USA > Ohio > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, Ohio : its peoples, industries, and institutions > Part 12
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Ottoville guaranteed the Delphos company a minimum of fifty dollars a month for the first six months and since then has been on a rate of one hun- dred dollars a month. The Ottoville consumers have a minimum rate of fifty cents a month and a rate of ten cents a kilowatt. The profits of the town for the first six months enabled it to pay for its street lighting, and as time goes on the town hopes to make a still greater profit. The service has proven satisfactory in every respect and the example of Ottoville will doubt- less soon be followed by other towns in the county. The local management of the utility is vested in the board of public affairs, consisting of J. J. Miller, George Miehls and Edward Odenweller. The clerk of the board is Frank Kramer, who acts as the manager and has general control of the installation of lights and the making of collections.
FIRE DEPARTMENT OF OTTOVILLE.
Ottoville is fortunately located in regard to a bountiful supply of water, being at the crossing of the Little Auglaize and the canal. With a twenty- horse-power gasoline pumping engine, water can be thrown in two streams
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over any and all buildings in the town from either the river or the canal. In addition, the town has a hand-pump which requires thirty men to operate, but, since the installation of the gasoline engine, this is necessary only in extreme cases. The town owns fifteen hundred feet of two and a half inch hose, which is amply sufficient to carry water to any part of the town. It is interesting to note that in the whole history of the town there has never been more than one building burned down at one time. In fact, there have been no serious fires in the town for the past five years. There is a voluntary fire company of fifteen members, who receive twenty-five cents for attendance upon meetings, the number of meetings being limited to twenty-one a year. The members of the company are exempt from road tax, but receive no extra compensation for attendance at a fire. The present fire chief is Frank Kramer. Joseph P. Wurst is secretary and Joseph Vanoss is treasurer of the fire company.
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS OF OTTOVILLE.
Automobiles-Alfred Huysman.
Bank-Ottoville Banking Company.
Barber -- Theodore Kramer.
Blacksmiths-John Vanoss, John Zahn & Albert Schneider.
Carpenters -- John Wurst, Henry Ruen, L. L. Red.
Cement Contractor-Frank Grubenhoff.
Dentist-\V. T. Morgan.
Drayman-Martin Bendele.
Druggist-W T. Remlinger.
Elevator -- Benjamin Wannemacher & Sons.
Flour Manufacturer-E. L. Odenweller.
Furniture-John Lauer.
General Stores -- J. J. Miller Company, F. F. Vincke.
Hardware-Charles Wannemacher's Sons, George Wannemacher & Company.
Hotel-G. E. Otte. Ice Dealers-Berkling & King.
Jeweler-C. B. Wannemacher.
Justice of the Peace-George Altenburger. Livery-Bendele & Miller.
Lumber and Building Supplies -- Schulien & Roth. Loans and Real Estate -- George Altenburg.
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Meat Market-Berkling & King.
Millinery-Mrs. Frances Dehe, Mrs. Matthew Kramer.
Musical Instruments -- C. B. Wannemacher, W. T. Remlinger.
Physician-J. F. Ockuley.
Poultry Dealer-Griffis Produce Company.
Photographer-Harry Niedecken.
Painters and Paper Hangers-Fred Bolin, Charles Sellet.
Restaurants-Albert Lane, Rayman Brothers.
Saloons-G. H. Otte, Nicholas Bedink.
Stock Buyers-Conrad Fecker, Plesher & Brickner.
Shoe Cobblers-W. T. Geier, Landing Rieger.
Stone Crusher-Nicholas Lauer.
Stone. Brick and Cement Workers-Peter Smith, J. F. Pittner.
Telephone-Jacob Studer, manager.
Tile Manufacturer-George Miller. Tinner -- George Rieger.
Veterinary-John Dietrich.
OTTAWA TOWNSHIP.
Ottawa township was organized in March, 1835, with a limited number of people who had settled in the township during the previous two years. One of the first white settlers in the township was George Agner, who came here in the year 1832 and, the following year, settled on a farm east of Ottawa. William Galbreath settled on the farm adjoining Ottawa in the same year. Mr. Galbreath served in the War of 1812 and was present at the battle of Fort Meigs. William and Jonathan Y. Sackett, Henry Crawfis, Meridith Parish, Henry Ridenour, James Parish and Christian Huber are numbered with the pioneers of this township.
