History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 68

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 68

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

The Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati railroad having their depot on east Main street, John Tracy built a hotel there in 1850 which was called the American House, and in 1854 he sold out to A. Reeve who refitted and refurnished it throughout. It passed into various hands, became the brick structure that was destroyed by fire a dozen years ago, since which time it has no longer been used as a' hotel, but the eastern part of the building is the large restaurant of Bland and Irwin, which has a state reputation as "The Big Store."

On East Main street a hotel was started years ago. It came into the hands of Gust Keen, who ran it as a regular hotel; it under- went many changes under the hands of differ- ent managers, and the present brick building was erected, and it is today the Phoenix Hotel.

On Main street, east of the Big Four tracks is the Stevens Hotel, named after the pro- prietor, John Stevens.

To the ladies of Galion is due the present public library. The Current News Club, one of the Women's Clubs of Galion, began to agitate the subject of establishing a public library and their efforts met with a hearty

435

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

approval by a large number of citizens who were in sympathy with the enterprise. The club started a library fund, which was con- tributed to by other clubs and associations until several hundred dollars were gathered for the purpose. In 1898 a state law was passed whereby it was made mandatory upon boards of education in cities the size of Galion to make a tax levy to support public libraries under certain conditions. With the assurance of support as guaranteed by this law, the ladies of the Current News Club, on March 26, 1901, incorporated the Galion Public Library Asso- ciation, with the declared purpose of building and maintaining a public library free to all the citizens of the Galion public school dis- trict. The organization being perfected, a de- mand in accordance with the law was made upon the Board of Education of the city for the necessary tax levy, which was cheerfully granted by the board, and the new library asso- ciation started upon its career with bright pros- pects of making a success of its undertaking.

As a first step in their establishment of a public library the association, then composed of ladies only, purchased In-lot No. 56, on the east side of North Market street for a consid- eration of $2,850. This lot had an old log residence on it, one of the oldest buildings in the city, and was one of the early school houses half a century previous. This was converted into a comfortable library and reading room and promised to become the pride and glory of the infant library association, if not the fullest satisfaction of the city's ambition in the direc- tion of library building. But no sooner had the library taken form and the public began to lend its influence and support, than a new and higher ambition took possession of the mem- bers of the association and they began to as- pire to better and more permanent library buildings and facilities.

Andrew Carnegie was helping other libraries ; would he not also help them to secure a better library home? An application was made to Mr. Carnegie in August, 1901, for a building fund, but as nothing came of this effort, the association sent a committee of two citizens to New York, in February of 1902, to present the matter personally. The com- mittee was successful and in March of that

year Mr. Carnegie made an appropriation of $15,000, conditioned upon his customary de- mand of a guarantee of an annual support for the library of not less than ten per cent of that amount. The Association then asked the city council to give Mr. Carnegie the required guar- antee of support, which was done by resolu- tion passed April 18, 1902.

The fund for a library building being now secured, the plans of the present building were approved, and the contract for the building was let for the sum of $13,578, and with the heating and other appliances, together with the walks and curbs, brought the total cost of the improvement, exclusive of books and furnishings, up to $16,559.50. To these im- provements should be added the cost of the lot, which makes an aggregate cost for the library, exclusive of contents, of $19,409.50.

The Galion Public Library was formally dedicated Thursday evening, April 28, 1904. Following the exercises, which were held at the City Opera House, a considerable sum of money was raised to meet the cost of the build- ing. At the present time (July 25, 1912) the library contains 5,014 books for circulation, exclusive of about 700 government documents. Miss Estella Coyle is librarian and Miss Doris John, assistant librarian. The Board of Directors is composed exclusively of ladies, as follows: Mrs. M. R. Crim, president ; Mrs. Elmer Stout, vice president; Mrs. David G. Bryfogle, secretary ; Mrs. H. A. House, treas- urer; Mrs. A. W. Lewis, Mrs. A. W. Monroe, Mrs. H. E. Smith, Mrs. J. J Schaefer and Miss Nettie Kinsey.

The Police Department is under charge of L. E. Christian, who is now serving in his third year as chief. Under him are Capt. C. D. Riblet and five patrolmen. The department holds communications through its own tele- phone system, which is independent of the city exchange, there being 14 box or patrol phones. The jail is immediately back of the station, in the same building, and contains four cells, strongly constructed, while upstairs there is a hospital room, which is used also for female prisoners.

