History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, Part 47

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1108

USA > Ohio > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families > Part 47

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CHAMPION BRIDGE COMPANY.

The Champion Bridge Company commenced business some time prior to 1872, under the firm name of Wall & Bailey. At first they made only wooden bridges, but later manufactured an Iron bridge which had heen patented by Jonathan Wall. In 1872. when the present company was incorporated as the Champion Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company, the stockholders were Jonathan Wall. Zimri Wall and A. I. Rafley. Lnter the name of the firm was changed to the Champion Bridge Company. Peter Clevenger was

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president of the company for many years prior to his death, in 1910. He was succeeded by bis son, J. R. Clevenger, who, in turn, was followed by A. I. Bailey, the present head- of the company. The other officers of the company are as follow : J. R. Clevenger, vice- president ; A. C. Briggs, chief engineer and secretary ; R. L. Owens, treasurer. Mr. Biggs has been secretary of the company since 1896. Mr. Owens succeeded his father, G. W. Owens, as diretcor in 1800, and followed Mr. Bailey as treasurer In 1914. The directorate of the company consists of the otheers, with the addition of Dr. E. S. Briggs.

This company is now the oldest highway bridge company in the U'ulted States and does work throughout the whole country. The greatest amount of work, however, in done in Oblo, Indiana, Pennsylvania and in the Southern states. The most notable bridges recently built by the coumany are as follow : Bridge at Jupiter, Florida, over the Loxahatchie river in Palin Beach county: bridge over the Scioto river at South Bloomfield, Pickaway county, Ohio; bridge over the Big Sandy river at Pikeville, Ken- tucky : several larger concrete structures in Polk county, Florida; lift bridge of the bascule type over the Hillsboro river at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In addition to bridge work, probably one-fourth of the output of the company is for steel buildings of the warehouse and factory type.

THE IRWIN AUGER BIT COMPANY.

The famous Irwin auger bit was patented on October 21, 1884. by Charles H. Irwin. The following year Mr. Irwin organized a stock company and began the manufacture of auger bits. The patent was improved on April 19, 1857. The company was first capital- ized at fifty thousand dollars. The present officers are as follow : A. 1. Bailey, presi- dent : M. R. Denver, vice-president : J. R. Clevenger, treasurer ; S. A. Mitchell, secretary. This company originated and perfected the genuine and only Irwin bit and are its sole manufacturers, The distribution of their product is world wide, covering every civilized country.

FARQUHAR FURNACE COMPANY.

The Farquhar Furnace Company was organized in May, 1908. with the following stockholders and directors: M. R. Denver, E. J. Hiatt, M. J. Farquhar, O. J. Farqubar. F. M. Clevenger. J. R. Clevenger and A. J. Brown. In 1912 R. B. Monfort berame a stockholder and director. The present officers are as follow: J. R. Clevenger. president : M. R. Denver, vice-president ; A. J. Brown, secretary ; E. J. Hiatt, treasurer; R. B. Monfort, manager. since 1912. These officers have been in charge since the organ- ization of the company, with the exception of the president. M. J. Farquhar, who was president from 1908 to 1913. when J. R. Mlevenger became the head of the company.

This company took over the manufacturing plant of M. J. and H. B. Farquhar, who had been engaged in the manufacture of furnaces for twenty years. They were first loented on the Baltimore & Ohio tracks near the present Farquhar coal yard. The next, location was in the brick building known as the pad factory building, on Ohio and B streets, in the north part of the city.

In April, 1915, a contract was let for a new factory to be located at the Intersection of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and Owens avenue. This will be ready for necupancy by January. 1916. The company is capitalized at two hundred thousand dollars. Branch offices are maintained in Baltimore. Kansas City. Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Greensboro, North Carolina and Portland, Oregon. The future of the company is very bright and the output is Increasing from year to year with gratifying results.

WILMINGTON CASTING COMPANY.

The Wilmington Casting Company was organized in 1911 by P. S. Horton and Dr. Joseph W. Early, sole owners. It was reorganized and Incorporated on April 25. 1915, with a enpital of thirty thousand dollars and the following officers: P. S. Horton. president: Dr. J. W. Early, vice-president : E. R. Bales, secretary and treasurer, and

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J. D. Boone, superintendent of shop. The company began work in its old foundry on Clarke street and moved into its new ten-thousand-dollar building at Truesdell and Charles street in August, 1915. The company makes a specialty of manufacturing gray iron castings.

THE NATIONAL SAFETY SNAP COMPANY.