The first election for township officers was held at Michael Row's tavern, April 6, 1835. At this election the following officers were elected: George Agner, William Galbreath and Joseph Adgate, trustees; Michael Row, treas- urer ; William Sackett, clerk; William Bowman, constable; Michael Row and William Galbreath, supervisors; Meridith Parish and Samuel Clark, overseers of the poor; Michael Row and Samuel Runyan, fence viewers. The first justices of the peace were elected on May 5, 1835, John Cox and William Williams being chosen to fill this office.
These men who were elected at this early date to fill the township
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offices were prominent in the affairs of the township and its most substan- tial citizens. It is noteworthy that some of the men filled more than one office, owing to the fact that the township was sparsely settled at this early date.
The first school held in the township was taught by Christian Huber. It was held in a log cabin located northeast of the present waterworks of Ottawa. Mr. Huber was of German birth, well educated and took a promi- nent part in the early political affairs of the county. His pupils were a mixed assemblage of youths, a number of Indian boys being enrolled under him. The Indian boys, however, were loth to attend school regularly and frequently "played hookey," to hunt and fish.
The first tavern was built of hewed logs and was kept by Michael Row. This tavern was well patronized by early travelers and early meetings of the citizens were held here to discuss matters pertaining to the welfare of the township and the early settlers. The first saw-mill was located on the Blanchard river a short distance west of the Glandorf bridge. It was built by James Adgate and was well patronized by the early settlers, there being few saw-mills in the county at this time and a plentiful supply of timber.
Since this was a famous settlement of the Indians, it need only be mentioned that the forests were full of wild game and the rivers afforded excellent fishing. Bears, deer, wolves, wild turkeys, and all kinds of small game were to be found here in abundance before the Indians gave it up as their hunting ground.
The town of Ottawa was laid out by Aughinbaugh and Barnett in June, 1834. It was the site of the old Indian town of Lower Tawa, named after the tribe of Indians who had a reserve of about twenty-eight sections of land in this township. In 1832 the Indians sold this tract of land to the United States, and left for that part of the Indian territory which at present is a part of Kansas. The original town plat consisted of only one hundred and twenty-eight lots. This subject will be taken up more fully in another chapter.
The present township officers are as follows: Justices of the peace, E. F. Wieser and John Cowan; trustees, John E. Reinman, Joseph Klausing and John Diemer; clerk, J. A. Missler; treasurer, Harry Nienberg; con- stable, Frank Recker.
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OTTAWA.
The site where the village of Ottawa now stands was once a center of the Indian tribes of northeastern Ohio, but before the village proper was laid out, the Indians had bidden adieu to their once-famous abode. At the time the first settlers came to this part of the state to make permanent settle- ments, which was around 1825-30, there were but few Indians making their home in Tawa village. The Indians had ceded their reservation to the white inan and were transferred to their new reservation in Kansas. However, only about two-thirds of them ever reached their new home, as they died of small- pox contracted on their journey. They were transferred to their new reser- vation under the management of a Mr. Hollister, of Perrysburg, who was the government's agent at that time.
No startling events are characterized by the creation of the new hamlet and but little more than ordinary interest can be aroused by this discussion, outside of the recital of a few historical facts. A few Indians remained here as late as 1836-39, but they were friendly to the white man, and incidents have even been related where the white man stayed with the Indian until suitable quarters could be provided for his family.
In the early part of the year 1833 a few families came to what had been until that time a reservation of the Ottawa Indians. In June of the fol- lowing year Messrs. Aughenbaugh and Barnett laid out the town as a ham- let. They gave it the name of Ottawa in honor of the tribe of red men who had occupied a few "shacks" constituting the Tawa village, located on what is now commonly called the Green. John and David Cox, C. T. Pomeroy, William Galbreath, Michael Row, Mr. Williams and Samuel Runyan and their families were about the only settlers here at this time and constituted almost the entire citizenship of the hamlet for several years. But slowly the hamlet was gathering in the sturdy and honest settlers who a short time later were going to be the strong force behind this village to make it the center of the county ; the Indian tepee was gradually giving way to the log cabin and civilization was beginning to claim this fertile land which was soon to serve a better purpose than being the hunting grounds of the Indian.
