History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 171

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 171
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 171

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were done by hand, and steam power was only applied to card- ing machines and the fulling mill, while the spinning jennies were increased in number from time to time. This mode of manufacture continued for years, but special improvements in machinery were introduced in 1820. The power loom, spinning, knapping and shearing were then operated by steam. June 20, 1822, the dwelling houses, office and warerooms, however, were burnt. Previous to this, the firm of C. H. Orth & Co., ceased, Ross and Baldwin having disposed of their interest to Judge Tappan and W. R. Dickinson, the firm subsequently being styled simply B. Wells & Co. Judge Tappan next retired, when Wells' & Dickinson extensively manufactured broadcloth and cassimeres until March, 1830, when they went into assignment-D. L. Col- lier being trustee of the factory and lot. The old bell tolled a requiem to bygone years, and the hands went about the streets mourning. A judgment was next obtained in the District Court against Wells & Dickinson for $120,000, and U. S. Marshal John Patterson, levied upon their effects, sacrificing, among other things, four thousand head of sheep, of which they were accus- tomed to keep enormons numbers, and be credited with in- troducing the finest of breeds into this country. Dickinson went to Texas, and there died, while Wells was left hopelessly bankrupt, though without a blemish on integrity and noble dis- position-he died in August, 1864. The factory afterwards fell into a succession of hands, finally being owned by a Mr. Good- ale, who continued to run it down to April 11, 1837, when it took fire and was burned to the ground.

STEUBENVILLE FOUNDRY.

As elsewhere referred to, this is one of the oldest foundries and machine shops in the state, established so early as 1816. The present proprietors, J. & J. Means, two brothers, however, only succeeded to it in 1873, purchasing it for $25,135. Con- siderable improvements have since been made, and a finer insti- tution than it is to-day need not be desired. Portable and sta- tionary engines and all kinds of machinery, railroad and other castings, &c., are here turned out, but they make no specialty of marine engines. Nevertheless, they have made one recently that has been placed in the " Phaeton " steamer, and has gained the reputation for that boat of being the fastest on the river.

THE MANUFACTURE OF COPPERAS.

About 1820, an enterprising German, by the name of Kulp, went into the manufacture of copperas, which he continued with success for several years, employing four small kettles, but he finally returned to " Faderland." Five or ten years later, how- ever, to wit, in 1830 or 1835, John Fisher also saw a living in the same business and embarked therein, his son having suc- ceeded to the same, which he still runs with much success. The old gentleman, who is probably one of the most venerable pioneers still living in the county, assures us he has manufac- tured as high as fifteen hundred barrels in a scason,

THE FIRST BREWERY.

Though intemperance has become far more prevalent of late years, yet it must not be supposed that our worthy ancestors were any less informed than we, that

" John Barley Corn" is a hero, bold As any in the land- Whose fame hath stood for ages past, And shall for ages stand."

" Mafigellum " was universally admitted to be a good beverage in its day, but only too weak were its fascinations, in many instances, when " Old John " came strolling around, Cognizant of the philosophy of this mode of argument, so early as 1815 was it that a Mr. Dunlap established a brewery just below the paper mill, and there soon worked up quite a trade. He, how- ever, only run the business some three years, and then sold out to Charles F. Leiblin, who increased the trade, and remained thereat for many years, but eventually a Mr. Thompson Hanna, who then ran the paper mill, saw prudent to buy the property, which he converted into tenement houses.

THE DAWN OF FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE SHOPS.

The same year (1816) Arthur M. Phillips and Robert Carroll established a foundry, which was afterward enlarged, and the manufacture of steam engines undertaken (probably in 1819-20), thus entitling this establishment to the credit of being one of

494

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

the oldest of the kind west of Pittsburg. Mr. James Means afterward purchased the foundry and enlarged it, and after his death, his sons, James and John, succeeded to the business. They purchased it in 1863, and still conduct it successfully. One of the immense engines at the water works was manufactured at these shops, and their make of machinery is scattered all over the country.

BOOK BINDING AND BLANK BOOK MANUFACTURE.

