USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc > Part 68
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The Sherman House is one of the pioneer hotels of Findlay. In Octo- ber, 1840, John F. Ritter opened the "Green Tree Tavern" on the same site, and in 1844 was succeeded by Abraham W. Schwab, who changed the name to the "Traveler's Rest." It was then a two-story frame, but seven or eight years afterward Mr. Schwab erected the corner portion of the present structure, and opened the new hotel as the " Schwab House." He subsequently made additions to the building, and carried on the business until his death in 1868. It was next kept by W. W. Siddall as the "Sid- dall House," and afterward underwent several changes in name and pro- prietorship, being called in succession the Franklin, Irvin and Marvin House. In 1875 T. J. Stackhouse bought the property, and opened it as the Sherman House, which title it has since retained. This hotel contains twenty rooms, and Mr. Stackhouse is the present proprietor.
The American House was opened in the fall of 1840 by Jacob Rosen- berg, who was then sheriff of the county. It stood on the site of the First National Bank, and previous to its purchase by Mr. Rosenberg in June, 1840, had been the court house. He remodeled the interior, and converted the old temple of justice into a place of entertainment. Mr. Rosenberg died in October, 1844, and his widow conducted the business until her mar- riage to Jacob Carr, about four years afterward. The latter changed the name to "Carr's Hotel," which he carried on till the winter of 1862-63, when the site was purchased by William H. Wheeler, who erected thereon the present three-story brick, known as Wheeler's Block. The old frame was moved to its present location, immediately north of the Presbyterian Church, where it has since been occupied by Mr. Carr's family as a private residence.
Among other old-time places of entertainment were the "Rising Sun Hotel" and the Bigelow House. The former was built by Daniel Erb on East Main Cross Street, and in the spring of 1837 was purchased by Garret D. Teatsorth, who carried it on for quite a long period. The Bigelow House was opened by T. B. Paden in September, 1851, in the old two- story frame yet standing on the southeast corner of Main and Sandusky Streets, and now occupied by L. A. Baldwin as a commission house. It
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VILLAGE OF FINDLAY.
was started to take the place of the " White Hall Tavern," burned down a couple of years previous, and was kept by Nathan Miller and M. Shisler in 1853 and 1854, respectively, who succeeded Mr. Paden, but it was closed about the time the Dixon Hotel (now Joy House) was opened for business.
The Central and Burnet Houses are the latest ventures in the hotel line. The former, located on the west side of the public square, was built by Abraham W. Schwab many years ago for store-rooms, and first opened as a hotel by George Crouse about 1870-71. He was succeeded by James L. Henry. and after a few years the property was sold to the Grange, who opened a store therein. Upon the failure of that movement it was again sold. and finally came into possession of Samuel D. Houpt. He fitted it up as a hotel, and in 1883 leased it to John Ritter, who opened it as the "Central House." C. P. Vail succeeded Mr. Ritter in July, 1884, and has recently fitted up the house in a very enterprising manner. The Burnet, now owned by Samuel Renninger, is located near the depot of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad, where a restaurant was started by C. H. Dietsch shortly after the completion of that road to Findlay. The hotel accommodations of Findlay are fully ample for the present wants of the village, while its many elegant restaurants surpass those of any other country town in Ohio.
The old log grist and saw-mill, built under the supervision of Wilson Vance, by Vance & Cory, in 1824, was the first manufacturing establish- ment erected in the county. These mills stood on the site of the-present Carlin flouring-mill north of the river, and were a great blessing to the first settlers. As there has been some difference of opinion as to the year these mills were built, we herewith append the evidence of Mrs. Elizabeth Eberly (daughter of Benjamin J. Cox) and Job Chamberlin, the only pioneers now living who have any personal knowledge of the circumstance. "We re- moved," says Mrs. Eberly, "from Fort Findlay to the Maumee in 1823, and the mill had not yet been commenced, but was built the year after we left. The race, however, was dug out while we were there, but that is as far as the work progressed prior to our removal." Mr. Chamberlin, who came in February, 1822, agrees with the statement of Mrs. Eberly, and in his "Personal Reminiscences," written in 1874, gives the following ac- count of the building of the mill: "Father had brought flour and meal enough to supply his family one year. Hon. Joseph Vance had promised to erect a mill the next season, but it was not until about two years and a half afterward that Messrs. Vance & Cory, the original proprietors of Findlay, built a little log mill about the place where Carlin's mill now stands." These statements would make the year 1824 as the date the old mills were erected. In 1828 James McKinnis and Reuben Hale rented the mills of Vance & Cory, and ran them about a year. Early in 1834 they were bought by John Campbell, together with fifteen acres of land. In the tax list of that year the mills are valued at $900. Campbell tore down the old log building in the winter of 1834-35 and erected a frame mill, which he ran till the spring of 1837, when the property was purchased by S. & P. Carlin. Several years afterward the Carlins rebuilt the mills, and they have been rebuilt once more since that time, making the present mill the fourth one on that site. The saw-mill was operated up to within a few years ago.