The Logan Natural Gas and Fuel Company, operating in Bucyrus and Galion, installed their system in both towns at about the same

436

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

time, Galion being slightly in advance in get- ting supply, which was turned on December 2, 1902.

The telephone company was started by George Ristine about 1885, and today the public are served by the Central Union Tele- phone Company and the Galion Telephone Company.

As nearly as can be estimated, the popu- lation of Galion in 1850 was about 421, so in those early days, outside of little stores and small shops, there were no important indus- tries. Robert Cowden writes that as late as 1848-9 he has seen as many as a hundred covered wagons a day passing north from Morrow county along the Portland road to Sandusky and Milan. But now, after more than half a century has passed, Galion no longer looks with jealous eye at the aban-

doned crossing, but points with pride to the prosperous city with its many shops and fac- tories giving employment to hundreds of men; its handsome residences and improved streets; its advanced schools and stately churches; its important railroads and solid financial insti- tutions; and its citizens enjoying all the ad- vantages of every modern public improvement. And taking a just pride in all this, the citizens should sometimes recall the names of those early pioneers who went through the hard- ships necessary to level the forest into a settle- ment, have a kindly remembrance for Michael and Jacob Ruhl, who from that settlement founded a village, and drop an occasional flower on the grave of Asa Hosford, whose energy and perseverance transformed that vil- lage and made possible the city of today.

CHAPTER XXVI

MANUFACTURES

Introductory-The Eagle Machine Works-The American Clay Machinery Co .- The Carroll Foundry and Bucyrus Steel Castings Co .- The Hall Gas Engine Co. and Ohio Locomotive Crane Co .- The Shunk Plow Works-The Bucyrus Machine Works-The Bucyrus Knitting Machine Co .- The Vollrath Planing Mill-A. M. Jones & Co .- The C. Roehr Co .- The Deal Smutter Factory-The Pinyerd Bros. Mill-The Dostal Brewe- ery-The Main St. Mills-The Van Loozen Multi-Colored Press Co .- The Blair Pig Ring Factory-The Bucyrus Husking Glove Co .- The Sommer Motor Co .- The Craig Foundry Co .- The Kelly Manufacturing Co .- The Ryder Brass Foundry-D. Picking & Co .- The Crooks-Uhl Mfg. Co .- The Bucyrus Copper Kettle Works-The Keel Monument Works-The Colter Mill-The Brokensword Stone Co .- Wine Manufac- ture-Patterson Mfg. Co .- The Ruhl Carriage Works-Other Bucyrus Enterprises- Galion-The Tyler Organ Co .- The Kunkel Carriage Works-The Galion Buggy Co .- The Sandusky Cooperage and Lumber Co .- The Buckeye Wheel Co .- The Weaver Bending Co .- The Plack Carriage Works-The Galion Lumber Co .- The Gledhill Lum- ber Yards and Mill-The New York Racket Store-The Ohio Mausoleum Co .- The Detweiler Mfg. Co .- The Galion Iron Works Co .- The Galion Handle & Mfg. Co .- The Galion Metallic Grave Vault Co .- The American Steel Grave Vault Co .- E. M. Freese & Co .- The Galion Brewing Co .- The Longstreth Monument Works-The Sponhauer Boiler & Machine Works-The Perfection Road Machinery Co .- The Cleve- land-Galion Motor Truck Co .- The Telephone Improvement Co .- The Market St. Mills -The Galion Monument Co .- The Galion Machine Works-The Farmers' Mfg. & Milling Co .- The Burch Plow Works-Phoenix Milling Co .- Gledhill & Kime Lumber Co .- The Weaver Bros. Co .- H. E. Bormuth Cement Block Co .- The Holcker Bros. Buggy Co .- The Schill Bros. Co .- New Washington-The New Washington Flouring Mill-The New Washington Lumber & Mfg. Co .- Seitter & Brown's Brick & Tile Works-The Kibler Tannery-The Crawford County Nursery.

Clang! clang! the massive anvils ring; Clang ! clang! a hundred hammers swing ; Like the thunder-rattle of a tropic sky, The mighty blows still multiply,- Clang ! clang !

Say, brothers of the dusky brow, What are your strong arms forging now? -ANONYMOUS.

