. D. S. Neely, A. B. Klay and J. A. Bendure, con- stitute the board of directors.
THE HALL & WOODS COMPANY Owns and operates the Model Mills, one of the best flour mills in the country. Its value to Lima is of the greatest importance, bringing indirectly to the city a great amount of business. It offers a ready market for the wheat of the surround- ing farmers, who in turn leave their money with Lima merchants. The firm was estab- lished in the fall of 1894 and incorporated November 1, 1899. Its "Pride of Lima" flour has no superior on the market. The company manufactures high-grade flour, meal and feed
and the mills have a capacity of 200 barrels a day. The offices and mills are located along the C. H. & D. and L. E. & W. tracks at the east end of Spring street. The raw grain and the products are brought and shipped directly to and from the establishment. The officers are: Hirm A. Holdridge, president ; J. Oscar Hover, vice-president; S. B. Doug- lass, secretary and treasurer.
SCHULTHEIS BROTHERS are manufactur- ers of oak harness leather, which they sell ex- clusively to jobbers and whole sale manufac- turers. This is one of the oldest established concerns of Lima and has been all these years in the same location at the corner of Water and Elizabeth streets. W. Schultheis con- ducted the business from 1863 to 1891 when it was transferred to his sons, Charles and John Schultheis. From a small beginning with horse power and a small tannery, the business has grown to enormous proportions and the goods are sold in almost every State in the Union. The main building has a front- age of 90 feet, a depth of 200 feet and is three stories high. The plant includes a tanyard, finishing and blacking rooms, stuffing and dry rooms, leach house, bark shed and boiler rooms. There are 62,700 feet of floor space. The hides are purchased chiefly of the Chi- cago packers. A specialty is made of the wide- ly known "Solar" oak harness leather. The leather manufactured is adaptable for all kinds and grades of harness goods.
This concern is one of Lima's big manu- facturing industries and under the manage- ment of the younger generation of the Schult- heis family promises to maintain the high standard already set and to still further ex- tend a business that has already become known from one end of the country to the other for fair dealing and high grade goods.
THE DEISEL-WEMMER COMPANY .- The leading factor in the growth and development of any community is not only the number of its business enterprises, but largely their character and this depends upon the energy, capacity and commercial integrity of those who direct their policies and regulate their expansion. The city of Lima is justly noted
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as a manufacturing center and one of its larg- est and most successful industries is the im- mense concern founded, owned and operated by The Deiser-Wemmer Company, manu- facturers of the "San Felice" and "General Stark" cigars.
This business has had a remarkable de- velopment. In 1891, with practical experience in cigarmaking and, through close observance, with very definite ideas as to the public taste and demand, those cigar manufacturers- Henry Deisel, Henry G. Wemmer and Will- iam J. Wemmer, of Lima-conceived the pro- ject of entering upon the manufacture of a cigar not then found upon the market, which could be profitably produced through a care- ful combination of tobaccos and which could be given to the public at a price formerly asked for a very inferior article.
A partnership resulted and a factory was started in rather restricted quarters at No. 316 North Main street, Lima, where Mr. Deisel had conducted business in previous years, with a force of 35 cigarmakers. The output met with a ready welcome, encourage- ment came from every quarter and by 1895 it became necessary to greatly enlarge the facilities for manufacture, which resulted in the leasing of a three-story brick building on West Wayne street. At the time even the ambitious proprietors were disposed to think the new quarters would eventually become theirs as there would probably be no farther need of enlargement. No conception of the immense growth their business would make in the next decade had come to them.
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