In 1832 Henry Shaw built a horse-mill on West Front Street, upon the south part of the lot now occupied by the "Church of God," Bethel, to supply the inhabitants with corn meal, when Vance's mill failed on account
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
of low water or some other cause. It was a two-story building, the grinding being done in the upper story, which was reached by an open stairway, and the horse-power was below. James Teatsorth bought this mill of Mr. Shaw about 1836, and ran it several years.
The first flouring-mill in the village was built by Martin Huber, John S. Julien and John Engelman, the last two mentioned being yet resi- dents of Findlay. They purchased a lot on the south side of Sandusky Street, immediately east of Eagle Creek, in May, 1845, and began the erec- tion of a mill. It was completed and first operated December 25, 1845, and was named the "Eagle Mills," which title it has ever since borne. This mill has always been operated by steam, and was one of the first steam mills built in the county. Soon after the mill began operations Martin Huber died, and in May, 1846, the property was purchased by Benjamin Huber, who owned it nearly twenty years. In the fall of 1865 the mill was sold to E. M. Norwood and Milton B. Patterson, who disposed of it in February, 1867, to William W. McConnell. The following November Parish W. Rock- well purchased an interest in the property. McConnell & Rockwell ran the mill until March, 1879, when David Kirk assumed control. In the fall of that year the property was sold at sheriff's sale and purchased by the cred- itors of McConnell & Rockwell, from whom Mr. Kirk and Mrs. William W. McConnell subsequently bought it. The mill was furnished with Ellis rolls in 1883, and on the 1st of January, 1885, Mr. Kirk became sole proprietor by the purchase of Mrs. McConnell's interest. The Eagle Mills are now first-class in their appointments, and are averaging 125 barrels of a supe- rior grade of flour every twenty-four hours, though having a capacity of 150 barrels. Mr. Kirk has his own gas-well, which supplies fuel and light for the mill, and thus a saving of $2,000 per annum is accomplished.
The Hancock Mills, now owned and operated by John Parker, was built by his father, Jonathan. In the summer of 1857 the latter erected a steam planing-mill on Lincoln Street, in the southwest part of the village, and in the autumn of the same year began an addition for a grist-mill, which com- menced operations in the spring of 1858, under the name of the "Hancock Mills." These mills have ever since been carried on; first by the father, and afterward by the present proprietor, though the planing-mill was aban- doned eight or ten years ago. The present capacity is fifty barrels every twenty-four hours.
The pioneer saw-mill of the village was connected with the old log wa- ter grist-mill built by Vance & Cory in 1824, and it was continued up to within a few years ago. The next saw-mill was built by the Carlin broth- ers, on East Sandusky Street, on the west bank of Eagle Creek, the power being supplied by that stream. This mill was started about 1835, but did not last very long.
In 1846 Jonathan Parker, Abraham Daughenbaugh and William Taylor built quite a large steam saw-mill north of the river and east of Main Street. After some years Mr. Daughenbaugh sold out to his partners, and Albert Parker and Patterson Taylor, sons of the two remaining proprietors, subsequently succeeded to the ownership of the mill, the latter afterward disposing of his interest to Mr. Parker. J. C. Powell finally purchased the property, and continued to run the mill until its destruction by the explo- sion of the boiler, March 10, 1874, since which event it has not been re- built.
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VILLAGE OF FINDLAY.
In 1880 S. C. Moore erected a saw-mill on Main Cross Street, in East Findlay, which he sold in January, 1883, to S. & I. S. Moore. This mill was burned down in April, 1886, but immediately rebuilt by the Messrs. Moore. Six men find steady employment here most of the time, the product averaging about 4,000 feet of hardwood lumber per day during nine months of the year. In June, 1884, S. C. Moore established his present hardwood lumber mill near the track of the Lake Erie & West- ern Railroad, in North Findlay. George D. Plotner obtained an interest in the mill in December, 1885. They employ six hands and average 4,000 feet of lumber per day.
