History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c., Part 105

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968

USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c. > Part 105

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In the summer of 1834, he wrote a number of these gentlemen, calling a meeting on a certain day at his office, to initiate the construction of this improvement. A meeting was held, composed of representatives from Wayne Co., westward to the State line, at which measures were taken to obtain an act of the Legislature, and Dr. A. G. Miller, S. R. Curtis (afterward General), and he were appointed a committee to forward the work. In the winter of 1834-35, he went to Columbus and procured the necessary legislation, and July 4, 1835, a meeting of the Commissioners therein designa- ted was held at the court house, in Mansfield, and measures adopted to carry into effect the provisions of the charter. Dr. A. G. Miller and S. G. Curtis and he were again appointed a committee to take charge of the work. Ile called on the Board of Public Works for an engineer and corps to survey and locate the road. They, after much solicitation, in the spring of 1836, ap- pointed S. R. Curtis, who organized his corps in Mans- field, and made the survey and location that summer ; made his report to the Board of Public Works, and the expense was paid by the State. Of this, the Pitts- burghers were notified by Mr. Purdy, without whose aid the work could not be done. Railroads had not yet become popular ; they had the Pennsylvania canal and Ohio River, and declined co-operation. Thus termina- ted our labor of two years. But it was not lost. Our attention was directed to the construction of a railroad to Sandusky, which, as hereinafter stated, was com- pleted in June, 1846. Mansfield soon became an im- portant point, and in the fall of 1848, gentlemen of

Pittsburgh wrote Mr. Purdy, requesting him to call a meeting at Massillon, which he did. The meeting was attended by Ohioans and Pennsylvanians. A joint charter from the two States was determined on. A committee was appointed to visit Harrisburg, and also one to visit Columbus to obtain the charter. Mr. Purdy and B. Jones, of Wooster, were the committee for Ohio. Mr. Purdy attended, and a joint charter was procured for what afterward became the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. This company had the benefit of our two years' work and the survey we had made, at the expense of the State. Thus, "large oaks from little acorns grow."

Richland had never become a well cultivated county ; immense quantities of produce were by the farmers transported to the Lake on wagons. Our first market was Sandusky. A canal was made from Huron to Milan ; this drew the business from Sandusky to Milan. Sandusky then had a railroad built to Monroeville, operated by horse-power. Much of the Richland trade was withdrawn from Milan to Monroeville and thence to Sandusky. Efforts had been making for some time to get a railroad from Sandusky to Mansfield, and charters therefor had been granted. A charter had been obtained for a railroad from Monroeville to Plymouth. In December, 1839, Judge Patterson and he were ap- pointed to go to Columbus and obtain or have amended a charter for a road from Plymouth to Mansfield, which was accomplished. He, with others, spent the winter among the farmers throughout the county in obtaining stock. In the spring of 1840, the company was or- ganized and he was appointed President. Under his superintendence, an engineer was appointed and the road located, and in August, 1840, the first ground was broken in Mansfield, in the presence of a large and deeply interested assembly, by John Stewart, the first Surveyor and the first Auditor of the county, and Gen. Robert Bentley, also an early pioneer and commander of the militia of the county, both farmers. On that day the foundation of Mansfield's prosperity was laid. It then became a railroad terminus. Other railroads were constructed through this point, in all of which he took an active part, and for their construction con- tributed liberally. These public improvements have made Manshield a railroad center, a commercial and manufacturing city. For this we are deeply indebted to the stalwart pioneers of the county, who subscribed liberally to the stock. Bonds were not then issued, the money had to be raised in the country. The three companies were consolidated; the work progressed slowly, and the cars did not reach Mansfield until June, 1846. It now forms part of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road. To the contributors the improvements were not a direct financial success, but in the improvements of the country they have their compensation. In 1855, he in- vested in real estate in lowa, one tract lay on the west bank of the Mississippi River. He, with others, added to this and laid out the city of Clinton, which, in 1870, con- tained 8,000 inhabitants, a National Bank, a daily paper and a street car company. The Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad Company was then (1855) organized, of which he became a stockholder, and in which he was offered and accepted a prominent position in locating and constructing the road. It was completed and the enterprise was a pecuniary success. It crossed the