. So early as 1816, when James Turnbull opened the first sta- tionery store-he being a practical book binder-the first bind- ing and blank book manufactory dawned in this community. Next, a Mr. Frazier followed the same business, after whom came Mr. McDowell and John Mills ; the latter being at present su- perintendent of the bindery at the Intelligencer office, Wheeling, W. Va. Mr. Mills sold out to Mr. Allison, but after the latter sold out the general business of the Herald newspaper to Mr. Conn, he also continued a bindery. At the present writing, how- ever, there are only two binderies in Steubenville, and they are excellent ones. Mr. Conn, of the Daily Herald,has one and Messrs. Sprague and Carnahan, on the Market Square, the other, the latter gentlemen also running an excellent job printing office.

A CASTER OIL WORKS.

Few old pioneers were more popular in this section than the late Dr. McDowell, probably the first resident physician in Steubenville. In 1818-20, he raised castor beans in large quan- tities, and located a castor oil factory in the neighborhood of Stony Hollow, where he continued a short time, but finding that the frosts came too early, and cut off the beans before they ma- tured, resolved that this location for such an enterprise was too far north, and therefore abandoned his enterprise which has never since been reinstated.

MURRAY'S (NOW STAPLES') BOAT YARD.

And yet another feature in the way of manufacture dawned when in 1819 Captain Elijah Murray saw no good reason why Steubenville should not establish herself a reputation as a boat building point on the Ohio. Nor was he wrong in his judgment, as subsequent developements conclusively demonstrated. In the aforesaid year he opened a yard on the present site of Staples' boat yard and saw mill, and soon gave employment to quite a number of men. The captain was equally as popular on the river as he was in the city, and few could excel him in me- chanical skill. During his business career he built quite a num- ber of steamers, including the "Bazaleel Wells," "Robert Thomp- son," "Steubenville," "Aurora," &c., but in 1832, he was visited with a fire that cleared out the whole business. Subsequently, on the same site, David Cable and James McKinney opened up a saw mill, eventually adding a planing mill, which they ran for some time when it fell into the hands of Robert and George Mckinney, during whose proprietory, in 1867, it was burnt out again. Geo. Mckinney rebuilt again about a year and a half afterwards and took in John Tweed as a partner in the lumber business. Next, George bought out his partner and took in'J. McCray; they continued only together some three years, when the property was sold out to the trustees of the Economist Society, from ,whom Mr. Charles Staples, the present proprie- tor, purchased comparatively recently.

ARMSTRONG'S BREWERY.

As if impressed with the old sentiment, as applied to matri- mony, that "what will keep one, will keep two," we next find Mr. Alexander Armstrong here opening up a second brewery, in 1819, selecting as the most favorable location, Water street, a little below where the old "Albright" mill now stands. Here he remained during his life-time, but an Englishman by the name of Woods rented it, and is said to have brewed the first ale for the market in Steubenville. He was succeeded by a Mr. Rolly, for some time, and then Mr. Joseph Basler, Sr., re- moved into the said premises, coming from the old brewery originally in possession of Mr. Leiblin. Mr. Basler here con- tinued busines till 1852, when he went into the brewery, still in operation by his son, on High street. The old Armstrong brewery property then stood idle for years, but was purchased some five years ago by a Mr. Zimmerman, who has died since, and his widow still resides in a very attractive residence on the old site.

LARIMORE'S COTTON FACTORY.

During the years 1824-5, a second mill was built by David Larimore, at the foot of Adams street, just opposite the present city water works. It was a fine building, gave employment to quite a large number of hands, and was considered, in its day, a great acquisition to the prosperity of the town. But it was destined to only a brief career of usefulness, for in 1833 it was totally destroyed by fire. Mr. Larimore afterward received the appointment of postmaster, which position he filled with com- plete satisfaction for some twenty years or more.

THE ARKRIGHT COTTON FACTORY.

This factory, which was erected on the corner of Water and Washington streets, in 1826, by William Gwyn (or Guinn) & Co., once formed an important item in Steubenville's manufac- tures. Its original owners were succeeded by Warner & Co., in 1868, who remodeled it and made considerable additions. It at one time gave employment to some three or four hundred hands, though chiefly boys and girls. It stopped running in 1872, the building and machinery being sold to some parties in Chicago, who had the latter removed. The building is now occupied as headquarters for the "Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia Wool Growers' Association "-an inter-state enterprise-which selected Steubenville for its exceptional ship- ping facilities, and on account of its being located in one of the best wool-growing regions in the world.

