USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. I > Part 8
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The carpenters and builders were John Bell, Benjamin K. Henry, Joseph McGuire, Samuel Webber and E. Wolff.
The druggists were David Markward, William B. Mercer, Dr. J. N. Mowry and Stocking & Bigelow.
G. H. Dougherty, John Heib, Samuel McCrory, McCullough & Risser. M. L. Miller, T. Paisley and Adam Seibert were those who as tailors formed the mold of fashions of those days.
The hotels have already been mentioned but there were also boarding houses and the list of those conducting them was as follows: Mansion House. 1. R. Pool; Mrs. Elizabeth Blair, Mrs. Annetta S. Burr. Mrs. Mary Frazer. Mrs. Mary Hoke, Mrs. Mary Robbins and F. A. Thomas.
Those conducting the dressmaking establishments were: Misses V. and ' S. Coates, Miss II. Ingersoll, Mrs. C. C. Kellogg & Co., Miller & Super. Miss N. J. Stewart.
The venerable Levi Zimmerman is named as the only coppersmith in the city; Laban Roberts, edge tool manufacturer: Mrs. Mary G. Lemon, dyer; C. C. Keech and II. L. King, hats, caps and furs: Reason Nail, ice dealer;
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Seth W. Eells, ink manufacturer; Henry Bletz, Michael Dell, R. H. Gru- baugh and J. K. Mooney, coopers ; Thomas Bros., Frederick Becker and Her- man Grater, bakers; candy manufacturer. E. Clapp: Harvey & Long and Joseph Lithner, brewers; Frederick Christman, carpet weaver; George Coher. bellows manufacturer; John Leiter, bath house; M. Day and Joseph Ritter, tanners; AAndrew Boughton, veterinary surgeon; Jacob Arting, A. Lord, Isaac Pleasants and William Stewart, barbers; Thomas Roberts, coal dealer; R. McComb & Co., Sturges & Tracy and Thayer Bros., commission merchants; John Rickets and Hiram Wheeler, gunsmiths; Mrs. Mary Myers, laundress; Josiah Larimer, Reed & Underwood and Snyder & Morrow, liverymen; Mc- fall & Co., liquors wholesale; onmibus line, Poole & Scott; Cole & Conant, music store; Isaac B. Hoffer, George Laver & Son, John Metzger, meat stores; S. Downing, Xaver Oeyen, Joseph N. Snyder and A. Wright, painters; D. Carlisle, Mrs. L. A. Davis, Loranger & Newman and A. Whissemore, photog- raphers; Philip Gardener, rope maker.
Among various other of the tradesmen and artisans mentioned were these: H. Dufrainoit, wig maker; William H. Harris and Jacob Straub. wagon makers; M. P. Howlett, shingle machine maker; William D. McBride, pension agent; L. B. Matson, notary public; Stevens Bros., mattress manu- facturers ; jewelry, watches, etc. John A. Lee, R. P. Micks, Patterson & Wil- kinson; gas fixtures, John N. Mowry; civil engineer, Jacob Brown; P. Spadaccini, ornamental plaster worker; Jacob Steinruck, produce; George Shambs, cigar and tobacco manufacturer; Ebenezer W. Smith, general agent American Bible society ; Jonas Smith, deputy county auditor.
John B. Netscher and T. W. Schmid conducted billiard rooms and the then "coffee houses" were operated by John Klein and John B. Netscher. F. A. Thomas had an eating saloon. J. Sayre was an egg packer. Caesar Schneeweiss was a clerk who boarded at the Weldon house.
Bernhard Sens, tailor; Constantine Seman, drayman; John E. Shea. cabinet maker; Henry Shellenbarger, teacher; Lowry Sibbett, steward of Mansfield Female Seminary, and Mrs. M. A. Stokes, milliner, are among the names and occupations given of many of those familiar to the older citizens of Mansfield.
THE MANSFIELD OF TODAY.
There is not a city in the state more easily reached than is Mansfield. It is centrally located, being seventy-seven miles from Cleveland, sixty miles from Sandusky, sixty-seven miles from Columbus, eighty-seven miles fron Toledo, one hundred and eighty-four miles from Cincinnati, one hundred and seventy-five miles from Pittsburg and one hundred and forty-five miles from Ft. Wayne.
