USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of Dayton, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneer and prominent citizens Vol. 2 > Part 5
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HISTORY OF DAYTON.
The machinery is run by a sixty horse-power engine, and the annual amount of business done at the present time is about one hundred thousand dollars, and it is constantly increasing.
In 1837, there was published a summary of the manufacturing interests then in Dayton, from which the following facts were in part taken: The Washington Cotton Factory had been in operation about eight years. The building was a frame one, 52x41 feet in size and four stories high. The factory was engaged principally in spinning cotton yarn. It had five hundred spindles in operation, employed sixteen hands, and turned out from twelve hundred to fifteen hundred pounds of cotton yarn per week.
The Miami Cotton Mill Company had been in operation five years. It was incorporated with an authorized capital of seventy-five thousand dollars and had a paid-up capital of thirty-five thousand dollars. It was engaged in spiuning cotton yarn and had somewhat more than one thousand spindles in operation. The yarn spun was from No. 5 to No. 12, and the output was one hundred and seventy-five thousand pounds per annum. The company employed from fifty to sixty hands and the weekly pay-roll amounted to one hundred and twenty dollars. James Plunkett was the superintendent.
The Cooper Cotton Factory was then in existence also. It had been organized in 1835, with an authorized capital of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, of which fifty thousand dollars had been paid in. The building was 100x50 feet in size. It was the design to operate with three thousand spindles, and with a capacity of three thousand yards of cotton goods per day. This factory continued to be operated until 1844, on May 13th of which year it was sold at public anetion. In the advertisement of sale, it was described as standing on the Miami Canal, within a few rods of the center of the corporation. The machinery consisted of 1,408 spindles and 30 looms, and was operated by water power, there being a flow of twelve hundred cubic feet per minute, with a fall of twelve feet. There was a frontage of one hundred and twenty feet on the canal. At the time of sale Mr. Robert Buchanan, of Cincin- nati, purchased the property, and afterward sold it to T. A. Phillips, who continued it as a cotton factory, taking into partnership his sons, George L. and Charles A., the firm name being T. A. Phillips & Sons. The com- pany was incorporated in 1874, with a capital of eighty thousand dollars. T. A. Phillips died in 1877. George L. Phillips retired from business in 1880, since which time Charles A. Phillips has carried on the business alone. The cotton factory was converted into a tobacco factory in 1887, and has since been operated by the Merchants' Tobacco Company.
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MANUFACTURES.
Returning now to the status of manufacturing in 1837, it may be mentioned that there was still another cotton factory, but located three miles from the city, called the Smithville Cotton Factory, owned by George W. Smith, who also operated an extensive distillery at the same place.
The Dayton Carpet Factory had a frame building, four stories high and 100x50 feet in size, and was one of the finest frame buildings over creeted in Ohio. It began operations that year with eight ingrain looms and four Venetian looms, with which it turned out from one hundred and fifty to two hundred yards of carpet per day. In the second story of their building the company operated a carding and spinning estab- lishment, and, altogether, employed forty hands. J. C. Geisendorff was the superintendent. On the 13th of May, 1844, this factory was offered for sale without reserve. It was described as having a front of 227 feet on the Miami Canal, the main building being 100x40 feet on the ground and four stories bigh. "There was a dry-house, a dye-house, and a bleaching-house besides. The water power was sufficient to drive two pairs of four and a half foot mill-stones, and there was a flow of six hundred cubic feet of water per minute. There were in the factory four carding machines, two forty-inch breakers, and two thirty-six-inch finishers, one rolling jack spinner, with ninety-six spindles, and one jenny with fifty spindles. There were eight ingrain looms and a number of common looms besides. The committee on sale was D. Z. Peirce and E. E. Barney.
The property, after several changes, at length came into the posses- sion of Joseph Kratochwill, who commenced the manufacture of flour in Dayton in 1854. He was at first located in a building which occupied the present site of Durst's flour mills. In 1860, he removed to Trotwood, where he remained, however, only a few months, and from Trotwood he moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he remained until 1864, when he returned to Dayton. He then came into possession of the old Dayton Carpet Company's building, located on the northeast corner of Sixth Street and the canal, and in it started the Oregon Mills, which he continued to run till his death in September, 1887. This building is of brick and wood, four stories above the basement, and 40 by 130 feet in size. The machinery is propelled by an overshot and Turbine wheel, and by a steam engine of two hundred horse-power. The average number of men employed is about twenty, and the daily product of the mill is five hundred barrels of flour.
