History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 11

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

large stock is carried and his trade reaches all over this section of the State. He gives em- ployment to from four to eight men and deals in monuments and statuary.

One of the oldest livery concerns at Cir- cleville is that conducted by John Henry & Son. It was probably established about 1850, but came into the hands of John Henry, who bought it over 30 years ago, when he came to Pickaway County from New York. Mr. Henry conducted the business alone, with the exception of a period of six months, until 1896, when he admitted his son, Elliott Henry, as a partner.

About 1870 the livery business of W. H. Albaugh was established here by the late W: H. Albaugh. After his death, his son, W. H. Albaugh, came into possession. Other firms now in business are: William Bass, James F. Taylor, George W. Wolf & Son, Franklin Kib- ler and Charles E. Roof.

W. H. Mason and Charles Bass conduct transfer lines. The business of the former was established by Daniel Metzger who dis- posed of it to Nelson Bogenrife, from whom Mr. Mason bought it in 1902. His equipment consists of three drays, three sprinkling wag- ons, three vans and 12 head of horses.

Milk and cream are supplied to the resi- dents of Circleville by a number of dealers, whose establishments are either located in or near the city. Among these may be mentioned : H. R. Clark, John H. Foresman, Walter M. Gray and A. M. Mooney.

Circleville has two photographic studios- those of G. E. Thornton and E. T. Hulbert. The business conducted by Mr. Thornton is one of the oldest in the city, having been es- tablished about 80 years ago,- by Thomas Spencer. He was succeeded by Michael K. Marshall, but Mr. Spencer subsequently be- came proprietor again. The business was pur- chased by Mr. Thornton in 1896. The busi- ness conducted by E. T. Hulbert was estab- lished here by O. H. Spencer, who sold to King & Anderson, who were succeeded by Ed- ward King, and he by F. F. Martin. E. T. Hulbert came into possession in 1906.

In the same building occupied by Crist Brothers, dealers in hardware, stoves, etc .. a

plumbing business is carried on by Edward Crist. This business was established II years ago by Lutz & Pearsal at the corner of Picka- way and Franklin streets. Henry Crist pur- chased Pearsal's interest in 1896 and the new firm removed to Henry Crist's hardware store where the business was carried on by the part- ners under the name of Crist & Lutz until 1898, when Edward Crist purchased his father's in- terest. The business still continued under the old name until 1902, when Edward Crist be- came sole owner. He occupies one-half of the store room for his office and for the display of plumbing and heating fixtures, etc., while the other half is occupied as a hardware store by Crist Brothers.

W. M. Murray, who is located on West Main street, established his plumbing business in 1901, having been formerly with George J. McMullen. He carries a comprehensive line of plumbing and gas fixtures.

A number of the hardware firms in the city are also engaged in plumbing and gas- fitting.

The following are engaged in the tailoring business : George G. Groom, merchant tailor ; Joseph Groom; William Herbert; William Littleton & Son; Elliott Voll; A. E. Washurn & Son and Joseph P. Duffy. Martin O'Connor conducts a cleaning, dyeing and repairing es- tablishment, of which he -has been proprietor for many years.

The principal barber shops are those con- ducted by John Drum, Clayton A. Palm, G. F. Wolf, L. O. Harris, James Smith, Dan Weaver and D. E. Brungs.

There are two billiard parlors and at the present time there are 23 saloons. The num- ber of saloons shows a marked decrease from that of last year, when there were 34. The falling off has been caused by the increase of the license fee to $1,000. The following are brewers' agents: Z. Pickens & Son, Albert Dodd. T. N. Caskey & Son and H. M. Gold- fredrick.

The four principal' restaurants of Circle- ville are conducted by the following: James W. Baldwin, Daniel Gephart, Z. Pickens & Son and the Washington Bakery.

The following are the best known contrac-

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HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

tors and builders in the city: H. W. Fos- naugh, W. K. Salter, Frank Salter, John Pickel and William H. Mowery. Adam Gold- hardt is a mason contractor for either brick or stone work.

Stephens Brothers are in business as paint- ers, decorators and paperhangers.

E. W. Newton & Co. are dealers in flour and feed. George WV. Wolf & Son, who also conduct a livery and feed stable, deal in baled hay and straw.

T. J. Urton & Son conduct a second-hand store; M. Dulsky, a junk-shop; and O. G. Oppihle, an upholstering establishment.

There are two veterinary surgeons located here : Charles Hedges and E. L. Price. The latter is a graduate of a veterinary school at Toronto, Canada, and has had 13 years' experi- ence. He came to Circleville in 1899.

