USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions > Part 33
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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
In the early settlement of Fayette county the work of manufacturing woolen goods was all done by hand, hand-cards, the common spinning wheel and the loom, and if any fulling, it was done by the feet on the floor. The first advance was said to have been a set of roll-cards, propelled by horse- power, introduced about the year 1814 by a Mr. Lupton, from Clinton county, Ohio. This manufactory was located in the eastern part of Wash- ington C. H. The business was continued for some three or four years, when the machinery was sold and removed out of the county. In the year 1825 Dr. Thomas McGara and Joseph Elliott erected a building in the cen- tral part of town for the same purpose. It was limited in capacity and con- tinued for about three years, when it was sold to Andrew Holt, who pur- chased a lot near the old graveyard and erected a large frame building in which to carry on the business. After running it two or three years, in about 1830, he sold it to Eber Patrick, who continued in the same place. with the exception of one or two years, while it was in the hands of J. Webster, until the year 1843, when he sold the entire premises and machin- ery to John and William Robinson, who immediately introduced steam power. They also added fulling, dyeing and finishing.
In 1832 Judge D. McLain purchased a full set of cards, with an outfit for fulling, dyeing and finishing. His building was on lot No. 5, Court street. He continued the business for five or six years and then sold out to Mr. Walker, formerly of Washington C. H., who moved the machinery to Indiana.
Samuel Lydy bought one set of cards of E. Patrick and introduced steam power, probably the first in the county. In a short time it was pur- chased by Robert Robinson & Son (Henry), and was controlled by them until 1845, when the building and power were sold to Weller & Mizer for a blacksmith shop, and the machinery was abandoned and sold for old iron.
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Soon after this J. and W. Robinson purchased the premises of Eber Pat- rick and added some spinning machinery, yet on a limited scale. In 1848 James Pursell and J. Bohrer bought the interest of William Robinson. again machinery was introduced for carding and also a new jack for spin- ning.
In 1850 the firm was known as Pursell & McElwain. They added to the machinery and by procuring skilled workmen kept, or increased, the home manufacture. But with the growth of the county came the railroad from Cincinnati and compelled the removal of the factory. In 1855 it passed into the hands of B. Pursell and George Wherritt and was removed to a school building on lot No. 21. In 1856 it was purchased by B. Pursell and George Easterbrook and in 1857 was sold to George Price, an exper- ienced manufacturer. In 1861 it passed into the hands of I. C. Vandeman. The mill successively changed hands until 1880, when it was abandoned and the machinery sold and removed to Fort Scott, Kansas.
What was the old distillery property was, in 1863, converted into gen- eral wood-working factory, known as the hub works, sometime known as the handle factory, by Bybee & Shoemaker. This plant stood at the foot of Court street on the creek. The first season it was operated the force of men employed was twenty-five and the monthly pay-roll was one thousand dollars. Here were produced all kinds of tool handles, such as spade han- dles, fork handles, hammer handles, pitchfork handles, and all kinds of hard and soft wood turning was executed. They also made wagon and buggy hubs and spokes.
Some years before 1880 there had been a small stamping works here. conducted by a local man, but in that year a company was formed, compris- ing Daniel McLain, James Pursell. Stimpson Brothers, M. S. Sager, Mills Gardner and George Dahl. The capital stock was twenty thousand dollars. Numerous articles of metal were stamped out for the market. Heavy presses were in operation and an extensive trade was worked up in the line.
The Herald of October, 1881, has this concerning the old mill: "The old mill, the first grist mill of the place, on Paint creek, known as the Millikan mill, has been running sixty-six years under the family name. It was built by Jesse Millikan, Sr., one of the pioneers of Wahsington C. H., and has been operated by some member of the Millikan family ever since 1815. For many years it was run by use of an undershot water wheel. and later an improved wheel was installed and used until 1851, when steam was introduced first in the mill, and after a number of years it was run
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partly by steam and part of the time by water, but late years by steam en- tirely. The same engine and forty-foot boiler first employed is still in use, having been in actual service thirty years. The mill has excellent machin- ery, and was for years operated day and night in order to keep up with the custom it had from far and near. John Millikan is now superintendent of the mill."
INDUSTRIES OF 1901.
