USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of Erie County Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 29
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
The German Catholics did not own a place of worship, for years attending Father Mastbeaf's church in Western Liberties. At this day they are in pos-
1
0
£
E
--
THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
261
session of a magnificent structure on the corner of Miami avenue and Jefferson street.
For any additional information the reader is kindly referred to the general chapter on church organizations.
The Germans became thrifty and monopolized many branches of industry. The "Stoss-seufzer " of the English nativistic press in those days, that they were irresistible in annexing trade and manufactures was called for. As the Germans before 1830 excelled in agricultural pursuits, they now had become a potent factor in the diverse branches of industry. The brewing business is exclusively in the hands of Germans in Erie county. The Kuebeler Brothers, Frank Stang and Anton Ilg have become wealthy in this trade.
The fish, wine and lime business is likewise controlled by Germans. Most of the representative firms have started out years age on a small scale and be- come prosperous beyond expectation.
The capital invested in the fish business by Adolph & Zollinger, Simeon Schacht, A. J. Stoll, Lay Brothers, Fruechtenicht & Nielson & Arend Brothers ; in the wine business by Engels & Krudwig, Wm. Alstaetter, John G. Dorn, Conrad Ernst, August Guenther, M. Hommel, Morris Link, Edw. Mooss, Edw. Steuck, John Strobel and Albert Textor; in the lime manufactory by Daniel Kunz and the Ohlemacher Brothers represents more than a million of hard cash and provides bread and butter for many a hundred of families.
To facilitate business the Germans organized in September 16, 1872, the Third National Bank, a prosperous and almost exclusive German institution, clecting L. Cable as president, Philip Graefe, vice-president ; George Ander- son, cashier ; Christ F. Schoepfle, Dr. Donahoe and Jacob Engles, directors.
Lorenz Cable was born 1823, March 20, in the village of Siegen, Elsass, and came to America in the spring of 1843. He worked as a cabinet-maker for David Moore, Bellevue, O., till spring of the next year, when he wended his way to Sandusky, where he resided for nearly forty-five years. On his ar- rival in this city he found a place open in H. F. Merry's cabinet shop, and subse- quently in Charles Zollinger's and the old Mad River Railroad Shops. In 1856 he embarked with John Bricht in the boot and shoe trade. He has become pos- sessed of great wealth. In 1872 he was elected as president of the Third Na- tional Bank, a position he holds to this day. The capital stock of this bank is $200,000, with a surplus of $34,000.
L. Cable resides with his second wife on the corner of Monroe and Law- rence streets.
Jacob Engels was born 1799, in Solingen, Germany, and emigrated in IS4S, making Sandusky his home in the year following. He became quite wealthy in the wine business. He always took an active part in organizing societies that aimed to cultivate and preserve the German language in song and speech. He died November 6, 1875.
34
£
1
262
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
The office as postmaster in Sandusky is held for the first time by a German, George Daniel, who came to America as a lad in the 40's. The German elemen: is represented in the city council by thirteen, and in the school board by twelve members. Dr. Von Schulenburg was the chairman of the committee on Ger- man instruction for several years. The board of cemetery trustees is exclu- sively German, viz .: John G. Strobel, Jacob Witzel and Louis Duennisch.
German Physicians .- Drs. Von Sick, Silva, Philip Graefe, Lange and En- derle ('48-50). Heiter, Leop. Pape, William and Charles Graefe, Szendery and Von Schulenburg. William Graefe is a conservative and skilful surgeon, and has spent several years abroad attending lectures in the Universities of Berlin and Vienna. Dr. C. Heiter was educated and took his degree in a Russian college. Dr. Von Schulenburg was educated in Germany, and has a large prac- tice among the Germans.
The German language was taught as early as '52 in pay schools by Charles Plate, Hoffman, Keller and Lehrer, through the arduous work of Adam Bauer, the first German school director, who served his constituents faithfully for nearly twenty years. It was finally introduced in the public schools of San- dusky and became a part of the regular course of study. Nearly a thousand children are benefited by it at this day.
German Press .- The first German paper published in Erie county was the Intelligenz-Blatt, by Ruemmele and Ruess. The first number made its appear- ance in April, I851 ; it existed for nearly twenty years.