The Valentine Hoof Ointment Company. owned by W. F. Valentine, has been established here for some years.

T. P. Brown, William Vieth, William H. Wentworth, Hummel & Plum and Ward & Boyle have general insurance agencies. Frank M. Peters is assistant superintendent of the Prudential Insurance Company, at Circleville. while J. G. Hays is agent for the New York Life Insurance Company.

There are a number of real estate dealers in the city who combine this business with in- surance or the law.

The Circleville Business Men's Association has been in existence since November 1, 1905, when it succeeded the Commercial Club, whose predecessor was the Board of Trade. Joseph G. Wilder is president of the organization; George R. Haswell, vice-president; Philip Herrnstein, treasurer; and John A. Dodd, sec- retary.

MANUFACTORIES AND INDUSTRIES OF THE PAST.

Col. Valentine Keffer engaged in the man- ufacture of linseed oil on a small scale about 1818-20, but did not conduct the business long.

About the same time a woolen mill on Har- gus Creek was built by a Mr. Reed. The mill

ceased operations sometime between 1840 and 1850, having previous to this time changed hands twice.

A distillery was established here about 1820 by a Mr. Josinski, who continued to op- erate it but a few years. The building was used as a boarding-house for the hands em- ployed in building the aqueduct, about 1832.

A small factory for the manufacture of cut nails was established here about 1820 but it lasted only a short time.

About 1825 or 1826, a sawmill and carding machine was built on Hargus Creek, near the old Circleville Cemetery, by Frank Head. It was conducted for some 10 years. A carding machine near the canal. a little above Groce's packing house, also existed at one time.

About the year 1831 a three-story brick building was built on the left bank of the canal, a little below where the gas works are now lo- cated. It was erected by George Crook as a commission and storage warehouse and was conducted by him until his death, when it came into the possession of J. W. Finley & Company, who carried on the business for some years. P. B. & J. G. Doddridge purchased the build- ing in 1844, and turned it into a woolen fac- tory. The Doddridges were succeeded by Drakely, W. W. Bierce & Company, T. W. Gillis and Miller & Hassenpflug, who failed in business about 1875. Before this time, David Miller, of the last mentioned firm, had run a woolen mill south of the brick building men- tioned above, nearly opposite Union street.

About the year 1840, the manufacture of fanning-mills was commenced by Wilkes Allen in a building located on the bank of the canal; this business continued to be conducted for some 14 years.

About the same period, G. A. Hartmeyer established a soap and candle factory. This business was conducted until his death in 1874.

Darst & Yerington started a foundry about 1845, which was kept up for five or six years.

For one year in the early '50's, the manu- facture of matches was carried on in a house which stood: near the present City Building. J. Wyman and T. Bussert were the proprietors, the former furnishing the capital and the latter

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attending to the manufacturing end. After supplying Circleville with matches, they em- ployed C. C. Niebling, to peddle the remainder of their stock, consisting of a wagon-load or more, in the neighboring towns.

In the early history of the town, continu- ing for some decades, there were a number of shoe shops conducted here. Robert Hall is said to have had a shoe shop in which as many as 20 hands were employed. In 1879 there were quite a number of shoe shops located here. Charles Fismer, who conducted a shoe shop at this time, was in business here for many years. E. E. Bock also had one and at a later date was proprietor of a shoe store. A. D. Schumm, who is still here, engaged in the retail shoe business, conducted a shoe shop at this time. T. J. Epps, Thomas Hallam and Hiram Bowling also made boots and shoes at the time mentioned.

In the Circleville Herald and Olive Branch for September 4, 1830, appear advertisements of G. W. & F. Myers, cabinetmakers, of George Wildbahn, cabinet and chair-maker, and of Joseph Landes, hat manufacturer. The ad- vertisement of the last named calls for "one or two good boys, 16 or 17 years of age, as apprentices to the hatting business." These were not the only manufacturers of cabinet work or the only hatter in the city, for these branches of industry were carried on by quite a number of people, 50 and 70 years ago.

In the '30's, Andrew Cradlebaugh estab- lished a tannery at the rear of his hotel, the Canal House, situated on the south side of West Main street near the canal. On the op- posite side of the street a tannery was estab- lished about 1850 by Robert Hayes, who sold the property in July, 1856, to Howard & Jack- son for $4,000. In 1858 Howard sold his half interest to George Metzger. George and Wil- liam Roth purchased the tannery from Jackson & Metzger in 1871, paying $10,000 for the building and grounds. During the next 10 years they tanned a great deal of leather, espe- cially a great deal of harness leather, of which they turned out about 75 hides a week. About 10 men were employed in the business. Both brothers continued to operate the tannery until

some 10 or 12 years ago, when they sold out to what is known as the leather trust. The tannery soon ceased to be operated. In addi- tion to the two tanneries already named, there were two other tanneries conducted in Circle- ville, the proprietors being James Bell and James Long.