The National Safety Snap Company of Wilmington was organized and incorporated, August 4, 1906, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. The owners of the company were the following officers: J. W. Lawhead, president; A. I. Bailey, vice-presi- dent; M. R. Denver, treasurer ; Robert L. Owens, secretary, and R. C. Lawhead, director. Shortly after its organization the company purchased the buildings at the intersection of Mulberry street and the Pennsylvania railroad tracks, which it occupies at the present time. Since its foundation this firm has enjoyed a good business; its output has, on the average, practically doubled each year since it has been in business.

WILMINGTON AUTO COMPRESSOR COMPANY.

The Auto Compressor Company of Wilmington is an unincorporated conceru that was organized in 1911 by the owners of the National Safety Suap Company. It manufactures air compressors and electric hand latups. It bought a tract of land just north of the new plant of the Wilmington Casting Company in August, 1915.

THE TURNBULL MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

The Turnbull Manufacturing Company of Wilmington was originally organized in Columbus, Oblo, and for many years its plant was at No. 115 Vine street, Columbus. In February, 1913, it was purchased by Wilmington capital and incorporated, with J. W. Lawhead, president; E. E. Terrell, vice-president; R. C. Lawhead, treasurer; O. W. Hale, secretary ; Mrs. Rate Vandervort, director. This company continued its operation in Columbus until July, 1915, when It was moved to Wilmington. It now occuples a new building on Sugartree street, between South and Mulberry streets, which it rents from Frank Gallup. Its present capital stock is one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Its officers are: J. W. Lawhend, president ; O. W. Hale, secretary; W. M. Winters, assistant secretary ; R. C. Lawhend, treasurer : J. E. Fisher and Clyde Fisher, directors, The company manufactures ice cream cone and pop corn machinery, auto accessories and gas engines. Its goods are known as the "Turko" line.

CEMETERIES.

The old Methodist graveyard, located in the northeastern part of Wilmington, was originally the private burying ground of Isaiah Morris, who set apart a small lot prior to 1820. Ellis Pugh, Levi Sheppard and James Fife owned adjoining land and each made additions to it. On April 23, 1832, Levi Sheppard sold one-half acre of land to Amos T. Sewell. Charles Russell. F. Kelly, Israel Johns, James Christy. Daniel Jones and Thomas Gaskill, trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church of Wilmington, for twenty-five dollars. The land, which had been donated. was then thrown together and the Methodist grave- yard formed. The first burial of which there is a record was that of Rachel Morris, on January 22. 1720, although it is probable that others were buried there before that, as it Is the oldest graveyard in Wilmington. The remains of many of the old citizens, who were buried here, have been removed to Sugar Grove cemetery, among whom are the following prominent families: Morris, White, Holland. Gustin, Curtis, Treusdell, Shep- pard, Hughes and Barrett.

In 1830 Mark Thatcher and wife deeded the old graveyard at the western end of Sugartree street. adjoining the Hicksite Friends church. to William Adams, Azel Walker and Jesse Donn, trustees of the society of Friends. The grounds have been abandoned as a burying place for a number of years.

On February 24. 1548, the General Assembly of Ohio passed an act providing for

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the incorporation of cemetery associations, and on April 11, 1857, a number of citizens of Clinton county met at the court house at Wilmington and organized the Sugar Grove Cemetery Association. The first officers of the association were: E. L. Lacy, president; Matthew Romback, W. C. Fife, J. E. Hibben, A. E. Strickle, J. W. Chattin, L. B. Welch and E. L. Lacy, trustees, and Albert Hockett, clerk and treasurer. Nearly twenty-three acres of land situated southwest of Wilmington were purchased from William Hibben for one hundred dollars an acre and were laid out by Leo Weltz. Additions have since been made to the cemetery until it now contains about fifty acres. Catherine Kline was the first one buried in the cemetery, being burled on July 4, 1858. Isaiah Morris, the old pioneer, was the next one burled there, belug interred on July 20, 1858, and the marble shaft which marks his grave was the first erected in the cemetery.

The cemetery derives its name from the timber which once covered the grounds and many of which have been left standing. These stately trees, the rolling ground, the beautiful monuments and a little stream, which flows quietly through its narrow channel, give the cemetery a beautiful appearance and make it a picturesque spot for the resting- place of the dead.

There is a special plot in the cemetery set aside for the burial of veterans of the Civil War. Two cannon, mounted on wheel carriages, are set in the midst of the soldiers' graves.

In the summer of 1915 a destructive wind storm swept across the cemetery and destroyed more than a score of beautiful trees. Some monuments were also damaged at the same time.

POSTOFFICE HISTORY.