In 1856 the Baystadt Demokrat entered the field as a rival. Captain L Traub was the first publisher. A few months later it was sold to Jacob Hertc!, who was editor and proprietor till 1873, when it passed into the hands of the present proprietor, William Senn. It has greatly improved in size and appear- ance since then, and has become the exponent of true Democratic principles under his régime. It is well conducted and prosperous.
By all their love for the new, the Germans never failed to take a propor- tionate interest in the welfare of the old fatherland, and many an imposing procession, that wends its way through the streets of the town testifies plain's of their ardent and true love for their former home. The capitulations at Se- dan and following restoratian of the old German Empire, manifested itself by an outburst of joy and jubilee. At the bicentennial anniversary of German em- igration in 1883, the strength of the German element was plainly seen. It was a multitude of thousands, that turned out on that bright Sunday afternoon to honor their pilgrims. A very accurate account of this celebration was pub- blished in the local columns of the Sandusky Demokrat, October 9, 1883, and we take the liberty to quote from it :
" A gala day. Two thousand in procession and six to eight thousand at the fair ground; the most imposing demonstration ever witnessed in Erie county. The procession started from the West Market at 2 P. M., under
١
263
RAILWAYS OF THE COUNTY.
the leadership of Charles Baetz and Constantin Zipfel, assisted by Osterman, Motry and Wiedeman. All the German societies of Sandusky were represented ; the old German pioneers were under the command of Cornelius Schnaitter. A large delegation representing the German element of Kelley Island, Middle Bass and Put-in-Bay were in line. L. Herb's State coach, drawn by four white horses came next. The president, Adam Bauer, Captain Dewald, of Mexican fame, Councilman August Kunzman, and the orator of the day, Dr. von Schu- lenburg, were the proud occupants. In the following carriages the members of the city council and the vice-presidents were seated, prominent among them being Messrs. Lorch, Mooss, H. Rudolph, Pietchman and Wm. Brehm. A cavalry troop of a hundred men under Gottlieb Epples' command came next, followed by an endless caravan of vehicles of all descriptions, music bands and drum corps heading the subdivisions. A score of thousands of people lined the streets. In strict accordance with the program of the day, the president, Adam Bauer, introduced at the fair grounds after an overture by the Great Western Band, the orator of the day, Dr. von Schulenburg, who spoke at length about the true mission of the German element in America, defining it in mas- terly and well received-way. Herman Ruess made an eloquent address. The Frohsinn and Harmonie singing societies captured the immense audience by their superb rendering of patriotic songs. The Active and Social Turnverein gave an exhibition of gymnastic exercises, Gambrinus even had a stand but may it be put on record that not a single one could be found in all this multi- tude, although watched with argus eyes, who did not deport himself respect- fully."
May this feeble effort to put the Germans of Erie county on record. be kindly accepted by all interested.
CHAPTER XVIII.
RAILWAYS OF THE COUNTY.
T is now more than half a century since the first railroad was put in opera- I tion in Erie county, and in relation to this class of institutions the county enjoys the distinction of having constructed within its borders, the first rail- way in the State and among the first in the country.
In the year 1832 two railroad companies, each having a part of their line in Erie, or what afterward became Erie county, were chartered as follows : The Mad River and Lake Erie, and the Milan and Columbus companies, the first being chartered January 5, 1832, and the other on the 1 1th February following. The
264
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Milan and Columbus road was never built nor are we possessed of any in- formation showing the performance of any substantial act other than the in- corporation thereof.
Then, again, although the creation of a later period, in reviewing these facts a mention must be made of that mythical and mysterious thoroughfare of trave! known as the " Underground Railway," having its invisible, though well pat- ronized route between the city of Sandusky, O., and Malden, in Canada. This was the usually traveled route taken by escaping slaves who sought a refuge beyond the reach of the owner's power and the driver's lash.
There lives in Sandusky to-day, probably not to exceed fifty persons who recall the partial construction of the road of the Ohio Railroad Company, which was chartered at the session of the Legislature of 1835-6. The route of this road was entirely practicable, but its enterprising projectors had not the means sufficient to complete the work, and it was abandoned after a vast amount of money had been expended. The route of this road, as defined by its charter, was as follows : " Beginning at the westwardly line of the State of Pennsylva- nia, and extending westwardly to the Maumee River in the State of Ohio." a distance of one hundred and seventy-seven miles. The line of this road, had it been completed, would have crossed Washington Square, in Sandusky. And many of the people of the county will remember the old Sandusky & Louis- ville Railroad Company, to the construction of which they liberally contrib- uted, but the road was never built.
