USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Groveport > History of Madison Township, including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio > Part 12
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In 1879 Ferd Leonard opened a hotel at the north- east corner of High and Mound streets under the name of "Leonard House," but soon discontinued it. In the . fall of 1891 Mrs. C. W. Bostwick rented this same building and kept a boarding house until the fall of 1896, when she moved to Columbus.
A. C. Conn built the "Conn House" in 1884, and operated it as a hotel until he purchased the Merchants' Hotel; this building was destroyed by fire on Decem- ber 1, 1896.
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Taken down 1888, and removed to East Street, Groveport. CANAL BRIDGE ON HIGH STREET, WINCHESTER.
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About 1845 Wm. Harbaugh built an oil mill on lot No. 76, Liberty street ; he operated it for a few years when he sold to Frederick Yockey (or Eauca) and in about 1850 it was abandoned. The mill stones were peculiarly arranged ; the lower stone lay flat, and the upper one was on edge, with a pole through its center ; a horse was hitched to one end of this pole and in his walk around in a circle revolved the top stone which mashed the flax-seed. These stone were afterwards cut into halves and used as door steps at the McFadden residence, on the corner of West and Washington streets, where Mr. Yockey then lived.
In 1837 Reuben Dove built the west end of the Dauterman building at the southeast corner of High and Columbus streets, and a few years later Dr. Stephen Potter built the east end. When Mr. Dove built he followed the acute angle of the street - being the first building to follow the oblique angles. Some of the citizens in a jocular way suggested that he se- cure the services of Rev. George Hathaway, who was also a blacksmith, to make a handle for the building when it could be used as a flat iron.
In 1850, after Dr. J. B. Potter was elected and ap- pointed postmaster he kept the post and telegraph office here. This building has been occupied by James B. Evans, tailor shop, and by E. D. Orwig, Hart & Arm- preister, Geo. E. Becker, John Chaney, Jr., Jacob Dau- terman and others as a grocery store. Jacob Dauter- man also kept a barber shop in this building for many years. In about 1840 John Fry did the carpenter work on the Carty residence on the southwest corner of High and Waterloo streets; it was occupied by Jacob Carty as a residence until 1874 when he built the brick residence now occupied by R. J. Tussing.
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After this it was tenanted by different persons, among them Dr. F. L. Gilbert, dentist; W. R. Miller, hard- ware; M. Winder, bakery; Edward Winders, grocery and restaurant, and others. After C. Kuqua purchased it he erected a one-story building directly on the corner of the streets in which to display buggies; later this room was occupied successively by Oliver L. Bott, Wil- lis Houser and Jacob Kumler with a drug store. In 1884 Solomon S. Lehman purchased it and sold the buildings to make room for the business block which was erected that year. One part of the Carty house was removed to lot No. 20, just west of John Help- man's lumber yard office, where it was consumed by fire the next night after it was rolled onto the lot. The other part of the old house was removed to lot No. 17, Trine street, by Wm. Cater, where it still stands .. One of the shop buildings which stood on the Carty lot, facing high street, was removed to East Waterloo street, and was occupied by John A. Wilson with a restaurant, and is familiarly known as the "Great Eastern." L. L. Foor removed the remaining shop building to West Waterloo street, just outside the cor- poration line, where during the time local option pre- vailed in Winchester it became well known as the "Blue Goose." It now forms part of Charles Hoffman's residence.
John F. and Samuel Bartlit came to Winchester in 1839, and conducted a store in a frame building that stood on the site of Gayman's store. After a few years they moved to the south side of the canal and occu- pied the "red" store building. They only remained here a short time, when they removed to their former location. In 1844 John F. sold his interest and went to Waterloo and later to Columbus (John F. Bartlit
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built the Reformed Parsonage; it was plastered on the outside, as were also Mrs. McFadden's, Mrs. McKel- vey's and Wm. Schrock's; the latter stood on the site of the present Reformed church). In 1847 or 1848 Samuel Bartlit built the warehouse mentioned on an- other page, and about this time Wm. Fry secured an interest in the business, and this poetic sign was painted on the west end of the warehouse:
"Bartlitt and Fry, Cash for Wheat, Corn and Rye."