Four steam railroads enter the city from the four corners of the state. The Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago route of the Pennsylvania system, the Erie and B. & O. (all three trunk lines), and the Toledo, Walhonding Val- ley and Ohio (which connects the Ft. Wayne route with the Panhandle route-a trunk line) and the Wheeling & Lake Erie railroad at Coshocton.
HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
sixty-three miles southeast of Mansfield. On these four roads there are forty-six passenger trains in and out of Mansfield every twenty-four hours.
Mansfield also has three electric interurban railroads-the Cleveland Southwestern-which connects Mansfield with Crestline, Galion and Bucyrus on the west, and with Ashland on the east; the Mansfield-Shelby line con- nects Mansfield with the Big Four at Shelby, as the Southwestern also does with Crestline and Galion. The Mansfield-Shelby line connects at Shelby with the Sandusky, Norwalk and Mansfield line to Norwalk and to points on the lake.
A number of other lines are in prospect with work already commenced on some of them, notably the line being built from Mansfield to Wooster. Every morning during the past summer a fine trolley car left Mansfield at 7:30 a. m., running through without change to Sandusky and the lake; this was over the Cleveland & Lake Shore road. Mansfield is destined to become the great trolley line center of north-central Ohio.
Mansfield is the highest (in elevation) of any city in the state, one thousand feet above the sea level, and a city of about twenty-four thousand people and covering about three thousand acres of ground, about one hun- dred and ten of which are in parks owned and maintained by the city, one of which is at the edge of the city and contains eighty-six acres, and one in the center of the city of about one and one-half acres. Also two private parks (free admission) with the usual amusements.
The purest city drinking water (ninety-two per cent) in the state, direct from artesian wells, with ample supply for domestic and fire purposes, with a pumping station owned and operated by the city with forty miles of water mains.
A modern sewerage disposal plant (which purifies the sewerage to ninety-seven per cent pure water) and garbage crematory co-ting $85,000.
A fire department with three stations strictly modern, with seventy-one fire alarm boxes, forty-one miles of fire alarm telegraph wire and two hundred and fifty-six fire hydrants.
A high school building costing $150.000 and eight modern ward school buildings, with a corps of one hundred and eight teachers and two thousand eight hundred and sixty-three pupils. The modern kindergarten building of the state. A model of this building was made by the Ohio commission for the Jamestown exposition, for exhibition at the exposition as the model of Ohio kindergarten buildings, and is now part of the permanent educa- tional exhibit at the Ohio State University at Columbus.
The Ohio State Reformatory. America's leading penal institution, cost $1,250,000.
A $75,000 soldiers' and sailors' memorial building, containing a public reading room and library and an opera house seating one thousand five hundred people, owned by the city and township.
A modern county children's home.
1 modern and complete emergency hospital.
A modern and complete sanitarium.
A $35,000 Carnegie library (nearly completed).
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A $50,000 Y. M. C. A. building.
A casino seating 800 people.
Twenty churches-three within a square each seating one thousand two hundred people, and twelve within a radius of three squares.
Has only property in the world owned by a Christian Endeavor Union. Six banks and three building and loan associations.
A clearance house with an average weekly clearance of about $390,000. City property valued at $3,159,434, with a total city bonded indebted- ness of only $428,000.
Day and night electric currents, with 77-50 candle power and 220-2000 candle power are lights for street lighting.
Natural and artificial gas, with fifty-two miles of pipe.
Thirty-three miles of pavad streets.
Twenty-eight miles of sewers.
Four thousand six hundred and eighty Bell and Independent tele- phones in use in the city.
Eight miles of electric street railway (first electric railway in Ohio).
Two hundred stores, employing between four and five hundred clerks.
One hundred and fifty manufactures employing about four thousand employes and manufacturing stoves, pumps, bath room supplies, plumbing supplies, brass goods, electric railway, light and power machinery, buggies, wagons, harrows, threshers, separators, engines, boilers, gloves, suspenders, elastic webbing, candy, crackers, cigars, flour, watch cases, bed springs and mattresses, barber chairs, show cases, washing machines, safety valves, etc., and shipping their products all over the world.
The largest manufactory of overhead electric railway supplies in the world.
Seventeen cigar factories, manufacturing about forty million cigars annually, and employing about one thousand two hundred people.
Three large flour mills.