'The first postoffice was established at Wilmington in 1812, with Isaiah Morris as postmaster. It has been Impossible to obtain the years served by the various men who have held the postoffice, but it is believed that they served in the following order : Isaiah Morris, James Magee, George Bruce, Joseph Hale, James E. Johnson, James Fallis (appointed in May, 1853), Thomas Van Treas, W. J. Marble, John C. Moon, W. P. Wolfe, C. N. Browning, William Clevenger, C. R. Fisher, John H. Hirt, John C. Smith, William F. Haines, and A. J. Hummel, who took the office on July 4, 1914.

It Is not known where the early postmasters held forth. Johnson and Fallis were In a building at the corner of Main and Mulberry streets; Van Tress moved it to a room on South street. Later the office was in a room Immediately north of the court house on the west side of South street. At the present time the office is in the building of the Clinton Telephone Company on West Main street, to which location It was moved in March. 1915.

Wilmington enjoys free carrier service and three regular carriers now make three daily deliveries euch through the week. The business portion of the city gets four deliveries daily. Since the establishment of the rural free delivery, in 1902, Wilmington has been the distributing center for several hundred patrons. Nine carriers are sent from the local othice each morning on as many different routes. A closed pouch is taken by one of the carriers to Port William each day.

Other towns in the county having rural carriers are as follow: Sabina, five; Blanchester. three: New Vienna, three; Martinsville, three; Clarksville. three; West- boro. New Burlington and Midland. one each. The other postoffices. in the county are Lee's Creek. Cuba. Melvin and Reesville.

WILMINGTON LIBRARY COMPANY, 1816-39.

In February, 1816. some of the most prominent men of Wilmington assembled to form a library association, in order that the citizens might enjoy the advantages of a circulating library. It was provided In their constitution that "no books which should tend to discredit the Christian religion, or bring into disrepute any religious society or

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denomination, nor any books which tend to corrupt the morals or youth or others," should find a place in the library. All novels and plays were excluded, the "Vicar of Wakefield" being the only one admitted. The library contained more than one hundred and eight volumes, among which were the following: "Life of Washington," "Life of Franklin," Robertson's "Charles the Fifth," Robertson's "America," "Irish Rebellion." Rollin's "Ancient History," Goldsmith's "England," "History of New England." Josephus' Works, "French Revolution," "Naval Biography," "History of China," Milford's "Greece," Homer's "Iliad," Pope's "Essay on Man," Cowper's Poems, Young's "Night Thoughts," Nicholson's "Encyclopedia," Park's "Travels," Keats' "Elements," "Debates In the Vir- ginia Convention," Washington's Letters. Jefferson's "Notes on Virginia," "Lewis and ('larke's Expedition," Ferguson's "Astronomy and Atlas," Columbus' "Vision," Fox's "Jourual," "Tour to Morocco," Paley's "Philosophy and Theology," Watt's "Logie," Morse's "Universal Geography"" Rushes Lectures, Curran's Speeches, "Modern Chivalry," "Botanic Garden," Cox ou "Fruit Trees," Goldsmith's "Animated Nature" and Voluey's Views." These books were kept in constant circulation by the members and it is an Interesting fact that nearly every member of the association rend Curran's Speeches.

Prominent among the names on the records of the librarian is that of Mary Fallis, afterward Mary Peirce, who is the only lady whose name appears on the records. Other active members were Peter Burr. Loammi Rigdon. Charles Paist, Isaiah Morris. George MeMavis, Mablon Haworth, Elf Gaskill, Rice Gaddis, Jesse Hughes, Sr. and Jr., David Hugbes, Thomas Kersey, William Brooks, EH MeGregor. Uriah Farquhar, Will- lam R. Cole, Nathan Linton, William Millikan, J. B. Seaman, John MeMauis, John A. Hays, Samuel T. Loudon, William Hibben, Samuel Wilson, Isaac Wright, James Bird- sall, Richard Fallis, Henry and Peter Babb, John Stout, George Carter. Robert Way, John Eacbus, James Gallaber, Aaron Sewell, Samuel H. Hale, James Dakin, James Harris, Arnold Treusdell, John Hadley, Joseph Doun, Richard Peirce, John MeFall. George D. Haworth, Rockefeller and Perry Dakin. Amos T. Davis and P. F. Crihfield. Those more prominent as official members were Ell Gaskill, James MeManis, William Millikan. Uriah Farquhar, Ell MeGregor, Philip F. Cribfield, J. B. Seaman, John MeManis, librarians and treasurers: Mahlon Haworth. Isaiah Morris, U'rlah Farquhar. William Hibben. Eli MeGregor, William Millikan, Nathan Linton, John MeManis, Thomas Gaskill. Peter Burr, Loammi Rigdon, John A. Hays, George MeManis Charles Paist. directors.