The files of the newspapers disclose the following concerning the various important industries in Washington C. H. in 1901: The J. J. Will great lumber mills, established in 1896, running day and night to keep ahead of their orders from all sections of the country and for export transactions. Seventy-five workmen were constantly employed and from thirty to fifty car loads of lumber were shipped out each month. Only the best and finest grades were shipped. The same company also operated an immense chair factory which used up the smaller, but none the less valuable, pieces of lumber here cut. Here the annual output was immense. One hundred and ten men were employed in the chair factory alone. This factory was burned in May, 1900, at a loss of fifty thousand dollars, but was rebuilt again.
The Wonder Stove Factory was in operation and produced many kinds. grades and sizes of heating stoves. The annual output was twenty-five thousand dollars. Sixty men were constantly employed in these stove works.
The Washington Milling Company, by O. E. and W. W. Gwinn. were making three hundred and fifty barrels of family flour daily. They also operated their immense grain elevator in connection with their inills.
The Ludlow Soap Factory, owned and operated solely by Hon. Mills Gardner, was among the great industries of that day.
The Washington Ice Company, producing artificial ice, had a capacity of fifteen tons daily. They stored seven hundred tons for reserve stock for summer use. Clarence Baer was then manager.
The Washington Mitten Factory was in full blast and their product went all over the central Western states.
White Brothers' shoe factory was then running successfully. Also Bachel's carriage factory and two firms were doing an immense business in the manufacture of farm and garden fertilizers. These were M. Hamm & Company and the Dahl, Miller Company.
The Smead hot water heating plant was then in its infancy and a much- talked-of concern and interested the public generally. Col. Isaac D. Smead was the inventor and owner of the concern.
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The Washington Machine Shops were doing a large business.
Another great industry, in its line, is the canning factory, where im- mense quantities of corn, etc., are annually canned and placed on the gen- eral markets of the world. This has been in operation a number of years. There have been several organized corporations in this factory, but a re- organization was effected in 1912, better than ever before. The capital and prime movers in this factory were capitalists from Circleville. In the can- ning season, which is necessarily a few weeks at most, employment is given to many men, women and young people. It is a strictly up-to-date plant. whose brand of corn is known far and wide. The original plant cost forty thousand dollars. That was sold in 1911 to Circleville capitalists. The orig- inal company were forced into the hands of a receiver and it was sold at twenty-five thousand one hundred dollars.
The packing house plant of C. H. Brownell & Sons is one of the largest in this section of Ohio, and here tons and train loads of poultry are bought, packed and shipped to the far-away markets of the country. They have a modern plant and produce their own ice for refrigerating pur- poses. Unlike the ordinary packing plant, this is thoroughly sanitary and clean throughout and is operated on a modern business system, with none but the best of help employed. Among the produce here handled may be named butter, eggs, poultry and calves.
THE GREAT COMBINATION SALES STABLES.
Perhaps the largest single barn or sale-stable for live stock in all America is at Washington C. H. The company which built it was incor- porated in November, 1905, with a capital of fifteen thousand dollars. Its first officers were: H. F. Dahl, president: William Worthington, treas- urer : Charles Willard. secretary. It was designed for a public sale stable where public sale of horses, cattle and hogs might be held. It is a building one hundred by six hundred feet in dimension. The shares of stock were issued in sums of one hundred dollars each and were freely taken by home people. The structure is a favorite of the stock lovers and buyers and sellers all over Ohio. Immense sales are here had. The building is nicely heated by steam and lighted by electricity. Galleries are provided for spec- tators and purchasers, including the ladies. The location of this barn is at the foot of Fayette street.
In 1907 the original corporation failed to agree and the company was
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reorganized and is still in existence, but owned individually, carrying on the enterprise of public stock sales.
PROPOSED CAR LINES.
\ traction car line was proposed from Washington C. H. to Maysville, Kentucky, in 1903 and great promises were held out and work commenced, but this, like two or three other similar projects, fell through. Such a line is needed and may in time enter the city from one or more directions.
The same year an attempt to secure a street car line here was made. In fact, the preliminary work was all done, several car loads of ties and steel rails were unloaded along the proposed route, which was to run from the cemetery on down throughout the city, running on different streets and having a total of four miles in the corporate limits. The Appleyard Con- struction Company held contracts and were to have twenty-five thousand dollars for the work of completing it by July 4, 1903. Messrs. S. W. Cissna, James A. McLean, J. W. Willis and Capt. E. A. Ramsey held a three-year franchise on the line, which, however, was abandoned and never constructed.