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river at Clinton on a bridge, and has become a part of the route from Chicago to San Francisco. About the same time, he, with two others, purchased a block in Chicago on which they erected seven good buildings which he still owns. As facilities in Mansfield multiplied, busi- ness increased, requiring greater money accommoda- tions. In 1845, he took an active part in obtaining the charter for the State Bank of Ohio, of which he be- came a member of the Board of Control and assisted in the management of its multifarious departments, con- sisting of forty branches. It was wound up at the termination of its charter, no bill holder ever losing a dollar. He, with the assistance of William Granger, G. Armintrout, David Anderson and John Shank, organ- ized a branch-the Farmers' Bank of Mansfield, of which he was appointed President and Attorney, which position he occupied until the termination of the charter. This bank was the only institution of the kind in Mansfield for many years. It afforded means liberally to business men, and thereby pro- moted the prosperity of the city. At the expiration of this charter in 1865, the stockholders organized and transferred their stock to the Farmers' National Bank of Mansfield, of which he was appointed President and Attorney, which position he still occupies. This is now the only bank in the city that issues notes for circulation. It affords to our manufacturers and others pecuniary means for carrying on their business and a satisfactory profit to the stockholders. He was connected with other branches and some banking houses in the State. In 1850, he, J. M. Rhodes and S. B. Sturges, established a banking house in Sacramento City, Cal., where he had previously sent some miners, and furnished their outfit. This banking institution built the first fire-proof banking house in that city.

Although liis business was extended, he continued to promote the interests of the city by liberally par- ticipating in all public improvements, by erecting business houses on Main street, and a comfortable fam- ily residence in the suburbs, where he continues to reside. He is a Presbyterian ; not withholding aid from other denominations, his contributions were principally made to that church and its institutions. To the Woos- ter University he gave $5,000, the interest of which to be used in putting young men through the two last years of the course, who by their own exertions had reached the junior class.

In politics, he is a Whig and a Republican, in all those terms imply, including the N. To the support of these principles he contributed liberally, but never held a civil office. He has been a soldier and a partici- pant in three wars. In that of 1812-15, he served in the army on the Niagara frontier. By special authority from the Governor, he assisted in enlisting Ohio's quota for the Mexican Army. On the first call for soldiers to suppress the rebellion, he received a tele- gram from Gov. Denison to enlist soldiers. Within forty-eight hours he raised and put on the cars for Columbus 100 soldiers ; physical debility prevented him from accompanying them. As Chairman of the County Committee, he took an active part in raising men, and supplies to those in the field. He was ap- pointed Commissioner for drafting men for the army, which duty he faithfully performed. His son, James,

with his consent, enlisted at the age of 16 as a private, continued in the service to the close of the war, being promoted in the mean time to Ist Lieutenant. Although assiduously devoting his time to his profession, he was still attached to the business of his early life. After providing a home, an office and a library, he purchased a farm, then a mill site and built a mill, which he sold in 1835. In 1836, he purchased lands on the south shore of the Maumee River, opposite the Grand Rapids and an island in the river, thereby becoming the ripa- rian proprietor of three-fourths of the Maumee and of the water-power. Here he erected a flour- ing-mill, saw-mill and other machinery, which he con- tinues to keep in operation. On part of the land a prosperous town has grown up; on the remainder, farms have been cleared up, and are being cultivated and improved under his own supervision. At the age of 87, although badly crippled by rheumatism, he otherwise enjoys perfectly good health.

RACE, W. H., physician ; came to Mansfield in 1859, and has been engaged in the practice of medicine since, except his service in the army, where he was surgeon in the 3d O. V. I. Returning, he again resumed his profession ; he has served as Coroner for Richland Co. for two terms. Dr. Race is an alumnus of the Ohio Med- ical College, from which institution he graduated.

RECORD, C. M., boot and shoe dealer ; he came to Mansfield in July, 1878, from Massachusetts ; engaged in the manufacturing of boots and shoes, introducing all the late machinery, which added to his success ; being prepared to meet all competition in price and quality, he is now selling his goods in many places in Ohio, and has a very extensive home custom trade. It is now an established fact, that Mansfield has a first- class shoemaker, prepared to make all classes of work, from the very finest hand-sewed boot to the stogy or brogan, as cheap as can be procured in any of the East- ern cities.