The fanning-mill factory established by Hiram Smith in 1835, on East Main Cross Street, was one of the earliest and most important industries of Findlay. Capt. Smith had previously carried on the same business at Waterville, on the Maumee River, whence, in 1835, he removed to Findlay. He manufactured mills here for several years, employing a number of hands in his factory, but finally engaged in mercantile pursuits, and in 1851 re- moved to Oregon.
Small wagon and carriage factories began to be established at quite an early day, though very little new work was turned out during the earlier years of settlement. Philip Shockey opened a wagon shop on East Main Cross Street in 1834 or 1835. He also manufactured plows, but his prin- cipal work was repairing during his residence here. In 1839 John Schney- er started a wagon shop on West Main Cross Street, on the site of Mrs. Sarah Carlin's residence, where he carried on business about nine years'and then removed to the south bank of the river, where the old brewery now stands. In the winter of 1848-49 he gave up the manufacture of wagons and started a brewery, which will be found mentioned further on in this article. Jesse George, Simon Wilhelm and William Kirtland manufactured wagons and plows, and also did some foundry work, on South Main Street, as early as 1844-45. Koons & Snyder opened a wagon and carriage factory on West Crawford Street in 1848-49. Snyder soon retired and the firm became E. P. Koons & Co. The Koons family continued to run carriage shops in Findlay up to within fifteen years past. Eli Beach conducted the same class of business, first on Main Street and subsequently on West Crawford, from 1855 until about ten years ago.
Daniel Buck erected a small frame wagon shop on the north side of West Main Cross Street in 1859, and in 1861 took into partnership Stephen Sey- fang, and in 1866 Adam Reimund joined the firm. The shops were en- larged in 1868, and in 1875 they were moved to the south side of the street, where the present two-story brick was afterward erected. In September, 1884, Mr. Seyfang died, and Buck & Reimund have since continued the business, which has grown from very small beginnings to its present re- spectable proportions. It is the leading carriage shop of Findlay, and gives steady employment to fifteen hands. All classes of wagons, buggies and car. riages are turned out by this firm, their annual sales of new work aggre- gating from $15,000 to $20,000.
The carriage factory now operated by A. W. Ray, on West Main Cross Street, was established some twenty-six years ago by Karr & Sprau. Many changes have since occurred in its ownership, John M. Ferguson, Philip B. Morrison, S. C. Moore, George Heck, J. L. Linnville, William Biggs, Charles Fritcher, A. W. and J. K. Ray and L. Fitzpatrick having all been connected
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
with the proprietorship of this factory up to 1877, when A. W. Ray became sole owner. Eight hands are employed in this shop and a good class of wagons, carriages, etc., is manufactured.
In September, 1879, E. L. Kridler opened a wagon and carriage factory on East Crawford Street. William Ramey obtained an interest in the business, in 1881, but sold out to his partner after about eight months, and the latter continued alone until the spring of 1886, when Charles Radebaugh pur- chased an interest. The firm of Kridler & Radebaugh employ eight hands and do a business of about $8,000 per annum.
Several years ago. James P. Kerr started a carriage shop on West Craw- ford Street, which finally went down. In February, 1885, Markle, Mullho- land & Co. opened a carriage factory in the same place, and have since been doing a successful business. Seven hands are working in this shop, and a good grade of work is turned out.
The old Jackson foundry was established about 1848, by Smith, Vanden- burg & Nye, on East Crawford Street. Jesse Wolf succeeded them in 1849, and was soon afterward joined by Simon Wilhelm, who, in April, 1851, purchased more ground and enlarged the business. In July, 1855, Au- gustus Sheffield bought the foundry, and in the fall of 1857, sold it to Jesse George. In March, 1858, the latter formed a partnership with Simon Wil- helm and Jesse Wolf, under the firm name of J. George & Co., who named their foundry the "Findlay Foundry and Machine Shop." We find their first advertisement in the Jeffersonian of March, 1858, in which they say they have established said business "at the old foundry on Railroad (Craw- ford) Street, lately occupied by A. Sheffield. They advertise to manufacture steam-engines, plows, cultivators, grain-drills and several other kinds of foundry and machine work. In November, 1859, Wolf & Wilhelm pur- chased, for $8,000, the foundry established and then operated by Augustus Sheffield, on West Main Cross Street. The shops on Crawford Street were abandoned and the name transferred to the Main Cross Street foundry, which is thus its lineal successor.