There have been numerous internrban lines projected through this part of Ohio, some of which had marked Washington C. H. as one of the points on the line, but so far nothing has materialized.
NATURAL GAS PROSPECTED FOR.
In 1902 there was much enthusiasm and excitement over boring for oil and natural gas in this city and other sections of the county. A company was formed with a capital of forty thousand dollars at Washington C. H. The object was to drill for oil and gas and lay pipes in the streets for heating and lighting purposes. Several wells were sunk, including a very deep one at Buena Vista. Many thousand dollars were expended, but no paying gas or oil was ever obtained and the enterprise was finally abandoned. \ few years later pipes were laid and natural gas was piped into the city from eastern and southern fields, so that the city has the advantage of such natural prod- ucts, for both heat and light. The Standard Oil Company secured a fran- chise by which these pipe lines entered the city.
The Washington Gas and Electric Company was organized and incor- porated May 11. 1875 .. and at first they charged ten dollars per thousand cubic feet. a very exorbitant rate, but by 1901 it was lowered to one dollar and thirty cents for illuminating purposes and one dollar for cooking uses.
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.At first "oil-gas," made from crude oil, was used in the manufacture of the gas supplied the city.
BUSINESS INTERESTS IN 1913-14.
The list of business factors in Washington C. H. in the above date run as follows: Five banks (see banking chapter) and the usual number of re- tail and wholesale stores, with factories, etc., as follows: Washington gas and electric light plant: Washington Milling Company: Bachert's carriage factory ; Byron Sign and Mirror Works: Craig Manufacturing Company : tile works, by James L. Dodd : buggies, by W. B. Erskine : hard woods and manufacture of same; Hagerty Shoe Company: cement blocks and silo works, A. C. Henkle; Inskip Manufacturing Company; Ireland Manufac- turing Company ; brick-making plant, by J. E. Lamus & Company ; E. L. Miller, fertilizer factory : New Wonder Company, makers of heating stoves ; mill work, by Parker & Wood; Purcell Blacking Company; Washington Concrete Block Company : Washington Manufacturing Company; broom factory, by J. B. York ; the artificial ice company's plant ; the Brownell Pack- ing Company, and possibly a few more lesser concerns.
Both the water works and electric lighting plants are private corpora- tions, and have never been under municipal control or ownership, only so far as the franchises are concerned.
THE WASHINGTON CEMETERY.
Perhaps no one thing bespeaks more for the refinement and intelli- gence of any given community than to note the interest manifested by a community in properly caring for its departed dead. This distinguishes the savage from the enlightened and civilized peoples of the earth. To see the living go weekly, monthly and annually to the silent city of the dead, and there smooth down the mounds, plant flowers and, with true affection and tenderness, make pleasing and attractive the graves of those who have been there entombed, sleeping the sleep that knows no waking, is an index of Christian civilization.
Washington cemetery was platted in 1856 by Hon. James Puesell. Judge Daniel McLain, Capt. J. H. Robinson, Curren Millikan, Alfred Ogle and a few other citizens. Land was purchased of Judge MeLain. First ten acres were set apart for burying ground purposes, but soon it was in- creased to thirty acres. It was surveyed and platted by Capt. John M.
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Bell. Lots sold at from ten to forty dollars each. As soon as organized by the Washington Cemetery AAssociation, the grounds were wisely turned over, under lawful provisions, to the city and township, who have, through a board of trustees, ever since had charge of the same. The first superin- tendent was W. B. Ely, who held the position many years and was succeeded by James Holmes, who held it fourteen years, up to 189 ;. Under him the first real improvements upon these sacred grounds was effected. Next came George Gossard, who made an enviable record in that he went about improving after the latest methods and put the grounds in most excellent condition. Now one finds one of the handsomest cemetery grounds in all Ohio, outside the very large cities. Beautiful driveways, lawns, artificial lakes, fountains rare and beautiful shrubs, trees and Howers make the place to compare very favorably with the gloomy appearance of many another Ohio burying ground. The fountain was erected in 1892. A good stone vault for receiving purposes is here much appreciated by those who want to inter only temporarily. During the present year ( 1914) there is being finished a spacious and massive stone structure known as the Washington Memorial, which is really, a modern constructed masoleum, which is the property of a company incorporated for the purpose.