Three large wholesale groceries, also wholesale drug, hardware, cigar, rubber boots and shoes, confectionery, flour, fruit, granite and marble, lumber, notions.
Eight hotels.
Two daily and three weekly newspapers.
THE GROWTH OF MANSFIELD.
One hundred years ago the land whereon Mansfield now stands was covered with the primitive forest, except a small clearing at the public square, at the northwest corner of which a cabin had been built.
Now, instead of forest trees, there are the chimneys and smokestacks of shops and factories, and where the cabins stood there are now massive blocks of brick and stone and palatial residences flank our streets and avenues.
And the Mansfield of today has extensive factories, foundries. works and mills, whose products, adjuncts and cognate industries make the city one of the most flourishing in the state. And its railroad facilities are unsur-
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SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MEMORIAL BUILDING
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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
passed-three trunk lines crossing within our borders, with a fourth road extending from the coal fields of the southeast to the lake shore on the north- west, handling both the products of the mines and the iron ore and other commerce of the lakes.
Among the luxuries of the age, which we now look upon almost as necessities, are nine miles of street electric railway, electric lights, electric fire alarm, telephone, water works, an efficient fire department, free postal delivery, Memorial library building, free library, free museum, free reading rooms, attractive parks and enterprising daily newspapers.
And these are not all, for Mansfield has forty miles of paved (asphalt, brick and macadam) streets, making it one of the best paved towns in the country, and the streets are so smooth and clean that pedestrians can take to metropolitan ways and cross streets anywhere. Bicycles and vehicles abound and lovers of riding and driving can complacently look back to the inud roads and cobbled streets of ten years ago. During the summer season a great deal of "outing" is enjoyed, and those who have wheels or conveyances of their own take long rides along the pleasant driveways which allure them on through the city to the park, whose shady, winding avenues present pano- ramic-like views, fresh and joyous from nature.
The topography of the ground upon which Mansfield is built, and its undulating surface make the view of the city from either of its surrounding hills picturesque and enhancing. And art has combined with nature to make Mansfield one of the most attractive of Ohio cities.
A stranger coming to Mansfield will here find people as hospitable. refined and intelligent as those of any other community in the country; a people of sterling personal character, with love of home, respect for law. order and the rights of our fellow citizens; a people educated and cultured, such as would command prominence in the social, intellectual, professional, business and political walks of any city in America.
Public progress is stamped on every feature of the city, and its enter- prises are as boundless as the material resources of the county are prolific.
In a paper read before the annual meeting of the Fifty Thousand League, May 24, 1898, Emmett C. Baxter gave a tabulated exhibit of the manufacturing output of Mansfield, by which it is shown that we ship annually from our mills, foundries and factories: One hundred and eighty thousand barrels of flour, fifty thousand barrels of crackers. seventy-five thousand iron pumps, twenty-four thousand heating and cook stoves. five hundred threshing and separating machines, two hundred clover hullers. six hundred farm engines, one hundred thousand horse power of steam boil- ers, twelve thousand farm harrows, fifteen million cigars, two million four hundred thousand pairs of suspenders.
The above does not include the outputs of many other shops and numer- ous other items that it would be almost impossible to ascertain and classify.
The sum total of the shipments stated amount annually to $6.375,000. The pay rolls of these shops amount to $88,000 a month-$1.056.000 a year. These figures do not include the income and expenditure of the smaller factories, shops, stores and the newspaper offices.
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The shops from which Mr. Baxter got reports employ over two thousand seven hundred hands and estimating that the family of each of these employes average four persons, these shops support a grand army of over ten thousand people.
The figures given of Mansfield's manufacturing output are only from seven or eight of the largest firms of over one hundred and forty factories, many of which are acknowledged to be the best in the country.
In the wholesale trade, Mansfield being an excellent shipping point, the grocery line alone amounts to $2,000,000 annually. And the jobbing hard- ware, queensware and other branches are not far behind.
The clearing house reports a business of $4,982,040.02 for the year 1898, and two banks are not in the association, and their business is not included in these figures.
As a place for holding conventions Mansfield offers advantages unequaled by any other inland city in Ohio, being centrally located and having railroad facilities and excellent hotel accommodations.
THE PARKS.