In September, 1857, Augustus Sheffield purchased ground on the south side of West Main Cross Street, and built a brick foundry and machine shop thereon. He sold out to Jesse Wolf and Simon Wilhelm in the fall of 1859, who removed from their old location on East Crawford Street to the new shops. Wolf & Wilhelm ran the foundry until 1863, when William France obtained an interest (the firm name remaining as before), which he held about a year. In 1864 Robert S. Mungen purchased Mr. Wilhelm's interest, and the firm then became R. S. Mungen & Co. Louis Adams en- tered the firm in 1865, and Adams, Mungen & Wolf continued about one year when Mr. Wolf retired. Adams & Mungen carried on the business until 1867, when Mr. Wolf again became a partner, but the following year sold out his interest to Vincent H. Coons, while Cyrus Vail bought that of Mr. Adams. The interests of Messrs. Vail and Mungen were soon afterward purchased by Mr. Adams, and the firm of Adams & Coons ran the business until 1872, when the former retired. James T. Adams, Newton M. Adams, John W. Davis and William L. Davis, now entered the business, and the firm of Coons, Adams & Co. was organized. A large brick addition was made to the shop in 1873, and a fresh impetus was given to the business. Upon the death of William L. Davis in 1880, his interest was purchased by the remaining partners. In January, 1883, the Adams brothers and Joseph
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VILLAGE OF FINDLAY.
Kevis bought out Vincent H. Coons and John W. Davis, and the firm then became Adams Bros. & Co. The Findlay Machine Works manufacture portable and stationary engines, circular saw-mills, etc., and give steady employment to twenty-two hands. In the spring of 1886 they erected a two-story brick addition, in the rear of the old shops, to meet the growing demands of their business.
The Eagle Foundry and Machine Shop was established in 1871 by W. K. Marvin on East Front Street, in a two-story frame building which he had fitted up for the purpose. In 1882 the present two-story brick was erected and the firm of W. K. Marvin & Sons formed, Russell and Demy Marvin being the junior members of the establishment. Portable and stationary engines, saw-mills and all kinds of mill gearing and castings are turned at this foundry.
Yocum & Hollowell started a small foundry about eight years ago in East Findlay, in the building now occupied by the hoop factory. It, how- ever, lasted only a short period and made no mark in the manufacturing line.
The manufacture of furniture was one of the earliest industries of the village, some of the very first settlers carrying on that business. Frederick Henderson, Paul Sours, John Adams, Hugh Newell and Jesse Wheeler were all engaged in the manufacture of furniture during the earlier years of Findlay's history. Later furniture-makers were Campbell & Hefflick, Jacob Lohr, Henry Porch, David Rummell, Amos Nye, Moses Bullock and Isaac Baker. Mr. Rummell is the only one of the number now in the business, though he has not manufactured much furniture for many years past.
Charles Dietsch & Son began the manufacture of furniture in 1860 on West Main Cross Street. In 1870 the firm became A. Dietsch & Co., and so remained until 1883, when it was changed to the Dietsch Bros. A frame building was first occupied, and this was used until 1876, when a substan- tial brick factory was erected on the old site. The Dietsch Bros. employ ten hands, and their business averages about $10,000 per year. This is now the only furniture manufactory in Findlay, and the work turned out is firstclass in every way.
Edwin S. Jones opened a tan-yard on East Front Street in 1828. In 1831 he sold out to Edward Bright, who was joined by Allen Wiseley in the business. This tannery passed through several ownerships, and was finally purchased by G. C. Barnd, who ran it some years ere abandoning the busi- ness. Another tannery was opened by Christian Barnd about 1832, west of the park, which was carried on by him and afterward by his son G. C. for a considerable period.
A log distillery was built in 1842-43, on the site of the East Findlay engine house, by John and Benjamin Hershy, of Wayne County, Ohio. They ran the business about four years and then gave it up as non-paying. The only other distillery that has ever been built in this locality was by McConnell, Lewis & Stillings, in the spring and summer of 1857. It was a three-story frame and stood on the north side of the river west of the village. After about one year's operation the distillery was purchased by E. P. Jones, of Findlay, and H. F. Merry, of Sandusky City, who manu- factured whisky for some time and then sold out to Louis Adams. The latter took in W. W. McConnell, and the business was carried on by them until after the war closed, and it then went down.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
In the winter of 1848-49 John Schneyer established a brewery on the south bank of the river adjoining Judge Cory's residence on the north. He manufactured lager beer at this point until the spring of 1857, when he sold out to Joseph and Frank Kevis. In 1861 a branch brewery was built on Chamberlin's Hill, where good vaults could be constructed, and it was run in connection with the main establishment until burned down in 1875. In the fall of that year Frank 'Zellers purchased the brewery and afterward erected the large brick yet standing, but in a few years he failed, and the business has not since been revived.