The Doctor Judy Memorial is another improvement. The corner stone of this building was laid with Masonic rites in October, 1905. The address was given by Dr. J. C. Arbuckle. Hon. Mills Gardner acted as grand mas- ter, and placed the square copper casket in the stone, after the imposing Masonic ceremonies. The stone was then anointed with wine, corn and oil. also receiving the blessing of the grand master. In this casket were depos- ited copies of the local newspapers, the Masonic calendar, a copy of the Bible, and the square and compass : Dr. Judy's diploma, a photograph and a few of his cherished relics made up the contents of the box.
POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
A postoffice was established at Washington C. H. in 1813 and, accord- ing to recent records furnished by the department at Washington, D. C., the following have served as postmasters from that day to this: Jesse Millikan, July, 1813: S. A. Smith. September, 1835: Wade Loofborrow, September 20, 1838; S. F. Yeoman, June 12, 1841; J. C. Bell. December 12, 1842; Richard Millikan, April 28. 1849; C. H. Bell, May 30, 1853 ; John Sanders, November 11, 1858; James F. Ely, February 28, 1859: Edgar Plumb, April 10, 1861 ; H. S. Robinson, April 23, 1866; T. D. McElwain,
WENDLE MAUSOLEUM, WASHINGTON CEMETERY.
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WASHINGTON CEMETERY SCENES.
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December 20, 1883; J. W. Deer, March 22, 1887; C. D. Smith, August 17, 1889; R. B. Palmer, August 29. 1894; J. G. Gest, January 28, 1899; John H. Culhan, April 10, 1907, still serving.
This office is of the second class. It became a free delivery office in 1891. Its first rural free delivery system to country routes became effective in loco. Its business has greatly increased since the days of postal sav- ings, parcel post, and other modern facilities afforded by the postoffice de- partment. During the year ending June 30, 1914, the business of this post- office, aside from its large money order business, amounted to $24,721.62. Postal savings deposits in October, 1914, were $815.00.
Since January, 1907, the postoffice has been kept in the Soldier's Me- morial Hall block on Court street. The following are the members of the office force of employes : Postmaster, John H. Culhan ; deputy postmaster, Glenn B. Rodgers: clerks, Howard C. Allen, James E. Bush, Walter W. Miller, Mary C. Pinkerton, Walter H. Robinson; substitutes, Everett E. Cory, Charles V. Sexton. Rural carriers (October, 1914), Wheeler G. Bay. Perale Shears, John W. Wayer, William Stukey, E. E. Welsheimer, Curtis W. Roler, A. J. Thompson, E. M. Neal, H. A. Wiatt, Edward M. Ortman: substitutes, D. W. Ellis, T. A. Gray, Roy Thompson, D. E. Mer- shon, R. C. Mershon, Frank E. Wiatt : city carriers, Billie E. Paul, M. M. Barrere, Logan Buzick, H. D. Smith, Robert F. Wilson; substitutes, W. T. Bray, Harry E. Sprenger.
This office is well kept under the administration of the present post- master. Perhaps no office in Ohio is looked after in better manner. The numerous mails received and discharged every twenty-four hours are han- dled with dispatch. Under an order from the department, in May. 1911. the office is not required to be open on Sunday, though the lobby is open for those who may have lock boxes.
An appropriation has been made for eighty thousand dollars for a United States postoffice building at this point. The site has been secured at the southeast corner of Market and Hinde streets. The grounds cost about fifteen thousand dollars, so the building will cost about sixty-five thousand dollars and is supposed to be completed in 1916.
In these days of fast-flying mail trains over the various steam roads that gridiron this county, it may not come amiss to mention the fact that in 1838 Postmaster S. A. Smith, then postmaster in Washington C. II., adver- tised his "mail arrangements" as follows: Eastern mail arrives every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, and closes at 9 o'clock P. M .;
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Western mails arrive every Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights; Chilli- cothe mail leaves every Tuesday and Friday at 12 m, and arrives Wednes- days and Saturdays at 3 P. M. The mail from Washington C. H. to Decatur, via Hillsboro, leaves every Friday at 12 M., and returns every Monday at 12 M .; Columbus mail departs every Tuesday at 5 A. M., re- turns every Thursday at 8 P. M.
THE CYCLONE OF 1885.