The manufacture of saddles and harness was once an important one in Circleville. W. A. Empie, who was in business here in 1879, was an early saddle and harness maker of the city. Sapp & McCollister and Albertus Smith were also engaged in this business.

The packing of pork for export and ship- ment to other sections of the country early be- came a prominent interest of this section. At an early period when the farmers did not en- joy the transportation facilities that they do now, it was difficult to market their corn. The corn was therefore fed to hogs, great droves of these being kept in this section. The busi- ness of slaughtering and packing pork became a very important one, especially after the Ohio Canal was put through this region. In a short historical sketch of the county, published in 1843, the statement is made that there were four pork establishments located here, at which as many as 1,500 hags could be slaughtered and packed daily. During the winter of 1843- 44,. 40,000 hogs were slaughtered here for ex- port. In the '80's, however, the business of pork packing in Circleville began to decline. owing to outside competition.

On the opening of the Ohio Canal, in 1832 or 1833, a pork packing business was com- menced in a small way by Samuel Rogers and William Martin, with whom was associated a Mr. Baldwin, of Cleveland. Samuel H. Rug- gles became proprietor of the concern in 1843. The establishment which was located on the south side of High street, near the canal, was rebuilt and enlarged in 1869. During the IO years following, the average number of hogs slaughtered annually varied from 10,000 to 15,000. From 50 to 60 hands were employed during the slaughtering season. The last kill-

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HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

ing was in 1889, although the curing of hams and other green meats continued until 1896.

On the north side of High street, a pork packing business was commenced by Olds & McCoy in 1837, which was disposed of to At- water & Groce in 1848. Four years later Mr. Atwater died and John Groce became sole pro- prietor. In 1870 a heavy rain washed out the supports of the old wooden building and the whole fell into ruins, out of which sprang the brick structure which now occupies the ground. In 1878 a summer packing house was added, in which the temparature was kept low by a large refrigerator filled with ice. This was a decided innovation at the time. From 10,000 to 12,000 hogs were annually slaughtered in this plant, during the pork-packing era of Cir- cleville. The last slaughtering was done in the winter of 1895, but even to this day Charles E. Groce, who succeeded his father in the own- ership of the plant, continues to cure hams and other green meats. Groce's hams have been favorites for over 30 years. * * *

As early as 1836, and probably for some years previous, Circleville had a brewery, lo- cated on North High street between Court and Scioto, known as Wilkes' Brewery. An Englishman by the name of Wilkes was the proprietor.

Philip Glick came to Circleville in 1837, when 18 years of age and learned the trade of brewer, probably in Wilkes' Brewery. In 1838 he rented the brewery from his employer and conducted business for himself in the rented quarters until 1843, when he built the brick brewery building on North Court street on the bank of Hargus Creek, which he sold to Krimmel & Hoover in 1868. He then moved upon a farm and lived there until his death on June 21, 1896.

John Jacob Krimmel, of the firm of Krim- mel & Hoover which succeeded Philip Glick, came to Circleville from Germany in 1853 and for some years after his arrival was employed by Glick in the brewery business. He was later employed at various pursuits, from 1858 to 1866 being janitor of Everts School Build- ing. In 1866 he started a small brewery at

South Court and Corwin streets, and two years later, in association with Michael Hoover, un- der the firm name of Krimmel. & Hoover, he purchased Glick's brewery on North Court street, which they operated until the death of Mr. Krimmel on September 10, 1882. The brewery buildings were later used for a laun- dry and are now divided into tenements.

From some time in the '40's to early in the '70's, a man by the name of Goeller con- ducted a brewery on Corwin street, opposite Everts School Building.

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William Bauder was for many years en- gaged in the manufacture of buggies and car- riages. The first buggy ever made in Circle- ville was built by him-about 1839. His son, George W. Bauder, was in partnership with him, under the firm style of William Bauder & Son, from 1874 to 1884, when the senior member of the firm retired. George W. Bauder continued to manufacture carriages until about 1895. The annual output of the factory was from 250 to 300 vehicles a year, from 25 to 30 hands being employed. A large local de- mand was supplied and carriages were also shipped to Columbus, Zanesville, Lancaster, Chillicothe and other nearby points.