The books show an enrollment of eighty-one members, some continuing from the beginning to the end. The library was sold out In 1839. most of the books being bought by the members. Pope's "Essay on Man" was purchased by Richard Peirce, who. It is said, could repeat the entire poem from memory. Thus ended the career of Wiling- ton's first library.

WILMINGTON READING ROOM, 1500-68.

A society called the Wilmington Reading Club was organized in December, 1580. by some of the leading citizens of Wilmington for the purpose of opening a reading room and lecture hall for the public. The first officers of the society were Amos Hockett, president : Madison Betts. Cyrus Linton, J. A. Smith and R. M. Wickersham, directors. and almost seven hundred dollars were subscribed to start it. Brackney's ball was furnished for the purpose and all of the leading newspapers, periodienis and magazines were provided. The room was open to the public generally and ladies and ministers of the gospel were admitted without paying a fee. The reading room was open from two to five o'clock every afternoon and from six to ten every evening. except Sunday. This reading room was maintained until July 10. 1868, when it was discontinued and all of the furnishings sold at public sale. And thus Wilmington's second library came to an end.

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THE WILMINGTON LIBRARY.

The George Clinton Chapter. Daughters of the American Revolution, recognizing the fact that a library is one of the grentest forces in modern educational progress, and that It was one of the grentest needs of Wilmington, organized. on February 20. 1890, at the home of Mra Dr. W. R. Hale, the Wilmington Library Association, with the following officers: Mrs. C. C. Nichols, president ; Mrs. J. W. Wire, vice-president ; Mrs. R. J. Lucy, secretary ; Mrs. J. E. Orebaugh, treasurer; trustees, the officers and Mrs. 8. C. Smith, Mrs. R. C. Stumm and Mra N. E. Bennett. The citizens of the town were called upon for subscriptions to a sustaining fund for the benefit of the library imme- diately after the organization of the society. This met with a generous response. the total amount subscribed being seven hnudred and ten dollars. Of this amount, two hundred and ten dollars were donated by members of the George Clinton Chapter. Daughters of the American Revolution. Several interested friends in Cincinnati and Xenia sent donations, while many former residents sent contributions of books.

From the First National Bank were secured, in their bullding, two rooms, the use of one of them being offered gratuitously and for the other only a nominal rent was charged.

Nultable furniture was purchased, shelving put up. books and periodicals were se- lected, and the library and rending room were opened to the public on June 5, 1590, Miss Minnie Farren having been employed as librarian. Tickets were sold for one dollar. which gave to the purchaser the privileges of the library and reading room for one year: or, on the payment of seventy-five cents, one could have these privileges for six months. A request was made that on the opening day friends would bring donations of books. This request also met with a generous response and more than fifty volumes of suitable standard works were brought in. Besides books and periodicals, many gifts were received, among them a Webster's "International Dictionary." from Miss King. of Xenia : a dictionary rack, from Charles E. Nichols; a wall map of the United States. from Grace Browning: a bust of Shakespeare, from Emma Browning: pletures from Mrs. A. T. Quinn and Mrs. I. W. Quinby : a sign, painted, presented and hung by Sabin Brothers.

The first year of the library's existence saw three thousand eight hundred and elghts-one hooks drawn out and more than three thousand two hundred and eighty-six renders in the reading room. The second year was n hard one in the library work, be- cause of lack of funds adequate for its needs, for the citizens were not called upon the second time for a sustaining fund and the only revenue was from the sile of tickets (one dollar a year), fines assessed and a few gifts from interested friends. To obtain funds there were given bread and cake sales, n dinner and supper, and auction on the court house corner of contributed articles, a sale of old rubber, an excursion to Dayton, a ruininge sale and a concert. Some of the young men of Wilmington gave the proceeds of a football game. twenty-five dollars, to the library and .with this, and the necessary balance, was purchased the Warner Library of Literature, a valuable addition to the reference department. A "book shower." given by the librarian at her home, added forty-eight volumes. The Six-and-Twenty Club, a club of Wilmington ladies, for years have donated each year twenty-six or more volumes.

In March. 1900, the Library Ald Society was organized. which met on invitation at the homes of the members. The amounts derived from this source were from seven to twenty-three dollars each time the society met. The Library Association avpiled Itself of the arrangement made by the board of library commissioners of Oblo for the loan of books from the Ohio state library, whereby from twenty-five to thirty-five books might he kept three months. All the while, the association kept Its purpose to give "the best reading to the greatest number at the least cost" constantly in view.