A terrible cyclone visited Fayette county on the evening of September 8, 1885, killing six persons, injuring others and destroying property amount- ing in value to almost a half million dollars. This storm had its origin in Greene county and struck Fayette county in Jasper township, arriving at Washington C. H. by five minutes past eight o'clock P. M., leaving a track of devastation for the twelve miles of its pathway in this county. One writer described it as looking like a huge elephant's trunk, the lower end of which dipped down, first to the right then to the left hand. Another said it re- sembled "a great luminous hornet's-nest, whirling in the heavens in frantic fury."
Henry Howe, the noted Ohio historian, mentions this storm in lan- guage as follows : "About five minutes past eight the rain commenced falling in torrents and the storm burst upon the town with terrible roaring, amidst which could be heard the falling of walls, crashing of timbers and smashing of glass, while the earth seemed to sway and reel under the force of the discordant elements. This lasted about one minute, when the storm passed over, but the rain continued to fall in torrents.
"The entire western, southern and central parts of the town were swept by the storm and within that territory, which included the business portion, very few escaped injury and loss by property destroyed.
"Along the course of the storm in the county whole farms were de- stroyed, buildings blown down and fields mowed clean of all vegetation ; corn not only blown from the stalks, but in some instances completely husked ; patches of timber literally mowed down and barns and stock and stacks blown to atoms. On the farm of Jesse Bush, three miles from Wash- ington C. H., blades of straw were found blown end-wise into trees to the depth of a half inch ; in another place a piece of pine fence-board was found with a piece of tarred roofing paper driven into it three-fourths of an inch and firmly imbedded. A train of cars standing on the bridge on the South- ern Ohio railroad was blown from the track. An apple tree in the yard of
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Mrs. Lou Harris, the milliner on Fayette street, was driven from two to three feet into the ground without breaking a single bough of it. A car- load of tin roofing and cornice was gathered up on a farmi eighteen miles distant from Washington C. H., where it was kept by dealers.
"Besides these curious freaks of the great storm, illustrating the power and which are verified by thoroughly trustworthy parties, may be mentioned one of numerous cases of heroism which transpired. Miss Lucy Pine, a school teacher, was left in charge of her sister's children, two boys respect- ively a year and a half and three years of age. The babies had been put to bed; when the storm came up Miss Pine rushed to them and as the roof had been taken off, she leaned over the bed, receiving the weight of the fall- ing joist upon her back, and thus saved their lives. By pressing down the springs of the bed she was enabled to extricate them and herself from their perilous position."
This wind destroyed the First Baptist and Catholic churches, the mas- sive brick chapel at the Catholic cemetery, a part of which high walls are still standing, as left by that storm a quarter of a century ago, and may easily be seen from the railroad trains as one enters or departs from the city. It also destroyed many of the best business blocks in the city, proper. There are now placed behind glass, in a huge frame attached to the hall- way of the court house, some twenty or thirty photographic views of the wreckage caused in and near Washington C. H.
LAST SWEEPING CONFLAGRAATION.
The last great fire in the city occurred on the eve of one of the closing days on 1911, when a fire originated in the large department store of Mr. Stutson, at a point somewhere in the basement, among boxes and waste paper. It was at eight o'clock in the evening on Saturday, when the store was all aglow with lights and the busy clerks were waiting on customers. As soon as it was known that the fire was serious, all the lady clerks and others put on their wraps and headed for the streets. The home fire com- pany did all in its power and neighboring cities were asked to assist and did so promptly, but before the fire could be checked over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of property, in the center of the business por- tion of the city, was destroyed. Fifty-six insurance companies had losses to pay, but even then the actual loss to owners was not half covered, all items of value counted in. A half square of business blocks was totally ruined. This section of the city included the Masonic building, Stutson's great de-
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partment store, the Fayette County Hardware store, Dahl-Millikan whole- sale grocery store, building and total contents, the Imperial Hotel, Judy's building and others.
The militia company was ordered out to keep the spectators from get- ting too near the fire and being injured. It was a night long to be remem- bered in the city. Several accidents occurred, but no deaths. Many were the heroic acts of that memorable evening. The light, inflammable mater- ials of the department store caused that building to be consumed within a half hour, and soon thereafter the walls fell to the earth, the front falling into the street. In the stock, as well as in that carried by the hardware and wholesale grocery, there was a large amount of fireworks and ammunition, cartridges, etc., which were fired off, making bad wreckage and consterna- tion among the people present. Floor after floor of the Masonic building fell in and with that was the loss of much valuable secret society property and office fixtures of business and professional men. Among the ammuni- tion were seventy-five thousand rounds of cartridges.
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