This sign, although painted over by the sign of Tallman, Stevenson & Co., could still be dimly seen when the building was destroyed by fire. In 1851 Samuel Bartlit erected the brick store room (Gay- man's) ; Jacob Dellinger did the brick work and John Fry the carpenter work. This firm continued until 1854, when Mr. Fry died in Cleveland, on his way home from New York, where he had gone to buy goods. Samuel Bartlit and his nephew, Samuel Pond, con- tinued the business until September, 1856, when Mr. Pond bought the dry goods department and Mr. Bart- lit continued the grain department. In the fall of 1857 Mr. Pond died and David and Christian Gayman bought the stock and continued the business until 1891, when David retired and the firm name became C. Gay- man & Son. In 1877 the store room was remodeled and in 1880 an addition added, and in 1899 the roof of the old part of the building was changed to corre- spond with the new part. After Mr. Pond's death Mr. Bartlit sold the grain business to (Nathaniel) Tallman, (Wm. L.) Stevenson and (Hinton Tallman) Co., agreeing not to go into the grain business for four
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years. At the expiration of this term in 1861 he again went into business on the south side of the canal, oc- cupying the yellow warehouse and the adjoining store room; he associated John Gehm and L. C. Bartlit (a nephew) with himself, each to receive one-third the profits. In 1864 they dissolved partnership, John Gehm retiring from the firm and L. C. Bartlit contin- uing the general store department, which he sold to Aaron Fenstermaker about 1870. In 1865 Chas. W. Speaks became a partner in the grain business, and the firm continued under the title of Bartlit & Speaks until 1879, when Mr. Bartlit retired.
John Helpman and Henry W. Shaffer built the old planing mill in the spring of 1857. The familiar tones of the bell in the old "factory" belfry was the time regu- lation for many years. Another familiar bell was the one on the Commercial Hotel, and which was for many years rung at meal time.
The first bridge across the canal in Winchester was built on wooden abutments with trestle approaches, and was located on High street, and about the same time another one of similar construction was built at the east line of town, but being little used was never re- built. In about 1840 stone abutments with earth ap- proaches were constructed, and a covered bridge with double driveways was erected; this bridge stood until the winter of 1869-1870, when, during a certain night it fell into the canal. In the spring of 1870 the iron structure that now spans the canal at East street, Groveport, was erected at High street, in Winchester, and served until 1883, when the present turn bridge was built. The surplus stone and earth in the High street abutments were used in the construction of the Washington street bridge, which was completed in the
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fall of 1883. The first team crossed the High street turn bridge on February 1, 1884. The old mile stone "210" (miles from Cleveland) stood directly under the High street bridge, and when the stone abutments were built it formed part of the wall and later was built into the present abutments.
When the postoffice was established at Waterloo in 1839 - with Abner Clough postmaster - an effort was made to have it located at Winchester; when this ef- fort failed the citizens arranged to have their mail sent to Lithopolis. In 1841, when the postoffice was finally removed from Waterloo and established at Winchester, considerable ill-feeling existed, due to the rivalry be- tween the towns. Mr. Evans relates that when he was returning from Waterloo with his commission as postmaster the women and children came out and hissed at him as he went along the street. A contro- versy arose about the postoffice sign, when Esq. John Donaldson secured it and brought it to Winchester, saying: "Since you have the postoffice you shall also have the sign." At a meeting of the citizens to select a name for the office - since there were then five otlter Winchesters in Ohio - Carlisle and Pekin were among the names proposed; no definite conclusion was reached, when the postoffice department added the pre- fix "Canal." The same office case that Mr. Evans had made was in constant use for some fifty years, when during the administration of Mr. Bailey the present case was purchased.
The successive postmasters have been: James B. Evans, 1841-1850, when Mr. Evans resigned and moved to Circleville. Mr. Evans kept the office in a two-story house that stood on lot No. 13, Waterloo street. This building was destroyed by fire on January 21, 1891 ;
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Dr. Joseph B. Potter, 1850-1853; the citizens chose Dr. Potter at a special election; he kept the office in the Dauterman building corner High and Columbus streets; Peter Krag, 1853-1857, office in the Commer- cial Hotel; David Gayman, 1857-1870, office in Gay- man's store; Josiah K. Miller, June 1, 1870, November 16, 1885, office in Bergstresser building, until Mr. Mil- ler's business block was completed in 1880, when the office was kept there; Robt. W. Bolenbaugh and John- nie (Burnie) Southward were clerks ; James B. Evans, November 16, 1885 - May 17, 1889, the present quar- ters were built in November, 1885, and occupied first by Mr. Evans. The clerks were Nan Evans and Lil Alstadt; Rev. J. W. Sleeper, May 17, 1889, to March 2, 1890, when Mr. Sleeper died; Lil Alstadt and Abe Good were clerks. After Mr. Sleeper's death his bondsmen selected Abe Good to serve as postmaster until a regular appointment would be made. S. E. Bailey, April 1, 1890 - June 3, 1893; Horace and Ger- trude Bailey were clerks. In May, 1890, Mr. Bailey purchased the present office case, the old one having been used continuously since the establishment of the office. James Palsgrove, June 3, 1893 - July 1, 1897 ; Zack E. England and John Palsgrove, clerks; Henry H. Dibble, the present incumbent, has served since July 1, 1897; Mary Dibble is clerk.