Other firms who were engaged in the manu- facture of carriages, in the '70's were: Brobeck & Denman and James M. Duffy. * *

Circleville was once famous throughout the country for the broom corn that was raised in its vicinity and shipped from this point. The pioneers in this business were the Gales, who grew the first crop of broom corn on the Hop- kins farm, south of Circleville, in 1832. Eaton Brothers engaged in the business about the year 1835 and continued until about 1851, but it re- mained for Edward and Joseph P. Smith to expand the business to really remarkable pro- portions. They engaged in growing and ship- ping broom corn in 1852. Four years later, Joseph P. Smith left and Edward Smith car- ried on the business alone for one year, when James H. Lynch became a partner, which part- nership continued for two years. Joseph P. Smith returned to Circleville in 1860 and from

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that time until they closed out the business, some eight years ago, the brothers continued to- gether. At first they cultivated 200 acres but their business soon expanded, so that the aver- age acreage they had in broom corn during the entire period of their connection with this business was not far from 1,000 acres. At one time they had as much as 1, 100 acres in broom corn and were known far and wide as the most extensive growers in the United States. In the year 1864 they paid to the government a tax on $42,000, as the income from their business for that year. Up to 1862 their corn was grown for the most part on rented land; the returns from the business, however, soon en- abled them to acquire large tracts. During the cultivation of the crop about 60 men, with as many horses and mules, were employed, while during the harvesting period, which covered a period of two months, some 300 per- sons-men, women and children-were em- ployed. Their average annual product was about 350 tons, which was distributed to al- most every section of the north. After the corn was gathered, the seed was removed by ma- chinery ; the corn was then taken to the drying sheds, where it remained until it was thor- oughly air-dried; after this, it was pressed and baled, when it was ready for shipment. It was the custom, however, to store most of it in their large brick warehouse on the west side of Court street, south of the railroad tracks, until the accumulation of orders demanded its shipment.

O. E. Niles, also, was engaged in the broom corn business, his connection with it extending from 1867 for a period of about 30 years. His average acreage was about 400. Justin Pom- eroy was also engaged in raising broom corn. The prosperous years of the business was be- tween the years 1862 and 1890. * *

About 1840 Samuel Rogers erected a build- ing at the corner of Main and Canal streets for the storage of grain, which continued to be used for this and similar purposes until it was destroyed by fire in July, 1906. It was the oldest building used for the grain trade in the city and had various owners and lessees. W.

E. Delaplane was the owner and operator for more than 25 years, commencing previous to 1860, and had the largest grain business at the time in the city. The Circleville Grain Company, composed of Henry R. Heffner, William Heffner, Harvey R. Heffner and William F. Heffner, entered into possession January 1, 1903 (having purchased the plant of Alexander C. Bell), and increased the facili- ties and added new and improved machinery. It was used as a grain elevator and also had machinery for the grinding of corn-cob meal.

There was formerly a flouring-mill near the canal beyond the gas works, which was in operation early in the history of the town. W. E. Delaplane operated this at one time, being succeeded by Morris, Bortz & Company. The mill has been gone for about 20 years.

Jacob Young had a steam flouring-mill in the southeast part of town in the '70's. It was operated by his son-in-law, George A. Irwin. *

In 1852 William C. Schwartz established a blacksmith shop in the large brick building at the corner of Franklin and Pickaway streets, which had been erected sometime previous to that date, as a place of worship, by a branch of the Methodists who called themselves "Mutual Rights Methodist Episcopal Church." As the business of Mr. Schwarz increased, he added the manufacture of plows, harrows, wagons, etc. It was his practice to buy cast- ings for the plows in various markets, make the wrought-iron portions at his own forges and the wood work in the upper part of the building. The business was conducted under the firm name of Schwarz & Son. He con- tinued to manufacture plows from 1855 to 1875, after which he gave his attention almost wholly to general blacksmithing. During the period of greatest activity at this plant, as many as 200 plows a year were turned out. In 1902 his son Charles succeeded to the business. In 1866 an addition was made to the works, where the blacksmith shop is now conducted. *

Among the other manufacturing concerns that were here in 1879. were the bakeries con- ducted by Jacob Mader, John Mader and Mar-

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tin Bish. The first named was a pioneer baker, with bake-shop located on North Court street, and was in business here for a very long period. John Mader was his son. Martin Bish 'was also here for many years. James Sapp and Gideon Rife conducted extensive cooperage es- tablishments for many years. Conrad Richards was also engaged in this line of business and was succeeded by F. M. Fritsch, the proprietor of the Eagle Cooperage Works. In 1879, in addition to the marble shop conducted by James Harsha, there was the one operated by Price & Glick; afterward it was conducted by Perley W. Price, who sold it recently. Richardson & Trone conducted an extensive tin-shop here at one time and at a later date the business was conducted by the former member of the firm, J. W. Richardson. In 1879 Charles M. Seibert was engaged in the manufacture of woodwork for guns and rifles, having been here at that date for some time and subsequently continuing for quite a period.