THE INDIANA, BLOOMINGTON AND WESTERN RAILROAD.
This road is, indeed, of comparatively recent creation. But the line now in part operated by the receiver of the above company, has a history more va- ried and more interesting than that of any road now in operation in the State of Ohio ; and for an intelligent and clear, as well as an accurate narration of the facts of that history we must look back to the early years of the present century and note the efforts that were made to establish the first railroad in this State, or in the west, and recall the events of the early life of a road famed in history as the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad.
When the people of Sandusky were by fraud, deceit and corruption de- feated in their efforts to establish communication between this point and the Ohio River by canal, the most enterprising and energetic of her residents said. " Let us build a railroad." This was prior to the year 1825. During the pe- riod of the greatest agitation of this question a public meeting was held in San- dusky which was attended by all the leading men of the place, prominen: among whom can be recalled the names of David Caswell, who was made chair- man ; Dr. George Anderson, Colonel John N. Sloane, Elentheros Cooke, Cy. rus W. Marsh, Hector Kibourne, Moors Farwell, Colonel Abner Root, David Campbell, Aaron C. Corbett, William Townsend and others, possibly, whose names cannot, at this late day, be remembered. This was in 1826.
265
RAILWAYS OF THE COUNTY.
By these persons the situation was freely discussed, and united action was determined upon to urge the subject of building a road to connect Sandusky and Dayton, thence reaching south by the proposed Miami canal to Cincinnati and the Ohio River, thus opening direct and free communication between the great lakes on the north and the large rivers on the south. But it was several years before the fond hopes of the people of this locality were realized, but at last the thing was made possible.
The Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad Company was incorporated by an act of the Legislature of Ohio, passed on the 5th day of January, 1832. Among the persons named as commissioners in the act, three, William Townsend, Henry H. Wilcox, sr., and George Anderson were residents of Sandusky. It became the duty of these commissioners to open books for subscriptions to the stock of the company, but no organization could be effected until there had been subscribed to the corporation stock the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
This was accomplished in the course of a few months, and in October of the same year the company was organized, Horatio G. Philips, of Dayton, Montgomery county, being elected president. A treasurer was chosen at the same meeting. Other than this no business was transacted at this time, except to receive reports and urge the importance of prompt action in getting sub- scriptions to the stock of the company.
In the year 1834 another annual meeting was held, and Mr. Philips, being unwilling to hold further the office of president, declined a re-election, where- upon Joseph Vance, of Champaigne county, was chosen as his successor. In the spring of the next year, 1835, James H. Bell was appointed chief engineer of the company, and by him the route was located and surveyed between Sandusky and Tiffin, by the way of Bellevue, after which the work of construc- tion was at once commenced. Ground was first broken at the east end of Water street, at the intersection of Meigs street, in Sandusky, on the 17th of September, 1835. General William Henry Harrison, the hero of Tippecanoe, afterwards president of the United States, put the first spade in the earth, at the point above indicated.
That was a day of general jubilee in Sandusky, and the celebration was followed by a banquet at the Victor's Hotel, the distinguished guests and the prominent citizens taking part in the festivities of the occasion. In this same year, 1835, the contracts were let for bridging and grading on the located line, and the work of construction commenced.
In 1836 Colonel John H. James, of Urbana, one of the pioneers of the State, was chosen president of the company, and under his management the work of construction was pushed with the greatest energy the limited means of the corporation would permit. In this same year Colonel James contracted for the iron to be used between Sandusky and Bellevue. He also entered into
266
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
a contract with the firm of Rogers, Ketchum & Grovenor, of Paterson, N. J., for the construction a locomotive to be named the "Sandusky." This firm was at that time engaged in the manufacture of cotton machines, and under- took the work of building a locomotive with the greatest reluctance, but sub- sequently they became most celebrated as manufacturers of locomotives, and the outgrowth of their factory is found in the present extensive "Paterson Locomotive Works."
The locomotive "Sandusky," was brought from Buffalo on the vessel Sandusky, Thomas C. McGee, skipper, to the town of Sandusky, in the year 1837, and, during that fall, was placed upon the track and run between San- dusky and Bellevue, the road having been completed between these points in that year, all statements, impressions, and opinions to the contrary notwith- standing.