REED, N. S., General Agent Richland Mutual Insur- ance Company ; he was born in Frederick Co., Md., Sept. 7, 1823 ; the third child of James and Susan Reed, old residents of that place ; he came to Ohio with his parents, who settled in Knox Co. in 1829, where he received his elementary education ; at the age of 16 years, he commenced the trade of harness- making in Frederick, which he completed in four years afterward; for a year afterward, he was employed in a dry-goods store as clerk, then he purchased a stock of goods and opened a store in Waterford, which he continued for cighteen months, when the death of his father compelled a change and he returned to Frederick, where he resumed his trade, at which he worked until removing to Mansfield in April, 1856, where he plied his vocation until the spring of 1863; for three years following, he engaged in real-estate business in this city, when he received the appointment of General Agent of the Richland Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, which position he now holds. Mr. Reed was married in Richland Co., March 11, 1852, to Miss Cor- delia Geddes ; they have four children-Burr W., Liz- zie A., Hattie R. and Mary ; Burr W. died at the age of 9 years, and Mary at the age of 6 months. Mr. Reed was made a Mason at Frederickton, Ohio, in 1845, in which order he has held a number of subordinate

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

offices and is now a member of Venus Lodge, Mans- field. During his residence in this city, he has been identified in every movement tending toward the im- provement of the city and its inhabitants.

REED, INK & LEWIS, jobbers of notions, hosiery and fancy goods. H. L. Reed came to Mansfield in 1865, and engaged in book store, which he continued for some years. He established the present business in January, 1875. Mr. Reed was married to Miss Wasson, daugh- ter of William Wasson, of Ashland, Ohio, in 1867. Resi- dence, West Third street.

REMY, PETER, merchant and manufacturer ; he was born Sept. 20, 1830, in Mogendorf, dukedom of Nassau, Germany ; he emigrated with his parents to the United States early in the spring of 1844, who located in Mansfield June 29, 1844; he was then 14 years of age ; the year following, he was employed by Mr. Keith, who was one of the early settlers, and kept a tavern stand one and a half miles north of the city ; he remained with him two months, and recalls with gratitude to this day the treatment he then received. His father soon after apprenticed him until he became of age to Lieut. Gov. Thomas H. Ford, desiring that he should thoroughly prepare himself and complete the study of the law ; after remaining about ten days, he became dissatisfied, and sought other employment; an uncle, who was then living three miles west of town, kindly found him employment in the dry-goods store of Endly & Wigle, with whom he acted as a salesman for three years; he was afterward employed in the same business in the firm of Frost & McBride for one year; this firm having failed, he was in like capacity engaged in the store of Sturges, Grimes & Co., for a period of four years. In December, 1852, he went to California, where he was again hired by Frost, who had preceded him and who was engaged in the same line of business ; he remained with him one and a half years ; for a short time afterward, he did business in Weaverville, then in a placer-mine; soon after, he opened what was then termed a general store. After residing in California four years, he returned to Mans- field, where he has since resided ; in the spring of 1857, he opened a dry-goods store with his cousin, under the firm name of P. & A. W. Remy ; this part- nership continued until the spring of 1864, when he was next employed in the store of E. & T. Wirt for six months, then doing business on the old Weldon corner ; Nov. 20, 1865, he, in company with James A. Hedges and Abraham C. Cummings, bought out the wholesale grocery, confectionery and liquor house of E. Clapp & Co .; the firm name was then Remy, Hedges & Co., which was soon after changed to Remy, Hedges & Walters; in this business, he was engaged fourteen years. He is now extensively engaged in manufactur- ing the celebrated patent thill coupling, also fork, hoe and other handles, in Lodi, Ohio; the firm name is Remy, Warren & Co. During his residence of thirty- four years in this city, Mr. Remy has held many posi- tions of trust and honor ; one term as City Treasurer, and again re-elected ; he has served as Treasurer of Madison Township for two terms, and as one of the Infirmary Directors, which position he was compelled to resign, his business demanding his full time; he was a member of the Board of Equalization for six

years, and served on the Board of Public Improvements, and for two terms a member of the Richland Mntual Fire Insurance Company ; in all these positions, Mr. Remy served with credit to himself and for the inter- ests of the people.