In order to test the Morse system of telegraphy a line was erected between Baltimore and Washington, and on May 27, 1844, the first message was success- fully transmitted. Five years later, in 1849, a tele- graph line, connecting Columbus and Lancaster, and later farther down the Hocking valley, was established. James B. Evans went to Zanesville to learn and became the first operator in Winchester. Capt. Philip Game,
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who then lived with Mr. Evans, also learned to operate. The messages were then received on a ribbon of pa- per. In 1850 when Dr. Potter conducted the office, Edward Potter became the operator, and received by sound. When the line was extended farther down the Hocking valley Edward Potter went to Logan and Peter Krag became the operator. Messages of 10 words cost 25c and of 5 words half that price.
Winchester has always been a good grain market, and drew trade from many miles. Before the intro- duction of the modern unloading devices, the corn had to be shoveled off by hand and the wheat elevated by horse power. This slow process often congested the movement of grain until almost every street in town was filled with teams waiting their turn. By the time navigation opened up in the spring the large cribs and bins would be filled and loading boats would be the "order of the day," employing many men, carrying ear corn onto the boats in one-bushel baskets. What corn was shelled was run through a "pot-lid" sheller and fed in by hand one ear at a time.
Although the territory from which grain is hauled to this market has become greatly reduced by the build- ing of the Norfolk & Western and the Ohio Central Railways, still the fact remains that now farms on which then only three to five hundred bushels were grown, now yield as many thousand bushels. The fol- lowing item which appeared in the "Winchester Times" of April 18, 1877, incidentally illustrates the multiplied ability to handle grain over the old meth- ods: "Our grain dealers shelled eighty car loads of corn last week, and O. P. Chaney shipped 52 cars, Bart- lit & Speaks 32 cars and Whitehurst, Lehman & Carty 25 cars - a total of 109 cars shipped out in one week."
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Philip Game was the first business man in Win- chester to advocate and inaugurate a store for separate lines of goods, when in 1868 he in company with Chas. P. Rees, under the firm name of Rees,& Game, put a stock of hardware and stoves in the room then just completed by Mr. Rees. They continued until 1871, when Mr. Game sold his interest to John Chaney, Jr., and the firm name became Rees & Chaney.
Philip Game and his brother John Gehm then con- cluded to build the opera house block, when Philip formed a partnership with his brother, Wm. M. Game, and arranged to occupy the south room with a stock of family groceries, under the firm name of Game Brothers. They continued until 1878, when Philip sold his interest to his brother John, and the firm name was changed to John Gehm & Brother.
In March, 1880, Philip Game concluded to put a stock of boots and shoes in the room formerly occu- pied and built by J. W. Hische, being the north room in the opera house block. Mr. Game conducted this store until January 22, 1885, when he sold to Adam Weber.
It was prophezied of each of these ventures that they would fail; the general opinion then prevailing that only a general store could succeed, but the uniform success attained showed the soundness of his judg- ment.
The Winchester Times.
Horace Mann said: "There are no tools more in- geniously. wrought, or more potent than those which belong to the art of the printer." The local newspa- per. which prepares in readable form the neighborhood . happenings, eliminating everything that tends to lower and debase, and which publishes from week to week
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Also showing the Whitehurst & Carty Warehouse, built in 1843 and torn down in 1901. BOAT PASSING THROUGH HIGH STREET BRIDGE, WINCHESTER, 1809.
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notices of births, marriages, anniversaries, deaths, and which makes note of the various religious, educational, political and social events of the vicinity, is an influen- tial factor in all that contributes to lift up a community to a high standard of American citizenship.