THE HISTORY OF THE CHEMICAL WORKS.

As if still resolved to maintain variety, 1831 witnessed in the Sixth ward, the dawn of a chemical works, started by Dr. Ben- jamin Tappan, who three years after, sold to Alexander Wells, son of Bazaleel Wells, and one Simmons, an English chemist, who united in partnership, and conducted the manufacture of Prussian blue, certain acids, copperas, &c., which they ran for some time, but eventually sold out and the enterprise gradually dwindled to nothingness. Though taking a wide skip in- dates, we may also include in this relation the establishment of yet another venture known as the Pan Handle chemical works, founded by a Steubenville firm-Messrs. Laughlin & Long-in 1877, which still flourishes, and is building up a capital business in the present day by the production of a matchless line of fer- tilizers.

WALLACE'S (OR "ASHLAND") COTTON FACTORY.

In 1832, when President Jackson vetoed the United States Bank, he advocated the establishment of more country banks, and that they issue their "promises to pay" in quantities to suit the demands of the people, at the same time recommending that the banks exercise a liberality towards merchants and manu- facturers by discounting their paper, and extending loans to the same. This privilege the banks availed themselves of to such an extent that in a very short time the country was flooded with their "promises to pay" money, or its equivalent, a tide of business activity set in. Manufacturies were erected and put into operation; new stores were opened and their shelves stocked with merchandise; speculation was rife among the people; wages were advanced and every one appeared to be on the road to prosperity. Now, it was under these circum- stances that the idea was conceived by C. H. Orth, James Wal- laee and Nathaniel Dike, of building a mill, such as should far excel anything of the kind west of the mountains, and this project they lost no time in carrying out by the erection of what was known as "Wallace's factory," situated at the head of Market street. The building was of brick, being one hundred and eighty feet long, forty feet wide and four stories high, surmounted with a belfry and suitable weather vane-the entire project costing in the neighborhood of $75,000. This building, however, was burned down in 1868. A new structure halt the size of the original one was then erected by making use of the old walls, which were found to be perfectly sound, after the two upper stories were taken off. It was subsequently named the "Ashland mi!l." This building, only two stories high, 180 fect long and 40 feet wide, after its completion was filled with the latest improved machinery and put into active operation. But the fates had deereed against it, and in 1877 it also fell a prey to "the devouring elements"-nothing being left to denote its former existence but a few blackened and charred walls. James Wallace, one of the original owners, retained an interest in its management from the first up to his death in 1870 or 1871. After his death it was carried on by his sons up to its final de- struction as above stated.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

THE UNION FACTORY.

This building also stood at the head of Market street, anterior to and directly parallel across the street, from the Wallace fac- tory. It was originally a frame, put up by James Wallace and Brice Baker, who ran it by bull and horse power. Messrs. Orth & Wallace, however, occupied it during the construction of their new mill. It afterward passed into the hands of Steele & Fagg, who manufactured carding machines. James L. McDevitt also occupied the lower portion for a machine shop. Samuel Hewitt afterward became the owner of it, and manufactured jeans. "King Sam," as he was familiarly called, was rather an eccen- tric character, who took the world precisely as he found it- nothing whatever seeming to disturb his equilibrium. At one time he was notified that his factory was on fire, to which he coolly, but promptly responded-"Well, well-if it burns down I'll build a brick." At another time one of his employes ob- served him standing in the back yard, with his hands behind him, smoking a cigar and looking very intently at the top of the building, when he coolly remarked to the young man : " Go tell McGuintee to throw a bucket of water on that blaze ; I have been watching it for full fifteen minutes and it will neither burn nor go out." In fifteen minutes more, had not his employes complied with the request the building would have been envel- oped in flames. We merely mention these incidents as illustra- tive of the character of the man. Mr. Hewitt afterwards failed, and went to California, where he eventually accumulated con- siderable wealth before his death. Mr. James Little manufac- tured gun barrels in the basement of the factory while Mr. Hew- itt was the owner. This business, with the building, was after- wards purchased by Bennet Reynolds, who conducted the same up to his death. Subsequently, the building with its contents, was destroyed by fire. A three-story brick building was after- wards erected on the site and run as a white lead works, first by Hannan & Foster, then by Foster, but at present it is owned by M. L. Miller and occupied by Messrs. Grafton & Harvey, who are conducting an excellent business in the manufacture and ap- plying of " Grafton's patent galvanized cap sheet metal roofing," introduced April, 1878, and now fast becoming the roof of the day.