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The village counell created a special levy for the benefit of the library In March, 1001, when the library was incorporated and made free to the public. The association was given notice of this action on the part of the village council in the following mess age sent to its corresponding secretary :

"To the Wilmington Library Association, Greetings:

"In the vast social network known as 'society,' in one of Its phases at least there should be expressed an educational interest, such as we see manifested by the D. A. R. ladies, in their endeavor to create and maintain a free library for Wilmingtonfans. We hope and believe that the fire of your imagination, reinforced by the energy of your character and alded by the act of council, will stimulate you, if possible, to even greater works in the future than have characterized your commendable efforts in the past, in the upbuilding of the library. We have the honor and pleasure, ladies, to notify you that on last Friday night, in regular session, the village council created a special levy for the benefit of the library. The amount of the levy will be approximately eight hundred and fifty dollars. His honor, Mayor Stewart, appointed a special committee to notify you of this action. On bebalf of the council, we are,

"G. W. WIRE, "R. S. MALOY,

"Committee."

The Library Association at this time was newly organized, with the following officers: Mrs. C. C. Nichols, president: Mrs. John E. Orebaugh. first vice-president ; Mrs. 8. G. Smith, second vice-president : Mrs. R. J. Lacy, recording secretary ; Mrs. W. R. Hale. corresponding secretary. These constituted the board of trustees. Miss Minnie Farren was the librarian and Mrs. Susie Mory, the assistant librarian.

On February 7. 1903, Andrew Carnegie gave ten thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting a free public library building, provided the village council should appropriate one thousand dollars annually toward the support of the library. This the council de- cided to do, and the gift was necepted. February 13, 1903. A site on North South street was selected and purchased on the same day from J. C. Martin, twenty-eight hundred dollars being paid for the northwest corner of what had been known as "the Martin field." across from the high school building. The site was purchased by the village coun- eil, which in turn leased It for twenty-five years to the Library 'Association, on April 17. with the privilege of renewal at the end of that time for a like term.

W. S. Kauffman, of Richmond. Indiana, was secured as an architect and plans were accepted in June, 1903. On July 13. 1903, bids were received for the construction of the building and the contract awarded to John Doyle, of Wilmington. for eleven thousand one hundred sixty-eight dollars exclusive of the lighting and heating. the building to be completed by February 1. 1904. (later an extension of time was made until May 15). and on July 16. 1903, the ground was staked off and the excavating commenced at once.

In June, 1903. Mr. Carnegie was asked for an increase of two thousand five bun- dred dollars to his gift, which was granted. At the same time the village council in- creased its annual subsidy to one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.

At this time the officers of the association, who constituted the board of trustees of the library, were: Mra. C. C. Nichols, president : Mrs. R. C. Stumm, first vice- president : Mrs. W. R. Hale, second vice-president ; Mrs. R. J. Lacy, recording secre- tary: Mrs. 8. G. Smith, corresponding secretary, and Dr. Elizabeth Shrieves, treasurer.

The cornerstone of the new building was laid on Thursday, September 17, 1903, with simple but appropriate ceremonies. At four thirty o'clock In the afternoon of that day the members of the Library Association assembled, with quite a number of inter- ested persons, and brief exercises were conducted. In the absence from town of Mrs C. C. Niebols, the president of the association, and also of Mrs. R. C. Stumm, first

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vice-president, Mrs. Dr. W. R. Hale, second vice-president, was in charge and presided over the ceremonies.

Prayer was offered by Rev. Robert Elder, of the First Baptist church, and an his- torical sketch of the association, which had been prepared by Mrs. Nichols, was read by Mrs. Hale and then deposited in the tin box in the stone. Following this there was deposited a copy of the Wilmington Journal of July 1, which contained a picture and a description of the new building, as taken from the plans, and there was also inclosed in the receptacle copies of all Wilmington papers of the issue of the third week in September, 1903. Following these there was deposited a finding list of the library, a finding list of the library supplement No. 1. from June 1, 1902, to January, 1903; and No. 2, from January, 1903, to September, 1903. these giving the name of every book in the library at that time. Also there was placed in the stone the rules and regula- tions of the Wilmington Library, three library cards, book slip, reader's slip and read- er's card; the Daughters of the American Revolution year book, with the names of all the members of the Library Association; the names of the village council at the time of Mr. Carnegie's gift in February. 1903, and also of the members at that time.

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History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, Part 47

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1108

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1108