Central Park, formerly called the public square, is in the central part of the city, well dotted with shade trees, and in its center is a fountain, both useful and ornamental, whose draughts are seemingly made more cooling and refreshing by the aesthetic surroundings, as the spray casts a rainbow halo overhead and the perfume of flowers gladden the air from the four urns of the fountain's rim. The soldiers' statue-monument, facing the west, now typifies a new meaning and verifies the prophetic words of Thomas H. Benton, who, pointing to the west, exclaimed: "There is the east and there is the road to India!" Hawaii and the Philippine Islands are already ours. At an angle from the fountain and monument, forming a triad, is the band stand, from which free concerts are given on summer evenings. Seats are placed around and among the trees for the convenience of the public.
The Sherman-Heineman park, adjoining the city on the west, com- prises eighty acres, twenty-five of which are of native forest. The park com- missioners had the ground laid out by a landscape gardener, and there are vearly appropriations for its further improvement and maintenance. This park is a favorite place for picnic parties, society socials and family gather- ings. There are artificial lakes, well-kept walks and over six miles of improved driveways, and the grounds are reached by two lines of electric cars. At the end of the West Fourth street car line there is a modern casino with a seating capacity for one thousand five hundred people.
The grounds surrounding the casino are called Casino park, south and west of which is Luna park, run by a private company in the interest of amusements. At the south end of the Sherman-Heineman park certain land has been obtained, a drive-way opened through the same and an artificial lake made, of considerable area, and this new part of the park bids fair to be the most attractive of all. Some years ago a tract of land in Johns' addi- tion to the city of Mansfield was donated by the heirs of the late Benjamin Johns for park purposes. There was some misunderstanding between the
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donors and the city in regard to the transfer of the park property. This, it is hoped, will be settled satisfactorily to all parties, for, on account of the commanding situation of the land, Johns' park can be made one of the most handsome and attractive of our numerous parks.
Charles F. Ackerman recently laid out an addition to the city on South Main street. A beautiful tract of ground in the center of the addition has been given for a park.
During the summer of 1908 the school board gave the use of the Hedges street school grounds for park purposes, and the same was equipped with electric lights, benches, etc., and is a favorite pleasure resort for the people of the southeast part of the city. The grounds are large, making the park a commodious one.
The Ohio Reformatory is located at the northern part of the city and is also reached by the electric cars.
The fact that an average of two hundred freight and forty passenger trains pass through the city daily shows the magnitude of the railroad traffic to, from and through Mansfield.
Mansfield is supplied with water by the Holly system from springs and artesian wells, and has over forty-five miles of mains. The plant is owned by the city and the water supply is as pure as the best and unlimited.
The city is well lighted, there being about forty miles of electric light wires, with one hundred and sixty arc lights, besides other lamps.
The fire department, one of the best in the state, is equipped with the Gamewell electric alarms, using over thirty miles of wire.
Official reports of mortality in different cities of the country, showing the number of deaths in each one thousand of population, are as follows:
Mansfield, Ohio 8.33
Helena, Mont.
9.05
Cleveland, Ohio 17.42
Cincinnati, Ohio 18.28
San Francisco, Cal.
18.84
Baltimore, Md.
19.11
Washington, D. C.
19.89
New York City 21.38
Charleston, S. C. 27.29
Comments on these figures-showings seem superfluous.
Mansfield is situated on the crest of the great divide with an altitude of six hundred and fifty-seven feet above the lake and one thousand feet above the sea, and is one of the coolest cities in Ohio and one of the most healthful in the United States.
In the residence line. Mansfield's growth has not only consisted of . elegant homes on fashionable avenues, but also of cozy cottages whose various designs have apparently exhausted the ingenuity of architects in that they are unique, artistic and dissimilar, thus verifying the old apothegm, "There's beauty in variety." But over and above all else, they are homes largely owned and occupied by permanent citizens.
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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
For a place of residence, the sagacious man selects a location which combines health, good society and business advantages. Mansfield has all these, and more. It has churches and schools, such as one would expect to find among a people that stand in the fore in morals and culture, and the embellishments of the homes and surroundings attest the refined taste of a prosperous, happy and contented people.
THE ELEVATION OF MANSFIELD.
Roy Antibus, civil engineer with the engineering corps of the Cleve- land, Ashland & Mansfield Traction Company, recently ascertained the elevation of Mansfield. A government party making a topographical survey of this part of the country had been in and around Ashland for some time and was also more recently in Mansfield. While here they made "bench" marks and since then certain data has been secured from them from which it is ascertained that the elevation of Central park, Mansfield, is one thou- sand two hundred and forty-one and four-tenths feet above sea level.