In the year 1850 the road was completed to Dayton, a distance of one hun- dred and fifty-four miles, and in the following year was in operation.
Colonel James was succeeded in the presidency of the company by William Hunt, and he, in succession by these men : Hon. Ebenezer Lane, E. F. Osborne, R. E. Runckle, John P. Yelderton, Oran Follett, Rush R. Sloane, and John S. Farlow, the last named having been continued to the present date, notwithstanding the frequent changes in the name of corporate management.
The same year in which the Mad River and Lake Erie road was completed to Dayton, another line, known as the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Rail- road Company, met the former at Dayton, and thus, in 1851, was constructed and in operation a through connection between Sandusky and Cincinnati.
In 1851 an act was passed by the Legislature incorporating the Sandusky City and Indiana Railroad Company. This company was organized in fact for the purpose of constructing a road from Sandusky to Tiffin, by the way of Clyde, to be built, moreover, in the interest and with the capital of the Lake Erie and Mad River road. On the Ist of December, 1854, this road, via Clyde, was leased for ninety-nine years, renewable forever, to the Mad River Company, and the old road to Tiffin by way of Bellevue was discontinued and abandoned.
The first change in the name of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad was made on February 3, 1858, under a decree of the Common Pleas of Erte county, by which the road became known as the Sandusky, Dayton and Cin- cinnati Railroad Company. And under a bill filed in the Erie county Common Pleas on February 4, 1865, Oran Follett was appointed receiver, under order of the court, and continued as such until its reorganization, on July 2, 1866, when, under that reorganization, the line passed under the management of the Sandusky and Cincinnati Railroad Company, and so remained until the 8th of October, 1866, when the line was leased for a term of ninety-nine years, re- newable forever, to the Cincinnati, Dayton and Eastern Railroad Company, and
-
1
267
RAILWAYS OF THE COUNTY.
Rush R. Sloane was made president. On the 9th of January, 1868, this lease was surrendered.
In 1868, on the IIth of January, by a decree of the Common Pleas of Erie county the name was changed to the Cincinnati, Sandusky and Cleveland Railroad Company, by which it is known at this day, although managed by the receiver of the Indiana, Bloomington and Western Company as a part of that system. That part of the road between Dayton and Springfield was leased for a term of ninety-nine years, renewable forever, to the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Company, in 1868. This contract of lease was nego- tiated by Rush R. Sloane, and it was, without doubt, the most profitable lease for the lessor company that was ever effected and executed in the State of Ohio.
About the year 1881 or 1882 the Cincinnati, Sandusky and Cleveland por- tion of the road was leased to the Indiana, Bloomington and Western Com- pany. This latter corporation was operating a line of road extending from Indianapolis, Ind., to Springfield, O., and desirous of obtaining a lake connec- tion, leased the part above named and made it a portion of their system. Some months ago, however, the Indiana, Bloomington and Western Company became insolvent, and a receiver was appointed, and since that event the Cin- cinnati, Sandusky and Cleveland as well as the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western Company has been operated by the receiver of the general Indiana, Bloomington and Western System.
THE SANDUSKY, MANSFIELD AND NEWARK RAILROAD COMPANY.
This company embraces three others of much earlier organization, which, with the dates of their charters, respectively, were as follows : The Monroeville and Sandusky City Railroad Company, chartered March 9, 1835; the Mans- field and New Haven Railroad Company, chartered March 12, 1836, and the Columbus and Lake Erie Railroad Company, chartered March 12, 1845.
The two first named were united under the name of the Mansfield and Sandusky City "Railroad Company ; and that, in turn, consolidated with the Columbus and Lake Erie Company, and became known as the Sandusky, Mansfield and Newark Railroad Company, on the 23d of November, 1853. In the year 1856 the road was sold and then reorganized, retaining, however, the former name. On February 13, 1869, the road was leased to the Central Ohio Railroad Company, and the Baltimore and Ohio Company guaranteed and assumed the covenants of the Central Ohio Railroad Company. The road extends from the city of Sandusky to Newark, O., a distance of one hun- dred and sixteen miles.