In this progressive age the general intelli- gence of a people may be gauged by the extent and variety of their manufactures. Agricul- ture, though in modern times elevated to the dignity of a science, makes no extraordinary demands upon the intellect. Its methods, de- pending on Nature's laws, are essentially the

same as those which were pursued when the Pyramids were building, and it owes a large part of the enhanced dignity to which it has attained in comparatively recent years to the improved implements and machinery that are the direct product of inventive brains working out through the channels of manufacturing enterprise. Manufactures represent, there- fore, the activity and power of the human mind when applied to practical subjects-to those things, aside from food, with which humanity is daily and directly concerned. They have to do with almost everything that we use or

437

438

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

handle. Perhaps no other branch of human ac- tivity covers so wide a field, and each individ- ual product in all the wondrous variety rep- resents in high or low degree, the victory of mind over matter-the ultimate fruition of a thought.

In this department of human enterprise the United States occupies a leading place among the nations of the world. From the wooden nutmeg of the enterprising Connecticut Yan- kee to the latest type of aeroplane, American products are known the world over and all the world pays tribute to American brain and en- terprise ; and among the states that have helped to win this renown there are few that hold a higher rank than Ohio. As an integral part of this commonwealth Crawford county can hold her own in business and manufacturing enterprise.

In the early history of the middle west man was engaged in the task of subduing the wil- derness and rendering it fit for human habita- tion. The work was chiefly one of laborious application, the axe, the saw and the plow be- ing almost the only tools employed. But with the advent of settlers other demands arose. Man must have bread, and so corn and wheat must be ground into flour. He must, or will as soon as practicable, have comfortable dwellings, to erect which he requires lumber. Hence in the early saw and grist mills of pio- neer days we behold the beginnings of that manufacturing enterprise which forms so con- spicuous a feature of our life today.

Such initial enterprises as they relate to Crawford county, may be found touched on in other chapters of this volume dealing with the various townships and villages, and need not be recapitulated here. As in every com- munity of people belonging to the great Cau- casian race, improvement was the daily motto and perfection the ultimate goal for which our pioneer manufacturers strove. Thus they could hardly help but make progress. Spurred on by necessity, in no few instances they struck out original lines of thought, which bore fruition in various improved and labor-saving devices calculated to lighten the work of the farmer, the merchant, the me- chanic, or the busy housewife ; and later on, in the times in which we live, this same intellec- tual energy, has produced yet greater results

in many wonderful inventions that our fore- fathers never dreamed of, but which we of to- day could hardly do without. To illustrate this marvellous enterprise as connected with the growth and prosperity of Crawford county, it is only necessary to glance briefly at the principal business and manufacturing enter- prises which are now flourishing in the county, or which have existed therein in former days.

The first business enterprise established in Bucyrus was Abel Cary's grist-mill, which was erected in 1822, or perhaps earlier, on the river bank, just west of the north end of Main street. A dam was constructed across the river at this point. Subsequently, however, the machinery and mill were removed to the north end of Walnut street, and it was operated there for some years, until it was destroyed by fire. Its proprietor, James Kelly, erected another mill on the same site in 1844, and this latter mill was in operation for twenty-six years, during the greater part of this period being the property of James McLean. This mill also was burned, on April 9, 1870. In 1822 Lewis Cary started a tannery, which after- wards, passed into the hands of his son, Aaron, by whom it was sold to Richard Plummer, about 1855. In the following year Plummer sold it to Christian Shonert, who had learned the trade under Aaron Cary. David Holm and Henry Minich also had tanneries about 1831, and several other small industries were then carried on in or near the village, among which was a pottery conducted by Elias Slagle, who also, after 1830, ran an oil-mill, with a large circular tramp wheel on the same lot, near the site of the old Cary mill. Jesse Quaintance also put up a mill on the river bank, southwest of the village after 1830.

Several carding-mills were also established at this early day in Bucyrus. One of these, operated by tramp-wheel power, was conduc- ted by Jourdan Jones, and afterward sold to Mr. Lautenheiser, who furnished it with a steam engine. Another carding-mill was run by Mr. Kirk. The latter was bought out by Dr. A. M. Jones, who established Samuel Clapper in the business, which was conducted for several years near the southwest corner of Walnut and Perry streets, by the firm of Jones & Clapper. In 1843 a steam-engine was installed and the mill was run night and day

439

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

on account of the great increase in the busi- ness. This engine is said to have been the sec- ond one introduced into Crawford county, the first having been used in the old flouring mill run by James Kelly.