The elevation of Mansfield above Lake Erie, as shown on the profile of the Erie railroad, is five hundred and eighty-one feet; on the profile of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad the elevation of Mansfield is given as six hundred and fifty-seven feet, and on the Pennsylvania road it is given as five hundred and ninety-two feet; part of the difference being due to the different eleva- tions of the localities through which the railroads pass in the city.
FAVORABLE IMPRESSIONS OF MANSFIELD.
The editor of the Ashtabula Beacon-Record was so well pleased with Mansfield, upon a recent visit here, that upon his return home he published in that paper, of March 26, 1908, the following complimentary article:
A visit to Mansfield, the county seat of Richland county, afforded sur- prise and exceptional pleasure. Crowning several hills, from a distance the city affords a very imposing view. Passing through its streets, one is impressed by the evidence of care, cleanliness, comfortable homes, wealth, culture, refinement and business activity. The people are thrifty, alert, enterprising and, while conservative, progressive. The municipality ranks among the best of the smaller municipalities in which Ohio is so highly favored. The population is about twenty-three thousand.
Through the thoughtfulness and courtesy of an appreciated volunteer committee from among the Elks, a much enjoyed opportunity was afforded to "do" the city in one of the best of White's steam auto cars. That meant a quick and smooth ride, thirteen miles in forty minutes. The first point visited was where many end a career, to pause, take breath, reflect and turn a new leaf for a better record-the reformatory. This is a very imposing building with its lofty towers, minarets and gables, but it is not at all likely that those who are consigned there are impressed by its architectural features, these are for the free to enjoy. Over eight hundred are now detained in the institution, the largest number ever reached. Ashtabula county is repre- sented by several of the inmates. It is to be hoped that when they are given
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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
their liberty they will be wiser and better and determined on redeeming their reputation by good citizenship.
Brick and asphalt pavements are largely in use. Many of the streets are narrow, as is the case in so many of the older Buckeye towns, but in the summer they must be beautiful with the color and shade of an abundance of trees. In many instances the homes, as a rule, commodious and ornate, are in the midst of extensive lawns. In recent years large plats have been added to the city and in several cases the residences erected thereon have been of a very costly character. This is particularly true of the Sherman sub-division, where this year some twenty-four or thirty palatial houses are to be reared. Mansfield, by the way, has not been a sufferer from the late financial stringency.
A very attractive feature for park purposes is the Sherman-Heineman park. It is an ideal spot for such a use, nature's designer having made it attractive with beautiful undulations and ravines. And, then, there has evidently been a generous allowance of funds for man's supplemental work in artistic roads and landscape effects. Adjacent to this alluring breathing space there is also a private resort with a great variety of amusement features. Mansfield people have reason to be proud of this recreation spot.
The city has a number of capacious and beautiful public buildings. Its church edifices are spacious, modern in architecture, and mainly of stone. A new one, of the Methodist Episcopal persuasion, is now rising on a corner of the block in the center of which Senator, later Secretary, Sherman long had his home. A public library is in a large and elegant home. The school- houses are elaborate, particularly that of the high school, which is an ornament to the city. A well appointed Elks' Temple witnesses to the strength and devotion of the membership of the local lodge, which embraces many of the best and most influential citizens. Up-to-date business houses and office blocks are numerous.
Among the more prominent, hustling and popular men of affairs in the place is a representative of Ashtabula county, Neil Fortune, formerly of Conneaut. It was pleasing to have many inquire with interest as to people. places and enterprises in this county on the northern rim of the state, whose influence in the making of the record of the grand old commonwealth las been recognized as no small factor for good.
In June Mansfield will celebrate her centennial. Preparations are being made for an occasion worthy of the event. The historian of that time will have a feast of rich things for those so fortunate as to be in attendance.
OUR GERMAN CITIZENS.
Mansfield holds her German citizens in the highest esteem, for they are among her most prominent, industrious and conservative people.
While others may acquire wealth and attain positions with rapid strides like a meteoric flash, Germans reach distinction by a slower process. in a more regular orbit, and their lights will shine long after the dazzle of the meteors is gone and forgotten.
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