The tone of the Times has been in the main one of dignity and impartiality, avoiding sensationalism and other characteristics of "yellow journalism." Since its establishment the consecutive issues at once make up a history of Madison and adjoining townships.
The Canal Winchester Times was established by Major J. W. Stinchcomb, and the first issue appeared under date of March 16, 1871.
In 1874 Charles M. Gould, of Logan, Ohio, pur- chased the plant, which was then located in the second story of the building now occupied by Charles Painter, and continued the publication of the paper as a Demo- cratic organ until November 9, 1876, when Rev. James Heffly and Oliver L. Bott became propietors, and con- ducted The Times as an independent paper in the Bergstresser building. On April 12, 1875, while the paper was under the management of Mr. Gould, Benj. F. Gayman became an apprentice in the office.
The firm of Heffley & Bott continued but a short time, when the latter retired. In the autumn of 1877 Oliver P. Gayman entered the office as an apprentice. Mr. Heffley remained the sole owner until May 1, 1879, when B. F. Gayman, shortly after reaching his ma- jority, purchased a half interest. The firm of Heffley & Gayman continued until September 8, 1881, when the latter purchased Mr. Heffley's interest, and continued the sole proprietor for five years. September 2, 1886, his brother, O. P. Gayman, purchased a half interest, and they still continue in joint partnership. On Jan- 12 H M T
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uary II, 1901, they also purchased The Buckeye News of Lithopolis, Ohio, and both papers are now issued from The Times office.
The Canal Winchester Bank was opened for busi- ness on February 23, 1887, in a building erected espe- cially for it. The stockholders were Gilbert Shaffer, President ; Stanton T. Needels, Cashier ; B. D. Gehm and Wm. F. Zigler. On March 22, 1888, Mr. Shaffer retired and Mr. Needels became President and C. V. Moore Cashier. The present owners are Wm. M. Game, President; C. V. Moore, Cashier, and Ervin Moore, with E. C. Chaney as bookkeeper. Previous to the starting of this bank the grain dealers did the banking business, often holding large amounts on de- posit, and frequently advancing considerable sums on grain or growing crops, all usually without interest.
In February, 1887, Sol. S. Lehman and others agi- tated the idea of drilling for gas. A preliminary meeting was called and a committee appointed to so- licit subscriptions. This committee secured subscrip- tions for two hundred shares of $25.00 each, aggre- gating $5,000.00, within four days. O. P. Chaney, M. C. Whitehurst, Dr. J. B. Potter, Sol. S. Lehman, B. D. Gehm, S. T. Needels and Jacob Bott, being the seven persons subscribing the largest amounts, were authorized to incorporate under the name "Canal Win- chester Natural Gas and Oil Company." A committee consisting of O. P. Chaney, Ervin Moore and Prof. W. H. Hartsaugh, was sent to Findlay, Lima and Bowling Green to make investigations. M. C. Whitehurst, Er- vin Moore, George Powell, O. P. Chaney, Sol. S. Leh- man, Prof. W. H. Hartsaugh and Philip Game were elected Directors. Philip Game was elected President, W. H. Hartsough Secretary and C. D. Whitehurst
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Treasurer. Some $4,000.00 was expended in sinking a well on West Waterloo street, to a depth of about ( ?) 2,500 feet.
On the morning of July 4, 1887, some boys touched a lighted match to the pipe, when a flame some ten or twelve feet high shot up. Although the drillers had intended to observe the "fourth," it is said "they at once began to drill again," thus arousing a general suspicion that for some reason they were not anxious to find gas.
As no record was kept nor made of the quantity, quality or depth at which gas was found, the question of the amount of gas that might be found here is still an open one.
In the spring of 1900 the Federal Gas and Fuel Co. of Columbus, under the local name of the Consumers' Gas Company of Canal Winchester, laid a 6-inch main down High street, with laterals of smaller sizes through all parts of the village, and on April 6 the natural gas was turned on. A. S. Lehman's drug store was the first room lighted, and later in the same evening C. Gayman & Son's store.