ARMSTRONG AND NORTHROP'S FACTORY.

This institution shared only a short life, but a merry one. During the flush times of 1834-5, the above gentlemen launched into the manufacture of jeans in the neighborhood of Seventh street, and for a time appeared to prosper swimmingly, but after the general suspension of banks that so characterized the mem- orable year of 1837, they were forced to yield to the pressure of the times.

THE "GOLGOTHA" FACTORY.

Located on the south end of Fifth street. This was a two- story frame structure, of no particular magnitude, but at which woolen goods were extensively produced. Being in close prox- imity to the old grave yard, bounded by Fourth and Fitth streets, is how it took its name "Golgotha," (signifying a place of skulls). It was originally started and managed by Robert C. Peters, who was succeeded by Foster & Beatty and others. The old building is now used by J. Hineman as a soap factory.

McDOWELL'S FACTORY.

Like many others, during inflation times, Alexander McDow- ell saw proper to rush business, and in 1834-5, put up a small woolen factory on Water street, where Kenyon's foundry now stands. It, however, was but very short lived, having with otlı- er's to yield to the pressure of the succeeding stringent times.

MCKEE & ROBINSON'S FACTORY.

This building was erected by the gentlemen named about 1838, on Short creek, and actively employed for some years. The farmers adjacent were its main customers, whose mode of trading enabled this factory to outlive some others. Farmers would bring in their wool and have it manufactured into blan- kets and cassimeres, or would exchange the raw material for manufactured goods. The building was, some years subse- quently, run by Mr. John McFeeley, and after him, Cummings & Gibson, but the Sheriff eventually taking it in hand, we are unable to give further of its history beyond adding that at pres- ent writing it stands idle.

THE "ROCKVILLE" FACTORY.

About 1836-7, this business was floated by Wells, Henry & Co., on the site where Boreland's coal shaft is now operated, in the sixth ward, and for a number of years was very prosper- ous. Henry, however, who was business manager, and general salesman, in the end became so financially involved that the business was forced to go under, and he subsequently took up his abode in the western states, where he is said to have lived in affluence. The building was sometimes afterward succeeded to by Morris, Foster & Hunter, who ran a window glass factory- probably between 1846-8-ten years after which it was pulled down for other improvements.

THE "FRANKLIN" FACTORY,

situated on south Seventh street, for the manufacture of woolen goods, was put into operation under the auspices of Benjamin Hipsley, Wm. B. Hawkins, Thos. Egan, Alfred Cooper and Wm. Eaken, under the firm style of Hipsley, Hawkins & Co. It af- terwards passed into the hands of Smith, McElrath & Co., who were succeeded by Viers & Co., they continuing the manufac- ture of the same line of goods until their failure, about 1844, when the machinery was sold and transferred to other localities. The building has since been improved, and is now owned by Z. & W. C. Anderson, who conduct a prosperous planing mill.

THE FIRST AND PRESENT GLASS WORK ENTERPRISES.

So early as 1830, Kilgore & Hanna ventured into this line of manufacture, when, from its "brittle" character, or other cause, they found it imperative, very soon after, to give it up. In 1845-6, however, Joseph Beatty and Edward Stillman also made a move in the same direction and their efforts were crowned with success. The *original works were located on north Third street, but subsequent developments necessitated their removal to south Third street, where the business is still continued. In 1852 Mr. A. J. Beatty succeeded to the business single handed, and so increased it that in 1862-ten years later-the old works had to be replaced with others of four times the original one's capacity. And we should state, that previous to Mr. B.'s pur- chase, all kinds of glass had been manufactured here, but since then the business has been confined, almost exclusively to the production of tumblers, for which they have secured Steuben- ville a wide-spread reputation. The works are now managed by the sons of the late proprietor, still under the firm style of "A. J. Beatty & Sons," and have run with remarkable steadi- ness for years past. They ship to all parts of the world, and are even said to compete with English manufacturers in their own market. The works employ about 160 hands, and when in full operation turn out, on an average, 36,000 tumblers per day.

WINDOW GLASS FACTORY.