In 1834, when Ottawa was laid out, there were only five families in the place, those of John and David Cox, C. T. Pomeroy, William Galbreath and Michael Row. In addition, there were two men by the name of Williams and Runyan. At this late day, it is impossible to trace the growth of the
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infant village, but it was not until the county seat was located here in 1866 that the village began to assume respectable proportions.
Michael Row built the first cabin on the site of Ottawa in May, 1834. This rude cabin served as the first tavern and became noted as a public house to all who had occasion to visit this section of the state. Many of the most eminent men of Ohio gathered around its festive board and drank the hard cider and still harder whiskey which the genial proprietor served to his guests. Row kept the tavern until his death and the old tavern, built more than four score years ago, is still standing. It was weather-boarded in 1877 and is now occupied by Falke & Kerner, monument dealers. The first frame house in the town was built by William Williams, a short time after Row erected his tavern.
POSTOFFICE.
The first postoffice was established in 1837 and was called Buckeye. This was made necessary because there was another postoffice by the name of Ottawa in the state. Buckeye continued to be the name of the postoffice until 1862, when, through the efforts of Dr. C. M. Godfrey, the name was changed to Ottawa. Dr. C. M. Godfrey was the first postmaster and Capt. F. S. God- frey was the village postmaster a few years later. Several years later, Cap- tain Godfrey became treasurer of the county.
EARLY GROWTH.
John Cox has the honor of being the first merchant in Ottawa and opened a general store in 1835. Dr. C. P. Pomeroy, the first physician, began to practice here in 1835. Dr. C. M. Godfrey came here in 1837 and studied under Doctor Pomeroy. In 1854 Doctor Pomeroy laid out the first addi- tion to the town. The prospect of the building of the Dayton & Michigan railroad caused an increase in population at this time, and the town began to exerience its first boom. Additions were laid out in 1858, 1859 and in 1865, the additions the latter years embracing a large portion of the eastern part of the town.
On July 4, 1859, the railroad between Dayton and Toledo was completed and this event was celebrated in a manner befitting the occasion. This year may be taken as the beginning of a new era in the history of Ottawa and from this time the town began to plan to get the county seat moved from Kalida to this place. Seven years were to elapse before this much-desired change was made and these seven years saw the rising village take on the
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airs of a real town. In February, 1861, it was incorporated and J. B. Fruchey became the first mayor.
During the Civil War everything was quiet, but with the moving of the county seat from Kalida, in the fall of 1866, the town began to grow. All of the lawyers and many of the best people of Kalida moved to the new county seat and between 1866 and 1870 the population of Ottawa more than doubled. With this influx of people, a new energy was developed, and a new era inaugurated. The frolicsome pig was soon to seek a wallow on some other than the principal business streets and the family geese to find a roost- ing place other than the sidewalk in front of the business houses. In 1866 a newspaper was launched in the town and many new business enterprises were established. Among these may be mentioned the following: Cobb, Pierce & Squires, dry goods; Cox, Bressler & Company, dry goods; Godfrey & Row, tavern; C. Wormsley, shoe shop; G. W. Brown, ashery ; W. T. Soper, cabinet shop; David Cox, saw-mill; McCurdy & Allen, saw-mill; George B. Fuller, physician; T. J. Logan and J. B. Woodruff, lawyers; Col. J. L. H. Long, civil engineer ; J. L. Olney, merchant. It may be mentioned in pass- ing, that Mr. Olney is the only one of all of these early merchants who is now living. He is spending his declining days in the town where he began his career as a merchant three score years ago.
FIRST CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
The first church erected in Ottawa was that of the United Brethren and this denomination still uses it as a house of worship. The first school house was a rude log structure erected in 1836. The first school teacher was Priscilla Compton, who afterwards became the wife of Isaac McCracken, a pioneer citizen of Kalida. The only other school in the township before that time was taught by Christian Huber in his cabin a short distance east of Ottawa. As the years went by, better educational facilities were demanded and today Ottawa boasts of three excellent school buildings.
MORE RECENT GROWTH.