The Eagle Machine Works-Sometime in the early fifties a small machine shop was started in Bucyrus, which subsequently obtained considerable local importance as a manufacturing enterprise. The concern was purchased in 1862 by two of the workmen therein employed-Messrs. Frey & Sheckler, who continued and improved the business. In 1867 the entire works were destroyed by fire, but in the following year the two proprietors took in as a third partner Mr. George Quinby, and the works were rebuilt on a much larger scale and furnished with improved machinery. Subsequent to 1872 other buildings were ad- ded until the plant included a foundry, ma- chine shops, blacksmith shops, engine-house, coke and sand-house, office and patternroom, etc. By 1880 there were eighteen or more hands employed and among the firm's products were engines, horse-powers, saw-mills, brick machines, etc. The Eagle Portable Engine was especially noted, and their brick machines were among the best in the country and were sold as far west as Wyoming and Indian Ter- ritory. Mr. Sheckler retired in 1875, and in 1877 William Hoover purchased an interest, but later Mr. Sheckler reentered the firm, which then became Frey, Sheckler & Hoover, and was so conducted for a number of years when Mr. Sheckler again retired and the Frey- Sheckler Company was incorporated under the management of Col. W. C. Lemert and so continued until 1896 when the Frey-Sheckler Company was combined with J. W. Penfield & Son Company of Willoughby and the com- pany incorporated under the name of The American Clay Working Machinery Company, with principal offices at Bucyrus, Ohio, though the Willoughby plant was and is still run by the company. In 1906 the company name was changed to The American Clay Machinery Company and it is the largest plant manufac- turing clay working machinery in the world. R. C. Penfield is the head of the company.

In 1909 the American Equipment Company was organized by Mr. Penfield with general

offices at Bucyrus but their operations are en- tirely in Chicago.

In 1888 George Campbell started the Camp- bell Frog Works, to manufacture an improved railroad frog. The business moved along slowly and soon Mr. Campbell included foundry work, doing a large business in foundry jobbing. In 1891 Mr. Campbell died and in December of 1891 P. J. Carroll pur- chased the business of the Campbell heirs and operated the business on East Warren street. Under his management the business grew from one employing half a dozen men to one with probably fifty, when Mr. Carroll deemed it advisable to enlarge his facilities.

In 1897 Bucyrus voted to issue bonds to es- tablish the McGibery Radiator Works in the northern part of the city, but the venture did not prove a success and the city liad an empty building on its hands. P. J. Carroll acquired this and moved his foundry to the old Radia- tor building in 1899, calling his plant the Car- roll Foundry and Machine Works. Here the business developed to great proportions and the present plant is very extensive, employing several hundred men. In 1906 Mr. Carroll organized the Bucyrus Steel Castings Com- pany, and immense new buildings were erected and business started in 1907. This business has also grown until now hundreds of men are employed.

The Hall Gas Engine Co. and the Ohio Locomotive Crane Co. are both Bucyrus com- panies, closely allied with the Carroll plants and both doing splendid business and with ex- cellent prospects.

The Shunk Plow Works-This concern had its origin a few years previous to the Civil War, when A. Shunk, Sr., began the making of plows on a small scale, employing but four men and doing all the work by hand. His factory was known as the Bucyrus Plow Works. As the years went by the business increased, steam power was introduced and several large buildings erected. In May, 1870 a firm was formed consisting of A. Shunk, Jr., F. R. and N. T. Shunk, all brothers. Later some changes took place and the firm became A. Shunk Sr., alone. By 1880 the works had a capacity of 1,000 plows per year, of nine different varieties, they being sold chiefly in

440

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

Ohio and the Western states. Further changes caused the ownership to become vested in Nelson F., John Q. and Isaac Shunk, of whom the two first mentioned are now proprietors, Isaac having died about ten years ago. The business has branched out in other directions, and plows are no longer among the chief pro- duct of the factory, which now include steel plow parts, mould boards and cutting edges for wheeled road scrapers, and steel wheel farm wagons. About 500 tons of plate steel are used per year. The plows are sold chiefly in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, while the other products are shipped to all parts of the country. In recent years some improved heavy machinery has been installed. About 35 men are now employed.