CEMETERIES.

Within the limits of the city of Circleville or just beyond those limits there are at the present time three cemeteries, all of which were established at first to meet the city's wants, though they have been largely used by those outside of it. These cemeteries are: Forest Cemetery, St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery and the old Circleville Cemetery. The first ceme- tery in the city was

THE LUTHERAN CEMETERY.

There was formerly a cemetery in the city on East Mound street, adjoining Trinity Luth- eran Church. It consisted of lots 115 and 116 of the original town plat and was set apart in 1810 by order of the Court of Common Pleas for the use of the Trinity Lutheran and Cal- vinistic congregations. No costly monuments were erected here and no interments were made later than 1857. The oldest inscriptions were in German. The two lots adjoining this ceme- tery on the east, numbered 113 and 114, were at a very early day set apart for a similar pur-

pose. The two grounds were kept separate by a fence, and the one on the east was called sometimes the public, sometimes the English and sometimes the city burying-ground. In 1863 a decree of the Court of Common Pleas. having been obtained for that purpose, most of the bodies were removed from this part and the Trinity Lutheran Church and parsonage were erected here.

On May 16, 1891, an enabling act was passed by the General Assembly of Ohio, which authorized the trustees of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Trinity Lutheran Church to remove the remains from the Lutheran Cemetery, comprised in lots 115 and 116, to the Circleville Cemetery, after 30 days notice had been given. The trustees were to pay the cost of removing and reinterring the remains and of removing and setting up the tombstones anew. They were also given the right to sell the property. The residence of Mrs. John L. Krimmel now occupies the site of this cemetery.

THE CIRCLEVILLE CEMETERY.

The second burying-ground set off for this purpose in Circleville was what is known as the old Circleville Cemetery. It was estab- lished by the Town Council, which purchased on March 19, 1831, of Samuel Watt and wife, a five-acre tract of land on East High street along the border of Hargus Creek. The price paid was $125. Interments are still occasion- ally made in this cemetery. It is now con- trolled by the Board of Public Service, of Cir- cleville. In 1891, when the Lutheran Ceme- tery was abandoned, many of the bodies from that cemetery were reinterred in the Circle- ville Cemetery.

FOREST CEMETERY.

About a mile north of the center of Circle- ville, on the west side of the Columbus turn- pike, lie the beautiful grounds of Forest Ceme- tery.

In June, 1857, a subscription list was cir- culated among the leading citizens of Circle-

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CRADLEBAUGH MONUMENT

SOLDIERS' MONUMENT

SCENES IN FOREST CEMETERY, CIRCLEVILLE

SOLDIERS' LOT, FOREST CEMETERY Circleville.

DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL Williamsport.

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ville for the purpose of buying and embellish- ing grounds to be used forever for a rural cemetery, which resulted in $7,200 being sub- scribed by the following named persons in amounts of $100 and $200: William Renick, W. W. Bierce, John Groce, Samuel A. Moore, Samuel H. Ruggles, Nelson Franklin, Samuel Marfield, Josiah Renick, E. C. Clarke, William Bauder, Samuel Rogers, Adam McCrea, S. M. Baker, William L. Peck, Henry N. Hedges, Sr., R. A. Foresman, Otis Ballard, Jr., Dr. Marcus Brown, W. E. Delaplane, J. T. Dela- plane, J. S. Wilkes, J. Y. Duncan, John Boyer, George H. Fickardt, L. N. Olds, G. F. Wit- tich, Nathan T. Bradford, W. M. Triplett, W. Baker, C. Olds, Einsell, Wagner & Company, Noah S. and G. W. Gregg, Harness Renick, W. J. Wolfley and E. G. Shuize, Israel Gregg, D. Pierce and R. H. Wilson, Wayne Griswold, C. A. and A. King, Jonathan Renick, J. A. Hawkes, George Hammel, William Van Heyde, G. E. Wolfley, William Doane, Michael Kellstadt, Philip Glick, John Lynch, A. J. Haswell, Will- iam Hughes, Peter Wefler, Jr., David Snider, Henry N. Hedges, Jr., .P. C. Smith and J. Solliday.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 11

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 923

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923