The growth of the town was steady from this time and, unlike some of the towns which spring up and flourish for a short time and then die out, this village was destined to be the leading metropolis in the county. Through the efforts of Doctor Pomeroy is largely due the construction of the Dayton & Michigan railroad through Ottawa. This was completed and trains run in
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November, 1859. The Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western was completed and rtains have run since 1894. The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton was constructed in 1896. At present Ottawa has three railroads and an electric line, which gives her all the transportation facilities required.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The first court house was completed and the first court held was in 1868. However, court was held here the year previous. This was a brick structure and did credit to the times. The present court house is a beautiful and imposing edifice and no county seat in Ohio of the same size can boast of such a modern building. It is a three-story structure with all of the modern conveniences, including elevator, assembly room for public meetings, rest rooms and fully equipped rooms for all of the different county officials.
The first county jail. was constructed in 1869 and was replaced by the present structure in 1900. The present building is located across the street from the court house and is very modern and well equipped for the needs of the lawless unfortunates.
WATER WORKS.
The Ottawa water works was completed in the year 1904. In 1892 the Legislature adopted the municipal code and created the board of public affairs. The first board appointed in Ottawa consisted of the following enterprising citizens : George D. Hamden, Dr. H. Huber, and George D. Kinder, the latter being chosen as the president of the board. Doctor Huber served for one year, when he resigned, and W. H. Harber was appointed to fill the vacancy. Subsequently Messrs. Kinder, Hamden and Rauh were elected for two years and have filled the office up to the present time, being re- elected every two years. Through the efforts of these three men the present water works system was installed. The water works is located in the city park, which is on the east side of the town. This park is a very pretty amusement place for a village of this size. Numerous cages of animals and birds have been placed here and it is fitted up for the amusement of the children.
Ottawa also has an excellent volunteer fire department and is the equal of any volunteer company in this section of the state. They have given good service on many occasions and have even made runs to different towns in the county which were in distress. On one occasion two of the firemen
LIVERY
FIRST COURT HOUSE AT OTTAWA.
PUTNAM COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
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lost their lives while fighting fire. The equipment at the present is of the best and recently a gasoline fire truck was purchased.
Th opera house furnishes an excellent place for amusements and social gatherings. The armory is another imposing structure which the citizens of this village may well be proud of.
The industries consist of a tile factory, elevator and milling company, creamery, lumber yards, two cigar factories and numerous smaller industries.
The people of the town are accommodated with four churches, the Meth- odist Episcopal, Roman Catholic, United Brethren and Presbyterian. These churches are well attended and speak well for the religious interests of the community.
The roads leading into Ottawa are macadamized and graveled and there are four iron bridges within the limits of Ottawa spanning the Blanchard river.
Ottawa's business is conducted through the Bank of Ottawa Company and the First National Bank. The following is a directory of the business houses at the present time :
Hotel-Dumont.
Dry Goods-T. C. Hipkins & Son, J. W. Brown, G. W. Meffley.
Hardware-E. L. Frey, O. C. Wilson and Son.
Clothing-Wise Clothing Company, Rampe Store Company, D. A. Frick. Druggists-A. R. Robenalt & Son, Gerding & Company, and Blosser. Pianos-Schute & Butler.
Furniture and Undertaking-Heringhaus & Pope, J. H. Gallagher.
Grocery-C. I. Moore, G. D. Hamden, P. D. Ward and R. A. Alt.
Shoes-John O. Cartwright.
Meat Market-Grise & Grise, Smith & Son, Adam H. Zeherer.
Five and Ten-cent Stores-S. Rappaport, Stroup.
Jewelers-F. T. Sprague and A. F. Beckman.
Roofing-John Hornung and Doepker & Westrick.
Harness-William Klausing and Charles Martin.
Farm Implements-G. H. Knettle.
Tailors-Joseph Jessing, A. J. Banning and T. F. McElroy.
Marble Works-Falke Bros. & Kerner.
Baker-Home Bakery Company.
Lumber Company-Robert Hixon.
Fraternities-Free and Accepted Masons (lodge, chapter and council), Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Knights of the Maccabees, Modern Woodmen of America, Reindeers, Royal Arcanum,
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Knights of Columbus, Catholic Knights of Ohio, National Union, Grand Army of the Republic.
THE SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY.
The largest factory in Putnam county is the sugar beet factory in Ottawa, a plant which cost more than a quarter of a million dollars and was operated for only two seasons. The inception of the factory dates back to 1911, when some men came to the county for the purpose of seeking a location for such a factory. So enthusiastic were they over the possibilities of making a sugar beet factory a profitable undertaking in the county that they were soon able to convince the people of Ottawa and the county that they should assist in making the establishment of a factory an assured thing.