REMY, A. W., & SON. The above-mentioned firm are well-known grocers and coffee-roasters; they oc- cupy Nos. 4 and 5 South Park street, a double store, 30x70 feet, connected by an arch, with a warehouse in the rear; they have a commodious store, and do a large business, and are first-class grocers ; they are also coffee-roasters, and keep the largest variety of fine coffee, both green and roasted, to be found in Mansfield ; salt, lard, plaster, water-lime, etc., always on hand and convenient to load ; they make a specialty of clothes-wringers, and are sole agents for the Ex- celsior and Welcome wringers, with bench, which have been introduced over the county and given universal satisfaction ; they have sold hundreds of these ma- chines, and would refer any person wishing to buy a wringer to parties using them; they are guaranteed to be the best in the world.

REMY, E. & F. M., grocers; they were born in Mansfield, and are engaged in the grocery business, 108 Main street; they have the finest assortment of staple and fancy groceries in the city, and offer them at bottom prices ; their stock consists of sugars, teas, coffees, sirups, spices, fruits, berries, and vegetables in in their season, flour and feed; they also make a specialty of fine cigars and tobacco ; goods are deliv- ered free to all parts of the city.

RICHARDSON, JAMES R., manufacturer mineral and soda water. He was born in Allegheny City, Penn., July 1, 1829 ; in 1830, his parents moved to Washing- ton Co., Penn., where his mother died two years later, leaving a family of six children, four boys and two girls, the youngest 7 months and the oldest 15 years old. The subject of this sketch obtained a fair common- school education by attending school during the winter months; not relishing the avocation of a farmer, he determined to try the city, and, in 1846, the next year after the great fire there, he went to Pittsburgh, where an elder sister resided. She had married a gentleman engaged in the manufacture of hats and caps, and by whom Mr. Richardson was employed as clerk ; while here he learned the business, and at the end of three years, he was enabled to purchase his brother-in-law's store, through the aid of a friend and the easy terms of payment given him by his brother-in-law, who wished to retire from the business. After carrying on the business for several years, having once been par- tially burned out, and losing considerable money, he sold out and invested his means in a steamboat, which he entered in the capacity of receiving and discharging -mud-clerk; he engaged in the river trade for some time, holding all the positions on the boat from clerk to captain. In 1867, he sold out, and engaged in the drug business in New Castle, Lawrence Co., Penn. In 1870, he sold out here, and in March, 1871, came to Mansfield, and engaged in the manufacture of mineral and soda water, The confinement in the drug trade had impaired his health, and his physician recommended him to try out-door employment, or one that would give him considerable physical exercise ; the business

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he now follows gives him just that, and is, therefore, fitted for his condition; in 1875, after the death of Isaac Gass, then Mayor of the city, he was urged to run for the unexpired term ; he did so and was elected by seventy-five majority; two years later, he was re-elected by seventy-four majority ; he served out the term, faithfully discharging all the duties of the office. Mr. Richardson was married in 1852, to Miss Mary E. Surles, of Steubenville, Ohio; they are the parents of three children, one boy and two girls, one of whom (a daughter) is dead; both the other children are mar- ried and have families. Mr. Richardson is now and has been a prominent member of the Masonic Order, I. O. O. F., K. P. and Knights of Honor.

RHODES, WILLIAM H. This well-known citizen, at present a merchant, on the corner of East Diamond and Fourth streets, is of English descent, dating back to the Beaumonts and Hoxeys ; William H. Rhodes was born in Portage Co. Dec. 8, 1819, and removed to Mansfield in the year 1846 ; soon after his removal to this county, he was engaged in buying horses for the Eastern market, until the year 1849, and then for a time. was proprietor of the old Exchange, on Main street, now the European Hotel, which he soon after relinquished to take charge of the Teegarden House, now the St. James ; soon after, he was actively engaged in the grocery business, which he continued until the year 1858, at which time he sailed from New York, by way of the Isthmus, for California, where he remained eight years, principally engaged in stock farming. In June, 1866, he returned to his native State, locating in Mansfield, where he has since been engaged in active business. Mr. Rhodes was married in the year 1848, to Miss Alzoa M. Winslow, by whom he has had nine children, six living-Abbie W., Esther S., George T., Helen S., Carrie E. and Mary A .; Mrs. Rhodes died Feb. 16, 1869 ; a kind mother and wife, she will long be re- membered for her many good qualities of head and heart. Mr. Rhodes comes from a long-lived family, his father and mother both living until about their 80th year, and died in California some years since. William H. Rhodes, the second son in a family of six children, during his residence in this city, has always been considered an upright and good citizen, and respected by the entire community. Two brothers of Mr. Rhodes were for a time in succession cashiers of the old Farmers' Bank, of this city, and will be re- membered by the old citizens as good business men.