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1846 to '49, Samuel Hunter, Justice G. Morris and D. Foster succeeded to the old Rockville factory, near Borcland's shaft, and entered upon the manufac- ture of window glass ; but a very few years saw their business closed out, and the old building was finally abolished for all purposes.

GILL BROS. & CO.'S "ACME" FLINT GLASS WORKS.

This institution, though classified so early in our notes is, however, one of comparatively modern origin, but being the only house of its kind in the city we prefer to dispose of it while we have glass manufacture under review. The site of these works, in the Fifth ward, facing the "Pan Handle" track, was in 1870 occupied by a mower and reaper company, whose project fell through, but were succeeded by Messrs. Riddick, McKee & Co., in 1874, who had hardly commenced glass manu- facture ere the present firm took the entire enterprise ont of their hands. At these works they have probably one of the largest furnaces in the world; their special feature in manufac- ture being the production of lamp chimneys, which they may be said to circulate all over the globe. In 1857 they shipped over 50,000 cases from their works. They employ about 200 hands, and produce in the neighborhood of 1,000 gross of chimneys each week. The proprietors may reasonably be con- gratulated on presiding'over one of the finest enterprises Steu- benville has seen. And next comes

"These works were subsequently run by Hull & Bro., as also Knowles & Co., each for a brief period, and finally were transformed into private dwellings.

496

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

:BASLER'S BEER BREWERY.

This enterprise was originally established on Water street, in 1836, by Joseph Basler, Sr., who run it many years for the pro- duction of ale, but moved to the present premises in 1852, and the business is now run by Joseph Basler, Jr., an expert in the brewing art, who has changed it to a beer brewery within the past year or two. The brewery is located on High street, and at present writing is doing a capital home trade.

THE PRODUCTION OF SILK FOR MANUFACTURE.

Though barely coming within the meaning of "manufacture," the following is so near akin that we venture to concede to it a mention under that caption. In 1836 one William Watkins built the original portion of the residence now occupied by Mrs. Col. Geo. W. McCook, on North Seventh street, and there grew mulberries and raised a large number of silk worms, from which he reeled the silk for Mr. John W. Gill, of Mount Pleas- ant-the actual manufacturer-but never was actual silk manu- facture conducted in Stenbenville. Mr. Watkins is credited, by old pioneers still living, with having nevertheless conducted a profitable and extensive business in his particular line for some years.

HINEMAN'S SOAP FACTORY.

The first regular soap manufactory of which we can glean any information, was established about 1838, or thereabouts, by one Fred Misselwitz, a practical soap boiler from Germany, who that year opened a factory on Water street, near the present waterworks. He was very successful, and securing a little money imagined that better fortunes awaited him in Illinois, whither he went, but only to return in two years, a poorer yet wiser man. Then he went into partnership with one John Sellers, and near his old stand, in a frame building, they pulled together two years. By this time they separated, Fred building a shop where the present Odd Fellow's Hall stands, on Fourth street, which was finished in 1846. During his career at this address Chris. Hineman went with him to learn the business, and Fred formed a partnership with Mr. J. W. Mendel, during which co- ship they bought a lot at Mr. Hineman's present address, and put up a one -story frame. It only took about two years, how- ever, to find them dissolved, when Fred took in Mr. A. H. Dohrmann, and a like term found them no longer pulling to- gether. Fred having observed that his old partner, John Sel- lers on Water street, had continued the business successfully from their dissolution, now returned to the old stand, and the two again formed a partnership, and went into the manufacture of soda ash. Mr. Hineman, by this time, having also become competent in the business of soap boiling, formed a partnership with Mr. Mendel, opened up at his present address, and they succeeded together for twelve years. But in 1862 they mutually dissolved, and Mr. Hineman took in George M. Cummins, with whom he continued association down to 1870. Then he succeeded to the entire business himself, but subsequently finding his son, Mr. John Hineman, fully competent, he turned the business into his hands, and that gentleman is at the present time continuing it a decided success, in the manufacture of dip candles, common soaps, tallow and Neat's foot oils, &c. This house has a capacity if necessary to produce almost any amount of goods, as they have additional facilities to conduct manufacture near the "dump" on Third street. They used to ship extensively, but of late years only meet the demands of home markets, their factory, 132 North Fourth street, like the name of Hineman, having become popular as household words.

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 171

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728