After the death of Joseph Kratochwill, the mill was run for the estate by his son, James Kratoebwill, for about three months, when the
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HISTORY OF DAYTON.
Kratochwill Milling Company was incorporated with a capital of seventy- five thousand dollars, all paid in. The first officers of this company, who still retain their offices, are as follows: President, George P. Huffman; vice-president and manager, James Kratochwill; secretary and treasurer, James Turpin. The principal brands of flour made at the Oregon Mills are the " New Process," and the " Snow Flake."
The Osceola Mills were erceted in 1858, by L. Wollaston. The build- ing is located on Fifth Street, on the canal. It is a four story and basement building, 60x80 feet in size, having a height of fifty-two feet in front. When occupied as a flour mill it was fitted up with three run of buhrs, two of which were kept in operation night and day. Mr. Wollaston disposed of his interest to T. A. Phillips, but repurchased it, and afterward sold it to Joseph Kratochwill, to whose estate it belongs at the present time. It is now used by different parties as a store-house, and also by the Democrat and other newspaper offices.
Returning again to the summary of 1837, there was then but one cast iron foundry in the city. This was the property of Thomas Clegg, and was then turning out about two hundred tons of castings per year, principally machine castings and mold boards for plows. Castings were worth one hundred dollars per ton. Ten hands were employed at this foundry.
In 1830 or 1831, Henry Strickler and Jacob Wilt formed a partnership for the purpose of manufacturing gun barrels. The firm was increased in numbers in 1835, by the addition of George Rhodes, and the name became Strickler, Wilt & Company. They were located originally on the north side of the river, near " Steele's mill," or near where the Stilwell & Bierce Manufacturing Company is now located. The business was carried on in a small way for several years, but as it increased more room and better facilities were required, and the firm moved to the corner of Fifth Street and the canal, where they erected a building, which was three stories high and 100x40 feet in size. The capital stock of the firm was ten thousand dollars, and they employed from ten to twelve hands. When their business was most prosperous they turned out about eight gun barrels per day. These barrels were turned out smooth bores and rifled by the gunsmiths, to whom they were sold. A market was found for them all over the Western States. One of the peculiar features of the establishment was Mr. Wilt's method of straightening the barrels, which was of his own invention, as was also his method of grinding the barrels to the octagonal form.
The firm of Strickler, Wilt & Company was dissolved, and the busi- ness was continued by Jacob Wilt and his brother, Jeremiah, under the firm name of Jacob Wilt & Company. This firm moved to the upper
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hydraulic in 1854, and after continuing for some years was succeeded by Wilt & Harrington. About this time the demand for gun barrels began to diminish, and it finally ceased altogether. The firm, therefore, turned their attention to the manufacture of cotton batting. Still later another change occurred, the firm becoming Wilt & Rasner. This firm gained a wide reputation for the manufacture of mill picks. It was dissolved in 1874, and Mr. Wilt died in 1881.
There was also another gun barrel factory, which was owned by E. L. Helfenstein, and which was turning out about fifteen hundred gun barrels per year and employing five hands.
There were then four machine shops in Dayton. The first was connected with the Miami Cotton Mill, and made steam engines, cotton and wool-carding machinery, etc., some of which they exported as far away as Mexico. The number of hands employed varied from thirty to thirty-five, and the pay roll amounted to from two hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars per week. The annual value of the product amounted to from forty thousand to fifty thousand dollars.
Another machine shop was that of Solomon Price & Company, which commenced operations October 1, 1835. This firm employed about a dozen hands. There was, as has been stated above, a machine shop connected with the Washington Cotton Factory, which was established in 1839, and which, among other things, made horse-powers and threshing machines. Ten hands were thus employed. There was also a bobbin factory in the same building, employing four hands. The fourth machine shop was connected with Strickler, Wilt & Company's gun barrel factory.
- The clock factory of Marsh, Williams, Hayden & Company began operations in 1833, and in 1837 was making twenty-five hundred clocks per annum. The number of hands employed was twelve, and it was said that this was the largest clock factory in the West.
A. & A. C. Alexander & Company established their paper-mill in 1831. It was a three-story frame building, 35x70 feet in size. At this mill about seventy-five tons of rags were manufactured into paper each year, from which about fifty or sixty tons of paper were made. The number of hands employed was seventeen.