The work of construction on the old Monroeville and Sandusky City road was begun in the year 1835, and was, of course, necessarily slow. At a point six miles south of Sandusky the workmen encountered a ridge of slate, and this
268
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
proved the rock on which the founders of the enterprise, the Hollisters, were wrecked. In 1837 an effort was made to purchase the iron, to be used in building the road, in England, and for that purpose James K. Campbell was sent to negotiate ; but this effort was unsuccessful. The bed was finally com- pleted as far as Monroeville, a distance from Sandusky of sixteen and one- half miles. It was operated as early as 1837, but the motive power used was horses, with which regular trips were made between these points. The rails were of hard wood, and as no great speed was acquired or desired this primi- tive method answered very well for a time.
The State rendered considerable substantial aid in the construction of this old road, which was completed and put in operation under the presidency of Burr Higgins. Its results, however, were not very satisfactory from a financial point of view, therefore a reorganization became necessary, to which reference has already been made. The stock, which was considered of little value, was bought up, and by the results of the lease, virtually to the Baltimore and Ohio Company, bids fair to be of some considerable value in the future. The road is now earning an excess above interest on its bonded indebtedness.
The line of this road through Sandusky formerly and for some. years lay through Franklin street, but it was subsequently changed to Warren street. The old residents of the city will remember the old depot of the Monroeville and Sandusky City Company, that was located about in front of the old Lake House on Water street.
THE LAKE SHORE AND MICHIGAN SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY.
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway proper was created or formed by the union or consolidation of other lines of road having an existence prior to the year 1869. And inasmuch as this is, undoubtedly, the most im- portant railway now passing through Erie county, a brief mention of the several coporations from which it was formed will not be considered inappropriate in this connection.
The first union occurred by the consolidation of the Buffalo and State Line Railroad (extending from the City of Buffalo, N. Y. State, west to the State Line of the State of Pennsylvania, a distance of sixty-eight miles), with the Erie and Northeast Railroad (extending from the Pennsylvania State Line to the city of Erie, a distance of twenty miles), under and in pursuance of laws of the State: of New York and Pennsylvania, in the year 1867, and became known as the Buffalo and Erie Railroad Company.
And by the consolidation of the Cleveland, Painesville and Ashtabula Rail- road (extending from Erie, Pa., to Cleveland, O., a distance of ninety-five miles), with the Cleveland and Toledo Railroad (extending from Cleveland to Toledo, a distance of one hundred and thirteen miles), with a branch or northern divis- ion of the latter road extending from Elyria twenty-six miles west of Cleve-
269
RAILWAYS OF THE COUNTY.
land to Sandusky, a distance of thirty-five miles. Also from Oak Harbor, (twenty-six miles west of Sandusky) to Millbury, near Toledo.
These two last mentioned roads were consolidated under the name of the Lake Shore Railway Company in March, 1869, under the laws of Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Then the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad, extending from Toledo to the city of Chicago, Ill., a distance of two hundred and forty- four miles, was consolidated with the Lake Shore Railway Company in May, 1869, under the laws of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, un- der the name of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Company.
In August, 1869, the Buffalo and Erie Railroad Company was consolidated with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Company, under the lat- ter name, thus forming a continuous line of road five hundred and forty miles in length between the cities of Buffalo and Chicago.
This, in the main, formed the ground-work of the great Lake Shore and Michigan Southern System. It will be noticed above that mention is made of a " branch" or "Northern Division" of the Cleveland and Toledo Road. This is the line extending through Erie county, and is described above as "extend- ing from Elyria (twenty-six miles west of Cleveland), to Sandusky, a distance of thirty- five miles."
This branch road, as it was called, was that formerly chartered as the Junc- tion Railroad, intended to reach from Cleveland to Sandusky, and thence to Fremont. It was chartered March 2, 1846, and amended so as to extend to Toledo in January, 1851. It was built during the years 1851 and 1852, but about the same time the lower division, known as the Toledo, Norwalk and Cleveland Railroad was built, which road by connecting with one already in operation, reached Cleveland before the northern line was completed, and thenceforth did everything possible to obstruct the latter, among other acts to prevent the bridging of the Cuyahoga River. Then, again, the construction of the southern line from Toledo to Norwalk tapped the Fremont region, thus rendering unprofitable the building of the Junction Road from Sandusky to that point. The Fremont people gave it no encouragement and the project was abandoned.
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.