RICHARD, J. FRAISE, Professor, President and founder of the Mansfield Normal College. He was born one mile west of AAshland, Ohio, Jan. 18, 1844; at the age of 7, his parents moved from that locality to the southern line of Wood Co., and began to clear up a farm; in this work he assisted, remaining on the farm until his 16th year, using such opportunities of educa- tion as the district school afforded ; with these aids and self-study under most trying circumstances, he was qualified to teach a country school during the winter of 1860, being then but 16 years of age; with the means thus secured, he attended the Seneca County Academy at Republic one term in the fall of 1861, under the charge of Prof. Aaron Schuyler, now of Baldwin University; returning to his home, he taught during the dark days of 1861-62, and was ready to

return to the Academy in September, 1862; when Pres- ident Lincoln called for 600,000 volunteers, he enlisted in Co. B, 111th O. V. I., and went to the army ; he was soon detailed as a clerk, in which capacity he spent over three years in the Government service; for two years he was Chief Clerk of the armies and departments, under the control of Maj. Gens. J. D. Cox, John M. Schofield, George S. Stoneman and John M. Palmer; twice during his army service he was offered a cap- tain's commission, but they were both refused. At the close of the war, he was offered a position in the War Department at Washington, but it was also refused; returning from the army in 1865, he attended the University at Indianapolis for one year, taking double work ; thence he went to the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, where he completed the business, scientific and classical courses, graduating in August, 1869; during 1869-70, he taught in the Lebanon School ; in the fall of 1870, he organized at Republic, Ohio, the Northwestern Normal School, and thus be- came the pioneer of normal work in Northwestern Ohio. From the hundreds and thousands of pupils received in that school during the five years it was under his management, have been taken the Principal and subordinate teachers of the Valparaiso (Ind.) Nor- mal, to-day the largest normal school in America ; some of the teachers in the Ada Normal ; lawyers and physi- cians without number, and innumerable teachers and Superintendents ; he taught a portion of a year at Ada, and was Superintendent of the Alliance (Ohio) Public Schools during 1877-78 ; from Alliance he came to Mansfield. From this sketch it will be seen that, as pupil and teacher, he has been connected with every grade of school in this country, and has acquired a diversified experience. His articles on educational subjects have been published in the Ohio Educational Monthly, the Boston Journal of Education, the Chicago Educational Weekly, the Eclectic Teacher and Southern School Journal, the Common School Teacher, Normal Teacher and Parents' and Teachers' Monthly. He is thoroughly known in the educational world, and is now permanently settled in the work of his life, the building-up of the Mansfield Normal College.

RIEMAN, ANDREW, brewer. He was born in Ida, Precinct of Rhodenburg, Chur, Hessen, Germany, July 23, 1826, and was married to Dorethea Kiston, on the 17th day of September, 1848. Mr. Rieman has been a resident of Mansfield since 1857, and during that time has held a number of public positions of honor and trust ; he has repeatedly held the position of Councilman from the Third Ward in the City Council, and was elected President of the same several terms, where he served with credit to himself and the city's interest. To Andrew and Dorethea Rieman have been born six children, four of whom are living and two dead-Rosina, born Oct. 11, 1849; John, Jan. 21, 1852; Elisabeth, Aug. 11, 1854; Lizzie, Feb. 11, 1856; Andrew. Jr., July 23, 1858; Dorethea, Oct. 16, 1864 : Elisabeth Rieman died April 12, 1855, and Andrew, Jr., Dec. 18, 1861. Mr. Rieman is now a resident of Mansfield, where he is engaged in an extensive brew- ing business.

RITCHIE, JAMES, Sheriff of Richland Co. He was born in the County Monahan, Ireland, Oct. 2, 1843;

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Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 968

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968