In 1837, the firm of Casad & Curtis, mentioned earlier in these pages, had been dissolved. D. M. Curtis had engaged in business as proprietor of the carding and fulling-mill, and was carding from ten thousand to twelve thousand pounds of wool per year. Ten hands were employed, three or four of whom were children.
Connected with the factory of A. & Z. Crawford was a chair factory, turning out about two thousand chairs per annum. S. T. Harker's
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HISTORY OF DAYTON.
soap and candle factory was making about one hundred thousand pounds of soap per annum, most of which was exported. He was also turning out about thirty thousand candles. It gave employment to five hands. There was at the same time another candle factory operated by Amos Smith.
In the city, and within three miles of it, there were then seven grist- mills, seven saw-mills, five distilleries, and several mills for cutting laths, shingles, etc. All of the large number of mannfactories were at that. time propelled by water power, except the last factory, which was run by steam. The hope was expressed that Dayton would always maintain the rank she then sustained, that of the second in wealth in the State. There were then twenty-nine mechanics' shops, worth seventy-seven thousand dollars; nine manufacturing establishments, worth one hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars, and other kinds of business aggregating in value, including the two classes abore particularized, $888,600.
The manufacture of portable threshing machines was begun in Dayton as early as 1838, by Kepler, Markle & Karr, their machine work being done at the Washington Machine Shop. The machine made by them was described in their advertisement as of J. D. Burrell's patent, and as being beautiful, simple, and complete, and casily moved from place to place. It might be used with equal convenience in the barn or in the field. "No machine runs lighter, threshes faster, or does better work." They were so constructed that an extra cylinder might be attached for threshing clover seed. The entire machine occupied a space equal to a two foot cube, and was propelled by a one-horse endless chain power, as was also " Allen's threshing machine," which was advertised for sale in this vicinity, but which was not manufactured in Dayton.
At the same time S. Price & Company were manufacturing in Dayton, " Newton's friction obviator," or double chain horse-power, which could be used in threshing grain, or in any work where a light horse-power was needed.
James Cook and C. W. Ennis established a rifle factory in 1838 on Jefferson Street, near the market, in which they promised to make as good a gun as could be found in the United States. In 1839, William Bourne informed the public that he would continue the manufacture of piano- fortes in Dayton on the corner of Second and Jefferson streets, and felt that it would not be boasting to say that he was able to make as good an instrument as was manufactured in Cincinnati, or imported from the East. He had engaged M. Bothart to build the instruments. Mr. Bourne after- ward moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and won considerable celebrity. At the same time Henry Kimes and Samuel Warner were engaged in
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the manufacture of plows and wagons, but in April, 1840, they dissolved partnership, and Henry Kimes continued the business alone until 1857.
According to the United States census of 1810, there were engaged in the different manufacturing industries and trades in the corporation of Dayton, at that time, 810 persons, and in Dayton Township, outside of the corporation, 260 persons, making an aggregate of persons thus engaged then, within the corporation and township, 1,070. The entire number in the county of Montgomery, at the same time, was 2,280, and in the whole State of Ohio, 66,265. The numbers engaged in each separate occupation were not reported by the marshals who took the census reports.
One of the early industries of this city was the marble works of LaDow & Hamilton. The exact date of the establishment of their works was not ascertainable, but it was probably as carly as 1842. At any rate they were here in 1845, and had on hand tombstones, etc., of the best variety of eastern marble. They were on Third Street for several years, and conducted quite an extensive business. In 1856, Dr. John Wise purchased Mr. Hamilton's interest in the business, and remained with Mr. LaDow eighteen months, when he sold his interest, and Mr. LaDow continued the business alone until the latter part of the war, and in 1864, J. II. Winder became a member of the firm. The firm remained LaDow & Winder until the death of the former in 1874, after which Mr. Winder conducted the business alone until 1878, when he closed it ont. This was a very prosperous firm, and during a portion of the time while it was LaDow & Winder its sales amounted to fifty thousand dollars per year. 1
W. and F. C. Estabrook commenced business in Clayton, Mont- gomery County, in 1835 or 1836, as merchants and manufacturers of linseed oil. In 1840, they removed to Dayton, where they continued the manufacture of oil at the present location of the Sachs-Pruden brewery. In 1846, W. Estabrook decided to go into the manufacture of seythes and erected a factory for that purpose, 50x100 feet in size and three stories high, fitted up with machinery for six trip-hammers and other machinery in proportion, with an estimated capacity of three hundred scythes per day. Upon a more careful investigation of the prospects for the success of that line of manufactures, he decided to abandon the projected en- terprise and sold the building to Simon Gebhart, who converted it into an oil mill. In the meantime the Estabrooks continued the manu- facture of linseed oil at their old location until the death of Warren Estabrook, which occurred April 14, 1857, after which the property was sold to Pritz & Kuhns, who were the pioneers in the business of the manu-
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HISTORY OF DAYTON.