The telephone line from Columbus via Groveport and Winchester was put up in the summer of 1882. About the first of. November, 1881, Geo. H. Twiss, of Columbus, canvassed the towns of Groveport and Win- chester in the interest of a Columbus Telephone Com- pany. A meeting of those interested was held at Cow- an's office. The conditions of the telephone company were stated to be as follows: "In order to secure the construction of a line to Columbus it is necessary to sell six thousand tickets in advance, each ticket to cost fifteen cents, which will entitle the holder to a five- minute talk over the line, the sale of the tickets to be
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divided between Groveport and Winchester. About 4 o'clock p. m. on July 6, 1882, the connections were made to Columbus, and the citizens invited to a free use of the line. Within a day or two the branch line to Lithopolis was connected with the main line, Lith- opolis purchasing two hundred and fifty dollars worth of tickets. The Winchester Times of July 13, 1882, recounts some amusing incidents that took place on the afternoon when the line was connected up. "One of our oldest citizens, who is considerably deaf, was curious to know whether he could hear through the telephone. Mr. Ross (the Superintendent from Co- lumbus), asked him who he wanted to speak to. The citizen not being particular on that point, Mr. Ross called up the central office and informed the lady at- tendant that a gentleman in Canal Winchester wanted to talk to her. The citizen took hold of the telephone and for some moments said not a word. In the mean- time the patient lady at the other end of the line con- tinued to call out : 'Hello! What is it? Well?' and other interrogations of similar import. The citizen after satisfying himself that his deafness did not pre- vent him from hearing through the telephone, turned a countenance, lighted by a benign smile on the crowd and said: 'She just keeps on hollering 'hello.'" Other of our citizens, supposing that ordinary conver- sation could not be carried on between Winchester and Columbus, yelled at the top of their voices. Others would hold the receiver to their ears, and when the first message came over the line would dodge like amateur base ballists."
At first the office was located in Heffley's drug store, in the Bergstresser building, but it now is in Lehman's drug store.
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The Franklin Telephone Co. established the tele- phone exchange in Winchester on February 8, 1901, and extended it to Reynoldsburg, Brice, Groveport and Lithopolis in the fall of the same year, connecting the above towns with the Winchester exchange. The price of the service, including the above mentioned towns, is : for office $24.00, and for residences $12.00 per year. A "flat rate" to Columbus, giving the free use of the Columbus exchange, is furnished for $12.00 per year extra. There are one hundred and twelve sub- scribers in the Winchester exchange, and thirty-two in the Groveport exchange.
The following extracts are taken from the records of the proceedings of the Franklin County Commis- sioners : "January 19, 1866, a petition from John Helpman and others, accompanied by a plat, was re- ceived, and March 13 set for its hearing." Under date of March 13, 1866, "This day being set for the hearing of the petition for the incorporation of Canal Win- chester in Madison township. After the examination of the proceedings, it was found that the petitioners had failed to notify according to law, and the pro- ceedings in said matter were all annulled, consequently a new petition was presented, and was placed on file, and Thursday, May 24, 1866, set for the first hear- ing." Then under date of May 24, "First hearing, continued until May 31," and under date of May 31, 1866, "After examining the petition and plat and hear- ing the evidence of John Helpman that due notice had been given, the Commissioners being satisfied that the proceedings were all in accordance to law, it is hereby ordered that the incorporation be granted; same to be indorsed on the petition and passed over to the County Auditor."
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The first election was held in the fall of 1866, when the following officers were elected : James B. Evans, Mayor ; Charles W. Speaks, Recorder; Christian Gay- man, Treasurer, and John Chaney, Reuben Trine, John Helpman, Elisha B. Decker and Martin C. Whitehurst, · Councilman.
On April 8, 1867, Christian Gayman was elected a Councilman, and John Gehm was elected Treasurer. The records of the first six years have been lost or de- stroyed, hence the names of the Councilmen can be given only since 1873. It was during these years that the streets were graded and most of the sidewalks and gutters put down and the sewers constructed. The following have been the officers :
Mayors: James B. Evans, 1866-1868, 1871-1873, 1876-1885 ; John Helpman, 1896; Joshua S. Stevenson, 1870; Charles B. Cowan, 1874-1875; B. F. Gayman, 1886-1890, resigned July 7, 1890, being temporarily lo- cated at Owensboro, Ky., and Wm. H. Lane appointed. In April, 1891, Mr. Gayman was again elected, and on October 19, 1891, resigned, having been elected a mem- ber of the Ohio House of Representatives, and W. S. Alspach appointed, 1891 - until December 9, 1897, when he died and Oliver P. Gayman was appointed and elected, 1898-1901.
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