The Bucyrus Machine Works, at one time an important Bucyrus industry, originated previous to 1861, when William Burkhart, James Throupe and J. Moultrop commenced work together in a little blacksmith shop, and made a few "Excelsior" machines. Mr. Burkhart invented the Bucyrus Machine, and about 1861 the concern became known as the Bucyrus Machine Works. In January, 1869, the firm became a stock company, with a capital stock of $100,000, B. B. McDonald being superintendent and W. T. McDonald, treasurer. A fire in May of the following year caused a loss of about $21,000, but these parts of the plant that had been destroyed were rebuilt and the entire plant improved. About 100 men were employed and as high as 700 machines in one year were manufac- tured. A large part of their output went to the western states, where the Bucyrus machine was very popular. At one time preparations were made for the building of railway cars and a switch was built from the works to the railroad, but about this time the business be- gan to decline and the concern subsequently passed into the hands of J. N. Biddle. In a few years another assignment was made, A. Monnett & Co., becoming the proprietors. After operating the plant for a time they leased it to Stuckey & Diller, who carried on the bus- iness for a number of years.

In 1868 William Franz and Dr. William Pope began to perfect a knitting machine for both domestic and manufacturing purposes. They succeeded and obtained a patent, and

subsequently patented eight improvements, be- sides purchasing six others, making fourteen improvements, in addition to the original pat- ent. A company was formed in 1870 called the Bucyrus Knitting Machine Company, and commenced operations. It was disbanded, however, in 1871 and a joint stock company formed composed of Dr. William Pope, Dr. C. Fulton, James Clements, John Franz, Thomas Beer, George Quinby, George Don- nenwirth and William Franz. George Quinby was president, William Franz secretary and Dr. W. Pope general agent. The style of the company was changed to The Franz & Pope Knitting Machine Company. The machine was capable of producing a large variety of work, being adapted to all manner of crocheting, making tidies or afghans, as well as common hosiery. It knit a stocking, heel and toe combined in seven minutes, with but little hand finishing required. In 1878 a hosiery department was added to the estab- lishment, in which about thirty girls were em- ployed.

In 1855 Gottlieb Vollrath started a planing- mill in Bucyrus under the firm name of G. Vollrath & Co., the firm comprising Mr. Voll- rath and two sons-Albert and Charles. In 1867 William, another son, bought out his father and the firm became Vollrath Brothers. In 1868 a large brick building was erected, three stories high, with ground dimensions of 78x45 feet; also a boiler and engine-room measuring 19x54 feet. This building was in- stalled with the most up-to-date machinery for the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds, moldings, etc., and a large business was done, giving employment to from fifteen to twenty men. A large business was also done in dressed and undressed lumber.

In 1870 the Vollrath Brothers fitted up a part of their planing-mill building for the pur- pose of a flour mill and commenced this line of industry. In 1872 this part of the business was bought by F. A. Vollrath, another brother, who subsequently conducted it.

The Buckeye State Wood Works were es- tablished in 1866 by A. M. Jones & Company for the purpose of manufacturing spokes, hubs, and bent work. The members of the firm were A. M. Jones, WV. C. Lemert, Lyman Parcher and John Jones. Nicholas Reehl was

441

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

afterward admitted and shortly after John Jones and Lyman Parcher sold out to the other three partners, the firm still being known as A. M. Jones & Co. About thirty men were employed. The business was quite pretentious and would have grown to still greater pro- portions but that other interests of the owners made it seem advisable to close up the old Wood Works, which was done.

In 1859 a planing-mill was erected by Kel- ler, Stoll & Co. The firm later became Stoll & Brother, and in 1869 the style was changed to Stoll Brothers & Company. The main building was 70x40 feet, with engine room 40x18 feet and the establishment was supplied with the best machinery. Subsequently Charles Roehr became a member of the firm. A large number of men were employed and an extensive business done in the line of sash, doors, blinds and in lumber, rough and dressed of all kinds.

Under the management of Charles Roehr the company developed a great business. The C. Roehr Company was organized being owned by Mr. Roehr and his three sons, Edward C. William and Carl F. Extensive contracts were obtained, the firm being especially successful in interior trim for large buildings in all parts of the country. Some of the early big con- tracts were the complete interior trim for large office buildings in Pittsburgh. Later they had the contracts for the Pope Buildings at Hart- ford, Conn., and in Boston. Their work in- cluded the complete finishing of the Philadel- phia Mint, the Chicago Post Office, a modern building at the Annapolis Naval Academy, office buildings in New York and other great cities. All three of the sons died, and follow- ing this his own health failed, so that Charles Roehr retired from business and the company was re-organized under the name of the New Roehr Company, of which A. S. Leuthold is president and Samuel Leuthold secretary.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 68

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1302

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302