facture of agricultural implements in Dayton, they having commenced in that line of manufacture in 1842. The implement, with which they commenced, was an endless chain horse-power, but they soon added other kinds of implements. Their manufactory was located at the northeast corner of Second and Sears streets. For some time they employed no machinery, but their work was celebrated for its excellence. As the demand increased, they were obliged to add to their facilities, which they did gradually until 1846, when they erected a large establishment on the corner of Second and Webster streets. From this time on for several years, they were unable to fill the orders they received. In June, 1846, they advertised that they had secured the right to manufacture Rice's patent railroad, or endless chain horse-power for one and two horses, and threshing machines in Ohio and Indiana. This threshing machine, they said, with its new improvements, took up but little room in the barn, and would thresh or hull clover seed, in either wet or dry weather, and worked with more ease to the horses and took fewer bands than any other machine, four being sufficient to thresh one hundred bushels per day.
In 1851, they commenced building the " celebrated Moore grain drill," which proved so popular in the Miami Valley that the firm found it out of their power to keep pace with the demand. Up to this time they had depended on the various foundries in the city for their castings, but being frequently unable to secure them fast enough for their necessities, they determined to erect a foundry of their own. This they completed February 22, 1855, but even after thus increasing their facilities they were still unable to keep up with their orders. In 1857, therefore, they purchased the buildings on the lower hydraulic, known as the Estabrook Oil Mills, which new location proved to be admirably adapted to the increase of their business. The main building was 130x40 feet, with a wing 100x50, all brick and three stories high. Adjoining this was the foundry, 70x50 feet. In the latter part of 1863 they were compelled to still further enlarge their facilities by the erection of another building.
In 1859, they had commeneed the manufacture of the " Dorsey self- raking reaper and mower," of which they built one hundred and sixty the first season. This machine gave such satisfaction to the farming community that the demand for it ran far ahead of the ability of the firm to fill it. In 1863, they manufactured and sold over six hundred of them, and then did not fill more than half their orders. At this time they employed sixty mechanics, besides a few laborers, and the annual extent of their business was over one hundred thousand dollars.
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MANOFACTURES.
The business was continued under the name above given until 1876, when Augustus Kuhus purchased the interest of Jacob A. Pritz, and the firm name then became Pritz, Kuhins & Company and so continued until 1878, when Adam and William IL. Pritz sold out to J. W. Pritz and Augustus Kuhns, and the firm became Pritz & Kulis, running on in this way until the latter part of 1883, when Colonel E. A. Parrott bought the interest of Augustus Kuhns, and the firm became Pritz & Company and continued thus until early in 1885, when J. W. Pritz took the business and is still continuing it, locating at the old place of Neff & Bennett on the canal, where all kinds of castings and repairs can be found. Since 1878 Mr. Adam Pritz has lived a retired life, selling the property, where he formerly carried on his manufacturing operations, to the Sachs-Pruden Ale Company on the Ist of March, 1888, as appears in the sketch of the latter company.
The property of Pritz & Kuhns was purchased March 1, 1888, by the Sachs-Pruden Ale Company. This company was incorporated January 9, 1888, the incorporators consisting of Edward Sachs, Henry B. Pruden, David Pruden, H. H. Weakley, and Frank T. Huffman, the capital stock of the company being five hundred thousand dollars. This company has two buildings, one of them being entirely new and crected under the supervision of Conrad G. Oland, of Hampshire, England, especially for the purpose to which it is devoted. This is the ale brewery building, 70x138 feet, and having four floors constructed almost entirely of steel. This structure was completed in September, 1888, and brewing was at once commenced. The capacity of the brewery is two hundred barrels every twelve hours, with facilities for an increase to double that amount. The bottling establishment is in the old building, and here they make ginger age, agaric, and other proprietary medicines. This building is 150x45 feet, and the bottling capacity is sixteen thousand per day. The conven- ience of modern machinery enters largely into the work of this corporation, and as a result, the number of employes is small when the extensive business transacted by the firm is taken into account.