Before the close of 191 1 the citizens of Ottawa had entered into an agree- ment with the Ottawa Sugar Beet Company, in which they agreed to raise for the company eight thousand dollars and guarantee the planting of one thousand acres of beets the first year. The money was expended for land south of the Blanchard river, located in the Cover-Matthews-Rice addition. Thirty-four acres were secured and turned over to the company. In turn, the company agreed to erect and equip a plant and operate it for a period of five years. In case they did not live up to their part of the agreement the property was to revert to the citizens who had voluntarily subscribed the eight thousand dollars. Although the plant was operated only two years, the company did not turn the plant over, and just who really does own it at the present time is for the court to decide. In the spring of 1915 the plant was advertised for sale to cover delinquent taxes, but no one had the courage to assume the responsibility of taking it on their hands.
A mammoth building was erected in 1911-12 and was ready to handle the 1912 crop of beets. General Manager Martine was placed in charge of the plant and during the first season manufactured a million and a half pounds of sugar. This amount was increased by a third the second year and there did not appear any good reason why the plant was not a success in every way. However, strange things will happen.
At the close of the second season the plant was closed down and the huge building has remained deserted ever since. When it will be opened for business again no one seems to know, nor is there any certainty that it will ever be operated again. In addition to the manufacture of sugar, a man from Ironton, Ohio, put in a hundred-thousand-dollar equipment for taking care of the by-products. He made a kind of stock food, which found a
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ready sale in the market and he was apparently making a success of his busi- ness at the time the factory closed. He had to be content with getting out of the business with the experience he gained, since his investment was a com- plete loss on his hands when the factory ceased operation.
During the two years the factory was in operation, Ottawa enjoyed a reign of prosperity which it had never before known. Many men found employment in the factory and many more secured work in raising the beets. Scores of Belgians came into the county and found ready employment with farmers. Most of them were unmarried men and traveled from farm to farm in wagons which they had fitted up in such a manner that they could live in them. They contracted with many farmers to take entire charge of their crop, from planting to harvesting, for which they received eighteen dol- lars an acre. One man could not tend much more than five acres alone and hence it was necessary to secure additional help if the farmer was going to raise anything else except tomatoes. The profit to the farmer varied from fifty to a hundred dollars an acre and probably averaged seventy-five dollars an acre.
Only an unrefined brown sugar was manufactured and, strange to say, the company refused to sell a pound of the sugar to any one in the county. Most of the sugar was shipped to Cincinnati and distributed from that city. The amount of sugar derived from a ton of beets varied considerably, rang- ing from one hundred to two hundred pounds. Each load of beets was tested for its sugar value and the farmer was paid accordingly to the amount of sugar which it was supposed his beets would yield. The farmer received on an average of five dollars a ton for his beets.
At the same time that the local factory was in operation many farmers shipped their beets out of the county. Most of them went to factories in Toledo and Findlay, the Toledo company having a buying station at Conti- nental. Many reasons have been advanced in explanation of the shutting down of the factory, but no two persons can agree as to what the real facts in the case are. Some have said that the machinery which was installed was second-hand and was not capable of making the company a reasonable profit. Others say that the tariff was to blame and that the Democratic party must shoulder the responsibility ; still others maintain that the tariff has nothing to do with the matter-that the men in it simply fleeced the people out of their money and left for greener pastures. The facts as they stand now are very evident : the factory still stands and is ready to operate at any time, but no one knows whose factory it is. Within the next year the courts will estab- lish the status of the factory and the people of Ottawa and Putnam county
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are of the belief that it will soon be in operation. Time solves all mysteries -even beet sugar industries.
POSTMASTERS OF OTTAWA.
Due to the fact that there was another Ottawa in Ohio in 1837, the postoffice at Ottawa, Putnam county, was called Buckeye from the establish- ment of the office in 1837 to 1862. In the latter year C. M. Godfrey suc- ceeded in having the postoffice department at Washington, change it to Ottawa. C. M. Godfrey was appointed postmaster upon its establishment in 1837, but it has not been possible to get the other postmasters up to 1860. The complete list since 1860 is as follows : August Schierloh, James R. Clark, James Godwin, Hiram Raff, T. D. Campbell, J. J. Zeller, J. C. Light, H. L. McDowell, Allan Graham, and G. F. Zeller, the present incumbent.
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