The Hancock Mills, erected on West Lincoln Street by Jonathan Parker, in 1857-58, had in operation the first planing-mill in the village. A planer was run here until eight or ten years ago.
In 1859 Benjamin Huber and M. D. Miller put into the Eagle Mills planing machinery and also machinery for the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. This portion of the mills was run in connection with the flour- ing department, first by Mr. Miller and afterward by D. C. Fisher until 1864, when the latter removed the machinery to a new building on West Crawford Street.
The extensive planing-mills of Shull & Parker, on West Crawford Street, were established, in 1864, by D. C. Fisher and William H. Wheeler, who purchased ground and erected a two-story frame and equipped it with the necessary machinery to manufacture sash, doors and blinds. The firm of Fisher & Wheeler ran the business until 1868, when C. E. Seymour bought an interest, and the firm name was changed to D. C. Fisher & Co. In 1869 John Shull bought out Mr. Wheeler, and in January, 1872, Mr. Fisher disposed of his interest to William Anderson. The firm then became John Shull & Co. In the fall of 1872 Messrs. Anderson and Seymour sold out to George W. Myers and Samuel D. Frey, and on the 4th of September of that year the " John Shull Lumber Manufacturing Company" was organized by John Shull, Samuel D. Frey, Henry Schwartz, Squire Carlin and George W. My- ers, with a capital stock of $50,000. This company conducted the business until 1877, and were then bought out by John Shull and D. C. Fisher, who, under the firm name of Shull & Fisher, carried on until January, 1883. W. F. Parker then came into the business, and the firm of Shull, Fisher & Parker was established. Mr. Fisher died in October, 1885, and Shull & Parker purchased his interest. Sixteen hands are employed in these mills, and the combined product, including the business of the lumber yard, will annually exceed $60,000. All classes of sash, doors and blinds are turned out, and, in fact, everything in the building line usually manufactured in such an establish- ment.
Heck Bros. & Bushon operate the only other sash, door and blind factory in the village. The mill was built in the summer of 1885, on East Front Street, close to the Eagle Foundry, and turns out all classes of such building material as come in their line. They are making a specialty of " Shellebarger's Combination Fence," and give employment to nine hands.
The Findlay Stave and Handle Factory is one of the leading manufact- uring institutions of Findlay. The business was established on West San- dusky Street, in the spring of 1872, by D. C. Fisher, John K. Wise, Andrew Bushon, Henry F. Winders, John M. Hamlin and Samuel C. Moore, under the firm name of Moore, Wise & Co. Mr. Fisher sold out in Decem- ber, 1872, and Mr. Wise died in 1873, both interests being purchased by
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VILLAGE OF FINDLAY.
the other members of the firm. Early in 1873 Mr. Bushon sold to Messrs. Hamlin and Winders, and the establishment was soon afterward burned to the ground. The factory was at once rebuilt on a larger scale, and the busi- ness prosecuted with renewed vigor. Henry Hellenkamp bought Mr. Moore's interest in 1875, and in 1878 sold to Messrs. Hamlin & Winders. In April, 1884, Mr. Hamlin became sole proprietor through the purchase of Mr. Winders' interest. Staves and all kinds of farm-tool handles are the product of this factory, whose markets extend to nearly every part of the globe. Twenty-five hands are usually employed throughout the year, and the sales amount to $30,000 per annum.
The Findlay Rake Factory was started by C. E. Seymour, Andrew Bushon and H. M. Vance, in North Findlay, in the spring of 1873. Vance & Seymour purchased Mr. Bushon's interest in 1874. and the following year Mr. Vance sold out to P. J. Sours. The firm of Sours & Seymour continued until January, 1878, when Mr. Seymour bought out his partner, and thus became sole owner. In May, 1880, the factory was burned down, and the next month he began the erection of a two-story brick building on East Crawford Street, which was occupied the following autumn. In June, 1882, Lemuel McManness obtained a partnership in the business, and the firm has since been McManness & Seymour. From 12,000 to 15,000 hand-rakes are annually manufactured, and twenty-five hands find steady employment.
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