In 1838, Heury Kimes established himself in the manufacture of plows in Dayton, in partnership with A. Warren. The parnership, however, was of short duration, and Mr. Kimes continued on alone for several years. In 1858 the stock in trade was purchased by George Coldracer and Louis J. Pfeiffenberger, who carried on the business under the name of Coldracer & Pfeiffenberger until 1873, when Mr. Coldracer sold his interest to Mr. Pfeiffenberger, who soon afterward sold one-half interest in the business to Michael M. Smith, and the firm name then became Pfeiffenberger & Smith. In 1883, Valentine Meixner purchased an interest in the business,
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and since that time the name of the firm has been Pfeiffenberger, Smith & Company. The premises occupied by this firm are located at Numbers 203, 205, 207, and 209 East Monument Avenue, and here they manufacture all kinds of wagons, carts, drays, wheelbarrows, etc. At the busiest season of the year they employ four men in the blacksmith shop, three in the wagon shop, and two in the paint shop.
A paper mill was established at Kneisly, near Dayton, in 1810, by William Clarke, who operated it there until 1816. At this time the firm of Ells, Claflin & Company was formed and located a paper-mill on the present site of the Mead Paper Company. Mr. Clarke having an interest in the firm, moved part of the machinery from the old Kucisly mill. This firm was succeeded in 1858 by Weston & Mead, the several members of the firm being W. A. Weston, J. L. Weston, and D. E. Mead. One year later D. E. Mead purchased W. A. Weston's interest, and the firm became Mead & Weston, which continued until 1866, when J. L. Weston sold his interest to Thomas Nixon, the firm becoming Mead & Nixon. In 1872, the firm became an incorporated company with a capital of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and the name was Mead & Nixon Paper Company. D. E. Mead was the president of the company, Charles D. Mead, secretary, and Thomas Nixon, vice-president. This company was succeeded in 1881 by the Mead Paper Company, D. E. Mead president; Charles D. Mead, vice-president, and B. F. Reist, secretary. Since that time no changes in officers have been made, and the capital stock remains the same as at first. The mills are located at the corner of Front and Second streets, and furnish employ- ment to one hundred and twenty-five operatives, to whom about forty thousand dollars is paid annually. The plant now in use is most complete and extensive in its character. The main building is four stories high, and 200x100 feet in size. Besides this there are several other buildings. The motive power is both steam and water, the three steam engines having an aggregate of four hundred and fifty horse-power, and the water being about two hundred horse-power. The capacity of the mills is twelve tons of paper per day. The kinds of paper manufactured are super calendered and machine finished book and newspaper, and colored papers. The patronage of the company is mainly in the Western States, and the growth of the trade is steadily increasing.
The works, owned at the present time by W. P. Callahan & Com- pany, were established in 1841 by C. Thompson, on Shawnee Street, between Wayne and Wyandotte streets. Mr. Thompson's sous were connected with him in the business a portion of the time, but in 1852 they retired from the firm and went to Terre Haute, Indiana, and Mr. Thompson went into partnership with Thomas MeGregor and John
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Clary, the firm becoming Thompson, MeGregor & Company. In 1857, W. P. Callahan bought the interest of Mr. Clary, the firm name remain- ing the same until 1862, when Mr. Thompson died, and the business was carried on by the two remaining partners until 1868, when Mr. Callahan bought out the interest of Mr. McGregor and became sole proprietor. Mr. Callahan was alone until 1876 when he took into partnership Thomas . DeArmon, and the firm name then became W. P. Callahan & Com- pany, as it remains until the present time. In 1885, W. K. Callahan, a son of W. P. Callahan, was admitted to partnership. The business was commenced in a small way and has gradually grown to its present large proportions. It was removed to its present location in 1856, and it now occupies several large brick buildings and furnishes employment to from seventy-five to one hundred men. The goods manufactured consist mainly of linseed oil and cotton-seed oil machinery, but steam engines, mill gearing, shafting, paper-mill machinery, pulleys, etc., are also made. The annual output of the works has been in some years over one hundred thousand dollars.
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